East Africa

Details: East Africa; 10 November 2022; 599

Photo Courtesy Telegraph

Tens of thousands of civil servants have overwhelmingly voted to strike in a row over pay and pensions.

Some 100,000 members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union backed taking industrial action.

The union warned that unless it received “substantial proposals” from the government, it would announce a programme of “sustained industrial action” next Friday.

As well as pay and pensions, the dispute covers jobs and redundancy terms.

The PCS said the average ‘yes’ vote for action across the areas balloted - 86.2 per cent - was the highest percentage vote in the union’s history.

It said 126 employer areas could be hit by major industrial action, including the Home Office, which includes Border Force officials and passport workers, the Department for Transport, including driving examiners, and the Department for Work and Pensions, including staff in job centres and those processing benefits.

Union general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “The government must look at the huge vote for strike action across swathes of the civil service and realise it can no longer treat its workers with contempt.

“Our members have spoken and if the government fails to listen to them, we’ll have no option than to launch a prolonged programme of industrial action reaching into every corner of public life.

“Civil servants have willingly and diligently played a vital role in keeping the country running during the pandemic but enough is enough.

“The stress of working in the civil service, under the pressure of the cost-of-living crisis, job cuts and office closures means they’ve reached the end of their tethers.

“We are calling on the government to respond positively to our members’ demands. They have to give our members a 10 per cent pay rise, job security, pensions justice and protected redundancy terms.”

More follows... By Jane Dalton, Telegraph

Details: East Africa; 10 November 2022; 530

The issue of climate adaptation continued to dominate the African agenda on Day 3 of COP27.

On Wednesday, the International Capital Market Association (ICMA), who set the rules in the bond market, laid out plans for countries hit by climate induced natural disasters, such as flooding and hurricanes, to automatically freeze debt payments.

The ICMA introduced new 'climate resilient debt clauses' or CDRCs, specifically targeting low-income countries, that governments can plug into soveriegn bonds they sell to raise money on global capital markets. With many African countries on the brink or knee-deep in a debt crisis, the mechanism will allow them to pause debt payments for a maximum of 2 years to free up cash flow to provide aid and assistance to battle climate disasters.

Speaking during COP27, President & CEO at Africa Finance Corporation, Mr Samaila Zubaru noted that adaptation must be a priority for the continent but it puts additional pressure on Africa's current infrastructure needs. “In Africa we have a lot of need. The infrastructure deficit is about USD 2.3 trillion. If you factor in the need to climate-proof and build resilient infrastructure, it becomes about USD 3 trillion.”

Also on Wednesday, a group of over 85 African insurers unveiled the African Climate Risk Facility (ACRF) to help climate-proof the continent's most vulnerable communities.

The commitment will provide protection for 1.4bn people against floods droughts and tropical cyclones by providing $14bn in climate risk insurance to 2030 to African sovereigns, cities, aid agencies and NGOs. Both measures will go a long way in bridging the gaping climate risk financing gap on the continent as rich nations continue to shrug off demands for compensation for countries due to 'loss or damage' caused by global warming.

At the same time, if African borrowers can use the newly introduced CDRCs to avoid sovereign defaults while they're grappling with the fallout from their latest climate disaster, this will benefit not only affected populations but their global creditors too.

Details: East Africa; 10 November 2022; 622

A section of nine officers from the disbanded Special Services Unit (SSU) before Kahawa Law Court on Monday, October 31, 2022, for their alleged involvement in the disappearance of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan.[Collins Kweyu, Standard]

A court in Nairobi has allowed police to detain eight officers from the disbanded Special Service Unit (SSU) for 21 days pending completion of investigations. Kahawa Law Court Chief Magistrate Diana Mochache allowed police from the Internal Affairs Unit to extract the officers’ DNA and scrutinize their phones, for a conclusive report.

This followed prosecution’s plea to detain the nine officers for 30 more days. However, in her ruling on Thursday, November 11, Chief Magistrate Mochache also freed one officer, Francis Muendo Ndonye on Sh500,000 cash bail after finding that investigator's document on his alleged involvement in the disappearance may have been forged.

“I, therefore, find that the applicant has satisfied the court to be granted the application to detain the respondents,” ruled Mochache.

Ndonye was however directed to report to the investigators at any given time and is barred from travelling outside Nairobi.

The officers were arrested on diverse dates in October 2022 after they were suspected to have been involved in the disappearance of two Indian nationals and a Kenyan.

The officers are Corporals Joseph Mwenda Mbaya and David Chepcheng Kipsoi, Constables Stephen Luseno matunda, Paul Njogu Muriithi and Simon Muhunga Gikonyo, Chief

Inspector Peter Muthee, Corporals Joseph Mbugua, Francis Ndonye and John Kamau.

President William Ruto had directed the disbandment of the elite squad as part of his plan to address extrajudicial killings in the country.

The Head of State said the police unit had become killers, instead of protectors of ordinary Kenyans. By David Njaaga, The Standard

Details: East Africa; 10 November 2022; 547

China will grant zero-tariff treatment to 98 percent of taxable items from 10 least-developed countries in a bid to promote an open global economy. The step is conducive to opening up with win-win outcomes

Starting from Dec. 1, China will waive all tariffs on 98 percent of the related imports from Afghanistan, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Malawi, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, according to the Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council.

The step is conducive to opening up with win-win outcomes, building an open global economy, and helping least-developed countries to accelerate their development, the commission said.

This policy measure will gradually expand to all the least-developed countries that have established diplomatic ties with China, it added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The State Council Information Office: The People's Republic of China.

Details: East Africa; 10 November 2022; 521

Trade CS Moses Kuria arrives for the KNCCI annual general meeting on Thursday, November 11, 2022. KBC

Trade and Industry Cabinet Moses Kuria has dared Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti to interfere with his plan to vacate squatters from public land in her county.

Kuria, on Thursday, November 10, told members of the Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) accused Ndeti of being a hindrance to the government's plans to implement the manufacturing and export agenda.

The CS maintained that the eviction push would benefit the people and that she would shoulder the blame if her county was left behind at the expense of defending a few individuals.

President Wiliam Ruto during the KNCCI AGM at St Andrews PCEA on Thursday, November 10, 2022. PSC

"When some counties are giving me land to do common user facilities, others are saying that they want to do encourage squatting on public land and that difference will start to show.

"I am not in a mood to fight, I have fought enough in my life, but when counties which have taken the wrong turn in the manufacturing and export agenda start to lag behind others, do not blame it on witchcraft," Kuria stated.

The Trade boss disclosed to President William Ruto that he had so far received land donations from three counties including Elgeyo Marakwet, Laikipia and Nyeri.

He explained that the land he seeks from each county would be used to establish common user facilities including the land owned by the East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC).

The spat between Wavinya and Kuria began when he declared that the land would be used to build an export-exclusive airport.

She called out the CS for being arrogant on the matter and failing to engage the local leaders before making the decree.

"We as the people of Machakos are the ones who gave the community land which they used as a loan guarantee. We are not going to allow the evictions and we do not fear you," Ndeti stated.

Her sentiments were echoed by former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko and Azimio principal Kalonzo Musyoka who insisted that the squatters are the genuine owners of the land.

Kalonzo vowed to lead a march to protest the directive in court as he had the title deeds and the court orders that saw the deal stuck between the members of the community.

Trade and Industry CS Moses Kuria addressing a delegation during the launch of the Green Triangle Cement on Tuesday,, November 8, 2022.

MOSES KURIA, By Paul Kurgat