Tuesday 30 April 2013

Nigeria's Boko Haram 'got $3m ransom' to free French hostages



 Islamist militant group Boko Haram was paid more than $3m (£2m) before releasing a French family of seven, a Nigerian government report says.
The confidential report seen by international  press however does not say who paid the money.
Both France and Cameroon deny paying a ransom while Nigeria has not commented on the issue.
The French family, including four children, were captured in Cameroon in February and freed last week and handed over to Cameroon authorities.
 The French family, who live in Yaounde, where Tanguy Moulin-Fournier worked for the French gas group Suez, had been returning from a holiday in the Waza National Park in northern Cameroon when they were kidnapped by gunmen on motorbikes on 19 February.
Mr Moulin-Fournier, his wife Albane and four children, aged between five and 12, had been joined on their holiday by his brother Cyril.
In a YouTube video released about a week after their capture, the militants demanded the release of prisoners in Cameroon and Nigeria.
One of them also criticised French President Francois Hollande for sending troops to fight Islamist militants in northern Mali in January.
The French-led operation in Mali has ousted the Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda's North African branch, from cities and towns in the vast desert region they had captured a year ago in the wake of a coup.
Boko Haram, which began its insurgency following a deadly crackdown on its members in 2009, had previously said it was not involved in hostage taking.
It has usually followed a Nigerian agenda, and says it wants to establish an Islamic state.
During its insurgency at least 2,000 people have been killed in northern and parts of central Nigeria.

Who Killed Mutula Kilonzo

 

 
The late Mutula Kilonzo feeds his lions on fresh meat from his herd of livestock. His workers found him dead after they broke into the house when they discovered he was not waking-up from sleep.  PHOTOS | Stephen Mudiari
The late Mutula Kilonzo feeds his lions on fresh meat from his herd of livestock. His workers found him dead after they broke into the house when they discovered he was not waking-up from sleep. 


Mutula Kilonzo, Makueni senator is dead. He is reported to have slept and failed to wake up at his firm bordering Maanzoni lodge on Mombasa road, a team of policemen and pathologists are now at the scene.

The cause of his death is not known. Initial report suggest that Mr kilonzo went to sleep and had not woken by 10 a.m. The first people to rush to his home was Mr Chris Musau the chairman of Manzoni Lodge who is also a brother in law of the former minister.
Mr Musau tried to wake Mr Kilonzo up but he did not respond. Sensing danger Mr Musau rushed  to his Maanzoni hotel and went straight  to a room where the Kenya Medical association were holding a weeklong conference and sought the help of the medics.
A doctor attending the conference told the Sunday Nation at Maanzoni Lodge that one of their colleagues attending the conference was dispatched to the senator’s ranch.
Former president Mwai Kibaki sent a message of condolence to the family and relatives of the late Makueni County senator Mutula Kilonzo.
The former president said that with the death of Senator Mutula Kilonzo, the country has lost an outstanding leader and resilient politician.
Kibaki pointed out that as a testimony of his commitment to the national good, the late Kilonzo, as the minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, played a pivotal role in the realization of the new constitution.
“Indeed I will forever cherish the time we worked together with Mutula when he was Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs in the realization of the new constitution” Kibaki said.
Consoling the bereaved family, the former President prayed to God to give them courage to bear the loss.
Former deputy prime minister Musalia Mudavadi sent his condolences to the family saying senator Mutula was a consummate lawyer who was revered at the bar for his forceful legal arguments and mentoring of young legal minds.
"In the Senate, Kilonzo would have been at hand to breath fresh air on the country’s commitment in implementing devolution," said Mudavadi.
This comes as a shock to many Kenyans just a few weeks ago when he prominently featured in Cord's election petition at the Supreme Court. Previously, Kilonzo had served in former president Mwai Kibaki's cabinet as the minister for justice and constitutional affairs, and then minister for education. Mutula had served Kenya in various other capacities since he joined politics.
Educated at Mbooni Primary School and Machakos High School before joining University of Dar es Salaam in 1969 graduating with a First Class Honors’ Degree in Law.
He had also served as a minister for Nairobi Metropolitan Development until being appointed in the docket of Justice and Constitutional affairs on May 4, 2009 and later on minister for Education.
He previously served as private attorney to now retired President Moi. Mutula Kilonzo made his debut in parliament as a nominated M.P for K.A.N.U in January, 2003.

daily nation

Thursday 4 April 2013

UHURU, I WILL SUPPORT ODINGA



UHURU, I WILL SUPPORT ODINGA
In the political arena, it has emerged that no permanent enmity is within politicians. When Raila Odinga filed the petition to avoid bloodshed and hence pursue justice in the right corridors, Kenyans took the war to social media.
The war has generated into deep hate speech. Yes, the law authorities are working tactics of ending the social feud.
Before the ruling of the petition, there were rumors that Raila and his political Opponent the president elect were meeting at night, maybe sipping a drink. Raila has called those rumors as rubbish. There are rumors that he will attend the swearing-in ceremony! That leaves a question hanging; why are we fighting? Why are Kenyans divided to REPUBLIC OF NYANZA and CENTRAL REPUBLIC OF KIKUYU as they call it in the social media?
Now there is this game plan of Uhuru to support Raila’s son Fidel Odinga ten years coming according to political analyst  Mutayi Nguyi? Will he make it? Time will tell.