Politics

24-year-old defeats veteran politician in Kenya to win female parliamentary seat

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2022

To Kenyans, it was a breath of fresh air after a 24-year-old budding female politician, Linet Chepkorir, defeated veteran and incumbent lawmaker, Joyce Korir, to clinch the Bomet county woman representative seat.

Chepkorir who is popularly known as ‘Toto,’ won the Bomet parliamentary seat with a landslide in the August 9 general elections, and with her feat, is now the youngest parliamentarian in the country.

Toto had come into the limelight in April when she defeated older politicians to clinch the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket to run for the seat.

At just 24, Toto who ran her campaign on donations from friends and supporters, defeated seasoned and wealthy politicians to win the seat in the 13th National Assembly.

Toto came to the limelight a few months ago after she won the UDA ticket to run for the seat.

After she was announced as the winner of the poll, Toto took to her Twitter handle to thank the people of the county for believing in her and promised to deliver on her election campaign promises.

Thank you Bomet county for your overwhelming support all through my political journey.

Final Results
Linet Chepkori: 242,775
Alice Migo: 42,171

I will deliver what I promised you during my campaigns.

Asanteni sana.
Thank you.
Kongoi. pic.twitter.com/gmVeRZJ74Y

— Hon. Linet Chepkorir Toto (@LinetChepkorir_) August 12, 2022

Other prominent contestants in the race were Beatrice Chepkorir, Eddah Chepkoech, Faith Chepkirui, Cicilia Chepkoech, Brenda Chepng’etich, Eunice Cherono, Susan Koech, Stacy Chepkemoi and Joan Chekirui.

Related Topics:Election Featured Kenya Parliament

Click to comment

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

5 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

6 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.