Capital and largest city of Kenya, 4.8M in 2024; 8th most populous city in Africa
Edinburgh’s cycle paths are being scrutinised as delivery e‑bikes are used at higher speeds, prompting calls to ban fast e‑bikes on these routes. Councils monitor rider routes to enforce safety, amid growing accidents on shared paths.
Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in Kenya and Yemen, displacing thousands and damaging infrastructure. Kenya's floods have led to evacuations and road disruptions, while Yemen faces fatalities and widespread destruction. Humanitarian aid is urgently needed in both regions.
Airlines are shifting capacity and raising fares due to ongoing Middle East conflicts. Qantas is reducing domestic flights and increasing prices, while European and US carriers are expanding routes to Africa and Asia. These changes are driven by geopolitical tensions and rising fuel costs.
Energy disruptions caused by the Iran war are leading to increased use of charcoal and firewood in Africa and Asia. This shift is undermining efforts to promote cleaner fuels, damaging forests, increasing poaching, and threatening wildlife habitats. Rising fuel costs are also impacting food security and conservation funding.
The government has announced relocations after landslides in Kangema and Mathioya, with about 200 households moved from Ngutu in Gitugi. The Meteorological Department warns of heavy rainfall continuing across multiple highland regions, threatening homes, farms and infrastructure.
Authorities are managing ongoing floods across Kenya, with heavy rain triggering landslides in central regions and rising river levels raising evacuation needs. Affected areas include Nairobi, Tana River, and central counties; 18 fatalities have been reported nationwide.
Environmental groups say California's new plastic packaging rules weaken protections and plan to sue, arguing exemptions undermine the law; regulators defend the compromise as a meaningful step toward reducing waste while industry warns of higher costs and practical hurdles.
France has been pushing a renewed Africa policy at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, aiming for a partnership of equals with English-speaking Africa and more Africa voice in global finance. Paris has signed defense pacts with Kenya and is promoting investments across energy, AI and agriculture as it seeks to reshape its role on the continent.
France, under President Macron, has hosted Africa Forward in Nairobi, presenting a roadmap for deeper Franco-African economic ties. The Nairobi Declaration outlines investments, reform of global financial architecture, and higher African voice in international institutions. Macron and Kenyan President Ruto frame the outcome as a shift toward sovereign, mutually beneficial partnerships.
Protests over recent fuel-price hikes have intensified, with multiple cities experiencing unrest as transport operators strike. Authorities report arrests and disruptions to daily life, while officials attribute the rises to global oil market volatility and domestic tax measures.
A dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil, Nakuru County, has killed at least 15–16 students and injured dozens. Police and rescue teams have been searching the burned dormitory, investigators have opened a probe and authorities have said eight students are persons of interest in a suspected arson plot.
The United States has announced that it is consolidating visa processing across Africa from nearly 50 embassies and consulates to 20 regional hubs. Kampala remains a full-service hub, while other posts are being shut or pared back. The changes are expected to begin in June and are driven by security, efficiency and staffing considerations, with applicants in affected countries needing to travel to designated hubs for interviews.
Kenyan investigators say a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls School killed 16 and wounded 79. Nine girls have been detained; DNA results are due. Courts will decide detention duration as inquiries proceed. CCTV shows six students starting the blaze; matron’s door was not opened, and safety breaches are under review.
Protests have erupted in Nanyuki after Kenya has allowed construction of a US-backed 50‑bed Ebola quarantine unit at Laikipia Air Base. Police have used tear gas and gunfire has killed at least two people; a 17‑year‑old protester has reportedly died with dispute over whether a tear‑gas canister or a bullet caused his death. Flights and equipment for the centre have continued despite court orders.
A new study links bee pollination to more than 20% of residents’ vitamin intake and 44% of farming income in 10 Jumla villages, highlighting pollinators’ vital role in food security amid isolation and poverty.
Parliament’s impeachment committee has resolved to oppose President Cyril Ramaphosa’s urgent interdict to halt its work on the Phala Phala report. Ramaphosa seeks to revive the report’s legal status after a Constitutional Court ruling, while the committee and key parties push forward. The High Court will consider orders to pause parliamentary proceedings as the process resumes.
California lawmakers are finalizing a $356 billion state budget with Gov. Newsom. A tax package is advancing, including a health care provider tax and a software sales tax, while critics warn of higher costs for families and businesses. The package aims to balance revenue gaps amid federal funding shifts.
Protests and arrests have erupted around Nairobi National Park as authorities defend plans to expand a wildlife orphanage and visitor facilities, drawing support from some for development and criticism from activists who warn of encroachment on protected land.
Kenya is weighing formal investigations into RSF crimes abroad under universal jurisdiction, following a 12-victim complaint detailing torture, sexual violence and killings around Khartoum between 2023 and 2025. The filing marks a historic use of Kenya’s legal framework and could set a precedent for accountability beyond borders.
Italian prosecutors are investigating Caddell Construction, citing labor-exploitation allegations linked to a Milan consulate project. Two Italian managers have been arrested; the probe involves ~70 workers, mostly from India, with claims of wage deductions, 10-hour days, and threats. The U.S. State Department says it is collaborating.
Kenya has observed a memorial for Utumishi Girls Academy victims as authorities identify all 16 deceased and announce full government support. The state will cover medical costs, provide Sh200,000 per bereaved family, and finance funeral arrangements while investigating the blaze that started in a dormitory exit. The incident has prompted renewed safety calls across schools.
Global oil markets have eased after a peace deal in the Middle East, triggering expected cuts in local fuel prices. South Africa and the UK report smaller pump-price movements as markets reflect calmer conditions; East Africa debates subsidy and stabilization measures while Rwanda notes volatility in imports.
Kenya has ordered an immediate halt to construction of a US-led Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base after a court found Health Minister Aden Duale in contempt for ignoring earlier stop-work orders. Protests have erupted nationwide, with health officials warning about the strain on a fragile system amid the Congo outbreak.
Sixteen pupils aged 15–18 have died in a dormitory fire at Utumishi Girls School. Eight suspects face 16 counts of murder; mental assessments are being considered as the case proceeds. The incident has rekindled debate over boarding-school safety, fire exits and discipline in Kenyan schools.
Protests marking the second anniversary of the 2024 anti-Finance Bill demonstrations have led to hundreds of arrests nationwide. A court has ordered the unconditional release of a mother and her infant, with cash bail granted to more than 200 others as investigations continue.