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Former Mukuruwe-ini MP Kabando wa Kabando. Image: FILE
 

Says Press freedom is immune from criticism or violation

In Summary

• The former assistant minister's remarks were in response to attacks on the Media by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.

• Cheruiyot on Monday referred to the fourth estate and the banking sector as 'extremely powerful cartels' that even the President may not manage to crush.

Politicians have been asked to desist from attacking the Media as it executes its constitutional mandate of informing, entertaining and checking government excesses.

Former Mukurwe-ini MP Kabando wa Kabando pointed out that press freedom is immune from criticism or violation.

"Kenya's media is largely a vanguard against government excesses. A blanket onslaught on media by Ruto men is very dangerous. Press freedom is sacrosanct," he said.

The former assistant minister's remarks were in response to attacks on the Media by Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.

The senator in his remarks on social media on Monday referred to the fourth estate and the banking sector as 'extremely powerful cartels' that even President William Ruto may not manage to crush. 

But Kabando reminded the senator and his Nandi counterpart Samson Cherargei that the media has over the years been a protector of the voiceless and the democratic space.

He said when political assassinations were at their peak in the country, tribal clashes, corruption scandals and detentions without trial, even government-friendly media outlets broke rank and spoke against the ills. 

Kabando echoed remarks by the Kenya Editors Guild that the senator's utterances are a direct threat to the media and an affront to press freedom. 

"This appears to be a well-choreographed scheme to profile a key pillar of Kenya's democracy and lead a lynch mob to try and cripple it," Kenya Editors Guild President Churchill Otieno said in a statement on Monday. By Emmanuel Wanjala, The Star

Ngozi Fulani discussed stepping back from her charity whilst on Good Morning Britain. (Good Morning Britain/ITV)

Buckingham Palace has appeared to criticise the charity boss at the centre of a royal race row — Ngozi Fulani — after she appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Wednesday to discuss the abuse she experienced after speaking out.

Ngozi Fulani revealed she has resigned from her post as CEO of Sistah Space due to the backlash to the incident.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson has claimed that after a reconciliation meeting in December it was “agreed that no further media comment would be made.” 

Fulani and a senior member of the royal household – Lady Susan Hussey – were embroiled in a racism scandal last November after an interaction at a reception hosted by the Queen Consort to raise awareness of violence against women and girls.

At the reception, Lady Hussey – who was at the time Lady of the Household – repeatedly asked Fulani where she was “really from”. Fulani went public with her experience and Lady Hussey stepped down from her honorary position.

In December, the two women took part in a reconciliation meeting in which Hussey is said to have apologised for the hurt she caused.

During her appearance on GMB, Fulani announced that she was temporarily stepping down so the charity can continue with its work providing support to women of Caribbean and African descent who are victims of domestic violence, undisturbed by controversy. 

She also expressed her displeasure that the palace has not apologised to her privately, and claimed that the palace did not “intervene” when she experienced abuse after going public.

“Who are they apologising to? If you’re sorry tell me you’re sorry, if you’re not it speaks for itself.”

“If you have to ask somebody for an apology, it’s not an apology”, the campaigner also said.

“The Sistah Space charity has suffered, directly suffered as a result. When you think that this was supposed to be for violence against women and girls, because of this incident the violence has been directed to me. The palace hasn’t intervened, I think they could have”.

However, Fulani said she did not “regret” going public with what happened to her

“Listen, I’m about discussing and making aware violence against women and girls and I’ll go anywhere at anytime to fight that cause. I didn’t expect for that to be directed at me at all”.

ASCOT, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Prince Charles, Prince of Wales watches the racing through binoculars as he and Lady Susan Hussey (Lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II) attend day 2 of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 15, 2022 in Ascot, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Lady Susan Hussey was a lady-in-waiting for Queen Elizabeth for decades and was retained as Lady of the Household by King Charles. (Getty Images)

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson responded by saying that after the reconciliation meeting in December “a joint statement was issued, in full agreement with Ms Fulani”.

The went on to say that “it was recognised that no malice had been intended by Lady Susan.

"In the statement following the incident, a number of pledges were made by the Palace which have all been honoured – including enhancing Diversity and Inclusivity programmes."

The spokesperson added: “For the avoidance of any doubt, we are sorry for the incident that took place and apologise for the distress and difficulty it caused to Ms Fulani."

When Lady Hussey’s comments were first made public they were swiftly condemned by Prince William – Hussey’s godson – whose spokesperson said it was “right” she had stepped down from her position in the royal household.

The spokesperson said at the time: “I was really disappointed to hear about the guest's experience at Buckingham Palace last night.

"Obviously, I wasn’t there, but Racism has no place in our society. The comments were unacceptable, and it is right that the individual has stepped aside with immediate effect.” By Emma Mackenzie, Yahoo News

Says government is demonstrating the country is not in a stable democracy.

In Summary
  • His sentiments come after the former interior CS spent hours at the DCI offices to be grilled over an alleged police raid at his Karen home on the night of February 8 which police insist never happened. 
  • Police said they found Matiang'i answerable to two charges relating to the alleged raid.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has said that mistreating  Former CS Fred Matiang'i is lowering the standings of the ministry of interior.

Speaking outside the Directorate of Criminal Investigations office on Tuesday, Amollo said that the government is demonstrating the country is not in a stable democracy. 

"Let the government know that when you think you are mistreating Matiang'i as a person, you are actually not mistreating him instead you are lowering the standings of the office he held and the standing of our country even in the eyes of foreigners," he said. 

"You are therefore demonstrating to everyone that we are not a stable democracy, we are going towards a 'banana'republic and that will come to bite the very people who are trying to meet that on Matiang'i."

His sentiments come after the former interior CS spent hours at the DCI offices to be grilled over an alleged police raid at his Karen home on the night of February 8 which police insist never happened. 

Police said they found Matiang'i answerable to two charges relating to the alleged raid.

The first charge is a conspiracy to commit a felony contrary to Section 317 of the Penal Code and publication of false information contrary to Section 23 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act.

"I caution you that you are not obliged to say anything unless you wish to do so but whatever you say, shall be taken down in writing and might be given as evidence in court," Chief Inspector Maurice Shiraho told the former CS.

The former CS was accompanied by a bevvy of lawyers led by Danstan Omari.

Omari said after the grilling that the date for arraignment was not disclosed by the officers.  

"They said they are not taking waziri (Minister) to court today. So what then remains is that it is a date they will present the charge sheet before the court and we shall present Waziri before that court," he said. By PERPETUA ETYANG, The Star

The President expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal that the ownership and operation of markets be opened up to private individuals


President Museveni has rejected a proposal in the Markets Bill 2021 that would allow companies and private individuals to own and operate markets. 

This was revealed in a letter from the President read by the Speaker Anita Among during the plenary sitting on Tuesday, 07 March 2023.

There is need to review clauses on the private ownership of markets given the problems that have been associated with the management of public markets

The President expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal that the ownership and operation of markets be opened up to private individuals.

He added that there is need to review clauses on the private ownership of markets given the problems that have been associated with the management of public markets like extortion of vendors, charging of illegal fees, and levy and existence of landlords in the public markets.

“Given the problems that has been associated with the involvement of private persons or companies in the management of public markets, public markets should be developed and managed by local authorities; therefore, the above clause should be deleted,” the president’s letter read in part.

On sections 19 to 27 on the market management committee responsible for the day-to-day running of the markets, the President stated that the involvement of vendors in the management of public markets has been responsible for fuelling conflicts through unfair utility prices, exorbitant charges on vendors, illegal levies and dues and creation of factions among traders among others.

The President called for the deletion of all nine clauses emphasizing that management of the markets should be strictly by the local authorities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

KIGALI, Rwanda

The Congolese rebel group on Tuesday declared a cease-fire to pave the way for dialogue with the Democratic Republic of the Congo government.

“The M23 Movement hereby declares a cease-fire effective from this Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at 12.00 noon to pave way for the political process,” the rebels' spokesperson Lawrence Kanyuka said in a statement.

The cease-fire announcement came after several days of fighting between government forces and the rebels in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The group said the cease-fire is in line with consultations between the M23 leadership and Angolan President Joao Lourenco held in the capital Luanda, as well as decisions made at various regional meetings.

“The M23 takes this opportunity to thank all the regional leaders who have made efforts to listen, and understand its problems, and for their tireless efforts to restore peace and security in eastern DRC,” the statement said.

It called on regional leaders and international partners to “spare no effort” in contributing to current initiatives aimed at restoring peace and stability in the volatile region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Since its reemergence in late 2021, the rebel group has occupied key towns in the country’s eastern North Kivu province.

At a mini-summit in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, regional leaders gave the Congolese rebel group a March 30 deadline to withdraw from all occupied areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's eastern region.

Earlier on Monday, sensing the cease-fire announcement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the rebels to abide by the new initiative.

“The Secretary-General condemns all violence against civilians and renews his call on all Congolese and foreign armed groups to lay down their weapons and disarm unconditionally,” said Stephane Dujarric, Guterres' chief spokesman.

Since last year, fighting between the M23 and government forces has displaced over 600,000 people.

Hundreds of enraged Congolese displaced by fighting in eastern Congo on Monday took to the streets of the provincial capital Goma, demanding help from the provincial government.

Guterres urged all parties to the conflict to provide immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access to the affected people, as well as to protect civilians and uphold international humanitarian law.

The fighting has heightened tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's government.

Kinshasa accuses Kigali of backing the rebel group, a charge Rwanda denies.

A cease-fire demanded by African leaders in the Angolan capital of Luanda last November was broken within days.  By James Tasamba, Anadolu Agency

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