The Kalenjin coup as seven women join Parliament – The only tribe with the largest number of woman in Parliament also demonstrating respect to women in politics by allowing them to climb political ladder

By Saturday Standard Team

Beneath the Orange Democratic Movement’s victory in Bomet and Sotik by-elections lies a cultural revolution among the Kalenjin.

The assault on culture and tradition makes up for the harsher judgement last week’s election was just a replay of the emerging politics of dynasty and skewed sense of continuity. It manifests itself also in the fact that the community has the youngest age-profile when it comes to MPs.

The victory of Mrs Beatrice Kones in Bomet and Dr Joyce Laboso Abonyo in neighbouring Sotik, with more than 10,000 vote margin in both places, hands the Kalenjin half of the seats held by elected women MPs. The by-elections ensured the replacement of a female MP who died with another of her gender (and bloodline) and another to replace her husband.

Thus, from the 15 elected women MPs the Tenth Parliament began with, now there is one more. What also stands out is the fact that except for one, all the other six are on their first term.

Something else stands out – of the seven Kalenjin MPs (including the two waiting to be sworn-in) – four have PhDs. These are Higher Education Minister Dr Sally Kosgey, Sports Minister Prof Hellen Jepkemoi Sambili, Eldoret East MP Prof Margaret Kamar and Dr Joyce Laboso.

The community often perceived to not only as warrior-like but one torpedoed by the machismo, not only replaced the late Kipkalya Kones with his first wife, but and Lorna Laboso with her sister Joyce, and also made a first. Today, of its seven sub-tribes, five have an elected woman MP. Only the Pokot and the Sabaot have no women MP.

There are two each from the top two most populous groups – the Kipsigis and the Nandi. Dr Kosgey, who is Aldai MP and Eldoret South MP Peris Chepchumba Simam, a former high school teacher, are Nandi.

From the Kipsigis are Mrs Kones, the first Kalenjin woman to be elected to Parliament replace her husband, and Dr Joyce Laboso, who took over from her late sister, Lorna. Both lost husband and sister in a plane crash, paving the way for the Thursday by-elections.

Marakwet East MP Mrs Linah Chebii Kilimo who became the first Kalenjin woman to be appointed to the Cabinet in 2003 after the National Rainbow Coalition whitewashed Kanu in 2002, is from the Marakwet sub-group.

Married outside the constituency

Prof Kamar, the soil scientist who once headed Moi University’s Chepkoilel Campus, belongs to the Elgeiyo, while Prof Sambili, who is the Mogotio MP hails from the Tugen sub-tribe. Unlike all the others who ran and won on ODM ticket, Prof Sambili who was Egerton University’s head of postgraduate programmes took up the United Democratic Movement ticket after she lost the race for ODM’s endorsement at the nomination.

Interestingly, Dr Kosgey taught Prof Sambili history in Nakuru High School. Now they are Cabinet colleagues.

Three of Rift Valley women MPs have a distinct background. Though Dr Kosgey, a former University of Nairobi lecturer, High Commissioner and Head of Public Service initially, was reportedly betrothed to a man from the Coast, she had a smooth sail on her first try in Nandiland.

She was elected on the platform of her rich past and it mattered not what locals would say of girls married outside the constituency. Marital status was not even a factor.

Dr Laboso first had to overcome the hurdle placed on her way to Parliament by tradition. She is married to a man originally from Nyakach, Kadiang’a. It was not an easy feat as her opponents, including a sitting MP from a neighbouring constituency, mounted a hate campaign against her.

Some even printed posters with her portrait and the name ‘Abonyo’ to support their claim she was inappropriate. First, because she had been married off, and two, she was being ‘imposed’ on them by the Prime Minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga, who represents a Nairobi constituency but was born in Nyanza.

Prof Sambili won in a largely ODM zone even though she had to battle claims she was a wolf in sheep’s skin, since her husband, Dr Edward Sambili, was then as he is now a Permanent Secretary in the Kibaki administration.

During her days on the campaign blitz, her husband kept off, as she literally fought her way. She also had to battle hate campaign claim she was a Kanu mole, because of her husband’s strong ties to the former regime.

Debunk myths

The same community that voted out Mr Nicholas Biwott, to whom she is listed as the third wife by the multilingual free-content online encyclopaedia – Wikipedea, curiously elected Prof Kamar, a former member of the East African Community Parliament.

Curiously, her campaign on ODM ticket suffered a slight jolt when the helicopter she was using was claimed to be the same on the self-styled ‘Total Man’ was using. In the heat of the campaigns that was a ticket to defeat because Biwott was not only running on a Kanu ticket, but was also campaigning for President Kibaki’s re-election. But again to the amazement of the community, one of the people trying to unseat him in Keiyo South was Kamar’s brother.

The women MPs with the humblest of background are Mrs Kones, who was a grassroots education officer, and Mrs Kilimo, who was a bank clerk.

The Marakwet, a conservative Kalenjin sub-tribe, still grappling with cattle rustling and female circumcision, elected Kilimo.

It is this bloodless cultural coup that could soon be subject of research and study not just among feminists but students of sociology, anthropology, law, and political science.

Focus will be on the underlying factors that transformed one community to dispatch seven women when such a populous provinces as Nyanza has zero. Central just two – Justice Minister Martha Karua, who is on her third term, and first-time MP and Minister Esther Mathenge – who incidentally is in charge of Gender.

Nyanza was the first in 1969 to give Kenya her first elected woman MP – Mrs Grace Akech Onyango. The community has elected two other women – writer Mrs Grace Ogot and Dr Pheobe Asiyo.

The Kamba, through Mrs Nyiva Mwendwa, gave us the first woman minister, are still trying with one of its political giants being Water Minister Mrs Charity Ngilu. They also have Mrs Wavinya Ndeti, the Kathiani MP and an Assistant Minister.

Dr Laboso and Mrs Kones’ triumph rekindle memories of 1974 when the Kalenjin got its first woman MP, Philomena Chelagat Mutai, then a 24-year-old student at the University of Nairobi.

She rose to prominence because though not bearded, her fiery tongue and critical but sharp mind saw her join the so-called group of “Seven Bearded Sisters” that kept the Kanu regime on its toes.

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API/Source.standard.ke

Kgalema Motlanthe addresses Parliament in Cape Town after being elected as South Africa’s president on Thursday. Deputy ANC leader Motlanthe was sworn in as South Africa’s president on Thursday to replace Thabo Mbeki, who resigned amid the worst political crisis since the end of apartheid. Photo/REUTERS 

By WENDELL ROELF CAPE TOWN, Thursday

Thabo Mbeki did not attend the swearing in ceremony of his successor in parliament on Thursday, officials said, after the country suffered its worst political crisis since the end of apartheid.

Mbeki was invited but has declined,” said an official in parliament’s protocol office.

Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, overwhelmingly elected in a secret ballot, was sworn in as president of South Africa late today. He replaces Mr Mbeki, who resigned on Sunday after nine years in power.

The ANC withdrew its backing for Mr Mbeki after a judge suggested he had interfered in a graft case against his arch rival, party leader Jacob Zuma, who is widely expected to become president in a general election next year.

Almost one-third of South Africa’s cabinet stepped down on Tuesday out of loyalty to Mbeki, who presided over South Africa’s longest period of economic growth.

Mr Motlanthe, a quiet spoken leftist intellectual and ally of Zuma, faces huge challenges including slowing economic growth and high inflation.

Officials said consumer inflation hit its highest level since before the end of apartheid in August, at 13.7 per cent.

Reflecting the ANC’s dominance of parliament, Mr Motlanthe won 269 votes from members of parliament, compared to 50 for the candidate of the opposition Democratic Alliance.

ANC parliamentarians greeted the announcement of the vote with cheers and clapping.

Upheaval in the ANC

The upheaval in the ANC, climax of a power struggle between Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma, has raised concerns of instability in Africa’s biggest economy and a possible split in the formerly monolithic ruling party.

It was not immediately clear when Mr Motlanthe would name his new Cabinet although investors are keenly watching to see if highly respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel will be reappointed.

Markets were rattled on Tuesday, with both the rand currency and stocks suffering, after Mr Manuel joined the exodus from the cabinet, but they partially recovered when he said he was ready to serve under a new president.

President Motlanthe, a former mine union leader and anti-apartheid soldier, is widely respected by both radical leftists and business tycoons within the African National Congress.

He will try to heal the worst rifts in the history of the party because of the battle between Mr Mbeki and Mr Zuma, which has overshadowed pressing issues such as widespread poverty and crime and an Aids epidemic ravaging millions.

Radical policy changes under Motlanthe in the short transitional period are unlikely but foreign investors eager for stability and a continuity of economic policy will be watching closely for clues on whether the ANC will change course.

The populist Zuma is trying to reassure foreign investors he would not stray from business-friendly economic policies but is under pressure from left-leaning union allies to alleviate poverty through more government spending.

South African parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete, now takes over as deputy president. Ms Mbete replaces Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who resigned on Tuesday together with 10 other cabinet ministers out of loyalty to Mr Mbeki.

Below are possible political developments in South Africa:

Policy direction: Given Mr Motlanthe’s short time in office until next year’s general election around April, he is unlikely to press for major changes and may instead focus on easing deep divisions in the ANC.

Mr Motlanthe will need to quickly show there will be no changes in pro-business economic policies in order to reassure foreign investors who have been rattled by the political turmoil.

He is likely to face pressure from left-leaning ANC members who want more government spending to alleviate widespread poverty. Balancing those demands could present a serious challenge.

The fate of the ANC: Investors will be watching closely to see if ANC infighting — the worst in its history — will worsen. If that happens, it will raise questions over the party’s ability to govern Africa’s biggest economy.

Meanwhile, below are some reactions from analysts:

Mr Leon Myburgh, Sub-Saharan Africa specialist, Citigroup: “His appointment is pretty much what people were expecting. The key is what cabinet appointments he will make now, given the resignations that have happened. I think that’s going to be the key thing to track, and how quickly he’s going to stabilise the political boat.’’

Mr Steven Friedman, Political analyst, University of Johannesburg and Rhodes University: “Motlanthe has had a problem… which is that there is a faction of the ANC leadership, which believes he wants Zuma’s job.

“I think it boxes him into a situation where he has to be a very low-profile president if he doesn’t want to antagonise those people within the ANC alliance who think that he is trying to elbow out Jacob Zuma.

“I think that there is a great deal of goodwill towards him in the country. I think that he demonstrated (at the ANC conference) in Polokwane that he is a bridge-builder and that he is capable of leadership.

Sipho Seepe, Independent political analyst: “I think at the moment people are hurting, people are very upset… But a split (whereby supporters of Mbeki would split from the ANC and form another party) — I do not see it.”

“If the split happens, we should not have any problem with it, because what it means is that we will have another party. We are a multi-party democracy.

“The problem that we have is that we’ve had many people who are in opposition being people who are accused… that they are not steeped in the liberation struggle.

“So we might find a party that might do that, but I don’t see that coming right now.”

Mr Iraj Abedian, Chief Economist, Pan African capital holding: “I think the next key step is the announcement of his cabinet.

Everybody is going to basically wait and see until key positions, key portfolios are filled, most importantly finance and public enterprises. Those are the two key portfolios to watch.

“The fact that the transition has gone smoothly is a good point, it brings some level of comfort, but the next important step is about who’s going to be in finance, who’s going to be in deputy finance, who’s going to be at public enterprises.”

Key facts about Motlanthe

Appointed to cabinet in July 2008, Mr Motlanthe risked his political reputation by publicly defending Mr Zuma in the face of corruption allegations after he was sacked by Mbeki as the country’s deputy president in 2005.

He is understood to be favoured by Mr Zuma to become his deputy should Zuma become president. Mr Motlanthe was elected ANC deputy president in December 2007.

A left-leaning intellectual, Mr Motlanthe has never sought the limelight. He is believed to have been born in 1949 and is therefore about 58.

He is a former student activist, a trade unionist and a former soldier in the ANC’s disbanded military wing UmKhonto we Sizwe.

Mr Motlanthe was detained in 1976 for 11 months for pursuing the aims of the ANC liberation movement. In 1977 he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

He was jailed on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela under the racist apartheid regime.

In 1997, when politician-businessman Cyril Ramaphosa retired from politics, Mr Motlanthe was elected secretary-general of the ANC.

 

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API/Source.nation.ke/Reuters

Kenya: ODM wins in Bomet and Sotik

By Standard Team

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) candidates won the Sotik and Bomet by-elections concluded on Thursday night.

Dr Joyce Cherono Laboso beat 11 other contestants after she garnered 23,880 to clinch Sotik parliamentary seat while Mrs Beatrice Cherono Kones, the widow of former Roads Minister, the late Kipkalya Kones got a landslide victory in Bomet constituency.

Laboso successfully captured the seat that was held by her sister, the late Lorna Laboso who perished along with Kones in tragic plane crash in June 10 barely five months after she was elected to represent Sotik.

The Returning Officer Derrick Hams Phombea declared the 47 year-old the winner shortly after 2.00am at Sotik Primary School where vote tallying took place.

Laboso was followed by UDM’s Brigadier (Rtd) Alexander Sitienei, who garnered 13,843 votes. Sitienei is a former aide camp to retired President Moi.

Mrs Beatrice Kones

Beatrice, a former primary school teacher, secured 30,210 votes to beat seven other contestants in the by-election which saw her closest rival and former area
MP Mr Nick Salat of Kanu garner 15,015 votes

An overwhelmed Mrs Kones, who was flanked by her co-wife Lily, family members, relatives, friends, and supporters thanked the voters in the constituency for their support.

“I wish to state here and now that I will serve the people of Bomet with dedication and I
will not disappoint them. I pledge to deliver on all my pre-election promises,” Beatrice said.

Beatrice urged her rivals to join hands with her in uniting the people and developing the area.

“The people have spoken, the verdict is out. We need to unite, initiate development projects to the benefit of the people. I will serve all constituents without bias as to their party affiliations,” Beatrice stated.

Low voter turnout, late withdrawals, apathy, and claims of vote buying characterised the by-elections in both constituencies, where 20 candidates contested.

In Sotik, ODM-K candidate Joseph Ghovel who withdrew from the race in the last minute in favour of Sitienei got 325 votes, Ernest Koskei (Kaddu) 211 votes, Wesley Maritim of Narc-K (191), Alice Ng’ok of DP (114), Gladys Koskei of MDA had 94 votes while Joseph Ivor Korir capped the list with 83 votes.

In her acceptance speech Laboso thanked residents of Sotik constituency for giving her an opportunity to represent them in parliament and promised to continue with projects that were initiated by her late sister.

Two-horse races

“I want to sincerely thank you people for having shown confidence in me. I promise to serve all the residents of Sotik to the best of my ability,” she added.

Though returning officers and security personnel termed the exercise as violence free, tense moments engulfed the counting halls in Bomet and Sotik on Thursday evening when it became clear that the contest would be a two-horse race in both constituencies.

But it was evident that Kones, the widow of the late Cabinet Minister Kipkalya Kones, was facing an uphill task against Kanu’s former area MP Nick Salat.

Dr Joyce Cherono Laboso

A similar situation was replicated in Sotik where Laboso was facing if off with UDM’s Sitienei.

An ODM win is not only a plus for the party, but also a “vote of confidence” in Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has recently faced stiff criticism from some South Rift MPs over the impending Mau Forest evictions and what they see as unfair of distribution of Cabinet positions in the Grand Coalition Government.

The MPs, led by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, have not been happy since the formation of Coalition Cabinet and the PM’s position on the Mau controversy.

Ruto and a group of former ODM leaders from the region have been campaigning against their own party, ODM.

They were supporting the candidacy of Sitienei of UDM for the Sotik seat.

Former ruling party, Kanu, which was swept by the ODM wave in the region in the General Election, last year, was looking at prospects of a possible win in Bomet, through Salat.

There was heavy presence of security personnel in all the polling centres, to ensure the voting was conducted in a peaceful environment.

The ODM-Kenya party received a rude shock when its candidate Joseph Cheruiyot Ghovel, announced he had withdrawn in favour of UDM’s candidate, Sitienei.

In Sotik, with 64,000 registered voters, only a handful trooped to the polling stations despite the high-profile campaigns spearheaded by Raila and his deputy Uhuru Kenyatta, albeit for different candidates.

Voters in some polling stations in the remote parts of the constituency had not turned up to cast their votes by 8am, unlike in past elections where voters arrive as early as 6am.

Bomet and Sotik constituents had to pick new MPs following the deaths, in a plane-crash, of former Roads Minister the late Kipkalya Kones and Home Affairs Assistant Minister the late Lorna Laboso, last June 10.

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API/Source.standard.ke

South Africa: New president removes health minister

Tshabalala-Msimang, who was criticized by South African civil society and many members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for not implementing HIV/Aids policies aggressively enough, was shifted into the post of “Minister in the Presidency.”

Motlanthe also removed Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla, who was held responsible for political interference with prosecution decisions by the judge whose recent findings in the case against ANC leader Jacob Zuma precipitated the events which brought Motlanthe to power. Mabandla was given the portfolio responsible for state enterprises.

The changes were the main surprises of Motlanthe’s acceptance speech, delivered to Parliament in Cape Town after he was elected and sworn in as the country’s third democratically-elected president on Thursday.

Motlanthe reinstated Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, whose formal resignation precipitated declines in stock market indices on Tuesday, and said he would continue to implement ANC policies “unchanged.”

“Mine is not the desire to deviate from what is working,” Motlanthe said. “It is not for me to reinvent policy. Nor do I intend to reshape either Cabinet or the public service.”

One other cabinet minister was transferred to another post: Charles Nqakula, responsible for the police, was moved into the defence portfolio to fill a vacancy. Nqakula has been criticised by the opposition, but not by the ANC, for the country’s high crime rate.

Motlanthe was forced to reshuffle the cabinet when ministers loyal to outgoing President Thabo Mbeki ignored ANC calls for them to stay in place and insisted that they were not available for re-appointment. Motlanthe’s administration is expected to serve until April or May next year, when elections are due.

Motlanthe appointed eight ministers new to the cabinet, three to fill the health, justice and police portfolios and five to fill other vacancies left by Mbeki loyalists.

The new appointments are: Baleka Mbete, deputy president; S. Shiceka, provincial and local government; R. Baloyi, public service; Geoff Doidge, public works; Siyabonga Cwele, intelligence; Barbara Hogan, health; Nathi Mthethwa, safety and security (police); and Enver Surty, justice.

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api/source.allAfrica.com (South Africa) – September 25, 2008.

South Africa: ‘Humbled and honoured,’ says Motlanthe

“I am deeply humbled and honoured by the faith and confidence that the Members of this Assembly have in me,” he told the National Assembly on Thursday, accepting his election as President-elect of South Africa.

He said he undertakes the responsibility of President elect “cognisant of the duties and responsibilities that are attached to this high office and the expectations the people of this nation rightly have of the head of state.”

President-elect Motlanthe was this afternoon elected President of South Africa and he takes over Mr Thabo Mbeki after the ANC decided to recall him last weekend. He will serve as president until elections next year.

Chief Justice Pius Langa announced in the National Assembly that Mr Motlanthe had won in an outright majority of votes following a secret ballot by members, to emerge as the third post-Apartheid President in the country.

He said Mr Motlanthe had earned 269 votes, while the Democratic Alliance’s candidate Mr Joe Seremane got 50 votes.

Chief Justice Pius Langa said there were 360 votes casts while 41 ballot papers were spoilt.

All political parties in the National Assembly congratulated Mr Motlanthe, and were unanimous in their hope that he would accelerate service delivery to millions of poor South Africans.

“We hope you will put the lives ordinary of South African first ahead of party politics,” said Independent Democrats President Patricia de Lille.

“We need a leader that will give all South African’s hope and lead us to a better life,” she said.

The Democratic Alliance said it would hold him to statements made earlier committing himself to the independence of the judiciary should he be elected president.

“The challenge for Minister Motlanthe is to rise above the ruling party’s internal power play and govern in the best interests of the people of South Africa between now and the next election.”

IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi said he had no doubt Mr Motlanthe would meet the requirements of his job.

“I have no doubt that President elect Mr Motlanthe is more than equal to this task possessing, as his does, integrity, an instinctive sense of the common good and fair society, and an abiding respect for the institutions of the Republic,” Mr Buthelezi told parliamentarians.

Mr Motlanthe will now proceed to Tuynhuys, were he will be sworn in as President of the Republic. He is then expected to make a statement at 5pm in the National Assembly.

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API/Source.BuaNews (South Africa) – September 25, 2008.

Cameroon, international finance bodies reach 75 billion CFA deal to rehabilitate ageing dams

<By Tansa Musa

 

YAOUNDE, Sept 17 – The government of Cameroon and a consortium of six development and international finance organisations have reached a 75 billion CFA francs deal to rehabilitate two ageing hydro-electricity power stations in the country and raise their energy output by 13 MW, the lone public energy supply company AES-Sonel has announced.

 

      Created in 1957 and 1981 respectively, he said the main Edea and Songloulou hydro-electricity power stations on the Sanaga River were already in an advanced state of degradation and needed urgent rehabilitation to ensure sustainable energy production for the Central African country.

 

      “The rehabilitation is a stitch in time considering that the structures installed several decades ago had almost gone obsolete seriously affecting the energy supply on the south interconnected network that feeds seven provinces, including the main economic city Douala and tha administrative capital Yaounde,” it said.

 

      The rehabilitation works will raise energy output at the country’s oldest hydro-power station from 35.3 MW to 48 MW.

 

      The Songloulou hydro-power station currently produces 384 MW of the 933 MW AES-Sonel supplies for the entire south interconnection network.

 

      AES-Sonel said according to the deal, the company will provide 30 percent of the 75 billion CFA francs to be invested in the project while the remaining 70 percent will be raised by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the Société de Promotion et Participation pour la Coopération Economique (Proparco), the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Banque de Développement des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BDEAC). 

 

     Once all the money has been put in place, the rehabilitation works are expected to start in October 2009 and be completed in 2012. The project is expected to create some 800 direct and indirect jobs.(END)

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API

Court condemns celebrated singer to three years in jail for role in February riots

By Tansa Musa

 

YAOUNDE, Sept 26 – One of Cameroon’s most celebrated musicians Lapiro de Mbanga, was on Wednesday sentenced to three years in prison by the Moungo high court in Nkongsamba, some 100 km north of Douala, for his role in the February riots to protest hikes in food and fuel prices in the localities of Mbanga and Penja.

 

According to the court, Lapiro de Mbanga, whose real name is Pierre Roger Sandjo Lambo, was found guilty of inciting violence, destruction of property, and obstructing road circulation.

 

He was also ordered to pay 200 million CFA francs as compensation for damages caused to the banana producing company Société des Plantations de Mbanga (SPM), 80 million CFA francs to the local taxation department and 359,488 CFA francs to cover court expenditures.

 

But his lawyer immediately filed an appeal against the judgment, saying the prosecution did not prove the case brought against his client beyond reasonable doubt as demanded by the law.  

 

 ”However, I am partially satisfied with the judgment because the court finally found my client only guilty of three out of six charges that were initially brought against him which could have earned him 20 years in jail,” said Maitre Augustin Mbami.

 

In the meantime, he said he will file for his provisional release from jail while awaiting the final judgment of the appeal court.  

 

Meanwhile, Lapiro’s wife Louisette, sobbing, said the charges brought against her husband were trumped-up so as to make him pay for his outspoken criticism of the Biya regime and opposition to the president’s decision to modify the constitution to remain in power for life.

 

“They accused my husband for what he did not do. On the day of the riots, people came and informed him, in his capacity as traditional ruler, that some protesters went to set fire to the SPM building. So he went there and pleaded with the boys not to do that because the company was important for the community,” she said.

 

“Unfortunately, by the time he reached there the damage had already been done.  The authorities know this is true because he is the one who alerted them about the incident and took an active part in efforts to extinguish the flames. I think the government is after him because he opposed the revision of the constitution in his song…He is simply a prisoner of conscience. We know that in this country, the government does not like people who speak the truth about what is going wrong in society.”

 

In April, gendarmes in the small locality of Mbanga, 30 km north of Douala, where Lapiro is traditional ruler and main opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party local chieftain, arrested the prominent singer and accused him of inciting violence during the February riots in the locality, resulting in massive destruction of property.

 

He was  detained at the Douala-New Bell maximum security prison where he was held incommunicado for three months before he appeared in court, with his hands and feet chained, the type of treatment that is only reserved in Cameroon penintentiaries for hardened criminals.

 

His case was adjourned several times until last month when he was transferred to the Nkongsamba prison, still in chains.

 

Human rights activists from within and outside the country condemned the detention under such conditions an abuse of his constitutional and human right of presumption of innocence.

 

“Lapiro’s situation is a clear case of gross human rights violation that exposes the non independence of the Cameroon judiciary,” summed Churchill Samba of the Kumba-based Global Conscience Initiative.    ”The fact that the accused is in chains speaks more of his persecution rather than prosecution. Lapiro’s situation is a clear case of gross human rights violation that exposes the non independence of the Cameroon judiciary.” 

The February riots which were also seen as demonstration against the president’s decision to amend the constitution to prolong his rule, resulted in over 100 people shot dead by the police.   

 Not deterred by the protests, Biya who has ruled Cameroon with an iron fist for over 25 years, went ahead to modify the constitution to unlimit the number of presidential terms of office, allowing him to run for another seven-year term in 2011.

The president, who initially accused the opposition of masterming the uprising to unseat, has finally acknowledged it was to protest rising food and fuel prices.(END)

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API

Resign or be locked out of your offices, Raila tells ECK team

Electoral Commission of Kenya chairman Samuel Kivuitu. Photo/FILE 

By Tom Mosoba, CAROLINE WAFULA and OLIVER

 

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged commissioners in the Electoral Commission of Kenya to resign or else be forced out of office.

In an interview with Tanzania’s State TV on Thursday, Mr Odinga asked ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu to lead his team in bowing out following the release of Justice Johann Kriegler’s report which indicted the commission for presiding over a flawed poll.

“Kivuitu and his team should now resign immediately as, in any case, there is going to be a recommendation that they leave,” the PM said in the early morning live interview from his hotel in Dar es Salaam.

Mr Odinga, who is on a three-day official visit to Tanzania, noted that the recently released Kriegler report implicated ECK and its leadership in malpractices that could not be wished away.

He said the report recommended far-reaching changes in the ECK and promised that the Government will see them through to regain the confidence of the electorate.

The Kriegler report established that the ECK was primarily at fault in the manner in which it handled the elections and recommended a total overhaul of the commission.

It proposed a leaner, more professional and inclusive commission that should also adopt a different name.

In Nairobi, Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said the Cabinet will meet and discuss how to implement the Kriegler report.

Speaking during his weekly briefings, Dr Mutua said the Government was keen on effecting the reforms recommended by the report.

American ambassador Michael Ranneberger, too, on Thursday fell short of asking the ECK team to resign, saying that the commissioners must accept the verdict of the Kriegler report.

“I think we all know what that means and it is for the commissioners to heed that advice and do the right thing,” Mr Ranneberger told journalists in Nairobi.

The ECK has accepted the recommendations of the Independent Review Commission, but some of its officials say they won’t quit as the shortcomings were not their making.

Mr Odinga thanked President Jakaya Kikwete and former president Benjamin Mkapa for helping Kenya resolve the post-election crisis.

On bilateral relations, Mr Odinga said trade between Tanzania and Kenya was on the rise, noting the former had raised its share by 400 per cent while Kenya’s grew by 60 per cent.

The PM, who returns on Friday, visited Zanzibar on Thursday and met President Abeid Amani Karume.

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API/Source.nation.ke

Kericho-Kisumu-Busia highway a priority project, says President

Written By:PPS 

President Mwai Kibaki has asked the World Bank to expedite the release of funds for construction of the Kericho-Kisumu-Busia highway.

President Kibaki termed the highway a main concern and critical project in the country’s road network and its reconstruction was a key priority of his government.

The President made the remarks when he met and held talks with the World Bank President Robert Zoelick in New York City.

In response the World Bank head said that the monetary institution would fast track the releasing of the funds for the construction of the important highway.

He praised President Kibaki for his stewardship of the country and promised World Bank’s support and engagement with the coalition government.

During the talks President Kibaki said his government would work closely with the institution to ensure that farmers had access to cheaper farm inputs and especially fertilizers.

The Head of State said it was critical that the agricultural sector be given the necessary impetus in light of the rising global food prices.

Investment in irrigation will also be a priority area it was agreed during the talks the two leaders agreed.

President Kibaki and the World Bank head cited poverty alleviation programs as additional areas of that should be deepened in the working relations of the government and the international financial institution.

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API/Source.kbc.ke