Kenya

 Senators approve changes to IEBC law

 Senators have approved the IEBC (Amendment) Bill 2022, the proposed law that seeks to change composition of the selection panel to recruit poll commissioners. 

The legislators spent most of Thursday debating the Bill that will affect appointments of new electoral commissioners going forward.

The Bill will now head back to the National Assembly, the originating House, for the onward transmission to President William Ruto for assent.

(Source: The Daily Nation)

Raila allies warming up to President Ruto ministers 

Opposition chief Raila Odinga’s rapprochement with President William Ruto has opened the door for his allies to hold talks with Cabinet Secretaries to address concerns in their areas.

President Ruto, according to inside sources, has also urged his Cabinet to adopt an open-door policy in their dealings with all leaders regardless of their political affiliation. Speaking in Siaya last weekend, the President reiterated his commitment to working with all leaders.

Mr Odinga’s initial hardline position to discredit the legitimacy of the Kenya Kwanza government with persistent claims it was rigged in, along with attacks on the President, had made his allies reluctant to be associated with the ruling coalition leaders.

But Mr Odinga’s pronouncements that governors and other leaders in Nyanza allied to his Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party were free to embrace the President and support his push for development has seen the opposition leaders reaching out to various Cabinet and principal secretaries to pitch their development ideas.

On Monday, just a day after the President concluded his tour of the Nyanza region, where he was hosted by local leaders led by Governors Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu) and James Orengo (Siaya), some leaders from Kisumu sought an audience with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki over runaway insecurity in the lakeside city.

Tanzania

UHC to consider citizens’ interests – Mpango

Vice-President Philip Mpango has assured Tanzanians that the government will take into consideration the interests of all groups of people including low-income earners in its decision to establish the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The VP said that the ongoing consultations with various stakeholders will help the government to make a decision that will enable every citizen to have access to better health services at affordable cost.

Dr Mpango made the assurance on Wednesday while addressing Kagongwa residents in Kahama District as part of activities of his Shinyanga Region tour.

He noted that the government is still receiving views and pieces of advice from various stakeholders concerning the establishment of the insurance scheme.

 (Source: The Daily News)

 Uganda

 Audit report unearths rot in government entities

The Auditor-General (AG) report has unearthed a plethora of glaring irregularities littered in various government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) spread across the country.

The latest findings contained in an audit that was done on government entities in Financial Year 2021/2022 show that the government has several conduits through which taxpayers’ money is lost to corruption, ghost staff and diversions, among others.

While receiving the report from the AG, Mr John Muwanga, on Thursday, Speaker Anita Among intimated that the contents of the report were factual and reflective of the situation in the country.

 (Source: The Monitor)

Lawmakers want audit into forest reserve licences

A statement presented to the House by the Shadow Minister for Environment, Ms. Christine Kaaya, on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, cited misuse of licenses issued by the National Forestry Authority (NFA).

Kaaya noted that natural forests in central forest reserves have been cut down, destroyed or completely removed, and have been replaced by pine and eucalyptus trees.

She listed Mabira National Forest Reserve as one most affected forests whose internal integrity has been deplorably destroyed.

(Source: The Independent)

Rwanda

Kigali regrets Kinshasa’s abandonment of Luanda, Nairobi peace processes

The Government of Rwanda has expressed its concern over the DR Congo “apparent abandonment” of the Luanda and Nairobi peace processes.

The Nairobi and Luanda processes were established in 2022 to help restore peace in eastern DR Congo, where more than 120 local and foreign armed groups roam.

“Rwanda notes with regret the 18 January 2023 statement of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is a selective reading of the Luanda Communiqué of 23 November 2022,” reads part of the statement released on Thursday, January 19.

“The DRC statement avoids key decisions of the November summit, and concludes with what can only be seen as a threat of imminent attacks on Rwanda.”

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

EU special envoy appreciates government’s commitment to implement peace agreement

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, met today with the European Union’s Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, Annette Weber to discuss the implementation of the Pretoria Peace Agreement and current situations in Ethiopia.

Demeke reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to implementing the Pretoria Peace Agreement during their discussion, noting, among other things, the restoration of essential services, the expansion of access to humanitarian supplies, and the formation of a rehabilitation commission.

The Special Envoy for her part expressed appreciation for the government’s commitment to the implementation of the peace deal and stated that the EU would continue to strengthen its humanitarian support.

She stated that the recent visits to Ethiopia by the foreign ministers of Germany and France were crucial in improving the connection between Ethiopia and the European Union.

(Source: ENA)

Sudan

FFC-CC: ‘Sudan Final Agreement imminent’

The Central Council of Sudan’s mainstream Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC-CC) expects the signing of the Final Agreement and the formation of a new government within three weeks, following news of the second preparatory dialogue conference on (transitional) justice, which was scheduled last week.

The spokesperson for the Sudanese Professionals Association and member of the Executive Bureau for the FFC-CC, El Riyeh El Sadig, told Radio Dabanga that “there is a political will and seriousness from the involved parties to make the political process a success with the presence of international guarantors”.

He added that the dialogue conferences on the remaining four issues (justice, security and military reform, the Juba Peace Agreement, and eastern Sudan) organised by the signatories to the Framework Agreement will be concluded within two weeks.

(Source: Radio Dabanga)