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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.

Culture

African men run away from single mothers— Joselyn Dumas

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Veteran Ghanaian actress and media personality, Joselyn Dumas, has lamented the fact that most African men shy away from getting married to single mothers due to the added responsibilities they will be saddled with.

The actress who made the assertion in her recent podcast, “Keeping it Real with Joselyn Dumas, The Perfect Picture”, opened up on the challenges of many single mothers who are struggling to find a partner because of societal biases.

In the podcast, Dumas who shared a personal story of a male friend whom she said refused to settle down with a lady because she had a child.

According to her, the friend named Anthony, firmly stated that it wasn’t his thing to be with a ‘born one’ or ‘born two’.

“He said B1, B2, I’m not in and I said to myself, ‘this is the reason why a lot of single mothers are single with their children.

“Now his reason was, why am I going to raise somebody’s child? That’s not my bloodline. He doesn’t have my DNA in him. Why am I now going to help someone’s bloodline grow? What about mine?” she said.

Dumas who is a single mother, noted that Anthony’s mindset is a “reflection of the views of a larger majority of people who don’t want to have meaningful relationship with single mothers.”

She also criticised what she termed as the double standard in society’s views on raising non-biological children, arguing that it should not be seen differently from adoption.

“I have a child but these men won’t even ask you, they don’t even care why you have a child. You’ve had seven miscarriages when you got married. You meet a guy, you were dating and you got pregnant, are you going to abort the baby because you aren’t married?

“He doesn’t want the child, are you going to throw the child away? No! You can raise the child. It takes a village to raise the child, so even if you don’t have a job, you will get support. This is part of the sacrifice you have to make regardless of what has happened,” she said.

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Namibia govt condemns tourists posing naked on Big Daddy Dune

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The Namibian authorities have frowned at tourists who posed naked at the Big Daddy Dune, the country’s top tourist attraction located in the Namibian desert.

Reports in the country’s media say locals were shocked to sight the tourists posing naked on the Dune during a safari and have demanded for action against them from authorities.

According to local media, actions that could be taken against the tourists include being blacklisted from entering any of Namibia’s parks.

A spokesperson from the country’s Tourism Ministry told local media that photos and a video from of the naked tourists have been widely shared, sparking sharp reactions.

Vice Chairperson of the Federation of Namibian Tourism Associations, Kenneth Nependa, who condemned the act, told journalists that the behaviour risked attracting tourists “who think anything goes in Namibia.”

“It is very sickening and it really creates a bad image for Namibia,” Nependa said, adding that the Big Daddy Dune was not just a relaxing place for tourists but for families too.

Though it is not clear who took the photos and the video of the three male tourists who were seen stark naked in the sandy dune, next to their clothes, authorities say a stern action will be taken against them.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Romeo Muyunda, described the behaviour as “extremely shocking,” saying it was public indecency punishable by Namibian law.

“We appeal to that section of tourists to summon the conscience so that they do the right things,” Muyunda said.

He appealed to Namibians to report violations of park regulations immediately for swift action.

The Big Daddy dune is one of the three largest dunes in Namibia’s enormous Namib-Naukluft National Park, one of the largest in the world and are popular with tourists who hike to the top to have a stunning view across the crests.

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