Category Archives: Kenya

KENYA: THE MUGO REPORT – February 2013

From: Mugo Muchiri
Los Angeles, CA
March 1, 2013

Q: Habari ndugu Mugo? How have you been?

Mugo: Njema kabisa. Hope wewe pia.

Q: Yes indeed, asante. I’d like us to discuss a number of important issues this month, not the least of which is the election that takes place this Monday March 4, 2003. Then there’s the National Land Commission……..some exciting news on that front. But let’s start with some equally uplifting ag news. Mango farmers in Embu County earned Shs 18million since December, the start of the season. This is up from Shs 5million, a 360% rise in earnings. This has got to be some very good news for the local mango farmer in Embu.

Mugo: Indeed. We’ve all heard that a long journey starts with the first step. So this represents Embu’s first significant lurch forward. The surge in attributed in part to efforts by ICIPE which supplied pheromone-impregnated fruit fly traps that significantly curtailed insect damage to the crop. Female insects emit sex pheromones as chemical attractants. Their synthetically produced counterparts are inserted into a trap to lure the males. The little guys ‘go bananas’ and while they’re at it don’t make nearly as much damage to the crop.

Q: The same report mentions that expectations are for Embu farmers to earn upwards of Sh. 40million by the end of the mango season in April.

Mugo: Well this is quite exciting for me. Agriculture is the mainstay of Kenya’s economy, accounting as it does for approximately 70% of it. When the common farmer has access to markets, then there’s an all-round encouragement. You really want everyone to feel vested in the Kenyan economy and making farmers’ lives more purposeful and profitable will surely go a long way in that direction.

Q: Talk a little bit about the export potential of mangoes. Do you see AGOA providing a channel for Kenyan mangoes into the US market?

Mugo: That’s a great question. AGOA for those of us not familiar is the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act which President George W. Bush signed into legislation on July 12, 2004. It aims to provide greater US market access via elimination of tariffs and duty on a certain class of goods from Africa like apparel, horticultural products, etc. Nations benefitting need to demonstrate increasing labor rights and more market-based policies.

I think this would be an exciting goal for Embu farmers – hopefully through a cooperative society – to work towards. They certainly need to make contact with the Nairobi USAID trade hub (one of three in Africa) which was established precisely to give US market-access technical advice. The extent to which Embu can comply with US’s strict sanitary and phytosanitary standards will certainly work towards enhancing rather than declining the export potential of their product.

The US market is important because it swallows nearly 1/3 of total world mango production. Its current main suppliers include Mexico and Central America, both of which have either territorial contiguity or proximity with her. But still, the math will determine whether any zero-rated product passes competitive muster.

Q: Talking of territorial proximity, the EU is there. Most of our flowers go there; so is the Middle East.

Mugo: Absolutely. The EU consumes about 10% of global mangoes while the UAE and Saudi Arabia account for 7% and 5% respectively. Netherlands is a major global player and like UAE and Saudi Arabia re-exports to its neigbhors. One last piece of important detail has to do with the processed mango fruit market which India is the hands-down global leader in (as they are with mango exports at 40%).

I mean just think about it. How could a robust County government (and CDF) do for Embu farmers in the following categories: mango juice, pickled mangoes, mango chutney, mango pulp, mango paste, mango puree, mango flour, mango slices in brine, dried mango fruit. You see the possibilities? Now you begin to understand the devastatingly handsome leverage that good governance has the potential to occasion.

Q: Governance is a great segway to our next topic: the National Land Commission. Well it’s now up and running thank God, having been sworn in by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga on Wednesday February 27, 2013. A sign of relief?

Mugo: A big Yes! It was highly uncharacteristic to delay their gazettment especially since all court challenges had been exhausted, but finally it happened. Let’s see how Bwana Swazuri (or should I say daktari) & Co proceed. They have the goodwill of the vast majority of Kenyans. Their importance cannot be over-stated and this led the CJ to refer to them as the “mother of all commissions.”

Will they tackle historical land injustices with a keen eye to justice and human rights? Squatters all over the nation will be keen to hear. Will they manage all public land on behalf of the national and county governments with a judicious hand? Will they shepherd the process of title registration in a manner that inspires confidence? Will they conduct their research into land use and natural resource utilization with righteousness? Let us see. What’s important for this group of 9 to know is that it has the genuine goodwill and support of the Kenyan people. Just like Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki at the start of their terms. The question is: will it still enjoy the same adoration during its sunset years, for everything that starts must have an end? Good luck ndugu na dada!

Q: Well said! Now on to the coming election. Monday ndiyo mambo yote. You didn’t think Uhuru and Ruto would be in the running. Your words if I recall well were “next to nil chance of running.” Eating humble pie?

Mugo: No, I’m a githeri type of guy. So yes to humble githeri…….about 1/3; the rest 1/3 for water and the last 1/3 for air! The mistake we often make is being normative in our analysis. What it ought to be doesn’t always coincide with what is or will be. Normatives are based on ideals; actuality is very much a creature of the level of coherence in our collective consciousness.

The point is that a majority of Kenyans believe that the Prime Minister’s office has been a most sleazy den of corruption. We all know about Kazi kwa Vijana, the Maize scandal, enormous accumulation of wealth of ODM ministers and senior staff in the PM’s office. No one has come to refute Miguna Miguna’s claims, lest they provoke him to really ‘go nuclear.’

We also know, as Martha Karua has often asserted, that you or I would never hire a shambaa boy facing serious charges in court. Yet half of us are all gaga about the Uhuru-Ruto ticket. A major part of the tensions in this country are and have been due to land. The issue of Uhuru and his family’s land holdings came up during the debates. Ruto has a current court case of expropriation of land in Uasin Gishu from one Adrian Muteshi. Yet a part of our brain completely washes this away. A friend of mine told me ‘elections sanctify the wolves. We arm ourselves with the belief that this time around, we have faithful guardians of the chicken house.’

Why is it that people are as if irresistably drawn to vote choices they know are not in their best interest? If the resumes of all candidates had their names removed so that only character, integrity, experience, performance and passion were available for scrutiny, who do you think would win?

Q: A lot of folks say that the verbal opinions expressed by the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, etc ., may been prejudicial to the Prime Minister, and that may have accounted for the zooming forth of Uhuru’s poll numbers relative to Raila’s. What are your thoughts on this?

Mugo: You know these are really uncharted waters for the nation, and even for the world. I don’t recall any country on earth that’s had presidential candidates with an ICC overhang. I don’t fault these nations for their pronouncements. I think it would be imprudent for them to keep silent and then suddenly ‘ambush’ Kenya’s president and his deputy with diplomatic snubs in the event that the Uhuru-Ruto ticket wins. I’m not sure about the reasoning behind Uhuru’s surging numbers except to say that he and Ruto got a new lease on life once the specter of their possible disqualification essentially evaporated. After Justice David Majanja’s ruling, you really saw a re-energized campaign machine.

Q: So you don’t take Jendaye Fraser’s approach that Ambassador Johnnie Carson’s “elections have consequences” remarks are interference in the internal affairs of Kenya?

Mugo: I really don’t take solace in her words. For all intents and purposes, Jendaye will continue having a well paying job at Carnegie Mellon University. But what happens to Kenya and the average Kenyans? What is the nature of the consequences that Mr. Carson was alluding to? You have got to believe that exhaustive high-level discussions about ramifications of a Uhuru presidency have been had in Washington. My question is ‘what are the specific consequences?’

Q: A lot of Kenyans say ‘damn this talk of consequences.’ That Kenyans have a right to chose their leaders without any big brother advice. That Kenyans don’t tell them how to handle gays, although a majority of Kenyans abhor that lifestyle. So why should they meddle in our affairs? That America preaches adherence to the ICC track yet she herself is not a state party the ICC. That Kenyans are ready for anything, therefore no one should mess with their sovereignity. How do you respond to these folks?

Mugo: I would say to them that Robert Mugabe of a once vibrant Zimbabwe, upon hearing of possible international sanctions, said “gold in the ground doesn’t expire; it gains value as time ticks on.” Two weeks ago, it was reported that Zimbabwe had less than $300 in one of its international accounts. Busloads of Zimbabweans have had to seek refuge in neighboring countries (especially in South Africa) to escape hard times at home.

I would say to them that despite having vast reservoirs of oil, Iran’s economy is very close to the brink, which may explain its newfound eagerness to engage on the Nuclear issue. There are reportedly no medicines in hospitals and chemists; their businessmen cannot do international transactions because bank transfers are next to impossible. Even China, a large importer of Iranian oil, cannot find a way to pay for oil due to international financial restrictions. Freighters, including Russian ones, carrying Iranian oil have had to yield as their insurance policies, largely underwritten in Britain, have become null and void.

I would say to them: ‘why do you think a foreign-currency starved Moi formed the Dream Team?’ Out of his benevolence, really? How about restrictions of dollar remittances to Kenya?

I would say to them: ‘what about AIDS funding; what about free primary education funding; what about horticultural exports to the EU; what about Kenyan business and industry and its import needs? Indeed what about AGOA? What about the dollar going to 100? There are so many ways that the Kenyan economy is intertwined with the West, that’s what I would say to them.

Q: And they would respond ‘but China is there, you don’t want to deal with us, well we’ll just look East?’ What would you say?

Mugo: I would say to them: ‘do you want all your cards tied to China? A nation that will never raise a finger, voice or vote if ordinary citizens are butchered like those in Syria? Will China help you fight for a gender-based affirmative action policy? Will China help fight corruption? Will China raise its voice for a peaceful environment for free and fair elections? Will China express support for resettlement of IDPs? Will China call for the full implementation of the Constitution, including providing funds to enhance the Judiciary’s capacity and effectiveness? Will China assist in formulating and implementing a Climate Change Response Action Plan? Will she be vigorous in insisting on ensuring effectiveness of budget proposals? Will China call for upgrading the Mombasa port to be a one-stop shop and communication hub? How about adoption of a health plan or adoption of a drought preparedness plan, or even setting up of a transitional authority to guide devolution?

America and the EU have been strong partners in helping the government realize and activate the channels through which its mandate to provide services to the Kenyan people need to flow.

The point is: these are all uncertainties. Yet we all concur that good decisions have to made in an environment of ample information, often of a constrasting nature. Good leaders yearn for competing viewpoints. Isn’t this why we had the presidential debates? So that the candidates and their policies can be interrogated on behalf of Kenyans? So that Kenyans get the peel back the masks so to speak?

Q: That’s heavy stuff bwana. So who do you think wins this thing come Monday?

Mugo: Despite the predictions from both camps of a first-round victory, I see us headed towards a run-off. Then the dynamics shift dramatically. The question becomes ‘whom do the supporters of Musalia Mudavadi, Martha Karua and future President Peter Kenneth coalesce around?’ It’s hard to say at this point.

Q: Do you expect it will all be a peaceful affair?

Mugo: Oh yes! Everyone has ‘let’s be peaceful’ on their lips. Even me, when I was leaving for work today, I saw the neighbor’s dog and told it to think ‘peace thoughts’ for Kenya come Monday. And it barked back, ‘Whoa, whoa!’ which I think meant ‘OK.’

Q: Ok bwana Mugo. Thanks for sharing and look forward to a peaceful election and a prosperous Kenya.

Mugo: Umesema vizuri sana. Thank you too. God doesn’t bless in a vacuum; a people have to deserve first, and the blessings flow. Raise the pipe to the level of the lake and the water will flow to your fields. Kwaheri.

Kenya: The New Dawn, A Second Chance

From: peter okelo

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The New Dawn, A Second Chance

(By Peter Okelo, dedicate to Wole Soyinka and Mwalimu Julius Nyere)

As Kenyans approach the next elections the question you are asking, the question oneveryone’s mind, on many a lips is: who shall Kenyans elect the next president after PresidentMwai Kibaki gracefully retires?

Before answering this question though, in this moment of restless composure, in this urgentmoment of great national expectation, a few things need to be said, and said unambiguously.

It must be first and foremost acknowledged, that Kenya has come a long way since gainingindependence from the British colonialist after a long struggle during the that colonial momentof official primitive discrimination based, but only ostentatiously, on race, skin colour, on beingBlack or White, African or European/British. It must also be acknowledged, that in spite ofwriters like Ngugi wa Thiongo and the first vice president of Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga,lamenting, quite rightly, that in the immediate years following this self-liberation in 1963 it wasnot yet Uhuru [freedom] in Kenya; much has been realized in terms of self-rule, self-determination, and self-definition. So much so has the Kenyan society made progress thatfurther positive outcome in the coming elections will only make Kenya continue on this path ofself-improvement, particularly through the safeguarding of the much died-for and much fought-for all-embracing constitution that some elite power-hungry individuals and interest groupsamidst Kenyans might not want to see reach its conclusion and finalrealization/implementation.

In this regard, in the context of movement from the colonial moment to post-independence[not necessarily ‘post-colonial’—a terminology frequently applied in academic papers but here avoided for a measure of optimism] Kenya, like many African countries like Mozambique, SouthAfrica and Ghana, Tanzania [to name but a few] have made so much progress that the countryis exemplary and worth emulating unlike any country [not worthy of a mention in this article]that still clings to a colonial primitive constitution that essentially upholds the democraticsuppression of a group or community by the majority, on the basis of absurd freckledessentially racist philosophy that deliberately refuse to recognize the existence of thesuppressed minority or majority community. Most of the times the group imposed upon, terror-nullified to be precise, is the rightful owners of the land upon which much claim is laid. Suchprimitive pathological essentially colonial constitution might as well call upon the unrecognizedminority or majority to prove its existence… Imagine being called upon to prove that youactually do exist as a person or a people… and that you were actually born, and by so beingborn your existence occupies space, land, time, and has a history…sick. Absolute collectiveconstitutional national sickness. Such a country [shall we name obvious names?] does not sleep

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well, and God knows it shouldn’t sleep well until it has collectively solved the roots of itscollective socio-psychoses that eats away its national soul day and night, in tortured silence orguilty ruptures of righteous hysterical shouting in parliament and wherever else constitutiondiscussions might take place. Ever visited such a tormented country?

Never mind, that will be a topic for another time, in the meantime we shall come back to Kenya, come back home.

There is a revolution underway here, in Kenya. Reading from the lips of the common Mwanachiin matatus, in kiosks, in pubs, market stalls, barazas and places of social meeting and worship;Kenya is on the verge of a revolution. An eclipse moment of progressive change that will befollowed by further illumination of the national psyche, renewed to its very core.

But it will be a revolution without violence, a most peaceful revolution, as it should be. Yes,there will be no violence involving a Kenyan raising a fist against another Kenyan as waswitnessed in that sad-insane moment of stolen elections and mayhem, 2007. There might bedisgruntled rustle here and there, but that is normal theatre, drama, fanfare.

This is not a prophesy—that is the territory of the evangelical, nor is this some wishfulpremonition-hallucination. I believe that to write about grave matters affecting people youneed to walk among the people, listen, learn, look, sleep, and live among them even for a shortwhile—not write from the hills of Paris and New York, removed. Then the pen is informed as itshould be anyway.Thus gazing from the ground, from the crystal ball of actual experience of Kenyans’ ownutterances, words, sentiments; the vote shall surprise many, the trend of voting and the resultshall surprise even the winner who will not be so much of a winner but collective trusteeentrusted with the heavy responsibility, a loaded burden, of seeing that the vision of Kenyans iscarried forward—a vision that was desperately hijacked in 2007 by clique of power-hungry elite sadistically bent on the continued concentration of power in the hands of a few, a minorityprivileged cohort that fences its interest within the walls of brute force, coercion, and anillusion of ethnic protection. That ethnic wall is crumbling, piece by piece, and so it should. Youonly have to listen to young people talking, old people wishing, people discussing, the massesof people calculating in dialogue, to realize that the days of that wall are numbered.

The wishful firewall of ethnic-pawns-protection is not assured in the coming illuminatingrevolutionary elections. The majority of once used pawns are restlessly looking elsewhere forreassurance and their eyes are searching, opening to the fact that lasting collective security andnational progress cannot be granted by a privileged minority elite living in the isolated hills andluxurious heavenly hives of barbed wires and electric fences. It’s dawning on Kenyans that

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security and national socio-economic progress is and shall always be found in the goodwill ofKenyans, all Kenyan tribes and peoples holding hands and moving forward as one.

As one slips, all fall, and as all rise, all remain afloat, buoyant in national victory and continuity.So gleaning from the sentiments of Kenyans, if a privileged individual or group thinks that it willmobilize some ethnic group against another, such group or individual has much awakeningsurprise coming its way. Kenyans are tired, tired of being used, abused, treadmill-trodden upon.Kenyans will not hurl stones at each other but instead turn scrutinizing critical indignant eyeupon the elite masters pulling shadowy not-so disguised strings of historically misplacedviolence of self-preservation of a few, a handful.

Kenyans are realizing that the average person in Nyeri who is afflicted by poverty-induced-alcoholism suffers the same fate as the average Dorobo unable to find water when water-harvesting technology is not really part of rocket science studies at universities; it’s simplehydrodynamics and accessible mechanics that only needs national free will and thedetermination to tap into the vast economic and human resources to realize this needy thirstydream.

Therefore, reading from the not so distant stars of Kenya’s electoral fortunes and outcome—there will be no run off. It will be a convincing majority vote for one presidential candidate. Allthe polling predictions that rely on a few, a selected sample, do less justice to the complexity ofthe majority left un-polled on the ground. You would recall that the soothsayer polls in the UShad Obama and Romney ‘neck-to-neck’ yet when the secret moment of solitary decision came,the majority voted for their candidate of choice behind closed curtains, not a candidate ofmuch hyperbolic polling predictions and at times wishful faulty academic forecast.

Having said all that though, I here do recognize quite calmly with Dr. Franz Fanon [in his brilliantmasterpiece writing called Black Skin White Masks—a book that you should buy and read inyour free time] that there are numerous idiots in this world, and having calmly said that, I doconfirm too that Kenya has its share of such idiots who might want or try to derail the vote,derail the crucial moment, or try to turn a Kenyan against another Kenyan, a Dorobo against aTeso, a Mjikenda against a Luya, a Kisii against a Kuria.

But reading from the sentiments of Kenyans, god help any political elite, or some power-obsessed group or individual, that might try to turn a Kenyans against themselves or steal theelections, a second time. No, Kenyans will not raise a hand against other Kenyans, they learntfrom the blinding white-lie darkness of a still birth in 2007.

Listening to the silent whispers un-shouted, and reading from the graffiti like the one close tothe fish market on Muindu Mbigu Road in Nairobi, god help any political elite tries to derail the

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moment, while hoping to avert the avalanche of mass indignation and control it with TNT,gunpowder, police boots, or threats of death. So just as well that the Chief Justice Dr Mutungacame out in public on Wednesday the 20th of February 2013 and spoke about the alleged threatof death received in a letter.

Listening to the whispers of Kenyans, the nation will be voting against discriminatory impunity, voting against any a socio-political elite that tries to maintain illegal control on the way thenation wants determine its destiny, determine its being [being as a continuous everlastingactivity and reality], telling people what they are and what they are not, what they could be orcouldn’t be.

Thus going by the currency of words spoken, ideas expressed, any power-hunting elite whotries to instigate senseless violence against Kenyans would be better off leaving the country andgoing into exile, self-exile. That might turn out to be the best favour that such power-hungryperson would have done himself, s/he might just find himself or herself amidst the brokenpieces of self-integration that s/he will certainly experience in exile and, if s/he does come backto Kenya, s/he might so do a changed self, reconstituted in the psyche and attitude.

So who shall be the president I hear you ask; well, all matters held constant, given that no idiottries to hijack the jet of electoral justice mid-air, then these are the like outcome as oneconcludes from listening to the silent will of people.

The next president will be a person who has good intentions but the fellow Kenyan will gonowhere with mere intentions and no substantial following, clout. Some of our candidates arepeople of good intentions but he still needs feet to stand on.

Gazing at the crystal-ball prism of Kenyan sentiments, and sad as it might be; a woman will notbe the new president of Kenya, not now, not yet, not just yet. And not because the currentcandidate is a woman either. Even the women who would have boosted Mama Martha’schances of winning the presidency will not vote her in just because she is a woman. There aremany ways that she is not seen as trustworthy as she comes across. Those sad moments of2007 would have help set her apart as a person of resolute resolve, but many would recall thatshe had nothing to say about the stolen vote. If she had the blessing of Mwai, and Uhuru, andthe house of Mumbi, then she might have had a chance, a slight chance though.

The next president will not be an opportunist either, with less or no principles that Kenyansneed to move over the hurdles that will come with the new dawn of new the government. Hewill not be a candidate considered soft, resolving issues prematurely before a credibleresolution has been reached. Such candidate would do well in times of ease, when there’s nourgency, as a figure-head president with less to do but to maintain a semblance of presence

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with no actual duties, more like the shadow of the real president, having nothing to influencebut still being there anyway, for national integrity, to be seen, just in case. Such softness makesany such a candidate a perfect target of a hoodwinking project of influencing a change ofleadership that would otherwise only be a maintenance of the stability and continuity ofprevious powers that had been, or the powers that be for that matter.

In short, given that the new era is allowed to dawn with fairness and transparency, withoutidiotic hijacking interventions of repeated fatal nationhood-rupturing conspiracy, the newpresident shall be one Kenyans have always perceived [‘have perceived’ is present perfect tenseexpressing a state of nationally widespread perception that started in a distant past to thepresent moment, not a perception or impression shaped in recent times and in the heat ofcampaigning and scheming] as a nationalist, a person with the whole country at heart and notinclined to some indispensable stone of illusory ethnic firewall enclave.

So need I underestimate the collective intelligence of Kenyans and tell you who that person, thenext president of Kenya is? No, you won’t have to wait for too long, just go out there and votefor Kenya and watch for anyone, any elite who retreats back into darkness of divisive politicsand pitfalls of aimless retrogressive violence.

Peter Okelo is Language and Communication / Applied Linguistics academic who has worked in Mozambique, southern Africa, Kenya and Australia.

You may contact author at tekta01@hotmail.com

Kenya: Online fury over CNN’s story on unnamed militia group

From: Judy Miriga

Good People,

I have received unsubstantiated information that some of the election officials are planning to staff balot boxes for TNA Presidential candidates and sneak them in. To dispense such rumours, we want to know and be told what security plan the IEBC with election monitoring team have put in place to safeguard such incidents?

Thank you all and my Peace prevail…..

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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Kenya invites US leader Obama for president’s swearing in

By EDITH FORTUNATE ( email the author)

Posted Friday, March 1 2013 at 08:47

United States President Barack Obama is among world leaders invited for the swearing in ceremony of Kenya’s fourth president.

Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia said Friday the government has invited the British Prime Minister David Cameron, and European Union Head of States.

Also invited are presidents of regional body, the East African Community (EAC). They include Uganda President Yoweri Museveni, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame and Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza.

“You can be sure that we will invite the American President. If he cannot come then he can delegate. If you go to the European Union we have the various countries,” said Mr Kimemia during a media briefing on the assumption of office for a new president at the Hotel InterContinental, Nairobi.

“If you go to the continent of Africa, we have key representatives since we cannot invite everybody to come and witness this historic occasion,” he stated.

Mr Kimemia urged Kenyans to maintain peace before, during and after the elections.

“We urge Kenyans to maintain peace. We have put in place everything necessary to ensure this process is successful. We have mobilised all our internal security organs to ensure that Kenyans are fully secure round the clock,” he said.
The new president is expected to take the oath of office on March 26, three weeks after Kenyans go to the polls.

However, this will only happen if there is a clear winner in the March 4 General Election.

A candidate is required to garner 50 per cent plus one of the total votes cast in the elections and at least 25 per cent in half of the 47 Counties countrywide to be declared as duly elected president.

At the briefing, Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo said 290 CID officers will be deployed to the 47 Counties to monitor hate and violence and gather evidence leading to the successful prosecution of electoral violence cases.

If there is no clear winner on March 4, a run off pitting the two top candidates will be held within 30 days after the first vote.

Online fury over CNN’s story on unnamed militia group

Kenyans online have reacted angrily at a CNN story about an unnamed militia group preparing to cause mayhem in the Rift Valley in the election period.

The story, uploaded late Thursday on the CNN website and broadcast on the CNN as a curtain-raiser to Kenya’s elections scheduled for Monday, shows four people whose faces are obscured carrying, what the reporter Nima Elbagir, describes as “guns fashioned from iron piping, home-made swords and bullets bought from the blackmarket”.

The story is titled “Kenyans armed and ready to vote”.

The bile from the online community was that the story ran on the day that there was a rally at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park about peaceful elections, yet the story did not even mention the rally, or the preparations by the police to ensure acts of crime and violence do not happen at election time.

There was also no mention of the unprecedented move earlier in the week where all presidential candidates met and made a public vow that they will concede defeat, and if they felt aggrieved, they will go to the courts.

The peace messages being aired in mainstream Kenyan media and the deployment of 99,000 police officers to maintain order, are indications the country is keen to avoid a repeat of the 2007-2008 chaos.

On Friday, Kenya’s online community revived the popular hashtag (keywords used to follow conversations on the Twitter) #SomeoneTellCNN and poked holes in the CNN story.

“A story needs to be balanced, where is the side of the coin showing people who are going around preaching peace?” posed Michelle Anekeya in her tweet to the reporter, Nima Elbagir, whose handle is @NimaCNN.

In a separate tweet, Ms Anekeya added: “Reporting like this is what makes them lose rating both in the States and soon here in Kenya @NimaCNN we want peace!”

Also Grant Brooke posed: “Where was CNN when all the candidates stood together and told their followers to commit no acts of violence?”

In a follow-up tweet Grant added: “Parachute-in journalists in search of disaster completely miss the great story of peace and reform b4 their eyes”.

Gideon Serem too had queries for the global, American-based broadcaster: “Don’t your journalists have anything positive to report about the Kenyan election”.

“Isn’t there just something else to anticipate apart from your WAR & ARMS, it just sounds twisted,” noted a person whose twitter handle is @AverageKenyan.

“#SomeoneTellCNN that (there’ll be) no war and Kenya will vote peacefully, no running battles, only Kenyans running home to celebrate a new president,” @AverageKenyan added in a separate tweet.

The CNN reporter concentrated on the four men in a forest, whom she said, were “local Kikuyu militia” armed and ready to fight, because, in the 2007 post-election chaos, they were caught off-guard.

The men in jeans, t-shirts and one in a singlet, rolled around in the grass, with one of them acting as the commander carrying a knobkerrie and looking at the trio in front of him as if conducting a choir.

The alleged militia are shown in the CNN clip carrying pangas, arrows, swords and metal bars. The reporter said they were training and went ahead to pick a sound bite of one of the men, with his back to the camera, saying, “ if you need peace, you have to prepare for war”.

Nima also interviewed a farmer, named James Maina, who she said was displaced from his farm.

“Some of the people we’ve been speaking to say that they are going to start fighting back, do you ever think of doing that?” Nima, the CNN reporter asked.

“Sioni kama nitabaki nipigane…” Maina’s response in Kiswahili fades off, and the reporter translates that to mean “I have got nothing left worth fighting for”.

She quoted an undated report of the Human Rights Watch which she said spoke of Kenyans arming, and also makes passing reference to the response of government spokesperson who said the police were on top of things.

Though the violence was severe in 2007-2008, the CNN reporter had this to say: “In a country that has for decades known violence following elections, tribal leaders say preparing for the worst, is their mission.”

She did not mention the tribal leaders that she spoke to.

Crispus Mahea agrees with the CNN story: “The question is, why are we preaching peace so hard? CNN’s story is credible, the threat of violence is very real people”.

Most Kenyans are quite sensitive to depictions of violence and strife in Kenya, when the country is just calm. The experience of 2007-2008 when tourists fled the country and Western nations issued travel advisories against Kenya did not go down well with the ordinary citizens.

Wishing Kenyans a very peaceful, credible, free and fair electioneering

From: Judy Miriga

Good People of Kenya,

I wish you all a peaceful, credible, free and fair elections. I Pray you will all conduct yourselves cautiously and with calm and report or document and with use of your cellphones post in youtube information all that you want to share with Diasporas.

Whoever wins, we shall not allow to be frustrated or intimidated in any way, but will maintain steady pressure to make sure Public Mandate and the New Constitutional Change Reform Accord is in compliance with the Will of the People respected and honored.

We shall not allow to be short-changed or give up for whatever reason, but we will continue to press for complete Reform Change until all is perfect and we trust God will direct our path always.

Any grievances or conflicts to be channeled to Court for hearing without any waste of time.

God Bless us all and we shall keep a watchful eye.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

– – – – – – – – – – –

Senior Judge can swear in president in Mutunga’s absence
Updated Wednesday, February 27 2013 at 17:46 GMT+3

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

Nairobi, Kenya: The senior most Supreme Court Judge will swear in Kenya’s forth president in case Chief Justice Willy Mutunga is unavailable.

The constitution provides that in the absence of the Chief Justice, the Deputy CJ can swear in the president.

However, the position of DCJ is vacant following the exit of Nancy Baraza and her proposed replacement Kalpana Rawal has to wait for the next parliament to approve her appointment.

Attorney General Githu Muigai on Wednesday said he had consulted Dr Mutunga and resolved that in the unlikely event of his absence, a senior judge can perform his duties.

“We have had discussion with the CJ and agreed that notwithstanding the lack of a substantive office holder of Deputy Chief Justice, the senior most Judge at the Supreme Court will step in,” he said.

He continued, “ We are taking abundant caution in the unlikely even the CJ is unavailable, there will be no gap. We will proceed to swear in the president once the results are declared.”

Githu issued a stern warning to public servants found interfering with the conduct of the elections that they will face the full force of the law.

“As a Government, we are committed to abide by the clear policies, which requires public servants, irrespective of their positions to be non-partisan,” he said.

The CJ added that he has finalised arrangements on how the president and County governors and representatives will be sworn in saying judges and magistrates have been designated for the work.

“Mutunga said he had also set up special courts that will deal with criminal cases arising from electoral offences that will operate 24/7,” he said.

The CJ too said disputes arising from election results will be adjudicated within the set timelines saying the Judiciary has completed developing and training judges on the rules of procedure for election petitions.

Leave no ‘stone unturned’ on Mungiki threat to Mutunga
Updated Sunday, February 24 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

The proscribed Mungiki sect has a long, turbulent and ‘fascinating’ history. It has time and again brushed shoulders with successive regimes, along the way making and losing ‘allies’ as well.

That they are now ‘threatening’ the Chief Justice is indeed and must not be treated lightly. Not only has the “criminal gang” severally been banned by former President Moi and President Kibaki regimes, but also severely thrashed and mercilessly ‘rooted out’ via what human rights organisations labelled: ‘extra-judicial killings.’

Illegal terror

This is an illegal terror organisation blamed for bizarre butchering of human beings (especially around Kiambu, Kikuyu and Kiambaa), extortion from matatu operators, illegal ‘tax collection’, among other evils. The most disturbing thing is their ‘impromptu’ appearance when elections are looming in our nation. Human Rights groups and dozens of commissions mandated to look into 2007/2008 PEV chaos did blame them in their reports for allegedly committing human rights abuses in some parts of Rift Valley and Nairobi provinces.

The Government must take stern action and never waiver in its ambitious programme of doing away with illegal sects and groups in our country, especially now that General Election is around the corner.

For Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to come out in public and mince not his words by alleging the threats were specifically emanating from ‘ Mungiki veterans’, such threat must be probed thoroughly.

Lest we forget, our Judiciary, especially under the current hawk-eyed watch of Justice Mutunga, is on the verge of restoring the dashed hopes Kenyans have been forced to nurse for years on end. It is no longer business as usual in our judicial corridors and chances of one embracing genuine justice has since increased!

Crucial organ

The Judiciary is one of the most crucial organs of Government and its role is not only pivotal in case of an election dispute, but also indispensable in a growing democracy like ours.

Kenyans of good will must denounce such unhealthy gestures and ensure every government organ (moreso the Judiciary) performs its roles expeditiously, independently, professionally and without intimidation or manipulation. Surely, we have come of age and the least these ‘ Mungiki veterans’ should have done was applaud the noble tasks the CJ and his colleagues have undertaken without fear or favour.

By Cheruo Levi Cheptora, Trans Nzoia

Embakasi parliamentary aspirant missing

Updated Wednesday, February 27 2013 at 12:01 GMT+3

John Rex Omolle who has been missing since Sunday [Photo: Courtesy]

By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: A Parliamentary candidate for the Embakasi West Constituency in Nairobi is missing after a suspected kidnap incident.

Mr John Rex Omolle of PDP, a party affiliated to CORD went missing on Sunday and is yet to be found.

He is seeking to be a Member of Parliament for the new constituency and had been cleared to contest by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC).

The family of the candidate says they are yet to hear from him or the kidnappers since Sunday morning when he went missing.

Police too confirmed they are investigating the incident and so far no ransom has been demanded or calls made to the family.

Nairobi head of CID Nicholas Kamwende said a team of police is pursuing the case but they have no clue on where he could be or those behind it.

âWe have visited various places including hospitals, police stations, prisons and even mortuaries in vain. So far there are no calls that have been made to the family to make demands as it should be the case,â said Kamwende.

The police boss added said they are yet to know the motive behind his missing and if indeed it was the work of kidnappers.

Omolleâs wife Lilian told journalists the PDP candidate went out for a jog on Sunday morning from their Harambee Sacco residence in Umoja estate but did not return home.

He usually goes for a jog and as usual he left the house but he did not carry his mobile phones. He is yet to call and he never confided to me his life was in danger,â said Lillian.

He had not been threatened in a manner that would require him to watch over his security by asking for armed security as some candidates have so far done.

She appealed to whoever has information regarding the whereabouts of Omolle to let them know.

Most candidates are on final campaign trail for their respective seats and his missing is a blow his bid.

Why ODM aspirants not sitting pretty in Kisumu

Updated Thursday, February 28 2013 at 08:01 GMT+3

By Mangoa Mosota

The political battle for parliamentary seats in Kisumu County has attracted a lot of attention following claims of rigging during the ODM nominations.

And for the first time, the Orange party led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, could lose out to CORD allies, despite calls for ‘six-piece’ voting.

The unsatisfactory nominations led to some aspirants, touted to be popular, but ‘lost’ to decamp to parties affiliated to CORD such as Ford-Kenya and Wiper.

Despite this, CORD presidential candidate Raila’s popularity has not wavered in a county with 388,729 registered voters.

But there is a likelihood of ODM losing at least three seats, to CORD affiliates. Residents claim there are efforts to impose leaders on them, especially members of the next National Assembly.

The scenario has been made complex by ODM candidates’ insistence that voters follow ‘six-piece’ pattern. Some of them, immediate former MPs, are facing a revolt never witnessed before including some being heckled in the Premier’s presence.

Shouted down

The county has seven constituencies namely; Kisumu Central, Kisumu West, Kisumu East, Nyakach, Muhoroni, Seme and Nyando.

The most bruising contest is likely to be witnessed in Kisumu West, Nyando, Muhoroni and Nyakach.

In Nyando constituency, the contest is between immediate former MP Fred Outa and Jared Okello (Ford-Kenya).

Their supporters recently clashed at Ahero town, a few minutes before Raila addressed a rally. Outa was shouted down.

No legislator has ever been re-elected in the area, and Outa is trying to change this.

Why ODM aspirants not sitting pretty in Kisumu

Updated Thursday, February 28 2013 at 08:01 GMT+3

Okello, popularly referred as ‘Jare’ has campaigned aggressively and believes he will win.

But Outa insists he has initiated several development projects, which put him in a favourable position.

In Kisumu Central constituency nominations were marred with tension and at some point, GSU officers had to guard the polling station.

Mr Ken Obura controversially beat three other competitors.

His closest rival Abdul Omar alleged the exercise had been rigged.

Omar, is popular due to the projects he has initiated in informal sectors such as jua kali artisans. He is currently engaged in door-to-door campaigns, and the social media.

The flamboyant Obura used customised vehicles in his campaigns in the run-up to the nominations, but these seem to have fizzled out.

In Kisumu West, Olago Aluoch has been an MP for the two terms, and Ms Rozah Buyu is giving him a run for his money.

Olago decamped to Ford-Kenya, after claiming he had been rigged out in the ODM nominations.

Cause surprise

Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny faces stiff competition from his main challenger, Erick Koyoo, of PDP in Muhoroni constituency.

Prof Olweny was heckled despite Raila’s intervention in Awasi, a week ago. Mr Koyoo contested against the minister in the 2007 polls, and lost. But this time, he might cause a surprise.

In Nyakach, there are six contestants, but the race is between immediate former MP Pollyns Ochieng and former Kisumu Town Clerk Aduma Owuor.

Mr Ochieng argued the nominations were not free and fair, but Mr Owuor said he won.

Last week, while campaigning in Kondele, Raila urged residents to vote for him and make their own decision in the other seats.

Kenya: Faces of Peace Statement: 2013 Elections is our Future

From: Michael A. Asudi

Dear All Good People

The D-Day is nearing and the global focus on Kenya is even greater.

We have to keep our pride and do the elections our way and accept the outcome. As we vote, we must remember to be patriotic, sovereign and .

There will be no loser, we have the most progressive and liberal constitution that ensures that everyone is a winner.

As Faces of Peace Kenya we moved a round the country for a year to spread the message of peace and tolerance. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LJvPw858JI&feature=youtube_gdata ]

[http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/?videoID=2000059502&video_title=Eldoret-Peace-Campaigns]

We urge everyone to be peaceful, vote go home and accept whatever outcome.

We urge IEBC and the Police to be impartial, independent and know that the future of the country is in their hands, specifically.

We know of negative publicity by the international media. But we have to all be peace ambassadors and pull a surprise of the century.

We owe this great nation to the past and future generations. Let the children, youth, middle aged and the old always carry with them the thought of inter-generational accountability.

May Kenya win. God Bless Kenya


Michael A. Asudi

Founder, Faces of Peace Kenya
www.thefacesofpeace.blogspot.com



We are calling on all the Youth to support the Youth under 35 seeking elections as Members of County Assemblies Country wide. Thanks for Supporting the National Youth Sector Alliance
nysa1@googlegroups.com
http://groups.google.com/group/nysa1?hl=en?hl=en

Kenya: Breaking News: President Endorses Raila

From: odhiambo okecth

Date: Friday, March 1, 2013, 6:27 AM

I will be JUBILATED on the 4th March as I get to the ballot box and vote for CORD. I will walk back home with AMANI as I fly high as an EAGLE because I know TUNAWESMEK with Raila Amolo Odinga to REBUILD and RESTORE Kenya.

Je, uko Tiyari?

— On Fri, 3/1/13, Pharis Macharia wrote:
From: Pharis Macharia
Subject: Breaking News: President Endorses Raila
Date: Friday, March 1, 2013, 6:22 AM

heheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee poleni

On Fri, Mar 1, 2013 at 6:45 PM, Kuria-Mwangi wrote:

Kitendawili?

Tega hapa:

http://www.bigbrotherinafrica.com/2013/02/prezzo-endorses-raila-for-president.html

Veritas liberabit vos
The truth Shall set you free
http://www.kuria-mwangi.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/kjmwangi


Pharis G Macharia.
ALIPHA LOGISTICS.
0721239845.OPEN 24HRS 7DAYS A WEEK 365/6 A YEAR.
As Long As God sees Me Tomorrow

KENYA: EXTRA SECURITY PRECAUTION PUT IN PLACE IN KISUMU CITY AHEAD OF NEXT MONDAY GENERAL ELECTIONS AS HATE LEAFLETS HIT URIRI DISTRICT IN MIGORI COUNTY.

Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Kisumu City is one of the areas classified as the trouble spots in the country following the acts of lawlessness and massive looting as well as destruction of property witnessed in 2007.

However, with only three days to go before the polling date next Monday, the security personnel’s have taken up their the patrolling positions in strategic point within the Central Business District {CBD} .

Police patrolling teams have been beefed up in all corners of the town. They included the regular police and members of the paramilitary crack unit, the General service Unit {GSU} to ensure that the elections will be peaceful.

The business communities in the town have reinforced their premises with steel doors and other security measure to avoid the looting that was witnessed in 2008 following the disputed presidential election results. The City traders and business community are said to have lost property valued at Kshs 6 billion. Some of them have yet to recover fully.

Some of the dukawallahs have removed important and highly valued shop goods and kept them in stores pending the end of the impending general elections.

The residents of Kisumu, particularly the Matatu touts working and operating at the main Kisumu Bus terminals have reported having seen the unusual increases in passengers heading the westwards. Most of the passengers are families working in Nakuru and Naivasha. Some of them passengers have reportedly fleeing their places of work following rumor spread by some unpatriotic characters that their lives would be in danger after the Monday elections. Other said they were simply heading for their rural homer where they had registered as voters in order to be able to cast their votes for the persons of their own choice seeking elective positions.

The business communities in Kisumu City in collaboration with the civic society, NGO have recently conducted their most elaborate campaign to sensitize the youths in Town about the need to maintain peace and tranquility during the election time.

The ODM, which is the most popular political movement in the region has also played its part in urging its members to maintain peace and to avoid acts of provocation which could lead to a breach of the peace and breakdown in lawlessness.

Meanwhile the police in Migori were actively investigating the source of the hate leaflets which have hit Uriri district warning non-indignant residents to pack up and go back to their ancestral

The agriculturally rich Uriri district is a cosmopolitan region where there is a large number and concentration of Maragolis and people of Luhyia origins, Kisiis and Suba. There are members of other Luo-sub clans from Siaya, Mbita, Gwassi, Karachuonyo, Kisumu, Ugenya who arealso soujourners in the area.

The local major sub-clans are the indignant Jo-Kanyamkago and the Jo-Kamgundho group. The immediate former MP for the area Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo is a member of the Jo-Kamgundho. He had been beaten hands down by Eng John Kobado a member of the indignant Jo-Kanyamkago.Omolo is still in the race on a Ford Kenya ticket, a party which is a member of the enlarged CORD alliance.

The police have indicated that a double cabin Toyota pick up was seen dropping the leaflet along the Uririr-Rapogi Oria road. Its number place was also secured, and eye witnesses said it was being driven by one political activist from Kisumu who is believed to be backing the former M P in his bid to clinch the seat against the ODM official candidate.

The resident want the author of the hate leaflets apprehended and taken to court to answer the charges of incitement. The suspect, according to the eye witnesses was among the key supporters of one of the aspirants who had lost the ODM primary nomination, and both have since switched side by supporting the former legislator in his bid to recapture the seat.

The author and distributors of the hate leaflets have received whole-sale condemnation by elders from both the Luos and Luhyias community.

The police Chief in Migori Alfred Makomo has thanked the residents, especially those who have recorded the statement with the police and thanked them for their cooperation

Ends

TO ALL KENYANS LEAVING IN RWANDA (invited for prayers)

From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Fellow Kenyan,

Refer to email below. We need to pray for peace to prevail as we go into elections on Monday.

Carol

From: Shiroo Mbuimwe
Date: Wed, Feb 27, 2013 at 11:25 AM
Subject: TO ALL KENYANS LEAVING IN RWANDA (invited for prayers)
To: AKR Association of Kenyans in Rwanda

Hi Carol

Hope you are well. Please help me to spread the word around. Election aroma is smelling and is our prayer that this time we have a peacful election. In connection to this you are invited for half night prayers at CLA Church on 1 March 2013 FRI starting from 8.30pm – 1.00am. Please come and stand in the gap for Kenya. Kindly help me to spread the word around to all kenyans leaving in Rwanda.

You said, Ask and you will receive
Whatever you need
You said, Pray and I’ll hear from heaven
And I’ll heal your land

Let us all join hands to pray for our nation and ask God to heal our land.

Thank you for your cooparation.

Kind regards

Purity

Kenya: President Obama’s controversial half-brother in Kenya in tussles with the authorities over the American and Kenyan flags which he had hoisted on top of his business premises.

From: Arrum Tidi
Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The US president Barrack Obama’s half brother in Kenya, Malik Abong’o Obama, has defiantly and flagrantly refused to lower the American and Kenyan national flags which are currently flying side by side on top of his private business premises in Siaya County.

Several attempts by government officials failed to convince Malik Obama to remove the two flags which he had hoisted on the roof of his private business. The matter has baffled many security personnel and local in the region.

A police source has hinted that the matter is being referred to the Public Prosecution department of the judiciary department for further action..

The officials and police were baffled when Obama hoisted the two flags at the entrance of his tourist class guest house which he had established in the memory of his father Barrack Obama Snr.

Malik Obama is currently embroiled I n a cut-throat election campaign battle for the Siaya County governorship. He is contesting the election as an independent candidate. Local pundits, however, maintained that Obama stand in chance of clinching the guberimental seat due to his lone ranger character.

The trouble started when the Siaya region police Chief Stephen Cheteka checked at the Guest House and ordered the two flags to be lowered on argument that the place was not a state institution. Instead he drafted a harsh letter to President Mwai Kibaki. Was loaded with numerous complaints on why a junior state officer would visit his premises unannounced and interfere with his constitutional rights.

“The step to hoist both flags show patriotism. I am very proud of both American and Kenyan national flags..I feel anyone has the right to hoist follow my footsteps,” Malik said.

observers, keen on the development of the flags dispute pitting Malik Obama and the police and members of the Provincial Administration on the other hand have been left guessing after the move compelling him to do away the two flags flying on the top of his business premises.

It was also learnt at the weekend that Malik Obama recently sacked the entire staff at his Obama Guest House four months ago.

Ends

Kenya: Villagers retrieved the half-consumed body of a girl killed by crocodile near Kisumu

Reports Leo Odera Omolo

RESCUERS and search team have retrieved the half consumed body of a 17 year old girl who was killed by a Nile Crocodile as she went to the lakeside to fetch for waters.

Anne Auma was killed early last week, but her half eaten body was recovered last Saturday inside the reed plantation.

The search team was joined by the staff of the KWS. Residents have since appealed to the KWS and the government to hunt down the killer reptile and ensure that the villagers were safe from such attacks in future.

Report reaching us says that there are upsurge of incidents of crocodile attacks in various parts of Lake Victoria. An incident was recently reported around Kokwiri in Uyoma West .Rarieda district where a fisherman was devoured by a crocodile.

Another incident occurred on Rusinga Island in Mbita district. There are numerous incidents involving crocodile attacking and killing domesticated animals such as sheep and goats.

IN uriri district in Migori County a 12 year old school girl who had gone to the River Oyani with her mother on clothes washing mission was attacked and killed by a crocodile.The animal population had declined after the massive hunting down and killing hundreds for their valuable skins in the early 1950s. However, the colonial government reintroduced the reptiles back into the lake in early 1960.

The menace of crocodile attacking human being and animals in Lake Victoria has risen..

Crocodiles feeds on fish, but in the absence of sufficient number of fish in the lake for its feeding it can resort to hunting down human beings and domestic animals for prey..

Ends

USA Bureau of African Affairs Diplomacy Engagement

From: Judy Miriga

Folks,

“Kenya Decision 2013: The Kenyan Diaspora and the March Elections”

First, I want to register my heartfelt thanks to the US Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs Ms. Nicole Peacock in Partnership with The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa Ms. Bernadette; who put together logistics and invited us to attend an indulging, resourceful and open collaborative diplomacy exchange where we learned more about what the U.S. Government is doing to support peaceful, credible, free and fair elections in Kenya and also gave the Diaspora members opportunity to share their thoughts on the upcoming elections.

I was truly grateful for the introduction from Steve Walker, Director of the Office of East African Affairs who was kind enough to set stage for a more conducive, friendly and cordial atmosphere for the engagement. We appreciated recognition in attendance of Lucy with colleague Representatives from Embassy of Kenya, with the introduction of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Donald Teitelbaum who gave us a broader perspective of what USA in Partnership with Kenya Government is doing on the ground to help Kenya gain a Peaceful, credible, free and fair elections.

Among those in attendance, there were notably USAID official Representatives, the Co-founder of Pan African Entrepreneurs (PAEC), Mr. Harry C. Alford with a good number of Kenyan Diasporas, the NGOs, activists and Media Representatives.

I had serious concerns that the elections are coming close with a few days to go while:

Ø the situation of electoral process and procedures for Integrity for candidates examination for background checks and balances flawed and was not in compliance resulting in the irregularity of awarding certificates to favor some contestants against the will of voters

Ø the buying of voter IDs to rig election is going on in very high scale all over the country and it is a way to take advantage of poverty stricken people with millions of helpless and desperate Internally displaced persons. These group of people have not been provided with any Civic Education to prepare them and make them aware of their value added voting rights potentials, sensitizing them about the Reform Accord Agreement for the New Constitution with prospects of development resources available for respective Community engagement to spur progressive projects in their respective County’s Development Programs

Ø the unresolved explosive of land grabbing with constant insecurities including continued unfair forced evictions of the local communities from their ancestral land are rendering people hopelessly homeless in area such like Nyanza, Turkana, Garissa, Isiolo, Rift Valley, Mombasa, Taita Tavetta, Kwale, Tana River, Lamu has created a very worrisome situation

Ø Voter Education is lacking and many people do not understand what they are about to get into. The Voter Education as was done during the Referendum was very successful and there is need of the same to be applied so people understand what County Devolution Governance entails, how it works with what is expected from Governors in order to commit responsibility with integrity to render collective and consultative public service in a balanced transparent manner to the County’s Communities efficiently and effective according to mandate.

Ø Presently as is on the ground, there are serious loopholes of insecurities and from irregularities which are providing fodder for corruption and rigging that have not been rectified and is providing worrisome fears.

Ø failing to provide an Independent Transitional team headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court according to the Reform Accord Agreement of the New Constitution the present Team under Mr. Kimemia is not in compliance where Kimemia is seen to have awarded himself powers of appointing and managing the Transitional caretaker with members of his Kikuyu tribe from top police and intelligence avoiding inclusion of other 43 Tribal group. This shall not factor fairness of representation as is required in the Devolution Reform Accord Agreement

Ø Failing to Reform the Police which was top requirement for Reform and was the reason for 2007/8 Extrajudicial killings the matter was shelved until after election, so to be fixed by the next government and this is completely wrong as it is unacceptable. There are fears that this behavior has cultivated for mixed reactions as presently, there are looming insecurities and threats that are building up with the recent death threat and travelling denial by the Permanent Secretary Mr. Kimemia put on Chief Justice Willy Mutunga forcing him to make public statement fearing for his life and to stop him from travelling on official duty. Coupled with all the mushrooming insecurities in the Country, the environment in the country is fluid and has developed ripples of fears that a repeat of 2007/8 is very evident in the minds of many.

Additionally, in a new development, IEBC to simply object a suit filed by Aluochier questioning integrity of qualifications of candidates at the Supreme Courts is stepping overboard and is considered frustrating Chief Justice from executing fair justice to the public. It is unethically wrong and unconstitutional.

It is Aluochier’s constitutional right to be heard before elections can proceed. IEBC does not have autonomy according to Reform Accord Agreement for the New Constitution to assume powers and control over matters filed at the Supreme Courts. As a matter of concern, IEBC is shrouded with lots of constitutional flaws and irregularities that to allow March 4th 2013 election to go on will be suicidal except to consider suspending it for a few more moths to correct the anomalies.

The above concerns informed my justified opinion to request for an appeal that we do the right thing the first time; that we correct the anomalies and fix flaws with other irregularities staged for rigging the election so we make history and be a show-case to other African Nations.

As I understand and know the people of Kenya over the years,, they are peaceful and very loving, it is therefore considered fair to give all Kenyans irrespectively a reliable Democratic space free from rigging, intimidation and fear-factor so they have an opportunity to excercise their true democratic rights like they did during the Referendum to participate in the first Reform Change election in an environment which is free from terrorism but which is peaceful, credible, free and fair. As things stand, this is not the case. The elections of March 4th 2013 under the above worrisome conditions is seen to fashion a stage-managed election to favor a certain tribal group against the 43 tribes of Kenya, for which case, it shall remain flawed, Null and Void as the process is flawed and is not in compliance with Reform Accord Agreement of the New Constitution.

The coming election is very crucial for Kenya people, partners, friends and sympathizers that it should be done the right way the first time and therefore, the election of March 4th be deferred but if we provide a little more time for fixing the irregularities, we are able to provide the Civic Education which is lacking, include the Diasporas to participate in the electioneering to vote and correct the flaws and irregularities before the date of next election can be seen to be peaceful, credible, free and fair.

It is critical that my request be urgently considered so at the end of it all, we shall be happy under peace caring and sharing for common good of all, and who ever wins, we shall join in the celebration to congratulate the winner and joining to repair past differences amicably without any animosity.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
and Special Coordinator Representative for Pan Africa
World African Diaspora Union (WADU)
in Maryland, Virginia and DC

– – – – – – – – – – –

IEBC opposes suit against candidates
Updated Wednesday, February 27 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

By WAHOME THUKU

Kenya: The national electoral agency has lodged an objection to a suit seeking to block top presidential contenders and their running mates from being on the ballot in next week’s polls.

The Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) wants the case filed by a voter at the Supreme Court dismissed, arguing it cannot be determined by that court.

The petition, set to be heard today, has been filed by Mr Isaac Aluochier and is challenging the qualification of Raila Odinga, Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi, Peter Kenneth and two running mates, Kalonzo Musyoka and William Ruto, to gun for the top seats.

Mr Aluochier contends the top presidential candidates should not have been nominated to vie for the seats as they were constitutionally unqualified. The voter in Migori argues that Raila, Uhuru, Mudavadi and Kenneth were already State officers when nominated by their respective parties and should not have been cleared by IEBC.

“While the Constitution allows a sitting President and his/her deputy to run for the two seats, it does not allow the PM, DPM and ministers,” he said. He said the four cannot argue they were MPs because on their nominations, Parliament’s term had already expired.

IEBC says 31,000 missing from voters’ list
Updated Wednesday, February 27 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

By ROSELYNE OBALA

Nairobi; Kenya: About 31,000 voters are missing from the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has disclosed.

Part of this number is that of those who registered more than once. However, the electoral body has assured the public that there is no cause for alarm. IEBC Voter Registration Director Immaculate Kassait said those affected would be allowed to vote if their details are in the manual register. “It does not mean these voters will not participate in the elections. We are going to use the manual register to check their details,” she explained.

Ms Kassait continued: “If their names are in the register and they did not registere twice, they will vote.”

She said some of the affected voters registered multiple times.

She spoke at Nairobi’s Bomas of Kenya, where the commission has set up the National Elections Centre, after a meeting with political parties liaison committee and Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u in last-minute preparations for the Monday polls.

Party representatives had an opportunity to be taken through the final arrangements. The area is cordoned off and only accredited persons are allowed access.

Kimemia faces contempt charges over tender row
Updated Friday, February 22 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

By Lucianne Limo

KENYA: A Chinese company that won a multi-billion shilling security tender that was later cancelled by Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia wants to institute contempt of court and defamation charges against him.

ZTE Corporation through their lawyer Donald Kipkorir said it is aggrieved by Kimemia’s letter asking Ministry of Internal Security to cancel the tender.

“We have firm instructions to demand, which we hereby do, your immediate withdrawal of your said letter and in any event before the end of today, in default, whereof our instructions are to institute criminal and civil contempt proceedings against you,” reads part of the letter to Kimemia.

The company wants the Head of Civil Service held in contempt on grounds that he has interfered with the matter yet the court had issued stay orders on the tender pending the hearing and determination of a case filed by a firm that lost the contract.

On Monday, Kimemia cancelled the tender and ordered the contract be re-advertised, saying costs ballooned and serious allegations of irregularity were made with regard to the tender

High Court Judge George Odunga ordered the Minister for Internal Security not to award the contract to any party pending the determination of the case filed by Huawei Technologies Company. The court issued the interim orders after Huawei, which bid for the tender alongside five other companies, challenged a decision by Public Procurement Administrative Review Board dismissing its appeal for review of the tendering process.

Repeat process

The board dismissed Huawei’s appeal and directed the Ministry of Internal Security to go ahead and award the contract to the successful bidder, ZTE Corporation.

Huawei filed an appeal before the procurement board complaining that the Ministry of Internal Security had a flawed tender process, but its case to have a repeat of the process was dismissed prompting it to move to the High Court.

ZTE Corporation says Kimemia has defamed them by alleging that they exaggerated the cost of project in excess of Sh1.8 billion up from initial estimated costs of Sh7 billion.

ZTE also says Kimemia’s assertion that they influenced the evaluation process and offered kickbacks to some officials to influence preferred outcome amounts to libel.

Kenya: CHF International and Partners doing great

From: odhiambo okecth

Dear Friends,

The CHF International, PeaceNet Kenya and Kituo Cha Sheria today invited a team of CSOs from Mathare, Kiambio, Kibera and Korokocho for last minute preparations for the General Elections in a series of meetings and trainings at the CHF International offices in Nairobi.

The first Team was that of Election Observers and they were taken through the Code of Conduct and Instructions on what their role will be come the 4th March 2013. We were ably taken through this by Gilbert from PeaceNet Kenya, Susan from Kituo Cha Sheria under the watchful presence of John of CHF International. Ms Selline Korir- the Director CHF International Kenya Tuna Uwezo was at hand to give the last remarks during the morning session.

I was invited to observe and share my thoughts with the CSO Leaders.

I was impressed with the state of preparedness from the Team and further, it was refreshing to hear that the TNA Candidate for Parliament in Mathare Constituency Mr. GM Wanjohi and the ODM Candidate for Parliament in Mathare Constituency Mr. Steve Kariuki and their campaign Teams met in Mathare Area 3C the other day at 6.00pm and they came down from their caravans, greeted each other and hugged.

That was a sure sign of maturity and it went a long way to calm the nerves of the residents of Mathare 3C. How I wished there was a Camera around to capture this great moment from our politicians.

Nairobi 2013

As we engage in last minute Peace Building efforts, we are inviting Kenyans to remain firm. This is our Country and we can either make or break her. We must learn from the TNA and ODM Leaders in Mathare that this is only a contest and not a conflict.

We at The Clean Kenya Campaign and all our Partners who have been with us in the trenches and in the front line at Peace Building know the mood of Kenyans. Kenyans want a Clean and Peaceful General Elections.

We are all going to do our part as Kenyans and we are now calling on the IEBC to also stand tall and be counted. The last General Election was botched by sloppy and inept handling from the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya. This led to the team being disbanded in a most dis-graceful manner and they have for ever lived in shame.

The current Team led by the ever green Isaack Hassan and Maj James Oswago, must lift the spirit of Kenyans up. The lives and property of Kenyans lie on how you are going to handle the Elections of 4th March 2013. You may choose to stand tall and be counted as great Kenyans, or, you may fiddle and end up the way the defunct outfit went.

The die is cast and Kenya and the World is watching you.

Let us all work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Clean General Election as a Transformative Deliverable as we turn 50 in Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Executive Director,

The Clean Kenya Campaign- TCKC

Tel; 0724 365 557

Email; komarockswatch@yahoo. com
Blogspot; http:// kcdnkomarockswatch. blogspot.com
Website; www.kcdnkenya.org
Facebook;University Students for a Clean Kenya

Facebook; Odhiambo T Oketch
Facebook; Monthly Nationwide Clean up Campaign
Mailing Group; friendsofkcdn@ yahoogroups.com

The Clean Kenya Campaign is an Initiative of KCDN Kenya

KENYA: KISUMU COURT GIVES MUHORONI ASPIRANT GO AHEAD TO THE BALLOT.

By Agwanda Saye

THE High court in Kisumu yesterday gave Muhoroni PDP parliamentary aspirant James Onyango K ‘Oyoo the nod to vie for the seat after dismissing a petition lodged by a voter seeking to stop his candidature.
The petition which was filed by a voter was seeking to stop K’Oyoo from contesting for the seat on grounds that he flouted IEBC rules by defecting to a party after the expiry of the party hopping Period.

Justice Hilary Chemitei dismissed the petition lodged by Mr. Peter Oyuko against Mr K’Oyoo who defected from ODM to PDP after being denied the ticket in his former party.

In his petition Oyuko contended that Mr K’Oyoo defected from ODM to PDP after the grace period which was given by the registrar of political parties.

The petitioner wanted Mr K’Oyoo’s name not to be included in the IEBC ballot papers for the forthcoming general elections.

He also wanted the court to declare that K’Oyoo is still a bona fide member of the ODM and therefore bar him from contesting the seat on a PDP ticket.

K’Oyoo’s lawyer Onyango Jamsumba argued that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the petition and instead the petition should have exhaust all the dispute resolution mechanisms before moving to court.

In his ruling the judge observed that the ODM elections shad been shambolic and said that K’Oyoo has a right to participate in the general elections.

Justice Chemitei further found out that the petitioner’s right had not been infringed as he could not explain the right in question.

The petition the judge ruled had no locus standi in filing the petition before court.

The petitioner is a primary school teacher at Sanda primary school in Muhoroni and was represented by a Kisumu Mr Stephen Aluoch K’Opot.

Ends.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT COINCIDES WITH GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KENYA

From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

March 3 will be the eve of general elections in Kenya, the third Sunday of Lent. The Kenya Episcopal Conference, Justice and Peace Commission in their Lenten campaign chose “county governance” as their specific theme.

There are 47 counties in Kenya representing the initially recognized districts and each one of them forms a county government. Every county government shall further decentralize its services and coordinate its functions in order to efficiently serve the interests of the people of Kenya at the local levels.

Better known as majimbo in Kiswahili, commonly used to refer to political devolution of power to the country’s regions, its entrenchment into the new constitution was heavily opposed by some section of religious leaders and politicians who had their own interest.

Like some religious leaders who were opposed to devolve government system in Kenya, retired President Daniel Moi spoke strongly against introduction of majimbo, saying it would divide Kenyans along tribal lines, warning he would campaign against the Proposed Constitution if it includes majimbo.

While some religious leaders backed Moi’s views, saying majimbo is likely to spark tribal animosity, in Coast Province, leaders threatened to shoot down the Proposed Constitution if it failed to provide for majimbo.

The Coast people like other marginalized ethnic communities rooted for majimbo to ensure that residents benefit from enormous resources in the region, arguing it would ensure equity and encourage economic productivity.

Historically, the coastals have been fervent proponents of majimbo, spearheaded by Ronald Gideon Ngala, Kenyan politician whose life was marked by a realistic approach to politics and by a devotion to Kenya which allowed him to place his country’s stability and growth first over his own political ambition.

Ngala co-founded Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) in 1960 when several leading politicians from marginalized communities refused to join Jomo Kenyatta’s African National Union (KANU).

KADU’s aim was to defend the interests of the so-called KAMATUSA (an acronym for Kelenjin, Maasai, Turkana and Samburu ethnic groups), against the dominance of the larger Luo and Kikuyu that comprised the majority of KANU’s membership.

Even though religious leaders and churches opposed to devolved government described the system of governance as “disastrous”, arguing that Kenya was not ready for devolve government, up to almost 95 percent Christians and other religious affiliates opted for the new constitution and entrenchment of devolve government system as opposed to their religious leaders. This was because of their bad experience with the old one.

Kenyans had suffered great deal under all regimes since independent that is why the vast majority of Christians and other religious affiliates opted to oppose their leaders this time along. They pushed for devolve government because they wanted resources closer to all Kenyans, especially the marginalized groups.

They believed that a well thought out devolution system will ensure that they will have a better access to resources as opposed to a purely centralized system which they believe will concentrate resources in Nairobi.

They also perceive that devolution will help to reserve all jobs, resources, businesses etc for the people indigenous to that particular region. To the best of the understanding, after their version of devolution also known as Majimbo is introduced, all the people who have residences, businesses, properties, jobs etc in these regions will be required to surrender the same to those indigenous to that area.

Yet there are those who argue that majimboism had been tried in 1963, it failed, and must be forgotten. It failed because the 1963 majimbo experiment was a hastily conceived, clumsily crafted and badly presented variant of federalism.

Partly because the powerful presidency of the time (as it is today) was never enthusiastic about the idea, it is why Kanu government was reluctant to adopt the system.

Majimboism is about letting Kenyans take ownership and full responsibility for the economic development of their regions by managing the planning and day-to-day management of their affairs. Majimboism is about taking the CDF concept further and truly localizing the local authorities.

The North Eastern Province, for example, may soon turn out to be the richest region in Kenya when drilling for oil and gas starts. The Coast Province is endowed with a lot of wealth and has the port facilities to generate revenue. The Central Province is already well ahead of other regions in development.

Most of Rift Valley is endowed with good agricultural land and can easily take care of the development of drier parts of the Province. The same goes for Western and Nyanza provinces. Most of these two provinces have very good agricultural land and the fishing industry can become a major income earner in the two provinces.

In addition, most parts of Eastern Province have good agricultural land whose potential can be fully tapped if irrigation is widely used. Understood in this way, Majimboism is about cutting wastes and eliminating corruption by reducing the number of pest-like middlemen.

With Majimboism for example, it will mean that there will no longer be KTDA but local Tea authorities. For example, there will be Rift Valley Tea Development Authority which will be responsible for managing the growing, processing, and export of Tea that is grown in Rift Valley within Rift Valley.

In Nyanza, there will be Nyanza Tea Development Authority which will be responsible for managing the Tea affairs within Nyanza. The same goes for Western, Eastern, and Central Provinces.

The first reading for third Sunday of Lent is taken from the book of Exodus, 3:1-8, 13-15. The reading portrays Moses as a good shepherd who is committed to tending the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian.

As he led the flock across the desert, he came to Horeb, the mountain of God where an angel of the LORD appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush. As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed.

When Moses decided to go over to look at this remarkable sight, and see why the bush is not burned,” God called out to him from the bush, told him to remove the sandals from his feet, for the place where he was standing was holy ground.

God told him “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry of complaint against their slave drivers, so I know well what they are suffering. Therefore I have come down to rescue them from the hands of the Egyptians and lead them out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Moses said to God, “But when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?”

God replied, “I am who I am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent to you.”

God spoke further to Moses, “Thus shall you say to the Israelites: The LORD, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. “This is my name forever; thus am I to be remembered through all generations.”

Responsorial Psalm Ps 103: 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 11 says how God is merciful, God who forgives all our iniquities, heals all our ills, and redeems our life from destruction, crowns us with kindness and compassion. He secures justice and the rights of all the oppressed.

The second reading is taken from 1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12 – Even though all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, the rock was the Christ, yet God was not pleased with most of them, for they were struck down in the desert.

These things happened as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil things, as they did. Do not grumble as some of them did, and suffered death by the destroyer.

These things happened to them as an example, and they have been written down as a warning to us, upon whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall.

Gospel is taken from Lk 13:1-9 –It talks of some people who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. Jesus wants people to repent: “But I tell you, if you do not repent you will all perish as they did!”

And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down.

Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

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: Chief Justice Played Into “Mungiki Letter”?

From: Mary Gakere

From: Joe Kihara Munugu

Chief Justice Played Into “Mungiki Letter”?
By Lance Kipng’etich : Nation Media : February 23 2013
http://elections.nation.co.ke/Blogs/-/1632026/1702608/-/11884gn/-/index.html

Kenya’s Chief Justice, Dr. Willy Mutunga, is a well-read man, so he must know about the infamous “Zinoviev letter”. The authors of a letter purporting to be from a group called the Mungiki Veterans’ Association borrowed heavily from the Zinoviev letter, one of the best known forgery-letters in history. This notorious Zinoviev letter was published in the British press four days before Britain’s general election of 1924. It was allegedly sent by the Communist Party in Moscow to the Communist Party of Great Britain. The letter, which was later revealed to be a forgery written by an M16 intelligence agent, appeared to be a directive from Moscow calling for intensified communist agitation in Britain.

It was an effort to show voters that the Labour party was working for the Soviet Union and, therefore, influence the electorate against them.The plot failed as it did not affect the Labour vote. However, it helped the Conservative Party hasten the collapse of the liberal party and contributed to the landslide victory for the Conservatives.

The letter took its name from a senior Soviet official, Grigory Zinoviev, its purported author.Many Kenyans were shocked and saddened to see Dr Mutunga similarly insert himself into the political scene with his own version of a clearly forged letter designed to influence an election.The reaction was one of immense sadness at seeing a respected figure like Dr Mutunga offering a serious proposition that the letter was written in defence of Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and his presidential running mate in the Jubilee Coalition, William Ruto.

Whoever authored this document was defending no known interests of Uhuru, Ruto or the coalition they head and that has endeared itself to the hearts and minds of millions of Kenyans.

Uhuru and Ruto remain the real targets of the screaming forgery.
I hold no brief for the Mungiki, Kenyatta, Ruto or Jubilee. However, none of them are so boneheaded as to author the explicitly forged document that the CJ presented to the press with a straight face at the Supreme Court of Kenya at lunchtime on Wednesday, February 20.

Why did Kenya’s top jurist participate in such a cheap ploy?
The concluding remarks of the CJ’s statement accompanying the tabling of the pathetic forgery are instructive: “I appeal to Kenyans to hold a peaceful election. It is only by so doing that we shall silence these dark forces of retrogression and also advance our constitutional and democratic promise. My fellow Kenyans, with confidence and tribute to the nation, go and vote for our Constitution. It is the only way to reject those who threaten and proclaim violence as a false choice”.

Coming from the person designated the President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, these apparently pious words mask an unacceptably politically partisan and activist posture. They are a coded message calling for the defeat of the Jubilee Coalition by the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

Divisive manner
The head of the Supreme Court of Kenya has no business intervening in politics in such a divisive manner so close to the General Election.
He should remain far above the fray, evincing no support whatever for any side and no preference. He presumably holds one vote and will cast it as he deems appropriate come March 4 under conditions of the secret ballot.

Above all, the CJ must never be seen to be a participant in a political ruse full of propaganda and trickery.Whether the CJ was a witting or unwitting participant in the scornful tactic and strategy rolled out on Wednesday, whether he was a prime mover or a total dupe, is besides the point.

He, of all people, should not have rushed to judgment. He ought not to have treated the Jubilee Coalition with the contemptuous, distrustful manner that he demonstrated.
Sadly, the effect of the letter is that I, for one, will never look at the Supreme Court of Kenya, and Dr Mutunga’s leadership of it, with the same eyes again. Nor will millions of Kenyans who comprise the silent majority.

Although Uhuru and Ruto are the real targets of the miserable third-hand forgery, they will not fall victim to it.

———
The writer, Lance Kipng’etich, is a book publisher in Nakuru, Kenya

Kenya: The Reform Change Accord Mandate for New Constitution

From: Judy Miriga

Folks,

The Reform Change Accord mandated for New Constitution shall not be legitimate if there are conflicting views of non-compliance to the Law in such instances as:

1) Integrity examination threshold to avoid conflict of interests

2) Blocking Diasporas Right to vote and collectively engage in the electioneering process as Mandated in the New Constitution.

3) Flaws noticed in Election processes from failing to provide sufficient Educational awareness to voters in the local community to understand concepts of the New Constitutional management and public service deliver prospects so that people engage in electioneering from informed choices

4) Irregularly awarding Certificates to favor some contestants under questionable circumstances and without going through credible balanced procedure for background check and clearance under accountability and transparency

5) Failing to provide an Independent Transitional team headed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court according to the New Constitutional mandate in honor of Reform Accord Agreement of Chapter six

6) Without resolving issues of Land Grabbing and putting those responsible to face justice

7) Failing to resettle the Internally displaced as demanded

8) The unconstitutional and irregular way Kibaki took to Gazette Land Commissioners is worrisome and is seen as an indication that Land Grabbing will continue to be a sore in Kenya for more decades to come before it can finally be resolved

9) Failing to resolve and put behind bars those involved in saga of the Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals

10) Failure to effectively resolve election mishaps, flaws with rigging anomalies for example such like those found to have been engaged by Kimemia and thereby disqualifying Kimemia or demanding reasons why he should not be forced to resign for engaging in politics with intention to deliberately manipulate and confuse legitimacy of election process from being free and fair.

The second debate which just ended proved from the candidates horse’s mouth that corruption and land grabbing is real which many of them are guilty of and accepted responsibilities but denied they did any wrong and therefore, we believe these were deliberate reasons why candidates avoided Integrity Examination threshold background checks for which case clearance in awarding of certificates are suspicious shrouded with lots of doubt whether election of March 4th 2013 shall be peaceful, credible, free and fair.

It is our considered justified appeal to do the right thing the first time by suspending March 4th by a few more months in order to rectify the flaws and anomalies so that we are able to put the Transitional Team in the right perspective before we allow conflict of special interest to spoil for the Reform Change we have struggled for all these years.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

– – – – – – – – – – –

Candidates tackle integrity, wealth gap in final debate

Updated Tuesday, February 26 2013 at 07:35 GMT+3

By Moses Njagih

Nairobi, Kenya: The second and final presidential debate took off last evening with all candidates, including Jubilee flag-bearer Uhuru Kenyatta, whose side was at first hesitant, in the BrookHouse School auditorium.

The candidates were first made to confront the contentious issues of economic woes facing Kenya, and in particular the high cost of living, the minimum wage and the huge gap between the poor and the rich.

The candidates were later to move over to the issue of land ownership, emotive and sensitive in the country because of historical inequities and disparities in distribution, particularly at Independence.

The issue generated the hottest debate as pressure piled on Jubilee flag bearer Uhuru to declare if indeed it were true if the family of Kenya’s Founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta indeed owns “half of the land” in Kenya.

He was also asked by one of the candidates how he would impartially and fairly address the issue of land ownership when he himself was an interested party.

But the question of the day was how many acres the Kenyatta family, which Uhuru defended, sourced every hectare it has on a willing-buyer-willing-seller basis, own. Uhuru avoided the question but later conceded in Taveta alone, the family owns 30,000 acres, of which it has donated 4,000 acres to squatters in that specific parcel.

Grabbed land

But Raila, who was also put on the spot over his family’s acquisition of former publicly-owned Kisumu Molasses Plant, brought in the fact that Uhuru’s running mate, Mr William Ruto, is facing accusations that he grabbed land from an internally displaced person in his Eldoret North constituency.

“I have never been accused of grabbing any land. The land we own as a family is acquired through willing-buyer-willing-seller. We shall ensure that land is used as a factor of production,’’ Uhuru responded while insisting, “the National Land Commission should be left to handle the emotive issue of land in this country.”

“No organisation from Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to all other State agencies have come up with any accusations against me on land,” Uhuru went on.

Responding to accusations against him and his family Raila said: “There was money that was collected out of the deal (sale of Kisumu Molasses Plant). This plant was acquired through an auction alongside 15 other companies. The government had acquired the land compulsorily. Sh2.9 million was collected from some people. The public owns part of the shareholding and are represented in the company.’’

In response to the land issue, Amani presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi, said: “There is no way one can hide in terms of land ownership in this country. You can use whatever names but it will be known. The constitution says there is a minimum and maximum of what one can own.”

Mudavadi, who is a Land economist, warned that the issue of minimum and maximum acreage must be handled carefully so as not to bring economic ruin by undermining production and land usage for common good.

Alliance for Real Change candidate Mohammed Abduba Dida and his Safina counterpart, as well as Raila, declared their governments would repossess stolen public land, but through constitutional means.

“People at the Coast have been treated unfairly by successive governments, land is not given to the locals. In Rift Valley the situation is the same. We now have a good Constitution and National Land Policy. What is required is to give an enabling environment for the commission to operate,’’ said Muite. Eagle Alliance candidate Peter Kenneth said: “The real issues about land is enforcement. If we don’t deal with this matter concisely, it will continue to haunt us.”

In response to Raila’s claim on frustration of State efforts to address the land issue, Kenneth asked: “Who are the vested interests stopping us from moving forward?”

Goldenberg notoriety

Dida cited complaints in Kiambu County against the Kenyatta family and asked Uhuru how he could be trusted by other parts of the country when his own people are crying about alleged injustice visited on them by the Kenyatta family and Jomo Kenyatta’s government in general.

Before going to land question the moderators — KTN’s Joe Ageyo and Royal Media’s Udwak Amimo — confronted the candidates with direct questions on issues that over the years have tended to cast a long shadow on their personal integrity.

First to take the question of integrity was Muite, who was asked about claims by businessman Kamlesh Pattni of the Goldenberg notoriety that he extorted Sh20 million from him.

Muite declared the scheme was part of the propaganda set up by the regime then against him for spearheading battle against looting public resources. He argued the Law Society, which he then chaired, instituted a private suit on the scandal.

He said that he did not receive any money as alleged, and that Justice Samuel Bosire’s judicial commission on Goldenberg upheld his position. “Individuals associated with me may have got the money but Mr Muite did not receive any,” he said in defence.

Second was Mudavadi, who was asked on the adverse claims on his handling of Goldenberg scandal while Finance minister, as well alleged role in the Nairobi City’s ‘cemetery scandal’, while Minister for Local Government.

On both accusations the Deputy Prime Minister defended himself, saying he in fact was the one who tried to stop the scandals.

On Goldenberg, Mudavadi said: “The law was changed during my tenure at the treasury and it was during the time that stopped this scandal. The Bosire Commission cleared me of any offence”.

Whistle blowing

Karua was asked questions on how she, as Justice minister, handled the Anglo Leasing matter, which claimed the life of a whistle-blower, late David Munyekei.

Karua also denied claims of demonising former anti-graft tsar John Githongo over his whistleblowing role, saying he only defended the government’s position.

“Actually it was during my tenure that the anti-corruption agencies did their work and under my recommendations, ministers named in Githongo’s dossier stepped aside for investigations and have never forgiven me,” she said.

Raila was asked about Kazi Kwa Vijana and maize scandals, and the sale of Kisumu Molasses Plant to his family. He defended himself saying the claims against him were unfounded.

On the Kazi Kwa Vijana scandal, Raila said his office was only coordinating the programme.

The debate took off after recorded pleas by the candidates to their supporters to accept the verdict of the March 4 exercise, and where there would be disputes, resort to the measures mapped out by the Constitution for appeal.

Dida was confronted with a question of how as owner of a business agency recruiting Kenyans for overseas jobs as domestic helps, where they end up underpaid and harassed, he would be expected to rule Kenya when he is not helping in job creation locally.

“I have an agency out to help the plight of Kenyans in the Middle East. This is because of the funny salaries Kenyans get here, that is why I left my job,’’ he responded.

National budget

Prof James Kiyiapi of Restore and Build Kenya party was asked about the loss of over Sh100 million in Free Primary Education programme, while he was the Permanent Secretary.

He explained he was innocent as he had just joined the Ministry of Education and asked the candidates, who were in government then, to explain why the truth had not been uncovered on the FPE funds.

Uhuru was asked about the ‘computer error’ that rocked the Ministry of Finance’s national budget when he joined the ministry and read his first Financial Statement. Uhuru denied there was any financial loss and insisted it was just an error.

After the debate, watched by millions across the World, the candidates are now left to make their final statement on the race for Kenya’s Fourth Presidency, on their final rallies over the weekend.

John Okumu26 February 2013 10:19 AM
I loved this second debate,it was more substantive and thorough.I loved Amimos tough questions on integrity and corruption which caught the candidates off guard.This is how any public contender should be questioned.It clearly emerged that even those whom we think are squeaky clean like Mudavadi may have some explaining to do after all.All in all, we Kenyans need alot of work where integrity and corruption is concerned.It is clear that it has been so entrenched that what was shocking is actually talking about it.Things are changing fast .Martha is the only one that did not seem to have alot of entreched integrity issues.So i rank Peter Kenneth,Martha Karua,Kalonzo Musyoka high on the non corruption issues.Uhuru did very well in answering the questions i have to admit.Kenneth had done his homework especially on the question of what the minimum wage should be which i think Kiyapai gave a long winded answer on this question.The candidates were very well prepared all in all and it is goog for policy formulation in Kenya.All those good ideas can be incorporated so that everyone can win

Makao26 February 2013 12:09 AM
There were fairly good responses today on questions compared to first debate. However, there were flip-flops all over where candidates failed to explicitly explain how they will in details manage economy. Further, Uhuru talked of controlling price of products meaning the government will decide how maximum a product can cost. Economically, this is wrong and can’t apply. Price ceiling is a disastrous measure that can not apply. Price of commodities are defined and determined by market forces and strength. Trying to set price limit maximum or minimum will lead to situations witnessed in 90’s like hooding of products, high demand and low supply or non at all. Slup title deeds? How and who will determine who qualifies for land title deed there for example in Kibera? Government once announced that residents were to be allocated upgraded housing by government, it was open of hell-gate of corruption. People all over rushed there claiming to residents including the wealthy and influential.

steve jakomala26 February 2013 7:29 AM
i fail to understand why the politicians were punching with gloves as far as land issues are concern. Uhuru accepted that in Taita Taveta alone they own 30,000 ha of land, Dida gave a report about complaints in Kiambu there are several thousands of other ha of land else where. the questions are: being a president who had the prerogative to dish out land and at the same time had access to the national fund is it a coincidence that he owns these huge pieces of land without either allocating them to himself irregularly or using coercion to aquire them. Uhuru wants to be the president, the chief abitrator to kenyans, how can he convince those who looted this country to return the looted property including land if he can not convince his family to do the same? the evidence againsl Rutos land case is telling, how can two top people with vested intrest in illegally aquired land preside over land injustices in this country leave alone the serious case at the hague? Kenyans let us put ourselves first not tribe not community

Sharp minded voter26 February 2013 10:25 AM
Politicians are such lairs when they are conducting campaigns. The opponents of Uhuru keeps attack him about the lands he and his family own, Martha accepted that what she said that Uhuru owns half of Kenya is an outright exaggeration, Raila “my brother Uhuru is just an innocent inheritor”. Marha was further put to stop because when she was a minister the report of who has big tracks of land was produced and Uhuru and his family was not even on the list. Uhuru categorically stated that he has not been accused of impropriety or fraudulent acquisition of land and has no court cases pertaining to land and put Raila at task to state which court matters he has. We may conclude that this land issue is emotive and an imaginative creation of politicians just as acampaign gimmick that there politicians pull to discredit their Uhuru and a plot to smear mud and taint his name. He is free from corruption. The debate set matters straight and it is very wrong to use lies and propaganda on campaign platform to cheat Kenyans

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An American who fell in love with Kenya and its people is planning for a big international forum in Nairobi in the year 2016

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Please find attached is our official News Release in a PDF format. Please note that we live in the 21st Century and News Releases are no longer written words, we now use both Multi-Media and Social Media to promote change and ideas in the world. We created this document in format that goes not only to the Kenyan Media, this document should go directly to the people of Kenya. We both know what happen in the “Middle East” with the “Arab Spring.” Social media can bring change in the world. In order for Africa to move into a 21st Century paradigm we must use “Social Media.”

Let me explain a very important concept to you. We are asking the “Republic of Kenya” to honor its “African/American Family” with a “Formal State Reception.” State Receptions are only given to Heads of State.

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In the history of Africa and African/Americans being taken as “slaves to America” not African country has ever offered “African/Americans a Formal State Reception.” A formal State Reception has to come from and be agreed upon by both the U.S. and Kenya State Departments. It is one thing to give a “Head of State” a Formal State Reception but how do you give African/American people a “Formal State Reception.?” This means that the total Republic of Kenya government and people must format a way to honor its “African/American Family.”

Please note that I have taken groups to Kenya for over a decade and I understand both Kenya and America and I am an expert in this area. I have an above average background regarding Kenya’s culture and history. Please understand that travel to Kenya will be long and grueling and beyond the usual travel time that most Americans have experienced. We have to look at “Jet Lag” and a way to promote such an event. We must develop a comprehensive “marketing strategy” that will attract 1000’s of African/Americans to Kenya.

For the record we have created a “Brand Name” for the event. The most noted African word in the English Language is “SAFARI.” It was American writer Earnest Hemingway that introduced the word Safari into the English language. The Kenyan Government must officially expand the meaning of the word “SAFARI” We give its many acronyms.

We have 5 major components as a way to promote the event. We must make the event a spiritual movement.

1. The Safari Home Coming Celebration is the story of the Prodigal Son. Preachers worldwide will relate Africa’s Children coming home to the “Prodigal Son” in the Bible

2. The event will start in Memphis, Tennessee. Memphis is important because Memphis was once the “Slave Capital of the World.” Symbolically the Children of Africa come from Memphis, Tennessee to Kenya.

3. Dr. Martin Luther King was Killed in Memphis and this event honors Dr. King’s Legacy by us bringing the gauntlet of Dr. King to Kenya

4. This event connects and completes the Legacy of Tom Mboya. Tom Mboya went to America to help Kenya students. That connects started by Mboya brings African/Americans home to Kenya.

5. Kenya is the home of Barack Obama Sr. and all African/Americans must travel to the Ancestry home of America’s President Barack Obama Sr.

Rev. Otura it is urgent that the Kenyan Government and the Kenyan people officially agree to honor its African/American family. Once the agreement is agreed upon we will take 3 years to plan and promote the celebration. We will have so many jobs to do to promote the event. When it comes to the area of the “Christian Faith” we expect you to tell the story that only such a celebration is from “God.” Rev. Otura since you and I connected you and other Kenyan ministers will visits 100’s of churches in America to tell them to come home to Africa. We must develop our website so that anyone in America can simple look on their Cell phone and see videos of the event. Since the event will take place in Kenya’s “High Season” Kenya will not have enough Hotel Rooms.

Such an event will be like the Olympics and it takes a lot of planning and infrastructure. South Africa has better “infrastructure” for such an event. Outside of Nairobi many areas cannot accommodate many African/Americans. Such an event will change the culture of Kenya.

Rev. Otura I would like to thank you for you help. Prior to our going to Kenya we can do a lot of the preliminary work out of the way. We must meet with every Airline that travels from America to Kenya to work out “Budget Travel packages.” We must make the trip affordable to 1000’s of people who could not otherwise travel to Africa.

The most Important Factor

The most important element to the “Safari Homecoming Celebration” is the Barack Obama factor. We must get the date and agreement signed so that President Barack Obama Jr. can officially put the event on his calendar. Because the Kenya State Department and American State Department will sign an official Historic Agreement this will allow President Obama to officially come to Kenya and be the Key note speaker. Please note that in July of 2016 the President will only have 6 months left in office. Hillary Clinton will be running for President. Since this event will be on the “World Stage” Hilleary Clinton may attend the event. Many American legislators will come from America. Because some many American legislators will be in Kenya all African leaders will be at the event.

When you add up African leaders, Church leaders, The President Kenya will not have enough hotel rooms. We will need tents and need camps to support this event. President Obama will come to Kenya. President Obama loves Kenya and he will come to Kisumu.

I think that I have written enough. I think you understand how urgent and important the work we are doing. Now is the time for you to return home to assist in promoting this event. You must stand on stage with President Obama.

End

KENYA: BIG SURPRISE AS UHURU TURNED UP FOR SECOND DEBATE

From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2013

Kenyans were surprised yesterday when Uhuru Kenyatta appeared on second presidential debate when his party, TNA had sent a letter to the Presidential Debate Steering Committee explaining why Uhuru could not attend the second debate.

The party had cited bias and failure of the moderators to ask other candidates other than Uhuru hard questions. The party claimed moderato Linus Kaikai had a bone to chew with their candidate and that he had been coached on how to set the stage for direct attacks on Uhuru. Kenya’s first-ever Presidential Debate took place on 11th February, 2013.

The party claimed it was profoundly unprofessional and tasteless for Kaikai to use the ICC indictments as a platform for allowing the other candidates to ride roughshod over Uhuru without equally raising questions related to their suitability and competency.

The argument was based on the fact that if Kaikai had genuine intentions of exposing the weaknesses of all the candidates in the debate, then he would have dredged into the shady past of candidates like the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Raila Odinga, Hon Peter Kenneth, Paul Muite, Hon Martha Karua and Hon Musalia Mudavadi, and former PS John ole Kiyiapi, all of whom are burdened by varying degrees of either graft allegations or issues of moral probity.

They wondered why Kakai did not probe Odinga over his alleged role in several multi-billion shilling instances of grand corruption; most notably the Triton, Maize, and Kazi Kwa Vijana scandals that have blighted the Prime Minister’s Office for a number of years.

In addition, the two moderators failed to put Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi on the spot for his alleged role in the complex Goldenberg Scandal when he served as Finance Minister.

Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua was not grilled on her dubious role in the South Ngariama Ranch and allegations of moral impropriety, all hard issues in the public domain.

Peter Kenneth was not questioned on his suspected role in scandals involving the Kenya Re-Insurance Corporation and the Kenya Football Federation (KFF) when he was the head of the two institutions.

And James ole Kiyiapi was not questioned on his suspect role in the Education Fund scandal while Paul Muite was not taken to task on allegations that the Goldenberg Scandal chief architect Kamlesh Pattni paid him KSh20 million.

Pattni made the allegations, complete with facsimiles of the cheques involved, and a senior business associate of Muite’s confirmed that the cheques were indeed banked in their firm’s account.

The party alluded that perhaps the choice of Kaikai as Moderator was not a well-thought-out decision by the organizers. This moderator has previously and publicly displayed a soft spot for the Prime Minister.

Kaikai they claimed is known to have expressed interest in seeking a parliamentary seat in Narok on an ODM ticket in the 2007 elections, but was reportedly talked out of his ambitions and promised the post of Director of Communications in a Raila Presidency.

The party further claimed that some of the organizers were keen to use the Debate to further their own political agendas and support their favoured candidates.. For example, Samuel K. Macharia, the proprietor of Royal Media Services (RMS) – which contributed one of the moderators – has openly opposed Kenyatta’s candidature and aligned his broadcasting empire to bolstering Odinga’s campaigns.

They claimed Macharia was recently appointed head of CORD’s so-called Summit, becoming the first media owner in Kenya to participate directly in the affairs of a political formation.

The second debate was intended to cover economy, land and international relations. KTN’s Joe Ageyo and Citizen TV’s Uduak Amimo were slated to moderate. The first debate covered governance, social services, health and education, security and resource management.

Kenyatta has maintained that the ICC charges shouldn’t affect the election and has dismissed potential sanctions that could come from cautious foreign governments by claiming that the economy will survive on trade with neighbouring countries and the Chinese.

But even if sanctions were to be imposed on Kenyans, the fact that elections in Kenya are tribally based, Uhuru will still have votes from his fellow tribes, and with William Ruto as his running mate, Kenyatta will have strong support from both Central Province and the Rift Valley.

The two communities would not mind whether Uhuru’s government will reform land, efficient use of government land, a reverse in the pattern of fragmentation, with smallholder farmers on private land, and whether to establish individual land rights for those on community land or not. What they want is ‘our own has made it’.

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

Who is Frustrating the Reform Change and Justice in Kenya

From: Judy Miriga

Kenya frustrating justice, says ICC chief prosecutor ………Is it only the ICC Prosecutor Ms. Fatou feeling the Kibaki/Uhuru pressure or evidence of the same is slowly becoming a Reality in the minds of many.

The Truth has seen light and the knowledge of Truth will not allow darkness to bury it again. Darkness therefore is in serious trouble, like a wounded lion, it is dangerously trying to look for escape; so good people, simply follow the rule, be cautious, careful and watchful. Do not allow to be intimidated, stay focused and know that God has always been faithful; we shall overcome………

People, we must take seriously the Reform Change process and take ownership of Kenya from thievers so that we make it “Right The First Time” otherwise, we shall have ourselves to blame.

Something we didn’t know whether it was true or false and for all this time, it has not been put very clearly in the open for a very long time which has remained a silent hot rumor with ears on the ground since I was a child of about 7 years. The story goes that, Kenya was sneakily owned since 1963 under-table by a small group of family members and close friends who secretly put their heads together clandestinely, took Kiapo (oath) and drunk human blood mixed with animal blood with juju and ajawa and agreed and swore in a traditional seal to keep it silent that way within the family and amongst those recruited. If anyone broke the oath or did something different from the seal, that person must summarily be put to death. For one to share in the profits from Kenya’s resources anyway anyhow, one must follow the same trend of kula kiapo of oath-taking which one must drink human blood and liver mixed with animal blood and juju and ajawa before one can be crafted in consideration as one of them or even simply put to be in the leadership of Kenya. This is how the system in Kenya was meant to work which is why after the Colonial Era, when white settlers left, all that land was taken by the Kenyatta family. It is the reason the family own land amounting to half of Kenya in total. If this is true, then there is a big trouble ahead of us in order that we make things right. I read something recently in Kenyas newspaper, which made me believe there could be some truth that if I share adding to my own, more people, will come out to confirm what many of us pocketed in our chests. It is a rumor people know about from the Coastal Region of Mombasa, to the hills of Mt. Kenya down the slopes of Rift Valley into the hills and valley’s including the plains and plateaus of Nyanza Region. If there are people out there ever heard anything of this sort, please confirm or witness in good faith because, it is in sharing that the Truth shall set us all free indeed.

To some extent from political perspectives, I have seen things go wrong over the years but people feared to question, where with this rumor presented by a Kenyan writer in Kenyas newspaper, the rumor seems more clearer and very real than ever before.

Don’t forget people, that the world has conceptually become a small village and Kenya with the rest of Africa cannot afford to be left behind where challenges and competition for Global Market-place need Africa’s resources for Economic Development Success. This cannot wait for another day to make our perspectives right. Now is the time to make real meaningful Reform Change and we cannot remain stuck in the mud for another 50 more wasted years being controlled clandestinely.

Any mistakes that we make now, we shall live with it as a damning scar for the rest of our lives…….It is the will of the people to decide way forward for Kenya through informed choices; but it takes courage to do right.

We must take Responsibilities of Voters Right and participate to make reasonable informed choices that will collectively help to cultivate and plant good seeds for Partnership Progressive Development Agenda that shall produce good governance with just rule of law without corruption, impunity, intimidation, fraud or fear. Those with questionable and suspicious background lacking integrity must be held accountable for their actions before they can be allowed to vie or hold public office. It is peoples Livelihood and Survival which is at stake and that cannot be taken for granted.

As a matter of urgency, we cannot sit back and watch the Finance Ministry being run like a personal or family business affair with land grabbing in Kenya or from any part of Africa where grabbing of land is treated like no criminal offense. It is our constitutional right and human right that demands from us to be united and take collective responsibility measure to protect public interest and security according to Reform Change Accord Agreement and the International Treaty for dignity of Human Rights livelihood and survival.

Reform Accord Agreement of Chapter six:

The Jurisdiction Necessity of Compliance is required to justify Reform Accord Agenda of Chapter Six give credible legitimacy of Integrity Responsibility honoring collective rights of Voter participation without exclusion or discrimination:

Reform Change Agreement Demands Voter Rights be honored and Respected that Proper Educational Training must be conducted responsibly in order that Voters make Informed Choices and know their rights in what to expect in the New Concept of Devolution of Counties in a devolve governance:

The Diaspora:

Ø That the election must be fully inclusive with Diasporas given opportunity of rights to vote as per the Reform constitutional policy;

Ø That the Kenya Community must be provided with sufficient educational training to understand how new structures of County Devolution works in delivering public service with information to understand how the institution of legal services work

Ø That the Police system is overhauled and vetted to provide security services discretely, effectively and efficiently respecting the law

Ø that the devolved administrative institutions will discharge their duties working with county’s public personnel alongside people’s elected representatives to deliver effective and efficient public services to the respective County Communities in an open and transparent manner engaging in progressive development prospects

Ø that People must know in advance before election what to expect from their Counties elected leaders, which is why March 4th 2013 election is fundamentally crucial that it must be done the right way the first time according to Reform Accord Agreement procedure.

Presently, election of March 4th 2013 is showing clear signs of corruption from advance rigging with buying peoples voter IDs while IEBC is giving questionable characters certificates of clean bill of records before proper and credible Integrity Examination threshold for background check is done; Parties primary election nominations were full of conflicts from anomalies and rigging with the whole electioneering process full of mismanagement, discrepancies and flaws. Maybe, the reflection of the Party Primaries nominations failures should be taken as a show-case for mock elections instead of wasting more money on the mock exercise. The Party Primaries proved that the will of the people was not respected or honored. Thus, with confirmation of events currently taking place attest that the election of March 4th 2013 will not be peaceful, credible, free and fair because things have not been done the right way. Before the anomalies are rectified, March 4th 2013 remain flawed and must be differed for a later date. This calls for a credible Transitional Committee to be instituted according to the New Constitution Mandate since the Coalition Government term of office ended by January 30th 2013.

The Election organizers have still time to reconsider making March 4th 2013 election peaceful, credible, free and fair for History of Constitutional Reform to be made right the first time by following Integrity rule of chapter six.

This was not done as it should have and elections are around the corner with one more week to go. IEBC also confirmed that peoples’ voter IDs are still being bought and this is a sign of serious irregularities and misrepresentation taking place that cannot be rectified in just one week. Bottom line, no election under these flawed circumstances can remain peaceful, credible, free and fair…….

A stitch in time saves nine. If you see a crack developing in your house, you do not wait until the crack gets bigger and the house collapses; you save it in time by making necessary repairs before it falls apart. This is the same with Reform Change in Kenya today. As we are in the process of repairing damages of corruption with impunity, we do not return the same people who are master-minders of corruption to continue with the mess making it worse and difficult for Reform to take roots. We must get rid of the corrupt and replace them with new ones for a change with a hope that things might get better.

To do this, the people must be knowledgeable and be prepared in advance to understand consequences of corruption and the benefit of Reform Change and how people must elect those who care for public mandate, so that people are able to make rightful informed choices in conformity to the Reform Change Agreement. No one should be taken for a ride through ignorance or be excluded from voting maliciously.

If March 4th 2013 election is in dispute for any reason seen to be accused from election flaws, rigging locking out Diaspora from voting; consequences of which shall make the election illegitimate, nul and void. One such grievance as clear as that of Diasporas purposefully curved out against their constitutional rights and blocked from voting cannot be disputed. There are reasonable good evidence of political engineering maneuvers to scuttle the election to fit a certain fashion with an aim of rigging, that too cannot be disputed. For this reason, election of March 4th 2013 will be considered not credible but rigged; and as such, it shall not be free and fair.

These are consequences we can avoid if election is fully inclusive accommodating the Diasporas voting rights and according to the constitutional policy for Integrity examination threshold for background check is adhered to. This is a procedural rule according to chapter 6 of the Constitution. If the procedure is according to the Law without cover-up or false excuses, we shall be safe in carrying the Reform Election in a credible acceptable manner, free and fair. These are crucial reasons why deferment of March 4th 2013 is most important to be given utmost urgent consideration within these last moments before election is in default.

Signs of Trouble when authority of Justice is threatened:

These scare tactics are criminal in nature, and are as dangerously flawed as they are unconstitutional with intention to frustrate and intimidate the Supreme Court from discharging its duty in order to escape justice cannot be tolerated nor is it acceptable. They are the same old tactics we have witnessed in the past every election time following the same pattern in the past 50 years. They are clandestinely a pre-organized plan to stage rigging of election for the corrupt Status Quo to continue stay in power. The question is, who looses and bears the brunt of pain and long suffering at the end of the day? This is why, with the Reform Change, we must act wiser than before.

Today, Chief Justice Mutunga of Supreme Court is facing fear factor of threats whose intention is to frustrate, intimidate and manipulate him. If this can happen to the Chief Justice whose docket gives him Independence of autonomy from other Government Institutions with good security, how can the ordinary ICC Hague witnesses with normal ordinary Kenyans match up with the threats from the machinery of the Status Quo who are without enough security, don’t you think they are worse off???

These are concerns we must consider if we truly want to stay away from such corrupt environment full of impunity. This is why, it was wrong for suspects of ICC Hague to have been given certificate for clean bill of records to contest for the Public Offices when they are listed as suspects at the ICC Hague, where ICC Hague have not cleared them. We shall be defeating and challenging the work of ICC Hague by rewarding the suspects with clean bill of records when ICC Hague holds them suspect. We cannot play a double standard cards in the Integrity threshold for Reform. If from the horses mouth came “Don’t be vague it is Hague” that was the in-thing slogan, who are you to give them a clean bill of record??? Why are we being vague now when we were told not to be vague it is Hague. What’s wrong with you people.

In our minds and hearts the issues of 2007/8 have not been cleared. Today there are fears from signs of the repeat of the same. Why are we contradictory confuse the Reform Accord Agreement of chapter 6, with the Old Constitution. The Reform Constitution Policy demands declaration for the sources of wealth, checks and balances for accountability and transparency which Uhuru as the Finance Minister has failed to be in compliance, running the Finance Ministry as personal and family business affair.

Are we therefore going to engage leaders who use public power to threaten justice and remain uncooperative??? If those who thrive in corruption are capable to be stubborn now, what shall become when they are Presidents???

See what ICC Prosecutor Ms Bensouda Fatou had to say about Failure to cooperate:

International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Ms. Fatou Bensouda addressing the press at Serena Hotel, Nairobi on October 22, 2012 said that, she may be compelled to seek other nations’ help in forcing Kenya’s hand Hague prosecutor tell court that she has been denied access to witnesses such as MP Kapondi and PCs who served in clash areas and says she isn’t allowed to see suspects’ wealth declaration forms or intelligence reports that, she may be also forced to seek assistance from foreign countries to compel Kenya to give the court access to government officers and security agents.

“In her submissions, she accused the government of failing to cooperate with the ICC by not giving access to Provincial Commissioners and Police Chiefs who were in charge of areas which were hit most by the post-election chaos.

Consequently, ICC Hague Prosecutor Ms Bensouda Fatou indicated to the Trial Judges that she may amend her list of witnesses and evidence against the four suspects in future if the Kenya government agrees to give her access to the officers………Without doubt, nothing malicious but very intelligent proposal, and went on to explain that;…….“These materials and or persons are the subject of certain governmental and or institutional restrictions for which the Prosecution has requested cooperation from a number of states pursuant to their co-operation obligations under Part 9 of the Statute, but which have not yet been received,” she goes on.

Sources also said the government has blocked the ICC from accessing wealth declarations of the suspects, freezing their accounts and reports of the National Security Intelligence Service at the time of the post election violence………..“The prosecution hereby gives notice to the Chamber that in future, it may seek leave to amend the list of witnesses and or the list of evidence pursuant to the requirements of Regulation 35(2) of the Regulations of the Court if it obtains certain materials that it seeks to tender into evidence or succeeds in securing cooperation of certain witnesses that it has identified that it wishes to interview,” says the Prosecutor.

Ms Bensouda was also said to have requested to interview Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi who chairs the Parliamentary Committee on Security but Prof Muigai reportedly told the ICC Prosecutor that the MP had the last decision on whether he wanted to be interviewed or not.

Attorney General Prof Githu Muigai is said to have required the ICC team to make formal applications to access the said records with a requirement that it will take a Cabinet approval for The Hague investigation to access NSIS reports. The Cabinet of Transition is assumed headed by Kimemia…….

Faced with such challenges in a case that she is determined to prove that Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto, Mr Muthaura and Mr Sang bore the greatest responsibility, the ICC prosecutor appears to be ready to seek the assistance of foreign countries and agencies to gain access to the witnesses and evidence.

“The Prosecution may also address the Chamber, when and if necessary, pursuant to Articles 93(1)(l) and 64(6)(b) of the Rome Statute, to obtain a request to one or more States Parties to provide assistance with respect to facilitating access to the above mentioned persons and materials or requiring witnesses’ attendance before the Court,” said Ms Bensouda.

“The Prosecution has already approached several State parties, including the government of Kenya, in order to gain access to such individuals and materials. Discussions regarding the terms and conditions of such access are still ongoing,” she went on.

How can ICC then be blamed for not making it right the first time when Government system is so manipulative, blocking and making it difficult to access records needed by the Court with other information that are required when elements to frustrate such move is solidly put in place by Kibaki which makes it even more impossible to make the right moves without fear factor hovering over legal justice freedom to even address or resolve historical injustices of land grabbing so people can move forward with ease without baggage’s of the past…….

We must agree to make it right the first time because, whatever happens and whatever cost we shall have to endure and pay for good democratic governance with Just Rule of Law shall be worth the struggle, loses and pain we have gone through over the years……At the end of the struggle, we shall all be happy moving forward progressively at peace, united in harmony with each other caring and sharing in love and telling tales of the past in a welcoming environment without harboring painful memories of the past……

Public demands that, it is futile for urgent Finance Ministry to be Audited and report made public before election is done to justify checks and balances proof for credibility in the management of Public Service delivery to ascertain legitimacy in the use of Public Finance loans, funds, grants and gifts of in-kinds disbursed and discharged for public service delivery.

We believe that Uhuru Kenyatta have some serious explaining to do on matters pertaining to a humongous ballooning of public fiscal debt accruement that is continuing to grow by day and people are shrinking into deeper poverty and hunger pain and suffering with daily rising costs of food and other basic needs; this is true with constant insecurities, failing health standards, falling apart of Kenyas Educational system with health and environmental pollution. Joblessness is soaring including severe shortage of energy and water in both urban and the rural. We demand that Uhuru explain to the public why him and Muthaura engaged in twisting the arm of Parliament in order to sneak in dangerous clauses in the Finance Bill.

Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and former Secretary to the Cabinet Francis Muthaura sometimes in December 2011, were accused of trying to sabotage MPs attempt to control Bank Interests and regulate costs of fuel through legislation which the two were adamantly against. An MP Jakoyo Midiwo accused Uhuru of arm-twisting Parliament and intimidating him for trying to amend several laws to control Banking and Energy policies. He proceeded to accuse Finance Minister of delaying Finance Bill to defeat proposals to make several security amendments to be included in Banking and Energy Acts. Muthaura was accused of launching attack on Parliamentarians for allegedly writing a letter on December 6th suggesting that amendments proposed on the Bill are “suicidal” that could “lead to hyperinflation” that could poison Treasury’s negotiations with the IMF, the International Monetary Fund. Did they know something that we did not or are people of Kenya purposefully used as rubberstamp for clandestine gains of special interest networks Kenyan people are not suppose to know about?

Parliament was not able to pass the Controversial Finance Bill without sneaking in dangerous clauses to cushion theft and insecurity from Bank Rates, with Energy’s skyrocketing cost of living which contributed to high rising cost of fuel for which Uhuru stand accused of trying to sabotage the Parliament from protecting Public Mandate interest. Uhuru is seen to enjoy Independence bolstering in greater fiscal public debt allowing domestic basic needs to cost beyond ordinary peoples income average means making public fiscal debt to balloon at 1.7 trillion equivalent to 48% GDP which is considered unsustainable. It is now very clear why Uhuru and team refused to cooperate to declare wealth and be cleared according to the new law under Integrity examination threshold. In public opinion, Uhuru is seen to have contravened the Constitutional order and squashed Public Mandate running the Ministry of Finance like a personal and private business affair discounting and scuttling legality of Peoples mandate in the New Constitution is unacceptable.

Finance Matters are interrelated with those of Land Grabbing:

Land issue in Kenya is a serious matter that cannot be given a blank cheque (check) to continue with business as usual in destroying peoples livelihood and survival through the cancer of corruption and impunity. Land grabbing issue must be resolved instantaneously by putting right people in public office to help resolve and conclude the historical injustices once and for all.

It is a criminal offence and an abuse of power to use public office to satisfy gains of the corrupt and greedy networking with those International Corporate special business interest who use the Chinese as Commission Agents to export land to China to profit network of special interest and transferring the burden accrued in debts on the public shoulders after engaging in questionable circumstances that are of contrast in Conflict of Interest, squandering through embezzlement the utilization of public finances and resources, utilities and facilities in an irregular dishonest manner. This is because there are many leads to indicate there is credible leads of mismanagement in the Finance Ministry with purposeful misappropriation and embezzlements of Public Loans from World Bank and IMF with other Donor Agencies funding that were disbursed to Kenya for Public Projects and programs for Public Health, medical research, educational programs with for those meant for small community business program incentives for Millennium Development Agenda and for the improvement and development of Agricultural land in arid and semi arid of the Coastal Regions (Isiolo, Tana River, Turkwel, Turkana, Kwale, Taita Taveta, Kilifi, Garsen, Garisa, Malindi, Mombasa including the Great Lakes in and around the Lake Victoria, Migingo, Siaya, Migori, Rongo, Oyugis/Ringa Kojwach in the Nyanza region, where Investments earmarked for Energy, Water and the Natural Minerals in such Gold, Diamond, Titunium, Coltan, Iron Ore, Zinc etc., is not benefiting people of Kenya directly but people are moved away from their land to pave way for special business interest. That whatever plan which were made are under serious conspiracy with intention to defraud and steal from the people of Kenya what belong to their family and the community. The loans and funding incurred in the fiscal public debt is not feasible nor sustainable because, funds were re-directed and relocated for other usage and or were misappropriated for which they must be accounted for. We cannot under-estimate costs incurred in the exchange for transfers of such like Public Corporations signed off in a conspiracy theory to blackmail and bankrupt Public Corporations through sneaky transfers to unsecured individual business beefed by public finance expenditure account. We have noted with sadness how Kenya Railways Corporation was dismantled and transferred benefit an Individual sharing with Uganda who paid no penny to get Kenya Railways out of the hands of Kenya Public interest. This is not right. The Kenya Railway Corporation now reads “The Rift Valley Railway”. This is daylight robbery. Today, greater land grabbing is following the same fashion of trend the reason why the Land Commissioners are given a tenure of 6 years, something that can be done in less than 6 months considering the urgency of the matter. This is unacceptable.

As if that is not enough, Kibaki put on gazette the appointment of the Land Commissioners citing powers conferred to him by Section 7, paragraph 8 of the first schedule to the National Land Commission Act. Dr. Mohammed Swazuri as Chairperson of the 6 member Commission have been commissioned for 6 years when Kenyans have reached their limits with Kibaki pretending not to see how Land Grabbers are raping the land and exporting land to China after issueing a blank cheque to the Chinese Commission Agents of the Corporate Special Business Interest. According to Kibaki, like TJRC headed by Kiplagat, Land Commissioners report will be played around and suspended like many others that came before and be heard after the next election of 2018 is over. Who is Kibaki fooling wajamaa??? (kwetu kwaporomoka, kwao wanajenga ma palace)……the irregular allotments and release of Title Deads to fake land owners will continue doing business as usual while the real land owners will remain in the cold. After six more years, the owners of the lands will have died by them, what shall become of the offspring’s of the dead who have no idea of what became of their land, and finding the matter of the land complicated they give up. This is making life extremely difficult for Victims of Land Grabbing; talking of 6 more years??? Ati for 6 more years? Listen people, we are not fools, Kibaki and Uhuru jointly are destroying the rest of Kenya’s community with stupid backwards tactics that must be rejected forthwith and Kibaki with others must join Uhuru and team to the ICC Hague……because, this behavior is inhuman, is criminat and it is against human rights for people to live without dignity with no peace. It is a mean act driven with selfishness; it is sad, illogical and pathetic and this cannot be tolerated. Kibaki with team of thievers must face justice squarely whichever way that is…….

This matter is not simple and we are prepared to fight harder than before as far as going to ICC Court in the Hague we shall go there in order that we resolve this Land Issue in Kenya, Sudan, Uganda, and Congo must be resolved as Land Grabbers consolidated their interest as a combined force; protecting each other to safeguard their vested special interest. We are not going to sit pretty and watch this go on. If it will mean all parties involved in Land dispute and conflict, all businesses dealing in Land shall be forced to stop until the matter of Land is fully settled to the satisfaction of the local community who were defrauded and forced out of their land and became victims of land grabbing theft. We shall not rest until that is finally accomplished.

Public loaned money intended to develop land for Agricultural Community Development with providing for Environmental securities protection did not do what it was intended to do, where did all these money go to??? ……

At some point Budgetary discrepancies in altering and adding figures were identified by the Legislatures and later cold water was poured and the matter turned to be reduced to typing errors. Why did this happen if threats and force did not play a game here. It is believed that public loaned money intended for Community development also disappeared through various corrupt exit routes to profit Special Business Interest and this could not be downplayed as typing error as there are evidently population of victims who suffer painfully from corruption and impunity effects pay high cost in taxes for basic commodity needs in order to make repayment of money stolen from public coufers. It is believed that, some Loans with other project funding earlier disappear through Equity Bank before it recently in 2011 public money begun to be channeled through Cooperative Bank of Kenya and K-Rep. This is still wrong as we have not been told why external funding and loans exchanges and transfers are not being channeled through Central Bank of Kenya for accountability, checks and balances and we are made to wonder when the system changed from Central Bank and why ? Does this explain public business run as private and family affair???

We are also concerned why the Appropriation Bill became very controversial denying the Parliamentarians the voice to Plan properly for the Budget, control of expenditures and make decision except Minister for Finance Ministry awarding himself autonomy of power to privately facilitated, discharge and controlled Public Office clandestinely under the knowledge and express permission of Kibaki. This was evident when control of Privatization Act, Public Procurement Act and Disposal Act, the Energy Act, Price Control on public essential goods, Kenya Information and Communication acts were some of the amendments included in the finance Bill that were not within the Bills mandate but were sneaked in privately (Ki-mpango wa kando) outside the official prerogatives for Reform policy. This is out of order, criminal, unconstitutional and cannot be accepted.

With all these unexplained Public Finance heavy casualties of fiscal debts incurred from taxpayer indebtedness, misappropriation and the embezzlement reports, Uhuru Kenyatta is considered guilty without reasonable doubt that he faulted, committed crime in conflict of interest and by short-changing Constitutional policy to profit self from corruption.

The Supplementary Budget Estimate (Minimum Budget) was approved in December because Uhuru became stubborn and refused Parliament to enact Finance Bill and instead of Shs. 58 billion approved for Country’s Transitional Caretaker costs with the County’s devolution, which the Parliament authorized 15% for the County’s allocation, the Counties allocation faulted with only 6% release which is below the Constitutional threshold. This is a serious offense that has raised eyebrows and there are serious questions demanding where the rest of the money went. Uhuru and Kibaki must answer questions why they are meddling with Public Finances and refused to enact Finance Bill; as a result Fiscal Public Debt has grown to over 50% in GDP expecting public to shoulder expenses in paying overpriced taxes on goods purchases where Special Interest gain in collectibles from high prices on fundamental basic commodity goods including increase of prices on oil that run industries and transportation etc.,

Uhuru Kenyatta in express authority of Finance Ministry set aside Investor Compensation fund from loses by Nyaga Stock Brokers and Discount Securities Ltd when it collapsed with public money. Upon Audit, it was found that Donor fund for KESSP with WKCDD were misappropriated that too was paid by Finance Ministry Public Account without public information or consultation and approval. This character explain that Uhuru Kenyatta does not value or respect Reform Change for National values and Principles of Good Governance.

People, Kibaki and Uhuru must be put to task….. Which is why, Finance Ministry must be fully audited and report made public. Uhuru must face scrutiny and go for a thorough Integrity examination threshold and altogether face legal justice if found guilty. We must not take Kibaki’s meandering for a fool; there is serious conspiracy to frustrate Reform Change Mandate and we must fight to protect our livelihood and survival.

Recently Ferdinand Waititu Nairobi County Governor candidate for TNA faces voters’ wrath in bribe attempt. The team was made up of Waititu, Senate candidate Gideon Mbuvi Sonko and Women Representative Rachel Shebesh were apparently dishing out money with attempt to bribe people. This is voter fraud with an intention to rig elections. This is unacceptable.

We are also concerned that IMF is raising alarm about Kenya’s Huge Public Debt. It was by June last year that Kenya’s Public Debt exploded. Kenya is in for a rude shock and we will have forgotten too quickly who former President Moi was grooming for business as usual project. It is because of Land Grabbing of the unfinished business of Moi that Kibaki carried Uhuru project forward. Don’t be fooled. If former President Moi was fwataring nyayo (foot-steps of Kenyatta) and we saw Land Grabbing skyrocketing going through the roof; it is in the same manner Kibaki stage-managed for Kimemia which is not a secret but has become an open public book that Kimemia was planted to stage-manage rigging of the election. Kimemias silence from responding to IEBC letter will not save his skin from facing justice on conflict of interest. 48 hours deadline expected to end on Saturday are gone and he has not responded. It is therefore worrisome and very scary what Kimemia is capable of doing after watching his aggressive engagement in politics and assertiveness moves of marshalling government system with a purpose of rigging the election brings us back to re-visit memory lane of 2007/8.

This is why Kimemia must step down or be forced to resign immediately…..

It is not by chance that in this era of Reform Change, Chief Justice Willy Mutunga in his jurisdiction of an independent institution, he is still threatened, intimidate and undermined by those equal to his juniors in the Judiciary, where CJ found himself in an awkward situation being forced to cry that his life is in danger. Hey! it is time Kenyans must be very worried that March 4th 2013 after maliciously leaving out the Diaspora from voting for whatever reasons that were presented and following with the instantaneous scare-tactics as recently been witnessed in such careless police shootings and killings with the recent IEBC election computers day light theft coupled with motivated civil conflicts that are spreading out like bush fire, things are definitely not right and elections are bound to be rigged as it is already flawed; reasons why it cannot be simply taken for granted.

What was the reasons why Kibaki avoided signing the Environmental Bill and becoming stubborn to Gazette Land Commissioners? Recently, Kibaki defy Courts’ 7 days rule orders to Gazette Commissioners of Land. Does this explain something??? Well, it makes us theorize that, Land Grabbing in Kenya is under some sort of protectorate for special interest away from public interest, which is why, Uhuru was Moi’s “project” and now Kimemia is crafted by Kibaki to take control of protecting interests of the “project” through smart rigging. True or False…… If this is the plan, it is unacceptable and it is against the Law…….

It brings us to demand for answers why the Chinese under commission agency was given a blank check by Kibaki to export wholesome Kenyas land to China? Whose mandate was this arrangement executed and with which constitutional policy was Land relocation authorized to be shipped to China ? What were the security prospects taken into consideration with regard to advantages against disadvantages. If so, how much was made in tax revenues as per report of accountability and GDP in terms of quantities and quality evaluation of the rated land sale, water with other natural minerals (Gold, Diamond, Taitanium, Coltan, Iron Ore, Zink etc) including the amount and size of the Trade Exports commodity value for sales profitability? Why was the Land export to China not provided in policy legislation? What was the obstacle barrier that hindered Land bill from being enacted in order to conform with Reform Mandate for transparency and accountability ??? How and who will shoulder the heavy burden thereof with costs that shall demands for land repair to replenish environmental destabilization and pollution incurred by the Chinese Agency relocating land to China…..??? How was this quantified and evaluated, incase damage costs supersede profit made from land relocation exported to China if there is no report of the same or checks and balances to ascertain responsibility with integrity???

Finance Ministry being non-compliance to Reform agreement and constantly dodged logistics for justification of the same to facilitate authenticity clarity of Budgeting and Expenditures with those emanating from fiscal debts accruements in order to legitimize Finance Bill for accountability is a crime of purposeful evasion with an agenda to discount Public Mandate Reform Agreement and is against the Constitutional principle.

Intelligently, balancing Trade Policies for progressive Partnership program including the success of Millennium Development Agenda is core value that Politicians must take into serious consideration in their representation from bottom up. This is where local community welfare progressive plan is made to include demands for grassroots’ Peasant farmers in the local communities, the small dukawala with local market hawkers, the middleclass businessmen and women, the individual scholars with professional experts’ interests must have been included to engage in a fair plan and distribution of governance program for development plan and this is a good measure of economic balance for progress. In the event, those candidates eyeing public office if previously had occupied public office, they must prepare to explain what good things they did, organized, planned, engaged or put in place to secure peoples mandated agenda is secured for Reform development progress when they had the opportunity and chance to occupy positions of authority in the legislative policy making and in the Government operations to render public service.

These are credible ways to justify commitment of Public Servants and their responsibility to effectively engage in public service which in effect, secure capacity means to create and boost Government’s public wealth and effectively provide cushioning for economic growth with reliable and sustainable job opportunities expansion. It takes great Humility, Wisdom, Commitment, Responsible demeanor with Integrity to honor human value, virtue and dignity irrespective of Class, Age, Tribal Grouping or Ethnicity when one is in leadership authority. Developing Trust is to honor the Will of the People. This is the core value to Economic stability and success without which, the economy of any Nation is bound to fail and collapse.

How can we trust Uhuru’s Presidency to deliver public mandate if having been earmarked as the “Project of Nyayo” by former president Moi for special business interest we are still not sure of his stand and sincerity to Reform Change Agenda, because Moi fought very hard to be against the Reform and he promised to defeat it? To make matters worse, the two are faced with grave pending cases of human injustices at the ICC Hague. We cannot therefore meddle with situation circumstances fooling ourselves that all is well when we all want to see the end of corruption with impunity, reduce politically engineered fiscal debt, improve social welfare with public health, reduce poverty and environmental pollution situation and altogether face-out historical injustices so that fair justice is truly seen to have been done without compromising public Reform Mandate for good democratic governance with just rule of law.

However difficult Reform struggle may be, people must not accept to be sell-out…..People must stay and remain focused and be sober when it comes to voting politicians as government representatives. We all must join together to condemn ill motives and refrain from adding fuel to corruption with impunity that has over the years, energized corruption in business as usual by allowing ourselves to be used for political selfish greedy gains and more or so, if we are committed to Real Reform Change. People, we definitely want to secure our progressive development agenda that will shape and improve our destiny, leaving this world united under peace caring and sharing in love, which corruption and impunity has robbed from us.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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IEBC admits ID card buying going on

Updated Sunday, February 24 2013 at 15:02 GMT+3

By Geoffrey Mosoku

NAIROBI; KENYA: The Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) has launched investigations into reported incidents of Identity Card (ID) buying.

The IEBC says it has information that some people were buying IDs from voters in various parts of the country which it has termed as illegal.

“The Commission is aware of reports that some people are buying IDs from registered voters. Our internal investigations unit is working with police to unearth this syndicate,”IEBC Chief Electoral Officer James Oswago said.

Oswago said buying IDs is not only criminal but unconstitutional as it denies those voters the right to cast their ballot. “It disenfranchises voters by denying them the right to vote as enshrined in the constitution.”

The electoral body CEO said the commission will be issuing a detailed statement on the claims which threaten to undermine a free and fair election.

Already, the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) alliance has complained that their rivals were deeply engaged in buying IDs from their supporters in their strongholds across the country.

CORD presidential campaign Chairman Franklin Bett said ID card buying is has been reported in Kitui, Kakamega, Kisii, Nyamira, Mombasa and parts of Nairobi counties.

While demanding for action by the authorities, Bett cautioned voters not to sell their IDs saying doing so was tantamount to mortgaging your future.

“The 500 shillings or so that you get by selling your ID card is less valuable that what you will get by participating in the polls through casting your vote,” he said.

Bett who was accompanied by ODM secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o, was speaking yesterday at the CORD centre in Nairobi when they launched a campaign dubbed ‘Stand up for Kenya, Get out and vote’.

According to the lobby officials Zuleka Hassan and Arnold Karanja, the team aims to move across the country and especially in their strongholds and swing vote areas.

The team of youthful representatives from ODM, Wiper and Ford Kenya will be holding a door to door campaign as they mobilize their supporters to turn up in large numbers.

“We are telling Kenyans that it’s not enough to a registered voter but one ought to come out and vote. In this way, our candidate will be able to garner majority of votes,” Zuleka said.

Nyong’o lauded the campaign saying it will encourage many Kenyans to turn out adding that citizens should strive to exercise their democratic right through the ballot.

Among the other areas targeted by the group is the vote rich Rift Valley, where Cord is targeting at least 40 percent of the entire vote.

Kimemia still silent on allegations

Updated Sunday, February 24 2013 at 15:41 GMT+3

By Geoffrey Mosoku

NAIROBI; KENYA: Head of Civil Service Francis Kimemia is yet to respond to allegations that he is actively involved in campaigns for Jubilee alliance.

This is in spite that the 48 hours, that the Independent Elections and Boundary Commission ( IEBC), gave him to respond to the allegations leveled against him by the Cord coalition, has since expired.

By Sunday, the IEBC confirmed that they had not received any response from the besieged Kimemia who has been on the limelight in recent days for all the wrong reasons.

“We have not seen his response,” the electoral body CEO Major (Rtd) James Oswago told the Standard on Sunday.

On Thursday 21st February, IEBC wrote to Kimemia informing him of the accusations and asked him to respond within 48 hours. The deadline for reply expired on Saturday.

The IEBC letter which says the claims are ‘very serious’ detailed six incidents in which Kimemia and other public servants allegedly engaged in partisan political activities contrary to section 43(1) of the Elections Act.

“The Commission is in receipt of formal complaints… of your being partisan in execution of your duties,” reads the letter by IEBC chairman Issack Hassan.

Already, the CORD leadership led by Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka has asked the top civil servant to quit and concentrate in campaigns for having transformed himself into a ‘jubilee activist’.

The two leaders accused Kimemia who is President Mwai Kibaki’s PS of mobilising the provincial administration to campaign for jubilee.

The Civil Service boss has failed to directly respond to the allegations in as many days instead preferring to communicate though government spokesman Muthui Kariuki who has refuted claims of a government plot to rig elections.

He had also earlier issued a memorandum cautioning civil servants that they risk losing their jobs if they are found engaging in political activities.

Last week, Kimemia chaired the National Security Advisory Committee which ironically ordered for a probe into claims that some senior government officials were engaged in partisan politics.

CORD claims Kimemia had a secret late-night meeting on January 27 with Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto at an exclusive resort on the shores of Lake Elementaita.

It is not known what the closed-door meeting discussed. The complaint then lists another meeting two days later at Nairobi’s Bomas of Kenya at which Kimemia is accused of telling groups of provincial administrators they would be sacked if Raila became president.

CORD says Kimemia was also involved in two more meetings on February 9 and 10 at which State officers and elders from Central Kenya and the Rift Valley were pressed to campaign for Jubilee.

Permanent Secretaries Mutea Iringo (Internal Security) and Joseph Kinyua (Finance) and Mr Kennedy Kihara, an official at the Office of the President, are also named as having participated in some of the meetings.

The IEBC letter asks Kimemia to respond to claims that on January 27 he met Uhuru and Ruto at a Lake Elementaita hotel from about 10.20pm to 11.15pm.

Two days later, it is alleged, he urged district commissioners, county commissioners and provincial commissioners at a meeting in Nairobi to support Jubilee.

Cord further alleged that on February 9, in the company of Iringo and Kinyua, he met 68 elders from Murang’a, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kericho and Molo at Jacaranda Hotel where support for Uhuru was reportedly discussed.

Guest•3 months ago

This iebec problem seems and sounds like it will mess up the election process.They need to fix the problems now not after the elections.
Magnitude of voter ignorance will take IEBC by surprise during polls

Posted Tuesday, November 27 2012 at 18:51

According to the information available on the Internet from IEBC, the total number of Voter Registration Centres in the country is 24,601.

I want to believe that the same centres will be used as polling stations in the coming General Election.

Correct me if I’m wrong. You will realise that I have not received any civic education on many issues related to voter registration. I want to further believe that there are fewer BVR kits than the centres.

I would like to be educated on how polling will operate. At least for now during voter registration, one kit is used in more than one centre in a number of areas.

Since the polling stations will operate more or less simultaneously during the elections, it will not be practicable to use one machine for more than one station.

When I went to register, I was told that all I will need on polling day will be my physical presence and my ID.

After I had registered, I was not given what other voters before me were given and that is the “IEBC acknowledgement slip”, the reason being they had been exhausted.

The IEBC supervisor said he would try to get them from Nairobi, even as the slip was not really that necessary. He added that I could collect the slip on polling day. What a joke! Why did the IEBC waste public funds to print and provide it in the first place?

But come to think of it, if the IT system misbehaves, I have no evidence to show that I’m a voter. So, I do not want to buy the idea that the slip is not important.

I hope the IEBC will not rely entirely on the IT system to store and do everything. I believe it would be advisable to also have the data in hard-copy just in case something unexpected happens, say, about 10 per cent of the machines fail to work during polling day.

Finally, I am imagining that many voters will not be familiar with the new system. What steps is the IEBC taking to ensure that all Kenyans are familiar with the new system and, that any form of interference regarding those voters who will not be conversant with the system is minimised?

If ever there was time when the IEBC was to be on top of things, this is it. It is very easy to mess things up with the IT system, unless those handling the process are really people of integrity who care about the welfare of Kenya and the people of this nation.

For heaven’s sake, let us all, as a country and people, try to avoid a repeat of the rigging and stealing of elections of the 2007. God bless the IEBC! God bless Kenya and the people of this great nation!

BERNARD KITUR, Nairobi

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Create awareness

Failure by the IEBC to meet its weekly target of 3.7 million is cause for alarm. The result is a clear indication that Kenyans, besides other hindrances like lack of ID cards and insecurity, are deficient of voter education.

The IEBC and other organisations have scored poorly in educating the masses on the need to enlist afresh.

Politicians, especially sitting MPs and councillors who have lost touch with the voters and thus on their way out, cannot be expected to spearhead such a campaign as some even wish that no one registers to send them home.

In my interactions with the public, I have realised that they are yet to know that everybody aged 18 and above and with an ID card or passport is being registered afresh.

Some are still keeping their old voters’ cards thinking that the ongoing registration exercise is only for those who had lost them or had never been listed as voters.

Other Kenyans are being turned away because they have the old generation ID cards and have decided to keep off instead of going to apply for the new generation IDs (Immigration ministry promised to have 60,000 churned out weekly).

There is also the feeling that people should even be bribed to register. Some have been asking questions such as “Why register?” “Why vote?”.

They have lost hope in the people they voted for in the past to the extent that they see no need to vote any more.

DENNIS BIKO, Kakamega

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Potent weapon

Some think that voting is time-wasting and of no impact. How do you expect things to change yet you shy away from a process that will shape the destiny of Kenya?

The vote is our potent weapon to spur a revolution. It is a golden opportunity to elect leaders who will steer our nation forward.

ALEX KIMONDO, Nyeri

Kimemia, remember those who came before you

Updated Friday, February 22 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

One day I was alone with a furious minister in his office. The minister was fuming that in our constituency profiles, we had shown his curriculum vitae as being the shortest, almost with nothing to talk about really.

As he foamed in the mouth, something that made me unhappy with my boss for sending me to go ‘get his side of the story’, he kept pointing at President Moi’s portrait, on the wall. “What are you telling him… that he picks illiterates to run ministries? Are you trying to have me sacked? I will deal with you, you will regret this young man!’’ thundered the livid minister.

The chap just like myself then, switched into our mother tongue in response to my statement that I had nothing to do with the profile.

“I don’t care, when men fight with sticks, and when one breaks, the splinter hits the nearest person. For me that is you!’’

The message sunk that the chap was actually telling me that I must somehow have been within the vicinity of a crime scene. I was among the undergrowth upon which a huge tree crashes on when it falls.

I thought about the former influential minister who did not in the end give me his CV, when I listened to Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, talk about a man who almost went for the Governor race, were it not for the tribulations of his former boss Mr Francis Muthaura.

He is called Francis Kimemia, a guy who I am told has the ear of retiring President Kibaki.

Let us just ask ourselves why his name these days keeps popping up in the most unlikely of places.

The claim by Chief Justice Mutunga that Kimemia tried to lord over the Judiciary by purporting to have him stopped from going outside the country without his clearance, is just one among the many that have been coming up.

You have heard about how he one time reportedly sneaked some names to Parliament for clearance, purporting to have been agreed to both by the President and Prime Minister.

You also heard about him and the 47 County Commissioners the court ruled were appointed by the President — to whom he reports directly and some of whose key decisions he implements — unconstitutional.

Months later, they are still in their stations and the coded message to the courts is that the Judges and Magistrates can jump into Lake Victoria, but things will be done the way the Harambee House mandarins want, led by Kimemia, and not as ought to be according to the law.

Lest you forgot, Kimemia actually, like Muthaura was, and is the ‘engine’ of the Presidency.

Kenya: The die is cast; We must make it in Round 1

From: odhiambo okecth

Dear Friends,

We are on the home stretch and come Monday the 4th March 2013, the 14.3m registered voters in Kenya will be invited to step forward and help make a clear choice. As we do this, we must know that our votes comes with clear consequences and for those who have not yet made up their minds, tonight’s Presidential Debate may help.

[ . . . ]

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