Mwai Kibaki assures Saitoti of his full confidence.
Tue, Feb 03, 2009
President Kibaki moved swiftly to the defence of Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, publicly contradicting the First Lady who had criticised his work as “lethargic”.
Kibaki said he had full confidence in Prof Saitoti and was pleased with his performance at the ministry.
“In view of the reports which have appeared in today’s (yesterday) media, I wish to assure my Minister for Internal Security George Saitoti that I have full confidence in him and that I appreciate the good work he is doing in my office,” Kibaki said.
President Kibaki’s remarks contradicted those of the First Lady, who castigated Saitoti and the Provincial Administration — which he oversees — for allegedly failing Kenyans in their response to disasters.
“Even the President is angry. What is the Ministry of Internal Security doing? They should have organised all the chiefs, assistant chiefs, district officers and provincial commissioners to educate Kenyans and tell them to keep away from accident tankers,” Lucy Kibaki said on Monday.
The First Lady blamed the two recent tragedies, in which more than 150 people died, on the authorities’ failure to provide public information.
Twenty-nine people died in Nairobi’s Nakumatt Downtown fire incident last week. In the Sachang’wan tanker fire on the Nakuru-Eldoret highway on Saturday, the toll rose to 123 today after three more people succumbed to burns suffered in the oil spill.
The three died at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital where they were undergoing treatment.
The President was speaking at his Harambee House office when he launched the Nakumatt/Molo Fire Victims Fund.
“The monies will help settle hospital bills for patients requiring long-term hospitalisation and specialised treatment. It will also help the families start their lives afresh,” he said.
The President sent condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured quick recovery.
Fund raising
He also announced a prayer service and a major fund raising for Tuesday at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi.
“I appeal to Kenyans to respond with the generosity they have always demonstrated. I appeal particularly to all leaders, public servants, the business community and the civil society to come forward and contribute,” he said.
The President appointed Mr Naushad Merali — the head of Sameer Group — chairman of the fund.
Meanwhile, 89 bodies that were burnt beyond recognition in the oil tanker tragedy will be buried in a mass grave near the accident scene on Monday.
A special committee coordinating activities related to the disaster said yesterday the bodies would be placed in special labelled body bags.
“Seven pathologists are collecting DNA samples from 109 bodies at the provincial hospital’s mortuary and we expect them to complete the exercise by end of the week,” said Rift Valley PC Hassan Noor Hassan.
“The bodies will be labelled in a way that is easy to identify them when the DNA test results are out,” he said.
The PC said Mr Richard Muir, the owner of Doune farm in Sachang’wan, has offered a mass gravesite a few metres from the scene of the accident.
Mr Hassan said preparation of the site would be completed on Saturday. He said the Government, after consultation with bereaved families and local leaders, has planned a prayer service-cum-fund rising at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium on Sunday.
“The leaders have decided to move the funds drive from Thursday to Sunday to coincide with the prayers,” said the administrator, who is also the chairman of the special committee on the disaster.
The PC said they have already identified the bereaved families who to benefit from Government help.
Meanwhile, Nakumatt Holdings Operations Director Thiagarajan Ramamurthy recorded a statement with the police last night at Nairobi Central Police Station.
He is expected in court this morning on a criminal negligence charge.
There have been claims that the supermarket had no functional emergency exits. This would be a contravention of council by-laws on public safety.
Further, there are allegations that the supermarket management shut doors when the fire broke out to keep off looters.
Source-The Standard
Government establishes Nakumatt/Molo fire victims Fund
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02/03/09
President Mwai Kibaki makes a statement on the establishment of the Nakumatt/Molo fire victims fund at Harambee House, Nairobi
The Government has Tuesday established a humanitarian fund for the victims of Molo and Nakumatt fire tragedies, which have so far claimed 140 lives with more than 123 others hospitalized.
President Mwai Kibaki in making the announcement said the fund will cater for hospital bills especially for patients requiring longterm hospitalization and medical care and those who may require further treatment.
The fund, the president said, will also offer related humanitarian assistance and where necessary further medical attention.
The president noted with deep regret that the tragic events of the Nakumatt and Salgaa fires occurring in a span of one-week claimed breadwinners and promising Youth who were key pillars of hope to their relatives and friends.
In a press conference outside his harambee house office, the head of State named Mr. Naushad Merali as the Fund Chairman to coordinate a major fundraising and Prayer service to be held on Tuesday, February 10th, 2009 at Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC), Nairobi.
” The details of the Bank Accounts to which Kenyans can make their contributions will soon be made public” President Kibaki said and appealed to Kenyans of all walks of life to respond with the generosity they have always demonstrated.
He particularly appealed to leaders, Public Service, the Business Community and members of the Civil Society, to come forward and make contributions in solidarity with those who are suffering following the two disasters coming close together.
The Head of State on behalf of the Government and himself once again sent a message of condolence to the families, relatives and friends of all those who lost their loved ones in the two fire disasters.
President Kibaki, who, cut short his visit to Addis Ababa as the one week National Mourning announced by the Government took effect in solidarity with victims of the two fire disasters, prayed to God to give strength and quick recovery to those admitted at various Hospitals in the Country.
Meanwhile, President Kibaki has assured Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti that he had full confidence in him.
In reference to reports in Tueday’s media, the Head of State assured the Minister that he appreciated his good work in the coalition Government.
Present during the press briefing were Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Cabinet Ministers Dalmas Otieno, Naomi Shaban, Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode, Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, Chief of General Staff Gen. Jeremiah kianga and Police Commissioner Hussien Ali among others.
Source-pps
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Kenyan Threatened With Deportation Goes Public With Identity
0702/08
Petersson Murimi
The situation of a Kenyan who has been facing deportation to Kenya after his Swedishcitizenship was stripped by authorities here continue to oscillate between deportation to Kenya and dumping in Tanzania under new and mysterious circumstances.
Because the campaign to stop his deportation has entered a critical stage, the Kenyan has decided to go public with his plight and identity because he now believes that circumstances surrounding his deportation may be a conspiracy between the Swedish authorities and unscrupulous officials at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm.
Mr. Petersson Murimi Kinyua, the Kenyan, cannot understand why the Swedish police is offering him money so that he can accept to be deported from Sweden. When the deportation first ran into problems on Thursday 19th June, the Swedish police offered him 6,200kr if he could accept to be deported without resistance but when the plan failed after the legal aspects of the problem were brought before the Swedish authorities by concerned groups, the Swedes changed strategy.
They understood the difficulties of deporting the Kenyan back home because of his citizenship status and instead increased the amount he could be given so that he could be deported to Tanzania from where he was advised that he could cross over to Kenya but he refused.
Several things do not add up. Why does the Swedish government want to dump Mr. Petersson in Tanzania after failing to deport him to Kenya and even prepared to bribe him so that he can remain calm during deportation? Why is he not being charged before a court of law so that the crimes he may have committed can be scrutinized? Why has he been stripped of his Swedish citizenship in such a hurry and what criminal offences is he facing?
While answers to these questions are still not forthcoming, another issue is why the Kenyan Embassy has been unable to intervene on his behalf. According to Tonny Nilsson and Stefan Tilling, two police officers who are constantly in touch with the Kenyan and who are in charge of the case, the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia H.E Mrs Purity Muhindi needs to contact them and explain why Mr. Petersson cannot be deported to Kenya and that such a contact would have a big impact on the case because it would officialize the fact that Mr. Petersson will not be accepted by the Kenyan government if he is deported to Kenya. KSB has phone numbers of both policemen.
The question which arises then is why the Embassy is foot dragging on making contacts with the police officers even after they have been informed about what they need to do by several interested persons and groups including the Kenyan himself and KSB. Mr. Daniel Kottut, the First secretary whom I spoke to about the matter, is either away from his phone or selects the phones to receive at the Embassy. The Kenyan Ambassador has been nonchalant while her Deputy, Jenifer Vivian Awuor has equally been out of reach.
INEXPLICABLE SILENCE BY KENYA EMBASSY
The conspiracy element between the Swedish authorities and the Kenyan Embassy comes about because the Swedes have, in their custody, a valid Kenyan Passport belonging to the Kenyan when the Kenyan Constitution dictates that Mr. Petersson should have lost his Kenyan citizenship (and his Kenyan Passport) when he took up Swedish citizenship.
The conspiracy element between the Swedish authorities and the Kenyan Embassy comes about because the Swedes have, in their custody, a valid Kenyan Passport belonging to the Kenyan when the Kenyan Constitution dictates that Mr. Petersson should have lost his Kenyan citizenship (and his Kenyan Passport) when he took up Swedish citizenship.
The question is why the Embassy has refused to take contact with the Swedish authorities to enquire about the validity of the Passport with a view to annulling it because it is currently illegal for Kenyan citizens to hold two citizenships because the colonial style Constitution has not be changed.
If the Kenyan had the Passport before he became a Swedish citizen, then the matter is very simple. The Kenyan Constitution dictates that the Kenyan government should have cancelled the Passport making it invalid for travel. As we write, the Swedes have no other legal travel document to use in deporting the Kenyan apart from the Passport.
Once the Passport has been cancelled by the Kenyans (who could do it through the Immigration attaché at the Embassy in collaboration with the Kenyan government), the deportation of this Kenyan will be permanently blocked as circumstances surrounding the case are investigated. The question is: Why has the Embassy failed to do its duty with one key official even avoiding answering certain phone calls related to the case?
Last Thursday, the Embassy claimed that the Mission had written a letter to the Swedish authorities but that a copy of the letter could not be availed to Mr. Petersson because the Ambassador was away in Germany. What kind of communication transpired between the Embassy and the Swedes? There is fear that the Embassy’s inability to act on the case may be based on a communication that may have seen the Embassy give a go ahead for the Kenyan to be deported to Kenya.
When talking to KSB last week, Kottut insisted that the Embassy was “dealing with the matter” but when questioned on what the Embassy was actually doing, he ran out of answers and his voice started shivering on the phone before he went underground. Now, KSB cannot reach him and the receptionist has been left with the task of dodging phone calls on behalf of Kottut and company. Why?
An emerging theory is that the Embassy may have reached an agreement with the Swedish authorities on the Kenyan’s deportation before the matter came into the open and now, the Mission does not know what to do in the face of pressure. Unless the Embassy emerges from its “spider hole” to explain its position, suspicions and speculation (which may be right or wrong) will continue. If the Swedish authorities can approach the Kenyan with bribes so that he can help in his own deportation, could they have compromised the Embassy in some way? The Embassy is known to be corrupt and anything could have happened. What does our dear Lady Ambassador have to say, assuming that she is back from Germany?
Story by Kenya Stockholm Blog
07/02/08
Petersson murimi
The situation of a Kenyan who has been facing deportation to Kenya after his Swedishcitizenship was stripped by authorities here continue to oscillate between deportation to Kenya and dumping in Tanzania under new and mysterious circumstances.
Because the campaign to stop his deportation has entered a critical stage, the Kenyan has decided to go public with his plight and identity because he now believes that circumstances surrounding his deportation may be a conspiracy between the Swedish authorities and unscrupulous officials at the Kenyan Embassy in Stockholm.
Mr. Petersson Murimi Kinyua, the Kenyan, cannot understand why the Swedish police is offering him money so that he can accept to be deported from Sweden. When the deportation first ran into problems on Thursday 19th June, the Swedish police offered him 6,200kr if he could accept to be deported without resistance but when the plan failed after the legal aspects of the problem were brought before the Swedish authorities by concerned groups, the Swedes changed strategy.
They understood the difficulties of deporting the Kenyan back home because of his citizenship status and instead increased the amount he could be given so that he could be deported to Tanzania from where he was advised that he could cross over to Kenya but he refused.
Several things do not add up. Why does the Swedish government want to dump Mr. Petersson in Tanzania after failing to deport him to Kenya and even prepared to bribe him so that he can remain calm during deportation? Why is he not being charged before a court of law so that the crimes he may have committed can be scrutinized? Why has he been stripped of his Swedish citizenship in such a hurry and what criminal offences is he facing?
While answers to these questions are still not forthcoming, another issue is why the Kenyan Embassy has been unable to intervene on his behalf. According to Tonny Nilsson and Stefan Tilling, two police officers who are constantly in touch with the Kenyan and who are in charge of the case, the Kenyan Ambassador to Scandinavia H.E Mrs Purity Muhindi needs to contact them and explain why Mr. Petersson cannot be deported to Kenya and that such a contact would have a big impact on the case because it would officialize the fact that Mr. Petersson will not be accepted by the Kenyan government if he is deported to Kenya. KSB has phone numbers of both policemen.
The question which arises then is why the Embassy is foot dragging on making contacts with the police officers even after they have been informed about what they need to do by several interested persons and groups including the Kenyan himself and KSB. Mr. Daniel Kottut, the First secretary whom I spoke to about the matter, is either away from his phone or selects the phones to receive at the Embassy. The Kenyan Ambassador has been nonchalant while her Deputy, Jenifer Vivian Awuor has equally been out of reach.
INEXPLICABLE SILENCE BY KENYA EMBASSY
The conspiracy element between the Swedish authorities and the Kenyan Embassy comes about because the Swedes have, in their custody, a valid Kenyan Passport belonging to the Kenyan when the Kenyan Constitution dictates that Mr. Petersson should have lost his Kenyan citizenship (and his Kenyan Passport) when he took up Swedish citizenship.
The conspiracy element between the Swedish authorities and the Kenyan Embassy comes about because the Swedes have, in their custody, a valid Kenyan Passport belonging to the Kenyan when the Kenyan Constitution dictates that Mr. Petersson should have lost his Kenyan citizenship (and his Kenyan Passport) when he took up Swedish citizenship.
The question is why the Embassy has refused to take contact with the Swedish authorities to enquire about the validity of the Passport with a view to annulling it because it is currently illegal for Kenyan citizens to hold two citizenships because the colonial style Constitution has not be changed.
If the Kenyan had the Passport before he became a Swedish citizen, then the matter is very simple. The Kenyan Constitution dictates that the Kenyan government should have cancelled the Passport making it invalid for travel. As we write, the Swedes have no other legal travel document to use in deporting the Kenyan apart from the Passport.
Once the Passport has been cancelled by the Kenyans (who could do it through the Immigration attaché at the Embassy in collaboration with the Kenyan government), the deportation of this Kenyan will be permanently blocked as circumstances surrounding the case are investigated. The question is: Why has the Embassy failed to do its duty with one key official even avoiding answering certain phone calls related to the case?
Last Thursday, the Embassy claimed that the Mission had written a letter to the Swedish authorities but that a copy of the letter could not be availed to Mr. Petersson because the Ambassador was away in Germany. What kind of communication transpired between the Embassy and the Swedes? There is fear that the Embassy’s inability to act on the case may be based on a communication that may have seen the Embassy give a go ahead for the Kenyan to be deported to Kenya.
When talking to KSB last week, Kottut insisted that the Embassy was “dealing with the matter” but when questioned on what the Embassy was actually doing, he ran out of answers and his voice started shivering on the phone before he went underground. Now, KSB cannot reach him and the receptionist has been left with the task of dodging phone calls on behalf of Kottut and company. Why?
An emerging theory is that the Embassy may have reached an agreement with the Swedish authorities on the Kenyan’s deportation before the matter came into the open and now, the Mission does not know what to do in the face of pressure. Unless the Embassy emerges from its “spider hole” to explain its position, suspicions and speculation (which may be right or wrong) will continue. If the Swedish authorities can approach the Kenyan with bribes so that he can help in his own deportation, could they have compromised the Embassy in some way? The Embassy is known to be corrupt and anything could have happened. What does our dear Lady Ambassador have to say, assuming that she is back from Germany?
Story by Kenya Stockholm Blog
Prof Miriam Were Awarded the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize.
The Government of Japan announces its decision to award the inaugural Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prizes to Brian Greenwood and Miriam K. Were.
The laureates of each category will be awarded a citation, a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (approximately 1 million US dollars) at the award ceremony on 28 May 2008 within the TICAD IV.
The laureates of each category will be awarded a citation, a medal and an honorarium of 100 million yen (approximately 1 million US dollars) at the award ceremony on 28 May 2008 within the TICAD IV.
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The Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize for medical services is awarded to Miriam K. Were, whose efforts to bring basic medical services and health rights to women and children in the villages of East Africa has been a beacon of hope for millions of people in Africa and the world. Through her work with African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and UZIMA Foundation. Were has been a source of inspiration for all people on the African continent.
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| On-going battle against HIV/AIDS | ||
| Her style of work through the direct engagement of the youth, sex workers, intravenous drug users, homosexuals and others to encourage openness and frank discussion on sexuality and HIV/AIDS has galvanized communities in Kenya and contributed to the reduction of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. She is a dedicated advocate for vulnerable populations, especially the poor and the marginalized. She is also committed to the empowerment and development of all voices across lines of sex, tribe, and age and class background. Widows and orphans severely affected by HIV/AIDS are amongst those most positively touched by her contribution to expanding access to medical services. | ||
| As the Chairperson of Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council, Were has provided strong leadership and orchestrated a balanced HIV/AIDS response agenda that has enabled Kenya to consistently register a reduction of HIV prevalence and AIDS-related mortality. Between 2002 and 2006, HIV prevalence in Kenya was reduced from 13 percent to 5.1 percent. By 2007, the country had 150,000 people on ARV drugs compared to 2,000 in 2002. Throughout, Were has stressed the role that people living with HIV and AIDS can play in the prevention, management and socio-mitigation of the AIDS pandemic.
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| Harnessing and focusing the energies of NGOs | ||
| As Board-Chairperson of Africa’s largest health non-governmental organization, the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF), Were has presided over the expansion of medical services to rural communities with an increase in Kenya’s national health budget by three times between 2003 and 2007. Were is also the co-founder and director of the UZIMA foundation, where she has used her medical expertise and wisdom to encourage and promote positive behavior amongst youth. Drug addiction among UZIMA youth participants dropped from 80 percent to below 10 percent within six months and sexual and reproductive health has shown significant improvement. |
Prof. Were commended
Story By:PPS , Wed, May 21, 2008
President Mwai Kibaki congratulates Prof. Miriam Were for being awarded the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize inrecognition of her work as the chairperson of the Kenya National Aids Control Council.
President Mwai Kibaki has congratulated Prof Miriam Were for being awarded the “Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize.”
The prize is in recognition for her outstanding work in community health.
President Kibaki Wednesday met with Prof Were at his Harambee House Office where he expressed the government’s appreciation for Prof Were’s contribution to the country’s health sector.
The President noted that during her tenure as the Chairperson of National Aids Control Council, the country recorded substantial reduction in HIV/AIDS infection rates adding that her leadership of the Council had spearheaded an aggressive sensitization campaign on dangers of the deadly the disease.
President Kibaki acknowledged the recognition given by the people of Japan to Prof Were through the award.
The government of Japan established the “Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize” in July 2006 in memory of Dr Hideyo Noguchi whose contribution to medical advancement and self-sacrifice in activities in Africa remain a model of medical professionalism.
The Japanese prize aims at honouring individuals and organizations with outstanding achievements in the field of medical research and medical services to combat infectious and other diseases in Africa and contributing to the health and welfare of the African people and all humankind.
The prize makes no distinction according to nationality, age, gender and is usually limited to people still living or organizations that are currently still active.
Prof Were will be given the prize during an award ceremony at the forthcoming TICAD Conference which will be held in Japan next week.
President Kibaki will be among other African Heads of States who will be attending the fourth Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development.
The theme of the Conference is “Towards a Vibrant Africa- Continent of Hope and Opportunity.”
Prof Were was accompanied by her husband Mr. Humphrey Were.
South African mob kills migrants
Story by angolapress
12 May 2008
Pretoria, Police reinforcements have been sent to the South African township of Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, after attacks on foreigners.
Two people were killed and about 40 injured during the attack on Sunday.
A crowd of local people attacked migrants from Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, telling them to leave. Police have arrested 15 people.
People from across the continent have been attracted to South Africa by its relative peace and prosperity.
This has led to an increased number of attacks on migrants by those who say the foreigners are taking local jobs and contributing to crime.
The economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe has lead to an influx of migrants into South Africa.
Earlier this year, two foreigners were killed and 1,000 left homeless when their houses were burnt down outside the capital, Pretoria. Around 600,000 people live in Alexandra township, which attracts migrants from across southern Africa.
Many Zimbabweans and Mozambicans occupy shacks and free government houses as they desperately try to make ends meet.
“They took all my money, my stove and other personal possessions,” said a woman from Mozambique.
“They went on to rape my sister. I’m going to hide at the police station as I fear for my life.” “They beat us. Two of my brothers are dead,” said a Zimbabwean woman. “We don’t know why they are chasing us away. They didn’t give us any warning.”
Neria Malefetse from Johannesburg police said her officers are working to prevent the situation from spiralling out of control.
“I believe that xenophobia exists in South Africa,” she says.
“But we need to find other means of dealing with problems than resorting to violence.” President Thabo Mbeki has condemned the acts of violence.
Mwai Kibaki assures Saitoti of his full confidence.
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Mwai Kibaki assures Saitoti of his full confidence.
