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Kenya to Send 2,500 Nurses to Saudi Arabia
Kenya is set to send 2,500 nurses to Saudi Arabia in a landmark deal aimed at streamlining the process of exporting skilled labor and ensuring fairer working conditions for Kenyan workers abroad. The announcement was made Thursday, December 21 by Labour and Social Protection Cabinet Secretary Florence Bore.
The agreement, a Bilateral Labour Agreement (BLA) signed between Kenya and Saudi Arabia, establishes new regulations for the deployment of workers. Bore emphasized the commitment to identifying qualified personnel, proper processing, and ongoing support for Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia, including monitoring their contractual terms.
The opportunity for these nursing positions, available to both diploma and degree holders, arose during Bore’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia. The 2,500 nurses are currently being processed for departure in mid-January 2024.
To ensure a smooth process, Bore revealed her meeting with a Saudi Arabian labor recruiting agency. This meeting, also involving government and private recruitment agencies within Kenya, aims to establish clear and efficient channels for future deployments.
Looking ahead, Kenya hopes to leverage the BLA to expand its labor export opportunities in Saudi Arabia and beyond. “We’re looking forward to sending more Kenyans and establishing a dedicated desk at the airport to facilitate the process,” Bore stated.
India’s Parliament in Turmoil-141 MPs Suspended
India’s parliament erupted in chaos this week as dozens of opposition lawmakers were suspended, sparking accusations of an attack on democracy from the opposition and concerns about the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) growing grip on power.
The suspensions, totaling 141 members across both houses, came amidst a heated debate over a controversial criminal reform bill and in the wake of a major security breach. This unprecedented move, deemed a “record” by a rights group, has plunged the country’s political landscape into turmoil.
The main opposition Congress party, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, slammed the suspensions as a deliberate attempt to silence dissent and push through the “draconian” bill without proper scrutiny. “The BJP does not want the people of India to hear out the Opposition,” Kharge tweeted.
The suspensions followed a dramatic security breach last week when two unidentified men stormed the parliament chamber, chanting slogans and releasing colored gas. Opposition MPs demanded a parliamentary debate on the incident, only to be met with suspensions for “causing disorder.”
Suspended Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has served for nearly 15 years, defended his actions as an act of solidarity with his colleagues and a demand for accountability. Jairam Ramesh, another suspended member, described the move as a “complete purge” aimed at facilitating the passage of “draconian bills” without meaningful debate.
The New York-based Human Rights Foundation expressed strong condemnation, calling the suspensions a “crackdown on the opposition and critics.” This incident adds to growing international concerns about the BJP’s alleged suppression of dissent and undermining of democratic institutions.
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The BJP, which holds a majority in both houses, has dismissed the accusations, attributing the suspensions solely to the lawmakers’ conduct within parliament. However, the party’s past actions and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent downplaying of the security breach raise doubts about the official narrative.
With the next general election scheduled for May 2024, the INDIA alliance, a coalition of opposition parties, is preparing to challenge the BJP’s dominance. The recent developments have galvanized their resolve and highlighted the importance of safeguarding India’s democratic principles.
The coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining the long-term implications of this unprecedented event. Whether India’s democracy can withstand the pressure and ensure a free and fair election remains to be seen.
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