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You Can’t Kill All Of Us,’ Kenya Protesters Vow To March Again

Published

4 days ago

June 26, 2024

Kenyan protest organisers called Wednesday for fresh peaceful marches against deeply unpopular tax hikes, as the death toll from nationwide demonstrations climbed to 22, a state-funded rights body said, vowing an investigation.

Tensions sharply escalated Tuesday, as police opened fire on demonstrators who stormed parliament after the mainly youth-led rallies began mostly peacefully last week with thousands marching across the country against the tax increases.

The unprecedented scenes left parts of parliament ablaze and gutted and hundreds of people wounded, shocking Kenyans and prompting President William Ruto’s government to deploy the military.

On Tuesday afternoon, parliament passed the contentious bill containing the tax hikes, which must be signed by Ruto to become law.

But demonstrators vowed to hit the streets again Thursday as they called for the bill to be scrapped.

“Tomorrow we march peacefully again as we wear white, for all our fallen people,” protest organiser Hanifa Adan said on X.

“You cannot kill all of us.”

Demonstrators shared “Tupatane Thursday” (“we meet Thursday” in Swahili), alongside the hashtag #Rejectfinancebill2024 on social media.

“The government does not care about us because they shot us with live bullets,” Steve, 40, who was at the parliament Tuesday, told AFP.

Ruto “victimised innocent people”, he said, adding he would march on Thursday: “I expect more violence and chaos.”

Roseline Odede, chairwoman of the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, said “we have recorded 22 deaths”, adding that they would launch an investigation.

“This is the largest number of deaths (in) a single day protest,” she said, adding that 19 people had died in the capital Nairobi.

“We have over 300 injured in our records and over 50 arrests,” she added.

Earlier, Simon Kigondu, president of the Kenya Medical Association, said he had never before seen “such level of violence against unarmed people.”

An official at Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi said Wednesday that medics were treating “160 people… some of them with soft tissue injuries, some of them with bullet wounds”.

– ‘Violence and anarchy’ –

In posts online, protest organisers shared fundraising efforts to support those hurt in the demonstrations.

Ruto warned late Tuesday that his government would take a tough line against “violence and anarchy”, likening some of the demonstrators to “criminals”.

“It is not in order or even conceivable that criminals pretending to be peaceful protesters can reign terror against the people, their elected representatives and the institutions established under our constitution and expect to go scot-free,” he said.

Shortly before his address, Defence Minister Aden Bare Duale announced that the army had been brought in to tackle “the security emergency” in the country.

A heavy police presence was deployed around parliament early on Wednesday, according to an AFP reporter, the smell of tear gas still in the air.

A policeman standing in front of the broken barricades to the complex told AFP he had watched the scenes unfold on TV.

“It was madness, we hope it will be calm today,” he said.

– ‘Didn’t leave anything’ –

In the central business district, where the protests have been concentrated, traders surveyed the damage.

“They didn’t leave anything, just the boxes. I don’t know how long it will take me to recover,” James Ng’ang’a, whose electronics shop was looted, told AFP.

Ruto’s administration has been taken by surprise by the intensity of opposition to its tax hikes.

And while the rallies — mostly led by young, Gen-Z Kenyans — have been largely peaceful, tensions rose sharply Tuesday afternoon when officers fired at crowds near parliament.

Demonstrators then breached parliament barricades, ransacking the partly ablaze complex, with local TV showing burnt furniture and smashed windows.

AFP journalists saw three people bleeding heavily and lying motionless on the ground.

– Cost of living –

The unrest has alarmed the international community, with more than 10 Western nations including the United States saying they were “especially shocked by the scenes witnessed outside the Kenyan Parliament”.

Rights watchdogs have also accused the authorities of abducting protesters.

The police have not responded to AFP requests for comment.

Long-running grievances over the rising cost of living spiralled last week as lawmakers began debating the bill containing the tax hikes.

The cash-strapped government says the increases are needed to service the country’s massive debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), equal to roughly 70 per cent of Kenya’s GDP.

The treasury has warned of a gaping budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings, following Ruto’s decision last week to roll back some of the most controversial tax hikes.

While Kenya is among East Africa’s most dynamic economies, a third of its 52 million population live in poverty.

AFP

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Headline

JUST IN: Police Deny Arrest Of Verydarkman

Published

4 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Editor

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Police Command has refuted report that Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as Verydarkman has been arrest.

The police said he was only invited for questioning on the allegations of cyber stalking, cyber bullying and defamation of character.

A statement issued on Sunday, June 30, by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh said Verydarkman has since been released after voluntarily giving his statement on the allegations.

READ: Police Rearrest Controversial Social Media Influencer, VeryDarkMan

Adeh said: “Contrary to the news making the rounds about the alleged arrest of Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as Verydarkman or VDM by the police, the FCT police command wishes to clarify that Verydarkman was not arrested by the police but was only invited for questioning on the allegations of cyber stalking, cyber bullying and defamation of character.

“He has since been released after voluntarily giving his statement on the allegations.”

Headline

Account For Missing N100bn Dirty Notes, Others, SERAP Drags CBN Gov

Published

13 hours ago

June 30, 2024

Editor

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Olayemi Cardoso, “to account for and explain the whereabouts of the over N100 billion ‘dirty and bad notes’ and ‘other large sum of cash awaiting examination’ which are kept in various branches of the CBN.”

In a letter dated June 29, 2024, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP said the allegations are documented in the latest annual report recently published by the Auditor-General of the Federation.

The organisation said these allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of public trust, the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the CBN Act, and national and international anti-corruption obligations.

SERAP also asked Cardoso to “explain the whereabouts of the N7.2 billion budgeted for the construction of the CBN Dutse branch in 2010 and the N4.8 billion budgeted for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch in 2009, and to publish the names of the contractors who collected the money but failed to complete the projects.”

SERAP urged the CBN boss “to explain the whereabouts of the allegedly missing outstanding loan of N1.2 billion granted to the Enugu State Government in 2015 and the outstanding loan of N1.9 billion granted to the Anambra State Government between 2015 and 2016 and to fully recover and remit the public funds to the treasury.”

It also asked him “to refer these grave violations of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the CBN Act and the country’s national and international anti-corruption obligations to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for investigation and prosecution, as appropriate, and the recovery of the public funds.”

The letter read in part, “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest.

“Explaining the whereabouts of the missing public funds, publishing the names of those suspected to be responsible and ensuring that they are brought to justice and the full recovery of any missing public funds would serve the public interest and end the impunity of perpetrators.

“According to the recently published 2020 audited report by the Auditor General of the Federation (AGF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has since 2017 been keeping over N100 billion ‘dirty and bad notes’, and other large sums of cash awaiting examination in various branches of the CBN.

“The Auditor-General fears that the ‘dirty and bad notes’ initially planned to be destroyed may have been ‘diverted and re-injected into the economy.’

“The CBN in August 2010 also reportedly budgeted N7.2 billion [N7,286,500,476.76] for the construction of the Dutse branch building. The Dutse branch was due to be completed in November 2012 but the contractors have failed to complete the project.

“The Auditor-General is concerned that the project may have been ‘awarded to an incompetent contractor,’ and wants the ‘job completed without further delay.’

“The CBN in 2009 reportedly budgeted N4.8 billion [N4,812,608,028.10] for the renovation of the CBN Abeokuta branch. The Abeokuta branch was due to be completed in 2012 but the contractors have failed to complete the project.

“There is no significant renovation work on the site, several years after the proposed completion date. The Auditor-General is concerned that the project may have been ‘awarded to an incompetent contractor,’ and wants the ‘job completed without further delay.’”

SERAP said these violations also reflect a “failure of CBN accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s persistent failure to comply with its Act and to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.”

It added, “The CBN also reportedly failed to account for the missing outstanding loan of N1.2 billion granted to the Enugu State Government in 2015 and the outstanding loan of N1.9 billion granted to the Anambra State Government between 2015 and 2016. The Auditor-General fears the public funds may have been diverted. He wants the money fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.

“Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, ‘on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or for goods not yet supplied.’

“Section 35(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 provides that, ‘once a mobilization fee has been paid to any supplier or contractor, no further payment shall be made to the supplier or contractor without an interim performance certificate.

“Section 16(6) of the Public Procurement Act states that ‘all bidders shall possess the necessary professional and technical qualifications to carry out particular procurements; the financial capacity and adequate personnel to perform the obligations of the procurement contracts.’”

SERAP asserted that these alleged violations have seriously undermined the ability of the CBN to effectively discharge its statutory functions and the public trust and confidence in the bank.

According to the organisation, the apex bank ought to be committed to transparency and accountability in its operations.

It added, “SERAP notes that Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” Section 13 of the Constitution imposes a clear responsibility on the CBN to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution.

“Paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, “Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the full amount involved and such officer shall be handed over to either the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

“Nigeria has made legally binding commitments under the UN Convention against Corruption to ensure accountability in the management of public resources. Articles 5 and 9 of the UN Convention against Corruption also impose legal obligations on the CBN to ensure proper management of public affairs and public funds.

“Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the public funds. Taking the recommended measures would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.

“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their public institutions’ activities.”

Headline

Executing Four National Budgets Concurrently A Recipe For Disaster – Peter Obi Chides Tinubu

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2024

Editor

The Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has faulted what he described as a concurrent implementation of four national budgets by the Nigerian government, saying that it is a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe.

In a post on his X handle on Saturday, Obi said it is a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

The former Anambra State Governor also stated that the government’s action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, further exacerbating the suffering of the Nigerian people.

He wrote: “All available evidence has confirmed that the Nigerian government is implementing four national budgets concurrently. This is in blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability.

“It is also a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe.

“This intentionally reckless action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, further exacerbating the suffering of the Nigerian people.

“It indicates that the Leaders are out of touch with reality and lack the competence to manage our nation’s finances effectively.

“Unfortunately, this deliberate act of fiscal recklessness is being undertaken by elected representatives of the people, thereby betraying one of the cardinal pillars of democracy. Leaders are elected to responsibly manage public resources in an organized way.

“I respectfully appeal and in fact, demand that this situation be reversed immediately in preference for a more responsible and transparent approach to budgeting.

“We must prioritize the needs of the Nigerian people, not the selfish interests of a few.

“This is a call to action for all Leaders to desist from actions that will further drive the country into economic chaos.

“Neither the National Assembly nor the executive has any excuse to promote or condone such unconscionable behaviour.

“We seek and insist on a nation governed by leaders who are frugal and responsible in their handling of public resources.

“This is the only way we can build a great nation.”