East Africa

Details: East Africa; 20 June 2022; 861

KIGALI, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and six injured when armed insurgents attacked a passenger bus Saturday afternoon in southwestern Rwanda, Rwandan police said.

The attack by suspected members of the National Liberation Front (FLN) rebel group occurred at 2 p.m. local time in Nyamagabe district, in Nyungwe forest, according to a statement by the Rwanda National Police.

"Armed thugs suspected to be members of the FLN operating across the border, shot at a public passenger bus on the Nyamagabe-Rusizi road," the statement said.

The dead included the bus driver and a passenger, police said, adding that a man hunt has been launched to track the assailants.

FLN is a military wing of the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change led by Paul Rusesabagina, a Hollywood film Hotel Rwanda hero who was last year sentenced to 25 years in prison for terrorism committed by the FLN in 2018, which claimed the lives of nine civilians in Rwanda's southwest.

The group reportedly operates in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In April, a Rwandan court in the capital Kigali upheld a 25-year jail sentence for Rusesabagina following an appeal by prosecution. - Xinhua

Details: East Africa; 18 June 2022; 825

Footage emerged in northern Tanzania of what appears to be members from the Maasai community being removed from the land surrounding their village.

The images were shot last week, a few days before the Tanzanian authorities announced that the first group of Maasai families had left the Ngorongoro Conservation Area as part of a programme of voluntary relocation in order to alleviate pressure on the local environment.

Human rights activists denounced the programme as forceful evictions.

"We are here and we are tired. We ran away, the three of us and we were ambushed by the military - I can say it was the military. They got out of their vehicles and started beating us. I personally tried to plead with them: 'My fellow Tanzanians, do not kill us. Why are you killing us? This land belongs to our grandparents", denounced a Maasai elder.

The confrontations erupted after Maasai community members noticed Tanzanian authorities marking off land reportedly for a game reserve.

Tanzanian authorities, including the tourism minister and prime minister, have said the goal for the disputed area is conservation and alleged that the growing number of Maasai and cattle on the land could put it at risk.

According to experts, the planned game reserve would take up 1,500 square kilometres of 4,000 square kilometres designated as village land, meaning up to 70,000 Maasai could be displaced.

The entire Ngorongoro Conservation Area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. - Africanews

Details: East Africa; 17 June 2022; 871

Exiled lawyer Miguna Miguna in His Office in Canada in August 2021. FACEBOOK MIGUNA MIGUNA /Photo Courtesy

Outspoken lawyer Miguna Miguna has sued Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i in Canada and is seeking Ksh1.7 billion in compensation for damages caused during his deportation to Canada.

In court documents shared by Miguna on Thursday, June 16, the outspoken lawyer also included Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho and two other international companies in his landmark suit.

Miguna told the court that his deportation in 2018 had damaged his reputation and business.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i addresses a meeting with KEPSA and the NDICCC on Monday, May 23, 2022. INTERIOR MINISTRY

The outspoken lawyer explained that the cost would cater for damages of unlawful detention, assault, and defamation among others.

"The Plaintiff claims from the Defendants, jointly and severally general damages for malicious prosecution, unlawful detention, torture, assault and battery in the sum of Ksh1.1 billion and general damages for libel, defamation and slander in the sum of Ksh587,050,000," read the court documents in part.

Miguna told the Ontario Court of Justice that he was a reputable lawyer and his character was defamed following his deportation to Canada.

"The plaintiff, Miguna Miguna (hereinafter referred to as “Mr. Miguna”) was at all material times an Ontario lawyer in good standing for more than 27 years, as well as a lawyer, writer, commentator, and human rights activist in Kenya, and a resident of the Province of Ontario."

Additionally, he told the court that his right to privacy was contravened after the police destroyed his home during his arrest.

Miguna is claiming damages amounting to Ksh234,820,000 for the breach of his privacy.

He stated that the police were acting under the direct orders of Matiang'i and Kibicho.

"On February 2, 2018, the plaintiff was abducted at gun-point from his house in Nairobi, in the Republic of Kenya, by Kenya government security agents under the direct command of the defendants Matiang’i and Kibicho. He was detained incommunicado without charge in contravention of the Constitution of Kenya, and tortured for a period of six days.

"On the sixth day, heavily-armed Kenya security agents under the direct command of the defendants Matiang’i and Kibicho forcefully drove the plaintiff to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (hereinafter referred to as the “JKIA”) in Nairobi and forced him into a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam," Miguna's suit papers read in part.

Canada-based Kenyan lawyer Miguna Miguna visits the IEBC centre in Toronto, Canada, on February 3, 2022

TWITTER MIGUNA MIGUNA By Washington Mito , Kenyans.co.ke

Details: East Africa; 17 June 2022; 1017

Tanzania club Young Africans Sports Club have signed Zambian striker Lazarous Kambole on a free transfer.

Kambole joins the 2021/2022 Tanzanian League Champions on a two year deal after being released by Kaizer Chiefs earlier this month.

Kambole had a difficult spell in South Africa having featured 46 times with only 2 goals to his name.

However, Kambole comes with a huge reputation having being prolific in front of goal for Zesco United scoring 7 goals in the CAF Champions League where he holds the competition’s fastest hattrick. Soka25East

Details: East Africa; 17 June 2022; 831

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja during a press briefing at Hermosa Gardens in Karen on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. KENYANS.CO.KE

Nairobi Senator, Johnson Sakaja, engaged in a bitter spat with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) boss, George Kinoti, over his questionable degree.

In a statement on Friday, June 17, Sakaja accused Kinoti of using his office to intimidate and attempt to impose and influence the Nairobi gubernatorial race.

Sakaja dared the DCI boss to arrest him after the latter indicated that the Nairobi Senator was under investigation over an alleged forgery of a degree certificate from Team University in Uganda.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti addressing journalists at DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road on Thursday, March 5, 2020 KENYANS.CO.KE

Sakaja added that Kinoti was welcome to go and nab him at his office.

“Threats of arrest and persecution by the state will not intimidate us or change the will of the people of Nairobi. Our resolve remains firm,” Sakaja stated.

“Bwana DCI Kinoti, I am at my Riverside office, welcome or let me know if you would like me to come over. Your office will not install a project on the people of Nairobi. My qualifications are legit and the relevant institutions have refused to play along with your games. Let the people decide."

His response came after the DCI implied that the senator and officials from Team University, where he claims to have earned a degree, are suspects in an international organised crime syndicate.

“We will not surrender our capital city to frauds. We will involve all international agencies in investigating and prosecuting anyone involved in academic fraud,” DCI Kinoti told Nation Africa.

Following the degree drama, Sakaja pointed an accusing finger at President Uhuru Kenyatta claiming that the Head of State was using his influence to frustrate his gubernatorial ambitions.

“The purported revocation of my credentials by the CUE Chairman is null and void, and politically instigated. The Chairman, Professor Chacha Nyaigotti Chacha, has been coerced and intimidated by President Uhuru Kenyatta to illegally revoke recognition of accreditation that has been properly issued,” the Nairobi Senator stated.

Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja listens keenly at a past event. THE STANDARD

Sakaja told his supporters that the president influenced the revocation of the recognition of his certificate by the Commission for University Education (CUE).

Although CUE approved Sakaja's papers from Team University, the Commission put a disclaimer indicating that they should not be held accountable for the authenticity of the certificate or the identity of its holder.

The letter also indicated that the Commission retained the right to revoke recognition of the award if it established that it was ineligible for recognition. By Mumbi Mutuko, Kenyans.co.ke