Ghana: Rawlings Congratulates Farmers (06.12.2019)

Opinion: It was Sonko’s turn, apparently…

Arresting Nairobi City County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko will not solve anything. Neither will it change the ways this are done. Governor Sonko has just followed the footsteps of the previous governors and County Officials. Not it’s righteous or make it right to steal from the public coffers, but that is ingrained in the system. There was no significant change from Evans Kidero or anyone else before him.

The Presser of DPP Noordin Haji and his arrest order of Sonko will not do a big whoop in Nairobi. Than, the whole political elite and all the stakeholders has to change overnight. As they are working as business as usual. Yes, Sonko is a thief, his comrades is involved and his misused power. Nevertheless, in Nairobi, who hasn’t and who of the political elite isn’t benefitting at this current moment?

It is not like the slum-dwellers nor the citizens outside the posh areas feels significant changes from who reside as the Governor. It is just another head and another big-man, who has his time to eat. That isn’t inspiring nor justification for what Sonko did, but he does what everyone before him has done too in this role. Land grabbing, putting associates on County Boards and appointing friends as county officials. That is just what they do.

Before he got elected, he had already been convicted and a run-away prisoner too. So, he knows the rule of law and know what it entails to break it. He has served a stint behind bars and that’s not new to him.

If his corrupt, than his just as blimy and outrageous as plenty of the government officials and the ones running the Jubilee government. Not like the Jubilee have gone long and far between corruption scandals, neither the mere scope and the amounts of grand corruption too.

Therefore, Sonko has to answer for his misdeeds, unless they are baseless and taken out proportions. Some even claim this is the sins of the previous administration and Sonko trying to clear the bill. But that is up for his legal aid to defend the man.

Sonko’s time was up and suddenly he had to appear. Somehow, it isn’t far from being a high ranking official to be answering in courts. Even Cabinet Secretaries has gone from High Ranking Officials to felons overnight. Therefore, that Sonko does it now isn’t that special.

His just one con down, more to go. Wouldn’t be shocked if he got caught slipping and had cases against him with viable evidence. However, that is up to the courts of if the DPP has his paper-trail in order. It wouldn’t be shocking if Sonko got caught doing some illegal bidding and some tenders out of whack. That just meant he was the perfect target at this very moment.

Since the DPP and other agencies has targeted less friendly faces and ensured they have a bad day. Like Hassan Joho of Mombasa has already been under fire for other reasons. Therefore, that Sonko is in trouble today isn’t a sudden new trick of the sleeve. More another play and to show that someone gets charged for corruption.

If this plays out well and not a PR stunt, than the DPP and EACC has done their best. If he just get free and the case is dismissed. Than it was just a play for the façade and hoping that no one notice the charade. However, that is to early to know.

Nevertheless, when you elect a crook and a thief, don’t expect him to not steal. He will not turn into a preacher man and a saint, when he has already been charged with it in the past. That should be public knowledge and common sense, but apparently is not. Peace.

Nairobi City County: Office of the Governor – Press Statement over DPP’s Arrest Order (06.12.2019)

RDC: Declaration de l’Union pour la Nation Congolaise a l’Issue de la Reunion de la Direction Politique Nationale du Parti Tenue a Kinshasa (04.12.2019)

 

Union des Comores: Declaration de la Commission Nationale des Droits de l’Homme et des Libertes (CNDHL) – (04.12.2019)

Uganda Police Force: Security in hunt for suspect after killing spree (06.12.2019)

Kenya: office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Statement on Allegations of Corruption in Nairobi County Government (06.12.2019)

Sigulu Island: Ouma MP fix your sub-county, before you carve parts of it into a district

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise on a matter of national importance on behalf of the people of Bukooli Island, Namayingo District. Over 400 people in my constituency have either been killed or maimed by crocodiles”George Abott Ouma MP (Hansard, 9th May 2018)

I don’t know why George Abott Ouma MP of NRM and Bukooli Island County wants to curve parts of his county into a separate district. The teacher should be worried about the state of the sub-county, which its already in. Not what sort of function the local government has there. Unless, he wants it to be a district to get more automatic NRM MPs, because he ran without any opposition candidates against him in 2016.

We know the district has been in the news for the crocodiles eating the kids. As well, as the state not able to find enough seaman and the operational funding to operate the MV Sigulu going between Sigulu and Lolwe. Last report was that after the first testing trip, the ferry has been idle on the landing site in Jinja on the 30th October 2019. The MP should worry about that.

Secondly, a report on the 1st May 2018 stated this: “According to the Ministry of Health Annual Health Sector Performance Report for the financial year 2016/17, Namayingo District, where the Sigulu Islands are situated, was among the districts which showed the most decline in healthcare, scoring below the national average of 66.2 per cent and was ranked 103 out of 116 districts” (Ronald Seebe – ‘Sigulu Island residents struggle to access better health services’ 01.05.2018, Daily Monitor).

Therefore, the supposed part of the Bukooli Island County and the Sigulu Islands has enough trouble as it is. It doesn’t need a new status. That will not configure the situation on the ground. Like there is no emergency ambulance service on the island, also far to the closest health facility, that lacks electricity and equipment, which also happens to be understaffed under the bear-minimum by law. The health care is so bad locally, that the locals are taking costly trips across the border in Kenya to get health care, which is very expensive.

With all this in mind, if the Representative and the Member of Parliament cares about his constituency. He should help the state to deliver better budgets and investments of the basic government services like the schools and the healthcare facilities. That hasn’t been done since he got into office.

He has been able to report about the need for a ferry, which is on the way. But who knows when its officially going. Secondly, he should care more about the substandard level of local government, than the title of the local government. It will not generate more funds, but more substandard living. As the state will not care more directly for Sigulu island, if they become a state. Unless, he just want more MPs from the area.

Also, if Sigulu Island becomes one, wouldn’t the same happen with Lolwa Island, which is the other part of Bukooli Island County. That would make sense, not only make Sigulu, but Lolwa as well. But that would really be something else. As there are only about 215,000 citizens in the district of Namayingo. That means the Sigulu district would be really small and surely, easily for the MP to be an incumbent in.

This here should stop here, but at the rate and the way the government makes new district. It wouldn’t be shocking if this became one. As long as the MP can prove the need and the Parliament the need. However, shouldn’t he be more preoccupied with fixing the issues at hand, instead of creating new ones?

Seemingly, that is what it looks like. Since there is no need for another district in the Republic. It is a waste of funds and this sub-county already need to spend wisely. Since it doesn’t have a good record and need more care from its representative. Not just change something superficial to make it look grand. Peace.

South Sudan: Office of the President – Press Statement (05.12.2019)

RDC: Ministre de l’Aménagement du Territoire – Communique Officiel (04.12.2019)