Category Archives: Leo Odera Omolo

20 people dead after their bus hit a petrol tanker at high speed

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

TWENTY people died and 15 were injured when a KK bus from Koboko district collided with a fuel truck in Nwoya district yesterday afternoon.

A child survivor walks out of the wrecked bus as mesmerised rescuers halt their work at Wii-Anaka yesterday

The incident, blamed on poor visibility, took place at midday at Wii-Anaka in Purongo sub-county, about 67km from the Karuma–Gulu junction.

Onlookers cried as the Police cut bodies out of the wreckage.

The Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, interrupted his address to the media on security guidelines for today’s nomination of presidential candidates to announce the tragedy.

“Sadly, I have to announce to the public the nasty accident on the Karuma-Pakwach road. So far 20 people have died, 17 on the spot,” Kayihura said. “The cause of the accident was thick smoke from the nearby burning bush,” he added.

According to Moses Okello, the Nwoya district Police commander, the injured were taken to Anaka Hospital, while the dead were taken to Pachwach Health Centre IV for identification.

“There was too much smoke that covered the road and both drivers could not see well,” explained Okello.

He added that the driver of the bus died on the spot, while the one for the fuel tanker was taken to Pachwach Health Centre with injuries.

By press time, the body of the turnboy of the fuel tanker was still stuck in the co-driver’s seat.

According to an official from the bus company, the bus left Koboko with only 20 passengers but loaded more in Arua, Nebbi and Pachwach.

The northern regional Police commander, Martin Amoru, said: “It was a combination of the smoke from the bush fire and over-speeding by the bus driver that caused the accident.”

The scene of the accident was littered with broken motor parts, blood and broken glasses.

Traffic flow on the highway was temporarily interrupted as the Police and fire fighters struggled to put out a fire and clear the road.

Passengers travelling on the road described the accident as shocking.

Ends

Kenya: Tea Plantation workers in nation vowed to continue their strike demanding for the removal of mechanized harvesting system

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

The on going strike by thousands of workers in the tea industry need to be resolved with utmost speed as it poses the danger of hurting the country’s economy.

About 19,000 workers in the tea plantation and factories downed their tools on the 10thh of October so far both sides of the stakeholders comprising of the Kenya Union of Plantation Workers and the Tea Growers Association are adamant to make any meaningful move that could lead to the issues involved being resolved amicably.

The issue in hand is the introduction of mechanized tea plucking system involving the use of machine instead of the normal manual picking by workers. The Union claims that since the introduction of these machines about five years ago close o 21,000 workers have been declared redundant and sacked.

In the two previous agreement signed by the workers and employers officials, it was previously agreed that the tea plucking machine would be introduced only at only three per cent and the rest be done manually.

At the meting attended by 500 strong shop-stewards, branches officials and national official of the union led by the Secretary-General Francis Atwoli defiantly announced that the strike will go on until the employers agree to come to the negotiation table so that the issue could be negotiated afresh. The meeting was held at the Tom Mboya Labor College in Kisumu City.

Atwoli was accompanied by the Union Assistant Secretary General Thomas Kipkemboi, the National Treasurer Joshua Oyuga, Isa Wafula, Kericho branch secretary Joshua Owuoir, Sotik branch secretary David Belil.

The workers representatives had travelled from all the tea growing zones of Nyamira, Nandi Hills, Tinderet, Sotik, Kaimosi, Bomet and Kericho who were led by their branch secretaries and other officials.

Atwoli who is also the Secretary General of the workers umbrella body , the Central Organization of Trade Unions of Kenya {COTU.K} warned that if the strike continue to escalate, he would not hesitate from calling the General Council of COTY {K} to declare national strike in Kenya . He said in such an event, the workers in other sub-sectors of the economy would be called upon to go on strike in solidarity with the workers in the tea industry.

The COTU boss also threaten to move to Geneva and consult world trade union bodies such as ICFTU and WTC to lobby for international workers action. In such a situation the workers world-wide, especially those working in major ports of the world to stop or boy cot the handling of Kenya’s tea destined for exports to the world market, and this would paralyzed the industry in Kenya and bring the big headed employers down to their knees.

But despite of the union tirades, the employers in the tea industry remained adamant and reiterated that the strike by the manual tea pickers which is in its second week will not stop multinational tea companies from using the machines despite the union threat to push the international market to boy-cot Kenyan tea.

Tea is one of the biggest assets for Kenya supporting thousands of families who work in the industry and fetching million of the much needed foreign exchange.

The situation appear to worsen at the weekend as the employers and workers union stuck to their grounds – only agreeing to negotiate if either sides meet some conditions.

The Federation of Kenya Employers {FKE} representing the companies issued a statement lon Saturday evening saying the strike by the workers will no top the mechanized tea picking, but added that negotiations can only begin if the strike is called off.

Both sides had moved to court and filed injunctions. The KTGA had earlier moved to court and obtained court injunction stopping the strike, but the union was not served with the court paper. It also came late after the strike was in actual effect going on. The union, however, moved to the Industrial Court a day later and obtained injunction prohibiting the employers from victimizing he striking workers by evicting from their companies houses or cutting water supplies

The FKE executive director Jacquiline Mugo said the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union had called the strike without following due process.

But speaking in Kisumu last night Atwoli said the union had exhausted all the laid down legal channel and gave the employers a seven days notice of strike as required by the law. He said the workers through the International Trade Union Organizations, will push buyers in the international market to boycott Kenyan tea. He maintained the move would force the multinational companies operating in Kenya to back down on the move to introduce mechanized tea harvesting system.

Atw9li blasted the MPs from the tea growing zone for not showing interest and sympathy with the workers plight, though these are the electorate in their respective constituencies. “These MPs only sneaking and trooping into the offices of the multinational tea company soliciting for bribes and lucrative businesses, but were doing nothing to assist the down trodden workers.”

He also issue a threat to expose one top government official in a Ministry has recently bribed some hooligans who moved to Court demanding for his removal from COTU{K}. The man is afraid because I knew too much about his shoddy financial deals and corruption, which I am just about to expose to the world. He warned the Minister in-charge of the Ministry who is keeping the same corrupt official in his office that he too would be exposed as an accomplice of this corrupt official.

Atwoli announced that he would tomorrow {Monday} toured the striking workers zones in Nandi region and Kericho, Bomet and Sotik region and told the shop-stewards to ensure that the strike is 100 per cent everywhere.

He said since the strike is yet to be declared illegal and government is keeping quiet, the use of the crack police unit the GSU and the regular police to intimidate the workers or evict them from their houses is illegal and must stop forthwith. It is also against human right to evict somebody who is legally on strike demanding for his rights out of the company house.

He had received disturbing reports that some employers in Nyamira, Sotik and Tinderet had deployed the police in the estate camps who were forcefully evicting the workers from their company houses and locking doors or cutting water supplies to the workers estates. He appealed to the Commissioner of Police to stop these malpractices since the strike is legal and the workers were peaceful observing the laws to the letters.

Workers leaders reported that the strike was almost 100 per cent at the Unilever, but not effective in the James Finlays and other tea estates, and urged the regional union leaders to ensure that all the workers did not report to work on Monday until the employers come to the negotiation table.

Enbds

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: Dr. Machage and Raila have buried hatchet and willing to work together in harmony

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The anxiety and discontent that had gripped the future inaugural of Migori County as created in the new constitutional dispensation is over following last week act of political magnanimity between the hitherto arch-political rivalries between the majority Luos and Minority Kurias.

The good gesture by the two will now easy out the tension and suspicion that had existed between the twoi communities, and would make it much easier for the inaugural of the new Coumntyof Migori where members of the two communities will work together and promote the economic growth of the region.

The two communities are grouped together with people of diverse ethnic background such as Luhyia, Maragolis and Suba in one of the Counties in the defunct Nyanza Province, which is expected to be one of the richest in the region.

It is an area which is covering five parliamentary constituencies, namely Rongo, Uriri, Nyatike, Migori and Kuria. May be the recently concluded work of the Boundary Commission, which was headed by Andrew Ligale would favor the region and give it an one or two additional parliamentary seats nobody knows.

The source of anxiety has been the hostility between the Kuria MP Dr.Wilfred Machage and the Luo political kingpin Raila Amolo Odinga. The short, bearded, stout and outspoken MP has lost no chance whenever he opened up in a public gathering without launching scathing criticism of the Prime Minister in particular and the Luo community in general.

The hostility between the two had reached the highest peak, even leading to the MP being arraigned in court charge with giving hate speeches during the August 4, referendum voting for the new constitution. He adamantly stuck to the Reds side led by the suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto.

Machage hate for the Luo was o0enely displayed when the MP made a vain move to have his minority Kuria community separated from being in one administrative unit with their neighboring Luos.

Machage had even suggested that then Kuria be moved out Nyanza Province,and that the community either join the Trans-Mara County with the neighboring Maasai or the Kisii County County.

But all these suggestions failed because they lacked logistic and political backing of the ordinary Kuria people, who were vehemently opposed to the idea. They argued that these suggestion were impracticable taking it into account the geopolitics of the region.

If such a pipedream were put into practice and implemented by the government, it could have forced the Kuria people to travel for more than 100 kilometer to do their normal business in Kisii Town or similar distance to carry their normal business at the Kilgoris Office of the Trans-Mara County. Moreover the Kuria and the Maasai had the long lasting history of hostility against each other as the result of the intermittent bloody cattle rustling.

The Kuria and the Luos have lived and worked together ever since 1907 when the old, but now defunct Southern Nyanza district which was created by the early colonialists and which had grouped the Abagusi, Luos and Kuris together for many years with its administrative headquarters in KJisii Town.

But when the first act of splitting the district, which was then the largest and most populous occurred in 1962 with the creation of a new district of South Nyanza at Homa-Bay as its administrative headquarters, the Kuria moved along with the Luos. The ordinary Kurias and Luos get along very well and are used to each other. The two communities had a lot in common to share together.

The hostility between the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Kuria MP started the other day following President Mwai Kibaki relegation of Dr. Machage to an Assistant Minister from the lucrative post of the Minister for East African Community Affairs during the re-organization and re-arrangement of the cabinet to accommodate the ODM Minister in the coalition government following the signing of the National Peace Accord worked out as the result of reconciliation by the former UN Chief Dr Kofi Annan following the post-election violence that had engulfed the country. Dr Machage is a member of the PNU, which is one of the principal partners in the coalition. Kibaki had to offload some members of the cabinet, and the Baringo East MP Kamama was among those relegated to the junior Ministerial clot from the cabinet.

The new arrangement stirred up hostilities between the Prime Minister and the Assistant Minister. But despite of the persistent outbursts against him by Dr Machage, the Prime Minister has kept it cool and never reacted or said anything as a rejoinder to the MPs criticism.

This is was so because Raila Odinga knew it pretty well that he had a large following among the Kuria people who half of them are supporters of his party. Therefore trading accusation with their MP might jeopardize his position among his supporters in Kuria.

But last week Dr Machage voluntarily came forward and announced before the mammoth crowd during as meeting in Kuria that he and Raila Odinga have buried their hatchet. He softened his stand and apologized for his persistent opposition to the Prime Minister both inside and outside Parliament.

“I want to state here clearly today we have buried the hatchet. Henceforth, I will support Raila’s presidential bid,” Dr Machage announced amid prolonged applause by the crowd.

Machage trickled the enthusiastic crowd when he p[raised his erstwhile political opponent, saying he was ready to work with the Prime Minister and support his presidential bid.

“I want to assure your Mr Prime Minister of my support and at the same time seek your help to have my suspension as an Assistant Minister lifted.” Said Machage as the crowd roared in laughter.

Dr Machge was suspended after he was charged in court with hate speech during referendum campaigns. He asked the Kuria electorate to be ready to support Raila’s presidential bid in 2012describing him as the best bet for Kenya.

Raila in hjis address assured the Kuyria that he had nothing personal against them or their MP. “ I want to assure you that you will not be relegated or marginalized in Migori County, which has brought together the Kuria and the Luos in one administrative unit within the locality,” said the PM.

During the meeting the Prime Minister brought with him lawyer Kipchumba Murkomen and Moses Kurgat who were assigned the duty of civic education to explain the contents of the new constitution and what it entails.

The two gave a long catalogue of viable issues contained in the new laws as Machage, who was an ardent critic of the new constitution at the August 4 referendum listened to the lecturers while his voters cheered.

Raila Odinga then came to the stage and further explained how the new laws would ensure a united and democratic Kenya nation.

Migori County is one of the places in Western Kenya, which is endowed with good rainfall all the year. Local farmers grow cash crops such as tobacco, sugar cane, finger millets, sorghum, vegetables, banana, maize, which is the staple food and keep large number of zebu cattle for beef. Plans are also a foot for the introduction of dairy cows in most p[art of the County, especially, on the Rongo, Uriri and Migori side of the region.

The region is also rich in minerals such as gold, nickel, copper and some parts is suspected to be having substantial quantity of uranium. Several farms are prospecting along Migori River, and also in the disused of former gold mines at Masara, Macalder.Several companies have expressed their intention of going into full scale in prospecting for gold, which is said to be in large quantity enough for commercial mining.

The Riana Valley is said by geologist to be full of gold, and this is why Kamwango areas in North Kamagambo is declared as a gold zone. Plans are a foot to have the commercial mining firms operating in the area in the near future. This would boost the economy of the region. At the moment small scale mining and prospecting for alluvial gold along Migori river are going on.

The Awendo-based Sonysugar is the largest manufacturing industry in the region which has engaged close to 2500 workers and almost similar number on indirect employment such as casuals etc. There is a fish processing plant in Migori town with the reasonable number of workers.

The government, however, need to increase the crushing capacity of the SONYSUGAR plant from the current 2500 tons per day to more than 3500 tons of cane per day. If this is done, it will help in easing out the case of over grown or over matured cane, which are rotting in the farms and could not be harvested in time. This is a big loss to the small scale vane farmers.

Tobacco is one of the major source of income for peasants in Kuria, Kamagambo, Sakwa, Uriri and most part of the upper areas, while the resident of lower Part particularly those area bordering the shorelines of Lake Victoria depends on fishing and fish trade. In the lower part farmer are also keeping large herds of native zebu cattle for beef trade and generating income of the same scale as fishing

The residents need only to pick up the right men and women for the County governance with the managerial ability and supervisory capability to turn around the region and making a vibrant County, which is able to susta8n its own economic growth for the benefits of the local community.

The region is currently served by the super highway road that is linking Kisii and Migori town and winding up at the Sirare border post, which has recently undergone widening exercises to minimize road fatalities which has became common on this road, especially on the portion separating Awendo and Migori Towns.

There are several good access and feeder roads cross the entire region, but the economically important Migori Muhuru Bay road need to be termacked to facilitate easy transportation of fish.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Electoral Commission in nation rejects Basigye nomination signatures from 62 districts

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THE Electoral Commission has rejected nomination signatures from 62 districts presented by Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).,the newvision online reported today

EC secretary Sam Rwakoojo (second-left) and other staff are joined by the public at the prayers for peaceful elections next year

A presidential aspirant must submit 100 signatures of supporters from each of at least 75 of the 112 districts.

If Besigye fails to get the required signatures, he will not be nominated. The exercise is slated for October 25 and 26 at Mandela Stadium between 10:00am and 4:00pm.

Besigye is also the joint flag-bearer of the Inter-Party Cooperation which brings together the FDC, Conservative Party, Justice Forum (Jeema), the Social Democrats Party and a pressure group, Suubi 2011, headed by former Buganda premier Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere.

Commission spokesperson Willy Ochola said only signatures from 32 districts had been approved for Besigye. “Dr. Kizza Besigye has only got signatures from 32 districts out of the number he submitted and 62 are lacking figures,” he said.

The nomination forms, he noted, bore the signatures of unregistered voters or duplicate ones. “We have asked him to sort out the problem. He has asked to be nominated on Monday, October 25, so he has up to then to sort out the problem,” Ochola said.

Ochola further said in Bukedea district, Besigye submitted 100 signatures but only 72 were valid. In Kasese, he submitted 203 signatures of which 35 were valid.

In Abim, Alebtong, Amuria, Agago, Apac and Bukwo, Besigye also did not have the numbers, Ochola added.

Besigye has twice lost to Museveni in the past.

Ochola said Olive Beti Kamya of the Uganda Federal Alliance had only signatures from 33 districts approved, while Jaberi Bidandi Ssali of the People’s Progressive Party qualified in just 24 districts.

He said the commission was still scrutinising the signatures submitted by the Uganda People’s Congress flag-bearer Olara Otunnu and President Yoweri Museveni of the NRM.

By last evening, 35 districts had been verified for Otunnu and 20 for Museveni.

Ochola said they had advised Kamya and Bidandi Ssali to go back to the voters and iron out the discrepancies before the nomination dates.

Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu at the beginning of the month asked the candidates to hand in nomination forms by October 11 to allow the commission appropriate time to verify the signatures.

“The commission shall subject the nomination papers to thorough scrutiny to ensure compliance with the law and to establish the authenticity of the names, signatures and numbers of the supporters,” he said.

The presidential candidates are also required to hand in three passport-size photos and certified copies of their academic papers.

The candidates are also required to pay sh8m nomination fees. A total of 56 aspirants have picked nomination forms for the presidency.

ENDS

KENYA: HOW THE KALENJIN REACTED OVER RUTO’S SUSPENSION FROM THE CABINET

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho.

The news about the suspension of the Higher Education Minister William Ruto has hit the entire South Rift region like a thunderbolt sending people into speculations and wide spread rumors about his future political leadership.

In Kericho Town, which is the nerve center for the region, people were seen talking in small groups here and there and discussing the matter in low tones. There is evidence that the action took many by surprise.

Ruto’s supporters in Kapsabet and Nandi Hills looked dejected and disappointed and were reluctant to answer any question put to them by the newsmen.

Many peope have expressed both sympathgy abd solidarityt with the suspended Minister and assured hims of their continued support for his future presidential ambition. But were quick in adding that the law must take its on course.

Most people expressed sympathy with the Minister and wished the court matter he is facing will get sorted out soon.

What is not known to many people is that William Samoei Arap Ruto, is an indignant Kipsigis by tribe. His family only migrated to Nandi and eventually to Uasin Gishu many years ago from their original home which is believed was originally located round Kenegut area in Belgut. Therefore whatever happened to him hurt the Kipsigis most as the community considers him to be one among them.

However, most of those interviewed said they were satisfied with the decision taken by the two principals in the government that of suspending Mr Ruto to step aside until the criminal case he is facing before a court lf law is determined.

One such personality is Councilor Nicholas Tum who is also the ODM regional Organizer in the South Rift said he was disappointed that some Kalenjin MPs owing to their political naivety were trying to drag the party’s name in what is purely a criminal matter.

”There is nothing new in the suspension of a cabinet Minister. We have several of the suspended in the past, but were immediately reinstated in the cabinet as soon as they get cleared.

There is nothing special in the case of Mr.Ruto’s case. His supporters should wait patiently and as soon as the court case is sorted out the Minister would definitely be reinstated. There is no point of making fuss or hullabaloo about it,” said Mr.Tum.

Tum scathingly criticized some of the Kalenjin MPs who on Wednesday this week told the press that the Minister’s suspension was politically motivated. “Mr Ruto poses serious competition to some of those in power and that is why they want to scuttle him. He has massive following not only in the Rift Valley but the entire country, said Lucas Kigen the Rongqi MP..

The MPs who issued the statement were Charles Keter (Belgut} Lucas Kigen {Rongai},Benjamin Lang’at{Ainamoi},Joshua Kutuny {Cherangany} and Jackson Kiptanui {Kerio South}.

A senior Kericho politician who asked for his anonymity told the MPs to watch out as their utterances could jeopardize Mr Ruto’s impending trial in a court, the politician, however, nothing wrong in such suspension.

He told the MPs to hold their guns and wait for the court’s handling of the case. The old days of impunity are long gone with the old constitution, and the law must not be applied selectively. He reminded the suspension of former Finance Minister David Mwireria, Prof.George Saitoti, Amos Kimunya among others who were suspended from their offices pending some inquiries ordered by the President.. But all were late reinstated after being cleared of any wrong doing. Therefore the Kalenjin MPS must stop kidding around about using other people’s names as scapegoats. They must face the reality of the matter..

In Litein Town, an old man said he felt the Minister for Higher Education is a man in hurry and as such he us bound to come into loggerhead with other stakeholders to the same position.

T he Eldoret North MP js not cohesive and is in hurry of becoming the President f this country at all cost irrespective of the consequences and as such could easily brush his shoulders with other contenders for the same position.

Mzee Elijah said he is not comfortable with Ruto scheme of rocking the ODM from within, a party that has elevated him to national fame. He and his fellow Kalenjin MPs have been hitting t the ODM leader Raila Odinga on every opportunity they found a platform, whole Raila Odinga is playing mature politics not hitting back. Can’t they see sense and simply walk out of ODSM and join other parties of their choice or shut up,” said Mzee Elijah.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Six officials grilled by police for diverting government power project money

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Writes leo Odera Omolo

SIX officials from Bujagali Energy Limited (BEL) and Uganda Electricity Transmission Company Limited (UETCL) were yesterday grilled by MPs for diverting sh10b government funds to their account in Stanbic Bank.

The money was meant for the resettlement and compensation of over 2,600 people affected in the Bujagali Interconnection Project.

The officials included the project director, Glenn Gaydar, transmission line manager John Berry, the accountant, Nora Nakato, Ivan Kwasibwe (BEL), Dennis Makuba (UETCL), and Henry Lwetabe (UETCL).

The officials were handed over to CID at Parliament for further questioning after they failed to explain why BEL withdrew the money from the Government Energy Fund (Escrow account).

According to the MPs, the Government is to spend over sh30b on compensation. Bujagali Energy Limited is working closely with UETCL to manage the development and construction of the power line.

During the meeting with the officials and others from the energy ministry led by the permanent secretary, Fred Kaliisa, MPs on the public accounts committee discovered that in December 2008, BEL invested the money in bank securities without prior approval of UETCL, the implementing agency.

According to Dennis Makuba from UETCL, the money accumulated an interest of sh460m within two years. He said the money was later transferred to the consolidated account in Bank of Uganda in September.

Though deposited on the same date (December 10, 2008), the money was deposited in two instalments of sh5b each at an interest rate of 7.5% and 7%.

The committee was surprised to learn that the interest was, however, never declared in the company’s books of account.

The project director, Glenn Gaydar, explained that: “After the evaluation, there were delays by the Government chief valuer to approve the report. That is why we decided to invest it in short-term investment.”

Makuba said BEL had acknowledged that it was an oversight on their part to invest cash balances in short-term bank securities.

The legislators demanded for an explanation why the company withdrew the money before the actual time for compensation and also why they never sought authority from UETCL.

“This is a serious case of fraud. Did the Government instruct you to invest the money and make profits? Why did you request for money that you were not ready to spend?” committee chairperson Nandala Mafabi asked.

MPs William Nsubuga (NRM), Tindamanyire Kabondo (NRM), Oduman Okello, and Tom Kazibwe (NRM) noted that there was need to monitor the project because the investment will be translated into power tariffs when the project is completed.

“We are afraid that investors are taking us for granted. They only transferred the money because we had summoned them,” Oduman said.

Kaliisa assured the MPs that the interest of Ugandans are being taken care of and clear control measures had been put in place to stop exploitation.

Ends

ICC & Kenya: icc investigator visit the sites f the worse attrocities and massacre in Eldoret Town

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Reports Leo Oderab Omolo

The International Criminal Court is reported to have rejected more than 150 witnesses who had been lined up to testify against suspects of the post-election violence of 2007-08 in Kenya.

There revelation came amid reports that ICC team of Situation Analysts and Security are visiting Eldoret town in the North Rift region in their final leg of country wide tours.

The team travelled to Eldoret from Kisumu and is led by Senior Analyst in ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo’s office, Emeric Rogier.The team arrived in Eldoret last Monday evening before Rogier reportedly flew to Nairobi.

A fellow analyst, Mohammed Kheir, was left to steward the team that first held private talks with security chiefs on Tuesday morning.. The ICC team reportedly met two human right groups and some victims of the post-election violence before touring some of the hotspots, including the Kiambaa Kenya Assembly of God Church where more than 30 people, according to the government records were burnt to death.

The team also visited Langas and Huruma suburbs of Eldoret Town where people were allegedly abducted, killed and bodies buried in trenches. And were later taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the outskirt of the town where most victims of the violence. Dead and injured were taken at the height of the skirmishes.

The ICC team has so far visited Naivasha, Nakuru, Molo, Kericho and Kisumu ending up in Eldoret

And by Tuesday evening news had emerged that the ICC had vetted about 400 witnesses so far, but 150 did not meet the threshold for credibility set by the ICC for their evidence to be accepted.

Some of the witnesses were due to be flown out of Kenya, but have now been dropped. They have been informed that they do not qualify for protection in or outside Kenya. Some of the dropped witnesses had appeared before the Waki Commission which probed the violence in 2008.

“The ICC is very strict on the evidence it wants so the cases at the Hague sail through when hearing begins. That is why some witnesses could not meet the standards, “says a report appearing in the latest edition of the NAIROBISTAR quoting a source within the investigators.

Credible evidence includes recordings but most of those rejected had only verbal hearsay evidence which could not be corroborated elsewhere.

Eleven witnesses have so far been confirmed as having credible evidence and been flown out to an African country but will soon be relocated to Europe in readiness for The Hague trials.

Six are from one parliamentary constituency in Rift Valley and include a next door neighbor of a powerful cabinet minister.

The ICC investigators are still vetting evidence from another 19 witnesses.

Luis Moreno Ocampo was last week quoted saying, that all the possible witnesses needed in the trials at The Hague had been flown out of Kenya. One such rejected witness was suspected of making contracts with a key suspect to cut a deal and gain financially. The man wanted to lure other potential witnesses to accept financial offers instead of going to testify at The Hague.

The intriguing aspect of it is that the key suspect had allegedly made a deal with the rejected witness, a former politician, for him to go out of Kenya and then sweet-talk other witnesses to withdraw their evidence.

The plan was discovered by detectives working for a leading donor agency which is financing the witness protection program before it is fully taken over by the ICC.

TWO weeks ago the same STAR exclusively revealed that one witness who is already under the protection by the ICC outside Kenya had been offered Kshs 50 million through his family in the Rift Valley by a powerful minister to withdraw his evidence, The witness, however, rejected the offer.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: Kajwang’s says he is not switching to the Senate and would defend his seat

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town,

IMMIGRATION and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ was at the weekend endorsed as the chairman of Homa-Bay County Development Forum at a tension parked consultative meeting held last Saturday.

The Minister who is also the MP for Mbita constituency by virtue of the endorsement became automatically the sole spokesman for the Homa-Bay County.

Several far-reaching resolutions were unanimously passed at the meeting which was held inside the Homa-Bay County Hall and attended by the three members of parliament, professionals, civic leaders and dozens of th0se aspiring for the various positions with the County governance,

Also in attendance were four former MPs who represented the various parliamentary constituencies in the previous parliament. They included Matthews Otieno Ogingo {Ndhiwa}, George Osingo Migure{Mbita} Tom Okello Obondo {Ndhiwa} and Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi {Rangwe}.

The meeting which was chaired by Kajwang had brought together ex-MPs, professionals, clergymen, civic leaders, party operatives and local politician from the six parliamentary constituencies that forms the Homa-Bay County, namely Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo.

Kajwang’ was accompanied by three other MPs, namely Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul-Kabondo, Martin Otieno Ogindo {Rangwe} and Ms Millie Odhiambo nominated MP.

Technocrats and professionals who attended the meeting include Dr Mark Matunga from the Microsoft, Dr Kenneth Oscar Kambona from the USAID, the Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office Karoli Omondi,Prof.Akeyo Omolo from Maseno University, Mrs Roselyn Onyuka the former Nyanza PDE and now a commissioner with the TSC, Dr Eve Obara the managing director of the Kenya Literature Bureau, a Kisii based lawyer Samuel Ochillo.

It was the county leaders who converged for the inaugural of the Homa-Bay County Leaders Consultative meeting. The incumbent MPs from the region were taken to task over their recent decision to “dish” out positions created as a result of the new constitutional dispensation..

MInister Otieno Kajwang’ the convener had hectic time cooling down the tempers of the participant in his bid to protect the MPs

A delegate from Gwassi caused a stir when he challenged the MPs to explain then reason why they ha decided to allocate Gwassi the post of the deputy County governor?

Here were some issues highlighted by the professionals in their addresses. For example, Dr Kambona stressed the need for the Homa-Bay County to go out full blast and shop for new investors.

The Chief of Staff at the PM’s Office Karoli Omondi urged the leaders to come out with proposals that could be used in developing the new Country much faster.

The clamor for both the posts of Senate and County governor took the center stage during the meeting. Those eyeing various seats got the opportunity to declare their stand.

The least of those intending to contest for the position of the County governor were floated to the dalegates They include the former immediate Rangwe MP Eng.Phillip Okundi, who is also the chairman of the CCK, the incumbent Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo, Dr Mark Matunga of the Microsoft and businessman Opiata Ogada.

Other whose names featured prominently at the meeting include the former Country Director of Marie Stoppie Clinic Cyprian Otieno Awiti and a businessman Isaiya Ogwe.

Awiti who is leading the pack of the aspirants for the Homa-Bay Senate seat conducted a very successful fund drive for Mirogi Catholic Mission the next day and was endorsed by the congregation led by Fr Nicholas Otieno, and the faithful endorsed him.

These aspirants hail from different locations within the County of Homa-Bay. Dr Mark Matunga is from Mfangano Island in {Mbita}, while Opiata Ogada is from Rusinga Island {Mbita}, Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi hails from Kochia {Rangwe}, MP Martin Otieno Ogindo from Kanyada {Rangwe},Cyprian Otieno Awiti is from East Karachunyo{Karachuonyo} while Isaiya Ogwe hails from Kanyada in Rangwe

It is expected that more names will com forward for the same posts within the next few weeks. But for now Cyprian Awiti and Eng.Okundi appeared to be in the lead followed by Dr Mark Matunga.

Karachuonyo MP Eng. James Rege had told this writer that in apportioning different slots for several constituencies, the MPs from the region had meant well just for the purpose of protecting constituencies with minority votes..

The MP added that if the contestants were to campaign openly areas with more votes like Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo would swept the board taking all the important positions and after taking this into consideration, the MP from the region met and decided to apportion the seats evenly so that each and every constituency among the six of them would have their man or woman at the County governance. But the idea was violently rejected by the delegates and did not sell well.

The MPs who were unable to attend the meeting sent their apologies. They were John Mbadi {Gwasi}. Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa}

It was rather strange that only two people came forward and declare their interests in the Senate seat for Homa-Bay County. These were the former Kasipul-Kabondo MP Oloo Otula and a businessman Hilary Alila, the son of the former KNUT boss the late Nelson Onyango Alila from Ndhiwa . The nominated MP Millie Odhiambo declared her interest in the Women Senate Representative for Homna0Bay County.

During the meeting Minister Otieno Kajwang’ dispelled the rumor that was spreading around that he was shifting from Parliament to the Senate. He said he would defend his parliamentary seat.

Another MP Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipula-Kabndo} also declared that he had no interests in the County position and as such would defend his seat in parliament come the year 2012. But the Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo said he would switch to the governorship.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Angry Muslims besieged Nakasero Mosque and blocked the police patrol team

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reports Leo Odera Omolo

ANGRY Muslims yesterday besieged Nakasero Mosque, confining its leader, Sheik Sulaiman Kakeeto, accusing him of attempting to demolish the mosque on Saturday night, the government owned NEWVISION reported on its online service this morning.
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Hundreds converged at Snay Bin Amir Street at dawn after reports that Kakeeto had deployed workmen to pull down the dilapidated structure.

Wielding sticks, they surrounded the 70-year-old structure and warned of trouble if Kakeeto and his team continued with their plan.

Muslims with huge sticks standing near a Police patrol vehicle at Nakasero Mosque

On April 8, the Uganda Muslim Suuni Association and the Uganda Muslim Tabliq Community signed an agreement allowing businessman Mutaasa Kafeero to redevelop the place.

Under the about sh5b project, Kafeero is to build a multi-storied commercial building on Plot 4 Snay Bin Amin Street, and plots 17A, 17B and 17C on Entebbe Road, where the mosque is located.

The structure will have four floors, the top floor being the mosque and the third floor to act as offices for the mosque and lock-ups.

Mutaasa, who is supposed to occupy the rest of the building, will be in charge of the structure for 75 years, according to the agreement.

Last evening, Kakeeto vowed to go ahead with their arrangement.

Huge crowds of Muslims raided the mosque, where they vowed to block anybody from pulling down the mosque.

Raising their fists in the air, they chanted “Allah Akbar” (God is great).

As tempers flared, Makindye West MP Hussein Kyanjo, Sheik Najib Musisi of the once-contested mosque on William Street in Kampala, and the Police attempted to calm the situation.

Calling for a “logical approach”, Kyanjo said: “We should put our differences aside as we try to solve this problem. We should avoid chaos.”

The situation was contained after a meeting between the Muslim leaders, Kampala South Police boss Moses Kafeero and Abdulhakim Ssekimpi.

During the brief meeting, it was agreed that the two parties, the one for and that against the redevelopment, meet on Thursday to “reach an amicable solution”.

Yesterday, Mutaasa told New Vision that he was committed to building a place of worship that conforms to Islam once the differences are resolved.

Ends

Kenya: Ocampo men are in Kisumu to assess the damage caused by post-election chaos

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Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

A TEAM of investigators from the International Criminal Court {ICC} were last night being expected to arrive in Kisumu City.

While the lakeside City the team is expected to piece together information abut the 2007-2008 post-election that hit the town like Tsunami.

The four officials started their tour of the violence hotspots last week with visit to Naivasha and Nakuru as they rush to beat the October 20th deadline set by the ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo.

While in- Kisumu, the officials are expected to meet with the victims the violence with the help of human rights groups.

The officials re said to be from the Analysis and Scene of Crime section of the ICC. In addition to analyzing the security and political situation in the country, the ICC investigators are also said to be seeking to establish the damage caused to the lives and property of the victims by the post-election violence

Kisumu suffered the brunt of the violence that engulfed the country, the losses incurred by the businessmen and traders are moderately being estimated at close to Kshs 6 billions. Many properties burnt down, especially business premises are yet to be repaired to-date.

Meanwhile the week that ended today {Sunday}was an eventful period which experienced the shocking revelation that a cabinet Minister in the Kenya’s coalition government had offered a colossal amount of money in an attempt to bribe one of the potential witnesses so that he could withdraw his evidence.

The unnamed Minister is one of the top government officials said to have received the letter from the ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo.

The Kenyan daily the NAIROBISTAR had on Tuesday last week came out with a banner headline front page story that a potential witness who is already living in a safe hideout in a neighboring country under the protection of the ICC was offered colossal money to the tune of Kshs 50 million.

The report claimed that a powerful cabinet Minister had offered more than KJshs 50 million to a key witness to withdraw his evidence against him {Minister}that had already been presented to the ICC at the Hague. But the witness said, to brother of the eight witnesses’ who were recently flown out of Kenya and now living under the protection in another African country has declined the offer.

And to give credence to the claim, the ICC Prosecutor Ocampo immediately responded by writing a terse letter to Kenya’ Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti asking fir more information reports that some suspect ayetry8ng to bribe witnesses.

The letter was signed on behalf of Moreno Ocampo by the head of the International Corporation Amady Bar says in part,” we intend to investigate the report.

“We should also raise concern over reports we have received that our witnesses have been offered bribes by persons wh0 feel threatened by the ICC. We intend also to investigate these allegations and kindly any information you may be in possession of, including persons offering bribes to shield individual from criminal responsibility,” states the letter.

“Given the confidential nature of our witnesses, we are this stage to provide further details regarding these reports,” adds the letter

According to the STAR report, the witness is crucial because he had recorded the minister on video attending the meeting where the 2007-2008 post election violence was planned.

The witness is reported to have told the interviewer by phone from his hideout that he had told his relative wh9 had acted as the minister’s emissaries that he cannot accept the bribe –payment because that could be a trap to kill him.” I left Kenya because of threat to my life. There is no way I can put my life in grave danger by associating with the suspect.”

The witness is said to have declined, though his relatives had pleaded with him that he would be safe in South Africa with such huge sums of money.

“In my case my interest has not been money, but to tell the truth because UI cannot trade with the lives of people.”

The report further stated that the ICC investigators have so carried out interviews with the eight witness said t have been relocated to an African country outside Kenya. These witnesses are likely to meet with the ICC Chief Prosecutor Ocampo who is due to visit Kenya later this month.

The ICC is also reportedly as planning to relocate these potential witnesses to Europe where they will remain under the protection when they will be asked to give evidence against the suspect expected to be named by the ICC at the end of this year.

The credibility of these reports appearing in the STAR a conservative and up-coming daily, which of late has captured the imagination and became hot-stuff for Kenyan readers. The paper is an independent minded daily is unquestionable and Kenya believes on these reports as representing the true picture of the subject matter.

These reports have caused a lot of panicking and shockwaves among the politicians in the violence hotspots, especially in the North Rift where the worse violence occurred around Eldoret Town and the burn Forest areas, and in the sprawling tourist destination town 0of Naivasha.

Ends

KENYA & UK: THE KIPSIGIS PEOPLE PLAN TO SUE THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR COMPENSATION PAYMENT OF THEIR PRIME LAND WHICH WAS SEIZED BY FORCE AND GIVEN TO WHITE SETTLERS FOR TEA PLANTATIONS.

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town

AFTER waiting for decades in des[pair for their leaders to initiate meaningful dialogue with both the British and Kenyan governments, members of the Kipsigis community have now resolved to sue the Whitehall in demand for compensation of their ancestral land which forcefully seized by the colonial administration to pave the way for tea plantation.

The prime fertile land around the South Rift town of Kericho were seized by colonial armed security personnel, the natives houses were set ablaze and destroyed and several sub-clans of the Kipsigis community were dispatched to semi arid areas of Sigor, Bomet and other unproductive areas. Majority have remained squatters in government and other privately owned farms to-date.

The forceful eviction took place from the year 1910 and even went on up the t late 1960s. Most of the largest tea plantation and green leaves processing factories are still bearing the sub-clans names and locations

The communities now plan to file a legal suit at the International Court against the British government over the unresolved historical injustices committed by the British colonial administration against the community.

A meeting held in Nakuru town last week resolved that the suit against the British should be filed before the end of this year. All the previous attempt to petition the British government for compensate the Kipsigis famers whose ancestral land had been forcefully evicted out of their land to pave the way for the White Settlers to plant tea bushes have been fruitless. This is because the UK government has always thrown back such petition to the Kenya government.

The eviction took place at the opening of the 20th century around 1912 after the successful experiment and successful work in tea planting conducted by the pioneer white evicted and forced out of their ancestral with the help of colonial chiefs and early missionaries. Many villages were destroyed, houses razed to the ground and even some people killed during the exercise, which went on until around 1922 when several green leaves tea processing plants were established by the multinational British companies.

Spear heading the new plan is a Moi University Professor Paul Chepkwony who hails fro m Kapcheptororiet in Ainamoi an area where the community suffered the brunt of colonial brutalities.

Chepkwony was quoted at the weekend as having said that the community has already mobilized and were in the process of filing the case at the International Court of Justice to push for compensation for the people from the ancestral land.

Thousands of families said Prof Chepkwony has neither been settled nor compensated. They were consigned to semi-arid area in Bomet and other areas. Each time there is elections, the new MPs have always promised the electorate to take up the matter, and particularly the contentious issue of the land leases which was previously explained was to last for 999 years instead of the normal 99 year.

Bu the situation appeared to have changed in favor of the community because the new constitution does not allow any land lease who duration could last beyond 99 years.

There are more than 40 tea green leaves processing factories scattered in Bomet, Sotik, Bureti, Konoin and Kericho districts within the to counties of Kericho and Bomet.

Unilever and Finlays Tea Companies are the major multinational tea companies operating in the area with close to 5 o different tea estates. Nearly all the estates and factories are still bearing the names of the Kipsigis sub-0clans who were removed out of their ancestral land.

The Nakuru meeting was convene by the National Council of Churches,the Central Rift branch and the participant deplored the 99 years land leased saying it was unrealistic and deceitful.

In Kericho a number of local politicians have severely criticized the MP for giving this issue lip service, and yet the people want to know the fate of their land. The MP have always pursued their own selfish economic interest, but failed to articulate the problem facing members of the community

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Mseveni intervene and stopped the sale of the land of the Soroti Flying School

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has stopped the sale of land belonging to the East African Civil Aviation Academy (Soroti Flying School).The NEWVISION reported this morning.

The aviation school is the proiperty of the East African Community.It was established in the late 1960s by the defunct first East African Community, which collaosed in 1977 following sharp political and ideoilogical differences between the presidents of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya at the time,

The land has been under dispute between the academy and the Uganda Land Commission. While the academy argues that it needs the land to expand, the commission went ahead with the sale.

“We have plans to lengthen the runway, which is now 1,800 metres. We need it for our aviation plans,” Museveni told a gathering at the academy on Wednesday.

The Government plans to rehabilitate and upgrade four airfields into airports. They are Soroti, Gulu, Kasese and Arua. A new airport is to be built in Ntugamo at Rwentobo, Museveni said.

“Going through Entebbe interferes with business, especially when somebody is in a national park like Kabalega and has to come to Kampala (to fly out), instead of Gulu. Uganda is developing fast, exports will pick up. We need to expand air infrastructure.”

The President, who launched six new Skyhawk aircraft, said training pilots is expensive, especially in Africa, where training facilities are inadequate and most governments invest little money in it.

“The weaknesses come because some ministries don’t know how to prioritise. There is no money to cover all matters but when it comes to prioritisation, there is no way we can fail to rehabilitate an academy like this one. The academy will be rehabilitated and developed fully,” he announced.

He said pilots for civilian airlines and for the army are on high demand and advised the trainees to be disciplined and avoid alcohol and prostitutes.

According to the academy’s acting director, B.D. Wandera, sh17.5b is needed for basic rehabilitation and re-quipping the school.

He said the academy had got six new single-engine aircraft and was replacing old asbestos roofing with pre-painted iron sheets. Training has been hampered by inadequate funds. Night training is also impossible for lack of appropriate lighting.

The Inspectorate of Government is investigating the sale of the land. The sale came into the limelight in August when MPs from Teso sub-region petitioned the Prime Minister, Apolo Nsibambi, to halt the transaction.

In September, Nsibambi ordered the land commission to stop the sale of staff houses and land belonging to the school.

A total of 31 housing units were to be sold off. They are located on Kyoga Avenue, and on Harper, Komollo, Bisina and Esunget roads in Soroti town.

Ends

Uganda: Cheatng promphetess is nabbed by security agencies for fleecing he followers

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Reports Leo Odrea Omolo

SECURITY agencies in Masaka district are holding a 21-year-old self-styled prophetess accused of stealing sh14m from her follower.

Nahwera, Turyanabo and Abitegeka after their arrest in Masaka

Patience Nahwera alias Mukayesu of Kitenga village in Kabaale district and her two accomplices was yesterday arrested by the Rapid Response Unit commanded by David Agaba.

Nahwera, a very light skinned woman, was described by many as “mysterious”. She always covered herself with white fabric and remained concealed in her shrine made of papyrus reeds.

In the company of Abbas Turyanabo and Nelson Abitegeka, both residents of Mubende town, she was smoked out in a security operation after Zedekiya Kwalanga of Sembabule district complained to the Police that he had been defrauded of sh14m meant to protect him against witchcraft.

“I heard a radio notice saying these people offer free services to those affected by witchcraft. But when I went to their Nyendo base, I was asked to deposit sh30, 000 which I submitted,” Kwalanga said.

He added that during a consultation session at Nahwera’s shrine, a mysterious voice instructed him to light a fire and burn the money which he had carried but the money did not catch fire.

Kwalanga further narrated that they told him that the person bewitching him was very strong and asked for sh17m for charms to protect him.

According to the statement he recorded with the Police, Kwalanga said he sold his cows and a piece of land and raised sh14m, which he gave to Nahwera.

“She kept the money in a box containing other currencies and asked me to leave. Abitegeka told me that he would call me but when I came back on Wednesday, I was instructed to bring more sh20m,” he added.

It was at this moment that Kwalanga smelt foul play and reported the matter to Masaka Police Station.

At the time of the arrest, Nahwera was attending to another client, Cissy Nakalawa.

Nakalawa, who denied being Nahwera’s aide, said she lost sh30,000 to the woman.

“An anonymous person telephoned me advising that I should bring my sick daughter here. Although she is two years old, she cannot sit, talk or see,” Nakalawa explained.

A resident, Hakiim Semakula, told New Vision that they had mistaken Nahwera’s shrine for a Born Again Christian church.

Ends

Uganda: Police in Kampala have discovered the killing yard used by carjackers and robbers

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

MORE chilling details have emerged on how a gang of hard-core criminals has over five years been robbing vehicles, murdering the owners and discreetly disposing of their bodies after burning them.,A report published this morning by the government owned NEWVISION has revealed.

Charles Yiga at the drainage channel at Bweya near the Kajjansi Airfield where one of the bodies was dumped

The Police have recovered five bodies of victims suspected to have been killed by suspects recently arrested in connection with a series of car robberies and murders.

Investigations have also unearthed the tricks the gang has been using to lure the victims. The tricks included using the victim’s wife or girlfriend, who would easily convince their partner to trust the gang in any transaction.

The Police suspect that the group has been active over the last five years but had managed to keep their activities secret.

Arrested over a week ago in Makindye, a city suburb, the gangsters had stolen or robbed vehicles and murdered the owners. In some cases, they set the bodies ablaze to conceal evidence.

Kajjansi Police boss Francis Kabera yesterday said the bodies were recovered in various parts of the country.

Some of the suspects, according to the Police, confessed to being involved in the crimes and led the detectives to the murder spots.

The investigations are being handled jointly by the Special Investigations Unit and the Rapid Response Unit.

The gang, it emerged, set up a company to sell stolen vehicles, often passing them off as vehicles of loan defaulters.

Kajjansi criminal investigations department boss Daniel Batte yesterday said the bodies recovered included that of Claude Ndeezi, Constantine Ssempala and of two others only identified as Kafuluma and Mubarak. One other body was not identified.

Ndeezi’s body was recovered from Nkozi, Kafuluma’s from Buwama, Mubaraka’s on Masaka Road and Sempala’s from Bweya.

The Police said the arms of Nkata, another victim, were tightly tied behind his back, coupled with strangulation. His remains were burnt.

The Police, who believed he was a mob justice victim, took the body to the city mortuary.

It was later buried in an unmarked grave in a public cemetery in Lusaze, Kampala.

Eight members of the group are in Police custody.

The Police told New Vision that some of the bodies were recovered after the suspects confessed and led them to the places where they were dumped.

Batte said the group would pounce on their victims, strangle them before setting the bodies on fire to disguise the cause of death.

The gang, the Police said, would at times pose as passengers, but would murder the driver on the way.

On other occasions, the wives and girlfriends of the victims were reportedly used to lure them into their traps.

The Police suspect that the group has been active for the last five years but managed to keep their activities under wraps.

The Police said the lid was blown off the gang when they disagreed with a potential customer.

The thugs, who were selling a Toyota Ipsum had finally accepted to trade it with a Toyota Corona, on condition that the owner of the Corona topped up the difference with some money, which he did. “It turned out that the other party had already sold the car to another person. A wrangle ensued and the aggrieved party reported the matter to the Police,” Kabera said.

The gang allegedly also use trickery to acquire vehicles.

“They would claim that they want a car for self-drive for two weeks or more, then pay some sum of money and drive off with the car. They would immediately forge car documents and mortgage it,” Kabera said.

Over 10 vehicles have so far been recovered in the ongoing investigations.

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Kenya: Rachuonyo police faulted for taking too long before launching investigation on a murder case

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kendu-Bay Town.

For three working days relations between the residents of a Kosele village and the police almost came to a stand off following allegation that it took too long before the police swung into action in investigating the mysterious killing of a man who was beaten savagely and killed by unknown assailant.

The incident occurred at Kosele trading center in Kawere sub-location, Rachuonyo North district in Homa-Bay County. Both the Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD} and the Officer In-Charge of the Kosele Police Station {OCS} are senior police women. Residents of the area were of the opinion that there is the need for the change so that one of the officer be transferred and be replaced by a man.

Mr Tom Kabasa was waylaid by unknown assailant as he was reportedly walking home after having drinks with some friends in a bar within Kosele Trading Center. His assailants beat him and left him for dead. The assailant also made off with close to Kshs 9,000 which the deceased had in his pocket.

Both the Rachuonyo OCPD and Kosele OCS could not be reached immediately for their comment about the incident.

The post-mortem carried on the deceased body revealed that he had suffered a ruptured spleen,that caused excessive internal bleeding and loss of blood. His body was recovered several hours later, but the villagers claimed the police had neglected the case by now securing the scene of crime and not recording the incident in the OB at the station.

The incident occurred only 50 meter from the district headquarters and also close to the police station.

The residents were also irked following unconfirmed allegation that the prime suspect who the villagers had apprehended was later released, and that several workers at the bar and customers only recorded statement at the station and were immediately set free by the police conducting rigorous interrogations.

However, matter changed drastically last night when police moved and rounded up score of suspects. The police action came only after numerous complaints launched by relatives of the deceased who included Mr Seth Oluoch, the retired former Provincial Director of Education {ODE} Central Province and Mrs Grace Amenya a senior nursing officer at Homa-Bay district Hospital who is the younger sister of the deceased.

The police action came after numerous long phone call from the Unite States by the deceased elder brother Mr.Phillip Daniel Ojijo Kabasa who contacted the police newsmen and other government officials in the area with complaint about the laxity and complacency of the police in handling this particular most faulty murder case that has shocked the entire region.

The Karachuonyo MP Eng.James K. Rege condemned the killing of an innocent in the strongest term and appealed to the police to leave no stone unturned with the view to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.

The MP said people should be free to walk and conduct their business about freely without being molested. He said the police should ensure they co-operated with the locals residents in hunting down the suspect with the view to getting rid of criminal elements in the area.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: Mrs Onyuka says she is not in the race for Homa-Bay County Women Senate Seat as earlier reported

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kendu-BayTown.

MRA Roselyn Onyuka serving member of the Teachers Service Commission {TSC}whose name had of late appeared in the local media as being one of the potential contestant to the women special senate representative has reiterated that she was still a public servant and as such had no wish to aspire any political office in the near future..

Onyuka the former Nyanza Provincial Director of Education {PDE} is a high profile educationist who is well known as an achiever in many way during her rewarding career. She at first came to prominence when she resuscitated St Albert Ulanda Girls High School in Awendo Division, Awendo district and made the school to be one of the most vibrant securing respectful place in the national exam for a couple of years.

After a brief stint at Ulanda, she received another challenge and transfer to the then run-down Asumbi Teachers Training College where she performed diligently before earning her promotion to become the PDE and posted to Kisumu. During her stay in Kisumu, the schools in Nyanza reclaimed their lost glory of excellence academic results, which became the envious of many people. As the PDE she introduced radical and drastic changes in the schools management

Mrs Onyuka said she wished to clarify some information which had appeared in the media that she had served as an AEO and later DEO. She further stated that her promotion was in recognition of her unique performance at Ulanda and later at Asumbi.

While at Asumbi,she was awarded the Distinguish Service Medal and she is very much pleased that the government of Kenya had acknowledged her dedication and commitment in the promotion of excellent education in the country for the recognition of her work.

“For now, I am still in active public service and as such I cannot serve two masters at the same time.” When the time come and the demand by the people that I should serve them in any capacity, this will received my favoring response, but strictly at an appropriate time,” said Mrs Onyuka.

While he was the PDE, he was later transferred to the Ministry headquarters where she last service as the Acting Director in charge of Secondary Education, a position where she retired from, and was later made a member of the TSC board and she said she is enjoying her job very much.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Investors and financial experts to brainstorm in Muritius tomorrow on money markets and investment in Africa

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Business and Economic News By Leo Odera Omolo.

ALL eyes will tomorrow {Friday} be trained on the sandy beaches of Mauritius a a new electronic exchange for a wide range of commodity derivatives such as metals and agricultural products gives live in that country.

Beginning this Friday, traders from across the world will have the opportunity to transact on the Global Board of Trade {GBOT} that is based in the island country that sits on the East-Coast of Indian Ocean.

Besides the derivatives of commodity, the launch will also pave the way trades in currency derivatives products.

Brokers in different locations in the world will be able to connect in real time through trading platform to carry out instructions of their clients to buy and sell in gold an silver, as well as currencies such as the Mauritian rupees, US dollars, South African rand, euro and pound sterling.

The exchange is expected to translate into economic benefits for Africa by creating a vibrant financial market system and attracting global investors and corporations, according to the chairman of GBOT Venkat Charry.

“It will provide an ideal platform to access the fast growing economies of the African region and also create new opportunities for Africa to trade with the global markets,” he said.

The firm’s vice chairman Jignesh Shah, says GBOT will present opportunities to the African population and global investors to take part in African growth.”It will create an ideal risk mitigation platform to cater to increasing levels of business activity and revolutionize the financial markets of Africa ,”he added.

Observers and analysts say those transacting business would be assured of better prices due to the lrge number of buyers and sellers at any given time.

The Chief Executive Officer of GBOT,Joseph Bosco, said that since the pricing on the platform is determined by the forces of demand and supply both parties will be assured of fair prices.

“Through GBOT, we will enable Africa decide the true value of its commodities in its own time rather than chasing other markets and their times.”

Though there are no East African brokers taking part, in the initial trading Mr Bosco said that there are several firms at different stages of application for the status of brokers. They are among 30 applications being processed.

“Once they become fully fledged members of the platform, we will introduce trading in Kenya and Uganda shillings, “he said.

Currently,there are about 15 brokers already signed up.They had to satisfy a raft of requirements that include a nmet worth of USD 100,000,knowledge of the market,as well as possession of an operational office with proper IT set up and clients. In addition to this, the brokers have to satisfy the regulator’s conditions for licensing a USD 25,000 admission fee and USD 4000 annual levy.

Mr Bosco says that establishing the GBOT involved setting up of f the state of the art system, drafting the rules to guide it, recruiting the brokers and bringing a group of experts from across the world to Mauritius to run it.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

The treason charges against the opposition leader in Uganda are dismissed by court

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THE Constitutional Court has stopped the treason and terrorism cases against Col. Kizza Besigye in the High Court and in the General Court Martial. he government owned NEWVISION has reportd in its online this morning.

Besigye addresses journalists at the Constitutional Court in Kampala yesterday

In its unanimous ruling yesterday, the court also ordered that the Bushenyi and Arua murder cases against Besigye’s co-accused in the magistrates’ courts be stopped too.

This follows a petition filed in the Constitutional Court by Besigye, Frank Atukunda and Patrick Okiring to challenge their treason trial in the High Court and the terrorism trial in the Court Martial.

Initially, there were 23 treason suspects, including Besigye, but 12 applied for amnesty and the charges were dropped. Those who still faced trial were Besigye, Atukunda, Robert Tweyambe and Joseph Musasizi Kifeefe, Besigye’s brother, who has since died.

The others were Okiring, Yahaya Amir Asega, Idd Ahmed Yunus, John Arike, Bruhan Driatre Iwago, Samson Agupio and James Kabaka Tabuga.

The charges were in connection with a rebel group, the People’s Redemption Army (PRA), that operated from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The five judges said the State could not continue with the cases because its agents violated the rights of the accused by laying siege of the High Court and re-arresting the suspects to block their release on bail.

The rights of the accused, judges said, were also abused when their bail was blocked after the court had granted it and when the Prisons authorities refused to produce them in court..

“This court cannot sanction any continued prosecution of the petitioners, where during the proceedings, the human rights of the petitioners have been violated to the extent described. No matter how strong the evidence against them may be, no fair trial can be achieved and any subsequent trials would be a waste of time and an abuse of court process,” the judges said.

They were Alice Mpagi Bahigeine, Stephen Engwau, Amos Twinomujuni, Constance Byamugisha and Augustine Sebuturo Nshimye.

After the court registrar, Asaph Ntengye Ruhinda, delivered the ruling, Besigye, speaking outside the court, criticised the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for allowing the cases to go to court.

“If we had a DPP, these cases would not have come to the court at all,” Besigye told journalists.

Besigye and his co-accused petitioned the Constitutional Court in 2007. The cases had been on since 2005 when they were arrested over treason allegedly committed between 2001 and 2004.

In the same year (2005), they were charged with terrorism in the General Court Martial. Later, some of them were charged with murder in Bushenyi and Arua.

The petitioners argued that all the cases in the different courts were based on the same facts to ensure they are not released on bail.

They said the cases were based on the accusations that they committed the offences as members of PRA.

They complained that they were tortured in the process of their arrest and re-arrest at the High Court.

The argued that their trial would not be fair given the circumstances. They also complained that Government officials were making statements implying that they were guilty of treason, terrorism, illegal possession of firearms and murder.

They wanted the court to pronounce itself on whether the siege at the High Court and the murder charges in Bushenyi and Arua contravened the Constitution.

The other issue was whether the simultaneous trials in the High Court and Court Martial contravened the Constitution.

The fourth issue was whether the effect of the conduct of the State towards the Judiciary and the petitioners contravened the Constitution.

The judges said the State did not challenge the evidence brought by the petitioners. They said in her affidavit, the State Attorney, Robinah Rwakoojo, only stated that there was no evidence of armed siege at the court.

The judges noted that Rwakoojo also only stated that the petitioners were duly re-arrested and charged before the Court Martial and that the re-arrest was not in defiance of the High Court order.

Rwakoojo also stated that nobody pronounced the petitioners guilty because the cases were still going on and that the Arua and Bushenyi murder charges were proper.

“We have found that what the security and other State agencies did at the premises of and headquarters of the third organ of State (Judiciary) was an outrageous affront to the Constitution, constitutionalism and the rule of law in Uganda,” the judges ruled and added that the actions of the State agents violated the constitutional rights of the petitioners.

The judges said the suspects had a right to be tried in an independent tribunal, be presumed innocent until proven guilty or plead guilty and had right to bail. The judges also said the suspects had the right to be protected from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and also had the right to a fair hearing.

“We cannot stand by and watch prosecutions mounted and conducted in the midst of such flagrant egregious and mala fide violations of the Constitution and must act to protect the constitutional rights of the petitioners and the citizens of Uganda in general and the rule of law in Uganda buy ordering all the tainted proceedings against the petitioners to stop forthwith and direct the respective courts to discharge the petitioners,” the judges stated.

The judges said the Court Martial proceedings had been nullified by the Supreme Court and the proceedings of the treason trial, and the Arua and Bushenyi murder charges were equally null and void.

Asked for comment, Yusuf Nsibambi, Besigye’s lawyer in the High Court case, said the ruling was a relief to both Besigye and the State because the case was going to be very costly.

The Principal State Attorney, Henry Oluka, declined to comment. “I have no comment on that,” he said.

It was not immediately established whether the DPP would appeal.

KENYA: MBITA IS THE DISTRICT WITHOUT ADMINISTRATORS EVER SINCE D.C KOMEN WAS TRANSFERRED TO WESTERN P.C’S OFFICE IN KAKAMEGA.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town.

The government has no plan of posting a new District Commission for Mbita district or any immediate arrangement to have officers deployed in the area.

This was stated by the Assistant Minister In Charge of the Provincial Administration and Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode.

The Minister was responding to a question put forward by this writer inquiring as to when the D,C., DO{1} and two district officer in charge of the district’s the administrative divisions, namely Mbita, Lambwe and Mfangano.

The main reasons why, He added, being the fact that the MP for the area Gerald Otieno Kajwang who is also the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister has recently stated publicly that all members of the Provincial Administration should pack and go now that the new constitution is in force.

This is a clear indication that the services of these officers are no longer required in Mbita district. We must look for the way forward to have them deployed in places where they are required to provide the services to the public.

Mbita is the far end district that sits on the shore of the crime prone Lake Victoria border Uganda to the west, Budalangi to the north, Bondo and Rarieda districts to the Northeast,Gwasii district to the South, Ndhiwa and Rangwe to the Southeast. It coverers two major fishing islands, namely Rusinga and Mfangano and other smaller islands such as Ngodhe, Ringiti,Takawiri and Rhemba islands.

The district has been rendered malfunctioned after the D.C. for the area Francis Komen, the DO {I} and two district officers administering its two outlying administrative divisions, namely Lambwe and Mfangano were also abruptly transferred to other stations.

As a result, vital functions such as the district security committee meetings cannot be held and services that require the D.C’s signature cannot be t5ranbsacted and rendered to the public.

Mr Komen confirmed that he had been transferred to Kakamega as the Deputy Provincial Commissioner for Western Province. “So far I am no longer handling any official matter for the area, though I have not handed over the office to the new person. This is because the DO {1} who is next to him in hierarchy had also been transferred.

The former Mbita D.C. referred newsmen to his superiors for comment. The former D.C was removed two weeks ago in a reshuffle that affected many other Provincial administrators. The area has more than eleven chiefs and their 27 assistants did not know who to report to on urgent administrative matters. The issues has raised a lot of confusions, because it is unusual for the government to transfer a D.C. or a DO without replacement.

Mr Komen had also declined to comment on claims and rumors making the round that the removal of the officers was linked to remarks by Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’ who had said that he did not need the Provincial Administration.The Minister was recently widely quoted by the media as telling the provincial qdministrators to start packing, because they were nb0ot needed under the new constitution.

Kajwang could not be reached immediately for his comment about the pathetic situation or to respond to Ojode contention that the government intend to remove and transfer the chiefs as well as their assistants to other stations where they-ir services are required. Sources at the Kisumu Offices of the Nyanza P.C. Fred Mutie . said the matter was receiving attention of the government and the situation would be normalized soon. Perhaps the situation would be rectified in a week or two.

A spokesman for the business community in Mbita Town Mr Okuku Miregi described the situation as grave and pathetic. Traders in the local market places and along the fish landing beaches are also worried. The area is prone to piracy and armed robberies staged by people suspected to be foreigners using the lake routes.

Organized gangs of foreign pirates are said to be roaming about along the lake shores, attacking fishermen and robbing them of money, fishing gears and other valuables and then uses speeding boats and escaping large quantities of shop-goods, money, fish-nets and the catches with impunity.

The traders in Mbita and it environs have appealed to the government to post the new officers as soon as possible.

Ends

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