The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has declared William Samoei Ruto the newly elected president of Kenya after winning the country’s tightly contested election.

In the declaration made by IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati at the Bomas of Kenya, Former Deputy President William Ruto who garnered 7,176,141 votes which translates to 50.49% of the total votes cast led a tight presidential race against his arch-rival Raila Odinga who garnered 6,942,930 votes which translates to 48.85%.

The other contestants; George Wajackoyah, the leader of the Roots Party got 61,969 votes (0.44%) and David Mwaure Waihiga, leader of the Agano Party got 31,987 votes which translates to 0.23% of the total votes cast.

Reports indicate that of the 22.12 million registered voters, 65% which translates to 13 million Kenyans who turned up at the 46,229 polling stations to cast their votes.

The winning candidate must get 50% of votes plus one.

55 year old Ruto becomes Kenya’s fifth President since independence, winning the seat on his first attempt.

Ruto served as deputy president for 10 years before he fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Odinga to succeed him.

During his acceptance speech on Monday, Ruto said: “It was God that brought us here…I will run a transparent, open, democratic government and I will work with the opposition to the extent that they provide oversight over my administration. I will make sure that the sacrifices made by many Kenyans is not in vain; we will not let them down. I am confident that this country will come together and we can move forward as one democratic nation.”

William Ruto who heads the Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) Alliance served as a lawmaker and minister for agriculture before becoming deputy president while Odinga who is a former cabinet minister and prime minister was running for president under the Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) Alliance.

He comes under the impression that he will provide solutions to Kenya’s pressing economic problems, including growing debt, high food and fuel prices, and mass youth unemployment among others.

Following the historically disputed 2007 elections that were characterized by a bloody post-poll violence, which left at least 1,200 people dead and over 600,000 displaced, East Africa’s most economically advanced country and its neighbours have been awash with anxiety since Tuesday’s vote whereby some businesses closed as crowds gathered around TV sets displaying events at the tallying centre which began to verify presidential results from 291 constituencies on Thursday 11 August.

Odinga’s loss means he has lost against four of Kenya’s five presidents. In 1997 he lost to Arap Moi, in 2007 he lost to Mwai Kibaki, in 2013 and 2017 he lost to Uhuru Kenyatta, now he has lost to Ruto, who was his running mate in 2007.

Raila has always insisted that if he loses the election, he will accept the results.

According to international observers, this year’s General Election in Kenya, has been largely peaceful and “above average”, with however the lowest voter turn up in 15 years.

Residents of Ankole region have been urged to stop the act of marrying under age children.

Rt. Maj.  Jessica Alupo, the vice president of Uganda made the remarks while speaking at fundraising for a computer lab and other classroom blocks for Rweicumu primary school in Masheruka town council, Sheema district where about UGX 92.8 million was collected and construction is set to start immediately.

The call follows a video that went viral on social media in which a 40-year-old woman and five men who connived to kidnap a 14-year-old student for a forced marriage in Kyotera District.

According to Police in Kyotera district, the victim (names withheld) is a Senior One at Kabaale -Ssanje Secondary School in Kyotera District.

Police also revealed that an aunt to the student was allegedly promised UGX 250, 000 to kidnap and take the girl to a rented room at Kamuganja Village, Kakuuto Sub-County, where a 55-year-old man was waiting to take the girl as his wife.

Speaking to our reporter, Hon. Naome Kibaaju, the woman member of parliament of Sheema County North together with Hon. Rosemary Nyakikongoro who re-echoed what the vice president said, emphasized that they are ready to arrest and charge whoever gets involved in such acts of early marriages.

“A Ugandan girl child is a golden treasure and therefore needs to be handled with care,” said Hon Naome Kibaaju. 

According to the UNICEF Global database 2020, and the Uganda Demographic Health survey 2016, Uganda has the 16^th highest prevalence of child marriage in the world, with an estimated 4 million child brides.

The statistics also indicate that 34%of women are married before the age of 18 and 7.3% before the age of 15.

Alain Sibenaler, the Uganda country representative United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) noted that child marriage which is rooted in social and gender inequalities violates the basic rights of girls and women.

Sibenaler added that the current evidence shows that 25% of the 1.2 million pregnancies recorded in Uganda annually are from teenage mothers, with more than 300,000 pregnancies ending in unsafe abortions.

According to UNFPA, child marriage prevalence is highest in Northern (59%), followed by Western (58%), Eastern (52%), East Central (52%), West Nile (50%), Central 2 (46%), Central 1 (41%), Southwest (37%), and Kampala (21%).

Residents of Kyeitembe have expressed concern over Kyeitembe Technical Institute that has died a natural death.

The residents say that the institute which was started in 2009 has failed to attract learners and people resorted to stealing iron sheets, windows and doors among others from the institute structures.

Elidard Bwarare, a resident of kyeitembe who doubles as one of the founder says under the leadership of then Minister of Education and Sports, Hon. Amanya Mushenga, they established over 4 technical institutes in Igara in line with the government plan of establishing a technical institute per Sub-county.

Bwarare added that the 4 technical institutes were established and  handed over  to the leadership of sub-counties, however, only 3 of them in Bumbaire, Nyibingo and kyeizooba sub-counties are now fully functional and the one  that was handed over to the municipality was abandoned.

Laurance Baryaruha, another founder and resident of Nyabicerere attributed the challenge to lack of responsible leaders and involving politics into the development of this institute. 

Steven Karuti, the LC III Chairman central division Bushenyi Ishaka municipality said that the technical institute lacked ownership noting that although the church donated to them land, it refused to give out the land tittle for the land to the then town council.

Police in Ibanda sdistrict have arrested a 26 year old man on accusations of rape.

The suspect identified as Kenneth Asaba, 26, reportedly attacked 84 year old Genencio Kobutengye, a resident of Katengure cell, Mabona Parish in Ibanda south, raped and robbed her on Tuesday night.

Kobutengye, narrated to our reporter that on Tuesday last week, Asaba hid under her bed until midnight when no one would save the situation as he forced Kobutengye into sexual intercourse.

She added that Asaba took advantage of her old age as a weakness to lure her into sexual-intercourse.

Kobutengye also revealed that after forcing her into intercourse, Asaba also
asked for money which he went to pick from the kitchen which prompted her to make an alarm to seek help from the neighborhood.

Brian Atuhaire, the grandson to the victim told our reporter that the
rapist used the chance when he had gone away for a one day internship study.

Alex Gumoshabe, the area LC I chairperson confirmed the rape incident adding that the suspect was arrested and detained at Mabona Police station from where he was transferred to Ibanda Central Police Station for prosecution.

Gumoshabe also told our reporter that Asaba was previously released from prison on charges of theft and he has a track record of crime in his village.

Noeline Naluyange, the OC Mabona police station said that the suspect is under custody as investigations into the matter continue.

Police in Kwania District have arrested three people in connection with the murder of a man identified as Moses Ekwang, 28, who was fatally assaulted on Sunday as he sought to recover UGX 3, 000.

It is said that the deceased, a resident of Amia Village, Aboko Parish, Aduku Sub-county in Kwania District, had escorted a friend on mission to recover UGX 3, 000 loaned to an elderly woman in the neighbourhood.

The two were however not given the money, which prompted them to forcefully take about 5kgs of maize grains leading to a confrontation. An eyewitness revealed that when the woman’s son identified as Tonny Ekut who was grazing saw them struggling for the maize, he rushed over and hit the deceased on the head with a stick.

Alfred Onac, the Amia Village LC1 Chairperson said he heard an alarm and he rushed to that home.

“I found people who were very angry and wanted to kill these three people who are now in police custody,” said Onac.

The main suspect and his parents were arrested on Sunday after an angry mob threatened to lynch them.

Patrick Jimmy, the North Kyoga region police spokesperson, confirmed the incident noting that the team in Kwania is yet to avail him with full details of what transpired.

The suspects are currently detained at Kwania Central Police Station as investigations into the matter continue.

Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital has launched the construction site where a new oxygen plant will be housed.

The construction project is financed by the Ministry of Health in conjunction with global health collaborative and will cost over UGX 800million.

Francis Ojom, the Mbarara referral hospital senior administrator said the new Oxygen plant will enable the hospital to have enough oxygen.

Currently, the two oxygen plants at the hospital have the capacity to produce over 21,000 litres of oxygen per hour but the new plant will be producing 28.3 m3 (cubic centimeters) higher than two plants already in place.

Halson Kagure, the Mbarara Referral Hospital Public Relations Officer says that at the peak of Covid-19 pandemic the hospital would get oxygen cylinders from private services providers yet Mbarara Referral Hospital has been supplying other hospitals in the region.

Kagure revealed that once this new plant is completed, the facility will be equipped with huge stocks of oxygen that is still needed most in treatment of infectious diseases.

Anton Muganzi, the coordinator clinical activities between Mbarara Referral Hospital and Global Health collaborative applauded the ministry of Health and Global Health Collaborative for rooting for good health services at the facility.