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Kenya Defeats 2022 World Cup Host Qatar
The Harambee Stars of Kenya pulled off a major upset on Thursday evening, defeating the 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar 2-1 in a friendly match played at the Al Janoub Stadium in Doha.
The Kenyans took the lead in the 20th minute through a glancing header from Stade de Reims defender Joseph Okumu. Hassan Al-Haydos equalized for Qatar from the penalty spot 14 minutes later, but Amos Nondi came off the bench to score the winner in stoppage time after a brilliant run from Michael Olunga.
The victory was a major boost for the Harambee Stars, who are currently ranked 105th in the FIFA world rankings, compared to Qatar’s 59th place. It was also a perfect preparation for Kenya’s upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers, where they have been drawn in Group F alongside Ivory Coast, Gambia, Gabon, Burundi, and Seychelles.
The national team was locked out of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers due to a ban imposed by FIFA, but they will be hoping to make amends in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and finally realize their dream of reaching the tournament.
The win over Qatar was a significant achievement for the Harambee Stars, and it will give them a lot of confidence going into the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. They will need to continue to improve if they want to qualify for the tournament, but they have shown that they are capable of beating top teams on their day.
The victory was also a major boost for the Kenyan fans, who were in attendance in large numbers. They were treated to a thrilling match, and they will be hoping that the Harambee Stars can build on this performance in the future.
Kenyan Legislators Propose to Create 11 New Counties
A group of 26 Kenyan legislators have proposed to create 11 new counties, bringing the total number of counties in Kenya to 58. The legislators, who are members of a parliamentary caucus, argue that the proposal is necessary to address the economic, social, and political marginalization of groups with limited representation within current county boundaries.
The legislators say that limited representation leads to unequal access to political processes and resources, which in turn contributes to poverty. They also argue that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) should be responsible for delimiting the boundaries of the new counties within six months of the enactment of the proposal.
The eleven proposed counties are: Kuria County (from Migori County); Teso County (from Busia County); Mount Elgon County (from Bungoma and Transzoia Counties); East Pokot County (from Baringo and West Pokot Counties); Mwingi County (from Kitui County); Gucha County (from Kisii County); Suba County (from Homabay County); Ijara County (from Garissa County); Nakuru West County (from Nakuru County); Wajir South County (from Wajir County) and Nyambene County (from Embu County).
The legislators argue that their proposal does not require a referendum, as some experts have suggested. They believe that the proposal can be implemented through a simple law passed by Parliament.
The proposal has been met with mixed reactions. Some people support the proposal, arguing that it will help to improve representation and reduce poverty. Others oppose the proposal, arguing that it will be too expensive and that it will create more problems than it solves.
US Repositions Troops in Niger After Coup
The United States government has begun repositioning some of its troops in Niger following the July 26 coup d’état. The move is a precautionary measure, as there is no threat to American troops at this time.
The troops will be moved from Air Base 101, located near the Niger capital of Niamey, to Air Base 201 in Agadez, further north. Air Base 201 is a $110 million drone operations facility that is better equipped to handle the harsh desert conditions in northern Niger.
The United States has at least 1,100 troops stationed at its two air bases in Niger. The forces are deployed to aid Niger’s forces in fighting terrorism and developing its military capacity.
Relations between Niger and its western partners have worsened since the coup. France, which has 1,500 troops in Niger, began negotiations with the military junta this week regarding the withdrawal of some of its forces.
The United States has not yet announced any plans to withdraw its troops from Niger. However, the repositioning of forces is a sign that the United States is taking the coup seriously and is prepared to adjust its military posture in the country accordingly.
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