Maryann Muganda

Millions of girls become pregnant before the age of 18, exposing them to significantly higher risks of complications. [Courtesy] Across Africa, the fight to keep mothers alive during childbirth is finally showing signs of progress. Governments are investing in stronger maternal health systems, introducing evidence-based treatment guidelines and expanding emergency obstetric care.

In Kenya’s creative industry, talent is only one part of the entry price.[Courtesy] The room falls silent as Sumaya Musa takes the microphone. Then come the bars, one after another, delivered with the confidence of a woman who has spent years finding words for experiences often left unspoken. Known by her stage name, Apondi Thee Poet, she moves across the stage, weaving poetry with stories of Kenya’s creative industry.

A wildlife ranger inspects a dead giraffe that was trapped by a fence in the Mailwa area in Kajiado Central. [File, Standard] For generations, the reticulated giraffe has roamed the dry plains of northern Kenya, its distinctive reddish-brown coat marked by an intricate pattern of white lines. But across Garissa, Wajir and Mandera, one of Kenya’s most recognisable wildlife species faces growing threats from drought, habitat pressure, human-wildlife conflict and poaching for meat.