Kenya conservation breaking news – 5 elephant slaughtered in revenge for arrests?

REVENGE KILLINGS OF ELEPHANT SHOCK KENYA

News emerged just now from conservation sources in Nairobi that members of a gang of poachers, allegedly led by one Adan Kanjur, inflicted cruel death on a family of 5 elephant south of Kora National Park in the wider Meru Conservation Area recently, although details were only now becoming public knowledge. Kanjur and other accomplices, who were arrested by Kenyan security, were held on charges of poaching when his alleged gang members still at large went on an elephant killing spree in apparent revenge over their ‘leader’s’ arrest to put pressure on the authorities to release him on bond.

Kenyans were further shocked when it emerged that subsequently, for a bond of only Kenya Shillings 150.000 Kanjur was released, pending trial, causing outrage against not just the alleged culprits – alleged until proven guilty in a competent court of law – but also against the judiciary which according to one truly angry individual ‘are in cahoots with the poachers whom they should keep in custody instead of releasing them back to do more poaching as has often been witnessed of late’.

Conservationists in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the wider region have repeatedly demanded that parliaments stiffen he laws and inflict very heavy fines on those found poaching or those found financing the crimes and then facilitating the exportation of blood ivory and rhino horns, while making sentences of at least 10 years in prison with hard labour the rule, magistrates and judges must apply when sentencing those found guilty. The local Kenyan media will most likely begin to report on the issue in Thursday’s editions, causing yet more outrage amongst conservationists and the tourism fraternity who are expected to then exert maximum pressure on their respective members of parliament to bring amendments to the house for the respective laws on poaching, ivory smuggling and related offenses.

Watch this space as this latest poaching saga evolves in Kenya. 

 

South Sudan news update – Next to be free: Abyei, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darful

NEXT TO BE FREE: ABYEI, SOUTH KORDOFAN, BLUE NILE AND DARFUR

Khartoum’s regime leader, fresh from the humiliation of losing a major chunk of his country following his failed policies of war, oppression and disenfranchising the Southern African people, is busy to divert attention back home by beating the war drums again.

No sooner had ICC wanted alleged war criminal Bashir set foot back home in his lair, did he set out to warn the new Republic of South Sudan to stay clear of the disputed states of Abyei, South Kordofan and Blue Nile unless they wanted to risk a resumption of war with his regime.

As is often the case with weakened dictators, Idi Amin being a prime example, they then lash out to create foreign adventures to keep those snapping at their heels at bay, and Bashir now stands accused as accursed by his own hardline followers of leading the united Sudan into a break up, losing their most prized possession, the oil, an accusation only second to having lost the liberation war and being forced into the CPA of 2006 against his will.

The past years, leading up to independence, were marked by Khartoum cheating on oil receipts, denying the South any meaningful investment in infrastructure when sharing out the national cake but rather engaged in overt and covert support for proxy militias, based in the Southern territories but notably also allegedly continuing their support for fellow ICC fugitive Joseph Kony, now based in either the Central African Republic or the Congo DR.

It was clear that within a year of the CPA being signed Khartoum had no interest in making any meaningful overtures to the semi autonomous region of Southern Sudan then, which could have convinced the people that indeed the proverbial leopard had changed spots, but here as otherwise, it did not and education, health and infrastructure projects were concentrated in the North, leaving the Southern region out in the development cold. Hence, when the referendum came, nearly 99 percent of those who voted opted for independence, certain in their knowledge that continuing unity would relegate them forever into the third class of citizens, condemned into lasting oppression and all for being true Africans.

Last Saturday therefore Bashir, in front of the world’s cameras and shunned by Western delegations, had to eat his final piece of Southern humblepie, when he stood next to the newly installed and now fellow president Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, and had to listen with a stony face to ‘we shall forgive but we shall not forget’.

The writing is now on the wall for Bashir, hampered by an ICC arrest warrant in his global movements and ability to represent his country abroad, that sooner or later he will be pushed out of office, the circumstances to be determined by his level of resistance, and the only question then will be if the new guys will be even greater warmongers or else in a departure from hostility truly try to reach cordial if not friendly relations with South Sudan, and let go of those wanting to go like the people in Abyei, South Kordofan, Blue Nile and Darfur.

Time will tell, so keep watching this space.

Kenya news update – South Coast ‘by pass’ project on track

SOUTH COAST ‘BY PASS’ ON TRAC

Sources from Mombasa have dismissed suggestions that the latest round of consultations between Japanese experts – Japan, inspite of her problems at home following a devastating series of earthquakes and a hugely destructive tsunami, is financing the project with grants and loans – and local counterparts were not a factor for delays of the project but in fact needed to fast track the construction of the 10+ mile long stretch of bridges and causeways. The new road development will link the Moi International Airport in Mombasa, and the main Nairobi to Mombasa highway to the coastline south of Mombasa by road, avoiding the current drive through the city of Mombasa and having to use the unreliable ferries at Likoni, often the cause of major delays for commuters, business people and tourists alike.

The ‘by pass’ has been under debate for decades but was never seriously tackled by previous governments until the increased clout of the private sector and the recognition that tourism at the coast line south of Mombasa would boom as a result of the new road and bridge link, finally brought government on board. Alongside the road it is expected that new residential estates will spring up as will a planned Free Trade Zone, adding yet more value to the expected benefits the project will bring to the Kenyan economy.

Watch this space for the announcements on tenders and construction start.

 

Uganda news update – Aga Khan on working visit in Uganda

AGA KHAN ON WORKING VISIT TO UGANDA

His Highness the Aga Khan is in Uganda for a two day working visit, which will include an inspection of the Bujagali hydroelectric power station, which is being lead developed by Industrial Promotion Services from Kenya, itself part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development. IPS stepped into the void left by previous ‘promoters’ of the Bujagali power station, and true to its overall form in East African development projects, put financing in place, reached broad consensus with affected stakeholders including the rafting and adventure tourism fraternity and then commenced construction. AKFED, through IPS Kenya, brought Sithe Global on board for technical expertise and the first 50 MW of relatively cheap hydropower will come on line by latest November this year but by mid 2012 the full 250 MW capacity will be feeding the national grid, bringing long lingering power shortages to an end.

Only days ago did BEL, or Bujagali Energy Limited as the company is known in Uganda, commission a shrine at the main Bujagali Falls – the power station is several kilometres downstream – where according to Busoga Kingdom lore the spirits present at the Bujagali Falls will now find a resting place.

The falls are likely to submerge when the water reservoir behind the new dam has finally filled up, prompting calls by the ‘Custodian’ of the culturally important site to ‘make arrangements for the spirits’, a demand now fully met and accepted by the Busoga community.

AKFED, across Eastern Africa, and hand in hand with the Aga Khan Education Service, is a leading source of development projects and has holdings in a range of leading companies such as the Nation Media Group, Jubilee Insurance, Diamond Trust Bank but for the purpose of this column more importantly Serena Hotels and Air Uganda.

Watch this space.

 

Uganda news update – Power is back, for now

POWER IS BACK, FOR NOW

The independent power generating companies, which a week ago turned off their plants following the non- payment of an alleged 200+ billion Uganda Shillings in subsidy arrears contractually agreed with government, have yesterday resumed production. The ‘loss of capacity’ as UMEME had put it in public newspaper adverts, had caused an immediate 12 hour on and 12 hour off rationing cycle, which greatly affected not just industries, hotels and other businesses but also households, where reportedly contents of deep-freezers went to waste, adding a huge financial cost to already stretched domestic budgets.

It was however learned from sources close to the two plant operators that should the arrears not be cleared, shut downs would return just as soon as the next batch of fuel deliveries was due for delivery. The source would not comment however on speculation that government may have ‘guaranteed’ payment to the fuel companies over the standoff to ensure the country receives sufficient electricity into the national grid, though other sources insist that some level of binding assurances were given to the fuel suppliers in this regard.

Be it as it may, power is back in Uganda while neighbours Kenya and Tanzania continue to struggle with the issue inspite of – especially in Kenya – efforts to fast track wind and geothermal energy production which would at once provide much needed electricity and at the same time enhance the ‘green profile’ of the country considerably.