KENYA

Fresh hurdle as Raila’s Azimio legality challenged in court

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party, one of the two major political formations in the lead-up to the August 9 elections, faces a fresh hurdle after two petitioners challenged its legality at the High Court in Mombasa.

Mr Kelvin Omondi and Ms Fatuma Saidi argue that the deed of agreement establishing Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party is null and void.

They want the coalition led by Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga to be compelled to make public the coalition’s deed of agreement.

They further claim that the agreement that established the coalition was entered in breach of the Political Parties Act (PPA) and the basic requirements for coalitions as provided for in the Act.

“The deed agreement is a nullity and void for violation of any law and norm under the Political Parties Act, nothing comes out of it,” the two contend in their petition.

They have sued the Registrar of Political Parties, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party.

The petitioners claim Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party is an entity unknown in law and unconstitutional, as its registration did not meet the statutory and constitutional threshold for registration of a political party.

They asked the court to issue a declaration quashing the registration of the deed of agreement dated March 12, 2022, as well as any gazette notice and nominations made by the party.

The case will be mentioned for directions on May 25.

(Source: Daily Nation) 

TANZANIA

President Suluhu Stresses Fiscal Discipline

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has instructed local government councils to ensure the budgets being disbursed by the central government are properly spent for authorised purposes.

She said the government will continue instituting strong measures against all officials who will disregard the directive.

Ms Suluhu issued the directives yesterday as she kicked off her working tour in Tabora region, in which she inaugurated the 85.4km Nyahua- Chaya road, constructed in collaboration with the government of Tanzania and Kuwait Development Fund.

President Suluhu insisted that the government is spending a lot of money on financing development projects in all local government authorities, for the sake of improving service delivery to the people.

“As we are dishing out a lot of money for development projects in local government councils, then I expect to see the budget is spent on the intended purpose, not otherwise,” she said. “I will not hesitate to continue taking strong measures against those who will tamper with the money, there are few who want to see my true colours, they have seen it already,” she added.

The Head of State said the government has so far completed a number of infrastructural projects aimed at easing movement of people, goods and services in different parts of the country.

She insisted that the government is fully determined to ensure all the projects are completed on time, before coming up with another one.

In another development, President Samia instructed the Minister of State, President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government Innocent Bashungwa to ensure speedy tendering processes for all projects being financed by part of the 1.3 trillion/- loan Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) under International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The president was concerned with delays in the tendering process for some of the projects including water and health projects. “Deadline for spending the IMF loan is in June this year, just in the coming month, the PoLARG minister should act accordingly on this,” she said.

(Source: Daily News)

UGANDA

Opposition parties explain why they have not joined Besigye in protests

Three Opposition political parties yesterday said they do not necessarily have to join four-time presidential candidate Col (Rtd) Dr Kizza Besigye on the streets to protest the high cost of living.

The National Unity Platform (NUP), Democratic Party (DP), and  Alliance for National Transformation (ANT) almost sounded unanimous in supporting Dr Besigye’s protests but insisted that they have been engaging in different forms of protests across the country and they don’t have to be on the streets to send their message. 

Addressing women supporters at the NUP offices in Kamwokya, Kampala, yesterday, party president Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, said:  “We support what our fore leader Dr Besigye is doing because he is right and what he addresses is important. I encourage everyone who has any form of activity to continue for as long as it sends a message of protest against what is happening right now in the country.” 

Mr David Lewis Rubongoya, the NUP secretary-general, said: “We have to attack the dictator from all angles. We have been having sensitisation activities in Jinja and Soroti for our councillors and leaders, and this is what we have done today. All these add to the struggle and we could go to the streets any time as well.”

Other Opposition political leaders said they will  protest at their own pace. 

(Source: The Monitor) 

RWANDA

Budget: MPs outline their priorities on govt spending

Members of Parliament have said that the proposed Rwf4.6 trillion national budget for the 2022/23 fiscal year should focus on areas such as addressing the rising cost of living, supporting school feeding as well as narrowing the country’s import bill.

The proposed budget represents an increase of Rwf217.8 billion or 4.7 percent of public spending compared to Rwf4.44 trillion of the revised budget of the current fiscal year. 

The draft budget was presented by Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, to both Chambers of Parliament on Thursday.

On the expenditure front, the recurrent budget is projected at Rwf2.79 trillion while development budget and net lending is projected at Rwf1.86 trillion.

While presenting the proposed financial plan to legislators, Ndagijimana said that the next financial year budget, which will start on July 1, will focus on the implementation of the government’s strategies meant to speed up economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

It also emphasises continued implementation of the ambitious national strategy for transformation (NST1) — a seven-year government programme running from 2017 through 2024. 

Like most of the global economy, Rwanda faces two major challenges—the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which has triggered a surge in prices of goods and services.  

(Source: The New Times) 

ETHIOPIA 

President Sahle-Work Lauds Departing Head of IOM Office in Ethiopia

President Sahle-Work Zewde has praised the departing Head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Office in Ethiopia and representative to the African Union, Maureen Achieng, for her dedication and honesty while fulfilling her mandate.

President Sahle-Work on Wednesday received in her office and held talks with Achieng, after more than six years in the country.

The President expressed her sincere gratitude to Achieng for her achievements, hardwork, dedication and honesty while fulfilling her mandate.

She added that more should be done now, more than ever, to enhance the role and influence of African member countries of the United Nations.

(Source: Ethiopia News Agency) 

ERITREA

Eritrea accuses TPLF of planning fresh attacks against Asmara

War drums are beating again on the restive Ethiopia-Eritrean border after Asmara accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of plotting to launch attacks to reclaim lost territory.

Asmara’s accusations on Tuesday came a few days after rebel TPLF forces and Eritrean forces clashed in two fronts in Badme and Rama towns which lie along their bordering territories.

The Eritrean Ministry of Information said: “It was no secret that the TPLF leaders were preparing for new military attacks.”

“Their main target is to re-occupy our land, which international law has recognised as the sovereign territory of Eritrea, and to re-commit their hatred-driven looting and atrocities on Eritrean soil.

“TPLF’s plot has the blessing and support of Western powers…They (Western powers) are rushing to deliver grain, medicine, fuel and other supplies in the name of humanitarian assistance before TPLF starts the new war,” the ministry added, without naming the Western powers.

A long-standing tense relation between Ethiopia’s Tigray region and Eritrea deteriorated in 2020 after President Isaias Afwerki sent his forces to join the Ethiopian federal army in fighting the TPLF, a proscribed group.

The Eritrean Ministry of Information further said that the Eritrean people will fight to defend the country from any attacks.

The international community has repeatedly urged the Eritrean government to withdraw its forces from Tigray in northern Ethiopia.

(Source: The East African) 

SOMALIA 

President Hassan Sheikh and Farmajo Discuss Handover Ceremony

The President of the Office of the Federal Republic of Somalia Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo met with the new President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud at the State House.

The meeting discussed the general situation in the country, in particular security, the economy, development and the organisation of the inauguration ceremony, according to a statement from the presidency.

Next week, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is set to officially take over the presidency from Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, who was defeated a few days ago in Mogadishu.

Mohamed Farmajo has appointed a committee to organise the inauguration ceremony of the president, and Thursday’s meeting between Hassan Sheikh and Farmajo is the second since the presidential election.

Thursday’s meeting was attended by the Director of the Presidency and other members accompanying the new President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)