Monthly Archives: March 2011

Has Kenya Become a Cocaine Trafficking Hub?

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It was reported on NTV that “In 2004 Kenyan Police netted a consignment of cocaine worth 6.4 billion Kenyan shillings. Seven years down the line, no one has been held responsible”. On March 25, 2011, 98 packets of cocaine weighing 2 kgs each with a street value of Ksh 500 million were netted in Shanzu area in Mombasa. The 6 suspects, 3 Kenyans, 2 Iranians, and 1 Pakistani national were charged the same day for alleged drug trafficking. The unsolved mystery, however, is how the consignment originally weighing 196 kg came to weight only 102 kg 3 days later when the suspects reappeared in court. Where did the 94 kg of heroin go?

In addition, according to the prosecution, the suspects illegally possessed 30 rounds of ammunition and two firearms. It now turns out that two of the suspects, Yusuf Hassan and Hassan Ibrahim, have valid firearm certificates issued by the state. Does this mean that the charges are likely to be dropped letting the alleged drug traffickers get away with it?

Has Kenya become a cocaine trafficking hub? The question that lingers in Kenyans’ minds today is why the justice system is turning a blind eye on the corruption within. We need answers because we’re intelligent enough to discern 196 kg from 102 kg. We can’t just sigh and let it be when 94 kg of cocaine deemed as evidence disappears in a court of law. It is time for the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission to be true to its people and spare its country unwarranted shame. Otherwise, Kenya will just be another safe haven for drug barons.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irSaIZWh3nw

References:

Contradictions over weight of seized drugs 29/03/2011

Six to be charged with trafficking 196kg drugs 27/03/2011

Police must unravel missing drugs puzzle 29/03/2011

Kenya Dominates Rome Marathon

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Kenyans dominated the 17th Rome Marathon- “Marathon di Roma” held on 20 March 2011 that saw 15,000 marathoners from eighty countries participate.  The event that is rated world best city marathon, by Runners World UK, and also an IAAF, Gold Label event, set the moment for Kenyan’s glory at the podium.

Kenyan Dickson Kiptolo Chumba clocked 2hr 8min 44sec at the tape to deny arch rivals Ethiopia a clean sweep on the podium places with Amda Siraj Gena (2:09:20) and Dawit Shami Abdulahi (2:09:41), in second and third-place respectively . Among the gobs of scenic landmarks on the 42KM course were: The Coliseum, Forum Romanum, Pyramid, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Further, Kenyans won six of the eight gold medals on offer at the world-cross country event.

It is always great to have heroic personalities to identify with on the international arena, especially when it attracts human interest. “Charity begins at home.” As we celebrate our victors in foreign challenges, the main focus should still remain on developing grassroots talent, not only in athletics, but indeed all faculties of social development.

 

References

Maratona di Roma 20/03/2011
Kenya Dominates world cross in Rome 20/03/2011

 

 

UNSC Declines Kenya Deferral Bid

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The Pursuit by the ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo to prosecute the six suspects of the Kenya-Post-Election violence, following the disputed elections in 2007, has seen much unprecedented development. The decision by the Presidency of the International Criminal Court (ICC), authorizing the prosecutor to open investigations into the situation in Kenya, gave Ocampo the opportunity to present his evidence to the Pre-Trial Chamber II for scrutiny in an effort to enforce the issuance of summonses to the Ocampo Six, to appear before the court. On the contrary, the Kenyan President, Mwai Kibaki, appointed a seven-member  team, led by H.E Vice-President, Kalonzo Musyoka, to lobby the 15 United Nations Security Council (UNSC) members to accept Kenya’s bid for deferral of the International Criminal Court cases involving the Ocampo Six.

Diplomats at the UNSC reprobated the Kenyan bid saying Kenya chose a wrong option to seek the 12-month deferral at the UN, rather than presenting its plea directly to the ICC. This decision by the UNSC has nullified the shuttle diplomacy mission being implemented by Kalonzo Musyoka and the President Mwai Kibaki’s wing of government. The pedestal of the shuttle diplomacy is fixed on the idea that Kenya is now in a position of establishing a credible local-tribunal to try the PEV suspects. The proponents of this diplomatic mission argue that trials at the Hague will threaten Kenya’s national stability. However, Article 16, of the Rome Statute, establishing the ICC allows for deferral of cases for countries, in the event that the proceedings at the court threaten international peace. Thus, Kenya on Friday 18th March failed in its quest to overly convince the UNSC that such a threat exists.

Time is speedily running out for any disengaging maneuver upon prosecution of the Ocampo Six at the Hague, now that they have been issued with summonses to appear before the Judges at the ICC on 7th April, and in addition the UNSC decry on deferral of the cases. Kenya can still pursue the deferral option by setting up credible judicial systems that are capable of handling the cases as stipulated in Article 19 of the Rome Statute.

 

References:

www.nation.co.ke, Why Kenya failed to defer ICC cases at Security Council (22nd March 2011)

www.icc-cpi.int, Situations and Cases (22nd March 2011)

www.kbc.co.ke, UNSC declines Kenyan bid on ICC deferral (22nd March 2011)

NUCLEAR ELECTRICITY | Kenya’s Nuclear Energy Project

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In December 31, 1879, Thomas Edison remarked, “We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich can afford to burn candles”. Kenya’s development agenda Vision 2030 highlights the increase in demand for electricity. Although politically motivated, our ambition to quench the electricity thirst with nuclear power serves as a reminder that we are yet to live up to the dreams of Thomas Edison.

Japan’s nuclear power crisis has ignited a conversation on the country’s seriousness to develop our nuclear energy potential. In this time of rampant global economic growth especially among BRIC nations, there is an even greater need to find new sources of energy, especially green energy sources. Our economy is the 10th largest economy in Africa and will be second to South Africa in developing nuclear energy in the African continent. This development  will be a green solution that will address commercial and residential energy needs. As we explore green energy solutions, we need to remind ourselves the true cost; financial, life or otherwise incurred as we address our insatiable thirst for energy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJfIbBDR3e8

Our Nuclear Electricity Development Project Executive Chairman Ochilo Ayacko was quoted saying “the incident in Japan only served as a lesson on the safety measures Kenya would adopt”. In the history of nuclear power production there have been several accidents many of which involve human loss and civilian exposure to radiation resulting in generational health defects. The safety of civilians and our environment must be placed above all else, however a good solution for Kenya must also accommodate the long-term storage of radio active waste, a bi-product of nuclear power production. As Kenyans we should ask ourselves, does our plan address our long-term energy needs, safety of our people, safety of our environment (both catastrophic meltdowns and nuclear waste storage), our sovereignty and a comprehensive cost breakdown of green and sustainable alternatives?

References:

Welcome to the Kenyan News Digest

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We are pleased to introduce to you, Jijuze; a blog with researched breaking news in Kenya. To ascertain facts on top stories from the plethora of news sources in Kenya, such as: main stream media, blogs and other social media platforms can be a perilous experience. We believe that your time is valuable and therefore this thorough news digest will ensure that you will be armed with accurate information on the top stories of the day.

Our top news are selected with the aid of our state of the art Aggregation System; My Nucleus which gathers news from around the globe. Our contributors are required to dig deeper into each story and collect facts and visual aids to communicate the story. Where necessary we create videos and other illustrations to summarize the data collected. With these facts, images, videos and a complete list of our reference material, you will have the power to form smart opinions.

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