2024 in Kenya
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Events in the year 2024 in Kenya.
Incumbents
[edit]- President: William Ruto
- Deputy President: Rigathi Gachagua (until 1 November); Kithure Kindiki (since 1 November)
- Chief Justice: Martha Koome
Events
[edit]February
[edit]- 1 February – A gas truck explodes in a residential area of Nairobi, killing three people and injuring 297 others.[1]
March
[edit]- March–May – 2024 Kenya floods: At least 238 people are killed nationwide in floods.[2]
- 1 March – President William Ruto announces an agreement with Haiti to deploy 1,000 police officers in a mission approved by the United Nations to combat gang violence in the Caribbean nation.[3]
- 5 March – A Cessna 172 on a training flight crashes into the Nairobi National Park after figuring in a mid-air collision with a Dash 8 passenger aircraft operated by Safarilink Aviation, killing all two people aboard the Cessna.[4]
- 18 March – A bus carrying university students from Nairobi to Mombasa collides with a truck in Maungu, killing 11 and seriously injuring 42.[5]
- 25 March – Four people, including three police officers, are killed in a bomb attack on a hotel near a police station in Mandera.[6]
April
[edit]- 18 April – The Head of the Kenya Defence Forces, General Francis Omondi Ogolla, dies along with nine other military officers in a helicopter crash in Elgeyo Marakwet County.[7]
- 29 April:
- 2024 Mai Mahiu flash flood: At least 50 people are killed after a railway embankment collapses due to heavy rains near Mai Mahiu, Nakuru County.[8]
- Five people are killed in a bomb attack in El Wak, Mandera County.[9]
May
[edit]- 23 May – A U.S. official announces President Joe Biden's intent to designate Kenya a Major non-NATO ally during President William Ruto's visit.[10]
- 24 May – Five miners are killed after an illegal gold mine collapses in Dabel, Marsabit County.[11]
June
[edit]- 7 June – Four construction workers are killed in a gun attack on a hospital site near the Dadaab refugee camp in Garissa County.[12]
- 13 June – A judge is injured in a shooting inside a courtroom in Nairobi. The gunman, a disgruntled senior police commander, is shot dead by responding police.[13]
- 18 June–ongoing – One person is killed while at least 200 others are injured and more than 200 are arrested during nationwide protests against proposed tax increases.[14][15]
- 23 June – The Government of Kenya says it is ready for conversations with anti-finance bill protesters.[16]
- 25 June –
- 2024 Parliament of Kenya assault: The Parliament Buildings in Nairobi are set on fire during protests against the finance bill,[17] while 10 protesters are shot dead by police.[18]
- Kenyan police units arrive in Haiti for a United Nations-backed security mission to restore order.[19]
- 26 June – President Ruto declines to sign the controversial Kenya Finance Bill 2024 into law following the assault on parliament on 25 June.[20]
- 27 June – Thousands of people protest in cities across Kenya, calling for the removal of President Ruto.[21]
July
[edit]- 2 July – Protests against the controversial rejected Kenyan finance bill and President Ruto continue in major cities, with the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights reporting at least 39 people killed and 361 injured in the protests.[22]
- 8 July – A Kenyan court rules that the 2022 killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif by police in Nairobi was unlawful and orders the Kenyan government to pay 10 million Kenyan shillings ($78,000) as compensation to his family.[23]
- 11 July – President Ruto dismisses his cabinet, with only prime cabinet secretary and concurrent foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua ordered to remain in place.[24]
- 12 July;
- Japheth Koome Nchebere resigns as Inspector-general of Police and is replaced by his deputy, Douglas Kanja.[25]
- The bodies of six females are found in a quarry near the Mukuru kwa Njenga slum of Nairobi.[25] The prime suspect is arrested and confesses to killing 42 women on 15 July. Another man is also arrested.[26]
- 16 July – Clashes break out nationwide between Kenya Police and antigovernment protestors calling for the removal of President Ruto.[27]
- 19 July – President Ruto reappoints six ministers whom he had dismissed on 11 July.[28]
- 24 July – President Ruto appoints four members of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement to his cabinet.[29]
- 26 July–11 August – Kenya at the 2024 Summer Olympics[30]
- 31 July – Authorities declare an outbreak of mpox after a traveler transiting from Uganda to Rwanda tests positive for the disease at a border crossing in the south of the country.[31]
August
[edit]- 20 August – Suspected serial killer Collins Jumaisi Khalusha, accused of murdering 42 women in July, escapes from police custody in Nairobi along with 12 Eritrean inmates.[32]
- 28 August–8 September – Kenya at the 2024 Summer Paralympics
September
[edit]- 5 September –
- Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei dies at a hospital in Eldoret after sustaining burns from a petrol attack by her partner in Endebess, Trans-Nzoia County almost a month after her participation in the women's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[33][34] Her partner also dies from injuries sustained in the attack on 9 September.[35]
- At least 21 students are killed and 27 others are injured in a fire at a primary school in Nyeri County. Around 70 students are reported missing.[36][37]
- 11 September – A strike is held by employees of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi against plans to lease the airport to the Adani Group of India.[38] The agreement is subsequently cancelled by the Kenyan government in November.[39]
- 13 September – Germany and Kenya agree on a labour migration deal which will see 250,000 skilled and semi-skilled Kenyan workers go work in Germany amid a shortage of skilled labour in the German economy. The agreement will also simplify the return of illegal migrants to Kenya.[40]
- 21 September – President Ruto visits Haiti to inspect the Kenyan peacekeeping contingent.[41]
October
[edit]- 1 October – An impeachment motion is introduced in Parliament against deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.[42] The measure passes in the National Assembly on 8 October and is sent to the Senate.[43]
- 9 October – Kenya is elected to a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council for a three-year term beginning in 2025.[44]
- 17 October – Following a majority vote by the Senate, Rigathi Gachagua is removed as Vice President after being convicted of five of the 11 charges laid against him during his impeachment.[45]
- 18 October –
- President Ruto appoints interior minister Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy president. However, his appointment is suspended that same day after the High Court orders a temporary halt to Rigathi Gachagua's removal pending an appeal.[46]
- A British national and six Turks are abducted in different locations in Nairobi.[47] The Kenyan foreign ministry later says that four of those missing were Turkish refugees believed to be members of the Gülen movement who were repatriated at Ankara's request.[48]
November
[edit]- 1 November – Kithure Kindiki is inaugurated as deputy president after a court upholds the impeachment of his predecessor Rigathi Gachagua.[49]
December
[edit]- 4 December – Jackton Odhiambo is convicted for the 2023 murder of LGBT activist Edwin Chiloba in Eldoret.[50] He is sentenced to 50 years imprisonment on 16 December.[51]
Art and entertainment
[edit]Holidays
[edit]Source:[52]
- 1 January - New Year's Day
- 29 March – Good Friday
- 1 April - Easter Monday
- 11 April – Eid al-Fitr
- 1 May - International Workers' Day
- 1 June - Madaraka Day
- 17 June – Eid al-Adha
- 10 October – Moi Day
- 20 October – Mashujaa Day
- 12 December – Jamhuri Day
- 25 December – Christmas Day
- 26 December – Boxing Day
Deaths
[edit]- 11 February – Kelvin Kiptum, long-distance runner.[53]
- 5 September – Rebecca Cheptegei, marathon runner, murdered[54]
- 4 October – Samson Kandie, marathon runner, murdered[55]
- 6 October – Kipyegon Bett, long-distance runner.[56]
- 7 October – Clement Kemboi, distance runner[57]
- 17 October – Beatrice Nkatha, 66, politician, MP (2013–2022).[58]
- 18 October – Zebedeo John Opore, politician, MP (1997–2007).[59]
References
[edit]- ^ "Nairobi fire: Gas blast in Kenyan capital kills three and injures nearly 300". 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
- ^ "Kenya declares public holiday to mourn flood victims". Associated Press. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Kenya Haiti Sign Agreement". Reuters. 1 March 2024.
- ^ "2 killed in midair plane collision above Nairobi National Park, Kenya police say". ABC News. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
- ^ "11 Kenyan Varsity Students Die In Road Crash". Info Daily. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ "An explosion near a police station in northern Kenya has killed 4 people, including 3 officers". Associated Press. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Kenyan military chief dies in helicopter crash, says president". CNN. 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Kenya dam bursts: More than 40 killed in villages near Mai Mahiu town". BBC. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "A bomb attack in northern Kenya kills 5 people near the border with Somalia". Associated Press. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Biden Kenya State Visit". NPR. 23 May 2024.
- ^ "Gold mine collapse in northern Kenya leaves 5 people dead". Associated Press. 25 May 2024.
- ^ "4 construction workers shot dead in northern Kenya near the border with Somalia". Associated Press. 9 June 2024.
- ^ "Kenyan policeman shoots magistrate in open court". BBC. 13 June 2024.
- ^ "More than 200 arrested in Kenya protests over proposed tax hikes in finance bill". Africanews. 19 June 2024.
- ^ "At least 200 injured, 100 arrested in Kenya tax protests: Rights groups". Al Jazeera. 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's Ruto ready for 'conversation' with protesters". RFI. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's parliament compound Stormed, building set ablaze, Reuters witness says". Reuters. 25 June 2024.
- ^ Burrell, Miriam (25 June 2024). "Fire erupts as protesters storm Kenya's parliament amid nationwide unrest". Evening Standard. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ "'Much-needed relief': Kenyan police force arrives in Haiti for UN-backed security mission". France 24. 25 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's Ruto rejects tax bill, returns it to parliament, local media reports". Reuters. 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Kenya protesters call for President Ruto's removal after tax bill dropped". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- ^ "Kenya police clash with protesters as tax bill unrest continues". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 3 July 2024.
- ^ "A Kenyan court says 2022 shooting death of a Pakistani journalist by police in Nairobi was unlawful". Associated Press. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's Ruto dismisses almost entire cabinet after deadly protests". France 24. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Kenya police boss resigns in latest fallout from deadly protests". Associated Press. 12 July 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ "'Serial killer' arrested after bodies found in Kenya dump". BBC. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
- ^ "Police fire tear gas to disperse Kenya antigovernment protesters". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Kenya president retains 6 former Cabinet ministers in first batch of appointments". Associated Press. 19 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
- ^ "Kenyan president appoints opposition ministers to his Cabinet amid political unrest". Associated Press. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
- ^ "Kenya win Africa Men's Sevens to earn Paris 2024 rugby place". Inside The Games. 17 September 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Mpox outbreaks declared in Kenya and Central African Republic. The race is on to contain the spread". Associated Press. 31 July 2024. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "Suspected serial killer escapes from police custody in Kenya's Nairobi". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
- ^ "Rebecca Cheptegei: Olympic athlete dies days after being set alight by ex-boyfriend". BBC. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ "Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei's parents demand justice". Africanews. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ "Ex-partner who killed Ugandan athlete dies from burns". BBC. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ "A dormitory fire in Kenya kills 18 students and injures 27. Dozens are unaccounted for". Associated Press. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "21 children are now known to have died in Kenya school fire". Associated Press. 7 September 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ "Passengers stranded amid strike at main Kenya airport". BBC. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's president cancels major deals with Adani Group". BBC. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
- ^ "German opens door to Kenyan workers in labour deal". BBC News. 13 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ^ "Kenyan president visits Haiti as it grapples with future of international efforts to fight gangs". Associated Press. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
- ^ "Blunt and bold - Kenya's 'truth speaker' faces the sack". BBC. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's National Assembly backs impeachment of VP Gachagua". Africanews. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ "DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya elected to Human Rights Council". Africanews. 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's deputy president sacked while in hospital". BBC. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "Kenya: High Court issues order halting replacement of Rigathi Gachagua as DP". Africanews. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
- ^ "British national and several Turkish citizens abducted in Kenya". BBC. 19 October 2024. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
- ^ "UN 'deeply concerned' Kenya returned Turkish refugees". BBC. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
- ^ "Kenya's new deputy president sworn in as his predecessor challenges his impeachment in court". Africanews. 1 November 2024. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
- ^ "A court in Kenya finds a housemate guilty in the killing of an LGBTQ activist". AP News. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "A Kenyan man gets 50 years in prison for the murder of a gay rights activist". AP News. 17 December 2024. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
- ^ "Kenya Public Holidays 2024". Public Holidays Global. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Hundreds of mourners attend funeral for marathon star Kiptum in Kenya". Al Jazeera. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Rebecca Cheptegei funeral: Olympic marathon runner killed by ex-boyfriend buried". BBC News. 14 September 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Five athletes in four weeks: Death of athletes shock athletics fraternity". Nation. 7 October 2024. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Kenyan athlete Kipyegon Bett dies at the age of 26". Africanews. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
- ^ Kelsall, Christopher (7 October 2024). "Tragedy again strikes the Kenyan athletics community". Athletics Illustrated. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
- ^ "Former Tharaka Nithi Woman Rep Beatrice Nkatha Passes Away". Kenyans.co.ke. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Omingo, Sammy. "Former Bonchari MP Zebedeo Opore is dead". The Standard. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
External links
[edit]
 Years in Kenya (1963–present) | |
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