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Archive for July 8th, 2009

Supporting Somalia will continue geared towards restoration of peace

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

Nairobi, July 07, 2009

President Mwai Kibaki is introduced to a delegation from North Eastern Province by Defence Minister Hon. Yusuf Haji when they called on him at his Harambee House office, Nairobi.

We’ll continue supporting peace efforts in Somalia, President Kibaki says

Kenya will continue supporting efforts geared towards restoring peace in Somalia , President Mwai Kibaki has said.

Noting that the growing insecurity in Somalia was a threat not only to Kenya s socio-economic progress but the whole of the East African region, President Kibaki commended the African Unions decision at the recently concluded AU summit to assist in resolving the Somali conflict.

Kenya fully supports the African Union and IGADs efforts geared towards the peaceful resolution of the Somali conflict, President Kibaki said.

The Head of State was speaking at his Harambee House office where he met a goodwill delegation from North Eastern Province .

President Kibaki, at the same time, said his Government will increase funds for the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme in all parts of the country including the North Eastern Province to ensure the youth are gainfully engaged and are not involved in criminal activities.

The President stressed that the Government was committed to ensuring equitable distribution of the Kazi Kwa vijana funds and challenged the youth to take advantage of the programme to earn a living and also contribute to national development.

The President assured wananchi in North Eastern Province that he was aware of the problems facing the region and has stepped up efforts to address them.

Citing the ongoing famine that has adversely affected many people in the province, President Kibaki said the Government will increase the provision of relief food to alleviate the suffering of wananchi while long term measures are taken to curb the problem.

Plans are underway to import more maize to cushion wananchi from the famine that has affected many parts of the country, the Head of State said.

The President said the Government is also working towards finding a lasting solution to the problem of water scarcity in North Eastern Province .

Speaking during the meeting the North Eastern Leaders, led by Ministers Yusuf Hajji and Mohammed Elmi, thanked the President lfor initiating the Kazi Kwa Vijana programme saying it will assist in providing employment for the youth in North Eastern Province and guard against their recruitment by Somali militia groups.

The leaders also assured President Kibaki that they will continue working with the Government in ensuring that security prevails in the province.

Source.PPS, statehouse, Nairobi, Kenya

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Kenya-China cooperation hailed

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

Nairobi, July 07, 2009

President Mwai Kibaki congratulates the new Ambassador of Slovak to Kenya H.E Mr. Milan Zachar, after he presented his credentials at State House, Nairobi.

Kenya-China cooperation hailed

President Mwai Kibaki has hailed the existing cooperation between Kenya and China.

Speaking today at state House Nairobi when he received credentials from the incoming Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Deng Hongbo, President Kibaki noted that China has established a special relationship with Kenya.

The President appreciated the development assistance Kenya gets from China and expressed optimism that the cordial relations between the two countries will be enhanced for the benefit of the two countries.

We want to develop genuine mutual cooperation for the benefit of the people of our two countries, President Kibaki said.

On his part, the incoming ambassador said he looked forward to closer economic and technical cooperation in the various fields where memorandums of understanding between the two countries have been signed.

President Kibaki also received credentials from the incoming Ambassador of Slovakia to Kenya Mr. Milan Zachar and the new Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Kenya Jayantha Dissanayake.

Addressing the new envoys to Kenya, President Kibaki encouraged them to travel to all parts of the country and interact freely with Kenyans during their tour of duty so as to succeed in their assignments.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner appreciated the significant contribution Kenya had made to bring peace, stability and prosperity in the East African region and Africa in general.

The new Slovak High Commissioner noted with appreciation that Kenya was among the first countries to recognize the Slovak Republic when it became a sovereign state in 1993 following the peaceful and negotiated split from the federation of Czechslovakia.

Mr. Zachar said Slovak maintained diplomatic relations with Kenya and two other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and was earmarked for continued development cooperation.

Present were Foreign Affairs Assistant Minister Richard Onyonka and Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Thuita Mwangi.

Source.PPS, StateHouse, Nairobi, Kenya

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Obama chides ‘corrupt’ Russia

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

MOSCOW, Tuesday

Barack Obama attempted to bridge the divisions of the Cold War with a new generation of Russian students today, outlining a vision of a world made safer by closer ties between the Kremlin and Washington.

The US president told students from Moscows New Economic School the future of Russia — and its relations with the US — belonged to them.

What kind of future is Russia going to have? What kind of future are Russia and America going to have together? What world order will replace the Cold War? President Obama said.

Those questions still do not have clear answers, and so now they must be answered by you — by your generation in Russia, America, and around the world. You get to decide.

But a generation of apathetic young people who were born in the last days of the Soviet Union and who grew up in the chaos of the 1990s may care more about money than better relations with Washington.

The hangovers

While extending the hand of friendship on cutting nuclear weapons and dealing jointly with North Korea and Iran, President Obama also addressed the hangovers from the Soviet Union by warning empires should not treat other countries as chess pieces.

In 2009, a great power does not show strength by dominating or demonising other countries, President Obama said.
The days when empires could treat sovereign states as pieces on a chess board are over.

The US leader also addressed the rampant corruption that is widespread in every walk of Russian life, from multi-billion energy deals to everyday bribes to teachers and policemen.

President Obama was careful to sprinkle his charm carefully through the speech, quoting Russian poet Alexander Pushkin and honouring the Soviet Unions enormous sacrifices in the Second World War.

Russia has cut its way through time like a mighty river through a canyon, leaving an indelible mark on human history as it goes, President Obama said. (Reuters)

source.nation.ke

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Feel free to send Obama SMS

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

ByOLIVER MATHENGE

In Summary

  • Invitation to transmit text comes barely a week after President criticised Kenya

US President Barack Obama has invited Kenyans to send comments and questions via short message service (SMS) ahead of his speech in Ghana on Saturday.

Ghanaians, Nigerians and South Africans have also been invited to air their opinions on a broad range of issues.

Mr Obama will directly answer selected SMS questions through local radio broadcasts in Africa. Those who respond early will also receive SMS highlights of his Accra speech.

Criticised Kenya

The invitation comes less than a week after President Obama criticised Kenyas leadership over the countrys political and economic direction.

According to the US embassy in Nairobi, to send a text message to President Obama from Kenya, one should text English or French to 5683.

Users will receive confirmation of enrolment within 10 minutes, and costs for a normal local SMS will be charged.

Mr Obama visits Ghana on Friday in what is being seen as a reward to Africas icon of democracy. The US President was scheduled to leave Russia last evening for Italy for the G8 meetings starting on Wednesday.

In Ghana, his first visit as president to the continent, Mr Obamas plans outline his administrations Africa policy.

Mr Obama skipped his fathers homeland, due to what he referred to as the governments non-commitment to reforms.

source.nation.ke

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Kenya and Sweden sign grant on reforms

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

ByPAUL JUMA

In Summary

  • Sweden gives Kenya Sh3.5 billion to help drive the reform agenda.
  • Reforms envisaged under Agenda 4 include: Enactment of a new constitution, land reforms and unemployment.

Kenya has signed a bilateral agreement with Sweden that will boost its push for reforms.

Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Sweden ambassador Anna Brandt Wednesday signed the grant in which her government will give Kenya Sh3.5 billion per year for the next five years – a total of Sh17.5billion to drive the countrys reform agenda.

“Swedish support will be clearly linked to implementation of key reforms initiatives, with an emphasis on those agreed in the National Accord, said Mrs Brandt.

She spoke after signing the agreement at the Finance ministry Treasury office in Nairobi.

The grant has injected additional funds to the governments efforts to deliver the long-term reforms that were identified by the Serena team, which was formed to negotiate a lasting solution to the 2008 post-election violence.

The long term reforms, which were identified during the talks under Agenda 4, include enactment of a new constitution, land reforms, unemployment and addressing historical injustices.

President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have expressed confidence that the country will have a new constitution in a year.

Parliament has also established the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) and the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission (IIBRC), key institutions in the realisation of a credible electoral system.

According to Mr Kenyatta the agreement between Kenya and Sweden will support governance and spur overall development.

The Chairperson of Kenya Commission on Human Rights Simbiri Jaoko said the government must use the funds on specific areas but give priority to reforming the electoral system.

The government still needs to build the IIEC and the IIBRC, because the reforms recommended in the Agenda Four included creation of a credible electoral systems, she told Daily Nation on phone.

source.nation.ke

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I am ready to face the ICC, declares Raila: At long last, we hear it – Is Raila on the list in the secret envelope?

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

ByLUCAS BARASA

In Summary

  • Premier backs local tribunal, but says he is ready if called by international court

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has declared that he is ready to face the International Criminal Court as debate on where poll chaos architects should be tried heightened.

Speaking in London, on his way home from Germany, Mr Odinga said he had no problem explaining to the ICC whatever it wanted to know.

We have not been involved in any kind of criminal activity. We want to put these things behind us. Theres too much speculation, Mr Odinga told NTV in an interview.

Mr Odinga and President Kibaki have been pushing for a special local tribunal to try the suspects as recommended by the Waki report.

But Parliament has already shot down a Bill that would have seen the establishment of the tribunal. If other attempts to have a local tribunal fail, then the secret list of key suspects will be forwarded to the ICC for action.

On Sunday, our sister paper, the Sunday Nation, reported that even if President Kibaki and Mr Odinga are not on the list of suspects, the ICC could still call them to account for atrocities committed during the post-election violence.

The ICC chief prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo, could task the two leaders to explain what they knew about the violence that left more than 1,300 people dead and more than 600,000 displaced, and what they did to stop it.

This would be under the principle that those in position of ultimate authority bear responsibility for the actions of their juniors.

The majority of MPs from both sides of the political divide, including some key Cabinet ministers such as Mr William Ruto, have publicly voiced opposition to a local tribunal and instead proposed that the suspects be tried at The Hague.

The MPs argue that local trials would be subject to manipulation.

The ICC law, to which Kenya is a signatory, states: A superior shall be criminally responsible for crimes within the jurisdiction of the court committed by subordinates under his or her effective authority and control, as a result of his or her failure to exercise control properly over such subordinates.

It is this law that attracted attention from some countries at the African Union Heads of State summit last week. African leaders were annoyed by the warrant of arrest issued by the ICC against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

On Tuesday, Mr Odinga, who spoke to NTV reporter Joe Ageyo, also discounted reports that Kenya had been given an extension to establish a local tribunal.

He said the Kenyan Government has a responsibility to deal with post-election violence issues, adding that if we do not move forward the ICC will come in.

The PM said if the government does not deal with the issues, the ICC will come in without reference to time limit.

Last Friday, it was reported that the ICC prosecutor gave Kenya 12 months to set up a special tribunal, saying his was a court of last resort.

A statement released after a meeting of Kenyan ministers and Mr Moreno-Ocampo said: If there is no parliamentary agreement, and in accordance with the Kenya Governments commitment to end impunity of those responsible for the most serious crimes, the Government of Kenya will refer the situation to the prosecutor in accordance with Article 14 of the Rome Statute.

On Tuesday, Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara criticised an agreement between the government and Mr Moreno-Ocampo that instead of the envisaged special tribunal, suspects could be subjected to the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission or tried by a special division of the High Court.

Mr Imanyara said MPs will oppose the move. The government had an opportunity at an early stage but rejected it. It is too late for it to now seek an alternative, he said.

Mr Imanyara said MPs wanted the perpetrators to be tried at ICC because the option was contained in the Waki report.

He said the government rejected proposals for the establishment tribunals modelled on the Sierra Leone and Arusha-based Rwanda tribunals.

Mr Imanyara cited the rot in the judiciary and arrests of wrong people following the Kiambaa killings as a sign that Kenya was not ready to try the suspects locally.

Separately, Gachoka MP Mutava Musyimi said Parliament was not the sole repository of wisdom and called for broad consultations to agree on where the suspects should be tried.

While discussion must take place among political leaders, there is value in consulting other sectors of society and tapping into their experience and wisdom, he said and called on the parliamentary committee on legal affairs to lead the process.

He said voting for the defeated special tribunal Bill in February was done before consultations.

However, German ambassador Walter Lindner supported the local tribunal. He said the process will not be manipulated as the international community will be involved.

According to the International Centre for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) executive director Ndungu Wainaina, the government is unwilling or unable to bring to justice perpetrators of post-election violence to eradicate widespread impunity.

Last minute

The government, he said, had six months after the defeat of the special tribunal Bill to hold meaningful consultations and come up with a new legal framework for a credible tribunal.

Instead of doing so, it has waited until the last minute to seek extension of time allocated to enact the tribunal.
We urge Mr Annan and the ICC to send a strong message to the government that impunity will not be tolerated, he said.

source:Nation.ke

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People are crying over Michael Jackson’s death the King of Pop as they say: What really happened between him and the boy he paid millions after he accused him of sexual molestation?

Posted by African Press International on July 8, 2009

Now Michael Jackson is dead. Many are crying because he is dead. There are many others who are not crying because he has died.

When the case against Michael Jackson was in court, many who love his music said the man was innocent. How do we know if he really was innocent? Let us not forget the little boy who was bought off and forced to keep quiet.

When the case came up against him, he chose to buy the boy’s silence, an intent to stop the boy from narrating what took place on the question of sexual molestation. Why pay somebody if you know you are not guilty at all?

The fact that one is an important icon does not mean they do not commit crime.

Now that he is gone, the boy who was paid the money to keep quiet should come out and tell the truth on what really happened between him and Michael Jackson.

He should be enabled to write a book and we believe that with good help, he will have a best seller! He is alive and he is the only one who knows what happened between him and Michael Jackson.

Many are now having sorrow due to his death, but are we thinking of those who have complained of supposed molestation that never got a chance to prove it in court? Let us not be carried away by iconism and forget those if any who got violated.

It is not right to worship icons if they have a tainted life leaving behind victims that never gets the opportunity to prove their case.

API

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