WOZAA!

Kenya's Ebola cases rise to nine — all linked to the first patient

The Ministry of Health confirmed a new case on October 20, bringing Kenya's total to nine. The new patient is a contact of the first case, the man who travelled from the DR Congo and died on October 5, and tested positive while already in quarantine. Besides the first patient, four of his relatives and four health workers have also tested positive. Authorities have identified 135 contacts linked to the nine patients, and 134 of them are in quarantine. The ministry says the list will keep growing.

There is still no evidence of spread beyond the first patient's known contacts, and the ministry says the risk to the general public remains low. The first group of contacts finishes its 21-day quarantine on October 25, and those without symptoms will be allowed home. The ministry has asked communities to welcome them back, saying they pose no risk of infection.

The takeaway: this outbreak is so far confined to known contacts, but it is still developing, so follow the Ministry of Health's updates and not forwarded messages.

Sources: AP (via News4JAX), ABC News

Fuel prices jump: petrol hits KSh226.96, kerosene up KSh28.49

EPRA's new prices, effective from midnight on October 15 until the next review on November 14, are KSh226.96 for super petrol (up KSh12.93), KSh227.76 for diesel (up KSh12.04) and KSh219.87 for kerosene (up KSh28.49). By our arithmetic from the old prices, that is a rise of about 6% for petrol, 5.5% for diesel and 15% for kerosene.

Kerosene is the sharpest increase, and it hits households that cook and light with it hardest. Higher fuel costs also tend to feed into transport, food and manufacturing costs. With transport inflation already at 15.6% in September, expect fares to be under pressure before the November 14 review.

Sources: HapaKenya

UoN students block Waiyaki Way as the lecturers' strike enters its third week

University of Nairobi students lit bonfires and barricaded Waiyaki Way on Wednesday, October 21, after a 72-hour ultimatum from their students' association, UNSA. They want the dispute between the unions and the state resolved. UNSA threatened statewide demonstrations if there is no compromise, and one student said they are missing lectures and that exams have been postponed indefinitely. Police later cleared the debris.

The strike began on October 2. UASU's Constantine Wasonga says the union will not back down until the National Treasury shows a concrete financial commitment, and neither side has shown signs of yielding. If you are a student or parent, there is still no end date, so keep checking your university's official notices for any change to exams.

Sources: Pulse Kenya

Under 30 with a business idea? Seed funding of up to $1,000 closes November 30

The 1,000 Young Entrepreneurs Initiative, linked to Aiducation International, is offering selected Kenyan entrepreneurs seed funding of up to USD 1,000 plus mentorship and training. You must be a Kenya resident under 30, speak English fluently, and have a clearly defined idea that solves a problem. Applications are online, and you will need an ID or passport, a business plan of up to two pages, and a video of about two minutes explaining your idea.

The deadline is November 30. The details above come from a third-party summary, so confirm them on the programme's official site before applying, and treat any request for a fee to apply as a red flag.

Sources: Opportunities for Youth

Konza Technopolis wins a global smart-city award in Vienna

Kenya's State Department for ICT and the Digital Economy won the Smart Gigacity Excellence Award for Konza Technopolis at the Broadband Excellence Awards 2026, held in Vienna by the World Broadband Association. Kenya's entry was chosen from an international shortlist. The award recognises Konza as a model for gigabit-enabled urban development, and was accepted by Ambassador Valerie Rugene on behalf of the ICT Principal Secretary.

An award is recognition, not investment. The real test is whether it translates into tenants, data-centre capacity and jobs, which is what the report says the award could help attract.

Sources: The Star