Omore C. Osendo

Les Aspin Fellow | Foreign Policy | Politics | Governance | Faith | Proud dad | 🦋 Bluesky - @conomore.bsky.social Tweets:Personal 🇰🇪

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

President C. Ramaphosa is the African Union’s Champion for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response. He was the AU Chairperson in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its peak globally and led Africa’s high level response and management. Hence why I think his counterparts could easily mandate him with the champion role. His leadership in mobilizing for resources for the @AfricaCDC by leading from the front with $5m is commendable and expected.

Kenya , on the other hand, is very close to Ituri Province, the epicenter of the current Ebola outbreak. About 700km from Bunia to Busia on the Kenya - Uganda border. Uganda and South Sudan, the other two countries that border the DRC also border Kenya and hence Kenya is pretty much a front line country. Pretoria to Bunia is 6 times the distance of Bunia to Busia.

Kenya is investing in public health surveillance, rapid response and border controls and testing due to its proximity to the three at risk countries. It’s response to the pandemic cannot be compared to South Africa’s. And while I don’t read any opposition or disagreement in President Ramaphosa’s comms towards Kenya’s response, if I was to do so, it would be hard to divorce Kenya’s intended cooperation with the US in hosting an Ebola treatment / containment centre and South Africa’s icy relationship with the US.

I however don’t think President Ramaphosa was throwing cold water on Kenya’s response measures. He cannot do so as his leadership towards the prevention of the pandemic spread is high level political and policy and each country can and will respond in the best way they know how to and with regards to how they are affected.

[Christopher Webb @cwebbonline]

Not gonna lie, this is a badass museum donation.

🇺🇸 Shonda Rhimes donated the Oval Office set from Scandal, the same one fictional President Fitzgerald Grant called home for seven seasons.

Now it’s part of the Obama Presidential Center Museum

[Joyce Nyairo @jnyairo]

When KALRO and KEBS warn us there is aflotoxin-laced cereal in the country, and that it has cancer-causing agents, what do they want us, as consumers, to do?
Do we have the means to trace, mop up—and prosecute those selling— toxic grain?
Why does GoK stop at WARNING the public?😮‍💨

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

There has been a wave of students unrest and the immediate action is the school management asking parents and guardians to pick up their children immediately. All sorts of reasons being given by the students with most strikes being triggered by misunderstandings between students and management over some benefit or some recreation. Wild card reasons I’ve bumped to also include possible management instigated strikes due to lack of capitation or students protesting unwanted advances from fellow students.

Now that the World Cup is approaching and will be played from June 11th to July 19th when the schools will be in session, I think it doesn’t hurt for management to negotiate with students on allowing them to watch select matches that will be aired at a reasonable time of the evening. This is enough to ease the pressure and the school loses nothing.

Out of the 72 group stage matches running from June 11th to June 28th, six (6) games stand out that can let the students watch some of the African teams, their EPL stars and other global football icons. If I was a school principal, I’d plan and let the students watch the following matches that are nicely spread out in those two and a half weeks:

1. Mexico vs South Africa - The opening match on Thursday 11th June at 10pm.
2. ⁠France vs Senegal - Tuesday 16th June at 10pm.
3. ⁠England Vs Croatia - Wednesday 17th June at 11am. (They want to see their premier league stars).
4. ⁠Germany vs Ivory Coast - Saturday 20th June at 11pm.
5. ⁠England vs Ghana - Tuesday 23rd June at 11pm.
6. Norway vs France - Friday 26th June at 10pm (which might find them on half term).

Then as the Round of 32 games emerge, you negotiate again for a few matches between 28th June and 4th July (part of which could be half term). Do that at every stage.

The World Cup final is on Sunday 19th July at 10pm. Semi Finals on Tuesday 14th and Wednesday 15th July at 10pm respectively.

The World Cup is once every 4 years. No harm in having students in boarding schools watch a few matches.

[I. Cox @IanECox]

"Kenya, however, is getting a genuine expert. Nairobi is no diplomatic backwater: it is East Africa’s economic engine, a counter-terrorism partner, a hub for American business and a linchpin in Washington’s efforts to counter Chinese and Russian influence on the continent. By choosing a career Foreign Service officer rather than a fundraiser or Fox News commentator, Mr Trump is signalling that he takes the place seriously."

[GOR MAHIA FC @OfficialGMFC]

🟢 | CELEBRATION

🏆 The streets of Nairobi turned into a sea of green and white as thousands of our supporters made their way to CBD.

The incredible turnout, passionate chants and unwavering support are the true reflections of the special bond between the club and our loyal fans.

Thank you K'Ogalo faithfuls for standing with the team throughout the season and for making this celebration memorable. This trophy belongs to all of us.

#Sirkal | ##SportPesaNaGor

[UEFA Champions League @ChampionsLeague]

Dembélé for Paris 🔴🔵

#UCLfinal

[Paris Saint-Germain @PSG_English]

The wait is over! ❤️💙

#UCL

[UEFA Champions League @ChampionsLeague]

Some very important Champions League final predictions 🐾

#UCLfinal

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

@asherrkiinee PSG 2 - Arsenal 1

[🇷🇼Rwanda in UK 🇬🇧🇮🇪🇲🇹 @RwandaInUK]

Touchdown in Budapest ✈️🇭🇺

@RDBrwanda CEO @afrika_jean and HC @BusingyeJohns, are here to cheer on #VisitRwanda partners @Arsenal and @PSG_English in the UEFA Champions League Final.

A proud moment for Rwanda on the global stage! ⚽🏆

Arsenal or PSG, who are you backing?

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

Very important submission by @AmbokoJH on the burden of proof during tax disputes to back the proposed transition to tax returns based on pre-populated and third party data.

We long for a tax regime that doesn't seek to make it administratively burdensome , unpredictable, small tax band carrying the national burden and annual erosion of disposable income.

[Julians Amboko @AmbokoJH]

Should the taxpayer still bear the burden of proof in instances where a tax dispute with the Revenue Authority is based in pre-populated & third party data?

In my submission before the National Assembly's Finance & Planning Committee on behalf of the Tax Research Centre at @StrathU, I argue that Finance Bill 2026's proposals seeking to anchor Incomes & Expenses Validation in law will be incomplete if they do not include a proposal for the the Revenue Authority being saddled with the burden of proof in such instances.

Here's why:

· Finance Bill 2026 proposes to amend Sec75 of the Tax Procedures Act to provide that the Revenue Authority may use technology to pre-populate tax returns on behalf of a person required to submit or lodge a tax return

· Finance Bill 2026 further proposes that a person required to submit or lodge a tax return may rely on pre-populated return generated by the Revenue Authority to file their return

· Finance Bill 2026 proposes to amend Sec112 to provide that the Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury may make Regulations for the procedure for the submission or lodging of returns based on pre-populated tax returns generated by the Revenue Authority

Here's where the problem is:

· In all this, Sec56(1) which provides that "In any proceedings, the burden shall be on the taxpayer to prove that a tax decision is incorrect" remains unchanged

· Sec56(1) is predicated on the fact that Kenya has been running on a self-assessment based regime & the data upon which tax disputes emerges was held by the taxpayer

· With Incomes & Expenses Validation & the onset of a Dual Assessment regime in Kenya, taxpayers are now exposed not just to errors of judgement & data on their part, but also errors of technology & transmission which are out of their control

· Can we really still have the burden of proof lying exclusively with the taxpayer in an environment where tax compliance has shifted from a function of record keeping to one where system integration reliability is now a key factor?

[Kalonzo Musyoka @skmusyoka]

STATEMENT BY HE DR STEPHEN KALONZO MUSYOKA

On the Tragic Fire at Utumishi Girls Academy, Gilgil

With a heart weighed down by profound grief, I join all Kenyans in mourning the precious lives of the young girls taken from us in the devastating fire at Utumishi Girls Academy in Gilgil.

They were daughters, sisters, and friends; precious girls full of dreams, full of promise, full of life. Today, their families are shattered, and we weep together with them.

To the bereaved families: there are no words adequate for this moment. I stand with you, and I hold you in my heart and in my prayers.

To the injured students, may our Almighty God grant you swift and complete recovery. And may you feel the warmth of a nation surrounding you as you heal.

Today, as the political leadership gathers for the National Prayer Breakfast, I call upon them not to let today's prayers end in that hall. Let them translate into urgent and decisive action.
As leaders, we will be judged not by what we said in prayer this morning, but by what we did for the least of these in the days that follow.

Let us honour these young lives not merely with tears and tributes, but with action that ensures no other family endures this unbearable pain.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." — Psalm 147:3

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

Totally sad. Totally heartbreaking. Seems we (school administrators) never learn from past mistakes. We should never lose our children in such preventable circumstances. Never. We do not care for our children.

[Citizen TV Kenya @citizentvkenya]

16 Utumishi Girls Academy students confirmed dead after 6 more deaths reported in the fire tragedy in Gilgil, Nakuru; police say 74 others admitted with injuries

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

@NationAfrica you are using the photo of the former Chair of the @NCIC_Kenya yet the new Chair and Commissioners have already been recruited and sworn in and are the ones who issued the statement you are reporting on.

[Daily Nation @NationAfrica]

Drums of war: Why the NCIC is worried about 2027 https://t.co/MdXCcDXe2F

[UBC UGANDA @ubctvuganda]

Museveni: “Someone wrote to me asking me to go and celebrate Arsenal. Celebrate Arsenal? Me, Yoweri Museveni?”

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

@LarryMadowo Kenyans are very peaceful. Police, their insecure masters and assisting goons are the ones who needlessly disrupt peaceful protests and kill for sport.

[Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa @S_OkudzetoAblak]

President Mahama commends French President Emmanuel Macron on his announcement this week to work with Ghana to establish a Ghana-French Scientific Commission on slavery in Ghana; also for his pledge to abolish slavery laws known as Code Noir; his new policy on the return of looted artefacts; and his impressive commitment to an open and honest dialogue on Reparatory Justice.

The Government of Ghana additionally applauds President Macron for accepting President Mahama’s invitation to speak at the Next Steps Summit on Reparatory Justice in Accra from June 17-19, 2026.

It’s great to see the concrete results of the historic adoption of the Ghana-led UN resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.

For God, Country and Africa. 🇬🇭 🙏🏾

[Reuters Africa @ReutersAfrica]

Senegal president sacks PM Sonko, dissolves government after months of friction https://t.co/leVGbzfJwy

[Omore C. Osendo @Conomore]

@TichMajineno @MrKipkalya @waweru I don’t know much about him. I’d also add Hon. David Ochieng of Ugenya.