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BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaWilliam Ruto and Bola Tinubu: Africa’s ‘flying presidents’ under firePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Critics have targeted both Kenyan President William Ruto (L) and Nigerian President Bola Tinubu (R) for the number of trips they have madeBy Basillioh RukangaBBC NewsSince Kenya’s William Ruto and Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu became presidents, they have faced similar criticism over their frequent trips abroad.The two men have been the subject of unflattering descriptions – the costs associated with their alleged penchant for air travel often contrasted with tough economic conditions at home.A Kenyan newspaper, the Standard, nicknamed Mr Ruto the “Flying President”. It said “so great is his love for flying that it appears that he cannot pass up any opportunity” despite pressing domestic demands, such as dealing with the high cost of living.Last month, as Mr Tinubu made yet another trip to Europe, Nigeria’s opposition leader Atiku Abubakar said on social media that Nigeria does not need a “tourist-in-chief”. He criticised the president’s private visit “while Nigeria is drowning in the ocean of insecurity”. This in some ways can be seen as a cheap shot, easily levelled by any critic. Presidents need to attend heads-of-state meetings and nurture foreign relations. This is important not only for diplomatic reasons, but also economic ones, as lucrative investment deals can be negotiated.But some have pointed out that late Tanzanian President John Magufuli never travelled outside Africa in his six years in office.’Personal glorification’Kenyan foreign policy analyst Prof Macharia Munene acknowledges that some trips are necessary but says others are undoubtedly “wasteful”.”You have presidents who love to be in the air… Some of these trips are personal glorifications, not so much for the country,” he told the BBC.Mr Ruto and Mr Tinubu and their spokespeople defend their trips as being vital to help address the very problems they are accused of ignoring.In the eight months since his inauguration, Mr Tinubu has made 14 trips – an average of just under two a month – but this is dwarfed by Mr Ruto, who has made about 50 journeys abroad since he became president in 2022 – averaging more than three a month.In comparison, Mr Ruto’s predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, averaged just over one foreign trip a month in his decade in charge, similar to the record of Nigeria’s previous president, Muhammadu Buhari. Other world leaders have also notched up the air miles, but Mr Ruto and Mr Tinubu face continued questions over whether every trip is necessary.The Nigerian and Kenyan leaders were both in Europe at the end of last month – Mr Ruto in Italy attending the Italy-Africa summit while Mr Tinubu was continuing his unexplained “private visit” to France, the third time he has been in the country since last May. Since then, Mr Ruto has been on other trips. In June 2023, just three weeks after assuming office, Mr Tinubu travelled to Paris for a two-day climate summit. He had already been there months earlier “to rest” and plan the transition shortly after being elected president. From Paris he went on to the UK for private talks with his predecessor, who had also travelled to “rest” after the elections. A week later, Mr Tinubu went to Guinea-Bissau for a meeting of West African bloc Ecowas, followed by a trip to Nairobi.In August he visited Benin, and in September India, the United Arab Emirates and the US for the UN General Assembly before returning to Paris. He was home for the whole of October before resuming travels with a trip to Saudi Arabia, then Guinea-Bissau and Germany at the end of November and a week later travelled to Dubai.The Nigerian presidency has said the trips are important for attracting foreign investment.”On every foreign trip I have embarked on, my message to investors and other business people has been the same. Nigeria is ready and open for business,” President Tinubu said in his 2024 New Year message.Mr Ruto’s travel schedule since his inauguration in 2022 has been even more hectic. Between September of that year and last December he had travelled abroad at least twice every month. In May 2023 he made five trips. He has travelled to various African countries, Europe and the US for global events and bilateral meetings.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Kenya’s President William Ruto (R) was one of Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s guests as she hosted a summit of African leadersThis year, in January, he has been in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Italy. And already this month, Mr Ruto has been to Japan and the UAE.There is not just the question of frequency, but also the question of cost.Mr Tinubu is said to have spent at least 3.4bn naira ($2.2m; £1.8m) on domestic and foreign travel in the first six months of his presidency – 36% more than the budgeted amount for 2023, the Nigerian newspaper Punch reported, citing GovSpend, a civic tech platform that tracks government spending.In Kenya, the Controller of Budget, an independent office that oversees government spending, showed a significant increase in the office of the president’s travel expenditure in the year to July last year – which included nine months of Mr Ruto’s presidency. Overall spending for both domestic and foreign travel for the year was over 1.3bn Kenyan shillings ($9.2m; £7.3m), exceeding the travel budget for the previous year by more than 30%.The Kenyan government spokesman did not respond to the BBC’s questions about Mr Ruto’s trips, though the president and the spokesman have often justified them.Mr Ruto himself has said he does not “travel like a tourist” and the trips are necessary to get foreign investment and create employment for Kenyans abroad – he recently said he had secured more than 300,000 job opportunities through negotiations.After the recent trip to Japan, Mr Ruto said he had secured deals worth more than $2.3bn.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera was in Saudi Arabia in November shortly before halting all foreign tripsWhile stressing the benefits of the presidential trips, both Nigeria and Kenya have also taken some action to counter the criticism of government employees travelling abroad.Kenya said it had cut its civil service travel budget by 50% in the wake of accusations of “wastage” on domestic and foreign trips. But this does not seem to have affected the president himself, who has said he will not shun trips as long as they are beneficial. Last month, the Nigerian president announced a reduction in the official travel delegation by about 60%. The directive announced by his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale included cutting down the president’s own travel entourage, but did not say whether he would cut the number of his trips.Yet is not just Kenya and Nigeria where the cost of travel has been a concern.As Congolese citizens prepared to go the polls last year, one of the criticisms of President Félix Tshisekedi was the number of trips he had made, with allegations that there was little to show for it.Last November, Malawian President Lazarus Chakwera suspended all international travel for himself and his ministers, and ordered all those abroad to return due to the economic problems the country was facing.Some other countries that have also had to address travel spending by government officials since last year include Uganda, The Gambia, Namibia and Sierra Leone, with the leaders of the latter two labelled by local newspapers the “flying president” – just like Kenya’s Mr Ruto.You may also be interested in:Paul Biya: Cameroon’s ‘absentee president’Kenya’s leader compared to biblical tax collector Ruto’s rise from chicken seller to Kenya’s presidentBola Tinubu – the ‘godfather’ who now leads NigeriaRelated TopicsKenyaNigeriaAround the BBCBBC Focus on Africa podcastTop StoriesIsrael sets deadline for ground offensive in RafahPublished43 minutes agoMurder arrest after three young children found dead in BristolPublished3 hours ago‘Without painkillers, we leave patients to scream for hours’Published8 hours agoFeaturesWho won what at the Bafta Awards – the full listWatch Baftas 2024 best bits… in two minutes. 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[ad_1] The Kenyan and Nigerian presidents face domestic criticism for their frequent trips abroad.
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaSouth African troops killed in DR Congo: What is behind the Sadc deployment?Published12 minutes agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPImage caption, South Africa plans to contribute 2,900 troops in total to a new regional force in DR CongoBy Ian WafulaBBC News, Africa security correspondentSouth African troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo have suffered their first fatalities since their recent deployment to quell a rebellion.Two soldiers were killed and three were injured after a mortar bomb landed in their base on Wednesday.The attack has led to South African opposition politicians calling for the withdrawal of troops from DR Congo.The troops are part of a regional force helping DR Congo’s military as it confronts a series of armed groups.BBC Africa Live: Updates from around the continentPanic in DR Congo city as rebels advanceThe most prominent group is the M23, which has taken up positions on the major routes leading into Goma, the main city in the east of DR Congo.Th M23’s advance has resulted in tens of thousands being forced from their homes – adding to the nearly seven million who have fled because of multiple conflicts in the east.But the South African army has not linked Wednesday’s attack to the M23.In a statement, it says the “details of this incident are still sketchy”.South Africa began deploying troops to eastern DR Congo in December under the banner of the 16-member regional bloc, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).They are taking over from the Kenyan-led East African Force (EAF), which left in December – about a year after it was welcomed by President Félix Tshisekedi.He was re-elected in December for a second term in office – and one of his key campaign promises was to tackle the insecurity that has wracked the east of the country for three decades.What reason has been given for the deployment?Sadc has acted in the interests of solidarity, as DR Congo is part of the regional grouping.. It previously warned that an attack against one of its members would be met with “immediate collective action”, and its troops would help DR Congo’s military in “fighting” armed groups.This view is more in tune with Mr Tshisekedi’s – he wants a partner who will tackle the rebels head on.Mr Tshisekedi booted out the EAF, accusing it of being ineffective and refusing to go on the offensive against the M23. He has also ordered a UN force, which has been in the country for around 25 years, to leave by the end of 2024 after levelling similar accusations against it.Can the Sadc force succeed?South Africa is the regional superpower, and will form the backbone of the force. Mr Tshisekedi is hoping that it will repeat the success it had during a previous deployment. That was more than a decade ago, when the M23 – accused of being backed by Rwanda – also made huge territorial gains in the resource-rich east. Though then operating under the banner of a UN Intervention Brigade, Sadc troops forced the M23 to retreat. The M23 has since regrouped after a peace deal floundered, and is once again on the offensive.Remadji Hoinathy, an analyst with the South Africa-headquartered Institute for Security Studies, said the M23 was now stronger and better equipped. The AFP news agency has quoted a UN document as saying that the Rwandan army is using sophisticated weapons such as surface-to-air missiles to support the M23.Rwanda has consistently denied backing the rebel group. What is the strength of the Sadc force?Dr Hoinathy said there was no clarity on its strength, but South Africa had a strong and well-equipped army. Earlier this week, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa said that 2,900 troops were to be deployed, without saying how many were already in DR Congo. Malawi and Tanzania are also sending soldiers, but have not yet given any details.South Africa’s two biggest opposition parties – the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), are not happy about the deployment and not convinced about the effectiveness of the troops.At a press conference on Thursday, EFF leader Julius Malema called for the immediate withdrawal of South African soldiers from DR Congo.”They [South African troops] are sent there to be killed because they are not properly trained,” he said.”We just don’t have the army. The ANC has collapsed the army,” Mr Malema added, referring to the governing party, the African National Congress (ANC).DA defence spokesman Kobus Marais said on X, formerly Twitter, that the fatalities were “avoidable”, and the government had been warned that the deployment was “irresponsible and unacceptable”. Mr Ramaphosa defended the deployment in parliament, saying South Africa was “part of peace-keeping missions all over the world”. “We salute our defence force personnel who brave great dangers to make Africa a more peaceful and stable continent. That is what we applaud them for and we dip our heads for those who are injured and for those who may have fallen,” Mr Ramaphosa said.More on DR Congo:DR Congo squad use Afcon spotlight to call for peaceWhy TikTokers are quitting vapes over DR CongoA quick guide to DR CongoRelated TopicsSouth AfricaDemocratic Republic of CongoAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesLive. ‘Catastrophic’ situation at Nasser hospital as Israeli troops carry out raidRushing stretchers through the smoke at Gaza hospital. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaAfcon: Ivory Coast football fans flock to see Abidjan victory paradePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Ian Williams/ BBCImage caption, Fans dance in the street as they celebrate the Elephants’ third Afcon winBy Ian Williams & Ameer AhmedBBC News, AbidjanThousands of football fans wearing orange and white have flooded the streets of Abidjan to see the Ivory Coast team parade the Africa Cup of Nations trophy they won on Sunday.The hosts defeated Nigeria 2-1 to win Afcon for a third time, prompting huge celebrations across the country.Cecilia, who was born in Ivory Coast but now lives in the US, told the BBC she had travelled home for the final.”That’s the best decision of my life,” she said.Image source, Ameer Ahmed/ BBCImage caption, A football fan awaits the arrival of the national team in AbidjanIvory Coast were unlikely winners. They lost two group games and fired their manager mid-tournament. Emerse Fae, a youth-team manager, took over for his first job leading a senior team. Four games later, he was lifting a trophy. Juliette Youan told the BBC: “Emerse Fae is a hero of Ivory Coast.””We are so proud to celebrate our hero. Vive Emerse! Emerse is the best coach,” she added. Ms Youan and her friends made special T-shirts to commemorate Fae for leading the country to victory.Image source, Ian Williams/ BBCImage caption, Footballs fans made T-shirts to celebrate coach Emerse FaeThe parade began at Hôtel Palmier and the crowd built slowly from around midday, becoming more boisterous as the parade’s scheduled start time approached.As numbers grew, so did the noise, with horns blaring and chants breaking out, accompanied by dancing. At around 15:00 GMT, the first players suddenly appeared on the flatbed truck that would take them on their journey through Abidjan to the over 30,0000 capacity Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium for a trophy presentation.The banners on the truck announced the Elephants as “Champions of Africa 2023″ and featured three stars, a nod to the fact that the team has now won this competition on three occasions.Their underdog story resonated throughout the streets as people danced, rejoicing in their amazing comeback.”It’s amazing. The first part of the tournament was very difficult but afterwards the players played very well and today we are very happy. Today we have to do some parties, it’s obligatory,” said Kwaku, another fan at the parade.Image source, Ian Williams/ BBCImage caption, Ivory Coast players celebrating their victoryLooking relaxed in short-sleeved training tops, sunglasses, baseball caps and with gold medals around their necks, the players smiled out at the adoring crowds, leaning against the barrier, taking selfies and waving the Ivorian flag. At one point, captain Serge Aurier even helped lift a young fan onto the truck for a photo before handing him back to his waiting father.Image source, AFPImage caption, Ivory Coast won Afcon for a third timeIvory Coast’s tale of triumph was made even better as the goal that clinched the trophy for the team was scored by Sébastien Haller, who had been diagnosed with testicular cancer a few months ago.”We hoped to get to this point and once again the match wasn’t an easy one. The joyous scenes we see now, what’s happening in the country, they deserve it too. I really hope it does a lot of people good,” said Haller.”We are very, very proud of our three stars on our jersey. We [the Ivorian people] have passed through many, many things, and today we are happy, we get together,” one fan told the BBC.Given the reaction, it is clear members of this victorious squad will be viewed as national heroes for years to come.Fans around the world are already dubbing Ivory Coast’s win one of the greatest turnaround in football tournament history.More on the Africa Cup of Nations:Haller caps return from cancer with Afcon trophyHow Nigerians console themselves after Afcon heartbreakListen to the World Football at Afcon podcastAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastTop StoriesPalestinians sheltering in Rafah fear Israeli offensivePublished1 hour agoLabour withdraws support for Rochdale candidatePublished4 minutes agoIsrael to act on soldier misconduct after BBC investigationPublished3 hours agoFeaturesWhat we know about Israel’s Rafah hostage rescue raidInside Ukraine’s struggle to find new men to fightHow Vogue kept its cover shoot of 40 famous stars secretUsher shines at Super Bowl half-time showDeadpool and Wicked trailers air in Super Bowl adsWatch: Kelce and Swift celebrate at Super Bowl. 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![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaDR Congo violence: Panic in Goma as M23 rebels advancePublished1 hour agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, EPAImage caption, Goma’s population has swelled in recent days as people arrive by motorbike and foot fleeing advancing fightersBy Samba Cyuzuzo & Mayeni JonesBBC Great Lakes & BBC NewsEmile Bolingo is not sure how long he and other residents of Goma, in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, can hold out.This major city in the region, with about two million people, has been cut off from the farms that feed it for several days.It is the latest episode in a resurgence of fighting that has seen tens of thousands added to the nearly seven million who have been forced from their homes in the country because of multiple conflicts.Rebels from the ethnic Tutsi-led M23 movement are blocking the two main roads into Goma from the north and the west and preventing produce from getting through.”We are scared of going hungry if the [Congolese army] do not liberate any of the main roads very soon. You can feel the panic here… people are very scared,” Mr Bolingo told the BBC.Goma’s population has swelled in recent days with people running from the advancing fighters.Image source, Glody MurhabaziImage caption, Mundeke Kandundao, a motorbike taxi rider, has just undergone surgery after a bomb blastSake, a town 25km (15 miles) north-west of Goma, came under attack on Wednesday.”I sustained a pelvic injury caused by shrapnel,” Mundeke Kandundao told the BBC from his hospital bed in Goma where he has undergone surgery.The 25-year-old motorbike taxi driver said a shell was launched by the rebels from a hill overlooking the town on Wednesday.”I was standing behind a cabin and there were a lot of other people there and that’s where it exploded,” he said.”We are scared because you know the war goes on and on, it is meaningless. We are waiting to see if it ends so that we can go back to our homes.”Laurent Cresci, from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), told the BBC from the state-run Bethsaida Hospital in Goma that patient numbers had surged on Wednesday: “It was really a mass casualty. We were before 80 patients in our ward, and now we have 130 patients so it’s really hard to manage.”For many people it is a tragic case of déjà vu.”For how long shall we live like this? Every now and then we keep fleeing,” Pascal Bashali told the BBC after he had arrived in Goma. People are streaming in by foot, on motorbikes and mini buses.Aline Ombeni said she was distraught on her arrival in the city: “We have fled empty-handed just as you are seeing us – no food, no clothes we need help with shelter and food.”Image source, AFPImage caption, M23 fighters are well equipped, but the group denies being a Rwanda proxyAs the conflict edges closer, it brings back memories of 2012 when the rebels occupied the lakeside city for 10 days before abandoning it following international pressure.The M23, formed as an offshoot of another rebel group, began operating in 2012 ostensibly to protect the Tutsi population in the east of DR Congo which had long complained of persecution and discrimination. UN experts have said that the group is backed by neighbouring Rwanda, which is also led by Tutsis, something that Kigali has consistently denied. “We all know that the reason of this war is economic. Rwanda is continuing… for the past 25 years… looting our mineral resources,” Congolese Communications Minister Patrick Muyaya told the BBC, urging the UK to use its influence with Rwanda to ease the situation.There are now fears that the M23 – by far the most organised, disciplined and well-equipped of the many militia groups in the region – could capture Goma once again.Recently re-elected Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi last year said that “Congolese need to learn to trust us, Goma will never fall”. He repeated the promise, in the city itself, during the election campaign in December.Within reach of major mining towns supplying metals and minerals in high demand such as gold, tin and coltan, Goma has become a vital economic hub. Its road and air transport links, and the fact that it has a huge UN peacekeeping base, has attracted a host of businesses, international organisations and diplomatic consulates.As such, Goma is a valuable strategic target, but the M23 says it does not want to capture it and maintains it is on the defensive not offensive.DR Congo squad use Afcon spotlight to call for peaceWhy TikTokers are quitting vapes over DR CongoA quick guide to DR Congo”If you see the military power of the M23, they could take Goma if they wanted to, but this could bring them many problems,” said Onesphore Sematumba, a DR Congo analyst at the International Crisis Group thinktank.The rebels may just be displaying their capabilities, and also thinking back to 2012 and the international opprobrium that followed the seizing of Goma then.In the aftermath of its withdrawal it suffered a series of heavy defeats at the hands of the Congolese army backed by a multinational force that saw it expelled from the country. M23 fighters then agreed to be re-integrated into the army in return for promises that Tutsis would be protected.But, in 2021, the group took up arms again, saying the promises had been broken.It emerged from the mountain forests on the border between DR Congo, Rwanda and Uganda and edged closer to Goma taking swathes of territory.Ceasefires have been agreed, but these have all broken down, with the government and the M23 blaming each other.The M23 has repeatedly said it still wants peace negotiations with Kinshasa.”We asked for the dialogue to resolve this problem peacefully,” M23 spokesman Lawrence Kanyuka told the BBC. “Many cycles of war… don’t resolve the root causes of conflict. The Congolese government itself doesn’t want that, it wants to go on a war, and kill people even more.” President Tshisekedi has said talks are “out of question”.”One thing must be clear is that we as government, we will never negotiate with M23. M23 doesn’t exist. It’s Rwanda acting with its puppet,” his communications minister told the BBC.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Hundreds of thousands of people have already fled their villages to live in makeshift camps; some are on the move againLast year, an East African force, which was in DR Congo to help protect civilians and secure areas that armed groups had withdrawn from, left the country at the government’s request.Its departure in December was followed by the end of the latest ceasefire and the recent upsurge in activity by the M23.President Tshisekedi hopes that a southern African force that recently arrived in its place will have more success as it has a mandate to attack rebel groups.He has also asked the large UN force in the country, known as Monusco, to leave. It has become increasingly unpopular for its failure to end the conflict during its 25-year deployment. But there are concerns that the conflict could get even worse after the Congolese president threatened in December to declare war on Rwanda if the rebels attack again.In an apparent reply to the remarks, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame said in January that in defending his country “we will fight like people who have nothing to lose”.Meanwhile, Natàlia Torrent, from medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), has warned that the intensification of fighting in “different areas and on different fronts” since mid-January is having a devastating effect on an already vulnerable population.”We are in an area that has been already prone to the spread of different epidemics. We have been already working in the last year on cholera or measles and we are afraid… [a] new wave of epidemics are going to surge again,” she told the BBC.Reflecting on the fighting, Goma resident Mr Bolingo added: “We are the ones who suffer.” Mr Bashali, who fled from Sake with his wife and nine children, agreed: “Men are dying, children are dying, women are dying, those fighting are dying, what for? We are praying that our country will be peaceful.”Additional reporting by journalist Glody Murhabazi in GomaRelated TopicsDemocratic Republic of CongoMore on this storyDR Congo country profilePublished2 JanuaryAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesKing thanks public for support after cancer newsPublished4 hours agoSix-year-old Gazan girl found dead days after plea for helpPublished15 hours agoAre politicians cooling on tackling climate change?Published11 hours agoFeaturesRussia’s war economy can’t last but has bought timeThe planespotter angering Taylor Swift and Elon MuskTeens fight back against online skincare trendsThe Papers: ‘Democracy in danger’ and King’s heartfelt thanksAre politicians cooling on tackling climate change?‘We had to bury our baby in a stranger’s coffin’Will King’s diagnosis bring Harry and William closer?’There is no right or wrong way to have alopecia’Bad economy, nosy relatives: Young Chinese put off by Lunar New YearElsewhere on the BBCIt’s make or break timeAnother set of eager entrepreneurs hope to impress the fearsome panelAttributioniPlayerHow are jelly beans made?Gregg Wallace visits a Dublin factory that makes over ten million of the sweets per day!AttributioniPlayerIs this the greatest Jurassic predator that ever lived?Sir David Attenborough investigates a unique discovery: the skull of a giant, prehistoric sea monsterAttributioniPlayerThe sound effect that became the ultimate movie in-jokeIt’s used in everything from Toy Story to Reservoir Dogs, but what is the Wilhelm Scream?AttributioniPlayerMost Read1The planespotter angering Taylor Swift and Elon Musk2’Democracy in danger’ and King’s heartfelt thanks3‘We had to bury our baby in a stranger’s coffin’4King thanks public for support after cancer news5Hungary president resigns over child abuse pardon6I’d be an eejit not to enjoy Oscars – Cillian Murphy7Faisal Islam: Russia’s war economy cannot last but has bought time8Teens fight back against online skincare trends9Six-year-old Gazan girl found dead days after plea for help10Fujitsu bosses paid £26m during Horizon contract](https://newsinsightplus.com/wp-content/uploads/https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/branded_news/14B90/production/_132608848_epa_congoindex.jpg)
![BBC HomepageSkip to contentAccessibility HelpYour accountLiveNotificationsHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeMore menuMore menuSearch BBCHomeNewsSportWeatheriPlayerSoundsBitesizeCBBCCBeebiesFoodClose menuBBC NewsMenuHomeIsrael-Gaza warCost of LivingWar in UkraineClimateUKWorldBusinessPoliticsCultureMoreTechScienceHealthFamily & EducationIn PicturesNewsbeatBBC VerifyDisabilityWorldAfricaAsiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastUS & CanadaKenya femicide: Why men fail to condemn deadly misogynyPublished6 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, AFPBy Waihiga MwauraBBC Focus on Africa TV, NairobiHours before a nationwide march in Kenya against the rising cases of femicide and other violence against women – a clip was posted on social media that captures how entrenched misogyny is in the East African nation.At a site in the capital, Nairobi, where some young women were gathering for the protest last weekend, two men were filmed arguing about the need for such a demonstration.”Men have suffered because of women,” one of them complains going on to say that in his view women just use men for their money.As the heated discussion continues, his companion butts in and they both start pointing towards the camera and shouting to the women: “We are going to kill you.”This snippet was shared by renowned Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi along with the words: “As a man and father, these men don’t speak for the men I know.”But the problem, as he notes, is that very few men in Kenya are openly coming out to speak out against such attitudes.”We as Kenyan men should speak boldly, and loudly,” he said about femicide, which is when a woman is killed because of her gender.It is a sentiment shared by Felix Kiprono, head of media at data analysis and visualisation company Odipo Dev. He and his colleagues recently released a report about Kenya’s alarming rise in female killings – the country is reeling from at least 10 reported murders of women in the first month of the year alone.One gruesome killing involved a victim whose dismembered remains were found stuffed into a plastic bag at a short-term rental apartment.Titled Silencing Women, he says the report “aims to shed light on the disturbing reality of women’s lives at risk, providing crucial information to address victim blaming, under-reporting and to inspire meaningful action”. But Mr Kiprono has been appalled by the reaction to its findings, in particular on social media which is sometimes described in Kenya as a “manosphere” – a network of online platforms focusing on the promotion of masculinity and opposed to feminism.He told the BBC the blowback had been across all platforms: “Not just on Twitter but even on TikTok, which is typically known as a safe space.”
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Felix KipronoApparently, it’s difficult to get men to agree to talk about this matter publicly”Felix KipronoOdipo Dev, a data analysis firmWith the report now in the public domain, he and his team have been getting many requests for media interviews.”Apparently, it’s difficult to get men to agree to talk about this matter publicly,” he said.Another aspect to the reactions is that men have shown little inclination to become involved in discussions online on the issues the report highlights.”As we were looking at the analytics, we were realising, particularly on Instagram and TikTok, that about 90% of the people that were engaging are women,” Mr Kiprono said.”There seems to be a huge disparity in the male versus female attitudes towards gender-based violence in general.”One man who has chosen to speak out is Kenyan DJ, podcaster and TV host Moses Mathenge, popularly known as “DJ Moz”. Two weeks ago, he was one of the first to castigate femicide, posting a lengthy video on his social media platforms, along with the words: “Femicide This needs to STOP.”We have lost too many women (wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, children) to this monstrous act of violence.” He says it took his colleague, podcast producer Kate Wangila, to get him to take a stance.”Because of a rising number of femicide cases, she was like: ‘Moz, you need to do something about this.’ And I’m glad that she nudged me,” he said.DJ Moz decided to go a step further and investigate the global statistics on femicide – and what he found shocked him. “You know the crazy thing – Africa has the highest number of femicide cases in the world. Those are not things that we should be proud of as Africans,” he said.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A few men did take part in the march against femicide last weekendAccording to UN Women, data from 2022 indeed showed that “Africa recorded the highest absolute number of female intimate partner and family related killings with an estimated 20,000 victims”.This was followed by “18,400 in Asia, 7,900 in the Americas, 2,300 in Europe and 200 in Oceania”.DJ Moz, who has worked at faith-based organisations, believes that it is time for religious institutions to step up and fight misogyny in the largely Christian country.”We need to stand up because sometimes in the church, we propagate and tell women, just to stay in their marriages [even though]… this woman is being beaten by her husband.”Then by the time she dies, we start talking about how we knew that this issue was happening.”However, Mr Kiprono believes that it will take a long time to shed toxic masculinity from Kenyan society. “The patriarchal mindset… affects men so much, and we don’t even realise how much it affects us.”And people think, ‘It’s not my fight.’ This needs to change.”He brings home the point as we conclude our interview by drawing attention to the fact that every time a woman wants to leave her home, she has to factor in measures to ensure that she remains safe – whatever her destination. If she has a car or enough income to take cabs late then she can be more relaxed but if not then she will probably want to start heading home earlier then her male counterparts.This is something most Kenyan men never have to consider for themselves.You may also be interested in:A woman’s murder exposes Kenya’s toxic online misogynyLISTEN: Why is femicide on the rise in Kenya?This video can not be playedTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.Media caption, The deep-seated roots in Kenya behind gender-based violenceRelated TopicsFemicideKenyaWomen’s rights in AfricaAround the BBCFocus on Africa podcastsTop StoriesPolice hunting Clapham suspect offer £20,000 rewardPublished24 minutes agoNew video shows Clapham attack suspect in Tesco. VideoNew video shows Clapham attack suspect in TescoPublished1 hour agoI would speak to killer’s mother – Brianna’s mumPublished3 hours agoFeaturesNew video shows Clapham attack suspect in Tesco. 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