Donation Amount. Min £2

East Africa

 

Tanzania’s Minister for Information, Nape Nnauye, said in a recent meeting with editors that the government has lifted the ban on the Mseto, Mawio, Mwanahalisi, and Tanzania Daima newspapers. This is an important decision, as freedom of media and expression in Tanzania has seriously deteriorated since 2015 when the late President John Pombe Magufuli came to power.

Since 2015, authorities regularly revoked the licenses of newspapers for publishing material critical of the government.

In 2016, the information ministry banned Mseto for reporting corruption allegations in Magufuli’s presidential campaign. In 2017, they used the 2016 Media Services Act to ban Mawio after it published an article linking former presidents with a mining contracts scandal. That same year, Mwanahalisi was banned for allegations it tarnished Magufuli’s name. In 2020 ahead of the October elections, the ministry revoked the license of Tanzania Daima, whose owner is married to opposition leader Freeman Mbowe, over “excessive and repetitive nature of violations of the laws and the ethics of journalism.”  

The authorities have also regularly harassed journalists, activists, and political opposition leaders. The government has further failed to adequately investigate the disappearance of investigative journalist Azory Gwanda, who has been missing since November 2017 when he was picked up by unidentified people.

Although Nnauye told the editors at the February 10 meeting that the government is now ready to work with the media, the authorities need to do more to ensure freedom of media and expression in Tanzania. The authorities should start by reviewing repressive provisions in the Media Services Act, the Cybercrimes Act, and the Electronic and Postal (Online Content) Regulations, and protect journalists from physical attacks and arbitrary arrests. - Oryem Nyeko, Human Rights Watch

FILE: Deputy President William Ruto.  Image: DPPS

 

Raila described the remarks as reckless and disappointing to come from a person of the DP’s stature.

In Summary
  • Raila demanded that Ruto owns up and apologises.
  • Amb. Masafui said the remarks received negatively in DRC

Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday came under fire over his remarks on the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Kenyan embassy in Kinshasha expressed displeasure at Deputy President William Ruto’s remarks on DRC as ODM leader Raila Odinga waded into the matter. 

Raila castigated the DP demanding that he apologises over his unfortunate remarks capable of creating a diplomatic tiff between the two friendly nations. 

“The DP must own up and apologise to the government and the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo,” Raila said.

Ruto while addressing business community in Nyeri county, insinuated that the Central Africa nation has no single cow.

“We have a market here to DRC which has 90 million people but not a single cow,” Ruto said during the meeting with Nyeri business community.

Raila described the remarks as reckless and disappointing to come from a person of the DP’s stature.

In a statement to newsrooms, the former premier said DRC is a friend of Kenya and the attack by Ruto is unwarranted and short sighted.

“Ruto’s attacks on the DRC are a manifestation of a reckless lack of vision and foresight, a pathetic failure to see where opportunities abound for Kenya,” Raila said.

Raila’s comment came on a day  Kenya ambassador to DRC Amb Dr. George Masafu issued a statement expressing dissatisfaction with Ruto’s DRC comment. 

Already, Masafu has written to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs ministry protesting the remarks.

According to Masafu, the remarks have not gone down well with the business community terming it an insult.

 “The embassy has informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi on the negative reactions that the comments have triggered among the business community and general populace in DRC,” Masafu said in a statement.

“The Kenya embassy wishes to reiterate that the government and the people of Kenya share a deep and respectful historical relationship with the government and people of the DRC. This relationship stretches back to the independence of our respective countries.”  By Luke Awich, The Star

 

Would-be migrants in West Africa who managed to keep their jobs through the pandemic have a greater desire to stay in their home country. Photo Courtesy University of Birmingham

Would-be migrants in West Africa who managed to keep their jobs through the pandemic have a greater desire to stay in their home country - even if they see their economic prospects in the wake of Covid-19 to be brighter abroad, a new study reveals.

Young people in The Gambia perceive big inequalities between their country’s performance and the speed of recovery abroad, but their perception of rich countries’ post pandemic performance does not have significant effects on their aspirations to migrate.

Researchers from the Universities of Birmingham, Essex and Royal Holloway conducted an original survey in The Gambia as part of the MIGCHOICE project, funded by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

The experts discovered that young would-be migrants who kept their jobs during the pandemic may seek comfort in familiar contexts, - even if perceptions of their home country’s recovery prospects seem worse than the alternatives abroad.

Co-author David Hudson, Professor of Politics and Development at the University of Birmingham, commented: “For a large portion of African youth, the pandemic has fed into an unfortunate cycle of precarious employment and unemployment - in Sub-Saharan Africa, some 50% of young people had no job before Covid-19 struck.

“Individuals who keep their jobs through the pandemic are less likely to want to move abroad. Would-be migrants who managed to maintain a stable income may seek comfort in familiar contexts; even if they appear worse than alternatives abroad."

Researchers also find that the insecurity of Covid-19 job loss may be compensated by confidence in the Gambian government’s ability to tackle the pandemic. The recently-unemployed aspire to migrate less the more they trust their government. All in all, confidence in one’s local and personal circumstances appear to matter more than the pull of wealthier countries, even in the presence of clearly perceived global inequalities.

Lead author Miranda Simon, Senior Lecturer at the University of Essex, commented: “Covid-19 has forced citizens to rely on their government. Our findings show how important it is for governments and donors to try to protect jobs in crises. Employment has a unique stabilizing effect, which goes above and beyond the safety net that savings might provide.”

The researchers tested their expectations with an original survey of aspiring entrepreneurs in The Gambia with a higher-than-average pre-pandemic employment rate. In many ways, The Gambia is representative of African emigration. However, in some ways, it is a unique case - there is some evidence, for example that Gambian migrants are proportionately more highly-educated.

Nevertheless, it is an important case to study. Due to its reliance on international tourism, the Gambian economy experienced some of the region’s greatest disruption as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is also one of the region’s highest sender-countries of migrants through the dangerous Central Mediterranean route to Europe.

Co-author Cassilde Schwartz, Senior Lecturer at Royal Holloway, commented: “The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated international inequalities to unprecedented levels, as some states had more resources than others to protect their economies and their citizens.

“We show that this widening gap is not necessarily going to drive individuals into insecure and dangerous migration routes. It is reassuring that – even among those who lose their jobs – trust in the local government can foster a significant sense of security and stability at home.”

Professor David Hudson added: “Covid-19 setbacks in the developing world make it even more necessary that rich states provide opportunities for legal migration, in addition to helping individuals regain stability in the country where they were born. Furthermore, this assistance should not be limited to those most likely to migrate; it should go to all those who need it.” Source: University of Birmingham

HEALTH COST A child holds a copy of their parent's NHIF card  Image: FREDRICK OMONDI

 

The rates for Kenyans earning below Sh100,000 will remain the same.

In Summary

• In the current regulations, the maximum NHIF contribution is capped at Sh1,700 per person.

• Kenyans earning Sh500,000 and Sh1 million will have to pay Sh8,500 and Sh17,000 respectively.

Kenyans might soon start paying more for their monthly National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) contributions.

This will happen if the proposed changes by the draft National Health Insurance Fund (Contributions) Regulations, 2022 are passed by the National Assembly.

 

The Ministry of Health and NHIF published the regulations on February 16. 

In the proposed changes, Kenyans earning more than Sh100,000 will have to part with 1.7 per cent of their gross salary.

This means Kenyans earning Sh100,000 will pay Sh1,700 each month. Those earning Sh150,000 will part with Sh2,550, while those with salaries of Sh200,000 will pay Sh3,400 a month.

For those with salaries amounting to Sh300,000 and Sh400,000, their fees will be Sh5,100 and Sh6,800, respectively.

Kenyans earning Sh500,000 and Sh1 million will have to pay Sh8,500 and Sh17,000, respectively.

In the current regulations, the maximum NHIF contribution is capped at Sh1,700 per person.

The rates for Kenyans earning below Sh100,000 will remain the same.

Other changes proposed in the draft regulation are; proof of NHIF cover must be produced before accessing any government services. 

It also proposes a fine of Sh20,000 for adult Kenyans (18 years and above) that will not enrol on the fund.

"A person who does not register as a member commits an offence and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding Sh20,000."

The proposed National Health Insurance Fund (Contributions) Regulations, 2022, is part of a raft of measures being put in place by the health ministry to ensure the Universal Health Coverage is achieved. (Edited by Mercy Asamba) By Brian Oruta, The Star

Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto. PHOTO | FILE | NMG/Photo Courtesy  

About IEA Media Ltd

Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.

To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854.
If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.

We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.

Get in touch

Our Offices

London, UK
+44 7886 544135
editor (@) informereastafrica.com
Slough, UK
+44 7957 636854
info (@) informereastafrica.com

Latest News

Speaker Kingi bans Senators’ foreign travel during Gachagua impeachment

Speaker Kingi bans S...

 Senate Speaker Amason Kingi has imposed travel restrictions on all 67 Senators and staff, barring t...

Turkish contractor to create regional port hub in Somalia

Turkish contractor t...

It is hoped that the development of the port of Hobyo will take some pressure off Mogadishu (Sgt Pe...

Over 9M in UK facing extreme poverty, report warns of escalating hunger crisis

Over 9M in UK facing...

Children disproportionately affected by this crisis, with 1 in 5 UK youngsters at risk of 'hunger an...

Plascon rides on feedback for its targeted innovations

Plascon rides on fee...

Santosh Gumte, the Kansai Plascon Uganda MD, made this statement recently at the beginning of the an...

For Advertisement

Big Reach

Informer East Africa is one platform for all people. It is a platform where you find so many professionals under one umbrella serving the African communities together.

Very Flexible

We exist to inform you, hear from you and connect you with what is happening around you. We do this professionally and timely as we endeavour to capture all that you should never miss. Informer East Africa is simply news for right now and the future.

Quality News

We only bring to you news that is verified, checked and follows strict journalistic guidelines and standards. We believe in 1. Objective coverage, 2. Impartiality and 3. Fair play.

Banner & Video Ads

A banner & video advertisement from our sponsors will show up every once in a while. It keeps us and our writers coffee replenished.