Uhuru Kenyatta's victory speech

My fellow Kenyans, thank you.

Thank you for all your patience and your support along the way

Asanteni Sana.

I thank God for sustaining us and for bringing us this far.

I thank all those who have remained vigilant in prayer for our nation during this time.

I want to thank the people of the republic of Kenya who have shown patience over the last few days as we all awaited the outcome of this election.

I thank the thousands of officials who worked with the IEBC to make this, the most free and most fair general election in our nation's history.

Despite the challenges that you faced, you managed to keep the trust of Kenyans and to do your job professionally.

While we look forward to a day when electoral results are relayed in real-time to curb anxiety, we acknowledge that every process can be refined and I pledge to give you my support as you seek more efficient ways to conduct future elections.

I would also like to acknowledge and thank the police and all security agencies for their diligence and commitment to ensuring security.

I would especially like to acknowledge the police officers who lost their lives on the eve of the elections. They made the ultimate sacrifice, laying down their lives,in the name of democracy.

To their families, I offer my sincere condolences for your loss and I assure you that I, and the people of Kenya are standing with you in prayer.

The incidents that took the lives of our officers are a reminder that security remains one of the biggest challenges in our nation. It is unacceptable to see such violent and unnecessary loss of life. As we move forward, I pledge to meet all threats to our national security with the full force of Kenya's resources and with utmost urgency.

To the Kenyan media - you have shown remarkable responsibility as this country’s fourth estate. You have shown sensitivity in the dissemination of news and impartiality in your treatment of the results. You have no doubt helped to keep the country calm.

We are grateful for this, and we will continue to consider you our true partners as we embark on our journey.
To the presidential candidates – I salute you all.

You have contributed to ensuring a robust democratic process.

I in particular want to single out my brother, Raila Odinga, for his spirited campaign.

I know that all the candidates have made tremendous personal sacrifices for the progress of our country and today, I welcome them to join us in moving our nation forward.

My fellow Kenyans today, we celebrate the triumph of democracy; the triumph of peace; the triumph of nationhood.

Despite the misgivings of many in the world- we demonstrated a level of political maturity that surpassed expectations.

We dutifully turned out; we voted in peace; we upheld order and respect for the rule of law and we maintained the fabric of our society.

That is the real victory today. A victory for our nation. A victory that demonstrates to all that Kenya has finally come of age. That this, indeed, is Kenya’s moment.

I am honored and humbled that in a free and fair election- you, the people of Kenya, have placed your trust in me- to lead our nation as your next President.

I am here because of you.

I am here because of the unyielding support of millions of Kenyans, from all walks of life, from every corner of our nation, who sacrificed their time, energy and resources to make this campaign a success.

Thousands of you volunteered through Team Uhuru. Hundreds of you mobilized through grassroots organizations. Hundreds of you campaigned through your university associations and millions of Kenyans across the nation engaged us through our various online platforms.

Throughout this process you, the people, have remained unwavering in your belief not only in me - but in the possibility of a stronger, more prosperous Kenya.

A Kenya that has room for all our hopes and aspirations.

Last but not least, I am here because of my family:
My wife, Margaret; our children and all the members of my family.

However, this is has never been about me, this has been about you- about the people of Kenya. You have put your faith not in one man , but in a team.

In our Deputy President – Elect: Hon William Ruto. A man with a proven trackrecord, who has demonstrated to all of us, his ability to both speak and act with un-matched zeal and energy.

You put your trust in my sister, Charity Ngilu and my brother, Najib Balala both of whom have remained committed to serving the people and putting our nation first.

You put your trust inTNA, URP and the wider Jubilee family.

And because you gave us this trust, I am proud to say that the majority of women who were elected to parliament come from the Jubilee Coalition – a fact that demonstrates this teams commitment to supporting women and to supporting the full implementation of all the provisions within our constitution.

I want to say to all the Jubilee aspirants- those who won, and especially, those who did not – you have done your parties, and this coalition- proud.Your dedication, to the ideals that the Jubilee Coalition represents has been an inspiration to me. We came together as a team, and we will continue to work together as a team- for the good of all the people of Kenya.

However , today is about more than one Coalition or Party.

It is about all Kenyans: those of you who voted Jubilee and those who did not.

My fellow Kenyans, My pledge to you is that as your President, I will work on behalf of all citizens regardless of political affiliation.

I will honor the will of Kenyans and ensure that my Government protects their rights and acts without fear or favor; in the interests of our nation.

To all those who won various seats –regardless of what party or coalition you may belong to - let us remember that we are , first and foremost, Kenyans, and that the people have bestowed upon us the responsibility to work for them.

I extend a hand of friendship and cooperation to you so that together, we can truly serve the Kenyan people.

In the nearly 5 decades since independence, we have made great strides as a nation.

Kenya has experienced huge success but there have also been enduring problems.
In the last 10 years, under the Presidency of Mwai Kibaki we have begun to overcome many of our national challenges.

We are indebted to his leadership and grateful for the services he has rendered to our country.

As I assume office, my task, and the task before us all is to secure the gains we have made while focusing on solving the challenges that remain.

My fellow Kenyans, the elections are now over.

Today, in itself, is not an end ; it is a beginning and there is much work to be done.

That work begins with all of us taking personal responsibility for the future of our country- the inheritance of our children.

For those who are celebrating let us be modest in victory. To those who voted for any of my opponents - let us keep in mind the broader victory of Kenya, and continue to uphold peace. Let us remember that while, in a democracy, some contestants must, inevitably, lose - the citizens of a country never do. In this election, every vote mattered and from this moment, every voice that contributes to the national dialogue- will be heard.

Fellow Kenyans, our duty now is to return to our lives. To return to our jobs, our businesses; our farms – and continue making the daily decisions that will transform Kenya.

I promise to do my part, but I need every Kenyan to play their part as well.

To our brothers and sisters in the region and in Africa as a whole we appreciate your support and encouragement before, during and after the elections. This is the true spirit of Africa. We look forward to playing our rightful role in the region and in the continent. The African star is shining brightly and the destiny of Africa is in our hands.

To the nations of the world I give you my assurances that I and my team understand that Kenya is part of the community of nations and while as leaders we are, first and foremost, servants of the Kenyan people, we recognize and accept our international obligations and we will continue to co-operate with all nations and international institutions– in line with those obligations.

However we also expect that the international community will respect our sovereignty and the democratic will of the people of Kenya.

Indeed it is the desire of the people of Kenya to be a nation that is at peace with itself, at peace with her neighbors, at peace with our continent and at peace with the world at large.

We will pursue this ideal - upholding the values enshrined in our constitution and continuing in the spirit embodied in the words of our national anthem

Oh God of all creation
Bless this our land and nation

Justice be our shield and defender

May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty.

Plenty be found within our borders.

Thank you,

God bless you And God bless the Republic of Kenya.

Haki za Binadamu nao watoa tamko

Mtandao wa watetezi wa haki za binadamu ambao ni mkusanyiko wa asasi zaidi ya 70 za kiraia zinazotetea haki za binadamu (THRD-Coalition) , kwa kushirikiana na Muungano wa Klabu za Waandishi wa Habari Tanzania (UTPC),vimeelezea kulaani vikali shambulio la kinyama alilofanyiwa Mwenyekiti wa Jukwaa la Wahariri, Absalom Kibanda.

Uchunguzi tulioufanya bado haujatujapatia habari za undani zaidi na uhakika wa tukio hilo, lakini kwa taarifa za awali kwa asilimia kubwa linahusiana na kazi yake ya utetezi wa haki za binadamu kupitia taaluma yake ya uandishi wa habari.

"Tunasema hivyo kwa sababu vitisho dhidi ya wanahabari na watetezi wengine wa haki za binadamu,vinataka kuzoeleka sasa hapa nchini jambo ambalo halikuwapo katika miaka ya nyuma.

"Takribani ndani ya miezi 10 sasa, zaidi ya watetezi wa haki za binadamu 10 wakiwamo waandishi wa habari wameshajeruhiwa, wamepata vitisho au kuuawa."

Ilisema taarifa hiyo iliyosainiwa na Onesmo Olengurumwa, Mratibu wa Mtandao huo kuwa matukio hayo yanaashiria lengo la kutaka kuzima sauti za watetezi wa wanyonge kwa visingizio mbalimbali na wakati mwingine matukio haya yakipewa sura tofauti ikiwamo uhalifu wa kawaida, visa vya kudhulumiana na visasi vya kimapenzi.

"Hatupendi kuingilia wala kukwamisha utendaji kazi wa jeshi hilo, lakini pia hatupendi wanahabari na watetezi wengine wafanye kazi yao katika mazingira ya woga. Tunaamini kwamba zipo njia muafaka zaidi za kushughulikia masuala yanayohusu taaluma ya habari," ilisema taarifa hiyo.

Mtandao huo umewataka watu wote wanaotumika au wanaoendeleza wimbi la mashambulizi kwa wanahabari na watetezi wote wa haki za binadamu kwa ujumla, waache kufanya hivyo kwani wataliingiza nchi katika machafuko makubwa pamoja na kuisihi Polisi na Serikali kubeba jukumu lao la kuhakikisha usalama wa watetezi wa haki za binadamu, na raia wote.

Je hii ni njia ya kuwapa watanzania ajira, kama mtakuwa mnawalimbikizia wabunge madaraka?

abunge watatu wa Bunge la Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na mmoja wa Baraza la wawakilishi Zanzibar wameteuliwa kuwa wajumbe wa Bodi ya Kituo cha Mikutano cha Kimataifa cha Arusha (AICC).

Wabunge hao ni Faith Mtambo na Mary Chatanda (wote viti maalumu (CCM), Mbunge wa Nzega (CCM), Dk Hamis Kigwangala na Ali Mzee Ali ambaye ni mjumbe wa Baraza la Wawakilishi Zanzibar.

Katika orodha hiyo ya wajumbe wapya, pia yumo Wilson Masilingi ambaye alikuwa Mbunge wa Muleba Kusini mpaka mwaka 2010, ambapo alishindwa katika kura za maoni ndani ya chama chake na mbunge wa sasa wa jimbo hilo, Profesa Anna Tibaijuka ambaye pia ni Waziri wa Ardhi, Nyumba na Maendeleo ya Makazi.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa iliyotolewa na Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa inaeleza kuwa , Rais Jakaya Kikwete amemteua kwa kipindi cha pili, Balozi Christopher Liundi kuwa mwenyekiti wa Bodi hiyo kwa kipindi cha miaka mitatu na kwamba uteuzi huo umeanza rasmi Machi 6,mwaka huu.

Liundi aliteuliwa kushika nafasi hiyo mwaka 2010, huku wajumbe wake wakati huo wakiwa ni Mbunge wa Singida Kaskazini (CCM), Lazaro Nyalandu, Rose Lugembe, Shabani Mnubi, Nuru Milao, Joseph Chilambo, Wilfred Nyachia, Makumba Kimweri, Dk Aggrey Mlimuka na Issa Suleiman.

Wajumbe wengine wa bodi hiyo mpya ni Aggrey Mlimuka, Dash-Hood Mndeme, Dk Ali Mndali na Balozi mstaafu Abdi Mshangama. Kwa nini wana siasa wapewe nafasi za uongozi? Kwa nini sisi watanzania tusifike sehemu tuone kwamba kuwa mwanasiasa siyo kwamba unaweza kufanya kila kitu?
Je ni kujenga ajira kweli huku kama wale watu wenye madaraka tayari wataendelea kulimbikiziwa madaraka?Wale vijana amabao wanamemaliza vyuo vyetu je wao wataenda kufanya kazi wapi au hadi wajiunge na CCM?

Kibanda angolewa jicho nchini Afrika ya Kusini

Dar es Salaam, Mwenyekiti wa Jukwaa la Wahariri (Tef), Absalom Kibanda ambaye amelazwa Hospitali ya Millpark, Johannesburg nchini Afrika Kusini kutokana na kupata majeraha makubwa baada ya kushambuliwa na watu wasiojulikana, ameng’olewa jicho.


Taarifa iliyotolewa na Katibu wa Tef, Neville Meena inaeleza jana aliingizwa kwenye chumba cha upasuaji katika hospitali hiyo, kwa ajili ya kufanyiwa upasuaji na kurekebishwa sura.


“Nachukua fursa hii kuwapa maendeleo ya tiba ya Mwenyekiti wa Tef Absalom Kibanda, ambaye amelazwa Hospitali ya Millpark, Johannesburg nchini Afrika Kusini, leo ameingizwa theater (chumba cha upasuaji) ili kuanza kufanyiwa upasuaji na kurekebishwa sura, baada ya kupungua kwa uvimbe katika majeraha aliyokuwa nayo sehemu mbalimbali za mwili wake, hususan kichwani na usoni,” alisema Meena katika taarifa yake hiyo.

Meena alifafanua kuwa upasuaji huo unazingatia matokeo ya uchunguzi uliofanywa kwa zaidi ya saa 48 na jopo la madaktari, ambao walibaini kwamba mbali na madhara ya awali, Kibanda pia aliumizwa taya lake la kushoto.

“Kuhusu jicho lake la kushoto ambalo pia lilijeruhiwa, madaktari walisema wangetoa uamuzi kuhusu aina ya upasuaji ambao wangeufanya baada ya kubaini hali halisi, wakati watakapokuwa wakirekebisha sura yake ambayo iliharibiwa kwa majeraha,” alisema.

Alisema Kibanda ambaye pia ni Mhariri Mtendaji wa Kampuni ya New Habari (2006) Ltd ambao ni wachapishaji wa magazeti ya Rai,

Mtanzania, Dimba na Bingwa, bado ana maumivu makali kutokana na majeraha aliyopata, kwani hata wakati akipelekwa kwenye upasuaji huo uliotarajiwa kuchukua saa zaidi ya nne, alikuwa akilalamika kwa maumivu zaidi kwenye kidonda kilichopo kwenye mguu wake wa kushoto.


“Tutaendelea kufahamishana kila hatua ya tiba ya mwenyekiti wetu, na tunaomba tuendelee kumwombea ili apone haraka,” alisema Meena.

Juzi jopo la madaktari wanaomtibu katika hospitali hiyo walibaini madhara zaidi aliyoyapata Kibanda, kutokana na unyama aliofanyiwa na watu wasiojulikana usiku wa kuamkia Jumatano wiki hii.

Madhara hayo ni pamoja na kukatika kwa mshipa unaounganisha pua na mdomo, kulegea kwa meno sita, awali ilibainika kuwa ametobolewa jicho lake la kushoto, kung’olewa meno mawili, kunyofolewa kucha, kukatwa mara tatu kwenye kichwa chake.


Katika hatua nyingine, Rais Jakaya Kikwete jana alimtembelea Kibanda hospitalini alikolazwa akiongozana na Katibu Mkuu wa CCM, Abdulrahman Kinana.


Meena alisema Rais Kikwete amesema Serikali itajitahidi kuwasaka waliohusika na tukio la utesaji wa Kibanda, ili wafikishwe mahakamani kwa mujibu wa sheria.

Rais Kikwete na Kinana wapo Afrika Kusini kwa ziara ya kikazi, ambapo waliamua kutumia fursa hiyo kwenda kumtembelea mhariri huyo.

Hadi Kibanda anasafirishwa kwenda Afrika Kusini Alhamisi wiki hii kwa matibabu zaidi, viongozi wa Serikali waliofika kumjulia hali ni pamoja na Waziri wa Mambo ya Ndani ya Nchi, Dk Emmanuel Nchimbi na Waziri wa Afya na Ustawi wa Jamii, Dk Hussein Mwinyi pamoja na Kamanda wa Polisi wa Kanda Maalumu ya Dar es Salaam, wahariri na waandishi wa habari wa vyombo mbalimbali vya habari nchini.

Balozi India ahoji uadilifu viongozi nchini

“Sielewi vizuri sababu za Tanzania kutowashtaki mahakamani viongozi wanaokataa kutaja mali, labda ndivyo mnavyotaka, lakini nchini kwetu mali za viongozi ziko wazi, tena iko tovuti maalumu ambayo viongozi huandikwa mali zao, sisemi sheria zenu mbaya, bali ni maamuzi yenu Watanzania kuangalia,” alisema Shaw katika mahojiano maalumu na mwandishi wa habari hii jana ofisini kwake.


Wakati Watanzania wakiilalamikia Tume ya Maadili ya Viongozi wa Umma kuwa ni mzigo kwa taifa kwa vile haina meno ya kuwashughulikia wanaokataa kutaja mali, Balozi wa India nchini, Debnath Shaw anasema kwao usipotaja mali unashtakiwa.

“Sielewi vizuri sababu za Tanzania kutowashtaki mahakamani viongozi wanaokataa kutaja mali, labda ndivyo mnavyotaka, lakini nchini kwetu mali za viongozi ziko wazi, tena iko tovuti maalumu ambayo viongozi huandikwa mali zao, sisemi sheria zenu mbaya, bali ni maamuzi yenu Watanzania kuangalia,” alisema Shaw katika mahojiano maalumu na mwandishi wa habari hii jana ofisini kwake.

Hapa nchini iko sheria inayowataka viongozi kutangaza mali zao, hata hivyo, hakuna rekodi yoyoye inayoonyesha kama kuna kiongozi yeyote nchini aliyewahi kufikishwa mahakamani kwa kukataa kwake kutaja mali alizonazo.

Hali kadhalika mali zinazotangazwa haziko wazi kwa wananchi, hata mtu anapokwenda ofisi za tume ya maadili ili kujua kiongozi gani anamiliki nini, hatakiwi kudurufu alichokiona wala kutangaza, hivyo kuondoa maana au umuhimu wa chombo hicho.

India yakataa kuikopesha tena Tanzania

Balozi huyo pia alizungumzia taarifa za India kukataa kuikopesha tena matrekta Tanzania akisema “Hatujakaa kutoa mkopo kwa sababu nyingine zozote, bali mkopo una taratibu zake”.

Hivi karibuni Rais Jakaya Kikwete alilitaka Shirika la Uzalishaji Mali la Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (Suma JKT), kulipa deni.Serikali za India na Tanzania ziliingia mkataba wa mkopo wa Sh40 bilioni kwa ajili ya ununuzi wa matrekta ambayo yalikabidhiwa kwa Suma JKT, hata hivyo kumekuwa na kashfa za baadhi ya vigogo kunufaika isivyo halali na matrekta hayo, tofauti na ilivyolengwa kwamba yangekopeshwa zaidi wananchi wa kawaida wanaojihusisha na kilimo.

Mkopo huo uliosainiwa mwaka 2010 utadumu kwa miaka mitano huku Tanzania kupitia Suma JKT, ikitakiwa kulipa Sh42 bilioni ikiwemo riba.

Hadi sasa Suma JKT imekusanya Sh16 bilioni ambazo ni kiasi kidogo ikilinganishwa na ukubwa wa deni, jambo ambalo Kikwete alikiri lingeweza kuifanya isikidhi vigezo vya kukopeshwa tena.

Hivi karibuni Tanzania iliomba tena mkopo, lakini India ilikataa. Balozi alipoulizwa kama kutolipwa madeni kwa ufasaha ni sababu ya kutokopeshwa tena alijibu kwa kifupi “Nafikiri madeni yanapolipwa, tutapata nguvu za kukopesha zaidi”.

Alipoulizwa kuhusu Serikali kuwa na deni kubwa, hivyo kuwekewa vikwazo vya kupewa mikopo, Waziri wa Fedha, William Mgimwa alisema kuwa jambo hilo analifahamu na kutaka atafutwe leo mchana ili aweze kulitolea ufafanuzi.

Mgimwa ambaye ni mbunge wa Kalenga alisema, “Kwa sasa niko jimboni, ila kuhusu hili suala la Suma JKT naomba unitafute kesho (leo) mchana tutazungumza na kukupa ufafanuzi zaidi.”

Uhuru Kinyatta atafuata nyayo za baba yake?

Rais mteule wa Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta amewashukuru wananchi pamoja na Mwenyezi Mungu kwa kumwezesha kushinda nafasi hiyo huku akiahidi kuijenga upya Kenya.

Uhuru amesema ataweka kipaumbele kwenye kutunza rasilimali za nchi na kuhakikisha zinawanufaisha wananchi wote, pia kuwawezesha wanawake na vijana.
Katika hotuba yake aliyotoa muda mfupi baada ya kutangazwa mshindi jana, Kenyatta alisema anawashukuru wagombea alioshirikiana nao katika mchakato wote wa uchaguzi na kuwakaribisha kuungana.


“Nawashukuru wagombea wenzangu wote kwa kujitolea kwa moyo kushiriki katika kinyang’anyiro hiki kwa kuwa jambo hilo limezidi kuonyesha demokrasia iliyopo nchini,” alisema.


Aliongeza kuwa anaahidi kushirikiana vyema na wagombea hao akiwamo Raila Odinga kwa ajili ya kuijenga upya nchi yao, akiwakaribisha na kuwataka waondoe kinyongo kutokana na ushindi alioupata.


“Tulianza zoezi zima kama timu na nitashirikiana nanyi kama timu, ikiwamo kuhakikisha tunafuata yale yote yaliyopo kwenye katiba hususan kuhakikisha kila mwananchi anapata haki yake anayostahili.”


Kiongozi huyo pia aliwashukuru watu mbalimbali waliofanikisha uchaguzi huo kwenda vyema ikiwamo vyombo vya habari katika nchi hiyo ambavyo vilikwenda sambamba katika kuripoti matukio yote ya uchaguzi, pamoja na vyombo vya usalama vilivyosimamia chaguzi hizo.


“Usalama bado ni tatizo katika nchi yetu, lakini ningependa kuvishukuru vyombo husika kwa kufanikisha tunavyozidi kuendelea suala hilo litakuwa vizuri,” alisema.

Uhuru alieleza hayo baada ya Tume Huru ya Mipaka na Uchaguzi (IEBC) kumtangaza kuwa mshindi katika uchaguzi uliofanyika Machi 4 akiwa amegombea kwa tiketi ya muungano wa Jubilee.

Uhuru aliibuka mshindi katika uchaguzi huo kwa kupata zaidi ya asilimia 50 ya kura zilizohitajika ili kupata ushindi kulingana na mahitaji ya Katiba Mpya ya nchi.

Matokeo yaliyotolewa na IEBC yanaonyesha kuwa Uhuru alipata kura 6,173,433 ambazo ni asilimia 50.07 huku mpinzani wake Raila Odinga akipata 5,340,546 ambazo ni asilimia 43.28.

Kwa ushindi huo, Uhuru amepata idadi kubwa ya kura inayohitajika na Katiba Mpya ambayo ni zaidi ya asilimia 50+1 na kuzuia uwezekano wa kurudiwa kwa uchaguzi.

Uhuru pamoja na mgombea mwenza wake, William Ruto wamepata ushindi huo huku wakiwa wanakabiliwa na mashtaka katika Mahakama ya Kimataifa ya Uhalifu (ICC) kuhusiana na ghasia za baada ya uchaguzi mkuu wa mwaka 2007.

Ushindi huo umepingwa na mpinzani mkuu wa Uhuru, mgombea urais kupitia muungano wa Cord, Raila Odinga ambaye amesema ‘kamwe hawatayatambua’ na kuahidi kuyapinga mahakamani.

Akizungumza muda mfupi baada ya kutangazwa kwa matokeo hayo, Odinga alisema anajiandaa kwenda mahakamani kupinga matokeo ya urais yaliyompa ushindi Uhuru.

Odinga, aliwaambia waandishi wa habari kuwa matokeo yaliyotolewa na tume hiyo yalikuwa yamehujumiwa hasa baada ya kutokea hitilafu katika mitambo ya elektroniki iliyokuwa inatumiwa katika shughuli hiyo.

“IEBC imerudia makosa yaleyale ya uchaguzi mkuu wa 2007, kwa kuwa tuna mahakama tunayoiamini tunaomba watu wetu watulie hadi mahakama itakapotoa uamuzi. Wenzetu pia wajiepushe na aina yoyote ya ghasia,” alisema.

Alisema kwamba hana tatizo la kushindwa iwapo ameshindwa kihalali, lakini kwa matokeo haya ana jukumu kubwa la kupinga mahakamani ili kulinda mahitaji na heshima ya wapiga kura.

Aidha, alisema kugoma kwa mitambo hiyo kulichanganya mambo katika shughuli ya kuhesabu kura.

Alisema kuwa baada ya kutokea hitilafu, kura alizokuwa amepata katika maeneo bunge ambayo ni ngome zake, ziliongezwa kwenye hesabu ya kura za muungano pinzani wa Jubilee.

Siku moja kabla ya kutangaza matokeo hayo, IEBC ilikiri kuwa matatizo yaliyosababishwa na mtambo wake wa kupeperusha matangazo ni pamoja na kuongeza mara nane kura zilizoharibika.

Baadhi ya wananchi walieleza kuwa na wasiwasi kuhusu idadi kubwa ya kura zilizoonekana kuharibika, kwani zilikuwa kura zaidi ya 300,000 ambapo kwa sasa zimepungua mpaka kufika idadi ya kura 80,000, baada ya kuhakiki kura hizo kwa mara ya pili.

Pingamizi lao lilikataliwa

Mapema wiki hii, wakati shughuli ya kuhesabu kura za urais ilikuwa inafanyika, wanaharakati walifungua kesi mahakamani kutaka uchaguzi usimamishwe kutokana na hitilafu mbalimbali zilizotokea , lakini mahakama kuu ilitupilia mbali kesi yao ikisema kuwa haina uwezo wa kufanya uamuzi katika kesi hiyo, na kuwa ni mahakama ya juu zaidi pekee inayoweza kusikiliza kesi hiyo.

Matokeo hayo na mivutano yote iliyopo kwa sasa vinatokea baada ya siku tano tangu Wakenya kupiga kura kuchagua rais, magavana, maseneta, wabunge, wawakilishi wanawake na wawakilishi wodi.

Tume ya uchaguzi ilichukua zaidi ya saa tano kukagua hesabu ya kura hizo kabla ya kutangaza matokeo hayo jana mchana.

Kwa mujibu wa maagizo yaliyopo katika Katiba Mpya ya nchi hiyo, mshindi wa uchaguzi anatakiwa kutangazwa iwapo tu ametimiza masharti ya kikatiba ya kutangazwa kuwa rais wa nne wa Kenya.

Pamoja na ushindi wa kura kwa zaidi ya asilimia 50 lazima awe ameshinda asilimia 25 katika nusu ya kaunti zote 47 nchini Kenya.

Photo show ends on Monday, the day Kenyans go for the General Election

Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia (left) and Presidential Press Service boss Isaiya Kabira tour the photo exhibition, The Kibaki Years, which Mr Kimemia officially opened at KICC on February 4. It ends on March 4. Photo/FILE NATION MEDIA GROUP

When a cheaper diploma pays more than a costly degree

Results. The A-Level results show that 76, 151 obtained at least two principal passes, which ideally qualifies them to enlist for post-secondary education.

Kampala.

Three years ago, Samuel Imbadi eyed an under-graduate course in Electrical Engineering. Kyambogo University was his choice institution.

An Advanced-Level subject combination of Physics, Economic and Mathematics (PEM) theoretically placed him in good stead to achieve his dream.
When results of the 2010 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) were released in early 2011, Mr Imbadi garnered 8 points, significantly lower than what is required for admission for a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree course. He was dejected.
His colleague and alumni of Old Kampala SS opted to repeat, enlist as private students on other university course(s) or drop out altogether – and many of last year’s A-Level students, whose resulted were released yesterday, face similar choices.

Uganda’s largely theoretical education focused on literacy, numeracy and the learning has encouraged recitation and memorisation, but not practical skills crucial for innovations, production and wealth creation. Yet the country has chosen sciences over humanities, which President Museveni preaches as the right medicine to transform Uganda.
But what does his government do to realise this vision?
The A-Level results show some 76, 151 obtained at least two principal passes, which ideally qualifies them to enlist for post-secondary education.

Government sponsors only some 4, 000 students at the five public universities; Makerere, Kyambogo, Mbarara, Gulu and Busitema. Others with handsome financing will enroll and pay for – perhaps buy – degree courses at these public and the other 27 private universities.
However, several thousand will miss out either because they lack money for tuition or have significantly lower scores than the threshold admission requirement.
So what are the alternatives, or should they even be second-rate options?

“Successful candidates”, Education Minister Jessica Alupo said while releasing the results on Tuesday; will get university slots.
She added: “I must (however) encourage A-Level leavers to seriously consider enrolling for technical, vocational and other courses at diploma level that lead to employment opportunities at the middle-level in the economy in both formal and non-formal sectors.”
Experts criticise such casual – almost derogatory - manner in which bureaucrats rate technical and vocational training as an anathema.

According to Fagil Mandy, an education consultant who chairs the country’s examinations body, “people managing education don’t understand and articulate the critical role vocational and technical skills play in a nation’s transformation”.
This skewed view is premised on the “deceptive” notion that tertiary institutions are for ‘failed students’, who in turn pity instead of asserting themselves, the former commissioner in the Ministry of Education said.

Self-pity is what Imbadi felt before he found himself offering a diploma in Automobile Maintenance and Repair at Nakawa Vocational Training Institute, a few kilometres from Kyambogo University where he originally intended to enroll.
“At first I didn’t like [the idea of joining a technical institute],” he said a matter-of-factly, before an exposure to vehicle handling at a garage during his vacation changed things.

Now he relishes the sight of vehicles he has helped fix wheeze out of the Nakawa workshop – a fulfillment that only a hand-on involvement can bring. “You get the real feel of doing something, not just the theory,” he said. Besides, there is money to make for upkeep and Imbadi, 22, just started his 2nd year at the institute.
More, university students doing the related courses come for practicals at Nakawa Vocational Training centre where Imbadi says he has on occasions shown them “how to do mechanical and electrical things”.

“People should stop looking at Business, Technical, Vocational education and training as a last resort,” said Paul Amoru, spokesman of the statutory entity that examines these courses. “We are looking for the best brains, not failures.”

A person who learns automobile servicing like Imbadi will become a mechanic, another one smart in wood work can own or be employed at a workshop making fine furniture and diploma-level masonry training produces a fine builder – all job creators of sorts.

And there are at least 10 public institutions offering diplomas in diverse fields such as cooperatives and business administration, boat building and marine mechanics, fisheries management and technologies, cartography, physical planning, land management and valuation, surveying, meteorology as well as wild life and allied natural resources management.

So, why are these courses that give practical skills often shunned by students and parents?
The problem, Mr Mandy says, is negative perception. To surmount it, he proposes that institutions (see list in table) should be well managed, financed and the theme of apprenticeship and vocational training articulated and popularised by all education stakeholders.
That tosses the ball back to government’s court. Primary and secondary schools offering practical subjects such as metal or wood works and technical drawing are an exception, rather than the rule, and persuading uninitiated students after A-Level becomes an albatross.

Mr Amoru says Parliament’s enactment of the Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) Act, establishing Uganda Business and Technical Examinations Board (UBTEB), means the country is on course to streamline and exercise control in technical education. That would entail deeper reforms in the education sector.

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Uganda to spend $377,000 on MPs’ iPads

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The Ugandan Parliament is to spend about $377,000 on iPad tablet computers for MPs.

Parliamentary officials say apart from bringing MPs up to speed with evolution in technology, they hope to save money in the long run by cutting on printing and other stationery expenses.

“They (iPads) would be Parliament property but when someone uses one for five years you don’t expect it to be in shape for use by another legislator for another five years,” commissioner Elijah Okupa told the Daily Monitor.

“They will indirectly become their personal property because of depreciation,” he added.

Figures from Parliament show that the government spent at least $12.1 million over the last two financial years on computer supplies, printing, stationery, photocopying, binding, postage, courier and other communication costs.

They hope to save money by moving to paper-less operations in the House. For instance, any document from the Finance ministry has to be photocopied into almost 400 copies for each MP and other Parliament officials. These will now be e-mailed to the MPs instead. “It is a necessary tool of work, and we need them as MPs so that we avoid the amount of paper work which is always put in our pigeon holes,” Busiro East MP Medard Segona (DP) told the Daily Monitor.

Many MPs are not familiar with the gadgets, sources said, and the firm that will be contracted to supply them is expected to receive a training contract as well. “We can mitigate these costs and the only way is to use iPads now which are cheaper by the way if only members are trained on how to use them.