- Consumers under this tariff band will pay 35.3 per cent more than the current Sh20.70 for every unit of power.
- KOT has called on EPRA, to dismiss the proposal as the cost of living is still high, and people are trying to make ends meet.
By India Today Web Desk: A man has been jailed for 10 years for killing his father in a frenzied knife attack in Bromley, south-east London. Sean Maurice, 31, stabbed his father Paul around 30 times on September 14, 2021 before going on the run from police.
When he was captured, Maurice claimed his 52-year-old father had sexually abused him.
The 31-year-old admitted manslaughter but following a trial at the Old Bailey he was acquitted of murder on Wednesday.
READ: Kanpur man kills father by stabbing, injures family who came to rescue
Car salesman Paul told the couple he did not want to die as he collapsed bleeding on their doorstep after the attack. As he was being treated by emergency services, a police officer asked him who was responsible and he replied, "Sean".
Following a brief manhunt, Sean was found a few hours later, running through back gardens nearby. He ended up on the roof of a garden shed, where he was surrounded by police before eventually being detained.
"I've got nothing to lose. You lot are trying to arrest me because I beat up my dad who abused me, he raped me... and you want to arrest me? What kind of f** justice is that?" Sean was quoted by Mirror as saying.
The court heard the victim had been a “dreadful father” and in mitigation, it was said on Maurice’s behalf that he had “borne the brunt” of his father’s mistreatment but still wished he had not killed him.
READ: Man stabs father for constantly pressuring him to find job
"During the trial you spoke of your father's violence and his physical abuse of you. Your sister and brother spoke of similar abuse at his hands and on the evidence I have heard I accept that your experiences were the worst. I also accept that this abuse has caused you lasting damage," The Mirror quoted manslaughter Judge Dennis Watson, KC, as saying.
The judge described how on September 6, Sean had become upset that his father refused to allow him to stay at his house.
On September 14, he then "relapsed again, took some alcohol and crack" before falling out with the family at his temporary home.
Prosecutor Emlyn Jones had told jurors there was no issue that Maurice had killed his father.
The defendant admitted manslaughter, claiming he lost control after a confrontation with his father. Judge Dennis Watson KC sentenced him to 10 years in prison. India Today
Last week, January 16, the world commemorated Martin Luther King Day. The day was gazetted a federal holiday by the American congress in 1983 to pay tribute to Dr King’s memory and legacy as a civil rights activist.
Dr King was one of the foremost leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Fully exploiting his charismatic church ministerial style which he dramatized with poetic oratory talents, he was able to soon arrest national attention and in the process distinguish himself as the most recognizable face of the civil rights movement
The Civil Rights Movement was structured on the paramount mission of achieving racial equality and social justice in the United States of America. The overarching cause of the movement was to create massive public awareness and seek to redress historical wrongs that perpetuated a systematic and institutionalised culture of racial segregation and marginalization against the black American population.
Never in doubt on the core aspirations of the movement, one obstacle still straddled the course to its ultimate dream - the urgent need to galvanize the unity of the American black population; to re awaken the consciousness of a resigned people; to restore a sense of pride and inherent autonomy of the black person in America.
In other words, the black American citizen, un-emancipated from the slavery of his mind, risked becoming the biggest obstacle in the path to his freedom.
In many respects, the foregoing statement is true in the context of our Ugandan society. Emasculated and equivocal in the assertion of his sovereignty and autonomy, the average Ugandan Citizen feels violated, betrayed and defenseless.
In a country where state institutions are complicit in overt transgressions against the citizen, the sense of helplessness by the citizen is palpable. Therefore, Dr. King’s personal experience and protracted campaign for social justice and racial equality carries profound lessons for the Ugandan Citizen if he is to change his fortunes.
Firstly, without a society cultivating a sense of self awareness, it’s futile to appraise itself of its mission and ultimate destiny. As the history of Dr. King and the civil Rights Movement demonstrates, a combination of individual and collective actualisation sits at the core of mass inspired positive action. Consistently applied, this positive action yields change and it is the change that eventually triggers a transformation.
Secondly, in the quest for positive radical societal transformation, there can be no substitute for unity of purpose. A proposed unity impels societal concern and action as people feel genuinely connected by the loose social ties that bind a community. This not only enhances a shared feeling of empathy amongst the community members, it also reinforces the aspect of pro activeness as everyone will feel individually accountable to work for the greater good of society. The resistance of injustice and oppression become second nature to everyone. This way, social activism and advocacy become naturally ingrained in a society’s psyche.
Thirdly, the imperative that is leadership cannot be overstated. Society always desires a leader that epitomizes values like courage, convictions and integrity. Tenacious leadership as exemplified by Dr King always inspires an instant faith and endorsement of the society.
Indeed as Dr King observed, “A true leader is not a searcher of consensus, but a molder of consensus”. Leaders therefore ought to be hinged and secure personalities; they should be predisposed to accept criticism and not guillotine voices of dissent. But above all, leaders ought to emulate Dr King’s leadership trait of humility and selfless service to others.
Lastly, even when Dr. King’s natural life was bereft of any Ugandan association, his legacy is an enduring example to the contemporary Ugandan citizen.
Isaac Kwagala, Civil Rights Lawyer Daily Monitor
The United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 25, announced developments in visa application for Kenyans wishing to travel to the Great Britain.
The United Kingdom explained that the waiting period for visa applicants was reduced from months to three weeks.
"Six months ago, I promised we would get our visa service for Kenyans travelling to the UK back on track.
"I’m pleased we’re now at normal customer service standards - a decision should take just three weeks, with faster priority services available," explained British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott.
On July 2, 2022, Marriott apologised to Kenyans for the UK visa processing delay.
In a video, Marriott explained that there was a backlog of visas since the pandemic time and that the situation contributed to the delays.
However, Kenyans willing to travel to the United Kingdom can now breathe a sigh of relief after Britain made a raft of changes to their Visa application process.
You should get a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre, if you are applying for a visa to travel through the UK on your way to another country.
Ambassador Marriott noted that the process will be faster and more efficient for both student and child visa applicants.
"You may be able to get your visa faster or access other services depending on what country you’re in - check with your visa application centre.
The qualification for a student visa is that one must be 16 years of age or older, and must have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor.
The student visa applicant must have enough money to support themselves and pay for their course - the amount will vary depending on their circumstances.
Additionally, student visa applicants should be able to speak, read, write and understand English.
"It costs £363 (Ksh56,000) to apply for a student visa from outside the UK and £490 (Ksh75,000) to extend or switch to a Student visa from inside the UK," Britain explained.
Nairobi and London enjoy strong bilateral ties since Kenya's independence in 1963.
The UK and Kenya are members of the Commonwealth of Nations and engage with each other regularly on matters of military, economic and cultural importance.
Kenyan visa ranking considerably changed on the global stage, but a number of countries have authorised citizens to enter their countries without the visa requirement.
Currently, Kenyans are allowed to visit South Africa without the visa requirements after Presidents William Ruto and Cyril Ramaphosa struck a deal. By
Rwanda government has confirmed that it shot a warplane belonging to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) for violating its airspace.
On Tuesday, a video circulated of a projectile shooting a Sukhoi-25 fighter plane. Other videos and pictures also circulated of Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC) soldiers putting off the fire using firefighting vehicles at Goma airport.
Later, Rwanda released a brief statement confirming that its soldiers shot at the plane. In a statement, released by the office of the government spokesperson, Rwanda claims that the plane crossed from its airspace of Goma to Rubavu in Rwanda.
Rwanda says that it shot at the plane in form of defensive measures since this was the third time, DRC was committing the same aggression. Rwanda also asked DRC to stop the aggression.
“Today [Tuesday] at 5:03 pm, a Sukhoi-25 from DR Congo violated Rwanda airspace for the third time. Defensive measures were taken. Rwanda asks the DRC to stop this aggression,” reads the statement.
DRC also released a statement condemning Rwanda and denouncing the attack on its fighter plane by the Rwandan army with claims that it was in Congolese airspace. According to the statement, the fighter plane was attacked while it began its landing at Goma international airport. The statement adds that the plane landed without major material damage.
“The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo strongly condemns and denounces the attack on its fighter plane by the Rwandan army in Congolese airspace and does not intend to let it go. This fighter plane was attacked while it began its landing on the runway of the international airport of Goma. The Rwandan fire was directed at a Congolese aircraft flying inside Congolese territory. It did not fly over Rwandan airspace.
The aircraft landed without major material damage. This attack is in addition to the offensive launched this morning by the Rwandan army towards Kitchanga and immediately repelled by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC),” reads part of the statement.
This is not the first time Rwanda accuses DRC of violating its airspace. In December 2022, Rwanda claimed that another fighter jet from DRC had briefly violated its airspace. A Congolese warplane also briefly landed at a Rwandan airport in November 2022 while on an investigation mission near the border, in what Congo argued was by accident.
Tuesday’s incident happened on a day when heavy fighting between FARDC soldiers-militia coalition and the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels resumed in Bishusha, Bwiza, Ngesha and Bishakishaki, Bambo, Kishishe, and Kitchanga localities straddling the territories of Masisi and Rutshuru. Detonations with heavy and light weapons were also heard even in the city of Kitshanga, causing panic among the population according to Tobi Tobolwako Kahangu, a local resident.
According to Kahungu, M23 rebels are targeting to cut off the Kitchanga-Goma road from the locality of Burungu. Last week, a section of civil society activists held a demonstration in Goma demanding FARDC to resume assault against M23 rebels.
The protest was against the deployment of South Sudan soldiers in DRC under the East African Community Regional Force. The protestors also demanded the departure of Kenyan Forces under the East African Community Regional Force failure from Congolese soil arguing that they have failed to confront M23 rebels. By URN, The Observer
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