East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 09 March 2024; 261

All National Government electronic advertisements will now be disseminated through the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) upon authorization by the Government Advertising Agency.

This follows a directive made through a letter to chief executive officers of state corporations, independent commissions and public universities by Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Prof Edward Kisiang’ani.

According to Prof Kisiang’ani, this move aligns with government policy of reviving ailing public sector entities and ensuring that any public-private partnership is not skewed against public sector.

“In light of the foregoing, all public sector electronic (radio and television) advertisements from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that fall under the National Government, Independent Commissions and Public Universities shall be handled by the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) upon authorization by the Government Advertising Agency,” said Prof Kisiang’ani in a letter dated March 7, 2024.

The decision is further supported by the large network coverage the national broadcaster offers, a factor which the ministry says guarantees wide reach by advertisers.

Additionally, the directive is expected to boost the funding to the corporation as the government embarks on its revival through a modernization framework in order to make it a premier national broadcaster in the Africa.

“This effort requires the national broadcaster to take the lead in the dissemination of information in Kenya,” he added.

The directive is also on the backdrop of a circular by the National Treasury published in 2015 which led to the formation of GAA which has since centralized public sector advertising in a bid to cut costs through efficiency in the procurement process.

This comes as government targets to reduce the amount of pending bills owed to the media industry while maintaining smooth flow of public sector advertising services.

A recent report by the Communications Authority of Kenya indicates that out of Ksh 16.1 billion advertisers spent on media between July and September 2023, television had the largest allocation at Ksh 10.9 billion followed by radio at Ksh 3.6 billion and print Ksh 1.6 billion. By Ronald Owili, KBC

Details: East Africa; 09 March 2024; 398

Pastor James Maina Ng'ang'a of NENO Evangelism Center.[File, Standard]

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission has filed several suits at the Environment and Lands Court seeking to recover several parcels of land allegedly grabbed by private developers.

The Commission in a statement through its spokesperson Erick Ngumbi said it has filed four separate cases seeking to recover five parcels of land valued at Sh1.6 billion.

The parcels are located at the junction of Haile Selassie Avenue and Uhuru Highway and are alleged to have been originally alienated for Kenya Railways Corporation.

Among those sued in the cases include private entities and former Commissioners of Land, Neno Evangelism Centre Registered Trustee, Apostle James Maina Nganga, Arts 680 Limited and Kobil Petroleum Limited (Rubis Energy).

Pastor Ng'ang'a and Neno Evangelism have been sued in respect to parcel Number LR. No. 209/9640 and LR. No. 209/12361 valued at Sh480 million and Sh30 million respectively.

Kenya Railways Corporation in November 2023 sued Neno Evangelism Registered Trustees and three others. It named EACC as an interested party. KRC and EACC claim a mesne profit of Sh500 million.

Apostle Ng''anga in August 2023 sued Kenya Railways over land parcel number 209/12361. Kenya Railways filed a defence in September 2023. It also amended its defence, introduced a counterclaim, and joined EACC as a second plaintiff in the counter-claim which was filed in February 2024. EACC and KRC want Ng''anga to pay Sh250 million mesne profit having utilised the land for 25 years.

Arts 680 Limited has been sued in respect to land parcel number LR. No 209/12492 valued at Sh380 million while Kobil Petroleum Limited has been sued in respect to parcels Numbers LR. No. 209/9641 and LR. No. 209/12133 all valued at Sh720 million.

Land parcel No 209/12492 is occupied by Arts Limited, LR. No. 209/9640 (Nganga), LR. No. 209/9641 (Kobil) and LR. No. 209/12361 (Neno Evangelism) EACC claims originally belonged to Kenya Railways Corporation.

In 1953, Kenya Railways allegedly surrendered Land Reference. No. 209/9640 and LR. No. 209/9641 for purposes of construction of the Post and Telecommunication Headquarters. In 1960, Kenya Railways surrendered more land where orbiting the earlier surrender for the construction of a flyover and cloverleaf intersection. The land surrendered in 1960 includes LR. No 209/12492.

No. 209/12361 is a truncation of the road connecting Haile Selassie Avenue to Rhodes Avenue serving Nairobi Central Railway Station, Marshalling Yard, railway residential houses, and other sections of the yard. It is part of the road junction at a T-intersection for purposes of provision of adequate space for safety and visibility for vehicular and human traffic, to avert a blind spot at the T-junction.

Land Reference No. 209/12133, EACC claims was excised from a public road reserve. On it contained a public amenity – a public toilet owned and managed by the Nairobi City Council.

In the ELC Case No. E182/2023, EACC sued Japheth Kimutai Chepkeres and four others. EACC instituted the suit in May 2023 for the recovery of LR. No 209/12492 whose current registered owner is Arts 680 Limited. EACC’s case was consolidated with ELC E064 of 2021 Arts 680 Limited v Kenya Railways Corporation and four others. Arts 680 Limited had sued KRC and KeNHA. By Julius Chepkwony |The Standard

Details: East Africa; 08 March 2024; 294

Caroline Abel has been re-appointed as the Governor of the Central Bank. (CBS)

(Seychelles News Agency) - To coincide with International Women's Day on March 8, Seychelles' President Wavel Ramkalawan recently appointed four women professionals in prominent positions in the administration of the country.

State House said in a press communique on Friday that these are the re-appointment of the governor of the Central Bank of Seychelles, Caroline Abel, the new principal secretary for finance, Astride Tamatave, the new commissioner general of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC) Varsha Singh, and the chief executive of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Li Fa Cheung Kai Suet.

In conveying his sincere congratulations to the women professionals, Ramkalawan said the appointments are " a sign of the confidence that our administration has in the ability of women to participate in the development of Seychelles. I wish them all the very best in their responsibilities ahead. I have no doubt that they will deliver to the best of their abilities and make Seychelles proud as they contribute in the economic development of the country."

The governor of the Central Bank, Caroline Abel, was first appointed hovernor on March 14, 2012, becoming the first woman in Seychelles to hold the position. She was re-appointed to serve a second six-year term in March 2018.

Astride Tamatave was appointed the principal secretary for finance, effective as of March 11. She is a certified chartered accountant with an ACCA professional qualification and holds a master's degree in leadership and strategy in the social domain from the Institute of Public Administration, Ireland. She has 16 years of working experience in the private sector and the public service in the domain of accounting and finance. She previously held the position of comptroller general.

Tamatave was appointed the principal secretary for finance, effective as of March 11. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY

Varsha Singh, a South African national, has been appointed as commissioner general of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC). She has over 28 years of experience in tax, customs, transfer pricing, trade facilitation, international relations, building organisational excellence and driving sustainable development. Singh holds a master's degree in international customs law and administration from the University of Canberra, Australia, as well as a master's in business administration from the Management School of Southern Africa, South Africa.

Singh is the commissioner general of the Seychelles Revenue Commission (SRC). (State House) Photo License: CC-BY

Li Fa Cheung Kai Suet, a Mauritian national, is the new chief executive of the National Bureau of Statistics. She served for 10 years as the chief executive of the National Statistics Agency (Statistics Mauritius). She has previously served in various key positions such as deputy director and senior economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Suet, a Mauritian national, is the new chief executive of the National Bureau of Statistics. (State House) Photo License: CC-BY

Meanwhile, in his message for International Women's Day, Ramkalawan said, "Let us reflect on how we can continuously empower women while encouraging women to invest in themselves for the betterment of the Seychellois society, specifically for ourselves, our families and our economic well-being."

This year's theme is "Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress" and the President said, "This theme reminds us that a concerted effort is required to encourage our girls and women to challenge themselves to succeed, and at the same time, provide a conducive environment in which they can thrive while pursuing their dreams."

He added that there is also the need to drive women's inclusion in finance and business, digital technologies, peacebuilding and climate action.

"I remain confident in the abilities of our women and on this International Women's Day, wish all of them a happy and blessed day," said Ramkalawan. (Seychelles News Agency)

Details: East Africa; 08 March 2024; 303

President William Ruto has nominated former Communication Authority Director General Ezra Chiloba as the new Consul General of the Kenyan mission in Los Angeles, USA.

Chiloba is among the new faces who will represent Kenya in foreign missions as ambassadors, high commissioners and permanent representatives.

Chiloba resigned as Director General of the Communication Authority of Kenya on October 18, 2023, shortly after he was suspended over Ksh662.4 million mortgage scheme graft allegations on September 18, 2023.

Before his suspension, the former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO had served for two years.

Other appointments

Catherine Kirumba Karemu has been nominated as Kenya's High Commissioner to London, United Kingdom while Joash Arthur Maangi will serve in a similar position in Kampala, Uganda.

Others appointed as High Commissioners include Lilian Tomitom (Lusaka, Zambia), Vincent Mogaka Kemosi (Accra, Ghana) Caroline Kamende Daudi (Ottawa, Canada) and Lt Gen Peter Mbogo Njiru (Islamabad, Pakistan).

Ambassadors nominees include Fred Outa (Cairo, Egypt), Prof Anne Kisaka Nanguli (Dakar, Senegal), Timothy Kaluma Mcharo (Algiers, Algeria), Christopher Andrew Lang'at (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire), and Jessica Muthoni Gakinya (Rabat, Morocco).

Others include Halima Yussuf Mucheke (The Hague, Netherlands), David Kiplagat Kerich (Washington DC, USA), Everylyne Mwenda Karisa (Havana, Cuba), Peter Mutuku Mathuki (Moscow, Russia), Moi Lemoshira (Tokyo Japan), Kenneth Milimo Nganga (Abu Dhabi, UAE), Lt General Jonah Mwangi (Tehran, Iran) and Abdi Aden Korio (Muscat, Oma).

Permanent Representatives

Gertrude Angote has been nominated as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) while Grace Atieno Okara will represent Kenya to the United Nations HABITAT.

Dr Fancy Too has been nominated as the Ambassador/Permanent Representative to Geneva, Switzerland while Ekitela Erastus Lokaale will be Kenya's representative to the United Nations, New York, USA.

Deputy Heads of Missions

Those nominated as Deputy Heads of Missions include Suleiman Ibrahim Roba (Kampala, Uganda), Sunya Morongei Orre (Pretoria, South Africa), Petronila Were (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) and Joseph Warui (London, United Kingdom).

Other Deputy Heads of Missions include Rose Sumbelywo (Rome, Italy), Kipkosgei Toroitich (Vienna, Austria), Christopher Kirigua (Washington DC, USA), Peris Kariuki (Brasilia, Brazil), Jon Chessoni (Tel Aviv, Israel), Saadia Salim (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) and Akinyi Walkowa (Los Angeles, USA).

Aden Mohamud Mohamed will serve as the Consular-General for Kenya in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia while David Iboko Lokemer will serve in a similar position in Dubai, UAE.

Beatrice Nyakobe Ombachi Karago has been appointed to serve as Director, the Americas & Caribbean while Julius Kiptoo Bargoret will serve at the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON).

Jane Makori has been appointed to serve as the Deputy Director for Asia and the Pacific while Joseph Masila will serve as the Director for Economic Affairs & Commercial Diplomacy.

Caroline Mwende Mueke has been nominated for appointment by the Summit of the Heads of State as the Secretary-General of the East African Community.

Ruto has transmitted the nominations of High Commissioners, Ambassadors, and Permanent Representatives to the National Assembly for consideration and approval by Parliament. By Francis Muli, People Daily

Details: East Africa; 08 March 2024; 281

On the sixth month anniversary of the detention on trumped charges of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) journalist Stanis Bujakera, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Sarah Jackson, said:

“The release of Stanis Bujakera is well overdue. His continued arbitrary detention is tantamount to judicial harassment, intended to send a chilling message to other journalists and all free voices in the DRC. This travesty must end. DRC authorities must immediately release Stanis Bujakera.

The release of Stanis Bujakera is well overdue. His continued arbitrary detention is tantamount to judicial harassment, intended to send a chilling message to other journalists and all free voices in the DRC.

Sarah Jackson, Deputy Regional Director, Amnesty International

“President Tshisekedi and his government must ensure the release of Stanis Bujakera and media freedom, as well as uphold the country’s international human rights obligations and address the flaws of the judicial system that lead to such injustices too often.”

Background

Journalist Stanis Bujakera was arrested on 8 September 2023.

A prominent reporter working for Reuters, Jeune Afrique and the Congolese online media Actualité.CD, Stanis Bujakera was charged with spreading false information after Jeune Afrique published an article allegedly implicating the Congolese intelligence services in the killing of the opposition politician Chérubin Okende in July 2023. Authorities last week concluded that Okende died by suicide and threatened to prosecute anyone who would question this conclusion.

On 27 February, a court in Kinshasa rejected Bujakera’s application for provisional release for the seventh time. He is due to appear in court again this Friday.

On 22 February, President Felix Tshisekedi stated that Bujakera was “perhaps a victim of the procrastination” of a “sick” judicial system and pledged to “at least for once stick [his] nose” into the case and “decide as appropriate”. Amnesty International

State agencies directed to place electronic ads on KBC

Apostle Ng'ang'a among five sued by EACC over Sh1.6b land

Women's Day: Seychelles' President congratulates 4 top female officials on appointment

Ezra Chiloba, Peter Mathuki among Ruto’s new nominations to ambassadorial roles

Other appointments

Permanent Representatives

Deputy Heads of Missions

DRC: Authorities must immediately free detained journalist

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