East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 12 October 2021; 867

The UN's top court will rule in a bitter border dispute between Somalia and Kenya on Tuesday, delivering a verdict with potentially far-reaching consequences for bilateral ties and energy extraction in the region.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), is to give its final word in a case filed by Mogadishu more than seven years ago.

A full bench of 15 judges led by US judge Joan Donoghue will hand down the verdict at the Peace Palace in The Hague at 1300 GMT.

At stake are sovereignty, undersea riches and the future of relations between two countries in one of the world's most troubled regions.

Kenya has already lashed the ICJ as biased and announced it does not recognise the court's binding jurisdiction.

At the heart of the dispute is the direction that the joint maritime boundary should take from the point where the land frontiers meet on the coast.

Somalia insists the boundary should follow the orientation of its land border and thus head out in a line towards the southeast.

But Kenya says its boundary runs in a straight line east -- a delineation that would give it a big triangular slice of the sea.

Nairobi says it has exercised sovereignty over the area since 1979, when it proclaimed the limits of its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) -- a maritime territory extending up to 200 nautical miles offshore where a state has the right to exploit resources.

The contested 100,000-square-kilometre (38,000-square-mile) area is believed to contain rich gas and oil deposits.

Nairobi has already granted exploration permits to Italian energy giant ENI but Somalia is contesting the move.

Established after World War II, the ICJ rules in disputes between UN member states. Its decisions are binding and cannot be appealed.

Map showing disputed zone and maritime borders claimed by Kenya and Somalia Photo: AFP / Laurence SAUBADU

Kenya unsuccessfully argued that the court did not have competence over the case, and in March did not attend hearings, citing difficulties arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

Just over two weeks ago, Nairobi notified the UN secretary-general that it was withdrawing its 1965 declaration accepting the ICJ's compulsory jurisdiction.

"The delivery of the judgement will be the culmination of a flawed judicial process that Kenya has had reservations with, and withdrawn from," the Kenyan foreign ministry said last week.

It accused the court of "obvious and inherent bias" in addressing the dispute.

"As a sovereign nation, Kenya shall no longer be subjected to an international court or tribunal without its express consent."

Somalia and Kenya had agreed in 2009 to settle the squabble through bilateral negotiations.

Two meetings were held in 2014, but little progress was made. A third round that same year fell through when the Kenyan delegation failed to show up without informing their counterparts, later citing security concerns.

Somalia then took the matter to the ICJ in 2014, saying diplomatic attempts to resolve the row had led nowhere.

Monday's verdict may further sour diplomatic relations between the two countries after Kenya in 2019 recalled its ambassador in Mogadishu after accusing Somalia of selling off oil and gas blocks in the contested area.

Nairobi called the move an "unparalleled affront and illegal grab" at its resources.

It tartly reminded Somalia of Kenya's sacrifices in the battle against Al-Shabaab jihadists.

Kenya is a major contributor of troops to AMISOM, an African Union military operation fighting Al-Qaeda-linked fighters waging a violent insurgency across Somalia. By Jan HENNOP, International Business Times

Details: East Africa; 12 October 2021; 1009

Photograph: Alamy Stock Photo

A new cancer treatment can wipe out tumours in terminally ill head and neck cancer patients, scientists have discovered.

In a landmark trial, a cocktail of immunotherapy medications harnessed patients’ immune systems to kill their own cancer cells and prompted “a positive trend in survival”, according to researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, and the Royal Marsden NHS foundation trust.

One patient, who was expected to die four years ago, told the Guardian of the “amazing” moment nurses called him weeks after he joined the study to say his tumour had “completely disappeared”. The 77-year-old grandfather is now cancer-free and spent last week on a cruise with his wife.

Scientists found the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab medications led to a reduction in the size of tumours in terminally ill head and neck cancer patients. In some, their cancer vanished altogether, with doctors stunned to find no detectable sign of disease.

Combining the two immunotherapy drugs could prove an effective new weapon against several forms of advanced cancer, experts believe. Results from other trials of the drug combination have previously suggested similar benefits for terminally ill kidney, skin and bowel cancer patients.

As well as boosting the long-term survival chances of patients, scientists said, the immunotherapy treatment also triggered far fewer side-effects compared with the often gruelling nature of “extreme” chemotherapy, which is the standard treatment offered to many patients with advanced cancer.

The results from the phase 3 trial, involving almost 1,000 dying head and neck cancer patients, were early and not statistically significant but were still “clinically meaningful”, the ICR said, with some patients living months or years longer and suffering fewer side effects.

“These are promising results,” Prof Kristian Helin, the ICR chief executive, told the Guardian. “Immunotherapies are kinder, smarter treatments that can bring significant benefits to patients.”

About 12,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with head and neck cancer every year and many will be diagnosed at advanced stages. There is an urgent need for better, kinder treatments for these patients that can keep them alive longer than the current standard of care.

When Barry Ambrose, 77, from Bury St Edmunds, was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2017, he was told that it had already spread to his lungs – and that hospital palliative care was his only option.

But in a turn of events that saved his life, Ambrose was offered the chance to join the new study. “When I was told about the trial … I didn’t hesitate to join – what did I have to lose? It turned out to be a lifeline.

“Although I had to make biweekly trips from Suffolk to the hospital for the treatment, I had virtually no side-effects and was able to carry on as normal doing the things I love: sailing, cycling, and spending time with my family.”

Within about eight weeks of starting the treatment, scans revealed the tumour in his throat had been eradicated.

“When the research nurses called to tell me that, after two months, the tumour in my throat had completely disappeared, it was an amazing moment,” said Ambrose. “While there was still disease in my lungs at that point, the effect was staggering.”

He later underwent chemotherapy, followed by surgery. He currently has no evidence of disease.

“The treatment I’ve received at the Royal Marsden has been second to none and I’m so fortunate they’ve continued to find treatment that works for me – they’re the gift that keeps on giving,” said Ambrose. Last week he enjoyed a cruise off the coast of the UK with his wife, Sue.

The results of the trial show the immunotherapy combination enjoyed a particularly high success rate in a group of patients whose tumours had high levels of an immune marker called PD-L1.

Survival rates in those with high levels of PD-L1 who received the immunotherapy cocktail were the highest ever reported in a firstline therapy trial of relapsed or metastatic head and neck cancer.

These patients lived an average of three months longer than those having chemotherapy. The median overall survival for these patients was 17.6 months, the highest average ever reported in this group of patients.

Researchers said they hoped future findings from the CheckMate 651 trial, funded by Bristol Myers Squibb, will show further benefits of the therapy in patients with advanced head and neck cancers.

“Despite the lack of statistical significance, these results are clinically meaningful,” said Prof Kevin Harrington, professor of biological cancer therapies at the ICR and consultant clinical oncologist at the Royal Marsden, who led the CheckMate 651 trial. “We will need to do longer follow-up to see whether we can demonstrate a survival benefit across all patients in the trial.” By Andrew Gregory Health editor, The Guardian/Yahoo News

Details: East Africa; 11 October 2021; 787

The ODM boss is working with at least three governors in his bid to turn the tables on the DP.

In Summary

The ODM chief is rolling out an aggressive campaign to penetrate Ruto's backyard.
Some of the key allies Raila is banking on include Lee Kinyanjui of Nakuru.

Opposition chief Raila Odinga has put together a well-knit team of politicians to lead his charm offensive to penetrate Deputy President William Ruto’s Rift Valley backyard.

The ODM leader is keen to work with Kanu chairman Gideon Moi-Ruto's archival in control of the Rift Valley -to chip away at the DP’s important support base ahead of the 2022 polls.

The Star has established that Raila is also reaching out to his former troops in the expansive vote bloc to revive his networks that saw his ODM party sweep the region in the 2007 general election.

Then the ODM party -an offshoot of the 2005 campaigns against the referendum - dominated the political landscape of Rift Valley with Ruto then playing a key role as Raila’s pillar in the region.

Raila’s move to form his 2022 campaign team for Rift Valley is likely to escalate his hostilities with Ruto who needs every single vote from his backyard to enhance his 2022 chances.

The DP has fallen out with his boss President Uhuru, with key opposition figures working on an elaborate plan to cobble a joint machine to take him on next year.

On Sunday, Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta, a key Raila ally, said the ODM boss is reaching out to all leaders from the region supporting his 2022 bid to work as a team.

“The ODM leader is a master strategist and as you know he is not shying away from campaigning in the Rift Valley region just because there are presidential candidates. He is working with a team that will deliver victory for him,” Ole Kenta said.

He said the Raila team will scour the whole of Rift Valley for votes without shunning any regions because "every vote will count in the 2022 presidential contest.”

“The Maa community, for instance, will vote for Raila and as leaders we will play a key role in marketing the ODM agenda in the region,” he added.

Ole Kenta is among Raila’s key allies leading his 2022 presidential campaigns especially in the Maa community as the battle against Ruto intensifies.

Raila is centering his 2022 messaging on revival of the Agriculture sector, the Rift Valley's economic mainstay, and advancing funds to support the struggling sector.

The ODM boss is said to be banking on Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, a close ally of President Uhuru Kenyatta, to drive his campaigns in the Rift Valley region.

The governor has been playing a central role in organising Raila's tours of the region, especially Nakuru, as he seeks to bolster his 2022 chances.

The governor has been hosting Raila in the county including on Sunday when he joined him for a church service at AIC Naivasha before attending a youth event.

On Sunday, Kinyanjui said the tide is changing in Rift Valley since leaders started to market Raila.

He revisited his incarceration by former regimes, adding that this liberated the country from bad leadership.

“Raila has sacrificed a lot for this country and has even been jailed for us to get the current political space and it's time we supported him,” he said.

The former prime minister’s team from Rift Valley also includes Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgos, his Kajiado counterpart Joseph Ole Lenku, Narok Senator Ledama Ole Kina and ODM politician Kipkorir Menjo.

Also in Raila’s camp is Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes, who is leading the charm offensive in Turkana county, a region that was traditionally the ODM boss’ political bedrock.

Tolgos has admitted to be Raila’s point man in the region as the ODM boss builds a formidable team to shake Ruto’s grip as the battle for the 4.5 million votes intensifies.

“Now, I am fully behind Raila's candidacy because what he would have done for our people in 2007 had he clinched power is the same things he will do next year when elected since he has not changed," Tolgos said.

With eyes on the 2022 presidential contest, Raila is this week expected to storm the DP’s strategic base for his Azimio la Umoja campaigns as he steps out to turn the tables on Ruto in his backyard.

There is also a plan to cobble a working arrangement with Kanu as part of the elaborate strategy to whittle down Ruto in his backyard.

Gideon launched his presidential bid recently but he is believed to be quietly working with Raila for a plan ahead of the 2022 polls.

In what is seen as a charm offensive at the country’s bread basket, Raila has promised his administration will grant subsidies to lower production costs for farmers if elected president next year.

The former Prime Minister has planned a series of activities to market the Azimio la Umoja campaign as he also popularises his 2022 agenda for the country.

Raila will make his first stop in Turkana where he is expected to meet ODM delegates and address residents. Turkana Governor Josphat Nanok, who was kicked out as ODM vice chairman, is a key ally of Ruto.

After Turkana, Raila will head to Eldoret to meet party delegates from West Pokot, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nandi counties.

The Azimio la Umoja brigade will thereafter head to Nakuru for similar meetings and will be joined by delegates from Kericho and Bomet.

During the scheduled back-to-back engagements, Raila’s regional point men will play a key role in mobilising people to attend the meetings as he positions them as the key cog of his campaign machine.

Other Rift Valley politicians playing key roles in Raila’s campaigns include Nakuru Town West MP Samwel Arama, Kajiado Central’s MP Elijah Memusi and nominated Senator Judy Pareno.

The Star has established that a section of governors from the region are mobilising people to accord Raila a rousing welcome.

The move, those aware of the machinations say, is to pave the way for Ruto’s smooth tour of perceived ODM strongholds, more so Kisumu.

Last week, the ODM leader exuded confidence that he still commands sizeable support in the region, adding that his 2013 and 2017 backers remain intact.

“I cannot say they have left me. That is propaganda. I have garnered votes there. I got substantive votes in 2013 and 2017 much as it was not like that which I got in 2007,” Raila said.

Yesterday, Raila said his government will create a social welfare scheme that will put the youth at the heart of its programmes.

“Every unemployed youth will get Sh6,000 from the government while the youth will also get support from the government to start small businesses,” he told the public in Naivasha, accompanied by Kinyanjui.

He took a swipe at Ruto whom he accused of dishing out money "stolen" from the public funds.

“He has been donating money here and there, buying school buses and vehicles for bishops. That is stolen public money,” Raila said without elaboration.

The ODM boss is projecting Ruto as a beneficiary of corruption and stolen public funds without the necessary credentials to succeed President Uhuru at the house on the hill next year. By James Mbaka, The Star

Details: East Africa; 11 October 2021; 834

By PSCU

NEW YORK, USA, Oct 11 – President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived in New York on Sunday for a two-day working visit of the US during which he is scheduled to chair a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) high-level open debate on diversity, state-building and peace.

Having assumed her position as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on 1st of January this year for a two-year period, Kenya currently holds the monthly rotational presidency of the Council for October 2021.

According to Kenya’s Permanent Representative to the UN Amb Martin Kimani, Kenya’s overriding agenda at the UN Security Council is to offer ideas and solutions to global peace and security in areas such as the Horn of Africa and the troubled Sahel region.

“The Security Council is a body that has the mandate to solve major challenges, but for many reasons has been unable to do so. We have ideas on how to do that, we have experience in building peace in our region and we bring those ideas and perspectives to the Council.

“Kenya is suggesting new innovations on how to approach particular conflict situations,” Amb Kimani said, adding that the country is encouraging the UN Security Council to work closely with Africa.

Alongside his engagement at the UNSC, the Head of State is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guteress and witness the signing of a trade agreement between Kenya’s private sector and a consortium of American companies during his two-day visit.

In the meeting with Mr Guteress, the President and the UN boss are expected to discuss several subjects of mutual interest to Kenya and the UN among them the global response to Covid-19.

“Kenya has been very specific on the steps it expects the United Nations to take particularly in regard to the Covid-19 pandemic vaccination, peace and security and how the world should get to COP26 in a month’s time. How the world responds to climate change is key to Kenya’s future prosperity,” Amb Kimani said.

On the business agreement, Amb Kimani said President Kenyatta will witness the signing of a new initiative between the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and the Corporate Council on Africa, the largest umbrella body of US companies operating in Africa.

The business agreement seeks to enhance collaboration between Kenyan companies, especially the small and medium enterprises (SME’s) with their American counterparts in a deliberate Government effort to create more jobs and employment opportunities for Kenya’s youth.

Further, President Kenyatta is scheduled to participate in the Global Leaders’ high-level discussion organized by the International Peace Institute (IPI) as a platform for world leaders to discuss contemporary subjects.

The President will be joined in the discussion by former Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations Prince Zeid Raad Al Hussein to talk about the UN Secretary General’s Common Agenda report. PSCU

Details: East Africa; 11 October 2021; 768

Kampala city

Controversy is shrouding Kampala Capital City Authority's (KCCA) move to disburse over Shs 99 million for the payment volunteers under the Seven Hills Group for the month of August.

The funds have been sent to accounts of division community Saccos, which provide cleaning, landscaping and engineering services in Kampala. In correspondences seen by our reporter, Ivan Kiirya, the supervisor treasury at KCCA notifies the town clerks in divisions and other KCCA officials informing them about the transfer of funds for Seven Hills Initiative.

"Below are funds sent to the Sacco division accounts to take care of the casuals for Seven Hills for further management," the email sent on September 28 reads in part.

According to the disbursement list, over Shs 23.6 million has been sent to Makindye division, Shs 11.56 million to Rubaga, Shs 25.6 million to Kawempe, Shs 14.69 million to Nakawa and Shs 23.7 million to the Central Division Community Cooperative Savings and Credit Society Limited.

There is no government policy on volunteering with government agencies and KCCA has not communicated any contractual agreement it has with Seven Hills hence attracting questions among division leaders.

The Lubaga Division town clerk, Thomas Ssentongo has since written back saying that "contractual terms and obligations have to be discussed so that all of us are on the same page."

In the same breath, the Nakawa division town clerk, Denis Omodi also wrote back to Kiirya on October 5 asking for a copy of the contract agreement between KCCA and seven Hills that warrant the payment.

"The 7 Hill group MUST be registered as members of the Nakawa causal workers Sacco in order for us to pay them," he said.

He also notes that for Seven Hills to be paid through the Sacco account, they must present themselves for verification and come along with their bank account number, NSSF number, two passport photos and original National IDs.

"As Nakawa, I propose that as we await the agreement, a comprehensive list be shared showing the Seven Hills beneficiaries, their NIN and the amount due to each," wrote Omodi.

A source who preferred told URN that they are suspicious of the intention behind the disbursement of money to the Sacco accounts. The source says some members of Seven Hills have been receiving daily allowances ranging between Shs 6,000 and Shs 10,000 given to them directly by their supervisors and now wonders why KCCA wants to pay them through Sacco accounts.

“It is as if they want to trap Saccos that they hired seven Hills. These people are not members of Saccos and Saccos can’t be responsible for them. KCCA just sent money to the accounts without talking to leaders in Saccos, they have not told them how many people they are supposed to pay and how much. This is like a trap,” said the source.

Asked to explain under what arrangement the volunteers were being paid, KCCA deputy spokesperson, Robert Kalumba said the group was helping with keeping the city clean and that’s why they decided to pay them.

“They have been working. Are you saying they should not be paid?” said Kalumba, before adding that they were making arrangements to formalize their operations with the group.

Kalumba couldn’t however explain why the money was paid through accounts of Saccos, how many people were to be paid and how much. Until September 15, it is the community Saccos that have been providing cleaning, landscaping and engineering services in Kampala.

The Saccos in each of the five divisions of Kampala have a membership of over 3,000 workers recruited under a reservation scheme targeting elderly people especially women, single mothers and people living with HIV.

When their contracts expired, KCCA embarked on an evaluation exercise to assess the performance of their casual workers. Earlier last week Daniel NuweAbine, who has been acting KCCA spokesperson, said findings of the evaluation process shall inform whether KCCA extends the contracts of division Saccos and hence the reservation scheme.

Nevertheless Saccos' casual labourers have continued to work since this is not the first time there are lapses in their contracts. For instance, in 2018 and 2019, the Saccos had no written contract with KCCA but they worked and were paid.

KCCA spends at least one billion shillings in salaries on casual labourers and by the time funds were sent members of Saccos had already received their August salary and are waiting for September. The salary usually comes mid of the next month.

What is Seven Hills

Seven Hills surfaced in March 2021 at a time KCCA launched the smart city campaign, an initiative intended to drive community engagement in cleaning the city. They desilted drainages in Kampala before expanding to sweeping the streets.

It was marketed as a volunteer youth group uniting former criminal gang members who decided to engage in activities beneficial to their communities. They soon started recruiting other members from the community who are not former criminals. Its membership is currently over 500 per division.

The group has since publicly expressed interest in securing a contract to offer cleaning services in Kampala. Some of the group’s supervisors that URN previously interacted with accused the Saccos of failing at their job and that they (Seven Hill) were committed to scooping the contract.

Since their arrival, there have been reports of clashes between the Seven Hills and Sacco members on the streets. The Saccos (who had a running contract) accuse Seven Hills of deploying in areas where they also have people to work to force them off the streets while boosting their powers.

In August 2021, as contracts of Saccos neared expiry, the tension escalated with Seven Hills members being accused of provoking and sometimes beating members of Community Saccos who had been holding the contract. Videos of them pushing SACCOs members into drainage channels emerged but they denied any wrongdoing. By URN, The Observer