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East Africa

  • Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank, Andrew Dabalen   WORLD BANK 
  • Kenyan-born economist, Andrew Dabalen, is the new World Bank Africa Region Chief Economist.

    Dabalen, who assumed office on July 1, replaced Albert Zeufack, who was named Country Director for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Burundi, and Sao Tome and Principe.

    In his new role, Dabalen will be charged with developing economic studies in the region that will shape the implementation of development projects funded by the World Bank. 

    Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank Andrew Dabalen
    Chief Economist, Africa, World Bank Andrew Dabalen during a conference on October 18, 2018. WORLD BANK
     

    "The Chief Economist is responsible for providing guidance on strategic priorities and the technical quality of economic analysis in the region," stated the World Bank on its website while making the announcement.

    Dabalen's selection was based on his prowess in success in the fight against poverty guided by scholarly research. He has worked with World Bank for over a decade, a journey that began in Kenya. 

    While he was born in the country, his parents moved to Washington DC, where he attained his education. He took economics for his undergraduate degree.

    The economist cum scholar holds a Master's degree in International Development and a Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural and Resource Economics, both from the University of California. 

    He then took up research in global economics and has published scholarly work which has been referenced by other intellectuals across the world.

    "His work focused on poverty and social impact analysis, inequality of opportunity, program evaluation, risk and vulnerability, labor markets, and conflict and welfare outcomes," reads his World Bank profile.

    Among his publications is 'Sources of the persistent gender wage gap along the unconditional earnings distribution: findings from Kenya' which he published in January 2013.

    He joined the World Bank in 2011 as a Lead Economist and has served in various capacities including Senior Economist in the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Region. 

    In addition, he worked as a Lead Economist and Practice Manager for Poverty and Equity in Africa and most recently, Practice Manager for Poverty and Equity in the South Asia Region.

    Logo at the entrance of World Bank Building in Washington DC, USA.
    World Bank offices in Washington DC, USA.  FILE
     

 

Leaders of the East African Community (EAC) on Thursday stressed the need for closer ties between the seven-member regional bloc to bolster trade and collective economic growth.

Top officials of Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan, and Uganda met in the northern Tanzanian city of Arusha for the first in-person EAC summit in three years.

They underscored the importance of proper infrastructure to accelerate regional integration and development, while reaffirming their commitment to implement the EAC Common Market Protocol, read an EAC statement.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said the EAC will never be able to achieve its targets until there is free movement of people and goods in the region.

“That is why infrastructure is critical if we are to achieve our objective of being a common market,” he said.

“We are not adequately interlinked, and because we are not a common market, because we operate separately – which is what some people want us to be – we remain markets for other regions.”

Kenyatta stressed that “value addition to national products was key,” warning that without that “the region would essentially be exporting jobs as is now the case,” read the statement.

‘Somalia belongs to East Africa’

Somalia’s President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, who attended the summit as a special guest, urged the EAC leaders to speed up his country’s membership process.

“Somalia belongs to East Africa. There is no one country among the seven countries sitting here that Somalia is not linked to by business, by community by any other means … people from all these countries are helping Somalia get back on its own feet,” he said.

He praised the EAC for having “many sacrifices” for Somalia, which first applied to join the bloc in 2014.

“To repay that back, we need to be part of this community. Now Somalia is right at the corner, and we believe that we have great potential to contribute to this community,” said Mohamud.

Other leaders who attended the event were Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye, DR Congo Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde and South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs and International Relations Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin.​​​​​​​ - Andrew Wasike, Anadolu Agency

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati (left) and vice chairperson Juliana Cherera at the Bomas of Kenya on June 9, 2022 during the first testing and simulation of results transmission. Azimio la Umoja and Kenya Kwanza have issued fresh demands to the electoral agency regarding transmission of results in areas with no network coverage. 

Deputy President William Ruto and Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition flagbearer Raila Odinga have issued fresh demands to the electoral agency regarding transmission of results in areas with no network coverage. 

The two frontrunners Wednesday demanded answers from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on how results from 1,111 polling stations will be transmitted to the national tallying centre.

Through Gladys Shollei and Dr Caroline Karugu, who represented Dr Ruto and Mr Odinga, respectively, they wondered why some of the affected stations were not included in the Tuesday simulation exercise.

“We want to know how results from the 1,111 stations will be transmitted to the national tallying centre,” Ms Shollei said at the Bomas of Kenya.

Streaming still slow

Dr Karugu said although Tuesday’s simulation registered a 94 per cent success rate, much more than 58 per cent registered in the first dry run, she expressed fears that the streaming was still slow.

“If only 50 stations have transmitted their results in one hour, simple mathematics means that Kenyans will have to wait for about four days to get the final presidential results,” said Dr Karugu, who is Azimio’s deputy chief agent.

Commissioner Abdi Guliye said a simulation exercise for the affected stations will be conducted for presidential technical teams.

“We’ll host the technical teams of the presidential agents at our warehouse, where we are preparing the Kiems kits. There’ll be an in-house demonstration on the role of the satellite modems,” he said.

Stations with no 3G network

IEBC’s ICT Director Michael Ouma said they will meet with the technical teams today (Thursday). The commission is yet to gazette stations with no 3G network, one of the factors that led to the nullification of the 2017 presidential poll. 

Commissioner Justus Nyang’aya, who is in charge of ICT, said the stations will be gazetted next week.

“We are still confirming the strength of the 3G networks in those places. This was a problem in 2017. We were asked where some of the results we declared came from since they were not from gazetted areas,” he said.

Mr Nyang’aya said the commission has started deploying Kiems kits to far-flung areas in North Eastern.

“Commissioners were at the warehouse on Tuesday to confirm the deployment of the kits. While some are still being sorted, others have already been dispatched. We want to ensure they are sent to all areas five days before elections,” he offered.

Security system

The commission also faced questions from political parties on the security system as it failed to demonstrate how the kits will reject transmission of any result emanating from other documents.

The commission on Tuesday told political party agents and election observers that it has enhanced security features on the kits and forms 34A that contain presidential results from polling stations. The forms will contain quick response (QR) codes.

The kits will have in-built validation checks and will only contain IEBC SIM cards with specific codes. This means they cannot be used in any other device other than the one it has been configured to work on.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said they will continue cooperating with political parties and urged stakeholders to raise any issues that will help them to deliver credible elections on August 9.  By Evans Habil, Nation Media Group 

Some of the recovered cattle that had been stolen by armed rustlers in Karamoja Sub-region. PHOTO/MUDANGHA KOLYANGHA

What you need to know:

  • During the same period, UPDF says 2,921, livestock have been recovered.  

Joint security forces have arrested 400 suspects and recovered 186 guns and 650 live ammunition from warriors in ongoing operations to rid the North Eastern Uganda of deadly cattle raids and criminality.

According to him, the operation is running in about nine districts that comprise the Karamoja Sub-region as well as in districts of Kabelybyong and Katakwi in Teson Sub-region.

“For these arrests and recoveries UPDF employed both forceful and voluntary approaches” UPDF 3rd Division spokesperson, Maj Isaac Oware said about the operation started May 16, 2022. 

“About 232 suspected criminals have been prosecuted through the court martial sitting in Moroto District for various offences including possession of firearms. Others have been prosecuted through civil courts and could have been remanded or sentenced,” Maj Oware added.

 

However, he said “a good number were found with no case and were released to their respective communities after investigations.”

“These operations are targeting criminal elements in five categories which include armed criminals [warriors], those who drive livestock using bows and arrows, collaborators [Informers] and suspects of cattle theft and this has paid off because currently the rate of raids has drastically reduced,” the serviceman revealed.

During the same period, UPDF says, 2,921 livestock have been recovered.  

The 39th Battalion under 405 Brigade recovered over 200 herds of cattle from raiders along the Lions Bridge, a border belt between Napak and Abim districts.

“This single big recovery was done with air support [Helicopter] and close coordination with Kotido District leaders,” Maj Oware disclosed.

He added: “Security forces have the mandate to see that all routes entering Karamoja are safe and are more secure for effective service delivery. Insecurity had caused fears,” Maj Oware further observed. 

Karamoja lawmakers had called for a review of security strategies for the area following increased insecurity characterized by cattle rustling.

“There is need for government to commit to protecting Karamojong people who face the danger of starvation, poverty, and sickness. They cannot sleep at night or do economic activities because of rustlers including those from Pokot-Toposa in neighbouring Kenya,” MP Achia Remigio [Pian County] said. By Mugangha Kolyangha, Daily Monitor

  • Raila Odinga at the World Economic Forum.  DAILY NATION 
  • Azimio la Umoja Presidential candidate Raila Amollo Odinga has taken a firm stand regarding corruption allegations linked to President Uhuru Kenyatta and the entire First family.

    Speaking to BBC Africa on Thursday, July 20, the former Prime Minister maintained that he would not spare anyone in the fight against graft.

    Responding to BBC Africa journalist Anne Soy's question, Raila clarified that  should Uhuru or any member of his family be implicated, then the law would take its course.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at Bomas of Kenya
    President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga at Bomas of Kenya FILE
     

    "Nobody is indispensable in the war against corruption. So we will deal with everybody equally," Raila reiterated.

    "Certainly, Kenyans know that I stand very strongly against corruption," the former Prime Minister told BBC Africa. 

    The former Kibra Member of Parliament further dispelled reports that Uhuru will have an active role in his administration if he wins the August 9 General Election.

    He, however, detailed that Uhuru would advise the Azimio government, especially on diplomatic and international issues.

    "He can be an advisor, he can support the government in terms of things that they are doing particularly internationally.

    He will not play any role in government. He's said he is retiring and going home," Raila explained.

    With days to August 9, Raila maintained that he is committed to accepting the outcome of the polls on the condition that it is a free and fair exercise.

    So far, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared four candidates to square it out in a race to succeed President Uhuru as the country's next Head of State. 

    Raila and Ruto are the front runners in what has been billed as one of Kenya's most competitive elections, as the former PM takes the fifth stab at the presidency.

    Others in the race include Agano Party candidate David Mwaure and his Roots Party counterpart Prof George Luchiri Wajackoyah.

    Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua during the launch of their manifesto on June 6, 2022.
    Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Karua during the launch of their manifesto on June 6, 2022. COURTESY/  By GEOFFREY LUTTA , Kenyans.co.ke

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