Women asked increase participation in politics

African women have been asked to change their attitude towards politics and offer themselves for elective positions instead of waiting to be given reserved seats.

Participants in a recent conference on African women in Political Leadership   agreed that it is not an easy exercise but  women should be prepared for it. The difficulties were attributed to negative societal perceptions, financial implications and the laid back nature of most African women. 

The women leaders however called upon African governments to pass and implement legislations that promote gender equality. Ugandan MP Betty Amongi argued that affirmative action is necessary in order to attain the 50 percent women representation by the year 2020, as envisioned by the African Union.

In Uganda, there are special constituencies  set aside for female candidates and the electoral law demands that at least 40 percent of political party executives should be women. On its part, the Kenyan political parties Act demands that not more than two-thirds of members of a political party’s national governing council should be of the same gender. 

Addressing the conference, Gichugu MP Martha Karua accused leaders of non-commitment and engaging in politics at the expense of women empowerment.

“There is no political will on this issue and those leaders now calling for a 50/50 gender representation are just trying to be politically correct,” Ms Karua said. 

 Ms Karua cited the recent passage of the Elections Bill, without provision for the implememntation of the not more than two thirds gender representation principle, as a case in point. The Bill has since been assented to by the president but women leaders are now considering taking the government to court for what they term as violation of the constitution.

The Narc Kenya leader and presidential hopeful also took issue with the high court ruling that dismissed a case filed by women groups challenging the composition of the supreme court. “I hope they(women groups) will appeal,” Ms Karua said.

Speaking at the launch of Pillar Awards Africa, Kenya Human Rights Commission executive director Atsango Chesoni said the cabinet has demonstrated its insincerity in ensuring gender equality in elective and appointive positions.

“There is no excuse why there shouldn’t be a third of women in all elective and appointive positions,” said Ms Chesoni.

Recent assessments of the extent to which increased women’s representation in democratic institutions is contributing to changing the cultures of these institutions and the way they conduct their business, reflect a mixed experience and questions of sustainability of the changes are raised. 

Statistics available from the Inter-Parliamentary Union indicate that women currently occupy 19.4 percent of parliamentary seats in Sub-saharan Africa, which is slightly higher than the world average of 19.3 percent.

Rwanda, with 56.3 percent women representation in its lower house, leads the pack of seven African countries that exceed the 30 percent threshold set in the 1995 Beijing Platform for Action. Nigeria is among those ranked lowest with less than 4 percent of parliamentarians being women.

The African women in political leadership conference was held in Nairobi this week and deliberated on support mechanisms and conceptualised a funding framework for women in politics at national, regional and international levels.

The conference was organised by the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) and brought together women politicians, women rights activists and women political aspirants from from  African Countries holding elections in 2011-2012.

Kenyan dies on Loliondo trip

BY MUSSA JUMA, in Arusha

A Kenyan citizen died and several others seriously wounded after they were attacked by thugs on their way to the northern Tanzanian village of Samunge in Loliondo, for a portion of Mzee Ambilikile Mwasapile’s wonder drug.

The incident occurred on Sunday at Soitsambu village, near the Kenya-Tanzania border, when armed robbers hijacked two Samunge-bound passenger vehicles from Kenya.

Confirming the incident, acting Arusha province police commandant, Akili Mpwapwa, said that the thugs managed to make away with Ksh200,000. He identified the deceased as Charles Muriuki Kagema, 39, who was the drive of one of the vehicles. The others were taken to Wasso hospital, Loliondo in Ngorongoro district.

“Police have moved to the border area and a serious search for the culprits is ongoing,” said Mr. Mpwapwa.

One of the hijacked vehicles, according to the police, was a Toyota Hiace ferrying passengers to Samunge.

The incident comes at a time when there has been an influx of visitors to Samunge from outside Tanzania whose numbers are estimated to have reached 17,000 as at Sunday. However, security of patients headed to Samunge from neighbouring countries cannot be assured especially due to usage of some routes from the borders that have no police protection.

Ngorongoro district commissioner, Elias Wawa Lali, has asked vehicles entering Tanzania from neighbouring countries to use roads and border points that are legally recognized.

The only recognized border point from Kenya into Tanzania is at Namanga,  which has immigration and other government officials.

 Over 200 vehicles have been going to Samunge per day with most of them making the journey at night.

Kamukunji campaigns enter the homestreach

Campaigns continued yesterday as the race for Kamukunji’s next Member of Parliament intensified, amid concerns of reduced lack of interest among the voters.

Ibrahim Ahmed of ODM, popularly referred to as Johnny, was in Kariokor Social Hall and Biafra town hall where he held meetings with area residents. He later held a youth meeting at Eastleigh section 3 before proceeding on a door-to-door campaign at Motherland and Wamugunda estates.

PNU’s Yusuf Abdi was held up in a strategy meeting for the better part of the day as his convoy traversed the Eastleigh area. In the afternoon, he held a meeting in Shauri Moyo Social Hall in the company of Public Health Minister Beth Mugo, Embakasi MP Fedinard Waititu, Kirinyaga Central legislature Joseph Gitari and a Nairobi Business Woman identified as Njeri wa Mitumba.

The by-election, scheduled for August 18, also features Narc Kenya”s Brian Weke, Geoffrey Mutuku Muthini of The Independent Party (TIP), and GNU’s Catherine Muthoni Kihara. Others are James Matagaro of Kenya Social Congress, David Waihiga (Agano) and Daniel Omao as Ford People’s candidate.

Mr.Ahmed and Mr. Weke are campaigning on a platform of insiders who have grown up in Kamukunji and hence understand unique challenges facing the area residents. Mr. Yusuf, on the other hand, wants to be elected on account of his advanced education level and many years of work experience.

There is however a low interest in the election among area residents and this is likely to have a negative impact on voter turnout come election day. And, as is was witnessed in earlier campaigns before the elections were halted by the high court, leaders accompanying the candidates addressed crowds in mother tongue in areas perceived to be strongholds specific people.

Kamukunji constituents, interviewed by the Nation, said the remaining period for the current parliament was not enough for whoever is elected as area MP to achieve much, but they want an MP who would address their immediate needs.

The main issues Kamukunji residents want their next member of parliament to tackle include proper utilization of CDF funds, the poor state of roads in the constituency, insecurity and high levels of unemployment among the youth. Some residents, especially those from Eastleigh and Majengo, have also expressed concern about police harassment in the fight against terrorism.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is expected in the constituency today to lead PNU campaigns while Prime Minister Raila Odinga is scheduled to pitch tent in the area from Saturday, to drum up support for the ODM candidate.

The campaigns continue until Tuesday with the election date slated for Thursday next week. It will be interesting to watch how major political parties handle this by-election as analysts tout it to be a rehearsal of the next general elections, expected to be held in a year’s time.

Peer review comes back

The second round of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review for Kenya Commences on 16^th July and runs through to 31^st July 2011. H E Prof Amos Sawyer, the former president of Liberia , is already in the country to lead a panel of distinguished Africans who will carryout the review.  The team is expected to meet the President and the prime minister on Monday before it embarks on its duty.

 

The review exercise is expected to highlight the progress made by the country, best practices in implementation of the national reform agenda as well as potential areas of constraints and challenges. The panel will compile a Country Review report to be tabled during the peer review for Kenya at the summit expected to take place in January 2011 in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia .

 

Speaking to journalist yesterday, at the Treasury buildings, where he was hosted by assistant minister for Planning, Peter Kenneth, Prof. Sawyer said that his panel with look into the progress made after the first review, identify the main challenges and suggest ways of addressing them. The main issues of concern will include ethnicity, poverty, the land question, corruption, inequality and unemployment among the youth.

 

The review will be carried out through a series of meetings and consultations with state and non-state actors including government officials, the civil society, religious leaders and various professionals. The panel will also organise various fora for members of the public to express their views in all counties.

 

The first country review for Kenya was carried out in 2006 with former South African first Lady DR. Graca Rachel as the lead panelist. The major successes of the First review, according to Mr. Kenneth, are the land reforms currently in progress and the setting up of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission to manage diversity in Kenya .

 

According to Prof Sawyer, APRM requires that a country carries out a review every 4 to 5 years and so far, 14 out of 30 member states have been reviewed. This is a voluntary self assessment that has been in place since 2003 and Prof Sawyer describes the progress made as ‘solid and encouraging’.

Relief efforts stepped up

The Kenya Red Cross Society plans to assist over 85,500 people affected by drought, in the next few months, through provision of clean water and supporting feeding in schools.

Kenya red Cross secretary general, Abbas Gullet, says that they intend to provide 15 litres of clean water per person every day in the nine most affected districts of Garisa, Mandera, Marsabit, Moyale, East Pokot, Ijara, Lamu, Kwale and Tanariver, where they have already rehabilitated nine boreholes.

Mr. Gullet made these remarks on Tuesday, at the Kenya Red cross headquarters, when he received 30 tons of food aid worth Ksh 3.6 million from GlaxoSmthKline, to be distributed to Northern Kenya.

Lately, there have been great efforts stepped up by the government and UN Agencies to manage hunger especially in Northern Kenya. The Kenya Red Cross estimates that the current drought situation is affecting over 3.5 million people in Kenya, with at least 290,000 children below the age of five years facing different levels of malnutrition.

Microsoft boosts ICT sector

BY BERYL WAMBANI

bwambani@ke.nationmedia.com

 

Microsoft Corporation, a leading software firm, through the Partners in Learning Program held the Microsoft Innovative teachers education Forum at Makini school yesterday.

The Kenyan vision to integrate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) into learning has moved closer with the introduction of a linking of a world leading computer software maker and Kenyan teachers.

The ICT Forum which is the first of its kind being held in the country is aimed at the promotion of ICT integration in teaching and learning in schools, which brought educators from across the country in a bid to change the image of the 8-4-4 education system through ICT.

Ministry for Information And Communications Permanent Secretary Mr Bitange Ndemo who was at the launch of the workshop stressed on the need to embrace ICT especially in schools through among other things, the use of search engines and reference materials like google and wikipedia. As opposed to teachers having to provide all educational materials in schools.

The educators at  the forum were presenting projects which have been ongoing for close to two months in which the teacher with the winning project will participate in the Microsoft Innovative teachers forum in Jordan from September 4th-6th, 2011.

Microsoft is partnering with Makini school and Aga Khan Academy Mombasa have been identified locally to act as mentor schools in Kenya, having embraced, integrated and are promoting use of technology in providing education.

Makini School boasts of 6 computer labs with over 200 computers to provide the necessary educational content as per their ICT curriculum which covers from pre school to the college level. According to the Director Mr David Okello, ICT is very integral in the provision of education especially in the current global education system to provide a well rounded and competitive student.  

"We are taking advantage of the Microsoft Initiative in order to be an ICT hub to cater for our students and the larger community. We hope to launch the Computer Clubs Association for schools which will be open to all schools both private and public to adress ICT challenges," he said.

The Partners in Learning Network is a ten year Microsoft Initiative project with a committment of Kshs500 million globally. It is empowering over 8million educators from 114 countries world wide to creatively use technology to improve learning.

David Muya a teacher from Kisumu Girls School, also attending the workshop, was one of the Worldwide Innovative Education Forum 2010 finalists in Cape Town, South Africa, has been sharing his motivations, experience and learning from Microsoft’s Partners in Learning Program to improve ICT use in education.

"I would like to inform other educators of the Partners in Learning tools which are available free online to all teachers to connect with teachers around the world. This is for networking by sharing lessons and project ideas, gain access to case studies, access new content and curriculum, and to join discussion forums with other educators globally," he said.

The Microsoft also has provided a Learning Suite for the teachers and students which has free tools and content such as Mouse Mischief, AutoCollage, Movie Maker, Microsoft Maths, Song Smith and the Digital Literacy Curriculum for the initiative.

'Raised Urban Farming' was the winning project by George Waweru and Diana Mbesi of Makini School, the second and third places were taken by John Kwaria with' Turning Kibera clean and green' and Fred Ochieng with 'Who wants to be President' respectiely. An award ceremony to honour the winners will be held at the Microsoft Offices locally in a weeks time.

Parliament faulted on ethics bill

The passage of the Ethics and Anti-corruption Bill by parliament was about getting rid of the current Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director and not in the spirit of fighting corruption, civil society groups have said.

“Debate on the Bill was not objective bearing in mind that some of the MPs have pending and ongoing investigations before the anti-corruption agency,” said Mr. Ken Wafula of the National Council of NGOs.

Parliament, on Thursday evening, passed the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Bill which, among others, will strip the director, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, and his deputies of their jobs immediately the Bill is enacted.

“This is not about PLO (Lumumba), but about the integrity of the anti-corruption commission and the fight against corruption,” said Gladwell Otieno of the Africa Centre for Open Governance.

According to Ms Otieno, there is an artificial rush being created by parliament, which leads to passing of bills that are against the spirit of the constitution. She called for care to be exercised and proper priorities set in the passage of crucial bills.

The civil society groups have however called for the development of a strong anti-corruption agency but they argue that the transition period has to be handled carefully. They proposed that the Bill should be amended to provide that the director and his deputies to serve in their positions until new officers are appointed.

“Transiting staff of the KACC to the EACC without the necessary technical heads will hinder the administrative execution of the commission’s mandate,” Mr. Wafula argued.

Speaking to the Nation on phone, KACC Advisory Board member Billow Kerow said that said that the removal of the director and subjecting other members of staff to vetting will demoralize them and adversely affect the performance of the commission.

Mr. Kerow is also opposed the amendment that would deny the commission powers to prosecute corruption suspects if the Director of Public Prosecutions fails to do so. He views it as move against the United Nations Chatter on creation of anti graft agencies and warned that it will adversely affect the effectiveness of the commission.

Mr. Kerow questioned the wisdom of having a panel comprised of mainly civil servants to recruit commissioners, saying that it will undermine the independence of the commission. If the Bill is assented to, the president is expected to appoint a panel of nine people within two weeks who will recruit a new commission.

As a solution, both Mr. Kerow and the civil society groups, separately, urged the president not to assent to the Bill but give more time for further considerations.

A press statement signed by seven civil societies read in part: “We are appealing to His Excellency the President to save our country by referring this Bill back to parliament for further consideration of the glaring governance issues emerging in the Bill.”

If the president goes ahead and signs the bill into law, Mr. Kerow said it will be challenged in court while Ken Wafula said they will call for mass action.

 Meanwhile, opposition continues to mount against the reinstatement of Moses Wetangula and his Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Transparency international Kenya Executive Director Samuel Kimeu said the reappointments were unprocedural and undermined the role of law enforcement agencies. He termed the president’s move as inappropriate, coming at a time when the country is in the process of laying down proper mechanisms to assist in the fight against corruption.

"The two (Wetangula and Thuita) had not been fully cleared as there were investigations still going on in Japan, therefore their reappointment is against the law," Mr. Kimeu said.

Mr. Kimeu was speaking to the Roaming Reporter  in Nairobi yesterday, on the sidelines of a forum organised by civil society groups to commemorate the first anniversary since the promulgation of the new constitution.

Former Mandera Central legislature Billow Kerow termed the recalling of the two as a show of the governments continued show of lack of commitment to the fight against corruption.

Wetangula and Thuita stepped down last October after a probe by the parliamentary defense and foreign affairs committee implicated them in irregular acquisitions of Kenyan  missions abroad.

Mental health to be boosted

At least 20 percent of patients in Kenyan hospitals have some form of mental illness and up to five percent of Kenyans suffer from depression.

This problem is compounded by the low number of qualified psychiatrists in the country, which currently stands at 80, with 75 percent of them based in urban areas.

These revelations were made yesterday during the ongoing African Association of Psychiatrists and Allied Professionals Conference in Red Court Hotel, Nairobi.

Under the theme of ‘Mental health in Africa: emerging challenges’, the conference intends to promote continued professional development and equip participants with up to date knowledge in the field of mental health.

 While opening the conference, Medical Services Minister Prof. Anyang Nyong’o said that the government has embarked on a plan to prioritise prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, among them mental illnesses. Prof. Nyong’o added that his ministry will consider increased allocation of funds and devolution of health services to address prevalent mental illnesses in rural areas.

According to Dr. Marx Okonji, chairman of the Kenya Psychiatric Association, the solution lies in training health workers on matters concerning mental health then deploying them to rural areas. This, he said, is one of the major aims of the conference.

The three-day conference brings together participants from all English-speaking African Countries, South of the Sahara. It discusses, among others, issues to do with funding for mental health, alcohol and drug abuse, substance use HIVand AIDS and mental health in special populations.

Remote Parenting at Nairobi West Prison

The Nairobi West Prison yesterday witnessed an overflow of joy and  lots of entertainment as inmates  to reunite with their families during their annual open day.

Dabbed as the remote parenting programme, the prisoners took a day off from their usual service to meet their relatives and friends and this time it was in the open and not through a glass window as it is normally the case.

According to the Nairobi Provincial Prisons Commandant Wanini Kireri, the event was organised during school holidays for inmates to get an opportunity to monitor the progress of their school-going children.

High Court Judge Fred Ochieng was also present at the event to answer questions from the inmates concerning their cases and also to educate them on their  rights.

Addressing members of the press, the judge said that inmates could make appeals on their cases even after the lapse of the legally provided period as long as they make appropriate applications. He however added that as inmates their rights are limited in order to act as a derterent to crime.

“ Something like conjugal rights for inmates is not provided for in the constitution and I think it would not be appropriate to do that. Extending such privileges to prisoners will make imprisonment lose its meaning and encourage more people to commit offences so as to be imprisoned,” said Justice Ochieng.

Peter Otieno, who has only 12 days to the end of his sentence, was very happy to meet his family and said that he was ready to go back to society as a reformed man.  Mr. Otieno was very appretiative of the love he received from his family while in prison and said that  he  nows sees life from a whole new angle.

David Ombati said that he has learnt new skills like  carpentry and soap making which he will use to earn a living once he is set free, from February next year. Flanked by his wife Magreette and their two children, Mr. Ombati said that he has accepted salvation and he now preaches to former inmates.

Visitors were shown various projects run by prisoners in which they make furniture, juice and liquid detergents. Most of the projects are supported by the Resources Orinted Development Initiative (RODI-Kenya), an organisation with a presence in more than 26 prisons countrywide.

Other volunteers like  Vickie wambura of Nafisika Trust have come up to offer emotional and psychological support to the inmates. She also trains them in basic literacy skills, computer literacy and performing arts.  A gradute of Business Management, Ms wambura has fond a new passion in working with inmates  and she said she is grateful to the authorities at Nairobi west Prison for according her the opportunity.

The inmates however feel that conjestion and delays in concluding their cases still remain to be great challenges. They also suggested that the remote parenting programme should be expanded to more than once a year, as it is the case at present, to give them more time to bond with their families.

Nairobi west prison has 477 inmates and by the end of the event, about 200 of them had received visitors.

KENYANS REACT TO POWER RATIONING

 

The Roaming Reporter went out to get the feeling of Kenyans about the impending power rationing and this is what some had to say:

Gidraph Gateri,

Branch Manager, Naivas Supermarket – Baba Dogo

The branch was opened only last week and almost all operations depend on electricity. We need power for lighting and operating machinery. In case of power rationing, we will have to use a generator which is an expensive option. We will therefore be forced to close early because a generator cannot sustain us for all our operating hours.

Even at home, power rationing will be a major inconvenience if it’s done in the evening because that means I will have to miss watching news on television. Why can’t they do the rationing late at night when people are asleep and most businesses closed?

David Wakaba,

Operations Manager, Premier Food Industries - Baba Dogo

Our industry operates on a 24-hour basis and we depend on power to run all form of machinery ranging from mixers, cooking tanks, motors and also for lighting. The decision to ration electricity supply in this region is shocking and we shall use appropriate means, as a manufacturing industry, to contest the move.

 In the meantime, we will be forced to use generators which will in turn affect the cost of production. But we shall bear the burden for a reasonable period before we think of passing it over to the consumer.

Diana Wairimu,

M-Pesa and Butchery Business Owner – Makadara

There will be no major impact on both my butchery and M-Pesa kiosk as I operate during the day and don’t need much electricity. I only use power for lighting in the evening and recharging my weighing machine.

If I am forced to operate at night and there is no power, I will turn to rechargeable florescent lamps as a viable option.

 However, unavailability of power at night will pose a major security concern as darkness scares away customers.

Bulton Mbogo,

Metalworks Workshop Supervisor – Makadara

All my operations depend on electricity and I have no other source of power. I need power for welding, lighting, drilling, cutting and grinding.

I will be forced to close if there is no power and some clients don’t accept their work to be delayed. In the wake of power rationing, I see myself running out of business.

Karagu Isaac,

Welding Technician – Jogoo Road

No power means no business for me. Other options like use of gas and generators are expensive and unsustainable. This welding business is all I have and if it’s affected negatively, I will lose my only source of income. 

Simon Muruga,

Kasarani Resident

I depend on electricity for most of my operations at home which range from cooking, operating electronics and lighting. If there is no electricity, food that I normally preserve in the refrigerator will get spoilt and that is the last thing I would wish to happen in these tough economic times. I even have some special medicine at home with require refrigeration as a preservation method.

Alex Fadiga,

Barber – Maringo

My Kinyozi purely depends on electricity and no other form of energy. I don’t use other shaving machines apart from the electric one. My customers come in at any time and therefore any form of power rationing schedule will have an adverse effect on my business. I do understand that there might be power generation shortfalls but rationing should be the last option Kenya Power can consider.

Kelly Odiek,

Poultry Farmer – Maringo

 I rear poultry using a method that relies heavily on electricity. My chicken cannot feed without sufficient light and natural light is never enough, given the kind of structures I use. The incubators should also have a constant

temperature, otherwise the chicks might die. So, I don’t support any form of power rationing

WOMEN WANT 80 NEW CONSTITUENCIES RESERVED FOR THEM

Women leaders now want the 80 new constituencies expected to be created before the next general elections to be reserved for women-only candidates.

This is the latest proposal being floated as way of ensuring that not more than two-thirds of MPs are of the same gender, as stipulated in the constitution. 

Prof. Wanjiku Kabira of the National Women’s Committee on Implementation of the Constitution said that the proposal is in line with best practices from other African countries that promote gender balance.

The women leaders further want clause 34 of the Elections Bill amended to compel political parties to comply with the two-thirds principle while nominating candidates for elective offices.

The proposed amendment reads in part, “…the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission scrutinizes the lists of candidates for elective offices nominated by all Political Parties participating in the elections of the National assembly, Senate and County Assembly to comply with the principle that not more than two-thirds of the nominated candidates are of the same gender. Where the list submitted by any political party fails to comply with this requirement, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission shall reject the entire party list.”

These proposals are contained in a cabinet memo to be presented to the cabinet sub-committee that was set up to deliberate on ‘technically possible’ options of achieving the gender balance principle in the Elections Bill.

“If the cabinet fails to act on the proposals, we shall bring them up for debate on the floor of the house,” said nominated MP Rachel Shebesh.

According to Rose Mbithi, the Director of Women United for Social Economic and Total Empowerment, the two proposals are not mutually exclusive and both of them should be implemented simultaneously.

Addressing a press conference yesterday at a Nairobi hotel, after a consensus building meeting, the women leaders said that they are not only advocating for gender equity, but also fighting for the rights of marginalized groups. They added that what they have come up with are just proposals and they are open to other viable alternatives.

“Affirmative action is not about women but protecting the integrity of the constitution and honouring the diversity of Kenyans,” said Prof. Maria Nzomo of the University of Nairobi’s Institute of Diplomacy and International Relations.

Dr. Regina Mwatha, of the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission, noted that their proposals were not meant to be permanent fixtures but intended to last until its objectives are realized.

“Who knows, maybe in future we may be required to undertake affirmative action for men,” Dr. Mwatha said.

The women leaders are however not worried about representation in the senate and county assemblies as they say that it is already taken care of in the constitution. Their concern is mainly in the National Assembly where the number of women members should not be less than 117 out of the total 350, including the speaker.

Kenyan Sues UK for Torture

A Kenyan, suspected to have been involved in the July 11, 2010 Kampala bombings, has launched torture proceedings against the British and American governments in a UK court.

Omar Awadh Omar alleges that he was physically abused both by British and American interrogators after being arrested in Kenya on September 17, 2010 and driven across the border to Uganda.

The proceedings have been filed in the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, Administrative Court in the United Kingdom William Hague, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs listed as the defendant.

Awadh claims that he was verbally abused, threatened with transfer to Guantanamo Bay, repeatedly pushed around, slapped, kicked, prevented from eating or praying, punched so hard he suffered kidney damage and threatened with serious sexual assault.

Public Interest Lawyers, representing Awadh and other Kampala bombings suspects, say that Awadh was first abducted in Nairobi by the Kenyan Anti Terror Police Unit before being handed over to the Ugandan Rapid Response Unit. He was later said to have been subjected to a terrifying series of interrogations by a team of American and British agents for 21 days.

Tessa Gregory, solicitor at Public Interest Lawyers said in a press release that the case raises grave concerns about the conduct of UK security services overseas.

“Our client was unlawfully rendered, detained in appalling conditions and subjected to cruel and unlawful treatment by MI5, FBI and Ugandan agents,” said Mr. Gregory.

According to Rabia Mohamed, Omar Awadh Omar’s wife, Awath has been subjected to physical, emotional and psychological torture which has terribly affected her and their three children.

In a statement sent to newsrooms, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Hassan Omar Hassan has called upon the government to ensure that the rights of any of its citizens are not violated.

“No government or leader that swears to uphold and protect the sanctity of the Constitution and by extension its citizens can be so reckless and carefree as to expose and/or conspire the violation of its citizens,” said Mr. Hassan.

Before his arrest, Awadh, 37, was a car dealer and human rights activist. He was charged with being present at a meeting in which plans were drawn up to mount two suicide bomb attacks at a restaurant and a rugby club in Kampala, where crowds would be watching the football World Cup final.

The attacks claimed at least 76 people and injured more than 70. Responsibility was later claimed by al-Shabab, the Somali militant group.

Women to Push For Affirmative Action

The requirement that at least a third of MPs in the next parliament be women can only be amended through a referendum,  the National Commission on Gender and Development  has said.

The Commission’s chairperson Dr. Regina Mwatha said that neither parliament nor the cabinet has a mandate to change a constitutional principle contained in the Bill of Rights. 

“According to Article 255(1) of the constitution only Kenyans through a constitution can change this principle,” Dr. Mwatha said.

Dr. Mwatha was reacting to media reports that the cabinet was considering amending the provision in article 34 of the Elections Bill, which provides that some constituencies have women only candidates for elections on a rotational basis.

 She termed such a move as an attempt to take away affirmative action ‘through the back door’ and called on parliament to retain all clauses on affirmative action as they are in all bills brought before them.

Although the fair representation principle is contained in the chapter on the Bill of Rights, the structural requirement is contained in article 81(b), which is not part of the protected clauses and hence does not require a referendum to be amended.

However, article 97(2) of the constitution says: “Nothing in this Article shall be construed as excluding any person from contesting an election under clause [97] (1) (a).” This partly implies that no candidate should be barred from contesting in an election on the basis of gender.

It is this particular clause that women leaders want amended so as to prevent the ‘women only candidates rule’ from being seen to be inconsistent with the constitution.

“Affirmative action is about bending backwards and it requires a great deal of goodwill on the part of parliament. If we leave it open, we are not likely to attain the two thirds requirement and thhat might lead to a constitutional crisis,” said Dr. Mwathe who is also the vice chairperson of the expanded Kenya National Human Rights and equality Commission.

COTU calls for apt response to drought crisis

The Government has been asked to declare the current drought situation in the country a national disaster.

Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) secretary general Francis Atwoli says that government officials should go beyond visiting the affected areas to ensure that adequate food is availed to those who need it.

“We have enough resources to sustain our current population in Kenya. As a country, we do not have to rely on foreign aid because our farmers can produce enough to feed us all,” said Mr. Atwoli.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at the COTU headquarters, Mr. Atwoli said that it is unfortunate that politicians are moving around the country waging early campaigns while Kenyans are dying of hunger. He further called upon members of parliament from the affected areas to resign because the government they serve has failed to meet the needs of the electorate.

“The casual manner in which this government handles issues shows that they don’t value human life.  Poverty anywhere constitutes danger everywhere,” Mr. Atwoli said.

According to the Kenya Red Cross society, the current drought situation is affecting over 3.5 million people in Kenya, with at least 290,000 children below the age of five years facing different levels of malnutrition. The most affected areas include Garisa, Mandera, Marsabit, Moyale, East Pokot, Ijara, Lamu, Kwale and Tanariver.

Meanwhile, COTU has announced that it will take a firm stand in next year’s general election instead of letting members to decide for themselves whom to elect. However, according to the organisation’s secretary general Francis Atwoli, the is no one among the current presidential hopefuls who is fit to lead this country.

“All those going around the country declaring their presidential ambitions are tribal self-seekers who do not have the interests of Kenya at heart,” said Mr. Atwoli.

He tore into those who are busy campaigning while there are still many issues of national importance that need to be tackled. Atwoli announce that COTU with establish a fully-equipped media outlet to educate Kenyans on their rights as we head to a general election next year.

Mr. Atwoli further urged the government to offer workers a general wage increase of 10 percent to cushion them against the high cost of living.

“I am paid well to speak for the common man but the workers I represent are suffering,” said Mr. Atwoli.

During the Labour Day celebrations this year, COTU asked for the minimum wage to be increased for up to 60 percent. A reconciliation committee was formed to look into the issue but its report is yet to be released.

Atwoli asks kiraitu to resign

The Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) wants energy minister Kiraitu Murungi to resign over alleged mismanagement in the energy sector, the latest being the ongoing power rationing programme.

COTU secretary general, Francis Atwoli, says that the current shortfalls in electricity supply are as a result of poor planning and management on the part of all industry players and therefore the minister concerned should take responsibility.

“Kiraitu Murungi used to be a very promising political activist but he has failed to carryout his duties effectively as a minister and should therefore resign. Vital reforms in the energy sector can best be addressed in the absence of the minister” said Mr. Atwoli.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday at COTU headquarters, Atwoli asked Kenya Power to reconsider the rationing programme as it will adversely  affect  industrial workers. He said that power affects every area of production and its absence makes life very difficult.

“ Most workers in industries are paid per hour and most of functions rely heavily on electricity. Power rationing will therefore translate to lose of income for them,” Mr. Atwoli said.

On Monday, Kenya Power announced a rationing programme and attributed the shortfall in electric supply to drought and breakdown of power generating plants. Mr. Atwoli however, says that this should not be the case as most generating plants are inappropriately located yet there is a lot of water that is not put to productive use.

“I get electricity supply to my rural home in western Kenya only once  a week and yet this is a region with some of the largest rivers in Kenya. It is not logical to build some dams like Masinga in areas that experience perpetual rain failure,” said Mr. Atwoli.

Meanwhile, the rationing programme, scheduled to start on Wednesday evening,  will affect the bulk of industrial and retail consumers at the main consumption points in Nairobi, Western Kenya, and Mt Kenya region. The programme, according to Kenya Power,  could go on until late in the year depending on whether the short October to November rains manage to fill the main dams along River Tana.