• The authors had handed it over at the end of May and gave the UK authorities 60 days to respond.
• There has not yet been a response and the UN investigators - known as special rapporteurs - said they were disappointed that there was no apology for what had happened and no move for compensation.
Former Defence Minister Elias Kwandikwa working at his parliamentary office. Photo Muungwana Blog
Tanzania’s Defense and National Service Minister Elias Kwandikwa died on Monday night in Dar es Salaam, the office of the president said on Tuesday.
“We have lost an important person whose contribution in the public service will not be forgotten. He was a strong leader who was implementing his duties in accordance with the law and regulations,” the presidency said in a statement, with no mention of the cause of death.
Kwandikwa, 55, has become the first high-ranking official in Tanzania to die since President Samia Suluhu Hassan assumed power in March following the death of her predecessor John Magufuli.
The death of Kwandikwa is a setback to the government as the country is working to defend its territorial integrity since the outbreak of violent insurgency in Mozambique.
The president sent a message of condolences to Gen. Venance Mabeyo, chief of Tanzania’s Defense Forces, over the death of Kwandikwa.
Stargomena Tax, executive secretary of the Southern African Development Community, said the late minister will be remembered for his immense contribution in dealing with violent extremism in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique.
“We have received with great sadness the news of his passing, may the almighty God rest his soul in eternal peace” she tweeted.
Kwandikwa, who was a member of parliament for the Ushetu constituency in the impoverished Shinyanga region, was born on July 1, 1966. He had also worked as deputy minister of works, transport and communications since October 2017. - Kizito Makoye, Anadolu Agency
Photo Courtesy Daily Nation
Eleven people including seven children died when a boat struck a rock and sank on Lake Tanganyika off the coast of DR Congo at the weekend, local authorities said Monday.
Rescue workers found the bodies of four women, four girls and three boys, shore official Kashindi Bovari said.
Another 62 people survived the accident overnight Saturday, he said. The total number of people aboard the stricken vessel was unknown, but there were no reports of missing passengers.
The motorised canoe carrying passengers and goods had left Uvira at the lake's northernmost end en route to the village of Karamba on the Ubwari peninsula, striking the rock near Mboko.
Boat sinkings are frequent in the DR Congo, often with heavy loss of life. The vast country has few passable roads, and river and lake routes are common alternatives. Source: daily Nation
Photo Courtesy PD
A declaration by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka that the vote-rich Mt Kenya region owes him a political debt has attracted mixed reactions.
Kalonzo, who spoke in Mombasa over the weekend, called on the Mt Kenya vote bloc to pay-back for his support of retired President Kibaki during his final term.
Mt Kenya region has been of interest to presidential candidates hoping to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta once his term ends next year.
Speaking to People Daily, Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo said it would only be fair if Mt Kenya pays back for the good gesture Kalonzo extended to them in the past.
“We have helped Raila for 10 years, we helped Moi for 20 years and Kibaki 10 years. These are 40 years of sacrifice and now it’s their time to pay-back.”
Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua who is campaigning for presidency on a development platform dismissed Kalonzo’s take saying that the region owes no one a political debt.
Mutua, who served as a government spokesman in Kibaki administration, says he stands a better chance of winning the hearts of Mt Kenya region people than any other presidential candidate wishing to succeed Uhuru.
“Mt Kenya has no political debt. I am the only candidate apart from Ruto, who can garner support in Mt Kenya. The people of that region are wary of people who cannot be relied on,” said Mutua.
And for Maanzo, Kalonzo unlike his competitors who are pegging their campaign wishes to economy, he will be telling Kenyans to elect him for peace and unity of a Nation.
Kalonzo hinted that he will seek to undo deputy president William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga’s influence when he tours the regions in the coming months maintaining he is the best bet for the 2022 presidency.
According to Chama Cha Uzalendo secretary general Phillippe Sadja, the issue of political debt is an unrealistic fallacy. “ The political debt narrative is an issue that I call “a bad strategy,” for any presidential candidate to use to convince voters,” said Sadja. By Mutuku Mwangangi, People Daily
Deputy President William Ruto's allies, who were in his company at Wilson Airport on Monday night, August 2, held a press briefing narrating events before he was blocked from travelling.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro alleged that the DP was at the airport for five and a half hours waiting for clearance.
Upon asking which clearance was needed, Ruto and his entourage were informed that he ought to produce his birth certificate and a letter from the chief to show that he was authorised to travel.
"I have never seen the DP humiliated to such a level. We could hear them on the phone saying that he should indicate who he is. One time they wanted a birth certificate, then his ID, even a letter from the chief. This is not the kind of Kenya we should be proud of," Nyoro added.
The MP, who spoke from Uganda, claimed that senior government officials including the Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua and Interior CS Fred Matiang'i were unaware of the clearance Kenya's second in command needed.
"The immigration officers told us that they had received orders from above not to clear the DP. No one was able to explain who had issued the orders.
"We contacted Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and head of public service Joseph Kinyua who stated that he was not the one who had issued the orders," Nyoro stated.
Nyoro was accompanied by Oscar Sudi (Kapseret MP) and Benjamin Tayari (Kinango MP), who were cleared to board the commercial flight to Entebbe International Airport.
The MPs noted that they were also asked to get clearance from parliament.
"We contacted the leadership of the house who clarified that we did not need any clearance from anyone especially because it was a private visit."
A number of DP's allies have also taken to social media to protest the blocking of his flight.
"In his 9 years in office the DP has never been required to have Clearance to travel, why now? You can keep on humiliating him but remember power is transient and a year from now you will be on your way out and the People of Kenya will decide their destiny," Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika stated.
"The Deputy President has never ever required any clearance to travel out of the country. There is no law or regulation requiring him to seek clearance before travel for any public or private engagement. What happened today is a sheer act of impunity and gross violation of the Constitution," Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen weighed in.
Informer East Africa is a UK based diaspora Newspaper. It is a unique platform connecting East Africans at home and abroad through news dissemination. It is a forum to learn together, grow together and get entertained at the same time.
To advertise events or products, get in touch by info [at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447957636854.
If you have an issue or a story, get in touch with the editor through editor[at] informereastafrica [dot] com or call +447886544135.
We also accept donations from our supporters. Please click on "donate". Your donations will go along way in supporting the newspaper.
The High Court has referred a case challenging the proposed leasing of Jomo Kenyatta International A...
The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced it bombed 32 targets belonging to the Kurdistan Workers' P...
Gatluak emphasized the mutual commitment from leaders in both South Sudan and Sudan to ensure a con...
Youth during Gen Z protests in Nairobi. [File, Standard] In a bid to address growing unrest among t...
