Thousands of Kenyan anti-tax protesters enter parliament and part of the building is on fire as legislators flee

Probe begins into police conduct during Kenya's anti-government protests

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — An investigation began Friday in Kenya into police conduct during protests against a government plan to impose new taxes, according to the country's police watchdog. The chairperson of Kenya's Independent Policing Oversight Authority, Anne Makori, lauded...

Thousands in Kenya demonstrate against proposed new taxes

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Thousands of mostly young people demonstrated Thursday in Kenya’s capital and across the country against new tax proposals by the administration of President William Ruto in its annual budget legislation. The protests brought Nairobi’s central business...

It's hard to find treatment for snakebites in Kenya. Thousands of people are dying every year

MWINGI, Kenya (AP) — Esther Kangali felt a sharp pain while on her mother’s farm in eastern Kenya. She looked down and saw a large snake coiling around her left leg. She screamed, and her mother came running. Kangali was rushed to a nearby health center, but it lacked antivenom...

More than 200 arrested in Kenya protests over proposed tax hikes in finance bill

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — More than 200 protesters have been arrested in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, in ongoing protests against proposed tax hikes in a finance bill that is due to be tabled in parliament. Civil society groups said that demonstrations and a planned sit-down outside...

Cooking and coughing: Respiratory diseases plague Kenya as more people burn wood to save money

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Piles of firewood surrounded Jane Muthoni in her kitchen made of iron sheets. The roof, walls and wooden pillars were covered in soot. As she blew on the flame for tea, the 65-year-old was engulfed in smoke. “I’ve used firewood all my life," she said....

Kenyan president Ruto defends cost of private jet for US trip while calling for prudent spending

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan President William Ruto said Thursday the cost of hiring a private jet for his state visit to the U.S. last week was $76,000 as opposed to the $1.2 million reported by Kenyan media outlets. Ruto said some friends offered him a cheaper jet after he made...

Climate change and rapid urbanization worsened the impact of East African rains, scientists say

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The impact of the calamitous rains that struck East Africa from March to May was intensified by a mix of climate change and rapid growth of urban areas, an international team of climate scientists said in a study published Friday. The findings come from World...

At international energy conference, delegates push to make clean cooking accessible to all

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Participants at a global conference on how to reduce the world's energy use are calling for universal access to clean cooking through government incentives and subsidies to unlock more private sector funds. The Paris-based International Energy Agency's 9th...

Poor Kenyans feel devastated by floods and brutalized by the government's response

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Winnie Makinda, 35, says she is facing the worst crisis and lowest moment of her life because of the Kenyan government's response to floods that devastated her poor community in the capital of Nairobi. The floods and mudslides swept away people and inundated...