Africa Daily

“Is she qualified? Absolutely. Is she a good leader? Absolutely.” In the run up to Kenya’s presidential election in August, the two main candidates - Raila Odinga and William Ruto – have been making a lot of noise about making sure that ‘women are at the decision-making table’. So as deadline day approached today, most people expected them both to choose a woman as their running mate. This would have meant Kenya’s first ever female vice-president. But after a weekend of intense negotiations William Ruto plumped for a man – a strong and wealthy campaigner with a big war chest. So all eyes were on Raila Odinga as he announced his running mate…. veteran politician Martha Karua. So what impact will she have on Raila Odinga’s presidential bid? And does it matter that she’s a woman? Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Wanjiru Nguhi (@Iam_Wanjiru) and Ferdinand Omondi (@FerdyOmondi)

Preparations are underway in South Africa for the coronation of Misuzulu Zulu as the new king of the AmaZulu tribe. There was high drama when his succession was announced last year on television – after one of the royal family members stood up and questioned the recognition of the new king. Chaos ensued.But now – as he prepares to ascend the throne, Africa Daily looks at the part monarchies play across the continent – and whether they’re a force for good.“The Republic of South Africa as we know it was never founded by African people. It was founded by Caucasians – people of European origin. They found us here as established kingdoms.”(Zolani Mkiva, Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa).Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

If all goes to plan, Somalis will wake up to a newly elected president on Monday morning. But they won’t have had the chance to vote for them. Their leader will be chosen by members of parliament gathered at secure location in Mogadishu airport. And those MPs were chosen by clan elders and local parliaments – not by popular vote. It means that the election process is being watched just a closely as the result. So, how exactly does it all work?#AfricaDaily

On Sunday, members of parliament in Somalia will gather in a hangar at an airport outside the capital Mogadishu. They’re meeting to decide who will be the next president. The MPs themselves were only sworn in last month, after elections were postponed for more than a year. But even with a vote about to take place, most Somalis won’t get to cast a ballot. The electoral system in Somalia is unique, with clan elders appointing MPs, who then select the president. In the first of two episodes look at the elections, Alan Kasujja asks what the delays have meant for people in Somalia. #AfricaDaily

Maryben Omollo is the CEO Greenseal Limited, a cleaning and pest control startup in Kenya. But it’s a business with a difference… only employing and supporting single parents. Maryben faced harassment and struggled to find work after she got pregnant and the father left her. She faced depression and even attempted suicide. But her mental health has improved and she’s now set up her business and is helping others in a similar situation. She’s now been named one of Africa’s top 40 under 40 entrepreneurs, an award she dedicates to single mothers and people with mental health disorders: “For me this is a dedication to everyone out there who feels they can’t make it.” #AfricaDaily Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)

After European nations imposed sanctions on Russia, many are looking to Africa for an alternative energy supply. But while this could be an opportunity for some countries, it also highlights global inequalities when it comes to access to electricity. Alan hears from an energy expert who says funding is needed for developing renewable technologies – and from a legal expert who’s helped countries negotiate energy deals with foreign countries. “Did you know Africa’s total installed energy capacity is less than Germany’s and yet Germany has a population of about 83 million people and Africa now has about 1.3 billion?” Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja) Guests: Jakke Cilliers of ISS Africa and legal expert, Stephen Karangizi.

"You know the African way of raising kids and raising men - we are taught you should keep it all to yourself, don't open up." Male suicide rates far outnumber female rates in Africa – that’s according to the WHO. Some health experts put this down to the stigma that surrounds men's mental health, which discourages men from speaking up and seeking help before their problems get too difficult to manage. But several men across East Africa are now trying to change this - and open up a conversation around mental health. They include Michael Baruti, who has started a podcast called ‘Men Men Men’ - a platform where men can share their struggles and challenges - and Eddy Kimani, a television personality in Kenya who has spoken publicly about his own battle with depression. They spoke to Alan about the importance of conversation and how to address the stigma. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

In recent weeks, Botswana’s former president, Ian Khama, has visited Zambia, Eswatini and Zimbabwe – having meetings with presidents and kings. Since November 2021, he’s been living in exile in South Africa – after being charged with crimes including the unlawful possession of firearms and receiving stolen property. He says the case is politically motivated.So is he working to build up support as he fights the case? And can Botswana’s current president, President Mokgweetsi Masisi, persuade South Africa to extradite Khama for trial?Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja) Guests: Ian Khama and Mokaloba Mokaloba, University of Botswana.

In what appears to be its most significant attack on an African Union base in Somalia in years, Al-Shabab claims to have killed 173 Burundian soldier in a camp 160km north of Mogadishu. But there’s confusion over how many people died. A high ranking Burundian officer has been cited in the press as saying 30 lost their lives, while an official statement from the government said just ten were killed. What is clear is that it will trouble the AU at a time when Somalis were meant to be concentrating on preparing for elections. Today in Africa Daily, Alan Kasujja speaks to Ibrahim Aydid from BBC Monitoring who tries to clear up the confusion - and tells us more about Al-Shabab and why this attack has come now Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@kasujja)

“The judge tells you: ‘are you really going to put your brother into prison for a monkey?’.”Around two weeks ago a Congolese man was arrested by the Ugandan authorities.They allege that he was caught with 122 endangered African Grey Parrots. He’s currently awaiting trial. His arrest follows an investigation involving a number of agencies.Africa Daily meets some of the conservationists involved – as well as others monitoring the activities of smugglers online. Presenter: Alan Kasujja (@Kasujja)