Latest news with #Ruto
Malaysia Sun
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Roundup: UN-Habitat Assembly ends with adoption of strategic plan to tackle housing crisis
NAIROBI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The resumed second session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly concluded late Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with the adoption of a bold strategic plan aimed at tackling the global housing crisis. More than 1,300 delegates, including ministers, city mayors, urban planners, innovators, donors, campaigners, and entrepreneurs, attended the premier event that ran from Thursday to Friday. Held every four years, the assembly is the world's highest decision-making body on sustainable urbanization and human settlement, composed of 193 UN member states. Kenyan President William Ruto hailed the consensus-based adoption of the United Nations Human Settlements Program's (UN-Habitat) Strategic Plan 2026-2029, saying it will guide the establishment of climate-smart and inclusive cities in the future. "The adoption of this strategic plan reaffirms our commitment to urban renewal through equitable and adequate access to housing," Ruto said, urging UN member states to establish global champions for affordable housing. Besides adopting the strategic plan for tackling the global housing crisis, the two-day meeting elected a new presidency of the assembly to be shared by Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 2025 to 2029 alongside 36 members of the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat. During the assembly, it was also announced that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum will be held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on May 17-22, 2026, under the theme "Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities." The UN-Habitat's strategic plan seeks to boost access to housing, land, and basic services, such as clean drinking water and sanitation, aligning with the global quest for converting cities into hubs for green innovation, prosperity, and resilience. Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the UN-Habitat, said the plan is rooted in the bold vision of transforming cities through upgrading informal settlements, improving land governance, accelerating climate action, and eradicating poverty. Rossbach stressed that political goodwill, innovative financing, partnerships, and targeted use of technology will be key to hastening the implementation of the strategic plan, ensuring that urbanization is both resilient and sustainable. Alice Wahome, Kenya's cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development, who read Ruto's speech, said the strategy presents a solid blueprint for realizing urban renewal through increased access to decent shelter, safe drinking water, sanitation, and waste management. In addition, the plan will boost post-recovery efforts in cities reeling from conflicts, poverty, inequalities, and fragilities linked to the climate crisis, Wahome said.
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Kenya student on trial for fake caption of Ruto 'funeral'
NAIROBI - A Kenyan university student was in court on Thursday, charged with publishing false information over a fake picture caption pretending that President William Ruto was dead. Kenya has been cracking down on critics of the government since massive protests against tax rises and corruption last June. Security forces are accused by rights groups of killing at least 60 people during the protests and abducting dozens more in the aftermath. David Mokaya, 24, was arrested late last year after posting a picture of a funeral procession on social media with the caption: "President William Ruto's Body leaves Lee Funeral Home". At the latest hearing on Thursday, the case was quickly adjourned to July 31. Mokaya's lawyer said the case was "an attack on freedom of expression". "Our client was taking the right... as a citizen of Kenya to express his political opinions, express political satire... and also criticise the head of state," he told AFP. "Political satire is not a crime," he added. "The case is very flimsy." In December, at least five people went missing for several weeks, with rights groups saying they were targeted by security forces for similar online satire. At least two of them were abducted after sharing AI-generated photos of Ruto in a coffin. Another of the group, cartoonist Gideon Kibet -- also known as Kibet Bull -- had been posting cartoons of the president but after his abduction said he would stop. Rights groups blame a shadowy unit drawn from intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies for the abductions. The government and police have denied responsibility. But Ruto earlier this month appeared to take responsibility, telling a press conference: "All the people who disappeared or who were abducted... have been brought back to their families... and I have given clarity and firm instructions that nothing of that kind of nature will happen again."
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Kenya's parliament speaker, key Polisario ally, meets Algerian envoy in Nairobi
Shortly Kenya expressed support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, the Algerian ambassador to Nairobi, Mahi Boumediene, met with Moses Wetangula, Speaker of the Kenyan National Assembly. «This evening, I held a cordial engagement with H.E. Mahi Boumediene, Ambassador of Algeria to Kenya. We discussed shared bilateral interests and explored ways to strengthen parliamentary diplomacy between our two nations», Wetangula wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Moses Wetangula is widely regarded as a key ally of the Polisario Front. A report published in October 2022 by the South African-based Institute for Security Studies (ISS) revealed that Wetangula, a former foreign minister, had persuaded President William Ruto to retract a tweet posted on September 14, 2022, in which Ruto announced the severing of diplomatic ties with the «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic» (SADR). Wetangula is a prominent figure in Kenya's political landscape. He is the leader of FORD Kenya, a party within the Kenya Kwanza coalition that supported Ruto's successful presidential bid in August 2022. A few weeks after the meeting on January 26, 2023, in Dakar between Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and President Ruto, Wetangula traveled to Algeria, where he met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and reaffirmed his support for the Polisario. Wetangula publicly reiterated this stance following the signing of the «Tangier Appeal» in November 2023—an initiative by several African political figures calling for the expulsion of the «SADR» from the African Union—during a meeting with the Polisario representative in Nairobi. «I assured him of the importance of keeping the Sahrawi Republic on the AU agenda» and its «membership in the African Union», he emphasized.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kenyan president apologises to Tanzania over deportation row
Kenya's President William Ruto has publicly apologised to Tanzania following days of tension between the neighbouring countries. Some Kenyans on social media have been targeting Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the recent detention and deportation of prominent East African activists. Angry Tanzanian MPs on Monday accused Kenyans of cyberbullying and disrespecting Tanzanian sovereignty and "meddling in domestic affairs". Speaking at a national prayer breakfast on Wednesday, Ruto appeared to extend an olive branch to Tanzania. "To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us," he said. "If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise," the president added. Ugandan activist alleges she was raped while in Tanzanian detention Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger 'They aimed to kill' - BBC identifies security forces who shot Kenya anti-tax protesters Ruto also apologised to young Kenyans, popularly known as Gen-Zs, who have been critical of his administration since the deadly anti-tax protesters last June. The president made the remarks in response to a call by visiting American preacher Rickey Allen Bolden, who urged leaders to pursue reconciliation. The diplomatic row was triggered by the deportation of activists who had travelled to Tanzania to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Among them were Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda. The two said they were held incommunicado for several days and tortured, before they were left at the border by Tanzanian security forces, sparking widespread condemnation across the region and from international rights groups. Tanzania is yet to comment on the torture claims but President Samia had earlier warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos". Both Kenya and Ugandan had formally protested against the detention of the activists, accusing the Tanzanian authorities of denying consular access despite repeated requests. The alleged mistreatment of the activists triggered an online war, with social media users from Kenya and Tanzania clashing over the claims. In a heated debate on Monday, Tanzanian parliamentarians expressed outrage over the young Kenyans trolling President Samia. The MPs said Samia had every right to defend Tanzania's national interests. The legislators' comments angered some Kenyans who hit back by sharing lawmakers' contacts and flooding their phones with messages to express their disapproval. Tanzania's Iringa Town MP Jesca Msambatavangu said that most of the messages came via WhatsApp, forcing her to temporarily switch off her phone. Msambatavangu, however, welcomed the engagement, encouraging Kenyans on social media to "counter ideas with ideas". She asked young Kenyans to create a WhatsApp group for further engagement and promised to engage them in a live session on Saturday. "Kenyans are our neighbours, our brothers, and we cannot ignore each other," she added. El Chapo & Deputy Jesus - why Kenya's president has so many nicknames Could this be the end of the road for Tanzania's great survivor, Tundu Lissu? How Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churches X restricted in Tanzania after police targeted by hackers Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Kenyan president apologies to Tanzania over deportation row
Kenya's President William Ruto has publicly apologised to Tanzania following days of tension between the neighbouring countries. Some Kenyans on social media have been targeting Tanzania's President Samia Suluhu Hassan following the recent detention and deportation of prominent East African activists. Angry Tanzanian MPs on Monday accused Kenyans of cyberbullying and disrespecting Tanzanian sovereignty and "meddling in domestic affairs". Speaking at a national prayer breakfast on Wednesday, Ruto appeared to extend an olive branch to Tanzania. "To our neighbours from Tanzania, if we have wronged you in any way, forgive us," he said. "If there is anything that Kenyans have done that is not right, we want to apologise," the president added. Ugandan activist alleges she was raped while in Tanzanian detention Why Samia's hesitant reforms are fuelling Tanzanian political anger Ruto also apologised to young Kenyans, popularly known as Gen-Zs, who have been critical of his administration since the deadly anti-tax protesters last June. The president made the remarks in response to a call by visiting American preacher Rickey Allen Bolden, who urged leaders to pursue reconciliation. The diplomatic row was triggered by the deportation of activists who had travelled to Tanzania to attend the trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Among them were Kenyan Boniface Mwangi and Agather Atuhaire from Uganda. The two said they were held incommunicado for several days and tortured, before they were left at the border by Tanzanian security forces, sparking widespread condemnation across the region and from international rights groups. Tanzania is yet to comment on the torture claims but President Samia had earlier warned that she would not allow activists from neighbouring countries to "meddle" in her country's affairs and cause "chaos". Both Kenya and Ugandan had formally protested against the detention of the activists, accusing the Tanzanian authorities of denying consular access despite repeated requests. The alleged mistreatment of the activists triggered an online war, with social media users from Kenya and Tanzania clashing over the claims. In a heated debate on Monday, Tanzanian parliamentarians expressed outrage over the young Kenyans trolling President Samia. The MPs said Samia had every right to defend Tanzania's national interests. The legislators' comments angered some Kenyans who hit back by sharing lawmakers' contacts and flooding their phones with messages to express their disapproval. Tanzania's Iringa Town MP Jesca Msambatavangu said that most of the messages came via WhatsApp, forcing her to temporarily switch off her phone. Msambatavangu, however, welcomed the engagement, encouraging Kenyans on social media to "counter ideas with ideas". She asked young Kenyans to create a WhatsApp group for further engagement and promised to engage them in a live session on Saturday. "Kenyans are our neighbours, our brothers, and we cannot ignore each other," she added. El Chapo & Deputy Jesus - why Kenya's president has so many nicknames Could this be the end of the road for Tanzania's great survivor, Tundu Lissu? How Kenya's evangelical president has fallen out with churches X restricted in Tanzania after police targeted by hackers Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
