The African Union is calling for calm and restraint in Kenya following deadly protests by the opposition groups that saw deaths and rival gangs loot and destroy property.
AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed “deep concern” at violence that led to deaths and what he called interruption of certain economic activities in Nairobi and other cities in the country where supporters of opposition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition led by their leader Raila Odinga were protesting.
“The Chairperson urges all stakeholders to exercise calm and engage in dialogue to address any differences that may exist in the supreme interest of national unity and reconciliation,” Faki said.
“In this regard, the Chairperson wishes to recall the successful conduct of General Elections in August 2022 in Kenya and the subsequent unanimous confirmation of the election outcome by the Supreme Court.”
Mr Odinga’s supporters poured into the streets for the second week, protesting against the high cost of living and what they say is inherent opaqueness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, which Mr Odinga accuses of rigging him out of last year’s presidential poll in favour of eventual winner William Ruto. Dr Ruto’s victory was, however, confirmed by the Supreme Court in September after describing Odinga’s evidence as “hot air”.
But Odinga has argued new evidence proved he had been rigged out and demanded action by the Commission to open up their servers.
Total support
The AU boss called for dialogue but also expressed total support for the Kenyan government. The AU observers had endorsed the election outcome last year.
“In this regard, the Chairperson wishes to recall the successful conduct of General Elections in August 2022 in Kenya and the subsequent unanimous confirmation of the election outcome by the Supreme Court.”
The protests turned deadly after two people were shot dead in Kisumu while goons attacked the property of Mr Odinga and his ally, former president Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyatta’s farm was torched as goons looted his livestock and cut down trees. - AGGREY MUTAMBO, The EastAfrican
Angry protestors have clashed in Torquay as anti-migrant groups gathered for a demonstration outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in the Cornish resort town. Police are attempting to jeep the rival protests apart outside the hotel as the two sides confront each other across the barriers.
DailymotionAnti-fascist demonstrators barricade Newquay asylum-seeker hotel as far-right threaten protest/Photo Courtesy
Anti-fascist activists clad in black were observed towards the crowd of anti-migrant protests, and officers had to use physical force to keep them apart.
According to CornwallLive, four counter-protesters were removed by the police after allegedly attacking a protester who was against asylum seekers.
Devon and Cornwall Police have yet to confirm any arrests or individuals being taken away when approached by CornwallLive.
The violence is reported to have broken out at around 1pm with counter-protesters clashing with officers in front of the Beresford Hotel as they tried to break through police lines to reach those protesting the housing of asylum seekers in the town.
As the groups clashed a local woman was reportedly shoved and knocked to the ground by a member of the anti-fascist black bloc group gathered on the street.
CornwallLive reported the culprit and then disappeared into the crowd.
The victim was approached but did not wish to speak about the incident.
Earlier some 50 protesters where reported to have gathered to demonstrate against the asylum seeker hotel while 150 people turned out to counter-protest.
The Beresford Hotel in Newquay was surrounded by a large number of police officers who have erected two barriers to separate the anti-asylum seeker protesters from the counter-protesters.
Pro and anti-migrant activists were located approximately ten meters apart and are currently shouting and chanting at each other.
Meanwhile, Narrowcliff was blocked, preventing traffic from passing through.
A woman from the group opposed to refugees told CornwallLive: "We are standing here peacefully. They took the road, which is legal. They are pushing their way through.
"There's two homeless men in the shelter you can see from here who have nothing. They are doing everything in that shelter. They've been to the council for help and got refused.
"We have people here getting everything paid for and humiliating our government by complaining that it's disgraceful. Everybody has a right to complain.
"We're protesting but not allowed to have our say. We're not listened to.
The supporters of asylum seekers could be heard chanting slogan such as "You know you're terrible", "Anti-fascists", "We welcome refugees here", and "Refugees are welcome from the Tamar to the sea".
On the other hand, the opposition demonstrators responded by shouting phrases like "They're not refugees, they're migrants. They abandoned their families", "Why are you hiding your faces, you communists?",
"Are you hiding because of your acne?", "Communists are supporting illegal immigrants who left their families behind", and "Masked communists are supporting illegal immigrants who managed to come here by deceiving others and leaving their families behind," according to Cornwall Live. by Tim McNulty, Greg Martin, Charlotte B, Daily Express
A cruel drug dealer trafficked a young boy out of London and forced him to live in squalor for two weeks with barely any food or drink then bragged about it in a music video. Xavion Benson, 22, had promised the boy £2,800 in payment for his "work" but none of that money was paid and he was not able to wash or brush his teeth during the time he was held.
An investigation was launched when the boy's parents reported him missing to the Metropolitan Police. After he was released and returned to his family, he had visibly lost weight.
Officers were able to link the boy's phone with the numbers being used to run two drugs supply lines named Peter and Zak, which were already under investigation and were seen to be active from London in Clacton, Essex.
He was questioned on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and further investigations found a music video of a drill music artist who had been published under the name 'Pushweight Bandit'.
Benson was identified as the performer, and had bragged about sending a "young boy" out to sell drugs on his behalf during the lyrics. A second London man, Ryan Arrowsmith, was also identified as being concerned in the drugs lines and was responsible for sending out bulk marketing messages.
These included texts advertising "fat deals 2 for 15 3 for 25 freebies for numbers". Officers were able to link a vehicle to Arrowsmith, which he regularly used to travel from London to Clacton and he was arrested in March 2022 after a warrant was executed at his home in Braundton Avenue, Sidcup.
During a search of his home, he was found trying to flush drugs down the toilet in his ensuite, in an attempt to destroy evidence. In total, more than £2,000 worth of drugs were seized and he was charged with being concerned in the supply of heroin, being concerned in the supply of crack cocaine and possession with intent to supply a Class A drug.
Benson, of Creek Road, Greenwich, was charged with being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs and human trafficking with both men pleading guilty to the offences. Arrowsmith has now been jailed for four years and three months while Benson was locked behind bars for five years and seven months.
Recorder Eynon-Evans also imposed a slavery and trafficking prevention order which prevents him from arranging travel for anyone other than himself or a family member for the next seven years. Detective Inspector James Healy, of Essex Police's serious violence unit, said: "County lines gangs not only target vulnerable people in our communities, but they also target and groom vulnerable children to carry out their work. This is trafficking and exploitation; nothing less. It is a disgusting crime, and we were determined to pursue a conviction under the Modern Slavery Act given the impact Benson's actions have had on both the young boy and his family.
"This is the first conviction of its type in Essex, and I am extremely proud of the team for the tireless work they have put into identifying the people responsible, arresting them and putting them before the court.
"It is also a testament to the officer in this case that she was not content with the drugs conviction for Benson. She identified the further harm his actions caused to the boy and his family and relentlessly pursued a modern slavery conviction.
"Both Benson and Arrowsmith were responsible for the supply of Class A drugs on our streets. We do not tolerate that in Essex. They were unaware of the highly sophisticated investigation being carried out into their behaviour and when our strikes came in March, the evidence against them was already overwhelming and they have had no option but to admit their guilt in front of the courts.
"The work carried out between Essex officers and those from the Met's Op Orochi specialist command shows that we are not tackling this issue alone; we're doing it with our policing partners, as well as our local authority partners."
PC Harlie Turner, who led the Essex Police investigation, added: "One of the main aims of these gangs is to recruit young children into their lifestyle. It is common for more established gang members to offer acts of kindness to children to win them over.
"They are promised a life of money and designer clothes. But they are being duped. Very sadly these children soon find out the reality is nothing like the promise. Instead, they often go missing for long periods of time, creating terror for their parents who have no idea where they are. The children will stay in squalor conditions with little or no food and drink as they work to earn money for the gang elders.
"In this case, I am so glad that we were able to work alongside our Met colleagues to save this boy from gang life to allow he and his family to build a future away from people like Benson and Arrowsmith." Source: My London
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