Sweden: ODM-K Scandinavia chapter meets Swedish politicians!

The newly established ODM-Kenya, Scandinavia chapter meet Swedish politicians recently, reports Kenya Stockholm Blog.

ODM Scandinavia secretary Mr Dancan Munala, Mr Gerry Changa Midenyo, the treasurer, Charles Otieno, the organizing secretary and Mr Jared Odero are reported to be among those who addresssed the Swedish Parliamentarians.

According to KSB, the group was invited by the “Green Party of Sweden, the Swedish Development Forum and the Nordic Africa Institute on deliberations that focused on work being done by the Africa Union to prevent, predict and mediate conflict within and between its member states.”

In his contribution it is reported that Mr Munala took up issues touching on security in Africa, saying insecurity in the world was caused by the developed Nations. He asked them to change their approach.

“It is a waste of time to discuss Africa’s security with the same people who are threatening world peace”, he told KSB.

Blaming the European politicians, Munala told them “to stop using Africa as a cover for their dirty political games. He said that throughout history, freedom of African people has been threatened by the very Western nations that were posing as peace makers,” “warning that Africans, especially Kenyans, should watch out “because EU is a serious threat to the development of Africa as a whole”.

Others who addressed the panel are Mr Odero, Mr. Otieno and Mr Midenyo

Mr Midenyo told the panelist to leave Africa solve their own problems.

“Those in the Pannel were: Gunilla Carlsson, Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Geert Laporte, Head of Institutional relations and Programme coordinator of ECDPM´s Programme on ACP-EU trade relations; Cyril Obi, Programme coordinator at the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI), Carin Norberg, Director of the Nordic Africa Institute, Lennart Wohlgemuth, Professor at the Centre for Africa Studies at Gothenburg University and Board member of Swedish Development Forum (FUF) together with a representative of the African Union; reports KSB.

By Korir, African Press in Norway (APN)

africanpress@chello.no

Source: Kenya Stockholm Blog/17/11

Kenya: Former President, Daniel Arap Moi wants nothing to do with ODM-K!

The former president Daniel Arap Moi has reiterated that he wants nothing to do with ODM-K.

Speaking in Kabarak University, his home ground, Moi has said he will not join ODM-K. The former president is reported to have said, “tribalism has destroyed many African countries.” Moi told his audience that he did not want to incite groups against one another, saying that is why he will not join ODM-K, adding that people should not expect him to change his mind one day and join the party.

The former president has always disliked any KANU links with LDP. It is believed that his anger dates back to the time Raila Odinga offended him by defecting from KANU instead of backing Uhuru Kenyatta then Moi’s favourite choice for power.

Now, Uhuru is the one lashing at the former president and has told him that he is taking KANU into ODM-K, something Moi is totally against.

Moi considers Raila an enemy and is not about to let KANU support him as a presidential candidate, a flag bearer for ODM-K.

However, Moi is in a fix. He does not want to support William Ruto who has also announced his wish to become the next president.

The only person, it now seems certain that Moi is fairly comfortable with is President Kibaki, and he might support him for re-election instead of seeing rebellious young turks take over the presidency.

One other man that Moi may be comfortable to see as a flag bearer is Kalonzo Musyoka. There is also Musalia Mudavadi because of Moi’s relationship with the late Mudavadi.

Now it remains to be seen whether Uhuru will manage to push KANU into ODM-K. If he does so, he will be on the look out because he is aware Raila wants to be the next president and will do everything possible to block Uhuru just like he did when Moi had proposed him as candidate in the last general elections.

By Korir, African Press in Norway (APN)africanpress@chello.no

Source: The Standard(Kenya)/18/11

Kenya: Kibaki reshuffles cabinet!

President Kibaki decided to reshuffle his Cabinet on Wednesday and in the process, gave back jobs to two former ministers accused of corruption, Prof George Saitoti and Kiraitu Murungi.

Both men were given back their earlier dockets, Ministry of Education and Technology to Saitoti and Energy ministry to Murungi.

Saitoti was subjected to Goldenberg inquiry while Murungi had stepped aside because of the Anglo-leasing scandal that rocked the country.

Although Goldenberg inquiry implicated Saitoti, he was later cleared by the courts that found no wrong-doing on his part.

The president also named 9 assistant ministers. The Daily Nation has listed them as follows:

• “Mr Wario Ali — Special Programmes, Office of the President, 
• Mr Peter G. Munya — Internal Security, Office of the President,
• Mr Katoo J. ole Metito — Youth Affairs, Vice President’s Office, 
• Mr Hussein Maalim Mohammed — Home Affairs, Vice President’s Office,
• Mrs Jayne Kihara — Environment and Natural Resources,
• Mr Hussein Sasura — Public Works, Ministry of Roads and Public Works,
• Mr Ukur Yattani — Science and Technology,
• Mr Muchiri Gachara — County Councils, Ministry of Local Government,
• Mr Patrick Kariuki Muiruri — Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture.”

In the same Nation report 2 assistant ministers were transfered, taking Mr Stephen K. Tarus to Defence based in the Office of the President. He comes from Local government. Mr Kembi Gitura goes to Foreign Affairs from Agriculture.

The report says the President did not name a minister for Lands, a ministry that is so sensitive due to land grabbings in Kenya as exposed in the land commision report.

Surprisingly the President left out Mr Mwiraria who stepped down as Finance Minister when the Anglo Leasing scandal was hot. He might, however, be brought up soon to the Ministry of Lands, since Kimunya has remained in Finance, the docket that was Mwiraria’s.

The man who may never come back is Mr Murungaru who seems to have a lot of trouble following him everywhere, after some countries banned him from ever steeping on their soil.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN)

africanpress@chello.no

Source: Daily Nation(Kenya)/15/11

Algeria: Foreign revenue might dictate suitable weekend days!

Many Algerian businessmen are reported to be actively campaigning to have days they observe their weekend changed from Thursday/Friday to Saturday/Sunday because of economical reasons. They are basing their arguments in the reduction of foreign trade revenue earnings.

The country has been observing  its weekend from Thursday through Friday since 1976 because of the fact that Friday is a holy day for muslims. Islam is the only state religion in the country.

The businessmen will not get an easy ride in their quest to alter the days because they are face the insistence by some Muslim fundamentalists in the country who do not see reason to alter the weekend observation that has been in place from 1976.

 IPS reports that, “some observers point out that the Algerian weekend is incompatible with weekends in the north African country’s major trading partners. What with Algeria taking Thursday and Friday off while other states have their weekends over Saturday and Sunday, several days are now periods of inactivity, they note.”

This situation creates unwarranted tug-of-war between the moderates and the fundamentalist.

Quoting government finance official Larbi Ould Ahmed, IPS’s reports, ” The fact that the customs service doesn’t work Thursday and Friday and the banks Saturday, means there are at least three days of losses and stoppages in the various operations of trade transactions.”

The situation is complicated further by the fact that, ” foreign crew members of ships docking in Algerian ports take their weekly break on Saturday and Sunday.”With the ways things are, Algeria has  3 day working week and that paralyses the country’s economy. “It’s absurd to continue to trade with foreign partners only three days a week. There’s no way we that we can get in tune with world competition on a three-day work week,” he told IPS.The country is a major world supplier of oil and gas b,ringing the needed revenues but struggles to market other commodities abroad. By Korir, African Press in Norway (APN)africanpress@chello.noSource: IPS/17/11

Rwanda: Belgium’s former colony to get increased aid!

IPS has reported that, “during the next four years Belgium will provide Rwanda with about 168 million dollars worth of development aid. This sum is to be spread among various sectors, with agriculture and health receiving priority. About 74.4 million dollars has been allocated for the development of agriculture and some 48 million dollars for the health sector.”

The priority given to the two sectors is well thought because the success in the agricultural sector is important to feed the population, whereas health is one other sector very important because HIV/AIDS is in the increase in the region.

Many African countries struggle a great deal to provide health facilities to the people and aid increase is good for the Rwandese economy.

According to the IPS, “Belgian Cooperation and Development Minister Armand De Decker was in the Great Lakes region of Africa earlier this month, visiting Rwanda and Burundi, two of his country’s 18 foreign aid recipients.”

While on his visit to the great lake regions, and during his last leg of the tour he visited Rwanda where it is reported he met with “Rosemary Museminali, Rwanda’s junior secretary in charge of cooperation, with whom he chaired the joint Belgian-Rwandan committee that established the aid programme between the two countries for 2007-2010;” reports IPSThe problem with aid going to some African countries is corruption. Some members of the government may put some of the money into personal use if no strict accounting measures are in place.

By Korir, African Press in Norway (APN)

africanpress@chello.no

Source of the story: IPS/31/10

Norway: “Innvandrerparti” a new Immigrant Political Party started!

A new Immigrant Political Party has been started in Oslo by a large group of immigrants led by a veteran politician Mr Mohan Singh Varma of Indian origin.

Varma has been active in Oslo politics for many years. He was elected as a municipal councillor where he served in the late 80’s and 90’s. He has been a member of the Right Wing Conservative Party, The Centre Party, The Labour Party and Progress Party.

His new party will field candidates in the next council elections.

During an interview with “NTB”,the Norwegian news agency, he told the agency that his decision to start a party for immigrants is geared by the fact that he has experienced that well established big parties do not take the minority groups in society seriously. His party will give priority to issues that affect the immigrants in the country.

Speaking to the media he has stressed that his party will be used as information channel to help immigrants to understand the Norwegian system in order to be able to get their way through in seeking for their rights. It will help the immigrants to understand the rules and regulations in Norway.

In a press release, Varma wrote that the majority in the society and the minority should now understand that time has come for establishment of a party that will cater for all immigrants in the country. He has told the media that the party is open to everybody and that Norwegians are also welcome to join.

Reiterating the reasons behind the establishing of the party, Varma says that time has come to have a political platform for immigrants to use when they are not heard by the majority in the society.

He will concentrate his efforts using the party to harmonise cultural difference so that all cultures can work together in a good atmosphere conducive to all citizens in respect of the Norwegian constitution despite teir religious background or race.

The party has members from Asia, Africa, the Americas and other parts of the world. The Party will continue with membership recruitment until the coming elections.

Varma is asking all immigrants to join the party in the build up for the coming elections, so that the party may capture some council seats and give a voice to the immigrants.

By Korir, African Press in Norway (APN)africanpress@chello.no

Source of the story: ANB/NTB/3/9