By Mark Oloo in Nairobi – Kenya’s Foreign minister has resigned over alleged involvement in a scam in which the East African country lost Sh1 billion (about 1 million Euros) in an irregular purchase of land in Japan for an embassy office. Mr Moses Wetangula announced he would step aside to allow for investigations following intense pressure from Parliament and the civil society. The minister, who maintains he was innocent, was indicted by a parliamentary report which singled out a series of flaws in transactions leading to the purchase of diplomatic property in Central Tokyo, Pakistan, Egypt, Belgium and Nigeria.... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – At least eight assailants have been killed after the rebels carried out a rare attack on a UN peacekeepers’ base in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the weekend, said an emailed statement from the UN mission Monusco. About 50 men armed with AK47 rifles and locally made weapons… deliberately opened fire on the peacekeepers and attempted to force their way into the base at several sites. “In reaction to this hostile attitude and in accordance with their rules of engagement, the blue helmets in turn opened fire on the attackers,” said the statement. Separately, a... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – THE HAGUE, Netherlands –The International Criminal Court has urged Kenya to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir if he visits for a summit this weekend. The tribunal announced Tuesday. Kenyan government drew international condemnation in August when authorities there failed to arrest al-Bashir a month after the Hague-based court issued an arrest warrant for him in July for allegedly masterminding genocide in Darfur, but Kenya hosted him in August without being arrested. Kenya’s refusal to arrest al-Bashir, who also is charged with crimes against humanity and war crimes, raised doubts about the country’s willingness to hand over... Continue Reading
By Nangayi Guyson – BUJUMBURA(AFP) – At least eight people were killed in two days of clashes between soldiers and “armed bandits” in north west Burundi, the army spokesperson Colonel Gaspard Baratuza said on Tuesday. The clashes in the northwest on Sunday night and Monday started after the bandits killed a gold trader in Murwi district, army spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza said. “Soldiers who were based in the area intervened but the bandits staged an ambush and one of our men was killed,” Baratuza told AFP. Another victim was a six-year-old girl who died of injuries she suffered on Monday... Continue Reading
By Own Correspondent – Transparency International, a leading civil society organisation fighting corruption worldwide, yesterday released its 15th annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). This year’s index ranks 178 countries by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys. The Corruption Perception Index helps to highlight the propensity of domestic corruption and its damaging influence. In the report, Somalia was ranked the most corruption country in the world, while Denmark, Singapore and New Zealand were ranked number one, described as the least corrupt nations in the globe. The Gambia was ranked 91 alongside Djibouti,... Continue Reading
