Kenya court delivers first murder conviction for 2008 post-election violence

A 24 year-old man named Kipkemboi Ruto has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder of his neighbor during raids in the 2007-08 post election violence. The family of the deceased reportedly feels justice has been served. This is notable as the first conviction and sentence for the violence, and comes from Kenya’s justice system.

Ruto has no relation to former minister William Ruto, who was indicted by the International Criminal Court for a broader role in the violence along with three other Kenyan politicians.

Mugabe signature label clothes launched | News24

A twist on traditional campaign prints of the leader’s face, targeted at a wealthier consumer:

the 88-year-old president’s signature is splayed in silver studs across caps, t-shirts coffee mugs and berets. Some items show his birth year, 1924, in Roman numerals.

From Justin Matenda, a director of Yedu Nesu, the new clothing label with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s signature:

“I am proud to be associated with our president, with his ideologies and they make me who I am right now…

This is not political, it is very much apolitical. This is just a fashion label, just like any other label you might think of.

“I rank it above all the labels one might think of, the Luis Vuittons, the Guccis and the Giorgio Armanis.”

…it is no longer a question of whether there will be a crisis tomorrow, when official results are supposed to be announced; the question is how bad it will be…Kinshasa is simmering with rumours and anger, while police and presidential guards have been deployed in force throughout town. If Kabila is announced the winner, there will be urban unrest. If Tshisekedi perseveres, army officers in various parts of the country have threatened violence.


The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered from violence for the past 15 years, often due to unaccountable leadership…Looking the other way as polls are rigged will hardly make the country more stable….We are entering a critical period in Congolese history. Foreign countries, which provide over $3bn in aid a year to Congo, have a heavy responsibility to allow the Congolese decide their own fate. They should not shirk it.

Jason Stearns, whose book on the Congo’s war, “Dancing in the Glory of Monsters” came out this year. He has incredible interviews from generals to bystanders that show many sides of a conflict that has had so much overlap between victims and perpetrators.

The verdict of Congo’s voters must not be sacrificed for ‘stability’ | Jason Stearns | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

Source: Guardian

Congo Votes. Some calls for annulment, reports of ballot shortages, observers say early to annul.

Opposition candidates have called for annulment; but Carter Center and other observers say still early to say. The most prominent opposition candidate, Etienne Tshisekedi, a long-time opposition leader, claims he is confident and  not seeking annulment.

Some other links:

Appeal for calm on third day of Congo voting - FT.com

Congo opposition candidates call for vote annulment; officials extend poll into 3rd day