KENYA
Joy Abongo, who was assaulted in Albania, flown to Kenya for specialized treatment.
A 22-year-old Kenyan woman attacked and left for dead in Albania was flown back to Kenya by air ambulance.
Her mother, Ruth Abongo, told Wanjiku Tales Show host Lynn Ngugi that her daughter, Joy Aoko, is receiving specialized treatment at the Kenyatta University hospital.
Abongo said she finally felt her daughter was in good medical hands with the Kenyan doctors and thanked the government for facilitating her return and paying for her treatment.
Joy Aoko, 22, suffered severe injuries, and doctors feared she’d not survive. But she defied the odds and made a significant recovery despite remaining unconscious.
The ministry of foreign and diaspora affairs facilitated her transfer back to Kenya. In a thank you message to Kenyans, Abongo thanked everyone involved in fighting for Joy, donating funds, and highlighting her plight.
She singled out Lavi Suzie Atkins, a Kenyan living in Albania who played a crucial role in advocating for Joy and assisting her mother throughout Joy’s hospitalization in Albania.
Abongo described Atkins as an angel and recounted how fate brought them together.
Atkins came into contact with Joy after she went to the Albanian hospital after she heard a Ghanaian woman needed a blood donation to save her life, but upon arrival at the hospital, she found out Joy, just like her, was Kenyan. She took over the role of helping her and even helped to produce a video asking Kenyans to donate.
Kenyans worldwide rallied and raised funds to give Joy an opportunity to receive specialized treatment abroad. But the fundraising fell short of the $500,000 required for specialized treatment in Europe.
Atkins celebrated Joy’s return to Kenya.
“Joy has gone home finally. It’s not the outcome we were working for, but it was the best under the circumstances. And that Kenya paid for an air ambulance is unheard of,” Atkins said.
An AMREF-operated chartered medical evacuation plane airlifted Joy back to Nairobi. Upon arrival, she was received by Kenyan government officials, including Njogu, in a reception that was broadcasted live by the Kenyan media.
KCSE 2023 Released- Sparks Controversy
January 20, Cabinet Secretary for Education Ezekiel Machogu released the form four KCSE results for 2022.
The result, however, has attracted mixed reactions, with explicit and implicit talks pointing to a national exam that leaked, giving students phony high grades.
In the results, candidates scoring a mean grade of C+ and above in 2022, KCSE rose from 145,776 to 173,345, accounting for 19.03 percent of the total candidature.
Of the 881,416 candidates who took the basic education sub-sector final exam, 1146 scored an A.
Relatively unknown schools from the rural counties of Nyamira, Kisii, and Siaya shot into the limelight. They shocked the traditional education powerhouses such as Alliance High School, Mang’u High, and Kenya High School, among other big names.
Nyambaria High School and Cardinal Otunga Mosocho High School, from Nyamira and Kisii Counties, respectively, took first and second place. They had scores of 10.8 and 10.7, respectively. However, Mang’u High School had the highest A’s—82, followed by Alliance High School—76.
While releasing the exam a week ago, Machogu said there were no cases of cheating. However, the Senate has launched a probe into the controversial exam results. The chairman of the Senate Education Committee, Senator Joe Nyutu, said his team is probing worries put forward after some schools registered a sudden surge in the number of candidates with A’s.
“We are investigating whether there was leakage. We have seen queries by Kenyans on social media, but we urge them to be patient. We want to ascertain the truth,” Nyutu said Tuesday.
While the storm, criticism, and counter-criticism about the exam result rages on, Machogu has maintained that the exam was irregularities-free.
Raila says he does not recognize Ruto as President
Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga Monday stormed the famous Kamukunji Grounds to a zealous crowd and fired salvos at the IEBC, the Supreme Court, and President William Ruto for allegedly stealing his victory in the 2022 August Presidential election.
Odinga said he doesn’t recognize William Ruto as the President of Kenya and the people he has appointed to work in his government.
Riding on the wave of the alleged IEBC whistleblower’s exposé, Odinga said the results announced by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati, were fabricated by him and had nothing to do with what the people cast into the ballot.
“We consider the Kenya Kwanza regime illegitimate, and we don’t recognize Mr. William Ruto as president of Kenya,” he thundered to a cheering crowd.
“According to the IEBC whistleblower data,” Odinga said, “we won handily with over two million votes.”
He said that the IEBC and the Supreme Court were central to the rigging of the 2022 elections.
He demanded that the Kenya Kwanza government resign because “it has neither the mandate nor the ability to govern the country.”
He called upon his supporters to resist and demand the removal of the punitive taxes that have led to punitive costs of basic products and services, including unga, milk, sugar, school books, fuel, electricity, bus fare, paraffin, and school fees.
The former Prime Minister scoffed at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who had asked Ruto to leave Raila to deal with him.
“Huyu kijana Rigathi Gachietha hawezi kunitisha. Mimi sio rika yake. Wawache upuzi Kenya si yao. Wawache kututisha sisi,” he said.
Former Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha dies.
Former Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha succumbed to a cardiac arrest Tuesday, January 24, at Nairobi Hospital. He was 71.
Magoha was the chairman of the Kenya National Exams Council (KNEC) and the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nairobi before he was appointed to the position of CS for Education in President Uhuru’s administration.
President Ruto joined the country in mourning the late professor and educationist. “We have lost a gifted, unique, distinguished, and great servant of Kenya,” Ruto said.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga said Magoha had left an indelible mark on the country’s education.
“I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Prof. George Magoha, a transformational leader, illustrious scholar, dedicated public servant, and distinguished medical doctor who left an indelible mark on our country’s education system,” Odinga said.
Chief Justice and the President of the Judiciary, Justice Martha Koome, said Magoha had furthered the rights of the Kenyan children.
“The Judicial fraternity mourns the passing of Prof. George Magoha and remembers him as a distinguished educationist whose commitment to the rights of children in the field of education empowered families and birthed hope for a more just future,” CJ Koome said.
Principal Secretary, State Department of Early Learning and Basic Education, Julius Jwan, the family spokesperson said that the former Education CS will be laid to rest at his home in Umiru Nyamninia, Yala, on February 11, 2023.
Kenya pledges to open its embassy in Morocco.
President Ruto Thursday promised to open an embassy in Morocco before the end of the year.
He disclosed the plan after launching the Kenyan Chancery in Dakar, Senegal. The embassy in Senegal became the first for Kenya in Francophone West Africa.
“We will continue to push the limits for our investors and businesspeople to access more markets in Africa,” Ruto said.
USA
Tyre Nichols’ Funeral Marked with Celebration and Calls for Police Reform
Mourners gathered at Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in Memphis, Tennessee, to celebrate the life of Tyre Nichols, who died on January 10 after enduring a brutal beating by at least five police officers.
Nichols’ mother, RowVaughn Wells, remembered her son as a beautiful soul.
“The only thing that’s keeping me going is that I truly believe that my son was sent here on assignment from God. And I guess now his assignment is done. He’s gone home,” Wells said.
Vice President Kamala Harris said the police actions that night did not serve the public interest.
“It was not in the interest of keeping the public safe, because one must ask, was not it in the interest of keeping the public safe that Tyre Nichols would be with us today? Was he not also entitled to the right to be safe? So when we talk about public safety, let us understand what it means in its truest form. Tyre Nichols should have been safe,” Harris said, according to an AP report.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who gave the Eulogy, joined Harris in calling on lawmakers to approve the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The law would create a national registry of police officers who have faced disciplinary action and ban activities such as no-knock warrants that were used in the incident that led to the death of Breonna Taylor.
Sharpton noted the irony of black police officers killing a young black man in Memphis.
“The reason why … what happened to Tyre is so personal to me is that five Black men that wouldn’t have had a job in the police department, would not ever be thought of to be in an elite squad, in the city that Dr. King lost his life, not far away from that balcony, you beat a brother to death,” Sharpton said.
Nichols was 29. He left behind a 4-year-old son.
Click here to read the AP story.
Meta brings back the Trump Show.
Meta, the company that owns Facebook and Instagram, has lifted the ban on former US President Donald Trump from using its platforms. The move comes a few weeks after Trump was allowed back on Twitter when users responded to a poll posted on Elon Musk’s Twitter new owner’s account.
In an article posted on Meta’s website, Nick Clegg, Meta’s President for Global Affairs, said the company is “ending the suspension of Trump’s accounts with new guardrails to deter repeat offenses.”
Clegg argued that the public should hear what politicians say to make informed choices.
Meta suspended Trump’s accounts indefinitely after January 6, 2021, violence at the US Capitol that took place at his urging.
Trump’s former campaign manager Brad Parscale said their campaign would not have won without Facebook.
Meta is confident this time around, Trump will behave, but to be sure, they have put some rules in place that, if violated, would send Trump back to social media Siberia. And since he has already offended, he’ll be on a short leash.
“In the event that Mr. Trump posts further violating content, the content will be removed and he will be suspended for between one month and two years, depending on the severity of the violation,” Clegg said.
So far, Trump is the only candidate who has declared a run for the 2024 presidential election on a Republican ticket.
Paul Pelosi Attack Video released
Video footage showing the brutal attack on Paul Pelosi, husband to the former speaker Nancy Pelosi, aired on Friday after a judge ordered its release.
The body-cam footage shows the assailant David DePape breaking into the Pelosi San Francisco home and the 9-11 call where Pelosi appeared to be sending a distress signal without agitating his attacker, who had taken him hostage, at his house.
When the police arrived at the house, both Pelosi, wearing shorts, and DePape, dressed in what appears to be cargo shorts and a sweater, was seen holding a hammer.
But when the police ordered them to drop the hammer, DePape wrestled it away from Pelosi and took a hard swing at his head.
The attack in October last year sparked conspiracy theories among conservatives, with some implying the speaker’s husband and DePape may have been lovers. But after the video release, some have changed their tune and backtracked, possibly fearing a defamation lawsuit.
US and Germany send tanks to Ukraine to help in the fight against Russia.
The US and German have sent war tanks to Ukraine to aid in the war against Russia. The tanks are yet another sign that the war is far from over.
Reports indicate the US has committed to sending 31 powerful M1 Abrams tanks, and Germany has committed to 14 Leopard 2 tanks, considered much easier for the Ukrainians to adapt to than the US-made tanks.
The Ukrainian President celebrated the decision to send in the tanks.
“[This is]An important step on the path to victory,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said, according to BBC. “Today the free world is united as never before for a common goal – liberation of Ukraine.”
Florida Gov Threatens ban black history AP course.
Florida Governor Ron Desantis has threatened to ban an African American Advanced Placement (AP) course saying it has no educational value and forcing course designers to scale down to avoid a confrontation with the conservative governor.
Desantis’ decision has sparked criticism from all over the country, charging him with racism and seeking to boost his presidential prospects on the backs of African American students.
In April last year, Desantis signed a law against teaching race-based courses that made one race uncomfortable. The law, dubbed the Stop Woke Law, targets people of color in Florida.
The move is not the first time Desantis has targeted people of color. On September 14, Desantis chartered two planes that picked up 48 migrants in San Antonio – not Florida – and dropped them off in Martha’s Vineyard without notice in a stunt that pleased conservatives.
The objection to the African American AP course is the latest in Desantis’ effort to bolster his conservative credentials as a tough-on minorities Republican.
SPORTS
Eagles and Chiefs Super Bowl LVII Clash Already Has a Winning Fan
Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs will meet in the Super Bowl Showdown scheduled for Sunday, February 12, in Arizona. And one mother will go home with a win regardless of which team prevails.
Donna Kelce is making history as the first mother to have two sons play against each other in the Super Bowl. Her sons, Travis Kelce and Jason Kelse, play for the Chiefs and the Eagles, respectively.
Donna has devised a creative way to cheer for her two sons simultaneously. In her media rounds, Donna wore a split jersey to represent the colors and logos of both teams.
And when asked which team she’ll cheer for in the field, she had a ready answer.
“The offense,” Donna told the Today Show, laughing. “Everytime somebody has the ball.”
The Eagles dominated the San Francisco 49niners in a one-sided game that ended with a 31-7 score, and the Chiefs defeated Cincinnati Bengals 23-20 in a thrilling match that went down to the wire and decided by a field goal.
Kenyan Rugby global world Star— Collins Injera hangs boots.
On Wednesday, Collins Injera, the Kenyan rugby global star, called it quits on the Rugby sport. He retires at 36.
Everything must come to an end sometime. I have always said that I will know it’s time because my body will tell me. For the past few months, it has really ‘spoken’ to me, so; finally, I have decided to listen to it,” Injera said in a statement.
“Thank you, Lord, for giving me the strength, opportunities, and protection to be able to play the game I really love for this long,” he said.
Injera played his first match for Kenya Simbas against Southern Spears in South Africa in 2005 & his last with the 15s team at the Repechage Rugby World Cup Final qualifying tournament against Hong Kong on November 11, 2022, in France.
Injera retires, having achieved numerous feats as a rugby player. He was the IRB Sevens Player of the Year Nominee in 2008/2009. He was the IRB Sevens Top Try Scorer 2008/2009. He was awarded the SOYA Awards Sportsman of the Year in 2009. The same year, he was bestowed with the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya (OGW).
He also helped Kenya Rugby 7s national team reach and win the finals of the Singapore 7s Cup in 2016.
AFRICA
Outrage after Cameroonian Journalist assassinated
On January 23, a Cameroonian Journalist, Martinez Zogo, was found dead a few days after unidentified assailants abducted him.
Zogo’s wife told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that her husband’s naked and mutilated body was recovered in a state of decomposition in a nearby town of Soa.
Zogo is not the first Cameroonian journalist to die under suspicions the government had a hand. Samuel Wazizi, another Cameroonian journalist, died in 2019 while in government custody, and the government failed to inform the family about his death for almost a year.
CPJ issued a statement and demanded answers from Cameroon’s government.
“Cameroonian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the shocking abduction and killing of journalist Martinez Zogo,” said Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator. “Zogo’s brutal death is only the most recent attack on press freedom in Cameroon, which remains one of Africa’s worst jailers of journalists, and where there remains a woeful lack of information on the 2019 death of journalist Samuel Wazizi in government custody.”
Cameroonians in the diaspora have decried the killing and blamed President Paul Biya’s government.
Homosexuality in Ugandan Schools
On Tuesday, Uganda’s Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa raised concerns over alleged increasing cases of homosexuality in Ugandan schools.
On January 24, Tayebwa said that male students fear being sodomized.
“I talked to one student personally, and he told me that in one of their schools, you cannot move around in the compound at night. He is from a male school, one of the prominent male schools. He told me that, ‘you fear being grabbed and sodomized’,” the Daily Monitor newspaper quoted Tayebwa as saying.
The Deputy Speaker called on Parliament’s Committee to investigate the matter, lest “the next generation will be destroyed.”
“Some of the children and parents are dying in silence. So, the Committee on Education, this is a matter you have to give urgent priority. It is an issue that we must tackle head-on without fearing anyone,” the deputy speaker said.
Exiled Lissu Returns home in Dar es Salaam.
Tanzanian opposition leader and former presidential candidate Tundu Lissu returned home after more than two years in exile in Europe to a cheering crowd on Wednesday.
Lissu returned after the government of President Samia Suluhu lifted a ban on political rallies put in place by the late former President John Magufuli.
Lissu, a former lawmaker and a harsh critic of the government, originally left the country to seek treatment abroad after unknown gunmen shot him 16 times, mostly in his lower abdomen, in the administrative capital Dodoma in 2017.
In early 2018, he flew to Belgium for medical operations, where he chose to stay together with his family.
The former MP for Singida East under CHADEMA Party is currently the deputy chairperson of his party and its chief legal officer. He has declared that his top focus is campaigning for a new constitution.
Cholera Death Toll Hit Highest Records in Malawi
Malawi’s worst cholera outbreak in history has left more than 1,000 people dead.
According to the health minister, Khumbize Chiponda, cases on Wednesday reached 30,621.
The death toll surpassed the largest recorded outbreak, which killed 968 people between 2001 and 2002, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Chiponda on Wednesday called on people to take extra care handling the bodies of cholera victims before funerals.
France withdraws troops from Burkina Faso.
France will withdraw its troops from Burkina Faso in February after the military junta asked it to leave.
Protests by opponents of the French military presence have swelled in Burkina, partly related to assumptions that France has done little to tackle the Islamist militants’ insurgency that has spread in recent years from neighboring Mali.
A day after the decision, on Wednesday, France recalled its ambassador to Burkina Faso. The French foreign ministry said Luc Hallade was returning for consultations on the state of relations between Paris and its former West African colony.
Nigeria’s Tinubu alleges the system wants to scuttle his presidential dream.
Nigerian presidential candidate Bola Tinubu Wednesday made claims that powerful people are trying to sabotage his electoral chances.
Speaking to a crowd on the campaign trail in Ogun state on Wednesday, Tinubu said that fuel shortage in the country and moves by authorities to ban old Naira notes as legal tender in favor of newly invented notes were hidden attempts to stop him from becoming President.
However, according to a BBC report, President Muhammadu Buhari said introducing new notes is meant to help fight corruption, counterfeit money, and the illegal hoarding of cash.