India is currently recording its highest-ever record temperatures. The temperatures have hit 52.3C, and the government weather bureau reported a severe heat wave that has crossed the landmark of 50C. Scientists believe the extreme changes have been caused by climate change. A red alert has been issued for several parts of the northern and western areas. These hot temperatures have been experienced in southern and southeast Asia, from India to the Philippines. Weather reports show temperatures across Central and Northern India have been more than 50C. Furthermore, the same heat is experienced at night, with temperatures going to around 30C. Things are expected to change once the Southwest Monsoon arrives in the country. It’s in Sri Lanka and is expected to arrive in India in a few days. The monsoon brings rain, and the temperatures fall. Summer in India runs from March to September, and it’s usually hot and humid. The country is one of the hottest areas in Asia. Most parts of the region are experiencing extreme heat. In Pakistan, the temperatures have also crossed 52 degrees. Other countries are Thailand and Vietnam. It’s unfortunate that the four nations are the top exporters of rice. With the hot temperatures, farming output will decrease, affecting global food security. The extreme temperatures have left citizens who struggle to make ends meet unable to care enough for themselves. Baskets of shaved ice I have to sit in the heat. I have no fan, and I have to sit in my hut. The sun is scorching and eating away at us, but where can I go? Hanal Khatun, a Sindh resident, says. In Pakistan, close to 40% of the population lives below the poverty line. This means that despite the extreme heat, many people can’t just stay at home. We have to work in this hot weather. We don’t have a choice. We must work and feed our children whether cold or hot, lamented another villager. Hospitals have been treating hundreds of patients with heat strokes. Keeping them cold has been an uphill task due to the frequent power blackouts caused by the growing demand. Rivers and wells in Maharashtra state are dry, and the farmland is empty. The most affected cities are Delhi, where the highest record was 52.9C on Wednesday; Churu, Rajasthan, with 50.5C recorded on Tuesday; Pholodi, Rajasthan, which also recorded 50C last week; and Sirsa, Haryana, which experienced 50.3 degrees on Tuesday.
Samburu Women Allege Sexual Abuse from the BATUK Soldiers
A Parliamentary committee formed to investigate the atrocities of the British army continues to reveal shocking information regarding what Kenyans went through at the hands of the troops. Victims from Samburu County revealed to the committee that they’ve been left with deep scars from sexual abuse. Many women from the county are raising children they got from sexual abuse. The women reveal that they have to deal with trauma and neglect as a result of the abuse. The residents want the government to conduct speedy investigations of the allegations and ensure the victims get justice. One of the victims is Jenerica Namoru, who is currently raising a five-year-old white child she bored with a British army soldier. Jenerica alleges that the BATUK soldier sexually assaulted her leading to her pregnancy. The soldier disappeared after the training, and any attempts by Jenerica and her father to get help from the British Army Training Unit have been futile. Jenerica is one of the many cases of the atrocities that the BATUK soldiers committed while undergoing training in Kenya. The parliamentary committee investigating these atrocities assured victims that they would investigate till the end and ensure mothers and their children get justice. The parliamentary committee was formed to investigate the conduct of the BATUK since its inception. The committee is tasked with investigating the soldiers’ alleged ethical breaches, including corruption, discrimination, fraud, and abuse of power among others. The committee will also investigate allegations of human rights violations including, killing, torture, mistreatment, and unlawful detention. They’re also tasked with assessing BATUK’s operational integrity, including their safety standards, adherence to military standards, and compliance with the law. The investigation began after a petition by the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHCR) calling on the National Assembly to ensure accountability on the part of the British army in cases of human rights violations. KNHCR noted that the soldiers committed numerous crimes including murder, assault, rape, and maiming. The parliamentary committee hearing on British Army atrocities Among the atrocities and human rights violations being investigated include the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, allegedly committed in 2012 by a BATUK soldier. The case came to the limelight in 2021 and was taken over by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). This case and many others have fueled perceptions among Kenyans of impunity and unaccountability within the BATUK. Since the probe began in Laikipia and Samburu counties, the committee has received over ten petitions implicating the British army. Victims of the atrocities can only hope that the committee will help them get justice.
Kenyans Angered by the House Demolitions in Mathare
Residents of the Kosovo area in Mathare are in pain as they count losses following their house demolitions. The incident, which the government claims is a bid to secure the riparian land, has left many homeless. Human Rights defenders have criticized the demolitions, terming them as insensitive and inhumane. People are walking back home in the evening to find their homes demolished. Last evening, people in this area slept in the cold. Children are not going to school. And all this is happening just a few days after floods traumatized the residents. Wanjira Wanjiru, a Human Rights Defender. Residents dug through the debris of the demolished houses, trying to salvage their belongings. The government ordered the demolition of all structures within 30 meters of the Mathare River. According to the government, the exercise was meant to avert further losses of lives from flooding. However, it has turned into a nightmare. My house was a four-story building. I was not given any notice; I speak with a lot of pain. I am sleeping outside. To build this house, I secured a loan of 3.5 million from the bank. Nelson Mwangi, a Mathare resident, lamented. Kenya Human Rights Commission, KHRC, has also criticized the government and asked it to stop the exercise and help those affected. They argue that residents should have been notified or given more time to vacate and that the government should have been ready to offer alternative housing solutions. What is happening here is a breach of human rights. Said Cornelius Oduor, The Deputy Executive Director of KHRC. The commission also highlighted that the demolitions have been discriminative. Only buildings in informal settlements have been demolished, while others constructed elsewhere within similar proximity to the river have been spared. It is good to have equality in the demolitions. Let it not be seen that the government is quick to demolish in Mathare than in other areas. Irene Soila, the program Advisor, KHRC. Ongoing demolitions in Mathare The residents are asking for support and assistance from the government and well-wishers. People with disabilities are among those yet to receive any humanitarian support. There is unfairness and a lack of transparency in how the ten thousand shillings are distributed. Cornelius Oduor added. It’s been more than three days since the demolitions started. While the exercise is meant for good, the manner of its execution has left many in the cold, and they don’t know where to start again.
President Ruto Reveals the Cost of His U.S. Visit
On Thursday, President Ruto struggled to explain himself to Kenyans and clarify that he did not spend a lot of money on his U.S. visit. This comes after Ruto used a private jet for his tour instead of the normal Kenya Airways or the President’s Jet. On his visit, Ruto boarded a chartered Boeing 737-700 which is operated by the Royal Jet of Dubai. The total amount the trip from Nairobi-Atlanta-Washington. DC would cost 98 million, with an additional round trip which would eventually go beyond 200 million. All this money would be catered for by the taxpayers. President Ruto noted that he had received a lot of concerns questioning his means of transport to the U.S. He stated that he is a leader who leads from the front and understands that public resources should be utilized responsibly. He stated that in his U.S. state visit, he made sure that he kept his slogan that Kenyans should live within their means. Due to that, he made it clear that the amount he used to travel with a private jet was much cheaper compared to using Kenya Airways. The president, however, did not disclose the amount he used to board the private jet versus that the amount he would have used in Kenya Airways. This left Kenyans not satisfied with his explanations. When the State House was asked why Ruto did not use his Presidential Jet, an official stated that the jet, since it was purchased in the 90s, had never been to the U.S. The official also stated that the jet is specifically structured to function in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Emmanuel Talaam, State House Press secretary, was reported by local reporters saying that the plane would not be effective for the journey as it would have to stop five times for it to be fueled. The U.S. embassy had also rejected claims that they funded the president’s journey. President Ruto at the National Breakfast Prayer Day At the National Prayer Breakfast which was held at Safari Park in Nairobi, Ruto made it clear to Kenyans that he did not misuse the taxpayer’s money. Ruto stated that he did not use the rumoured 200 million as he is a very responsible Kenyan. He said that he had seen the debate in Kenya of how huge the plane was and people goggled to know how much it would cost. Ruto revealed that it cost the Kenyan Republic less than 10 million, and there is no way he would have used 200 million. Ruto stated that during his planning for the visit, he was informed that the cheapest jet was 70 million. Upon receiving that information, he sent his officer to buy a flight ticket from Kenya Airways. Nevertheless, his friends asked him for 10 million and they would grant him the plane. Ruto also stated that he is focusing on having a balanced economy in three years. Rigathi Gachagua, the deputy president, praised Ruto for his eloquent speech, dismissing rumours that the two are not on good terms. Gachagua stated that Ruto placed Kenya on the world map and he negotiated so much for the country.
Cheruiyot’s Body To Remain in Mount Everest, Family Says
The long-awaited statement from the family on whether Cheruiyot’s body will be retrieved from Mount Everest was finally made on Wednesday. The family of the heroic mountain climber said that Cheruiyot’s body will remain at Mount Everest. According to the family, it will be expensive and dangerous to retrieve the body of their kin. While they describe the decision as painful, they confirm that they made it after consultation and considering the circumstances involved. They then came to the difficult and painful decision to let Cheruiyot’s body remain where he died. Cheruiyot died on the Summit of Mount Everest after he went missing for hours and lost communication with his guide. According to the family, Cheruiyot might have taken a fall at 8,848 meters, believed to be the most dangerous spot on the Mountain. The family confirms that it would be risky to try and retrieve the body from that spot and they wouldn’t want to endanger any more lives in the process. They are comforted by the climber’s deep love for the mountain and find solace in that he will be resting at his happy place. Cheruiyot was an enthusiastic mountaineer who went to great heights to achieve his quest for the mountain. He had climbed different mountains before and achieved great milestones. One of them was becoming the first African to climb Manaslu up to 8,163 meters without supplementary oxygen. Cheruiyot dressed preparing to climb Everest Cheruiyot had climbed Mt Everest more than ten times before and later decided to launch the “Big Project 2024: Everest No Ox.” The project was his mission to test human capacity by climbing the tallest mountain in the world without supplementary oxygen. While he was aware of the danger ahead, Cheruiyot’s love for the mountain pushed him forward. Unfortunately, he did not live to celebrate the success of the mission as it ended in his death. According to his friends and fellow mountaineers, he indeed died a hero. More than 300 people have died in their attempt to climb Mount Everest. Over 200 bodies remain unretrieved from the mountain following dangerous conditions and expensive costs. It will take over Ksh9 million to retrieve a body from the mountain and up to eight people to carry it. Cheruiyot’s body is among those that will be left unretrieved from Mt Everest. According to the mountain officials, the bodies left at the mountain do not decompose owing to the extreme weather conditions. Unretrieved bodies in Mt. Everest Due to the danger and costs involved, many families, now Cheruiyot’s included, prefer to leave their loved ones there and carry a memorial service back home. Cheruiyot’s family will hold a memorial service for their kin in Nairobi and at his home in Nandi County, Chepterit Village. The family appreciates the condolence messages they’ve received from friends, relatives, and the community, including the KCB Group where the climber worked. They also thank Seven Summit Treks for their support and guidance throughout the entire period.