East Africa

Details: East Africa; 10 March 2021; 1092

Trucks parked at the Busia border on March 8 following a maize ban by the Kenyan government. Government has called a crisis meeting to settle the deadlock between Uganda and Kenya. PHOTO | DAVID AWORI

Summary

Issue. This is not the first time Kenya has banned products from Uganda. Last year, Kenya stopped the importation of Lato Milk, following complaints of influx of Ugandan milk. Kenya also placed a ban on all chicken, meat and egg imports under the pretext that it needed to support its “producers to recover from disruptions in their livestock enterprises occasioned by Covid-19.”
In July 2020, more than 100 Ugandan trucks carrying about 6,000 tonnes of sugarcane were stuck at the Busia border following a ban on the importation of raw sugarcane and brown sugar by Kenya.

Government has called a crisis meeting to settle the deadlock between Uganda and Kenya that has seen the former’s maize banned from the latter.

In an interview with the Daily Monitor on Tuesday, Mr Julius Maganda, the State minister for the East African Community (EAC) Affairs, said Uganda’s ministers of Trade, Agriculture, East African Community Affairs and Finance are scheduled to hold a meeting today to come up with a common stand regarding the ban, ahead of another meeting with their Kenyan counterparts slated for March 11.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Amelia Kyambadde, also confirmed today’s meeting but declined to divulge more details because “l am still consulting”.

According to the Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA) in Kenya, Ugandan maize contains mycotoxins, particularly aflatoxins and fumonisins, which can cause cancer.

The ban comes at a time when the country is still grappling with the economic impact of the Covid-19 restrictions.

There is now fear among farmers and maize dealers that the ban would further push the grain prices even lower than they already are.

Ordinarily, a farmer sells a kilogramme of grain at an average of Shs400 across the country.

The ban on maize would also see Uganda lose an average of $121m (Shs447b) in annual revenue, according to data obtained from Bank of Uganda.

At the Busia Border, traders are stranded with more than 100 trucks loaded with maize grain.

Mr Paul Mwongo, a Kenyan transporter, said: “I loaded more than 20 tonnes of maize from Kampala destined for Mombasa but when I reached Malaba border, I was stopped by the Kenyan authorities. The owner of the maize advised me to change the route to Busia but still I have been denied entry,” Mr Mwongo said.

Mr Frank Kasumba, the manager of Busia market, told the Daily Monitor yesterday, that the ban was already taking a huge toll on traders, transporters and farmers both in Uganda and Kenya.

He said 150 trucks each loaded with more than nine tonnes of maize cross the border to Kenya on a daily basis while between 300,000 to 500,000 bags of maize are sold to Kenya monthly.

Compiled by Arthur Arnold Wadero, Elizabeth Kamurungi & David Awori Dailly Monitor

Details: East Africa; 10 March 2021; 1071

Social media is awash with reports that Tanzania President John Pombe Magufuli is admitted to a Kenyan Hospital.

Magufuli who is said to be in a critical condition has not been seen in public for weeks. This has led to many unconfirmed rumours about the President’s state of health.

Tundu Lissu, an opposition figure in Tanzania, questioned why citizens have not been informed about the President’s State of health.

And now, several sources on social media have reported that there is heavy security at the VVIP wing of a prestigious hospital in Nairobi. The security point at the presence of a very big patient.

There are also rumors that in fact, the President who won his second term in October last year, could be battling the dreaded COVID-19. Magufuli has made international headlines for downplaying the virus, arguing that God has cured his people. He refused to put in measures to contain the virus and even declared Tanzania COVID-19 free in April last year. He has also discouraged his people from taking vaccines.

He has been severally quoted by the media, making fun of Kenya’s COVID-19 containment measures.

However, there is a concern about the number of high-profile deaths witnessed in Tanzania in the past several weeks. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health has also advised citizens to use traditional methods to contain a certain type of cold. KDRTV

Details: East Africa; 09 March 2021; 1429

Jerusha Malini a nurse at KNH is being vaccinated against Covid-19 on March 5, 2021. Image: Fredrick Omondi

In Summary

• Anyolo said it must be understood that those doctors cannot and should not purport to speak in the name of the Catholic Church.

• The Catholic Doctors Association took issue with the Astrazeneca vaccine due to its use of genetically modified organisms and use of lab-grown cells that descend from cells taken in the 1980s from the tissue of aborted foetuses.

Catholic Bishops have now distanced themselves from claims that the Covid-19 vaccine is unnecessary.

In a statement to newsrooms, the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops led by Rev Philip Anyolo said the recent statement by Kenya Catholic Doctors Association was made by the doctors in their own capacity.

Anyolo said the remarks dos not, therefore, reflect the stand of the church. "It must be understood that those doctors cannot and should not purport to speak in the name of the Catholic Church," Anyolo said.

His sentiments come after the Catholic Church was locked in a standoff with the Ministry of Health over the roll-out of a Covid-19 vaccine.

Doctors who profess the Catholic faith objected the vaccination process saying it is unnecessary.

The doctor's lobby advised church members not to accept the Covid-19 vaccine but instead practise steam therapy if they are sick.

They also advised those sick with Covid-19 to take three medicines that studies show are useless against the disease.

However, health experts have cautioned that Kenyans should get the vaccine they are offered.

The Catholic Doctors Association took issue with the Astrazeneca vaccine due to its use of genetically modified organisms and use of lab-grown cells that descend from cells taken in the 1980s from the tissue of aborted foetuses.

But Anyolo in the statement said the Catholic Church has since before independence collaborated with the government to roll out high-impact lifesaving vaccines.

"The church notes that it is licit and ethically acceptable to receive all covid-19 vaccines that the health ministry recognises as clinically genuine, safe and effective," he said.

Anyolo said the ministry should however take all the necessary steps required to affirm to the public that the vaccines are safe and effective in order to encourage people to be vaccinated.

"In the absence of other means to stop the covid-19 pandemic, the common good calls for vaccination, primarily to protect the weakest and most exposed," he said.

Anyolo said in this regard, receiving the available covid-19 vaccines ought to be understood as an act of charity towards other community members.

"We note that vaccination is not as a rule, an obligation and therefore it can only be done on voluntary basis and at the discretion of an individual after giving informed consent," he said.

He added, "We, therefore, appeal to the consciences of Kenyans to accept the covid-19 vaccines in the light of the assurance given by the Ministry of Health".

The Bishop said for those who for reasons of conscience or otherwise decline the vaccination must avoid becoming vehicles for the transmission of the disease.

He said they should strictly adhere to all containment protocols put in place. The star

Details: East Africa; 10 March 2021; 1060

Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

A US lawyer for some of the women who say they were victims of Jeffrey Epstein has suggested that Buckingham Palace’s plans to examine bullying allegations against the Duchess of Sussex are a “calculated decision” to take the focus off Prince Andrew.

“Allegations about him are far worse than the allegations about Meghan Markle. Prince Andrew was a working royal when he became a friend of Jeffrey Epstein, who was a sexual predator,” said Gloria Allred.

“Prince Andrew is accused of much more than bullying or harassment in the workplace,” said the lawyer, who does not represent Virginia Giuffre, who has made the allegations against the prince, but is acting for 20 women who say they were victims of the disgraced US financier.

Allred and others have been campaigning for the prince, who denies the allegations against him, to offer himself for interview in person by US criminal investigators and prosecutors looking into Epstein’s crimes and those associated with him.

The lawyer last month arranged for a US-style school bus to drive through different parts of London, including past Buckingham Palace, with a message on the side asking the prince to speak with the FBI.

In a statement issued on Monday, Allred said: “Why does Buckingham Palace not conduct an investigation and make a public statement condemning Prince Andrew for failing to provide what is requested to those who are seeking the whole truth and justice for the victims of crimes against children?

“Why has Prince Andrew not been stripped of the royal titles that he enjoys, as has been the case for Meghan and Harry? He has certainly not brought dignity and respect to his work as a royal.”

Allred added: “The investigation into Meghan Markle is a distraction, and it appears hypocritical under the circumstances. I have to wonder if it reflects a calculated decision to take the focus off of Prince Andrew.

“It is long overdue for the palace to change its priorities and announce that it is conducting its own investigation of Prince Andrew. In addition, it should immediately issue a statement condemning Prince Andrew for failing to provide full in-person cooperation in the ongoing criminal investigation by the United States justice department.”

In December, Andrew’s spokesperson declined to comment on a report that the prince stayed in the New York mansion of the sex offender Epstein in April 2001, despite Andrew denying doing so in his infamous Newsnight interview.

The refusal to repeat the denial came after the Daily Mail uncovered a fax that said the prince had stayed at a “private address in New York” on 11 April and its sources confirmed this was Epstein’s £60m home in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

Giuffre, who was 17 at the time and called Virginia Roberts, alleges Epstein flew her to New York to have sex with Andrew – something Andrew continues to vehemently deny.

Giuffre says she was trafficked by Epstein to have sex with the prince three times in 2001. The prince has always denied any wrongdoing and says he cannot recall meeting her or having his picture taken with her.

He said in November: “I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein … Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required.”

Since then he has not spoken to US authorities investigating Epstein’s alleged crimes. By Ben Quinn, Guardian/Yahoo News

Details: East Africa; 09 March 2021; 1123

Piers Morgan stormed out of the GMB studio. (ITV)

Watch: Piers Morgan walks off Good Morning Britain following heated discussion with Alex Beresford over Harry and Meghan interview

Scroll back up to restore default view.

Piers Morgan stormed out of the Good Morning Britain studio during a row with fellow presenter Alex Beresford over Meghan Markle.

The pair were discussing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired on ITV on Monday night, when former weather presenter Beresford accused Morgan of having a vendetta against Meghan because she had ended their friendship after becoming engaged to Prince Harry.

Beresford said: "I understand that you've got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or had one, and she cut you off. She's entitled to cut you off. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don't think she has. But yet you continue to trash her."

Morgan got up from his seat at the GMB desk and began to walk out saying: "Okay, I'm done with this. Sorry. See you later. Can't do this." He muttered something to Beresford as he passed him.

Beresford then told Susanna Reid and viewers: "This is absolutely diabolical behaviour. Piers spouts off on a regular basis.

"He has the ability to come here and talk from a position where he doesn't fully understand."

The show then went to a break, with Reid saying: "I think we should just pause there."

Shortly before he stormed out Morgan had interrupted Beresford, asking, "Do you mind waiting?"

Beresford had rolled his eyes as he replied: "Actually no I don't, carry on."

Alex Beresford is single after splitting from his wife. (Getty Images) — Alex Beresford accused Piers Morgan of trashing Meghan Markle. (Getty Images)

Morgan returned to the studio to continue the discussion about racism with Beresford, Reid and Dr Hilary Jones.

At the end of the segment Morgan made a joke about healing family rifts in relation to himself and Beresford.

Morgan has now tweeted in defence of his actions: "I just prefer not to sit there listening to colleagues call me diabolical."

Morgan has previously spoken about how he was friends with Meghan Markle when she first came to the UK as an actor and star of Suits. But when she began dating Prince Harry she cut the former tabloid editor out of her social contacts.

Beresford grew up in Bristol and began his career on ITV West. He has appeared as a weather presenter on GMB since the show launched and began appearing as a guest presenter in August last year.

Piers Morgan (ITV) — Susanna Reid had to keep the peace after Piers Morgan stormed out. (ITV)

Morgan has been continually outspoken in his condemnation of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's decision to leave the royal family.

He has been dismissive of Meghan's claims she received racist treatment by the British media and also mocked her claims in her interview with Oprah that she had suicidal thoughts while pregnant with Archie.

Mental health charity Mind released a statement on Monday night condemning Morgan's comments.

Mind said: "We were disappointed and concerned to see Piers Morgan's comments on not believing Meghan's experiences about suicidal thoughts today. It's vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy. We are in conversations with ITV about this at the moment."

When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Yahoo News

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East Africa

Govt calls for meeting over Kenya maize ban

Summary

Tanzania’s Magufuli Admitted To Kenyan Hospital, In Critical Condition

Catholic bishops clarify stand on Covid-19 vaccination

Lawyer accuses palace of using Meghan to take focus off Prince Andrew

Piers Morgan storms out of 'Good Morning Britain' studio in row with Alex Beresford over Meghan Markle

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