The chairman of the Kenya Electoral Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati declared, on August 15, the candidate William Ruto as president-elect and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua as vice-president-elect. According to The East African, William Ruto won 7,176,141 votes, or 50.49% of the valid votes cast, beating his rival Raila Odinga, who won 6,942,930 votes (48.85%).
The chairman of the Kenya Electoral Commission (IEBC), Wafula Chebukati declared, on August 15, the candidate William Ruto as president-elect and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua as vice-president-elect. According The East AfricanWilliam Ruto won 7,176,141 votes, or 50.49% of the valid votes cast, beating his rival Raila Odinga, who won 6,942,930 votes (48.85%).
“Despite the intimidation and harassment…I did my duty in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of the land”Chebukati said before reading the votes obtained by each of the four presidential candidates.
The declaration was made without the results obtained in four of the 290 constituencies including Kacheliba, Kitui Rural, Pokot Sud and Rongai where the vote was postponed.
For the president of the electoral commission, the elections of August 9 were credible, free and fair. Turnout was lower than expected, at around 65% of Kenya’s 22 million registered voters.
The results announcement ceremonies held at the Bomas National Center in Nairobi saw the participation of diplomats, foreign election observers as well as religious leaders. These ceremonies experienced some disturbances orchestrated by supporters of Raila Odinga, quickly mastered by the police.
The IEBC had faced criticism for its handling of the August 2017 poll, which was overturned by the Supreme Court following Odinga challenged the results.
Raila Odinga rejects presidential results
The presidential candidate of the Azimio party, Raila Odinga, rejected the presidential results announced on August 15. He claimed, in a press briefing on August 16, that Ruto’s declaration as president-elect is null and void.
“The President of the Electoral Commission might have plunged the country into chaos. Such impunity can be a threat to security. It is not up to us to determine whether he has committed an illegality,” said Raila Odinga. And to point out that he will seize the Supreme Court of Kenya to challenge the presidential results.
“We will pursue constitutional and legal avenues to invalidate Chebukati’s illegal and unconstitutional declaration. We are certain that justice will prevail,” Raila said.
According The Starfour out of seven commissioners of the Electoral Commission did not approve the results announced by the chairman of the commission Wafula Chebukati.
Visit of the American delegation: Kenyatta, Ruto and Odinga commit to peace
President Uhuru Kenyatta pledged to promote peace during the transition period following meeting with a delegation of US lawmakers led by Senator Chris Coons on August 18.
According The East AfricanUS lawmakers hailed President Kenyatta’s leadership for ensuring peace and stability during the election period.
“My greatest desire is that peace reign and that we can set an example for the continent and the world,” President Kenyatta said in a statement following the meeting.
The delegation also met President-elect William Ruto and his rival Raila Odinga in separate meetings in Nairobi.
The delegation met earlier with William Ruto and discussed the “strategic partnership between Kenya and the United States of America, the promotion of peace and ways to strengthen the two economies”.
“We are committed to deepening relationships and continuing partnerships for the mutual benefit of the citizens of our two countries,” read a tweet from Ruto following the meeting.
Raila Odinga, accompanied by his running mate Martha Karua and the governor of Kisumu, Anyang Nyongo, revealed that his team reiterated “the commitment to pursue legal avenues to resolve issues related to the election results”.
42nd SADC summit: Felix Tshisekedi denounces Rwanda’s “cowardly and barbaric” aggression
In front of the representatives of 16 SADC member countries, on August 17, President Tshisekedi denounced Rwanda, which he accuses of supporting the M23 rebels active in the territory of Rutshuru (North Kivu), writes News.Cd.
“Allow me to thank our SADC community for its solidarity with the Congolese people at a time when our country is the victim of cowardly and barbaric aggression by its neighbor Rwanda”.
Rwanda is not a member of SADC, its candidacy having never been validated.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi has officially taken over as head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for the 2022-2023 financial year, succeeding his counterpart from Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera. It was during the 42nd summit of this regional organization this Wednesday, August 17 in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tshisekedi: The date for the deployment of the entire regional force has not yet been set
“You already have Burundi which has now positioned itself in the DRC. As to when the entire regional force will be operational, the specialists will tell you. What is true is that the commitment has been made and the momentum is in motion,” replied Félix Tshisekedi to the question ofNews.CD. The Congolese Head of State confirmed that the Burundian soldiers deployed since Monday August 15 in South Kivu arrived as part of the EAC force.
According to this Congolese daily, the Burundian military forces are currently stationed at the Luberizi training center, regarding 80 km from Bukavu. These soldiers are tasked with tracking down all foreign and local armed groups in order to restore the promised peace in eastern DRC. Regarding the entire regional force, no date is yet available.
“There is no fixed date on this deployment yet. What is true is that the process has begun. The chiefs of staff of each army have already seen each other. Many have already left positions,” he added.
Deployment of regional troops in the DRC: Denis Mukwege speaks of a humiliation for his country
Denis Mukwege, winner of the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize, has criticized Congolese diplomacy for failing to negotiate with regional leaders to bring peace to the east of the country. He reacted in this way the day following the official arrival this week of Burundian troops in South Kivu, writes News.Cd.
“The deployment of the EAC contingent demonstrates the failure of diplomacy. One more humiliation for our nation,” his Aug. 16 tweet read. A few days ago, the Congolese gynecologist said that Felix Tshisekedi’s diplomacy only aggravates instability in the east of the country.
Like other Congolese, Denis Mukwege insists on the reform of the Congolese army to make it professional and operational. It calls on the government to “put an end to the outsourcing of security by destabilizing states”.
The regional force contributing countries are the DRC, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi and South Sudan.
Tanzania: 55 dead in road accidents in one week
Unofficial results show the country lost at least 55 people in traffic accidents in a week, says The Citizen.
The latest victims are five people died on August 17 when a bus overturned in Mbwasa in Manyoni district, Singida region, while traveling to Dar-Es-Salaam. Fifteen other people were injured in the crash and were taken to Dodoma Regional Hospital for treatment.
On August 16, at least 19 people were victims of road carnage in Mbeya, and 10 others were seriously injured.
On August 14, a truck veered off the road in Handeni district in Tanga region and caused four deaths and 38 injuries.
Six people also died on August 11 following their car veered off course in Mkalama district, Singida region.
20 people died in a macabre accident in the Shinyanga region on August 10. For everyday The Citizenthis explains why the country had to act to avoid further loss of life and property.
Rwanda: Zimbabwean teachers en route to Rwanda take exam in Harare
Zimbabwean teachers, who have been pre-selected for recruitment by Rwanda, took exams on August 18 in their country under the supervision of officials from the Rwandan Ministry of Education, reveals The New Times.
The online exams were taken in five centers where Rwandan and Zimbabwean invigilators were deployed. 311 candidates were shortlisted to take the exam. Rwanda needs 278 Zimbabwean teachers.
Permanent Secretary in Rwanda’s Ministry of Education, Charles Karakye, said Rwanda had asked for more teachers to address skills gaps and long-standing language barriers.
A recruitment manual has been jointly agreed to facilitate recruitment. According to officials, those who are successful will begin work in late September or early October.
From September 5 to 9, 2022, he explains, the Rwandan Ministry of Education, in collaboration with different government institutions concerned, will prepare an initiation program to Rwandan culture, history and its values, the historical context of Rwandan education and detailed information on the geography of Rwanda.
The recruitment of Zimbabwean teachers comes following the two countries signed an agreement earlier this year. This agreement aims to make it easier for Kigali to hire Zimbabwean teachers to fill a skills gap in teaching.
