Announcing the changes, the organizers of the concert stated that the rescheduling was due to circumstances beyond their control. However, the statement did not specify the exact reasons.
They confirmed that those who had already purchased tickets could still use them on the new concert date.
The concert, dubbed ‘Sol Fest Kigali Pre Party,’ will precede the main ‘Sol Fest’ event, which is set to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from December 19 to 21, 2024.
The Kigali concert will feature performances by Savara Mudigi, Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, and Polycarp Otieno, also known as Fancy Fingers, the founders of Sauti Sol.
The event will also include performances by artists such as Mike Kayihura and Ariel Wayz, while DJs such as DJ Sonia and DJ June will be mixing the music.
It is expected that there will be a VIP ‘Sol Fest’ concert on December 19, 2024, followed by the main concert for music lovers on December 21, 2024. The events will feature top Kenyan singers and rappers like Khaligraph Jones and Nyashinski.
The concert aims to preserve the legacy and honour of Sauti Sol and follows last year’s event in 2023, which was attended by more than 15,000 fans.
Sauti Sol, known for their numerous hit songs such as Sura Yako, Suzanna, Short N Sweet, and Live and Die in Africa, was formed in 2005. The group announced an indefinite hiatus in 2023.
The hiatus, the band said, would allow them to pursue individual and collective passions after 18 years of doing music together.
Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly in a historic vote on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. A total of 281 MPs voted in favour of the impeachment motion against him, while 44 legislators voted against it, and one abstained.
The 59-year-old is scheduled to appear before the Senate on Wednesday and Thursday this week to defend himself against a host of impeachment charges, which include corruption, insubordination, undermining the government, and practising ethnically divisive politics. The Senate will then vote on each of the charges and deliver its verdict.
Ahead of the “hour of reckoning” and amid a perceived general consensus among lawmakers allied with President William Ruto to remove him from office, Gachagua has turned to the Judiciary, hoping that the courts will save him from the wrath of MPs.
Speaking during a church service on Sunday, the Deputy President beseeched the Judiciary to assert the will of the people over the whims of politicians. He expressed confidence in the Kenyan Judiciary’s ability to deliver justice.
“I am a believer in the independence of the Judiciary. I am certain the courts will exercise judicial authority, protect and uphold the Constitution, and honour the will of the people. Our Judiciary is efficient. They (judicial officers) protect the Constitution and the rule of law and always ensure that the people’s will is respected. I have confidence that the rule of law will prevail and the people’s choice will be upheld,” he told the congregation.
Gachagua, who was elected on a joint ticket with President Ruto in the August 2022 General Election, insisted that it would be unfair to remove him from office barely halfway through his five-year term.
“We elected many leaders (in the 2022 General Election). Is it possible to remove others from office? The President (William Ruto) and I were elected on one ticket. We are asking that the people’s choice be respected,” he added.
Gachagua also appealed to his supporters to pray for him and for the country, urging them to remain calm regardless of the outcome of his impeachment in the Senate.
“Despite everything happening in the country, my plea is that we maintain peace and calm. God is on the throne. Let’s preach and maintain peace, irrespective of the outcome. Kenya is our country,” he stated.
Late last week, Gachagua filed a petition at the High Court in Kenya seeking to block the Senate from proceeding with his impeachment trial. He claims the impeachment motion is malicious and that MPs were coerced into passing it. The petition is among at least 20 cases filed by various individuals and groups in a bid to stop what seems inevitable.
During his appearance in the National Assembly last Tuesday, Gachagua, whose impeachment has been linked to an alleged fallout with President Ruto, dismissed the charges leveled against him as “outrageous and baseless propaganda” aimed at tarnishing his reputation and unfairly ousting him from office.
He spent significant time addressing allegations of corruption, denying claims that he had amassed Ksh5 billion worth of wealth within two years through corrupt means. He insisted that the listed property belonged to his late brother, who had named him as one of the administrators of his vast estate.
If the Senate upholds any of the charges against Gachagua, he will become the first Deputy President in Kenya’s history to be removed from office through impeachment.
Addressing the press in Kigali on Sunday, October 13, 2024, Dr. Brian Chirombo, the WHO Representative in Rwanda, saluted the health workers as the heroes of the outbreak, noting that specialist health workers were most affected at the onset.
“The health workers were actually affected while working hard to save lives. They have put their lives on the line, and some of them have succumbed. They are the heroes of this outbreak. Even after some of their colleagues died early on, many of these healthcare workers and experts continue to work tirelessly, risking their lives,” he stated.
“Of course, the government and ourselves are working to ensure that they are kept safe while working, but the risks are not zero. These healthcare workers continue to face danger every day to save lives,” he added.
Dr. Chirombo also commended the measures implemented by the Rwandan government to contain the outbreak. He criticized those imposing travel and trade restrictions on Rwanda, arguing that significant progress has been made to combat the Marburg virus.
“The measures taken by Rwanda and its partners are sufficient. The decision to halt travel is not helpful and only exacerbates the country’s economic situation. Such decisions negatively impact the economy and society. The available data shows progress, with more people recovering, which is proof that things are improving,” he stated in an apparent reference to a travel advisory issued by the United States government last week.
“When people recover, it shows that the infected are receiving proper care. It is a very dangerous outbreak. Rwanda is not the first country to face this, and it takes time and effort to fight it.”
Health Minister Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana also emphasized that the measures in place are yielding positive results, with more people recovering than dying from Marburg.
“There are positive indicators showing that the efforts being made are paying off. In the past three days, we tested and found no new cases of the disease. This is good news, but we cannot afford to be complacent. We have seen that the number of recoveries continues to rise, now standing at 18, while 14 have died,” Dr. Nsanzimana said, adding that the vaccination of frontline health workers and high-risk individuals will continue.
Since the outbreak was confirmed on September 27, 2024, Rwanda has reported 61 cases and 14 deaths from more than 3,600 tests conducted.
The virus, which causes hemorrhagic fever, is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, rash, chest pain, sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and unexplained bleeding.
To prevent infection, health experts recommend strict hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Marburg virus disease.
The vaccines were delivered on Saturday, October 13, 2024, by the Sabin Vaccine Institute, which sent an initial shipment of 700 Marburg vaccine doses on October 5, nine days after Rwanda declared its first-ever outbreak of Marburg virus.
The Ministry of Health rolled out vaccination efforts targeting frontline health workers on October 8.
The Sabin Vaccine Institute stated that the single-dose Marburg vaccine is being administered in accordance with clinical protocols reviewed and approved by Rwandan ethics and regulatory authorities.
The U.S.-based institution is currently conducting Phase 2 clinical trials for vaccines targeting both Marburg and Sudan ebolaviruses. As part of MARVAC, a WHO-coordinated consortium focused on developing vaccines for the Marburg virus, Sabin’s vaccine development is supported by BARDA, which has allocated $235 million to fund research and development for the filoviruses.
Rwanda has so far confirmed 61 cases of Marburg virus, 14 deaths, and 18 recoveries from more than 3,300 tests conducted.
The virus is believed to originate in fruit bats and spreads through close contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Initial symptoms of Marburg virus disease include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
To prevent infection, health experts recommend strict hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing and avoiding contact with personal items or bodily fluids of individuals showing symptoms of Marburg virus disease.
The outbreak entered its third week on Saturday, October 12, 2024, following the confirmation of the first-ever cases in several health facilities in the country on Friday, September 27, 2024.
So far, the country has recorded 61 cases, 14 deaths, and 18 recoveries from more than 3,300 tests conducted.
The Ministry of Health has been at the forefront of the response, implementing measures to contain the spread of this deadly hemorrhagic fever and protect public health.
The Ministry attributes its success in keeping cases and fatalities low to the establishment of a National Response Workforce. This multisectoral team is tasked with executing strategic objectives to manage and control the outbreak, minimizing transmissions and fatalities while protecting the health and dignity of communities across Rwanda.
According to the Ministry of Health, the National Response Workforce is organized into clusters, including communication, diagnostics, surveillance, evacuation, procurement, case management, strategic information, psychology, resource mobilization, operations, a call center, mobile vaccination clinics, and treatment facilities.
Currently, the response team is engaged in decontaminating infected areas, providing treatment to patients in designated centers, and addressing public concerns through the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC) emergency number 114. Additionally, psychological experts on the team are tasked with offering counseling and psychosocial support to survivors and their families, aiding in rapid reintegration and combating stigma.
During a visit to Rwanda on October 8, 2024, the Director General of the Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, commended the country’s rapid and effective response to the Marburg outbreak. Dr. Kaseya lauded Rwanda’s efforts to contain the virus after touring the Marburg Command Post and meeting with Rwanda’s Health Minister, Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana.
“Impressed by Rwanda’s swift, proactive response. The Africa CDC stands firmly with Rwanda, committed to safeguarding lives and stopping the spread,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Following his visit to Kigali, Dr. Kaseya also condemned the decision by the United States government to issue a travel advisory against Rwanda over the Marburg virus outbreak, terming it unfair.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health agency of the United States, issued a Level 3 travel advisory on Monday, October 7, 2024, urging its citizens to reconsider nonessential travel to Rwanda due to the outbreak.
Dr. Kaseya criticized the advisory, insisting that decisions during the ongoing outbreak must be guided by scientific facts to avoid spreading panic.
“The decision taken by the U.S. government was not fair, and we believe this is not the treatment that Rwanda and Africa deserve,” he stated, reiterating that Rwanda had implemented satisfactory measures to contain the spread of the disease and that the risk of spreading the virus to another country was “nearly zero.”
Some of the initial steps taken by the government at the onset of the outbreak included heightened contact tracing, suspending hospital visits, banning wakes and home vigils (locally known as Ikiriyo) for Marburg-related deaths, and limiting burials for Marburg deaths to a maximum of 50 people.
Additionally, all healthcare facilities were directed to implement a protocol for receiving and providing services to clients exhibiting symptoms of Marburg virus disease, with strict adherence to infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.
In recent days, the government has also rolled out other measures to reduce the risk of exporting cases to other countries, including mandatory symptom screening of all passengers departing from Kigali. Furthermore, the government has initiated the vaccination of public health workers and other high-risk groups.
Mboweni passed away on Saturday, October 13, 2024, at the age of 65, after a short illness, according to a statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government.
In his message of condolences on Sunday, Kagame praised Mboweni’s contributions to reforming the African Union (AU), stating that his legacy will transcend generations.
“Tito Mboweni was a giant voice for Africa and a champion of continental integration. His counsel was invaluable in the effort to reform the African Union, and in recent years, he dedicated his energy to implementing those reforms as chair of the AU Peace Fund. His legacy will live on for generations to come,” Kagame said in his message to Mboweni’s family, friends, and the people of South Africa.
Mboweni served as South Africa’s Minister of Finance under Ramaphosa from 2018 to 2021. He was an anti-apartheid activist in his youth and served as Minister of Labour from 1994 to 1999 under President Nelson Mandela.
Mboweni also made history as the first Black Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, serving from 1999 to 2009.
A frequent visitor to Kigali and an early member of the team tasked with reforming the African Union, Mboweni was a close ally of Rwanda. His work on the AU Reforms Steering Committee, led by President Kagame, focused on addressing the urgent need for institutional reforms to better position the AU for achieving its Agenda 2063 vision of inclusive economic growth and development across Africa.
Mboweni’s role extended to serving on the Board of Trustees for the African Union Peace Fund, which was key to financing peace support operations, mediation, and preventive diplomacy efforts. His involvement was instrumental in ensuring strategic governance of the Peace Fund, enhancing the AU’s capacity to manage conflicts and promote peace on the continent.
Ramaphosa earlier expressed shock over Mboweni’s passing, noting that he distinguished himself in strategic roles and was a flag bearer for South Africa’s economy on the global stage.
“We have lost a leader and compatriot who has served our nation as an activist, economic policy innovator, and champion of labor rights,” Ramaphosa said, emphasizing Mboweni’s significant role in shaping South Africa’s future, particularly during the final days of apartheid.
The accident occurred around 10 PM, as the minibuses were returning from a wedding at Sainte Famille and heading towards Muhanga.
Confirming the accident, SP Kayigi Emmanuel, a spokesperson for the Traffic Police, said the rear minibus collided with a front minibus, causing the latter to veer off the road and crash into barriers.
The officer attributed the crash to excessive speeding by the driver of the rear minibus, particularly as they approached a downhill area.
At the time of the incident, both vehicles were carrying around 40 passengers. While three passengers were killed instantly, 37 others sustained injuries, with six reported to be in serious condition.
The injured were taken to various hospitals, with some sent to facilities in Kigali and others to Kabgayi Hospital. The bodies of the deceased were moved to the Kacyiru Hospital mortuary.
Following the tragedy, SP Kayigi urged drivers to exercise caution on the roads and emphasized the importance of passengers speaking up when drivers make unsafe choices. He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and reassured the public that the injured were receiving the necessary medical care.
The resolutions were signed on Saturday, October 13, 2024, during the Fifth Meeting held in Luanda, Angola, a country tasked with mediating and easing the tensions that have persisted between Rwanda and the DRC.
The ministers signed off on a plan that had been proposed by security experts from the three countries involved, who met at the end of August and the beginning of September this year.
The plan outlined the methods to be used in eliminating the FDLR, a group that has long collaborated with the DRC’s military and has been disrupting Rwanda’s security.
A ministerial meeting was held on September 14, 2024, to ratify the plan, but the DRC refused to sign following directives Minister Kayikwamba allegedly received from President Felix Tshisekedi in Kinshasa, instructing her not to sign.
As a result, another meeting that was supposed to bring together security experts in early October 2024, which was meant to finalize the methods and timeline for dismantling the FDLR, was postponed.
Rwanda has stated that if the plan to eliminate the FDLR is finalized and implemented, it will revise its defense strategies accordingly.
Minister Nduhungirehe announced that the signing of the Fifth Meeting’s resolutions marks a positive step toward peace and security in the region.
It is expected that security experts will meet again to refine the plan to get rid of the FDLR, and their conclusions will be reviewed at the next ministerial meeting.
Mpox broke out in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in May 2022, with several cases reported in neighbouring countries, including Burundi, Uganda, Kenya, the Central African Republic, and Rwanda in recent months. Rwanda also reported its first-ever Marburg outbreak late last month.
In a statement on Friday, October 11, 2024, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that the organization had assessed the current Mpox and Marburg outbreaks and determined that no travel or trade restrictions are necessary.
According to WHO, priority should be given to public health measures and collaborative efforts to contain the outbreaks.
“Based on the current Mpox and Marburg outbreak risk assessments, WHO advises that no travel and trade restrictions are needed,” the organization stated.
WHO’s statement follows a condemnation from the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) regarding a travel advisory issued by the United States government against Rwanda.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a national public health agency in the United States, issued a Level 3 travel advisory on Monday, October 7, 2024, urging its citizens to reconsider nonessential travel to Rwanda due to the Marburg outbreak.
During a virtual meeting attended by the Rwandan Health Minister and journalists on Thursday, October 10, 2024, Africa CDC Director General Dr. Jean Kaseya termed the advisory unfair. He emphasized that decisions during the ongoing outbreak must be guided by scientific facts to avoid causing panic.
“The decision taken by the US government was not fair, and we believe this is not the treatment that Rwanda and Africa deserve,” he stated.
“By issuing a Level 3 advisory, we are creating unnecessary panic—in Rwanda, in neighboring countries, and even globally,” he protested.
Dr. Kaseya noted that US authorities had committed to consulting the Africa CDC before making such decisions in the future.
“We think this is disrespectful to us. I conveyed this clear message to US senior officials. More importantly, we agreed on a way forward, and I believe I received their commitment that in the future, they will not make such decisions again without consulting us,” he added.
The Africa CDC Director praised the measures implemented by the Rwandan government, stating that the outbreak is under control and there is nearly zero risk of Rwanda spreading the disease to other countries.
“It’s almost zero risk. I say ‘almost’ because we cannot say 100% for sure, but I can say that there is a 95% certainty that there is zero risk for Rwanda spreading the disease out of Rwanda. The mechanisms they have put in place to monitor contacts mean no contact can fly out of Rwanda. This is remarkable because they are monitoring these contacts on a daily basis,” he stated.
Rwanda has so far confirmed 58 Marburg cases, 13 deaths, and 15 recoveries.
The electric Robotaxi also referred to as Cybercab will cost less than $30,000 (approximately Frw 40 million), Tesla CEO and tech mogul Elon Musk revealed during the unveiling ceremony held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, on Thursday night.
Musk revealed that, unlike traditional ride-hailing services requiring a driver, the Cybercab will operate fully autonomously.
“You could fall asleep and wake up at your destination,” Musk stated.
The Robotaxi will utilize Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, allowing it to autonomously navigate highways, city streets, intersections, and perform tasks like lane changes, parking, summoning, and responding to traffic signals.
Tesla’s self-driving technology relies on a powerful neural network that gathers data from millions of Tesla vehicles, constantly learning from real-world driving conditions to improve the vehicle’s safety and decision-making capabilities.
The Cybercab, a two-seater with butterfly wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals, lacks a rear window. Musk mentioned that Tesla has produced 21 of these vehicles and that 50 fully autonomous vehicles were present at the launch.
Most of the prototypes displayed at the event featured a gold finish. The Cybercab also showcased matrix-style headlights integrated into a front light bar, similar to the Tesla Cybertruck’s design.
While further details were limited, it’s expected that the Cybercab will be Tesla’s first vehicle to feature wireless induction charging as a standard option.
However, some experts believe that the self driving technology still faces hurdles.
Garrett Nelson, a senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, cautioned, “A car capable of functioning as a self-driving taxi is still several years away, with numerous technological hurdles, safety tests, and regulatory approvals standing in the way.”
Tesla isn’t alone in the race for autonomous taxis. In China, Baidu is testing its own self-driving taxis on public roads. Meanwhile, Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, has been operating driverless taxi services, recently reporting over 100,000 weekly rides in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
General Motors’ Cruise resumed its autonomous taxi testing following a previous incident, and Amazon’s Zoox is developing a driverless van without a steering wheel, aiming to launch a paid service soon.
