🇰🇪KenyaEast Africa
Oloolua Forest run launches comprehensive conservation and community livelihood initiative
via Tuko2 min read
A symbolic run at Oloolua Forest marked the beginning of a structured conservation effort, officially flagged off by Principal Secretary for the National Treasury, Dr. Chris Kiptoo. The initiative, spearheaded by Principal Secretary for Irrigation, Ephantus Kimotho, aims to restore, protect, and rethink conservation in Kenya, moving beyond tree planting to integrate sustainability, livelihoods, and long-term environmental protection. Senior government officials, including Principal Secretaries Dr. Festus Ng’eno Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Abraham Sing’Oei Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Patrick Mariru Defence, joined the event. The program includes flagging off 10,000 tree seedlings for planting within Oloolua Forest and introducing a circular economy framework for waste management, with plans for waste segregation points and collaboration with recycling firms. It also extends to surrounding communities, providing clean energy solutions like solar lighting and energy-efficient cooking stoves to reduce reliance on firewood. Farmers in the Ngong area will receive support for climate-smart agriculture practices such as drip irrigation, agroforestry, and improved soil management. The initiative is projected to benefit approximately 1.5 million people, including around 300,000 households, through improved water access, air quality, stronger livelihoods, and expanded eco-tourism opportunities. Officials emphasize that sustained partnerships, active community participation, and con
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Tuko.
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union KMPDU has condemned an attack on healthcare workers at Gertrude's Children's Hospital by a patient's relatives. In a statement released on Tuesday, June 9, KMPDU Secretary General Dr. Davji Bhimji Atellah reported that a pediatric dentist, theatre staff, and nursing team members at the hospital's Muthaiga branch were physically assaulted and intimidated on June 5. The union described the incident as unsettling and a reminder of the increasing threat of workplace violence against healthcare workers in Kenya. KMPDU emphasized that healthcare professionals should not face threats, abuse, or physical assault while providing care, stating that such attacks compromise patient care, undermine staff morale, and create unsafe environments. The union called for prompt investigations by the National Police Service and the KMPDC, demanding that those responsible be identified, apprehended, and prosecuted. KMPDU also urged the hospital management to cooperate fully with investigations and warned against any attempts to conceal the incident, affirming its commitment to accountability and stronger protections for healthcare workers.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations DCI Anti-Narcotics Unit arrested four individuals, including two foreign nationals, during an intelligence-led operation targeting suspected drug trafficking in Nairobi. The raid at Denluck Apartment led to the apprehension of Gabriel Moses Mathai, 26, Gerald Otieno, 28, Danilo Pejevic, a 25-year-old Serbian national, and Lukundo Samuel Sikombe, a 25-year-old Tanzanian female national. Officers recovered suspected bhang, including green plant material, along with items believed to be used in the processing, packaging, and distribution of narcotics, such as a weighing scale, scissors, lighters, Rizla rolling papers, a crusher, rolling materials, and small envelopes. The suspects are currently held at Muthaiga Police Station, and all recovered exhibits have been transferred to DCI Headquarters for documentation, safe storage, and forensic analysis as investigations continue. The DCI reiterated its commitment to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse, urging public cooperation in providing information for ongoing operations.
Must ReadFresh protests erupted in Nanyuki as residents opposed a planned US-backed Ebola quarantine facility at Laikipia Air Base. Police deployed heavily, using teargas to disperse demonstrators, and businesses in the town were shut. This project has been a source of tension since earlier protests this month, which resulted in two deaths and numerous arrests. The proposed 50-bed facility, costing approximately KSh 1.68 billion, is intended to isolate American citizens exposed to Ebola in Africa, following outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Public anger escalated after claims that US military aircraft landed at the air base despite a court order temporarily halting the project. On May 29, the High Court suspended the facility pending a full hearing and directed the government to release related documents. The US Embassy in Nairobi issued a security advisory for American citizens in Laikipia, warning of planned protests in Nanyuki and potential additional demonstrations.