April 26, 2024: Top news events to look out for today

Here is what you need to know to get up to speed with today’s happenings.

Health crisis

Today marks day 26 of the clinicians’ strike while the ongoing industrial action by doctors enters day 44 today.

Doctors have been on strike since March 14, 2024, over pay and working conditions. Clinicians joined them on April 1, 2024.

The Kenya Union of Clinical Officers (KUCO) is demanding that the national and county governments issue confirmation letters on permanent and pensionable terms to UHC staff hired during the Covid-19 period and to national TB programme clinicians and all members currently on contractual terms.

Clinicians also want the national government and counties to recruit more than 20,000 unemployed and qualified clinical officers to cover the existing shortage.

The union additionally demands the government provide comprehensive medical cover for all actively serving clinical officers in the public sector so they can access services wherever they need them.

Kenya Medical Practitioners, Dentists and Pharmacists Union (KMPDU) yesterday announced a planned peaceful protest.

KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah, in a letter to the Nairobi Regional Police Commander, notified of the peaceful march on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, further requesting for police security.

Atellah said the industrial action is aimed at compelling the Ministry of Health to heed the doctors’ demands after talks between the Union and the government hit a snag.

Heavy rains to continue

The Kenya Meteorological Department warned Kenyans to expect more rainfall in the coming days.

In an advisory shared on Thursday, April 25, 2024, the weatherman said the ongoing rains will persist across different parts of the country including the Lake Victoria Basin, Rift Valley, Highlands West and East of the Rift Valley including Nairobi area, Southeast lowlands the northern and the coast.

The met department also noted that the rains will persist from Friday, April 26 to Saturday, April 27, and are likely to be accompanied by gusty winds.

Ruto’s trip

President William Ruto will today attend the 60th anniversary celebration of the union of mainland Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar.

Ruto arrived in Dar es Salam on Thursday evening and was received by Tanzania’s Minister for Minerals, Anthony Mavunde.

In a statement from the Office of the State House Spokesperson, Ruto’s attendance at the Tanzanian event will underscore Kenya’s neighbourliness.

“The President’s participation in this national celebration will underscore Kenya’s cherished relationship, good neighborliness, and steadfast partnership and solidarity with the United Republic of Tanzania and its people,” read the statement issued on April 25, 2024.

Tanzanians are gearing up to celebrate Union Day today April 26, 2024, a day in which the East African country marks the creation of the Republic of Tanzania through the union of two formerly sovereign states – the Republic of Tanganyika and the People’s Republic of Zanzibar.

The first celebrations were held on April 26, 1964.