IGIHE

Tag: GreatLakesNews

  • M23 President Has Been Sacked

    {{The president of the M23 rebel group in eastern Congo has been dismissed by the group’s military leader over accusations that he is supporting Bosco Ntaganda, a wanted war criminal, said a spokesperson of the M23 Thursday.}}

    “Jean-Marie Runiga gave Bosco Ntaganda financial support to recruit military personnel. He has also been compromising the peace process in order to protect Ntaganda. We say it is not acceptable and General Sultani Makenga dismissed him yesterday,” said Bertrand Bisimwa, an M23 spokesman.

    The move has split the M23 as a new group has been formed by those who still support Runiga, including Gen. Baudoin Ngaruye, the second-ranked military leader of the group.

    “President Runiga was not dismissed, it was a unilateral decision made by Makenga,” said Col. Seraphin Mirindi, who has been appointed spokesperson of the new M23 faction.

    “The army supports President Runiga and we do not want to follow Makenga who is conniving with the government in Kinshasa to destabilize us.”

    Runiga and Gen. Ngaruye in are presently in Kibumba, 12 kilometers (7 miles) from Goma airport, while Makenga is in Tchanzu, near the Ugandan border, said Mirindi.

    Ngaruye controls an estimated 2,000 men, twice as many as Makenga, said Mirindi.

    AP

  • Somali President Offers Amnesty to Pirates

    {{Somalia’s president has offered an amnesty to young pirates in a bid to end attacks off the Horn of Africa nation’s coast, he told media.}}

    “We have been negotiating with the pirates indirectly through the elders,” said President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. “Piracy has to end”.

    Mohamud, elected by lawmakers six months ago, said that he wanted to offer an “alternative means of earning a living” to young Somalis who have taken up the gun to join pirate gangs.

    However, Mohamud said that the amnesty was not open to pirate kingpins — those who take the vast majority of the profits from the attacks — some of whom are wanted by Interpol.

    “We are not giving them amnesty, amnesty is for the boys,” he said.

    Somalia has been ravaged by conflict since 1991 but a new UN-backed government took power in September, ending eight years of transitional rule by a corruption-riddled administration.

    Large parts of Somalia have been carved up by rival militia forces who have developed autonomous regions that pay little, if any, heed to the weak central government.

    Many of the most notorious pirates are based along the northern coastline of the semi-autonomous Puntland region.

    AFP

  • Uganda’s Mandatory HIV Testing Opposed

    {{A Human Rights Commission in Uganda has opposed mandatory HIV testing as envisaged in the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Bill that is before the country’s Parliament.}}

    The commission also rejected a provision on criminalization of attempted and intentional transmission of the virus as well as a provision that permits medical practitioners to disclose HIV positive test results to a sexual partner without consent of the tested person.

    These and other views were presented to the joint meeting of the committee of health and the committee on HIV/AIDS by Commissioner Katebarirwe Amooti, who represented the chairperson, Medi Kagwa.

    The Bill provides for routine HIV testing of victims of sexual offences, pregnant women and their partners, but the commission is of the view that the provision does not specifically state as to whether their consent is necessary, suggesting that testing would be mandatory.

    The Bill also provides for testing of those convicted of drug abuse, those charged with sexual offences and those convicted of offences involving prostitution.

    “International standards require HIV/AIDS testing to be confidential, accompanied by counseling and to be conducted with voluntary and informed consent.

    Mandatory testing without consent, counseling and confidentiality violate the right to equality and non-discrimination and could harm the victims of sexual crimes and expose women to risk of domestic violence and abandonment,” Amooti said.

    He added that mandatory testing of drug users and sex workers will discourage them from seeking treatment and care.

    UHRC, he said, recommends that the Bill be amended to remove provisions relating to mandatory HIV testing.

    NV

  • ICC Claims Key Witnesse in Kenya Case Bribed

    {{International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has said she has evidence of bribery of a key witness in the case of Kenya’s deputy prime minister, Uhuru Kenyatta.}}

    In her submissions, Ms Bensouda claims the critical Witness Four, a former leader of the dreaded Mungiki militia group, and who withdrew his testimony after charges confirmation hearings, was paid to do so.

    This is the witness who said he was present at meetings in the country’s State House and at the members-only Nairobi Club where Mr Kenyatta and former civil service boss Francis Muthaura allegedly planned the violence that followed the disputed presidential election of 2007.
    In a later statement to the ICC, the witness said he lied about his presence in the two meetings.

    “Witness Four revealed in an interview in May 2012 that he had been offered and accepted money from individuals holding themselves out as representatives of the accused to withdraw his testimony and provided e-mails and records that confirmed the bribery scheme,” said the prosecutor.

    Ms Bensouda was responding to an application by the defences of Mr Kenyatta and Mr Muthaura which are calling for dismissal of their case due of the withdrawal of evidence by the key witness.

    Mr Kenyatta, a presidential candidate in Monday’s election, and his running mate, Mr William Ruto, are charged with crimes against humanity.

    The other accused is journalist Joshua arap Sang.

    The prosecution maintains that despite the withdrawal of the testimony, it had sufficient evidence of Mr Kenyatta’s alleged participation in violence planning meetings at Blue Post Hotel in Thika, central Kenya and Nairobi’s Yaya Centre, a shopping mall.

    NMG

  • Threats of violence in Kenyan slums color election

    {{Dozens of shack homes have been burned to the ground in recent weeks in Mathare, Nairobi’s most dangerous slum. }}

    Families are moving into zones controlled by their own clans, fearful of attacks between the tribes of Kenya’s top two presidential candidates.

    Kenya on Monday holds its first presidential election since the 2007 vote devolved into months of tribal violence that killed more than 1,000 people and displaced 600,000 from their homes.

    In a hopeful sign, this year’s presidential candidates pledged at a weekend prayer rally to accept the outcome of the election and ensure violence doesn’t again break out.

    But the government-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights on Wednesday released a long list of physical attacks, hate speech and cases of ethnic intimidation Kenya has seen in recent weeks, exposing an undercurrent of tribal tension.

    Those strains are on high display in Mathare, where at least seven people have died and 100 shacks burned in the last two months.

    Officially Mathare suffered 112 deaths during the 2007-08 election violence, though one policeman, who insisted on anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the press, says Mathare really suffered over 370 killings.

    Lewis Kamau is a Kikuyu but wears the bright orange hat of the Luo candidate, Raila Odinga.

    Kamau is not crossing party lines; he says the hat protects him from Luo attacks. He says he expects Luos to react negatively if Odinga loses.

    “Violence will erupt because of results they don’t like,” he said. “I know these people. They won’t accept the results.”

    Kamau — who backs the Kikuyu candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta — is standing 20 feet from a dirt lot scorched by fire, one of the shacks burned in Luo-on-Kikuyu attacks that began in late December and carried over into January.

    “Just the other day they burned here and we didn’t retaliate,” he said, motioning to the charred lot. “We kept quiet. On Monday after the (election results) announcement, we will be ready for it.”

    Odinga or Kenyatta must win at least 50 percent of the vote in Monday’s election, or the two will go to a second-round runoff, where attention will be even more focused on the two, heightening tensions further.

    Many in Mathare, and across town in Nairobi’s biggest slum, Kibera, say that Kenyans have learned from the 2007-08 violence, and won’t repeat it.

    But many of those pronouncements come from people who assume their candidate will win.

    http://news.yahoo.com/threats-violence-kenyan-slums-color-election-182400085–politics.html

  • Trial of Uhuru & Co-Accused Booked for August

    {{International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda has consented for trials against four Kenyan post-election violence suspects to be held in August instead of April.}}

    Two of the suspects, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta and Mr William Ruto, are the flagbearers for the Jubilee coalition, a leading contender in Kenya’s presidential election that takes place next Monday.

    The other accused are former Civil Service boss Francis Muthaura and radio journalist Joshua arap Sang.

    Ms Bensouda proposes that the trails should start “immediately after the Court’s summer recess”.

    In a letter to the Court, Ms Bensouda states that she is still ready to proceed with the trials should the judges reject the suspects’ requests for an adjournment.

    “The Prosecution suggests that a start date immediately after the Court’s summer recess may be appropriate, although it is ready to start trial earlier, should the Chamber so order,” said the Prosecutor.

    The court’s three judges now have to rule on the suspect’s request for adjournment.

    Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto, Mr Muthaura and Mr Sang are facing charges of crimes against humanity allegedly committed at the height of Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007 and 2008.

  • Strategy Key in Developing Post 2015 Development Agenda

    {{Africa must now strategically reposition itself and build alliances in a bid to promote a new and just world order, a high level African thematic consultation on the Post- 2015 Development Agenda taking place in Midrand, South Africa has learnt. }}

    Consequently, calls for a new African (and global) development agenda that emphasizes poverty eradication and highlights sustainability for human development is considered key.

    In her opening remarks earlier today, Betty Maina, Chief Executive, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and a Member of the High Level Panel on the Post 2015 Agenda stated that the globe was at cross-roads with respect to the development agenda and called for a multi-dimensional approach as the new framework is developed.

    She termed the role of various stakeholders including that of Parliaments, civil society and media as fundamental in the dispensation.

    “The role of Parliament cannot be over stated. We need to enhance dialogue to find solutions to the disempowerment of youth, gender imbalance and other overarching contentious issues especially in the emerging nations and the poorer countries”, Ms Maina noted.

    The President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP), H.E. Bethel N. Amadi noted that substantial progress had been made since the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set in thirteen years ago.

    He cited the reduction of HIV/AIDS transmission, enhanced infrastructure and increased enrollment of primary school youth – as some of the benefits propelled by the MDGs.

    The Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon Margaret N. Zziwa noted that Parliamentarians’ accessibility to (and by) constituents were key in keeping the ‘developmental conversation’ alive.

    The Speaker cited open access policies and pairing schemes between Parliaments and stakeholders as a pre-cursor towards enhancing performance for better MDGs attainment and governance.

    The Speaker called on Parliaments to enact relevant laws geared towards the realization of the objectives of the MDGs.

    “If you ask me, various laws should have been passed in at least each of the MDG goals, such as Education for all (MDG number 5&6) ; poverty eradication, Maternal Health and HIV eradication (MDGs number 2&3),or Shelter for all (MDG No: 11)”, Rt Hon Zziwa remarked, while calling for the validation of existing laws.

    The Speaker urged the media to promote values of good governance, while adhering to objectivity and accurate reporting.

    The Director of Political Affairs at the African Union, Dr George Mukundi challenged Parliamentarians to fully use the existing powers to play their oversight roles.

    Hon Geraldine Fraser- Moleketi former Minister of Public Service in the Republic of South Africa noted that elections often bore conflicts calling for a re-look and re-think into the electioneering systems.

    “The winner-takes it all modality as practiced in many constitutions, can present obvious challenges and peculiarities. We should re-look into the models”, she noted.

    A civil society activist, Ms. Namhla Mniki-Mangaliso noted that grassroots communities were often satisfied when issues affecting their livelihoods are solved.

    “There is an intolerable feeling on the ground about the lack of democratic space that define the direction citizens want to take.

    Majority of these perspectives as raised by people include democratic governments, education and peace and security among others”, she added.

    Rt. Hon Cyril Ndebele, Speaker Emeritus from the Parliament of Zimbabwe noted that paradigm shifts in the post 2015 development agenda dispensation must be home-grown.

    The former Speaker remarked that historical and cultural identities were important in the context of the future and added that it was vital to work with traditional governance institutions including the chiefdoms.

    He further reiterated the need for free and fair elections and open access policies in nations to spur democracy.

    In attendance were Parliamentarians, high ranking officials from the EAC and the continent, media, community based groups, faith based organisations, intellectuals, youth and the women groups.

    During plenary, discussions delved on the need to scale up rule of law, equality and empowerment of the various groups.

    The delegates remarked that it was necessary to evaluate the successes and challenges of the MDGs and the way forward.

    The aim of the two day consultation is to bring together the African experience on governance so that this may inform the new global development agenda.

  • Traders Clear Goods as Kenya Elections Date Draws Near

    {{The volume of cargo exiting at Kenya-Uganda border, has increased as exporters engage in last- ditch efforts to have their goods cleared, ahead of Kenyan polls.}}

    Kenya Revenue Authority officials in Malaba confirmed the upsurge of trucks arriving at the border from the port of Mombasa.

    Kenya International Freight Warehousing Association organising secretary Deo Otia said some importers had halted importation, fearing the aftermath of the elections.

    Sources at the border said importers both in Uganda and other great lakes region, were working round the clock to ensure their cargo is cleared before the polls.

    “The upsurge of trucks at the border is quite evident, thus the need to expedite their clearance before the Kenyan elections,” the agents said.

    Most transporters said they would not allow their trucks in the country until after the elections.

    “We do not want our vehicles to face problems like in the 2007 elections, when some of them were set ablaze in Kenya,” they said.

    Many foreigners are leaving the country, owing to uncertainty in the elections.

    However, Malaba chief immigration officer Wilfred Chepkole said travellers had not increased much.

    He said elaborate security measures had been put in place to ensure that bad elements do not enter the country to cause mayhem.

    Uganda relies on Port Mombasa for her imports. It is working on how to have the goods enter the country through Tanzania.

    NV

  • 35 People Killed in Bus Accident in Kenya

    {{At least 35 people have been killed in a grisly road accident in Mwingi on Wednesday morning.}}

    The accident involved a Garissa-bound bus which lost control and rolled several times at about 3am, according to Traffic Commandant Samuel Kimaru.

    Eleven people were killed on the spot while the rest were trapped under the wreckage and it took rescuers more than four hours to help them out.

    “It was a very bad accident, it took a lot of time for them to be rescued because the bus was badly damaged,” he said.

    Kimaru said more than 20 other passengers have been admitted to the Mwingi District Hospital.
    The Traffic Commandant said they have not established the exact cause of the accident that occurred at Tulimani area.

    “We don’t know what exactly happened but we are urging motorists to be careful to avoid such accidents. We could not have lost the 35 people, if drivers were careful on the road,” added Kimaru.

    Over the weekend, at least 17 people were killed and scores injured in two separate road accidents in Voi and Kilifi on Saturday morning.

    In the first accident that happened at Ndii near Voi, 12 people died on the spot after a bus and trailer collided.

    The dead included 10 men and two women as well as drivers of both vehicles.

    Fourteen other people were injured and were rushed to the Voi District hospital for treatment.

    Police said that the bus which was heading to Mombasa from Nairobi was overtaking another vehicle before it collided with the oncoming trailer.

    “This is purely a case of human error, the bus driver was trying to overtake when there is a trailer approaching,” Kimaru told press following the 4am accident last Saturday.

    The second accident in Vipingo area in Kilifi that claimed five lives involved a matatu and a private van that had previously operated as tour van.

    CapitalFm

  • ICC Suspect Sang Endorses Raila Odinga

    {{A Kenyan International Criminal Court suspect and former radio journalist Joshua arap Sang has endorsed Cord’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga ahead of the general elections next Monday.}}

    Sang, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s office, dismissed the Jubilee coalition between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto as incapable of bringing peace between the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin who have fought during elections since 1992.

    The endorsement marks a breakaway between Mr Sang and his fellow suspects at the International Criminal Court Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. The three face various counts of crimes against humanity committed at the height of the 2007 – 2008 post-election violence.

    In a recorded message to air on radio, Mr Sang says that it is only a president who is not a Kalenjin or a Kikuyu who can bring peace between the two communities.

    Sang says he recorded the message because of “heavy feelings in my heart.”.

    In his message, Mr Sang also dismisses as lies the perception in Rift Valley that it was Mr Odinga who sent him to The Hague. He claims that senior government officials who were in office before the formation of the coalition had coached witnesses to testify against him and Mr Ruto in the case at the ICC.

    “We are away in a foreign land with my brother because of allegations made against us. The truth must be told. In my opinion, the people who masterminded and planned to have me and my brother taken to The Hague did not include Raila Odinga,” Mr Sang says in the recorded message.

    Mr Sang appeals to the Kalenjin community not to trust the power sharing deal in the Jubilee coalition, saying such agreements have twice been disowned after elections.

    He cites the MOU signed between Mr Odinga and Mr Kibaki in 2002 and the 2007 power sharing deal that brought the Grand Coalition Government into force as instances of broken promises that should make residents of the Rift Valley wary of the deal between Mr Ruto and Mr Uhuru.

    “Today, some of our people want us to enter into an MOU again through Jubilee. They never respected the MOU signed in 2002 and the power sharing deal agreed on in 2007. Why should we expect that the one our community has signed in Jubilee will be respected,” Sang says in a recorded message set to air on radio.

    According to Mr Sang, the doubts whether the pact between Mr Ruto and Mr Uhuru will fare any better.

    He says that although President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga were supposed to share power on a 50-50 basis, it never really happened and only one side of the coalition ran the country.