Author: Ableditor

Rwanda is moving to deepen integration in its digital payments sector as financial institutions and mobile-money operators are brought onto the country’s national interoperable payment infrastructure. The country’s central bank has directed banks, microfinance institutions and mobile-money providers to process interoperable transactions through eKash. The move is intended to make it easier for customers using different financial platforms to send and receive money without being restricted by the network or institution they use. Digital payments have become an important part of everyday economic activity across East Africa, with mobile money playing a particularly significant role. However, fragmented systems can make…

Mental health care is often associated with therapy and medication. While these remain important for people who need professional treatment, everyday habits can also play a meaningful role in supporting mental wellbeing. A recent Standard feature highlights what mental health professionals describe as therapeutic lifestyle changes — practical habits involving exercise, nutrition, sleep, relationships, recreation, stress management, spirituality and helping others. For a person spending most of the day behind a computer, the first intervention may be surprisingly simple: move. Walking, cycling, dancing, gardening or other forms of physical activity can help introduce movement into a sedentary routine. Spending time…

Kenya’s food culture is changing rapidly. Traditional meals built around ugali, vegetables, beans, omena and other locally available foods are increasingly competing with chips, burgers, sausages, sugary drinks and other convenient options. For busy urban households, the attraction is obvious. Long working hours, traffic and limited time for cooking make fast food an easy solution. But convenience can come with a health cost. The Kenya Times feature points to two changes occurring at the same time: diets are becoming more energy-dense while daily physical activity is declining. Urban workers can spend much of the day behind desks, in traffic or…

Silence is often associated with peace. But in a growing Kenyan town or city, noise can also tell a story about the people who live there. Music from a restaurant, children playing outside, a wedding celebration, a religious gathering or a busy street can all become part of a community’s soundscape. The challenge begins when everyday activity crosses into excessive noise. Health experts have long raised concerns about prolonged exposure to loud noise, linking it to disturbed sleep, stress and other health problems. That makes reasonable noise control an important part of healthy urban living. But there is a growing…

n. Black tax leaves young Kenyans balancing family duty and personal dreams For many young Kenyans entering employment, the first salary does not necessarily represent financial freedom. It can mark the beginning of a new responsibility — supporting the family that helped them get there. This pressure, popularly known as “black tax”, has become a familiar feature of life for many young professionals. The expectation can begin with small contributions: paying a sibling’s school expenses, sending money for food or helping parents meet household bills. Over time, those contributions can become a significant portion of an individual’s income. There is…

For some Nairobi women, going to the gym is no longer just about losing weight or building muscle. It is also about finding a space where they can exercise without feeling watched, judged or uncomfortable. The growing popularity of women-only fitness facilities is changing the way some women approach exercise in the city. For Muslim women, privacy can be particularly important. At Lantern Life Fitness, a women-only facility, the idea grew from the founder’s desire for a fitness environment that accommodated her faith, clothing and personal values. The facility opened in January 2025 and operates on a booking system, limiting…

Kenya’s public healthcare system faces a potentially deeper crisis after doctors warned they could join nurses who have been on strike for weeks, escalating concerns about the ability of public hospitals to sustain essential services. The threat of a wider industrial action comes at a difficult moment for patients, particularly those who depend entirely on county health facilities for treatment, maternity services, chronic disease management and emergency care. Doctors say the prolonged absence of nurses has significantly altered how hospitals function, forcing other healthcare workers to absorb responsibilities beyond their normal workload. The Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists and Dentists Union…

A new dispute over pharmacy practice standards has opened another front in Kenya’s evolving healthcare regulation landscape, bringing into focus the delicate balance between professional qualifications, patient safety and access to essential medicines. The debate centres on proposed Good Pharmacy Practice standards and the responsibilities assigned to different categories of pharmaceutical professionals. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board and the Ministry of Health argue that the proposed framework is intended to strengthen professional accountability and improve patient safety. Pharmaceutical technologists, however, fear that aspects of the proposed standards could limit their professional responsibilities, particularly in supervisory roles within health facilities. At…

n. AI offers new hope as Kenya confronts growing mental health burden A Kenyan data scientist’s effort to develop an artificial intelligence tool capable of identifying signs of mental health distress through social media activity has renewed discussion about the role of technology in addressing one of the country’s least adequately resourced healthcare challenges. Mental health remains a growing concern in Kenya, yet access to specialised services continues to be uneven. Many people experiencing depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions do not seek professional help until their condition has worsened. Stigma, limited awareness and the cost of treatment remain…

.n From culture to commerce: Africa’s creative economy is coming of age Africa’s cultural influence is travelling faster than many of its traditional exports. Music from Lagos fills clubs in London. Fashion inspired by African designers is reaching global runways. Film, animation and digital content are finding audiences far beyond the continent. What was once viewed primarily as culture is increasingly becoming business. The creative economy is emerging as an important source of employment, exports and entrepreneurship. Music is perhaps the most visible example. Digital streaming platforms have reduced the barriers between African artists and global audiences. Social media has…