First Independent Mena Newspaper
The United States has launched a sweeping reassessment of Kenya’s Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, raising alarm over President William Ruto’s growing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and links to extremist groups. Granted in June 2024, Kenya’s MNNA designation made it the first sub-Saharan African country to join an exclusive list of U.S. defense partners. […]
Kenya, a nation heavily reliant on agricultural exports, seeks to expand its commercial opportunities globally. The country now steps closer to a bilateral agreement with China that would scrap customs duties on several key agricultural exports, including tea, coffee, and avocados. President William Ruto announced this progress during a presidential round table with the private […]
Kenyan President William Ruto has pledged a record-breaking 600 million Kenyan shillings (approximately $4.6 million) to the national football team, Harambee Stars, should they clinch the 2025 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN). Addressing the players during a breakfast meeting in Nairobi over the weekend, Ruto described the moment as historic, noting that Kenya is hosting the […]
Japan is intensifying its African engagement ahead of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9), with ambitious plans centered on youth employment, digital transformation, and climate resilience. The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has already deployed $2.9 billion of a pledged $5 billion private sector investment package, signaling sustained commitment despite global economic […]
Tanzania’s decision to bar foreign nationals from operating small businesses has ignited sharp backlash across East Africa, particularly from neighboring Kenya, with fears that it could fracture regional economic ties. The new directive, announced by Trade Minister Selemani Jafo, prohibits foreigners from engaging in 15 grassroots sectors such as salons, eateries, mobile money kiosks, and […]
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda are set to make continental football history as the first countries to jointly host the African Nations Championship (c), with the tournament kicking off Saturday in Dar es Salaam. The 19-team competition, running through August 30, represents a milestone in regional cooperation and serves as preparation for the 2027 Africa Cup […]
Kenya and Uganda have secured a major legal victory after the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) dismissed a $2 billion claim filed by Rift Valley Railways (RVR) consortium over a terminated railway concession. The dispute stemmed from a 25-year agreement signed in 2006, granting RVR the right to manage and operate the 2,350-kilometer Kenya-Uganda […]
Sudan’s Army-backed administration has strongly condemned the formation of a parallel government by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), branding it a “phantom government” and accusing the group of deepening national suffering. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry, in a statement issued on Sunday, July 27, said the RSF’s move was a blatant disregard for the plight […]
At least 11 people were killed and dozens injured in Kenya on Monday as anti-government protests marking the historic “Saba Saba” Day erupted into violence across 17 counties. The demonstrations, fueled by anger over alleged government corruption, rising living costs, and police brutality, saw widespread clashes between protesters and heavily deployed security forces. Police fired […]
Africa’s nuclear power ambitions are receiving renewed momentum, as rising energy demands, climate goals, and investor interest converge. At the recent Africa Nuclear Energy Innovation Summit in Kigali, Rwanda, leaders and experts emphasized nuclear power — particularly S Modular Reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors — as a promising low-carbon solution for the continent’s energy deficit. International […]