Death Toll in the Syria-Turkey Earthquake Hits 40,000
AP Report: The number of people killed in the February 6 earthquakes that devastated parts of southern Turkey and northern Syria continues to rise.
Turkey’s disaster management agency, AFAD, revised the country’s death toll to 36,187. That pushed the combined reported death toll for Turkey and Syria to 39,875.
More than 108,000 people were injured in Turkey in the 7.8 magnitude quake that struck at 4:17 am local time and a magnitude 7.5 quake the first temblor likely triggered nine hours later.
The State goes after former super minister Matiang’i.
Former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i is in the government’s crosshairs after police raided his Karen home, apparently searching for CCTV footage of an alleged previous raid the authorities have denied took place.
Sounds confusing? Yes, it is.
Wednesday, February 8, was a long-troubled night for Matiang’i, the former Cabinet Secretary for Interior marshaled human shields in the form of lawyers and politicians, including former Azimio flagbearer Raila Odinga, to protect him from arrest.
The man who wielded immense power in former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government was a hunted man. He sent distress signals to the media and a battery of his lawyers. The mayday cry was succinct—the State had sent a contingent of elite police officers to raid his home, and his life was in danger.
Matiang’i campaigned against William Ruto, the man who is now the President. Matiang’i intimated that that is why, among other ulterior political reasons, the State was persecuting him.
Police Raid ex-Interior CS Fred Matiang’i’s home in Karen
Police have raided ex-interior CS Fred Matiang'i Karen home moments after DCI boss Amin Mohamed said they had a search order to obtain CCTV recordings.https://t.co/RIG30CnXdr
1/3 pic.twitter.com/fLK6xdCqBq— Hot Seat News (@TheHotSeatNews) February 15, 2023
Shortly after 10 pm, Odinga, the presidential candidate Matiang’i campaigned for, arrived and condemned Ruto.
“We are here, and we will stand with Mr. Matiang’i and anybody else to ensure that the law of this country is respected,” Odinga said in an address to the press outside Matiang’is home.
Danstan Omari, one of the lawyers of the former minister, condemned the raid.
“My client is holed up as if he is a fugitive in his own country… Civility must be retained. We cannot have a rogue gov’t that comes at midnight to arrest a former CS,” Omari said.
Early Thursday, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome said no officer under the National Police Service was sent to the house of former Interior minister Fred Matiang’i.
“I wish to clarify that no police officer under the NPS was sent to former CS Matiang’i residence at all,” the police chief said.
Later on Thursday, the minister for interior, Prof Kithure Kindiki, also termed the alleged raid on his predecessor false.
“Dr. Matiangi’s lawyers and some politicians who spoke from the scene alleged that the said persons were police officers sent to arrest the former Cabinet Secretary. This allegation is utterly FALSE,” Kindiki said in a statement to the press.
“No police officer(s) or any security agent from any Government institution or department was dispatched to the home of Dr. Matiang’i to arrest, harass or otherwise interfere with his Constitutional rights in any manner whatsoever,” the CS added.
Matiang’i later went to the high court in Nairobi to seek anticipatory bail barring the police or anyone from arresting or harassing him.
“The powers of arrest by the respondents and the Kenya Police are being abused and misused to harass, intimidate and oppress the applicant and his former cabinet colleagues and the former president; and to achieve extraneous political purposes unconnected with upholding the Law,” Matiang’i said in court papers.
His prayer was granted by Justice Kanyi Kimondo, who issued a conservatory order restraining the respondents, their servants, agents, junior officers, or anybody from arresting, charging, harassing, or otherwise interfering with him.
The US issued a security alert in Kenya.
The United States has issued a security alert to its citizens in Kenya over potential terrorist attacks.
The note warns that hotels, embassies, restaurants, and malls frequented by foreigners and tourists could be attacked with little or no warning.
On Thursday, the US issued a security alert to its citizens in Kenya, hours after authorities in Kenya released the names of five people wanted for their links to Al Shabab.
They are on the most wanted list in Kenya for alleged attacks carried out in the coastal town of Lamu.
The al-Qaeda affiliated group has been accused of carrying out attacks in northern and coastal Kenya.
SRC to pay Kenyan nursery school teachers Ksh 7,000 a month
Nursery school teachers in Kenya on Sunday rejected a meager Ksh.7K monthly salary proposed by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission.
The teachers, through their union— the Kenya Union of Pre-Primary Education Teachers, opposed the controversial proposal from the SRC ordering county governors to pay Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) teachers KSh 7000 monthly salary.
In the SRC recommendations, the lowest ECDE teachers are to be paid a minimum salary of Ksh.7,836 and a maximum of Ksh.8,717. In contrast, the highest ECDE teacher should receive a minimum salary of Ksh.15,224 and a maximum of Ksh.19,090.
The union chairman Lawrence Otunga said that they would not allow nursery teachers to be despised and humiliated through earning low salaries and should be treated fairly as other public servants.
Education minister Ezekiel Machogu said he would not comment on the matter, as it falls under the County governments.
Jubilee and ODM MPs meet Ruto.
President William Ruto and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua pose for a photo with ODM leaders at State House, Nairobi. They’re Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Mark Nyamita (Uriri), Caroli Omondi (Suba South), Shakeel Shabir (Kisumu East, Independent) Felix Odiwuor alias Jalang’o (Lang’ata), Paul Abuor (Rongo), John Owino (Awendo) and Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda. | Ruto’s Twitter
Thirty Jubilee MPs on Wednesday broke ranks with Azimio la Umoja and committed to working with the government of President Ruto. The 30 met Ruto at State House in Nairobi.
“You have a right to make choices as Kenya is a democratic country. You are now our members, and we will treat you as such,” Ruto told the MPs on Wednesday, February 8.
Responding to the move, Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni said the meeting doesn’t affect the party’s stand on the coalition it will work with, saying Jubilee remains firmly in Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition.
“As Jubilee Party, we have nothing to do with Kenya Kwanza. We don’t know why the Jubilee MPs decided to meet Ruto. I also don’t know what they spoke about,” Kioni said.
However, on Friday, February 10, the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) suspended Kioni as Secretary-General and replaced him with East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Kanini Kega.
The party’s NEC also resolved to leave the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition.
The party also ejected David Murathe as its National Vice-Chairperson and replaced him with Eldas Constituency Member of Parliament Adan Keynan.
On Tuesday, February 7, the ODM party distanced itself from the nine of its elected legislators who, on Tuesday morning, met with President Ruto at the State House. The party accused the MPs of trying to undermine their leader, Raila Odinga.
“We want to inform our members and supporters that our quest for restoration of our stolen victory & provision of good leadership to Kenyans will not be deterred by carrot dangling & dishing of handouts to our elected leaders. The Movement is unstoppable,” the party said.
Governors James Orengo and Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o also scolded the nine MPs.
“We disassociate ourselves with a visit to State House, Nairobi, by a group of ODM MPs. The visit by the MPs was personal and not sanctioned by any of our official ODM party organs,” said Orengo.
“I am not surprised that an amalgam of self-seeking MPs went to State House without the blessing of our progressive party, the Orange Democratic Movement,” Governor Nyong’o said.
Gold miners trapped in Kakamega.
Four miners were trapped Wednesday night in a gold mine that collapsed in Kakamega County.
Initially, 12 artisanal workers were trapped for hours. Eight of them had been rescued by Thursday morning.
The miners were operating at an old mine without a license.
“What they are doing is risking their lives, and most of the people here are mostly youths who are doing this work. People are putting their hands on anything that can put food on their table,” Kakamega Commissioner John Ondego told the press.
KNH separates conjoined twins
The Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) announced Monday that it successfully separated four-month-old conjoined twin brothers on Sunday. The 15-hour procedure was carried out without any significant complications.
“We are happy to finally see the conjoined twins separated after a long, complex surgery. We want to thank the team that spearheaded the surgery,” the hospital said via its Twitter account.
“They were conjoined at the chest and the abdomen. The two were sharing one liver. In the head, each of them had a heart, which was enclosed in one chamber. One of the twins had multiple holes in the heart, and the other had abnormal blood vessels emerging from his heart,” Dr. Joel Lessan, a pediatric surgeon, said.
Dr. Evans Kamuri, the hospital’s CEO, said a team of 38 medical personnel carried out the complex operation. “Out of the 38 personnel, 25 were consultant surgeons,” Dr. Kamuri said.
The twins were from Bungoma County.
NSSF deductions increase
Kenyans will, from this month, contribute at least Sh2,000 to the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) from their salaries, up from the normal Sh200 per month.
This is after a ruling made by the Court of Appeal. Judges Hannah Okwengu, Mohamed Warsame, and John Mativo ruled that the NSSF Act of 2013, which sought to increase monthly contributions from Sh200 to Sh2,000, is legal.
Members of the scheme will now increase their contribution to 6% of an employee’s earnings, with the employer matching the same.
AFRICA
Uganda quits UN Rights Mandate.
Uganda said Wednesday it would not renew the mandate for the UN’s rights office, a move criticized by the opposition in a country where freedoms are regularly threatened.
“Our human rights record over the years has tremendously improved under our able leadership of President (Yoweri) Museveni,” state minister for foreign affairs Henry Okello Oryem told AFP.
Uganda wrote to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on February 3 to announce it would not be renewing the mandate beyond its current term.
The letter said the move reflected “the strong government commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights, the prevailing peace throughout the country coupled with strong national human rights institutions and a vibrant civil society with the capacity to monitor the promotion and protection of human rights throughout the country”.
The country’s opposition leader, Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine condemned the move, saying it is meant to cover up President Museveni’s human rights violations.
“In the face of growing international condemnation and isolation, tyrant Museveni has responded by shutting down NGOs, Facebook, DGF (Biggest donor-funded democracy program) and declaring several internationals Persona Non-Grata or deporting them! Now he shuts down @UNHumanRightsUG!” Bobi Wine wrote on his Twitter account.
South Africa declares power outage a national disaster
South Africa’s President has declared a state of disaster to try and deal with a crippling and unprecedented energy crisis. South Africans have been facing blackouts of up to eight hours daily, which have badly affected homes and businesses.
Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. The energy crisis is an existential threat to our economy and social fabric,” said Ramaphosa in his State of the Nation address on Thursday night.
Ramaphosa said the declaration would allow his administration to exempt vital services like hospitals and water treatment plants from power blackouts and enable the government to buy additional power from neighboring countries on an emergency basis.
South Africa’s power utility, Eskom, is incapable of producing sufficient power due to frequent breakdowns at its aging coal-fired power stations and corruption.
Ramaphosa also announced he would appoint a minister of electricity, to focus solely on dealing with the electricity problem.
Ethiopia restricts access to social media.
Access to social media platforms in Ethiopia has been restricted after violent protests sparked by a rift in the country’s Orthodox Church.
Access to Facebook, Messenger, TikTok, and Telegram was minimal, NetBlocks, an internet watchdog, said in a statement on Thursday.
The protests broke out in the Oromia region after three church officials announced themselves as archbishops last month. They then set up their own governing body.
At least 30 people have been killed in protests since February 4, according to the church’s statement on Thursday.
The church called for demonstrations on Sunday and accused the Ethiopian government of interfering in the church’s internal affairs after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed asked his ministers to stay out of the dispute.
Traditionally the State in Ethiopia maintained close ties to the Orthodox Church. Furthermore, more than 40% of Ethiopia’s 120 million population subscribe to the church.
Nigerian President Buhari sets up presidential handover team.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has signed an executive order setting up a transitional team that will usher in a new government after the February 25 general elections.
“I have signed Executive Order No. 14 of 2023 on the Facilitation and Management of Presidential Transitions. The new Executive Order puts in place a legal framework for the seamless transition of power from one Presidential Administration to another,” he said on Twitter.
The 80-year-old President is serving his last term in office, as he is constitutionally shut out from running again in the elections.
A new president will be sworn in on May 29.
Musharraf, Pakistan’s former President, dies in Exile.
Pakistan’s former President, Pervez Musharraf, died on Sunday, February 5, aged 79.
Musharraf, a key cog in the US’s war on terror, particularly against Al Qaeda, died in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The retired four-star military General succumbed to amyloidosis. This rare organ disease occurs when an amyloid protein builds up in organs and hinders the affected organs from working properly.
Reuters reported that he was admitted to a hospital in Dubai last year after he became critically ill.
Shehbaz Shari, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, led his country in mourning Musharraf.
“I offer my condolences to the family of General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf. May the departed soul rest in peace!” Shari said on Twitter.
USA
President Joe Biden battles Republicans During State Of The Union Speech, launches “Let’s Finish The Job” Slogan.
President Joe Biden SOTU speech
A feisty President Joe Biden stared down some heckling Republicans who called him a liar during the US State of The Union speech on February 7.
Biden touted his economic record stating his policies were working. As a strong example, Biden pointed out his administration has created 12 million jobs in 2 years, the most by any president in history. The job creation pace decreased the unemployment rate to 3.4 percent, another historic low.
“Well, folks, so let’s look at the results. We’re not finished yet, by any stretch of the imagination. But unemployment rate is at 3.4 percent –- a 50-year low. And near record — and near-record unemployment — near record unemployment for Black and Hispanic workers,” Biden said.
“We’ve already created, with your help, 800,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs — the fastest growth in 40 years.
And where is it written — where is it written that America can’t lead the world in manufacturing? And I don’t know where that’s written.”
The speech was praised as the most people-centered and interactive of it kind. Inside the chamber, Republicans led by Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene heckled the President and called him a liar.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.