Oxford University Press has unveiled a third edition English dictionary for learners in east and central Africa, giving pupils in primary school the opportunity to excel in their lessons and exams. The dictionary, which include some new words commonly used in the region will help learners how to communicate effectively and recognise their culture.
African governments are lagging behind in open data, and are keeping data locked away as citizens demand accountability a new Open Data Barometer report has revealed. The report gives a global snapshot of how governments are using open data for accountability, innovation and social impact. The report revealed that key accountability metrics such as government spending, elections, public contracts, company ownership and land ownership are among the least open and often poor quality. The report recommends that government-held data must be open by default and follow the principles set out in the Open Data Charter.
Today Africans across the continent celebrate Mother’s Day. Google used its doodle to pay tribute to mothers. The animated doodle shows the story of a cactus mom through various stages of motherhood. The doodle honours mothers across the world and celebrates the sacrifices mothers make for their children. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms in the world, and we thank you for all the sacrifices, and love.
World Malaria Day was celebrated with the news of a new malaria vaccine. Kenya, Malawi, and Ghana have been chosen for the pilot programme. The project will begin in the three countries next year. The injectable vaccine RTS,S was developed to protect young children from the most deadly form of malaria, WHO has said.
Kenyans woke up over the weekend to a video of two plain clothes policemen shooting dead a young man suspected to be an armed robber. The spate of crime on Kenyan streets, as well as the killings of policemen in the past months has left the country divided over the actions of the policemen. Rights groups have urged authorities to ensure that security officers urged to respect the rights of accused.
Warning: The video contains graphic images that might be disturbing to some.
Kenya’s internet is faster, and cheaper as compared to many countries around the world a report by Akamai, a leading Content Delivery Network revealed. Out of the 108 countries sampled globally, Kenya ranked number 23, and the country is the top ranked African country, with the fastest internet connectivity speed. The fast and reliable internet in Kenya has significantly influenced the improvement of e-commerce, generating enormous social, and economic benefits for the country.
Professor Tomohiko Sugishita doesn’t believe in drive-by kindness. Starting from when he was a newly-minted medical doctor taking care of the medical needs of 2 million Malawians at the height of the HIV epidemic in 1995, Professor Sugishita has always believed in sinking deep roots into a community and helping it help itself. He recently sat down for an interview with veteran Kenyan journalist Wycliffe Muga and opened up about what lit his fire for medicine, his long years of medical practice in Africa and why he has come to believe in the “unlearning process”.
Six aid workers were ambushed and killed in South Sudan last week. The aid workers were travelling from the country’s capital, Juba to Pibor. The victims included three South Sudanese and three Kenyans. The U.N says, close to 80 aid workers have been killed in South Sudan since the beginning of the conflict in December 2013. The continued killing of aid workers severely affects the provision of humanitarian assistance to vulnerable people in a country facing famine, and political instability. The attack has continued to draw strong criticism across the world.
An “Arts and Culture for Better Planet” NAAM Festival is seeking to save Lake Victoria from pollution and depletion by the riparian communities, through photo exhibitions. The festival, which seeks justice to save Lake Victoria, one of the world’s largest fresh water bodies is underway in East African Community states.
In a new memoir, Ngugi wa Thiong’o revisits his time at Makerere and leaves Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire with a nostalgia for a university that once was.
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