JUBA – South Sudan’s main armed opposition Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM-IO) led by First Vice President Dr. Riek Machar Teny has launched its state secretariat in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State’s capital Aweil and officials who were arrested this morning have been released, a senior member has said.

Dut Majokdit, SPLM-IO member of National Liberation Council (NLC) and Chairperson of Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), told Sudans Post that the launch was done hours after noon time at the party’s state headquarters in Aweil after they were denied two important public squares a day earlier by security forces there.

“This afternoon, I mean several hours after the noon time, the party was able to launch its secretariat in Aweil town. The launch was done at the SPLM-IO headquarters in Aweil, at Malour Awer and was attended by the secretary-general, the national minister of health and the speaker of the council of states,” he said.

The senior opposition official who said he was in Juba when the launch completed said that senior officials who were beaten and arrested earlier today have been released, but party officials in the counties were unable to attend as they were prevented to travelled to Aweil by heavily armed security forces deployed in the streets.

“The two national ministers, the state minister of sports, and the two members of states parliament as well as others who were arrested earlier today have been released. But the officials such as the county chairperson have not attended the function because they were prevented from coming to Aweil town for launch of the party by the security forces deployed in the streets,” the official further said.

A Sudans Post reporter in Aweil said most journalists were prevented from attending the function by the National Security Service in the state and were threatened that they would be considered members of the SPLM-IO and be arrested should they cover the function.

“For me I did not attend, we were threatened by the national security service here in Northern Bahr el Ghazal that those who will go to the function will be considered a member of the SPLM-IO and will be jailed and that’s why I and the colleagues I known have not attended it,” he said on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. - Sudans Post

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Leader Raila Odinga and his counterpart from Wiper Kalonzo Musyoka have emerged as the biggest winner in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) elections after their kins made it to the final list.

Despite efforts to scuttle the attempts of Kennedy Musyoka and Winnie Odinga from making it to EALA on the claims that there were ‘dynasties’ they emerged victorious in the tight race.

Details had emerged that plans were rife to frustrate the bids of the duo to make it to the Arusha based assembly.

In the elections which were conducted in both houses, Musyoka garnered 262 votes which was the highest vote count among the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya nominees.

Odinga came in second with 247 votes which paves the way for her to represent the nation for a five year term in the Arusha based assembly.

Former Kieni MP Kanini Kega came in third among the Odinga led coalition nominees which gave him a chance to clinch the Jubilee slot in the coalition.

Businessman Suleiman Shabal emerged fourth in the Azimio list by garnering 181 vots that facilitated him to gain a chance to represent the nation in EALA.

Former Wajir Women Rep Fatuma Gedi missed the chance to step to EALA after being edged out by Kega in the race after she managed to obtain 169 votes.

In the Kenya Kwanza Alliance grouping, Hassan Omar Hassan (UDA) came in first after he garnered 253 votes in the high stakes elections. 

Former Nandi Woman Zipporah Kering (UDA) came in second with 223 votes while Former Nominated MP David Sankok garnered the same votes.

Godfrey Karobia emerged the biggest winner but defying the odds to become the fourth in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance list.

Despite having lost in the secret ballot elections conducted during the party’s parliamentary group meeting he resurfaced to make to the final list.

Former Secretary General of the defunct United Republican Party Fred Muteti (UDA)garnered 189 to come in fifth.

Former Nominated Senator Falhada Dekow (UDA) obtained 174 and despite her coming in sixth she managed to make to the list due to gender.

This dealing a blow to Muteti’s ambition to sit in EALA after he was dropped. The EALA elections regulations required two representatives from the ruling coalition to be from either gender.

With the conclusion of the elections, Majority Leader Kimani Ichungwa congratulated the successful candidates calling upon them to help resuscitate the economy by opening the borders of East African region.

“Elections come with a lot of division and MPs have exchanged ideas and its now time to put away any division. The people we have elected from both coalitions now represent the people of Kenya and our country and they should carry the dignity of our country,” said Ichung’wa.

Minority Whip Junet Mohamed congratulated the leaders elected from the Azimio coalition while he chided that the most successful candidate was Karobia having defied the odds in his coalition.

“This young man was rejected terribly by his coalition that he doesn’t deserve to go to that Parliament.I found him in the corridors of this parliament dejected,” he stated.

The regional Parliament was established under Article 9 of the East African Treaty. Each member state is required to send nine MPs.

Kenya is rushing against time to second its members to the regional assembly ahead of the inauguration of the new session on December 17.

All the EAC countries, except Kenya and Democratic Republic of Congo, have already elected their representatives.

The EALA membership currently stands at 62, with nine elected members from each of the six East African Community (EAC) partner states Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Burundi — and eight ex-officio members.

EALA is an independent arm of EAC that advances the interest of the bloc, besides providing oversight.BY Irene Mwangi, Capital News

The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) has introduced new technology to address any community fears on destruction of the environment during their training sessions.

Batuk has also introduced simulation training for practical combat situations, where they have trained Kenyan engineers on the technology. 

“The training simulation equipment is solar powered with sensors that give a realistic view to the soldiers and increase chances of survival for the troops in war zones,” said Engineer Phanice Ayieko Teeka.

Engineer Ayieko is one of nine trainees, four of whom are women, who have learned how to use the training simulation equipment to prepare for combat.

She explained that the technology would assist soldiers to rectify their mistakes during training, adding that it enhances learning by offering reviews on their operations.

“Each simulation that is undertaken by the soldier is transmitted during training to the operators who monitor them at offsite computer stations,” she explained. 

Simulations also prepare the soldiers for what could happen by offering real-time challenges.

“Through the technology, we have assisted troops to improve survival tactics during real-time battle situations,” she said.

Over 5,000 soldiers from the United Kingdom (UK) and the Kenya Defence Forces train at the vast 250,000-acre Lolldaiga conservancy in Laikipia every year.   

According to Batuk communication and media liaison officer, Major Adrian Weale, the soldiers have been exercising caution to protect the environment and community resources in the conservancy from destruction. 

Major Weale said the white phosphorus that the unit uses for military explosions is not harmful to the environment, and that additional precautions have been taken to prevent fire outbreaks.

This follows an incident in March 2021, where more than 10,000 acres in Lolldaiga conservancy were destroyed when fire erupted as soldiers were training in the area.

Major Weale noted that the soldiers hold regular meetings with locals to ensure safety measures are in place before any training activities.

Major Niall McCracken, who is the Corps of Royal Engineers, said the UK is working in partnership with the KDF to train over 5,000 troops in three exercises a year.

“The joint training has been crucial for troops who have been sent to Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” he said.  By Purity Mwangi, The Standard