Kenya.

204 MPs vote yes to the Finance Bill 2024

President William Ruto won the first round in the battle over the Finance Bill, 2024, with his troops marshalling 204 votes to push the proposed legislation past its second reading. Out of the 349 members of the National Assembly, 115 voted against the Bill. The stage is set for next week when MPs will consider the Bill clause by clause at the committee stage. 

(Daily Nation)

Uganda 

Attorney-General quashes appointment of UNBS boss

The Attorney-General’s office has quashed the appointment of the new executive director of the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS). Mr Jackson Kafuuzi Karugaba, the Deputy Attorney-General, said the 2013 Amendment of the UNBS Act states that the UNBS board recommends the best two candidates for the executive director position to the Trade minister. The minister then picks one of the two for the position. However, Mr Kafuuzi said this procedure was not followed when Mr James Nkamwesiga Kasigwa was appointed UNBS executive director more than a month ago.

(Monitor)

Tanzania

Renewed hope for teen mothers as Tanzania to change law to allow school re-entry

Tanzania is making progress in enabling pregnant adolescents and teen mothers to access education, righting the wrongs committed during late President John Magufuli’s reign. On June 22, 2017, at a public rally in Chalinze, in the Pwani region of Tanzania, Magufuli made his stand on access to education for girls impregnated while at school and their fate upon delivery. “In my administration, as long as I am president … no pregnant student will be allowed to return to school. We cannot allow this immoral behaviour to permeate our primary and secondary schools … never,” he declared.

(Daily Nation)

Rwanda.

A look at Rwanda’s three presidential candidates

Three candidates are eligible to run for President in the 2024 elections slated for July. They are incumbent Head of State Paul Kagame, Frank Habineza, and Philippe Mpayimana, according to a final list published by the National Electoral Commission (NEC) on June 14. Kagame is the flag-bearer of the ruling Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF Inkotanyi); Habineza is the chairperson of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda (DGPR), while Mpayimana is an independent candidate. While nine aspirants submitted their candidatures to run for President in the July polls, six fell short of the requirement consisting of providing a list of voters supporting their candidatures.

(The New Times)

Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s participation in BRICS Forums in Russia bears diplomatic achievements

Ethiopia’s active participation in the BRICS meeting forums held in Russia and the corresponding bilateral discussions with member countries have yielded significant diplomatic achievements for the country, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the weekly briefing Thursday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Nebyu Tedla pointed out major diplomatic activities, with a particular focus on its effective participation in the recent BRICS meetings. A high-level Ethiopian delegation led by Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie participated at the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Forum. 

(ENA)

Sudan

Journalist detained in Darfur, UK travel advisory warns of kidnapping risk in Sudan

Media representatives in Darfur have condemned the detention of Sudan TV journalist Ahmed Jamam, who was detained in El Fasher two weeks ago, according to his family. Several organisations have condemned campaigns of detentions across Sudan by all parties to the conflict, and the UK Foreign Office has highlighted the risk of criminal kidnapping in an updated travel advisory.

(Dabanga)