KENYA

Drama as MCAs demand 700% pay rise, say they’re ‘paid like cleaners’

Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) are demanding a 700% salary increase, insisting that it should be the bare minimum adjustment implemented by the Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC). They emphasised that their current earnings no longer reflect the weight of their responsibilities. Speaking on the final day of the 5th County Assembly Summit in Nairobi, the legislators also resolved to push for the implementation of the Ward Development Fund and financial autonomy from the County Executive. They argued that these measures are essential for effective oversight and service delivery.

(Citizen)

TANZANIA

Council inks plan to split Dodoma Urban Constituency

Dodoma City Council has endorsed a proposal to divide Dodoma Urban Constituency, with a population of 795,000 registered voters, into two electoral constituencies: Dodoma and Mtumba. Following the decision, the Dodoma Constituency will remain with 21 wards and 412,000 voters, while the newly formed Mtumba Constituency will comprise 20 wards with 383,000 constituents. Dodoma Urban MP Anthony Mavunde commended the council for endorsing the plan, noting that Dodoma Urban is among the country’s largest constituencies, with four divisions, 41 wards and 222 streets.

(Daily News)

UGANDA

DP congratulates Nalukoola, urges stronger opposition cooperation 

The Democratic Party (DP) has commended the Unity National Platform’s Elias Nalukoola on his victory in the recently concluded Kawempe North by-election, pledging to support him as he represents the constituency in Parliament. Speaking at the DP headquarters on Balintuma Road in Kampala on March 18, 2025, Henry Kasacca Mubiru, the party’s flag bearer in the by-election, emphasised the need for unity and collective efforts to strengthen Uganda’s democracy. He expressed concerns over the current political climate, particularly one party’s continued use of state agencies to advance its agenda.

(New Vision)

RWANDA

Qatar emir brokers ceasefire between Rwanda, DR Congo

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame called for a ceasefire in eastern Congo on Tuesday. This was their first meeting since M23 rebels stepped up an offensive in eastern Congo in January. The Qatar emir mediated the sit down in Doha where the two heads of state released a joint statement saying the ceasefire should be “immediate and unconditional.” However, whether that would stop the M23 insurgents, who now control more territory in eastern Congo, was unclear. Congo accuses Rwanda of sending arms and troops to support the rebels, whose offensive has plunged eastern Congo into its worst conflict in decades. Rwanda has said its forces are acting in self-defence against Congo’s army and militias hostile to Kigali.

(Reuters)

SOUTH SUDAN

Machar’s party pulls out of peace process

The South Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-In Opposition (SPLM-IO) says it has withdrawn from the security arrangements of the 2018 peace deal, signalling further wrangling in the coalition government. SPLM-I0, led by First Vice President Riek Machar, a key signatory to the agreement, said it was pulling its support from the security mechanisms in protest of the detention of several of its senior leaders and the entry of Ugandan troops into South Sudan.

(The East African)