Kemi Badenoch has won the UK's Conservative Party race to replace the former Prime Minister Richi Sunak. She becomes the first Black women to lead the party. She campaigned promising to return the party back to its founding principles.
The 44 year-old Kemi Badenoch has promised to shrink the state and challenge institutional left-wing thinking in support of the principles of free speech, free market and enterprise. She beat the former Conservative Minister for immigration Robert Jenrick by winning 57 per cent of the Conservative members vote against Robert Jenrick's 43 per cent.
Kemi achievement is historical, she is receiving accolades from different quarters. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised her saying:
"the first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country".
The Senate Committee on Justice Legal Affairs and Human Rights has rejected a Bill seeking to extend the term limits for elected officials in Kenya, including the presidency following strong opposition to the proposed law reform.
The committee’s chairperson Hillary Kiprotich Sigei said the Bill revealed that 99.99 percent of Kenyans who submitted their views opposed the changes proposed in the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
Sigei stated that the Committee carefully considered all public views regarding the proposed law changes.
“Senate Committee rejects Cherarkey’s bill seeking to extend terms of elected officials from 5 to 7 years. 99.99 percent of 168,801 public submissions opposed the changes. The voice of Kenyans has been unequivocal,” stated Sigei.
The Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey sponsored a Bill seeking to extend terms of elected officials from the current 5 to 7 years including Governors and Members of Parliament.
The Bill was also proposing the creation of the office of the Prime Minister that will be appointed by the president similar to the proposal made in the National Dialogue Committee and the Building Bridges Initiative reports.
Other proposals included a proposal to involve the Senate in approving the deployment of the Kenya Defence Forces in any part of the country. Currently, the law states that the executive must seek the approval of the National Assembly.
The Bill also sought an amendment to Article 181 of the constitution that provides for the procedure for removal from office of a county governor from office or a deputy governor so as to have a decision to impeach a Governor being challenged only at the Supreme Court.
President William Ruto had opposed the controversial proposal reiterating his commitment to upholding the Constitution, urging lawmakers to resist attempts to alter term limits for personal or political gain. Wangechi Purity, Capital News
Former president Jacob Zuma singing 'Umshini wami' after an appearance at the arms deal corruption trial at the Pietermaritzburg high court. File image. Image:SANDILE NDLOVU
Former ANC president Jacob Zuma will on Friday fight for his reinstatement as an ANC member after his expulsion in July.
The Jacob Zuma Foundation said on Thursday Zuma's hearing by the ANC's national disciplinary committee of appeals (NDCA) will be held virtually.
Zuma wanted a physical meeting.
“He has instructed his representative Tony Yengeni that the first order of business must be his application for a physical and public appeal process and a few other preliminary objections which need to be decided before the appeal on the merits. The NDCA will be chaired by Johnny de Lange and the charged member will be represented by Yengeni,” the foundation said.
Despite having established his own party which led to the ANC's electoral losses in May, Zuma maintains he is still a member of the ANC.
He was charged with bringing the party into disrepute and for acting and collaborating with a political organisation other than an organisation in alliance with the ANC, in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the party.
He was also charged with having campaigned for the MK Party.
NDC members including Faith Muthambi, Nocawe Mafu, Robinson Ramaite, Kerensa Millard and Vusi Pikoli voted in favour of his expulsion.
The NDC argued Zuma's misconduct was serious and his contribution to the liberation struggle could not detract from the decision to impose the sanction and expulsion.
Kenya's real estate market faces challenges from political uncertainty, yet demand for affordable housing remains strong. [Standard, File]
Kenya’s real estate market is feeling the effects of political uncertainty, with developers and investors expressing concerns regarding the risks tied to frequent election cycles.
Some property leaders say political tensions, including recent debates on extending term limits and impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President, are creating an unpredictable investment climate.
Industry executives are calling for political stability, arguing it is essential to sustaining investor confidence and supporting long-term growth.
“Kenya needs stability, not divisive politics if we want to build a secure investment environment,” said John Mwaura, Chief Executive of Finsco Africa.
At the same time, demand for affordable land and housing options remains strong, with the Thika Grove Chania project emerging as one of several developments targeting buyers near Thika town.
The project, spearheaded by Finsco Africa, offers affordable land parcels, with prices starting from Sh3.8 million for an eighth of an acre and Sh7.3 million for a quarter of an acre.
It aims to attract potential homeowners with amenities like electricity, water, and gated communities. Mwaura made the remarks while issuing more than 100 title deeds at the Thika Grove Chania Phase 1 project and during the launch of Thika Grove Chania Phase 3. By David Njaaga, The Standard
As of today it is a criminal offence to attempt to “influence a person’s decision to access or provide abortion services within 150 metres of a clinic” in England and Wales. Such “influence” could include silent prayer according to the government’s new draconian rules.
“Protection zones around abortion clinics are now in force”, states a post from the UK Home Office on social media platform X.
“We are safeguarding women from any form of intimidation or harassment.”
Protection zones around abortion clinics are now in force. It is a criminal offence to attempt to influence a person’s decision to access or provide abortion services within 150 metres of a clinic. We are safeguarding women from any form of intimidation or harassment.
The new law has been called a “national disgrace”, by Isabel Vaughan-Spruce, speaking on behalf of March for Life UK, the pro-life organisation that strives to help and protect vulnerable women and the unborn, and who herself has been repeatedly arrested and prosecuted for praying silently outside abortion clinics.
“This is a shameful day for our country,” Vaughan-Spruce says, before noting that so-called buffer zones around facilities providing abortion services have been legalised with “unlimited fine risks for those caught breaking the obscure rules” set out by the government.
She notes that annually in the UK there are about 250,000 abortions, while about 50 per cent of those are repeat abortions, and include abortions as a result of taking abortion pills that result in some women having to go to hospital due to complications.
“Yet people in our government are trying to criminalise those offering alternatives to pregnant women or even silently praying about this issue.”
The last Conservative government had informed police that silent prayer should be allowed inside the new “safe access zones”, following controversy and protests about Christians being arrested for what were in effect the first “thought crimes” to be penalised in the UK for centuries.
But the new Labour government ditched draft guidance by the Conservatives that would protect silent prayer. The changes mean that silent prayer will be banned in the zones, although it will be at the discretion of the police to determine whether it meets the threshold for prosecution.
The new law scrapped exemptions allowing “consensual” communication within the zones, such as handing out leaflets or activists engaging those arriving at an abortion clinic in conversation.
The new law states that it is illegal for anyone to do anything that “obstructs someone from using abortion services or causes harassment or distress to a clinic’s patient or employee”, the DailyTelegraph reports.
The scope of its application includes making it illegal for someone to “intentionally influence someone’s decision to use abortion services”, which would in effect outlaw offering help or advice or simply a kind word. By James Jeffrey, Catholic Herald
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