Latest news with #Mombasa
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Kenya Airways eyes more Doha flights in deal with Qatar Airways
National carrier Kenya Airways (KQ) has inked a code-sharing pact with Qatar Airways, allowing the latter to introduce a third daily frequency between Doha and Nairobi while KQ will launch Qatar Airways-marketed flights between Mombasa and Doha during the coming winter season. The agreement makes Qatar Airways the 15th codeshare partner of the local carrier in a growing list that has seen KQ widen its global route network. Code-sharing refers to a deal between two or more airlines to sell seats for the same flight, meaning passengers enjoy benefits such as purchase of a single ticket, a single check-in, and seamless connections at transit points. In the partnership signed in Doha on Tuesday, the two firms said the agreed flights will be available for booking in coming days. The pair will also extensively codeshare on both networks to offer connections from around the world.'This partnership perfectly aligns with our airline's robust turnaround strategy, which saw Kenya Airways' return to profit for the first time in more than a decade earlier this year,' said KQ managing director Allan Kilavuka in a statement.'The collaboration will also help expedite Kenya Airways' efforts to boost tourism and air cargo activities, turning these and others into pivotal economic growth propellers for Kenya and the East Africa region.'The two companies said they will also look to develop collaboration in other parts of the business. Kenya Airways has been expanding its network and reach through various code-sharing agreements with various global and local airlines, a move that it bets on to help in maintaining its newly-found profitability path. In total, KQ now has 15 codeshare partners, among them British Airways, Air Egypt, Air Austral, Safarilink and ITA Airways. Others are Oman Air, Saudia, Precision Air, Air France, KLM and Jambojet. KQ posted a net profit of Ksh5.4 billion ($42 million) for 2024, marking a turnaround from a Ksh22.6 billion ($175 million) loss in 2023, and booking its first full-year profit in 12 years. © Copyright 2022 Nation Media Group. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Britons are drinking sub-par tea - and this family firm wants to change that
Tea might be the nation's favourite drink, but do you know what's really in your daily brew? One family-run tea company say that Britons are unknowingly drinking tea that isn't as good as they think. In fact, many teabags are full of tea dust and stalk, rather than leaves. Birchall Tea, which launched in 2019, says it is on a mission to change the way the nation drinks their morning cuppa. It says that starts with showing households what goes into their teabag. But will Britons really give up their daily mug of Yorkshire Tea or PG Tips for a pricier but - Birchall claims - tastier alternative? We visited Birchalls' Wiltshire base to find out why it thinks they should. Steeped in history Birchall Tea's managing director Daniel Graham has tea in his DNA. Graham's great-great-grandfather was part of the early tea cultivation in Darjeeling, India and is buried there. His brother runs Birchall's sister business - a bulk-buying tea business that ships out of Mombasa, Kenya - while Graham has worked in tea for years. It might be Britain's drink of choice, but Birchall says consumers know very little about what goes in their brew. A Yougov survey commissioned by the company found that 87 per cent of consumers said they did not think tea originally comes from Africa, now the world's largest exporter of black tea. Fresher soil in East Africa makes it a prime spot, as higher altitudes and lower temperatures mean the bushes grow slowly and theoretically lock in more flavour. More shockingly, 10 per cent thought it might come from Yorkshire or elsewhere in the UK. It therefore not surprising that we might not know a good tea from a not-so-good one. What goes in to a good cup of tea? Every tea company has its own process, but tea grading means the leaves can be evaluated based on their quality and condition. The two top leaves in the bud are softer and generally of a higher grade than offshoots and stalks of the plant, which, when processed, can leave dust. Birchall says that the dominance of the teabag means suppliers can get away with putting in much lower-grade leaves. Before Tetley introduced the teabag to the UK in the 1950s, consumers would buy loose-leaf tea. 'If you're choosing fruit, you know not to pick a bruised one,' says Graham. 'Back then, you just knew tea should be black and there shouldn't be any brown stalks. The tea companies couldn't get away with it.' Birchall shows the difference between its 'main-grade' hand-picked tea and other leading brands. The difference is stark, as shown in the picture below. Birchall's tea is on the far left with black leaves, while large brands are in the middle and of lower quality with more dust. The lowest quality is a supermarket's own brand that is full of brown stalk and tea dust. The darker and more distinct - or bigger - the leaves, the better the quality, says Birchall. When brewed, the quality difference is even more apparent with Birchall's producing a golden cup of tea, while it claims the nearest competitor's is far duller. A blind taste test at British Airways saw it come away with the coveted prize of being the airline's only tea provider. 'Our tea tasters try 5,000 teas a week' By now, though, most consumers who aren't huge tea enthusiasts won't know the difference, especially if they've stayed loyal to the same brand for years. The difference, Birchall says, is in the taste. 'Tea's not going to change someone's life,' says Graham, 'but if it improves that moment even a tiny bit, you're onto a winner. That's why the taste has to be right.' He says this is why some brands, which he describes more as marketing than tea companies, come and go. The company has already collected a long list of awards, including multiple Great Taste awards, and the prestigious 'Leafies' award for the Grift Rift English breakfast tea. The secret to that taste is in part because of the bulk buying business, which means the company gets 'first dibs on the best tea'. Birchall has a team of 'master blenders' based in Mombasa, who taste around 5,000 teas. The tea tasters will have had to taste a million cups of tea as part of their training, which takes around five years to complete. 'They really are amazing,' says Dan. 'You can put a cup of tea in front of them and they can tell you which tea estate it's from, forget which country. 'Sometimes they can tell you which side of the plantation it's come from and they can pick up if there's been an issue in the factory.' Just 1 per cent is deemed good enough to go into Birchall's teas, equivalent to tea from around 30 to 40 estates. Do we need to pay more for better tea? Birchall is in a unique position to offer its quality tea for a lower price than some of the boutique teas. This is mainly because it uses fewer middlemen. However, its packs of 80 teabags retail for £5.50, equivalent to around 7p a serving, which is significantly higher than some of the supermarket own brands, that are around 2p a serving. Birchall says there needs to be a shift among consumers to pay more for their tea. 'We really try not to talk about a packet of tea because then you're talking about £2.50 or £5.50 and that sounds a lot,' says Dan. 'You're talking about 7p a drink. If you went to the pub and were able to buy everyone a round for £5.50, you'd do it every day.' For Graham, it's not just about paying for better taste but about getting the best deal for everyone in the supply chain. 'The person picking the tea leaves has to pick 5 kilos of green leaf to make a kilo of black tea, so you need about 1.5 kilos of green leaf to make a packet of tea. 'It takes a skilled tea picker all day to pick 30 kilos. 'That person needs to be paid. Everyone complains quite rightly that they're not paid enough, but if you're not paying enough here in your local supermarket, that's part of the problem. He also points out that the tea needs to be processed in a factory - 'a huge capital investment' - before it's fermented, dried, packed and shipped. When it reaches Birchall's factory in Wiltshire, it's put into a teabag machine which costs around €1 million, and distributed. They hope that tea will start to have the same premium attached to coffee or craft beer. It's an admirable intention, but also a tough ask - particularly as the average price of tea has increased by 29 per cent to £2.64 over five years, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. At the same time, there is a decline in black tea consumption across the board, according to Birchall, and there is concern that climate change could threaten the industry. Currently, tea grown in East Africa does not use pesticides because the location of the plantations is cool enough that bugs don't like it. However, if the temperature increases, 'no one knows what it means,' says Dan. 'The concern is bugs, new pests… who knows. It could cause real problems.' Even so, the tea company hopes that a small shift from 2p to 7p pence a teabag, paired with more of an understanding of what's in our tea, will help. Their recent growth - 20 per cent in the last year alone - suggests there is an encouraging shift in consumption habits. More importantly, now that it is British Airways' only tea provider, they can ensure their tea is put in front of consumers. Birchall will hope that the taste of its tea will do the talking, and convince people to pay as much for their tea as they do for their coffee.
Al Jazeera
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
At least eight killed in deadly Kenya protests: What we know
Several protesters were killed and at least 400 others were wounded on Wednesday when antigovernment protests in the capital, Nairobi turned deadly. Kenyan officials have not disclosed the number of casualties. Reports from media and rights groups varied, placing the number of dead between eight and 16. This is the latest outbreak of violence in the East African country where young demonstrators have frequently taken to the streets in recent months to protest myriad issues including police brutality, government corruption and high taxes. The demonstrations on Wednesday were held to mark the bloody June 25, 2024, protests against tax rises when police opened fire on large numbers of protesters, killing at least 60, according to rights groups. Here's what we know: What happened during the protests? Thousands took to the streets in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii and several other major Kenyan cities in the early hours of Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the violent 2024 anti-tax protests, particularly the killing of 60 protesters, on June 25 last year. Bearing Kenyan flags, the protesters chanted slogans like 'Ruto Must Go' and 'Occupy Statehouse' in opposition to President William Ruto's government and referring to his official residence. Banks and schools in Nairobi's central business district were shut in anticipation of the protests, and police had cordoned off the State House, as well as the parliament building, with layers of barbed wire. Last year, protesters broke into the parliament block, chasing out politicians and setting parts of the building on fire. Wednesday's march was largely peaceful at first – and much smaller compared with last year's protests. Scenes in Nairobi, however, turned violent later on, after 'goons' or men believed to be undercover security officials and armed with whips and clubs attacked the protesters. Police also used live fire, rubber bullets, water cannon and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. Shops and businesses in central Nairobi were also attacked, looted and burned by unidentified groups among the demonstrators. Some protesters also burned security barricades in the city and physically attacked suspected plain-clothed officers. In Kikuyu town, about 20km (12.5 miles) from Nairobi, protesters stormed and torched local government buildings, including a police station and courtroom. Some were arrested by the police but have not been identified. In other cities, including Mombasa, marches remained peaceful. Clashes were also reported in the towns of Matuu and Mlolongo in the eastern Machakos County, approximately 100km (62 miles) from the capital. Violence was also reported in Karatina, Nyeri County. How many people have been killed? Figures vary and the Kenyan authorities have not confirmed the number of dead. According to a joint statement issued on Wednesday evening by the Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya, and the Police Reforms Working Group, eight people were killed, most of them in Nairobi. The group said 400 others were being treated for injuries, including three police officers. Of those, 83 people sustained serious injuries, including at least eight protesters treated for gunshot wounds. However, Irungu Houghton, the head of Amnesty Kenya, told Reuters that 16 people had died, adding that this figure had been verified by the global rights watchdog and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Security guard Fred Wamale Wanyonyi, who was on duty guarding a mall in central Nairobi, was one of those confirmed killed, according to rights groups. What were the protests about? Protesters had gathered to mark the anniversary of last year's anti-tax protests, in which some 60 people were killed by police, although no officials have been punished. Activists said it was important for Kenyans to remember the bloody protests of 2024. 'It is extremely important that the young people mark June 25th because they lost people who look like them, who speak like them … who are fighting for good governance,' Angel Mbuthia, chair of the youth league for the opposition Jubilee Party, told the AFP news agency. On Wednesday, demonstrators were also demanding the overthrow of Ruto's government and called for an end to police brutality, corruption and general economic hardship in the country. Protester Osman Mohamed told Al Jazeera at the scene of the protests that he was there to demand better from the country's leaders. 'The government is taking us as a joke. They don't want to listen to us … they don't listen to us as citizens. We are the people, and they're supposed to listen because of the power of the people,' he said. Tensions had risen in recent weeks after 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang died in police custody between June 7 and 8. He had been arrested for allegedly insulting deputy police chief Eliud Lagat, and the police initially told his family he had died from self-inflicted wounds. Ojwang's killing prompted outrage and protests across the country, with people calling for the officers involved to be punished. Lagat, who denies any wrongdoing, stepped down from his post last week pending the outcome of an investigation. Three officers were charged with Ojwang's murder this week. How have the authorities responded to these protests? The protests were anticipated, and authorities had been informed of them, rights activists said. Elijah Rottok of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights told Al Jazeera that protest organisers had received assurances from government officials that they would be allowed the space to protest peacefully. Despite this, he said, there was clear evidence of excessive force in the police response. 'We've seen a deliberate use of force to suppress (protests),' he said. 'We are condemning the excessive use of force … They need to abide by the rule of law and ensure that human rights are upheld at all times.' Authorities shut down live coverage of the protests on Wednesday afternoon, but that directive was later overturned by Nairobi's High Court, which ordered the Communications Authority of Kenya to restore signals to three independent television stations. Ruto, who was attending a burial in the coastal town of Kilifi on Wednesday, called for the demonstrations to remain peaceful in a statement. 'Protests should not be to destroy peace in Kenya. We do not have another country to go to when things go wrong. It is our responsibility to keep our country safe,' he said. What were the June 2024 protests about? Violent protests shook the country starting on June 18, 2024, after Ruto announced a controversial Finance Bill, a tax law that many said would make essential commodities costlier, as the country was gripped by an economic crisis that had seen the value of the Kenyan shilling drop by 22 percent. Young people largely led the protests, which went on for more than a week, but older Kenyans also filled the streets in anger. Although lawmakers removed certain clauses from the bill before passing it into law, the protests continued, with demonstrators calling for Ruto to step down. Officials insisted higher taxes were needed for the government to fulfil loan agreements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On June 25, protesters broke into the Kenyan parliament, where lawmakers were convening. The demonstrators ransacked the building and set its entrance on fire. In response, the police opened fire, killing at least 60 people and abducting several others, including some journalists. Ruto withdrew the bill on June 26, but the violence continued. Human Rights Watch has reported that following the protests, the bodies of some of those missing have turned up in rivers, forests and mortuaries, and showed signs of torture and mutilation. Some abductees told the rights group they were taken by officials who forced them to reveal the names of protest leaders. What will happen next? Calm returned to Nairobi on Thursday morning, although devastation was evident. Smoke was still rising from at least 10 torched buildings in downtown Nairobi as business owners returned to ransacked and looted stores in the central business district. In parliament, Ruto assented to the new Finance Bill 2025, from which tax rises had been removed. However, a controversial proposal which will see the Kenya Revenue Authority provided with access to taxpayers' personal and financial data was included. It's unclear yet if or how lawmakers plan to address the protesters' demands.
The Herald
26-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Eight dead, more than 400 injured as cops suppress Kenya protests
Isolated clashes were reported in the port city of Mombasa, according to NTV, with protests also in the towns of Kitengela, Kisii, Matuu and Nyeri. Though last year's protests faded after President William Ruto withdrew proposed tax hikes, public anger has remained over the use of excessive force by security agencies, with fresh demonstrations this month over the death of a blogger in police custody. Six people, including three police officers, were charged with murder on Tuesday over the killing of 31-year-old blogger and teacher Albert Ojwang. All have pleaded not guilty. Ojwang's death has become a lightning rod for Kenyans still mourning those who perished at last year's demonstrations, blamed on security forces, against a backdrop of dozens of unexplained disappearances. 'We are fighting for the rights of our fellow youths and Kenyans and the people who died since June 25 ... we want justice,' Lumumba Harmony, a protester, told Reuters in Nairobi. The unprecedented scenes on Wednesday, showing police firing at protesters as they broke through barriers to enter parliament, created the biggest crisis of Ruto's presidency and sparked alarm among Kenya's international allies. Reuters
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- South China Morning Post
Kenya protests leave dozens hospitalised, many with bullet wounds
Fifty-six people were hospitalised, most of them with bullet wounds, after taking part in rallies in Kenya on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of deadly protests against a tax bill, a hospital source said. Thousands of Kenyans took to the streets to commemorate last year's demonstrations, in which more than 60 people died, with police firing tear gas and water cannon to disperse them in the capital Nairobi, according to local media and a Reuters witness. It was not immediately clear who had shot them, and Kenyan police spokesperson Muchiri Nyaga declined to comment on the injuries. Some protesters clashed with police, and an official at the capital's main Kenyatta National Hospital said the facility had received dozens of wounded people. Protestors gather next to riot police in Mombasa, Kenya on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters 'As at 4pm, 56 patients had been admitted at KNH from the protest related injuries. Majority had rubber bullet injuries,' the hospital source said, adding that no deaths had been reported at KNH.
