Monday 2 June 2025 {HMC}  The resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly concluded late Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with the adoption of a bold strategic plan aimed at tackling the global housing crisis.

More than 1,300 delegates, including ministers, city mayors, urban planners, innovators, donors, campaigners, and entrepreneurs, attended the premier event that ran from Thursday to Friday.

Held every four years, the assembly is the world’s highest decision-making body on sustainable urbanization and human settlement, composed of 193 UN member states.

Kenyan President William Ruto hailed the consensus-based adoption of the United Nations Human Settlements Program’s (UN-Habitat) Strategic Plan 2026-2029, saying it will guide the establishment of climate-smart and inclusive cities in the future.

“The adoption of this strategic plan reaffirms our commitment to urban renewal through equitable and adequate access to housing,” Ruto said, urging UN member states to establish global champions for affordable housing.

Besides adopting the strategic plan for tackling the global housing crisis, the two-day meeting elected a new presidency of the assembly to be shared by Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2025 to 2029 alongside 36 members of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat.

During the assembly, it was also announced that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on May 17-22, 2026, under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.”

The UN-Habitat’s strategic plan seeks to boost access to housing, land, and basic services, such as clean drinking water and sanitation, aligning with the global quest for converting cities into hubs for green innovation, prosperity, and resilience.

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN-Habitat, said the plan is rooted in the bold vision of transforming cities through upgrading informal settlements, improving land governance, accelerating climate action, and eradicating poverty.

Rossbach stressed that political goodwill, innovative financing, partnerships, and targeted use of technology will be key to hastening the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring that urbanization is both resilient and sustainable.

Alice Wahome, Kenya’s cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, who read Ruto’s speech, said the strategy presents a solid blueprint for realizing urban renewal through increased access to decent shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, and waste management.

In addition, the plan will boost post-recovery efforts in cities reeling from conflicts, poverty, inequalities, and fragilities linked to the climate crisis, Wahome said.

Monday 2 June 2025 {HMC} The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that cases of asthma, pneumonia, flu, and the common cold might spike in Nairobi County and Highlands East of the Rift Valley due to the expected cold conditions the regions are expected to experience in the next three months.

In a statement, the weatherman has urged residents in these counties, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, Embu, Meru, Kiambu, Tharaka Nithi, Laikipia, and Nyandarua, to adhere to the directives from the Ministry of Health and dress warmly to shield themselves from the diseases.

The weatherman, in a statement on Saturday, May 31, has cautioned the public against using charcoal jikos in poorly ventilated houses.

“Respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia, flu, and the common cold are likely to increase over Nairobi County and the Highlands East of the Rift Valley due to the expected cold conditions,” the statement read.

“The public in these areas is advised to dress warmly and follow advice from the Ministry of Health. They are also advised to avoid using charcoal jikos in poorly ventilated houses, as they may produce carbon monoxide gas that is lethal when inhaled,” it added.

Kenya Met has further warned that there might be an increase in Malaria cases in the coastal region due to the warmer-than-average conditions that are expected in the region during this period.

The transmission of Malaria is, however, expected to remain “normal” over the Lake Victoria Basin, the Highlands West of the Rift Valley, and the Northwestern regions, according to Kenya Met.

Northeastern region residents have also been cautioned that cases of respiratory diseases and eye infections are likely to also accelerate in the next three months due to the windy and dry conditions the region is expected to receive.

“Health authorities are therefore advised to preposition and redistribute medical supplies and insect-treated nets in the affected areas,” it stated.

According to the weatherman, most of the country is expected to receive near to above-average rainfall between June and August.

Kenya Met has warned that low-lying areas in the Lake Victoria region may experience floods, while residents in the highlands West of the Rift Valley are expected to receive lightning strikes. Elgeyo Marakwet and West Pokot might experience landslides during this period.

Residents in these areas have been urged to remain vigilant and refrain from driving through moving water, in addition to not taking shelter near metallic structures or under trees. Authorities in these areas have further been encouraged to erect the necessary measures to mitigate possible risks.

Residents in Highlands West of the Rift Valley, Lake Victoria Basin, Central, and South Rift Valley have been encouraged to take advantage of the rains and focus on crop production in collaboration with the guidance of relevant agricultural authorities due to the adequate rains the regions are expected to receive.

Motorists, on the other hand, have been further advised to remain vigilant due to the expected foggy conditions on roads, especially along the Nairobi-Nakuru road. Kenya Met has further warned that the foggy conditions might also disrupt operations at the Wilson and Jomo Kenyatta International Airports.

The weatherman has encouraged residents who will receive rainfall to adopt rainwater harvesting practices to ensure that their water reserves are well secured. Residents in dry areas, on the other hand, have been urged to conserve and use the available water efficiently.

By Ken Muthomi 

Monday 2 May 2025 {HMC}  The President of Galmudug State, Mr. Ahmed Abdi Kariye, yesterday evening attended the inauguration ceremony of the Voting Registration Campaign in the Galmudug administration areas, held in Dhuusamareeb, the capital of Galmudug State.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of Interior of Galmudug, Mr. Abdi Mohamed Jama, urged the people of Galmudug to register to exercise their right to vote for their preferred candidates in the upcoming elections.

The President of Galmudug State, Mr. Ahmed Abdi Kariye (Qoor-Qoor), who officially launched the campaign, called upon all residents of Galmudug to participate in the registration process.

He also expressed his gratitude to the members of the National Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission who have arrived in Galmudug to oversee the conduct of the one-person-one-vote elections in the state.

The inauguration ceremony was well-attended, with representatives from both houses of the Galmudug State Assembly, members of the Independent National Electoral and Boundaries Commission, and various members of the Dhuusamareeb community present.

This marks a crucial step towards the implementation of the one-person-one-vote system in Galmudug, a significant development in the democratization process of the region and Somalia as a whole.

Monday 2 May 2025 {HMC} The Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, His Excellency Hamza Abdi Barre, today held a significant meeting with the President of the Republic of Djibouti, His Excellency Ismail Omar Guelleh, in Djibouti City.

The high-level discussions centered on strengthening the robust bilateral relations between Somalia and Djibouti, encompassing security, political, and economic cooperation, alongside broader regional issues.

Both leaders emphasized the imperative to further enhance the bonds of brotherhood and collaboration between their respective peoples.

Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre used the occasion to highlight the substantial achievements of the DanQaran Government across critical sectors, including development, security improvements, economic progress, political stability, and ongoing state-building initiatives.

He emphasized that these successes are a direct result of effective cooperation and collaboration among various government agencies.

The Prime Minister extended his profound gratitude to the government and people of Djibouti for their consistent and brotherly support to Somalia, stressing the vital importance of strategic cooperation between the two nations.

He particularly praised President Ismail Omar Guelleh’s crucial role in fostering peace and harmony throughout the region, especially among the Somali populace wherever they reside.

In response, President Ismail Omar Guelleh reiterated the commitment of the Djiboutian government and its people to stand by and support the Somali state.

He affirmed Djibouti’s ongoing efforts to contribute to peace, security, and stability within Somalia, reflecting the enduring solidarity between the two countries. The meeting served to reaffirm the deep-rooted alliance and shared vision of Somalia and Djibouti for a stable and prosperous Horn of Africa.