Author: Lorine Otamo

US biotech company Moderna has halted the construction of a $500 million mRNA vaccine plant in Kenya due to a drop in COVID-19 vaccine demand.  Moderna said it has not received any vaccine orders for Africa since 2022. It has taken over $1 billion in losses and write-downs related to cancelling previous orders from the continent. The company will focus its resources on researching and developing new vaccines for HIV and malaria. “Moderna is actively working on the development of public health vaccines, including those for diseases that predominantly affect the African continent, such as HIV and malaria. These initiatives…

Nigerian artist Kold AF is making waves in the music scene. She’ll take centre stage in Spotify’s EQUAL Africa program this April. This recognition comes after she was named a Spotify Fresh Finds artist in 2023. What is Spotify EQUAL? Spotify’s EQUAL program is a global year-round initiative that empowers female creators by giving them a powerful platform for growth.  The program offers a dedicated EQUAL hub that connects listeners across more than 180 markets with talented female artists of all genres. Kold AF Joins a Thriving Community “At Spotify, we’re passionate about empowering women and creating opportunities for them…

Uhuru Park, Nairobi’s green space, opened its gates after a two-year renovation project.  The park and Central Park underwent significant improvements, spearheaded by the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS), before closing in 2022. With its renewed infrastructure and diverse offerings, the park is poised to become a vibrant hub for recreation, relaxation, and cultural activities, serving the needs of Nairobi’s residents for generations to come. Governor Johnson Sakaja announced the reopening on Sunday, highlighting the park’s significance. “This event signifies the return of this facility to the people of Nairobi. The Kenya Defence Forces have completed their work, and the park…

Angella Okutoyi, a rising star in the Kenyan tennis scene, triumphed in the women’s singles competition, defeating her Egyptian opponent Abdelaziz Lamis in convincing straight sets (6-4, 6-2) at the 13th African Games in Ghana. ALL AFRICAN GAMES 🇰🇪🥇 First I wanna thank GOD for getting me this far 🙏🏿 Second wanna thank my team , my federation, NOCK , my school , people back home and everyone who l haven’t mentioned and my fans This just means so much to me a childhood dream coming to light… pic.twitter.com/c7TruGVjlC — Angella Okutoyi (@Okutoyiangella2) March 21, 2024 Okutoyi becomes the first…

MultiChoice Kenya is increasing monthly subscription fees for DStv and GOtv packages starting April 2024.  The South African pay-TV company cites the need to invest in service delivery and ensure long-term sustainability. The price adjustments follow a review of their economic outlook.  Breakdown of the new pricing DStv Premium: Sh10,500 (up from Sh9,900) Compact Plus: Sh6,500 (up from Sh6,200) Compact: Sh3,700 (up from Sh3,500) Family: Sh2,000 (up from Sh1,850) Access (remains unchanged): Sh1,300 GOtv Max: Sh1,499 Supa: Sh1,999 (price increase not specified) “We understand the challenging economic climate,” MultiChoice Kenya acknowledged.  “These adjustments are at the minimum necessary to ensure…

Kenya has joined forces with Meta to launch a new initiative to help find missing children.  The Kenya Emergency Child Alert (KECA), essentially the Kenyan version of the AMBER Alert system, will be available on Facebook and Instagram. Kenya becomes the fourth African nation to utilize Facebook’s AMBER Alerts program.  South Africa, Nigeria, and Morocco have already implemented similar systems. Increased Visibility for Missing Children The primary goal of KECA is to raise awareness about missing children by leveraging the vast reach of social media.  When law enforcement issues Kenya Emergency Child Alert, it will be displayed directly in users’…