Kenya’s coastline flooded
Hundreds of families were displaced by flooding in Mombasa along the Kenyan coast after days of heavy rain. “One hundred and thirty families have been affected by the flash floods,” Anthony Mwangi, the public relations manager of Kenya’s Red Cross Society, said last week. – Irin
Cattle clashes kill 15 in Kenya
Clashes sparked by a cattle- rustling incident in the Marsabit district of northern Kenya recently left about 15 people dead and displaced hundreds more. Fighting between the Gabra and Turkana communities erupted on 8 May when members of one group raided villages inhabited by the other and stole about 1 000 cattle, sheep and goats, prompting revenge attacks by the livestock owners. An estimated 1 000 people have fled Moite and Komote villages in the Loyangalani division of Marsabit, the scene of the clashes, according to David Timado, a social worker and peace activist in the area. – Irin
Ethiopia gets a seed bank
Seed banks are to be used to boost food security in the drought-prone Oromia regional state of eastern Ethiopia, officials said. “Wherever there is food insecurity, there is also seed insecurity,” Kedir Mummedie, head of the agriculture and rural development department in East Hararghe, Oromia regional state, said. “Due to recurrent droughts, the area became food insecure, which led the farmers to give priority to consumption instead of reserving some for seed,” he added. – Irin
‘Speed up African integration’
Speaking to West and Central African diplomats accredited to SA, deputy foreign affairs minister Aziz Pahad has emphasised the importance of integrating Africa’s regional bodies for mutual development benefits. “It is important that Africa should be integrated and work to consolidate the African agenda,” said Pahad, adding that Africa had to make its position clear to the international community on matters important for the continent’s development. – BuaNews
