China Belt and Road Initiative Stories

New report shows China’s growing reach across 101 countries, Africa key to strategy
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Sep 10, 2025

China's strategy leans more on building ties than on coercion, with the Index showing that countries engaged through partnerships and cultural exchang...

Myanmar scam empire thrives despite crackdowns, militias and criminal syndicates shield operations
Mary Wambui  |  Aug 27, 2025

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC) released the report on Wednesday, noting that despite border raids, utility cuts,...

How Turkana border communities are strengthening disease surveillance
Issa Hussein  |  Aug 23, 2025

Health teams have been conducting joint supportive supervision along key border areas, including Lokiriama Sub-County, which neighbours Uganda, South...

African Union calls for stronger action to implement peace deals in eastern DRC
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Aug 01, 2025

AUC Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf praised President Ruto and Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa for their leadership, saying their dedication reflects a growing...

Ethiopia mobilises millions to plant 700 million trees in a day under Green Legacy Initiative
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Jul 31, 2025

The Green Legacy Initiative aligns with Ethiopia’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action an...

How criminal networks use East and Southern Africa as hubs for global smuggling
Mary Wambui  |  Jul 31, 2025

According to the report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, criminal networks rely on well-connected brokers—often state o...

KeNHA cancels Nairobi–Kiambu road tender despite multi-billion Chinese funding deal
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jul 22, 2025

The tender, which had been initially announced on July 15, has raised concerns over the future of the multi-billion shilling project that sought to ea...

Calls for stricter labelling laws as 90 per cent of packaged foods in Kenya deemed unhealthy
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  Jul 15, 2025

The findings, released by the Access to Nutrition Initiative, show that 90 per cent of packaged food and beverage products, both local and internation...

First malaria drug for infants approved, to be rolled out in Africa within weeks
Bashir Mbuthia  |  Jul 09, 2025

Eight African countries participated in clinical trials of the drug and are expected to be among the first to access it.

Organised gangs from Nairobi slums tied to Gen Z protests, report warns of 2027 election risks
Mary Wambui  |  Jul 02, 2025

The report by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime links recent violent attacks on peaceful protestors to organised criminal gangs...

Garissa University launches community policing initiative to boost security and prevent extremism
Issa Hussein  |  Jun 26, 2025

The university, which endured one of Kenya’s deadliest terrorist attacks in April 2015 that claimed the lives of 147 students, launched the initiative...

Senate orders crackdown on governors, MCAs over use of public funds for self-promotion
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jun 22, 2025

The petitioner, Laban Omusundi of the Grassroots Civilian Oversight Initiative, decried the widespread branding of county-funded projects and vehicles...

Kenya, Ethiopia agree to build two bridges to boost access and trade for border communities
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jun 05, 2025

In a joint communiqué on Thursday, the governments of Kenya and Ethiopia announced that the new bridges will help border communities access healthcare...

Women lead sanitation drive in Tana River to curb cholera ahead of floods
Farhiya Hussein  |  Jun 04, 2025

With technical guidance and financial backing from the Supporting Community-Led Response initiative, more than 300 households constructed latrines and...

State launches committee to speed up land and environmental cases stalling key projects
Lucy Mumbi  |  May 29, 2025

The Attorney General said the legal audit conducted by her office showed that the government is either a principal or interested party in all the 10,5...

UN urged to rethink peacekeeping mandates to tackle organised crime in conflict zones
Mary Wambui  |  May 29, 2025

The findings come at a time when peacekeeping operations in the world are folding, with the last United Nations mission having been deployed in 2014.

From despair to renewal: Kwale farmers restore degraded land through tree regeneration
Farhiya Hussein  |  May 22, 2025

Widespread tree cutting for charcoal and expansion of farmland stripped the soil of its natural cover, causing severe erosion and depleting the ground...

Gender ministry faces Sh4.3bn shortfall amid rush to deliver Ruto's cultural agenda
Maureen Kinyanjui  |  May 21, 2025

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Sports and Culture Committee, Gender Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo said the ministry needs Sh3.05 billion...

How to make your own homemade cleaning spray
Margaret Wanjiru  |  Apr 26, 2025

Homemade cleaners not only save money but also cut down on harsh chemicals, offering safer options for families, especially those with young children...

Kenya, China elevate ties as Ruto and Xi pledge stronger China-Africa partnership
Reuters  |  Apr 24, 2025

Among the projects, China is helping fund the development of a modern railway line from the port of Mombasa into the hinterland.

Why environmentalists are casting doubts on Ruto’s Nairobi River cleanup efforts
Barack Oduor  |  Mar 12, 2025

The Green Belt Movement, founded by the late Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai, while celebrating Wangari Maathai Day, cast doubt on the...

National Assembly dismisses motion to remove Speaker Moses Wetang’ula
Amina Wako  |  Feb 17, 2025

Clerk of the National Assembly Samuel Njoroge confirmed that the Grassroot Oversight Initiative had sought to initiate a motion against Wetang’ula. Ho...

Architects association for reforms to enhance building safety after fatal slab collapse
Rachael Mutabasi  |  Feb 14, 2025

AAK is urging authorities to enforce stricter safety measures and impose harsher penalties for non-compliance to prevent future tragedies.

Kenya at risk of losing Sh80 billion annually as Trump halts foreign aid
Lucy Mumbi  |  Feb 06, 2025

Over the past five years, the health sector has consistently received the largest share of US assistance, amounting to Sh1.89 billion.

Nairobi’s Green Army shifts clean-up focus from CBD to residential areas
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jan 27, 2025

Braving heavy rains on Sunday evening, the 3,500 Green Army members completed the CBD clean-up and prepared to move to the city’s estates.

NCIC proposes stricter regulations for peace-building activities in bid to curb hate speech
Lucy Mumbi  |  Jan 21, 2025

The commission argues that this intervention is necessary to prevent peace-building activities from turning into political meetings or fostering ethni...

South Sudan peace talks resume in Nairobi
Mwangi Maina  |  Jan 21, 2025

The discussions include parties that did not sign the 2018 Revitalised Agreement, making them key participants in the ongoing dialogue.

Salva Kirr calls for unity in South Sudan, urges opposition to return to Nairobi Tumaini Initiative peace talks
Mwangi Maina  |  Jan 02, 2025

The peace process, which stalled due to political disagreements, will resume on January 7, 2025.

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