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While developed nations call for the end of fossil fuel utilization in the name of climate change, Africa still faces its biggest challenge yet: energy poverty. In 2022, over 600 million people lack access to electricity and over 900 million lack access to clean cooking solutions, with even more people falling into extreme poverty following the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, to date, over 620 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas has been discovered in Africa, with a further 300 tcf expected to be revealed in the upcoming years. This clean, accessible and widely available resource offers the solution to Africa’s energy crisis, and as such, various African stakeholders have been committed to the narrative that ‘gas is good for Africa.’

On the first day of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power conference this week in Dakar, H.E. Macky Sall, President of Senegal and Chairperson of the African Union explained that, “It would be an aberration to give up the exploitation of our resources while more than 600 million Africans still live in the dark…even if Africa exploited all of its current gas discoveries over 30 years, its cumulative emissions would represent barely 3.5% of global emissions. What counts in the end is that the exploitation of our resources is done in the best conditions of transparency and efficiency, for the improvement of the conditions of our populations and the progress of our countries. This is our duty.”

For Africa, the benefits of gas are multifold. In addition to producing far less emissions than coal and oil, the ability of the resource to electrify the continent, kickstart industrialization and unlock new opportunities for socioeconomic growth on the back of job creation, domestic market resurgence and multi-sector development is unparalleled.

“African countries need a reliable energy supply to provide the livelihoods to their people…in harnessing our oil and gas resources, we can reap the economic benefits that come with eradicating energy poverty. We can grow and diversify our economies; we can industrialize our economies; we will create well-paying jobs for our citizens and create opportunities for our private sector companies and entrepreneurs,” Hon. Tom Alweendo, Namibia’s Minister of Mines and Energy expressed.

This year, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has enhanced interest by international destinations in African gas projects, with the European Commission going as far as labelling gas as green. While Africa has been calling for this association for years, a looming energy crisis overseas has altered global energy plans. However, before Africa exports to Europe, the continent should capitalize and utilize its own resources for the good of its own development.

“The most secure market for African producers is Africa,” stated H.E. Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea, adding that, “To secure our future and reduce energy poverty, we need to create energy security. If we want more power in Africa, we need to stop talking about helping Europe. We need to focus on what Africa needs and then look externally.”

The need for widespread adoption of gas in Africa has driven continental stakeholders to push for an Africa-centric energy transition strategy, one in which gas continues to play a key role. While global stakeholders may object to the role of gas, the benefits the resource brings to Africa is unmatched. As H.E. Bruno Jean-Richard Itoua, Minister of Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Congo, stated, “There doesn’t need to be anymore debate about gas. We need to stop wasting time discussing why gas is the solution. We need to start producing as much as we can now.”

“It is our chance to be a catalyst for change. It is our chance to stand with Woodside and Kosmos and explore more. As we move to COP27, we have an amazing opportunity to never back down on gas. Gas is going to shape Africa, help us monetize and create more value for our economies. Let’s not back down on an industry that has been the driver of human civilization, that has ensured longer lives, more medicine, new opportunities, roads, buildings and so much more. We need to stand up and back Africa’s right to grow,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber during his opening remarks.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has mourned former Assistant Minister Sheikh Salim Mohamed Abdallah Balala, describing him as a great leader who had a clear vision for the country’s growth and development.

The late Sheikh Salim, who served as an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning from 1966 to 1974, was brother to Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala.

In his message of condolence and encouragement to the family, relatives and friends of Sheikh Salim, President Kenyatta said death has robbed the nation of an astute and progressive leader who played a key role in laying the foundation for the country’s socio-economic development.

“In this hour of great sorrow and grief, I convey my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family, relatives and friends,” the Head of State said in the message of condolence.

President Kenyatta observed that the late Sheikh Salim was a person of enormous influence, adding that his wise counsel and guidance will be missed by many.

“As we mourn and pay homage to this visionary leader, let us also celebrate his life and achievements,” the President said.

The President prayed to God to give the family of the former Assistant Minister the fortitude and courage to bear the painful loss.

By Jeff kizzilah

Kenya University Student Organisation have noted with concern about IEBC shortcomings in the just concluded election.

Speaking to the media in Nairobi KUSO president mr Anthony Manyara has said that the large number of petitioners in the supreme court clearly shows that the election was not upto the standards expected by kenyans.

The student leaders have urged the director of criminal investigation Mr. Kinoti to commence a thorough audit investigation into the IEBC kiems kits to determine the extent of which infiltration of the presidential results was.

“It must be noted that the IEBC failure to deliver a free and fair election does not only affect the contenders bit also the calender of schools and busineses across the country ” ,Manyara said.

“As students fraternity we are shocked by the level of shortcomings coming out from the IEBC commissioners and how the election was carried out”,He adds

Mr.Manyara is urging kenyans to remain peace as Kenyans awit the decision to be made by the Supreme court of Kenya.

by Maximilla Wafula

The Kenya independent comissions workers Union (KICOWU) led by secretary general Mr. Njeru Kanyamba today held a press briefing at their offices, demanding that the employees of the independent electoral and boundaries Commission (IEBC) staff have been facing threats and intimidation during and after the recent conducted National Elections and that a few officials of the Commission were abducted , threatened and at least one of them found dead.
The union mandate is to agitate for the rights and freedom of workers , they wish to condemn unreservedly the threats and or attacks on the workers whether by goons or sponsored schemes and ask that in future , the police officer sent to the polling station during elections are not only sent to protect votes , but also to ensure security of the staffs during the entire process.
Meanwhile KICOWU , wish to put ON NOTICE the chairman and CEO of the Commission Mr. Wafula Chebukati and Mr.Hussein Marjan that they have to continue to preside over a commission that does not respect the constitution of Kenya , Article 41and the Labour Relations Act, section 4 both of which allow every employee the freedom and right to join a Union .All this time, the managers of the Commission have refused or are unwilling to allow their employees to enjoy the Freedom of Association.

Following that there is a matter pending in court on the same they will wait for the conclusion of the case and ensure that Every Employee will enjoy the right to join and participate in a Union of their choice said Mr. Njeru Kanyamba.
Ends

By Nicholas Manduku

KICOWU the workers rights group have urge the IEBC commission free workers to join trade Union.

Mr.Njeru Kanyamba the Secretary general KICOWU have reiterated that

” As a union whose core mandate is to agitation for the rights and freedom of workers,we wish to condemn unreservedly the threats and attacks from their bosses tge iebc,” he said

” Whether by goons or sponsored schemes the police officers sent to the polling station must protect both votes as well as the majority workers from the iebc “,adds Mr.Kanyamba

Mr. Kanyamba said ,we would like to put Hon.Chebuka,who is the Chairman of Independent Electoral commission and the CEO Mr. Hussein Marjan failure to the thry will face the law.

As at now the moment the case is in court.

By Maximilla Wafula

Kenya on Friday held a farewell for beneficiaries of Hungary scholarships.

Ambassador Simon Nabukwesi, Principal Secretary, State Department for University Education and Research said that this year’s scholarship award from Hungary marks the highest number of Stipendium scholarship offered to Kenyans.

“It gives me great pleasure to address the young leaders leaving to various universities in Hungary on the prestigious Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship program funded by the Hungarian Government,” Nabukwesi said.

“I wish to sincerely congratulate you for winning the scholarship. You have triumphed in a highly competitive but deeply satisfying process. I thank the Hungarian Government for investing in the future of our youth through education,” he added. 

In this academic year (2022/23), a total of 200 full scholarships have been awarded to Kenyan students at various education levels that include; Undergraduate, Masters and PhD.  This is significant increase from last year where a total of 100 scholarships were awarded; a clear indication of the strong alliance and partnership between Hungary and Kenya.

The Government of Japan has provided an additional US$2 million (nearly XOF 1.3 billion) contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to help respond to the unprecedented food and nutrition needs in Mali.

With this funding, WFP will provide multi-faceted food and nutritional assistance to 89,000 crisis-affected women, men and children in Mali’s central, northern, and southern regions.

“This additional funding is vital for the communities we serve during this period of weakened livelihoods,” said Eric PERDISON, WFP’s Representative and Country Director in Mali.

“As part of the national response plan to food insecurity, we will provide cash transfers to the most vulnerable people, allowing them to choose what they need to feed their families and, simultaneously, strengthen local markets and develop the local economy.

Japan’s contribution comes at a time when nearly 2 million people in Mali (10% of the total population) are experiencing acute food insecure during the agricultural and pastoral lean season (June to August 2022), compared to 1.3 million at the same period last year. Communities affected by droughts and insufficient rainfall continue to suffer from the negative impacts of COVID-19 and inter-communal conflicts with one in two households in Mali being unable to meet their dietary needs while they are grappling with rising food prices.

Japan is a long-standing and strategic partner of WFP, particularly in Mali, where it is helping to address food insecurity and build resilient communities through asset creation like pastoral wells, market gardening, income generating activities, as well as nutritional support for pregnant and lactating women and children.  

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is expanding assistance in the Horn of Africa as levels of hunger soar after back-to-back droughts and the threat of famine looms. Since the start of the year, nine million more people have slipped into severe food insecurity across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, leaving 22 million people struggling to find enough food to eat.

WFP Executive Director David Beasley on Thursday wrapped up a visit to drought-ravaged Somalia, where over seven million people – close to half the population – are acutely food insecure and 213,000 are already facing famine-like conditions. Beasley visited the southern city of Baardheere and met families – including malnourished children and their mothers – forced to leave their homes and travel long distances through conflict-wracked areas in search of humanitarian assistance.

“People here have been waiting years for rain – but they cannot wait any longer for life-saving food assistance. The world needs to act now to protect the most vulnerable communities from the threat of widespread famine in the Horn of Africa,” said Beasley. “There is still no end in sight to this drought crisis, so we must get the resources needed to save lives and stop people plunging into catastrophic levels of hunger and starvation.”

WFP is tripling the number of people reached with life-saving food assistance in the Baardheere area, which hosts tens of thousands of people driven from their homes by drought and conflict,

Across the Horn of Africa, the drought is expected to continue in coming months, with a fifth poor rainy season forecast later this year. WFP has focused available funds, including critical emergency funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, on scaling up life-saving assistance in areas worst hit by the drought. WFP is targeting 8.5 million people across the Horn of Africa, up from 6.3 million at the start of the year.

Every year on 19 August, the humanitarian community comes together to celebrate World Humanitarian Day. Thirteen years after its first celebration, the aid community worldwide is grappling with the toll of a megacrisis. The devastating combination of conflicts, the climate emergency, geopolitics, the pandemic, poverty and a war has caused the number of people who need humanitarian assistance to reach a record 303 million.

As this megacrisis continues, humanitarian workers step up to respond every day by providing lifesaving assistance such as food and cash, health and clean water, protection services and emergency education to millions of women, children and men. Because as the saying goes, #ItTakesAVillage. Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a whole community to help people in need. As individuals, our impact is limited, but together we have tremendous power. In Burundi, the humanitarian community, alongside the Government, continues to provide for multi-sectoral assistance to 947,000 most vulnerable people out of the 1.8 million in need. However, despite the country progressively transitioning towards development, challenges remain. Burundi is among the 20 most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change, generating displacements, epidemics and affecting food security.

On this day celebrating the lifesaving actions of tireless aid workers, we also thank donors, continuously supporting humanitarian actors to carry on essential operations globally and here in Burundi. To date, the US$182 million Humanitarian Response Plan 2022 for Burundi is funded only at 13.5%. We continue to call on all donors to push their efforts further to allow humanitarians to reach all the people targeted by aid in Burundi.

From 19 to 26 August, an exhibition at the United Nations Information Centre in Bujumbura displays profiles of humanitarian workers. The exhibition is open to the public and provides an insight on the different professionals and community members needed to deliver to the most vulnerable people. It comes to show that it takes a village to provide assistance.

To mark the day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres declared that “Far from the spotlight and out of the headlines, humanitarians work around the clock to make our world a better place. Against incredible odds, often at great personal risk, they ease suffering in some of the most dangerous circumstances imaginable. On this year’s World Humanitarian Day, we celebrate humanitarians everywhere. We salute their dedication and courage, and pay tribute to those who lost their lives in pursuit of this noble cause. They represent the best of humanity.”

UN Resident Coordinator a.i Richmond Tiemoko affirmed that “World Humanitarian Day is an opportunity to highlight the effectiveness and the positive impact of humanitarian work, and to celebrate people who come together to ease suffering and bring hope.”

 President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness at the passing of  Struggle veteran and pioneering trade unionist Rita Alice Ndzanga.

Ms Ndzanga, passed away on Wednesday, 17 August 2022, at the age of 88.

She was an Esteemed Member of the National Order of Luthuli who was honoured in 2004 for her lifetime contribution to the struggle for workers’ rights and to the realisation of a non-racial, non-sexist, free and democratic South Africa.

President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are with the family, friends and comrades of the late veteran who was subjected to detention and banning as a result her activism against apartheid.

Born in Ventersdorp in 1933, the young Ms Ndzanga became a labour organiser in male-dominated industrial sectors and played a role in the formation of the South African Congress of Trade Unions.

President Ramaphosa said: “Our nation and especially our progressive movements and organised labour, will remember and continue to honour Mama Rita Ndzanga for dedicating the many decades of her life to advancing the fundamental rights of all South Africans.

“As a young woman who witnessed the birth of apartheid and its ravages over time, Rita Ndzanga took a stand that endangered her own freedom and security so that all of us could be free and secure today.

“The death in detention of her husband, Lawrence, was among the many profound sacrifices forced on Mama Rita during her life of struggle in which she put the interests and comfort of others first.

“Her service to workers on the factory floor and her contribution as a Member of Parliament are part of a legacy we can and should respect while this stalwart rests in peace.”