AU should expel military dictatorships until civilian rule is restored
A general view of a plenary session at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on November 17, 2018.
State response • Can the government make a habit of responding to serious claims made by politicians, organisations or individuals about its operations or any other issues? asks Francis Njuguna. “I believe the government has a right of response and that’s why it has a spokesperson. It doesn’t augur well for some of the claims reported by the media to go unanswered.” His contact is [email protected].
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Hoodwinking • The government’s decision to increase the Hustler Fund’s limit threefold and the repayment period from 14 to 30 days sounds good, but Joseph Kinyanjui is quite sceptical about it. “There has been concern about high default rate and lack of funds. Could this be a deliberate attempt to win back the people who have lost trust in the national leadership?” His contact is [email protected].
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Bribery • There are some mean traffic police at Rongai in Kajiado County, who extort bribes for non-existent offences, says Charles Jowi. “My driver was harassed for three hours. The charge? Not having a fire extinguisher and they demanded a Sh3,000 bribe. We refused to pay but they also declined to take him to court. Is there such a requirement for private cars?” His contact is [email protected].
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No dictators • The African Union plays a key role in helping member states to solve crises and protect national sovereignty, says Alnashir D. Walji. “This is crucial in countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso and Somalia. The AU should expel military dictatorships until civilian rule is restored. Political and socioeconomic woes should be fixed. Unity is strength.” His contact is [email protected].
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Gratitude • As the year draws to a close, Carey Yiembe is pleased to compliment Watchie for a job well-done. Says he: “Though no award came your way during the Jamhuri Day celebrations, we, the citizens, know that you have done well. I wish you and all the contributors a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We’ll definitely need you again in 2025. Ahsante sana!” His contact is [email protected].
Have a watchful day, won’t you!
