Kenya: MY HOMILY OF ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SUNDAY, JUNE 16, 2013
The first reading of Eleventh Sunday in ordinary time is taken from 2 Sm 12:7-10, 13. While it shows us the weakness of human nature, at the same time it shows the infinite mercy of God. David acknowledges his sin and asks for God’s mercy and forgiveness. God’s forgives him and vows never to repeat that sin again.
The second reading is from St. Paul to the Galatians- Gal 2:16, 19-21. Paul is speaking here of justification and faith. In Christian theology justification is God’s act of removing the guilt and penalty of sin while at the same time declaring a sinner righteous through Christ’s atoning. In Protestantism, righteousness from God is viewed as being credited to the sinner's account through faith alone, without works.
Catholic and Orthodox Christians distinguish between initial justification, which in their view occurs at baptism, and permanent justification, accomplished after a lifetime of striving to do God’s will.
Most Protestants believe that justification is a singular act in which God declares an unrighteous individual to be righteous, an act made possible because Christ was legally "made sin" while on the cross (2 Cor 5:21). This is contrary to James 2:24-26. "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. But faith without works is dead."
In Romans, Paul develops justification by first speaking of God's just wrath at sin (Rom. 1:18 - 3:20). Justification is then presented as the solution for God's wrath. One is said to be 'justified by faith apart from works of the Law.'
The Gospel is from Lk 7:36—8:3. It shows the mercy of God for sinners and the willingness and eagerness, with which God welcomes back the sinner. A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee. Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.”
Mary Magdalene was believed to be a reformed prostitute and is identified as the woman who 'was a sinner at the house of Pharisees, who washed Christ’s feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and anointed them. Christ then forgave her sins.
The lesson we learn here is forgiveness, a decision to let go your sins and never to repeat them again as we see in the first reading and the gospel. David and Mary Magdalene never repeated the action they were accused of. It was wrong for David to kill Uriah and take his wife.
For unfaithful partners in Kenya where marital infidelity is as intertwined as nyama choma, also known as mpango wa kando, it would mean that forgiveness must go with justice. It means doing justice to your partner and your entire family that you will never cheat on your partner anymore.
In Kenya men are the ones closely linked with big percentage of mpango wa kando than women. A 2008 study carried out by Spylink International, a private investigation outfit based in Kenya, revealed that marital infidelity was on the rise with men taking the lead with 75 per cent share of cheating, while women at 25 per cent in 2002. By 2008 this figure rose from 25 to 45 percent of women cheating on their men.
The study pegged this scenario on “changing lifestyles, and women’s empowerment through higher education and knowing “their rights.” Hard economic times implied that more women were exchanging their bodies for material favours. The survey, however, revealed that “as the data stands, women in Kenya will be “leading the infidelity game by 2010.”
Even worse was the fact that 99 per cent of married couples cheat on each other, with Nairobi, of Kenya’s eight provinces, leading with 60 per cent of unfaithful men, and women at 40 per cent.
Nyanza comes second with 55 per cent of men and women at 45 per cent. Western and Rift Valley take fourth and fifth slots respectively, with men taking 65 per cent, while Coast came fifth with men leading with 60 per cent.
In Eastern province, unfaithful men stood at 70 per cent and 85 per cent in case of men in North-Eastern, a region where women are socially, culturally and economically suppressed.
Central Province was the surprise package with women taking a 60 per cent stake a head of their men.
This trend has led to single women in Kenya. A survey released few years ago by consumer market research firm Ipsos-Synovate, shows that 44 per cent of women dislike infidelity among men.
In terms of the state where the government is to ensure that all the citizens have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all, the forgiveness would also mean doing justice.
You must do justice on social and economic inequalities, nepotism, negative ethnicity, human rights abuses, and assassinations, tortures among other ills as recommended by The Truth Reconciliation and Justice Commission (TRJC) in their report.
The report recommends that the head of the state and other departmental heads apologize to Kenyans and then for justice to be done it recommends that actions should be taken. IDPs must be reallocated, people who lost their dear ones be compensated.
TRJC was set up following deadly post-election clashes five years ago. After those elections some 1,500 people were killed and more than 600,000 forced to flee their homes. Some IDPs are still in the camps and people whose dear ones died have not been compensated.
TRJC mandate was to investigate and recommend appropriate action on human rights abuses committed between Kenyan independence in December 1963 and the end of February 2008 - including politically motivated violence, assassinations, corruption and land disputes.
It recommends that those with alleged involvement in the Wagalla massacre should no longer hold any public office. The killings occurred in 1984 during efforts to disarm ethnic Somali clans in the north-east of the country. Survivors say close to 5,000 people died.
When justice is done it is when the forgiveness will bring a kind of peace that helps the victims go on with life. Forgiveness here means that you are now at peace with yourself and the community. Click here to read Pope John Paul II Message for the World Day of Peace 2002.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy’s ‘Last Frontier’ Can Prosper and Matter (Bookcraft, 399pp)
From: "News Release - African Press Organization (APO)"
http://www.bookcraftafrica.com/bookcraft.JPG
A new book by Kingsley Moghalu, deputy governor of Nigeria's Central Bank
http://www.apo-mail.org/Emerging_Africa_cover.pdf cover.JPG
ABUJA, Nigeria, June 14, 2013/ -- Bookcraft (http://www.bookcraftafrica.com) has ublished a new book by Kingsley Moghalu, deputy governor of Nigeria's Central Bank.
Logo:
http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/bookcraft.jpg
Download the cover: http://www.apo-mail.org/Emerging_Africa_cover.pdf
Against the backdrop of a deluge of newspaper and magazine articles about the rise of Africa, and the attendant new scramble for playing space on it, an African policy-maker and academic has cast a keen, searching eye on the continent, cutting swiftly through buzz and hype and sentiment to deliver a weighty, forward-looking and realistic assessment.
From globalization to foreign aid and investment to China to the knowledge economy, and world trade, nothing escapes Moghalu's insightful critique. In his words: "Emerging Africa sets out to interrogate the prevailing conventional wisdom about Africa and its economic growth prospects, and go beneath the surface of both afro-optimism and afro-pessimism to decode and address what really has held Africa down and how the continent can prosper and matter in the world through far-reaching economic transformation."
What people are saying:
"Africans seriously analyzing Africa's opportunities are all too rare. Kingsley Moghalu writes with insight and authority. Emerging Africa deserves a wide audience."
Paul Collier - Professor of Economics, Oxford University
"Kingsley Moghalu brings a remarkable intellect and his vast experience to this tour de force on Africa's economic transformation."
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Federal Republic of Nigeria
"Emerging Africa offers a profound perspective on how African countries can achieve true prosperity."
Lamido Sanusi, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria
"Insightful and analytical, Kingsley Moghalu's book, Emerging Africa, sheds instructive light on Africa's position in the world."
Shashi Tharoor, former UN Under-Secretary General and author of Pax Indica: India & the World of the 21st Century.
"Kingsley Moghalu approaches Africa as the 'last frontier' with the perspective of a savvy Sherriff."
Rt. Hon. Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, former Minister of State for Africa, Asia and the UN, United Kingdom Foreign Office.
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of Bookcraft.
About the author:
Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu is deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Before then he was founder and CEO of Sogato Strategies S.A., a global strategy and risk management firm in Geneva, Switzerland. He spent seventeen years working for the United Nations, at duty stations in New York, Cambodia, Croatia, Tanzania and Switzerland.
For more information - stockists, excerpts, chapter outline and a tour schedule visit https://www.facebook.com/emergingafrica
For interview requests and review copies contact dolugbade@bookcraftafrica.com
or wowe.media@gmail.com
SOURCE
Bookcraft
USA & Kenya: Re: Obama praises Raila for respecting election petition outcome
From: roz kahumbu
Date: Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 1:28 AM
Subject: Obama praises Raila for respecting election petition outcome
Judy,
Seeing is believing....Please post the event. It must be recent....
What nation says these days looks like propaganda.
roz
---------------
From: Judy Miriga
Sent: Friday, June 14, 2013 6:18 AM
Subject: Obama praises Raila for respecting election petition outcome
Good news, just comming in timely............
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
Obama praises Raila for respecting election petition outcome
By NATION REPORTER
Posted Thursday, June 13 2013 at 18:56
In Summary
“It is my sincere hope that Kenya will move forward from these elections to build on the promise of its Constitution and to solidify her rightful place as a vibrant, prosperous democracy, centred on the rule of law,” Mr Obama said.
US President Barack Obama has commended former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for his conduct during the post-election judicial review period.
President Obama and former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson praised Mr Odinga for accepting the verdict of the Supreme Court that upheld the election of Mr Uhuru Kenyatta as Kenya’s fourth president.
Mr Odinga was expected to leave for the US last evening where among other engagements, he will deliver a talk at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington DC on Africa’s next 50 years.
“Through your words and your actions, you affirmed the importance of the rule of law and constitutional order and helped ensure a better future for Kenyans,” said the US President in the letter dated April 3.
“It is my sincere hope that Kenya will move forward from these elections to build on the promise of its Constitution and to solidify her rightful place as a vibrant, prosperous democracy, centred on the rule of law,” Mr Obama said.
Mr Carson said that like many Kenyans, he too waited with bated breath for the Supreme Court ruling on the election petition.
“I express my deep respect and appreciation to you on how you handled yourself during the entire judicial review process,” he said.
“Your early commitment to respect the judgment of the court and your consistent appeals to your supporters to honour and respect that decision have been instrumental in preventing a recurrence of the violence that occurred after the last presidential election in 2007,” he said.
Mr Carson noted that the former PM’s actions reflected his deep dedication to the rule of law.
“They also reflected your respect for judicial opinions and your unwavering commitment to the democratic values you have stood for and fought for throughout your career,” he said.
Tanzania Told To Severe Link With Monsanto
From: Leila Abdul
By Nizar Visram
28 May, 2013
Countercurrents.org
Normally Tanzanian lawmakers would ‘prove’ their radicalism by blasting rival parties, state authorities, public corporations or ministers for shoddy work done or millions that go missing. Hardly do they take a swipe at a multinational corporation, much less if it is an American one
Yet that is what happened recently when Hon Halima Mdee (Chadema) called upon the government to severe its relations with the international seed company Monsanto, which is a major stakeholder in the country’s campaign for green revolution.
She reminded that the firm had caused farmers misery and suffering in many countries, including the US, where it is based.
The company, known for the production of genetically modified seeds, has been blacklisted in India, Argentina, Chile and eight European countries because the seeds it sells to farmers at high prices have been a disaster, prompting some nations to institute legal action against it, Ms Mdee said
“Last year the company committed $50 billion to producing seeds for Africa, but the firm is known around the world as a major producer of genetically modified seeds, which are harmful to farmers and environment,” she cautioned
Ms Mdee suspected that given the company’s bad reputation, President Jakaya Kikwete might have been misinformed by his aides. “This is because we know that these large multinationals have a tendency to use their financial muscle to compromise government leaders.”
Shadow agriculture minister Rose Kamili noted that India has banned the use of cotton seeds produced by Monsanto after research established that they were a threat to farmers and the environment.
In fact more than 1,000 farmers had committed suicide as a result of debts resulting from buying seeds from Monsanto at high prices.
The points brought up by the two ladies hardly triggered any reaction or rejoinder. Probably the lawmakers were not well informed of the subject matter, or they were not too keen to irritate the conglomerates who promote genetically modified organisms (GMO) and the donor agencies that back them
Yet the debate is no doubt raging within the civil society, among groups that are running concerted campaign against GMO. But they are not having an easy ride, for Monsanto is applying pressure in the country for amendment to regulations so as to allow GMO.
They are using local scientists and researchers as well as state bigwigs. The firm reportedly provides all the means, from laboratory to foreign travels. In the course, they manage to get local spokespersons and mouthpieces.
Tanzania Alliance for Biodiversity is not among them. This is a joint coalition that is trying to maintain agricultural biodiversity for food sovereignty and security. It aims at sustainable development, promoting self-determination and facilitating exchange of information and experiences among farmers
Alliance members are convinced that the introduction of GM crops or animals is not the right solution in fighting poverty and hunger as claimed by the likes of Monsanto.
They are concerned that while Tanzania has so far been GM free, the country has now opened the door to GM biotechnology.
The Alliance has collected various campaigners, including African Centre for Biodiversity, ActionAid International Tanzania, Biolands, BioRe, BioSustain, Envirocare, PELUM Tanzania, Swissaid, and Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement.
They join similar movements in South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, and Uganda, to resist the pressure from the US-driven biotech industry.
On the other side, agribusiness corporations try their level best to promote what they claim to be high-tech miracle seeds for solving the problem of African food insecurity and poverty.
One supporter they apparently managed to bag is none other than President Jakaya Kikwete himself who, in March this year, came out in defence of Monsantos, heaping the blame on those who challenge them, saying they are “uninformed” and so need to educate themselves.
He called for a transformation of “negative mindset” on the adoption of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) technology in the country, challenging scientists in the country to conduct research to establish the “practicality of the technology”, stressing that as long as there are “no proven major negative impacts”, he saw no logic in opposing the application of the technology.
His prime minister, Mizengo Pinda also accused those who oppose GMO of being “slow in accepting the opportunity” offered by the technology, claiming that Kenya and Uganda are “far ahead of us in its application”
Thus, at the official level Tanzania supports the plan to conduct research on genetically modified crops in the country. Agriculture Minister said it is aimed at keeping up with the new technology in order to modernise agriculture and promote balanced economic growth.
He said the time for being rigid on the use of GMOs was over.
Nothing is said about the decision taken by the European Union who banned GMO crops on grounds such as pesticide resistance and threats to biodiversity or potential negative effects on the environment.
What the Tanzanian and African apologists of GMO have to keep in mind is that traditionally the seed and its control has been the foundation of their agricultural sector. After all some 80% of seed comes from local and communal resources and is adapted to local conditions. It is thus an integral part of the communal food security and agricultural integrity. With the onslaught of GMO this traditional system is undermined.
This is what happens when commercial interests, supported by the World Bank, together with front organisations and self styled philanthropists, attempt to alienate this crucial resource.
This is done by giant multi-national seed and pesticide companies that are promoting hybrid and genetically modified (GM) seed. While they claim to assist the development of African agriculture, the end result is disastrous.
One example is South African seed industry – the biggest in Africa – whose deal was recently sealed when the country’s court permitted the sale of the last remaining large seed company, Pannar, to the US multinational Pioneer, a subsidiary of DuPont. With this the US firm is to take over Pannar’s African network.
It means South Africa’s valuable seed industry is grabbed by world’s two largest US seed companies that are to use South Africa to gain inroad into Africa, with serious consequence for indigenous seed networks.
Meanwhile, organisations like the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) claim that new seed being developed for Africa will be freely distributed to smallholder farmers.
What happens is that these giant seed corporates transfer the experience of South America to Africa. In South America the herbicide-resistant GM soya that was patented by Monsanto was surreptitiously encouraged.
When the soy industry became widespread, Monsanto started to claim royalties on all the soy grown, since it established the right to its intellectual property. Luckily the attempts in Brazil were over ruled in the courts and Monsanto was ordered to refund billions of dollars to farmers.
It is such practice that prompted the on-line campaign run by Avaaz to post a global petition aiming at exposing Monsanto’s worldwide grip, cautioning that the mega-company is gradually taking over our global food supply, poisoning our politics and putting the planet’s food future in serious danger.
The petition shows how Monsanto develops pesticides and genetically modified (GM) seeds, patents the seeds, prohibits farmers from replanting their seeds year to year, then sends undercover agents out to investigate and sue farmers who don’t comply.
The firm spends millions lobbying US government officials, contributing to their political campaigns, then works with them to push Monsanto goods into markets across the world.
Monsanto is trampling small farmers and small businesses as vast ‘monoculture’ farms of single crops leech the land of nutrients, diminish genetic diversity, and create dependency on fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals. .
“Monsanto’s power in the US gives them a launch pad to dominate across the world. But brave farmers and activists from the EU, to Brazil, to India and Canada are resisting and starting to win,” Avaaz proclaims.
The on-line petition shows how farmers are lured into multi-year contracts, then seed prices rise, and they have to buy new seed each season and use more herbicides to keep out ‘super weeds’. In India, the situation is so dire that one cotton area has been called ‘the suicide belt’, as tens of thousands of the poorest farmers have taken their lives to escape crippling debt.
Not surprising, therefore, that, at the end of November 2012, Kenya banned the importation of genetically modified food on health grounds.
A stormy public ‘debate’ ensued. There were those on the side of ‘modernity’ and ‘science,’ denouncing the lack of ‘scientific evidence’ among their opponents.
Such ‘defence’ of GMO is not surprising. Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research provides USD25 million annually to biotechnology research globally. At the same time bilateral aid agencies - especially from the United States - provide 60 per cent of research funding for biotechnology
Private philanthropic foundations are also involved in funding the research. They include the Howard Buffet Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Multinational biotechnology companies, including Monsanto and Syngenta, also chip in
In so doing they try to stymie the debate that is going on globally. However, they only succeeded in extending the battle against GMO to Africa where farmers are putting up strong resistance to the so-called modernity
Nizar Visram is a citizen of Tanzania who has been writing feature articles for various media outlets inside and outside Africa for almost 30 years. Born in Zanzibar, he is retired senior lecturer in Development Studies at the Institute of Finance Management in Dar es Salaam He can be contacted at:nizar1941@yahoo.com
KENYA: HEADTEACHER SET ABLAZE PUPILS SANDALS
By Agwanda Saye
There was drama at Raga Primary School in Karungu Division, Nyatike district after parents and pupils went on the rampage demanding the transfer of the head teacher after he burned pupils’ sandals.
The head teacher collected the sandals from the over 400 pupils and set them ablaze arguing they are not part of the school uniform.
Today, pupils and parents demonstrated up to the school carrying placards and twigs demanding his immediate transfer from the school.
The head teacher who is also the Migori KNUT vice chairman locked his office and fled from the angry pupils and parents.
The pupils who accompanied their parents on barefoot vowed never to resume classes until the head teacher is transferred.
Nyatike district education officer Kinaiya Siloma confirmed that his office is aware of the incident and there is already a panel constituted to look into the matter.
Siloma however urged parents to give dialogue a chance and not to disrupt the learning process of their children.
Ends.
Kenya / WorldVentures is the No. 7 Fastest Growing Company Among Top 100 Direct-Selling Brands
From: News Release - African Press Organization (APO)
WorldVentures is the No. 7 Fastest Growing Company Among Top 100 Direct-Selling Brands
WorldVentures reached a remarkable 57.1 percent growth
PLANO, TX, June 13, 2013/ -- WorldVentures™ (http://www.worldventures.com), the leading direct seller of vacation club memberships, with presence in Kenya, South Africa and Botswana, reached an impressive 57.1 percent growth and ranked No. 7 on Direct Selling News’ most recent Global 100 Greatest Growth Percentage Companies of the top direct-selling brands worldwide. Direct Selling News (DSN) is the leading trade publication for the direct-selling industry, and its annual list is considered a major indicator of company strength. WorldVentures’ rank on the elite listing bypassed industry heavyweights that were not included in the exclusive top 10 Greatest Growth Percentage Companies category.
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/worldventure.png
“This ranking is just one more indication that we’re taking the right journey,” WorldVentures (http://www.worldventures.com) Chief Visionary Officer and Co-Founder Wayne Nugent said. "It is confirmation that our vision is sound and that our DreamTrips™ vacation club membership helps more people lead rich, fulfilling lives. I believe that our partnership with our Independent Representatives is the key for this continuing success.”
“This is an outstanding accomplishment,” WorldVentures (http://www.worldventures.com) CEO and Co-Founder Mike Azcue said. “Seven years ago, when WorldVentures was born, it wasn’t so obvious that a direct seller of travel could be a leader in the direct-selling industry. The travel industry is growing fast, and we’re proud that more and more people realize the uniqueness of DreamTrips’ travel experiences, and choose to be members and Independent Representatives.”
The DSN Global 100 list acknowledges the achievements of direct selling companies and paints a clear picture of the industry’s size and trends.
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of WorldVentures.
About WorldVentures:
WorldVentures (http://www.worldventures.com) is a social commerce, peer-to-peer marketing pioneer and one of the direct-selling industry’s largest sellers of vacation club memberships. With a network of more than 100,000 Independent Representatives in 23 countries, the company’s DreamTrips vacation club offers vacationers access to some of the most unique global and local travel and entertainment experiences available anywhere at any price. The privately held company is headquartered in Plano, Texas.
For inquiries, contact:
Hadas Sasson-Zitomer
Email: press@worldventures.com
SOURCE
WorldVentures Holdings
Securing Africa’s Land for Shared Prosperity: A Program to Scale up Reforms and Investments
From: Yona Maro
This covers land administration and reform in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is highly relevant to all developing countries around the world. It provides simple practical steps to turn the hugely controversial subject of "land grabs" into a development opportunity by improving land governance to reduce the risks of dispossessing poor landholders while ensuring mutually beneficial investors' deals.
This book shows how Sub Saharan Africa can leverage its abundant and highly valuable natural resources to eradicate poverty by improving land governance through a ten point program to scale up policy reforms and investments at a cost of USD 4.5 billion. And it`s points out formidable challenges to implementation including high vulnerability to land grabbing and expropriation with poor compensation as about 90 percent of rural lands in Sub Saharan Africa are undocumented, but also timely opportunities since high commodity prices and investor interest in large scale agriculture have increased land values and returns to investing in land administration.
It argues that success in implementation will require participation of many players including Pan-African organizations, Sub Saharan Africa governments, the private sector, civil society and development partners; but that ultimate success will depend on the political will of Sub Saharan Africa governments to move forward with comprehensive policy reforms and on concerted support by the international development community.
--
www.wejobs.blogspot.com Jobs in Africa
www.naombakazi.blogspot.com International Job Opportunities
www.kaziuganda.blogspot.com Jobs in Uganda
Kenya: EMERGING ISSUES ON MY ARTICLE OF YESTERDAY
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013
Some of our News Dispatch readers have positively commented on my article of yesterday, saying now they understand that I am not tribalistic as some thought. They were referring to some of my articles in which I said that I am not against Uhuru Kenyatta becoming the president of the Republic of Kenya, my worry was that his government was not going to implement the constitution.
Some readers from Uhuru’s central Kenya took issues with me, saying I was tribalistic and I did not want Uhuru to become the president because he is a Kikuyu. In fact I challenged this by blaming Raila Odinga as well, for nominating his brother Oburu Odinga, his sister Ruth Odinga forced to be the deputy governor even after Kisumu electorates demonstrated against her. And Jakoyo Midiwo forced to grab power by force.
The point I was driving at was that I want to see Kenya where leaders are elected as Kenyans to serve Kenyans, not using their ethnic communities as a voting bloc to grab power from Kenyans. When this happens it is where nepotism and tribalism takes root. You must reward those tribes that helped you grab power.
When leadership is directed towards that policy, is why such leaders would not mind or even talk about more than eighteen primary schoolgirls who dropout of school because of pregnancy in Emia location in Mt Elgon Constituency.
The Chepkurkur Primary School girls were confirmed to be pregnant last week during a stormy Parents and Teachers Association meeting. The girls have subsequently dropped out of school. The news has left residents in disbelief, with majority of them seeking to know the identity of those who put the girls in the family way.
Girls in the school have been getting pregnant at an alarming rate. One girl in Class Four, five in Class Six, eight in Standard Seven and four were supposed to sit final Class Eight national examinations this year.
It is also why such leaders will not have time even bother take action on police officers who have been alleged to be impregnating primary schoolgirls in Samburu, The 14 girls aged between 12 and 18 have allegedly been impregnated by police officers deployed in the area to curb rampant insecurity in the region.
Samburu is synonymous with insecurity and the rugged region is dotted with tens of police camps meant to stabilise the security situation in the vast region where bandits rule. But the deployment of the officers seems to have complicated the lives of school-going girls as some of them demand for sex from the underage pupils. They lure them to their camps using biscuits, bread and sweets in exchange for sex.
It is why with such type of leadership the government don’t care whether Treasury is faced with daunting task of toning down tax measures that are likely to inflict maximum pain on Kenya’s poor.
A Bill that comes to the National reading today (Thursday’s Budget) proposes to slap Value Added Tax (VAT) of 16 per cent on a host of essential goods and inputs, including fertiliser, maize flour, bread, wheat flour, milk, livestock feed, pesticides and books. Others are sanitary towels, newspapers, computers, insecticides, locally assembled water pumps and gin cotton.
Shelved last year in the run up to presidential elections, the VAT Bill would see the cost of such commodities rise by 16 per cent or more, because their final retail price is left to the discretion of traders despite one of the Jubilee Government’s key promises in its manifesto was to lower the cost of living for all Kenyans.
I laughed when the Consumers Federation of Kenya (Cofek) said it would sue the State should the VAT Bill or any other Bill proposing to tax basic commodities, sail through Parliament. Where on earth can you sue the state?
Cofek wants to sue Uhuru government on the basis of Article 43 which states that ‘every person has a right to be free from hunger and to have adequate food of acceptable quality’.
Mario Vargas Llosa (1936- ) got it correctly that with such type of leadership the real politics has very little to do with ideas, values, and imagination. It has everything to do with maneuvers, intrigues, plots, paranoia’s, betrayals and a great deal of calculation.
This is where the implementation of the constitution has no value. It is to be noted here very clearly and with no bias at all that the Deputy President William Ruto was against the proposed new constitution. How can you implement something you did not want?
Dujis MP Adan Duale who accused Ruto and Naomi Shaban of misleading Kenyans who had not read the proposed constitution that the document does not serve their interests is now in Ruto’s government.
Dr Shaban and Mr Ruto argued that the proposed constitution will be oppressive to Kenyans and reiterated their demand to amend contentious clauses before the draft was taken to the referendum.
Ruto and Dr Shaban’s fear was that the new constitution would ensure that Constituency Development Fund (CDF) be scrapped if the proposed constitution is adopted. They were also opposed of doing away with the provincial administration and districts.
Mr Ruto on the other hand argued that land was an emotive issue and should be resolved if Kenyans are to support the proposed constitution in totality. Ruto’s argument was supported by then Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto and his Cherangany counterpart Joshua Kutuny, claiming land would be subjected to taxation under the new constitution.
Another reason for rejecting the new constitution was that it would significantly reduce powers of the Kenyan president and create greater balance among the different branches of government.
It explains why, even though key members of the “No” campaign: William Ruto, former president Daniel arap Moi, most Church leaders and numerous parliament members
Controversial issues included abortion clause and inclusion of Kadhi family courts was not the major reason for rejecting the new constitution.
This is considering that the Muslim courts have been in place since independence. The constitution would continue to recognize the Kadhi courts. The whole truth however, was that they were afraid the constitution would greatly limit those in power.
All the same when a constitutional referendum was held on 4 August 2010 the result was a victory for the "Yes" campaign, with official figures released by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) showing 66.9 percent in favour.
People voted in big number, partly because the new constitution was seen as a vital step to avoid a repetition of the violent outburst after 2007 presidential election. Secondly, they voted in big number because the new constitution would allow changes to the structure of government, including making ordinary citizen to have their voices be heard.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
KENYA: POLICY WATCH
From: Judy Miriga
Roz,
I am impressed with details of what came out from President Uhuru's speech........that, top on the agenda is that corruption must be fought if Vision 2030 must succeed; that discipline and committment to public service with all playing by the same set of rules will not stray from his focus.
I think this is good stuff and is pleasant music for the ears.
However, I only hope Uhuru will remain true to his message for service to the people........It takes two to tango and it remains with the people to engage President Uhuru to fulfill and stay the course on his promises.
I am truely impressed and hope for better things to come through leadership of integrity.......because;
Yes, it can be done............
Cheers !!!
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - -
--- On Wed, 6/12/13, roz kahumbu wrote:
From: roz kahumbu
Subject: POLICY WATCH
Date: Wednesday, June 12, 2013, 8:51 PM
POLICY WATCH: President @Uhuru Kenyatta Full Speech at Leadership and Integrity Conference
by Dennis Itumbi (Notes) on Wednesday, 12 June 2013 at 12:54
SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H., PRESIDENT AND
COMMANDER- IN-CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA DURING
THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND INTEGRITY CONFERENCE, KENYA SCHOOL OF MONETARY
STUDIES, 12TH JUNE, 2013
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am pleased to be here with you today as we discuss the important subject of leadership and integrity in our country. This conference comes at an opportune time when my Government is restructuring the organization of the Government and marks an important step in our efforts towards promoting good governance and integrity in our country.
The subject of the conference is dear to me as I believe leadership and integrity are key components in the development of any society. I am optimistic that the conference will bring our efforts towards improving governance in our country to a higher level.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you are aware, we are as a country, implementing Vision 2030 - our development blueprint which aims at transforming Kenya into a newly industrializing, middle-income country providing a high quality life to all its citizens by the year 2030. Although we are blessed with rich natural resources, a relatively well developed infrastructure, an educated and hardworking workforce as well as strategic location, we cannot achieve this goal without eradicating corruption.
Indeed, corruption undermines development and service delivery by diverting development resources to the personal gain of a few individuals; increasing the cost of doing business; distorting public expenditures; discouraging foreign investors; reducing economic efficiency and slowing down administrative processes thereby making the implementation of government policies ineffective.
If not well addressed, therefore, corruption may hinder the achievement of Vision 2030 and other development goals. Indeed, it is evident that we can only succeed if we have a public service that manages public resources prudently and ethically and which operates efficiently. Kenyans must, therefore, be vigilant on how public resources are used in order for us to ensure our development goals are achieved as envisaged.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we are all aware, the country has undertaken various measures geared towards strengthening the legal and institutional framework to fight corruption and improve governance. Some of these reforms include the enactment of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2011, and the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, among others. The country has also embraced best practices in the management of public affairs such as Performance Contracting system and the Rapid Results Initiatives.
More importantly, the country adopted a new Constitution which is very clear on matters of integrity and governance and which obliges state officers to carry out their duties efficiently and effectively, while demanding that government activities be transparent, responsible and accountable. In spite of the progress we have made in the fight against corruption and improvement of governance through these efforts, corruption remains rife in our public institutions and much more remains to be done.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wish to state very clearly today that my Government will not tolerate corrupt public officers. I remind all public officers that the authority assigned to them is a public trust. All public officers have a responsibility to serve the people, rather than themselves. I expect all public officers to abide by the guiding principles of leadership and integrity which include: selection on the basis of personal integrity, competence and suitability; selfless service based solely on public interest; accountability to the public for decisions and actions; and discipline and commitment in service to the people.
As I pointed out in my message to Kenyans during Madaraka Day celebrations, corruption and impunity are major hindrances to our progress and must be contained. My Government is, therefore, committed to cleaning the public service to ensure offices are manned by men and women of integrity. This will help us achieve our vision of a corrupt-free society as envisaged in the third pillar of the Jubilee Manifesto on openness (Uwazi). So far, we have demonstrated this commitment in the appointment of Cabinet Secretaries and in the nomination of Principal Secretaries.
We will extend the war against corruption to the counties as well by strengthening governance systems in county governments in order to seal corruption loopholes and resource leakages. I wish to reiterate that public resource wastage cannot and will not be tolerated. Public resources should be allocated according to policy priorities and all public institutions should ensure efficient spending and value for money.
As we are all aware, there is a strong correlation between services and corruption. Indeed, corruption is prevalent where government services are in great demand by the people. To be effective in fighting corruption, therefore, I call upon anti-corruption agencies to map all key services that are demanded by wananchi on regular basis and to identify ministries and departments that are high up in the corruption index and where willingness to change is minimal. Once this is done, appropriate strategies to fight corruption and unethical practices should be developed. These should include digitizing delivery of services where possible; reviewing procurement law and procedures, strengthening internal and external audit, enhancing surveillance by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, Police Oversight Authority and other agencies, and putting in place mechanisms for involving the people in fighting corruption.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As we do our part as Government, it must not be forgotten that corruption is a multifaceted phenomenon which requires to be addressed by multiple actors. Because of its pervasive nature and magnitude, it is imperative that all sectors in our society work together in a concerted manner. I, therefore, appeal to the private sector, professional organizations, media, the civil society and indeed all Kenyans, to be actively involved in the fight against corruption. Let us all move beyond the practice of decrying the prevalence of corruption within Government and join hands in doing what each one of us can do to eradicate this vice from our society.
In particular, I call upon the private sector - which plays a major role in the supply side of corruption - to ensure fair dealings with business partners and especially with public institutions. Let me emphasize that creating an ethical business culture should not be viewed as a sacrifice.
Indeed, it is good business to be open and honest with your stakeholders, to reward employees to be honest and ethical and to be known as a firm that deals fairly in its business transactions.
In conclusion, ladies and gentlemen, I commend the Kenya Integrity Forum, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the 14 sectors implementing the National Anti-Corruption Plan for their continued efforts in fighting corruption. I also direct all these sectors to now step up surveillance and institute quick proceedings and sanctions against officers found to be corrupt.
The legal framework to fight corruption is in place and what is now required of anti-corruption agencies is a clear resolve and commitment to individually and collectively create a public service built on high moral values and integrity. I take this opportunity to assure all agencies mandated to fight corruption of my full support in executing their mandate. I will walk together with you in ensuring that clean governance and integrity becomes our way of life.
With these remarks, it is now my pleasure to wish you fruitful deliberations and to declare this conference officially open.
Thank you and God bless you all.
KENYA: DID A MILLION GHOSTS VOTE? DOES IT MATTER?
From: Paul Adhoch
From: "padhoch@ . . . "
Weelllll
DID A MILLION GHOSTS VOTE? DOES IT MATTER?
Source: the-star.co.ke
Last Thursday, The Star published a seemingly innocuous piece titled ‘IEBC wants Political Parties Act amended’. The amendment, the report explained, was because the IEBC is now considering changing the way of "calculating funding for the parties". Currently, the Act ‘provides that political parties’ funding should be computed on the basis of election votes. The new proposed formula is based on the number of elected representatives that each party has.
KENYA: WHAT WORRIES ME IS UNEMPLOYMENT TIME BOMB OF YOUTHS
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013
Some of our readers have asked my opinion what I think about Lands Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu engaging in politics contrary to her commitment before being appointed. Readers were referring to the introduction of widow of late Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo, Nduku, to President Uhuru Kenyatta in Machakos on Sunday by Ngilu to vie for Makueni senate seat.
While unveiling the Jubilee Cabinet, President Uhuru told Kenyans that the condition for appointment of Ngilu and Najib Balala, who had unsuccessfully vied for the Kitui and Mombasa senatorial seats respectively, was on condition of keeping off politics.
My opinion has always been clear that I don’t care whether Ngilu, Balala, Kasungu Kambi engage in politics even though they promised they would not. I don’t care because it is very unfortunate that I will not live to see Kenya you can call yours because this will happen in 50 years to come and many of us would have already died.
That is also why I don’t care whether Uhuru and Ruto mobilized their ethnic communities to ascend to power, whether they rewarded their supporters because they helped them grab the power. Even if Raila won I would still not acknowledge his victory because of using Luo and Kamba communities to win.
It is also why I don’t care whether Francis Kimemia blocked Raila from entering the VIP lounge at Jomo Kenyatta airport or any other airports, or whether Uhuru is retaining PCs, DCs, Dos or county commissioners.
Instead I care very much and it is indeed bothering me so much about 2.3 million Kenyan youths who are facing serious unemployment time bomb due to bad governance in Kenya since 1963 when Kenya claimed to have achieved Independence.
Since independence Kenyan youths have been the most frustrated social groups in the country. That is why I don’t blame more than half of them being responsible for crimes reported nationally as researchers are saying.
My worry is that this is expected to keep growing and reach a peak nationally in about ten years’ time. It means that this “demographic trap” could see “more crime, militant gangs, terrorism, labour unrest and political violence” among other social ills.
Many young Kenyans cannot get jobs because they don’t have usable qualifications or skills, having dropped out of various institutions before completing their studies due to lack of school fees caused by abject poverty and unemployment of their parents as well.
Different economists describe the situation as worrying for a country with such a youthful population and a birth rate of close to three per cent against an economic expansion that is not creating as many jobs as needed.
This may explain the formation of youth vigilante groups that make it easy for violent actions to take place. The age at which the youth engage in crimes is given between 16-25 years. Yet still, we don’t blame them because the high unemployment rates increase the likelihood of violence and conflict.
It is also why you cannot blame young girls who turn into immorality and prostitution. This has been blamed for high rates of school dropouts. Some of these girls have opted to sleep with wealthy men with hope to make easy money.
This explains why teenage pregnancy is on the rise I Kenya. Girls are dropping out of school after they have found they are being expectant. These girls start boycotting classes before they are suspected that they were expectant.
Teenage pregnancy refers to girls becoming pregnant when in either primary school or high school, basically below 18 years of age. This means they have to drop out of school to first take care of themselves and the baby when it is born.
This trend has forced some communities in Kenya to marry off young girls from age 10 to men old enough to be their parents. At this tender age, these girls have not being exposure to any form of sexually education and have no clue of what their husbands expect from them. They become baby making machines.
Lack of a stable family structure push the girls to look for security else where and this is when they get lured in relationships which have devastating effects on their lives. Lack of stable family structure because many of these parents are unemployed, they can’t bring up their children financially, take them to school, so they resolve into alcoholism to forget the burdens they undergo.
That is why due to poverty, girls are forced by their parents to sell their bodies as a source of revenue for the family, just to cater for their basic needs. Most of these girls don’t care even if they contracted HIV/ Aids. In fact they are almost like dead walking people.
It also explains why some young people are abusing drugs rampantly and of course this will also increase the sexual activities. This is a major contributor to increased cases of under age and unwanted pregnancies.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002
Kenya: Kimisho; an Inspiration
from: odhiambo okecth
Dear Members,
I will be hosted at Radio Mayienga due to great Public Demandtomorrow night as from 9.20pm to Midnight. I will again be hosted at the same Station on Sunday from 5pm.
Now, this is great news for many of us. Building Institutions have never been an easy thing. We have only a handful that build Institutions, and I want to believe that we at Kimisho are doing exactly that.
I have greatly been inspired by living Legends- people who dreamt and dreamt big. We have Bill Gates who together with his wife Melinda Gates are managing a the Bill Gates Foundation- a huge philanthropic outfit supporting many across the World.
Bill Gates was born on 28th October 1955 in Seattle Washington. At age 13, he had started showing great interest in software and programming and later, in partnership with Paul Allen, they built Microsoft. Who does not know Microsoft? And who does not know that Melinda Gates is wife to Bill Gates?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lkR148vuzY8/UbgldTrXXeI/AAAAAAAADf8/T9IRhtsYDaw/s1600/1002963_10201338991342911_1961909289_n.jpg
Odhiambo T Oketch and Fred Banja flanked by Mary Akello, Philemon Odhiambo and Kimisho Members in Busia on the 22nd May 2013
Businessman and investor Warren Buffett was born on August 30,1930, in Omaha, Nebraska. Like Bill Gates, he started investing and running a small business at 13. Buffett later started the firm Buffett Partnership in Omaha, with huge success. In 2006, Buffett announced that he would give his entire fortune away to charity (est. $62 bil.), the largest act of charitable giving in United States history.
In Kenya, I have been greatly inspired by Mr. James Mwangi, now Dr James Mwangi. His Father died during the Mau Mau struggles and he was largely raised by his Mother in Kangema. He is the sixth in a family of seven. While growing up, he tended to livestock, made charcoal, sold fruits and other produce for small gains.
Dr Mwangi has been my inspiration because, when Kenya was going through a turbulent period in the Banking Sector, Equity Building Society was being declared technically insolvent. In 1993, Mr. Peter Munga- Chairman Euity, and the then CEO Mr. John Mwangi, turned to James Mwangi. At this time, Equity Building Society had been making losses of Ksh 5 million every year and was now facing a cumulative loss of Ksh 33 million, the staff had not been paid salaries, morale was at rock bottom and membership was dwindling by the hour.
He accepted the challenge. He became the Strategy and Finance Director. At the time, Equity had 27 employees, 27,000 customers, five branches and stood at number 66 out of 66 in the financial sector rankings. He did not come in to start competing with his Chairman and CEO. What he felt most at this time was a heavy sense of responsibility. “I knew I could not let down the Chairman and CEO and, above all, I could not let down the customers. When I said ‘trust me’, I meant to keep my word.”
With this, he revamped Equity Building Society and the rest is now history. And we all know that Equity Bank is the largest Bank in Africa with a customer base of 8 million.
This is what we are building at Kimisho. We have the Tyranny of Numbers and the People on our side and we are determined to make it work.
I am not seeking people to come and compete with me at Kimisho. I am seeking Technocrats who can join hands with me and make us also build our own Equity. I have the full confidence that we are on the right track and the people are with us. I have been invited by many across Kenya to just come and talk with them, and I am picking the challenge always. Our focus is firmly on the Common Man and that Small Business Entrepreneur. We can build Kimisho together as a Team.
Like the Great Bill Gates, the Great James Mwangi, and all those Great God's Bits of Wood across the World, I am convinced that Our Journey of Hope across Kenya with Kimisho will never be in vain. And this is why we are inviting all men and women who believe that we can do it, to join hands with us as we build Kimisho into the next big thing in Africa.
We have the numbers, the energy, the goodwill and the drive.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
Team Leader and Executive Director,
KCDN, KSSL, KICL,
Tel; +254 724 365 557,
Email; kimishodevelopment@gmail.com, komarockswatch@yahoo.com
BlogSpot; http:kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
Kenya: A letter from 2013 to 4013, a letter from the 21st century to the 41st century…
From: Jeremy Kinyanjui
Nairobi, Kenya
11th June 2013
A letter from 2013 to 4013, a letter from the 21st century to the 41st century…
George Orwell published his book “1984” in 1949, and “Prince” released his hit single “1999” in 1982, both men reaching out to the future, a future that came faster than many imagined, and a future that is now 29 years behind us in George Orwell’s case, and 14 years behind us in “Prince’s”. There are those who came before us, and there are those who shall come after us. As we continue to pay homage to our forefathers and ancestors, so also should we seek to reach out to the future in our own way, as did Orwell in 1949, and as did “Prince” in 1982. And with all the fascinating capabilities, breakthroughs & technology of our times, we should seek to be the first generations of mankind to compile detailed transcripts, images, audios and videos for the generations ahead of us, we should seek to be the first generations of mankind to give the future guided tours of the 20th & 21st centuries, we should seek to be to be the first generations of mankind to take the 41st century on guided tours of our times.
Global society is currently going through a transition of Biblical proportions. The global economy is insolvent and has formally been on “life support machines” since late 2008 when Lehmans Brothers went bust in the United States, and after which then US President George W. Bush artificially created US $ 750 billion liquid bailout cash, for the artificial propping up of the US economy. Current US President Barack Obama has followed up George W. Bush ‘s massive artificial creation of liquid bailout cash with at least two of his own since 2009, and across the Atlantic in Europe, massive artificial creations of liquid bailout cash i.e. “economic life support machines”, are now the order of the day. What Governments around the world cannot understandably tell us is that global economy is bust and insolvent, because by doing so, an already bad situation will become much worse. We are now not living a lie, but are a breeding ground for lies.
Capitalism has collapsed and with it, the modern day trans-Atlantic Anglo-Saxon Empire of the United States of America and Europe. Strictly speaking however, it is the United States of America that is the singular Empire of our times, and the rest of us are merely provinces of the modern day Anglo-Saxon Empire, because it is the Marshall Plan of then US Secretary of State George Marshall that re-built severely devastated post-World War II Europe and that equally re-built severely devastated post-World War II Japan. The G-7 group of Nations has traditionally comprised the United States of America, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada, and as mentioned, it is American capital that built modern Europe and modern Japan, and Canada is part of the Commonwealth Nations headed by Her Majesty the Queen of England, so it is crystal clear at a glance who actually calls the shots in these times that we live in i.e. the United States of America. The overrated China is also just a province of the US Empire, because modern China was also built by Richard Nixon’s America, Gerald Ford’s America & Ronald Reagan’s America, so talk of a Chinese Empire is just a myth. There was indeed the Mongol Empire of Genghis Khan, but this was 1,000 years ago. Chinese companies and Chinese engineers working on all range of projects across the length & breadth of sub-Saharan Africa, are no different for instance, from say Kenya Airways, Kenya Breweries, or the Kenya Pipeline Company, whose names and local labour force can give the impression that they are owned by indigenous Kenyans, when they are in fact Anglo-Saxon owned corporations.
But even the fall of an Empire is not exactly instantaneous, the best example of our times being that of Communism and it’s fall in 1991. Twenty two years after the fall of Communism, North Korea still stands as the last bastion of Communism, even though North Korea now clearly looks likes it’s on it’s final leg. Using the example of North Korea therefore, and using the first massive artificial creation of liquid bailout cash of US $ 750 billion in late 2008 by then US President George W. Bush as the formal reference point of the fall of Capitalism, then the modern day trans-Atlantic Anglo-Saxon Empire of the United States of America and Europe will still likely be standing and still likely be calling global shots 22 years from the year 2008 i.e. the year 2030. But this reign does not look like it can extend beyond the year 2040 at most, because the “life support machines” of Capitalism are operating under tremendous strain and will break down after only a given number of years.
When the Anglo-Saxon Empire does eventually come down with a dramatic thud circa the year 2040 from all indications, then it will be every man for himself globally, and we shall not be spared the widespread strife, chaos and anarchy that follow the fall of any Empire. It looks like for a period of about 200 years after the Anglo-Saxon Empire eventually comes down with a dramatic thud circa the year 2040, there shall be general chaos, disorder, conflicts and wars, that will ease out circa the year 2240, when another dominant Empire emerges. The script that lies ahead of us is one of epic Biblical dimensions clearly. We have almost precisely committed the same sins and same mistakes of our forefathers and ancestors, and shall not be spared any less of retribution than that of our forefathers and ancestors, and this applies to all of mankind.
So now would not be a bad time for us to as much as possible compress and preserve as much history of these times as possible, documentaries, videos, audios, photographs, the works. The beauty part of these times we live in is that tremendous volumes of information can be stored on a microchip. These microchips, if any, should be tightly sealed with instructions in eight of the major most languages spoken in the world today, on the compatible technologies required to retrieve the data from the microchips. Two thousand years after the fall of Rome, Latin is still not an entirely extinct language, so 2,000 years from today, not all languages spoken today shall be extinct.
The microchips, if any, should not be stored conventionally, but should instead be very tightly sealed with sensor emitting signals that will be programmed to begin beaming signals after 2,000 years at the earliest, and then be placed in all manner of diverse anonymous locations i.e. & e.g. the depths of oceans, seas, rivers & canyons, the heights of mountains and alps, the midst of vast remote plains and deserts, the depths of the earth, and as matter of fact, some could even be shot to the moon and other nearby planets, because the Americans still have the capabilities of doing this. The microchips should have welcoming messages, both written & audio in eight major spoken languages, warmly welcoming the audience to the year of our Lord 2013 and these times that we live. The guided tours of our times would then commence thereafter. Why not? We’ve written letters all our lives, why not one to the future? We could even help avert the future from making the same mistakes that we, our forefathers and our ancestors made. Let’s do it…
Here in Kenya where we do not value our history and heritage, unlike the Occident and the Orient, where Manchester United, Nigerian movies & Nigerian accents, South African soap operas and Latin American soap operas matter more than we the nationals and citizens of this beautiful country that Heaven bequeathed to us, easy access should be given to our former colonial masters, the British, to the dusty unused vaults of the Kenya News Agency, the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) and the Information Department of the Ministry of Information and Communication, where volumes and volumes of idle videos and idle still images dating back to British East Africa, the East Africa Protectorate, colonial Kenya, the Jomo Kenyatta years and the D.T. arap Moi years . The Government of Kenya should allow the British to catalogue this history for us and digitise it for placement on a master microchip to the 41st century.
A letter from 2013 to 4013, a letter from the 21st century to the 41st century. Why not? It’s time…
Tunisia: AfDB Governors Announce Bank’s Return to its Headquarters in Abidjan
From: News Release - African Press Organization (APO)
AfDB Governors Announce Bank’s Return to its Headquarters in Abidjan
“The first group of staff will leave before the end of 2013", according to the President of the AfDB, Donald Kaberuka
TUNIS, Tunisia, June 11, 2013/ -- The Boards of Governors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) (http://www.afdb.org) and of the African Development Fund (ADF) announced the return of the AfDB to its headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, during the Bank’s Annual Meetings held in Marrakech (Morocco) from 27th to 31st May 2013.
[image] Photo Donald Kaberuka: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/photos/donald-kaberuka-afdb-president.jpg
Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/african-development-bank-2.png
This decision follows the approval of the roadmap prepared by Bank’s management for the return of the institution to Côte d’Ivoire.
The Board of Directors of the AfDB Group had instructed its management during the Annual Meetings held in Arusha, Tanzania, in 2012 to prepare a roadmap for a well-planned and organized return of the Bank to its headquarters. It said the roadmap should guarantee the institution’s stability, business continuity, and the well-being of staff and their families.
Consenting to the roadmap, the AfDB’s Advisory Committee of Governors, meeting in Tokyo, Japan, in October 2012, recommended its approval by the Board of Governors, thus opening the way for the return to Abidjan.
According to the President of the AfDB, Donald Kaberuka, “the first group of staff will leave before the end of 2013. The AfDB will celebrate its 50th anniversary in November 2014 in Abidjan”.
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
SOURCE
African Development Bank (AfDB)
Kenya: Debate Over MPs’s Salaries
from: Gordon Teti
date: Sat, Jun 8, 2013 at 3:49 PM
subject: Debate Over MPs's Salaries
It was wrong to rollback MPs's salaries. Salaries are never rolled back. This is just the law of economics. People, including Members of Parliament, apply for jobs and make budgets based on the salary offered. Therefore, to deal with difficult economic times, increment in salaries and employment are frozen for a period of time.
When you look at people like Charles Nyachae, the Chairman of the Constitution Implementation Commission (CIC) who has voiced his concerns on the demand by MPs to reverse the decision by Salaries and Remuneration Commission that slashed MPs's salaries, the guy is earning over 2 million Kenya shillings; his pay is even more than that of the President of Kenya. Can Mr. Charles Nyachae justify why he is being paid such amount of money while at the same time he is demanding for the slashing of salaries offered to others? This is double standard, hypocrisy and selfish of him.
from: Charles Nyachae
date: Mon, Jun 10, 2013 at 4:40 PM
subject: Re: Debate Over MPs's Salaries
Hi Gordon,
i note your comment and while i respect your views, it would have been greatly helpful if you got your facts right.
the incorrect facts about my terms aside ,(they are in the public domain) neither CIC nor myself have at any time expressed a view regarding what members of Parliament should or should not be paid. Our contribution to the discussion has been to state what is in The Constitution of Kenya 2010, namely that the responsibility to set the remuneration and benefits of all state officers is offered by the Constitution on SRC, see Art 230.
best wishes
USA, DC; & Kenya: INVITE: African Achievements and Challenges: Learning from the Past but Looking Forward
From: Judy Miriga
Good People!!!
I don’t know how this will help people of Kenya moving forward when generally, African leaders never get it that, negative challenges with unnecessary stage shows that are for self gratification and greed are not for unity of common good of all will never take Africa anywhere.
How do learning from the past improve things if unity for collective gains is not nurtured or given prominence and are not harmonized to benefit all collectively moving forward??? Africa must stop being victims of divide and rule and unite for common good of all in order to move forward. Why don’t they practice what they preach when they are in power??? How do they expect to get a different answer when what they practice is not in line with public mandate??? You cannot have your cake and eat it at the same time.
Africa can only achieve if we all pull together joining with the Government of the day and improve policies that are fundamental and are fairly shared, and where interests of all are guaranteed and protected and Human Rights are respected. These are what people must engage and question their leaders in open fora such as these ones.
The Governing system for the people must provide lead guidance and deliver services to public in all areas of social, economic and political gains in a balance for sustainable Trading and in areas of mutual technical, science and cultural potentials that are necessary for progressive development and protection of the environment.
Staying with the basics for success are the fundamentals for Peace, Unity and Harmony where happiness is guaranteed to all and where those who struggle and make efforts to achieve their dream for good life shall never go wrong........
I hope African leaders will humble themselves to see African Achievements and challenges in the same light so Africa can move forward without just being empty political rhetorics that are marely for self gratification........
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - - - -
--- On Mon, 6/10/13, Africa Program wrote:
From: Africa Program
Subject: INVITE: African Achievements and Challenges: Learning from the Past but Looking Forward
Date: Monday, June 10, 2013, 10:04 AM
African Achievements and Challenges: Learning from the Past but Looking Forward
The Africa Program is pleased to invite you to the Wilson Center on:
Tuesday, June 18th, 2013
10:00am - 11:30am
6th Floor Flom Auditorium
Featuring: The Honorable Raila A. Odinga
Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya
Moderator: Steve McDonald
Director of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program and the Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity
(Media? See special instructions below)
The former Prime Minister of the Republic Kenya, The Honorable Raila A. Odinga, will discuss the past 50 years, highlighting both achievements and challenges on the continent. He will also share his vision for Africa over the next 50 years, with a particular focus on Africa's future engagements with China and the United States. Steve McDonald, Director of the Wilson Center’s Africa Program and the Project on Leadership and Building State Capacity, will moderate the discussion.
Location: Woodrow Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW ("Federal Triangle" stop on Blue/Orange Line). A map to the Center is available at WilsonCenter.org/directions. Note: Photo identification is required. Please allow additional time to pass through security.
Want to attend but can’t? Tune into the live or archived webcast at the Africa Program page at WilsonCenter.org (not every event is webcast live; archived webcasts go up approximately one week after the meeting date).
Join the conversation on Twitter by following @AfricaUPClose and find related coverage on our blog at AfricaUPClose.WilsonCenter.org.
Media guests, including TV crews, are welcome and should RSVP directly to derek.langford@wilsoncenter.org. Media bringing heavy electronics MUST indicate this in their response so they may be cleared through our building security and allowed entrance. Please err toward responding if you would like to attend.
IS KENYA READY FOR SOONER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
From: Nyambok, Thomas
IS KENYA READY FOR SOONER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS BEFORE APRIL NEXT YEAR IN 2014? BECAUSE OF THE CORRUPTION
THE HAGUE: THE ICC MUST NOW PROOVE TO THE WORLD THAT THEY CAN HELP THE POOR AFRICAN CITIZENS WHO LACK JUSTICE FROM THEIR SUPERIOR GOVERNMENT. WHO WILL BE CHARGED IF UHURU, RUTO AND JOSHUA ARE FOUND NOT GUILTY?
ICC SHOULD NOT TAKE THESE CASES BACK TO KENYA OR TANZANIA. IT WILL SHOW A WEAKNESS ON THE ROME STATUTE AND KENYANS’ TRUST WILL CEASE.
The innocent Kenyans want the International Criminal Courts to take this matter of Kenya very seriously otherwise the poor will be harmed seriously. The court facility to be used for these people must be in Hague as it was before the AU made this issue as their main agenda. For ICC to change their tactics because of the AU deliberations leads to a disaster. There will be no respect at all to the International Criminal Court system. ICC judges should not bring this matter to Kenya. Africa, NO, Not again?
Kenyans let us not therefore, trivialize the Rome Statutes and the opportunity they offer to tame rogue human rights abusers in Africa, including our presidents. More importantly, Africa now has a window of opportunity to establish democracies, which, over time, will be mature enough to protect the ordinary Africans against such human rights’ abusers and this window may, however, get closed if we turn our back to the promotion and defense of human rights within the Rome Statutes.
You have noticed most African sitting presidents gunged together recently trying to use this platform for defending Uhuru Kenyatta. The intention was not to absolutely defend Kenyatta, they are trying to defend themselves because they know if the ICC succeeded with the Kenyan’s case, then next will be them, however, the public is in the know.
THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT TOLD THE ICC JUDGES THAT HE AND THE PRESIDENT UHURU KENYATTA WILL FACE THE COURTS TO THE END.
That they are aware of their responsibility to the court as an individual and they will cope with the ICC. Can AU give Kenyans a brake? The gentlemen say they are innocence, as they believed in the rule of law but how many people hold the Bible with their right hands that everything they say are true and then latter they are found guilty? It is not easy to trust human beings.
The masters of the Jubilee’s administration are facing trial to The Hague’s Courts where by the former permanent secretary from the office of the president Mr Muthaura Will still be recalled back to Hague because he has some questions to be answered by himself.
The type of Crocodile tears of the AU members going round campaigning about the ICC is as the venom of the black snake. Follow the former presidents with genocide cases on their hands. The new ones also have very dirty hands in the Judiciary. Judiciary is like their own bedroom where they control Government.
Mr Kimemia must tell all Kenyans why he sold the Kenya’s land in Japan Tokyo when he was the Foreign Affairs permanent secretary. Kenyans believe this is not acceptable, having the same thieves being grouped together to start looking for the loop holes where they will start looting tax payers money for the next presidential elections?
Mr Kimemia must tell Kenyans in broad day light about the alleged death threats on the Chief Justice Mutunga, and his harassments at the airport? It is sad to have presidents without control. In which African country does a president go to court as an accused person and receive any semblance of a fair trial? The African courts are like their president’s bedroom. Who can expect African president to be accused of human rights abuses? Who can take them to their own courts and get a fair hearing? Whoever tries would be dead without a trace.
How will a judge who is appointed and sworn in by His Excellency the president, the president of the country, just think about initiating the process of taking a president to court, that judge will be found dead even before contemplating the beginning of such a trial. Check the records of the former Kenyan Presidents – innocent people have been killed, commissions of enquiries have been set using money belongings to the poor tax payers, and no report was produced – absolute window dressing.
THE TRUTH JUSTICE COMMISSION AND THE CONSTITUTION REPORTS ARE IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE SOME HIGH LEVEL PEOPLE ARE BENT TO DESTRY THE IMPLIMENTATION OF THE TRUTH, JUSTICE AND RECONCILIATION REPORTS.
The truth, justice reconciliation commission reports and the constitution is in jeopardy.
Dr Kibara reported that the Treasury had not allocated any money for the Implementations of the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Reports yet the law is clear that the recommendation ought to be implemented to ensure healing in the county. The Attorney general’s office should face Parliament and the Treasury as quick as possible.
PARLIAMENT: The MPs and the committee should meet at the parliament building to make sure that the Treasury gives out the money accordingly as the law stipulates and according to the recommendations. The killers of Dr Robert Ouko are still living good lives but now we got them. How about the person behind J.M Kariouki’s assassination? How about land grabbers, and the two genocides appropriated by the immediate the two former retired presidents of Kenya.
President Uhuru Kenyatta must make sure that the Treasury gives enough money to make sure that justice is followed accordingly without impunity. Kenyan’s are waiting to see the truth and the culprits brought to book. Kenyan jails are filled by the poor.
We are asking the sitting president to show the good example of going to stand at the docket facing the judges in ICC, you will be the man.
Remember the “post-election violence victims whose lives and property were destroyed, they deserve justice, and truth. Children and the innocent citizens were hacked, slashed, beheaded, raped and killed. Well, the retired presidents kept silent, they kept the secrets with them too – these problems started from 1963 when Jomo Kenyatta was in power.
Remember the full eight tons of Lorry’s carried dead children to the morgue. Those children went through hell. Their loved ones feel horrible. The appropriators of the genocides are enjoying tax payers’ money.
The genocides were planed, and hatched at the State house Nairobi. They were well arranged, well organized, and well executed before the 2007/8 presidential elections. The warriors, (mungiki) were ready because Kibaki knew and planed very well with his administration about rigging in advance.
Let us cast our minds back to early 2007/8 as was witnessed on Nairobi-Nakuru road where innocent passengers were being pulled out by some public transportation by rugged militias (Mungiki) who proceeded to hack them to death while state security personnel watched. The video tapes are there, and are instantly available to our so-called Kenyan’s law enforcement agencies.
The vehicles used were with full registration numbers and the lapel service numbers. The facts speak for themselves in Africa as well as in Kenya. There is no trust worthy judiciary system that can fairly dispense justice when very powerful people are accused of rights abuses.
As President Uhuru Kenyatta has been mentioned in the Land corruption and death of innocent people, Kenyan’s are tired of looters and killers. He should leave the office for further investigations because people can’t believe him to be their leader. He is a corrupt president. If ICC can sit back then, Kenyans will feel the heat. The killings will be going on as usual. There has never been any trust within State house since Independence in 1963.
The referendum: Kenyans shouldn’t try to get out from the ICC The Hague is there for the common citizen. The corrupt people want it to be scraped off.
Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto and Joshua have been mentioned and they are suspects. Should they be found guilty, then Kenyans should be ready for another election. And what will happen if some of them are found not guilty while others are guilty? How about if all of them are found guilty? Where will they be detained?
The former President Arap Moi and his predecessor the former President Mwai Kibaki should be held accountable for the innocent lives that were lost through killings. These two people should be taken to court directly without Impunity.
The ICC should call these two former Presidents to Hague as the Supreme Suspects and as the Supreme culprits. They should not be enjoying their goodies they got from the dead’s Taxes.
REFERENDUM: Referendum is the only way for Kenya to avoid being removed from The Rome Statute: Tom Nyambok 6/10/2013