Category: Uncategorized

I had the opportunity to follow the campaigns of the candidates during the 22-day campaign period gazetted by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), and the rallies were starkly different from my experiences back home in Kenya, the region, and beyond.

Since the campaigns started, I did not see a single billboard or poster painted on walls and buildings in my neighbourhood or the city appealing for votes. But this did not make the campaigns any less colourful, vibrant, or exhilarating.

The candidates and individual parties invested heavily in branding to stand out among the crowded field through merchandise like T-shirts, hoodies, caps, and handheld flyers and portraits.

RPF Inkotanyi presidential candidate Paul Kagame campaigns in Kicukiro District.

Rallies were not theatres for bitter exchanges between rival camps as the politicians campaigned with decorum.

Unlike what we are used to in other countries, where politicians make emotional appeals for votes, campaigns for the RPF Inkotanyi presidential flag bearer Paul Kagame, who is seeking re-election in the July 15 polls, were different.

The colourful rallies were more like celebrations, dominated by songs and dances with the president focusing more on telling the people about the country’s history and how to jealously guard the gains made over the last 30 years, when the country was derailed by the Genocide against the Tutsi.

Kagame’s challengers, Democratic Green Party candidate Frank Habineza and independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, were equally tolerant and focused their campaigns on selling their manifesto to the electorate rather than demonizing their opponents.

Democratic Green Party of Rwanda chairman and presidential candidate, Frank Habineza, arrives at the Kigabiro campaign site in Rwamagana District on July 13, 2024.

Political hostility, characterized by intense antagonism, animosity, or aggression between rival individuals, groups, or parties during campaigns in neighbouring countries and even in the ongoing US election campaigns, has not been experienced in Rwanda.

Candidates had the opportunity to peacefully promote their political ideologies in different parts of the country without being booed or forced to cut short their speeches on what is perceived as strongholds of their political rivals.

PSD Party Secretary General Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze at a past rally. PSD is among eight parties in a coalition with President Paul Kagame’s RPF.

Cases of barbaric acts such as chaos, sponsored or not, which are common elsewhere, were not reported during the campaign period. This deserves applause from all of us who value democracy in the region.

The violence, witnessed during the electioneering period have in the past claimed many lives in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and several other countries in our continent.

Fifty-four people were killed in violent protests in Uganda in November 2020, just two months before the elections. Some of the victims were among a group of protesters condemning the arrest of opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, as he prepared to hold a campaign rally in Luuka, Eastern Uganda. During the confrontation, police opened fire on the protesters, and dozens of other innocent bystanders were killed by stray bullets.

In Kenya, hundreds of deaths have also been reported in past elections, with some linked to violent confrontations between rival camps.

Except for 2002, all general elections in Kenya since the country returned to multi-party politics three decades ago have been marred by violence. At least 1,500 people lost their lives during the 2007-2008 Post-election Violence.

However, the 2022 general election was much more peaceful, except for pockets of violence reported after the announcement of the presidential election results.

In Burundi, widespread violence were also reported ahead of the 2020 general election with the main National Congress for Liberty accusing the government of arbitrary arrests of more than 600 of its members.

While the causes of the violence remain debatable, there is a growing consensus that no one deserves to lose their lives during elections in the continent as human life is sacrosanct.

In Rwanda, the peace and tranquillity experienced during the campaign period are attributed to a unique governance architecture based on the country’s painful history.

This unique context, which takes into consideration the ethnic animosity that led to the killing of more than a million people by the extremist Hutu-led government, has demystified the heated and aggressive campaigns experienced in many other democracies.

Unlike what we are used to in other countries, where politicians make emotional appeals for votes, campaigns for the RPF Inkotanyi presidential flag bearer Paul Kagame, who is seeking re-election in the July 15 polls, were different.

Liberal Party supporters during a rally in Bugesera District. The party is among eight others that have endorsed RPF Inkotanyi flag bearer Paul Kagame for president.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Addressing journalists on Saturday, July 13 2024 after his last campaign rally, the RPF Inkotanyi presidential candidate noted that his administration has efficiently used every penny of the country’s limited resources towards development in all sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture.

'We have made progress because we have concentrated on the real issues that matter to the people—that is, the people themselves. We have concentrated on what matters to them and what improves their lives. We have deployed every penny of our limited resources to just do that, whether it is in the area of education, health, infrastructure, or agriculture. There is self-food sufficiency,' President Kagame stated.

He emphasized that his administration had put in place elaborate mechanisms to prevent the wastage and theft of public funds, unlike many other countries where corruption is rampant.

'In many places, it (money) is stolen from the treasury; by the time it is supposed to be used, maybe half of it is pocketed by some individuals. So it gets lost through various means.

'We make sure we fight corruption alongside everything else we are doing. And we are committed to doing it, and we are not apologetic about ensuring that we hold ourselves accountable. That is important.'

He pledged to continue the RPF administration’s development agenda if re-elected in the Monday polls by prioritising the security and economic stability of the country.

During the last day of the campaign, the RPF flag bearer implored the electorate to strive with a singular mission to continue the country’s development agenda without being distracted by naysayers.

'I encourage and assure you that you shall be what you want to be, not how others want you to be. Ignore their ill-fated words because they don’t kill. Poverty kills, insecurity kills, ignorance kills but words don’t kill,' he said.

'As the government, we have made the right priorities by concentrating on what matters most to the people. Your large numbers here today are testimony to this. I have seen throughout the campaigns that you are a people living for a purpose,' he added.

The Head of State had back in April indicated that Rwanda will be five times better if the current momentum of social and economic development is maintained.

President Kagame said that the country had defied the odds to record tremendous growth over the last 30 years, when the country was derailed by the Genocide against the Tutsi.

'In the next 30 years we will continue making progress and be where others are even though some of them take it for granted. We see developed countries, why can’t Rwanda or Africa develop to that level or even beyond,' Kagame reasoned.

He highlighted that with the right politics in the country and the region, Rwanda will be far much better than its current state.

“The Rwanda of the next 30 years should maybe be three, four, or five times better than what you are seeing now. The next three decades should bring even more development because we are not coming from the grave; this time we are coming from some level of progress,” he added.

RPF Inkotanyi presidential candidate Paul Kagame noted that his administration has efficiently used every penny of the country’s limited resources towards development in all sectors, including education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Astronauts on the International Space Station were forced to take shelter last night after a Russian satellite broke into more than 100 pieces.

The nine astronauts living on the space station were told to shelter in their respective spacecraft, according to NASA, after the debris was spotted.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunni Williams boarded their Starliner spacecraft, the Boeing-built capsule that has been docked since June 6 in its first crewed test mission on the station.

Three of the other US astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut went into SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule that flew them to the station in March.

The sixth US astronaut joined the two remaining cosmonauts in their Russian Soyuz capsule that ferried them there in September last year.

The astronauts emerged from their spacecraft roughly an hour later and resumed their normal work on the station, NASA said.

Russian missile theory

There were no immediate details on what caused the break-up of the Russian Earth observation satellite, which was declared dead in 2022.

Experts thought it was unlikely Russia shot it down with a ground-based anti-satellite missile.

'I find it hard to believe they would use such a big satellite as an ASAT target,' said Harvard astronomer Jonathan McDowell. 'But, with the Russians these days, who knows?'

Russia sparked strong criticism in 2021 when it struck one of its defunct satellites in orbit with a missile launched from its Plesetsk rocket site.

The blast, testing a weapon system ahead of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, created thousands of pieces of orbital debris.

Mr McDowell and other analysts speculated the break-up could have been caused by a problem with the satellite, such as leftover fuel on board causing an explosion.

US Space Command, tracking the debris swarm, said there was no immediate threat to other satellites.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed confirmed Koome’s resignation on Friday, July 12, 2024.

Mohamed said President Ruto had accepted Koome’s decision to step aside and named the Deputy Inspector General of the Kenya Police Service as the Acting IG, pending the appointment of a new police boss.

“HIS EXCELLENCY William Samoei Ruto, Ph.D., CGH, President and Commander in Chief of the Defence Forces, has on this 12th day of July, 2024, accepted the resignation of Eng. Japheth N. Koome, MGH, as the Inspector General of the National Police Service,”
Mohamed announced.

The Kenyan Head of State also effected various changes within the senior police ranks. In the changes, Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service, Noor Gabow, was redeployed the Public Service.

Koome has been under fire over excessive force used by the police during the anti-tax protests that rocked Kenya in recent weeks. At least 39 people were killed and dozens others injured during the protests witnessed in various parts of the country.

He was accused of remaining silent as police used live ammunition on protesters in the capital Nairobi. Police were also linked to abductions of young people believed to be the ringleaders of the 'Gen Z' led protests.

The changes in the police service come a day after President Ruto dismissed his entire Cabinet, sparing only the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi who doubles as Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

The decision was taken 'upon reflection, and a holistic appraisal' of the Cabinet, the Kenyan Head of State said in a televised address.

He pledged to engage in 'extensive consultations' to form a 'broad-based' new government.

Some of the fired Cabinet Secretaries had lost public confidence due to poor performance and wastage of public resources, prompting demands for their removal from office.

Prior to this, Ruto had made several concessions including withdrawing the controversial Finance Bill 2024, which sought to raise $2.7 billion in additional taxes for the government.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed confirmed Japheth Koome’s resignation on Friday, July 12, 2024.

Wycliffe Nyamasege

Kagame narrated that while still living in exile, he regularly visited Rwanda and it was on one such visits that he came face to face with a scary military guard but managed to pull off a narrow escape by pretending to read a book on the street.

'I occasionally visited Rwanda to check on some relatives. I think it was three times; in 1977, 1978 and 1979. My relative Claver Muyango, a former Director General at the Ministry of Health who used to live in Kiyovu hosted me,' he recalled.

One day he went for a walk in the neighborhood and met a soldier who continuously called him out but Kagame pretended to read a book he was holding and ignored the soldier’s signals.

'The more he called me, the more I pretended to concentrate on the book until he started walking towards me. When he got close to me, I was a bit afraid and ran away sneaking through the neighbouring houses until I reached home. I even never told the people at home what had happened,' he said

The Head of State was speaking on his second last day of the presidential campaign in Bumbogo Sector, Gasabo District where he thanked the residents for their hard work and efforts in the collective development of the country.

'I have not come to ask you for votes, I have just come to thank you for your unwavering support and participation in the achievements we have registered so far,' he told the supporters.

He spoke strongly against the discrimination exhibited by previous regimes that condemned its nationals (even those who were in the country) to live as refugees.

Kagame castigated critics who trade the narrative that having peaceful campaigns and elections is an indicator of a lack of democracy.

'In other countries, there is usually chaos and fighting during such times of campaigns. Even in this here people would display hate to the extent of killing each. And that’s what the call democracy?' he wondered.

During the campaign, several people praised RPF for its leading role in ensuring the forward trajectory of the country’s development agenda.

Two of the speakers who shared their thoughts include Dr Yvan Butera and Irere Claudette the State Ministers of Health and Education respectively. They are proud to call themselves the PK generation.

As the campaigns draw closer to the end, the RPF candidate will visit the people of Gahanga in Kicukiro district tomorrow July 13, 2024.

The general elections are slated for Monday, July 15, 2024.

Kagame narrated that while still living in exile, he regularly visited Rwanda and it was on one such visits that he came face to face with a scary military guard but managed to pull off a narrow escape by pretending to read a book on the street.

Sam K Nkurunziza

Kigali moved four slots from ninth in the World’s Best Awards 2024, behind Morocco’s Marrakesh, Cape Town, Jerusalem, and Dubai respectively. The awards are organized by Travel + Leisure, a travel magazine based in New York City.

The annual award program considers traveller experiences to rank the top cities around the globe. The parameters used to rate the cities include sights/landmarks, culture, food, friendliness, shopping, and value.

In the 2024 edition of the awards, voters described Kigali as a beautiful hub, very organized with friendly and helpful residents.

'Amazingly clean and progressive city! I felt safe walking all over,' wrote a voter. 'There is a wide variety of cuisine available and amazing coffee.'

The list was dominated by countries from North Africa, led by Morocco and Egypt. Fez in Morocco took the sixth position, with one respondent said to have described the city as 'a treasure trove of culture and history! A must-see if you are in Morocco.'

The much smaller city of Essaouira still in Morocco was ranked number seven, marking its first reappearance on the list since 2021. Tel Aviv in Israel secured the eighth position, followed by Luxor and Cairo of Egypt.

Kigali first featured on the list in 2021 as Rwanda continued to position itself as a premier destination for tourism and high-profile conferences.

In 2023, when Kigali was ranked ninth, the Tourism sector recorded an impressive growth to record $650 million (RWF 832 billion) in revenues. This represented a 35 percent increase in revenue compared to 2022, according to the Rwanda Development Board.

Rwanda welcomed 25,927 gorilla visitors in 2023, marking a 29.4 percent increase recorded in 2022. This is the highest number of visitors received in the country’s history.

The city has also featured in several other high profile rankings including last year when it was recognized as Africa’s premier smart city. Thirty cities participated in the assessment, according to the 2023 African Smart City Index.

In May, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) revealed that Rwanda was named the second most popular destination for international business conferences in Africa for the year 2023.

ICCA’s 'Country and City Rankings for 2023' placed Rwanda behind South Africa, which hosted 98 international events compared to Kigali’s 32 events.

Kenya came in third with 29 international events, followed by Egypt and Morocco, which hosted 28 and 26 international conferences and meetings, respectively.

ICCA has its headquarters in Amsterdam, Netherlands and is the global community and knowledge hub for international association meetings industry, offering data, education, communication channels, as well as business development and networking opportunities.

Kigali moved four slots from ninth in the World’s Best Awards 2024, behind Morocco’s Marrakesh Cape Town, Jerusalem, and Dubai respectively.

Wycliffe Nyamasege