Former Chief Justice David Maraga. PHOTO/@dkmaraga/X
Former Chief Justice David Maraga now says the country needs a fresh start. In a statement on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Maraga, who is eying the top seat in 2027, says the country’s economy, education and healthcare are on the verge of collapsing if not salvaged soon.
According to Maraga, the country is also faced with deteriorating relationships with its neighbours and other countries in the continent.
“Now more than ever, it is clear that Kenya needs a reset. We must end impunity and corruption. We must save our collapsing economy, education and healthcare. We must reset relations with our brothers and sisters in the region and Africa,” Maraga stated.
Maraga says there have been several violations of the constitution, calling for urgent action to bring to book those who have flagrantly violated the Constitution.
“We must push for fidelity to our Constitution and its full implementation. We must bring to book and hold accountable those who have flagrantly violated the Constitution. It is time for true change. For a reset,” Maraga added.
This comes a day after Maraga asked the youth to stop concentrating on online and street activism alone, and instead aim to capture power by joining competitive politics.
Maraga says the young people can bring the change they want in the country if only they clinch leadership positions during elections.
Speaking during the Kenya Ideas Festival held in Nairobi on Monday, April 7, 2025, Maraga asked the older generation to support the youth and help them get into leadership positions.
“As a person who belongs to the older age category, I have served this country and its people and I have made my small contribution to change. However, just like any other parent or older person, and justifiably so, I worry about the future the country holds for your children, grandchildren and the heritage we will leave for our young people,” he stated.
“Those of us from the older generation must support the youth to be at the helm of implementing that change. We need young people, not just on the streets and online. We need them on the political leadership of the country. We need them in county assemblies, in parliament and public institutions. We must dismantle the barriers that keep them out.” By Francis Muli, People Daily
The spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres said the UN is concerned about the welfare of civilians fleeing insecurity in Blue Nile State, in the south-east of Sudan, as well as the lack of access for humanitarians to reach them.
Stéphane Dujarric, while briefing the media on Monday in New York, said local authorities estimate that 4,000 people displaced from Ullu and other towns in Baw locality have been moving north-east toward the state capital of Ed Damazine, which is about 230 kilometres away.
“So far, some 600 people have arrived and are sheltering at a displacement site. Ongoing insecurity and bureaucratic constraints have prevented humanitarian partners from reaching impacted areas, he stated. “We call again for safe, sustained, and unhindered humanitarian access to all people in need.”
“New arrivals from South Sudan have also been reported in other parts of Blue Nile in recent weeks, demonstrating the growing complexity of the situation in the region,” Dujarric added. Radio Tamazuj
President Paul Kagame rejects sanctions threat over DR Congo conflict, tells foreign critics to ‘go to hell’
Rwanda began a weeklong commemoration Monday marking 31 years since the 1994 genocide against the ethnic Tutsi population.
President Paul Kagame and first lady Jeannette Kagame, joined by the dean of the diplomatic corps in the capital Kigali and representatives of genocide survivors, laid wreaths at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where more than 250,000 victims are buried.
They then lit the “Flame of Remembrance,” a symbol of national unity and resilience, which will burn for the next 100 days — the length of the genocide.
Kagame said the genocide would not happen again in Rwanda — not because perpetrators would not try, but because “Rwandans have chosen to stand together and so that it never happens again.”
In his speech, Kagame linked Rwanda’s past with its present challenges, saying they “are siblings” that must be addressed together. He was referring to diplomatic tensions with countries accusing Rwanda of involvement in the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Kagame criticized international pressure over the issue, saying: “Go to hell.”
“These people at the UN, in these Western capitals, saying this small country, this Rwanda, when you are ganging up together against Rwanda...I just imagine the world has gone amok. But in the midst of all that we have to live, and I will tell anybody to his face to go to hell. If anyone comes around and thinks they can, you know, they come and say 'hey we're going to sanction you.' What? Go to hell,” he said.
The European Union has sanctioned three senior Rwandan military officials and the head of Rwanda’s state mining agency over the M23 rebel group at the center of the Congo conflict.
Germany, the US and the UK also announced sanctions on Rwanda over its alleged involvement in eastern Congo.
Rwanda last month cut diplomatic ties with Belgium after Kagame accused Brussels of lobbying for international sanctions on Kigali.
About 1 million people — mostly Tutsis and moderate Hutus — were killed in the genocide within 100 days.
The violence followed the April 6, 1994 downing of a plane carrying Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundian President Cyprien Ntaryamira. Both leaders were killed in the attack, which triggered the mass killings by Hutu extremists. By James Tasamba, Anadolu Agency
Soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment have been stepping up their training ahead of a major deployment to Kenya. The unit has been conducting live-fire exercises, sharpening their battlefield skills. After years focused on training allied forces, they are now preparing for their own operations.
Shifting focus to warfighting
For the past few years, the Royal Anglian Regiment has been focused on security force assistance, helping train allied forces around the world. Now, they are sharpening their own combat skills as they prepare for a major exercise in Kenya.
Major Jet Ryan, Officer Commanding A Company, 1 Royal Anglian, explained the significance of the transition. "We've recently moved into tactical recce strike, so really honing our warfighting skills and getting back to those basic infantry skills," he said.
"But what is really crucial is that the skills we've learned during security force assistance we've brought forward, you know, so we're still really capable with interoperability.
"We operate with partners and we will always do that as part of Nato, and we will take that forward as we go forward with warfighting."
The infanteers were at Otterburn for their live-fire exercise
Live-fire training under pressure
The exercise replicates battlefield conditions, ensuring soldiers can make rapid decisions under fire. Lance Corporal Cameron Donald, a section 2IC from A Company, 1 Royal Anglian, described his role in the drills.
"I have to ensure that if there's a fire support element that they are not being unsafe inside the other arcs, they're maintaining a good rate of fire through the attack, constantly moving when they need to move fire and we need to fire and also balance and ammunition throughout that element and through the section," he explained.
The added pressure of a fire support element is designed to test the soldiers' ability to execute precise battlefield manoeuvres. Private Tom Birch, A Company, 1 Royal Anglian, emphasised the importance of staying sharp. "No matter how long you've been in you'll get skill fade," he said.
"So it's important to stay on top of the skills so that whenever we're needed, wherever is in the world, the skills are up to the highest level.
"Kenya might be a training exercise for the Army, but that level of skills and drills allows us to function in potential real-life scenarios."
Having spent months passing on their expertise to partner forces, the Royal Anglian soldiers are now focused on honing their own capabilities as they prepare for their upcoming exercise in Kenya.
Machakos governor Wavinya Ndeti makes her speech during the launch of Machakos Youth Service at Machakos Agricultural Training Center in Machakos County on January 17, 2025. [John Muia, Standard]
Simmering political tensions between the executive and a faction of the legislature have exploded into an open clash, with Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti accusing her predecessor, Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, of meddling in the county’s affairs.
At the heart of the storm is a move by some Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to impeach County Assembly Speaker Ann Kiusya, which has since been halted by the High Court.
A group of 33 MCAs, led by Majority Leader Nicholas Nzioka, have signed a motion to remove Kiusya from office. The campaign is spearheaded by members from various political parties, including Wiper and Maendeleo Chap Chap.
Among the reasons given for the Speaker’s removal are allegations of gross incompetence, including the return of Sh250 million to the Treasury due to the failure to absorb the allocation. The MCAs also accuse the Speaker of excessive overseas travel and the failure to fully constitute the County Assembly Public Service Board.
On the other side, Maendeleo Chap Chap MCAs, led by Kinanie MCA Francis Kavyu, along with other colleagues from different political backgrounds, are opposing the motion. They argue that it is an attempt by the county executive to control the Assembly through unconstitutional means.
This faction has also threatened to sponsor an impeachment motion against Governor Wavinya, a development the county boss has strongly opposed.
During a worship service at the African Church in Mitaboni, Kathiani Constituency, an angry Wavinya lashed out at her predecessor, Dr Mutua, accusing him of meddling in Machakos’ affairs.
“Mutua, you were the former governor, not the current governor of Machakos. Leave Machakos alone and let me run my county. When you were the governor, I never interfered with you. Don’t start a war you cannot handle,” Wavinya declared.
In an apparent response to Wavinya, Dr Mutua played down the accusations and stated that he would not support the impeachment of any leader in Ukambani.
“I do not support any plans to impeach any leader in Ukambani. I don’t want to hear about the removal of any Speaker or Governor from Machakos, Kitui, or Makueni, as we are already halfway through the five-year term, and we should be focusing on serving the citizens,” Dr Mutua said. By Erastus Mulwa, The Standard
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