Category Archives: Travel

OUR PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO RWANDA

From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Fellow Kenyan,

As you may be aware, our president H.E Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in Rwanda this morning to attend the 3rd Tripartite Infrastructure Summit today and the transform Africa summit tomorrow.

We have sent a request if and when the President can meet Kenyans in Rwanda and shall revert once we get any information. If our request is granted, this may be on very short notice and would request that, you be on high alert, to meet our president and his entourage.

Carol

Tanzania issues travel advisory to Kenya

From: Abdalah Hamis

By MARK MUTAHI

Following the rising levels of insecurity in the country, the government of the United Republic of Tanzania has issued a travel advisory warning the wildebeests intending to migrate from the Serengeti National Park to the Maasai Mara Game Reserve. The Tanzanian government warned that it couldn’t assure them of security. The wildebeests migrate seasonally from the Serengeti to the Maasai Mara, in search of pastures. It is feared the directive is likely to disrupt the travel plans for tens of thousands of them.

Security threats

While issuing the travel advisory, the Tanzanian government claimed that Kenya faces considerable security threats, and therefore it was left with no choice but — to do what is within its powers — to protect the lives of all the life within its borders. “While our major concern is the wildebeests, since they comprise the majority of visitors from our country to Kenya, we may revise that in the future to include more species,” James Bukuku the Tanzanian minister for Migration explained.

The travel advisory is likely to strain the relationship between Kenya and Tanzania, especially since both have not only been engaging in some sort of regional supremacy war, but also getting involved in endless trade disputes.

Scavenging

If the retaliatory acts that follows after every trade dispute are anything to go by, it remains to be seen what measures Kenya might take other than perhaps returning the favour. It is suspected that Kenya might hit back by issuing retaliatory travel advisories in which it will —very likely — urge stray dogs that might decide to cross the border to Tanzania for bones and squirrels scavenging for nuts to do so at their own risk!

But Tanzania‘s travel advisory is not alone in the neighbourhood. Other neighbours who have also issued ‘sector-specific‘ travel advisories include Uganda and Ethiopia.

In the case of Uganda, the travel warning is aimed at its citizens who engage in cross border cattle rustling. It advised them against crossing over to the Kenyan side to avoid putting their security and safety at risk. “We urge all our hardworking cattle rustlers to pause and think and stop coveting the cattle across the border however fat they are!” Rogers Mugisha — the Ugandan minister for Public Safety, Order, Teargas and Walking to Work — is reported to have said at a press conference.

Ethiopia, on the other hand, has communicated a travel warning to the Oromo Liberation Front urging them to avoid crossing over to the Kenyan side over security concerns.

Narcotics

The Oromo Liberation Front is known to sporadically stroll into the Kenyan side where they raid Kenyan villages. “Before you decide to take a walk to the Kenyan side to plunder and loot, consider your security first and stay in your country where it is much safer,” Meles Tesfaye, an Ethiopian government official, is reported to have said.

It is also understood that various other African countries have urged their human traffickers to avoid using Kenya as a transit point, owing to the security situation. This now means that police officers who are constantly nabbing foreigners who can neither speak English nor Swahili, can breathe a sigh of relief. This is because the problem of having to find translators is gone for the time being.

Drug traffickers from the west side of the continent have not been spared either. Those who may be planning to travel to Kenya on business have been urged not to worry so much about being nabbed with narcotics, but worry more about their safety and security.

Kenya & USA: FBI agents, police pursue three theories in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fire probe

From: Judy Miriga

Kenya is moving forward…….never backwards…… Land Grabbing and Decolonization must be fought in all fronts……

Cheers !!!

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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FBI agents, police pursue three theories in Jomo Kenyatta International Airport fire probe

Updated Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 22:07 GMT +3

Senior criminal investigation offi cials scour the scene of Wednesday’s fire Thursday. [PHOTOS: WILBERFORCE OKWIRI/STANDARD]

By CYRUS OMBATI
NAIROBI; KENYA: Detectives probing the Wednesday blaze that brought down the main terminal at Kenya’s biggest airport are not ruling out terrorism or arson, although they say it could have been an accident.

President Kenyatta chaired a meeting of the country’s top security organ to discuss the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport ( JKIA) fire tragedy as it emerged investigators were pursuing all three theories.

On Thursday the probe took on an international feel as three FBI agents sent by the US embassy in Nairobi joined the investigating team a day after President Obama called President Kenyatta to offer his government’s support following the fire.

Officially, authorities say it is not yet clear what caused the fire that prompted the closure of the busiest airport in East and Central Africa for most of Wednesday.

Over 200 people, among them 60 Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) workers, have recorded statements as the probe intensifies.

Huge losses

Yesterday, President Kenyatta called a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the tragedy that has occasioned huge economic losses following the disruption to cargo and passenger flights.

Deputy President William Ruto, all heads of the country’s security agencies, and Cabinet Secretaries in charge of Security and Infrastructure attended the meeting at State House, Nairobi. Details of the meeting were scanty, but officials said the crisis at JKIA was extensively discussed and the President briefed on progress in investigations.

At JKIA, head of the ATPU Boniface Mwaniki led the probe as detectives searched for clues in the fire-damaged section of the airport. The FBI agents arrived carrying special equipment to back up their Kenyan counterparts with their expertise, in a joined bid to unearth the cause of the inferno.

The agents took away samples from the scene for further analysis and tests.

Investigators were also reviewing images on the closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras to examine events before and after the fire broke out, as part of their investigations. It was not immediately clear if the entire sequence of events was captured on the surveillance cameras.

Apart from the ATPU, officers from the Bomb Disposal Unit, Kenya Airports Police Unit, Nairobi County and CID headquarters were helping with the probe.

Personnel from the National Intelligence Service, Kenya Power Company personnel, the City Council of Nairobi Fire Department and investigators from insurance companies were also at the scene.

The detectives have taken over a bar at the airport and turned it into an interrogation room where witnesses are recording statements.

Officials said some of the staff said in their statements that they heard two explosions after smoke started billowing out.

The explosions, according to those who have been questioned, were not very powerful or loud, with suggestions and they may have been caused by air conditioners.

Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Michael Kamau and CID Director Ndegwa Muhoro confirmed the arrival of the FBI agents to assist in the probe.

“We wish to express our appreciation and gratitude for the support we have received from other governments around the world and our development partners,” said Kamau.

On Thursday, controversy raged over where the fire started as witness accounts contradicted the official position that the fire broke out atin the immigration area.

There were suggestions that the huge inferno may have been occasioned by naked electric wires left in one of the 56 shops pulled down by the Government as it ejected duty free shop operators last week.

Insiders and firemen who spoke to The Standard claimed the fire could have been triggered by an electric fault from one of the duty free shops.

“There were some cables that were left naked. The power was cut off in some of the shops and was left on in others. This is exactly what I told the investigation team when they grilled me this morning,” said one of the employees.

But the Government has maintained that the shops were 50 metres away. “The fire came from the immigration section after the bridges, the second desk after immigration which is nearest to unit 1. The duty free shops are more than 50 metres apart and I do not see any relationship between the demolitions and the fire,” Kamau said on Wednesday.

On Thursday, minimal operations resumed at JKIA with the Government indicating they expected full operations by midnight.

The State also opened up the excusive Presidential Pavilion, usually reserved for visiting heads of states, for use by travellers to help ease the crisis. Kamau indicated that full operations would resume at the airport from midnight on Thursday.

“We want to assure all travellers within the country that even though the level of comfort is not what they would expect, we want to reassure them of their security and safety,” he said. Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) confirmed that other international airlines can use JKIA under advice, added Kamau.

National carrier Kenya Airways had already lined up 17 international flights throughout Thursday to various capitals across the globe.

Trans-Nzoia County governor told to stop land grabbing
Updated Thursday, August 8th 2013 at 23:01 GMT +3
BY OSINDE OBARE

Trans-Nzoia County: The business community in Trans-Nzoia County has pressed authorities to repossess 100 acres of grabbed land earmarked for the Kenya Industrial Estate ( KIE).

The Trans-Nzoia Kenya National Commerce and Industry branch said it would institute legal action on behalf of residents to sue people behind the illegal allocation of prime plots in Kitale.

The branch’s Executive Officer Martin Waliaula said the economic activities in the county have grounded because land meant for them has been grabbed.

Speaking in Kitale yesterday, Mr Waliula asked the county leadership led by Governor Patrick Khaemba to reclaim the grabbed land.

“The normal stories that the government is going to recover grabbed land should be made a reality. The rampant grabbing has hampered economic activities. We want all public assets taken by individuals repossessed,” he demanded.

Condemning the grabbing of the KIE land meant for industrialisation programmes, the officials said the Chamber will move to court to revert the land to its intended purpose.

“We cannot allow developers to benefit at the expense of many unemployed youths. We are ready to face these individuals and recover the land,” he said.

He said a survey done by the Chamber had indicated only 15 acres had been spared from the initial parcel reserved for industrialisation purposes.

Apollo Memorial 2013

from pwbmspac

Happy Moon Day.

Lets reflect upon this annual memorial to the Apollo astronauts lunar landing, summer 1969.

If their have been any further instances of contemporary Terrestrial human piloted travels spaceward beyond earth orbit (small or large scale), such remained officially unpublished in the open literature – – although rumored to occur.

In the time since the original 1969 Moon Day there have been several private sector initiative toward replicating the summer 1969 event.

One of them was the Artemis Society. Yet another has been investigating means to incorporate the moon into a destination option for the space tourism business.

In an overview, website site http://www.asi.org/adb/01/basic-overview.html states, “Our primary goal is to establish a permanent, self-supporting exploration base on the moon. From this initial base, we will explore the moon to find the best sites for lunar mining operations, and for a permanent lunar community. Along the way, we begin commercial flights to the moon. At first these will be expedition-class flights for rugged explorers, the sort of trip that will appeal to folks who enjoy safaris, climbing mountains, and spelunking hidden caves. Eventually, the lunar tourism industry will grow into luxury-class trips on large spaceliners.”

Another effort aims directly at private space tourism with lunar destination as an objective. Preliminary work focused upon enticing some initial subscriptions from those interested in being future travelers. The concepts consider assembling the transport capabilities starting with hardware ordered from Russian aerospace manufacturers plus use of associated operations centers.

During Summer of May or June of 2013, an article appeared in Aviation Week and Space Technology. It reported a university professor in India is now promoting the idea for a revival in programs aimed toward constructions of in-space platforms to collect solar power for supporting base load electricity needs at Earth surface (SPSS). Others, in this context, point out that employing construction materials mined from lunar surface or asteroids would make any such projects yet more economically productive.

This space economic development product, SSPS, does have merit. USA’s NASA and DOE had such a joint program until it was canceled officially as the 1970’s ended. Lets see if a call for revival of this project catches on.

-pbs-

Border blues – Why must African passport holders jump through hoops for a visa?

From: This is Africa

Greetings friends,

Are African travellers the only ones forced to jump through hoops for a visa? It certainly feels like it sometimes, which is probably why the story of the Senegalese woman who told the French to stick their visa where the sun don’t shine struck such a chord with Africans all over the world. But how do we as Africans treat each other when it comes to travelling within the continent? To find out, read our latest piece ‘Border Blues’.

Enjoy .

Peace.

Siji Jabbar (Editor for This is Africa)

“WE WERE RAISED BY PEOPLE WHO HAD TEARGAS IN THEIR HEARTS”
http://funx.dmd.omroep.nl/x/c/?RY5bDoIwEEW34gbGykMMJv1wDa5gpAMzCVDSDjSuvoIx8fOe5JzczhZlnmx7ueVgy6Zq8miL_lpntqy63I1JKZ2VJUrEPkiH54nMJnHFETBoNI4UZTRF21aNSQSJAkFAieTg9YaF.DLulD0wOlDCMGAEmUGZJADTUYEhIOMU1acZZlTx868PPUWV7VjgZBO3Z7HvcVf3xp8dZnb26Vfl0_P79AMA83

KImisho duly Registered

From: odhiambo okecth

Dear Kimisho Members and Friends,

I am back in Kenya after an extensive visit to Tanzania and South Africa in the last couple of days. I am elated with the many messages of goodwill that I have also received following my brief hospitalization last week. I am well and now, I am back to the trenches.

Yesterday was a very important day in the life of Kimisho. We received our Certificate of Registration for Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd. We are now set and ready to roll.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_iPbBggr3_M/Ud0wNNydYQI/AAAAAAAADkM/9DlD4q_dk38/s1600/PICT0032.JPG
An Officer at the Office of the Commissioner for Cooperatives hands over the Certificate of Registration for Kimisho Sacco Society Ltd to Oto yesterday the 9th July 2013 at the Offices of the Commissioner.

Yesterday, we also had a very fruitful Consultative Forum with the Deputy County Commissioner Makadara and his Team as we rolled out our mobilization process for the launch of Makadara Constituency Table Banking Services, an Initiative of Kimisho, the Poverty Eradication Commission, the County Administration and the People. We are rolling out in 34 Constituencies across Kenya and we are really appreciative of all the support we are receiving from our Members, Partners and Friends.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-J9W_7ZMh0nw/Ud0xUHqfnGI/AAAAAAAADkY/3lT965RmIj8/s1600/PICT0031.JPG
Group Photo after the Meeting at Makadara Probation Hall yesterday teh 9th July 2013. Seated L-R; ms Moraa- DO, Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch- Kimisho, Mr. Suleyman Chege- DCC Makadara, Ms Margaret Mbugua- DO and Mr. Mbaiso- DO.

The Forum was attended by the Deputy County Commissioner, the Assistant County Commissioners, the area Chiefs and the Traders and Small Scale Business Vendors.

Now that KCDN and KSSL are duly Registered, our Management Team will be meeting to call for our 1st Annual General Meeting even as we officially launch our recruitment drive for Membership this Month.

KCDN and KSSL Membership is open to all and we will be pegged on Three Pillars namely;

Environmental Management- where our Members will be joining hands in The Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaigns across Kenya.

Economic Empowerment- where our Members will be pooling resources together as we practice complementarity to each other.

Poverty Eradication- where our Members will work towards placing food on the Family Table as One Family under God.

All Members of Kimisho will be under firm instructions to show Love and Affection for each other and to respect the rights of all other Kenyans in life. Respect for all will be our driving force.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2EDIOLJ0wo4/Ud0zAvKw5dI/AAAAAAAADko/2LVHc1WBu2o/s1600/PICT0024.JPG
Oto and his Friends at Makuyuni in Arusha on Friday the 5th July 2013

We will be seeking partnerships that can help drive our agenda from all. Ideas and comments that add value will be appreciated. But ideas and comments that are pedestrian will be ignored as we move to make Kimisho the next big thing in this Journey of Hope across Kenya.

Lastly, I was really impressed with the roads in Tanzania. From Namanga to Arusha to Makuyuni to Karatu, I never saw even a single pot-hole. Again, all their drainage systems are clean and you can see through the tunnels as far as the eye can see.

Can our Kenyan Brothers and Sisters tasked with making roads make a visit and see how roads and drainage systems are made- in Arusha?

It is a crying shame that we profess much knowledge yet, we cannot match what our Brothers and Sisters are achieving in Tanzania. We have a long way to go as long as we remain a Talking Nation.

We must move from Talking to Tasking as a People.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
KCDN, KSSL, KICL,
Tel; +254 724 365 557,
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com, komarockswatch@yahoo.com
BlogSpot; http:kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

Remarks by President Obama in an Exchange of Dinner Toasts — Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

From: Judy Miriga

Very nice and Tanzania is Blessed………they must keep the forward strategy focusing on progressive development ….

Cheers……!!!

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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Tanzania gets its third Air Force One visit

Published on Jul 1, 2013
For more on this and other stories please visit http://www.enca.com/

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 1 – Tanzania is for the third time hosting an American president. eNCA correspondent Soni Methu was there when Air Force One touched down at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam for Barack Obama’s visit.

U.S. President Barack Obama, arrived in Tanzania this afternoon.

Published on Jul 1, 2013
Some say U.S. President Barack Obama on a scramble for Africa, as Washington is losing out to Beijing.
Others say he wants to make up for neglecting the continent in the earlier years of his Presidency.

U S PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA IN TANZANIA

Published on Jul 1, 2013
US president Barrack Obama is in Tanzania for the final leg of his week long tour of Africa// at the same time as his predecessor. Sam Gakunyi.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 01, 2013
Remarks by President Obama in an Exchange of Dinner Toasts — Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

State House
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

8:58 PM EAT

PRESIDENT OBAMA: President Kikwete, Madam First Lady, distinguished guests — on behalf of myself and Michelle, our delegation, our daughters — we want to thank you for the incredible warmth and hospitality with which you’ve greeted us throughout the day. We could not be more grateful.

I am not the first American leader to visit this beautiful country. Other Presidents and prominent citizens have come before me. We just came from South Africa, where Robert Kennedy famously spoke of how every time we stand up for an ideal, we send out a “tiny ripple of hope.” Less known is that after that trip to South Africa, Robert Kennedy also came here to Tanzania. It was a little different back then. Kennedy and his wife, Ethel, rode in the back of an open truck. The Secret Service has me and Michelle inside a fortified limousine. We call it “The Beast.” (Laughter.) As Kennedy’s truck made its way through the crowds, he picked up two boys and let them ride alongside them. The Secret Service doesn’t let me do these things. (Laughter.) When Kennedy came, it was a public holiday here. I apologize to Tanzanians that you all had to work today. (Laughter.)

But while these times have changed, the good feelings stay the same. We’ve been deeply touched by the welcome and the warm wishes from the Tanzanian people along the streets as we came in here with you tonight. Dar es Salaam means “harbor of peace,” and we thank you for sharing that sense of peace and brotherhood for which this country and its people have long been known.

Mr. President, you’ve shown wisdom and strength in seeking reforms so that more Tanzanians can enjoy progress, more opportunity. And like me, you’re strengthened by a woman who is a leader in her own right. (Applause.) I am told that Mama Kikwete is fond of a traditional Tanzanian saying — “My neighbor’s child is my child.” And that sentiment I think also captures the feeling, the partnership between — our two countries must have. We live thousands of miles apart, but as fellow human beings, we share a sense of obligation to each other, especially to the youngest among us.

So you might say an American child is my child. We might say a Tanzanian child is my child. In this way, both of our nations will be looking after all of our children and we’ll be living out the vision of President Nyerere. The core values that he proclaimed for Tanzania also describe what both our countries seek — wisdom, unity, and peace — Hekima, Umoja, na Amani. (Applause.)

So what I’d like to do is to propose a toast — if I can get my water here — to our gracious Tanzanian hosts, to our Tanzanian friends and to wisdom, unity and peace that we all seek in the world. Cheers.

END
9:01 P.M. EAT

OBAMA IN SOUTH AFRICA

From: Yona Maro

Remarks by President Obama at Young African Leader…http://obamaafricatrip2013.blogspot.com/2013/06/remarks-by-president-obama-at-young.html

President Obama at Young African Leaders Initiativ…http://obamaafricatrip2013.blogspot.com/2013/06/president-obama-at-young-african.html

MesObama Says U.S. Not Threatened By Chinese Interest…http://obamaafricatrip2013.blogspot.com/2013/06/obama-says-us-not-threatened-by-chinese.html

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KENYA: Nyanza COUNTY GOVERNMENTS IN NYANZA HAVE BEEN CAUTIONED TO STOP BUDGETING HUGE SUMS OF MONEY FOR BUYING FUEL GUZZLING PRADO CARS.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The NEWLY ESTABLISHED County governments in the former Nyanza Province have been cautioned against spending taxpayer’s money extravagantly budgeting for the fuel guzzling Prado cars.

Instead, the Assemblies should vigorously look for funds for major repairs of roads traversing the countryside, which are in the pathetic state and become night mares during the rainy seasons.

Secondly the regional governors and their assembly’s members should work out the best way of internal revenue collection bases, and stop budgeting for the donor money looking luxurious vehicles, which will have no direct benefit to the residents.

These sentiments were expressed byt a senior politician in Homa-Bay County Hilary Ochieng’ Alilla.

Alila was reacting to the news that the Homa-Bay County governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti and members of his County Assembly Executive committee last week made a budget proposal of a colossal amount of money to the tune of Kshs 230 million in it5s 2013-2014 estimates for the purpose of buying several Prado cars.

“The fuel guzzling vehicles should not be the priority of the Homa-Bay County government. Moreover there is no roads on which these vehicles will be driven on,’ he said.

Homa-Bay County has only one major road which is tarmacked. That is the Katito-Kenya-Bay, Kendu Bay Homa-Bay and Homa-Bay Mbita road which is partly still under the construction.

THere is urgent need to have the Oyugis Rangwew road tarmacked, and also the Oyugis Kendu-Bay road. Other roads included Kendu-Bay Pala, Kadongo-Kendu Bay.

Another area which need the improvement of road network is the Sindo, Kisegi, Magunga, God-Bura, Nyandiwa, Lak-Nyiero and Sori Town.

The fishermen, the fish traders and farmers wanted this roads repaired or upgraded to all weather for easy communication to the hinterland market places for rapid economic growth,” said Alila.

The region needs this money for the improvement of other institutions of public interest with value added. He requested the Homa-Bay County governor Awiti and his team to rescind their decision and work on projects which have the direct benefit to the residents.Two or three Prado vehicles would be enough and the for the exclusive use by the governor and his deputy, but the rest should be smaller car with their engines powers not exceeding 1300 cc.

Alila cited the Central Government of Kenya which a few years ago withdrew all the GK cars with the engines powers exceeding 1600 cc and replaced them with smaller car. Prados, Pajeros, and Mercedez Benzes were the category that were withdrawn and auctioned in order to save the government spending on fuel and spare parts.

ends.

KENYAN FAMILY OF PRESIDENT BARRACK OBAMA SAYS THEY WILL NOT GO AND MEET HIM IN THE NEIGHBORING TANZANIA.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The family of the US President Barrack Obama who is currently on an African tour from which his ancestral home Kenya is excluded, have reiterated that they will not travel across the Kenya-Tanzania border to try to meet him there.

Mama Sarah Obama the 90 year old step grandmother of the US President, when contacted at her Nyang’oma Alego Kogelo home in Siaya County said they can’t travel to the neighboring country in order to meet her grandson.

”We are not invited therefore there is no point going there. Moreover Obama is the President of the US and all the arrangements for his African itinerary are organized by the US government”, she said adding “President Obama is on official visits to specific countries as the US President.”

“Joining him in the neighboring country of Tanzania, though it is next door to Kenya may interfere with his itinerary. He has a very busy and tight schedule and as such we have decided to not to attend any of his functions there.”

Mama Sarah Obama was reacting about the rumor which went around that members of the Obama family in Alego Kogelo were making tentative arrangement to travel to Tanzania today.

There is no such arrangement, though the US President would have loved to see him stopping in Kenya, however, briefly it could be. This is the second time President Obama has skipped Kenya during is visit to the sub-Saharan Africa. The first time was when he was first elected President when he visited Ghana. Obama is very popular with the millions of Kenya people whom for along time have been looking forward to see him visit the country of his father ancestral land.

Ends

KISUMU TRAFFIC BOSS SAYS SHE IS “PROTECTED”

By Chak Rachar
KISUMU Town East traffic base commander Jane Mbevi has in recent times come under the spotlight due to her introverted behavior with her superiors and members of the public. The eccentric Kamba lady has been exhibiting some traits which have of late buffed even her colleagues at the workplace.

She says that nothing can happen to her as all she does has the blessings of Traffic Commandant Mr.Kimaru whom she alleges that is the one making her to look for money aggressively like that within the Lakeside City.

“This one which you journalists claim i get i take to Nyanza PPO ole Tito,his Deputy Mr.Tum and my boss Kimaru ,just write what you like and i will see if i am removed from here” she bragged to this journalist when conducted.

At the same time matatu operators in Kisumu town have lined up a series of mass actions against Mrs Mbevi whom they accused of runaway arrogance and blatant abuse of professional ethics.

Those who understand her modus operandi intimate that she has set high targets for officers who monitor various sections in Kisumu town.

The hardest hit areas are Mamboleo where operatories found to have overloaded are forced to part with 10,000/-at the insistence of the base commander. The targets have forced many operators to withdraw their vehicles from a number of sections in Kisumu town.

Those operate at Nyamasaria have also been given targets by Mrs Mbevi who has also adopted a non nonsense approach towards officers who are ‘lazy’.

She has also attracted the wrath of senior officers in Kisumu east who say that she very uncooperative in many ways.

Mrs Mbevi who now owns a fleet of vehicles out of the proceeds on roads in Kisumu appear to be unrelenting in her demeanour towards the public and her colleagues. Mrs Mbevi has over the years been hounded out of offices across the country due to her crude behaviour. There is pressure to have her retired on public interest.

Kenya / WorldVentures is the No. 7 Fastest Growing Company Among Top 100 Direct-Selling Brands

From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)

WorldVentures is the No. 7 Fastest Growing Company Among Top 100 Direct-Selling Brands

WorldVentures reached a remarkable 57.1 percent growth

PLANO, TX, June 13, 2013/ — WorldVentures™ (http://www.worldventures.com), the leading direct seller of vacation club memberships, with presence in Kenya, South Africa and Botswana, reached an impressive 57.1 percent growth and ranked No. 7 on Direct Selling News’ most recent Global 100 Greatest Growth Percentage Companies of the top direct-selling brands worldwide. Direct Selling News (DSN) is the leading trade publication for the direct-selling industry, and its annual list is considered a major indicator of company strength. WorldVentures’ rank on the elite listing bypassed industry heavyweights that were not included in the exclusive top 10 Greatest Growth Percentage Companies category.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/worldventure.png

“This ranking is just one more indication that we’re taking the right journey,” WorldVentures (http://www.worldventures.com) Chief Visionary Officer and Co-Founder Wayne Nugent said. “It is confirmation that our vision is sound and that our DreamTrips™ vacation club membership helps more people lead rich, fulfilling lives. I believe that our partnership with our Independent Representatives is the key for this continuing success.”

“This is an outstanding accomplishment,” WorldVentures (http://www.worldventures.com) CEO and Co-Founder Mike Azcue said. “Seven years ago, when WorldVentures was born, it wasn’t so obvious that a direct seller of travel could be a leader in the direct-selling industry. The travel industry is growing fast, and we’re proud that more and more people realize the uniqueness of DreamTrips’ travel experiences, and choose to be members and Independent Representatives.”

The DSN Global 100 list acknowledges the achievements of direct selling companies and paints a clear picture of the industry’s size and trends.

Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of WorldVentures.

About WorldVentures:

WorldVentures (http://www.worldventures.com) is a social commerce, peer-to-peer marketing pioneer and one of the direct-selling industry’s largest sellers of vacation club memberships. With a network of more than 100,000 Independent Representatives in 23 countries, the company’s DreamTrips vacation club offers vacationers access to some of the most unique global and local travel and entertainment experiences available anywhere at any price. The privately held company is headquartered in Plano, Texas.

For inquiries, contact:

Hadas Sasson-Zitomer
Email: press@worldventures.com

SOURCE
WorldVentures Holdings

KENYA AND TANZANIAN LOCKED THEIR HORNS N BIG LEGAL TUSSLE OVER CROSS BORDER TOURISTS BETWEEN THE FAMOUS SERENGETI AND THE MASAI MARA

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

REPORTS EMERGING from the Northern Tanzanian town of Arusha say that tourism stakeholders in both Kenya and Tanzania wants the border between the two countries two world famous tourists attraction sites be opened in line with the principles and spirits of the East African Community.

The two world famous tourist sites are the Maasai Mara in Kenya and the Serengeti National game Park in Tanzania.

According to the latest newsletter of the East African Tourism Platform {EATP}, the opening of the Bukologonja border which was closed by Tanzania unilaterally following the collapse of the first East African Community in 1977, would save tourists the five hour drive through the nearest border crossing point and encourage regional tourism.

The border at the Sand River is on the route used by wild bests during their spectacular annual migration that attracts thousands of tourists to both countries. Besides its closure, it was a convenient route for tourist visiting the Serengeti National Game Park-Maasai Mara ecosystem.

Following the collapse of the first EAC in 1977, Tanzania closed all border crossing points with Kenya for nearly seven years.

In the mid 1980, it reopened the main highway border points, but left the Bukologonja one closed.

According to EATP coordinator Wafart Matu, visitor to the Maasai Mara wishing to cross into Serengeti sometimes have to drive to Nairobi for an overnight stopover before proceeding to Arusha via Namanga border post and on to Serengeti.

Some tour operator firms based in the Kenya capital Nairobi have complained of extra distance owing to the closed border ,increased the cost of the Serengeti-Maasai Mara package.

Tanzania National Parks spokesman Pascal Sheleti, was widely quoted last week as having said hat Tanzania would not open the border because the differences between the two countries tourism polices.

“Kenya encourages mass tourism while Tanzania prefers quality tourism for a low volume of tourists, but with higher revenue so we feel that once we open Bukologonja border posts, tourist traffic from Kenya can be extremely high at the expense of the fragile Serengeti ecology.”

On his part Mr. Adrian Akiyo an official of the Natural Resources and Tourism Ministry in Tanzania said his Ministry would not bow to any pressure on the matter.” At the Bukulugonja border notwithstanding the East African Community Common Market Protocol that provides for the free movement of goods, persons, labor, services and capital within the EAC region.

“The EAC arrangement is not everything, Tanzania like other partners states is still a sovereign country. We are only obliged to implement those policies we agree with and not everything. Our orders must be respected,” he said.

In addition to the closed border, the stakeholders have also complained about the requirement for tourists to change vehicles at the border of Namanga, Sirari and Taveta, which they said was not only humiliating for the visitor but veiled bid by Tanzania to keep business competition away from its border crossings.

The stakeholders have called upon the two countries to resolve their differences bilaterally

Ends

KENYA HAS BEEN PUT ON THE INTERNATIONAL MAP FOR SEX HAVEN

From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

Kenya has been put on the international map for sex with dogs, on the ‘bench’, for marks, sex in the cemetery, sex in the parks, sex in brothel pubs, sex in private cars, just to mention but a few.

As Mombasa Polytechnic students, Janet Akoth Omollo and Mercy Waithera Karanja and a tourist were being arrested at Mamba Apartment in Mombasa while filming a pornographic film, part of the scene involving sexual acts with a dog, Kenya Episcopal Conference were issuing a press statement condemning a Catholic group for a billboard and newspaper advertising campaign promoting condom use.

Other students were Mary Nyambura Kimani, Magdaline Wairimu Chege, Celestine Nekesa Sitati, Dorcus Melishah Indakwa, Lydia Nyaboke Momanyi, Philidelia Mawia Solomon, Anne Wanjiku Gichuki, Celilia Nzambi Katuku and Joyce Wacuka.

No one can explain exactly why foreigners find Kenya to be the easiest country where anything to do with sex is the better forum. Even the US Catholics for Choice have found Kenya to be the best country to advertise and promote the use of condoms.

As Christopher Clement Weisssenrieder – Swedish national was caught filming the girls, a US doctor was pleading guilty to sexually abusing at least 14 children over an eight-year period in Kenya working at hospitals and with aid groups in Sori, South Nyanza. John Ott, 67, faces up to 30 years in jail and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on July 26 after admitting to a harrowing catalogue of crimes.

This is not the first time the issue of recording and trafficking pornography has emerged in Kenya. On Jun 23, 2009, an American preacher was charged with trafficking in pornographic materials in Nairobi.

Thomas Manton of Dominion International Ministries was charges at the Kibera Law Courts. The charges stated that: “On February 25, 2009 at Runda Estate in Nairobi, for the purpose of or by way of trade or for the purpose of distribution or public exhibition, the accused made or produced obscene publication, one compact disc, tending to corrupt morals.”

In 2005 US authorities smashed a worldwide child pornography syndicate, which involves Kenyans who trade in illicit images over the Internet using sophisticated encryption. Most of the participants are the youth though people in good careers including banking, media and modeling have been mentioned as savvy actors in Kenya.

Desperate unemployed girls are also eager to be engaged at a cheaper fee. Some are paid as low as Sh.750 for a video recording of around 8-10 minutes. Girls who engaged in these acts say they do so against their conscience because of economic hardship in Kenya.

The youth seem to be the vulnerable groups because most of them are unemployed and are out to do anything to earn a living. Most of them are graduates and since they are not absorbed in the job market, they end up doing petty jobs to earn a living.

It is very sad indeed that unemployment in the country and economic hardship has forced the youth to drop their dignity and take up any job opportunity coming up. That is why many girls and boys, some underage chose to be prostitutes, even though under the Kenyan law prostitution is illegal.

A taskforce set up by then Nairobi Mayor, George Aladwa revealed that Nairobi has approximately 7000 commercial sex workers with each having at least three to four clients. That’s approximately 21,000 to 28,000 sexual activities per night in Nairobi alone.

It explains why pornography is a booming business in this city. Kiss TV’s Dennis Okari recently revealed the sex dens where orgies take place and pornography films are shot. Girls confessed to him that many of them are joining the porn industry due to unemployment and economic hardships.

No wonder why pornography has become one of the biggest businesses in Kenya, bigger than Hollywood, bigger than the major league sports. Today in Kenya, the easiest way to make a dime online is to go to pornography. That is why porn will never die in Kenya.

Analysis and statistics from the common keywords show Kenyans love to search and read about pornography than they read about businesses. This is a very worrying trend in the country were morals are decaying on daily basis.

No wonder why Kenya has been put on the international map for ‘sex. It explains why it was hit with a bush sex scandal in March 2011 when several shots of different Kenyan citizens, including college students were caught on camera having physical sex in different positions, at a particular location, on a particular bench in the Masinde Muliro Garden, Kakamega in western Kenya.

The pictures captured people including students, old men, nursing mothers among others having sex at the recreational ground arousing mixed reactions from all sectors. The garden has since become one of the biggest tourist sites in the country.

Lecturers and teachers are also demanding sex from their female students in exchange for marks. These students later use their first class honours degrees to secure some of the best jobs in the private and public service, including sensitive areas such as the health sector. This puts off male students to compete in the ‘sex for marks’ arena as they do not have the requisite assets.

It is at the same time City police are at a loss on how to handle the increasing cases of couples opting for ‘green lodges’ near Uhuru Park. Police on night patrol have caught some couples so engrossed in pleasure that they forget they are in public. The eucalyptus trees opposite Uhuru Park in the Upper Hill area have particularly become a notorious ‘green lodge’.

It is also at the same time shocking details have emerged on the extent to which school girls fall prey to sexual predators — their own teachers. Up to 12,660 girls were sexually abused by teachers over a five-year period. The report by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) says that in some cases, teachers abused as many as 20 girls in a single school before they were reported.

The survey, which captured data between 2003 and 2007, said the 12,660 girls estimated to have been abused in schools over the period were enough to fill 79 single-streamed primary schools that have an average of 40 girls a class.

According to the report, done jointly with non-profit Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, some teachers were serial sexual offenders and molested girls from one school to another because when caught they were simply transferred and no action was taken against them.

Recently a secondary school in Gilgil was closed indefinitely following allegations that the principal was having love affairs with students. The Ministry of Education ordered Eburu secondary school to be closed sending over 300 students home with parents calling for the arrest of the teacher in vain.

It emerged that for years, the headmaster in the day and boarding institution had love affairs with students and some of the teachers were aware but not report the school head. Trouble started after the students went on strike to protest the interdiction of one of the teachers for absconding duty.

This is not to mention various Nairobi pubs and clubs turning them into a den of prostitution and brothels where a number of white women entertaining clients. The locations, mostly in gated maisonettes with acres of parking space, are apparently well known to taxi drivers and residents in the neighbourhood.

The most prominent ones are in Lavington, Hurlingham, Adams Arcade, Westlands and Kileleshwa. The mostly married men who attend these parties are Kenya’s prominent people.

For a weekend of pleasure the girls offer their services to these men which include anything and everything form massage, blow-jobs, anal sex and group sex.

According to sources from a Nairobi based private university, the girls in this trade earn handsomely, anything between Ksh 10,000 and 50,000 a night (200EUROS-1000) a night.

The story of a university student Mercy Keino who died under unclear circumstances after attending a party in Nairobi’s posh Riverside estate attended by among others a prominent Kenyan politician and scores of other rich businessmen tell it all.

Group sex, which in the United States is also called adult buffet, involves consenting adults arranging for intense sex sessions.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

TANZANIA PLANS A MULTIBILLION DOLLAR REHABILITATION OF ITS RAILWAYS NETWORK TO EASY THE TRANSPORTATION OF CARGO AND GOODS TO ITS NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

Tanzania is expected to spend the colossal amount of USD 330 million to upgrade its railways network in order to make it competitive with those across Central and Southern Africa.

The venture involves track repair and up grades including changing the national network rail line to the standard gauge.

The move according to an impeccable source in Arusha follow tripartite agreement to harmonize operations between the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority [Tazara] Zambia Railways Limited,and the Societe National des Chemine des Fer do CongoSari of the Democratic Republic of Congo,the National Raiway operation of Tanzania,Zambia and DR Congo respectively.

The deal which was signed recently is expected to facilitate smooth and seamless transportation of goods and passengers in the three states.

Tanzania’s Transport Minister Harrison Mwakyembe was quoted last week as saying the sums of Tshs 6 billion {USD 3.7 million] had so far been spent on the renovations, train carriages and railway infrastructure for the Tanzania Railway ltd.

The government has ordered 274 passenger wagons,22 locomotives,23 wagons and 34 railway stocks,brakes {brakes vans},which are expected in the country before the end of June this year.

According to Minister Mwakyembe, the government of Tanzania through Tazara has also secured USD 39 million from China to buy six new locomotives 80 new wagons and spare parts as well as to renovate nine locomotive engines.

The Central rail line running westwards from Dar Es Salaam through Dodoma will be improved substantially this year, he added.

The upgraded Tanzania Central line on a standard gauge is expected to carry 35 million tones of freight annually to Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and eastern DRCongo..

Dalmas Ndamburo the managing director of the Tazara said the acquisition of the new locomotives and other measures by the management is expected to increase the tonnage of cargo that it hauls.

Dr Ndamburo said the government of Zambia is providing the USD 82 milion needed to keep the UHURU railway line afloat.

Tazara operates in two countries of Zambia and Tanzania –both which have regional managers working on the set performance benchmarks. Tanzania hosts the headquarters. Each regional manager has been tasked with the responsibility of increasing tonnage of cargo and goods from 30,000 to 809,000 tones.

The railway line which is to connect Rwanda,Burundi and Tanzania is now under construction.

Charles Tireba, the deputy Minister for Transport sasid the Dar Es Salaam-Isaka-Kigali / Reza, Getag M Mosongoti Railway project which is estimated to cost USD 52 billion will take four years to complete and is expected to lower Rwanda’s and Burundi’ transport costs.

Rwanda and Burundi have had to bear high transport costs when ferrying goods from the Kenyan coastal port of Mombasa and Dar Es Salaam, which has increased the cost of doing business in the two countries. The new railway line is also expected to reduce the time it takes to transport cargo from Dar Es Salaam.The use of road takes four days while the railway will take just two days.

Tanzania is currently seeking USD 13,3 billion to finance infrastructure projects.

These projects include the rehabilitation of the railways from Dar Es Salaam to Tabora as well as Kilimapanda line to Kasanga port on Lake Tanganyika.

Ends

Letter From Tanzania IV: A Visit to Morogoro

from: Jovias Mwesiga

This is the fourth of several blog posts written from Dar es Salaam and Morogoro, Tanzania. I’m visiting Tanzania thanks to CARE USA, which has paid for my trip with the help of a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Its purpose, for me at least, is to explore one country’s need for humanitarian aid and development assistance and to examine America’s political will and commitment to deliver on its promises.

The impact of American development aid to Tanzania, and the vast distance yet to go, were both evident in abundance during the fifth, and last, day that I spent in Tanzania.

In the morning, we flew from Dar es Salaam to Morogoro, a one-hour flight from the capital in a twin-engine Cessna but a world away. Nestled at the center of a group of five Tanzanian districts, Morogoro is a bustling town with a busy marketplace and a network of paved thoroughfares that lead to dirt roads leading in every direction. But the primary activity here, among the 2 million people who live in the five districts around Morogoro, is agriculture. When I asked Mvomero district’s Anthony Mtaka, the district commissioner—the equivalent of a state governor in the United States, though appointed by President Kikwete—what percentage of the 300,000 people in his district were farmers and peasants, he didn’t hesitate. “Ninety-nine percent,” he answered.

As in most of Tanzania, the majority are desperately poor, subsistence farmers. Nearly all of them farm tiny plots, growing barely enough to feed their families, if that, and few have any substantial surplus to bring to market.

One exception is the Uwawakuda irrigation cooperative farm. More than 900 Tanzanian farmers, including 414 women, have banded together to farm a 5,000-acre spread whose productivity is fed by a pumping station and irrigation system that provides underground water to the farm. Originally installed three decades ago during the era of Tanzania’s president and founder, Julius Nyerere, the pumps are creaky now, and thanks to a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) new ones are being installed. It’s a star attraction for USAID’s Feed the Future program. According to the local officials who run it, the American help will rebuild the pumps, pave an access road, and rehabilitate the drainage canal that supplies the network of rice farms in the complex. In addition, USAID has put in place a model farm that teaches members of the coop the best practices in rice farming. A phalanx of women farmers greet us as we arrive at the model farm, singing and clapping and performing a series of original songs they’ve prepared for the occasion, and one of them, Victoria, with tears in her eyes, describes a litany of gains she’s been able to achieve as a member of the relatively prosperous coop, with USAID’s assistance.

Problem is, for the rest of the 2 million people in and around the area, things are bleak.

A drought, worsened by climate change and rising temperatures, has wracked the region. When I asked George Iranga, who manages the project, what happens to the farmers outside the coop, who don’t have access to irrigation, he says that they are struggling. That’s an understatement. Iranga says that the government in Dar es Salaam would like to replicate the gains in Uwawakuda elsewhere, but there’s no money. “Our government is doing its best to look for funding, or supply it from its own resources,” he says. Mtaka, the district commissioner, himself is a farmer, and last year he lost a great deal of money on his own farm. “We have year-round rivers here, but there is no way to get the water to the farmers. What we need most of all is irrigation technology here. If the rain doesn’t come, the farmers collapse financially.” The districts have sixteen irrigation plans on the books, and no way to fund any of them.

“The demand is too high,” says Iranga. “The government will allocate each year small bits of what’s needed.” Of course, it falls far short.

Back in Washington, USAID points to prgrams like Uwawakuda as success stories, and indeed they are. But compared to the staggering needs of a nation such as Tanzania—and multiply that by dozens of other counties across the globe—it’s a drop in the bucket.

Representative John Garamendi, a California Democrat with long experience in Africa, was part of the group visiting Tanzania organized by CARE. He says that while military-related foreign assistance is popular in Congress, humanitarian and development aid is more difficult to build support for, especially in the era of sequestration and budget cuts. “It’ll be a challenge,” he says. And while he supports the idea of increasing aid, he recognizes that it’s a uphill climb.

Still, says Garamendi, “It’s easier to prevent a war or a failed state or a humanitarian crisis than it is to deal with one that’s fully born. It is in America’s interest to prevent failed states and wars and humanitarian crises.”

Tanzania, he says, has made substantial progress. “But there’s a huge need.” The United States, along with the rest of the developed world, through the so-called G-8, provide development and humanitarian aid, help build Tanzania’s roads, water systems and infrastructure, facilitate direct forieign investment, and more, he says.

Still, in the current Washington political climate, there’s little or no chance that Tanzania will see a substantial increase in US foreign aid anytime soon. Although the United States has committed to supplying 0.70 percent of its GNP in total foreign assistance, the current actual figure is a dismal 0.17 percent, less than one-fourth of what ought to be. Until that changes, the two million farmers around Morogoro will have to deal with drought, climate change and many other problems that plague them—and that condemn Tanzania to stagnation, with more than a third of its population living on fifty-eight cents a day—pretty much on their own.

In his previous post from Tanzania, Robert Dreyfuss wrote about getting more bang for the foreign aid buck.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/173078/letter-tanzania-iv-visit-morogoro#


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IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR PALS FROM ZAMBIA FOLLOWING BUSH ACCIDENT

From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2013

The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste take this opportunity to be in solidarity and prayers with our pals from Zambia following the death of 53 people killed in one of the worst traffic crashes in the nation in recent history according to officials.

The news just reaching The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste says that a bus operated by Zambia’s postal service carrying passengers toward its capital Lusaka smashed into a semi-truck and another car Thursday, killing at least 53 people. The crash happened Thursday morning near the town of Chifamba, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Lusaka according to police spokeswoman Elizabeth Kanjela.

Kennedy Sakeni, Zambia’s information minister, said at least 53 people died in the crash, while another 22 had been taken to local hospitals. A sport utility vehicle also was involved in the crash, he said.

Zambia Postal Services runs the bus routes throughout the country, carrying passengers and mail through the nation of 13 million people in southern Africa.

The crash Thursday represented one of the worst for Zambia in recent years. In April 2005, a truck packed with high school students skidded off a mountain road in northern Zambia, killing at least 38 and seriously injuring another 50.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002

EAC community is working on single tourist passport and visa for people visiting the region

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The East African Community {EAC} secretariat based in the northern Tanzanian city at Arusha has singled out tourist visa and common passport as its top priority projects to be implemented this year as the bloc battles to reverse credibility crisis over failed projects.

The EAC Secretary General Dr Richard Sozibera was last week quoted as saying that the EAC passport, the single tourist visa and liberalization of the airspace will boost free movement of people across the region, a promise that the bloc has fallen behind in achieving three years after signing the Common Market convention on people movement across the region.

“Frustration is growing among business executives from the member states over delays in pushing through key projects like opening up the region’s airspace, rolling out a single passport and visa and the elimination of the non-tariff tariff barriers {NTBs}, saying this was slowing trade and business envisaged by the protocol.

The implementation of the monetary union is among the 77 articles needed for the creation.

Observers, however, say the EAC technocrats will be judged by how they handle the integration process in 2013 after the delays experienced last year.

“While the five EAC partner states of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi had in principle agreed to remove NtbS BY November 2012 in the absence of a legally binding framework, little action was taken. The latest report from the EAC secretariat shows that while 35 NTBs were reported as unresolved, ten new NTBs emerged in 2012 alone.” said Dr Sozibera.

A source at the Arusha based secretariat of the EAC said the bloc has set a deadline of between March and June 2013 for the commencement of printing the new EAC passport.

On the single tariff visa, the EAC Principal Tourist Officer Shedrqack Mshauri was recently quoted by the local media as saying the delay were being caused by lack of consensus over visa for collection and revenue sharing model among the EAX partner states.

Ends

Tanzania under heavy pressure from environmentalists to shelve its plan to construct an international airport inside the Serengeti world heritage site

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

INFORMATION emerging from Dar Es Salaam says the United Republic of Tanzania is facing renewed pressure to shelve the construction of an International Airport next to the world heritage and famous Serengeti National Game Park, creating fears of possible delays in the multibillion dollar project.

THE Deputy Transport Minister Charles Tizeba was last week widely quoted by the local media houses as saying that the construction of the airport outside the Serengeti National Game Park is likely to fail because of an on-going campaign by environmentalists to stop the project.

“The government is facing real pressure from some circles, but it will go ahead despite all these,’ he said.

The construction of the USD 350 million airports was expected to start early this year and the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority had approved the project, he added.

The government move to put up the airport included the construction of a 321 kilometer tarmac road through Serengeti. This element was shelved over the concerns that it would interfere with the wildebeest migration, the only one of its kind in the world and crucial to the existence of the Serengeti ecosystem.

The friends of the Serengeti movement have repeatedly denounced having an airport so close to the world heritage site, saying it would attract human activities near the fragile Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.

Opponents of the project have maintained an argent saying that the landing and takeoff of large planes in Mugumu could damage wildlife migration patterns.

“The new airport”, said the Minister, “would offer tourists the option tour KilimanjaroIntrnational Airport and after visiting Tarangire.LakeManyara, Ngorngoro Crater and SERENGETI International Airport to fly back homer”.

Analyists,however, say the airport would increase the number of visitors from 800,000 annually to 1.6 million by the year 2015 and double tourism revenue from the current USD 1.4 million to USD 2.8 million annually in the next three years.

Ends

Kenya: Government Lifts Restrictions for Those Traveling to Middle East and Asia Nations

From: amenya gibson

Dear People,

After a ban that was effected in June 14th,2012 due to bad mistreatment of Kenyans going to Middle East and Asia,Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of CID,NSIS ,Ministry of Labour,Ministry of Immigration after frequent meetings and deliberations has lifted the demand of having all get a clearance Letter to travel to Middle East.from Ministry of Foreign Affairs ,Imagine all Kenyans were required to visit Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get the letter.

Now major changes are still being put in place on best ways to protect low skilled workers such as domestic girls and boys.

The plead by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to review and accord Kenyans special respect was properly debated and expect new contracts come 2013.

Also is important for all going to Middle East and any other country to observe resident country rules.

Also those seeking jobs abroad try to get proper details and rules,get to know culture of some of those nations ,what kind of food they eat what they put on.

And finally always tell the truth DON’T give wrong information.


Thanks
Gibson Amenya

WebRep


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