China's e-vehicle brand Neta enters Kenya's market

STORY: China's e-vehicle brand Neta enters Kenya's market SHOOTING TIME: June 26, 2024 DATELINE: June 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:31 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the opening ceremony 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): WANG AIPING, CEO of Moja EV Kenya 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): JOY WANYONYI, Head of business development, Kenya's Associated Vehicle Assemblers 4. various of Neta electric vehicles STORYLINE: Chinese automotive brand Neta announced its entry into the Kenyan market Wednesday, with Moja EV Kenya, a motor dealer, as its distributor. Zhou Jiang, the overseas business general manager at Neta, told journalists in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, that the firm will initially offer the Neta V model, which will retail for 4 million Kenyan shillings (about 31,000 U.S. dollars) and has a range of about 380 km on a full charge. Neta chose to establish a presence in Kenya because it is a regional economic hub and will serve as a gateway for exporting e-vehicles to the rest of the African c

Uganda resumes passenger train services in Kampala after renovation

STORY: Uganda resumes passenger train services in Kampala after renovation SHOOTING TIME: May 2, 2024 DATELINE: May 4, 2024 LENGTH: 0:02:56 LOCATION: Kampala CATEGORY: SOCIETY/TRANSPORTATION SHOTLIST: 1. various of Kampala 2. various of the train station in Kampala 3. various of the platform of the train station in Kampala 4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): KATUMBA WAMALA, Minister of Works and Transport 5. various of the train 6. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): RIHANNA NANTAMBI, Passenger 7. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): KATUMBA WAMALA, Minister of Works and Transport 8. various of the train STORYLINE: Uganda has resumed passenger train services in parts of the capital city Kampala following a year of renovation work. A locomotive pulling five coaches, with a capacity of carrying up to 800 passengers, now operates four trips per day -- two in the morning and two in the evening. The fare for a trip is 2,000 Ugandan shillings (about 50 U.S. cents), an increase from the previous 1,000 shillings. The renovation of the Kampala

XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY

XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY

(240429) -- BEIJING, April 29, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Residents displaced by floods wait for relief supplies at a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 28, 2024. Kenya has allocated 4 billion shillings (about 30 million U.S. dollars) for immediate response to the devastating flooding caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday. (Photo by John Okoyo/Xinhua)

KENYA-NAIROBI-FLOODS-RELIEF SUPPLIES

KENYA-NAIROBI-FLOODS-RELIEF SUPPLIES

(240428) -- NAIROBI, April 28, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Residents of a slum who were displaced by floods wait for relief supplies at a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 28, 2024. Kenya has allocated 4 billion shillings (about 30 million U.S. dollars) for immediate response to the devastating flooding caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday. (Photo by John Okoyo/Xinhua)

KENYA-NAIROBI-FLOODS-RELIEF SUPPLIES

KENYA-NAIROBI-FLOODS-RELIEF SUPPLIES

(240428) -- NAIROBI, April 28, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Residents of a slum who were displaced by floods wait for relief supplies at a primary school in Nairobi, Kenya, on April 28, 2024. Kenya has allocated 4 billion shillings (about 30 million U.S. dollars) for immediate response to the devastating flooding caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday. (Photo by John Okoyo/Xinhua)

Kenya allocates 30 mln USD for flood response as death toll reaches 70

STORY: Kenya allocates 30 mln USD for flood response as death toll reaches 70 SHOOTING TIME: April 25, 2024 DATELINE: April 27, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:22 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of floods stricken areas STORYLINE: Kenya has allocated 4 billion shillings (about 30 million U.S. dollars) for immediate response to the devastating flooding caused by heavy rains in several parts of the country, Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said Friday. The government has intensified efforts to mitigate disasters resulting from the ongoing enhanced rains and floods, despite the meteorological department's warning of continued heavy rainfall for the next three days, Gachagua said. Since the onset of the heavy rainfall, 70 people have lost their lives, 22 have been injured and eight are missing, according to Gachagua. He added that 131,179 people have been affected by the rains, with contingency plans in place to enhance the coordination of the emergency response. "We are in discussions with the

Kenya launches compensation program for wildlife attack victims

STORY: Kenya launches compensation program for wildlife attack victims SHOOTING TIME: April 12, 2024 DATELINE: April 14, 2024 LENGTH: 00:01:49 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of issuance of compensation 2. SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President 3. various of residents STORYLINE: Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday launched a compensation scheme for victims of wildlife attacks to help them rebuild their livelihoods and meet hefty medical bills. Launched in the northern Kenyan county of Laikipia, home to iconic species including elephants, rhinoceros and buffaloes, the human-wildlife conflict mitigation and compensation scheme is expected to foster harmonious coexistence between local communities and animals in the wild, Ruto said. SOUNDBITE (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President "We have close to 17,000 already assessed and verified cases of human-wildlife conflict with the cost of 7 billion shillings (about 53.85 million U.S. dollars). We have so far co

Kenya scales up flood response as death toll climbs to 76

STORY: Kenya scales up flood response as death toll climbs to 76 SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 27, 2023/File DATELINE: Nov. 28, 2023 LENGTH: 0:02:10 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. Various of the emergency meeting 2. SOUNDBITE (English): HUSSEIN MOHAMMED, Statehouse spokesman, Kenya 3. various of floods in Kenya (File) STORYLINE: Kenya's Cabinet on Monday resolved to intensify flood response across the country as the number of people who have died as a result of the devastating flash floods has risen to 76. The Cabinet, which held an emergency meeting chaired by President William Ruto in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, ordered the release of an additional 10 billion shillings (about 65.5 million U.S. dollars) to county governments to ramp up El Nino mitigation measures. SOUNDBITE (English): HUSSEIN MOHAMMED, Statehouse spokesman, Kenya "The resources committed will be applied for humanitarian response, including distribution and supply of medical commodities, food and non-food items, rehabilitat

Kenya intensifies response to El-Nino floods as death toll climbs to 70

STORY: Kenya intensifies response to El-Nino floods as death toll climbs to 70 SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 25, 2023 DATELINE: Nov. 27, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:19 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the meeting 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President STORYLINE: Kenyan President William Ruto announced Saturday that the government will avail additional funds and deploy the military to bolster the response to raging floods linked to the ongoing El-Nino rains. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President "To make sure that adequate food is available, already 2.4 billion shillings (about 15.69 million U.S. dollars) has been made available to buy food and to make sure that that food is delivered where it is most needed. Adequate resources would be required and that's why this team is working on numbers so that we can mobilize the resources necessary." The death toll from flooding has climbed to 70, Ruto said, adding t

Kenya fetes new world marathon record holder

STORY: Kenya fetes new world marathon record holder DATELINE: Oct. 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:03 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: SPORTS SHOTLIST: 1. various of exteriors of the hotel 2. various of Kenya's new world marathon record holder 3. various of Kiptum being awarded 4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ABABU NAMWAMBA, Kenya's sports cabinet secretary 5. various of the awarding ceremony 6. various of celebrations 7. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): KELVIN KIPTUM, Marathon world record holder 8. various of the awarding ceremony STORYLINE: The Kenyan government on Tuesday feted new marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum for his astonishing 2:00:35 victory in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday. The 23-year-old broke the previous record of 2:01:09, set by his compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in last year's Berlin Marathon. Kiptum, who also holds the Valencia and London marathon titles, was awarded 5 million shillings (about 33,580 U.S. dollars) by the Kenyan government. Kenya's sports cabinet secretary Ababu Namwamba said it was the coun

Kenya launches 50 mln USD grassroots climate financing program

STORY: Kenya launches 50 mln USD grassroots climate financing program DATELINE: Sept. 6, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the program venue 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President 3. various of the program venue 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): NJUGUNA NDUNG'U, Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury STORYLINE: Kenya on Monday unveiled a county climate financing program worth 7.37 billion shillings (about 50.6 million U.S. dollars) as it seeks to boost mitigation efforts at the local level. President William Ruto, who launched the County Climate Resilience Investment (CCRI) Grants issued under the East African nation's Financing Locally Led Climate Action to Counties (FLLoCA) at the ongoing Africa Climate Summit in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, said that the funding will help rural counties, in particular, develop tailored climate resilience strategies. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenyan President "Effective climate change action in

Kenya's coffee exports earnings fall on low global prices

STORY: Kenya's coffee exports earnings fall on low global prices DATELINE: June 15, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:25 LOCATION: NYERI, Kenya CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a coffee plantation 2. various of coffee bushes 3. various of ripe coffee berries 4. various of a farmer inspecting coffee bushes 5. various of a farmer picking ripe coffee berries 6. various of farmers sorting coffee berries 7. various of farmers drying the coffee beans 8. various of cups of coffee with different varieties 9. various of processed coffee in packets 10. various of coffee bags being packed for export STORYLINE: The value of Kenya's coffee earnings in the first quarter of 2023 (Q1) dropped 20.2 percent amid a decline in export volumes and global prices, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said in an economic report released Tuesday. The country earned 7.63 billion shillings (about 55 million U.S. dollars) from 11,284 metric tons (MT) of coffee, a decline from 69 million dollars from 11,923 MT in Q1 of 2022, KNBS

Kenya's forex reserves dip to new low, piling pressure on falling shilling

STORY: Kenya's forex reserves dip to new low, piling pressure on falling shilling DATELINE: April 17, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:26 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. aerial view of the Nairobi CBD area 2. various of the central bank of Kenya 3. various of a teller counting banknotes 4. aerial view of the Nairobi CBD area 5. various of a teller counting banknotes 6. various of the central bank of Kenya 7. various of the national treasury head office STORYLINE: Kenya's foreign exchange reserves declined 9.42 billion shillings (about 70 million U.S. dollars) last week, piling pressure on the shilling that similarly fell to a new low, the Central Bank of Kenya said in its update of the financial markets released Friday evening. The reserves stood at 6.38 billion dollars at the end of the week, an equivalent of 3.56 months of import cover, according to the apex bank. This was a decline from 6.45 billion dollars or 3.60 months of import cover the previous week. The shilling closed Friday at 135 against

WFP commits 54 mln USD to mitigate drought in Kenya

STORY: WFP commits 54 mln USD to mitigate drought in Kenya DATELINE: March 16, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:31 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY/ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of a meeting between the Kenyan government and WFP officials 2. SOUNDBITE (English): RIGATHI GACHAGUA, Kenyan Deputy President 3. various of the meeting between the Kenyan government and WFP officials STORYLINE: The World Food Programme (WFP) on Wednesday committed 7 billion shillings (about 54 million U.S. dollars) as relief assistance to help some 940,300 people facing severe drought in 10 counties in Kenya. Lauren Landis, WFP country director for Kenya, said the food and cash will be distributed under the Lisha Jamii (protect family) Phase II program between April and September. "The second phase is worth 7 billion shillings and we hope to make it 10 billion shillings. This is substantial, but we still need more," Landis said in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, during a meeting with Kenyan Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Landis said t

Kenya's forex reserves fall to 5-year low

STORY: Kenya's forex reserves fall to 5-year low DATELINE: Oct. 10, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. shot of the National Treasury of Kenya 2. various of banks in Kenya and banknotes 3. SOUNDBITE (English): PATRICK NJOROGE, Governor of the Central Bank Of Kenya 4. various of containers at the port STORYLINE: Kenya's foreign exchange reserves declined by 12.5 billion shillings (about 103 million U.S. dollars) this week to hit a five-year low as the shilling fell to the lowest level in history against the dollar, the Central Bank of Kenya said in its weekly update of the financial markets. The reserves fell from 7.42 billion dollars last week to 7.32 billion dollars, with the apex bank reported to have sold an unspecified amount of dollars to stabilize the local currency. During the week, the shilling fell to an all-time low of 120.82 against the dollar, the Central Bank said in its update released Friday evening. The shilling has declined 7 percent against the dollar

Kenya announces mortgage scheme for slum dwellers through social housing plan

STORY: Kenya announces mortgage scheme for slum dwellers through social housing plan DATELINE: Oct. 5, 2022 LENGTH: 0:02:49 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of the buildings 2. various of Kenya's president inspecting a construction site 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenya's President 4. various of the housing scheme 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenya's President 6. various of audience STORYLINE: Kenyan President William Ruto on Monday announced a mortgage payment scheme that will allow Kenyan slum dwellers to own homes through a social housing programme. The programme offers different kinds of housing units. To live in these units, people pay a certain amount of money as a mortgage instead of rent, which allows them to become homeowners in the end. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): WILLIAM RUTO, Kenya's President "The first priority with this project is to get the people living in Mukuru (slums) to come live here. The 3,000 shillings (about 24.82 USD) they are pa

Kenya to begin exports of livestock products from Chinese-built port in 2023

STORY: Kenya to begin exports of livestock products from Chinese-built port in 2023 DATELINE: June 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:55 LOCATION: Nairobi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of a cargo ship docking at the Chinese-built Lamu Port 2. various of a farmer herding his goats and cattle 3. various of a ship carrying livestock docked at the port of Mombasa 4. various of the ship carrying livestock 5. various of operations at the Chinese built Lamu Port STORYLINE: Kenya will begin to export livestock products from the Chinese-built Lamu Port in 2023, a government official said Wednesday. Harry Kimtai, the principal secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperatives, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the government has allocated 500 million shillings (4.27 million U.S. dollars) for the construction of an efficient transport corridor for livestock at the port. "We want to establish facilities at the Lamu port that will support the docking of ocean ve

UNHCR thanks China for PPE donation to support COVID-19 response for refugees

STORY: UNHCR thanks China for PPE donation to support COVID-19 response for refugees DATELINE: May 28, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:38 LOCATION: Dar es Salaam CATEGORY: POLITICS/MEDICINE SHOTLIST: 1. various of the donation ceremony 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): MAHOUA PARUMS, UNHCR Representative in Tanzania 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): CHEN MINGJIAN, Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania 4. various of the equipment STORYLINE: The UN refugee agency on Friday thanked China for donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support COVID-19 response for refugees and host communities in western Tanzania. The PPE was handed over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative in Tanzania, Mahoua Parums, by the Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Chen Mingjian, in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. The PPE worth 1,265 million Tanzanian shillings (0.5 million U.S. dollars) included respiratory masks N95, disposable fluid-resistant gowns, medical gloves, eye protection goggles and reusable gumboots. The

Tanzania residents suffer from rising fuel price

STORY: Tanzania residents suffer from rising fuel price DATELINE: May 12, 2022 LENGTH: 00:04:15 LOCATION: Dar es Salaam CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of people at gas station filling tanks 2. various of public transport 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Swahili): IDD SALEHE, Local resident 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Swahili): GLORY MICHAEL, Local resident STORYLINE: Residents in Tanzania's commercial capital Dar es Salaam are feeling the pinch caused by rising fuel prices. SOUNDBITE 1 (Swahili): IDD SALEHE, Local resident "Increase of fuel prices is a problem, especially for us who carry passengers by using a motorbike. We are affected a lot, because right now, even if you buy the fuel using 5,000 shillings (about 2.2 U.S. dollars), it will not bring an income that can meet your needs. So I need to have at least 6,500 shillings to get at least two liters so that I can run this business. But in the past, we used to put 5,000 shillings of fuel and we get about two liters, by then we had the ability to run our lives. I earned 5