Featured - Informer East Africa News

Details: East Africa; 30 January 2022; 401

Photo Courtesy The Peninsula

The Ambassador of the United Republic of Tanzania, H E Dr. Mahadhi Juma Maalim, has stressed the importance of strengthening the relationship between Qatar and Tanzania.

Speaking to the media recently, Dr. Maalim, who took office late last year, said Qatar and Tanzania share deep-rooted connections stretched over history and more could be done between both parties to boost the relationship.

“I’m taking off from where my colleague ended (H E Fatma Mohammed Rajab), and our priority is to continue to strengthen the relationship between our country and the host country. The relationship is good, but it can be better because Tanzania and Qatar trace their relationship from way back, and we have had these links for centuries,” Dr. Maalim, who was formerly Ambassador to Kuwait, said.

“Qataris know our part of the world, especially the coastal parts in Zanzibar, and those connections give us a place to start. But now, we need to strengthen those relationships. We want to encourage them and to show them that the opportunities are abundant in our part of the world and the returns are greater, and the risk is not as much as they assume to be.”

Dr. Maalim, a lawyer by profession, also dismissed misconceptions about the security situation in Africa.

“Usually so many untrue things are written or shown on TV about our part of the world and that frightens people who don’t know much about our part of the world. So we are here to encourage them, to inform them that things are better and the prospects are promising.”

The Ambassador also praised Qatar for its support to the over 2,000 Tanzanian community during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) peak period.

“We know during the pandemic, Qatar has really helped our community. The community struggled during that time, and it was difficult for everybody. The way Qatar helped was a great thing. Some community members who were in distress received several items to support themselves, and we thank them and also for the free vaccination,” he added.

On the Tanzanian community and the embassy’s plans, Dr. Maalim said, besides providing consular services, there are plans to formalise the community organisation to give them an operation structure.

“We are here to support them for consular service, which is our responsibility and to continue to encourage them to be better residents and to be better ambassadors for our country. However, they have had an organisation for so long, but it still lacks a formal structure to cater to the different interests of the members,” Dr. Maalim said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the local hospitality, he said, “I can identify myself very much with them. I come from the coastal side of Tanzania, and I enjoy the seafood and the culture. It seems there are a lot of changes happening, but they have maintained their culture in all of it.” By Aveni Olusegun, The Peninsula

Details: East Africa; 30 January 2022; 429

Chief Justice Martha Koome (left) and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell at Makadara Law Courts.

FILE

Chief Justice Martha Koome has secured a Ksh4.5 billion funding deal after an agreement reached by officials from the European Union (EU).

In a statement to the press on Sunday, January 30, the Judiciary indicated that the new funding forms the second phase of the Programme for Legal Empowerment and Aid Delivery in Kenya (PLEAD II)

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, in a meeting attended by Koome at Makadara Law Courts on Friday, January 28, noted that the new funding would take effect in 2022 and run till 2028.

He further noted that PLEAD was the biggest EU justice programme in sub-Saharan Africa with the new phase expected to give focus on capacitating the criminal justice system to fight corruption more effectively.

Chief Justice Martha Koome (third left), the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell (second left) and other officials at Makadara Law Courts.

FILE

The fund will also be directed towards harnessing the potential of digital technologies to improve access to justice with the biggest beneficiaries being vulnerable people.

PLEAD is delivered by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in association with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Kenya, National Commission for the Administration of Justice (NCAJ), Department of Justice (DoJ) and National Legal Aid Service (NLAS), supported by civil society and other judicial sector players.

“PLEAD has initiated transformative criminal justice reforms in Kenya, delivered key support to judicial institutions and allowed to develop an extensive offer of legal aid services to vulnerable and marginalised citizens.

"In the upcoming months, together with the Judiciary, our teams from the EU, UNODC, UNDP and civil society stakeholders will work together to pave the way forward for better access to justice and improved fight against corruption in Kenya," he stated.

Koome praised the new partnership noting that it would advance the transformative agenda aimed at improving the delivery of justice launched by the programme's first phase.

Among the success is access to justice especially for the poor and vulnerable, through the provision of legal aid as well as the strengthening of court administration and case management among others.

“We have seen significant improvement in institutional effectiveness and performance by the various actors in the justice sector. The support from the PLEAD I programme enabled the actors within the justice sector to continue delivering services despite the challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the Chief Justice remarked.

The support under PLEAD I contributed towards ensuring a collaborative and consultative approach among member agencies under the National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) that enhanced access to justice.

Key achievements included the multi-agency response to the global pandemic, the development of policy including the diversion Policy and the plea-bargaining guidelines. PLEAD support also strengthened Court User Committees and the development of the NCAJ Strategic Plan 2021-2026.

In April 2021, the EU launched plead Phase 1 by approving a Ksh945 million (7.25 million euros) grant for the government to provide legal services to poor Kenyans.

Man lying outside Makadara Law Courts in Nairobi after Collapsing moments to case hearing on Thursday, August 6, 2020.

TWITTER By Derrick Okubasu, Kenyans.co.ke

Details: East Africa; 29 January 2022; 473

National Police Service (NPS) Headquarters, Vigilance House THE STANDARD

The National Police Service (NPS) moved 29 senior police officers in a bid aimed at boosting security in the country.

According to a letter by the NPS, released on Friday, January 28, the 29 sub-county police commanders were drawn from the ranks of inspectors and chief inspectors.

During the transfer period, NPS allocated more police officers to the Kenya Revenue Authority in a bid to boost investigations.
Police officers during a parade in December 2019.

NATIONAL POLICE SERVICE TWITTER

Those affected by the changes were Starehe Central boss Adamson Bungei who was moved to Turkana Central. He was replaced by David Baariu.

Kiminini station will be manned by John Otieno, who was moved from Gilgil and replaced by Francis Tumbo. Stella Jerono was also transferred from Nyatike to Keiyo South.

Baringo West will be overseen by Christine Kola who was moved from Narok West while Harriet Rimbere was transferred from Kitui to Naivasha.

Moses Owiti was moved to Samburu Central in the reshuffle. This comes barely a fortnight after the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti reshuffled over 70 county and sub-county criminal investigation officers.

A statement issued on Wednesday, January 19, indicated that 13 of the officers who were stationed at the headquarters were redeployed in Nairobi to handle the revenue fraud cases.

The 13 were redirected to report to their work stations on Thursday, January 20 while the rest are expected at their new stations on Friday, January 28.

Kenya, on Friday, January 28 beefed up security following warnings from several European embassies in the country on possible terror attacks.

The Dutch, French, German and American Embassies cautioned their citizens to avoid public places and report any alarming incidents.

Police spokesperson Bruno Shioso, however, stated that they were yet to receive reports regarding the alert.

Shioso, nonetheless, assured Kenyans of their safety adding that more police were deployed to man Nairobi Metropolitan and the entire country.

Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti addressing journalists at DCI headquarters along Kiambu Road on Thursday, March 5, 2020 By Mumbi Mutuko, KENYANS.CO.KE