East Africa

East Africa

Details: East Africa; 30 July 2024; 394

The July 29 departure of Samia Suluhu Hassan's deputy from the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), following the sacking of two party stalwarts from the cabinet, signals sweeping changes in Tanzania's leadership ranks ahead of the forthcoming elections.

Political heavyweight Abdulrahman Kinana resigned as the ruling party's vice chairperson, citing the need to rest due to "fatigue".

The CCM said in a statement late on Monday that President Samia, the party's leader, had accepted Kinana's request to step down "with a heavy heart".

Read: Makonda out as ruling CCM rings in key secretariat changes ahead of civic polls

His departure comes just over a week after she fired two senior cabinet ministers who, along with Kinana, engineered her predecessor John Magufuli's tricky triumph over formidable opposition challenger Edward Lowassa in the 2015 presidential election.

Foreign Minister January Makamba and Information Minister Nape Nnauye were sacked on July 21 in a mini cabinet reshuffle that appeared to herald a season of intrigue as Samia prepares her bid to retain the presidency in next year's election.

Political heavyweight Abdulrahman Kinana resigned as the ruling party's vice chairperson, citing the need to rest due to "fatigue".

The CCM said in a statement late on Monday that President Samia, the party's leader, had accepted Kinana's request to step down "with a heavy heart".

Read: Makonda out as ruling CCM rings in key secretariat changes ahead of civic polls

It is understood that Makamba and Nnauye were dropped after questions were raised about their loyalty to the president and her leadership philosophy ahead of Tanzania's civic elections later this year, which will set the pace for the 2025 general election.

Kinana, who turns 73 in October, had been CCM's vice chairperson for mainland Tanzania and Samia's understudy in the party hierarchy since April 2022.

Inevitably, pundits have linked the trio's successive departures to a power play at the top of Samia's administration, which appears to be heating up ahead of the 2025 and 2030 presidential elections.

A well-established behind-the-scenes power broker in CCM's intricate political landscape, Kinana previously served as the party's secretary-general, but resigned in 2018 after clashing with then-President Magufuli.

This incident also coincided with Magufuli's sacking of Makamba and Nnauye from his cabinet, raising questions as to why all three masterminds of his 2015 presidential campaign were suddenly left out in the cold.

They were all reinstated to senior political positions after Samia took over the presidency following Magufuli's death in 2021.

Also read: Samia orders inquiry after top CCM official quits ahead of key polls

But according to a statement issued on Monday night by Amos Makala, the CCM's secretary for publicity and ideology, Kinana's decision to quit this time had nothing to do with the recent cabinet purge.

The statement quoted President Samia as saying that from the beginning he had asked for his term as her deputy to be short.

"It is true that when I asked you to help us out in the position of vice chair, I promised you that it would only be for a brief period as you requested. I truly preferred that you continue, but since you have insisted, and a promise is a debt, I must accept your resignation with a heavy heart," she said.

In 2025, Samia will seek votes to defend her incumbency for the first time, having been elevated from vice president to president by constitutional decree to fill the vacuum left by the late Magufuli.

Pundits believe there will be more changes in the party and government as the election approaches.

As vice chairperson, Kinana spearheaded CCM's maridhiano (reconciliation) talks with the main opposition party, Chadema, but these collapsed in mid-2023, with each party accusing the other of being the cause of the failure to reach an agreement. By BOB KARASHANI, The East Africa

Details: East Africa; 30 July 2024; 425

Mudavadi said President William Ruto settled on Odinga as Kenya’s candidate because of his vast experience/FILE

The Prime CS said no terms have been agreed upon by government regarding the proposal that is currently undergoing due process.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has assured that the government has not signed any deal with Adani Airports Holdings Limited over Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) infrastructure upgrade.

Mudavadi re-affirmed that due process will be followed in accordance with the law regarding the proposed expansion and modernization of the Nation’s major Asset to ensure that the country benefits.

This is after the Kenya Airport Authority (KAA) received a Privately Initiated Proposal (PIP) from Adani Airport Holdings of India in March 2024 to invest in national infrastructure priority projects.

“In response to concerns raised, modernization of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will be conducted in strict adherence to our constitution and specifically in accordance with the legal framework established under the PPP Agreement,” he said.

The Prime CS said no terms have been agreed upon by government regarding the proposal that is currently undergoing the requisite due process, reviews and negotiations in compliance with the Public-Private Partnerships Act

“For the avoidance of any doubt, all terms and conditions of the proposed arrangement are subject to negotiation in accordance with the provisions of the PPP Act and no terms have been agreed upon as yet,” he stated.

Mudavadi promised that the government will prioritize Kenya’s national interest should the proposal sail through to ensure that the private party is held fully accountable for the performance of its obligations under the Agreement.

He stated that if Adani Holding company investors will be found unsuitable to upgrade the Airport government will seek other alternative proposals to bridge the infrastructure gap at JKIA.

“As part of the review process, a detailed due diligence investigation of the project proponent will be conducted, in accordance with the provisions of the PPP Act. If the results of the due diligence are not satisfactory or the proposal is not approved, the Government will have recourse to other options including consideration of airport alternative proposals,” added Mudavadi. By Wangechi Purity, Capital News

Details: East Africa; 29 July 2024; 416

The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has announced the top 15 finalists for the 2024 VALUE4HER Women Agripreneurs of the Year Awards (WAYA).

This year's selection, drawn from 1,535 applications across 44 African nations, showcases the continent's top women excelling in agribusiness. The finalists have been drawn from Benin, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda.

“Women represent 50% of the agricultural labor force in Africa where they are responsible for 70% of production, yet they are still underrepresented as agribusiness leaders in the continent. WAYA aims to be one if the initiatives bridging this gap by incentivizing and recognizing these women as the drivers of inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa”, says AGRA’s Director for Gender, Youth & Inclusiveness, Ms. Nana Yaa Boakyewaa Amoah.

This year's ultimate category winners will each receive a cash prize of $25,000, with the grand prize winner walking away with $40,000.

Notably, the 2024 awards have seen a rise in the number of countries represented, increasing from 42 last year to 44 this year, and applicants increasing from 1,430 to 1,535. The winners will be announced at the Africa Food Systems Forum in Kigali Rwanda, which will be held from 2nd to 6th September 2024.

This year’s WAYA features five distinct categories, reflecting diversity and promoting the variety of talents among women agripreneurs in the continent. The categories are: Young Female Agripreneur (Rising Star), Women Empowerment Champion, Resilient and Inspirational Leader, Outstanding Value-Adding Enterprise and Female AgTech Innovator.

This year’s top 15 finalists, listed by category and in alphabetical order, are:

Outstanding Value-adding Enterprises

Affiong Williams -, Nigeria
Bassono Kabore Windlasida Florence -, Burkina Faso
Caroline Wanjiru Mambo -, Kenya

Female Ag Tech Innovators

Anaporka Adazabra -, Ghana 
Aisha Raheem -, Nigeria
Boitumelo Bethesda Frazie -, South Africa

Young Female Agripreneurs (Rising Stars)

Jovia Kisakye - Uganda 
Ogbon Eyitayo Azaratou - Benin 
Tonthoza Uganja -– Malawi

Women Empowerment Champion

Christine Ager - Kenya 
Fannie Gondwe - Malawi 
Judith Endelesi Karia - Tanzania

Resilient and Inspirational Leader

Daniella Ushindi Virivuswagha - DR Congo 
Konlan Lydia Madintin – Ghana
Sandra Letio - Uganda

AGRA said in a statement these women have distinguished themselves through their leadership, innovation, ambition, and commitment to community development and social impact. Their business ideas were sparked by existing social and environmental challenges within the agriculture and agrifood sectors in their countries, which they felt compelled to address. agrf-inperson.com,By Nixon Kanali, Africa Business Community

Details: East Africa; 29 July 2024; 407

The president of Rwanda Paul Kagame. File photo: EPA-EFE

Amilcar Cabral, who was the secretary-general of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and the Cape Verde Island, once said: “Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.”

To a person who has not internalised the words of Cabral, a consistently above 90% victory in an election is evidence of lack of democracy.The recent sweeping victory for President Paul Kagame of Rwanda at 99.18% has created a new term – poll dictatorship, although one wonders how you dictate a voter turn-out of 98.02% if not explained by the will of the people to affirm their choice of leadership. I proffer a different opinion as one who has looked at Rwanda through the lens of statistical evidence, having been a statistician-general of South Africa and worked quite closely with the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.

If you have lived under constant genocidal threat and ultimately, it materialises into the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi that in 100 days wiped out more than a tenth of the population, you have to ask yourself what could be worse – is there anything you can ever fear or be afraid of? Based on what Rwandans experienced, I would argue that it is impossible to intimidate them. Anyone threatening Rwandans by deception, coercion or other acts faces an uphill battle because for them, it cannot be worse than what they witnessed.

So, the results of the poll in Rwanda speak not to the fear of what others think of as a dictator, but the fearlessness of fear because what fear can be left in you when you saw and endured the worst? The poll, rather than reflect fear, speaks to and affirms what Rwandans experienced out of a condition that swept their country in a blink of an eye and what progressively and cumulatively restored their dignity in the past 30 years. Why would you gamble that dignity ever again? By Pali Lehohla, IOL

Details: East Africa; 29 July 2024; 517

A section of Kabarnet - Eldama Ravine road affected by landslide on July 29, 2024.

A section of the Kabarnet - Eldama Ravine Road became impassable on Monday morning due to huge cracks on the major highway.

The cracks developed following a heavy downpour in the region which caused landslides.

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.

On May 15, the national government warned residents of Baringo of landslides should the region continue receiving heavy rainfall.

Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is expected to provide an alternative route for motorists using the highway. BY Kioko Nyamasyo, Kenyans.co.ke