Know Afrika

A reported gold discovery made by three boys in Cheporor village, Kanyarkwat in West Pokot County, has triggered one of Kenya's most dramatic artisanal mining rushes in recent memory, drawing an estimated 10,000 people from across Kenya and neighbouring Uganda within just 72 hours of news spreading on August 1. The above image shows people from across West Pokot and neighboring Uganda looking for gold on August 1, 2026  How It Started The discovery was made on Saturday, August 1, when three boys reportedly stumbled upon what they believed to be gold while digging in the area. News spread rapidly through local networks and social media, drawing fortune seekers from across West Pokot and beyond the Ugandan border within hours. Within three days, a village that had previously attracted little outside attention had been transformed into a hive of unregulated digging activity, with thousands more still streaming in. A Village Under Strain The sudden influx of thousands of people has pl...

Five Kenyan security officers, including four members of the elite Special Operations Group, were killed Tuesday, July 28, 2026, after their patrol vehicle struck an improvised explosive device in Mandera County, in what officials describe as part of a rapid surge in cross-border attacks along Kenya's northern frontier . Members of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) deployed to the border at undislcosed time. How the Attack Unfolded The explosion struck in the El-Raamo area of Kutulo, along the Alungu Main Supply Route, a road frequently used by security forces near the Kenya-Somalia border. Police said a patrol team from SOG Alungu came into contact with al-Shabaab militants in the general area of Wantey Dam around noon on Tuesday . The blast destroyed the patrol vehicle, killing four Special Operations Group officers and a Kenya Police Reservist. Moments after the explosion, suspected militants opened fire, triggering a gun battle before the attackers escaped toward the border. A R...

  NAIROBI, Kenya Kenya's High Court on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, dismissed a petition by the Rastafari Society of Kenya seeking to legalize cannabis for religious purposes, ruling that the community had failed to prove the country's drug laws violate its constitutional right to freedom of religion. A Rastafarian smokes as they gather outside Milimani Law Courts, after the high court dismisses a Rastafarian case seeking to legalize marijuana, in Nairobi, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. What the Court Ruled Justice Bahati Mwamuye said Kenya's Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act does not unconstitutionally infringe on Rastafarians' religious freedom, and that granting an exemption would require a firmer constitutional and legal foundation than the petitioners presented. The judge noted that while all witnesses agreed cannabis functions as a sacrament in Rastafarian worship, they could not agree on whether its use is essential or merely preferred a distin...

In my opinion, the devastating fire that swept through the dormitories of Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil on Thursday, May 28, 2026, is a heartbreaking reminder of the ongoing safety vulnerabilities in regional educational institutions. I suspect that the loss of sixteen young lives, confirmed by local authorities, will ignite intense public scrutiny regarding infrastructure standards and emergency preparedness. I believe that monitoring regional stability and cultural shifts surrounding public accountability is crucial right now, as communities demand immediate answers to what caused this horrific blaze just 120km west of Nairobi . Parents and residents at the entrance of the school where a deadly fire broke out. Scores Injured as Investigators Search for Answers In my opinion, the mechanical focus of the investigation must quickly shift to whether the institution adhered to national fire safety guidelines . I suspect that with dozens of other students currently hospitalized due ...

  Kenyan police officers have been dispatched to Haiti to address the escalating gang violence that has plagued the country , claiming thousands of lives and displacing half a million people this year alone. Despite legal challenges questioning the deployment's legality, President William Ruto affirmed its importance, framing it as Kenya's significant contribution to global peacekeeping efforts. The mission, part of a United Nations-led force, involves 1,000 Kenyan officers, with an initial group of 400 already deployed. President Ruto stressed the mission's international significance and its role in restoring stability to a nation gripped by chaos and gang control. Critics have raised concerns about the deployment's legality, citing a court ruling highlighting procedural issues. Meanwhile, recent domestic unrest involving Kenyan police has drawn scrutiny, with allegations of excessive force during anti-government protests resulting in fatalities and injuries currently ...

  On Monday, Kenya and Somalia signed an agreement regarding the two countries’ cooperation in political consultations, education, and defense. Musalia Mudavadi, who is also the cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, stated in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the three bilateral instruments aim to further consolidate bilateral cooperation for the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries. Mudavadi is also the cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs. It was during the third session of the Kenya-Somalia joint commission for cooperation (JCC) that Mudavadi made the statement that “the agreement was possible because of the dedication by our technical officials to address issues amicably.” As an additional point of interest, Mudavadi stated that Kenya and Somalia have a very special relationship, not only because they share a border but also because they have a strong and continued partnership. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperat...

  William Ruto, the President of Kenya, traveled to the flood-stricken village of Kamuchiri, which is located north-west of Nairobi, on Tuesday, April 30. Residents of places that have experienced flooding or landslides in the past, as well as residents who live near dams and rivers that are regarded to be in high danger, will be required to leave, according to the Cabinet, because seasonal rains are expected to increase. “Within 48 hours from tomorrow, everyone living in the riparian zones should vacate,” Ruto stated to reporters. We do not want to continue to lose the lives of our compatriots, and this is why we are doing this in Nairobi and throughout the entire country. In order to supply them with all of the necessities, including food, shelter, and other necessities, we will devise and implement appropriate programs. There was a decision made in cabinet today regarding this matter, and the government will collaborate with development partners on this endeavor.  Early on...

  Exposing a Heartbreaking Cult Tragedy In a secluded woodland of eastern Kenya, authorities have made a grim discovery: mass graves containing the remains of individuals who perished under the sway of self-proclaimed Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie. Mackenzie, the leader of this cult, purportedly preached a doomsday message, urging his followers to undertake fasting in anticipation of the imminent return of Jesus. This distressing revelation has sent shockwaves across the nation, prompting reflections on the influence wielded by fringe religious groups. Painful Process of Identification Identifying the victims has proven to be a painstaking endeavor due to the advanced decomposition of many bodies. Through the assistance of DNA samples from relatives, some of the deceased have been successfully identified. Nonetheless, the overwhelming number of cases coupled with limited resources has resulted in delays in identification and the release of remains. The emotional toll on grieving fa...

  For more than two decades, Chinese researchers have been working on drought-tolerant rice and have made tremendous progress. They created a drought-tolerant rice cultivar to increase food production in Africa. This follows the Shanghai Agrobiological Gene Center's introduction of a water-saving and drought-resistant rice strain in Burundi and Kenya a few years ago. According to Liu Zaochang, the center's Africa program director, this rice variety could be certified for market next year. "We are most likely China's first rice breeders for Africa." We are marketing many rice types to 11 African countries, including Botswana, where rice has not been cultivated in nearly 50 years." Chinese scientists, according to Liu, crossbred widely planted hybrid rice types with those known to thrive in desert soils to create drought-resistance.  He believes it has the potential to outperform hybrid rice in terms of yield and thrive in substandard settings. "It saves l...

CyberSOC Africa, a leading cybersecurity company, is looking to strengthen digital security in East Africa and this is by expansion in Kenya. They want to increase their scope of services and spread their experience in the African continent. The Kenyan office will assist government agencies and institutions by providing essential information and the techniques to strengthen their guard against the ever growing cyber security threats. Apart from solutions, they are looking to raise awareness about the significance of cybersecurity and making the solutions available to people all over. Nir Kunik, the head of CyberSOC Africa, stated, "We are excited to open the new cybersecurity office and to continue our work to keep the African continent safe online." The main focus is on the Kenyan office. They also have their  services in other East African nations, including Ethiopia and Somalia. CyberSOC provides extensive solutions to cater to the growing demands by staying within the leg...

Aden Duale, Kenya's defense minister, has promised to send troops to help Haiti combat its rising gang violence problem. Following a defense pact that specifies their cooperation for the following five years, Kenya and the U.S. made this promise. Kenya's choice to lead a multinational force to assist and train Haitian police in an effort to restore order to a country decimated by gang violence exemplifies Kenya's commitment to international peacekeeping. The widespread gang dominance of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, has resulted in kidnappings, violence, and the removal of many. Ariel Henry, the prime minister of Haiti, requested assistance from abroad in October of the year prior, with support from the US and the UN, to stop the violence. The mission's deployment, however, has been complicated by delays. Despite the widespread support for current action, some activists are concerned that previous missions may have had negative effects. They emphasize the signi...