East Africa

Details: East Africa; 12 September 2023; 460

Photo Courtesy Arch Daily

A quick glance today at the cities of the African continent reveals a rich diversity of urban settlements, ranging in type from rural enclaves to sprawling metropolises. That quick glance also reveals a larger picture of cities that are continuously adapting and evolving as we enter the decade of the 2020s – yet this evolution in many places is taking place at the expense of those who are less fortunate. This is not happening in a vacuum, as the reason why a lot of African cities look as they do today is a result of a segregated organization during colonial rule.

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Two cities in particular that display these colonial legacies in their landscapes are the busy East African cities of Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. The former city is the capital of Kenya – one of Africa’s largest urban centers which developed as a trading hub. Nairobi is a city of many architectural landmarks, famously housing landmarks such as Amyas Connell’s 1954 Tower of Parliament Building and David Mutiso’s 1977 Kenya International Convention Centre. These buildings, however, exist amidst urban division put in place by a 1948 master plan that formalized segregation between races.

The ideal for colonial planners in Kenya was a city of estates with spacious suburbs – made so that Europeans could have ample room for sport and leisure. This discriminatory policy saw Kenyan tribes pushed out of their traditional homes, with Nairobi earmarked by planners as a place suitable for European habitation due to its “milder” climate. The discrimination of native Africans in Kenya carried on to employment, as Kenyans were only allowed to be employed in Nairobi under temporary contracts – which meant that they did not have permanent residences built for them in the city. Informal settlements sprung up, as non-Europeans were relegated to the outskirts of the city under la

Today’s Nairobi is a Nairobi built on top of these structural inequalities. The higher-income areas are still those that housed mainly Europeans during colonial times, with leafy suburbs, like Westlands, whilst areas such as the Kibera informal settlement are direct results of colonial planning. A clear example of this divide is the Kibera informal settlement bordering the Royal Nairobi Golf Course, which is a colonial development originally built in 1906. It’s an image that encapsulates who is able to gain access to privately-owned urban, green, spaces and who is not.

Dar es Salaam is a city that unlike, Kenya, was not part of a country that was colonized as a settler colony. Nevertheless, the racial division of the city under colonial rule is still apparent today, but in a much murkier way. The German and British colonial governments put in place building ordinances that divided the city based on the ‘standard of construction’ within each area, which in effect led to racial zoning.

The first German city plan of 1887 saw Dar es Salaam cut into three zones with varying building styles. Zone 1 – near the waterfront, was for “European-style” buildings, Zone 2 around the “Mnazi Moja” area allocated for smaller stone structures in an “Indian and Arab style”, and Zone 3 in the Kariakoo area was dedicated to temporary housing. Architectural styles essentially define racial segregation.

The arrival of British colonialists after World War 1 saw the expansion of European areas to live across the city. The peninsula area and Oyster Bay – places near the waterfront with abundant ocean breezes, were designated as places that only Europeans could build in, as Africans who came into work in these suburbs had to leave the area by 6 p.m. The fall of colonialism saw these areas become home to diplomatic residences, embassies, and homes of the more affluent – a present-day reminder of the racial zoning that divided the coastal city.

Areas have cropped up relatively recently in both Dar es Salaam and Nairobi that rival these formerly European enclaves, with the onset of a growing middle class. The two economic hubs are cities that are not only defined by the inequality that exists within them – but it’s important to address the fact that this urban inequality, more often than not, has its roots in colonialism. By Matthew Maganga, ArchDaily

Details: East Africa; 12 September 2023; 446

A crocodile has mauled to death a 15-year-old boy in Buliisa district, western Uganda.

According to reports, Victor Byamani and three friends went to fetch water from Lake Albert at Kibarama landing site when a crocodile suddenly emerged from the lake and grabbed him.

His friends rushed back home, screaming for help, alerting residents about the attack. Rogers Businge, a resident of the area stated that by the time, they responded, it was too late to save Byamani's life, as the crocodile had already killed him and disappeared with his body into the lake.

This is not the first crocodile attack in the region. In May of this year, a crocodile attacked and killed a 72-year-old man in Lake Albert in Hoima district. In April 2020, a similar incident occurred when a crocodile mauled a 20-year-old man in Lake Albert in Buliisa district.

In July 2018, a crocodile severely injured 18-year-old Maureen Vicky in Kiryamboga landing site, Hoima district, while she was collecting firewood. In July 2019, 24-year-old Christine Nema, a resident of Rwebigongoro landing site in Kagadi district, was also fatally attacked by a crocodile while washing clothes on the lake's shores. By URN, The Observer

Details: East Africa; 12 September 2023; 462

A file photo of Third Way Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot.

Third Way Alliance party leader Ekuru Aukot has dismissed the ongoing bipartisan talks between leaders from the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance and the opposition Azimio la Umoja coalition as a waste of time.

Aukot told Citizen TV's Day Break program on Tuesday that the dialogue, which was called by the opposition to iron out issues they have with the government, is proof that President Ruto is not confident he rightfully won the 2022 General Election.

“The problem with these talks is that they are a waste of time and resources, but it also in a way confirms that President William Ruto isn’t confident that he actually won the election fairly. If he did, and I believe he did, why is he entertaining a conversation with someone who lost?” Aukot posed.

Azimio, among other things, wants a reduction in the cost of living, an audit of the 2022 General Election servers, bipartisan reconstitution of the IEBC, as well as its inclusion in national affairs and what he describes as respect for political parties.

But the Third Way Alliance leader sees it as a reduction of the nation’s discourse to two people; President Ruto and Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

“This conversation on this country is being reduced to Raila and Ruto yet Kenya belongs to more than 50 million people,” he said.

“If I were President Ruto, I would tell the opposition that if they have a problem with my leadership, they need to go through Parliament and file a motion of censure or impeachment.”

Aukot accused Azimio of running away from discussing pertinent issues Kenyans are facing such as the Finance Bill which was recently passed into law, and instead resorting to politicking.

Over nine Azimio MPs did not vote in June on the contentious bill that has increased taxation, with some even out of the country attending parliamentary trips abroad.

So far, the dialogue team has arrived at a five-point agenda of deliberation; Outstanding Constitutional matters; Electoral justice and related matters; Entrenching funds into the Constitution; Establishment and entrenchment of State offices; and Fidelity to Political Parties/Coalitions and the law on multiparty democracy.

Even so, Azimio has said they will take another move if the bipartisan talks seem unpromising.

Odinga and Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka on Sunday said the opposition will not waste time in dialogue without signs their issues will be addressed.

“Before we talk of 2027, we must settle 2022 and that is why we have the bipartisan talks. We want to settle election injustice,” Musyoka, who is leading the Azimio delegation in the talks, told a roadside rally in Magena Town, Kisii County.

“Raila amesema tuwaangalie kwa macho kwa ile kikao na kama hawana haja then we shall think otherwise. We can't waste time.”

Odinga said they stopped anti-government protests to give the government a chance through dialogue but if President William Ruto’s administration will not cooperate, they will not hesitate to announce another way of airing their grievances.

“Sisi tunakubali mazungumzo, ndio maana tumeweka Kalonzo hapo. Tutawapa nafasi vizuri ili wazungumze na wakileta nyokonyoko si mko tayari?” posed the former Prime Minister who holds his presidential victory in last year's polls was stolen from him by Dr Ruto.

Odinga has previously threatened the return of street demonstrations if the talks are not fruitful. The recent round of demos left over 20 people dead.

Previous talks in April and May broke down as both sides accused each other of sabotage. By Dennis Musau, Citizen Digital

Details: East Africa; 12 September 2023; 467