IGP Boinnet and the CA spreads fear before the polls in Kenya!

Again, as before the authorities and ruling regime in Kenya are ready to spread fear in the two months ahead of the polls on 8th August 2017. Clearly, the Jubilee administration and their caretakers are afraid of the public will or their own justice. Since they have to go out from both the National Police Service and from the Communication Authority. Seemingly, this instead of talking with the people and engaging them in their communities. That they are both saying the citizens are the reason for causing violence and chaos, also their acts on social media. Surely, this shows how little tolerance it is for the ones outside the parameter of the government. Both Boinett and Daima doesn’t trust their own citizens, which they are supposed to represent. Just take a look!

The Police Warning the Public:

Inspector-General Joseph Boinnet on Monday said police would have to use “slightly more force than that used by violence perpetrators” if chaos breaks out.“If violence occurs, then we have to stop it and it means we will use slightly more force than that used by those causing violence,” he told a meeting on election preparedness at a Nairobi hotel” (Misiko & Moseti, 2017).

Social Media Warning:

CA has called on Kenyans not to misuse the internet and social media especially during this campaign period. While addressing the media after KEPSA- Mkenya Daima morning meeting, CA chair said CA would not shutdown the internet on 8/8 unless Kenyans pushed them to do so” (Nation.co.ke, 2017).

We can see that the state and the authorities doesn’t respect their citizens with this sort of acts. It is already proven, that the Kenyan government have bought more Anti-Riot Gear ahead of the polls for possible demonstrations against the post-election. It seems like the Jubilee government fears the public and the citizens. Since they have to go with stern warnings and intimidation, instead of trying to up-ease the public in the days ahead of the polls.

If they didn’t fear and didn’t distrust the public, they wouldn’t have released these statements and warnings. Instead of trying ease the public and saying we will be there for you. They say we come with stronger force and we might shut-down the internet. Seems, like the President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto have learned from the General Election in 2016. Where both things happen and the Police together with the army was all-out during the days of the election. Even the VPN s came up so people could use social-media and be online. So the Kenyans should download VPN now and be prepared in-case of the actions of the CA.

But we have seen how the police acted towards the Anti-IEBC demonstrations that the CORD coalition was involved in during the 2016. The police brutality was vicious and harsh. There was no mercy to the citizens fearing the problems and loopholes that the Electoral Body had. Also, after the famous Chickengate. Therefore, when it is so soon the polls of the General Elections in Kenya. This sort of words and warnings isn’t creating a better environment, but they are showing arrogance and fear for uprisings. They have no problem silencing the voices of the people. They are not trusting them and therefore sending warnings.

It is time for one thing, that the authorities engage the public and put some trust in them. Since the authorities are serving them and are there for them. They are not their for the President, but for all the people in the Republic. Peace.

Reference:

Misiko, Harry & Moseti, Brian – ‘Police issue chilling warning on poll chaos’ (17.07.2017) link: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Joseph-Boinnet-issues-chilling-warning-to-violence-perpetrators/1056-4018244-14icqavz/index.html

Nation.co.ke – ‘Use social media responsibly or we will shut the internet down – Communications Authority of Kenya’ (17.07.2017) link: http://www.nation.co.ke/video/1951480-4018236-ai5hxh/index.html

RDC: “A cet effet, le Comite Directeur de l’ARC fait la declaration suivante” (15.07.2017)

The Importance of Mobile Money in Uganda

As the Telecommunication companies like MTN are praised the by the government, the National Resistance Movement have clearly let the economy become addicted and need of the services provided by the different Telecom’s and how the operate as village banks. The further proof of this comes when looking into a study and of the value of Mobile Money. This is done by all of the Cellphone providers in different names, but has the same outcome. Either by sending money to village funds, paying for utilities or even add airtime for a friend. The report conducted and made by Economy Policy Research Center at Makerere University we’re an interesting read. Here is the quotes worth assessing over. The historical backdrop of the vast amounts of trillions shillings in the operations. Shouldn’t surprise anyone, considering that one third of Ugandan citizens use the Mobile Money and average rate of monies sent during a month are 250,000. With the amount of people and amounts traded by Mobile Money, it is a booming business and first trying of banking. But doing it directly by the phone and not at the offices of Standard Charted or Barclays. Just take a look!

After 5 years of operation of mobile money services, the average adoption rate stands at 250,000 persons per month from inception (March 2009) to December 2015. The increase in access to formal financial services, from 28 percent in 2009 to 54 percent in 2013, was partially due to increased access to mobile money 1 See UBOS (2016), “National Population and Housing Census 2014”, Uganda Bureau of Statistics: Kampala services (EPRC 2013). Thirty-five percent of Ugandan adults have a registered mobile money account (Intermedia 2016). An additional 13 percent access services via somebody else’s account, including that of an agent. Mobile money account ownership surpasses the use of both banking and nonbanking financial institutions (Ibid)” (Makwejje & Lakuma, P: 6, 2017).

Finally, mobile money balances are sensitive to monetary policy shocks, while the mobile money values of transactions are not. These results suggest that 1) Mobile money has helped households to substitute liquid and other lumpy assets for financial assets; 2) Mobile money has modest macroeconomic impacts; 3) Mobile money has the potential to improve the effectiveness of the conduct of monetary policy. These results provide additional evidence for policy makers to continue supporting the growth of mobile money platforms. In particular, policy makers should provide the policy and regulatory framework through which mobile money balances can become interest-bearing assets. This will further strengthen the monetary policy transmission mechanism because economic agents will be able to more directly respond to changes in the policy rate” (Makwejje & Lakuma, P: 17-18, 2017).

The authorities clearly has to assess it and look over the Telecom’s Mobile Money operations, as this is important part of transactions and business operations in Uganda. When such vast amounts of people using it and benefits from it. Where their funds turn digital and get traded instead of having dozens of shillings in their pockets as for balance for their trades. Also, gives the ability to send over needed cash up-country or even to family members. Therefore, the structure and the balances of people’s lives can be monitored and shows the interest-bearing assets. The help it has provided the society and also introduce a form of banking institutions to the public. Though this study did not look into the fortunes made by this sort of transactions compared to ordinary banking practices in Uganda. Which, would be interesting expose considering difference of cost for the consumer and Ugandan doing so. Peace.

Reference:

Mawejje, Joseph & Lakuma, Paul C. – ‘MACROECONOMIC EFFECTS OF MOBILE MONEY IN UGANDA’ (June 2017) – Economic Policy Research Centre, Makerere University

Burundi: Appel Lance Par Les Organisations de la Societe Civile Burundaise et Internationale a l’Endrot de la Cour Penale Internationale (17.07.2017)

The Uganda Chamber of Mines and Petroleum (UCMP) elects new board (11.07.2017)

Statement released by jailed Former Vice President of Maldives, Ahmed Adeeb, on the missing MMPRC funds (16.07.2017)

Syrian Opposition HNC Press Statement condemning the Russian Ambassador in Geneva (15.07.2017)

RDC: MSR / G7 Afrique du Sud – Communique de Presse (14.07.2017)

Kibanda North County – NRM Primaries filled with irregularities as Tanga Odoi’s Declaration Form shows!

There is a coming by election in Kiryandongo District in the Kibanda North County. This one was contested in the General Election 2016 with a National Resistance Movement winner by the name of Taban Idi Amin. This election was challenged in court and was annulled. Therefore, it is in preparation for new By-Elections in 2017, that things gets interesting.

Because the former winner of the NRM Taban Idi Amin won the flag-bearer seat again, the NRM Primary Election must have been strange or been rigged for some reason. Because the ‘Declaration for Results’ delivered and signed by Dr. Tanga Odoi on the 14th July 2017 seems a bit out touch with reality. Let me take through it and the reason, why Sam Amooti Otada Owor has an electoral injunction at the High Court in Masindi on the same day. Where “Kiryandongo District and the status quo to be maintained is the status quo pending the determination of temporary injunction for the domain in the substantive application which is hiherto before the judge”. This is from the Order of the application put forward to the judge on the 14 July 2017 in Masindi, but the reason must be the NRM Primary Declaration form and anyone looked at it will know why it is strange.

The NRM Primary Declaration Form 14th July 2017 says that Taban Idi Amin won with 12,812 votes and had 73,6 percentage, while in second Sam Amooti Otado Owor got 2,761 votes and 15,9 percentage. In third and last George Maiteki Baitera Bigirwa got 1,472 votes and 8,5 percentage. While the total annulled votes are 367 and 2.1 percentage. Where the total votes of the whole Primary election we’re 17,412 votes and a 100 percentage.

When you look at those numbers nothing seems strange, but a giant and clear victory for Amin, which wouldn’t be surprising since he won the same race in 2015 and won again General Election in 2016. But what is weird is that the counting and what it says further on the Declaration Form: “I therefore declare Taban Idi Amin who has polled the highest number of voters (17,412) representing 73.6 percent as the duly elected NRM Flag Bearer for Kibanda North County Constituency Member of Parliament, 2017”.

If you don’t notice the words of Dr. Tanga Odoi, the whole 100 % of Primary election is 17,412 that was shared between all three candidates, but on the declaration all of them is designated to the winner Taban Idi Amin. Which is strange since by the counting the second candidate got 15,9 % and the third one got 8,5 %. Which has suddenly vanished in thin air, since the Flag Bearer Amin got them all. This seems a bit of a stretch.

That the NRM can contest someone who has already gotten the election annulled. Than, the Electoral Commission of the NRM and the whole contest get question by someone who was a part of the whole race. Even as the whole ordeal get put into legal jeopardy when the application was sent before the judge on the same day as it ends. It is worth noticing the internal Primary Declaration Form, which states an anomaly. The indication of misconduct can again put the NRM in a pickle. Where for the third time within two years has to contest for the seat. That would be three NRM Primaries in the Kibanda North County.

As the NRM write on their own page: “Kibanda North Constituency final results released last evening by the NRM Electoral Commission Vice Chairperson Hon Kigyagi put Hon Taban Amin in a landslide victory with 12,812 votes. Just minutes after the release of the results last evening, the Party Secretariat learnt of an interim court order issued on July 14, 2017 restraining us from conducting this same exercise. Its however worth noting that the applicant of this order Hon Sam Otada was until the last minute part of the entire process and attended the joint campaign meetings supervised by the party’s EC till the end. This matter has now been left to our Legal Committee to follow it up to its conclusion” (NRM, 15.07.2017).

So if you believe there is an issue with the NRM Primary election there is. Since the possible tampering has appeared. Even the own documentation isn’t right and shows flaws. The declaration of Dr. Tanga Odoi proves the flaws of this exercise. Not that I am in favor of the second candidate Sam Otada Owor over the second time winner Taban Idi Amin. But is seems strange the way the NRM EC declared it this time. Peace.

UNSC: Letter dated 11 July 2017 from the Permanent Representatives of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and United States of America to the United Nation Addressed to the President of the Security Council – Concerning the White Helmets in Syria (11.07.2017)