Sweden: Hon. Raila Was Not Nominated By ODM-KS Members.

On behalf of ODM-KS, I take this opportunity to announce that the article titled “WHY RAILA WAS NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENTIAL RACE BY ODM-KS” in KSB is not correct because ODM-KS paid-up members did not participate in the nomination process and therefore, I dis-announce the nomination of Hon. Raila as propaganda of the highest degree.

Any publicity is not good publicity. The article contains information that both misleads and does a disservice to the fine members of ODM-KS. Inaccuracy in today’s article on kenyastockholmblog (KSB) is not a formal statement from ODM-KS. As far as ODM-KS is concerned, there was no nomination that took place on that particular day as it is reported by Mr. Okoth Osewe.

The owner of KSB who is Mr. Okoth Osewe has to give members of public true information based on true facts. I trust that KSB crew will also respond in an appropriate and professional manner- namely with a printed apology and a revised story. ODM-KS has its own programme and nominating Raila is not part of it. Both our 12 point programme and our constitution are very clear on who we are and what our activities are.

On behalf of ODM-KS, we will be most grateful for your interest in rectifying today’s article for your fine blog. Please call me for additional information. Should I not hear from you within the week, i will be happy to call your office.

By ODM-KS Secretary, Dancan Munala.

Published by African Press in Norway, apn

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museum in memory of the late Togolese president General Gnassingbe Eyadema, was inaugurated Sunday

Lome (Togo) A museum in memory of the late Togolese president General Gnassingbe Eyadema, was inaugurated Sunday in Pya, his native village (430 km north of Lome), APA learnt Monday from official sources.

The edifice which is built on a surface of 12.000 sq. metres, comprises of a collection of thousands of pictures, videos, audio materials, clothes, stories, gifts, decorations and awards that belonged to the late president who ruled Togo for nearly 40 years.

Built next to the residence of the late president who died on 5 February 2005, the museum comprises of three buildings which houses a chain of galleries.

The two-floor main building has six showrooms and two halls that are used for exhibition purposes.

“It is a real sanctuary where exotic and beautiful objects belonging to the father of the nation are stored,” Togolese primary and secondary Education Minister, Selom Komi Klassou, said.

Guided tours of the Gnassingbe Eyadema museum are organised on Mondays and Tuesdays.

He is remembered for leading his country with an iron fist from April 1967 to his death in February 2005.

Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn,

source.apa

South Africa will send a 100-member military team to train security forces in the Comores

Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa will send a 100-member military team to train security forces in the Comores ahead of the June presidential elections in the Muslim-majority archipelago, spokesperson for the department of foreign affairs, Ronnie Mamoepa said Monday.

“About 100 men working under the aegis of the African Union will arrive in Moroni on April 25 to train and organise the Comores forces,” Mamoepa said in a statement released by the department of foreign affairs.

A total of 35 people have signed up to contest the June 10 and 24 polls but the national poll body will publish a final list of candidates at the end of the month.

Mamoepa said the Arab League, of which Comores is a member, could send a similar force to train local soldiers before the ballot, but added that a final decision had not been taken.

South Africa, the continent’s biggest economy, often plays a leading role in resolving conflicts or maintaining stability in Africa either through mediation or peacekeeping and military training missions.

Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn,

source.apa

Conference on national policy begins

Monrovia (Liberia) – The first ICT conference aimed at formulating a National Policy on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for Liberia opened in Monrovia on Monday with several multinational institutions in attendance, APA has learnt.

A Draft Policy document on ICT developed by a presidential committee on Information and Communications Technology (ICT), is being discussed at the five-day conference.

The ICT policy, when adopted will support government’s initiatives on Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Program (PRSP).

It will also standardize ICT operational systems and administrative procedures in the country, and set the framework to develop and implement ICT programs in the counties and other local communities.

The Presidential committee said the conference will also broaden the national academic curriculum to create careers in the ICT sector and raise overall awareness on the policy .

Attending the conference, are the Georgia Institute of Technology, MICROSOFT, CISCO, OSIWA, ZTE Corporation, HAUWEI and the World Bank

The conference is also being attended by heads of government ministries and agencies, county superintendents and officials and the business community.

Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn,

source.apa

Fugitive sets up scholarship fund

Windhoek (Namibia) Former United States software executive Jacob Kobi Alexander, who is wanted in the US to face multiple charges of fraud, has set up a scholarship fund in Namibia, two days before the start of his extradition case in Namibian courts, APA learnt Monday.

Namibia’s ministry of education said in a statement Monday that Kobi Alexander, founder and former CEO of Comverse Technology Inc., had set up the Kobi & Hana Alexander Scholarship Fund with his wife to help ’increase academic interest in science and technology’.

The scholarship is worth about 22,000 dollars, the ministry said in a statement. Kobi Alexander has been fighting extradition to the US following his arrest in Namibia last September.

The business mogul has remained holed up in Namibia where he has expressed a desire to stay and pledged to invest more than $15 million dollars.

Kobi Alexander was nabbed last year after U.S. federal charges were filed against him on suspicion of manipulating stock option grant dates.

He is amongst several former Comverse executives accused of backdating millions of stock options to days when the shares were trading at lower prices, allowing executives to reap substantial gains, according to his indictment.

The Namibian government has described Alexander, who is currently free on bail as ’very passionate’ about the country and its people.

“Mr Alexander is very passionate about Namibia and its people. Further to the many investments totalling over N$100 million (about US$15 million) that he intends to bring and make in Namibia for the next five years, he is committing himself to investing in education of Namibia,” said Namibia’s ministry of education.

“It is his firm belief that if developing economies are to be able to compete on the global stage, emphasis should be placed on education, especially in the fields of science and technology.”

Alexander Kobi’s extradition hearing is set for Wednesday this week. Namibia, on the other hand, does not have an extradition treaty with the U.S.

Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn,

source.apa

Diarrhoea infection outbreak has killed four people in the past seven days in Ethiopian towns

Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) A new diarrhoea infection outbreak has killed four people in the past seven days in Ethiopian towns, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Monday.

According to OCHA, a total of 551 cases have been reported nationwide particularly in Bale, Borena, Gedeo and the southern parts of the country.

In addition, there are reports of renewed outbreaks in Korahe and Liben zones in the Somali region of the country, as well as in the Amhara region.

“Areas affected have no access to safe water supply and are located along rivers that are used as the primary source of drinking water,” OCHA said.

The Ethiopia ministry of health said that it is closely monitoring the situation on the ground to avoid propagation and further deaths.

Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn,

source.apa

Kenya gets money from the World Bank

Nairobi (Kenya) The World Bank has approved $338 million for concessional loans to support Kenya’s development agenda that seeks to alleviate poverty, improve education and sustainably manage its natural resources, APA learnt Monday.

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya said the World Bank has approved the loans because the country’s macro-economic environment was sound, and that public debt had decreased while prices remained stable and a decline in real interests.

“In view of the good progress that the government has made in reforms, the Bank has decided to support the government’s own strategy for improved governance for achieving middle income status by 2030,” he said.

The areas earmarked for funding include natural resource management, flood mitigation projects, ICT and education sectors.

Addressing the press in Nairobi on Monday, the minister said the government has gained the confidence of bilateral and multilateral development partners.

Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn,

source.apa