US Vice President Joe Biden is expected to arrive in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Monday night for a two-day visit before heading towards South Africa for the 2010 World Cup. - The US veep has already arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Biden will meet President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to discuss a wide ‘range of issues’ in which the reform process is likely to be the key on agenda.
Biden who is America’s top most official to visit Kenya since President Barrack Obama took over power is expected to arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 7 pm, according to the American Embassy.
He will be accompanied in Kenya by his wife Dr Jill Bide…
Kenya's Attorney General has made an appeal against a constitutional court decision that ruled the entrenchment of the Kadhis court in the current constitution as illegal. - Wako filed a notice of appeal against the ruling made on Monday that also made the use of public fund the courts as illegal.
In his appeal notice Wako said he was dissatisfied with the ruling and said ruling was unconstitutional and termed it as unfair.
A court decision on Monday ruled that the entrenchment of the courts was undermining the principle of separation of state and religion. It came at a time when the country prepares itself for a referendum.
The greatest contrast was the timing of the decisi…
- Kenya’s Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) has chosen simple colours as symbols in the forthcoming referendum.
With date set as August 4th for the referendum , following long consultations the IIEC settled on Green colour, as the symbol for yes while Red will be the alternative for the No supporters.
IIEC Chairman, Ahmed Isaak told reporters that the commission has consulted widely before the decision on the symbols for the referendum was made. He said the decision was made after consulting with, civil society organizations, political party representatives and the media.
The NO side has already settled on the red symbol through a campaign it launched a fortn…
The date for Kenya's referendum on whether to adopt the proposed constitution is set for August 4th. Interim Independent Electoral commission Chairman (IIEC), Ahmed Issack, announced the date during a breakfast meeting organized by UNDP on Friday. - IIEC has already released the referendum question on Thursday and is expected to announce the symbols for the Yes and No options on May 27th.
But, the road to Kenya’s search for a new constitution has been rocky, a public outrage over the insertion of a clause in the proposed constitution.
Yesterday, President Kibaki held a discussion with the head of the government printer, Andrew Rukaria where the clause was inserted. Politic…
Nearly half of the women and children in Somalia are anaemic while a third of them suffer from vitamin A deficiency among others, a new study shows. The survey, first ever to be conducted in the war torn nation shows that women and children are suffering from shocking levels of anaemia. - The study undertaken by the Food Security Analysis Unit (FSNAU) in conjunction with UNICEF, WHO, and WFP under the technical leadership of the Institute of Child Health, University of London was conducted in Puntanland, Somaliland and Central Somalia.
In a press release FSNAU says the survey which was conducted between March and July 2009 indicates that 50% of Somali women and children are anaemic and a…
- Mozambique: Parliament Speaker suggests: government to send peacekeepers to Somalia.
The speaker of Mozambique parliament has requested the government of the South African nation to send peace keeping troops to volatile Somalia.
Speaker Veronica Macamo said parliarment has made an official request to the government to send it troops to Somalia in order to bolster the African Union troops in Somalia.
Speaking at a press conference, she said the African parliament which met in South Africa this month has suggested that a considerable number of African governments should support the Somali peace process and send troop to the volatile Horn of Africa nation.
She said inadequate…
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga of Kenya attempts to convince church leaders to abandon their stand to shoot down the draft constitution hit a snag after a six-hour meeting at the presidency. The churches are against a portion that legalizes abortion. - The National Council of Churches of Kenya threatened to mobilize voters to reject the draft constitution in the forthcoming referendum, after the Kenyan parliament failed to delete a clause that legalized abortion and the inclusion of the Kadhis court - a move the churches see as giving Islam supremacy over them.
In order to resolve the impasse it was agreed that a sub-committee involving church leaders and the gover…
Seven people were killed in Kenya after their vehicles were swept by flash flood along the Narok-Mai Mahiu highway. Among those killed in the incident include a baby as torrential rain hit several parts of the country. The seven died after their saloon cars were swept away by floods. - Several other resident of Narok town were still missing. In the last two weeks 10 people have been killed in Turkana in Northern Kenya while three others were killed in Taveta district of the coast. In North Eastern province traffic towards Garissa the regional headquarters have been difficult as rain swept various towns in the region.
Statistics from Kenya Red Cross Society shows that heavy rains that sta…
- At least 14 Kenyan envoys and 114 junior staff have been recalled in major reshuffle by Kenya’s Ministry of foreign affairs, a local daily has revealed
According to the Daily Nation those recalled include Kenya’s ambassadors to Russia, Dr Sophester Machage, Mr Mutuma Kathurima (Germany), Mr Rateng Oginga Ogego (US) and Ms Ann Nyikuli (Italy). Others are Mr Mwakai Kikonde Sio (Spain) and Mr Lazarus Amayo (Zambia). The envoys are required to report back to the country by May 17.
It’s also emerged that long serving Kenyan High commissioner, Joseph Muchemi to the UK was recalled. Muchemi a close confidante of President Kibaki has been serving as high commissioner si…
- Shariiff : US army will not take part in Mogadshu operation.
Somali President, Sheikh Sharrif has played down widespread speculations that United States army could take part in a imminent government offensive to tackle Islamist militias in the capital Mogadishu.
Earlier this week the New York Times reported that United States is planning to send war planes and special troops to take part in the operation.
Reports in various Somali new agencies gave indication that US airplanes could help government and African Military in Somalia, but President Shariff who is now in UK for an official visit said he was not sure whether US army will take part in the operation.
“I think…
President Kibaki has barred all ministers and assistant minister from travelling to foreign countries as Kenya's quest for a new constitution since independence enters a crucial stage. A presidential circular and made public on Monday bars all ministers from travelling abroad during the discussion on the draft constitution. - Kenya’s parliament will debate on the draft law for 30 days before it is subjected to a national referendum.
In what is seen as an apparent move by the President to stop the chronic absence of ministers who are always on travel abroad, the presidents’ circular directs all cabinet ministers to stay within the country during the month in which legislat…
- 80 killed and 80,000 displaced in Somalia in the last two weeks-UN.
More than 80 people have been killed in Somalia over the last two weeks in the latest fighting between warring groups in the Somali capital Mogadishu, the United Nations has said.
According to a report from Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs in Nairobi said the latest infighting has also displaced 80,000 people in Mogadishu from their homes. In the report the United Nation is said to be worried by rising number of casualties involving civilians.
Mark Bowden, a United Nation official speaking in Nairobi urged the warring parties to stop the conflict and spare the lives of civilians.
The Transiti…
- Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday suspended two Ministers over the latest Maize and Free Primary Education scandal that has rocked the country.
Raila Odinga suspended Education Minister Sam Ongeri and Agriculture Minister William Ruto to pave way for Investigations. They were all suspended for three months.
This come a day after 8 senior officials in the grand coalition government left their jobs at respective Ministries.
Education Ministry has been the talk of town in the loss of funds meant for free primary Education and the Ministry of Agriculture was this week hit by a report by Price Water house , a audit firm which linked senior officials to the loss of maize me…
- Soccer fans in Kenya were absolutely dismayed by the decision of the English FA to reject Manchester City bid to sign Parma FC Kenyan International Macdonald Mariga.
When news spread that the Kenyan was to sign Kenya Shs 10 million deal a week with English outfit Manchester City many Kenyan soccer fans relished the joy of seeing the first Kenyan to play in the highly rated English Premier league.
All this hopes were dashed when English FA refused to grant the Midfielder a work permit owing to Kenya’ s dismal rankings in the FIFA which put Kenya at 98 outside the 70 nations in which the English FA considers before granting a work permit.
Mariga has now signed for serie A club Int…
- UN Security Council approves four months extension for UN troops in Ivory Coast.
United Nation Security council on Thursday approved a four month extension of the United Nation Peacekeeping mission in the Ivory Coast to ensure that upcoming elections are free and fair. United Nation News Service has said.
The council adopted resolution 1911(2010) to extend the United Nation Operation in the West African country to the end of May 2010. The council also agreed to increase the number of troops to 7950 military personnel from the current level of 7450 troops for a limited period.
This follow after UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon forwarded a request from the Presidents of Burkina Fa…
- Ethiopian Airline Jet crashes with 90 people on board.
An Ethiopian airline jet carrying 90 people crashed in to the Mediterranean Sea early on Monday. Authorities have said. The plane had 51 Lebanese, and 23 Ethiopians on board. So far only four bodies have been recovered and no survivors have been found.
The Lebanese run state news agency reported on Monday that Flight ET409 left Beirut’s Rafik Hariri International Airport for Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, at 2:35 a.m. and lost contact with Lebanese air traffic control shortly afterward, the carrier said. The plane was a Boeing Co. 737-800.
According to data in it website Ethiopian Airlines operates a fleet of 37 plan…
- Somali Ambassador to Kenya , Mohamed Ali Nur faulted Immigration Minister, Otieno Kajwang's statement that Kenya was runing out of patience for Somali MPs.
He said , asking Honourable MPs who are guest of Kenya to go to refugee camps was unwarranted. " Its not good for Kajwang to utter such words since the Somali MPs regularly come to Kenya for very important business, " said Ali Nur.
Otieon Kajwang last week told the BBC that he was on the verge of telling Somali MPs to register themselves at refugee camp.
He said the embassy has written a protest letter to Foreign Affair Minister Moses Wetangula requesting an apology.
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajawang l…
- Former Kenyan MP Billow Kerow’s wife and daughter arrested.
Two relatives of Bellow Kerow, a former Member of Parliament and a current board member of Kenya’s Anti-corruption Advisory board were arrested by police in Nairobi on Tuesday.
Halima Suleiman, a nephew to the immediate former of Mandera Central told Africanews that the MPs wife and daughter were arrested while shopping in Nairobi South C estate by police officers who are looking for illegal Somali’s in connection with last Friday protests in Nairobi.
Citizen Television showed footages of the former MP who was furious at a police station in order to secure their release. He told the station that the a…
Twelve Members of the Somali Parliament, two army generals and several directors of government agencies who were arrested on Sunday evening in a police swoop in Nairobi's Eastleigh estates have all been released, stated the Somali Embassy in Nairobi. - Consular General of the embassy Mohamed Osman told AfricaNews that the officials were released because they were legal migrants in Kenya and have not contravene any law to warrant their deportation.
He added that the embassy had written a protest letter to the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign affairs to demand an apology and respect for its diplomats in Kenya.
Early on Wednesday Somalia Foreign ministry condemned a decision by Kenya…
- By Abdilatif Maalim.
In the name of diseases, war and poverty they get funding worth millions of dollars but offer little for the disadvantaged who in their plight they get the dollars.
Fraudulent NGOs siphon millions of dollars from the accounts of the United Nation and other International NGOs in the name of helping hundred thousands of Somali refuges who have been displaced by war and ravaged by disease in the lawless nation.
After the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre and the years that followed the people of Somalia had to flee the raging war which claimed lives. United Nation peace keeping forces (UNISOM) failed to bring sanity in to the volatile situation.
International Ng…
Kenya's Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang decision to deport all Somali MPs in the country has received strong condemnation from the Somali government. Somalia's Minister for Foreign affairs, Ali Ahmed has said the Kenyan government made a decision that will have negative implications on Somalia's diplomatic relation with Kenya. - According to the Minister, Kenyan police arrested all Somalis with out verification on whether they were in the country legally. A decision which he said was swift and did not follow legal procedures.
He said the Somali Embassy in Nairobi has written a protest letter to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign affairs to request Kenya to reconsider it …
- A general Service Unit (GSU) police who is said to have been killed in last Friday demonstration in the Kenyan capital Nairobi is still alive.
According to the Star newspaper the GSU constable Charles Ndwiga is recovering at the Kenyatta National hospital.
The paper had photos of the constable shaking the hand of the Nairobi police Chief Anthony Kibuchi firmly. He even told the media that he was strong enough.
A section of the media including Kenya’s leading paper the daily nation had reported the officer had passed on.
- At least five people are believed to be dead following a protest to demand the release of controversial Jamaican Muslim cleric Sheik Al-Faisal in Nairobi on Friday.
Kenyan police have put the death toll at two but independent sources including a private hospital where the injured were taken reported five deaths. Four civilians and a police officer are dead.
Business in Nairobi central business district came to a standstill after a demonstration organized by the Muslim Human Rights forum turned violent leading to massive looting and disorderly behavior.
The situation got out of hand after a group of youths joined the police in dispersing the protest. Three banks, First community, Giro ba…
- Somali President Sheik Shariff Ahmed has arrived in the Kenyan capital Nairobi in a visit that is meant to resolve a long standing revolt between MPs in the Transitional parliament.
The president is set to meet rebel MPs to discuss with them possibilities of resolving the dispute amicably. Around 118 Somali MPs are divided over the way parliament is being run.
A group supports the Speaker of the parliament. Sheik Adan Madobe while others are against him.
According to analyst the latest revolt of MPs could lead to more troubles in the war torn nation if it is not resolved.
Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate where many Somalis live has witnessed a lot of discussion on the…
- Emerging details from Kenya’s treasury indicate that Kshs 5.5 Billion cannot be accounted for since, the start of Free Primary education in 2003.
The latest revelations have shocked many Kenyans who are worried about the rate of corruption with in the Ministry that is in charge of delivering education to Kenyans.
Sources familiar with the operations at the Ministry have alluded to misappropriation of funds which is being undertaken by senior officials with in the Ministry.
Through the Free Primary Education each pupil is allocated Kshs 1020 but media reports indicate there are cases where students were underpaid which has led to a massive misappropriation.
In December…
