Kenya’s pursuit of nuclear power also raises questions about regional security. While only two African countries—South Africa and Egypt—currently have nuclear power programs, several others, including Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, are considering nuclear energy as part of their future energy strategies.
African nations are urging developed countries to follow through on their commitments to combat global warming. This plea comes in response to the recent report from the Copernicus Climate Change Service, which revealed that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with temperatures reaching 1.6°C above pre-industrial levels.
2024 has been recorded as the hottest year ever experienced by modern humans. Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) revealed that the average temperature last year was 1.6 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, marking a 0.1-degree increase from 2023.
The torrential rains wreaked havoc across informal settlements like Mathare, Kibera, Korogocho, Mukuru Kwa Njenga, and Kiambiu. Poor drainage systems and overcrowded living conditions amplified the destruction, forcing families to seek refuge in churches, schools, and friends’ homes. However, for Shildah’s family, leaving wasn’t an option.
By Bernard Gitau Kenya has taken steps to fight illegal mining following the establishment of a Mining Police Unit. Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Ali Hassan Joho, has announced that this unit will collaborate with Interpol to recover minerals mined in Kenya and prosecute those involved in illegal trading. He said Kenya is only earning about 1 percent of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from minerals, hence the need to take action to increase this to more than 10% by 2030. Half of mining in Kenya is artisanal and small-scale that contributed KES 30 billion to the economy in 2023. Legal artisanal is subsistence mining where individuals, groups, or families extract minerals from the earth using their own resources. Kenya’s mineral deposits include Gold, copper, silver, lead, talc, titanium, manganese, zinc, nickel, chromite, pyrite, and rare earth elements. Much of these are mined in Migori, Kakamega, Transmara, Nandi, West Pokot, Taita Taveta, Marsabit, and Isiolo. The CS said Mineral Value Addition Centres have been established nationwide further to enhance the mining industry’s contribution to the economy. These centers include the Voi Gemstone Centre, Kakamega Gold Refinery, Granite Processing Plant in Vihiga, the revival of the Fluorspar factory in Elgeyo Marakwet, and the Kisii Soapstone Value Addition Centre.
By Bernard Gitau The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) is in the process of analyzing the feedback it has received from the public about genetically modified maize, commonly known as Bt maize in the Kenyan market for planting by farmers. The National Biosafety Authority is mandated to supervise and control the development, transfer, handling, and use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) to ensure safety for human and animal health and an adequate level of protection for the environment. While some Kenyan farmers have embraced GM maize seeds as a solution to low yields and persistent pests and diseases, a significant portion of the population remains skeptical about the safety of GMO foods for human consumption. Acting Director Josphat Muchiri has confirmed that the authority has conducted public forums in Kakamega, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, and Machakos County, in addition to receiving online submissions from various stakeholders. He also disclosed that they are also consulting with agencies like the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service, National Environment Management Authority, public health and independent experts.
Kenya is proving to be the global go-to destination for witnessing the incredible twin births as the sight of an elephant mama with not one, but two adorable calves is truly a sight to behold.
World leaders are finally on the verge of tackling our planet’s most pressing environmental problem of our time, reduction on plastic products manufacturing.
To ease the rangers’ work of patrolling the vast land of Oglului, the team has a drone that helps them to monitor wildlife movement, watering point, sick and animal giving birth.
The Kenyan mountain bongo is an endangered tragelaphine antelope subspecies, endemic to the Aberdare, Mount Kenya, Cheranganis Hills and the Mau Forests Complex, with only a few individuals left in the Eburu, Maasai Mau and South Western Mau.
