Neglect of Somalia will have high price
Listen By Justin Marozzi: The west is easily distracted. Just as the war in Iraq diverted attention from Afghanistan, allowing the Taliban to regroup and consolidate its hold over much of the country, so the war in Afghanistan has blinded policymakers to the growing crisis in Somalia. Islamist rebels who on Tuesday killed more than [...]
Kenya’s Referendum: Organized Political violence in Maasailand
Listen Kenyans witnessed yesterday the rebirth of the ugly and outdated organized political violence at Suswa area in Narok North district. It reminds us of the dark past of Kenya’s political history. It is shameful that the violence was organized by the YES camp with the blessings of the Maasai leaders who include Cabinet Ministers. [...]
Kenya’s 2012 Elections: No front runner for the Presidency
Listen As we approach the general elections, the main political parties in Kenya are still in disarray. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of Raila Odinga, the Party of National Unity (PNU) of President Mwai Kibaki and the ODM-Kenya of Vice –President Mwai Kibaki, are so far the top contenders. ODM is however losing ground in [...]
Ugandans to begin election process on 25 October
Listen Kampala (Alshahid) -The Electoral Commission Thursday unveiled the roadmap to next year’s elections setting October 25 and 26, 2010, as the official nomination dates for candidates intending to run for president. “All presidential candidates will be nominated by the Commission on October 25 and 26, 2010,” Mr Joseph Ongaria the Electoral commission’s deputy chairperson [...]
New Political Alliances to emerge after Kenya’s August 4 Referendum
Listen The present political alliances in Kenya which was created by the countdown for 2007 general elections might soon be history as we approach the 2010 referendum in Kenya. New ones are likely to emerge and will be focusing on the 2012 general elections and the Kibaki succession which is already on the table. The [...]
Kenyan MPs double their salaries again in a new bid to evade taxation
Listen Nairobi (Alshahid)-Members of the Kenyan Parliament are set to double their allowances and allocate themselves outrageous salary increases before they agree to pay tax, in fresh recommendations by the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC). MPs monthly basic salary is set to increase to Sh1.2 million up from Sh871, 000 while the Speaker will earn Sh2.8 [...]
Kenyan prisoners to vote in referendum, constitutional court rules
Listen Nairobi (Alshahid) – The Interim Independent Constitutional Dispute Resolution Court (IICDRC) has ruled that all prisoners in Kenya should vote in the forthcoming referendum despite an earlier decision by the Independent Interim Electoral Commission not to register those in jail citing the current Constitution which bars inmates from participating in an election. The ruling [...]
Sudan rebel General denies his soldiers were captured by Government’s SPLA
Listen Juba (Alshahid) – A former senior army general in Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) Gen. George Athor Deng has said none of his soldiers is held by the government forces in Southern Sudan. Gen. Athor, the former SPLA Deputy Chief of General Staff, turned rebel after losing in April elections, denied any of his [...]
Somaliland lauded by International Agencies over elections progress
Listen Hargeisa (Alshahid) – The semi-autonomous Somalia state Somaliland has been commended by the Catholic Development Agency Progressio, the Development Planning Unit at UCL and Somaliland Focus (UK) for good progress being made towards the holding of Somaliland’s presidential elections scheduled for 26 June 2010. The three organizations were invited in January 2009 by Somaliland’s [...]
Ethiopia Supreme Court rejects election appeal
Listen Addis Ababa (Alshahid) – Ethiopia’s Supreme Court on Friday rejected an appeal by the country’s main opposition coalition over alleged fraud in the May 23 polls that saw the ruling regime coast to re-election. MEDERK and AEUP parties lodged appeals with the court on Tuesday. The ruling Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front won 99.6% [...]