Kenya Minute.
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Wednesday, 19 August 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

UNICEF

UN children's agency supporting HPV vaccination programs, reporting on child casualties in Sudan and Gaza conflicts, and advocating for child welfare including water and sanitation access.

2026-04-262026-08-19

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. May 2026
  2. Capital News

    UNICEF, UNFPA and UN Women have moved some of their global operations to Nairobi, while their headquarters remain in New York.

    $340 Million UN Nairobi Expansion Signals Global Shift Toward Africa, Says UNON Ahead of Guterres Kenya visit
  3. The Standard

    Polycarp Otieno, a UNICEF education specialist, stressed the need to connect learning outcomes with broader development goals.

    How CBE Learners are discovering hidden talents in CBE
  4. The Standard

    Subscribe to our newsletter“I reaffirm KNEC’s commitment to building a robust, inclusive and future-ready assessment ecosystem while safeguarding ethics, fairness and validity,” Njengere said.From a global perspective, Polycarp Otieno of UNICEF said the shift reflects evolving tr

    CBE shift cultivates critical thinkers and innovators
  5. The Standard

    Subscribe to our newsletterA government tribute was held Thursday for the 47-year-old minister, who died as a result of a car bomb at his residence in Kati, a garrison town near Bamako.UNICEF said in a statement Friday that civilians and children had been killed and injured durin

    Rebels take key military base in Mali's north
  6. The Standard

    r own for months, uprooted by the now three-year conflict between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)."I would study my lessons again and again," she told AFP at a displacement camp in Port Sudan, where she is again receiving an education thanks to UNICEF

    Sudanese schoolchildren race to make up for years lost to war
  7. April 2026
  8. The Standard

    With UNICEF, Germany, and 74 other governments, Kenya endorsed a roadmap to transform disability inclusion from aspiration to action.The establishment of a Joint Helpdesk, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development with support from Germany’s G

    Financing Kenya's New Disability Act: A Turning Point for Inclusion in Eastern and Southern Africa
  9. The Standard

    According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, World Health Organisation and UNICEF, the vaccination drive has helped narrow critical immunity gaps across participating countries.

    Kenya closing immunisation gaps as global drive reaches millions of children
  10. Capital News

    According to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF, the programme reached children aged between one and five years, many of whom had missed routine immunisations in early childhood.

    Global “Big Catch-Up” delivers over 100 million vaccines to children after COVID-19 disruptions
Culture

Angélique Kidjo becomes first African musician on Hollywood Walk of Fame

The News

Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo received the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 18th, making her the first Black African artist and first African musician to earn the honor. She is only the second African-born entertainer commemorated on the boulevard, following South African actress Charlize Theron.

16 hours ago · Citizen Digital

Yesterday

  1. Angélique Kidjo becomes first African musician on Hollywood Walk of Fame

    Five-time Grammy Award winner Angélique Kidjo received the 2,854th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on August 18th, making her the first Black African artist and first African musician to earn the honor. She is only the second African-born entertainer commemorated on the boulevard, following South African actress Charlize Theron.

    16 hours ago · Citizen Digital

  2. Only 40% of world's health facilities meet basic sanitation standards

    The World Health Organization and UNICEF report that only 40 per cent of healthcare facilities worldwide had toilets meeting basic sanitation standards, while 11 per cent have no sanitation services at all. The report, based on data from 70 countries, found significant regional variation, with only 23 per cent of facilities in sub-Saharan Africa providing basic services compared to 55 per cent in central and southern Asia.

    18 August 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 8 August

  1. President Ruto's daughter Charlene holds Koito ceremony in Kilgoris

    President William Ruto's daughter, Charlene Chelagat Ruto, held a Koito ak Chaik—a traditional Kalenjin engagement and farewell ceremony—at Intonna Heritage Farm in Naserian Village, Kilgoris, attended by politicians, government officials, business personalities and relatives.

    8 August 2026 · The Standard

Friday 7 August

  1. Ebola outbreak in eastern DRC claims hundreds of children

    By August 2, the Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak had infected 743 children aged zero to 17 years and claimed the lives of 330 of them. Children make up nearly a quarter of confirmed infections but account for almost one-third of Ebola deaths, and fear of the virus is also keeping families away from hospitals, exposing children to preventable illnesses.

    7 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 6 August

  1. National Music Festival enters fifth day in Bungoma County

    The National Music Festival in Bungoma County has showcased talent from both established and little-known schools. Standout performers include Utwiini Primary School from Makueni County, which finished second in its category, along with winners in various competitions including Nzoia Sugar School in Choral Music for Junior Schools and Highlands Junior School in the Swahili Choral Verse category for Junior Schools.

    6 August 2026 · The Standard

Monday 3 August

  1. Only six in ten Kenyan newborns breastfed within first hour

    Only six out of ten babies born in Kenya are breastfed within the first hour of life despite nearly nine in ten deliveries occurring under skilled health workers, experts warn. Early breastfeeding provides colostrum, a nutrient-rich first milk that protects newborns against life-threatening infections when the risk of death is highest.

    3 August 2026 · The Standard

  2. Teso man champions exclusive breastfeeding despite social ridicule

    Gregory Ekidit, 49, from Teso South, has faced mockery and suspicion from his community while promoting exclusive breastfeeding and educating mothers and partners about best breastfeeding practices, including initiating breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

    3 August 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 2 August

  1. Forty percent of newborns lack breastfeeding within first hour

    Health experts say over 40 percent of newborns are not breastfed within the recommended first hour after birth, with 60 percent achieving early breastfeeding nationally despite 89 percent of births being attended by skilled health personnel. Experts are calling for concentrated efforts to reach 100 percent breastfeeding initiation and promoting exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months.

    2 August 2026 · The Standard

Thursday 30 July

  1. BTS withdraws from Grammys over new Asian pop category

    South Korean band BTS announced they will not submit music for next year's Grammy Awards after the Recording Academy introduced a new Asian pop category, which the group says restricts regional artists' success. BTS stated they hope music is heard for what it is rather than being defined by region or language.

    30 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 19 July

  1. Kenya reports 80% rise in adolescent HPV vaccination coverage

    Kenya recorded 472,845 adolescent girls receiving at least one HPV vaccine dose between January and June 2026, up from 258,698 in the same period last year, bringing coverage to 69 per cent of eligible girls. The increase reflects intensified efforts by the Ministry of Health with support from UNICEF, WHO and other partners to protect girls against cervical cancer.

    19 July 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 18 July

  1. Messi bathed infant Yamal at 2007 UNICEF photoshoot

    Nearly two decades before their FIFA World Cup final meeting, Lionel Messi photographed an infant Lamine Yamal during a UNICEF charity campaign at Barcelona's Camp Nou in 2007. Families entered a raffle for the chance to have their babies photographed with Barcelona players for the 2008 charity calendar.

    18 July 2026 · The Standard

  2. Kenya records 80 percent increase in HPV vaccination among girls

    Kenya has recorded an over 80 per cent increase in the number of adolescent girls receiving the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in the first half of 2026, according to a WHO and UNICEF report, marking progress in efforts to protect girls against cervical cancer through immunisation.

    18 July 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 7 July

  1. Sudan war kills, injures at least 330 children since January

    The UN's children's agency reported that the war between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces has killed or injured at least 330 children in the first six months of 2026, with more than 200 killed and at least 100 maimed, mostly in Kordofan and Darfur. UNICEF noted that children are being killed and injured in homes, on roads, in markets, and while accessing education and healthcare.

    7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Sudan war kills or maims 330 children in first half 2026

    The UN's children's agency UNICEF reported that the war in Sudan between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has killed or injured at least 330 children in the first six months of 2026, including more than 200 killed and at least 100 maimed, mostly in the Kordofan and Darfur regions.

    7 July 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Learners use music festival performances to champion conservation and peace

    At the 98th Kenya Music Festival, learners are using poetry, music, dance and elocution to tackle social, economic and environmental challenges. A school from Taita-Taveta County demonstrated high performances with messages on financial literacy, environmental conservation, human-wildlife conflict, integrity, education, peace and youth empowerment.

    7 July 2026 · The Standard

Monday 22 June

  1. Kenya-US Ebola quarantine centre needs scrutiny on national benefits

    An opinion piece argues the planned US-Kenya Ebola quarantine centre at Laikipia Air Base should be evaluated on national interest and tangible outcomes—such as health infrastructure, economic opportunities, and scientific research—rather than political personalities or partisan concerns.

    22 June 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 20 June

  1. Ebola outbreak in DRC prompts Kenya to strengthen border screening

    As Ebola cases surge in the Democratic Republic of Congo (933 confirmed cases and at least 245 deaths), Kenya is advised to strengthen symptom-based screening at borders, since Ebola patients become infectious only after symptoms develop, unlike COVID-19. The Africa CDC says testing asymptomatic travellers is not scientifically justified, and screening for symptoms at points of entry remains the most effective prevention tool.

    20 June 2026 · The Standard

Friday 19 June

  1. Gaza ceasefire a "deadly illusion," UNICEF says

    The UN children's agency says 265 Palestinian children have been killed in Gaza since a ceasefire was declared in October 2025, with UNICEF stating that a child has been killed on average every day for more than eight months despite the supposed ceasefire. According to Gaza's health ministry, at least 992 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire was announced.

    19 June 2026 · The Standard

Tuesday 16 June

  1. Water and sanitation access critical for child welfare, development

    An opinion piece argues that water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) determine child survival, health, education, dignity and development, and calls on governments, development partners, communities and families to accelerate efforts toward universal access for all children, aligned with the 2026 Day of the African Child theme.

    16 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Maternal deaths in Kenya hospitals demand investigation, expert warns

    According to Dr. Richard Mogeni, Chairman of the Kenya Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society, mothers continue to die in Kenya's best hospitals, often due to preventable failures in referral systems, blood availability, and handover procedures between facilities.

    16 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 13 June

  1. Ebola outbreak spreading into new DR Congo areas: WHO

    The World Health Organization warned Friday that an Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading into new areas and is larger than initially detected, with 676 confirmed cases and 136 deaths since May 15, and isolation bed capacity far below what is needed.

    13 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 10 June

  1. Kenya allocates Sh140 billion to support UN expansion in Nairobi

    Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said Kenya has committed Sh140 billion toward the expansion of the United Nations Office in Nairobi, complementing Sh44 billion invested by the UN, and that the government has allocated USD 1.1 billion for infrastructure upgrades around the Gigiri diplomatic enclave.

    10 June 2026 · Capital News

  2. China funds maternal health program in northeastern Kenya counties

    China has committed Sh390 million towards a maternal and newborn health programme in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties, expected to directly benefit more than 652,000 people while indirectly reaching another 630,000 residents through expanded healthcare services.

    10 June 2026 · Capital News

  3. Kenya invests Sh140 billion in UN Office expansion at Gigiri

    Kenya has allocated about Sh140 billion to support the expansion of United Nations offices in Nairobi, with the UN contributing Sh44 billion, as part of a broader Sh140 billion investment to modernize the Gigiri diplomatic enclave's infrastructure. Deputy President Kithure Kindiki said the government views the expansion as both a strategic diplomatic achievement and an economic opportunity to elevate Nairobi's global status.

    10 June 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 7 June

  1. EU delivers 100 tonnes of aid to Ebola-hit eastern DRC

    The European Union has airlifted 100 tonnes of humanitarian aid including medicine, tents and protective gear to eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, where an Ebola outbreak declared in May has caused 452 cases and 82 deaths across DRC and Uganda.

    7 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Sunday 24 May

  1. Health experts call for youth inclusion in HIV, GBV policy responses

    Health experts are calling for greater inclusion of young people in policies and conversations addressing HIV, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence, which disproportionately affect adolescents and youth across Kenya and the wider African continent. The calls come amid a contraceptive shortage in counties such as Mandera and Wajir, with experts warning that access to sexual and reproductive health services remains a major challenge contributing to rising mental health concerns among young people.

    24 May 2026 · The Standard

  2. Public policy experts call for infrastructure investment, value-chain strengthening

    At Kenya's ninth KIPPRA conference in Mombasa, over 700 delegates from public and private sectors, academia, and civil society called for Kenya to invest in infrastructure, cold storage, and logistics to accelerate inclusive economic growth and reduce post-harvest losses across agriculture, manufacturing, and the digital economy.

    24 May 2026 · The Standard

Monday 18 May

  1. Africa's maternal mortality crisis driven by accountability gaps, not knowledge

    Despite decades of medical progress and available tools to prevent deaths, women across Africa continue to die from preventable pregnancy and childbirth complications. Experts argue the crisis stems from gaps in leadership, coordination, and accountability rather than a lack of medical knowledge, with sub-Saharan Africa accounting for the majority of the estimated 260,000 global maternal deaths in 2023.

    18 May 2026 · The Standard

Sunday 17 May

  1. Africa's digital growth demands stronger child protection laws

    Kenya's First Lady Rachel Ruto called for child protection to be central to Africa's digital transformation, warning that the continent's rapid digital expansion and projected 400 million child users by 2030 are outpacing fragmented safety systems and underdeveloped online safety legislation.

    17 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 15 May

  1. Drone strikes wound 25 civilians in eastern DR Congo market

    In eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a drone attack in Mushaki, a farming area about 40 kilometres from Goma under M23 control, wounded at least 25 civilians including a two-year-old girl last week. The region has been plagued by violence for more than 30 years, with fighting intensifying in early 2025 when Rwanda-backed M23 fighters seized key cities including Goma and Bukavu.

    15 May 2026 · The Standard

UNICEF — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute