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The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is torn by internal strife and its leaders are embroiled in multifaceted battles that could kill the party.

At the top, the party leader, President William Ruto is at war with his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. 

Its former Secretary General Cleophas Malala is in court seeking to overturn the decision to kick him out of the position in August. 

The wheelbarrow party is also at a crossroads whether or not to go back to the abandoned grassroots elections after initiating merger talks with Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC).

Four days ago, party officials led by Secretary General Hassan Omar and chairperson Cecily Mbarire met university students to launch a comrade chapter which Omar said will be ‘a legitimate and popular organ of the UDA PARTY’ going forward.

“This initiative is a first in Kenya’s political landscape where students can engage directly with the ruling party, aiming to have the voices of the young people heard and valued. Out of the young people who will air their voices on the taskforce on education financing model, 14 will come from the launched chapter,” Mbarire said. 

Last month, while announcing Omar’s appointment as Malala’s replacement, the party announced that it would embark on the abandoned grassroots elections.

“We have directed the National Elections Board to make necessary adjustments and continue with the elections in the rest of the counties as earlier communicated. These elections will ultimately offer the members of the party an opportunity to choose their leaders from the polling center all the way to the national level,” the NEC statement said. 

Ironically, in June, UDA and ANC agreed to merge and a joint committee formed to look for a name, symbol and colour of a new party that will be used as a special purpose vehicle for President William Ruto’s re-election campaign.

After the June meeting, ANC leaders later met on August 3 where they officially approved a merger with UDA in a meeting hosted by caretaker party leader, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy.

Timammy was granted authority to lead, coordinate and oversee the implementation and completion of the merger. 

"Time is of the essence," Timamy said, underscoring the urgency and importance of the merger.

This is despite the millions of shillings that candidates contributed to the party  to be allowed to contest for various positions from polling station, ward level, Constituency and County elections that attracted over 190,000 candidates.

County officials were required to pay Sh10,000 to be eligible to vie, while a constituency delegate was required to contribute Sh2,000. Officials for the Constituency position paid Sh5,000 to the party.

At the Ward level, candidates were required to pay Sh1,000, while at the polling station level they were required to pay Sh200. To be registered as a delegate, one was required to pay Sh2,000.

While the merger process is  going  on, UDA is facing a new challenge triggered by the new partnership between President Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga that opened doors for the opposition party's men join the government as Cabinet Secretaries.

There is speculation of a possible 2027 election pact between ODM and UDA, which could upset the planned merger between the latter and ANC.

As the confusion in UDA rages, there is emergence of factions with MPs who are sympathetic to Gachagua  threatening to withhold their monthly contributions.

The threat of an impeachment motion against Gachagua has exacerbated the division, with the MPs reading from different scripts.

Embakasi Central MP Benjamin Gathiru says the future of the party hangs in the balance.

“Which ruling party holds a meeting before 5am just to evade being served court orders? They have postponed the grassroots elections despite candidates investing millions but they don’t care. Members are losing taste of the party day by day,” the MP said.

He said unless the National Executive Council (NEC) which is headed by the President sits and provides direction, the party has no future.

“Why can’t they run the party professionally like the way ODM is run? With the current situation, which delegate can turn out to participate in the so-called grassroots elections which is a total mess?” posed Gathiru.

However, party Treasurer, Kitutu Chache North MP Japheth Nyakundi, maintained that UDA is vibrant and ready to go back to the grassroots elections.

Asked about the essence of the grassroots elections at a time when the proposed merger between UDA and ANC will introduce a new political trajectory, Nyakundi maintained that ‘there was a merger but UDA would remain’ further complicating the situation.

“We shall come up with a strategy to incorporate our brothers from ANC as we move forward. We are in the final stages of the merger,” Nkakundi said. By Ndung’u Gachane , The Standard

Prince William giving a speech at a past event. 

A Kenyan company tackling food waste through innovative refrigerated boxes has caught the attention of Prince William, earning its place among 15 global finalists for the prestigious Earthshot Prize.

The Earthshot Prize, spearheaded by the Prince of Wales, awards emerging solutions that address the pressing environmental crisis. With its innovative approach, the Kenyan company, Keep IT Cool, could soon earn a transformative £1 million (approximately Ksh166.4 million), a prize set to be awarded to five winners in November. 

The event will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, where Keep IT Cool will compete under categories like cleaning the air and building a carbon-neutral economy. The recognition came at an unveiling event led by Prince William during Climate Week NYC, coinciding with the UN General Assembly in New York. This marks the fourth year of the Earthshot Prize, a reflection of the growing urgency to combat the escalating climate crisis.

Why it matters: Kenya is increasingly becoming a global solutions player in various sectors, and with the worsening climate crisis, Kenya cannot afford to depend on global support alone to combat climate change. Local innovations, with support from the government and donors, could go a long way in speeding up the capacity-building process to combat climate change.

 

Keep IT Cool

Dig deeper: Keep IT Cool’s revolutionary refrigerated boxes address one of Kenya’s long-standing challenges—food waste. This innovation promises to reduce post-harvest losses, which have plagued the agricultural sector, threatening food security and economic stability. With food prices and inflation continually pressuring Kenyan households, the potential impact of this technology is monumental.

If Keep IT Cool secures the prize, the funds could significantly expand their capacity, potentially transforming the agricultural landscape not just in Kenya but across Africa. 

This year’s Earthshot finalists were selected amidst an unprecedented wave of climate disasters. Record-breaking heatwaves and wildfires have ravaged communities worldwide, and 2024 is set to be the hottest year on record, surpassing even 2023.

Actor and climate activist Jane Fonda emphasised the urgency of action during the announcement ceremony. "Now is the time to show up with everything we have," she declared. Her message mirrors the very ethos of the Earthshot Prize, designed to spotlight and support groundbreaking environmental solutions.

Other notable finalists this year include NatureMetrics, a UK-based biodiversity startup, and Equatic, which extracts carbon from the air and generates clean hydrogen using seawater. These contenders, alongside Keep IT Cool, are united by their innovative responses to the climate crisis, offering real hope in the quest for a sustainable future.

Founded in 2020 by Prince William, the Earth shot Prize has rapidly grown into a global platform for environmental innovators. Supported by major organisations such as Bloomberg Philanthropies, Breakthrough Energy Foundation, Bezos Earth Fund, and the Jack Ma Foundation, the prize draws attention to forward-thinking projects capable of reversing environmental degradation.  

An advisory panel, composed of experts in fields ranging from conservation to finance, reviews the nominations each year, recommending finalists for the prize. Prince William and other environmental leaders then make the final selection.

Prince William (center) chats with the two finalists David Daballen (Maasai attire) and Dismas Partalala Ole Meitaya from Tanzania (traditional attire) of the Tusks Conservation awards in London on November 2, 2022 APO Group/Kenyans.co.ke
 
 

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The UK has pledged £5 million ($6.6 million) in aid to the Somali national army through the UN Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) Trust Fund, aimed at bolstering the country’s security forces, Anadolu Agency reports.

UNSOS said, Monday, that the aid will provide essential non-lethal support, including food rations and communications equipment, to enhance the Somali army’s operational capabilities.

The assistance will help the Somali Security Forces conduct joint or coordinated operations with the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) as they take on greater responsibility for national security.

Somalia’s Defence Minister, Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, emphasized the importance of the ongoing support, calling it “crucial for the development of our national security infrastructure and the future of Somalia.”

Since 2022, the UK has contributed over £28 million to UNSOS to support Somali Security Forces.

The aid announcement comes amid tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia over Ethiopia’s sea access deal with the breakaway region of Somaliland, which Somalia has denounced as a violation of its sovereignty. Somalia recently recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia in protest of the agreement.

Meanwhile, Turkiye has been mediating to ease tensions between the two Horn of Africa nations, though recent talks in the capital, Ankara, have yet to produce results. Source: MEMO

Tanzania police on Monday arrested opposition members, including prominent leader Tundu Lissu, and journalists in Dar es Salaam before planned peaceful protests calling on the government to address the abduction of opposition figures in recent months.

The opposition had called for citizens to join in the rally, which the Tanzanian government had banned, citing security concerns. Police were deployed nationwide to prevent unrest. Despite this, Tanzania’s main opposition, the Chadema Party, resolved to continue the protests.

Moments before the crackdown on the opposition, police had blocked access to the homes of two opposition leaders in Tanzania’s commercial capital, Dar es Salaam. The police further intensified their presence across Dar es Salaam to thwart the planned protests

report by police said they had arrested 14 people, including the Chadema Party chairman Freeman Mbowe and Lissu, for defying a prohibition on the protests. However, the Chadema party has released a list of about 27 people who, according to them, have been arrested and detained by the police following Monday’s planned protests. The party also confirmed the arrest of its top officials and called on the police to respect the constitution and refrain from using excessive force to suppress the demonstrations.

According to Citizen Tanzania, Chadema’s chairman, Freeman Mbowe, was arrested on the street while addressing journalists, while his deputy, Tundu Lissu was taken from his home in Tegeta. This comes at a time when the nation is in the spotlight for political suppression and human rights abuses of those critical of President Samia Suluhu’s government.

Later on Monday, Chadema announced the release of Tundu Lissu on bail. Freeman Mbowe and Benson Kigaila were also granted bail. The party officials are currently working to ensure all the arrested members and citizens get bail.

The arrests occurred less than 3 weeks after the killing of Ally Mohammed Kibao, a member of Chadema’s secretariat. By Jabes Ojwang, Jurist

The High Court yesterday allowed the Azimio La Coalition to join a lawsuit contesting the controversial lease of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) to the Adani Group. 

Justice Bahati Mwamuye's decision allows the coalition, which includes key political parties like Wiper Democratic Movement, Jubilee Party, and Democratic Action Party of Kenya, under the leadership of Kalonzo Musyoka, Jeremiah Kioni, and Eugene Wamalwa respectively, to file a formal challenge to the legality of the deal. 

On Monday, Kalonzo, representing the coalition, passionately urged the court to allow the political parties to be formally enjoined as petitioners. 

"Your Honour, I kindly request that Wiper, Jubilee, and the Democratic Action Party be included in this matter. Given the irregularities surrounding this deal, it is prudent for us to participate in this critical issue," pleaded the Wiper boss.

Lawyer Mugai Kibei, representing activist Tony Gachoka and a group of Mount Kenya lawyers, voiced their support for the coalition's inclusion.

"Given the public interest in this matter, it would be fair to allow amendments to the petition. We are ready to make necessary changes within ten days," Kibei stated while advocating for the coalition's involvement to ensure a comprehensive examination of the lease. 

Kalonzo's request was also supported by Lawyer Ndegwa Njiru who emphasised that the coalition's participation was crucial, echoing the sentiment that the case merits thorough scrutiny. 

"We urge the court to grant orders preventing the government from executing the deal until this lawsuit is resolved," Njiru argued, citing procedural and constitutional concerns. 

The Kenya Airports Authority (KAA), represented by State counsel Kiragu Kimani, opposed the request for conservatory orders, claiming they had not yet been served with the petition.

"Granting any orders at this stage would lead to conflicting rulings since there exists another matter pending before Judicial Review Division filed by Law society of Kenya and there is a stay order," Kimani warned, highlighting the complexities surrounding the lease agreement.

Meanwhile, James Ochieng Oduor, representing Airport Infrastructure PLC, confirmed that they too had not received the petition but did not oppose the coalition’s inclusion. 

"We acknowledge the importance of the issues raised and support the amendment of the petition," he said. 

Lawyer Fred Ngatia, representing the Transport Workers Union, welcomed Azimio's request, stressing the urgency of the matter. 

"Time is of the essence. This deal has been in the process for three months, and we need clarity on its validity," he insisted, urging the court to set a swift timeline for the proceedings.

Justice Mwamuye, after careful consideration, allowed Azimio's request to join the lawsuit, setting a deadline for the coalition to file their formal petition by September 30. 

The judge also granted the initial petitioners the opportunity to amend their suit and introduce new evidence, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive legal examination of the lease agreement.

Additionally, Justice Mwamuye directed both KAA and the Adani Group to respond to the lawsuit by October 10, 2024, with a mention scheduled for October 17. 

It is alleged that the lease agreement with the Adani Group that was finalised in July, promises extensive upgrades to JKIA, including new terminal constructions and improved facilities, with a projected investment of approximately $2.05 billion (Sh 266.5 billion)

However, the petitioners have raised serious objections regarding the legality and transparency of the deal. 

They argue that the negotiations were conducted without sufficient public consultation and lack the necessary parliamentary approval, which they claim is vital for significant transactions involving national assets.

Gachoka, alongside the Mount Kenya lawyers, has characterised the lease as shrouded in secrecy, asserting that it poses a threat to Kenya’s sovereignty and economic stability. 

“The government is poised to sign a concealed concession agreement that alienates JKIA for 30 years,” Gachoka warned, highlighting fears that such an arrangement could compromise national security.

The petitioners have underscored concerns about the potential long-term repercussions of leasing a strategic national asset to a foreign entity.

They argue that punitive terms within the lease could impose significant financial burdens on Kenya in various scenarios, including defaults or civil unrest. 

This arrangement has been described as a “well-orchestrated scandal” and a manifestation of “legalised corruption,” jeopardising the interests of Kenyan citizens.

Seeking a declaration that the lease violates constitutional principles of public participation and sustainable development, the petitioners demand that the court prevent any execution of the deal until all legal challenges are resolved. 

They argue that such critical decisions regarding national assets require robust public engagement and transparency to safeguard Kenya’s sovereignty. By Nancy Gitonga, The Standard

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