Overdrawing bank account is not a good sign – is it because of the bloated cabinet?

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.standard.ke

State overdraws account at CBK

By James Anyanzwa

The Government has overdrawn its account at Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) by Sh8.1 billion to cover revenue shortfalls.

The action was fuelled by shrinking liquidity in the domestic money market as commercial banks held back cash to finance investors participating in the Safaricom IPO, a position indicated by failure by the Government sponsored Treasury bills to realise full subscription at the capital markets.

The Government’s overdraft increased to Sh8.1 billion on March 31 from zero in June last year, according to CBK’s latest weekly economic review report.

The Government only uses an overdraft to fill short-term gaps between revenue and expenditure flows and it is normally maintained at zero.

Lack of adequate liquidity in the money market has led to under subscription of the Government’s short-term paper — 91 and 182-Treasury bills, which necessitated the move to utilise the overdraft facility.

“Despite the rise, the overdraft level at CBK remained well within the prevailing Sh14.8 billion,” indicated the CBK report.

The performance of Treasury bills auctions was subdued for the fourth consecutive week. During the auction of April 10, the Government offered bills worth Sh4.5 billion and received bids totalling Sh2.3 billion.

“The liquidity condition in the market continues to be driven largely by the mobilisation of funds by investors to participate in the Safaricom IPO,” the bank said. According to the industry regulator, the dismal performance of auction is also attributed to lower redemptions worth Sh2.6 billion compared with the offered amount.

The auction was designed to raise funds to meet the cost of rolling over the Treasury bills maturities and to provide additional borrowing of Sh1.9 billion to the Government.

The performance of the auction was, however, subdued due to tight liquidity, the bank said.

According to the report, the 91-day Treasury bill rate edged up from 6.976 per cent in the previous week to 7.360 per cent at the April 10 auction, while the 182-day Treasury bill rate increased from 7.942 per cent to 8.244 per cent.

Domestic borrowing was within the set target in the first three quarters of the 2007/08 fiscal year. Due to planned domestic borrowing, Government gross domestic debt increased from Sh 404.7 billion in June last year to Sh444.7 billion as at March 31. But the figure is projected to rise as the Government incurs additional expenditure in re-settling internally displaced persons and financing the 40-member Cabinet.

As a percentage of the gross domestic product, domestic debt remained unchanged at 22 per cent during the period. The 9.9 per cent increase in the debt during the period followed increases in Treasury bonds, Government overdraft at CBK, and other domestic debt.

But the increase was partly offset by a Sh6.5 billion decrease in Treasury bills during the period.

_____________________

African Press International – api

 

 

A joke on the Luo community!

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no

Received by API from Karuga wa Njuguna.

—– Original Message —–

From: karuga wa NJUGUNA

To: wanjugunak@hotmail.com

Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 4:20 PM

Subject: A joke on Luo community

If you don’t have a friend from the ” Lakeside ” you are missing out on a
serious part of what makes Kenya Kenya! The Omondis of Kenya are the most
versatile of our tribes. They pride themselves in being the hardest working
and most learned in Kenya . They can be found in large numbers in all social
groupings. From the manual labourers in the quarries of Njiru, to university
halls the world over; Omondis are found everywhere. My good friend Perminas
Valentine Mak’Odhiambo tells me Luos go to school to become learned while
the rest of us simply receive an education.

Issues of class and social position are very important amongst the Omondis-
they will rarely cross barriers. The common questions to ascertain where one
belongs are: “where did you go to school or who was your teacher and who are
your classmates now.” For illustration purposes I will use Okelloh a middle
class ‘jaduong’ living in Nairobi . Any reference to his possessions must be
preceded with “That my” or That “his”. Possession is everything.

Saturday afternoon Washington Okello will drive “his” sleek BMW 520i
convertible out of his parking slot at the Hilton (he never parks anywhere
else) and pass through the drycleaners at the Hotel Intercontinental to drop
off laundry as well as collect the next week’s suits. He will then drive to
Buru Buru to change into his weekend wear-neatly pressed cotton pants and an
expensive silk shirt and a suede jacket to match his Italian suede shoes
(pronounced sous- the ‘h’ is silent). He adds the final touches- a splash of
very expensive cologne and a heavy gold chain and bracelet. Okello looks
round his house and smiles at what he sees. A sparsely yet expensively
furnished sitting room (he prefers to call it lounge) seats from Macrays
(where the expatriates and people who have taste and money buy furniture)
had set him back a clean 250,000/= and the Large screen Sony television with
a matching Sony home theatre System another 350,000/=.

Okello calls out to his Domestic technologist ( houseboy): “Einstein, Did I
not ask you to make sua you don’t touch “that my” music systeeem? I am sua
because last night Akinyi and I were listening to Nacion FM- now I see it is
on Ramogi! Let me warn you Odouri, next time I will send you straight to
Siaya. Do you understand?”

Okello gets into “his” BMW takes his lap of honour around the estate smiling
at all the nice Nyakos (young ladies) along the way. He slows down as he
sees Akinyi flagging him down at the bus stop. ” Hhe , Yawa why are you not
answering my calls today?” she asks as she slides into the brown leather
interior of “his” BMW. “Which line were you calling me; on my sosio (social)
line or my oficio (official) one?” He then proceeds to explain that his
official line is never answered after 1200 hrs GMT. First stop is the bar
between Jeans and Johns in Nairobi West to meet The MD of a certain company,
the financial Director or Group Editor of a local daily. They will entertain
themselves here then move to Impala Hotel in parklands to listen to Lingala
or to the Bridge on Jogoo road for some Benga.

I will say this: If any of our tribes know how to live life to its fullest-
flashiest cars most expensive clothes, partake in the best drinks – Omondis
take the cake. In my next life I want to be born an Omondi.

Picture this:
Favourite drink: Anything but beer- preferably Chivas or Remy for the middle
and upper class- other spirits are referred to as industrial alcohol.

Favourite Songs – “I am not sober”- (This is an actual song and one of the
verses talks about having Guiness for power with Michael Powers- an
excellent song)

Food: Kuon (ugali) and Samak (ngege)

Notable Luos: too many to name on this page

Characteristics: Flamboyant, big spenders, High rollers, well educated

Lhuo Joke:

Patrick a recently promoted Kikuyu went to have a drink with a friend who
had just completed his PhD. Upon sitting down the two gentlemen he didn’t
know began introducing themselves:

Man#1: “I am Professor James Oburo Mak’Onyango, lecturer at Nairobi
University . I was schooled in the U.K and America among other places. Some
of my classmates are Professors John Montiago Odhiambo, Senior Vice
President ADB and Dr. Innocent Uche of the United Nations. Nice to meet
you.”

Man#2: “My name is Dr. Evanson Ouko Ochieng. I spesiolize (specialise) in
the treatment of Cardio-Vascular diseases. I went to school with Dr Gikonyo
Dr Ambrose Rotich and Proffesor Nyasani. I currently live in Muthaiga. And
who are you young man?”

Patrick: “My name is Captain Kamau sir, pleasure to meet you.”

Man#1: Ahhhh.. Captain – very nice. Which Airline BA, Air France, KLM? Those
are the ones I fly with.

Patrick: “Actually sir, I am a Captain in the Kenya Army.”

Man#2 (almost choking on his Chivas): Kenya Army? What happonned (happened)-
was there a problem with school fisss(fees)?
_________________________________

African Press International – api

Kisumu MP on the receiving end

    Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no      

 

<By Shem Kosse

Enraged clique of councilors and residents of Kisumu Town East constituency are up in arms against their newly elected MP over what they termed un-African behavior which they said is least expected of a leader who has the people’s mandate.

 

The beleaguered legislator Hon Shakeel Ahmed Shabir is being accused for not attending various numerous funerals within his jurisdiction since his enthronement as an area Mp.

 

But instead the bespectacled Shakeel is busy shuttling between his home-which is partly in Rift Valley-and ODM’Pentagon House in Nairobi jostling and canvassing for assistant ministerial docket at the expense of his people who are yearning for his services and attention, on varied issues.

 

His alleged bid to be in the grand coalition cabinet has nosedived-he has been left off the list of the ODM’ assistant and ministerial positions.  

 

The embittered constituents said that the move to slight the dead flies in the face of the luos traditional beliefs and customs:

 

“Kaka jatelo ma wa yiero onego okou kata mos ne jogo moyudo lit ka odich ma ok onyal biro” (As our leader whom we elected he should send even message of condolence to the bereaved if he is too busy to attend the burial) said the angered elderly men.

 

Vitriolic attack on Shabir,the former mayor of kisumu city, comes hot on the heels on the recent challenge by the constituents, for him to come out crystal clear over his last year’s  election pledge to forfeit half of his salary to the constituency kitty.

 

During the electioneering period Shabir crisscrossed various podiums promising to extend the said olive branch and now they want him to put in place an elaborate mechanism to enable them audit and monitor the same as it rolls in their coffer. Though, rumours are rife to the effect that he is yet to live up to his words.

 

Meanwhile the development conscious Peter Odhengo who contested for Kisumu Town East parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket and bowed out of the race when the party’s primaries were marred with irregularities, has organized for humanitarian aid to assist the victims of post poll skirmishes.

 

Talking to this journalist on phone the pragmatic Odhengo who is based in U.S, expressed his heartfelt concern with the Internally Displaced People (IDP) and said that he has dispatched the consignments which consist of educational materials, food stuff, clothings among other basic needs.

 

“My humanitarian mission is to assist all the victims of post election crisis irrespective of one’s ethnic background” said Odhengo whose track record for development in the vast kisumu Town east, speaks for itself.

___________________________

African Press International – api

Jedidah: The volunteer lawyer

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no, source,standard.ke

Jedidah Wakonyo Waruhiu learnt to speak up for others at a tender age and has a heart for the legally disadvantaged. She is in the legal circles what Mother Teresa was among the poor of Calcutta.

 

By John Muturi 

Since her student days at the university, Jedidah Wakonyo Waruhiu has spent her life not only defending the defenceless in the corridors of justice but also empowering lay people through legal education to be able to represent themselves.

 It is interesting how, while growing up in her Kikuyu home near Nairobi, she nurtured a sense of justice and fairness. “I loved playing boys’ games like football or swimming in the river which I was not allowed to. Stifled by this unfairness, I often put on shorts and joined the boys. The urge to seek fairness, advocate, defend and stand up for something became part of my growing up,” says Jedidah, one of Kenya’s most accomplished human rights lawyers.

She continues:” My parents encouraged me to re-sit my ‘A’ levels at Kiambu High in 1989 to marshal the required entry points to study law. I lived up to it and joined Nairobi University in 1991.”

Jedidah was not happy that students had to wait until graduation to practice law. She engaged in volunteer work through free legal service provider, Kituo Cha Sheria. She taught basic law to students in Machakos, Western and Nyanza provinces and continued volunteering even after graduation.

Three things inspired her into active students’ politics – more freedom of speech after the revitalisation of the Nairobi University Students Union in 1992, the desire to get into active student leadership and the need to change things in her faculty. She braved negative campaigns to become the first woman Secretary General of the Kenya Law Students Society-KLSS in the 1992-1993 period.

Jedidah made another bold step by joining the International Federation of Women Lawyers. The membership was deemed to go against all the socially ‘correct’ things that women are supposed to do. “I embraced Fida’s objectives of agitating for human rights as they relate to women and children,” she says adding: “There was lack of active participation and contribution of students in Fida, prompting us to advocate for students to provide free legal services through Fida and researching and writing conference presentation papers. Our intensions were mistaken for ambition but this did not kill our quest. It was the first step in a long journey.”

This lawyer, who is more of a Mother Theresa than a learned friend, reminisces: “After graduation in 1994, I volunteered to teach civic education in remote areas of the country through Fida. I also researched on how courts handled gender-based violence issues like rape, sexual assault and defilement. Further, I provided free legal advice during legal aid camps, and fully participated in organising and facilitating forums to mark women’s regional, national and international days.

Jedidah Waruhiu, the volunteer lawyer.

Along with some other colleagues, we did a lot of research to help simplify law issues for easy access by lay people. For instance, in a book titled,’ Woman’s Guide to Law, published by Fida, we crafted the chapter on property rights, which any layperson easily understands. Many people could not comprehend why I wasted time in tedious voluntary work at Fida and Kituo Cha Sheria at the expense of ‘minting’ money by representing clients in courts. How could I explain my passion to give back to society?”

 

 

Her experience in courts during her practice at the School of Law and after admission to the bar in 1996 considerably changed her view about people’s access to justice. The seemingly standard practice of court adjournments and subsequent waste of time and miscarriage of justice was appalling. It was frustrating to lawyers and clients.

Jedidah felt the common person was not able to navigate through the court procedures and structures, understand the court language. They were also unable to understand the law and use it, or have an alternative to the courts where they could seek justice.

“Instead of justice in the corridors of justice, I perceived miscarriage of justice. It was time some of us who understand the law used it to assist people not only through representation but also teaching them basic facts about law. Giving legal services to the civil society movement was a perfect opportunity to do so. I joined Release Political Prisoners-RPP, in 1997 as a legal officer and together with some other lawyers set up the secretariat.”

Release Political Prisoners

She joined other lawyers to do voluntary human rights work and agitate for the rights of political prisoners. Her first assignment in 1998 was to secure the release of Mr James Apinyi Adhiambo, a detainee at the Naivasha Maximum Prison for his alleged involvement in the 1982 coup. She re-lives this traumatising first experience: “I was thoroughly screened and interrogated before facing the deputy prison commandant. ‘Why are you only interested in Apinyi yet Mr Kisilu Mutua has been in prison for over 10 years and no one has ever bothered about him?’ he challenged me. Kisilu was convicted of the murder of the late politician Pio Gama Pinto in 1965. I was curious and noted Kisilu’s details in my diary.

 

“After talking to Apinyi I mounted a campaign for his release, which rubbed the government the wrong way. He was secretly moved to Kamiti Maximum prison. I fetched his poor aged mother from the interior of Kisumu to give momentum to the campaign. I made a court application for the authorities to physically produce Apinyi in court. The scorn from the judge and prosecutor during the hearing did not dampen my spirits. RPP organised a protest match from Nairobi city centre to Kamiti prison. We could not penetrate the boosted security at the prison but our day-long protests were not in vain. Apinyi was released a day later and made my office his first destination. Apinyi is now doing civic education in Kisumu.

Buoyed by this success, I perused Kisilu’s case and discovered he had been wrongly convicted. I successfully secured his release and we rehabilitated and settled him into a carpentry business in Machakos.”

People Against Torture

Torture of political prisoners disturbed Jedidah and other human right lawyers. She felt the need to help pre-empt further torture in addition to suing for compensation. One prisoner especially, Ms Josphine Nyawira Ngengi had been seriously violated by use of crude weapons. Her case was terminated when Jedidah steered an international campaign for her release. She further sued for damages. “We formed an organisation, People Against Torture, with victims like Josphine as founder members to specifically fight for this. Unfortunately, Josphine died before the case was determined.”

 

 Paralegals

From this experience, and because of the scarcity of legal services, there was need to give basic legal education to lay persons in the community to help others in the grassroots. “We identified opinion leaders, clan elders, community-based organisation leaders, church organisation leaders, and other respectable people for training. These people are called paralegals. Along with a colleague, we conducted legal aid clinics in Isiolo, Garissa and Eldoret. I was happy to recruit into the paralegal programme an assistant chief in Isiolo who has become instrumental in his area.

 

Our first born daughter Mumbi who was then breastfeeding was always in tow and earned the nickname ka-mobile!

 Legal Resources Foundation Trust

Jedidah realised the need for an organisation that would specifically go to the people to teach them legal education at their level and in a manner they understood and could relate to their daily experiences. This gave rise to The Legal Resources Foundation Trust, in 2003. In the team were other key lawyers, legal practitioners, human rights activists, and media practitioners.

 

Jedidah who became the Executive Director in 2004 says they train paralegals who can assist those in the community with matters of law. LRFT also partnered with the Kenya Prisons Service to train prisoners on self-representation in court.

 Triple roles

Jedidah has since 1994 been married to her former Kangaru High school mate, Evanson Munene Waruhiu, currently Finance Controller, East African Education Publishers.

 

Ruth Njoki, 14, their first born is in Standard Eight at the Nairobi Pentecostal Academy in Buru Buru, second born Gladwell Mumbi, eight, is in Standard Three in the same school, and last born Abraham Wambari Rafiki is 15 months old.

She comments about her triple roles: “It has been a big challenge with a demanding job like mine and has taken a toll on my family. I had to reluctantly stop working on weekends to give some time to our children.

“Having a very supportive family and good people to work with has given me the additional tools to cope with the challenges. My husband has always been there for me, taking over when I am away and never complaining for my putting so many years into voluntary service.”

This humble woman holds an MA in International Human rights from the University of Nottingham in the UK.

_______________________________

API

 

 

Kenya: Ministers’ profiles

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.standard.ke

 

James Orengo LandsUGENYA MP, Mr James Orengo is a lawyer and a former presidential candidate in the 2002 General Election. He went to Ambira Primary School and Alliance High School. He graduated in 1974 from the University of Nairobi, with a degree in Law.

He first went to Parliament in 1979 in a by-election. Orengo was part of the team that drafted the two Bills that created the office of the Prime Minister and paved way for the power sharing deal. He is also a member of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee.

 

Najib Balala Tourism

MVITA MP, Mr Najib Balala was born in 1967 and went to Serani Primary School in Mombasa and Kakamega High School. He trained in Business Administration overseas. He came into the public limelight when he became Mombasa mayor in 1998. He won the Mvita seat in 2002. He was President Kibaki’s Sports and Heritage minister for about three years before he was sacked after he teamed up with rebel ministers who voted against the Government side during the 2005 constitutional referendum.

Joseph Nyagah Co-operative Development

ODM Pentagon member, Mr Joseph Nyagah, is an old boy of Alliance High School and has a Masters degree in Business Administration. Nyagah served as Kenya’s ambassador to the European Union for four years. He captured the Gachoka seat in 1997 and was appointed Information and Broadcasting minister in the Kanu Government. In last year’s election, Nyagah lost the Gachoka seat to PNU’s Rev Mutava Musyimi. ODM has nominated him to Parliament.

William Ruto Agriculture

ELDORET North MP, Mr William Ruto was born at Kamagut village, Uasin Gishu District in December 1966. He went to Eldoret’s Wareng High School for his O levels before proceeding to Kapsabet Boys High School for A levels. Ruto graduated in 1990 with a BSc Degree Botany and Zoology. He was first elected to Parliament in 1997 on a Kanu ticket. Ruto served in the Cabinet for a few months before Narc trounced Kanu in the 1997 elections. Ruto later joined ODM where he was a menber of the Pentagon team.

Simon Lesirma Assistant Minister, Provincial Administration & Internal Security

SIMEON Lesirma’s interest in politics can be traced to his days as a civil servant. He was a PS until 2002 when he joined politics. Considered to represent the minority in Parliament, the civil servant turned-politician is well known for his fight for the rights of the Samburu. In 1987, Lesirma was the Director of Aerodromes. Before joining politics he served as a PS in the ministries of Environment and Natural Resources, Finance, Livestock Development, Transport and Communication and Education.

David Musila Assistant Minister, Defence

The Mwingi South MP and former career civil servant, Mr David Musila, rose through the ranks of the Civil Service to become a PC. He retired and plunged into politics in 1997.

Musila began his career as a DO and rose through the ranks to become the Central Province PC. He retired in 1989. He was appointed one of the temporary Deputy Speakers to help the Speaker in Parliament in the Eight Parliament (1997-2002). And in a show of confidence, the House elected him Deputy Speaker in the Ninth Parliament after the 2002 General Election.

 

William ole Ntimama National Heritage & Culture

MR William ole Ntimama, 78, is one of the most experienced MPs in the Tenth Parliament. Born in 1930, Ntimama, who was a councilor and a powerful Narok County Council chairman, was first elected to Parliament in 1988 and former President Moi appointed him Supplies and Marketing minister. In 1992, he was retained in the Moi Cabinet, but in 2002, he decamped and joined Narc through the Liberal Democratic Party. He was not appointed to the Cabinet in 2003, but he was to be picked as Public Service minister in the 2004.

Omingo Magara Assistant Minister, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

James Omingo Magara joined politics almost by default. The former taxman stepped out of the shadows to take over the political mantle from his elder brother, Enoc Magara, who died in a road accident on the Kisii-Kisumu highway in 2001. Born on December 24, 1961 in West Mugirango, Gucha District, Magara was a civil servant. He worked at the Ministry of Finance and later relocated to the KRA where he retired in 2000 as a Senior Assistant Commissioner. He worked at the ministry of Finance.

Musalia Mudavadi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government

Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi was born on September 21, 1960 in Sabatia, Vihiga District. He ventured into politics in 1989 following the death of his father, Mr Moses Budamba Mudavadi. Upon his election, President Moi appointed him minister for Supplies and Marketing. He has gone down in Kenya’s history as the shortest serving Vice-President after Moi appointed him only weeks to the 2002 General Elections.

Moses Wetangula Foreign Affairs

MR Moses Wetangula, the Sirisia Member of Parliament, was born on September 13th, 1956. A lawyer by profession and a practising advocate, Wetangula was a civil servant before venturing into active politics. Before his nomination as a Kanu MP after 1997 General Election, he served as a magistrate and chairman of Electricity Regulatory Board. He was in Parliament as a nominated MP until the 2002 General Election.

Joseph Nkaissery Assistant Minister Defence

NKAISSERY went to Ilbisil Primary School before joining Olkejuado High School in 1967. He later joined Kenyatta University. He dropped out of university in 1972 to join the Army where he served for 32. The legislator is among Kenyans with high ratings in international military trainings. He joined politics when he quit the military in 2002 and won the Kajiado Central seat for Kanu. He was made the Shadow Minister for Defence.

Christopher Obure Public Works

MR CHRISTOPHER Mogere Obure is one of the experienced politicians from Kisii. Obure, now in his 60s, has served in many ministries — Foreign Affairs, Agriculture and Finance. In 1999, he was appointed Industry minister. The following year, he was appointed Minister for Agriculture and then Foreign Affairs. He will be remembered as the last Finance Minister for the Moi regime.

Fred Gumo Regional Development Authorities

WESTLANDS MP, Mr Fred Gumo, once served as Assistant minister in the Office of the President. He started his political career in 1974, when he was elected a councilor in Kitale. He became Kitale Mayor in 1976. In 1979, he was elected MP for Kitale. His second term was cut short by a successful petition against him by the late Masinde Muliro. Former President Daniel Moi appointed him chairman of the City Commission in 1989.

Dalmas Otieno Public Service

A MAKERERE University trained economist, Mr Dalmas Otieno brings to the coalition Cabinet a wealth of experience. Otieno served as a minister in various ministries in the former Kanu regime between 1988 and 1992. Last year he won the Rongo parliamentary seat, defeating Mr Ochillo Ayacko. Now in his 50s, Dalmas is an eloquent orator and a skilful negotiator. He is also widely experienced in Government issues.

Anyang’ Nyong’o Medical Services

PROF Anyang’ Nyong’o was born on October 10, 1945 in Seme, Kisumu Rural. He studied Political Science at Makerere University before proceeding to Chicago University in the US where he obtained MA and PhD degrees. He first won the Kisumu Rural seat in 1992. He recaptured the seat in 2002 on a Narc ticket. In 2003, President Kibaki appointed him the Minister for Planning and National Development.

Sally Kosgei Higher Education, Science and Technology

DR Sally Kosgei occupied the top position of Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet under Presidents Moi and Kibaki. She was born in 1949. Kosgei went to Aldai Girls Primary School, Alliance Girls High School, The University of Dar es Salaam and then Stanford University in the US. She first taught at the University of Nairobi before moving to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kosgei served as the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK.

Kiraitu Murungi Energy

KIRAITU Murungi, Member of Parliament for Imenti South, was among human rights’ lawyers who were targeted for detention because of their constant attacks on the Kanu Government. He went into exile in America between 1990 and 1992 and came back after the repeal of Section 2A of the Constitution and joined politics. He served as Justice and Constitutional Affairs. He was then moved to Energy.

John Michuki Environment and Mineral Resources

MR John Njoroge Michuki was born in 1932 in Iyego, Kangema. He rose through the ranks in the Civil Service from a District Assistant in 1957 to Treasury PS and Cabinet Minister. Before entering politics, Michuki served in various boards, including the Central Bank of Kenya. He will be remembered for his tough stand when he was the Minister for Roads and Public Works.

Charity Ngilu Water and Irrigation

CHARITY Ngilu, 56, and a mother of three, rose from obscurity in 1992 to unseat former Cabinet minister, Mr George Ndotto, as Member of Parliament for Kitui Central. In 1997 she vied for the presidency on a Social Democratic Party ticket. In 2002, the former Health minister was instrumental in the formation of Narc which eventually ended the 40-year Kanu rule.

Chirau Ali wakwere Transport

MATUGA MP, Mr Chirau Ali Mwakwere, was born in 1945 at Golini, Kwale District. During the 2002 General Election, he tried his hand in elective politics and won. He was appointed Foreign Affairs Assistant minister and then elevated to the Cabinet as Minister for Labour. He was moved to Foreign Affairs and later Transport. He was re-appointed to the same ministry this year. Yesterday, Mwakwere retained the Transport portfolio.

___________________

API

Former Shanghai official sentenced to 18 years. Will be 79 when he comes out

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.aljazeera

Chen, 61, is the most senior Chinese official to be convicted of corruption in over a decade [AP]

A Chinese court has sentenced Chen Liangyu, the former Shanghai Communist Party boss, to 18 years in jail for corruption.

The official Xinhua News Agency said on Friday that Chen was jailed “for taking bribes and abusing power” by a court in the northern city of Tianjin.

At 61, is the most senior Chinese official to be convicted of corruption in over a decade.Last month, the state audit office revealed figures that put the amount of stolen cash at 33.9 billion yuan ($4.8bn), 10 times more than the original estimate of $480 million.

He was tried last month in a scandal that shook national politics when it emerged in mid-2006 that hundreds of millions of dollars from Shanghai’s pension fund had been illegally siphoned off.

 

 

The state has already handed down tough convictions to up to 20 officials and businessmen involved in the theft of the pension funds, including one suspended death sentence and several life imprisonments.

 

Chen had been charged with abuse of power in connection with the pension fund scandal, as well as accepting 2.39 million yuan ($342,000), some of which was given to his wife and son, earlier press reports said. 

Dereliction of duty

State press said that charges of dereliction of duty were dropped against him in Friday’s decision.

 

During his one-day trial, Chen admitted he was “partially responsible” for the pilfering but did not plead guilty, according to previous state media reports.

Chen’s case is the biggest corruption scandal to hit the Chinese government since Chen Xitong, a former Beijing mayor, was removed from his post in 1995 and sentenced to 16 years in jail 

Chen was charged with corruption in 2006 when he was a member of the ruling Communist Party politburo, a grouping of about 20 or so of China’s most powerful politicians.

_____________________

API

 

New Spanish cabinet unveiled

Publisher: Korir, api, africanpress@getmail.no source.aljazeera

Most key members of the outgoing cabinet
retained their posts [AFP] 

Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Spain’s re-elected prime minister, has announced a government which for the first time in the country’s history includes more women than men – and a female defence minister. 

Most key members of the outgoing cabinet, such as Miguel Angel Moratinos, the foreign minister, Pedro Solbes, economy minister and Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, the interior minister, retained their posts.

But Carme Chacon, 37, the outgoing housing minister seen as a rising star in the ruling Socialist Party, was named to head the defence ministry, the first woman to hold the position.

She succeeds Jose Antonio Alonso, who last month was named speaker of the lower house of parliament.There were nine women and eight men in the new cabinet.

‘Harassment’

During his re-election campaign, Zapatero had vowed to “eradicate sexism, harassment and intolerance”.

During his first four-year term, his government had already passed a raft of liberal social reforms, such as laws to allow same-sex marriages, promote gender equality, combat domestic violence and make divorce easier.
The new government included five new names, while four other ministers were ousted, including Jesus Caldera, outgoing labour minister, a close ally of Zapatero.

Among the new faces were Bibiana Aido, 31, the equality minister and Cristina Garmendia, the science and innovation minister, 45.
Earlier on Saturday, Zapatero took the oath of office in front of King Juan Carlos in a brief ceremony at the royal Zarazuela Palace, following his Socialist Party’s election on March 9.

Zapatero has identified the flagging economy and the fight against the armed Basque separatist group ETA as his main challenges.

Financial discipline

Solbes will have the key task of implementing an economic stimulus package.

The Spanish prime minister has appealed for cross-party support [AFP]

The former EU economic commissioner is viewed as a financial disciplinarian. During the prime minister’s first mandate, he was able to turn in budget surpluses for several years running, something rare in Europe.
But he must now open the purse strings, as Zapatero has promised to dip into the budget surplus to pay for public works schemes and increase the minimum wage.

The Bank of Spain predicts the economy will grow by 2.4 percent this year, its lowest rate in over a decade and after expanding 3.8 per cent in 2007, as the global credit crunch and rising interest rates hit Spain’s once-buoyant construction industry.
 
“We must continue to boost the economy and do it in a new way, less dependent on construction,” Zapatero said while announcing his government.

Zapatero has also appealed for a cross-party strategy to combat ETA, which has killed 822 people in its nearly 40-year campaign for an independent Basque nation encompassing parts of northern Spain and southwestern France.

Confrontation

Zapatero’s first four-year term was marked by confrontation with the conservative opposition Popular Party over his failed attempt to negotiate peace with ETA.

Spanish lawmakers on Friday confirmed Zapatero as prime minister for a second term. 

 

He received the backing of all 169 Socialist deputies, while 158 legislators voted against him and 23 abstained.

The Socialists were seven seats short of an absolute majority in the 350-member lower house of parliament.

The prime minister on Friday acknowledged he did not have a clear majority in parliament, but that “many scenarios are possible” in order to achieve the necessary support to pass legislation.

_________________________

API

 

 

Zimbabwe opposition blocks recount

Publisher: Korir, api africanpress@getmail.no source.aljazeera

Mugabe’s rivals have urged Mbeki, left, to end his policy of so-called quiet diplomacy [AFP]

Zimbabwe’s opposition has moved to block the recount of votes from nearly two dozen parliamentary races, saying the recount is aimed at helping Robert Mugabe, the president, to rig the election.

The move came as southern African leaders called for the immediate release of the presidential vote results to break the political deadlock. 

The ruling on the petition by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) to block the vote recount is expected on Tuesday and the MDC has called for a general strike on the same day.

 

The MDC claims the Zanu-PF has waged a campaign of violence against it while the ruling party prepares for a second round presidential run-off.

The opposition has ruled out Tsvangirai’s participation in any run-off, saying a second ballot would be undemocratic due to Mugabe’s intimidation tactics.

The state media quoted George Chiweshe, the electoral commission chairman, as saying that ballots would be counted again in the presence of party representatives, candidates and election observers next Saturday.

Nelson Chamisa, an MDC spokesman, said the recount was “designed to reverse the will of the people”.

Call for results

Meanwhile, southern African leaders called on Zimbabwe’s election commission to publish the results of the March 29 presidential election as soon as possible.

The call came after a 13-hour meeting of the Southern African Development Commission (SADC) in Zambia, which had been specially convened to discuss the political deadlock.

“The summit urged the electoral authorities in Zimbabwe that verification and release of results are expeditiously done in accordance with the due process of law,” a joint statement from 14 nations said on Sunday.

“[The] summit also urged all the parties in the electoral process in Zimbabwe to accept the results when they are announced.”

Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary-general, said his party was largely satisfied with the outcome of the Zambia summit.

“This is a major improvement, SADC has acquitted itself fairly well,” he said.

However, Biti urged Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s president, to end his policy of so-called quiet diplomacy in mediating in Zimbabwe.

Mbeki must show “more vigour, more openness and a complete abandonment of the policy of quiet diplomacy”, he said.

SADC on Sunday called on Mbeki to continue as chief mediator between the MDC and the ruling Zanu-PF.

Mugabe did not attend the summit, after initially saying he would do so.

Tsvangirai addressed the leaders and asked them to urge Mugabe to quit, but the Zimbabwean leader was not even mentioned in the four-page statement from the 14 leaders.

Mugabe’s allies had suggested that Saturday’s summit was part of a Western plot to overthrow him because of his land reform programme, which took white-owned farms and redistributed them to blacks.

“This time, African leaders are supposed to do the bidding of the white West, that is to pressure Zimbabwe to abet regime change agenda,” a column in the Herald newspaper said.

The electoral commission had ordered a partial recount in 23 constituencies three weeks after the March 29 polls which saw the opposition win a parliamentary majority.

Nine seats needed

Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has sought to overturn the results that cost it the parliamentary majority for the first time.

Independent tallies showed the MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, winning 109 seats, and the ruling party trailing with 97.

 

The ruling party need only win back nine seats in the recount to regain control of parliament.

The court has waited more than a week to rule on the urgent appeal.

On Monday, a Zimbabwe high court is expected to rule on a separate opposition petition to force the release of the presidential vote results.a week to rule on the urgent appeal.

 

 

The MDC claims the Zanu-PF has waged a campaign of violence against it while the ruling party prepares for a second round presidential run-off.

The opposition has ruled out Tsvangirai’s participation in any run-off, saying a second ballot would be undemocratic due to Mugabe’s intimidation tactics.

The state media quoted George Chiweshe, the electoral commission chairman, as saying that ballots would be counted again in the presence of party representatives, candidates and election observers next Saturday.

Nelson Chamisa, an MDC spokesman, said the recount was “designed to reverse the will of the people”.

Call for results

Meanwhile, southern African leaders called on Zimbabwe’s election commission to publish the results of the March 29 presidential election as soon as possible.

The call came after a 13-hour meeting of the Southern African Development Commission (SADC) in Zambia, which had been specially convened to discuss the political deadlock.

“The summit urged the electoral authorities in Zimbabwe that verification and release of results are expeditiously done in accordance with the due process of law,” a joint statement from 14 nations said on Sunday.

“[The] summit also urged all the parties in the electoral process in Zimbabwe to accept the results when they are announced.”

Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary-general, said his party was largely satisfied with the outcome of the Zambia summit.

“This is a major improvement, SADC has acquitted itself fairly well,” he said.

However, Biti urged Thabo Mbeki, South Africa’s president, to end his policy of so-called quiet diplomacy in mediating in Zimbabwe.

Mbeki must show “more vigour, more openness and a complete abandonment of the policy of quiet diplomacy”, he said.

SADC on Sunday called on Mbeki to continue as chief mediator between the MDC and the ruling Zanu-PF.

Mugabe did not attend the summit, after initially saying he would do so.

Tsvangirai addressed the leaders and asked them to urge Mugabe to quit, but the Zimbabwean leader was not even mentioned in the four-page statement from the 14 leaders.

Mugabe’s allies had suggested that Saturday’s summit was part of a Western plot to overthrow him because of his land reform programme, which took white-owned farms and redistributed them to blacks.

“This time, African leaders are supposed to do the bidding of the white West, that is to pressure Zimbabwe to abet regime change agenda,” a column in the Herald newspaper said.

______________________

API

 

The electoral commission had ordered a partial recount in 23 constituencies three weeks after the March 29 polls which saw the opposition win a parliamentary majority.

Nine seats needed

Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party has sought to overturn the results that cost it the parliamentary majority for the first time.

Independent tallies showed the MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, winning 109 seats, and the ruling party trailing with 97. 

 

The ruling party need only win back nine seats in the recount to regain control of parliament.

The court has waited more than a week to rule on the urgent appeal.

On Monday, a Zimbabwe high court is expected to rule on a separate opposition petition to force the release of the presidential vote results.a week to rule on the urgent appeal.