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East Africa

Kenyans and Ugandans wary of the taxman might not want to shoot their mouths off about their businesses, and Tanzanians might be too exuberant about economic liberalisation, but the more likely development is that we are seeing a capitalist convergence. ILLUSTRATION | JOSEPH NYAGAH | NMG

Of the three countries of the Old East African Community, Uganda is the one where citizens pay the highest rate of Black Tax.

Kenya has the most conflicted relationship with citizenship. Tanzanians are the most susceptible to conspiracy theories about vaccines and have truly abandoned socialism.

These and a host of other revelations came to us via Dar es Salaam-headquartered Twaweza East Africa, an NGO that works to get citizens more engaged, and governments to be more open and responsive in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

On Monday, Twaweza launched a report, A Compendium of Ten Years of Sauti Za Wananchi 2013-2023, which boiled down a decade of surveys of the opinions and experiences of the citizens of Old EAC.

The report does not directly state the above. However, it subtly points you down a rabbit hole where you will find them. In other words, it tells some of its most juicy stories, by not telling them. 

The compendium presents facts and figures on citizens’ views and experiences in three areas. First, what it calls “Livelihoods” covers economic matters, household-level daily bread issues, food security, financial inclusion, and business and taxation. Second, “Public services”, where it groups health, education and water supply services. Third, “Governance” includes national politics, the media, and citizen participation. Gold old corruption is in there.

Navigating the report, you frequently run into bits that tempt you to lift the kanga and see the mysteries that lie beneath. “What is the main source of income for the entire household?” is an ordinary question.

Until you realise that despite Kenya’s reputation as East Africa’s most capitalist society, and Uganda the most entrepreneurial (based on the number of businesses opened by citizens – the majority of which fail), twice more Tanzanians report self-employment/business as a source of income (38 percent) than Kenyans (19 percent), and Ugandans (18 percent).

They also reported owning or having run a business in the past five years at twice or more rates than Kenyans and Ugandans. Mwalimu Julius would not recognise this Tanzania from the socialist utopia he tried to build.

Of course, Kenyans and Ugandans wary of the taxman might not want to shoot their mouths off about their businesses, and Tanzanians might be too exuberant about economic liberalisation, but the more likely development is that we are seeing a capitalist convergence.

Then, Kenyan politics (and voters) has a world reputation as being riven by “tribalism”. Well, until they were asked whether they identify first as a citizen, who is “very proud” to be a citizen of their country.

The people of all three countries are very proud of their citizenship, but Kenyans are less likely to identify themselves primarily as citizens.

Only 26 percent did, compared to 52 percent of Ugandans, and 63 percent of Tanzanians.

But there was a curved ball waiting. Asked, “What attributes do you believe represent your nationality, that everybody should identify with and protect?” Kenyans identified the national identity card. Ugandans and Tanzanians had peacefulness, unity, hospitality, and religion, but not a single material symbol. Kenyan citizenship is transactional, someone noted. Possible, but Kenyan ethnicity seems to have been oversold.

Read: OBBO: Tanzania at it again, but needs to learn to make more noise

The East Africans were asked to choose qualities they think are important to pass on to the next generation. The top one for Tanzanians and Kenya is tolerance/respect. Uganda, that land of politeness where women kneel to greet you was off in a different direction. It led with an otherwise very Kenyan choice — hard work. This tells you how the rat race and mad scramble for survival in Uganda have remade the people.

Uganda, however, is the most scientific country judged by a higher willingness to be vaccinated, and having the least belief in myths about vaccines. Tanzania is the most sceptical and hesitant about vaccination. In that sense, it is the most given to conspiracy theories on vaccines. The Covid-sceptic former president John Magufuli (RIP) who believed in unusual cures for the virus like bitter boiled eucalyptus leaves, was a mirror of the people he led more than we realised.

Asked, “Right now, what would you do if you needed money in an emergency?” for citizens of all three countries, the leading source was asking family and friends. Tanzanians by 42 percent, Kenyans by 41 percent, then the Ugandans stepped in and hit the ball out of the park at 62 percent. The Revenue Authority has a formidable competitor in Black Tax for Ugandans’ wallets.

Across Old East Africa an unacceptably high percentage of citizens report experiencing food stress, including around 25-40 percent who have recently had to go for a whole day without eating due to a lack of money or other resources. The proportion of citizens worried they would run out of food or were hungry and did not eat was highest in Kenya, followed by Uganda. It was off the charts in Kenya, with nearly 90 percent saying they were worried they would run out of food.

It has all fed deeper levels of pessimism about the direction of their countries in Kenya and Uganda today. However, they are optimistic about their individual prospects, especially looking a year ahead. A “my country is going to hell in a handbasket, but I will emerge a winner from the mess” scenario.

It will be interesting to see the story that Sauti Za Wananchi tells in future about all the peoples of the EAC, but for now the “Waswahili” in Tanzania seem to be the most comfortable in their skins.

The author is a journalist, writer, and curator of the “Wall of Great Africans”. Twitter@cobbo3   The East African

Picture: Pixabay.com

Police say six others sustained gunshot wounds in the attack and had to be rushed to hospital in critical condition. The Western Cape police have launched a manhunt after three Somalian nationals were shot and killed at Imizamo Yethu informal settlement in Hout Bay.

Police say six others sustained gunshot wounds in the attack and had to be rushed to hospital in critical condition.

The unknown gunmen reportedly stormed a spaza shop in Imizamo Yethu’s Mandela Park on Friday night and opened fire on the occupants, killing three people and injuring six others.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) said the motive of the attack is unknown. However, community members believe the incident is related to extortion.

Officers investigating the case have appealed to the public to share any information they have on the attack or the assailants with the authorities. By Melikhaya Zagagana, EWN

Charles Odhiambo who died on August 15, 2024, from gunshot wound complications after he was shot in an argument in Njiru on June 13. [Courtesy]

The Kirima land tussle turned tragic for a family in Njiru,  Nairobi County.

The family of Charles Odhiambo is struggling to come to terms with his death after he succumbed to a gunshot wound on Thursday over the bitter land dispute.

Odhiambo, who died at Anka Hospital in Eastleigh, was shot in the right thigh on June 13 by individuals who were attempting to sell an undeveloped piece of land in Kamatuto, Njiru. The High Court ruled that the land belonged to the family of the late politician Gerishon Kirima. 

The incident was reported to Njiru and Obama police stations. The family claims that the suspect was disarmed by police officers but was never arraigned in court.

“They were not arrested and not taken to court,” a  family friend told The Saturday Standard.

Odhiambo’s father, George Odongo, wants justice for his son: “I do not know what happened because at the time I was in Malindi. I was called and told that he had been shot and taken to the hospital. I tried to make calls to facilitate the admission.” 

The family is now calling on the Director of Criminal Investigations boss Mohamed Amin, to order probe into Odhiambo’s death.

Witnesses claimed that Odhiambo was involved in an argument over the plan to sell a piece of land in the area after residents confronted the sellers. 

“When they started taking the land measurements, the neighbours protested, and Odhiambo was among them,” said a witness.

This comes after a controversial preacher who had leased a piece of land from a resident decided to buy it from the Kirima family after the court decision. As a result, Kiamututo residents have become wary of visitors to the area, fearing they might sell the land where their houses sit.

Odhiambo’s family and friends want investigators from DCI headquarters to probe the incident, as they do not trust the Kayole DCI officers. 

They claim that despite reporting the incident and the alleged shooter being disarmed, no action has been taken, even though witnesses have identified the suspect. They accused the officers of shielding the suspect.

Odongo is distraught after he failed to locate another son who has been missing since 2021. In a case of double tragedy, his other son, Dennis Odhiambo, went missing after being picked up by people believed to be police officers.

He was picked from his clothing business in Ruiru by people who identified themselves as police officers.

Dennis’s friends, who spoke to KTN News said he was singled out from a group of youths who were chewing khat. He was ordered to surrender his phone, which was then switched off. The alleged officers then left with him and that was the last time he was seen alive. By Fred Kagonye, The Standard

The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) have condemned the unlawful detainment of Muslims for Human Right (MUHURI) Board member Khelef Khalifa  at Malindi Police Station.

The Commission on Saturday stated that Khalifa was arrested together with his family in Mida near Malindi by masked police officers despite a recent court ruling out-lawing use of masks by police officers to obscure their identity.

 “Police have detained Muslims for Human Right Board member Khelef Khalifa and his family in Mida, near Malindi. Khalifa challenged the officers for hiding their faces when they stopped his car, “said KHCR.

KHRC termed Khalifa’s arrest as unlawful stating that the Human rights Activist life and that of his family is being threatened now demanding his immediate release.

“Khalifa was simply upholding the law, and now his freedom is being threatened. We demand the immediate release of Khalifa and his family. The police must release them immediately,” the Commission noted.

Following rising cases of illegal arrest of people, particularly demonstrators in the recent anti-government protest, High Court Judge Bahati Mwamuye directed the Inspector General of Police to ensure that police officers deployed to contain protest are in their uniforms with name tags affixed in line with standing orders.

Mwamuye directed that police officers must not “in any way hide or obscure their face so as to render them difficult to identify or unidentifiable”.

The judge also ordered the police not to hide the identification, registration or markings of any vehicle while dealing with persons planning on assembling, demonstrating, picketing or petitioning. By Wangeci Purity, Capital News

When President William Ruto received taskforce report at State House.[PCS]

A faction of church leaders in Nairobi has opposed the recommendations made by the task force on church regulations, claiming that the report presented to the President did not incorporate their perspectives.

Instead, the clergy wants the government to allow churches to self-regulate and address any misconduct internally.

Under the banner of the Church and Clergy Association of Kenya, these religious leaders, led by Chairman Hudson Ndeda, called for the dismissal of the taskforce's recommendations.  

They want a new process initiated, or churches allowed to regulate themselves. 

“We want to be on record that we are rejecting the findings of the report from the taskforce in totality. We have been operating as churches for many years,” Ndeda stated.

This comes two days after some church leaders in Nyeri, under the Kenya National Congress of Pentecostal Churches, showed their discontent and rejected the recommendations, urging the government not to implement them.

Addressing the issue in Nairobi on Wednesday, the leaders emphasized that while isolated cases of misconduct by clergy have occurred, these should not be used to condemn the entire church community. 

“There is a sense of selectiveness in the law. In the past, we have seen rogue doctors, lawyers, and teachers dealt with individually, without the government intervening to regulate them,” Ndeda argued.

“We haven't seen the government step in to regulate them like what they are doing with the clergy.”

 

Ndeda expressed disapproval of the government's approach to regulating the church, particularly in the wake of the Shakahola tragedy, but insisted that this should not lead to unjust blanket measures.

“We may have some problematic elements among church leaders, but that should not be a direct ticket to selective justice, condemning the entire body of Christ,” Ndeda added.

He also criticized the proposed regulations as being punitive, arguing that they adversely affect both the church's congregation and its ministry. 

“We servants of God have been sent to guide those who have lost their way. To suggest that this is illegal or amounts to radicalization is out of context. The report indicates a penalty of Sh1 million,” Ndeda noted.

Rev. Habakkuk Wamudoda, Secretary General of the association, reinforced the idea that churches already have self-regulating rules that govern the conduct of their leaders and members.“The church is already regulated; there are sufficient laws governing places of worship. During registration, the church is vetted before being allowed to operate,” Wamudoda explained.

He further warned that if the new regulations were implemented, places of worship could be subjected to ridicule and misuse.

“We find this approach open to abuse by those opposed to religion. The report lacks adequate protection,” Wamudoda added.

The 17-man task force was established by President Ruto in May 2023, tasked with reviewing the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organizations in the country.

Dr Mutava Musyimi, (former NCCK Secretary-General) has recommended that all religious institutions in Kenya undergo fresh registration as part of a rigorous vetting process.

Additionally, they proposed revising the education curriculum to include instruction on recognizing and countering sects, religious extremism, violent extremism, and cultism.

They also suggested monitoring religious education teachers to mitigate negative impacts on students.

This initiative followed the Shakahola tragedy, in which many Kenyans lost their lives due to religious extremism.

The task force has also developed the Draft Religious Organizations Policy, 2024, the Draft Religious Organizations Bill, 2024, and the Draft Regulation of Organizations (General) Regulations, 2024.

Immediately, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) raised a red flag criticizing the government’s formation of the taskforce, with KCCB Chairperson Martin Kivuva expressing concern over the public portrayal of religion as inherently wicked. By By Mike Kihaki, The Standard

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