Sections of Nairobi Expressway Closed As Azimio Protests Gain Momentum

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July 12, 2023

Nairobi Expressway has been closed at Mlolongo, Syokimau and Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) toll stations after anti-government protestors vandalised some parts.

In a statement, the operator, Moja Expressway, assured that they are working to restore normalcy even as demonstrations against the rising cost of living gather pace.

Motorists on the highway have been advised to exit at the JKIA toll station.

Minutes earlier, protestors vandalised the barrier and toll stations near Mlolongo, Machakos County. Further, the transport was paralysed after the rowdy youth lit tyres along the expressway

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah blamed the Azimio coalition for the chaos that ensued at the expressway.

He questioned the opposition’s motives in calling for protests that led to the destruction of public property.

“This madness by all means must stop. Is this a peaceful protest/procession??? And the media will blame the police for dispersing “peaceful demonstrators,” Ichung’wah lamented.

President Ruto: Kenya To Exploit Ties With Iran To Expand Trade

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John Mutiso

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July 12, 2023

Kenya will exploit the strong ties it enjoys with Iran to expand trade.

President William Ruto said trade volumes between the two countries are still low but with potential to grow.

He explained that Kenya and Iran will strike a formula that will facilitate higher exports of tea, coffee and meat.

“This will bring about the much-desired trade balance that is in favour of Iran.”

He made the remarks on Wednesday at State House, Nairobi, after holding talks with President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi.

President Ruto observed that Kenya will also use the West Asian country’s wealth in technology and innovation for its development.

He pointed out that the setting up of the Iran House of Innovation and Technology in Nairobi will offer the right platform for Iranian and Kenyan businesses.

“This is an innovative way of enabling enterprises to access Iranian technologies, skills and information.”

He explained that Kenya and Iran are strategically located to be each other’s key points of entry into their respective regions.

“We will seek to capitalise on this unique advantage for our prosperity.”

As a consequence of regular interactions, President Ruto argued that Kenya and Iran have signed more than 22 MoUs and agreements.

The instruments have been key to the cooperation in development, education, scholarships, infrastructure, health, water, fisheries and agriculture.

During their meeting, Dr Ruto and Dr Raisi witnessed the signing of new MoUs and agreements in the areas of agriculture, livestock, culture and heritage, information, ICT, fisheries, housing, urban and metropolitan development.

President Ruto lauded Iran’s support in health, terming it a critical step towards the realisation of Kenya’s Universal Health Coverage.

President Raisi lauded Kenya’s commitment to creating a friendly environment for foreign businesses.

He said more Iranian firms will establish operations in the country, paving their way to accessing EAC, COMESA and AfCFTA markets of more than 1.4 billion people.

“The Kenya-Iran relations can always be strengthened for our benefit,” he said during a media briefing.

Clergy Urges President Ruto To Repeal Finance Act As Opposition Demos Looms

By

John Mutiso

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July 12, 2023

Religious leaders have asked President William Ruto to repeal the Finance Act 2023 as an immediate measure to help stabilise the country.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, leaders from the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) and the National Council of Churches in Kenya (NCCK) urged the President to allow his administration to implement policies and strategies that give Kenyans hope while addressing the country’s economic challenges in the short and long term.

“There are many families that are sleeping hungry, businesses have collapsed, jobs have been lost, and the cost of living is continuing to rise. Without this approach, Your Excellency, we fear that the growing sense of hopelessness will push the country into instability and possibly violence.”

“As an immediate mitigation measure, Your Excellency, we recommend that the Finance Act 2023 is repealed so as to review the heavy taxation burden imposed on Kenyans. In addition, we urge a cessation of domestic borrowing by the government so as to enable banks to loan private businesses that drive the local economy,” the leaders said.

The Finance Act 2023, taxes, and the high cost of living have been major points of contention in Kenya, fueling the opposition’s recent nationwide protests led by Raila Odinga.

The Act is currently suspended following a ruling by the High Court on Monday. Chief Justice Martha Koome is expected to convene a bench of judges to hear the case seeking to halt the Act’s implementation.

Azimio supporters took to the streets on Wednesday, fighting bonfires and pelting stones in protest of the high cost of living.

The NCCK has urged Odinga to lead an issue-based and solution-oriented approach in order to keep the country from devolving into chaos.

“We recognize the critical constitutional role that the opposition plays in safeguarding democracy and justice in our nation. We, therefore, appeal to you, Rt Honorable Raila, to recognize the key position you hold and the contribution you make in shaping the current and future of our nation,” the Council said.

The church also urged Kenyans to remain calm, avoid protests during difficult times, and remember the nation’s prayer through the national anthem.

EACC Summons Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai For Slapping Kenya Power Employee

By

John Mutiso

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July 12, 2023

The Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) has summoned Kitui East Member of Parliament Nimrod Mbai over the assault of a Kenya Power employee.

Speaking at the commemoration of the African Anti-Corruption Day at the Nairobi University on Tuesday, EACC Chief Executive Officer Twalib Mbarak condemned MP Mbai’s behaviour calling on Kenyans to choose their leaders wisely.

“70 per cent of Kenyans, are below 35 years but if you believe that the right way is to vote in a leader who chases power officials with a gun when they come to disconnect illegal connections, then the problem is not that person; the problem is you,” said Mbarak.

“We are the ones who vote in very funny characters and then we make noise. Most of those Governors who serve two terms have many issues with EACC but if you look at how they came in, the society loved them because they were quasi-crooks.”

MP Mbai is expected to present himself to the EACC offices on Thursday, July 17 at 9 am for an interview and statement recording.

“The Commission notes that these allegations constitute serious ethical issues and if true would amount to a serious breach of the integrity and ethical requirements governing the conduct of State officers as laid out under Chapter Six of the Constitution and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012,” read a notice by the EACC CEO.

The notice indicated that a failure of MP Mbai to present himself as required, on conviction, will attract a fine of Sh300,000 or imprisonment for a term of three years or both.

Mbai is on the spot for slapping a Kenya Power engineer who was reportedly seeking to disconnect an illegal power line at the legislator’s home in Kitengela, Kajiado County.

Mbai likewise reached for and attempted to draw his gun during his fit of rage.

The Kenya Power officials claim that the MP had erected an illegal power line at the premises spanning more than a kilometre.

Nigeria: Airport’s Runway Lights Stolen Just Months After Installation

By

Dan Ojumah

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July 11, 2023

Thieves have stolen the lighting system for one of the runways at Nigeria’s busiest airport just months after it was installed, an airport authority spokesman has confirmed to the BBC.

An investigation has now been launched to “arrest the criminals [and] recover what’s missing”, Yakubu Funtua added.

It is not clear when the system was taken from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

But local media reported that airport workers were involved in the theft.

The ground lights were installed in November, ending years of after-dusk restrictions on landing on that wing of the airport.

Domestic carriers were forced to divert to the international section and taxi about 4km (2.5 miles) back to the right terminal, which caused flight disruptions.

Mr Funtua told the BBC that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria will “block all loopholes to prevent [a] future occurrence”.

The criminals took advantage of the fact that the runway had been closed for months for maintenance to take the lighting system, an unnamed source told Nigeria’s Punch newspaper.

The source blamed a “syndicate” of workers at the airport along with “accomplices from outside” for a series of thefts.

Japan Overturns Ruling On Transgender Washrooms

By

Cyrus Kimanga

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July 11, 2023

FILE PHOTO: Demonstrator takes part in a march for gender equality and protest against gender discrimination to mark the International Women's Day, in Tokyo — FILE PHOTO: A demonstrator holds a placard while taking part in a march to call for gender equality and protest against gender discrimination, marking the International Women's Day in Tokyo, Japan March 8, 2021. REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo

Japan’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that restrictions imposed by a government ministry on a transgender female employee’s use of restrooms at her workplace are illegal, in a landmark decision that could promote the rights of LGBTQ+ people in a country without legal protections for them.
It was the court’s first ruling on the working environment for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The judges said in a unanimous ruling that the Economy and Trade Ministry’s restrictions, which forced the employee to use either a nearby men’s room or women’s restrooms at least two floors away, were “extremely inappropriate.” It said the approval of the restrictions by the National Personnel Authority, which is supposed to serve the interests of government employees, was “illegal” and an “abuse of power.”
The victory by the plaintiff, identified only as a transgender female ministry official in her 50s who sued the government over toilet access, was good news for the LGBTQ+ community in Japan, the only member of the Group of Seven industrialized nations where same-sex marriage is not legal.
“All people should have the right to live their lives in society based on their own sexual identities,” the plaintiff said after the ruling. “The significance of that should not be reduced to the usage of toilets or public baths.”

The ministry had imposed the two-floor bathroom restriction to limit the chances that the plaintiff’s coworkers might use the same restroom and be embarrassed. The ruling said the ministry was excessively considerate of other employees, while “unjustly neglecting the plaintiff’s inconvenience” even though there had been no trouble or complaint.

Mbappe Faces Hostile Fan Reaction, PSG Believe

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Paris St-Germain believe Kylian Mbappe could face a hostile reception from the club’s fans through next season unless he resolves his contract dispute.

At the weekend, the France forward said PSG were “a divisive team, a divisive club” in an interview with L’Equipe.

Mbappe, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, has told PSG he will not sign a new contract.

He says he will not leave this summer and instead will depart for free when his current deal expires next year.

Lionel Messi’s last days at PSG were marked with fan protests after it became clear he was leaving, with the club increasing security at his home, as well as Neymar’s.

PSG’s club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said last week: “If Kylian Mbappe wants to stay – we want him to stay – he needs to sign a new contract.

“We cannot let the best player in the world right now leave for free. That is impossible.”

Former sporting director Leonardo has said it is now time for Mbappe, PSG’s all-time leading scorer, to leave.

Pulisic Close To £20m Move From Chelsea To Milan

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John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

USA forward Christian Pulisic is close to completing a £20m move from Chelsea to AC Milan.

Pulisic, 24, is surplus to requirements at Stamford Bridge and is due to have a medical in Milan this week.

He joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund in a £57.6m move in 2019 that made him the most expensive player from North America.

Pulisic scored 26 goals in 145 games and played in the 2021 Champions League final win over Manchester City.

His switch to Serie A will mean linking up with former Chelsea team-mate Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who has also joined Milan this summer.

Meanwhile, Chelsea striker David Datro Fofana, 20, has made a season-long loan move to Union Berlin in the Bundesliga.

The Ivorian made just four first-team appearances for Chelsea following a January move from Molde.

Chelsea have parted ways with several established first-team players this summer.

The departures have included Kai Havertz moving to Arsenal, Mateo Kovacic joining Manchester City and Mason Mount making the switch to Manchester United.

Cesar Azpilicueta joined Atletico Madrid, while other exits have seen Kalidou Koulibaly go to Al-Hilal, Edouard Mendy sign for Al-Ahli and N’Golo Kante leave for Al-Ittihad.

Tottenham Sign Israel Forward Solomon On Free Transfer

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Tottenham signed Israel forward Manor Solomon on a free transfer on Tuesday after his successful loan spell at Fulham.

Solomon was able to cancel his contract with Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk after Fifa extended its temporary employment rules relating to the war.

That enabled the 23-year-old to join Ange Postecoglou’s side on a five-year deal after passing his medical earlier this week.

Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, foreign players contracted to clubs affiliated to Ukrainian or Russian football associations can “unilaterally suspend their employment” until June 30 2024, provided teams are informed of the suspension in writing by July 1.

With Solomon’s previous terms with Shakhtar due to expire on December 31, he was able to become a free agent after he exercised the right to suspend his current employment with the Ukraine outfit.

The winger, who has 35 Israel caps, is Tottenham’s fourth signing since the end of last season.

Dejan Kulusevski’s loan move from Juventus was made permanent, with Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and England midfielder James Maddison also arriving in north London.

Solomon showed his potential during his loan with Fulham last season after waiting until January to make his full debut due to a serious knee injury.

He scored five goals in 24 appearances as Fulham finished a creditable 10th in the Premier League.

Solomon could face his former club Shakhtar in a friendly on August 6 after it was announced last month that Tottenham would host the Ukrainian champions

Runner Caster Semenya Was Discriminated Against, European Rights Court Rules

By

John Mutiso

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July 11, 2023

Double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya was discriminated against by rules requiring her to lower her testosterone levels, the European Court of Human Rights found in a ruling on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old South African appealed to the court over the way Switzerland handled her legal fight against World Athletics’ rules that she must take medication to reduce her testosterone levels as mandated by track and field’s governing body.

Semenya who is classed as having “differences in sexual development (DSD)”, has refused to take the drugs since World Athletics introduced the rules in 2018.

She lost an appeal to the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport, and three years ago Switzerland’s supreme court confirmed the decision of sport’s top court.

As part of her long-running legal battle, Semenya took her case against Switzerland to the France-based ECHR.

In its ruling on Tuesday, the court said: “The court found in particular that the applicant had not been afforded sufficient institutional and procedural safeguards in Switzerland to allow her to have her complaints examined effectively, especially since her complaints concerned substantiated and credible claims of discrimination as a result of her increased testosterone level caused by differences of sex development.”

The ruling in Semenya’s favouyr is largely symbolic as it does not call into question the ruling by World Athletics and does not pave the way for her to return to competition in the 800m.

Semenya won Olympic gold at the 2012 London Games and at Rio in 2016.

World Athletics said in a statement noting the decision that it would liaise with the Swiss government on the next steps and, “given the strong dissenting views in the decision, we will be encouraging them to seek referral of the case to the ECHR Grand Chamber for a final and definitive decision”.

The federation added: “We remain of the view that the DSD regulations are a necessary, reasonable and proportionate means of protecting fair competition in the female category as the Court of Arbitration for Sport and Swiss Federal Tribunal both found, after a detailed and expert assessment of the evidence.”

World Athletics introduced the DSD regulations to create a level playing field in events ranging from 400m to one mile. Semenya was forced to move up to the 5 000m, a distance in which she failed to reach the final in last year’s world championships in Eugene.

In March this year, the federation amended the rules. DSD athletes now have to reduce their amount of blood testosterone to below 2.5 nanomoles per litre, down from the previous level of five, and remain below this threshold for two years.

World Athletics also removed the principle of restricted events for DSD athletes, meaning regulations now cover all distances rather than the previously monitored ones.

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