A section of Azimio lawmakers were Tuesday teargassed at the Office of the President in Nairobi.

The lawmakers were caught in the fracas while on their way to the premises to present a petition on the issues they wanted the Government to address. 

According to a tweet by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, the group of about 50 Azimio-allied lawmakers marched peacefully to present their grievances when the police took action.

“My colleagues and I have been teargassed outside the Office of the President as we marched peacefully to deliver the people’s petition. Gachagua told us we knew where to find them. We do. We went there and instead met the police. Cowards!” Sifuna tweeted shortly after the incident.

The lawmakers caught in the melee include Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang, Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, and Kisumu West MP Rosa Buyu among others.

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In a statement confirming Tuesday's demonstrations, Azimio la Umoja Leader Raila Odinga indicated that the demonstrations will include a stop at four various government offices in the country.

Azimio had planned to present a petition at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), addressing electoral injustices and the removal of the four commissioners alias 'Cherera Four'. 

According to the statement, the Azimio team had also planned to show up at the Office of the President to present a petition as proof of the high cost of living and also barring the office from staging takeovers of rival political parties.

Here, he made reference to the ongoing leadership wrangles at the Jubilee Party whose leader is the immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We will be visiting the National Treasury to petition for the immediate release of all funds owed to counties and the timely payment of salaries to all civil servants,” Azimio said. by MAUREEN NJERI , The Standard

KIGALI, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The Rwanda Workers' Trade Union Confederation (CESTRAR) on Monday called for tighter workers' protection and safety regulations, especially in the country's mining sector.

In a message to mark Labor Day, the CESTRAR also urged employers in the mining sector to "conduct regular health checks for workers for respiratory diseases" which may be contracted from their work, so as to ensure their timely treatment.

"We appeal to all employers to tighten safety regulations to protect the health of workers through the provision of safety equipment and put in place regulations as per the work conditions," the CESTRAR said in a statement. "Relevant authorities should pay particular attention in enforcing regulations in the mining sector through regular professional inspections to prevent fatal accidents which have often been reported."

The issue of the safety of Rwandan miners entered public debate following a recent report by the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board showing there were 337 mine accidents from July 2018 to July 2022.

Mine accidents claimed the lives of at least 429 people and injured 272 in a period of five years, according to the report. The mining sector is Rwanda's second largest revenue earner. - Xinhua

At least six General Service Unit (GSU) officers were injured on Monday, May 1, after a vehicle they were travelling in hit a landmine in Karo location, Mandera East.

According to County Commissioner Amos Mariba, a rescue operation is underway while the injured officers are receiving treatment at Mandera County Referral Hospital.

"We are continuing with the rescue mission and cannot comment further on the incident," said Mariba on phone with The Standard. 

The six were among a contingent of security personnel dispatched to the area early Monday morning following intelligence reports of Al-Shabaab insurgents' presence in the area.

"Their vehicle hit the landmine at Burta Ashaqa village at around 5.30pm on their way back to their station in Mandera town," said a source. 

Speaking to The Standard on condition of anonymity, a senior police officer said officers who were part of the convoy escaped unhurt.

The attack comes weeks after a warning by Mariba, tipping the media, that the insurgents had stepped up their presence along Somalia’s border towns. 

The county commissioner, however, assured the public of their safety and affirmed that security officers are on continuous patrol in the suspected areas to weed out the militants. By Ibrahim Adan Ali, The Standard