East Africa

Details: East Africa; 12 January 2022; 748

Photo collage between US Journalist Ben Terry and Power transmission line that caused power outage on Tuesday, January 11, 2022

COURTESY

A US journalist gained overnight fame in Kenya following the nationwide power outage experienced in most parts of the country on Tuesday, January 11.

Ben Terry, who works for KPLC TV 7 based in Louisiana State, was dragged into a power outage fiasco by irate Kenyans who were demanding answers from Kenya Power.

Terry found himself on the receiving end with most Kenyans flooding his page asking him to explain the situation and steps taken by the power utility company to address the perennial power outage problem.

US Journalist Ben Terry of TV KPLC 7 based in Louisiana in a car

FILE

This was triggered by his social media name, KPLC, which is a semblance of Kenya Power. Most social media users confused his Twitter handle to that of the government agency.

The journalist, explained that the confusion was a blessing in disguise as he gained a number of Kenyan social media followers in the process.

"I just gained several Twitter followers from Kenya over the past 24 hours. Just so you know, I am not associated with the KPLC that is Kenya Power and Light Company for future reference. However, I hope you do like weather updates for Southwest Louisiana. Welcome aboard!" he clarified.

The journalist further detailed that he has no plans of acquiring Kenya Power after being asked by one of the social media users about his relationship with the company.

"Oh no! I wish I could help you but I have no interest in buying a power company."

To give hope to Kenyans who were affected by the power outage, Terry noted that at one point he was forced to go for a week without power supply after his state was hit by a hurricane.

"Our power was out for weeks in Louisiana after Hurricane Laura. Hopefully, it (power) is restored soon in Kenya!"

Three major transmission failures plunged Kenya's power into the worst nationwide power blackout in recent years just days after it was announced that electricity cost was cut by 15 per cent.

Kenya Power noted that the mid-morning outage happened after towers supporting a high-voltage power line linking Nairobi to the Kiambere hydroelectric dam collapsed at around 10.45am on Tuesday, January 11.

By 5pm Kenya Power had restored electricity in most parts of the country except Kitui, Mwingi, and Garissa. However, a third hitch was reported and affected sections of the Nairobi Central Business District, Kilimani, Hurlingham, Syokimau, Athi River, Kitengela, Mlolongo and adjacent areas.

An image of a high voltage transmission power line tower. COURTESY Kenyans.co.ke

Details: East Africa; 12 January 2022; 673

In Summary

The ban comes barely two weeks after UAE extended Kenya flight ban after it established that travelers from Nairobi were testing positive for Covid-19
The aviation tiff between the two is likely to hurt Kenya's growing labour export to the UAE

Kenya has suspended all inbound and transit passenger flights from the United Arabs Emirates (UAE) to retaliate against Dubai's move to ban all passenger flights from Kenya over fake Covid-19 tests.

In a statement, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the suspension took effect Monday midnight for a period of seven days.

The ban does not, however, affect cargo flights that are normally flown by carriers such as Kenya Airways and Emirates airline from UEA into Kenya.

"Inbound and transit passenger flights from UAE are suspended for a period of seven days. We are doing this to reciprocate a ban on Kenyan passenger flights to UAE," Director-General Gilbert Kibe said.

The ban comes barely two weeks after UAE extended Kenya flight ban after it established that travelers from Nairobi were testing positive for Covid-19 after arrival in the Middle East nation, despite carrying negative test results.

On December 20, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority (DCAA) announced a 48-hour suspension on all flights from Kenya after several passengers arriving from Nairobi tested positive for Covid-19.

However, the Arab League nation extended the ban that was to end on Christmas eve

“Until further notice, flights to and from Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda are suspended,'' DCAA said.

It asked passengers who have been in or transited through these countries in the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter or transit through Dubai,” said the notice from the airline.

“They banned flights from Kenya due to many false negative Covid-19 PCR results. The Ministry of Health is investigating and will report findings soon,'' KCAA said.

The aviation tiff between the two is likely to hurt Kenya's growing labour export to the UAE, considering that majority were yet to travel back after Christmas festivities.

Government data shows that there are at least 40,000 Kenyans working in UAE, with the figure rising by the day.

Even so, this is not the first time Kenya and UAE are embroiled in an aviation war.

In March, Kenya blocked UAE's push to have more flight frequencies by the Emirates Airline.

This, despite Dubai writing to Nairobi not to fly any carrier with more than 220 passengers into its territory yet Emirates is using aircraft of more than 400 seat capacity into Nairobi.

This angered Kenya, with the Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia calling out the Arab nation for unfair air transport trade.

According to him, Emirates was seeking an additional daily flight to Nairobi yet it does 14 weekly flights.

“When you add Etihad Airlines and Air Arabia, in total they have 28 weekly flight frequencies against Kenya Airways’ seven, an arrangement that is a skewed advantage in favour of airlines from the Gulf region,'' Macharia said.

The CS said Emirates Airlines, Etihad Airlines and Air Arabia—all designated to fly from the UAE—currently have a combined weekly seat capacity of 15,400 against Kenya Airways’ 5,510.

''Giving Emirates more flight capacity means they will get 90 per cent of business between Nairobi and Dubai while KQ receives 10 per cent. This is not tenable,” said CS Macharia.

He said Emirates Airlines benefits from substantial government subsidies and can sell out the seats in the Nairobi-Dubai route at throw-away prices due to the support.

More than a decade ago, Nairobi and Dubai were involved in a bitter diplomatic exchange after four members of the Dubai royal family were kicked out by immigration officials in Nairobi on suspicion that they were a terror gang.

Dubai retaliated by imposing restrictions requiring all Kenyans entering the UAE to present proof of higher education to obtain a visa.

The 2010 incident triggered fear of deportation among thousands of Kenyans working in the Gulf nation, prompting truce talks.

Even so, the two nations have enjoyed a cordial relationship, more so during President Uhuru Kenyatta's tenure.

In 2014, Uhuru travelled to UAE where he held talks with rulers from Jordan and UAE on expanding and deepening cooperation in areas of mutual interest between Kenya and the UAE.

The discussions were centered around issues of security, combating terrorism and stemming out radicalization.

In 2018, UAE and Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding that aimed to promote cooperation in the area of domestic employment.

The MoU, which is complemented by a cooperation agreement on domestic workers, was signed by Nasser bin Thani Al Hamli, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and Ukur Yatani, then CS Labour and Social Protection.

Dubai said the MoU was the outcome of solid cooperation in the area of employment and includes the regulation of the recruitment and employment of Kenyan labour and the work of the private recruitment agencies, with the aim of adopting transparent practices in all stages of the contractual work cycle.

In 2019, Kenya lobbied Dubai officials to support Kenyatta's Big 4 Agenda and also held talks over logistics, infrastructure, retail, tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and finance.

In February last year, Uhuru sent Interior CS Fred Matiang'i to Abu Dhabi for bilateral discussions on security sector collaboration between the UAE and Kenya.

Matiang'i and his host His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed also discussed the possible easing of VISA restrictions for Kenyans travelling to the UAE in the wake of the Covid- 19 pandemic. By Victor Amadala, The Star

Details: East Africa; 11 January 2022; 706

Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan Image: REUTERS

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu announced this on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon.

In Summary

•She passed her condolences to the families of the bereaved.

•"Poleni Wafiwa, Wanahabari na jamaa wote. Mungu aziweke mahali pema roho za Marehemu na Majeruhi wapone haraka," she said.

Six journalists are among 14 people who have died in a road accident in Tanzania.

Tanzania President Samia Suluhu announced on Tuesday afternoon.

"Nimeshtushwa na vifo vya Watu 14 wakiwemo Wanahabari 6 vilivyotokea leo asubuhi baada ya gari lililokuwa katika msafara wa Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Mwanza kugonga na Daladala," she said.

She sent her condolences to the families of the bereaved.

"Poleni Wafiwa, Wanahabari na jamaa wote. Mungu aziweke mahali pema roho za Marehemu na Majeruhi wapone haraka," she said. By Nancy Agutu, The Star

Details: East Africa; 12 January 2022; 681

The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has faulted regional governments for failing to honour their own commitments on the management of Covid-19, as protests by truck drivers from Kenya into Uganda persist.

One such commitment is the mutual recognition of the Covid-19 test results by the countries provided the test is done from within a member country by an accredited laboratory. However, some of the partner states, including Uganda, are reverting to their national policies in the wake of a sharp rise in new infections.

The truck drivers started parking their vehicles at the border over the weekend, protesting the directive by Uganda to pay US$ 30 for a test. The Ugandan government issued a directive in December, that all incoming travelers, including truck drivers, be tested at the point of entry.

On January 1, the truck drivers from Kenya, who are mainly Kenyan, opposed the directive, especially the test fee of Shs 100,000 every time they drive across the border, even when the fee was reduced from an initial 110,000. Apart from the cost of the test, the drivers say that the process has sharply increased the time it takes them to clear border procedures, making business more expensive.

“Why should we pay 3,600 shillings for a Covid-19 test to the Ugandan government, yet in Kenya we are tested for free? They must scrap the entire fee before we resume,” says the Kenya Long-Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union.

Kenneth Ayebare, the head of Uganda, Kenya Consolidators Association, says they had a meeting and there is a memo that the ministry released, but so far there is no solution, yet Kenyans insist they cannot be tested twice.

Talks aimed at resolving the impasse, between the leaders of the truck drivers and the Ugandan health and border authorities last Thursday had no result, according to the drivers. On the basis of this, the EAC and the East African Business Council now urge the EAC partner states to adopt and implement the EAC coordinated approach on Covid-19 to eliminate what they call the Covid-19 non-tariff barriers, so as to spur trade.

“The newly introduced Covid-19 mandatory testing of truck drivers entering or transiting through Uganda hampered the smooth flow of cargo across the region. To pay USD. 30 Covid-19 test each time they cross into Uganda increases the cost of doing business and results in the traffic pile-up at the border,” says the EABC chief executive, John Bosco Kaliisa.

The Council also urges partner states to embrace the Regional Electronic Cargo Driver Tracking System to accommodate the emerging Covid-19 trends with minimal disruptions to the private sector, especially the transport and logistics sector.

But Kaliisa says they are engaging the EAC via the Technical Working Group and respective inter-ministerial teams adopt and implement a regional coordinated approach on Covid-19 measures and procedures. He did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, trucks continue to pile up, with Ayebare saying the trucks have now formed a 72-kilometre stretch from the Malaba border, with a similar situation reported at Busia border town.

In a separate development, the EAC secretary general, Peter Mathuki urged the partner states to fast-track the adoption of the harmonized system to facilitate cross-border movement, in a bid to end persistent border traffic snarl-ups disrupting intra-EAC trade.

“As the region strives to rebound from the Covid-19 pandemic, constant trade impasses at EAC border points were reducing the gains made in integrating the region. Partner states need to prioritize the adoption of a regional coordinated approach in handling the pandemic,” Mathuki said.

Dr Mathuki, in a statement, emphasized the need for partner states to adopt the EAC Pass, a system that integrates all EAC Partner States negative test results for Covid-19 and those vaccinated, easing turnaround time at border points.

“Harmonization of Covid-19 charges and coordinated waiting time for Covid-19 results is critical to facilitate business continuity and ease the cost of doing business,” he says.

In December, the ‘EAC Pass’, a mobile phone-based app that stores and transmits test results, was adopted by the partner states so that at each entry point, the traveler did not have to test again or present certificates.

The EAC Pass is directly integrated into all the six partner states central depository (National Laboratories) and only national accredited laboratories are approved to carry out PCR Covid-19 tests for travelers. This should build confidence in all partner states since certificates are digitally authenticated from all accredited laboratories in the region.

The EAC Pass works by consolidating the results of all travelers and passengers undertaking mandatory Covid-19 testing in the designated accredited laboratories in each EAC partner state. The facilities in each country then upload Covid-19 data to their respective ministry of Health (MOH) repository.

Only PCR negative Covid-19 results for travelers have been pushed automatically to the EAC Pass which is accessible digitally and is verifiable at all ports of entry and exit.

Currently, EAC partner states have finalized the technical integration of accredited laboratories within the Community to EAC Pass and digital certificates can be shared across the region to facilitate easy movement of EAC citizens within the region.

The piloting of the system is ongoing in different countries. By URN, The Observer

Details: East Africa; 11 January 2022; 707

Minnesota official and former Kenyan refugee Hamse Warfa posing for a photo.

COURTESY

Former Kenyan refugee Hamse Warfa has been appointed to serve in US President Joe Biden’s administration.

Warfa will join the U.S State Department as a senior advisor in Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights.

In a statement, Warfa lauded the Biden administration for exhibiting their confidence in appointing him to serve Americans.

President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken at the White House in 2013.

COURTESY WSJ

"As I prepare to represent all people of the United States, I am blessed by the colleagues, friends and family who supported my public service,”

“My late father regularly offered a special blessing for me, ‘May you be useful to society,’ and I welcome continued support in my new role protecting and promoting democracy," he noted.

The former refugee once worked at the state Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) as its deputy commissioner. During his tenure, he advocated for jobs bill in order to ease the economic woes brought about by the pandemic.

“I am confident Hamse will serve the people of the United States with the same integrity, policy expertise, and collaborative leadership that he provided for the people of Minnesota,” Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz lauded him.

Prior to joining DEED, he co-founded BanQu Inc- a company dedicated to offering low-income earners global access to credit and banking services.

During a previous interview with Forbes, Warfa noted how his time at the Dadaab refugee camp influenced his vision in coming up with BanQu. He and his family had stayed at the camp in the mid 1990s for three years before moving to the US and settling in Minnesota.

"We created BanQu for the world’s poor, refugees and stateless people so they can live their lives like the rest of us: cumulatively. Let’s say you are in Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp, where my family was, and you have to move to Uganda.

"BanQu helps you relocate as seamlessly as possible, bringing your relationships with you… BanQu is mobile and cloud-based and, importantly, you own your data," he told Forbes.

Hamse Warfa (left) speaks to the crowd while being interviewed by journalist Sagal Abdirahman on May 7, 2015, at a book signing event in Minneapolis. COURTESY Kenyanns.co.ke