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Kenya hosting the 2029 World Athletics Championships will help combat the endemic doping problem among its athletes, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said on a visit to Nairobi on Wednesday.The east African nation is a global athletics powerhouse, particularly in long-distance and middle-distance running, but has seen a surge in doping cases in recent years. Around 140 Kenyan athletes have been suspended, including a positive test announced as recently as Tuesday by monitoring body Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)."The championships will help us in that quest" for a cleaner Kenyan athletics scene, Coe told AFP on the sidelines of a press conference in Nairobi. "Is there more work to be done? Yes. Will these championships lend more focus to that? Absolutely," he said.The AIU is "very clear in their reports to me that progress is being made" in Kenya, he said, adding the country had come a "long way". Kenya has won the right to host the World Championships in Africa for the first time.At last year's edition in Tokyo, Kenya finished second overall behind the United States, taking home 11 medals: seven gold, two silver and two bronze. Yet Kenya's triumph was undermined by the fact that dozens of Kenyan athletes, mainly long-distance runners, have been suspended for doping since 2017, more than any other nation.Marathon world record holder Ruth Chepngetich was handed a three-year ban by the AIU in October 2025 after admitting to doping.Earlier that year, Benard Kibet, who finished fifth in the 10,000m at the Paris Olympics, was also suspended by the AIU. In March, Albert Korir, who won the New York Marathon in 2021, was handed a five-year ban after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug.Athletics is a national sport in Kenya - where unemployment remains high and well-paid jobs scarce - and is viewed by many as a way out of poverty. Coe said that having spoken with Kenya's previous and current leader, integrity in Kenyan athletics is seen as a "key national imperative" and "should be in the best shape possible".The Briton acknowledged that although Kenyan authorities had improved resources to fight doping, "we'll never be in a perfect world". "But we're significantly further ahead than we were when we started out on this journey in 2015." 

Two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge won his first marathon in three years on Sunday when the Kenyan great cruised to victory at Melbourne.The most-decorated marathoner in history crossed the finish line in 2hrs 9min 10sec, two seconds inside the race record.It was his first victory over the distance since Berlin in 2023 and part of his "World Tour" to raise funds for causes he believes in.The 41-year-old former world record-holder announced in 2025 he planned complete marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica, over two years.Melbourne was the third stop after South Africa and Brazil.He broke away inside the last 10 kilometres on a course raced partly on the Australian Formula One track at Albert Park and which finished inside the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground."On the course, it was really wonderful, I enjoyed seeing people standing, cheering, and shouting my name," Kipchoge said, looking fresh at the finish.He would have gone faster, but slowed down inside the MCG waving to fans."It was actually different -- running on a beautiful course, but also running on the Formula One track, and above all else, finishing on a cricket ground," he added."It makes me proud to run with the younger generation and inspire the running community in Melbourne."Australian Thomas Do Canto was runner-up in 2:10:35 while New Zealand's Camille French came first in the women's race in 2:28:25. 

  Kenya has reported its first-ever Ebola death, the health minister said yesterday, after a Kenyan man who had been living in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) died after returning to the country.The DRC declared its 17th Ebola outbreak in May. The deadly disease has killed more than 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.  Kenya has never previously reported a case. Neighbouring Uganda recorded 20 — almost all people who had travelled from the DRC — and two deaths, before being declared Ebola-free in August.The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said a team was heading to Kenya to provide assistance, and its director general Jean Kaseya would also visit in the coming days.The Kenyan citizen, who has not been named but was referred to as a 40-year-old businessman, fell ill around a month ago and had been treated in the DRC, Health Minister Aden Duale told reporters.He travelled overland to the Ugandan capital, Kampala, and then flew to Nairobi on October 3.  Duale said the man was suffering “fever, chills, intense fatigue, weakness, muscle pain, painful swallowing, sore throat and bleeding under the skin at the injection sites”.The man’s relatives took him to a Nairobi hospital, where he was confirmed positive for the virus, before he “regrettably passed on last night at around 11:30” in the evening , Duale said.Arrangements for a “safe and dignified burial” were planned for later yesterday, in line with public health standards.  Kenyan authorities have identified 28 contacts of the deceased, including family members and healthcare workers, but none have tested positive for Ebola so far.Authorities are pursuing a further 23 passengers and four crew members who were on the same flight and that potential quarantine for those at risk had been prepared. “I wish to assure the public not to panic, as all systems are in place to mitigate the spread of the disease,” Duale said.  More care was needed at border entry points as “diseases know no boundaries”, Patrick Amoth, director general at the health ministry, told reporters. “The failure is the system that did not work,” he added to AFP, questioning how someone with such obvious symptoms was able to travel.  As of October 2, the World Health Organisation had recorded 4,082 deaths out of 8,463 cases since the emergence in the DRC of the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is still neither a vaccine nor a specific treatment.  After starting in the northeastern Ituri province, the current outbreak has spread to seven provinces in the north and east. 

 As Qatar continues to encourage youth engagement and sustainability, cultural organisations are helping young people learn important life values through heritage, sport and community service. One of them is Kenya Green Maasai Qatar (KGMQ), which uses Maasai traditions to promote cultural understanding, environmental awareness and social responsibility. Through school visits, partnerships with local tourism organisations, and participation in cultural and sporting events, KGMQ introduces children and young people to Kenyan culture in an engaging and interactive way. Samuel Kiragu, a member of KGMQ, said participants take part in Kenyan cultural dances, storytelling, traditional games and cultural demonstrations, giving them a chance to experience Maasai traditions firsthand. “These interactive activities promote respect for cultural diversity, teamwork and mutual understanding while introducing key Sustainable Development Goals, including quality education, gender equality and environmental conservation,” Kiragu told Gulf Times. He said the programmes also teach the Green Maasai values of community, respect for nature and shared responsibility, helping young people become more aware of other cultures and the environment. Kiragu added that preserving culture is not only about keeping traditions alive but also about helping young people become responsible members of society. Another KGMQ member, Catherine Kamau, said culture and sport are effective ways to encourage unity, leadership and respect among young people.“Kenya Green Maasai Qatar inspires young people by using Maasai culture and sport to promote unity, respect, leadership and pride in their heritage,” she said. Kamau noted that cultural performances at international events allow young people to celebrate diversity while proudly representing Kenya and learning to appreciate other cultures. She added that the organisation also involves young people in community clean-up drives, volunteer work and environmental awareness activities, encouraging them to care for the environment and give back to the community.  According to Kamau, these activities support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to education, gender equality and environmental protection.  As Qatar continues to host international cultural events, KGMQ believes culture and sport can help bring communities together while encouraging young people to become responsible and active members of society. For the organisation, every cultural performance, traditional game and volunteer activity is another opportunity to teach respect, teamwork and care for the environment while building friendships across cultures. 

 A fire tore through a dormitory at a girls' secondary school in a town in Kenya's Rift Valley overnight, killing at least 16 students, the government said yesterday.The fire broke out just after midnight at the Utumishi Girls' Academy Senior School in Gilgil in west-central Kenya and burned for more than two hours, Education Minister Julius Migos told reporters.He said that 79 other students were injured, although 71 of them had already been discharged from hospital.Students at the school are aged between 15 and 18 years."Investigations are ongoing, but the... cause of the fire is not yet identified," Migos said.Speaking to reporters at the school, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen urged people not to speculate on the cause of the fire.However multiple survivors told first responders that a student had lit a mattress with a match, said one first responder, who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media.They did not know what the student's motive might have been.Authorities say they are still investigating the cause of the fire."Our hearts and prayers are with the families who have lost their beloved daughters," President William Ruto said on X, describing it as an "unimaginable tragedy".Fires are common at Kenyan schools, with more than 100 recorded in 2024, according to the government.Many fires are set by students protesting harsh discipline and poor conditions, researchers have found.Doors on the second floor where the fire started were initially locked and some students died while jumping out of the windows, the first responder said.The fire broke window panes and left the walls of the school stained with smoke.Outside the school yesterday, hundreds of family members gathered to seek news of their loved ones.Injured students could be seen, some limping with bandaged limbs, others carried by police officers.Local resident Wambui Nderitu said she had rushed to the school at around 4am to look for her aunt's daughter."Fortunately, I found her child, but she was slightly injured. She told me she was on a lower dormitory, which is how she managed to get out," Nderitu told local broadcaster Asulab TV. "Many of those who were upstairs jumped from the balcony.”Another local resident Leah Wanjiru told Asulab TV: "I heard children screaming... so I went outside to check and saw that the school was on fire. We started fetching water, trying to help put out the fire and rescue people."A distraught mother, Leila Matura, 52, said her 18-year-old daughter was still missing."We went to the hospital to see if she is there, she is not there. So they are telling us, she is not around, she is among the missing," she told AFP. "Whether she is dead or alive, we do not know. I'm hopeless."Another mother, who did not wish to be named, said her 17-year-old daughter was in hospital."She broke both her legs jumping from the window. Thank God she is strong. It is every mother's nightmare," she said.The school is linked to the National Police Service and most pupils are the children of officers."When we arrived, the fire was still blazing. It was so big... it took about 45 minutes to extinguish the flames because of the mattresses inside," a firefighter, who identified himself only as Fred because he was not authorised to speak to the press, told AFP.A fire in 2024 at a primary boarding school in nearby Nyeri County killed 21 students. Its cause was never conclusively established.In the worst school fire of recent times, 67 schoolboys were killed in 2001 at Kyanguli Secondary School outside Nairobi, an incident the authorities attributed to arson. 

His Excellency Minister of Labour Dr Ali bin Smaikh al-Marri, held a meeting Wednesday with Kenya ambassador to Qatar Mohamed Nur Adan. The discussion focused on bilateral co-operation between Qatar and Kenya in the field of labour, exploring avenues to strengthen and further develop these collaborative efforts.  

His Excellency Minister of Environment and Climate Change Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie participated on Thursday in the high-level segment of the seventh session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-7). The session will be held during the period of Dec. 11-12 at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, on the theme 'Advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet,' with a wide participation from representatives of countries and international organizations.HE Minister of Environment and Climate Change delivered the State of Qatar's statement before the Assembly, during which he discussed several draft resolutions related to climate change, pollution reduction, waste management, biodiversity protection and the sustainability of natural resources. The medium-term plan of UNEP was adopted.The State of Qatar's participation in UNEA-7 comes within the framework of its keenness to enhance international cooperation in confronting escalating environmental challenges, and to support UN efforts aimed at protecting the environment and achieving sustainable development, as well as to strengthen its effective commitment to multilateral action on global environmental issues.Ministry of Environment and Climate Change indicated that the outcomes of this session should contribute to guiding the course of international environmental action in the coming years, by supporting international partnerships and boosting joint efforts to achieve sustainability and protect ecosystems. 

Qatar Airways and Kenya Airways have announced the launch of codeshare flights to some 19 destinations, with more set to be added in the near future. Kenya Airways customers can book codeshare flights between Nairobi and Doha, as well as to 10 destinations connecting through Hamad International Airport.Similarly, Qatar Airways customers now have access to eight destinations in Kenya Airways’ network, connecting through three daily flights between Doha and Nairobi. Passengers will be able to travel on these codeshare flights from October 26. Flights will be available for sale starting tomorrow, October 21. Qatar Airways Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, said: “We are pleased with the significant progress made in just a few months since the partnership initiated with Kenya Airways, and this enhancement is a testament of the collaborative efforts, which further strengthens our presence in Kenya and the African continent. “The recent addition of Qatar Airways’ third daily flight to Nairobi also serves as another cornerstone of this partnership that is driven by strong demand from passengers seeking reliable and seamless connectivity.”Kenya Airways Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, Julius Thairu, said: "We are excited to embark on this new chapter of our partnership with Qatar Airways. This partnership will significantly enhance connectivity especially across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, expanding our flight offerings, and opening up a world of new destinations for our customers to explore. Together with Qatar Airways, we are dedicated to providing our customers with easy access to a variety of destinations, paired with better connectivity and a seamless travel experience."Today’s announcement enables Qatar Airways to continue expanding its footprint within the African continent, providing passengers from more than 170 destinations across the globe with easier access to key leisure and business destinations served by Kenya Airways, including Lilongwe, Livingstone, Juba, Nampula, Ndola, and Victoria Falls.Similarly, Kenya Airways passengers will now be able to connect to multiple destinations in 10 countries across Asia and the Middle East through Hamad International Airport. These destinations include Bahrain, Colombo, Islamabad, Karachi, Malé, Singapore, and Tokyo Narita.Additionally, Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will earn Avios on the codeshare flights operated by Kenya Airways. The two airlines will continue to collaborate on codeshares, airport operations, lounges, sustainability and procurement. Other future phases and areas of collaboration will include network development, cargo, aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul.Kenya Airways codeshares on Qatar Airways routesBahrain, Colombo (Sri Lanka), Doha, Dhaka (Bangladesh), Islamabad and Karachi (Pakistan), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Malé (Maldives), Muscat (Oman), Singapore, and Tokyo Narita (Japan).Qatar Airways codeshares on Kenya Airways routesAbidjan (Côte d'Ivoire), Accra (Ghana), Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Lilongwe (Malawi), Livingstone (Zambia), Juba (South Sudan), Nampula (Mozambique), and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe).