The Government has declared Monday, May 25, 2020 a public holiday to allow the Muslim community to celebrate Idd-ul-Fitr which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadhan. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i made the declaration on Wednesday through a gazette notice.
Microsoft today launched the Power African Community for African developers. The concept is similar to their earlier program dubbed NexTech Africa where like minds would converge and engage with tech experts from various parts of the world. “We will bring back the concept of Nextech but ongoing. This year we want to engage with you (African Developers) so much better through a series of virtual events. Events focused on Power Platform, Azure, M365 and much more.” said Dona Sakar, Microsoft’s principal advocate.
Facebook announced on Tuesday it is launching Shops, a service that will allow businesses to display and sell products on its platforms. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s CEO, is positioning Shops as a tool for small businesses, many of which have had to close their doors and move online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Burundians have begun voting in a tense presidential vote, with the election commission calling for a peaceful vote despite simmering political violence and the coronavirus pandemic. Burundians stood in long lines outside polling stations, which opened shortly after 6am local time, to elect not just their new president, but parliamentarians and local councillors, who in turn appoint the members of the Senate.
KOT on Twitter were outraged when a video emerged showing bull dozers destroying houses at the Ruai sewerage land at night when the government of Kenya said all demolitions have been suspended until Corona virus is resolved. This act comes days after Kariobangi North residents were evicted from their homes. With the nationwide curfew, partial lockdown where are these citizens meant to go during this COVID crisis? Is there something to this?
About one third of Kenyans/30.5 percent of Kenyans could not pay their monthly rent in April as the Covid-19 pandemic devastated monthly incomes. According to a survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), 21.5 percent of Kenyans unable to meet the monthly obligation met the charge in a timely manner prior to the virus outbreak in the country.
Tanzania’s government on Monday 18th May 2020, announced an indefinite ban on cargo drivers from Kenya in an escalated response to a recent directive by President Uhuru Kenyatta on mandatory COVID-19 screening at the border point. President John Magufuli’s government which has lifted most COVID-19 restrictions including a 14-day quarantine period for international tourists arriving in the country accused the Kenyan government of undermining free trade.
Telecoms regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya has set up a messaging service to identify genuine mobile phones in the country. “In furtherance of its consumer protection mandate, the Authority has set up a Mobile Messaging Service to aid users in ascertaining whether the mobile phone handsets they own or are about to purchase are genuine,” they said in a notice.
All Ugandans aged six years and above will be given free face masks in a bid to protect themselves against the coronavirus, President Yoweri Museveni has said. “This mask must be worn all the time when you are in public. Whether you are sneezing, talking or coughing. Since many people raised the issue that they cannot afford these masks, the government has decided to provide these masks to all Ugandans (aged) six years and above,” Mr Museveni said in a televised address.
South Korea to donate 100 million dollars to countries with vulnerable public health systems. "Korea will collaborate across borders to ensure that vaccines are distributed equally among all countries as a public good." What are you views on this? Which countries are these termed as having vulnerable public health systems? Leave your comments below.
