… en killed since the ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas, which runs Gaza, was an "absurd and devastating figure"."During a period supposedly defined by restraint and protection, a child has been killed, on average, every single day for more than eight months," UNICEF …
… UNICEF estimates that improved water, sanitation and hygiene services could prevent approximately 297,000 deaths of children under five globally each year from diarrhoeal diseases alone. …
… He said that "compared to where the epidemiology is heading", the current capacity of 250 isolation beds across the affected provinces would not be enough and needed scaling up "quite rapidly". - Expected impact on children - The UN children's agency UNICEF warned of a likely ris …
… The initiative, funded by the Chinese government through the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and implemented in partnership with UNICEF, will focus on Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties. …
… Kenya already hosts the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat, but the expansion will see three additional agencies relocate to Nairobi: UNICEF, UNFPA, and UN Women. …
… The European Commission said in a statement that a "humanitarian air bridge" to Bunia, the main city in Ituri, it has established with UNICEF flew in the 100 tonnes of aid. …
… Subscribe to our newsletterAcross sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls remain significantly more vulnerable to HIV infection than boys, according to UNICEF and UNAIDS data.Dr Amenyah added that investing in young people is critical to Africa’s future, noting that by 2050, one in …
… During the conference, KIPPRA and partners including UNICEF launched policy products focusing on smarter budgeting for children and the impact of climate change on children. …
A catastrophic flood in Nepal, triggered by a glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border, killed more than 1,400 people with over 5,000 remaining missing one month after the disaster. At Neelakantha Secondary School in Rasuwa district, teachers mark in red the names of 70 students and four teachers lost to the August 26 flood that swept away roads, bridges and settlements in the mountainous regions.
A catastrophic flood in Nepal, triggered by a glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border, killed more than 1,400 people with over 5,000 remaining missing one month after the disaster. At Neelakantha Secondary School in Rasuwa district, teachers mark in red the names of 70 students and four teachers lost to the August 26 flood that swept away roads, bridges and settlements in the mountainous regions.
A glacial collapse near the China-Nepal border triggered catastrophic floods in Nepal that killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing one month later. Teachers at Neelakantha Secondary School in Rasuwa district mark red circles beside the names of 70 students and four teachers lost in the August 26 flood.
Lead is a toxic metal that enters environments through mining, manufacturing, battery recycling, paints, and contaminated soil and water. According to the World Health Organization, there is no level of lead exposure known to be without harmful effects, with young children and women of child-bearing age particularly vulnerable.
Kisumu County has reduced under-five mortality from 66 to 37 per 1,000 live births over the past decade, Governor Anyang' Nyong'o announced while launching a new Child Nutrition Fund Programme backed by UNICEF and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with initial funding of Sh10 million. The county is aiming for the UNICEF benchmark of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Children under five accounted for nearly one in three confirmed community deaths in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Bundibugyo virus outbreak during the most recent 21-day period, according to World Health Organisation data. WHO says the pattern warrants closer examination of how quickly young children are recognised as sick, referred and brought to appropriate care.
Millions of children worldwide are left behind when parents migrate for work or education, with impacts on their development and wellbeing depending on support systems available. In Kenya, families are increasingly separated as parents leave the country for employment and studies, according to a UNICEF working paper and accounts of affected families.
As Kenya enters the final year of its third devolution cycle, the article argues that progress should be measured by tangible improvements in health, early childhood development, nutrition, water and sanitation, social protection, and climate resilience, rather than by resources allocated or infrastructure built alone.
African Union member states accounted for nearly 178,600 maternal deaths and an estimated 1.18 million newborn deaths in 2023, representing 69 per cent and 51 per cent of global totals respectively. At UNGA 81, Africa is advancing a "Three Zeros" agenda—zero home deliveries, zero preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and zero unvaccinated children—to accelerate progress toward 2030 targets.
According to a UN children's agency report, approximately 1.5 million children in Pakistan experienced online sexual abuse in one year. Around 85 percent of perpetrators were known to the victims, aged between 12 and 17, often beginning with friendly conversations or gaming interactions.
Seven locally rooted organisations in Kenya and Nigeria have been selected as programme partners under a five-year US$30 million partnership between the LEGO Foundation and Co-Impact aimed at strengthening education systems for children affected by conflict and crisis. The partners—Girl Child Network, Basic Needs Basic Rights, and Madrasa Early Childhood Programme in Kenya; and TaRL Africa, Common Heritage Foundation, Centre for Girls' Education, and Restoration of Hope Initiative in Nigeria—are predominantly women-led.
A UNICEF report studying 21 countries found an estimated 20 million children aged 12–17 experienced at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year, with nearly 60 per cent of cases occurring on social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok and WhatsApp.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has directed counties to activate emergency coordination teams, strengthen disease detection, ensure medicine and vaccine supply, and implement malaria prevention measures ahead of heavy El Niño rains expected between October and December 2026.
UNICEF reports that an estimated 1.9 million Kenyan learners experienced climate-related schooling disruption in 2025, with drought as the primary hazard. Globally, more than 171 million students across 106 countries had schooling disrupted by climate hazards in 2025.
More than 171 million students — 1 in 10 globally — had their schooling disrupted by climate hazards in 2025, according to UNICEF analysis covering 106 countries. Climate hazards including storms, floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires led to suspended classes, damaged schools, remote learning shifts, and increased dropout risk.
Climate hazards disrupted schooling for more than 171 million students globally in 2025, about one in ten children of pre-primary to upper-secondary age, according to UNICEF analysis. Storms were the most common cause, affecting 109 million students, followed by floods affecting at least 70 million and heatwaves disrupting schooling for about 50 million children.
Newly leaked intelligence records reported by major US outlets in September describe an alleged programme by the Sudanese Armed Forces under General al-Burhan to develop and deploy chlorine-based weapons during the 2024 conflict with the Rapid Support Forces in Khartoum, including blueprints, testing accounts, and concealment efforts.
The Sudanese Armed Forces face new accusations of using chemical weapons in their conflict with the Rapid Support Forces, based on leaked intelligence materials published by The New York Times and The Washington Post that detail an alleged 2024 chlorine-based munitions manufacturing program, bomb blueprints, testing operations, and plans to divert chlorine from a civilian water treatment facility.
A UNICEF report titled "Through Children's Eyes" found that 1,292,364 children aged 12–17 in Kenya were subjected to at least one form of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse, based on a survey conducted between 2020–2021 and 2024–2025.
A UNICEF report finds that 26.83 per cent of internet-using children aged 12–17 in Kenya experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in the preceding year, equivalent to about 1.29 million children. Most incidents (66 per cent) involved someone known to the child, with social media accounting for 61 per cent of abuse cases.
Nearly one in five internet-using children aged 12 to 17 across 21 countries experienced technology-facilitated sexual exploitation and abuse in a single year, affecting an estimated 20 million children. The abuse predominantly occurs on mainstream social media platforms and is frequently perpetrated by people children already know, with Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram accounting for the majority of cases.
Kenya's Ministry of Health has announced a Health Sector El Niño Contingency Plan for the 2026/2027 season to mitigate health risks from anticipated heavy rains, flooding and displacement. The plan brings together national and county governments, emergency agencies, humanitarian organisations and development partners to prevent and respond to flood-related health emergencies, particularly water- and food-borne diseases.
Artificial intelligence is already being used by Kenyan students and teachers to enhance learning and teaching, but a 2025 study of 137 educators from thirteen universities found concerns about academic dishonesty, data privacy, accuracy and over-reliance on the technology. The expansion of digital infrastructure in schools, including laptops, smart boards and internet connectivity, is coinciding with educators reconsidering what and how they teach.
The UN has warned that more than 1,000 humanitarian workers have been killed over the past three years as aid work becomes increasingly dangerous. Secretary-General António Guterres cited growing attacks in conflict zones, shrinking funding, access restrictions, and new weapons like armed drones as compounding security threats to aid personnel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.