Africa

2026-04-242026-10-31

News reports

Order a long-term news report on Africa

Every mention in the Kenyan press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

October 2026
29 OctThe Standard
Audio By VocalizePresident William Ruto has urged Russia to invest in African manufacturing, saying the continent must stop exporting raw materials and importing finished goods. …
Ruto to Russia: Invest in African factories, not just raw material exports
29 OctThe Standard
On a March afternoon in 1993, Alain Prost brought his Williams home first at Kyalami, just north of Johannesburg, and Formula One quietly packed its crates and left Africa. …
Kigali took the chequered flag while Nairobi was still looking for the keys
28 OctCitizen Digital
… ‘partnerships of mutual benefit’ By Mary Gathu October 28, 2026 02:03 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter President William Ruto (left) received by Russian officials when he arrived for the Third Russia–Africa …
Ruto woos Russian investors for ‘partnerships of mutual benefit’
28 OctCitizen Digital
… (Photo by MAXIM SHIPENKOV / POOL / AFP) Audio By Vocalize Russia will host almost two dozen African leaders in Moscow on Wednesday and Thursday, seeking to further buttress ties with countries it sees as "natural allies" against the West. …
Russia woos African leaders at Moscow summit
28 OctCitizen Digital
Dangote, Nigeria's oil tycoon rewriting Africa's story By AFP October 28, 2026 05:58 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Nigerian billionaire at the Dangote Refinery in Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria on September …
Dangote, Nigeria's oil tycoon rewriting Africa's story
28 OctThe Standard
… Curiously, India, despite its proximity to Africa, is rarely in the Kenyan news. …
Jokes aside, let's start rearing domesticated buffaloes
28 OctThe Standard
… That gap tells us more about Africa’s food system than most policy documents do. …
From farm to plate: The missing link in Kenya's food security
28 OctThe Standard
Audio By VocalizePresident William Ruto is seeking Russian investment in Kenyan manufacturing and infrastructure as he attends the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow. …
Ruto courts Russian investors to narrow Kenya's trade gap
28 OctThe Standard
… The country is also a major market for solar home systems in East Africa. The International Energy Agency reported that Kenya accounted for almost 74 per cent of solar home system sales in the region in 2023.However, access to equipment alone does not guarantee adoption, with upf …
Solar firms to list inverters, batteries on online marketplace
28 OctThe Standard
… Data cited by the initiative estimates that air pollution was the second-leading risk factor for death in Africa in 2019, contributing to about 1.1 million deaths.The initiative has been named among 15 finalists for the 2026 Earthshot Prize in the Clean Our Air category. …
How air quality monitors are helping track pollution across five counties

World & Region

African Union calls for stronger AI and cybersecurity capabilities

The News

The African Union has urged the continent to develop native artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure, warning that Africa must help shape global technology rules rather than remain a consumer of the digital revolution. AU Commissioner Lerato D. Mataboge made the call at a ministerial session in Gabon, stating that Africa is at a defining moment in digital transformation.

30 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Yesterday

African Union calls for stronger AI and cybersecurity capabilities
The African Union has urged the continent to develop native artificial intelligence capabilities, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure, warning that Africa must help shape global technology rules rather than remain a consumer of the digital revolution. AU Commissioner Lerato D. Mataboge made the call at a ministerial session in Gabon, stating that Africa is at a defining moment in digital transformation.
30 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Africa should seek processing, trade parity with Russia, analyst says
Kenyan analyst Raphael Obonyo argues that African countries should demand greater participation in production, processing, and trade in partnerships with Russia, moving away from exporting raw materials and importing finished goods at higher costs. He identifies agriculture, energy, transport, and infrastructure as critical sectors for deepened investment and cooperation, and calls for technology transfer and skills development to strengthen African productive capacity.
30 October 2026 · Capital News →
Soil testing should guide farmer input decisions
Many Kenyan and African farmers make planting and fertiliser decisions without understanding their soil condition, leading to wasted resources and poor yields. Soil testing can reveal nutrient levels and soil properties to improve agricultural productivity.
30 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenafric launches $10m fund for African consumer businesses
Kenafric Group has launched Kenafric Ventures, a $10 million corporate venture fund targeting early-stage consumer businesses across Africa that have demonstrated product-market fit. The fund will invest between $100,000 and $2 million in companies in food and beverage, beauty and personal care, and consumer retail, while providing access to Kenafric's manufacturing, distribution and market expertise.
30 October 2026 · The Standard →
Kenya receives 15,000 smart weather stations for smallholder farmers
An Austrian agricultural technology company plans to install 100,000 smart weather stations across Africa, with Kenya receiving 15,000 units. The stations will collect localised data on rainfall, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and leaf wetness to help farmers make decisions on planting, irrigation, fertiliser application and pest and disease control through the FieldClimate digital platform.
30 October 2026 · The Standard →

Thursday 29 October

Africa's biodiversity goals face data, funding, capacity gaps
African countries lack adequate biodiversity data systems, technical expertise, and sustainable financing to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework, regional institutions warned at COP17. Regional centres and global partners are working to strengthen the technical systems and institutions needed for countries to implement and report on their biodiversity commitments at scale.
29 October 2026 · Capital News →
African governments urged to increase domestic food security funding
At the 17th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security, officials called on African governments to increase domestic funding for food security programmes and integrate agriculture, health, water management and nutrition into national development plans to build resilient food systems amid climate shocks and water mismanagement threats.
29 October 2026 · Capital News →
Ruto calls on Russia to invest in African industry and technology
President William Ruto addressed the third Russia–Africa Summit in Moscow, urging Russia to invest in African industries, technology transfer, and skills development. Ruto said Africa must move away from exporting raw materials and importing finished products, and instead establish manufacturing capacity, innovate, and create jobs through partnerships.
29 October 2026 · Capital News →
AI economic impact will exceed Africa's mobile money revolution
Tech leaders predict that artificial intelligence's economic transformation will surpass the impact of the mobile money boom in Africa, and are calling on African countries to urgently invest in local data centres and renewable energy. Sub-Saharan Africa currently processes roughly $1.4 trillion annually in mobile money transactions, with Kenya's registered mobile money accounts reaching 94.2 million by June 2026.
29 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Ukraine military operations in Africa risk spreading European conflict
A CNN report from September 2026 documents Ukrainian military specialists supporting local rebel forces in Mali and Ukrainian operations in Libya and Sudan. An opinion article warns African governments that the Russia-Ukraine war's expanding geopolitical reach risks drawing African countries into a conflict not theirs to fight.
29 October 2026 · The Standard →
Ruto urges Russia to invest in African manufacturing, not raw materials
President William Ruto told the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow that Africa must stop exporting raw materials and importing finished goods, calling instead for investment in manufacturing, agricultural production, energy infrastructure and skills development. He cited Kenya's trade imbalance with Russia — bilateral trade of $380 million in 2025, with Kenyan exports of $52 million against imports of $330 million — and said Africa captures only a fraction of the value from its natural resources because processing and manufacturing happen outside the continent.
29 October 2026 · The Standard →
Formula One's absence from Africa since 1993 race
Alain Prost won the last Formula One race held in Africa at Kyalami in March 1993, after which the sport left the continent and never returned. A person born in Nairobi that year is now in their 30s and has never seen a Formula One race on the African continent.
29 October 2026 · The Standard →

Wednesday 28 October

Ruto invites Russian investors to partner with Kenya
President William Ruto told Russian investors at a Moscow business roundtable on October 28, 2026, that he seeks partnerships combining Russian capital, technology, and expertise with Kenya's resources and market access, with emphasis on energy, mining, fertiliser production, engineering, transport, and manufacturing.
28 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Russia hosts African leaders at Moscow summit
Russia hosted almost two dozen African leaders at the third Russia-Africa summit in Moscow in late October, seeking to strengthen ties with countries it views as "natural allies" against the West while providing security assistance to several African governments.
28 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Dangote's African refinery IPO targets billions in investment
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa's richest man, is conducting what he calls "the people's IPO" for his flagship mega-oil refinery in Lagos, initially targeting $1.6 billion but attracting three to four times that interest. The offering, which closes on Tuesday, was extended to broaden African participation, with shares priced at $0.40 each and a $4 minimum investment.
28 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
India's buffalo domestication offers Kenya agricultural opportunity
The author argues that Kenya should consider domesticating buffaloes as livestock, pointing to India's success in rearing domesticated water buffaloes for milk and other products as a potential model for African agricultural development.
28 October 2026 · The Standard →
Farm-to-plate inefficiency undermines Kenya's food affordability
An opinion piece argues that Kenya's food insecurity stems not from production shortages but from middleman costs and inefficiencies in the supply chain between farmers and consumers, leaving producers with low margins and buyers unable to afford nutritious meals.
28 October 2026 · The Standard →
Ruto seeks Russian investment in Kenyan manufacturing and infrastructure
At the Third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, President Ruto said bilateral trade between Kenya and Russia stood at about Sh49.4 billion in 2025, with Kenya running a trade deficit, and called for Russian companies to establish production facilities in Kenya in sectors including fertiliser manufacturing, mining, and agro-processing.
28 October 2026 · The Standard →
Solar suppliers expand online marketplace access to equipment
Kenya's solar equipment suppliers are adopting digital platforms to connect manufacturers with households, businesses and installers as solar power grows to 14.74 per cent of the country's total installed electricity capacity. The shift reflects efforts to address affordability and financing barriers that shape adoption of solar systems.
28 October 2026 · The Standard →
Air quality monitors track pollution across five Kenyan counties
An initiative using more than 100 monitors across Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kajiado and Kiambu combines fixed sensors with devices mounted on boda bodas to track pollution levels and identify hotspots. The data is processed through digital platforms and analyzed with artificial intelligence to help residents, researchers and county officials understand air quality patterns and inform pollution-reduction measures.
28 October 2026 · The Standard →
Universities must turn research into market-ready products, leaders say
Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukhwana and Bidco Africa Chairman Vimal Shah have challenged African universities to commercialise research and collaborate with industry to accelerate industrialisation and create jobs. Mukhwana argued that Africa must move away from exporting raw materials and importing finished products, noting the continent has 1.4 billion people but accounts for only about 3% of global manufacturing.
28 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Tuesday 27 October

KCA University hosts 5th Innovation Week with industry leaders
KCA University opened its 5th Innovation Week and Industry Summit with speakers including Industry Principal Secretary Dr Juma Mukhwana and Bidco Africa Chairman Vimal Shah urging Africa to move from exporting raw materials to manufacturing finished products, and calling on universities to convert research into commercial ventures and produce entrepreneurs.
27 October 2026 · Capital News →
Africa's agritech services must build sustainability beyond pilots
African farmers increasingly access weather forecasts, market information, and financial services via mobile phones, but a critical question remains on how these services survive once initial projects and funding end. Leaders in agriculture, finance, and technology gathered in Nairobi for the 10th AgriFin Learning Event to address this sustainability challenge, emphasizing the need to move beyond celebrating successful pilots.
27 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Two Kenyan enterprises selected for pan-African nature-based accelerator
Acacia EPZ and ForestFoods have been selected for the Nature-First Innovation Lab, a 12-month pan-African accelerator programme for businesses that protect and restore nature, targeting USD 10 million in collective fundraising and providing grants and technical support.
27 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Understanding cultural values key to Africa-China relations
An opinion piece examines how Chinese philosophical traditions—including Confucian, Buddhist, and Taoist teachings on endurance and suffering—shape China's approach to negotiation and relationships, and suggests bridging cultural differences is essential for stronger Africa-China ties.
27 October 2026 · The Standard →
AI and quick commerce reshape Kenya's digital retail landscape
Kenya's retail sector is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, digital marketplaces, and changing consumer habits, with a focus on quick commerce and convenience. At Glovo's Future of Commerce Summit in Nairobi, industry leaders discussed how technology, including AI-powered in-app assistants, helps businesses expand reach and meet growing demands for speed and seamless product access.
27 October 2026 · The Standard →

Monday 26 October

28 arrested in West Africa scam crackdown linked to fraud
Binance and international law enforcement arrested 28 people in Ghana and Nigeria during a coordinated operation targeting online fraud networks. The cryptocurrency exchange flagged Ksh.1.36 trillion in potential fraud during the operation, known as Joint Disruption Week, which disrupted criminal networks involved in fake investment schemes and impersonation scams.
26 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Nigeria traces additional contacts in Ebola case investigation
Nigeria has widened its hunt for potential Ebola cases, with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention tracing an additional nine contacts, bringing the total to 53 primary contacts of a 42-year-old woman who fell ill with Ebola in Abuja. A suspected case in Rivers State tested negative, and the confirmed case remains the only person with the disease.
26 October 2026 · Citizen Digital →

Sunday 25 October

Polio case in Dadaab refugee camp signals vaccination gaps
Kenya detected circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 in a four-year-old girl at Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa County; the child, a newly arrived refugee from Somalia, had not received any doses of oral polio vaccine. A nominated senator warns that despite years of vaccination campaigns, gaps in immunisation and funding threaten progress against the disease.
25 October 2026 · The Standard →
Russia's Africa summit risks empty diplomacy, columnist warns
An opinion piece questions whether the third Russia–Africa Summit will deliver tangible benefits to African nations, noting that Russia's economic contribution to Africa remains minuscule—trade reached only $18 billion by 2022, missing Putin's 2019 pledge to double it to $40 billion within five years, and Russian investment accounts for less than 1% of foreign direct investment into the continent.
25 October 2026 · The Standard →