East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 04 July 2023; 617

Rishi Sunak is set to snub demands from Conservative MPs to launch a fresh visa crackdown to bring down record high net migration, i has learnt.

The Prime Minister is set to reject calls for a fresh crackdown before the next election, despite a group of 20 backbenchers on Monday launching the New Conservatives with a list of 12 demands to get net immigration down from 606,000 to below the 2019 level of 226,000.

It comes as migrant crossings have set a new record for the month of June, pushing the total for the year so far to more than 11,000. In the first six months of 2023, 11,434 people were detected making the journey from France, according to provisional government figures.

The new faction of 2017 and 2019 intake MPs, including many so-called “Red Wall” Tories, called for an end to the care workers visa, a higher minimum salary for skilled workers, and a toughening up of the rules around students.

However, Whitehall sources indicated to i that the matter is viewed as now being settled within the Cabinet after months of negotiations led to a crackdown on international students bringing family members to the UK – unless they are on PhD sources – being announced in May by Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

That policy was decided upon after extensive talks between the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch.

It is viewed in Whitehall as the settled consensus position as the ministers’ departments have to balance competing demands of cutting immigration and supporting economic growth, university finances and the jobs market.

The crackdown on students’ dependents will kick in next January and is expected to have a significant impact by cutting net immigration by 100,000, and therefore ministers believe it is unlikely that the rules around visas will be revisited before the next election.

Downing Street rejected some of the New Conservative demands, including removing care workers from the shortage occupation list or scrapping the ability of overseas graduates to stay in the UK for a certain time after their degree is finished. By Arj Singh , The I

Details: East Africa; 04 July 2023; 680

JUBA, JULY 3, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – A South Sudan opposition commander of the main armed opposition SPLA-IO Kitgwang faction led by General Simon Gatwech Dual has turned down an appointment as zonal commander.

Gen. Gatwech today appointed Gen. Kerbino Ter Majak as the commander of the SPLA-IO zone in Unity State.

But in a statement, Ter said he was shocked to learn of the appointment, saying that Gatwech has no power to make appointments because he was dismissed by the SPLA-IO KD military command council last week.

“This afternoon, 3 July 2023, I was shocked to learn of my appointment as Commander of the Petroleum (Bentiu) Zonal Command by former chairman and commander in chief of the SPLM/SPLA (IO) KD 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual,” he said.

“I am hereby informing the public of my rejection of the appointment. This is because 1st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech was on June 28 removed as chair and C-in-C of SPLM/SPLA (IO) KD by the SPLM/A IO Military Command Council (MCC).

“Therefore, Gen. Gatwech has no power to make appointments, including the one for myself,” he added.

He called on Gatwech “to respect the resolutions of the MCC and to cease all attempts to undermine the authority of the MCC” and said he remains “committed to the SPLM/SPLA (IO) KD and to the cause of peace and democracy in South Sudan.”

He further called on “all members of the movement to unite behind the MCC and to work together to achieve our common goals.”

Last week, Gatwech dismissed his chief of staff General Laraka Machar, accusing him of collaborating with President Salva Kiir, General Paul Malong Awan and First Vice President Riek Machar of the SPLM-IO mainstream.

Laraka went on to response by saying that a meeting of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang military command council resolved to withdraw confidence from General Gatwech because of biased decisions and expelled him from the movement. - Sudans Post

Details: East Africa; 03 July 2023; 689

General Ter Majak Thach, newly appointed SPLA-IO KD Zonal Commander for Unity State. [Photo via Bentiu TV]

JUBA, JULY 3, 2023 (SUDANS POST) – The leader of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement/Army in Opposition (SPLM/SPLA-IO) Kitgwang faction General Simon Gatwech Dual on Monday named a new zonal commander for his forces in Unity State.

In an order extended to Sudans Post, General Gatwech who removed his chief of staff just last week named Lt. Gen. Ter Majak Thach as commander of the SPLA-IO Kitgwang Petroleum (Bentiu) Zonal Command with an immediate effect.

“Pursuant on the power conferred upon me under Section 13 (1) (2), Section 14 (5) of SPLA Act 2009 amended SPLA 10 KD Act 2022 and Reference to SPLA IO KD Command Council Consultative meeting dated 26/06/2023, 1^st Lt. Gen. Simon Gatwech Dual, Chairman and Commander in Chief of SPLM/A IO KD Do here by appoint 2^nd Lt. Gen Kerbino Ter Majak Thach as SPLA IO KD Petroleum (Bentiu) Zonal Commander with effect from 03 July 2023,” Gatwech said.

This comes a day after General Gatwech named a new chief of staff after he dismissed the SPLA-IO chief of staff Laraka Machar Turoal, a former deputy governor for the defunct Northern Liech State, over allegations of cooperating with enemies.

On Saturday, Gatwech appointed Lt. Gen. James Riek Ruai as the new chief of staff for the opposition group and named Lt. Gen. Paulino Gattek Deah – in another order on Saturday as well – as the SPLA-IO Kitgwang deputy chief of staff for operations. Sudans Post

Details: East Africa; 03 July 2023; 606

President William Ruto poses for a photo with 50 CASs at State House on March 23, 2023. PCS

The High Court on Monday, July 3, ruled that President William Ruto’s appointment of 50 Chief Administrative Secretaries was unconstitutional.

The ruling was made by a three-judge bench including Justices Kanyi Kimondo, Hedwing Ong’udi and Visram Alnashir.

The three-judge bench further ruled that whereas there was public participation before the appointment of CASs, it was only limited to 23 CASs and not 50 as appointed by President William Ruto.

"There was no public participation in the appointment of the extra 27 CASs. The establishment of the extra 27 CAS positions is unconstitutional," Justice Ongudi ruled.

THE JUDICIARY OF KENYA

"For the avoidance of doubt, the entire complement of 50 CASs is therefore unconstitutional," added Justice Kimondo

The High Court further faulted President William Ruto's administration for not subjecting the CASs upon selection by Public Service Commission (PSC) to vetting by the National Assembly.

The Court ruled that the role of CASs fell between a constitutional and state office hence there was need for a parliamentary vetting.

"CASs are for all purposes assistant Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries are relegated to reporting to CASs and CSs," the High Court ruled on the need for vetting in the National Assembly adding that the CASs were supposed to earn more than PSs.

The three-judge bench in their ruling also questioned the wisdom of having 50 assistants to CSs when the Kenyan Constitution limited the maximum number of CSs to 22.

"We do not think it was the intention of framers of our Constitution to have 50 CASs deputising 22 CASs," the High Court ruled.

While it was established that the position of CAS was advertised as required by law, PSC was faulted for not indicating the number of vacancies.

On Friday, March 24, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and Katiba Institute sued President William Ruto and the Public Service Commission (PSC) for contravening the constitution.

The two bodies argued that by appointing 50 CASs, President Ruto violated Article 10 of the Constitution which provided for the creation of 23 positions.

Pending the determination of the case, High Court Lady Justice Hedwig Ong'udi barred the CASs from earning a salary, remuneration, and any benefit. By Kioko Nyamasyo, Kenyans.co.ke

Details: East Africa; 03 July 2023; 682

Image Credits: Priscilla Muhiu, formerly of Glovo Kenya is the new MyDawa Kenya CEO. / MyDawa

Kenyan e-health startup MyDawa has raised $20 million funding from private equity investor Alta Semper Capital, to expand its regional reach and product offerings with the aim of becoming an all-in-one health platform for users.

MyDawa, which launched in 2016, has diversified from an e-pharmacy to include online and in-person consultations, and laboratory services at its expanding network of walk-in pharmacies and health centres.

It has also launched its own branded products, and plans to open up its technology infrastructure from telehealth to fulfillment, helping other businesses in the health sector to scale. It claims to have already inked deals with some of Kenya’s biggest clinic chains, which are looking to expand their reach.

Additionally, MyDawa has also acquired Uganda’s Guardian Health, one of the many acquisitions and collaborations it aims to make as it expands beyond Kenya. The growth plans will be steered by new CEO Priscilla Muhiu, formerly of Glovo Kenya.

Commenting on the funding and newest acquisition, MyDawa co-founder Neil O’Leary said: “Alta Semper’s ambition exactly matches that of MyDawa, and it brings the drive, connections and clout to succeed. Three years ago, AAIC, a Japanese backed African healthcare fund joined as our first external investor and now the team has been augmented in the strongest manner possible.”

“MyDawa now has both a solid secure base and a great expansion opportunity based on a great offering which improves health outcomes. Guardian is a great first step on fulfilling our ambition,” said O’Leary.

MyDawa raised $3 million from AAIC’s Africa Healthcare Fund in 2019, and has also received $1.2 million grant funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS by increasing access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) medication.

Alta Semper CEO, Afsane Jetha, said the investment marked the PE firm’s first entry into digital healthcare in Africa, regarded as one of the sectors with the potential for great growth in the coming years.

“MyDawa was the logical choice for us as their groundbreaking technology, underpinning a scalable business model, along with regulatory knowhow and market entry experience, mapped so well to our own strategy. The drive to increase the access to good advice and safe and affordable medication is core to our overall mission of democratizing access to health and wellbeing across the African continent,” said Jetha.

“With consumer spending in Africa projected to reach $2.1 trillion by 2025, this represents one of the continent’s largest business opportunities. Therefore, the investment into MyDawa is part of our strategic aim at meeting this growing demand by investing in locally produced and value-priced consumer goods and services.” TechCrunch