Kathiani MP Robert Mbui has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of manipulating the selection of officials for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Machakos on Saturday, May 10, 2025, Mbui, who serves as the Deputy Minority Leader in the National Assembly, claimed that the selection process for the new IEBC commissioners lacked transparency and did not involve consultation with opposition parties. 

He alleged that several of the individuals nominated to the electoral body are close allies or relatives of senior figures in the ruling UDA party.

“Some of the names forwarded to Parliament include friends and cronies of the UDA brigade. One of the nominees is reportedly related to a senior Cabinet Secretary, and another is said to be closely linked to a top official at State House,” Mbui stated.

NADCO agreement

The Kathiani legislator expressed concern that such appointments could compromise the credibility of future elections and reignite tensions similar to those witnessed after the 2022 polls.

He cited the findings of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO), co-chaired by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, which was formed to address grievances from the 2022 post-election period.

According to Mbui, the NADCO report submitted to Ruto called for consensus and independence in reconstituting the electoral commission.

“The report recommended that to prevent future post-election conflict, those seeking leadership should sit together and agree on a truly independent IEBC,” he explained.

Mbui argued that the recent appointments ignored these recommendations, undermining efforts to ensure electoral integrity.

“Unfortunately, the IEBC has already been reconstituted and names forwarded to Parliament, without any consultation. The Wiper Party Leader was not consulted, nor were any leaders from the People’s Loyal Opposition side. That’s the issue we are raising. We’ll do what we can, even go to court,” he remarked.

2027 polls

The Wiper Party Organising Secretary warned that Kenyans were growing increasingly disillusioned with the current administration.

He predicted that public dissatisfaction would translate into a vote against Ruto in 2027, regardless of who manages the elections.

“It does not matter even if the President appoints himself IEBC chair. Kenyans are tired, and they will vote for change. In 2027, we have said one thing: RMG—Ruto Must Go,” he asserted.

The MP further reiterated his support for Kalonzo Musyoka as the most suitable leader to unite the country and provide honest, experienced leadership in the next electoral cycle.

“In 2027, we need a leader who will unite us. That leader must be someone with experience, must be honest, must be respectable, and must not be corrupt. When you start looking for a leader, I have one for you – Dr. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka,” he stated. By Cy Muganda, People  Daily 

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has removed Napoleon Adok Gai as director general of the National Communication Authority (NCA), according to a decree broadcast on state television SSBC on Friday.

Adok, who had held the position since August 2020, was replaced by Gieth Kon Mathiang, a former board member of the regulatory body.

In a Facebook post, Adok said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve and expressed confidence in his successor’s ability to lead the NCA.

“It has been an honour to serve in this role for the past four years,” Adok said. “I warmly welcome and congratulate my colleague, Mr. Gieth Kon Mathiang… I am confident in his ability to steer the sector forward.”

The NCA, established under a 2012 law, regulates South Sudan’s telecommunications and ICT sector, including equipment imports and market competition.

In a separate decree, Kiir also replaced two undersecretaries at the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services—Wani Ladu Kenyi and Yath Awan Yath—with Thomas Gatkuoth Yak and Martin Mabior Mawien, respectively.

No reasons were given for the reshuffle.

The president frequently exercises his authority to appoint and dismiss government officials, sometimes within months of their appointment. Radio Tamazuj

THE Government of Zimbabwe, in collaboration with development partners, is intensifying efforts to ensure every child enjoys the right to basic education, especially the girl child, who remains disproportionately affected by school dropouts.

The adage “educate the girl child educate the whole family” remains a torchbearer for developmental partners working in collaboration with government to empower the girl child.

The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) initiative continues to champion access to basic education by the girl child, particularly those from vulnerable communities.

Riding on the government’s inclusive development mantra, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education is targeting hotspots for school dropouts with the latest engagement being held in Insiza District.

The community concurs the partnership has seen an empowered society.

“Many girls used to drop out of school due to lack of pads, uniforms, or because they are pregnant. Now they can continue being in school without these basic needs,” a staff member said.

“This program is a game changer, it is giving us the chance to build a better future for ourselves,” a student said.

“It is unacceptable for girls to be abused and forced to drop out of school, jeopardising their future. However, thanks to CAMFED’s intervention, these girls can now access necessities and continue their education, even during pregnancy or after childbirth,” a community member said.

The government says it will continue to push for universal access to education.

Speaking during a visit to Mpalawani Secondary School, Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Honourable Torerai Moyo, said government interventions are tackling underlying causes of school dropouts such as early marriages and poverty.

“In this area, early marriage remains one of the biggest drivers of school dropouts. Cultural practices and poverty have pushed some parents to marry off their daughters to older men. We’ve identified the affected girls, offered counselling, and engaged their parents,” he explained.

“The Constitution of Zimbabwe under Section 75 guarantees the right to education for every child, regardless of background. Some girls drop out after giving birth due to misinformation, many are unaware that they can return to school. We are saying, no girl should be left behind.”

The CAMFED initiative has empowered the girl child with education, while the government Basic Assistance Education Assistance Model has benefited learners from disadvantaged families. Story by Zanele Masuku, ZBC

Ahead of the October elections, Tanzania’s president is retreating from democracy – along with the rest of the East African region. 

Democracy is in bad shape in East Africa and seems to be getting worse. Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s political reforms after she succeeded the authoritarian John Magufuli in 2021 raised a glimmer of hope – but she now seems to have regressed.

Reacting to the general retreat from democracy, Kenyan politician Martha Karua, a former Member of Parliament and cabinet minister, and Raila Odinga’s running mate in the 2022 presidential elections, is leading a campaign against opposition party suppression in the region.

Her Pan-African Progressive Leaders Solidarity Network is demanding the ‘immediate withdrawal of charges against Mr. Lissu and all political prisoners.’ This refers to Tundu Lissu, the leader of Tanzania’s Chama cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) party, who was arrested and detained in April on treason charges. CHADEMA is pushing for electoral reforms ahead of the October general elections under the slogan ‘No Reforms, No Election’.

Karua’s group describes Lissu’s case as ‘emblematic of growing threats to democracy across Africa.’ She has also joined the legal team defending Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye and his ally Hajji Obeid Lutale, who were jailed without bail on charges of treason and illegal possession of weapons. Meanwhile, veteran Burundi opposition leader Agathon Rwasa has been sidelined from participating in next month’s elections.

None of the eight EAC member states can be considered a full democracy, according to Freedom House

Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, who ran against President Yoweri Museveni in the last presidential elections, posted this week about visiting his bodyguard, Eddie Mutwe, and other jailed party members in prison. Mutwe was abducted last month by armed men. Wine said they had been tortured and that military Chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba – Museveni’s son – had personally participated in the assault. 

Kainerugaba, who seems beyond the control of his father or anyone else, openly boasted on social media that he was holding Mutwe in his basement. Kainerugaba regularly posts threats to Wine and his officials. This blatant aggression is particularly disturbing as it is widely believed Museveni is grooming him as a successor.

And Kenya is somewhat complicit, having allowed Ugandan agents to abduct Besigye in Nairobi last December. Opposition activists report a spate of such abductions across the region.

None of the eight East African Community member states is a full democracy, according to Freedom House. Its 2025 report ranked Kenya as Partly Free and the rest as Not Free. Tanzania was demoted from Partly Free last year. The average score for EAC members was 22.875 out of 100 – way below the Partly Free threshold of 36. And the overall score of all eight declined from 187 in 2024 to 183 in 2025.

While Kainerugaba seems more straightforward, Samia is rather enigmatic. As Nicodemus Minde, Institute for Security Studies Researcher in Nairobi, recently wrote, after succeeding Magufuli following his death in 2021, Samia seemed set to reverse his legacy. She ‘proudly championed the “Four R’s” of reconciliation, resilience, reform and rebuilding.’

She ended Magufuli’s ban on political rallies, repealed his repressive media laws, and released then CHADEMA leader Freeman Mbowe from prison. Mbowe had spent eight months in jail on terrorism charges.

CCM won Tanzania’s 2024 local elections by a landslide after most opposition candidates had been banned

But last year the wheels started coming off her reform initiative. CHADEMA official Ally Kibao was abducted and murdered in September, and another, Aisha Machano, was brutally attacked in October. In August, hundreds of CHADEMA officials and supporters, including Mbowe and Lissu, were detained ahead of a planned rally.

It appeared the crackdown was linked to the November 2024 local elections. CHADEMA raised concerns that they would not be free and fair, mainly because the management of the polls remained firmly in the hands of government officials and not an independent electoral commission.

Proposals to have election results challenged in court have been ignored by the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). So the election system remained ‘completely captured by the ruling party’ as Minde told ISS Today. CCM won the local polls by a landslide after most opposition candidates had been banned.

And now her government has cracked down again ahead of the October national elections by charging Lissu with the exaggerated offence of treason because CHADEMA threatened to boycott these elections too, failing electoral reforms.

Opposition leader Lissu is likely being legally harassed to stop him participating in the October elections

This week, the courts ordered the state to bring Lissu to court for his next appearance on 19 May. He has been on a hunger strike in protest against being forced to appear in court only virtually. He is insisting on habeas corpus to protect himself against possible harm in jail.

It seems likely that the CCM is subjecting Lissu to legal harassment so that he and his party will be effectively ruled out of the October elections, leaving the field open to the CCM.

What is unclear about Samia, though, is why she has reversed her reform course. Until quite recently, the prevailing narrative was that she was failing to face down opposition to her reforms from Magufuli hardliners, who remained strong in the CCM and feared a CHADEMA win in the October elections.

But Minde told ISS Today that having removed several Magufuli loyalists early on, ‘she’s now turned to most Magufuli loyalists to beef up her government ahead of the elections.’ She has also ‘consolidated her power by eliminating any potential competition from within CCM and now with the treason case Lissu is facing.’

If this is true, it would suggest that Samia has at last become her own woman. Though not in the way many had hoped she would. By Peter Fabricius, ISS