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Kenya’s Malkia Strikers win 10th African Title, Qualify For 2024 Paris Olympics
Kenya’s national women’s volleyball team, the Malkia Strikers, Thursday won their 10th African title after beating Egypt in straight sets in the final of the 2023 CAVB Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The Kenyan queens clinched the coveted trophy with a 25-22, 25-20, 25-14 victory, and have also automatically qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The victory was a sweet one for the Malkia Strikers, who had lost the previous three editions of the tournament to Cameroon.
On their way to the final, the Malkia Strikers beat Rwanda, Uganda, Morocco, Lesotho, and hosts Cameroon.
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba congratulated the Malkia Strikers for their impressive victory at the African Nations Championship in Cameroon. He praised the team for their dominant 3-0 win over Egypt, and for qualifying for the Paris Olympics next summer.
“Hongera Malkia Strikers, our superb national women volleyball team, for emphatically winning the African Nations Championship in Cameroon with a 3-0 victory over Egypt,” Namwamba said.
The team was led by captain Mercy Moim, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
The Malkia Strikers are now the clear favorites to win the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship, and they will be looking to make a strong showing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Faith Kipyegon Makes History with Third World 1500m Title
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon produced a devastating last lap to win an unprecedented third world women’s 1500m title in Budapest on Tuesday.
The double Olympic champion led from start to finish in a masterful display, kicking at the bell to outstrip a loaded field and win in 3:54.87 seconds.
Ethiopian Diribe Welteji took silver in 3:55.69, with Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands claiming bronze (3:56.00).
It was another remarkable result for Kipyegon, who has now won three world titles and two Olympic gold medals in the 1500m. She is also the world record holder in the event.
The 29-year-old Kenyan showed her class from the start, taking the lead and setting a strong pace. She remained in control throughout the race, and her acceleration in the final lap was simply too much for her rivals.
Welteji and Hassan gave it their all in the closing stages, but they were no match for Kipyegon, who crossed the finish line with her arms raised in triumph.
The victory was a fitting reward for Kipyegon, who has been one of the most dominant runners in the world over the past few years. She is a true legend of the sport, and her third world title is a testament to her incredible talent and determination.
Kipyegon and Hassan will face off again in the 5,000m on Saturday, and it will be interesting to see if the Dutchwoman can avenge her defeat in the 1500m. However, Kipyegon will be the strong favorite, and she will be looking to add another world title to her collection.
Namwamba Defies Calls to Resign, Says He is “Performing Well”
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba Wednesday denied allegations of mismanagement and neglect of athletes raised against him by Members of Parliament.
Namwamba, who was grilled by the National Assembly on Wednesday, said he is not aware of any joyriders accompanying official delegations to events. He also said he inherited challenges at the ministry, including a FIFA suspension, and has been working to address them.
The CS said he is “fully in touch and in control” of the ministry and that he is “doing well within his mandate.” He also said he is “not willing to resign” based on the allegations made against him.
Namwamba’s denials come after a number of MPs accused him of failing to meet the needs of athletes. They have also criticized him for not being present to receive athletes who returned from the Berlin Games last week.
The CS has said that he was not aware of the athletes’ arrival and that he was not able to attend due to other commitments. He has also said that he has been working to improve the welfare of athletes and that he is committed to supporting them.
The allegations against Namwamba have raised questions about his ability to effectively manage the Sports Ministry. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to clear his name and restore public confidence in his leadership.
Kenya Strikes Deal with TikTok to Curb Explicit Content
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew Thursday met virtually with Kenyan President William Ruto and agreed that the popular video-sharing app will monitor content in the nation.
The deal comes a week after the national assembly discussed a proposal to ban TikTok because of its explicit sexual content and clips promoting violence and hate speech.
Under the agreement, TikTok will set up an office in Kenya and appoint a local team to oversee content moderation. The company will also work with the government to develop guidelines for what is considered acceptable content.
Ruto said the agreement was a step towards ensuring that TikTok complies with Kenyan laws and regulations. He also said that the government wanted to ensure that social media platforms are used for positive purposes, such as promoting economic development and social cohesion.
The government estimates that Kenya generates between 300 million and 500 million Kenyan shillings per month from social media.
The agreement with TikTok is seen as a win-win for both the company and the government as TikTok gets to continue operating in Kenya, while the government gets to regulate the platform and ensure that it is used in a responsible way.
Kenya Facing Shortage of Healthcare Professionals
The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) Tuesday expressed concern over the shortage of healthcare professionals in the country. The union’s secretary-general, Dr. Davji Atellah, said the shortage is affecting service delivery in public hospitals.
Dr. Atellah noted that there is a severe shortage of medical officers, pharmacists, and dentists in the hospitals. This has led to overworked and underpaid health workers, who are forced to work long hours without annual leaves. Patients have also had to endure long wait times before being attended to.
The lack of proper medical supplies in public hospitals is another major problem. This has led to delayed treatments and compromised patient care. Vital surgeries have been postponed, diagnoses have been delayed, and healthcare workers have been forced to make difficult decisions about who receives limited supplies.
Dr Atellah also pointed out that the government has not yet implemented the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) 2017-2021, which was signed with the KMPDU. This he said has affected the pending promotions, medical cover, statutory deductions, and basic salaries of doctors.
“There is a severe shortage of medical officers, pharmacists, and dentists in public hospitals,” he said. “Our members are now forced to work long hours without annual leave, which is against the 40 hours per week that we agreed to in our 2017 CBA.”
He called on the government to invest in healthcare and bridge the gap between promises and actual delivery of services. He said that the government must acknowledge the enormous worth of healthcare workers and ensure their fair treatment.
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