In August 2023, Indonesian President together with president William Ruto signed several bilateral agreements to help increase trade and investment in Kenya and the larger south East Asia market.

On the Executive Board we revisit the progress after the August talks. Wamoyi M speaks with the Indonesian ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Doctor Mohamad Hery Saripudin

1.Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, has urged the contractors of the newly commissioned Riruta-Ngong Commuter Rail line to employ locals during construction. 

2.Kenya is set to host the Connected Africa Summit 2024 in a bid to bridge Africa’s digital divide. The continental summit, scheduled for 15th to 18th April 2024, will focus on the role of Digital Technology in driving Africa’s access to intra-Africa trade through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) focusing on the digital economy.

3.As stakeholders in the country continue fighting teen pregnancies, the Kenya demographic health survey 2023 report indicated a decline of teen pregnancy cases rates at 15% in 2022, from 18% in 2014.

The East African Community to scale down regional troops in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); Kenya encouraged to provide incentives to domestic manufacturers with the goal of boosting local production; and government has prioritizes interventions to support PWDs.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has declared that counties will not receive any funds from the government to curb the adverse damage caused by the ongoing El Nino rains; and a man stabbed to death by his colleague in Oyugis Town over disagreement in the best method of playing cards.

The Meteorological Department has called on residents in Kitui County, the North Eastern region and the eastern highlands of the Rift Valley to be extra vigilant as rainfall is expected to increase even further this week.

The Kenya Red Cross put the death toll from the rains at 61, with 235 people reported injured and a further eight listed as missing. .......AND, be more vigilant in the fight against corruption in the country, the government urged.

President William has said university students will get loans as scholarships and not grants with the less privileged being given priority; a family in Busia County is nursing serious injuries after they were attacked by unknown people; and over 300,000 catholic worshippers prepare to welcome a new bishop in Makueni County.

A family in Butere is living in fear after their son was allegedly attacked by ghosts; Deputy Inspector General of Police Gitivo Mwita has cited lack of road network, delimitation of boundaries along Turkana County as the main cause of insecurity in the region; and international trade fair show kicks off in earnest today in Nairobi.

Newsline marks two years since relaunch; decongestion of correctional facilities in top gear; and government rolls out registration programs for the vulnerable.