AGENCIES

Growth of cross-border traffic a good thing that has become hell

Thursday May 19 2022

The Busia one-stop border crossing between Kenya and Uganda. PHOTO | FILE | NMG

Summary

If you are looking to invest in a fast network in a place, you are unlikely to finally put down the money if you can’t even get there to scout out a potential business site, except on boda-boda weaving madly between trucks.
The growth of cross-border traffic, a good thing, has also become a burden. The time has come to create separate commercial truck and passenger vehicle channels at the border, preferably some kilometres apart.
After driving for 10 hours to the border, many travellers will consider it a bargain to pay $5 to get through a border in five minutes than to be sandwiched by lorries for over an hour to travel just three kilometres after exiting a border.

By Charles Onyango-Obbo

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A few weeks ago, I sat in on a presentation by someone who has ideas about the future of East African borders and had visited the Kenya-Uganda border. He thinks there is money to be made in building a fast platform for all the bureaucratic processes that bedevil cross-border business, and also in some kind of data storage.

Then, a few days ago, at Kenya and Uganda’s Malaba border, we were in the company of someone who is very optimistic about regional integration and is looking to invest money in logistics.

Separately, both of them were put off by the same thing: the traffic jam from both Kenya and Uganda crossing the border. It is either choking to death other businesses or making it very hard for them — especially customers — to get around.

Though the queues aren’t as long as they were early in the year, they are still a couple of dozen trucks deep. There is very poor traffic management on both sides, and if you come in a regular car, to get to the border, and away from it, you need to have a broker who goes ahead of you, haggling with truck drivers to give you space, and identifying which pavement you can clamber over to drive through. It is a total mess, and no grown-up seems to be in charge.

Our party, having crossed into Uganda, then couldn’t find a place to park, alight, and do a walkaround. A decision was made to return the following day, park kilometres away from Malaba, and make the rest of the distance on a boda-boda (motorcycle “taxi”).

If you are looking to invest in a fast network in a place, you are unlikely to finally put down the money if you can’t even get there to scout out a potential business site, except on boda-boda weaving madly between trucks.

A check was also made at the Busia border the next day, and it was the same story. The exception was that in Busia on the Ugandan side, you didn’t have as many roadblocks. On the Malaba side into Uganda, though, you have three roadblocks, including one by Customs/tax agents, in a space of about five kilometres. Then about 18km away, as you exit Tororo town, there is another roadblock. And then about 20km away, you have the long-standing Customs/security one at Busitema Forest. In the space of 36km, you have five roadblocks.

After the remarkable progress of the early 2000s, Uganda has gone back to the dark age as far as non-tariff barriers are concerned.

The growth of cross-border traffic, a good thing, has also become a burden. The time has come to create separate commercial truck and passenger vehicle channels at the border, preferably some kilometres apart.

Because money is tight, and therefore East African governments aren’t about to fund that, the passenger fast track channel could be privatised, so users pay for the service.

After driving for 10 hours to the border, many travellers will consider it a bargain to pay $5 to get through a border in five minutes than to be sandwiched by lorries for over an hour to travel just three kilometres after exiting a border.

Charles Onyango-Obbo is a journalist, writer and curator of the “Wall of Great Africans”. [email protected]

In the headlines

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead: prosecutor

The Gatwaro Genocide Memorial in Kibuye, western Rwanda.

Fugitive Pheneas Munyarugarama died in the DRC in 2002, while Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006.

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Tigray

Women mourn victims of a massacre allegedly perpetrated in Tigray in February 2022.

CSOs say the war crimes and hate speech in Ethiopia reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead, investigators focus on four others

Thursday May 19 2022

The Gatwaro Genocide Memorial in Kibuye, western Rwanda. PHOTO | AFP

Summary

The two were accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to the roles they played in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
With the confirmed death of the two, there are now only four outstanding fugitives under the tribunal's jurisdiction, the statement said.

By AMINA WAKO

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By PARTICK ILUNGA

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The 20-year chase for some of the masterminds behind the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi have ended after the search led to cemeteries in Zimbabwe and DR Congo.

Fugitive Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006, UN prosecutors probing the case announced last week.

Read: Rwanda remembers victims of 1994 Genocide against Tutsi

“Following a challenging and intensive investigation, the OTP (office of the prosecutor) has determined that Mpiranya died on October 5, 2006, in Harare, Zimbabwe,” the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals announced in The Hague on May 12.

And this week, prosecutors again confirmed that another fugitive, Pheneas Munyarugarama, died in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002 following an illness.

The two were accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in relation to the roles they played in the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.

Read: Genocide trauma changed victims’ DNA, says study

Crimes

Mpiranya was head of the presidential guard and was accused of ordering the murder of the then Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana.

According to his indictment, he had given his men a kill list of prominent Tutsis and orders to kill their families. He armed and trained the notorious Interahamwe Hutu militia responsible for thousands of deaths.

Read: US deports genocide fugitive to Rwanda

Also read: UN judge orders 8 Rwandans tried for genocide to be sent to Tanzania

His officers also murdered the 10 Belgian UN peacekeepers guarding Ms Uwilingiyimana.

The body of Mpiranya was buried under a stone slab bearing a false name, which UN investigators tracked down and identified with the help of a critical lead found on a confiscated computer: the hand-drawn design for Mpiranya’s tombstone.

On May 10, Mpiranya’s identity was confirmed by DNA analysis after his body was exhumed last month at the request of UN investigators.

Serge Brammertz, the UN prosecutor who led the hunt, said he was the last of the major fugitives, and finding his body “provides the solace of knowing that he cannot cause further harm.”

And in another statement on Wednesday, Prosecutor Brammertz said, “The Office of the Prosecutor of the Mechanism confirms today (May 18) the death of Phénéas Munyarugarama, one of the last fugitives indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and a notorious figure in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda.

“With the confirmation of Protais Mpiranya’s death last Thursday, [and now Phénéas Munyarugarama’s this Wednesday) only four fugitives remain under the jurisdiction of the Mechanism: Fulgence Kayishema, Charles Sikubwabo, Charles Ryandikayo and Aloys Ndimbati.”

Read: The 28th Remembrance of Rwanda genocide focuses on educating the young

The prosecutor added that his number one priority is Fulgence Kayishema who he says is believed to be living in South Africa.

Genocide fugitives

Munyarugarama, a former military officer in Rwanda, was indicted by the ICTR in February 2002. The ICTR charged him with eight counts, including genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide and crimes against humanity.

Munyarugarama was held responsible for massacres, attacks and sexual violence against Tutsi civilians in Bugesera region, including attacks on Tutsi refugees in Catholic churches at the height of the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi.

Read: Niger, UN bicker over Rwandan ex-genocide detainees

He held the rank of lieutenant-colonel.

Munyarugarama fled Rwanda in June 1994 to the DRC, then called Zaire. He was joined the former Rwandan Armed Forces and later the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), the rebels opposed to Kigali.

“Following a difficult and intense investigation, the Office of the Prosecutor was able to determine that Munyarugarama died of natural causes on or about 28 February 2002 in Kankwala, in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he was also buried,” the May 18 statement said.

Key wanted figure

Accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, Mpiranya was a key remaining wanted figure following the arrest of Felicien Kabuga in France two years ago.

Read: Felicien Kabuga: The quiet businessman from Byumba who took over Kigali

He was accused, along with others, of having instigated the killing of the moderate Hutu Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana on April 7, 1994.

The mass killing of Rwanda's Tutsi population was ignited on April 6, when a plane carrying President Juvénal Habyarimana was shot down and crashed in Kigali, the capital, killing the leader who was an ethnic Hutu.

The Tutsi were blamed for downing the plane, and although they denied it, bands of Hutu extremists began killing them, including children.

After an indictment was issued against him, Mpiranya fled to Zimbabwe in late 2002, where he lived until his death in 2006, the tribunal said.

The investigation found he had arrived on a Zimbabwean military plane and had been in frequent contact during his stay with Zimbabwean officials in the then president Robert Mugabe's regime, who were well aware of his identity as a valued ally in the second Congo war of 1998-2003.

“Mpiranya's presence in Zimbabwe, and later the fact of his death, were deliberately concealed by the concerted efforts of his family and associates, including up to the present,” the MICT said, adding it would ask judges to close the case.

In the headlines

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Tigray

CSOs say the war crimes and hate speech in Ethiopia reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Ethiopia

Thursday May 19 2022

Women mourn victims of a massacre allegedly perpetrated in Tigray in February 2022. PHOTO | AFP

Summary

The war in Ethiopia that began in November 2020 between forces of the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has caused great human suffering.
A joint investigation by the UN Human Rights Council and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that parties on both sides of the conflict have committed serious human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians, unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detentions, abductions and enforced disappearances and rape and other sexual violence.

By FRED OLOUCH

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Fifteen African civil society organisations have warned that the ongoing war in Ethiopia could equal the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, unless the United Nations immediately puts the conflict on its agenda.

In a May 18 letter to the UN Security Council, the groups say that besides war crimes and crimes against humanity on both sides of the conflict, words such as “cancer” and “devil” that are used to refer to human beings cast as opponents reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi.

Read: HRW asks Ethiopia to probe Tigray 'war crime'

Concern

In Rwanda, the then Hutu-led government referred to the Tutsi population as “cockroaches”, giving the impression that they were parasites that needed to be exterminated.

“Twenty-eight years ago, the Security Council similarly failed to recognise the warning signs of genocide in Rwanda or act to stop it,” says the letter that was spearheaded by Hala Al Karib, a women’s rights activist in the Horn of Africa and Sudan region, and Corlett Letlojane, executive director of the Human Rights Institute of South Africa.

“The United Nations had the means to intervene, but simply did not care enough about Rwanda to intervene appropriately. We are concerned that the situation is repeating itself in Ethiopia today. We call on you to learn the lessons from Rwanda and act now.”

The war in Ethiopia that began in November 2020 between forces of the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has caused great human suffering. It has extended southwards to the Amhara region and eastwards to the Afar region.

A joint investigation by the UN Human Rights Council and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) found that parties on both sides of the conflict have committed serious human rights abuses, including attacks on civilians, unlawful killings and extrajudicial executions, torture, arbitrary detentions, abductions and enforced disappearances and rape and other sexual violence.

Additionally, the government has been accused of using food as a weapon of war, blocking humanitarian assistance as a tool to starve Tigrayans into submission.

Read: First aid convoy in three months to enter Ethiopia's Tigray soon: UN

Also read: Ethiopia’s Tigray region receives first medical aid consignment since September

As a result of the conflict, it is estimated that half a million people have died, 4.2 million have been displaced and nine million are in need of humanitarian assistance.

A recent joint report by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch based on over 400 interviews conducted over 15 months documents ethnic cleansing in western Tigray. “In this context, there are serious reasons for concern about ongoing ethnic tensions and that violence may rise to the level of genocide,” the letter says.

The groups say that despite the seriousness of the situation, the UN Security Council has failed to formally address the situation in Ethiopia.

“This is a critical moment for the UN to take decisive action that leverages these openings to benefit the people of Ethiopia. This cannot be done, however, without clear leadership from the UN Security Council,” the letter says.

In the headlines

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead: prosecutor

Fugitive Pheneas Munyarugarama died in the DRC in 2002, while Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

SHORT STORY: Playing a good neighbour

Thursday May 19 2022

Drenched but victorious with salt in hand, Prisca tapped her foot impatiently as she stood in the lift heading back to her flat...The lift dinged as it arrived at her floor and the doors slid open. “Prisca! I was just looking for you!” it was her neighbour. ILLUSTRATION | JOHN NYAGA

Summary

There were plenty of clouds, low lying purple grey ones, each tinged with gold or silver, floating sluggishly to form a blanket that trapped what could have been a sickly humidity.
Swinging lithely to her feet, Prisca had hardly taken a step when her doorbell pealed shrilly. As it resounded through her airy flat, each wave flooded her system with cortisol. She froze on the threshold of her balcony and living room, standing so still she was hardly breathing.
The woman was nice, it was just, she was so wordy. A simple hello was to her an invitation to dive into lengthy conversations that were an ingratiating mix of neighbourhood gossip and small talk.

By NADYA SOMOE

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It was her day off, and she was going to rest. She was going to put her feet up, watch a film she’d been saving for a rainy day, cook herself a good meal and do absolutely nothing. Prisca leaned her head back to stare at the sky, luxuriating in the pockets of sunshine that intermittently opened up each time there was a break in the clouds. There were plenty of clouds, low lying purple grey ones, each tinged with gold or silver, floating sluggishly to form a blanket that trapped what could have been a sickly humidity if it were not for a soft cold breeze carrying with it the fragrant scent of coming rain.

“I should move,” she murmured, finishing off a lukewarm coffee, swinging gently on a chair suspended on the balcony of her high-rise apartment.

Swinging lithely to her feet, Prisca had hardly taken a step when her doorbell pealed shrilly. As it resounded through her airy flat, each wave flooded her system with cortisol. She froze on the threshold of her balcony and living room, standing so still she was hardly breathing. Maybe whoever it was would just leave?

“Hello?” it was her neighbour from the apartment complex across from hers, “I’m here for the bread recipe we spoke about?” she called persistently, knocking again, “Hello!”

Prisca exhaled measuredly and rolled her eyes. The woman was nice, it was just, she was so wordy. A simple hello was to her an invitation to dive into lengthy conversations that were an ingratiating mix of neighbourhood gossip and small talk. Had she seen Prisca lolling about on her balcony? If so, then it would be rude not to answer… But just as Prisca took a silent step forward, she heard them mutter.

“Let me call instead.”

Prisca leaped forward, graceful as a gazelle, landing soundlessly on the balls of her feet, to grab her phone off the coffee table, quickly switching on flight mode. Then she stood still and contemplative, feeling guilty for her behaviour, but unwilling to surrender hours of her precious day off. Presently, she heard them retreat and with each footstep Prisca’s shoulders dropped as the anxiety fell of her.

Breathing easier, she padded softly into the kitchen, closed the door and started cooking. She wanted to treat herself to an unhurried lunch. She hadn’t had those in so long.

As a doctor on call, she found herself eating on her feet, running down a corridor or wolfing it down in her office between patients. Prisca swayed and hummed as she begun chopping onions and tomatoes into piles of bright red and washed out purple, dicing them with surgical precision, into nearly perfect cubes.

She’d been to the market the evening before, and so now she spread an assortment of fresh produce on the counter, mentally selecting ingredients for her stew. Carrots that glowed effervescent orange, eggplants the colour of the dark clouds outside, earth and ivory coloured mushrooms that were spongy to the touch, deep green lush leaves of spinach…

Outside, the clouds released their burdens in a sudden, powerful torrent that roared to life as abruptly as an engine starting.

Prisca started as the clamorous rain fell, then wandered happily to stare out at the downpour, relishing and romanticising the scene, the comforting mingling scents of stew and rain, the sounds that were now soothing as the heavy rain evened out and the dark sky lashed with flashes of bright lightning that rumbled with low resonant thunder. She stood watching for a while then jumped as she remembered her stew simmering on the stove.

It was only just starting to bubble out from under the lid, dribbling down the sides of the pot. She switched off the heat and scooped a large spoonful, blowing the steam that rose from the delicious smelling mixture, salivating expectantly. Prisca plopped the spoon into her mouth.

“Oh…” she exhaled, she’d forgotten salt. Mentally kicking herself for skipping such a simple yet essential ingredient, she rummaged through her spice cupboard, yanking the salt jar out and then cursing loudly as she stared at the empty container in her hand. Prisca debated her situation only a moment before donning a heavy raincoat, pulling the hood low over her head and running out to a kiosk that straddled her apartment complex’s external wall, much to the equal chagrin and convenience of the residents.

Drenched but victorious with salt in hand, Prisca tapped her foot impatiently as she stood in the lift heading back to her flat. Irritation had threatened her good mood, but now her relaxing evening was within reach, she could already feel it, the sensation of sinking into her couch, stew in hand, to watch a film she’d waited so long to see, cosy with the rain falling steadily outside… The lift dinged as it arrived at her floor and the doors slid open.

“Prisca! I was just looking for you!” it was her neighbour, returned, “I came by this morning but…what have you got there?” she didn’t wait for a reply, she rarely did, “Were you at the kiosk? I hear there are plans to demolish it but Sarah’s husband, you know, the one who…” she continued as Prisca choked back tears and plastered on a bland smile.

In the headlines

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead: prosecutor

Fugitive Pheneas Munyarugarama died in the DRC in 2002, while Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006.

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Tigray

CSOs say the war crimes and hate speech in Ethiopia reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

Walk teamwork talk beyond those framed plaques to avoid failure

Thursday May 19 2022

Values represent the core of a belief system. PHOTO | FILE

Summary

Many leaders have found that if the culture is not right, the strategy will not deliver.
The mistake that they make, however, is trying to impose a new culture by issuing directives. This simply will not work because as stated earlier, culture takes its life from values.
You cannot change a culture preaching integrity that cannot be seen. If you preach teamwork yet your behaviour encourages silos, there will be no teamwork.

By WALE AKINYEMI

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In most organisations’ receptions, you are likely to see a framed list of values that include integrity, professionalism, customer focus, and teamwork.

Values represent the core of a belief system. Our values govern our behaviour. A person can decide he will not taste alcohol because he has taken his values from his religion which forbids alcohol. The behaviour is a direct reflection of the values. Taking it further, a collection of values that govern how we behave, becomes our culture.

What does it mean when an organisation wants to effect a culture change? This brings in another dynamic — goals and objectives. What does the organisation want to achieve? This births strategy, which will define how we will achieve what we set out to achieve.

Many leaders have found that if the culture is not right, the strategy will not deliver. The mistake that they make, however, is trying to impose a new culture by issuing directives. This simply will not work because as stated earlier, culture takes its life from values. They have to be values in the hearts and minds of the people. Values that are not lived are useless decorations on the wall.

So, “How do we get people to live the values?” To answer this, we must first look at how not to do it. For example, my parents were lovely, church-going Christians who tried to do everything by the book. The greatest values I learnt from them can be summed up as hard work and doing good. For those who have read Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, my dad was that guy who everyone loved and praised for his hard work and integrity but was a far cry from rich.

I inherited my reading DNA from my parents because I grew up with books around me. I also learnt about taking care of family and making it the centre of everything from my parents and today, in my 30th year of marriage, I have tried to reproduce that.

School of life

I, however, did not learn any business or entrepreneurial skills from them or how life outside employment works. I did not learn how to be a visionary leader and neither did I learn about mentorship from them. I had to discover these for myself in the school of life. As much as they loved me, they could only pass down what they knew and lived out. I became what I saw. In order for me to become other things, I had to go after what I wanted. I had to see differently.

You cannot change a culture preaching integrity that cannot be seen. If you preach teamwork yet your behaviour encourages silos, there will be no teamwork. If you paste professionalism on a wall as a value yet your actions are not aligned, no one will heed the writing.

As human beings, there is a fundamental rule we must understand: We become what we behold. The tragedy of many organisations and indeed many African countries is that mediocrity and corruption have been the greatest thing some leaders have had to show and it simply reproduces itself. Barring something dramatic, we remain on the very fringe of mediocre corrupt states because a younger generation becomes what it beholds.

This is a cry for new role models to emerge. As long as the good guys continue to hide and do their good deeds behind closed doors, it opens the floodgates for more of what we have - where the corrupt become role models for future generations. If that is what the reality is, the future is not looking too good.

Wale Akinyemi is convenor of the Street University (www.thestreetuniversity.com) and chief transformation officer, PowerTalks; [email protected]

In the headlines

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead: prosecutor

Fugitive Pheneas Munyarugarama died in the DRC in 2002, while Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006.

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Tigray

CSOs say the war crimes and hate speech in Ethiopia reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

Dancing to tap into African roots

Thursday May 19 2022

Dutch-Ethiopian contemporary dance and movement artiste Elsa Mulder. PHOTO | POOL

Summary

Society holds a different perspective on what contemporary is, but Contemporary Dance means “new”, not based on culture, though it can borrow from it.
Generally, in Africa, we don’t have enough women not just in dance but also the arts. It is different in Europe where more women are actively involved in contemporary dance.

By ANDREW I KAZIBWE

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Elsa Mulder, an Ethiopian-Dutch movement artist, a contemporary dancer, teacher and producer spoke to Andrew I. Kazibwe on dance, culture, and being a global citizen

Recently Elsa Mulder’s dance collaboration with Rwandan dancer Frank Mugisha premiered at L'Espace in Kigali, as part of the Instinctual Arts Festival, following a two- week residency for young creatives.

She is a graduate of the University of Performing Arts Lucia Marthas in Groningen, Netherlands and a 2017 graduate of the Codarts University of Arts in Rotterdam. She is also studying non-violent communication.

She was adopted by a Dutch family at age five in 1998, and travelled back to Africa for the first time in 2010, visiting Ethiopia, South Africa, Uganda, and Rwanda. She is currently in Rwanda for a community art residency, dancing and teaching artistic movement as a tool for non-verbal communication.

Dutch-Ethiopian contemporary dance and movement artiste Elsa Mulder. PHOTO | POOL

What does dance mean to you?

I am not very outspoken and dance gave me a medium to express myself. I hate it sometimes, but love it equally too. After a session, I feel emotionally relieved and fulfilled. There is more in our bodies than thought such as reflexes. We do this even without having to think about it.

What inspired your recent dance collaboration with Mugisha?

First, it is my first one-of-a kind performance that I have created with someone. We kind of have a similar life, though experienced differently.

Mugisha is born in Rwanda, then moved to Uganda and returned, while I was born in Ethiopia and raised in the Netherlands. For many reasons, Africans, in general, are travellers. So in our dance we tried to tackle identity, path, languages, home, meeting cultures, travel, and navigating spaces.

What was your impression of Ethiopia when you first came back in 2010?

It was very confusing. People knew I was from there, but I could hardly communicate with them through language which was a sad, emotional battle for me because I am from there yet felt worlds apart even when there.

How has using dance as a tool of communication in your outreach projects helped in reconnecting with your roots?

By using dance or movement, which are connected to rhythm or music and culture too, helped me cope with my return as it filled the internal need to reconnect, which was a great experience and a good start before reuniting with family physically.

Why is contemporary dance not yet considered mainstream?

Society holds a different perspective on what contemporary is, but Contemporary Dance means “new”, not based on culture, though it can borrow from it. It cannot specifically be fit into any box or structure. Most people dance contemporary, and yet they aren’t aware of it.

There are few women in contemporary dance. Why?

Generally, in Africa, we don’t have enough women not just in dance but also the arts. It is different in Europe where more women are actively involved in contemporary dance. We need to think outside the box to get inclusion.

In the headlines

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead: prosecutor

Fugitive Pheneas Munyarugarama died in the DRC in 2002, while Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006.

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Tigray

CSOs say the war crimes and hate speech in Ethiopia reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

Kenyan court jails German athlete for cyber harassment

Thursday May 19 2022

German athlete Weiss Marvin Valentin, 25, at the Iten Law Courts on May 18, 2022. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NMG

Summary

Weiss Marvin Valentin, 25, was charged with four counts of sending disturbing messages to the athlete, whom he wanted to be romantically involved with, but his advances were turned down.
Mr Valentin pleaded guilty to the four counts before Iten Senior Resident Magistrate Caroline Ateya.
The court ruled that he should leave the country within 72 hours of paying the fine or completing the prison term, failure to which he would be deported.

By FRED KIBOR

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A Kenyan court orders a German athlete to pay a Ksh70,000 ($601) fine or spend six months in prison for cyber harassment in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.

The harassment in form of text and social media messages sent to a Kenyan female athlete, who also trains in Iten, was meant to cause anxiety that something bad might happen to her.

Weiss Marvin Valentin, 25, was charged with four counts of sending disturbing messages to the athlete, whom he wanted to be romantically involved with, but his advances were turned down.

“The accused, once in the camp, became interested in a romantic affair with the mentioned athlete who declined the advances. He persistently but unsuccessfully tried luring her though he was warned of his unbecoming behaviour by other athletes and even the coach,” read the report presented by the prosecution.

Mr Valentin pleaded guilty to the four counts before Iten Senior Resident Magistrate Caroline Ateya.

The court ruled that he should leave the country within 72 hours of paying the fine or completing the prison term, failure to which he would be deported.

The German national was charged with three counts of sending disturbing messages and a fourth count of malicious information to Regina Nguria.

The court heard that on April 20, 2022 at an unknown place within Kenya, he sent an SMS to Ms Nguria, which reads: “You are (sic) having my blood in your hands. Tomorrow I will go to heaven and you will go to hell…” The prosecution said the message caused anxiety to Ms Nguria.

A week later, he commented on a photo Ms Nguria was tagged on Instagram saying: “It was the plan from both of you to break my spirit by trapping me (sic) coming back to Kenya. Soon, the woman on the left will burn in hell…”

On the same day, the accused commented on a photo on the same social media platform saying: “Hopefully Regina is dead in a few days.”

In his mitigation, the accused told the court: “I am sorry for the messages. Send me back home for medication because I am sick.”

His coach, Elkana Ruto, told Nation Sport that the athlete is an introvert who rarely communicates with the rest of the group (Cloudnine Athletics Camp), but that he had warned him several times of his unbecoming behaviour.

“I have received several complaints from ladies who accused him of being a nuisance with his sexual advances. We reported the matter to police when we saw the issue was getting out of hand,” Mr Ruto said.

In the headlines

2 key Rwanda genocide fugitives dead: prosecutor

Fugitive Pheneas Munyarugarama died in the DRC in 2002, while Protais Mpiranya died in Zimbabwe in 2006.

UN urged to take action to prevent genocide in Tigray

CSOs say the war crimes and hate speech in Ethiopia reflect what preceded the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

Rwanda to give private sector $150m

Why Hussein Roble has to leave Somalia PM post

Amhara clashes mar Ethiopia’s tolerant image

Tanzania upgrades ventilation devices to save premature babies

Petition seeks Unesco’s help for African students who fled Ukraine

Thursday May 19 2022

Africans studying in Sumy arrive at the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine on March 9, 2022. Change.org is running a petition to fight for African students in Ukraine universities whose education was affected by the invasion. PHOTO | AFP

Summary

Figures from ministries of Education of East African Community member states show at least 400 students from the region, who were studying in Ukraine, were evacuated when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Change.org, a global organisation that helps people seek justice, is running a petition to fight for African students in Ukraine universities whose education was affected by the invasion.
For many years, Ukraine has long appealed foreign students and can be traced back to Soviet era when there was a heavy investment in education.

By FAITH NYAMAI

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Three months after Russia invaded Ukraine, causing one of the biggest modern displacements of civilians in Europe, East African students who were in the latter country for studies are uncertain of completing their education.

These students had taken up studies in Ukraine either through government-to-government scholarship programmes or individual sponsorship seeing as the country boasts cheaper tuition fees.

Education disrupted

Figures from ministries of Education of East African Community member states show at least 400 students from the region, who were studying in Ukraine, were evacuated when Russia invaded Ukraine.

Now, Change.org, a global organisation that helps people seek justice, is running a petition to fight for African students in Ukraine universities whose education was affected by the invasion.

Korrine Sky, originator of the petitioner and a human rights defender is looking for over 2,500 signatures. By Thursday, over 2,100 people had signed the petition.

“We are calling on Unesco, the Global Education Coalition, the European Commission, universities in Europe, Britain, the Irish States, Canada and the United States and all countries that are concerned with education to put in place a support package…

“…and scholarships for African students whose studies have been disrupted by the war in Ukraine so that the students continue with and finish their studies,” said Ms Sky.

According to the petition titled “What next for African students who fled Ukraine?” the country was home to over 70,000 international students.

Nearly a quarter of the foreign students were from Africa with the largest coming from Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt. Kenya had 183 students studying in various universities in Ukraine, Uganda has over 100 students while Tanzania had 11 students. Rwandan Deputy Government spokesperson Alain Mukurainda in March revealed that there were 86 Rwandan students studying in Ukraine.

In March, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau defended that the Ministry of Education was responsible for their travel back to the country.

For many years, Ukraine has long appealed foreign students and can be traced back to Soviet era when there was a heavy investment in education.

The reforms in the education sector at the time caused a heavy investment in higher education in Ukraine and a deliberate attempt to attract students from newly independent African countries.

Gateway to European job market

Ukraine universities are seen as a gateway to the European job market as their degree courses, offered mostly in English, are affordable and widely recognised.

Most of the students join Ukraine universities to study medicine, engineering, business, aviation, maritime, economics, pharmacy, nursing, management and tourism among other courses.

The courses take two to six years depending on the university.

African students at the main train station in Lviv, Ukraine on March 9, 2022. At least 400 students from the East African Community have been evacuated following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. PHOTO | AFP

Uncertain of their future

However, when the invasion happened, thousands of students fled, hundreds of others were trapped and many remain uncertain about the fate of their education.

Majority have also been unable to access online learning and are being denied scholarships unlike their classmates, who are Ukraine nationals.

Change.Org argues that while the world has rightly opened its arms to Ukrainian refugees, African students have experienced racism and discrimination.

“We are asking that African students be offered access to university places on the same terms as their Ukrainian counterparts,” reads the petition.

The petitioner reveals that some of the students have become nomads in European countries and others have either been detained, deported or returned to their countries of origin.

“Ukrainian and African students fled the war together, yet Ukrainian students are receiving remarkable support while their African counterparts are facing obstacle after obstacle and have been left to fend for themselves or rely on grassroots organisations for support,” reads the petition.

Ms Sky said, currently, students who are applying for the scholarships that have been made available for Ukrainian refugees are being told they are ineligible for the scholarships because these are for Ukraine nationals only.

“Everyone should have a right to education and this should not be a right that is given to some and not others,” she said.

But more disconcerting, Ms Sky writes in her petition, many Ukrainian universities will not give these students transcripts while some of the universities the students are applying to claim they do not believe the students were even residents or students in Ukraine.

Godson Elizua, in a comment, revealed that he is one of the affected African student and is hoping to get help to continue with learning.

“I want to continue my education as one of the African students who were displaced during the Ukrainian invasion,” he said.

Benson Taylor said open racism is being practised against the already traumatised citizens of other nations, especially against African and Asian students.

Another petitioner, Badmus Yinusa, wrote, “I want all displaced students irrespective of their nationalities to get equal treatment across the globe, because humanity is one.”

Amina Farouk, a student, said she had to leave her education in Ukraine but she doesn’t know what will happen next.

Another student, Ajala Philip, said he is signing the petition because he was among those greatly affected.

“I am a student affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and we faced a lot while fleeing the war.

‘‘Right now, we are displaced all over Europe and we need to be placed into different educational institutions for continuation of our education,” he said.

Complete education in safety

The petitioners say, the African students were part of the Ukrainian economic mainstay.

They paid their fees, associated costs, even much more than their Ukrainian counterparts, they add, and need to be supported to complete their education in safety like their Ukrainian classmates.

“I am signing because I am a poor student and grassroots feminist in school struggling to finish meteorology and knowing what climate refugees will need when it happens in the global south where I am from Kenya.

‘‘We need to have precedence and a route to start helping other students that need it now and will need it in the future,” said Carlisle Nyambura.

Since the war began, Unesco, the Global Education Coalition, the European Commission have been in the lead calling for peace and respect to human rights and access to education.

Currently, Unesco is helping students to continue learning by supporting teachers and providing computers and digital education tools to young refugees.

According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science, the country has 695 vocational institutions and 336 higher education institutions.

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Reformed poachers join patrol to stop illegal activities in Aberdare

Thursday May 19 2022

Various groups have joined hands to protect the environment, and do away with logging and poaching. PHOTO | FILE

Summary

Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit (AJSU) was formed with the help of the Rhino Ark to carry out daily surveillance on the 400-kilometre long electric fence to reduce the human-wildlife conflict in the area.
As a way of protecting the ecosystem in Aberdare, various groups joined hands and formed a bigger movement called Mwelami to protect the environment, and do away with logging and poaching.
As a way of reducing logging and maintaining a greener forest, the group came up with an initiative of supplying energy saving jikos to various schools to help them reduce cost and be part of restoring the ecosystem.

By WINNIE ONYANDO

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John Njuguna Mugo, a member of Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit (AJSU) and a reformed poacher, leads members of the group and journalists around the Aberdare forest.

Moving in a slow but steady manner, we follow Samuel Kariuki, Joshua Odhiambo (ranger from Kenya Wildlife Service), Zachary Kamau, Joseph Ndaba and Mercy Nyambura, who are members of AJSU.

We had covered about two kilometres when we were beckoned to lay flat on our bellies for a black rhino that was just five metres away. It was noon but because of the tall trees and thick foliage, we could not see or feel the impact of sun in Aberdare North, Nyeri County.

This is a normal day for AJSU, which was formed with the help of the Rhino Ark to carry out daily surveillance on the 400-kilometre long electric fence to reduce the human-wildlife conflict in the area.

The team begins its routine patrol at 5am and sets camp wherever the sun sets. Each of member of the team has a story behind their membership. Njuguna, for example, had been in several conflicts with the police, Kenya Wildlife Service and Kenya Forest Service officers.

“I was not only a poacher but also a charcoal burner. I was arrested several times until I made up my mind to change my ways,” said Njuguna.

He has offered his services at the forest for the past 12 years.

“Quite a number of people from my village have transformed. They now see the benefits of conserving the environment.”

Ndaba had a similar story to tell. To him, “logging was normal” and he didn’t see the importance of conserving the environment.” But now he is a fully transformed poacher who now preaches the importance of caring for the ecosystem.

Nyambura, the only woman in the surveillance team, said most of the poachers lay traps on trees and spears which may even endanger their lives.

In a single surveillance trip, they remove between 10 to 15 snares and come across seven to 10 trees that have been logged. They have also been trained on firefighting skills to put out the fires that erupt in the forest.

Logging is mainly done in the northern part of Aberdare whereas the southern part is termed as a poaching hotspot.

As a way of protecting the ecosystem in Aberdare, various groups joined hands and formed a bigger movement called Mwelami to protect the environment, and do away with logging and poaching.

The group’s chairperson Grace Ndiritu said their main aim was to reduce conflict between the public, KWS and KFS and also to uplift the livelihood of the people living around.

The group sponsors members to grow arrowroots, tree tomatoes, tree seedlings, grass, rear dairy cows and goats. It also starts poultry farms as a way of helping members find an alternative activity and prevent them from tampering with the forest that is a home to millions of animals.

So far, the group has reached more than 1,600 households and are targeting 2,000 more.

“We are the ones that cause climate change and we can only solve that by preserving our forest and water catchments,” she said.

They improve the livelihood of the people and create job opportunities hence reducing logging and poaching.

As a way of reducing logging and maintaining a greener forest, the group came up with an initiative of supplying energy saving jikos to various schools to help them reduce cost and be part of restoring the ecosystem.

One of the beneficiaries of the project is Amboni Secondary which was given four energy saving jikos to help prepare food for the students and be part of rehabilitating the environment.

The principal of Amboni Secondary, Grace Mwangi told us that they now use less firewood compared to the past years.

“We were using eight lorries’ per term but now we have reduced it to three because of the energy saving jikos. We always make a saving of Sh80,000 per term. We are one of the beneficiaries of the project and we thank God,” said Mrs Mwangi.

The group covers counties like Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Embu and Tharaka Nithi.

The sponsorship they give comes from the Sh6.6 billion that the Kenyan government was given as a grant by IFAD, an organization from Europe.

“It is imperative that we decouple environmental degradation and unsustainable resource use from economic growth and associated production and consumption patterns,” concluded Mr Mwangi.

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