Kenya’s Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) received 20 new passenger trains from China’s CRRC, significantly enhancing the country’s rail service and offering a variety of travel options. These additions, part of a 2023 contract to modernize the SGR, mark a significant upgrade from the previously slow and inefficient narrow gauge rail line established in 1896.
Kenyan activists have continued their protests against President William Ruto, demanding his resignation despite his decision to withdraw the controversial finance bill that sparked deadly unrest. While protests were largely peaceful in some areas, a heavy police presence was maintained, and businesses remained shuttered in Nairobi following instances of looting and violence. The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has condemned the excessive use of force against protesters and documented numerous deaths, injuries, disappearances, and arrests.
Kenya’s tourism sector experienced a remarkable resurgence in 2023, achieving record-breaking growth in economic contribution, employment, and domestic visitor spending. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) predicts continued growth in the coming years, highlighting the sector’s vital role in the country’s economic development.
Protests in Kenya, sparked by a controversial tax hike, have subsided after President William Ruto reversed the law following days of violent clashes. However, the unrest has left a trail of death and injury, prompting international condemnation and raising concerns about the future of the country’s political stability.
Kenya’s President William Ruto, who came to power promising economic relief, has faced violent protests over his proposed tax reforms aimed at tackling the country’s ballooning debt, primarily owed to China. The reforms, which included hikes on digital payments, bread, and cooking oil, triggered widespread outrage, particularly among youth, who have taken to the streets in frustration. Facing mounting pressure and the death of 23 protesters, Ruto has withdrawn the bill, leaving the government in a scramble to find alternative financing solutions.
The Indian embassy in Kenya has advised Indian citizens to exercise caution and limit non-essential movement due to ongoing anti-tax protests and violence. The advisory urges Indians to avoid affected areas until the situation stabilizes.
Auma Obama, half-sister of former U.S. President Barack Obama, was tear-gassed by Kenyan police during protests against a new tax bill. The protests turned violent with police firing on demonstrators, resulting in at least five deaths, dozens injured, and parts of the parliament building set ablaze.
Thousands of protesters in Kenya stormed the parliament building, setting part of it on fire, in a demonstration against a new finance bill. The unrest, the most direct assault on the government in decades, resulted in five deaths and over 30 injuries after police opened fire on the crowd.
At least five protesters were killed and dozens wounded after Kenyan police opened fire on demonstrators attempting to storm the parliament building in Nairobi. The protesters were demanding the rejection of a new finance bill that would impose new taxes on Kenyans already struggling with the high cost of living. The incident highlights the growing discontent with the Kenyan government and its economic policies.
Kenya has sent the first contingent of its 1,000-strong police force to Haiti, despite ongoing legal challenges in Kenya. The deployment is part of a UN-backed multinational mission to tackle gang violence in the country, which has been plagued by instability and humanitarian crises. The US is providing funding and logistical support for the mission, but has ruled out sending its own troops. The deployment has been met with mixed reactions, with some expressing concerns about Kenya’s record on human rights while others hope for a positive impact on Haiti’s security situation.
