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President Uhuru Kenyatta has officially commissioned the Nairobi Expressway.The Expressway had been closed on Saturday f...
01/08/2022

President Uhuru Kenyatta has officially commissioned the Nairobi Expressway.

The Expressway had been closed on Saturday following a lapse in the trial period.

The commissioning now means the project is available for public use.

The Moja Expressway Company, which manages the road said the road will be available for use once it is officially launched.

While launching the project, President Kenyatta said the project is a fundamental overhaul of how government can use the PPP model to bridge infrastructure deficits.

"Hongera to all who made this masterpiece a success and for the government and the people of Kenya for having confidence in our infrastructure projects," he said.

"Our gratitude goes to CRBC for choosing to invest and demonstrate their confidence in our country," Kenyatta added.

Kenyatta said during the trial period, the number of vehicles that were expected to make use of the road exceeded expectations.

“The trials on the expressway have proved its impact on manufacturing, tourism, hospitality sectors directly creating job and investment opportunities in the region, Kenyatta said.

He echoed the expressway has helped to reduce Nairobi traffic jams which cost the country lots of money.

The trial period for the Nairobi Expressway commenced from May 14 to July 30.

The trial phase was to assess the project and establish what needs to be done to enable effective service delivery.

A number of accidents have been reported on the highway during the trial phase, especially at the Mlolongo toll station.

Kenya's Azimio political party's presidential candidate Raila Odinga has hinted that he might not attend the presidentia...
26/07/2022

Kenya's Azimio political party's presidential candidate Raila Odinga has hinted that he might not attend the presidential debate scheduled for this Tuesday.

In a statement by his spokesman Makau Mutua, the coalition noted that having the candidates- Deputy President William Ruto and Raila Odinga - on the same platform this year would be a bad idea.

Mutua claimed Ruto had issued his reservations telling the moderators not to focus on corruption and integrity- issues which Azimio wanted to take centre stage. “Our opponent has no regard for ethics, public morals or shame, that is why he has demanded that the debate not focus on corruption, integrity, ethic and governance- the key existential question that Kenya faces. These issues sit at the core of the Azimio campaign. Any debate devoid of these questions will be an insult to the intelligence of Kenyans,” he said.

“That is why we do not intend to share a national podium with a person who lacks decency. As is well known, our opponent traversed the country hurling epithets at us and other key national leaders, including vile, s*xists attack,” Mutua added.

Prof. Mutua said, instead presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua plan to hold a televised town hall to explain to Kenyans the Azimio agenda.

"We plan to take part in a televised town hall at Jericho Social Hall in Nairobi's Eastlands with ordinary Kenyans to offer our solutions to the challenges facing the country and common people," he said.

Azimio allies came together to issue conditions for Raila's appearance at the planned presidential debate with the United Democratic Alliance's candidate Deputy President William Ruto next week.

They said the former Prime Minister will only attend the debate if key issues including integrity will be discussed.

“There are some people who are saying that we do a debate between Baba and Ruto. Is that possible?” Azimio secretary general Junet Mohamed asked. “Baba will only attend that debate, and that is my opinion if they will talk about three issues only,” he added.

The Presidential debate will be held on Tuesday at the Catholic University for Eastern Africa (CUEA) from 5pm to 10pm.

Several people are feared dead after a bus plunged into River Nithi in Tharaka Nithi county in central Kenya on Sunday.T...
25/07/2022

Several people are feared dead after a bus plunged into River Nithi in Tharaka Nithi county in central Kenya on Sunday.

The bus belonging to the Modern Coast services lost control plunging into the river along the Meru - Mombasa highway.

Eye witnesses said, the Mombasa bound bus was from Meru town when the accident occurred. Police officers are currently aided by members of the public in retrieving the bodies and saving casualties from the wreckage.

According to Kenya Red Cross rescue efforts have been suspended.

"Rescue efforts have been suspended because it is dark," Peter Abwao, Communications Manager Kenya Red Cross said.

The accident occurred slightly after 6 pm.

Kenyan Police along with Tharaka Nithi county Fire and Rescue team and members of the public helped in the rescue mission.

The injured have been rushed to Chuka County Referral Hospital and PCEA Chogoria Mission Hospital.

Nicholas Mutegi, an eyewitness said, the bus was speeding down the steep Nithi slope before the accident occurred. "It hit the guard rails and fell into the water. I heard a loud bang when it fell about 40 metres reducing the Bus into wreckage. I could count over 10 bodies put into the police vehicle and over 20 injured," Mutegi said.

The government of Kenya has commenced a ground slaughter offtake program. It aims slaughter over 26,000 cows and goats i...
22/07/2022

The government of Kenya has commenced a ground slaughter offtake program. It aims slaughter over 26,000 cows and goats in 13 drought-stricken counties to feed Kenyans threatened by starvation.

The program will kick off in the counties of Isiolo, Marsabit, Samburu, West Pokot, Baringo, Laikipia, Garissa, Makueni, Kajiado, Turkana, Wajir, Mandera and Tana River.

The program is being implemented by the Kenya Red Cross Society in conjunction with the Kenya Meat Commission led by Commissioner General, Brig James Githaga. Currently, over 4.1 million Kenyans in 13 counties in Arid and Semi-Arid (ASALs) are in need of food aid following a prolonged drought that started in October 2021.

The National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) and Kenya Red Cross Society internal estimates indicate heavy livestock losses across the 13 drought-affected counties KMC, which is run by the Ministry of Defence. The program was started to help reduce the loss of animals, especially in areas that are experiencing losses in upwards of 70 percent. The initiative will run for a period of six months.

During the launch of the program, the Kenya Red Cross Secretary General, Asha Mohammed, welcomed the locals for considering and supporting the program.

“I am pleased that so far there has been a positive response from communities to the program. We are not only providing food for the hungry, but by purchasing these weak animals, we are also providing markets for the herders,” Mohammed stated.

The Secretary General also expressed concerns about how the drought has pushed families into suffering. Mohammed called on well-wishers to help raise resources to alleviate the families' suffering.

The Kenya Defence Forces will provide oversight in the implementation of the program and will continue to ensure that the exercise is carried out across the 13 counties without hitches.

KDF is mandated to purchase cattle, sheep, and goats from farmers across the country and is the last buyer option during droughts. It helps farmers sell their livestock through commercial offtake or ground slaughter.

Ugandan government officials have been racking up air miles between Entebbe, Italy and US to strike four billion dollars...
20/07/2022

Ugandan government officials have been racking up air miles between Entebbe, Italy and US to strike four billion dollars refinery deal.

Government officials admit that the refinery project has fallen behind others, and will likely come onstream late in 2027.

As a result, local players who were prime to take up equity in the project as well as regional countries that expressed interest in the refinery that was sold as an East African Community (EAC) venture, remain non-committal. They cited the project’s failure to take shape since 2018, when it was awarded to a consortium of investors.

Potential investors say they remain open to discussions with the government, but without an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) structure, the refinery remains an unbankable project.

“The problem is that the refinery doesn’t have a structure yet — an EPC structure,” said Richard Byarugaba, managing director of the National Social Security Fund. The NSSF, which traditionally invests heavily in fixed income assets, securities and real estate, has since 2017 been looking to diversify its investment portfolio by moving into private equity and in new investment areas like oil and gas.

Officials in Kampala admit that the project has struggled to attract more interests and investment commitments from other EAC countries besides Tanzania and Kenya, who offered to take up part of Uganda’s 40 percent shareholding.

Indeed, Africa Intelligence news service reported last week that Uganda is struggling to garner enough enthusiasm from private sector partners to finance the ambitious project located at Kabaale in Hoima District in the west, and storage projects in Mpigi District, central Uganda, where refined products will be stored before distribution.

Flash floods triggered by seasonal torrential rains in Sudan's western Darfur region killed at least 12 people, includin...
19/07/2022

Flash floods triggered by seasonal torrential rains in Sudan's western Darfur region killed at least 12 people, including children, the United Nation’s reported on Sunday.

Heavy rains started late Friday in the Kass locality in South Darfur province, according to the the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Citing Sudan's Humanitarian Aid Commission, OCHA said around 540 people were affected by the flooding, which also destroyed and damaged more than 100 houses in areas inhabited by displaced people.

Toby Harward, a coordinator with the UN Refugee Agency, reported the deaths. He posted footage on Twitter showing flooded areas and homes. He said the UNHCR and its partners were working to provide humanitarian aid to affected communities.

The General Coordination for Refugees and Displaced in Darfur, a local NGO, said the dead included a pregnant woman and two boys ages 2 and 8.

According to OCHA, more than nine thousand people have been affected by heavy rains and flooding in the provinces of South Kordofan, South Darfur, White Nile and Kassala since the beginning of the monsoon season in June.

Sudan's rainy season usually lasts to September. Last year, flooding and heavy rains killed more than 80 people and inundated tens of thousands of houses across the country.

Defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot and fast-rising Abel Kipsang breezed into the 1,500m final at the World Athletics C...
19/07/2022

Defending champion Timothy Cheruiyot and fast-rising Abel Kipsang breezed into the 1,500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon on Monday morning.

Cheruiyot finished fourth in the first semi-final heat, clocking in at 3:37.04 while Josh Kerr from Great Britain took top honours by posting 3:36.92 as Mario Garcia of Spain came in second in 3:37.01.

(Which heat) Norway's Olympic 1500m champion Jakob Ingrebrigsten finished third in 3:37:02. Kipsang, who is the African champion, showed his class by winning the first semi-final heat in 3:33.68. Kipsang ran a tactful race and powered his way into the final 300 metres to underline his status as favourite for the final on Tuesday. Mohamed Katir from Spain finished second in 3:34.45 as James Wightman of Great Britain finished third on 3:34.48.

Kumari Taki missed out after finishing last in the second semi-final in 3:50.15. Team Kenya have dominated the event with Asbel Kiprop, winning 2011, 2013 and 2015 editions. Elijah Manangoi won in 2017 with Cheruiyot winning in 2019.

At least six people were killed and eight injured after a bus which collided with a car in Machakos County on Friday. Th...
18/07/2022

At least six people were killed and eight injured after a bus which collided with a car in Machakos County on Friday.

The injured were rushed to Matuu level four hospital with serious burns, police and witnesses said.

The 14-seater PSV burst into flames after a head on collision with a saloon car at a diversion at Kwa Majini Bridge along Matuu-Kithimani Road in Yatta.

The fire is said to have been caused by a gas cylinder which exploded.

The accident occurred on Friday morning. Issa Mohamed, he’s dog Machakos Police said eight other people who had sustained burns from the incident had been evacuated for medication and many had multiple injuries.

He said police are investigating the incident. “It is unfortunate we have lost six passengers." The collision caused a fire which trapped those trying to leave and hampered rescue mission,” he said.

The West African bloc ECOWAS has lifted economic and financial sanctions against Mali's military government after it vow...
06/07/2022

The West African bloc ECOWAS has lifted economic and financial sanctions against Mali's military government after it vowed to hold elections in February 2024. The move was welcomed by many Malians who have been struggling under the restrictions and the global rise in fuel and food costs.

Early Monday morning, Bamako’s grand marché, or central market, slowly came to life. On Sunday evening, regional bloc ECOWAS announced the immediate lifting of economic and financial sanctions against Mali following a summit in Accra, Ghana.

The sanctions, imposed in January after military leaders delayed elections until 2026, were lifted after leaders announced a new election timetable in June with elections in 2024.

Mali is a landlocked country and depends on its ECOWAS neighbors for trade. The economic sanctions prohibited the trade of goods and closed borders between Mali and its neighbors, with exceptions for food, fuel, and medicine.

Political analyst and political science professor Kalilou Sidibe says that though the lifting of sanctions is a turn in the right direction, it’s too early to say how the 2024 elections plan will play out.

For the moment, he says, the sanctions have been lifted. But the international community is watching the government. How will they proceed? How will concrete progress be made on the ground? It’s only after all of this that confidence can be re-established, he says.

With the lifting of sanctions, ECOWAS member states’ ambassadors will be able to return to Bamako. During the summit, ECOWAS leaders also agreed to a 24-month transition to civilian rule in neighboring Burkina Faso, which has also been under military rule since January. Burkina Faso and Mali have both seen increasing Islamist violence under military rule.

Over twenty people sustained injuries following a road accident at the Nairobi Expressway Toll Station at Mlolongo.The a...
06/07/2022

Over twenty people sustained injuries following a road accident at the Nairobi Expressway Toll Station at Mlolongo.

The accident involved an Embasava Sacco bus which is reported to have been overspeeding and lost control before it rammed a private vehicle.

“The matatu swerved several times while approaching the exit and unfortunately crashed into one toll booth and one SUV,” Moja Expressway Company, which is behind the construction of the expressway, said.

The bus was heading to Kitengela from Nairobi when the accident occurred. The Company stated that one toll attendant was also injured during the accident.

According to witnesses, the bus was speeding on the expressway before it rammed into the car whose driver was being cleared at the Mlolongo exit. The Expressway toll station booth was extensively damaged.

On June 26th, another accident happened at the same scene where a private car rammed into several other vehicles causing extensive damage. One person died and others were seriously injured during the accident.

Both accidents have been attributed to over-speeding where drivers do not observe the 80km/h speed limit.

After the first accident, the government Spokesperson Cyrus Oguna revealed that plans are underway to roll out additional measures to curtail over-speeding on the Expressway.

Workers at Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba began a work stoppage Sunday to protest poor safety precautions following the ...
05/07/2022

Workers at Jordan's Red Sea port of Aqaba began a work stoppage Sunday to protest poor safety precautions following the deaths of 13 people in a chlorine gas leak accident at a major berth, unionists said.

The deaths and injury of over 300 workers came after a crane loading chlorine containers onto a ship last Monday dropped one onto the quay, causing it to explode.

"We are committed to the stoppage until our demands to provide the right industrial safety environment (are met)," said Ahmad Amayra, a leading unionist who said hundreds of workers had not shown up to work in the main port facilities.

A representative for the port confirmed that the work stoppage was taking place but did not comment further on the incident.

Industry experts say the incident could have turned into a catastrophe had dozens of workers ending a shift not left the site shortly before the leak. Winds also blew the toxic gas away from populated areas in the port city to the outlying desert.

Government officials told Reuters Sunday the incident exposed major negligence by the management of the country's sole commercial port, where industry sources had long warned safety measures were insufficient.

The leak is the second major scandal to have hit Prime Minister Bisher al Khasawneh's government in recent years after at least seven patients died in March when the oxygen ran out of a public hospital.

King Abdullah said he was waiting for the results of an investigation ordered by the government and conducted by the prosecutor general to find out what happened.

"We have to focus on the investigation and to see which officials — by either being idle or negligent — did not upgrade standard operating procedures," the monarch told officials Thursday.

Aqaba port at the north end of the Red Sea has long been a major transit route for Iraqi cargo but has also become a gateway for some goods destined to Syria and the Palestinian territories.

At least three people have been killed and several more wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall in the Danish capital, ...
04/07/2022

At least three people have been killed and several more wounded in a shooting at a shopping mall in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, police said.

Copenhagen Police Inspector Soren Thomassen told reporters that a 22-year-old Danish man was arrested over Sunday’s shooting and charged with manslaughter. He said there was no indication that anyone else was involved in the attack, and that it was too early to speculate on a motive for the shooting.

The attack rocked Denmark at the end of an otherwise joyful week, just after it hosted the first three stages of the Tour de France cycle race. The event had sent hundreds of thousands of cheering Danes into the streets across the country. “Denmark was hit by a cruel attack on Sunday night. Several were killed. Even more, wounded. Innocent families shopping or eating out. Children, adolescents, and adults,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said in a statement late on Sunday.

“Our beautiful and usually so safe capital was changed in a split second,” she said. “I want to encourage the Danes to stand together and support each other in this difficult time.”

The shooting happened in the late afternoon at Field’s, one of the biggest shopping malls in Scandinavia and located on the outskirts of the Danish capital. When the shots rang out, some people hid in shops while others fled in a panicked stampede, according to witnesses.

“It is pure terror. This is awful,” said Hans Christian Stoltz, a 53-year-old IT consultant, who was bringing his daughters to see British singer Harry Styles perform at a concert scheduled for Sunday night near the mall. “You might wonder how a person can do this to another human being, but it’s beyond … beyond anything possible.” Local media published images showing heavily armed police officers at the scene, as well as people running out of the mall.

Thomassen said the victims included a man in his 40s and two “young people,” without giving details. Several others were wounded, three of them critically, he said.

Kenya says the incident last week in Melilla, at the border of Morrocco and Spain, where dozens of African migrants atte...
01/07/2022

Kenya says the incident last week in Melilla, at the border of Morrocco and Spain, where dozens of African migrants attempting to cross into Europe were crushed to death, signals further the ‘inequality’ in the treatment of refugees from the continent.

At the UN Security Council on Wednesday, Kenya said the incident is the latest reminder that African refugees are still treated differently in Europe despite countries signing global refugee laws.

“We have observed the Security Council and its members show great concern about the fate of refugees from other conflicts. The latest and most dramatic instance is the result of the war in Ukraine. We believe that Africans fleeing the wars and insecurity in their countries deserve equal levels of regard,” said Dr. Martin Kimani, Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN. He was briefing a media stake-out on Wednesday night after Kenya had requested an AOB (any other business) session to discuss the incident.

“As we have done before, Kenya strongly condemns the mistreatment of all migrants and refugees wherever they may be. We reiterate our call for the promotion and protection of the rights of the people of African descent by all countries, without exception.”

Last Friday, hundreds of migrants from Africa attempted to scale the border fence between Morocco and Melilla, the Spanish enclave on mainland Africa. Reports show that the emerging chaos after Moroccan guards fired teargas at them led to a stampede and crush, killing at least 24 migrants. Rights groups in the area reported seeing 37 bodies, with several dozens of migrants injured.

The African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat condemned the incident and said the AU demanded an adequate investigation into the incident he labeled as “degrading” to African migrants.

“I call for an immediate investigation into the matter and remind all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritize their safety and human rights while refraining from the use of excessive force,” Mr. Faki said on Monday.

American singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for using his status to run a scheme to s*xually abuse...
30/06/2022

American singer R. Kelly has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for using his status to run a scheme to s*xually abuse children and women.

In September, a jury in New York convicted the 55-year-old R&B artist, of racketeering and s*x trafficking crimes.

Kelly's lawyers said he will appeal. Survivors on Wednesday said he had degraded and humiliated them.

Ahead of his sentencing, a handful of women took the stand to confront Kelly over his decades-long-abuses.

A woman identified only as Angela called the singer a Pied Piper who "grew in wickedness" with every new victim, while others who were not named testified he had broken their spirits.

"I literally wished I would die because of how you made me feel," said one.

Dressed in prison khakis and dark glasses, Kelly declined to make a statement of his own.

US District Judge Ann Donnelly said the celebrity had used s*x as a weapon, forcing his victims to do unspeakable things and saddling them with incurable diseases.

"You taught them that love is enslavement and violence," she said.

The court heard how Kelly - known for hit songs like I Believe I Can Fly and Ignition - used his celebrity status and influence to lure women and children into s*xual abuse over two decades. Jurors at his six-week trial in Brooklyn heard how he trafficked women between different US states, assisted by managers, security guards, and other members of his entourage.

The court also heard how Kelly had illegally obtained paperwork to marry singer Aaliyah when she was 15 in 1994, seven years before the singer died in a plane crash.

The certificate, leaked at the time, listed Aaliyah's age as 18. The marriage was annulled months later.

Federal prosecutors had recommended that Kelly be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison, given the seriousness of his crimes and "the need to protect the public from further crimes".

Kelly has been in custody since he was indicted by federal prosecutors in New York and Chicago in July 2019.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) activists have said that the East African Community SRHR bill will focus so...
30/06/2022

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) activists have said that the East African Community SRHR bill will focus solely on Africans’ needs.

Speaking in a Twitter Space discussion organized by activists and Reproductive rights advocates on Monday, Stephanie Musho, a human rights lawyer, said it would help East Africans stand on their own in terms of s*xual reproductive health.

“In Kenya, 95% of the money that is spent on reproductive health and rights comes from the United States yet s*xual reproductive health is a responsibility of the Government and a right that is well articulated in the constitution,” she said.

The funding from their Planned Parenthood program was vital to SRHR programs in Kenya.

Musho said that it was important for Kenya to not be at the mercy of western countries in matters as fundamental as reproductive health.

The bill which was tabled by Kennedy Mukulia, a Member of the East African Legislative Assembly, will see that Universal Healthcare across East African countries integrates s*xual reproductive health needs to it.

“It would also provide for appropriate Comprehensive Sexual Education to help more Africans be more aware of their s*xual reproductive health and rights in a subjective manner specific to cultural and even traditional beliefs of a person,” she said.

Musho said that age-appropriate Information Education Services would also see elderly persons’ reproductive needs focused on.

“When we think about age-appropriate s*xual reproductive health, we often think about adolescents but elderly persons also have their needs," she said.

"Issues such as andropause which is the equivalent of menopause in men, are also addressed. The bill is inclusive of men and persons with disability.”

Mukulia said that the bill will seek to put an end to harmful practices against women and girls in East Africa as well.

“East African countries including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, have had issues with girls’ return to school after getting pregnant and obstacles such as period poverty,” he added.

At least four people are dead and hundreds injured after crowded stands in a makeshift bullring collapsed during a bullf...
29/06/2022

At least four people are dead and hundreds injured after crowded stands in a makeshift bullring collapsed during a bullfight Sunday in central Colombia.

Officials said the stands collapsed in a stadium in the city of El Espinal in Tolima state during a traditional event called “corraleja” in which members of the public enter the ring to engage the bulls.

Espinal Mayor Juan Carlos Tamayo confirmed the accident in a Facebook post. He said about 800 people sat in the sections that collapsed.

Tolima Gov. José Ricardo Orozco told local Blu Radio two women, a man and a juvenile died.
A horrifying video shows a multi-story section of the wooden stands collapsing and people screaming.

In a news conference on Sunday, Tolima health secretary Martha Palacios said 322 people were taken to local public and private hospitals.

Palacio said the minor who died was an 18-month-old child. In addition, She said four other people were in intensive care and two were recovering after surgery.

"I want to raise my voice of condolences, solidarity, accompaniment, and fraternity on behalf of myself and that of my family, to all the families of fatal victims and those who are still being attended in different hospitals, after the unfortunate event that happened in the plaza of bulls 'Gilberto Charry'," Tamayo wrote.

Officials have not released an official cause of the collapse, President Iván Duque said the accident is under investigation.

Delhi police have arrested a prominent Muslim journalist, accusing him of insulting religious beliefs on social media, i...
28/06/2022

Delhi police have arrested a prominent Muslim journalist, accusing him of insulting religious beliefs on social media, in a move condemned by free speech advocates.

Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of fact-checking website Alt News, which debunks misinformation in the Indian media, was arrested Monday and remanded overnight in police custody, said KPS Malhotra, a deputy commissioner in Delhi's Cyber Crime Unit.

Malhotra said Zubair was arrested under two sections of the Indian Penal Code related to maintaining religious harmony.

Zubair often tweets criticism of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for what he and other critics claim is a crackdown on the rights of the country's roughly 200 million Muslims.

His arrest comes amid repeated accusations by critics that the BJP is using colonial-era laws to quash any form of criticism and encourage self-censorship.

Zubair's lawyer, Kawalpreet Kaur, said the journalist had been summoned for questioning about a 2020 criminal investigation into his social media posts -- from which he had previously been granted protection from arrest by the Delhi High Court. But when he responded to the summons, police arrested him over a separate case, she said.

Kaur showed CNN a police complaint in which a Twitter user accused Zubair of insulting Hindus on the platform in 2018, in a post about the renaming of a hotel after a Hindu god.

She accused the authorities of not following proper procedure and giving Zubair no notice. Malhotra, the deputy commissioner, did not respond to CNN's questions about whether police had followed proper procedure during the arrest.

Earlier this month, Zubair had criticized the now suspended national spokesperson for the BJP, Nupur Sharma, for making derogatory comments about Islam's Prophet Mohammed -- remarks that had set off a diplomatic row. At least 15 Muslim-majority nations condemned Sharma's remarks, several summoning India's ambassadors and describing the comments as "Islamophobic."

Maxine Wahome created history by becoming the first Kenyan female to win a World Rally Championship (WRC) support champi...
27/06/2022

Maxine Wahome created history by becoming the first Kenyan female to win a World Rally Championship (WRC) support championship round, taking out WRC3 victory on home soil at Safari Rally Kenya.

After Sunday's opening test was canceled, the 26-year-old produced five error-free stages to lead the all-Ford Fiesta Rally3 field by 25min 27sec over second-placed Jeremy Wahome.

WRC regular Mcrae Kimathi rounded out the all-Kenyan podium over 10 minutes behind at the end of a brutal event that forced every driver into retirement at least once.

Wahome's winning performance was made all the more impressive by the fact she had never driven the Fiesta car on gravel before the start.

“My goal was just to learn the car and day by day improve my speed,” she told WRC.com at the finish. “Wednesday was my first time in the car - I normally drive a Subaru Impreza N12. The only testing I got with the car was on Tarmac, which is completely different from Safari.

“The mission today was to make it through the stages slow and steady to get it to the finish and learn more about the car. The gap was already big,” she added.

Wahome's rally very nearly unraveled on Friday evening when she was sidelined by an engine control unit fault on the final test, but the youngster was able to restart on Saturday and reclaimed the top spot as her rivals came unstuck.

Hamza Anwar threatened to break her stride and clawed back over two and a half minutes on Sunday morning, but he retired with two stages remaining.

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