Private hospitals in Kenya want the government to prioritize settling outstanding NHIF arrears before processing Social Health Authority (SHA) claims. The Departmental Committee on Health of the National Assembly recently received a report detailing this preference from the Rural and Urban Private Hospitals Association of Kenya (RUPHA) and the Kenya Association of Private Hospitals (KAPH).
According to the report, which collected data from over 500 private healthcare providers, 55% of facilities want NHIF arrears addressed first. In comparison, 26% prefer simultaneous payment of both NHIF and SHA claims, and only 19% support prioritizing SHA claim payments while deferring NHIF arrears.
The report also revealed that 61% of private...
President William Ruto wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to have new commissioners as soon as possible. He urged the selection panel responsible for choosing the new team to speed things up.
The president made these remarks on Tuesday, emphasizing the importance of having a new IEBC in place for the upcoming Malava by-election. He called on those tasked with the responsibility to expedite the process.
The selection panel consists of nine members nominated by various organizations, including the Law Society of Kenya, the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya, the Parliamentary Service Commission, the Political Parties Liaison Committee, and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya.
Dr. Nelson...
Tostan's social mobilizer in Kuntaur, Aja Fatoumatta Jabbie, has praised the Tostan project for its role in ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Central River Region (CRR) and promoting girls' education. The project, a collaboration between ChildFund and UNFPA, focuses on protecting children and empowering women.
During a press interview on ChildFund's country-wide tour, Jabbie explained that since Tostan began its work, FGM has not been practiced in the CRR region. She attributed this change to the project's efforts in educating practitioners about the harmful effects of FGM on girls.
Jabbie acknowledged that raising awareness about FGM can be challenging, but Tostan takes a sensitive approach. They inform communities about...
On Sunday, March 2nd, Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Welfare Fatou Kinteh engaged with children to celebrate International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB). The event took place at the Ministry of Information, Media, and Broadcasting's conference hall and focused on the importance of children's voices in building a strong nation.
Minister Kinteh stressed the significance of recognizing and celebrating the role children play in shaping The Gambia's future. She highlighted this year's theme, Amplifying Young Voices, Building a Better Future, which emphasizes the need to empower children and give them opportunities to express themselves.
The Minister believes that Gambian children have incredible potential, and everyone in...
Action Aid International The Gambia is partnering with regional authorities to launch an exciting new project called Empowering Marginalized Young People for Inclusion in Civic Space and Local Infrastructure for Peace (YPI). The initiative, funded by the UN Peace Building Fund, will run from 2024 to 2026 under the slogan "Voice Your Choice, Shape Our Future."
Over the weekend, Action Aid representatives met with officials from the Governor's Office and Kerewan Area Council to discuss the project. They engaged in a five-day stakeholder consultation with regional authorities, focusing on increasing youth participation in decision-making processes.
YPI will be implemented in four Local Government Areas: Kerewan, Kuntaur, Janjanbureh, and...
Kerewan Area Council has exciting plans to improve waste management and revenue collection. They're buying two garbage trucks for Barra and Farafenni, which will be a game-changer for dealing with daily waste in urban areas. This is the first time the council has ever provided this kind of service.
In addition, they're giving revenue collectors five motorcycles to help them do their jobs better. This will make it easier for them to visit communities and institutions, collect payments on time, and deposit the money quickly.
CEO Sainabou Martin Sonko is thrilled with how well everyone is working together to advance the council's development plans. She praised the Chairman, staff, and general counsel for their support.
The council has...
Ousman Jarju from Tanji village in the West Coast Region pleaded guilty to housebreaking charges and received his sentence on Monday. Magistrate Kanjura B. Sambou handed down the judgment, which included monetary fines and potential jail time if the fines weren't paid.
The court found Jarju guilty of two counts of housebreaking and theft. For the first offense, he must pay a D10,000 fine or serve six months in prison. The second charge carries a D15,000 penalty or nine months behind bars.
Moreover, Jarju has been directed to compensate the victim, Lamin Jammeh, with D130,880. Failing to provide this restitution will land him an extra year in jail.
Back in February 2025, Jarju illegally entered Jammeh's Tanji home, intending to commit...
Nigeria plans to play Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match. The Nigerian Football Association picked March 25 as the date for this Group C contest. Zimbabwe will face Benin five days earlier at a location in South Africa before traveling to meet the Super Eagles.
The exact time for kickoff remains unknown, and officials have yet to announce which TV channels will broadcast the game. Nigeria recently hired Éric Chelle as head coach back in January to lead the team through these important qualifiers. Fans look forward to seeing how the Super Eagles perform under fresh leadership against their Zimbabwean opponents.
Eric Chelle, who coaches Nigeria, recently revealed which players might represent the Super Eagles against Zimbabwe during the upcoming 2026 World Cup Qualifiers for Group C. Nigerian players will welcome the Warriors team on March 25th at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium located in Uyo. The Nigerian squad plans to compete against Rwanda on March 21st, just four days before they face Zimbabwe. The coach selected these players for possible inclusion.
