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The second-term MP and member of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee stated that Parliament rejected an attempt by the Executive to amend the National Administrative Laws (Amendment) Bill and recognize the Head of Public Service as the sole custodian of the Public Seal and other state instruments.

Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo has rejected media claims that Parliament approved legislation allowing the transfer of the Public Seal from the Attorney General’s office to the President’s Chief of Staff.

The second-term MP and member of the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee stated that Parliament rejected an attempt by the Executive to amend the National Administrative Laws (Amendment) Bill and recognize the Head of Public Service as the sole custodian of the Public Seal and other state instruments.

 

“This Is Inaccurate Reporting. There Is No Legal Basis Upon Which The Public Seal Can Be Removed From The AG. We Removed The Intended Mischief & S. 28 Of The Act Remains Intact,” he explained.

This comes just days after Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura clarified that the transfer of the Public Seal was conducted lawfully.

“The transfer of custody of the Public Seal from the office of the Attorney General to the Office of the Head of Public Service was conducted in accordance with the law. The process is anchored in legislation, which recognises the HOPS as the appropriate holder of the seal,” Mwaura stated.

He emphasized that the Head of Public Service, who is tasked with executing presidential directives, is now the rightful custodian of the Seal.

The Public Seal consists of the Coat of Arms of Kenya.

The national symbols of the Republic are, the National Flag; the National Anthem; the Coat of Arms; and the Public Seal. By , Capital News

Activist Boniface Mwangi. PHOTO/ Courtesy 

A human rights group is demanding the release of activist Boniface Mwangi, who has been missing for some days now.

Through its CEO, Hussein Khalid, VOCAL Africa raised concern over the whereabouts of Mwangi and Ugandan lawyer and journalist Agatha Atuhaire, who are said to have been apprehended by Tanzanian authorities. 

Khalid said both are still missing despite reports they had been deported from Tanzania on May 20.

According to Khalid, efforts to trace the two in Dar es Salaam have failed. He said they had checked with all airlines and followed up with lawyers in Tanzania, but are still unable to trace the duo.

“Boniface Mwangi and Agatha Atuhaire are missing. After trying all connections in Dar es Salaam, we have not been able to confirm the whereabouts of Boniface Mwangi and Agatha Atuhaire. We have checked all airlines and exhausted follow-ups with lawyers in Tanzania, but they remain missing,” Khalid said in his statement.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, on May 21, Khalid said that after contacting the human rights defenders in Tanzania, their whereabouts remain unknown. 

Khalid demanded that the Tanzanian government immediately release the two back to their countries without delay.

"We have searched with fellow human rights defenders and lawyers in Tanzania, but to no avail. Let it be known that Kenyans will hold (President) Suluhu Hassan personally responsible should anything happen to the two. We further demand the immediate return of the two to their countries without further delays," he added

Earlier on May 20, Boniface Mwabukusi, the President of the Tanganyika Law Society (TLS), announced that the Tanzanian government had deported Mwangi and Atuhaire.

In a statement, Mwabukusi said the two had been deported under the supervision of Tanzanian immigration officers. 

"Boniface Mwangi, a Kenyan journalist and human rights activist, and Ms Agatha Atuhaire, a Ugandan journalist and advocate, who were detained at the Central Police Station in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania, since 19th May 2025, have been deported to their respective countries," Mwabukusi said.

Mwangi, who arrived in Tanzania on Sunday to attend the opposition leader Tundu Lissu's trial the following day, was arrested on Monday, May 19, in his hotel after Tanzanian authorities claimed that he had obtained entry into the country irregularly.

Mwabukusi stressed the need for East African countries to adhere to the East African Community Treaty and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.

"It is alleged that Mr Mwangi was arrested on the grounds of providing false information for purposes of entry into the territory, having arrived in Tanzania on 18th May 2025," the TLS head said. By Mercy Sowek, Kenyans.co.ke

IEA News

Algeria is set to host Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s (ShafDB) 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Housing Symposium in July 2025, the Bank has disclosed. 

The high-level event, set to take place in Algiers from 15th to 17th July 2025 at Hotel El Aurassi in Algiers, Algers, will bring together key stakeholders, policymakers, investors, and development finance leaders to discuss strategies for advancing affordable housing and sustainable urban development across Africa. 

The AGM, which will convene under the theme: “Housing Sector Financial Sustainability Amid Global Turbulence: Opportunities and Challenges”, will bring together Ministers of Housing and Finance from member States, shareholders, central banks, mayors, private developers, investors, and development finance partners to explore ways of transforming the promise of urban Africa into tangible, inclusive progress. 

The meeting will provide a platform to review ShafDB’s performance, assess progress in its strategic initiatives, and formulate policies that will shape the institution’s role in addressing Africa’s housing and infrastructure challenges. 

Speaking about the upcoming AGM, Shelter Afrique Development Bank’s Managing Director & CEO, Thierno-Habib Hann, expressed his enthusiasm about the selection of Algeria as the host country. 

“We appreciate our member countries for their continued commitment to affordable housing and urban development across Africa. Algeria’s role in hosting the Extraordinary General Meeting in 2023—where Shelter Afrique was transformed into a Development Bank—and now the 44th AGM in Algiers, reflects the collective momentum and shared vision of our members. We look forward to collaborating with all our partners and stakeholders to advance impactful housing initiatives and drive inclusive economic growth across the continent,” Mr. Hann said.

 Key agenda for the AGM will include discussions on capital mobilization, innovative financing mechanisms, and public-private partnerships to accelerate housing delivery.

Additionally, the meeting will feature ministerial roundtables and high-level policy dialogues; plenary sessions to explore urban resilience, local solutions to housing challenges; technical forums, exhibitions and investment showcases, and networking sessions aimed at fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders.

“As Africa continues to face a growing demand for affordable housing, Shelter Afrique Development Bank remains committed to championing solutions that enhance urban resilience, economic empowerment, and inclusive growth. The 44th AGM in Algiers is expected to yield critical resolutions that will guide the institution’s strategic direction in the years ahead,” Mr. Hann quipped.

Established in 1981 in Lusaka, Zambia, Shelter Afrique Development Bank (ShafDB) is a Pan-African Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) dedicated to promoting and financing sustainable green housing, urban development and related infrastructure. It operates through a shareholding of 44 African governments and two institutional shareholders: African Development Bank (AfDB) and African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa-Re). 

The institution is involved in financing housing and related infrastructure across the value chain, both on the demand and supply sides, through its four (4) business lines: Financial Institutions Group (FIG), the Project Finance Group (PFG), the Sovereign and Public-Private partnerships (PPP) Group, and the Fund Management Group (FMG).

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya at anti corruption court in Milimani, Nairobi on Tuesday,May 20,2025 when he was charged with three counts of alleged corruption.He denied all the charges leveled against him.[Colins Kweyu,Standard]
 

The Anti-Corruption Court has released Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya on a cash bail of Sh500,000 or a bond of Sh1 million.

The court has also barred him from accessing his office for 60 days and from contacting witnesses in his graft case.

Additionally, Natembeya has been prohibited from leaving the country without the court’s permission. This comes after the governor urged the court to grant him bail pending the hearing of a Sh 3.2 million graft case. 

Through his defence lawyers, Natembeya asked Milimani Anti-Corruption Chief Magistrate Charles Ondieki to release him on reasonable bail terms, describing the charges as politically motivated and intended to punish him.

Led by senior counsels Macharia Njeru and Ndegwa Njiru, the governor’s lawyers argued that the prosecution's case was weak and driven by ulterior motives.

“My plea is that we have mercy on the accused,” said Njeru. 

“What we have here is welfare. We live in this country, and none of us can purport to shut our eyes to that. Independent agencies are being captured and used to weaponize matters of justice, where legal processes are used to harass political colleagues. It is very sad.”

Njeru, a former chairperson of the National Police Service Commission, alleged political interference in the case and claimed he had first-hand experience with such matters. By Nancy Gitonga, The Standard

In South Africa, women and youth remain underrepresented in local government leadership. According to the latest data from Statistics South Africa, women held only 39% of senior-level municipal positions in 2021, with 25 out of 257 municipalities meeting the 50% gender parity target outlined in the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill.

Youth participation is equally concerning. Despite making up most of the population, youth voter registration has declined significantly. In the 2021 local government elections, only 15% of 18-19-year-olds were registered to vote, down from 30% in 2005.

Futurelect’s Women in Public Office, South Africa Programme works to address these disparities, targeting women political leaders aged 18-45 across all nine provinces. The five-month nonpartisan leadership development programme aims to equip aspiring women political leaders with the skills, networks, resilience and support needed to run successfully in the 2026/7 local government elections.

The programme specifically addresses gender-specific challenges women face in politics, such as limited access to funding, safety concerns, and systemic biases. The recently launched "Cost of Politics" Report by Dr Victoria Ann Hasson and Futurelect, in collaboration with Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) and the EU-funded WYDE Civic Engagement project led by the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), highlights that campaign expenditures can range from R17,000 to R1 million, with a median spend of R50,000, posing significant barriers for many women.

By building a new generation of ethical and effective women political leaders, Futurelect's programme seeks to bridge the representation gap and promote inclusive governance, supporting new women leaders to run successfully, lead with integrity, and hold these positions. Applications this month. 

 

Futurelect, founded in 2018 in Johannesburg, is a non-profit organisation focused on transforming African political and government leadership. They empower young, ethical leaders with the skills to serve communities responsibly and with integrity. Their non-partisan programmes develop diverse, skilled political leaders, primarily targeting African women aged 18-45 pursuing or aspiring to leadership roles in politics and public office. We also offer a free online Civic Education Programme in South Africa, providing nonpartisan courses on democracy and governance for South Africans aged 16-34.

 
 

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