Wednesday 23, April  2025 {HMC} Heavy rainfall in Kenya’s capital Nairobi on Tuesday has left three people dead and displaced hundreds of others, police said.

A woman and her two children were killed in Mathare Phase 4 after a wall collapsed on their home during torrential rains. Police said two died at the scene while the third died en route to the hospital.

More than 500 families were forced from their homes in informal settlements, authorities said.

Emergency teams urged residents to remain cautious as the Kenya Meteorological Department warned of ongoing heavy rain through April 28.

The director of the department David Gikung said intense rainfall is expected in various regions nationwide.

Residents have posted videos and photos on social media showing vehicles and homes swept away by floodwaters. Many users criticized the government for failing to upgrade drainage systems, calling out repeated unkept promises.

SOURCE

Wednesday 23, April  2025 {HMC} Two Kenyans and a Somali national facing terror-related charges will remain in custody for a month after a Nairobi court denied them bond on Tuesday.

Kenyans Noor Yakub Ali and Yusuf Malim, and Isaq Abdi Hasan of Somalia are accused of orchestrating an attack against Kenyan security officers and being members of the al-Shabaab terror group.

The trio is charged with conspiring to commit a terrorist act in Mandera town on or before February 18, 2025.

Principal magistrate Gideon Kiage of the Kahawa Law Courts ruled in favour of the prosecution, finding that there are compelling reasons to restrict the trio’s rights due to the seriousness of the case.

“This is a serious matter which the defence does not deny. Given the nature of the attack and the gravity of the charges, the court finds the prosecution’s concerns valid and grounded in precedent related to this case,” ruled Justice Kiage.

During that attack, one police officer lost his life, another sustained serious injury, and two firearms were taken.

The court deferred the decision on bail and bond for 30 days to allow the prosecution to finalise disclosures and secure any evidence they intend to rely upon.

By Dzuya Walter

Wednesday 23, April  2025 {HMC} The plane carrying the head of state touched down at Beijing Danxing International Airport 8pm local time(3 pm Kenyan time)

President Ruto was received by China’s Transport Minister Liu Wei.

Ruto, who is accompanied by First Lady Mama Rachel among other senior government officials, was received also received by other top Chinese leaders, including Kenya’s ambassador to China, Willy Bett.

Also present to receive him was Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, and other cabinet secretaries who are already in the country.

This historic visit marks the first by an African leader since the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), underscoring Kenya’s strategic partnership with China.

Talks between President Ruto and his host will centre around China’s investment in Kenya’s critical infrastructural projects, strengthening of the Global South cooperation, regional peace and security, among other issues of global concern.

China has played a crucial role in delivering some of Kenya’s signature infrastructure projects, among them the Standard Gauge Railway, Nairobi Expressway, Lamu Port, and the Kipevu Oil Terminal.

It is the third time he has visited the country since he took power. Ruto’s visit coincided with the arrival of his Azerbaijani counterpart, President Ilham Aliyev, who is also on a state visit to the East Asian country. China and Azerbaijan are strategic partners.

During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold separate talks with the two visiting leaders and a state banquet. President Aliyev will draw a new blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations between the two nations.

Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will meet with the two leaders separately to have in-depth exchanges of views on cooperation in various areas.

The meeting will bring together more than 100 companies from both countries to explore new opportunities in trade, investment, digital innovation, and industrial growth.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said in an interview Monday that the President will hold bilateral talks with President Jinping to advance shared priorities in economic transformation, sustainable development, and global cooperation.

He also clarified that Ruto’s visit is not merely transactional but to deepen its relations. “It is about developing an understanding of where we are and where we want to be as two friendly nations,” he said.

by FELIX KIPKEMOI

Wednesday 23, April  2025 {HMC} A powerful 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Türkiye’s Istanbul on Wednesday, injuring 151 people in panic-driven incidents, none of whom suffered life-threatening wounds, officials said.

The earthquake’s epicenter was in Istanbul’s Silivri district, according to the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).

The quake hit at 12.49 local time (0949 GMT) and was felt strongly across Istanbul, home to over 15 million people, and neighboring provinces, prompting residents to flee buildings in fear.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of nearly 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), and it lasted 13 seconds, said Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya.

The governor’s office added that 151 citizens were injured after jumping from heights out of panic and that their treatment is ongoing in hospitals, with none of them in a life-threatening condition.

Two aftershocks, each measuring 4.9 in magnitude, followed the main quake — first at 13.02 and again at 15.12 local time — both with epicenters off the coast of Buyukcekmece in the Sea of Marmara.

AFAD said that following the assessment of reports received by the 112 Emergency Call Center, there were currently no reports of casualties or destruction.

The agency said all relevant institutions and response teams had been mobilized, and field scans were underway to assess potential damage and ensure public safety.

Istanbul’s governor’s office also said that so far “no reports of destruction have been received, and our relevant units are continuing their field scanning efforts.”

It warned citizens not to enter buildings that were damaged or suspected to be damaged due to the tremors, to avoid using vehicles unless necessary, and to refrain from using mobile networks except in emergencies.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “I extend my well wishes to our citizens; we are closely monitoring the developments.”

He received information about the earthquakes from the interior minister, environment minister, and health minister, as well as the head of AFAD and the governor of Istanbul, according to the Communications Directorate.

“Thankfully, there appears to be no troubling situation at the moment,” Erdogan said.

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Anadolu staff 

Wednesday 23, April  2025 {HMC} The Minister of Finance of the Federal Government of Somalia, H.E. Bihi Iman Egeh, held a high-level meeting with Mr. Eric Meyer, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa and the Middle East at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, on the sidelines of the 2025 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Washington, D.C.

The meeting provided an opportunity to review Somalia’s ongoing economic reform program, which is supported by the IMF and aimed at fostering macroeconomic stability, promoting inclusive growth, and advancing institutional reforms, including currency reform. Both sides exchanged views on the progress made so far and the next steps in the reform journey.

Minister Egeh and Deputy Assistant Secretary Meyer also explored ways to further strengthen cooperation between Somalia and the United States, particularly in the areas of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT). Enhancing legal and institutional frameworks to combat financial crimes remains a key priority for Somalia as it continues to rebuild a resilient financial sector and improve public financial management.

The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Somalia and the United States and underscored their shared commitment to advancing stability, economic recovery, and good governance.