Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Ranneberger explains US stance on crisis
The United States has identified high profile personalities — both in Government and Opposition — who will be slapped with a visa ban soon on suspicions of fanning violence, The Standard has learnt. The ambassador to Kenya, Mr Michael Ranneberger, said the US Government would “shortly” contact the affected individuals who would face visa restrictions alongside their families. The envoy, however, declined to divulge the names of the individuals during an exclusive interview with The Standard at his Nairobi residence, on Monday. Should the US make good its threat, it would be joining Canada, which has since announced it would deny visas to individuals who undermine democracy and sabotage ongoing mediation efforts.
Shortages as fleeing families crowd camps
Camps for internally displaced people in the North Rift region are faced with food and shelter shortages, and possible health hazards as the numbers seeking assistance increase. The seven camps sheltering more than 100,000 victims of violence spawned by the disputed presidential election results have recorded an increased number of people seeking refuge in the last three days over fears of fresh attacks.
Annan team agrees on steps to end poll crisis
Government and ODM mediators have agreed on major steps aimed at resolving the political crisis caused by the disputed Presidential election. Among the key issues was the setting up of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, encourage and help displaced people to settle back in their homes or other areas and have safe passage and security throughout. Others were to encourage the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights investigation team and to ensure freedom of expression, press and peaceful assembly. The truth commission should have as its members local and international jurists, the team, meeting under the chairmanship of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan announced.
Government lifts ban on live broadcasts
The Government has lifted the ban on live coverage of political events. In a statement signed by Information and Communications permanent secretary on Monday, the Government said that the ban had been lifted with immediate effect. PS Bitange Ndemo said that the ban was lifted by Internal Security minister George Saitoti following the improvement of security in the country.
PNU rejects Ramaphosa as negotiator
The Government has rejected South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as a mediator in talks to end the month-long political crisis. But the talks continued under former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. The Government, represented by ministers Martha Karua (Justice and Constitutional Affairs) and Sam Ongeri (Education), and Mbooni MP Mutula Kilonzo, argued that Mr Ramaphosa was a close ally and business associate of ODM leader Raila Odinga. PNU also said Mr Ramaphosa helped fund Mr Odinga’s presidential bid in last year’s General Election, a claim he denied.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Displaced minors need counselling
More than 3,000 displaced children at the Eldoret showground need urgent counselling due to trauma. Child Welfare Society of Kenya official, Ms Esther Kihara, said most of the children had been psychologically affected by violence. “The children saw people killed, houses that used to be their homes burnt and some lost their parents, brothers or sisters. They, therefore, need professional counselling to withstand the trauma,” she said. She added that they were living in difficult conditions that affected their health and were at risk of contracting infectious diseases. “The children need warm clothes to shield them from adverse weather conditions, especially at night when they sleep in temporary tents,” said Kihara.
MPs forge unity to stop ethnic violence
Gusii and South Rift MPs have called for an end to violence along the Borabu/Bomet border. Dr Onsare Monda (Nyaribari Chache), Mr Charles Onyancha (Bonchari), Mr Chris Obure (Bobasi) and Omingo Magara (South Mugirango) and Pentagon member, Mr William Ruto, said the violence was not about politics. “We call upon the Provincial Administration to step in and end the atrocities committed at the border,” said Magara.
Leaders call for sacking of security minister over ineffectiveness
Two MPs have called for the sacking of Internal Security minister, Prof George Saitoti. Two MPs said Saitoti had proved to be an ineffective minister to be entrusted with the critical Internal Security docket. Bumula MP, Mr Bifwoli Wakoli, said Saitoti had clearly shown that he was unable to run the ministry since taking over from Mr John Michuki. Speaking during a tour of displaced victims in Trans Nzoia, Wakoli said it was unfortunate that Kenyans were suffering in makeshift camps while Saitoti gave lip service. “Saitoti is unable to do his job. President Kibaki should relieve him of his duties and appoint someone who is ready for the job. He could even pick me,” said the MP.
APs transferred from Uasin Gishu
About 152 Administration Police officers have been transferred from Uasin-Gishu District. A confidential letter in the possession of The Sunday Standard, shows all the 152 APs set for transfer are from one community. The APs have been posted to other districts in North Eastern, Eastern, Western, Central and Coast provinces.
The transfers follow complaints by politicians that APs are partisan in quelling post election crisis, especially along the Borabu-Sotik border. The letter dated January 31, 2008 from the Uasin-Gishu DC’s office, reads, “This is to inform you that you have been transferred from Uasin-Gishu District to districts indicated against your names.”
Army using excessive force in Eldoret
Police have shot dead 16 people and injured 58 others in four days in Eldoret town. Among those admitted in hospital with bullet wounds include three Sudanese shot outside their homes at Kapsoya estate. They were among 26 others rushed to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital with bullets still lodged in their bodies, on Friday. The victims were shot in protests sparked by the killing of Ainamoi MP, David Kimutai Too by a police officer. Mr Makui Maker, 37, a Sudanese was shot by a GSU officer. “He was sitting in the compound when the officer with a red beret burst open the gate, cocked his gun and shot him twice in the stomach and left leg,” said Emmanuel Sebit, a cousin who witnessed the incident. When The Saturday Standard visited Maker’s home, bloodstains littered the compound, leaving a trail to his house.
Live broadcast case adjourned
The High Court failed to hear a case on the controversial Government suspension of live media coverage. Deputy Solicitor-General, Ms Muthoni Kimani, told the High Court yesterday that she needed more time to consult the Attorney General, Mr Amos Wako. “The AG was not available to give us direction after we were served with the suit papers,” she said.
Representing members of the Editors’ Guild, Nairobi advocate, Mr Pheroze Nowrojee told Justice Joseph Nyamu that he was not opposed to the application to have the case adjourned, so long as the AG’s office agrees to file replying affidavits by Monday. In the case, Media Institute and KTN’s Editorial Head, Ms Farida Karoney want the court to quash the suspension of live broadcasts.
The two moved to court after the deadline to the Government by the Editor’s Guild, to lift the suspension expired. They told the High Court that the suspension order is an illegal censorship and should be quashed. Nowrojee said two senior Government officials have no powers to issue the suspension order. Former Internal Security minister, Mr John Michuki, suspended live broadcasts through Information PS, Dr Bitange Ndemo on December 30, last year.
East African Standard
Rape in Kenya used as weapon in political unrest
A United Nations report released February 1 shows rape is being used as a weapon in Kenya as the country is roiled in ethnic violence since the December elections. The survey of rape victims was conducted in the Nairobi Women’s Hospital between December 27 and January 20 and describes the cases of 152 women, children and men who were sexually assaulted during the violence that broke out after Kenya’s disputed presidential election at the end of December. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva. Included in the 152 cases surveyed are 12 men and 63 children below 18 years of age. The rest are adult females. The report says the youngest survivor is a one-year-old child and the oldest a 58-year-old woman.The report describes horrific cases of sexual abuse, gang rape, extreme physical brutality and severe psychological trauma.
Kenya presidential elections violence situation report No. 25
Fresh protests erupted today after an Opposition ODM member of parliament was killed in the Rift Valley town of Eldoret in what was described by Police as a “crime of passion”. However, the Opposition described the killing as a “political assassination”. The two negotiation teams from the Government and the Opposition postponed their talks in the afternoon after news broke about the death of the MP. Talks were scheduled to resume Friday. The fatal shooting incident sparked fresh violence in Eldoret and police fired live rounds and teargas at demonstrators. According to news media, youths also began burning tyres and blocking roads in the western town of Kisumu and riots were reported in Kericho, Kisumu and Siaya. The rest of the country remained tense but calm.
MoreHuman Rights Watch Kenya report tracks warning signs leading up to December violence
Human Rights Watch Senior Africa Researcher Chris Abin-Lackey authored the Kenya portion of the group’s World Report for 2007, which was released in Washington on Thursday. In it, he wrote that “a new pluralism, though flawed and very fractious, has helped stabilize the country” since President Mwai Kibaki’s first term began in 2002. Noting that the run-up to last December’s elections was far less violent than those of the 1980’s and 1990’s, he admits that a lot has changed in the past month. Albin-Lackey has just returned from a post-election trip to Kenya. He says he surveyed an extensive range of post-election ethnic clashes across the country and what he says was a brutal response by authorities, resulting in extrajudicial killings and the displacement of many innocent citizens.
Refugess face uncertain future
Authorities have as few as two weeks to decide the future of Mulanda Transit Camp where Kenyan refugees were moved to barely a week ago, according to Mr Michael Mataka, the deputy secretary-general of the Uganda Red Cross Society. The camp was initially set up to function for between two weeks and a month, he said on Wednesday during a tour of the camp. He added that once that period passed, officials from the Ugandan government and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, will have to decide whether to move the camp to a more permanent location or to make the current site more settled.
“At that point a decision will have to be made,” he said.