As a result, motorists plying the area were asked to be extra careful considering the heavy downpour was still ongoing raising fears of a second wave of landslides.
Additionally, there are fears that the widening cracks on the road could make the stretch totally impassable not only to motorists but also to pedestrians.
The landslide is believed to have occurred early Monday morning after heavy rain pounded the region for the better part of Sunday night.
Fortunately, no motor vehicle accident was reported in the region as the landslide happened in the wee hours of the morning when traffic is relatively low.
The area affected most was the section of the road heading to Kabarnet town through Tenges according to the area Member of County Assembly (MCA).
The section is currently impassable as not only has the landslide caused major cracks on the road, but it has also deposited rock and mud on the highway.
Areas adversely affected by the landslide and road closure include Sacho, Tenges, Sirwo, Kapropita, Talai and Sumeiyon regions in Baringo County.
Local leadership has warned of the possibility of mudslides, houses and floors developing cracks as well as sunken roadbeds.
Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists using the highway. BY Kioko Nyamasyo, Kenyans.co.ke
The Bishop called Israel an apartheid state, saying she stands with those who compare the Israeli treatment of Palestinians to Black people in South Africa.
The Bishop of Gloucester Rachel Treweek speaks at a tribute of the victims of the Orlando bombings held opposite the house of commons on June 13, 2016 in London [Getty]
Bishop Rachel Treweek called Israel an apartheid state and said she stands "boldly" with people who compare the Israeli treatment of Palestinians to how Black people were treated in apartheid South Africa.
The comments from Treweek were published in a reflection posted on the Diocese of Gloucester website, coming after she visited Israel and the occupied West Bank last month.
"In the past I have been wary of using the word apartheid to describe the situation in Palestine-Israel, but having seen even more starkly how life is now in the occupied Palestinian territory, I wish to stand alongside other individuals and groups, not least Christians, in boldly naming apartheid," she stated.
The Bishop worked in the Anglican church in South Africa in 1994 following the abolishment of the racist apartheid system, using her experience to draw comparisons to Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
She reiterated that she stands by her comments, acknowledging differences between the situation in Israel-Palestine and apartheid South Africa, but saying there are strong resonances.
"I do want to call out the way the Israeli government and military are acting in the West Bank. But I’m not anti-Israel and I’m not pro-Palestine. I think I am standing for justice for all people," she added.
The bishop visited Palestinian families during her time in the West Bank, where she met the family of Layan Nasir, a 23-year-old Palestinian Anglican woman held in Israeli detention without charges since April.
She also met with some of the families of captives held in Gaza, calling for their release.
Bishop Treweek is Britain’s first female bishop and is a senior member of the Church of England.
A Lambeth Palace spokesman said Justin Welby, the Archbishop Canterbury, was grateful for her “powerful reflections”.
"This state of affairs is illegal, unjust and needs to be brought to an end as quickly as possible," he said.
Bishop Treweek’s comments have been applauded by activist and leaders, who used it to reiterate calls for a ceasefire.
Ben Jamal, the director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: "Bishop Treweek is right to assert this truth. One cannot tackle an injustice unless one is prepared to name it."
However, some Jewish faith leaders hit out at Treweek’s comments.
"It is very sad that an eminent Bishop chooses to repeat a completely false accusation, a falsehood used by anti-Semites as a justification to target innocent Jews," Rabbi Menachem Margolin said.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 39,324 Palestinians since October and wounded at least 90,830 others in the same time frame.
Meanwhile, around 8,875 Palestinians have been arrested by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since October, according to the Commission for Detainees and Ex-Detainees Affairs and the Palestinian Prisoners Club. The New Arab
Ugandans will be shocked when evidence is presented in court against suspects arrested during the anti-corruption demonstrators according to President Yoweri Museveni.
Over 100 youths were arrested for allegedly participating in a march to parliament against corruption. They accuse the speaker of parliament Annet Anita Among of gross unabated corruption. In a statement issued by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU), Museveni said the reason police charged them with being ‘idle and disorderly’ was because, at the time, those charging were not privy to the intelligence that had been gathered.
“I politely advised them a few days ago, in my address to the nation. They, obviously, thought that my advice was of no consequence. Please, Ugandans avoid these mistake makers. The evidence in court will shock many. As I said, the planners of these demonstrations wanted to do very bad things. The charge by the police of “idle and disorderly”, I suspect, was used because the deployed personnel did not have all the information. This was a high-quality, intelligence-led operation. I have most of the information,” Museveni’s statement reads in part.
The president stated two issues why the protests had to be stopped.
“Element no.1, was funding from foreign sources that are always meddling in the internal affairs of Africa for the last 600 years ─ slave trade, colonialism, neo-colonialism, genocide, economic exploitation, etc. All those involved, should know that Uganda is not a neo-colony where those shallow schemes can be deployed,” Museveni’s statement reads in part.
The second element Museveni lists is that some of the authors and participants in the demonstrations were planning very bad things against the people of Uganda. Museveni didn’t disclose those bad things promising instead that these will be presented in court during the trial of those arrested.
“It is possible, that some of the participants, did not know of the planned foreign funding and the planned bad things. That is why, they should have listened to the police advice, not to go on with the demonstration. But they rubbished the police advice,” Museveni’s statement reads.
He adds that if it was a patriotic, anti-corruption, peaceful demonstration, coordinated with the police, he too, would have joined it like he did in 2019 when then State House Anti-corruption head Col. Edith Nakalema organized a march from city Square through Kampala road to Jinja road climaxing with a public rally at Kololo ceremonial grounds. He tasked Nakalema to organize another march on a Sunday which he said he was willing to join.
“Nakalema can co-ordinate with the genuine anti-corruption fighters for a similar effort, especially on a Sunday…In particular, the heavily populated suburbs of our cities – Kawempe, Bwaise, etc. should never be used for demonstration, because they will damage the little wealth creation that our people are painstakingly building up. Kololo Ceremonial Grounds is being repaired now. When the work is finished, Nakalema should organize us. I will be there,” added Museveni.
He called upon those he said are being funded by foreigners to stop and report to the minister of State for Ethics, those who have been funding them. He promised not to arrest them.
“We know a lot about the goings on in those groups. Our interest is to immunize Uganda against the schemes of the imperialists and their agents,” Museveni said thanking the security team for doing a good job of stopping the demonstrations and ensuring that there was no bloodshed.
“The fight against corruption, is in my hands. I just need evidence and action will be taken. The accounting officers are the guardians of government money, procurement and personnel. They let us and themselves down. I am now leading this little war. We fought the bigger war. We shall win this one also,” Museveni said in his statement. More than 95 people were arrested on Tuesday after participating in the march to parliament protests. Many of them were charged in court for being common nuisance and remanded to prisons. By URN/ The Observer
Casket bearing remains of Rex Kanyike Masai during his burial ceremony at Kamuthanga Secondary School in Machakos County on July 5, 2024. [John Muia, Standard]
It has been six weeks of anti-government protests across the county. As Kenyans continue to take to the streets to show their displeasure with the Kenya Kwanza administration, families that lost their loved ones are yet to find justice.
To commemorate a month since some protestors were felled by police bullets as they breached Parliament, activists on Thursday, July 25 planned to present a petition to the office of the President for the compensation of families.
They had also planned to march to parliament and lay flowers at the spot some of the protesters were killed. But this was thwarted by police. Instead, the explosion of teargas canisters rent the air along Muindi Mbingu Street Thursday.
Activist Boniface Mwangi, who was leading the push, was arrested among others, with police quickly whisking them away carrying their images of protests, coffins and crosses.
“We are here to protest about police killings and brutality, they have many of our comrades, they are kidnapping our people they are killing and that is why we are here,” said Mwangi moments before his arrest.
His lawyer James Wa Njeri was also briefly detained at Central Police Station when he went to secure Mwangi’s release.
After being freed, Wa Njeri said the violent response from the police was not warranted since they had notified them of their intentions as required by law.
“Instead of the police providing protection and guiding protestors, what we saw today was the use of teargas ammunition against the protestors,” he said.
According to the lawyer, Mwangi was being held for causing disturbance, yet his reasons for going to the streets had been laid out in a letter they sent and was received by government.
“The police have repeatedly said that notices have to be issued and notice was issued, why were they arrested?” posed Wa Njeri.
Mwangi and four others were taken to court on Friday and charged with unlawful assembly and publication of false information.
They were freed on a Sh20,000 cash bail.
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Activist Boniface Mwangi being hurled into a police vehicle by plain cloth police officers along Koinange Street during a protest in memory of lives lost during the Gen-Z demonstrations on July 25, 2024. [Kanyiri Wahito, Standard]
Behind these acts of violence from the security agencies the unwavering spirit of Kenyans agitating for good governance has been visible for all to see.
However, focus is on President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza administration's response to the cries of families of the victims of police brutality. Activists and Kenyans in different parts of the country have been calling on the government to take responsibility for the actions of its agents who are being blamed not just for the loss of lives but for injuries sustained.
Lobby groups say the number of those killed in the six weeks of protests currently stands at 60.
A further 66 have been abducted or are missing, 1,376 people have been arrested and 601 injuries have been reported.
The activists say that there are not just numbers but real people and families who are now victims.
Among those who had come for the march was Ann Wanjira.
Her son, Evans Kiratu, 21, was killed on June 20 after he was hit by a teargas cannister fired by a police officer in Nairobi’s CBD.
“It was very unfortunate that police officers confronted us with teargas canisters,” she said.
She condemned the response from the police saying it was not warranted since they only took part in a peaceful march and the only thing that they carried were her son’s portrait, flowers, handkerchiefs and their mobile phones.
Kiratu’s aunt Racheal and her husband Albert Wambugu were among those arrested by police officers and bundled into their vehicle, which quickly drove towards Central Police Station.
“You killed my ‘son’ and now you are arresting me,” she could be heard shouting as the police took her away.
Jane Nduta, whose son David Chege was also killed during the demos says her family is certain that he was killed by a police bullet, which was confirmed in an autopsy.
What they do not know is who fired the killer shot.
“He says this and then says a different thing, even the promise to compensate us, I know he won’t,” she says in reference to the conflicting statements from President Ruto over the protests.
“We have seen them on TV holding guns and in civilian attires.”
According to Nduta she is yet to see any officials from the government conduct a fact-finding visit to her or even offer a message of condolence. Only activists did.
“He is the president and should be a good example and he has a family so he should understand our pain.”
Hussein Khalid, an activist with Vocal Africa, said that activists and other Kenyans will continue to exercise their constitutional right to picket while calling on the government to stop the killings and hold ‘killer cops’ accountable.
Njeri Mwangi, a journalist and activist, said that police should be protecting the protestors and property and not brutalising the peaceful protestors.
She called for the arrest of officers responsible for the killings and injuries suffered by the protestors adding that the fight will also benefit the same officers.
“There are many more who are missing, we do not know their whereabouts, we do not know whether they are dead or alive and that is concerning,” she said.
Another face that has become synonymous with the protests is Kasmuel McOure.
McOure in his address to the media which ended abruptly after the police intervened, criticised the response from the police.
“Whatever you have seen is the violence that they have been meeting on us; we were only armed with flowers and our voices; we will not forget,'' he said. By Fred Kagonye, The Standard
An Ethiopian Airlines plane. The carrier has been banned from Eritrean airspace. PHOTO | SHUTTERSTOCK/The East African/Photo Courtesy
Eritrea has banned Ethiopian Airlines from its airspace from September 30, 2024, alleging “passenger abuse and operational issues.”
The Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority cited numerous complaints such as theft of luggage, frequent flight and baggage delays, and inadequate compensation for affected passengers and advised travellers booked on the carrier’s flights beyond September 30 to make alternative arrangements.
Ethiopian Airlines operates five weekly flights to Asmara. Other carriers on the route are Saudi Arabian, Turkish, and Egyptian.
Asmara said despite repeated quests to address these issues, Ethiopian Airlines failed to do so.
“Repeated and relentless calls made on Ethiopian Airlines to rectify the above referenced pitfalls and other irregularities imposed on the travelling public borne no fruit yet,” the Eritrean Civil Authority said.
“In light of that, all Ethiopian travellers destined to the state of Eritrea are hereby advised to adjust their flights and subsequently look for other options as appropriate.”
The airline denied the allegations while tasking the Eritrean authorities to clarify their statement.
"Ethiopian Airlines has received a notice from the Eritrean Civil Aviation Authority through a letter indicating the suspension of all Ethiopian Airlines flights to Eritrea, effective September 30, 2024," the airline said in a statement.
"The specific reasons for this suspension have not been disclosed to us."
This decision, outlined in a notice published in the government newspaper, "Hadas Eritrea," came in the wake of reports of ongoing tensions between the two Horn of Africa neighbours.
Ethiopian has lately been in the news for the wrong reasons after a video circulating on social media showed a passenger being ejected from a flight after her seat was allegedly allocated to a government minister.
The airline’s management also denied wrongdoing but said they had taken “necessary time to investigate the matter thoroughly and bring the factual information to the public.”
But they admitted to have overbooked passengers on flight ET308 to Nairobi.
“The flight experienced an overbooking... Three individuals with standby economy class boarding pass arrived at the boarding gate just a few minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight,” the Airline said, adding that they were to be transferred to the next flight.
Last week, Ethiopian Airlines announced that tickets for passengers outside Ethiopia must be purchased in US dollars only.
This directive creates a significant hurdle for Eritrean travellers, who previously bought tickets using the local currency.
Flights between Ethiopia and Eritrea resumed in 2018 after two decades of animosity, after a peace deal between the two neighbours that earned Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed a Nobel peace prize a year later.
It marked a significant diplomatic breakthrough, paving the way for the resumption of land transport, trade, and communication services, which had also been affected by the conflict.
The latest spat, however, underlines emerging tensions, as Abiy continues his quest for a sea route.
In October last year, Dr Abiy said that Ethiopia’s claim to sea access was backed by history, as well as a practical necessity due to the economic, demographic and security vulnerabilities its landlocked status imposed on its 120-million strong population.
Although he played down the use of force, in November, before parliament, he warned that a failure to resolve the issue through negotiations could lead to conflict.
Eritrea did not take this lightly, considering its long conflict with Ethiopia.
From 1952 to 1993, Eritrea and its Red Sea ports had been part of Ethiopia, and it was only a bloody national liberation struggle that delivered Eritrea’s statehood.
There is a section of Ethiopian nationalists who regard Eritrea’s departure as a historic error.
Meanwhile, Abiy’s port quest has sucked in the other neighbours, Djibouti and Somalia.
Addis and Mogadishu have, since the beginning of this year, been at loggerheads after Ethiopia signed a memorandum on January 1 for the use of the seaports of Somaliland, the separatist federal state.By LUKE ANAMI, The East African
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