KENYA

Uhuru offers Kenneth and Sabina in search for Raila running mate

Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Mr Peter Kenneth and Ms Martha Karua are among 20 individuals whose names have been submitted to a panel vetting running mate candidates for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya presidential flag bearer Raila Odinga.

Impeccable sources within the panel chaired by former Cabinet minister Noah Wekesa revealed that the 20 names were submitted by various parties within the Azimio framework that brings together 26 political parties.

“We have received 20 nominees for the position, which the panel will with immediate effect begin the process of vetting before we submit the best to the presidential candidate for nomination,” a source within the panel told the Nation.

The panel has so far received 20 names from various parties within the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.The panel will avail opportunity to any candidate who wishes to make any presentation to the members.

The panel, the official noted, will avail opportunity to any candidate who wishes to make any presentation to the members of the committee a chance to do so.

“We shall then submit the name of the winner to the presidential candidate by May 10.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party settled on former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth as its first choice for Mr Odinga’s deputy presidential nominee, with Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege listed as the party’s second choice.

Mr Odinga’s ODM party endorsed Deputy party leader Hassan Joho for the position.

It was a day of drama that saw Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi submit the name of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka for consideration, hours before the party’s Secretary-General Nick Salat wrote to the panel recommending Mr Moi.

(Source: Daily Nation)

TANZANIA

Land formalisation reduces land disputes in Bahi District 

Land formalization and issuance of customary titles have significantly resolved land disputes in Msisi and Makanda villages in Bahi district of Dodoma region.

The move is also expected to increase the employment opportunities in the two villages, something which could bring prosperity and improve welfare among the villagers.

This was said by the Minister of State in President’s Office (Public Service and Good Gov- ernance), Ms Jenista Mhagama, during her working visit at Bahi to, among other activities, lay the foundation stone for the Msisi and Makanda village offices built through Property and Business Formalization for Tanzania programme (MKURABITA) in the areas.

The minister noted that the land formalization in Bahi district will enable better record keeping that will help eliminate land disputes between farmers and pastoralists or individuals, adding that the government works hard to ensure the formalization to eliminate existing land disputes.

Ms Mhagama hinted that the move will open the door for easy access to loans since the title deeds give them the opportunity to access loans from financial institutions to run their agricultural activities and the entrepreneurship to sustain their families.

She elaborated that the move will also have significant benefits in increasing the revenue of Bahi District Council and the national revenues as well.

“Formalization has con- sidered gender parity, so it has eliminated gender-based violence against women and girl children who did not have a right to own land,” she insisted.

For his part, MKURABITA Coordinator, Dr Seraphia Mgembe, said his office had spent a very short time to survey 1,483 farms in Msisi Village in Bahi District and added that the survey was possible because the villagers have provided adequate cooperation.

Dr Mgembe said that the citizens who received the certificates could now use the documents to apply for loans for running their agricultural and entrepreneurial activities to improve their livelihoods.

(Source: Daily News) 

UGANDA

Remove taxes on bread, energy drinks, MPs told

A concerned citizen has asked lawmakers on the Parliamentary Committee on Finance to scrap the Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on bread.

Mr Erastus Ngirabakunzi, a resident of Ntinda, Kampala, made the request yesterday when the committee welcomed reactions and input from concerned citizens on the tax proposals that are currently under scrutiny by Parliament.

He said he conducted an analysis on bread and its consumption from which he established that the taxes imposed on it negatively impact the consumers.

“My analysis indicates that the VAT imposed on bread greatly increases the retail cost and affects poor households across the country,” Mr Ngirabakunzi said.

Similarly, the leadership of the Kumbucha Manufacturers Association of Uganda yesterday urged Parliament to slash the taxes imposed on their products, which mostly comprise energy drinks.

Specifically, the Kumbucha makers asked MPs to push for a review that will compel the government to slash excise duty from 15 percent or UgShs 250 to 12 percent or UgShs150 as imposed on every litre of their drink.

(Source: Daily Monitor)

RWANDA

Parliament summons environment minister over land issues

The Chamber of Deputies has adopted a resolution to summon the Minister of Environment to provide explanations to issues identified in land management and use.

The decision was made on Wednesday, May 04, 2022 as it adopted its Committee on Land, Agriculture, Livestock, and Environment’s assessment of the performance audit report of land management in Rwanda that was produced by the Auditor General.

The Committee was handed the report on April 23, 2021, for analysis. As part of the exercise, the Committee toured 13 audited districts from October 10 to 15, 2021, assessing land management issues that were identified by the report.

While making a presentation on the analysis to the Plenary Session, Committee Chairperson, MP Marie Alice Kayumba Uwera said that one of those issues identified by the report include lack of land use plan at sector and district level since the development of the first national land use masterplan and development of 2010.

That situation resulted in different consequences including the mismatch between district development and land use, the discrepancy between the national industry masterplan and the city development masterplan.

Others are factories set up in residential areas, changing the planned land use without the approval by the district councils – for instance in Kamonyi, Muhanga, Bugesera and Rulindo.

Also, the report revealed that seven audited districts, namely Rubavu, Musanze, Rulindo, Muhanga, Kamonyi, Nyagatare and Bugesera had no land use plan.  

There was also an issue of poor land service delivery, and many land titles that were not given to those entitled to their ownership.

(Source: The New Times)

ETHIOPIA 

President Uhuru Kenyatta Says Kenya will Stand by Ethiopia in Times of Need

President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, said as a genuine friend, Kenya, will always stand by Ethiopia in times of need.

Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Kenya Meles Alem has paid a courtesy call on the President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta.

The President appreciated Ambassador Meles Alem for his outstanding diplomatic service that contributed a lot in further cementing the longstanding relationships between the two countries.

The president added that  the diplomatic, economic and people-to-people relations as well as various regional integration projects have taken roots during Ambassador Meles’ tenure in Kenya.

Ambassador Meles, on his part, thanked the people and government of Kenya for their heartfelt hospitality rendered to him during his three-year stay in Kenya.

He appreciated the President for his leadership that gave new impetus for the relationships between the two brotherly countries.

The Ambassador also expressed his gratitude for the administration of the Kenyan President that continued to firmly protect the rights and dignity of Ethiopians who reside in Kenya.

The encouraging relationships between Ethiopia and Kenya, particularly in business, trade and investment should further be strengthened through exchanges of electricity and cooperation in regional security issues, he added.

(Source: Ethiopia News Agency)

SUDAN

Sudan resistance committees coordinate Republican Palace march

Resistance committees in Sudan’s Khartoum state will march towards the Republican Palace today, to demand the overthrow of the coup and the removal of the military from the political process.

The procession towards the palace will include the Khartoum City committees, the Greater Omdurman committees, the Bahri committees, the Coordination Committees of East Nile South, and the El Hajj Yousef Committees.

In a statement yesterday, the Khartoum committees renewed their adherence to the three allegiances of the committees (no negotiation, no partnership, and no legitimation). The committee added that they “called on all rebels in various parts of Sudan to go out in raring processions to overthrow the regime and defeat the October 25 military coup”.

(Source: Radio Dabanga) 

SOMALIA

National Treasurer Issues Stern Order To Federal Government Institutions

The Auditor-General of Somalia, Mohamed Mohamud Ali Afgoye, has issued a warning to the institutions of the Federal Government of Somalia, in the run-up to the country’s presidential election.

A statement issued by the Auditor-General warned the Federal Government agencies to enter into agreements or take action that will have a significant impact on the assets of the Somali people, until the conclusion of the elections, and the country will have a new Government.

The auditor said the agreements reached by the federal government agencies since the start of the country’s general election, which has not yet been implemented, could not be implemented until after the election.

The Auditor-General also informed the government agencies that entered into the agreements before the election, but did not implement the agreements required by the parties that entered into the agreements.

The statement added that any government agency that enters into or implements warning agreements resulting in property damage, will be held accountable by the person who signed or executed the agreement.

(Source: Radio Dalsan)