Kahawatungu

Tag: Paul Kagame

  • Paul Kagame’s Family Property In US Worth Millions Revealed

    Paul Kagame’s Family Property In US Worth Millions Revealed

    Ivan Kagame, Paul Kagame’s son. [IMAGE/ COURTESY]
    It has become a norm for African leaders to hide their countries’ wealth in offshore accounts, but this time it goes to an extend of buying property and investing in foreign countries.

    This is meant to hide stolen wealth. Just in case things fall apart and they are no longer in power, they run away to where their wealth is.

    The case is not different in Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame who has his wealth hidden in US in property bought in his children’s names.

    According to a website that reveals people’s wealth in US, the Truth People Search, Kagame’s son, Ivan, is already living a big life in US courtesy of public money from Rwanda.

    Ivan Kagame (27) owns a Ksh200 million house in Beverly Hills, Carlifonia.

    The website reveals that Ivan lives in Scarsdale, New York.

    DRC sources indicate that Ivan lacks credible track record in business or academic acumen, hence it is surprising for him to be eating life with a big spoon at the age of 27.

    His father, Paul Kagame, is estimated to earn USD85,000 (Ksh8.5 million) per year.

    Read: Kagame Releases Jailed Opposition Leader and Musician After Campaign by Kenyan Bloggers

    Eugène-Richard Gasana, a former Rwandan diplomat and Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations in New York City, is listed as a possible associate of Ivan Kagame.

    Little is known about Gasana, a part from being a diplomat and serving as a President of the United Nations Security Council in April 2013 and July 2014.

    It is reported that President Kagame owns four Range Rovers worth Ksh50 million each, a Ksh6.5 billion Gulfstream private jet and large tracts of prime land in Congo, among other wealth stolen from public coffers that is not known to the media.

    Kagame has served the country since 1994, and was elected to serve another seven-year term in 2017.

    Kagame has been termed as a dictator who does not condone freedom of expression from the opposition.

    Those who speak against his government risk going to jail.

    An example is Ms Victoire Ingabire, leader of the unregistered FDU-Inkingiwas, who was jailed in 2010 to serve a 15 year jail sentence but was released after serving 8 years.

    The opposition leader was charged with forming armed groups, undermining the government and trying to minimize the 1994 genocide by fundraising for FDLR, a terror group linked to the genocide against the Tutsi.

    Still behind bars is one of Kagame’s fiercest critics, Diane Rwigara who opposed him during the 2017 vote.

    Ms Rwigara, a women’s rights activist and businesswoman was arrested and accused of fraud and incitement, claims she continues to deny.

    Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com Also WhatsApp 0708677607 with your news tips

  • Diane Rwigara and Her Mother Released On Bail After Sustained Campaigns by Bloggers

    Diane Rwigara and Her Mother Released On Bail After Sustained Campaigns by Bloggers

    DIANE RWIGARA
    DIANE RWIGARA WITH HER MOTHER ADELINE RWIGARA IN COURT. | COURTESY

    A former Rwandan presidential hopeful and women’s rights activist Diane Rwigara has been released on bail by a High Court.

    Judge Claire Bukuba ordered that the two be freed immediately but should not leave the Capital Kigali without the prosecutor’s authorization.

    The 37 year old accountant was arrested on September 24, 2017 after she was accused of  incitement and fraud. Being one of Kagame’s fiercest critics, she was the only female bold enough to challenge his bid.

    Rwigara launched her election bid three months ahead of the August 2017 vote but was disqualified on claims that she doctored the number of signatures needed to qualify and had submitted the names of dead people, allegations she denied.

    Earlier on in the day, she alongside her Mother Adeline Rwigara were released on bail following an intense campaign by bloggers.

    Read: President Uhuru Kenyatta Signs Finance Bill 2018 Into Law

    https://twitter.com/rutembesatweets/status/1048147170942234624

    On September 15, Kagame once again pardoned opposition leader Victoire Ingabire and singer Kizito Mihigo.

    Ms Ingabire, leader of the unregistered FDU-Inkingiwas jailed in 2010 was serving a 15 year jail sentence but was released after serving 8 years. Mihigo was serving a 10 year jail sentence in 2015.

    Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com

  • Kagame Releases Jailed Opposition Leader and Musician After Campaign by Kenyan Bloggers

    Kagame Releases Jailed Opposition Leader and Musician After Campaign by Kenyan Bloggers

    KAGAME
    VICTOIRE INGABIRE

    The Rwandan Government has pardoned jailed opposition leader Victoire Ingabire and singer Kizito Mihigo following relentless campaigns by Kenyan bloggers.

    The campaigns led by bloggers Abraham Mutai and Robert Alai bore fruits as the two walked free on Saturday.

    Ms Ingabire, leader of the unregistered FDU-Inkingiwas jailed in 2010 was serving a 15 year jail sentence but was released after serving 8 years. Mihigo was serving a 10 year jail sentence in 2015.

    According to the Justice Minister Johnston Businge, President Kagame only decided to pardon the two alongside some other 2,000 inmates, after Ms Ingabire asked for mercy twice already.

    “Among (those released) are Mr Kizito Mihigo and Ms Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, the remainder of whose sentences were commuted by Presidential prerogative following their most recent applications for clemency in June this year,” a statement by the Ministry of Justice reads in part.

    KAGAME
    KIZITO MIHIGO

    But Kahawa Tungu understands that the head of state did not willingly let the two go.

    The opposition leader was charged with forming armed groups, undermining the government and trying to minimize the 1994 genocide by fundraising for FDLR, a terror group linked to the genocide against the Tutsi.

    Mihigo on his part pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to kill President Paul Kagame among other government officials.

    Still behind bars is one of Kagame’s fiercest critics, Diane Rwigara who opposed him during the 2017 vote.

    Ms Rwigara, a women’s rights activist and businesswoman was arrested and accused of fraud and incitement, claims she continues to deny.

    It was after she launched the People Salvation Movement (Itabaza), an activist group to “encourage Rwandans to hold their government accountable” that she was apprehended.

    While Kagame is lauded for the economic turn around, he is also responsible for a rather mute press restricted from articulating critical views of the government which are meant to advance the country’s social, legal, economic and political life.

    Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com

  • Museveni, Kagame and Kiir In The Country For Regional Talks With Kenyatta

    Museveni, Kagame and Kiir In The Country For Regional Talks With Kenyatta

    From Left: Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda). Image: Courtesy

    President Uhuru Kenyatta is today set to host Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Rwandan Counterpart Paul Kagame and a Special Envoy of President Salva Kiir of South Sudan for the 14th Summit of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects in Nairobi.

    The project is a multilateral development initiative established in 2013 to speed up development in the region (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan), particularly the improvement of infrastructure to ease the movement of people, goods and services in the region.

    “During the Nairobi meeting, the leaders are expected to review progress made in the implementation of resolutions reached at during the last Summit that was held in Kampala, Uganda in 2016,” State House Spokesman Manoah Esipisu said in a statement to newsrooms.

    A commercial contract for the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba sections and a modern port at Kisumu has already been signed with the China Communication Construction Company (CCCC).

    On its part, Uganda signed a commercial contract with China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC) in March 2015 and recently completed the project appraisal exercise which was held parallel to the ongoing negotiations of financing which are expected to be finalized by September this year.

    In Rwanda, preliminary engineering design of the new SGR line from Kampala to Kigali was completed in January 2018 while in South Sudan, preparation for a bankable feasibility study for the Nimule-Juba SGR line is on-going and is expected to be complete by December this year. Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) Contract for the line has been signed and the process for obtaining a commercial loan from China EXIM Bank is in its early stages.

    Apart from the SGR, the Heads of State and the Special Envoy will be briefed on the progress being made in ICT and will be keen on the status of the One Network Area (ONA) for voice which is fully operational in all the partner states, while ONA for data is operational in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

    Read: CS Kiunjuri Blames Treasury For The Contraband Sugar

     Also expected to feature in the deliberations will be the progress of the oil refinery. Uganda signed a Project Framework Agreement (PFA) in April 2018 with the Albertine Graben Refinery Consortium to design, develop, finance and operate a refinery in Hoima. It is expected that a final investment decision (FID) will be made by May 2019. The Land for the refinery has already been acquired. Kenya has been requested to indicate the entity that will hold its 2.5 percent shareholding in the refinery.

    The Heads of State and the Special Envoy will be briefed on the progress being made in ICT and will be keen on the status of the One Network Area (ONA) for voice which is fully operational in all the partner states, while ONA for data is operational in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.

    “The leaders will also review progress made in immigration, tourism, trade, labour and services; single customs territory; mutual defense cooperation; mutual peace and security cooperation; and airspace management,” the statement said.

    Do you have a story you want told? Do you know of a sensitive story you would like us to get our hands on? Email your news TIPS to Editor@kahawatungu.com

  • Rwanda President Takes Critics Head-on on Twitter

    Rwanda President Takes Critics Head-on on Twitter

    You remember the strong argument the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, had with a Dutch Human Rights activist, P. Kuiper, on Twitter in April? The argument was long and refreshing in that it gave you a different side of Paul Kagame. He would rather face his critics with facts and figures and wont “ignore” the small critics as other leaders would rather have it.

    Kuiper asked President Kagame about Victoire ingabire who is the Chairperson of United Democratic Front (UDF) and is in Prison on various counts of treason related charges.

    The Tweets;

    The conversation went on and  on until P.Kuiper was convinced that the “laws of Rwanda” had to be followed and the President was not going to let it go easily.

    But Ian Birrell, a former deputy editor of The Independent, took it upon himself to call President Kagame “despotic” and “deluded”.

    Then the Minister For Foreign Affairs , Louise Mushikiwabo, joined to back up her boss;
    @ianbirrell wld u care 2 know what 11.000.000 Rwandans think of Paul Kagame b4 u spread ur formed opinion?
    And it went on and on. But President Kagame might be doing well engaging critics on Twitter on the other hand he might be playing into the hands of opportunists. Ian Birell has launched Africa Express, he might have been looking for some marketing with such controversy. Major European media outlets picked on the story including the Independent, NRC, Channel 4, and you can find the whole conversation here.
    There are rules to engaging opponents on social media and we should share them with President Kagame. Someone these people on Facebook and Twitter are not worth engaging. There is something wrong with the perception of International journalists, media and activists.

  • Kenyan Blogger Invites President Kagame to an event through Twitter and he came

    A Kenyan blogger who is currently working in Rwanda had a rare opportunity to tweet the President of Rwanda and actually end up to meet him. Savvy Kenya is just your ordinary blogging girl. She is working with Art of Conservation in Musanze Town. The oganisation has been rehabilitating Ibirunga Tennis Court for the community kids.

    The President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, who happens to be on Twitter, was scheduled to pass by later on the 4th day of March 2011. Savvy Kenya thought of inviting the President to stop and wave to the kids and pick a T-Shirt if he happens to pass by. She sent this tweet;

    And within 30 minutes, according to the blogger, President Kagame did tweet back and confirm that he would be passing by. Check the tweet;

    Later in the evening the blogger tells of the call from police commisioner, the arrival of the elite Presidential guards and military people, the cordoning of the entire neighbourhood, the unwanted intervention by the rain and eventually the meeting with the President of Rwanda.

    This is one great move by the President and will sure win him much support among the techno savvy youth.

    Read More