/OpEd/editorial/-/434752/434752/-/135sx3qz/-/index.html http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Ocampo+Four+Kenyas+coalition+needs+to+hold+/-/434752/1315964/-/15n1lb4/-/index.html Kenyans are growing anxious over the prospect that the recent ruling by the International Criminal Court that put four Kenyans on trial could create bad blood between the partners in the Grand Coalition government and lead to its early collapse. 2012-01-29T12:24:26Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Karuma+dam+Is+it+wise+to+lock+out+donors/-/434752/1311930/-/1icisp/-/index.html Uganda is locked in a standoff with its erstwhile donors over the logical design and development framework for the proposed Karuma hydropower station. 2012-01-22T12:29:33Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Kenya+election+date++Make+it+December+/-/434752/1306100/-/dae55d/-/index.html The ruling by the three Constitutional Court judges on the Kenyan general election date has created more uncertainty than it was meant to resolve. 2012-01-15T15:42:12Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Uganda+to+fight+graft+in+2012++We+re+impressed+/-/434752/1301866/-/ng5k1tz/-/index.html In his New Year message, President Yoweri Museveni admitted that fighting corruption remains one of the major tests his regime is yet to pass. 2012-01-08T09:56:19Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Region+awaits+Kenya+s+fateful+election+year+/-/434752/1298468/-/i2vqrn/-/index.html As Kenya enters 2012, the country is facing three major internal challenges that are political as well as a major security challenge posed by the war in Somalia. 2012-01-01T10:48:32Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/-/434752/1295024/-/7o5r7pz/-/index.html President Museveni was once known as somebody who abhorred abuse of power, but not any more. He now rewards his lieutenants who clearly abuse office by maintaining them in Cabinet. 2011-12-24T10:54:24Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/-/434752/1295022/-/7o5r7rz/-/index.html As 2011 comes to an end, the East African Community faces a number of challenges that will need concerted efforts as the region enters 2012. 2011-12-24T10:54:01Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Take+ICGLR+to+the+next+level/-/434752/1291096/-/6jkuoiz/-/index.html The fourth ordinary summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region took place in Kampala last week but worthy of note is that this organisation seems to be overshadowed by others more vibrant around the region. While the organisation is mandated to promote peace, security and development, its agenda in the first five years has largely been driven by the first two aspects, and its efforts at development of regional infrastructure have not been as visible. 2011-12-17T14:05:28Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Contradictions+dog+appointment+process/-/434752/1291094/-/1yax7bz/-/index.html The Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs has rejected the nominees for the new Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, but the action raises some eyebrows. 2011-12-17T14:04:59Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Take+climate+change+seriously/-/434752/1287112/-/12t2955/-/index.html It is encouraging that regional economic communities are taking the issue of climate change seriously. The East African region mid this year experienced one of its worst famines in four decades and the issue of climate change must be given priority. Last week, the East African Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the Southern African Development Community launched a joint five-year Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. 2011-12-10T13:29:08Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Annan+puts+Kenya+on+notice+over+2012+poll/-/434752/1287110/-/p2va47z/-/index.html Kenyans have been put on notice. The entire international community wants the country to hold credible and peaceful elections in 2012. 2011-12-10T13:28:46Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Judicarys+independence+is+not+negotiable+/-/434752/1283972/-/h57v2l/-/index.html The controversial ruling by High Court Justice Nicholas Ombija marks the first test of the independence of the Kenyan judiciary since the new Constitution came into effect in August. 2011-12-04T12:40:54Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/-/434752/1280168/-/7ouqsrz/-/index.html Should Kenya internationalise the Somalia campaign or finish the job on its own? This is among the emerging concerns as the military campaign that was meant to take a short time is turning out to be a long haul. 2011-11-27T10:06:41Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/EAC+must+get+serious+about+food+security/-/434752/1280166/-/11ypuwh/-/index.html As members of the East African Community Summit meet in Bujumbura, Burundi starting November 30, the issue of regional food security has been pushed to the back burner. 2011-11-27T10:06:16Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Political+federation+A+loud+silence+/-/434752/1276376/-/snkrdf/-/index.html The much-touted EAC political federation is easier said than done. At the next summit in Burundi from November 30, the EAC Heads of State will have to make a major decision on the way forward in regards to political union. 2011-11-20T16:21:05Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Merit+and+tribal+balance+do+not+mix/-/434752/1272402/-/9a49l2z/-/index.html Kenya’s efforts to correct ethnic and gender imbalance in public appointments in line with the new Constitution are already running into problems. In the zeal to correct past mistakes, merit is being sacrificed on the altar of regional, ethnic and gender balance. Almost all public appointments to the new offices created by the Constitution have been met with grumbling and complaints. 2011-11-13T11:44:03Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/After+Kenya++Amisom+will+still+need+troops/-/434752/1272400/-/hm90h0z/-/index.html Having initiated the military option to get rid of Al Shabaab, Kenya as the frontline state must now start the process of political settlement in Somalia. The mandate of the weak Transitional Federal Government ends in August and no election plans are in sight. 2011-11-13T11:43:41Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/EDITORIAL+Lets+not+have+a+repeat+of+2007+/-/434752/1268070/-/tentxnz/-/index.html Now that parliament has approved the names of the nominees for the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Kenyans should put pressure on them to ensure a fair and violence-free election. 2011-11-06T10:01:08Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/EDITORIAL+Uganda+MPs+revolt+Too+much+of+a+good+thing/-/434752/1268068/-/oa7oerz/-/index.html Ever since May 12, when President Museveni was sworn in to another five-year term as head of state, his administration has been rocked by an unprecedented standoff between the executive and the legislature. 2011-11-06T09:58:37Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Al+Shabaab+sleepers++Security+reform+needed+/-/434752/1264280/-/eg2reqz/-/index.html The dawning reality that there are Al Shabaab sleepers all over Kenya is reason enough for the government to fast-track security sector reforms, especially the police force. 2011-10-30T11:40:06Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Somalia++What+is+Kenya+s+exit+strategy++/-/434752/1260382/-/lj6urpz/-/index.html Kenya has taken the decision to start a military campaign inside Somalia in order, it says, to safeguard its borders from constant incursions by the Al Shabaab militia group. 2011-10-23T14:07:40Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Kenya+unable+to+escape+from+a+plastic+bag+/-/434752/1256282/-/14hfrwhz/-/index.html Plans by the East African Legislative Assembly to enact a law banning trade in polythene materials as part of efforts to conserve the environment, have put Kenya in a dilemma. 2011-10-16T12:06:20Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Dismantle+Kenyan+Shabaab+/-/434752/1252496/-/f5yq7vz/-/index.html The recent abductions of two tourists from the Kenyan Coastal holiday haven of Lamu by gunmen believed to be associated with the Somali militia group Al Shabaab are a sign of things to come. 2011-10-09T14:21:43Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Uganda+walking+the+talk+on+graft+at+last++Wow++/-/434752/1252494/-/jh1my9z/-/index.html Corruption remains as one of the major blots on President Yoweri Museveni’s 25-year rule. Now comes some good news: 2011-10-09T14:20:10Z http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/OpEd/editorial/Single+EAC+visa+long+overdue+/-/434752/1246702/-/4y9m4x/-/index.html Tourism ministers from the region recently converged in Mombasa for the 4th meeting of the East African Community Sectoral Council on Tourism and Wildlife Management, where they expressed their disappointment that the introduction of a single tourist visa for the EAC states is taking so long. 2011-10-02T16:11:37Z