2023 in Pictures

2023 was full of events and activities that made it the year it was. 

The Standard has compiled some of the major events, and happenings that marked the year both in Kenya and across the globe. Let’s go down memory lane; 

Anti-Government Protests

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga addressing a gathering at Jeevanjee Gardens in Nairobi on February 22, 2023. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]

Azimio la Umoja chief Raila Odinga declared anti-government protests countrywide on February 22, 2023, to protest against the high cost of living and President William Ruto's administration, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) selection panel, among other reasons.

The protests went on for three consecutive weeks paralyzing businesses and normal operations across the country. Lives were lost. 

Azimio supporters lit up fires near Kisumu bus park in as they protest the high cost of living. They also engaged police in running battles. [Washington Onyango,Standard].

In Senegal, supporters of Senegalese Opposition leader Ousmane Sonko also protested in the capital, Dakar to support the then aspiring presidential candidate, who faces a libel case.

Shakahola Massacre

Shakahola cult leader Paul Makenzi at the Shanzu Law Courts on August 4, 2023. [Robert Menza, Standard]

Good News International Church Pastor Paul Makenzi faces charges of genocide after it emerged that he allegedly ordered his followers to starve to death in Shakahola forest, in preparation to meet their maker.

The religious cult left over 600 people reported missing and more than 400 bodies exhumed from the forest. The exhumation has been suspended.

Londiani Road Crash

Wreckage of a matatu that was involved in a tragic accident at Londiani junction on July 1, 2023.At least 53 people lost their lives.[Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

On June 30, a lorry carrying cement  collided with multiple vehicles at the Londiani road junction, resulting in the tragic deaths of 53 people, including roadside traders and their customers.

President Ruto reshuffles Cabinet

President William Ruto during the 59th Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium on December 12, 2022. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

On October 4, 20233,  President William Ruto reshuffled his Cabinet, reassigning Cabinet and Principal Secretaries to new dockets.

One of the changes that caused quite the stir was former Trade CS Moses Kuria's move to the Public Service docket and Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi’s added role as the Foreign Affairs CS. His predecessor Alfred Mutua was moved to the Tourism docket. 

Kawira Mwangaza impeachment

Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza and her husband Murega Baichu at Parliament Buildings after she survived impeachment, November 8, 2023.

On November 8, Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza survived an impeachment motion for the second time in less than a year after Senate voted in her favour. 

Mwangaza had survived another impeachment tabled in December 2022.

Britain’s King and Queen visit to Kenya

King Charles III and Queen Camilla received by President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto at State House, December. [Denish Ochieng', Standard]

The British Monarch King Charles III and Queen Camilla landed in Kenya on October 31 for a four-day State visit.

It marked the king’s first State visit to a Commonwealth country since he was coroneted on May 6, 2023.

National Tree Planting Day

Lands CS Alice Wahome in a tree planting exercise in Githiuru forest, Nyeri County. [Boniface Gikandi,Standard]

November 13 was declared a national holiday for tree-planting exercises. 

The announcement came as a surprise to many, the first ever such exercise.  The government distributed seedlings with the help of community administrators while CSs and PSs took flights to different parts of the country to lead the exercise.

Faith Kipyegon and Kelvin Kiptum shine

 Faith Kipyegon celebrates her victory after the Women's 5000m Final in Budapest, Hungary on August 26, 2023. [Xinhua]

Kenyan athletes on December 11 led by Faith Kipyegon scooped four awards during the World Athletics of the Year awards gala.

Kipyegon was named the Female World Athlete of the Year in track events, while marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum was named the Male World Athlete of the Year out of Stadia.

National power blackouts

Nairobi at night on August 25, 2023. Blackout was reported countrywide due to power outage. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

A  nationwide power blackout hit the country several times this year, paralyzing operations including at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). 

Transport CS Kipchumba Murkomen toured JKIA backup generators after power outage that plunged the facility into several hrs of darkness.[Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The latest national power outage was in December. It was the third followed by a similar incident in November and August 25 – which took engineers over 12 hours to restore power. 

Attempted Coups in Africa

The spate of coups has marked a brutal democratic backsliding in the African continent in 2023, with Niger and Gabon being the latest countries to overthrow an elected president.

In this image taken from video provided by ORTN, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani makes a statement, July 28, 2023, in Niamey, Niger..[Pjhoto,VOA]

In Niger, soldiers toppled the country's democratically elected president in July.

A month later, Gabon's president Ali Bongo Ondimba, an heir to a dynasty that ruled for 55 years, was deposed after a presidential election that the army and opposition declared fraudulent.

Sudan, which has been in war since the overthrow of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir, collapsed into a civil war in April that pitted the country's military against a powerful paramilitary force. The fighting saw crossfire set airplanes ablaze at Khartoum's international airport while countries rushed to evacuate their nationals by land, sea, and air.

Turkey Earthquake

A man sits at his destroyed house in Kahramanmaras, southern Turkey, Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Photo,VOA]

On February 6, one of the deadliest earthquakes in a century flattened entire cities in southeast Turkey, killing at least 56,000 people, with nearly 6,000 others killed across the border in Syria.

From Twitter to X

Tesla CEO Elon Musk visits the construction site of Tesla's Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany, August 13, 2021.[Photo,VOA]

In July 2023, Elon Musk officially rebranded Twitter to X after changing its iconic bird logo. The social media application now appears as X in the Apple and Google app stores.

Israel-Palestine war

Palestinians look for survivors following an Israeli airstrike at the Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Nov. 7, 2023.[Photo,VOA].

On October 7, war broke out between Israel and Palestine, after Hamas gunmen poured across the border from Gaza, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 240 people hostage in the worst attack in Israel's history.  

As Gaza's destruction and death toll mount, international pressure grew on Israel to seize its offensive. The latest casualty update from Gaza’s health ministry said 20,057 Palestinians have been killed and 53,320 wounded, and more than two (2) million people displaced. 

Pope Francis allows priests to bless same-sex couples

Pope Francis delivers his message as he meets with Vatican employees for the season greetings at the Vatican, Dec. 21, 2023.[Photo,VOA]

On December 18, Pope Francis formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, with a new document explaining a radical change in Vatican policy by insisting that people seeking God's love and mercy shouldn't be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" to receive it.

The document from the Vatican's doctrine office elicited mixed reactions among catholic priests and the general public.