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Kenya: Foreign Service Academy Hosts National Defence College Delegation
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The Foreign Service Academy hosted a delegation from the National Defence College (NDC) for an educational visit aimed at deepening their understanding of Kenya's diplomatic operations.
Political and Diplomatic Secretary Amb. Josphat Maikara led the session, taking the officers through the mandate of the Ministry of Foreign & Diaspora Affairs and the country's evolving foreign policy priorities.
He traced the evolution of Kenya's foreign policy, highlighting milestones such as the development of the country's first written Foreign Policy Document in 2014, which defined the pillars of peace, economic, diaspora, environmental and cultural diplomacy.
He also outlined Kenya's new foreign policy and also the Sessional Paper on Kenya Foreign Policy (2025). The updated framework, he said, is designed to modernize Kenya's diplomatic approach and align it with rapidly shifting geopolitical realities, emerging economic trends, and fast-evolving technological landscapes that are reshaping global relations.
Amb. Maikara went on to highlight Kenya's current diplomatic priorities—ranging from regional peace and security and enhanced economic cooperation to climate diplomacy, diaspora engagement, and the expanding role of digital diplomacy.
In his presentation, he also highlighted the close relationship between diplomacy and national security, noting that they are inseparable. He stressed that a coherent and forward-looking foreign policy is essential for safeguarding and advancing Kenya's strategic interests in an increasingly unpredictable world.
The session concluded with a lively question-and-answer segment, where officers from Kenya and abroad sought clarity on Kenya's engagement in regional blocs, responses to emerging global challenges, and the interplay between diplomatic efforts and national security. Amb. Maikara provided detailed insights, drawing on Kenya's experiences and underscoring the importance of collaboration between defence and foreign affairs in advancing the country's strategic goals
Head of delegation from the National Defence College, Major General Yahya Sheikh Abdi, thanked the Foreign Service Academy for the warm welcome and insightful briefing, noting that the visit had significantly enhanced their understanding of the vital role diplomacy plays alongside defence in advancing Kenya's national interests.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Kenya.Merck Foundation congratulates Kenya First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto and the Joyful Women Organisation as they mark 16 years of inspiring women economic empowerment
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, extends heartfelt congratulations to H.E. Mama Rachel Ruto E.G.H., First Lady of Kenya, and the Joyful Women Organization (JOYWO) on marking 16 impactful years of inspiring women economic empowerment across Kenya.
Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation shared, “Congratulations to Mama Rachel Ruto and Joyful Women Organization on this remarkable milestone, sixteen years of empowering women, strengthening communities, and driving real change is truly an achievement to be celebrated.”
Through the table-banking model and community-led initiatives, Joyful Women has opened pathways for women to start businesses, support their families and strengthen communities.
“We celebrate Mama Rachel's visionary leadership and partnership in building a more inclusive, prosperous Kenya.” Kelej added.
Merck Foundation is closely working with The First Lady of Kenya, and as a part of their joint efforts to strengthen healthcare capacity in Kenya, they have provided 295 scholarships for Kenyan healthcare providers in 44 critical and underserved specialties, helping to transform the patient care landscape across the country.
Moreover, Merck Foundation in partnership with Kenya First Lady will provide almost 100 scholarships of one-year postgraduate diploma of critical nutrition for Kenyan doctors across the 47 counties of Kenya over the next four years as part of her Feed One, End Hunger Program.
Additionally, through the “Educating Linda” program, Merck Foundation is providing annual scholarships to 47 deserving yet underprivileged Kenyan schoolgirls, helping them continue their education and enabling them to reach their full potential.
“Congratulations once again on 16 years of impact, here's to many more! #JoyfulAt16” added Dr. Rasha Kelej
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.Contact:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
Phone: +91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
Email: mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com
African Union International Centre for Girls and Women’s Education (AU CIEFFA) Continental Youth Workshop on Digital Innovation and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts...
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A Continental Youth Capacity Building Workshop on Girls in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) for Gender-Responsive Education has officially opened in Nairobi, Kenya. Running from 25th –28th November 2025, the workshop is held under the theme: “Empowering Girls in STEAM: Innovating for Inclusive and Gender-Responsive Education in Africa.”
Organised by the African Union International Centre for Girls and Women's Education (AU CIEFFA) in collaboration with UN Women, the convening seeks to empower young women leaders in STEAM fields and AU CIEFFA alumni with essential digital and financial literacy skills. The initiative aims to amplify advocacy for girls' STEAM education and the #AfricaEducatesHER Campaign, while showcasing grassroots efforts by young women advancing education in their communities.
The workshop also celebrates the achievements of women role models in STEAM, including projects led by the AU Go-Gal Top 10 innovators and AGCCI Alumni.
Representing Kenya's Ministry of Education, Dr. Elyas Abdi, Director General, emphasised the country's commitment to strengthening STEAM interventions: “Kenya's commitment to STEAM education is anchored in the national reforms guided by the government's Kenya Kwanza Education Charter and the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (PWPER). These frameworks prioritise strengthening STEM and STEAM pathways, expanding digital learning, enhancing teacher professionalism, upgrading laboratories, and promoting gender equity across all levels of education.”
Despite progress, girls remain significantly underrepresented in STEAM education across Africa. Women account for only 35% of STEM graduates, a figure that has stagnated over the past decade.
“For far too long, science has been viewed as a domain reserved for boys and men. While this narrative is gradually shifting, the representation of girls and women in STEAM remains disproportionately low. Yet, young African girls possess the curiosity, creativity, and intellectual rigour required to drive innovation. What they have often lacked is not talent, but equitable access to technology, inspiring female role models, and an educational environment that nurtures and believes in their potential”, said Mrs. Simone Yankey, Coordinator of the AU CIEFFA.
The workshop convenes young people and STEAM professionals from 24 African Union Member States, the majority of whom are women.
Mr Joshua Musyimi, Programme Specialist at UN Women Kenya Office, underscored the importance of policy advocacy, “It is critical not only to equip girls with digital and leadership skills, but also to advocate for policies that guarantee their access to technology, and to push for national education systems to integrate gender, ICT, and coding-related skills. Only then can we ensure that digital inclusion is not a privilege, but a right — and that the achievements of AGCCI (African Girls Can Code) reach more girls, in more communities, for generations to come”.
Contributions from the World Bank Group, represented by Mr Saifeddine Ben Mhenni, and Dr Olubusayo Akinola, Head of Social Welfare, Drug Control and Crime Prevention from AUC's Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development highlighted ongoing initiatives to promote STEAM across Africa.
The workshop is supported by the World Bank's East Africa Girls' Empowerment and Resilience (EAGER) program and aligns with AU CIEFFA's Strategic Axis 3 on STEAM and Skills Development. It further contributes to continental commitments, including AU Agenda 2063, CESA 16-25, and the recommendations from the 2024 Conference on Transforming STEM in Africa, co-organised by the AU and UNESCO in Addis Ababa.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union (AU).Canon Central & North Africa Hosts “Creator Lens” Event in Kenya – Empowering East Africa’s Next Generation of Content Creators
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural Canon Creator Lens event, taking place on 19th November 2025 at the iconic Shamba Café, Nairobi.
‘Creator Lens' is not just an event; it's a platform for participation and discovery. The initiative began with an open call to creators across East Africa, inviting both emerging and established voices to be part of a dynamic creative community. Designed as an immersive experience, the event brings together panel discussions, inspirational talks, hands-on “touch & try” product sessions, and live demonstrations by industry experts in real-life creative setups, all aimed at empowering content creators to elevate their craft across genres such as fashion, lifestyle, weddings, wildlife, and podcasting.
LENS: Learn, Explore, Network, and Synergy
The name ‘Creator Lens' where LENS stands for Learn, Explore, Network, and Synergy, encapsulates the event's mission to inspire creativity and connection. Participants will learn from top industry experts and develop new creative skills; explore Canon's latest creator tools and innovations; network with fellow creators and leading professionals; and build synergy through powerful collaborations that enable impactful storytelling.
This event forms part of Canon's larger strategic initiative “ICE” (Innovation and Customer Experience) which reinforces Canon's focus on enhancing customer engagement and empowering creators as one of its most important communities.
Through this strategic initiative, Canon continues to shift perceptions beyond being a photo brand, positioning itself as a leading video brand, providing tools that meet the evolving demands of the modern cinema and video content landscape.
Immersive Experience Zones
At the heart of the ‘Creator Lens' event are four immersive experience zones, each led by content creators and industry experts, offering participants hands-on exposure to Canon's latest technology:
- Podcast Zone – Led by Dr. Ofweneke- TV & Radio Host
Showcasing Canon's range of video solutions for podcasters, from beginners to professionals, featuring the EOS C80, R5 Mark II, C50, EOS R50V and highlighting the Live Switcher Application. - Fashion & Lifestyle Zone – Led by Joy Kendi- Fashion & Lifestyle Content Creator
Demonstrating Canon's compact video tools for beauty, lifestyle, and social content creation. Key products in focus are PowerShot V10, EOS R50V, and accessories for vertical shooting and live streaming. - Wedding Zone – Led by Gabriel Kasha- Wedding Videographer
Positioning Canon as the top choice for wedding videography, featuring C50, R5 Mark II, and Canon accessories while focusing on 4K Dual Base ISO and Log color grading. - Cinematic Zone – Led by Hans Ngoteya – Wildlife Filmmaker
Highlighting Canon's cinema solutions for wildlife cinematography with the EOS C50, C80, C400, and Canon cinema lenses.
Community, Competition, and Collaboration
In addition to the interactive zones, the event features a range of activations including panel discussions, inspirational keynotes, and live demos where creators can explore Canon products in real-world shooting environments. A content creation competition will also run during the event, where participants will shoot and edit videos using Canon equipment, with entries judged on creativity and technical mastery. Winners will receive exclusive Canon prizes and mentorship opportunities.
“Through ‘Creator Lens', we aim to nurture and empower a vibrant community of storytellers who are redefining content creation across Africa. This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and enhancing the customer experience through creativity,” said Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central and North Africa.
“Our goal is not only to inspire creators but also to equip them with the tools and skills they need to tell powerful visual stories, moving beyond photography and embracing the limitless possibilities of video.”
A Regional Vision for Creators
While the first edition is being hosted in Kenya, Canon plans to expand the ‘Creator Lens' experience regionally to Morocco and Nigeria, cultivating a sustainable ecosystem of creators across Africa.
By engaging with macro, micro, and nano influencers, Canon aims to encourage creators to upgrade their content creation journeys, transitioning from smartphones to Canon's range of entry-level and professional cameras designed for video excellence.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group - PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon's business within the Africa region - by strengthening Canon's in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon's commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa's rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon's corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/4a4t8kd) – ‘living and working together for the common good'. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon's products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com
Kenya: Amb. Guo Haiyan Meets with Principal Secretary (PS) Anne Wango’ombe
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On November 14, H.E. Amb. Guo Haiyan met with Ms. Anne Wango'ombe, Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action, Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services of Kenya.
PS Wango'ombe shared her experience of participating the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women held in Beijing last October and extended her congratulations on the successful event commenting it is not only a testimony of China's leadership in global women's causes, but of great significance in advancing global women empowerment. PS further highly commended China's achievements in women's education, legal protection, economic inclusion and empowerment across the board.
Amb. Guo expressed Chinese side's appreciation to Kenya's strong support in holding the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women and agreed to jointly implement the important achievements reached on the Meeting, strengthen bilateral cooperation in women causes aiming to contribute positively to building a China–Kenya community with a shared future in the new era.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Kenya.