Politics

#KeyanDecides: US delegation in Nairobi, meets President Kenyatta, Ruto, Odinga

Published

2 years ago

August 19, 2022

Following the recent conclusion of presidential election in Kenya, an American delegation of legislators arrived in Nairobi to meet President-elect William Ruto, opposition figure Raila Odinga, and President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The US lawmakers led by senator from Delaware, Chris Coons, landed in the country Wednesday night and was received by Meg Whitman, the US Ambassador to Kenya.

Ambassador Whitman revealed that the US delegation will meet the Kenyan leaders “to discuss shared goals – health, security, and economic prosperity.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta with US Senator, Chris Coons, after the US delegations arrived Nairobi on 18 August 2022

President Uhuru Kenyatta said he is committed to fostering peace in the transition period following his meeting with the delegation.

Kenya would “remain steadfast in entrenching the principles of good governance to ensure the country upholds its position of a shining example of democracy in the continent by maintaining peace during this transition period.” President Kenyatta said.

The delegation also met with the president-elect, Dr William Ruto with other members of his Kenya Kwanza Alliance to discuss “US-Kenya strategic partnership, promotion of peace and ways to strengthen both economies.”

Ruto confirmed meeting the US delegation in a tweet on Thursday.

Held talks with Congressional Delegation from the United States led by Delaware Senator Chris Andrew Coons in the company of @USAmbKenya at the Karen Office, Nairobi County. pic.twitter.com/r0ZYEB4HOx

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 18, 2022

The team from US also met Raila Odinga, who came second in the election and discussed developments on the polls and “shared democratic values.”

The US delegation led by Senator Chris Coons when they met Azimio la Umoja One Kenya leader Raila Odinga and his team in Nairobi

The meetings come days after opposition figure Raila Odinga, who lost in the election vowed to explore “all legal options” to challenge the result of the elections.

Kenya’s Deputy President, William Ruto was declared the winner of a close presidential elections on Monday after defeating veteran contester, Raila Odinga having garnered 50.49 percent of the valid votes cast against Odinga’s 48.85 percent.

However, four commissioners of the electoral body, including the Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, have disputed the results, saying the last phase of the tallying process was done without transparency, causing a split in the commission.

Click to comment

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 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

3 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.