Kulikoni Ughaibuni

9 Jun 2013

Mtangazaji Mwasisi wa Bongofleva na Mwandishi Nguli wa Burudani Waguswa na 'Bifu' la MwanaFA na Lady Jaydee

Huiwezi kuuzungumzia muziki wa Bongoflava pasi kumtaja Mike Mhagama. Huyu alikuwa mtangazaji wa kituo cha kwanza binafsi cha redio nchini Tanzania, Radio One. Mike,ambaye kwa sasa anaishi nchini Marekani, alitoa mchango mkubwa sana kuutambulisha muziki wa Bongoflava- na kama sijakosea ni miongoni mwa waasisi wa neno 'Bongoflava' (sina hakika sana).

Ninakumbuka enzi hizo, kukosa kipindi cha DJ Show (kama sijakosea) ilikuwa kama dhambi flani kwa mtu anayependa muziki. Ama kwa hakika zama hizo kulikuwa na raha ya kuskiza redio, burudani iliyokuwa ikitolewa licha ya kuwa na ladha nzuri lakini pia iliendeshwa ki-professional.

Kama ambavyo wengi tumeguswa na kinachoonekana kama 'bifu' (uhasama) wa wasanii wawili nguli wa Bongofleva, Hamisi Mwinjuma a.k.a @MwanaFA na Judith Wambura a.k.a @LadyJaydee, Mike nae ameonyesha kuguswa na suala hilo japo yupo mbali na nyumbani.

Katika 'Timeline' yake huko Twitter, mtangazaji (@MikeMhagama) huyo wa zamani ameandika (ninamnukuu)

Mike alikuwa anajibu rai yangu kwa wasanii Fareed Kubanda a.k.a @FidQ Ambwene Yesaya a.k.a AY (@AyTanzania) na Joseph Haule a.k.a @Profesa_Jay wafanye jithada za upatanishi kati ya Mwana FA na Jide. Kadhalika nilipendekza kuwa kikao hicho kinaweza pia kuhudhuriwa na watangazaji walio-present Kilimanjaro Tanzania Music Awards 2013 Jokate (@JokateM) na Millard Ayo (@MillardAyo)

Hadi wakati ninaandika makala hii raia hiyo ilikuwa haijajibiwa.Hata hivyo,ninapenda kumpongeza Mike Mhagama kwa angalau kuonyesha kuguswa na 'bifu' hiyo na kutamani kuisuluhisha. Si vigumu kuelea kwanini Mike ameguswa. Kama miongoni mwa waasisi na waliopromoti Bongoflava tangu inazaliwa hadi ilipofikia, lazima atakuwa anahuzunishwa na ugomvi huu.

Kwa upande mwingine, mhariri na mmiliki wa tovuti ya Bongo Celebrity, ambayo maarufu zaidi ya burudani kuliko zote za Watanzania, Jeff Msangi, naye ameandika makala nzuri inayohusu suala hilo la bifu ya FA na JIDE.

Makala hiyo ni hii hapa chini

LADY JAYDEE Vs MwanaFA: BEEF,BIASHARA, PERSONAL AU?

Yapo mambo ambayo mara nyingi sisi hapa BC huwa tunayaacha yapite. Miongoni mwa mambo hayo ni pamoja na Beef baina ya watu fulani fulani hususani wale ambao BC inawachukulia kama Celebrities na hivyo kuleta maana halisi ya BongoCelebrity.
Nakumbuka wakati BC inaanza (miaka mingi sasa) nia ilikuwa ni kuyatizama maisha ya watu wetu maarufu (celebrities) katika jicho chanya zaidi. Tulielewa kwamba watu wanapenda zaidi kusikia umbea. Tulifahamu kwamba habari mbaya huenea kwa kasi ya aina yake kulinganisha na habari njema. Pamoja na kuelewa hivyo,tumejikita kwenye nia. To stay positive and ask everyone to stay positive and pay attention to more positives than negatives.
Sasa kama wewe ni mtumiaji au mtembeleaji mzuri wa mitandao ya kijamii kama vile Twitter,Facebook, Instagram etc, bila shaka leo umekumbana na maendeleo ya mpambano wa maneno kati ya Lady Jaydee na MwanaFA.Kuna kashfa, kuna kuitana majina. Kuna ushabiki ambao naamini mwisho wake sio mzuri….
Hawa wote ni wasanii wakongwe. Ni mifano ya kutizamwa na wengi hususani wasanii wachanga ambao wanataka kufikia mafanikio ambayo hawa tayari wameyafikia. Kinachoendelea, ingawa ni kweli kinaleta msisimko fulani (hususani kwa watu wanaofurahia wakati wengine wakiumizana), hakina mantiki yenye mlengo chanya. Ni ushindani wa siku moja (June 14-siku ambayo wote wana show). Tarehe 15 June kutakuwa na nini?
Kuna njia kadhaa za kuangalia kitu kinachoendelea. Ni beef? Ni biashara? Au ni mambo binafsi? Kama ni beef la ukweli,basi kuna haja ya mtu kuingilia kati na kuwapatanisha. Kama wasanii naamini issues zao zinafanana. Matatizo ya kudhulumiwa au kutolipwa ipasavyo, ni matatizo yao wote. Sio tatizo la JayDee au MwanaFA peke yake. Hakuna haja ya beef. Kuna haja ya kuungana na kupigania kitu kimoja; Haki.
Kama malumbano haya ni kibiashara zaidi, basi tutaona tarehe 14 June kama njia inayotumiwa ni sahihi au la. Kuna tofauti kubwa kati ya beef za kupromote biashara katika nchi za wenzetu kama Marekani (50Cent na Kanye West) na Tanzania yetu.Mazingira yanatofautiana…
Kama kinachoendelea ni masuala binafsi…then we don’t have a business to be into other people’s businesses. Wanaweza kuyamaliza…

CHANZO: BONGOCELEBRITY.COM Ni matumaini yangu-na pengine yenu wasomaji- kuwa hatimaye wasanii wetu, Mwana FA na Jide, watakaa pamoja na kufikia mwafaka wa kumaliza tofauti zao.Labda baadhi ya video hizi walioshirikiana zinaweza kuwakumbusha kuwa wamtoka mbali
Katika wimbo huu 'Nangoja Ageuke' wa FA a AY kuna cameo ya Lady Jaydee

CHANZO: Jamii Forums

Geita Gold Mine disburses over TZS 650m/- in fight against HIV/AIDS by Evarist Chahali

CHANZO: Mjengwa

Makala yangu ktk RAIA MWEMA Toleo la Juni 5, 2013: "Katiba Mpya Itamsaidiaje Mvuja jasho?"

HATIMAYE Jumatatu ya Juni 3, mwaka huu, Tume ya Mabadiliko ya Katiba chini ya uenyekiti wa Jaji Joseph Warioba, iliweka hadharani rasimu ya Katiba mpya.

Mara baada ya tukio hilo, kulijitokeza mijadala mbalimbali kwenye mtandao wa kijamii wa twitter, hususan kuhusu Tume kushindwa kuweka rasimu hiyo kwenye tovuti yake.

Hadi ninaandaa makala hii, zaidi ya saa 12 baada ya hotuba ya Jaji Warioba, tovuti ya Tume hiyo ilikuwa haina habari mpya, na bandiko la mwisho lilikuwa la Novemba 21, mwaka jana.

Katika mijadala ya huko twitter kuhusu rasimu hiyo ya Katiba mpya, baadhi yetu tulitafsiri kushindwa kwa Tume ya Katiba kuweka rasimu hiyo mtandaoni kwa wakati, ni uzembe.

Binafsi, nimekuwa bloga kwa zaidi ya miaka saba sasa, na moja ya mambo rahisi ni kubandika chapisho lililo tayari, kwa mfano rasimu hiyo ambayo ilikuwa tayari wakati Jaji Warioba anahutubia.

Baadhi yetu tumeanza kuhoji kwamba kama kazi ya kubandika rasimu hiyo kwenye tovuti ya Tume inachukua zaidi ya saa 12 badala ya dakika kadhaa tu, hali itakuwaje kwa wananchi walio vijijini ambao kimsingi itabidi wafikishiwe nakala halisi?

Nisingependa kujadili kile nilichokisoma katika hotuba ya Jaji Warioba kwani kimsingi hotuba hiyo si rasimu bali ni hotuba tu yenye kuelezea kilichomo kwenye rasimu husika.

Wakati tunaendelea na mjadala kuhusu rasimu hiyo, nilijaribu kuzua maswali mbalimbali yenye umuhimu kuhusu Katiba mpya.

Moja ya maswali hayo ni pamoja na “hivi Katiba mpya itamsaidiaje mkulima wa mpunga kule Ifakara kunufaika na jasho lake badala ya kuwekwa mateka na walanguzi kwa upande mmoja na chama cha ushirika upande mwingine?

Nikaendelea, “Je Katiba mpya inasema nini kuhusu machinga wa Kariakoo anayekabiliwa na ushindani usio wa haki kutoka kwa wawekezaji wa kichina ambao baadhi wanadaiwa kuuza bidhaa feki?

Swali jingine nililouliza kuamsha tafakuri ya wananchi wenzangu ni hili, “Je Katiba mpya itatusaidiaje katika kupambana na ufisadi, kwa mfano kurejeshwa kwa mabilioni yetu yaliyoibiwa na kufichwa nchini Uswisi?”

Nikamalizia mlolongo wangu wa maswali kwa kuuliza; “Mamia kama si maelfu ya Watanzania wenzetu wanaouawa kutokana na ulemavu wa ngozi yaani albino. Je, Katiba mpya inahakikisha vipi haki na usalama wa makundi yaliyo hatarini (vulnerable groups) katika jamii?”

Niliuliza maswali hayo kwa sababu binafsi ninaona kama baadhi ya Watanzania, na pengine ni wengi, wanaodhani Katiba mpya ni mithili ya mwarobaini wa matatizo mbalimbali yanayoikabili nchi yetu.

Kadhalika, nimekuwa nina mtizamo kuwa tatizo la nchi nyingi za Afrika si ubaya wa Katiba bali watawala kuipuuza Katiba husika.

Na tatizo hilo si kwenye Katiba tu bali hata kwenye sera, kanuni na taratibu mbalimbali.Kamwe nchi yetu haijawahi kuwa na uhaba wa mipango au sera, kanuni na taratibu nzuri kwa manufaa ya nchi na wananchi. Tatizo la msingi limekuwa ni katika aidha kuheshimu au kutekeleza mambo hayo.

Naomba isieleweke kuwa labda ninapingana na wazo la kufanya mabadiliko ya Katiba, japo laiti ingekuwa nina mamlaka katika suala hilo, ningetamani kuona tunatengeneza Katiba mpya kabisa badala ya kuweka viraka katika Katiba ya sasa yenye upungufu mwingi.

Lakini pengine la msingi zaidi ni jinsi Katiba mpya itakavyoikwamua Tanzania kutoka katika utawala wa Chama cha Mapinduzi (CCM), ambao kimsingi sio tu unaipeleka nchi kubaya bali pia umeshatufikisha mahala pabaya.

Wanaofuatilia harakati za kudai Katiba mpya watakumbuka kuwa wazo hilo ni matokeo ya jitihada za wapinzani hususan CHADEMA, na uamuzi wa serikali ya CCM kukubali haja ya mabadiliko ya Katiba ulichangiwa zaidi na kuiteka hoja hiyo kutoka kwa wapinzani.

Lakini hilo si la msingi zaidi tukilinganisha na jinsi Katiba mpya itakavyoweza kumkomboa Mtanzania kutoka katika lindi la umasikini, ufisadi na mambo mengine yasiyopendeza.

Ni hivi, binafsi, sioni CCM ikikubali kwa hiari kuruhusu uchaguzi huru na haki mwaka 2015 kwani kwa kufanya hivyo itakuwa imewarahisishia wapinzani kuingia Ikulu.

Na si kwamba mwanasiasa wa upinzani kuingia Ikulu ni dhambi au uhaini, bali wanasiasa wengi wa CCM wanatambua kuwa pindi upinzani ukikamata dola kuna uwezekano wa wengi wao kujikuta wanafikishwa mbele ya sheria kutokana na matendo yao maovu wakati wa utawala wao.

Na tatizo hilo sio kwa wanasiasa wa CCM pekee bali hata washiriki wao kwenye vyombo vya dola na taasisi nyingine za umma, sambamba na wafanyabiashara haramu ambao ustawi wao unategemea uwepo wa CCM madarakani.Kwa lugha ya elimu ya viumbe (biology) tunasema kuna symbiotic relationship-kama ile ya kupe na kiumbe anayempatia mlo - kati ya chama tawala na makundi hayo niliyoyataja hapo juu. Kwa mfano, ustawi wa CCM unategemea uungwaji mkono wa vyombo vya dola, sambamba na ustawi wa vyombo hivyo vya dola kutegemea uwepo wa CCM madarakani.

Ninatamani sana ningekuwa na jibu rahisi kuhusu namna gani Katiba mpya inaweza kuruka kihunzi hiki, lakini kila nikikuna kichwa changu sipati jibu zaidi ya kutarajia kuwa Tume Huu ya Uchaguzi itakayoundwa baada ya kupatikana Katiba mpya itapunguza uwezekano wa rushwa na ‘nguvu za giza’ (wizi wa kura kwa kutumia wanausalama) kuhujumu matokeo ya uchaguzi.

Matarajio yangu hayo ni rahisi kufikirika lakini ni vigumu kutimia hasa ikizingatiwa kuwa nadharia za kisiasa zinabainisha kuwa katika chaguzi za Afrika, chama tawala huwa hakishindwi uchaguzi. Kikishindwa basi aidha kimejitakia (kwa mfano kwa migogoro yake ya ndani) au ni matokeo ya kura za chuki kwa kumsimamisha mgombea asiyekubalika ndani ya chama husika.

Tafakari, chukua hatua

Serikali yaumbuka sekta ya elimu

• KITABU CHA HESABU CHAONESHA 2X7=15

na Edson Kamukara

SERIKALI imeingia katika kashfa nyingine kwenye sekta ya elimu baada ya kudaiwa kuruhusu vitabu vyenye maelekezo yasiyo sahihi.

Mbunge wa kuteuliwa na rais, James Mbatia (NCCR-Mageuzi) ndiye aliyeanika udhaifu uliomo kwenye vitabu vilivyoidhinishwa na serikali kutumika katika shule za msingi nchini ambapo aliviita ni sumu ya elimu.

Akichangia hotuba ya bajeti ya Wizara ya Elimu, Mbatia alionesha vitabu kadhaa bungeni huku akitaja makosa mengi yaliyomo na kuhoji viliidhinishwaje na Kamati ya Kuidhinisha Machapisho ya Kielimu (EMAC).

“Leo tunavuna tulichokipanda. Serikali imetumia fedha za chenji ya rada kusaini mikataba na kampuni zaidi ya 10 kwa ajili ya kusambaza vitabu kwenye shule zetu, lakini vitabu hivyo ni sumu kwa taifa,” alisema.

Alisema kuwa vitabu hivyo vimenunuliwa na fedha hizo sh bilioni 55.2 ambazo zilitengwa na serikali kwa ajili ya manunuzi ya vitabu na mihutasari.

Alisema kampuni hizo zilipewa mkataba wa zabuni ya kununua vitabu na mihutasari wa sh milioni 18 na ulisainiwa Machi 18 mwaka huu, huku wakitakiwa kumaliza ununuzi na usambazaji wake Septemba mwaka huu.

Mbatia alisema kuwa vitabu hivyo vikitumika vitalisababisha taifa kufa kielimu kwa vile watoto watajifunza mambo ambayo hayana ukweli.

Alitoa mfano wa kitabu cha Jiografia cha darasa la sita kilichoidhinishwa na EMAC ambacho kimekosewa kwa kuandikwa ‘Jografia’.

Vitabu vingine ni cha Hisabati cha darasa la nne katika ukarasa wa 49, ambapo imeandikwa sifuri gawanya kwa sifuri jibu lake ni sifuri wakati jibu sahihi ni haiwezekani.

Pia alisema kitabu cha Hisabati kingine kinaonesha 2x7=15 na kitabu cha Uraia pia kinaeleza kuwa ‘mtaa unaundwa na vitongoji mbalimbali na kuongozwa na wenyeviti wa vitongoji.

Mbatia alisema kitabu hicho kinasema kwamba wakazi wengi wa mtaa wameajiriwa na utumishi wa umma, viwanda na makampuni.

Alisema kampuni za Macmillan na Oxford zilizopewa jukumu la kuleta vitabu hivyo zimeshafukuzwa nchini Kenya baada ya kugundulika kuwa vitabu vyao havina ubora wa kitaaluma, lakini Tanzania imeendelea kuzikumbatia.

“Kama Rais Kikwete hivi karibuni akiwa Mbeya alikiri kuwa elimu yetu ina udhaifu, kwanini wabunge wa CCM hamtaki kukubali hili?” alihoji Mbatia na kupendekeza iundwe tume ya kudumu ya elimu itakayosimamia maslahi ya walimu, kasoro za elimu na mengineyo.

CCM wapindisha hoja

Katika hatua nyingine, wabunge wa CCM wamelazimika kupindisha mjadala wa hoja ya udhaifu wa elimu nchini ili kumwokoa Waziri wa Elimu na Mafunzo ya Ufundi, Dk. Shukuru Kawambwa.

Hatua hiyo imetokea bungeni mjini hapa ambapo Waziri Kawambwa aliwasilisha hotuba yake ya bajeti kwa mwaka 2013/14 ambayo ilijadiliwa kwa siku mbili.

Kutokana na upinzani mkali ulioonekana tangu mapema kutoka kwa baadhi ya wabunge hasa wa upinzani, wakitaka Waziri na Naibu wake Philipo Mulugo wajiuzulu kutokana na matokeo mabaya ya kidato cha nne mwaka 2012, wabunge wa CCM walilazimika kukutana kwa dharura juzi.

Katika kikao hicho kilichoketi katika Ukumbi wa Pius Msekwa juzi saa 7:00 mchana, wabunge hao wa CCM walifundana na kuafikiana kumwokoa Waziri Kawambwa ili bajeti yake iweze kupitishwa.

Licha ya wabunge wawili wa chama hicho, Deogratius Ntukamazina (Ngara) na Said Mtanda (Mchinga) kuwa wachangiaji wa mapema kabla ya kikao hicho na hivyo kuishambulia wizara hiyo, waliofuata walikuja na visingizio vya kumwonesha waziri hana tatizo.

Katika michango yao, wabunge hao walijiegemeza kwenye hoja ya mgawanyo wa orodha ya shule za sekondari 1,200 zitakazofanyiwa ukarabati wakidai ifumuliwe kwa vile Mkoa wa Kilimanjaro umependelewa zaidi ya mikoa mingine.

Huku wakiunga mkono hoja ya waziri kwa asilimia mia moja na kisha kuanza kulalamikia kasoro zilizopo kwenye elimu, wabunge hao walimtetea Kawambwa kuwa hastahili kujiuzulu kwa vile wizara yake ina majukumu mengi yanayoingilina na Wizara ya Tamisemi.

“Jamani kusema Waziri Kawambwa ajiuzulu tunamwonea, hii wizara majukumu yake mengi yako pia Wizara ya Tawala za Mikoa na Serikali za Mitaa, atawajibikaje mwenyewe kwa matokeo haya?” walisema.

Katika utetezi huo, waliongeza kuwa bajeti ya wizara hiyo ni ndogo na hivyo waziri amekwama kutekeleza majukumu yake huku wakilibebesha lawama Baraza la Taifa la Mitihani (Necta) kuwa ndilo limesababisha matokeo hayo kwa kupanga madaraja kimakosa.

Katika hatua iliyoibua msigano, wabunge hao walipendekeza serikali iunde tume nyingine ya wataalamu kuchunguza matatizo ya elimu nchini, jambo lililopingwa vikali na wapinzani wakihoji kwanini walikataa wazo hilo lilipoletwa na Mbatia.

Mbunge wa Iramba Magharibi, Mwigulu Nchemba, aliwaponda wapinzani akisema kuwa hawatambui kazi kubwa iliyofanywa na CCM na kumtaka Waziri Kawambwa achape kazi bila kuwasikiliza.

Aliitaka serikali kutowapeleka walimu wapya vituoni pasipo kuwapa fedha zao za kujikimu kwani inakuwa inatambua idadi yao, lakini akasisitiza kuwa waziri anakwamishwa na watendaji wake.

Peter Serukamba wa Kigoma Mjini, John Komba wa Mbinga Magharibi, Yahaya Kassim Issa wa Chwaka, Jason Rweikiza wa Bukoba Vijijini na Lutengano Kigola wa Mufindi Kaskazini, walilalamikia upendeleo kwenye mgawanyo wa shule, walimu kutopandishwa madaraja na Tamisemi kuondolewa majukumu ya elimu.

Hata hivyo, utetezi huo ulipingwa vikali na wabunge wa upinzani wakidai kuwa katika hilo serikali haiwezi kukwepa lawama kwa Waziri Kawambwa na naibu wake kuwajibika.

“Mimi nilikuwa mmoja wa wabunge waliopinga ugatuaji wa madaraka ya wizara hii kwenda Tamisemi, lakini wabunge wa CCM walitupinga vikali na kupitisha hoja hiyo, sasa leo mnatetea nini?

“Tamisemi iko chini ya Waziri Mkuu, kama leo tunamtetea Kawambwa na kuituhumu Tamisemi ina maana mnataka kusema Waziri Mkuu ndiye hafai,” alisema Mbunge wa Viti Maalumu Susan Lyimo (CHADEMA).

Mbunge wa Mhambwe, Felix Mkosamali (NCCR-Mageuzi) alisema kuwa hakuna tatizo jingine katika Wizara ya Elimu bali viongozi wake hawana uwezo wa kuongoza.

“Tunawaambieni kila siku kuwa hawa watu hawana uwezo wa kuongoza hii wizara…hawawezi, na msipobadilisha hawa watu tutaendelea kuimba nyimbo hizi kila siku,” alisema.

Alisema kuwa serikali inajenga shule mbovu na kuwataka wananchi wapeleke watoto wao huko wakati watoto wa viongozi hawasomi katika shule hizo.

Kuhusu Necta, alisema kuwa tangu kuingia kwa Katibu Mtendaji wa sasa, Dk. Joyce Ndalichako na wasaidizi wake, wameziba mianya yote ya wizi wa mitihani.

Mkosamali alisema kuwa wanaompiga vita wakitaka aondolewe ni wale wenye shule binafsi waliokuwa wakisababisha wizi huo ili shule zao zionekane bora.

Joseph Selelasini wa Rombo (CHADEMA) aliwashangaa baadhi ya wabunge kuibebesha lawama Necta kwa kasoro zilizojitokeza kwenye mfumo uliotumika kusahisha mitihani ya dini, ya Bible Knowledge na Islamic Knowledge akisema serikali inaendelea kukiuka katiba kwa kujihusisha na masuala ya dini wakati nchi haina dini.

CHANZO: Tanzania Daima

Uingereza Yatoa Tamko Rasmi la Kuomba msamaha Wakenya wahanga wa Vita ya Mau Mau

The Foreign Secretary made a statement to Parliament on the settlement of claims of Kenyan citizens relating to events between 1952 - 1963.

With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on a legal settlement that the Government has reached concerning the claims of Kenyan citizens who lived through the Emergency Period and the Mau Mau insurgency from October 1952 to December 1963.

During the Emergency Period widespread violence was committed by both sides, and most of the victims were Kenyan. Many thousands of Mau Mau members were killed, while the Mau Mau themselves were responsible for the deaths of over 2,000 people including 200 casualties among the British regiments and police.

Emergency regulations were introduced: political organisations were banned; prohibited areas were created and provisions for detention without trial were enacted. The colonial authorities made unprecedented use of capital punishment and sanctioned harsh prison so-called ‘rehabilitation’ regimes. Many of those detained were never tried and the links of many with the Mau Mau were never proven. There was recognition at the time of the brutality of these repressive measures and the shocking level of violence, including an important debate in this House on the infamous events at Hola Camp in 1959.

We recognise that British personnel were called upon to serve in difficult and dangerous circumstances. Many members of the colonial service contributed to establishing the institutions that underpin Kenya today and we acknowledge their contribution.

However I would like to make clear now and for the first time, on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government, that we understand the pain and grievance felt by those who were involved in the events of the Emergency in Kenya. The British Government recognises that Kenyans were subject to torture and other forms of ill treatment at the hands of the colonial administration. The British government sincerely regrets that these abuses took place, and that they marred Kenya’s progress towards independence. Torture and ill treatment are abhorrent violations of human dignity which we unreservedly condemn.

In October 2009 claims were first brought to the High Court by five individuals who were detained during the Emergency period regarding their treatment in detention.

In 2011 the High Court rejected the claimants’ argument that the liabilities of the colonial administration transferred to the British Government on independence, but allowed the claims to proceed on the basis of other arguments.

In 2012 a further hearing took place to determine whether the cases should be allowed to proceed. The High Court ruled that three of the five cases could do so. The Court of Appeal was due to hear our appeal against that decision last month.

However, I can announce today that the Government has now reached an agreement with Leigh Day, the solicitors acting on behalf of the Claimants, in full and final settlement of their clients’ claims.

The agreement includes payment of a settlement sum in respect of 5,228 claimants, as well as a gross costs sum, to the total value of £19.9 million. The Government will also support the construction of a memorial in Nairobi to the victims of torture and ill-treatment during the colonial era. The memorial will stand alongside others that are already being established in Kenya as the country continues to heal the wounds of the past. And the British High Commissioner in Nairobi is also today making a public statement to members of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association in Kenya, explaining the settlement and expressing our regret for the events of the Emergency Period.

Mr Speaker this settlement provides recognition of the suffering and injustice that took place in Kenya. The Government of Kenya, the Kenya Human Rights Commission and the Mau Mau War Veterans Association have long been in favour of a settlement, and it is my hope that the agreement now reached will receive wide support, will help draw a line under these events, and will support reconciliation.

We continue to deny liability on behalf of the Government and British taxpayers today for the actions of the colonial administration in respect of the claims, and indeed the courts have made no finding of liability against the Government in this case. We do not believe that claims relating to events that occurred overseas outside direct British jurisdiction more than fifty years ago can be resolved satisfactorily through the courts without the testimony of key witnesses that is no longer available. It is therefore right that the Government has defended the case to this point since 2009.

It is of course right that those who feel they have a case are free to bring it to the courts. However we will also continue to exercise our own right to defend claims brought against the Government. And we do not believe that this settlement establishes a precedent in relation to any other former British colonial administration.

The settlement I am announcing today is part of a process of reconciliation. In December this year, Kenya will mark its 50th anniversary of independence and the country’s future belongs to a post independence generation. We do not want our current and future relations with Kenya to be overshadowed by the past. Today we are bound together by commercial, security and personal links that benefit both our countries. We are working together closely to build a more stable region. Bilateral trade between the UK and Kenya amounts to £1 billion each year, and around 200,000 Britons visit Kenya annually.

Although we should never forget history and indeed must always seek to learn from it, we should also look to the future, strengthening a relationship that will promote the security and prosperity of both our nations. I trust that this settlement will support that process. The ability to recognise error in the past but also to build the strongest possible foundation for cooperation and friendship in the future are both hallmarks of our democracy.