A “blood moon” is a name given to the moon during a lunar eclipse. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, casting the moon into shadow.

Unlike with a solar eclipse, when the moon passes between the Earth and sun, blocking the sun’s light, the moon is not “turned dark” during an eclipse, but instead appears to turn red.

Lunar eclipses are less common than solar eclipses, with a maximum of three occurring in any given location per year, though some years there can be none. However, each lunar eclipse is visible from more than half the Earth.

If this eclipse is rare, it is because it will last for so long. The moon will be in the Earth’s shadow for four hours and totally eclipsed for one hour and 43 minutes, which is just short of the theoretical limit of a lunar eclipse (one hour and 47 minutes). The eclipse will last for so long on Friday night because the moon will be passing through the center of the Earth’s shadow.

The best view of the eclipse will be from East Africa, the Middle East, across to India and the westernmost tip of China. But there still be reasonable views for people in the rest of Africa, Europe, other parts of Asia, Australia and the eastern tip of South America.

In East Africa, the partial eclipse will begin at 9:30pm EAT, with the moon completely red between 10:30pm and 12:13am. This region will have one of the best views of the eclipse.

Tips for watching the blood moon “The best place to see it is out in the country away from lights,” said Tinney. “If you’re living in a city then there’s a lot of light pollution from the night sky, so the contrast between the moon and the sky won’t be as great.” It is safe to look at the moon during an eclipse.

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Kenya’s standard gauge Railway was built from Mombasa to Nairobi and its second phase is to stop at Kisumu leaving out the stretch to malaba.

Okoth sits on the physical infrastructure committee of parliament said that there could be geo-politics by Kenya to delay its SGR to reach Uganda boarder at malaba and he called government to investigate and sort out this.

However, okoth said that government needs to sensitize the people compensated for the land where such projects are going to pass because when they get huge money they are not used get excited and misuse it.

He added that people in his area where this SGR is going to pass were conned by traditional witch doctors whom they went for to ensure that they change the minds of surveyors using the spirits so as the SGR pass through their land and also get such money.

Government approved a loan of 45.5 billion shillings for construction of the standard gauge railway but the project stalled because of the delay by Exim bank of china to release the required funds.

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Maize gardens in some parts of Kenya have completely dried up.

rought throughout East Africa that has sharply curbed harvests and pushed the prices of cereals and other staple foods to unusually high levels, posing a heavy burden to households and special risks for pastoralists in the region, according to a press statement.

Local prices of maize, sorghum and other cereals are near or at record levels in swathes of Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, according to the latest Food Price Monitoring and Analysis Bulletin (FPMA).

Inadequate rainfall in most areas of the sub-region has put enormous strain on livestock and their keepers. Poor livestock body conditions due to pasture and water shortages and forcible culls mean animals command lower prices, leaving pastoralists with even less income to purchase basic foodstuffs.

“Sharply increasing prices are severely constraining food access for large numbers of households with alarming consequences in terms of food insecurity,” said Mario Zappacosta, FAO senior economist and coordinator of the Global Information and Early Warning System.

The trends in East Africa, where prices of staple cereals have doubled in some town markets, stand in marked contrast to the stable trend of FAO’s Food Price Index, which measures the monthly change in international prices of a basket of traded food commodities.

Water for animals has become scarce leading to the death of a number of animals.

The difference is due to the drought that is hammering the sub-region, where food stocks were already depleted by the strong El Niño weather event that ended only last year. Poor and erratic rainfall in recent months, crucial for local growing seasons, is denting farm output.

Somalia’s maize and sorghum harvests are estimated to be 75 percent down from their usual level, and some 6.2 million people, more than half of the country’s total population, now face acute food insecurity, with the majority of those most affected living in rural areas.

Soaring prices

The FPMA Bulletin tracks food price trends on a granular level and in local terms, with an eye to flagging instances where the prices of essential food commodities increase sharply or are abnormally high.

In Mogadishu, prices of maize increased by 23 percent in January, and. the increase was even sharper in the main maize producing region of Lower Shabelle. Overall, in key market towns of central and southern Somalia, coarse grain prices in January have doubled from a year earlier.With an earlier than usual depletion of household stocks during the coming lean season and preliminary weather forecasts raising concerns for the performance of the next rainy season, prices are likely to further escalate in the coming months.

Maize prices in Arusha, United Republic of Tanzania, have almost doubled since early 2016, while they are 25 percent higher than 12 months earlier in the country’s largest city, Dar Es Salaam.

In South Sudan, food prices are now two to four times above their levels of a year earlier, exacerbated by ongoing insecurity and the significant depreciation of the local currency.

In Kenya, where eastern and coastal lowlands as well as some western areas of the Rift Valley all suffered below-average rainfall, maize prices are up by around 30 percent, with the increase somewhat contained somewhat thanks to sustained imports from Uganda.

Cereal prices aren’t the only ones rising. Beans now cost 40 percent more in Kenya than a year earlier, while in Uganda – where maize prices are now up to 75 percent higher than a year earlier – and increasing around the key border trading hub of Busia, the prices of beans and cassava flour are both about 25 percent higher than a year ago in the capital city, Kampala.

Double jeopardy for pastoralists

Drought-affected pastoral areas in the region face even harsher conditions.

Kenya’s animals have been affected with a majority dying due to lack of water and pasture.

In Somalia, goat prices are up to 60 percent lower than a year ago, while in pastoralist areas of Kenya the prices of goats declined by up to 30 percent over the last twelve months.

Shortages of pasture and water caused livestock deaths and reduced body mass, prompting herders to sell animals while they can, as is also occurring in drought-wracked southern Ethiopia. This also pushes up the prices of milk, which is, for instance, up 40 percent on the year in Somalia’s Gedo region.

Lower income from livestock collides with higher prices for cereals and other staple foods in a wrenching shock to terms of trade for pastoralist households. A medium-sized goat in Somalia’s Buale market was worth 114 kilograms of maize in January 2016, but at today’s prices can be traded for only 30 kilograms of the grain.

FAO uses its proprietary FPMA Tool, accessible to the public online, to monitor local markets and gather data for more than 1350 domestic price series in 91 countries around the globe in order to produce its Indicator of Food Price Anomalies

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Unmarked path in Kibera. Photo: E Busaka

A street in Woodley Estate. Photo: E Busaka

This is not a situation unique to Nairobi; Kampala has a great number of slums with Katanga being the largest of these slums. According to the UN, in 2014, 30 per cent of the urban population lived in slum-like conditions; in sub-Saharan Africa, the proportion was 55 per cent, the highest of any region. Globally, more than 880 million people were living in slums in 2014. By 2030 50% of Africans will live in cities; the East African nations have a long way to go to ensure that they have well-managed cities and other human settlements because these will be incubators for innovation and ingenuity and key drivers of sustainable development.

Katanga slum in Kampala

Well managed cities will also strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

Urban growth in Africa is happening so quickly that it overwhelms governments’ abilities to provide education, health services, housing, drinking water, electricity and waste disposal.16 Most residents of SSA cities live in overcrowded informal settlements commonly referred to as slums; Slums are characterized by lack of proper housing and basic amenities, social services, livelihood opportunities, and security. Africa faces a significant challenge in adapting to climate change with costs and damages rising rapidly with warming. – Population Dynamics, Climate Change and Sustainable development in Africa.

Currently Nairobi has the largest urban slum in Africa in its Kibera location with an estimate of 200,000 to one million people. Such slum structures will not stand the test of time when the poor conditions  touted by climate change enthusiasts finally come to pass. The people living in such environments all across East Africa cannot be in position to adapt to the impacts that today’s rapid climate change is expected to bring. Ebby Busaka in her book Kenya’s Urban Housing Dilemma notes that “Improved access to decent housing means better outcomes for all urban residents. It signifies livability, vitality, functioning urban areas and communities and expanded urban networks.” All stakeholders need to work towards this goal of having sustainable cities and communities. Most of East Africa faces the challenges of poverty, unemployment, unsafe water, poor sanitation, negative impacts of climate change (like droughts, floods, etc), increased security concerns, high population growth, among others. The Report on Sustainable development goals for the Eastern Africa subregion notes that Environmental challenges in Eastern Africa are further aggravated by high population growth and rapid and unplanned urbanization. For Example Kampala, the capital of Uganda, is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa but its growth is largely organic. If rapid, unplanned urbanization continues, it will have a serious negative impact on the environment through, among others, poor waste disposal, air pollution, and degradation of adjacent ecosystems through urban sprawl.

However, opportunities are available in the region that can help overcome these challenges if well harnessed. These opportunities include Natural resources, Oil reserves, Regional Integration, Ongoing development strategies and programmes, as well as High rate of urbanization.

East Africans can be optimistic that sustainable cities will be created in this region. In 2016 Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) planned to construct affordable housing units for low income earners and these were to be constructed in over 57 slum settlements located in the five divisions of Kampala.This week progress was further seen in Kampala when the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) launched the project on ‘Strengthening Member States’ Capacities in Designing and Implementing Strategies and Policies for Inclusive and Sustainable Cities in Africa’.

ECA’s Director Ms.Takyiwaa Manuh of the Social Development Policy Division noted that “We are drawing on ECA’s expertise and mandate on urbanization in the context of structural transformation and overarching focus to enhance member states capacities hence we will be launching this project on strengthening Member States’ capacities in designing and implementing strategies and policies for inclusive and sustainable cities in Africa,”

The young child in East Africa can look at and expect their government to play its part in enabling the establishment of sustainable cities and communities using climate smart planning; communities that give them a future.

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This comes after Uganda ended a 38-year wait by qualifying to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon as one of two best placed runners-up.

Uganda cranes coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic is a proud man at the moment having led Uganda to its first Afcon finals appearance in 39 years but also move the nation from 97th in the rankings up to 65^th.

This is in line with the goals set up by the Serb on his arrival in Uganda in May 2013 to take over the reins from the sacked Bobby Williamson.

“One of my aims is to develop the youth systems, and I want us to move from 97th in the rankings up to 70, and stay there to give our players a chance to play in top European leagues.”

Uganda will better their world ranking if they perform well in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia qualifiers group in which they were drawn with Egypt, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville.

Mean while,Kenya have dropped 3 places to 91st,Ethiopia follows closely at 125th moving four places up, Burundi are 129 while Tanzania are ranked 132.

Cote D’Ivoire is the best ranked country in Africa at 34th followed by Algeria (35th), Senegal (39th), Ghana (43rd) and Cameroon at 59th globally.

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President Paul Kagame of Rwanda who was one of the panelists today, along with President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyata, called for action beyond words, he noted “Lets stop talking a lot about things & just do them. Lets do more action and less speeches” His counterpart President Uhuru noted that the government of Kenya has committed USD 200million over the next five years to support the agricultural sector. “We need our youth to practice Agriculture in new ways where it’s a viable business” the president said.

The forum that is hosting agricultural experts from all over Africa is themed ‘Seize the moment: Securing Africa’s Rise Through Agricultural Transformation’  and had leaders saying that agriculture should be put in the center stage of transforming the continent’s economic path and that it was a defining moment for Africa to rewrite the agricultural story.

According to a World Bank report released early this year, the East African region has a very high rate of youth unemployment with Kenya topping that list: one in five Kenyan youths of working age has no job, and one in twenty for Uganda and Tanzania. Youth are trained for (and desire) the non-existent white collar jobs instead of the more technical income projects like agriculture. With such statistics one can only hope that the youth are hearing the message and will look to agriculture for the betterment of their individual lives and consequently for the continent’s good.
The forum is taking place at the UN Complex in Nairobi, Kenya with its partners being African Development Bank, KCB, OCP Africa, The Rockefeller Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and World Food Programme. It was officially opened by His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyata.

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A street in Juba

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Kampala city hall where vaccines are currently offered

Drivers under their umbrella organization Uganda transport alliance are calling upon the East Africa legislative assembly to create more yellow fever vaccination centers to ease their work while they are travelling in the east African region. The drivers say they face difficulties because there is only one vaccination center at KCCA. They are also complaining of the charges which now stand at 100,000 shilling which they say is  the highest  in the  entire region.

The Director of Uganda transport alliance William Busuulwa says  the matter needs immediate attention because with the current state the transport sector is strongly affected. They made the remarks while meeting the MPs from the East African legislative assembly at parliament.

The East African legislators have pledged to forward this matter to EALA so that the process of accessing this vaccination becomes cheaper. EALA members say that launching the east African passport which will help traders access all the countries under East Africa region address the current custom issues which have seen many traders  and highly charged when they want to access other countries.

This was disclosed by east African legislator Dorah Byamukama while meeting the business community at parliament in Kampala. The meeting was aimed at identifying issues which is affecting the
Ugandan business sector in the course of doing business.

However, the Uganda Manufacturers Association is demanding the African region to have a one stop boarder post which will help traders to access the services at one point. Gogfrey Ssali  a data analyst from Uganda manufacturers  association says that this has been making products in the region very expensive compared to those from China. Ssali also says  that such a point should also be having parking to save traders from such huge costs.

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Kigali. Rwanda

The Republic of Rwanda has been ranked as the most prosperous in the East African region. Legatum Institute yesterday June 1^st 2016 launched their 2016 Africa prosperity Report. An international think tank and educational charity focused on promoting prosperity, the institute researches core themes of revitalising capitalism and democracy. The report released considered eight economic and social factors including Entrepreneurship & Opportunity; Governance; Education; Health; Safety & Security; Personal Freedom; and Social Capital; this method considers both wealth and wellbeing which gives a wholesome picture. Generally the findings showed that decades of economic growth across the continent have failed to deliver greater levels of prosperity for many African countries.

On the list of 38 countries, which was topped by South Africa, East Africa had both the best and worst improved African countries these being Rwanda and Tanzania respectively.

According to the report, Rwanda has the biggest ‘Prosperity Surplus’ in Africa. Even though its GDP per capita is $1661, it came top of the rankings due to the significant reforms it has made recently to strengthen the rule of law and reduce corruption. Rwanda placed 8^th in the top 10 high ranking countries.

Kenya came in next at number 11 making it the first of 18 middle ranking countries, ranking high in Entreprenuership and Opportuinty, Personal freedom and Social Capital; it ranked lowest in Safety and security.

These were followed by Uganda at 17^th , Tanzania at 19^th and Burundi at 36^th positions. The Central African Republic was the lowest ranked country in the 38^th place.

Sub-Saharan Africa itself has made significant progress on prosperity, particularly in health and opportunity, but has still been outpaced in translating wealth into prosperity by both developing Asia and Europe. Given the low hanging fruit still available in Africa, that more rapid gains have not been made is surprising. – Alexandra Mousavizadeh, Director of the Prosperity Index, Legatum Institute

The Africa Prosperity Report seeks to determine what level of prosperity African countries can and should be expected to deliver given their level of wealth, done by assessing a country’s level of wealth (GDP per capita) modelled against its overall ranking in the Legatum Institute’s annual Prosperity Index. Different reports could use different methods to rank the regional leader but according to Legatum’s well-rounded report Rwanda takes the lead in the East African region.

2016 Africa Prosperity Report PDF

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Centenary House-Ecole Belge street that was declared the city’s first car-free zone. Photo credit: Timothy Kisambira, The New Times

Kigali’s central business district (CBD) has been declared a car free zone by authorities. The President, Paul Kagame, earlier proposed that Kigali’s central business zone be freed from traffic in a tweet in response to an oped by The New Times which stated: “From what Sunny had to write…in today’s TNT (The New Times) about CBD-Kigali, making it a car-free zone. I agree with him. Will check with the Mayor.”

Apparently the President did ‘check with the Mayor’ because in a press briefing later on with Dr. Alphonse Nkurunziza, the city head of Engineering, Urban Planning and Inspections, he confirmed the car free zone and said that initially, it will cover three streets beginning from Centenary House up to the road that leads to Ecole Belge and will eventually cover the entire Central Business District (CBD). “It’s not a rumour, we will start implementing the car-free zone policy on Monday next week. It is within the established framework of the city’s Master Plan for the urban planning of CoK. So, it’s not an imprompt decision and it is being done to decongest the city as well as create space for green areas,” he said.

“We are doing this to decongest the area for businesses around. It will also ease the process of creating green transport areas within the city. We have identified places where people will park their cars as they transact businesses within that area,”

This policy is to take effect Monday (24/8/2015) and the planners intend to continue linking streets to make a pedestrian network. Pedestrian areas will have green spaces like public parks probably in 2-3 months. “We are undertaking this project in phases as we seek to solve the problem of heavy traffic around the CBD. People will use back routes to access parking spaces in buildings such as Bank of Kigali, M Peace Plaza, Union Trade Centre and Kigali City Tower among others,” Nkuruziza added. People accessing the CBD will use a shuttle that would drop them close to where they are going.

“The use of shuttles will begin immediately, whereby, if someone parks a car at KCT but works at Kenya Commercial Bank, there’s a shuttle that will drop them on the road that joins the pedestrian road from below KCB to get to work,” he said.

The public views on this where divided with some welcoming the change while others, like business owners, saying this would affect their business because no one would like to come into town. The general perception was the project should be a thought through endeavour and not an impromptu decision.

The car free zone in Kigali will be a first for an East African city. Other areas in Africa with car free zones include Ouagadougou,Burkina Faso; Lamu, Kenya; Fes el Bali,Morocco; and Tripoli, Libya. Many cities across Europe and America have been designated car free zones.

Pictures of car free zones courtesy of National Geographic

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