Author: Publisher

{{East African leaders and China formally signed agreements on Sunday for the construction of a new multi-billion dollar railway linking the Kenyan port of Mombasa to Nairobi and running on to neighbouring states.}}

The deals were signed in Nairobi on the last stage of an Africa tour by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, although Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, had already signed up to the deal during his state visit to Beijing last year.

“The costs of moving our people and our goods … across our borders will fall sharply,” Kenyatta told a news conference with the Chinese and African leaders on Sunday.

The new standard gauge line will supplement a slower narrow gauge network that now only runs to Uganda whereas the new line is designed to go on to Rwanda and South Sudan, part of an effort to cut the hefty costs of trade between east African nations which mainly rely on poor roads and the rickety narrow gauge line built in the 19th century.

Kenyatta has previously said the new railway will cut freight costs to 8 U.S. cents a metric ton (1.1023 tons) per km from 20 cents now.

China Road and Bridge Corporation, a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company, has been appointed to construct the initial Kenyan leg of the new line, despite widespread criticism that there was no competitive tendering for the work.

Kenyan officials said there was no public bidding because that was a condition of securing Chinese financing but some lawmakers said the deal was overpriced.

Officials previously put the price for the railway from Mombasa to Kenya’s western border with Uganda at $5 billion, including financing costs.

China has won friends in Africa by building infrastructure across the continent, but critics grumble that it often relies on Chinese labour and is more keen on sucking in African raw materials than passing on skills.

China’s premier told the news conference on Sunday that the rail construction company would ensure African workers were trained and laws adhered to.

Meanwhile Kenya signed two financing deals on Saturday with China’s Eximbank, although no value was given.

Officials previously said China was offering a $1.6 billion commercial loan and a $1.63 billion concessional facility for the Mombasa to Nairobi section – covering 85% of that section’s estimated $3.8 billion cost.

{wirestory}

{{This Morning a deadly accident has reportedly occurred at Shyorongyi along the Kigali-Musanze Highway.

An eyewitness has sent us this photo but IGIHE is currently making a follow-up on the accident.

More details emerging indicate that seven passengers were seriously injured while seven others sustained minor injuries. No one died.

The critically injured have been rushed to CHUK hospital for urgent medical attention.

The Accident was caused by a speeding passenger vehicle HIACE that overturned while negotiating a sharp bend at shyorongi.

Eye witnesses said the taxi was speeding from Musanze to Kigali.

Meanwhile the Driver has reportedly escaped and his condition has not yet been established.
}}

{{Greed and selfishness have been cited as major factors that are leading some local to engage in subversive activities including collaborating with FDLR, the Local Government Minister James Musoni said.

Minister Musoni made the remarks during an extraordinary meeting convened May 10th, by the Kigali city council attended by leaders from grassroots, Cells and Sectors and districts, including; members from security and members of parliament.

The meeting condemned leaders frustrating development efforts by lagging in implementation of national policies.

Minister Musoni also commended the general progress achieved within Kigali however, decried the poor service provided in the issuance of permits for houses construction and renovation.

Leaders were urged to desist from any forms of divisionism, greed and collaborating with state enemies.}}

{{Umutesi Speciose aged 55, an evangelist attached to ADPER church has reportedly gone missing prompting family members to live in fear. }}

The evangelist was resident at Bugarama area and a member of ADEPR church Gatsata Parish located at Agateko Cell in Jali Sector.

Umutesi is married to Murihano Fidel and is a mother of ten children. Her family told IGIHE that she left home on May 2 to visit her other relative Mukarutesi resident at Gisozi and she never returned since then.

It’s said that Umutesi boarded a public transport bus on her way to Gisozi, she alighted from the car at a bus stage near ULK university campus and from there she never reached the home of Mukarutesi.

Mr. Murihano Fidel told IGIHE that he married Umutesi in 1979 and the two have never had any family dispute that would lead to her disappearance.

{{A lifeless body with a deep wound on the chest of a mid aged man was found on Friday night at Mugina area in Katabaro Cell of Kimisagara sector.

The identity of the deceased hasn’t been established.

Police says the deceased could have been killed between 8PM and 9PM on Friday night.

Superintendent Modeste Mbabazi the Police spokesperson for Kigali city confirmed the attack saying the body was later found at about 10PM on Friday night.

Spt. Mbabazi added that the assailants were seen by a passer-by during that attack. The passer-by told Police that he saw the assailants standing on top of the victim.

He added that when the attackers saw him, they also grabbed him and undressed him but he managed to escape and reported the matter to the authorities in the area.}}

{{The National Security Symposium ends with a call to go for homegrown solutions and defend national interests.}}

The Minister of Defence, Hon Gen James Kabarebe closed on 9 May 2014 the three day Security Symposium that was organized by RDF Command and Staff College.

Hon Minister Kabarebe and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen P Nyamvumba attended the 3 day Symposium held in Auditorium of RDF Command and Staff College at Nyakinama, Musanze District.

The symposium with the theme: “Contemporary Security Challenges: The African Perspective” brought together senior government and military officials, researchers, academicians and media practitioners.

While officially closing the National Security Symposium, Hon Gen James Kabarebe said that participants deliberated on security and development challenges that African countries are facing and said that the forum discussed remedies to those challenges.

Minister Kabarebe said that the struggle for African emancipation is a continued process and was optimistic that this will be achieved because Africans know their interests.

Three topics were discussed on the last day. These include “Strategic communication in the Global policy and practice arena: Challenges and prospects” by Andrew Mwenda as main speaker and Dr Christopher Kayumba and Dr Aggee Shyaka as discussants.

The second topic was: “Africa and the influence of international governance institutions” presented by Prof Anastase Shyaka as speaker and Mr Gasamagera Wellars and Dr Usta Kayitesi as discussants.

The last topic was “The use and abuse of intelligence: the interface between strategy and intelligence” by Col Francis Mutiganda as main speaker with Mr Andrew Mwenda and Prof Charles Gasarasi as discussants.

When analyzing the outcomes from the Symposium Prof Anastase Shyaka, CEO of Rwanda Governance Board said that the discussions enlighten participants that Security is not the monopoly of Police and Army and Security Organs.

Other government institutions including Non Government Organisations, Media, Academicians and researchers also have their role to play, he said.

The RDF Spokesperson, Brig Gen Nzabamwita said that the Symposium analyzed the roots causes of conflicts in Africa. The participants also talked about terrorism and other threats on regional stability, he said.

Gen Nzabamwita said that the Symposium found that Homegrown Solutions can help African countries to get rid of many problems they are facing either economically or politically.

It was also found that African Countries should build strong institutions and economies that can help them to stand against influence from outside.

Brig Gen Nzabamwita said that The Symposium also analyzed how Media are important actors in building the security when they do their work taking into consideration advancement of national interests.

The purpose of the National Security Symposium was to provide an opportunity to students of Senior Command and Staff Course two to interact with practitioners and subject matter experts in a wide range of areas which cover contemporary national, regional and international security issues.

MOD

{{Police at Nyamirambo is holding two suspects in connection with human trafficking with the aim of selling their captives to earn a living.}}

Suspects have been identified as Keza Divine aged 16 and a woman Agasaro Claudine currently detained at Nyamirambo Police station.

Supt. Modeste Mbabazi the Police Spokesperson for Kigali City told IGIHE that the suspects are being investigated for kidnapping children and selling them, although the clients haven’t been established.

Akeza has been working as a housemaid and was arrested after she kidnapped a young girl Gatesi Queen aged 2 and half Years and had handed the child to Agasaro who would later sell off the child.

Gatesi is a daughter to Mr. Mucyaza Fred.

The suspects were nabbed at Gikondo last week.

Residents of Rwarutabura in Nyamirambo sector told IGIHE that Akeza had been frequently seen in the area and was always seen playing with unsuspecting children outside the church.