The government says four Turkish nationals reportedly abducted on Friday have been repatriated. In a statement, State Department of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei stated that this was done at the request of their country.
He indicated that the rights of the four will be upheld after assurances from Turkish authorities.
“Kenya acceded to this request on the strength of the robust historical and strategic relations anchored on bilateral instruments between our respective countries,” he stated.
He also expressed the government\s commitment to the international community to protect ad promote refugee rights as prescribed under national and international law.
‘Kenya is committed to the privacy and confidentiality of the repatriated individuals and will refrain from responding to media inquiries on the subject until the ongoing inter-agency inquiry review of the case is complete,” he said.
“As such, the rights welfare and wellbeing of the more than 780,000 refugees residing in the country will remain the government’s singular priority.” Capital News
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in the fields of industry and trade between Iran and Tanzania at the end of 5th Iran-Tanzania Joint Economic Cooperation Commission.
The MoU was inked between CEO of the Iran’s Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) Farshad Moghimi and Director General of Tanzania Trade Development Authority Ms. Latifa M. Khamis.
During the meeting, the two sides announced their readiness to hold a joint committee in the near future in order to create a framework to help realize any joint cooperation and operationalize fields of cooperation.
Most of Tanzania's industrial needs are related to the transportation infrastructures, energy, raw materials and industrial machinery, mining equipment and machinery, and pharmaceutical industries he underlined.
The 5th edition of Iran-Tanzania Joint Economic Cooperation Commission was held in Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania after 16 years of hiatus.
In this meeting, 11 cooperation documents were inked between the private sectors of the two countries which indicate the special attention of high-ranking officials of the two countries to broaden bilateral cooperation in the relevant field.
According to the scheduled program, the 6th Iran-Tanzania Joint Economic Cooperation Commission will be held in Tehran in 2026.MEHR News Agency
A health worker during the Marburg vaccination activity in Kigali on Sunday. Rwanda, on October 6, kicked off a trial vaccination drive focused on people at highest risk of contracting Marburg virus.
Rwanda has launched the world's first clinical trial for Marburg virus disease treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced late Tuesday, October 15.
The "groundbreaking effort," in partnership with the WHO, is testing the safety and efficacy of two treatments: Remdesivir, a drug used to treat COVID-19, and MBP091, a specialized antibody developed to fight Marburg virus disease, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said on X.Today, Rwanda started the world's first clinical trial for Marburg virus disease treatment.
The groundbreaking effort in partnership with @WHO is testing the safety & efficacy of Remdesivir, a drug in use to treat COVID-19, & MBP091, a special antibody designed to fight Marburg. pic.twitter.com/zFsrr4kRPp-- Dr Matshidiso Moeti (@MoetiTshidi) October 15, 2024
The health initiative is part of a process that began two years ago, where 17 African countries, including Rwanda, were identified by the WHO as willing to conduct clinical trials. Currently, no treatment or vaccine is available for Marburg virus disease.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, on Wednesday, October 16, visited Marburg outbreak response sites in Kigali and thanked Rwandan health workers and survivors for their work and bravery.
@WHORwanda honoured to host @WHOAFRO Regional Director @MoetiTshidi in Kigali . She visited key sites at the centre of the #Marburg outbreak response, including the Command Centre and treatment centre, where she thanked health workers and survivors for their work & bravery. pic.twitter.com/YPULwANQwf-- WHO Rwanda (@WHORwanda) October 16, 2024
She arrived in the country on Tuesday to witness the ongoing Marburg response and WHO's close collaboration with government.
Earlier this month, Rwanda launched a vaccination campaign against the virus, with over 700 people at high risk of contracting it already vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Health.
Four soldiers and 14 civilians were sentenced to 24 months in prison
A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) court has sentenced four soldiers and 14 civilians to two years in jail after convicting them on charges related to negligence of military gear and illegal possession of lethal weapons.
The soldiers; Pte Bernard Odyeka, LCpl William Isiko, Pte Denis Niwasasira, and Pte Charles Ogwari each received two-year prison sentences. The convictions were delivered during a session at the 5th Infantry Division Court Martial, chaired by Col Peter Musherure.
UPDF deputy spokesperson, Col Deo Asiimwe Akiiki, confirmed that Odyeka, a 31-year-old soldier from the 103 Battalion, admitted guilt, acknowledging his carelessness in handling military equipment.
“These soldiers failed to protect war material, violating section 120(1) 1(2) of the UPDF Act. Pte Bernard Odyeka admitted guilt, along with Lance Corporal Isiko, Private Niwasasira, and Private Ogwari, who were all found guilty of failing to safeguard military assets,” Col. Akiiki explained.
The soldiers were found to have violated standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by Brig Gen Keith Katungi, the commander of the 5th Infantry Division. The procedures required soldiers to carry their weapons and pouches at all times, a directive the convicted soldiers had ignored.
In addition to the soldiers, 14 civilians were sentenced to 24 months in prison for illegal possession of arms, ammunition, and military gear, which contravenes section 159(1)c of the UPDF Act. The civilians reportedly pleaded guilty to the charges.
Incidents of civilians possessing military gear have become frequent in urban areas like Kampala and Wakiso, with reports of these items being used in illegal roadblocks and robberies. Hotspots for such activities include Namusera on Hoima road, Myanzi on Mubende road, Kireka-Kyaliwajjala road, and Nsangi on Masaka road.
The UPDF, working alongside the police’s Crime Intelligence Directorate (CID) and the Flying Squad Unit (FSU), has intensified operations to apprehend offenders, including covert and overt surveillance methods. By URN/ The Observer
President William Ruto received by Interior CS Kithure Kindiki at the county commissioner’s residence ahead of Mashujaa day celebrations in Kwale County. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]
Kenyans will this week know whether Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki will take over as their next deputy president.
The courts put on hold plans to swear him into office after he was approved by the National Assembly on Friday after being nominated by President William Ruto.
This after the Senate impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Thursday night after the legislators voted in support of five out of the 11 counts that he faced.
Gachagua’s impeachment happened while he was admitted at Karen Hospital after being taken ill when the Senate took a lunch break.
When the House resumed for sitting his lawyer Paul Muite who was leading his defence team informed the Senate that his client had experienced sharp chest pains and rushed to hospital.
“I would suggest that according to Article 145 (6) (b), in the interest of justice and given the weight of removing a Deputy President, give him a couple of days to recuperate, I had in mind up to Tuesday and we should be able to know whether he will be able to come and present himself,” said the senior counsel.
The lead counsel for the National Assembly, James Orengo, however, opposed Muite’s request, noting that he had failed to provide any evidence that the DP had been hospitalised arguing that there was no assurance that he will avail himself before the Senate this Tuesday.
Orengo further accused Gachagua of employing delaying tactics in a bid to ensure that court cases touching on the ouster process were ruled on before the Senate voted, pointing out that there were many court cases related to the matter filed all over the country.
“We should have had the Deputy President’s doctor here at least to tell us about his admission and about his condition up to 1:15pm today, Gachagua was here and he was not evacuated from here in an ambulance; he went to Karen hospital by himself,” stated Orengo.
Kingi, in his ruling, directed that the House debate a motion on whether to hold a sitting on Saturday, which he said was the deadline prescribed by the Constitution to dispense with the impeachment process.
The motion was moved by Leader of Majority Aaron Cheruiyot and seconded by Minority Leader Stewart Madzayo. Being a procedural motion, the House did not debate it and the Speaker put the question after which the House voted to continue with the proceedings that would ultimately decide Gachagua’s fate.
Five petitions were filed on Friday in various courts across the country by 32 individuals together with a lobby group, Sheria Mtaani, Kirinyaga MCA David Mathenge, lawyer Emmanuel Otieno, and two individuals, Eddie Waiguru and Victor Ngatia with the High Court granting a temporary stay of Gachagua’s impeachment.
Kerugoya High Court, Judge Richard Mwongo barred Prof Kindiki from assuming the Deputy President’s office pending the hearing and determination of the matter with the court allowing Gachagua to continue holding office until the matter is heard and determined.
Muite moved to court to challenge Gachagua’s impeachment arguing that the Senate had not done public participation at Constituency level and that his impeachment was done hurriedly in order to avoid scrutiny by the court since the process did not follow due process.
Gachagua who was discharged from hospital yesterday expressed concerns that his security and vehicles had been withdrawn by the government despite the High Court stopping plans to replace him with Prof Kindiki until the matter is heard and determined.
“It is unfortunate that while I was in hospital my friend William Ruto ordered the withdrawal of my security detail, I no longer have the officers assigned to protect me, the Deputy President of Kenya does not have security, if anything happens to me or my family, Ruto should be held responsible,” said Gachagua.
He went ahead to claim that the impeachment motion was mooted after two failed attempts to assassinate him through poisoning on August 30 while in Kisumu and on September 3 in Nyeri. By Edwin Nyarangi , The Standard
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