The year 2022 has been a very busy and eventful one, owing to the various activities that have taken place, ranging from local & international sports to political dramas and succession and education.
13 major events that shaped the year 2022 for Kenya [Pulse Picks]
Pulse Picks features major events that shaped the year 2022 for Kenya including the General Election, athletic achievements and major wins for women.
Pulse Picks: 13 major events that shaped the year 2022 for Kenya
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Here is a list of events that have occurred from the beginning of the year to the end.
KFC potato scandal
On January 4, the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) franchise in Nairobi announced that it would be serving customers ugali instead of a side of fries after what the organisation described as a potato shortage.
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Kenyans online would later raise a storm after the discovery that KFC had been relying on imported potatoes and they called for the organisation to give Kenyan farmers their business.
2 KCPE exams, 2 KCSE exams
The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted Kenya's school calendar in 2020 leading to the odd and first-ever occurrence of two sets of the annual national examinations for primary school and secondary school.
A KCPE candidate
A KCPE candidate
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The first phase (Class of 2021) sat for their KCPE between March 7 and March 10, while the 2021 KCSE exams took place between March 11 and April 1.
The second phase (Class of 2022) sat for their KCPE between November 28 and December 1 while KCSE was administered from December 1 to December 23.
BBI final verdict
After nearly a year of confusion and uproar from different parties concerning the fate of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), the Court finally gave a verdict on the same in 2022.
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The Supreme Court on March 31 declared the BBI process as irregular, illegal, and unconstitutional.
NAIROBI, KENYA - 2022/03/31 - Chief justice of the supreme court Martha Koome (c) presides over a bench of seven judges which consists of (from L-R) Supreme court judges Isaac Lenaola, Smokin Wanjala, Philomena Mwilu, Mohamed Ibrahim, Njoki Ndungu, and William Ouko during the hearing of Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). (Photo by John Ochieng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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The BBI, which is a constitutional Amendment Bill, 2020, was championed by the then president of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, and ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Death of Kenya's 3rd president, Mwai Kibaki
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Kenya's third president, Mwai Kibaki, passed away on April 21 at the age of 90.
Announcing the death, former President Uhuru Kenyatta remembered his predecessor saying he would be remembered: "As a leading figure in Kenya's post-independence history, his excellency Mwai Kibaki earned the abiding respect and affection of the people of this nation and other nations throughout the world."
NAIROBI, KENYA - 2022/04/29: A painted portrait of the late Kenyan President Emilio Mwai Kibaki is seen on display while the band plays in the background at the memorial service in his honor at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. (Photo by Boniface Muthoni/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
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Kenya's first female Chief Justice
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On May 20, Justice Martha Karambu Koome was sworn in as the first woman to become Chief Justice and Head of Kenya's Judiciary.
Kenya's Chief Justice Martha Koome
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Uhuru became 1st Kenyan president to visit Portugal
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, in his final year as Commander-in-Chief, became the first Kenyan head of state to visit Portugal after travelling to the European country on June 27.
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Rare twin giraffes' & twin elephants' live births
In 2022 the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) announced the birth of twin giraffes just months after an equally rare twin birth of elephant calves.
General Election
As stipulated in the Constitution, Kenya is required to hold a General Election on the second Tuesday in August every fifth year.
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Dr William Ruto sworn in as Kenya's 5th president
President William Ruto sworn in as president
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On August 9, 2022, Kenyans elected a fresh crop of leaders including the president, governors, senators, members of the National Assembly (MPs) including women representatives and Members of County Assemblies (MCAs).
First-ever national campaign for legalisation of marijuana
The 2022 General Election saw the first-ever national campaign for the legalisation of marijuana in Kenya.
The campaign was led by Roots Party presidential candidate George Wajackoyah and provided an opportunity for the country to participate in the growing conversation around the medicinal and commercial benefits of marijuana.
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Historic number of elected women governors
Following the 2022 General Election, a record seven women were elected as county bosses, quashing the 2017 record of three and making history since the introduction of devolution in 2013.
The seven were: Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru), Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay).
Angella Okutoyi's historic moment at Wimbledon
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Tennis sensation Angella Okutoyi, 18, put Kenya's name on the map with a historic first-ever win for a Kenyan at the girls' junior singles Grand Slam at Wimbeldon.
Angela Okutoyi (left) with her Grand Slam winning partner Rose Marie Nijkamp from the Netherlands
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Justice for lawyer Willie Kimani
Six years after the bodies of human rights lawyer Willie Kimani, his client Josephat Mwendwa and a taxi driver Joseph Muiruri were recovered from the Ol-Donyo Sabuk River, justice was finally found with the conviction of three police officers and an informer.
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The ruling was delivered by High Court judge Jessie Lessit on July 22.
Eliud Kipchoge's Berlin Marathon record
Eliud Kipchoge lived up to expectations, breaking his own world record and winning the Berlin Marathon, clocking 2:01:09. His previous record stood at 2:01:39.
Eliud Kipchoge breaks marathon record in Berlin
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All-time high oil prices in Kenya
In February, crude oil prices rose to above $100 (Sh11,370) per barrel as Russia initiated military operations in Ukraine. Oil prices hit the triple digits for the first time since September 2014.
The prices continued to rise steadily and eventually affected food prices in Kenya.
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