Tag: GreatLakesNews

{{Regional insurance industry players have taken strides that will eventually enable them operate in East Africa with minimum or no barriers at all.}}

This followed an establishment of a set of guidelines that will not only allow the industry players to transfer capital and expertise across the region without legal challenges but also allow regional industry regulators to jointly supervise industry actors across the East African Community countries.

With the new insurance manual, the EAC sector authorities will work towards strengthening their oversight role, including cooperating and coordinating with other supervisory bodies such as the central banks and government ministries.

Currently, EAC member states lack a common formal mechanism for sharing information and reviewing activities related to cross border operations undertaken by the issuance entities within the region.

But in order for the proposed manual to work, other contributors like good political will, same currency for quick transfer of capital and regional central bank cooperations have to be established.

Mr Sammy Makove, the commissioner of insurance in Kenya, said his country has already put in place laws in conformity with EAC member states.

The insurance association also intends to supervise financial institutions and avoid arbitrations that may occur in cross border insurance and avoid double compensation of claimants.

NMG

{{The International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda on Monday said she is not opposed to staggering the trial against Deputy President William Ruto and former presenter Joshua arap Sang.}}

However she is in favour of Sang’s request of three weeks breaks as opposed to two weeks suggested by Ruto’s lawyer Karim Khan.

“The Prosecution does not object in principle to Ruto’s defence request, provided that the organisation of the court schedule is sufficiently flexible so as to allow for witnesses to finish their testimonies prior to any scheduled break.

However, the Prosecution considers that alternating three week periods of sessions and breaks, as suggested by Sang’s defence during the status conference held on 19 August 2013, is a more practical proposition,” she said in her response to the application by the defence.

She further said the breaks should not come before witnesses on the stand complete their testimony.

Last Wednesday Ruto’s Khan made an application requesting the Trial Chamber to stagger Ruto’s trial by two weeks to allow him to attend to his state duties.

This was after the Appeal’s Chamber ordered for Ruto’s continuous physical presence until the full decision would be made.

The Trial Chamber allowed Ruto to skip sessions of his trial and the Prosecutor’s moved to the Appeal Chamber to have the decision reversed.

{capitalFM}

{{Hundreds of residents in the South Sudan’s capital, Juba on Sunday took to the streets in protest against the rapidly deteriorating security situation.}}

The demonstration followed the killing of two police officers by unknown assailants in Nyakuron West, a Juba suburb on Saturday.

South Sudan police spokesperson, James Mande, confirmed the killing of the two officers, one of whom was attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

“Some criminals riding on a boda-boda (motorcycle) stormed the residents of the two officers in Nyakuron West and open fire on them before fleeing,” Mande told media.

The protest, he said, was sparked off by angry relatives of the deceased, who were later joined by other Juba residents who all decried the rising insecurity levels in the country.

Mande described the killing as “unusual”, but said police had stepped up efforts to contain relative peace and stability in the city.

“We have boosted our patrols in areas within Juba and its surroundings. As I speak now, the situation is calm and back to life is back to normal”, he added.

This latest incident comes less than a week after two brothers were murdered in Hai Tarawa, another Juba suburb, prompting another wave of protests from citizens.

The police, however, said some suspects have been arrested in connection with the killing, while others remain at large.

Demonstrators, irked by the rampant killings, carried bodies of the two slain brothers to the Central Equatoria state legislative assembly, calling on the state government to protect its people.

It remains unknown who is behind the series of murders that have rocked the capital, in recent days.

The police, on Friday, clashed with a group of criminals suspected to be foreign national, during night patrol. Three of them were arrested.

Mande, however, stressed that the police remains in control of the situation and all efforts were underway to improve the situation.

ST

{{Police in Kenya are investigating the murder of a former British army colonel who was killed by an armed gang at his home near Nanyuki, Laikipia.}}

David Parkinson and his wife were attacked after the gang of suspected robbers, armed with machetes and a gun, smashed their way into the house in the early hours of Sunday, police said.

Mrs Parkinson escaped after hiding in a strong room.

Mr Parkinson, an ex-commander of a base in the area, managed a cattle ranch.

Senior investigating officer Marius Tum, of Laikipia East police, said about five gang members had gained entry to the house by smashing a glass door just before 01:00 local time on Sunday and found the couple sleeping.

During the ensuing confrontation, Mr Parkinson’s hand was cut severely and he was fatally wounded, Mr Tum added.

He said the attackers had tied Mrs Parkinson up with rope.

“But she managed to hide in one of the strong rooms to which they could not gain access,” Mr Tum said.

“David remained lying on the floor. When she was sure they had left, she came out of the strong room to discover that David had died.”

Police said the gang had escaped with a small haul including Mrs Parkinson’s telephone, a small amount of cash from her purse, a laptop computer and a silver statuette.

Detectives investigating the murder have arrested a suspect from a nearby village, according to local media.

A former lieutenant colonel in the Parachute Regiment, Mr Parkinson was awarded an OBE in 1998.

He left the British army a decade ago to focus on conservation and community work in Kenya.

Nation

{{The International Criminal Police Organisation, or Interpol, has posted information on 20 Kenyans wanted for crimes committed locally and in foreign countries.}}

Businessman Yagnesh Devani who is currently in hiding is being sought by Kenyan authorities over corruption-related offences associated with the Triton oil scandal.

His photograph and that of other Kenyans have been published on the Interpol website, and the public are urged to notify police if those wanted spotted anywhere in the world.

The list includes 10 Kenyans being sought by the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) over fraud, sexual crimes and murder allegations.

US authorities are trying to apprehend Jim Roberts Agengo, 66, from Kisumu. “Mr Agengo is wanted by the judicial authorities of United States to serve a sentence for two counts of aggravated indecent assault, two counts of institutional sexual assault, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault,” Interpol said.

Another Kenyan, Benjamin Kaviti, is also listed on the Interpol wanted list for rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent and sexual assault.
The US government is also hunting for Joseph Karanja, 39, who is accused of committing bank fraud and identity theft.

Charges of tax evasion and wire fraud have also put Ernest Kangara, Ervin Somba, Edwine Sila and Kenneth Njagi on the list of the world’s most-wanted suspects.

Thirty-seven year old Njagi is from Nyeri, while the actual homes of Mr Somba and Mr Kangara, suspected of having close links with Zambia’s Bernard Nyemba who is facing similar charges, have not been indicated.

Christopher Olalo, Sheikh Ahmed Salim Swedan and Fahid Mohammed Ally are also wanted by the US authorities.

Mr Olalo 64, is facing prosecution over allegations that he committed homicide while it is unclear why Mr Swedan and Mr Ally are on the list.

Mr Swedan, 44, and Mr Ally, 37, both from Mombasa, are classified as Kenyans of Somali origin who committed unspecified offences in the US.

The Interpol website said: “Msalam Fahid Mohammed Ally is wanted by the judicial authorities of United States for prosecution /to serve a sentence”. His colleague Mr Swedan is also facing similar charges.

{{Kenyans In US Illegally}}

The number of wanted Kenyans living in the US has been released even as it emerged that close to 200,000 Kenyans are living illegally in America and could be charged for flouting immigration laws if caught.

But a claim by a former Kenyan ambassador to the US, Mr Elkanah Odembo, has been criticised and dismissed as far-fetched and questionable by Kenyans in the diaspora.

Authorities in Rwanda are looking for Nathan Lyod Ndungu 43, classified as a resident of Mombasa, to face unspecified fraud related charges.

And John Mochama, 31, from Nairobi, is wanted by Ugandan authorities for prosecution over charges of forgery and creating a false document while Peter Gachago is facing defilement charges in Botswana.

The South African government is after Herman Muita Gichure, 33, for causing death by dangerous driving and Stephen Musundi from Bungoma for charges related motor vehicle theft.

An Indian residing in Kenya, Harbans Singh Gakhal, 59, is wanted by the Indian authorities to serve a jail term for human trafficking, forged documents and cheating.

Indian authorities believe Mr Gakhal from Jalandar, Punjab in India, is hiding in Kenya.

Kenya has also listed Ms Miriam Achieng Kadongo, 34 from Nakuru who is suspected of hiding in Finland as wanted for prosecution for obtaining credit by false pretences, uttering a false document and issuing bad cheques.

{A screen grab of the Interpol website}

Nation

{{A general from the Republic of Congo has been arrested in France in connection with 350 refugees who went missing in the central African nation in 1999.}}

A group representing the families of the refugees praised the arrest on Thursday of General Nobert Dabira, calling it “good news”.

Marcel Touanga, the head of the group, said the arrest showed the tragedy had not been forgotten.

“We are fighting for the truth in the face of strong forces because there are links between the organisers of these massacres and some French personalities,” said Touanga, whose 28-year-old son was among the missing.

Dabira, 64, was accused of torture and kidnapping on a massive scale by examining magistrates after being arrested in the town of Torcy near Paris.

Dabira, who owns a home in France, was released pending trial after he was charged, newa agencies reported.

The refugees went missing when they returned to the port city of Brazzaville after fleeing from their country’s civil war to the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Rights groups and relatives say they were tortured and executed upon their return, though Congolese authorities have always denied any massacre.

Dabira is the former inspector-general of the Congolese army, and since October 2012 has been a high commissioner for the re-integration of former soldiers.

When contacted, Dabira said he was “totally innocent” and would not leave France during the investigation.

In 2005, Dabira was one of 15 accused – many of them senior army and police officials – acquitted in the case by a criminal court in Brazzaville.

France opened its own inquiry into the alleged massacres in 2002.

Source: AFP

{{At least four people have been killed in fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), raising the death toll to seven since clashes between M23 rebels and government forces backed by UN troops started several days ago, witnesses say.}}

Local Journalists on ground saw four bodies – a woman and three children – and a resident of Ndosho named Charles Paluku told media that a shell had landed in the area.

The victims of Saturday’s fighting were killed by shells fired by M23 rebels.
Three UN peacekeepers were wounded by shells that landed near their positions, the UN said, charging that its troops had been targeted by the rebels.

Much of the fighting has concentrated in and around Goma, a key city in North Kivu province.

Mary Robinson, the UN envoy to the African Great Lakes region, condemned the violence, saying in a statement: “The attacks on the town of Goma as well as on MONUSCO forces, and their tragic consequences on the civilian population already traumatised by two decades of conflict, are unacceptable.”

“We must do everything to avoid an escalation of tension in the region,” she said.

{aljazeera}