Paris, France | AFP | A number of countries have grounded Boeing’s 737 MAX 8 medium-haul workhorse jet in response to an Ethiopian Airlines crash that killed all 157 people on board. The Nairobi-bound plane was the same type as the Indonesian Lion Air jet that crashed in October, killing …
Read More »Alalo and other victims of the Ethiopia plane crash
Paris, France | AFP | A renowned undersea archaeologist, an MP’s entire family and a top peacekeeper were among the victims of Sunday’s plane crash in Ethiopia, along with many people working with the United Nations on development, aid and the environment. Here are some of their stories: – …
Read More »Boeing 737 MAX in spotlight after two tragedies
Washington, United States | AFP | For the second time in less than six months, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 has crashed minutes after takeoff and killed everyone on board, raising fresh questions about the safety of a model that is crucial to the US giant’s future plans. On Sunday, …
Read More »Kenya’s pension firm enters Uganda’s market
Enwealth Financial Services manage assets worth Shs2trillion in Africa Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | A new pension administrator, Enwealth Financial Services, has entered Uganda’s pension market upon securing an operation license from the regulator, Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority (URBRA). The firm that joins nine other pension administrators in …
Read More »Four US tourists and their pilot killed in Kenya chopper crash
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Four American tourists and a Kenyan pilot were killed when their helicopter crashed on an island in a lake in northwest Kenya, police said Monday. The accident occurred in the Central Island National Park in Lake Turkana at around 8pm (1700 GMT) on Sunday, police …
Read More »Kenya court postpones decision on homosexuality laws
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s High Court on Friday postponed a much-anticipated ruling on whether to scrap colonial-era laws which criminalise homosexuality, citing a heavy case load. “The files are above my height… we are still working,” said Chacha Mwita, one of the judges, who added that one of his colleagues was on leave …
Read More »Gays and Africa: Quotes
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | Kenya’s High Court on Friday issues a potentially historic ruling that could roll back colonial-era laws penalising same-sex relationships. Here is a selection of quotes illustrating the situation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people in sub-Saharan Africa: “Worse than pigs and dogs.” – Former Zimbabwean …
Read More »God and justice: Gay church prays for historic Kenya ruling
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | A lesbian church leader lights pink, yellow, and purple candles and passes them around to worshippers as they pray for a court decision that will mean they no longer have to live a lie. “The Lord is in control,” she says, as swaying congregants yell out “Victory!” and a musician …
Read More »Kenyan activist’s family seek autopsy, fear ‘abortion’ cover-up
Nairobi, Kenya | AFP | The family of a Kenyan activist who went missing for a week before turning up dead, have questioned police claims she died of a botched abortion, and demanded an autopsy. Caroline Mwatha went missing last Wednesday, prompting Amnesty International to raise the alarm over her …
Read More »Egg prices fall as supply goes up
EGGS: Kenya’s increase in supply spells doom to Ugandan farmers Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | Ugandan farmers are suffering losses from falling egg prices due to lost market opportunities in the region and high feed costs. Farmers and traders that spoke to The Independent said a tray of eggs …
Read More »