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Kenyan comedian, Eric Omondi arrested

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Popular Kenyan comedian, Eric Omondi was on Thursday arrested by the police for leading residents of Kisumu county on a street protest over high cost of living, increased fees and unemployment in the country, the police say.

The Kisumu Central spokesman, Nicholas Maina, who confirmed the arrest of Omondi in a statement, said the comedian led the residents along the Jomo Kenyatta Highway during the protest in which they blocked the streets while lying on mattresses, a move that forced the police to lob teargas and arrest him.

“Eric Omondi led residents, mostly university students, in blocking Jomo Kenyatta highway, with some people lying on mattresses in the demonstrations over unemployment, high costs of living and delay in disbursement of HELB funds,” Maina said.

This is, however, not Omondi’s first brush with the law as he was arrested earlier this month after leading another protest in the Nairobi Central Business District (CBD) against the skyrocketing cost of living.

In that incident, the entertainer and political activist and a number of the protestors were accosted by anti-riot policemen who arrested him and others.

He was arraigned in court the following day where he was granted bail.

Also on February 21, Omondi was again arrested when he led a group of shirtless men and other protesters and attempted to forcibly gain access to the parliament in protest of the high cost of living.

At that time, he and his group blocked the Parliament Road in Nairobi, while demanding to be addressed by the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetangula.

“Today I’m not leaving here. I will die here if I have to and the generations that will come after me will be told of a young man who fought for the rights of Kenyas. I’m ready to die for Kenyans,” he was reported to have said.

“Hata polisi wanatumia stima. Hata polisi wanalipa rent (Even the police use electricity. They also pay rent so the feel the pinch),” the comedian said.

But despite his several arrests, Omondi has continued to insist that the protests would continue until their grievances are addressed.

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Ghana’s Afua Asantewaa begins second GWR sing-a-thon attempt

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Ghanaian singer, Afua Asantewaa, on Saturday, began her second attempt at breaking the Guinness World Record (GWR) for the longest singing marathon by an individual.

The sing-a-thon which began in the early hours of Saturday, December 21, at Heroes’ Park, Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, will run until December 25, and will see the determined songstress perform non-stop, focusing exclusively on Ghanaian songs.

According to Asantewaa’s manager, Madam Gladys Osei Owiredu, the audacious initiative is aimed at showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghanaian music to a global audience.

Owiredu confirmed that preparations for the event had been extensive but expressed confidence in Asantewaa’s readiness to finally break the record.

“I can confirm that she is ready for the task ahead. It’s been challenging—by way of preparations—but I can say she is ready,” Owiredu said.

Asantewaa’s second attempt follows her first effort in December 2023, which fell short of surpassing the current record of 105 hours held by India’s Sunil Waghmare.

But despite the setback, her team remains optimistic about breaking the record this time with corporate sponsors including International Maritime Hospital, Ghana Gas, Nasco Electronics, and Zoomlion Ghana Limited rallying behind her, underscoring the importance of the attempt in amplifying the global significance of Ghanaian music.

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Ghana’s Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging anti-LGBT bill

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Ghana’s Supreme Court has dismissed two separate suits challenging the legality of one of the proposed anti-LGBT legislations awaiting assent into law by the president.

The separate suits were filed by two legal practitioners, Amanda Odoi and Richard Sky, challenging the bill, seeking to declare it illegal and prevent the president from signing it.

The two cases had challenged the constitutionality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill.

But in a ruling on Wednesday, the Supreme Court unanimously decided to dismiss the legal challenges to the new anti-LGBT legislation that has been criticised by rights groups.

The controversial bill was passed earlier this year by Ghanaian lawmakers with three years imprisonment for people identifying as LGBT and five years for forming or funding LGBT groups.

While dismissing the cases, presiding judge, Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, who delivered the ruling on behalf of the seven-member panel, said the cases were premature.

“Until there’s presidential assent, there is no act, the two cases were “unanimously dismissed,” she said.

The ruling is the latest blow to the LGBTQ community in Ghana and paves the way for the president to sign into law what many say is one of Africa’s most restrictive piece of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

President Nana Akufo-Addo, whose term in office ends on 7 January, had delayed signing it pending the outcome of the Supreme Court challenge but the judges said the case could not be reviewed until it had been signed it into law.

It expected that incoming president, John Mahama, will sign the bill into law as he had always expressed his support for the bill during his electioneering campaigns.

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