The IMF’s executive board approved a $1.1 billion payout for Ukraine on Friday, which it says will be used to provide budget support to the war-torn country.

The loan disbursal is the latest tranche of funding the International Monetary Fund has released to Ukraine as part of an ongoing 4-year, $15.5 billion program approved last March.

The approval of the Fund’s fifth loan review brings the total amount disbursed to Ukraine since then to $8.7 billion.

“Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to bring a devastating social and economic toll on Ukraine,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said in a statement.

“Despite the war, macroeconomic and financial stability is being preserved through skilful policymaking by the Ukrainian authorities as well as substantial external support,” she added.

“The economy has remained resilient, despite significant damage to the energy infrastructure, reflecting the continued adaptability of households and firms.”

The IMF announced that Ukraine had met all of the relevant targets, including structural reforms relating to tax privileges, public companies, and customs reform.

Ukraine’s economy had been “more resilient than expected” in the first half of the year, with good domestic data “bolstered by continued sizeable external support,” according to the IMF.

But it warned that the outlook through the end of next year had worsened, “largely due to sustained Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and uncertainty about the war.”

It added that the economic outlook remained subject to “exceptionally high uncertainty.”

AFP

The motion to impeach Gachagua will be debated on Tuesday next week, at which point the House will vote to either support or reject it.

Public participation for the impeachment motion against President William Ruto’s deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, is scheduled to take place across the 47 counties on Friday.

According to Capital News, this follows Speaker Moses Wetangula’s announcement that the House will adjourn from 12 pm to 2 pm on Wednesday to discuss the details of the public participation exercise.

The motion to impeach Gachagua will be debated on Tuesday next week, at which point the House will vote to either support or reject it.

Wetangula has confirmed that Deputy President Gachagua can defend himself either personally or through legal counsel.

“It would be absurd for any motion to be concluded without public involvement. Court decisions have also emphasized this direction. Public participation is integral to such removals,” the Speaker stated.

To facilitate this process, the House will adjourn its sessions on Thursday afternoon, allowing lawmakers to engage with their constituents.

“The public participation will occur across the 47 counties, and the House will reconvene tomorrow to allow legal counsel to explain the modalities,” Wetangula added.

The impeachment motion against Gachagua was formally introduced in Parliament by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, who has leveled over ten accusations against him, including constitutional breaches, corruption, and incitement.

Mutuse reported that he has gathered the support of 291 MPs, exceeding the required 117 signatures to meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment.

“I want to make it clear to this House and to Kenyans that I hold no malice or personal vendetta against the Deputy President. I am simply fulfilling my duty as a citizen and Member of Parliament,” Mutuse stated during the session.

The motion outlines nine charges against Gachagua, including gross constitutional violations and promoting ethnic discrimination, alongside undermining national unity through divisive public statements.

Gachagua is also accused of undermining government policies and failing to uphold his duties as Deputy President regarding collective Cabinet responsibility. Mutuse, defending his position, claimed to have nine witnesses prepared to provide evidence for each charge.

“If the people can’t receive services because of Gachagua, we believe it’s necessary to remove him for the sake of Kenyans,” he asserted.

In addition to the constitutional violations, the motion alleges Gachagua engaged in corruption, money laundering, and abuse of office, thereby eroding public trust and contravening anti-corruption laws.

“Engaging in corruption and money laundering while in office undermines public trust and violates the law,” Mutuse concluded.

Preliminary DNA results are confirming the death of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar in an Israeli strike.

United States officials have confirmed the death of Hamas leader, Yahya Sinwar following DNA test results, CNN has reported.

The test results were relayed to the White House by Israeli officials who according to the report are waiting for one final report to give a statement of confirmation on the death of Sinwar.

GWG.ng reports that Sinwar was reportedly killed during an accidental fire fight in Gaza. The Israeli fighters it was gathered did not act on intelligence as the encounter was simply an accident.

The death of Sinwar is bound to echo throughout the Middle East given his role as the architect of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the death of more than 1,200 Israelis.

It was gathered that while the killing of Sinwar has befuddled much of the people in Gaza, celebration is breaking out in Israel over the development as the people of the country rejoice over the fall of the man who organised the worst mass killing of Israelis since the Holocaust.

Meanwhile, GWG.ng reports US officials and other international stakeholders as saying that the killing of Sinwar could help rejuvenate the Middle East peace process given the fact that the late Hamas leader was seen as a major obstacle to regional peace.