East Africa

Details: East Africa; 28 December 2022; 486

Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya leader Raila Odinga says he is not bitter that he lost the August 9, 2022 presidential election to President William Ruto.

He says that his dissatisfaction with the polls outcome is motivated by his belief that the election was not free and fair.

Speaking on Citizen Television on Tuesday, December 27, Raila said: “Kenyans elected their leaders, from MCAs all the way to the president. The process was fairly smooth, people turned up and voted. The only issue that went wrong was the management of the presidential election.”

According to Raila, the chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati singlehandedly picked the winner of the presidential polls.

“It’s unfortunate that the chairman of the commission divided the commission, and went ahead to declare results that he only knows where he got them from. For two days, they (IEBC) had stopped the portal that displayed [presidential] results [at the Bomas of Kenya]. At the time, results from 29 constituencies hadn’t been received.

“I am not bitter, because the [presidential] election isn’t for Raila Odinga, but it’s for Kenyans. We want an audit of these results so that Kenyans can have confidence in the IEBC ahead of the 2027 and subsequent elections,” he said.

Asked whether he will be on the ballot paper in 2027, the ODM boss was noncommittal.

“I’m not talking about running for president. I am concerned about what happened [in the August 9, 2022 presidential election]. I want the [electoral] systems to be cleaned up.

“I don’t have to run for president in 2027. If I don’t run, somebody else would. But I haven’t said I won’t run.”

Should he decide to run for presidency in the 2027, then it would be the ODM boss’s sixth stab at the presidency.

He will be 82 years old at the time. - Brian Okoth, The Standard

Details: East Africa; 27 December 2022; 525

Public Service CS, Aisha Jumwa, (right) and her bodyguard Geoffrey Otieno Okuto in court. TWITTER

The family of Ngumbao Jola, the murdered man in the case involving Public Service Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa and her bodyguard, rendered a prayer to the court requesting the bodyguard's acquittal from the case.

Reports indicated that the family had earlier expressed their doubts in their pursuit of justice for their slain kin. In a formal request, the family sought the release of Jumwa's bodyguard, Geoffrey Okuto.

Their scepticism about the endgame of the case was evident as per the remarks made by the members of Jola's family.

Consequently, they found it fit to relinquish their pursuit of justice and noted that they would "leave the matter to God".

People outside the Kilifi Law Courts on November 27, 2018 TWITTER  THE JUDICIARY KENYA

They added that their poor status made them fear for their safety and hence added to their reasons for withdrawing from the case.

“We are mourning with bitterness because of the death and if there is God in heaven we leave it to Him," one of the deceased's kin stated in an interview with The Standard.

The development came weeks after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) dropped CS Jumwa from the case and instead adopted her as a key witness in the case.

Consequently, the bodyguard was charged alone in a fresh case for the murder of Jola.

In the event the case continued, CS Jumwa was lined up to testify as a state witness against her bodyguard in the case.

"In consideration of the oral application made by the ODPP in November, followed by a letter from Coast Region Coordinator Hassan Abdi, now tabled in court Jumwa is hereby discharged from a murder suspect to a state witness," the High Court ruled.

The dropping of Aisha Jumwa's case by the DPP was one of the cases against prominent individuals dropped since the ascension of the Kenya Kwanza administration to power.

Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji addresses the media on Thursday, March 5, 2020. SIMON KIRAGU KENYANS.CO.KE

Details: East Africa; 26 December 2022; 504

The court said it expects to announce the sentence soon. After his sentencing, Yameen was shifted to house arrest in 2020 but was freed months later. Since his release, Yameen, the half-brother of former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has returned to active politics with a campaign against Indian influence in Maldives, raising concerns in New Delhi.

The criminal court of Maldives on Sunday found the country's former president Abdulla Yameen guilty on corruption and money laundering charges related to receiving kickbacks from a private company. The court said it expects to announce the sentence soon. Yameen has denied any wrongdoing.

Yameen, who lost power in 2018, was sentenced to five years in jail and fined $5 million in 2019 for embezzling $1 million in state funds, which the prosecution said was acquired through the lease of resort development rights. After his sentencing, Yameen was shifted to house arrest in 2020 but was freed months later

Since his release, Yameen, the half-brother of former dictator Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, has returned to active politics with a campaign against Indian influence in Maldives, raising concerns in New Delhi. Yameen is the declared presidential candidate for the Progressive Party of the Maldives for an election due in 2023.

Situated close to strategic shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean, Maldives is a focal point for competition between India and China over influence in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Devdiscourse

Details: East Africa; 27 December 2022; 620

KAMPALA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Five people were killed on the spot and five others sustained serious injuries in an accident involving two vehicles on Monday in Uganda's central district of Mpigi, a police spokesperson said.

Both vehicles, a Toyota Hiace and a Mercedes Benz, were traveling from the capital, Kampala, toward Masaka above the speed limit.

"The Mercedes Benz was overtaking at a terrible speed and (the driver) lost control, knocked the Toyota Hiace, which went off the road and overturned. The Benz overturned too," said Faridah Nampiima, police spokesperson for the traffic and road safety directorate, in a statement.

She said three adult females and two men aboard the Toyota Hiace died on the spot, and the five passengers on the Benz were injured and rushed to a local hospital.

The accident occurred at Kibukuta swamp along the Kampala-Masaka Highway at around 7 a.m. local time, Nampiima said, noting that both vehicles were moving above the speed limit.

"We wish to remind all road users to be vigilant and observe maximum road discipline," she said.

Uganda registers some 20,000 road accidents nationwide each year, causing more than 2,000 deaths, according to police data. - Xinhua

Details: East Africa; 26 December 2022; 501

A photo of Maureen who went missing in the United Kingdom METRO NEWS, UK

The family of Maureen Gitau, a Kenyan woman who went missing in the United Kingdom on Monday, December 5, appealed to members of the public to assist in her search.

According to Jane, Gitau's mother, the 24-year-old was last seen leaving their home at Lewisham, along Evelyn Street, southeast London at around 8 pm.

Speaking to Metro, Jane revealed how hard it has been for the family to spend Christmas Day without knowing where their kin is.

“We’re desperate to have her back home with us. If, anyone knows where Maureen is, let us know. Maureen, please come home to us,” the UK-based family appealed.

A blurred image with a missing person's message  SHUTTERSTOCK

Maureen’s family and friends had spent five days looking for her after she disappeared before making a formal ‘missing person’ report with the police on Saturday, December 10.

“Maureen is much-loved and is such an important part of our lives,” her mother said.

Clare Espline, a detective from the Missing Person Team, who has been leading her search mission said they have not received any evidence that could lead them to Maureen’s whereabouts.

“A great deal of work has gone into trying to locate her including speaking to those who know Maureen, mobile phone work, and checking any known addresses Maureen could have links to.

Unfortunately, this work has yet to lead to us locating her,” the detective told the UK-based newspaper Daily Mail.

“The longer she has been missing and out of contact, the more concern grows amongst her family and friends as they seek news to confirm she is safe and well,” the detective added.

The detective also called on anyone with credible information on Maureen’s whereabouts to contact them immediately.

Cases of Kenyans missing and being tortured abroad, especially in the Middle East, have been on the rise.

A photo of Nairobi's former governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko  FACEBOOK MIKE SONKO By Sam Abuya, Kenyans.co.ke