MANDERA, Kenya, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A suspected al-Shabaab suicide bomber was killed and eight Kenyan police officers were wounded in separate incidents near Kenya's border with Somalia on Wednesday.

In the first incident, the militants ambushed and injured at least eight elite police officers from the Special Operations Group on Wednesday evening in Mandera County in northeastern Kenya, a police officer who declined to be named said over the phone on Thursday.

The police officer said the elite team was pursuing the gang when they were attacked with a rocket-propelled grenade.

The attackers fled the scene after the attack. The police officers were rescued to a local hospital before they were transferred to the national capital of Nairobi, the police officer said.

Earlier in the day, Kenyan troops at a camp in Sirari, Lamu Country in coastal Kenya, killed one suspected suicide bomber who had attempted to stage an attack on the facility. The suspect was found ringed with a suicide vest after he was killed, the police said.

The security team said it brought down a drone belonging to the terrorist group, which was on a surveillance mission at the camp, and minutes later, it detected a stranger trying to access the camp and confronted him with gunfire.

Kenyan security agencies have ramped up their war against al-Shabaab militants operating at the border region with Somalia. The recent attacks have forced the government to suspend plans to reopen the Kenya-Somalia border.

Kithure Kindiki, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, said on Wednesday that the move follows an increase in terror-related attacks along the border in the past month that have claimed more than 30 lives, most of them being security officers.

"The government will delay the planned reopening of Kenya-Somalia border points until we conclusively deal with the recent spate of terror attacks and cross-border crime," Kindiki said in Garissa County. - Xinhua

 By JULIUS MBALUTO 

Ethiopian Airline celebrated 50 years in business in the UK. In a big event held at Syon Park West London, they held a great party. The event was graced by dignitaries, leaders and many people from all walks of life. Ethiopian Airline launched its service to the UK in 1973. Its inaugural flight arrived in London -Heathrow in April 1973 and operated two flights a week flying a Boeing 720-B.

Looking back then, the Airline has come a long way. Today, it offers non-stop daily flights from London Heathrow to Addis Ababa and 4 weekly flights from Manchester to Addis Ababa carrying over 10,000 passengers monthly and also connecting 60 destinations across Africa. 

The Airline's CEO Mr Mesfin Tasew commented on the anniversary saying: 

 “Positioned as the Heart of Europe, the UK has always been a strong and important market for Ethiopian Airlines. Celebrating 50 years is a success story of our loyalty to serving the UK with both passenger and freighter flights. As we mark half a century since we first landed in the UK, we look forward to an ever growing service to the country with more destinations and flights.”

The Airline plans to extend its gratitude to the public. Henock Woubishet, Area Manager UK and Ireland said:

“This is a big anniversary for Ethiopian Airlines as it highlights our unwavering commitment to serving the UK. During the rest of the year, we will be celebrating this milestone with a series of events including FAM trips, campaigns and promotions. We want to take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to the travelling public and our partners in UK’s travel industry for supporting our journey over the decades.”

Human Rights organisatoions have accused the government of failing to protect the rights of Pastor Paul Makenzi's followers leading to deaths of more than 339 in Shakahola forest, Kilifi county.

The Senate Ad Hoc Committee investigating the proliferation of religious organisations and Shakahola deaths was yesterday was holdoing sittings where the Amnesty International, Law Society of Kenya and Kenya National Human Rights Commission made presentations.

The organisations said that it was inexcusable that Good News International Church founder Makenzi was released with no follow-up after being arrested and charged with radicalisation as far back as 2017. 

Amnesty International Kenya Executive Director Irungu Houghton told the Committee Chaired by Tana River Senator Danson Mungatana that concerns of radicalisation of followers by several Christian and Muslim leaders have seen no evidence of effective oversight by security agencies or funding and support for countering violent extremism. 

“While the state lapses must be investigated and individual and, where necessary, group culpability for omissions and commissions that have led to this catastrophe, we urge the Senate not to infringe on the full protection and realisation of the freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief, and opinion as enshrined in Article 32 of the constitution,” said Houghton.

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Amnesty International Kenya advised the committee to avoid a knee-jerk reaction to the Shakahola massacre and carefully weigh several constitutional articles within the Bill of Rights arguing that internationally the freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion is protected.

Houghton said that by June 27, 339 bodies had been recovered from the Shakahola forest, representing the most tragic violation of the right to life with Makenzi reportedly having appointed marshals to prevent people from escaping or rescinding their decision to move to Shakahola forest which amounts to restricting the right of protection from torture and the right to protect their human dignity. 

Law Society of Kenya President Eric Theuri told the committee that religious indoctrination is a complex and controversial issue that requires careful considerations, saying that while the freedom to practice one’s religion is a fundamental human right it becomes problematic when it involves the manipulation and coercion of individuals especially vulnerable populations.

The LSK President said that there was need to strike a balance between respecting religious freedom and protecting individuals from harmful practices associated with indoctrination with education and awareness programs playing a critical role in this.

“Empowering individuals to think critically, make informed choices and challenge dogmatic beliefs, having the requisite legal frameworks should be developed and enforced to safeguard individuals from coercive and harmful practices in Kenya,” said Theuri.

He informed the committee that the Societies Act does not expressly state who may register a church which means any person regardless of their theological background can do that with the absence of a requirement inviting all persons including con artists to apply for registration.

Theuri explained that although the Act provides for registration of churches, the process fails to adequately address the issue of transparency and accountability by religious leaders with the lack of accountability not only concerning their actions but also the funds collected from members of  their congregation. 

He said that while churches have also put some self-regulatory mechanisms in place by having umbrella bodies, this self-regulatory mechanism is not sufficient enough to protect persons from abuse by errant religious leaders.

“There is need to review and update this legislation and the Penal Code to reflect the emerging issues to deter individuals and groups from exploiting religious rights, committing fraud, engaging in human rights violations through the harmful practices or causing harm to individuals or society at large in the guise of religion,” said Theuri.

The LSK President called for a comprehensive framework for religious organizations to make registration for all religious groups operating in Kenya mandatory saying this will foster transparency, accountability and facilitate efficient scrutiny of religious activities to ensure compliance with national laws and human rights.

Theuri said religious organisations need to provide comprehensive information, including their leadership structure, sources of funding and purposes of spiritual practices, as part of the registration process since this ensures transparency, prevents illicit activities and provides a basis for effective oversight and regulation.

He said that there is need to engage relevant stakeholders including religious leaders, human rights activists and legal experts to gather diverse perspectives and insights for the proposed legislative reforms ensuring that public participation will not only enhance the legitimacy of the proposed reforms but also address concerns, maintain balance and generate collective support for safeguarding religious activities in Kenya.

 “There is need to establish an independent regulatory body, preferably an Inter-Religious Council, tasked with supervising registered religious organizations, investigating complaints, and addressing breaches of existing laws or regulations,” said Theuri.

He told the committee that an independent regulatory body would foster a collaborative approach between the state and religious organisations while ensuring public trust, protecting vulnerable members of society mitigating radicalization, and promoting harmony among diverse religious groups.

KNHCR Commissioner Miriam Mutugi said that the exhumation of more that 360 bodies has been done professionally and it was disturbing that the activities of Makenzi had been suspect for the last five years with little action taken to stop the massacre.

Ms Mutugi called for proper and effective rehabilitation of victims rescued from Shakahola forest. She regretted that the condition in which Makenzi's followers were being held in Malindi Prison was deplorable with some of them sleeping on the floor in a facility with a capacity of 650 people but now holding 850 people.

“We are calling on the relevant government agencies to facilitate the Shakahola survivors to get their certificates and other documents and work towards deradicaliising this people since most of them are suffering from mental illness which calls for treatment and not incarceration in prison,” said Mutugi.

The KNHRC said that from the information they got the security agencies had been alerted about the suspicious activities in Shakahola forest and it was strange that no action was taken to prevent the catastrophe. By Edwin Nyarangi, The Standard

They are seen as sturdy, muscular, and a threat to masculinity when they walk the streets of Ghana. Seeing Ghanaian women with brawn and muscles bothers a section of the population. Still, these ladies are determined to change the narrative irrespective of how emasculated men might feel or how disgusted some women might feel.

"When my body started transforming because it was so new to people, I always covered my body. But now, I wear my booty shorts, I wear my sleeveless and walk around. I mean people are going to stare and I will make it worth their while, like yeah, you should stare. This is me, and this is who I am. I love me, and I have accepted who I am, and it's something I'm doing intentionally," Mary Nyarko Omale, a professional bodybuilder in Ghana, told DW.

The sport of bodybuilding has been thriving in Ghana for decades, primarily among men. It is common to see men lifting dumbbells and doing pushups on the streets and in gyms.

When women participate, disparaging looks and remarks are meted out to demoralize them. But there are ways for them to compete, with the most popular competition being the Arnold Classic International in South Africa

Bodybuilding takes a mental toll

Given the numerous hurdles and societal backlash, few Ghanaian women have taken the initiative to pursue the sport professionally. For those brave enough, it hasn't been a walk in the park as their mental health bears the brunt of constant scrutiny. 

"In Ghana, everyone has a perception about you putting on muscles as a woman and from my side, it was quite a struggle. I grew up feeling intimidated by friends and some women who would tell me to work on having curvier hips and stop building muscles," Victoria Agbeyeye, a former bodybuilder now turned weightlifter, told DW.

"Most of the ladies who come to my gym train for health purposes," said Daniel Budu, former head judge of the Ghana Bodybuilding and Fitness Association. Now an owner of the Jordan Gym in Tema, outside Accra, Budu has seen the number of women bodybuilders increase since the late '70s when his venture began.

Doris Nartey, the current holder of the title of Ghana's Strongest Woman, had no interest in pursuing bodybuilding until her coach, Coach Kwame, convinced her to try it.

"Initially, I wasn't interested in hearing what my coach had to say about the sport, but how he saw potential in me convinced me. Even after I said yes, it took me some time to adjust," said Nartey.

"There were some unpleasant comments about me when I began, but when I hear them, it is my coach I speak to. He tells me not to focus on what outsiders say, and that, for me, is enough." 

The gym becomes their friend when facing challenges in all aspects of life. On the flip side, however, they don't focus solely on the negatives; their support system makes them feel empowered, and their mindset is focused on positively impacting other women like themselves. Quitting is not an option.

"My mom, my daughter, my loved one, and my coach have been my support and inspiration," said Agbeyeye, who calls on the positive energy of a different kind to help her strive. "Normally, I pray to God to give me the mental strength when my body cannot push me anymore." 

Funding remains a challenge for female bodybuilders

As a profession, more funding is needed to support the level of competition. Most female bodybuilders work different jobs — primarily as fitness instructors — to fund their dreams. Sometimes they go to competitions once a year and, in dry seasons, attend none.

In 2022, the competition for the title of Ghana's Strongest Woman was launched by Media General as a way to support female bodybuilders and give them a bigger platform. A trial edition was held a year prior, and Nyarko, Nartey, and Agbeyeye all took part. Nyarko won the trial edition, while Nartey and Agbeyeye came in first and second in the inaugural competition.

Nartey used the prize money to pay her final year's school fees and other expenses. "For me, I'm so grateful to my gym. They push me a lot. Sometimes I feel like crying, but they always push me, and my coach advised me to do what I can do and not get hurt. So I focused more on the fun aspect than the actual prize," said Nartey.

Agbeyeye moved to Accra from the Volta Region to start a new life; the prize money was a good start for her, but it wasn't enough.

"There is little to no sponsorship. Most of the financing comes from me," said Nyarko. "It is not easy, and I need a lot of sponsorship to make my dream a reality. Getting a visa and all the travel expenses is a whole lot of challenges."

Odikro Berima, a promoter who coaches Nartey, told DW that self-funding bodybuilding programs are an investment for him. "If you are in the business of bodybuilding to be a promoter, you should be able to take the money from your own coffers to elevate the stage before big sponsors hop on." 

Coaches play a key role

When speaking with female bodybuilders in Ghana, their stories showed a noticeable similarity: a coach who helped train them, provided emotional support and funded some of their activities.

But Albert, who trains Agbeyeye, said it can be challenging given how these women have been forced to stand up for themselves. "You know ladies come with a lot of attitude," he explained. "So sometimes they question you when you instruct them to do something because they don't like being commanded. You just have to know who you are dealing with, and what not to say."

Although coaching is grounded in teaching, Coach Kwame revealed working with Nartey has taught him much about himself and his career. "Doris is my first female athlete, and I have learned a lot because it has been the most challenging thing that has happened to me yet," he said.

While those involved still face everyday challenges, the glass ceiling is starting to crack. Women walking the streets in Ghana with muscles and pursuing a bodybuilding career used to be unheard of. Now, as Ghana's ground-breaking women look to establish themselves, their resilience is speaking volumes. Edited by: James Thorogood/ Author: Esther Owusua Appiah-Fei, Deutsche Welle