Stories from Kenya

The State Department of Labor and Social Court has vetted all recruitment agencies for overseas employment. The number of authorized agencies has been reduced by 50% from an initial 1,200 to approximately 600.

Nairobi is experiencing record-high rainfall levels, following a previous event two years ago where river flooding caused over 40 deaths. During that prior event, rainfall reached 160 mm in a single day, a volume typically distributed over a month.

Meta, the owner of Facebook, terminated over 1,000 Kenyan workers at the end of February. The movement highlighted that these workers will suffer many other effects following the job losses. A Kenyan workers' organization alleges Meta ended its contract with Samma because staff members spoke out. The termination is expected to result in more than 1,100 workers being made redundant. Meta stated the decision was due to Samma failing to meet its standards, a claim the company rejects. Meta has not commented on the workers' organization's specific allegation. Meta ended the contract less than two months after Swedish newspapers reported on industry practices. The termination follows reports that SAMA staff reviewed videos filmed on MetaSmart glasses, which allegedly showed users in private settings.

A team of three lawyers and a geneticist from King's College London is using commercial DNA databases to identify absentee soldier fathers. The process involves collecting DNA samples from participants in Kenya to establish paternity in UK courts.

A court has issued arrest warrants for two businessmen involved in a Sh150 million property fraud case in Westlands.

Authorities are working to restore 54 kilometers of the Nairobi River riparian areas. This project follows a major flooding event two years ago that resulted in more than 40 deaths. During that event, rainfall reached 160 mm in a single day, which is a typical monthly amount for the region. The restoration aims to mitigate future risks from river bank bursts. The source identified the Nairobi River as the city's largest river. Current drainage systems were built for smaller capacities, such as 450 millimeters, whereas requirements demand 950 millimeters to 1.2 meters. Resource constraints prevent the full scope of work from being completed at once, though progress has been made on major rivers. The project involves creating trunks on both sides of 27 kilometers of the river. This initiative aims to build capacity to handle weather events for the next 50 years.

At least 21 counties in Kenya, including the capital city of Nairobi, have been hit by flooding this year. The flooding has presented challenges for the region, according to the report. The scale of the impact is being discussed in the context of climate change accountability. The flooding includes the city of Nairobi, according to Governor Sakwa Stichungu. The source discussed accountability regarding the response to these floods.

Workers have been shot and some have been injured during an incident involving live ammunition. Residents reported hearing noises coming from a shooting range and expressed fear about living in their homes.

Residents in Kenya report being unable to live in their homes due to fear of live ammunition being fired from a nearby shooting range. Some workers have reportedly been shot and injured during these incidents.

Kenya will host a global agriculture summit in Nairobi starting June 1st. The event is expected to draw approximately 50,000 participants from 90 different countries.