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Former President Uhuru Kenyatta lectures President Ruto
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta escalated his feud with his former deputy and successor President William Ruto on Monday in a high-octane day as political fireworks went off at Ngong Race Course, where the former ruling Jubilee Party was having its National Delegates Meeting.
The meeting happened while Jubilee is embroiled in a leadership wrangle, where a faction led by nominated MP Sabina Chege appears to have wrestled control of the party from Kenyatta’s hands. many see Ruto’s hand playing backroom mischief within Jubilee, a party that catapulted him and Kenyatta to the presidency in 2013.
A furious Kenyatta, buoyed by the presence of Azimio la Umoja principals led by Raila Odinga, used the platform to fire salvos at the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, under President William Ruto, his one-time bosom friend, and his nascent deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
The former President accused the two national leaders of choreographing and pushing for the collapse of the Jubilee Party, saying he would not let that happen, a clear signal the son of Kenya’s founding President is yet to exit the political stage.
He asked Ruto and Gachagua to behave like leaders if they wanted to be respected instead of acting like thugs.
“When you see others staying quiet, it’s not because they’re cowards; get that out of your mind. Intimidation can never work; it’s impossible. Behave like leaders, and you will be respected, behave like thugs, and you will be treated like thugs,” Kenyatta said.
He also hit out at East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega and nominated MP Sabina Chege for moving to the Kenya Kwanza coalition after benefiting from Jubilee and then wanting to steal the party.
President Uhuru Kenyatta thanks Kenyans for standing with him and his family #JubileeNDC2023 pic.twitter.com/gBiTBHnHDc
— Africana Voice (Formerly Hotseatnews) (@AfricanaVoice) May 22, 2023
“If by any chance you have had a change of heart, then do the respectful thing. Just return the positions Jubilee had entrusted you with; go and leave us in peace,” Kenyatta said.
Raila Odinga, the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader, defended Kenyatta and called upon Ruto to stop meddling with Jubilee, saying, “a strong Jubilee is a strong Azimio.”
“Jubilee carries a special significance to Azimio precisely because of the attacks it has endured. The end game for Kenya Kwanza is to amend the constitution towards its desired goals, including the possible removal of the presidential term limit,” Odinga said.
He lauded Uhuru for bearing insults and disrespect from the government with dignity and called upon the government to respect retired leaders.
“I commend Uhuru Kenyatta for the decorum he has borne insults for the sake of the nation’s stability and the dignity of Kenya’s Presidency. I thank him for choosing to fly high when they have hit extremely low,” Odinga said.
The former President told off Ruto, Gachagua, and Jubilee separatists, saying he is the party’s leader.
“Respect is a two-way street. I am not saying this with anger or hate, but the Jubilee Party has its owners, and I will remain as the party leader until they decide I should hand over,” he said.
The former head of state said he had resolved to retire from politics but chose not to due to intimidation and interference from the Ruto administration.
“I wanted to shelve politics and go deal with other things. But there are others who have decided that their work is to force and intimidate. Today, I want to tell you that you can’t do that to Uhuru Kenyatta. Let them look for someone else,” he said.
“We handed over power in peace, publicly, and in broad daylight. I stayed quiet even when they insulted me, stole my goats, and set my farm on fire, all while thinking I was being threatened,” he said to a charged crowd.
But it appears the Kenyatta team has an uphill task to regain control of Jubilee.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has endorsed David Murathe and Jeremiah Kioni's expulsion from Jubilee Party. pic.twitter.com/7GyqpjiaxZ
— Africana Voice (Formerly Hotseatnews) (@AfricanaVoice) May 23, 2023
Kenya’s Rugby 7s team relegated from World Rugby Sevens Series
The national sevens rugby team was Sunday relegated from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series following its loss to Canada at Twickenham Stadium, London.
The defeat saw Kenya lose its status as a core team in international rugby’s elite sevens series for the first time in twenty years.
The four-team relegation playoff — part of the HSBC London 7s, the 11th and final stop of the men’s season — was a product of the World Series reducing the number of men’s teams from 16 to 12 next season to align with the women’s competition and the Olympic field.
The Kenya Rugby Union said it would take “swift action and work diligently to restore Shujaa’s position in the World Rugby Sevens Series by 2024.”
“In the coming days, we will conduct a comprehensive review of the 2022 – 2023 season, and based on the findings and recommendations of this review, the board will make informed decisions and guide the next steps to realign the team and set it on a path to success,” KRU said.
Alexander Mutai, the KRU chairman, said it is “essential to consider the financial support required for the Morans, as they serve as the talent feeder system for Shujaa. To maintain Shujaa’s continuous competitiveness and tournament success, funding for the Morans and their participation in satellite tournaments is crucial.”
“With the unwavering support of our current and future partners, along with the continued backing of the Government of Kenya, we are confident that Shujaa will regain its position in the World Rugby Sevens Series for the 2024/25 season,” KRU added.
Former Kenya Sevens player jailed for six years
Former Kenya Sevens and Harlequins rugby player Alex Olaba was Wednesday sentenced to six years in prison for hatching a plot to kill a witness who was testifying in a rape case against him and former teammate Frank Wanyama.
Early this month, a magistrate court in Nairobi found Olaba guilty of attempting to kill a key witness in 2021.
“Although the accused person is remorseful, the offenses he faces are serious. l convict and sentence him to serve six years in count one of conspiracy to kill and two years imprisonment in the second account of interference with the judicial process,” Nairobi Court Magistrate Geoffrey Onsarigo ruled.
PS Esther Ngero resigns
Esther Ngero, the Principal Secretary for Correctional Services, Tuesday became the first PS to resign from President William Ruto’s cabinet.
A week before she quit, Ngero had been transferred from the State Department for Performance Management and Delivery Services in the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary to the State Department of Correctional Services in the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
“Ms. Ngero has been instrumental in putting in place the institutional framework to support the implementation of public service performance management and monitoring for the ministries, government departments, and government agencies,” a letter from the office of the President read in part.
According to the letter, Ngero resigned due to personal reasons.
Dar es Salaam overtakes Mombasa as the region’s best seaport
The World Bank, in its latest report released on Sunday on the world’s most efficient ports, said that Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam port has overtaken the port of Mombasa.
The report, the 2022 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), has ranked the largest port in East Africa at position 326.
Mombasa moved down 33 places, falling behind Dar-es-Salaam, Djibouti, and Berbera.
This is a big contrast from the 2021 CPPI report, which placed the port of Mombasa at 296 and Dar es Salaam at 316. Kenya now ranks last against her East African peers after the port of Djibouti, ranking at position 26, and the port of Berbera in Somalia, ranking at 144.
The criteria used in the ranking employed two methodological approaches; a technical approach reflecting expert knowledge and judgment and a statistical approach using factor analysis (FA).
The rationale for using the two approaches was to try and ensure that the ranking of container port performance reflects as closely as possible actual port performance while also being statistically robust. The port of Mombasa has been on a downward trend.
President Ruto appoints Wafula Chebukati’s wife as Chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).
President William Ruto nominated Mary Wanyonyi for appointment as the chairperson of the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), replacing Jane Kiringai, who retired in February after the expiration of her six-year tenure.
Ms. Wanyonyi, the wife of former electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati, currently heads the Ministry of Lands accounting unit.
The CRA’s mandate is to distribute revenue between national and county governments.
“The nominee has previously served as a Council and Board member of various state corporations and state agencies, including the Cooperative University College, Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), and Maasai Mara University,” State House said.
Critics on social media view the appointment as a reward to Chebukati for declaring him winner of in last year’s presidential election.
But the State House was quick to point out that Wanyoni has the qualifications for the job.
China denies hacking Kenya
China’s embassy in Kenya Thursday denied a Reuters news agency’s report that hackers from the nation hacked vital state agencies in Nairobi, including the presidency, to assess whether the country would service billions of dollars owed to Beijing.
Reuters reported that years-long cyber-attacks started in 2019 when the Chinese started closing credit taps to Kenya as debt strains started showing.
But in a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese embassy said the report was “far-fetched and sheer nonsense”.
Shakahola body count rises to 241
Interior CS Kithure Kindiki announced Thursday the death toll in the Shakahola cult massacre had risen to 241.
CS Kindiki said the number rose after 5 skeletons were recovered by search and rescue teams
“The team stumbled on the skeletons on two different days, and they are part of the human remains that will be part of the postmortem process,” he said.
He added that 91 persons had been rescued, and 19 victims had already been reunited with their families.
He said 93 DNA samples had been collected and 34 persons linked to the incident apprehended.
Kindiki stated that more graves had been identified but would be dug after the postmortem exercise on the 129 bodies was completed.
Kindiki explained that there is a need to free up space in the Malindi Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where the bodies are being stored, to allow room for more exhumed bodies.
“We will transfer the bodies to a temporary morgue which has been provided so that other bodies can be retrieved.”
He said the search and rescue mission would be extended to the neighboring Tsavo and Galana Kulalu areas, where more victims are believed to be fleeing.
Ex-Mungiki leader Maina Njenga arrested in a dramatic day
Police Thursday lobbed teargas to scatter former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga’s supporters who had gathered at the DCI headquarters where he was being probed.
Traffic along the Thika Super Highway was paralyzed as the supporters blocked the road and started singing.
Njenga arrived at the DCI headquarters, where detectives were expected to question him over the alleged recovery of two firearms and rolls of bhang that were reportedly seized at his home in Nakuru County.
He was accompanied by Azimio La Umoja leaders Martha Karua, Eugene Wamalwa, Mwangi wa Iria, Jeremiah Kioni, and George Wajackoyah.
Tuesday, DCI announced it had deployed a special team of detectives to find the Njenga, whom they say has gone into hiding after the incident.
“DCI officers this afternoon demonstrated thuggery instead of professionalism by using trickery to separate Maina Njenga from his lawyers, who included several Azimio principals, and sneaking him out of DCI offices Kiambu Road to an undisclosed destination,” Martha Karua said.
“We are very embarrassed that our DCI and police can behave in such an unprofessional way to ‘steal’ a client and disappear with him,” said Eugene Wamalwa.
The former Mungiki leader was finally released on a free bond.
Azimio gives Kenya Kwanza a six-day ultimatum to be serious, or they vacate the bipartisan talks
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Wednesday gave a six-day ultimatum to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance to address concerns raised by the bipartisan talks team, including cessation of interference with Jubilee Party, or they will abandon the talks and seek other actions.
Azimio demanded an immediate lowering of the price of unga, sugar, and fuel and a cessation of the government to interfere with the Jubilee Party.
“Our delegation came to the decision that if the interim measures cannot be guaranteed, there would be no need to move into substantive issues,” Azimio said in a statement.
The opposition coalition said Kenya Kwanza “wants to remove the necessity of Parliament approving every tax measure and to give the President power to impose some taxes without always having to go through a Finance Bill for every increase”.
“If at the end of the seven days, we will not be able to resume, the talks will be considered to have collapsed,” Azimio said.
Transparency International Kenya strips Noordin Haji of Integrity Award
Transparency International Kenya Friday, May 26, withdrew the Leadership Integrity Award conferred upon Noordin Haji, the Director of the Office of public prosecutions, in 2019.
The NGO said its decision was based on concerns raised by the public and its partners championing integrity in Kenya – regarding questionable withdrawals of high-profile corruption cases.
“The decision was based on our firm belief that maintaining the highest standards of integrity is crucial for all recipients of our awards. We believe that Mr. Haji’s decisions to charge/withdraw some high-profile cases were not based on objective and professional analysis of evidence available to him,” the NGO stated.
The end of Sauti Sol?
Sauti Sol, a celebrated Kenyan Afro-Pop band, Saturday announced an “indefinite hiatus” together as a group. The boys’ band will go on the break after their upcoming world tour from 21st May to 3rd September 2023, the ‘Sol Fest’ performance, and the release of their final album later this year.
In a press statement, the band comprising Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano, Savara Mudigi, and guitarist Polycarp Otieno said: “While we take this hiatus to pursue our individual and collective passions, we remain committed to our friendship and our shared businesses. The bond between us is unbreakable, and we are excited.”
The band released their well-received debut studio album, ‘Mwanzo’ in 2008, followed by ‘Sol Filosofia’ in 2011, which amassed multiple accolades in the form of awards and nominations.
The music video for the single ‘Coming Home’ earned them the Best Music Video award at the Kisima Music Awards, as well as the Best Fusion Artist/Group of the Year award. Their collaboration EP with South African rapper and producer Spoek Mathambo was released in 2012. The music video for the single’ Range Rover’ was shot at an old Dutch ammunition factory in Zaandam, Netherlands, which has since become a cultural heritage site.
The band has also amassed recognition and respect and international awards, including BET Awards, an MTV EMA for Best African Act, and MTV AFRICA Award for Best African Group.
The band will perform in five cities in the US, ten cities in Europe, and four in Canada before performing alongside Boys II Men on June 10 and 11 in Nairobi.
They will crown it off with a final performance at the third edition of the Sol Fest in Nairobi on December 16, 2023.
As to the future of Sauti Sol after two decades, “the indefinite hiatus marks the end of a specific chapter,” they said.
AFRICA
Journalists in Tunisia demonstrate against anti-media laws
Hundreds of journalists in Tunisia Thursday held a demonstration against anti-terror laws designed to intimidate the media.
They brandished placards outside the national journalists’ Union headquarters, declaring liberty depends on press freedom.
On Tuesday, a court of appeal jailed a radio journalist, Khalifa Guesmi, for five years – increasing his earlier sentence by five times – for disclosing information about Tunisia’s security services.
A police officer convicted of giving him information got ten years in prison.
Critics accuse President Kais Saied of steering Tunisia towards dictatorship. The media rights group, Reporters Without Borders said Guesmi’s sentence sent a “terrifying” message to the country’s media.
Anti-narcotic police in Nigeria intercept $1.2m worth of drugs
Nigeria’s anti-narcotics agency Sunday seized a 30kg consignment of methamphetamine worth
$1.2m destined for the UK.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said the methamphetamine consignment was concealed in powdered custard containers as part of a consolidated cargo going to London.
Suspected drug baron Charles Chinedu Eze and two others were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Cholera outbreak kills 20 in South Africa
A cholera outbreak in South Africa has killed at least 20 people in the country’s most populous province of Gauteng.
At least 180 people have since last Monday visited hospitals showing cholera symptoms in Hammanskraal, an area north of the capital, Pretoria.
Lab tests on Sunday confirmed at least 19 were cases of cholera, the Gauteng health department said in a statement.
It added that 37 people were admitted in critical condition.
The Department has mobilized medical and nursing staff from surrounding hospitals and local clinics to improve capacity for the growing need for medical care.
The health department also encouraged people to boil water and use a disinfectant.
The Gauteng education department embarked on an urgent water delivery plan at 61 schools in Hammanskraal to provide access to clean and drinkable water for pupils and staff.
Malawi fires burns government offices with sensitive information
The Malawi government was Monday investigating a mysterious fire in Lilongwe that destroyed offices of crucial government departments holding sensitive information.
The fire burnt the last top two floors of a seven-storey government building, destroying the government contracting unit, a department in the President and cabinet’s office.
It also destroyed two departments in the lands ministry – the lands registry and deeds registry.
The community services department in the country’s judiciary was also gutted in the fire that started at 23:00 local time on Saturday.
Pope Francis calls for stop of Sudan conflict
Pope Francis on Sunday called for warring parties in Sudan to set aside their weapons.
“In encouraging the partial agreements reached so far, I renew my heartfelt plea for weapons to be set aside,” the pope told pilgrims in St Peter’s Square.
“I call on the international community to spare no effort so that dialogue prevails and that the suffering of the people can be alleviated,” he added.
The fighting between Sudan’s army and the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has led to a collapse of order and the death of at least 600.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than one million people have been displaced since April. Of that, more than 843,000 are internally displaced, while over 255,000 are refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.
The Gambia re-elects its only female mayor
The Gambia’s only female mayor was Saturday re-elected to her post in elections that saw President Adama Barrow’s ruling party perform poorly.
Rohey Malick Lowe – a member of the opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) – won Saturday’s mayoral election in the capital, Banjul.
Aliko Dangote opens Africa’s largest oil refinery in Nigeria
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, Monday launched a $19bn oil refinery, the biggest on the continent. It is intended to alleviate chronic fuel shortages.
Nigeria is a significant oil producer, but most of this is sent abroad while it imports refined fuel used in vehicles and elsewhere.
“This is a game-changer for the Nigerian people,” said President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Our first goal is to ramp up production of the various products to ensure that within this year, we are able to fully satisfy the nation’s demand for quality products,” Dangote said.
The plant, which is not yet operational, can produce about 650,000 barrels of petroleum products daily—more than enough to supply the country’s needs. It also includes a power station, deep seaport, and fertilizer plant.
Tanzanian nurses to be charged with organ harvesting
Four nurses in Tanzania’s Tabora region are to be charged in court with harvesting the organs of baby twins, a regional official said Tuesday.
A committee to investigate the incident found that the bodies of the prematurely born twins were mutilated after death.
The mother found her babies’ eyes gouged out and part of their skin peeled off from the forehead.
Tabora regional commissioner Batilda Buriani said the nurses, who are under arrest, have been suspended from their duties.
She said organ harvesting was linked to witchcraft.
UK declines to return remains of Ethiopian prince
Buckingham Palace Tuesday declined a request to return the remains of an Ethiopian prince who came to be buried at Windsor Castle in the 19th Century.
Prince Alemayehu was taken to the UK aged just seven and arrived an orphan after his mother died on the journey.
Queen Victoria then took an interest in him and arranged for his education – and ultimately his burial when he died aged 18.
But his family wants his remains to be sent back to Ethiopia.
“We want his remains back as a family and as Ethiopians because that is not the country he was born in,” one of the royal descendants, Fasil Minas, told the BBC.
Buckingham Palace spokesperson said removing his remains could affect others buried in the catacombs of St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. “It’s very unlikely that it would be possible to exhume the remains without disturbing the resting place of others in the vicinity.”
Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland votes for the first time since 1969
underway in 30 districts in
Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous state of Puntland voted for the first time since 1969 in an election that took place in 30 districts to choose local councilors.
The Transitional Puntland Electoral Commission (TPEC) said 319,507 registered voters collected voter cards and were expected to participate.
However, there were security concerns due to a dispute between Puntland regional state President Sa’id Abdullahi Deni and his political opponents, who accused him of plans to extend his term in office.
Opposition-allied armed officers reportedly seized ballot boxes supposed to be moved from the regional capital Garowe to some polling stations.
The electoral commission consequently postponed the process in three districts, including the regional capital, where deadly clashes occurred on 15 May. The other two districts are Dangorayo and Godobijiran.
Despite the political disputes, the BBC reported that the process went on peacefully.
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