Category Archives: Kenya

Father Omolo Beste’s Homily on Third Sunday of Lent

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From: joachim omolo ouko
Sunday, March 23, 2014

Last week we discussed challenges facing families in Kenya today. The theme for this week is ‘Unity for Peace and Development’. The author uses the story of Mawiano Primary School to demonstrate how the Kenyan society suffers from identity formation. The first reading is taken from Exodus 17:3-7, second reading from Romans 5:1-2.5-8 and the Gospel from John 4:5-42.

One of the key drivers of conflict in Kenya as the author describes is the dimension of community identities – which is in itself closely related to the issue of land, borders and associated historical grievances – plus a challenging regional security environment and political transition.

Although the primary and key player in solving this conflict is the family by teaching children as the author recommends, the fact that most conflicts occur in our families in front of our children it is difficult for parents to teach their children about peace and conflict management.

It is also a very difficult task for Schools, Churches and other social settings to be used as a platform of educating our children and all people the need to unite at all levels and live in peaceful environment.

It is very unfortunate that most of our families today, domestic violence has become the order of the day. Children who grow up in violence family or being abused usually grow up in poor health, low self-esteem, difficulty sleeping.

Some children may indulge in drug and alcohol abuse risk, isolation, suicidal thoughts, and extreme loneliness and fear. Children are mainly affected from verbal abuse. This is where the father use aggressive actions such as name-calling the mother, blaming her, ridiculing her, disrespect, and criticism.

Whichever way, whether the father or mother using the same actions towards the father, or both. That is towards children abuse as well. Some long term effects on a child who comes from an abusive household, or have been abused themselves are guilt, anger, depression/anxiety, shyness, nightmares, disruptiveness, irritability, and problems getting along with others.

This brings us to challenging questions:

1. As parents, community and the Church how do we help our children to acquire positive values and appreciate the different ethnic communities in Kenya?

2. What can we do as a family, Small Christian Community, the Church or a community to promote unity as a national value begging with our families?

3. What are some of the actions that can be done at Small Christian Community, Parish, Dioceses and National levels to promote unity, patriotism, and peace in Kenya and our families?

Answer these questions keeping in mind that some cases of domestic violence occur due to jealousy when one partner is either suspected of being unfaithful. It can also be seen in a situation where one partner is doing better than the other. For example: the woman being more successful than the husband.

Some violence occurs when one partner has control over the other partner’s access to economic resources, preventing a spouse from resource acquisition. Some because of physical force to compel a person to engage in a sexual act against his or her will, also known as marital rape.

Another type of violence is expected to occur now that men’s tyranny of numbers in parliament has proposed amendments on marriage bill 2013. The amendment requires that a man should not ask his wife if he decides to marry another wife.

Already in Kenya women sometimes only find out at their husband’s funeral that he had secretly married a second wife and had children with her, leading to inheritance disputes. The bill provides for a certificate to be issued when such marriages take place.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: THE DAY WHEN TAITA ARAP TOWETT TOLD HIS KIPSIGIS PEOPLE WHO WERE DEMANDING FOR FREE LAND TO GO TO SAHARA DESERT.

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Poliical historical feature By Leo Odera Omolo.

It was sometime on a date in June 1961, and while serving in the brief KANU/KADU coalition government as the Minister for Lands Settlement and Housing, the deminutive Kipsigis pioneer politician Taaita Araap toweett bravely told a huge crowd during a political rally in Kericho that those who wanted land for free should as well go to the Sahara Desert where there was plenty of land for free.

The rally was held at Sosiot trading centre in Belgut, Kericho district. The tough talking Toweett whose Kalenjin Political Alliance party was affiliated to KADU had just won a bruising election battle during the snap elections called by the then governor of Kenya Sir Patrick muir renson on a KADU ticket poling the largest number of votes, 58,796 a record which for years remained never to be to-date by any other Kenyan politician.

It is believed that only Ngengi Muigai had garnered the highest number of votes and came close to the equal one received by TOWETT IN 1961. Muigai polled 48,000n when he contested he Gatundu South constituency in 1972 Gatundu South constituency on a KANU ticket

Toweett contested the election against two challengers, one Mister Mister Arap Korir of KANU and A Former chief Inspector of Police Tamason Barmalel, a Nandi man who had migrated from his native Nandi and settled I Chepalungu This was a straight contest between KANU and KADU

Toweett first one a seat in the Colonial and white settlers dominated legislative Council in 1958 under what was then known as Lenoxboyd Plan which gave the African population six additional seats in the Legco bringing the number to 14. This was in addition to the first eight African members who were voted in in march 1957. Toweett had won the Southern electoral, which covered some parts of Kericho, trans-Mara and Kericho.

The famous pronouncement by Toweett came at the time when the densely populated members of the Kipsigis community were clamoring for additional land and pestering the colonial authorities to open up the white highland, which was exclusively forth white settlers at the time.

Other Legco members who were elected together with Toweett in 1958 included David Ngati Mumom [Ukambani], Justus Kondit Ole Tipis, {Central Rift], J.J. Nyagah {Embu}, Francis Joseph Khamisi] and Dr. Julius Gikonyo Kiano {Central]. {Mombasa]

Toweett’s answer to the anxious crowd sparked off a lot of murmuring among the ing for it can at a later stagas the time goes be kicked out of the same land plot by any powerful neighbor who can grab it forcefully but the one who had paid adequately for his land is the one could be sure of owning his property permmnently. The Sosiot rally almost broke up in chaos amid protest by the huge crowd..

However, it was later transpired that the majority of the kipsigis people well received Toweet message. They formed land buying companies. Other moved in families and bought land in many settlement schemes which were launched by the post-independent government headed by the founding President Jomo Kenyatta. The community also responded well to President Kenyatta’s famous call of “Back to the Land’.

Many members of this community, a sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic group moved and purchased land previously owned by white settlers in Sotik, Rongai, Subukia, Trans-Nzoia, Uasin-Gishu, Nakuru, Molo, Elburgon, Londiani, Fort-Tennan, Koru and other places. Members of the Kipsigis can now be found in far fields like Laikipia, Nyahururu, Naromoru, Gilgil and Elmentaita and Cheranganyi where they have since prospered and became excessively wealthy following their acquisition of large scale farms in the “White Highland’.

During the same period of time Jaramogi Ogings Odinga, who was then repr5esenting the largest electoral constituency of Central Nyanza was telling his Luos that once independence comes, the land will be for free, and that luo herdsmen could go and graze their herds of cattle as far as Eldoret Molo, Kipkarren and other white settlers area without any problem.

Odinga instead of encouraging the Luos to spread their wing and acquire the kland in other farming regions and settlement scheme launched the infamous “Cham-Gi-Wadu”n a scientific socialistic slogan loosely translated that one must eat his your neighbor

And when the government finally opened new settlement schemes in Muhoroni, Koru, Songhor, Chemelil and other parts of Nyanza, the Luos were reluctant to buy land and settled in those schemes. The few who braved the taboo and defied traditional culture and bought land in the schemes, quickly abandoned their newly acquired farms and moved back to their ancestral land in the rural locations inside Luo-Nyanza. Those who persevered later abandoned the land and left their land laying fallow, though the few who Luos who took farming seriously and engaged in sugar cane farming have since prospered, although Odinga himself became a large scale farmer Songhor in Tinderet Nandi and in Miwani where the family now owns a large track of land and growing sugar cane. But the poverty index in the region still remains the highest.

In this context Toweett who died a few years ago in a motor vehicle accident did not fear losing his political popularity, but had told his people nothing but the truth the truth without fearing paying the political prices of losing their support.

Ends.

Nuer Students’ Union in Kenya Cast Doubt on the Neutrality of IGAD in the Peace Talk Process

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From: South Sudan Press

The IGAD assembly of heads of states and government held its 25th Extra-ordinary summit on 13th March, 2014 in Addis Ababa, under the leadership of H.E Hailemariam Dessalegn, the Prime minster of the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia and current chairman of IGAD assembly of heads of states and government.

In the summit, the IGAD heads of states and governments applauds the UPDF of the republic of Uganda under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni for securing the installations and stability in the republic of South Sudan during the crisis.

They also resolved to deploy protection and deterrent force (PDF) as part of Monitoring and Verification Mechanism (MVM) to protect installations and infrastructures in South Sudan

Decided that all IGAD member states may participate in the monitoring and verification mechanism.

Given, the above resolutions by the IGAD assembly of heads of states and governments, WE the Nuer Students’ Union in Kenya condemned the moved taken by the IGAD as an institution entrusted to promote peace and stability in the region by deploying more troops in the name of protecting installations and infrastructures in the republic of South Sudan while around 12,000 troops are already in South Sudan doing the same thing and if the IGAD felt that number is not enough, why can’t they instead increased the number of UNMISS force to protect the installations and infrastructures in South Sudan as suggested by the UN security council, we felt that such move is intended to help Kiir and his forces to fight the SPLM/A in opposition.

When the Ethnic cleansing occurred in Juba on 15th March, 2013 last year under the directives of President Kiir, UPDF invaded the republic of South Sudan in the name of protecting the installations and infrastructures in juba but ended up fighting alongside Kiir forces and commit a lot of atrocities to the South Sudanese in opposition in particular Nuer civilians by bombing their homes and destroyed their properties. This acts of inhumane was never condemned by the regional countries that made up IGAD, more so President Museveni appears on Television several times stating his position very clear that he is fighting the SPLM/A in opposition alongside the Kiir forces, and even when Bor was taken by the SPLA from the SPLM/A Museveni appeared on TV attributing the victories to UPDF all these signs of invasion of sovereignty of the republic of South Sudan by Uganda under Museveni were never condemned.

In the Extra-ordinary summit the IGAD under the influence of Museveni and other interested heads of states afforded to applauds UPDF under the directives of Museveni that they have done good job while everybody thought Museveni was to be questions about all atrocities committed by his army in South Sudan including use of cluster bombs to the civilians in jonglei state.

We also heard some members of IGAD assembly strongly commenting that Kiir will not resign from the presidency, in such contradictions and controversies from the institution which was entrusted and fully mandated by the worrying parties to mediate and negotiate peace raise a lot of questions on whether IGAD is a serious body to successfully bring peace to South Sudan, or it is just a body instituted by BIG BOYS to blackmail those they perceived as small boys.

WE, the Nuer students’ Union in Kenya cast doubts on the neutrality of IGAD in the peace talk given the influence of Uganda under the leadership of Museveni, we demand the undersigned body demands the following from IGAD;

Excluding Uganda from the Monitoring and Verification Mechanism members

Immediate withdrawals of UPDF in the republic of South Sudan

Inclusion of all stakeholders of South Sudan in the peace talk and voice their concerns .i.e Youth, Women, Civil society and other concern groups on both sides

No deployment of Protection Deterrent forces, instead increased the number of UNMISS forces if need be

Full implementation of cessation of hostilities as were signed by the two parties

Fair and transparent process of Monitoring and verification mechanism policies

Release of 4 political detainees

Stop the kangaroo court in juba

We are also concern with the stand of international community on the fate of the 4 political detainees in juba as their absent will always backfire the peace talk in Addis Ababa.

May God give us the strength to overcome the difficulties of our lives.

Signed by the Nuer students’ Union in Kenya

1. Bona Kueth Machar, Chairman
2. Madow Johnson, vice chairperson
3. Gatmai Nelson, Secretary General
4. Gatdel Riek, Treasury
5. Gaywech Kutei , Secretary for information and publicity
6. Simon Gatkhor Gattuor, Member
7. Gatkuoth Tekjiek, Member
8. Chuol Gatluak, Member
9. Kueth Garjiok, Naath Youth Chairman and member
10. George Lony Kai, member
11. Matthew Bachuy, member

KENYA: HOW CARTEL OF HIGH-RANKING OFFICERS USE MUNGIKI

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

Jimmy from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste I read your article on how President Uhuru has a big challenge to weed out cartels of corruption in Kenya. I am shocked Mungiki has made comeback according to Joseph ole Lenku, the cabinet secretary of internal security.

In early 2003 soon after Mawi Kibaki came into power, Chris Murungaru, who was then security minister reportedly expressed shock that a cartel of high-ranking officers could have been involved in ten of the military Land Rovers given to Mungiki sect. Father Beste don’t you think Kenya is in a very bad situation if cartels can use outlawed sect? I am worried.

This revelation was made in the lead up to the general election when then chief of the general staff General Joseph Kibwana was asked to investigate the scandal in person and present his findings to the Office of the President. The report was to detail the value of the ten vehicles, who got them, and why they were disposed of.

If cartels can have such powers to divert the Land Rovers to Mungiki, as detailed in a Daily Nation report on the scandal, then you are right Beste that it will be a big challenge for Uhuru to weed out cartels.

According to the report senior DoD officials involved in the cartel were said to have held secret talks shortly before Dr. Murungaru arrived to plan their next course of action. What is more worrying is that the report and its findings have never been made public to date.

Although Murungaru expressed shock on the revelation, according to military sources at the time said that the orders were issued by Chris Murungaru himself during a meeting with General Kibwana and other top generals at the Department of Defence headquarters in Nairobi.

The issue of Land Rovers cropped up when Murungaru made his first familiarisation tour of the DoD, a month after Narc came to power.

Shortly after revelation the Department of Defence was converted into the Ministry of Defense with Hon Yusuf Haji at the helm. This was meant to cover up the scandals. Father Beste Kenya needs prayers direly.

Jimmy this issue of Mungiki sect is very complicated. According to a commission set up to investigate the 2008 post-election violence Mungiki members were suspected of perpetrating violence. The Waki Report states that powerful individuals in Kibaki’s government used Mungiki to coordinate revenge.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Kenyans in Diaspora tell KIKUYUs to shut up on RAILA ODINGA’s trip to Boston, US – They say he went to AMERICA to see them because he is the ‘People’s President’

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From: maina ndiritu

Wednesday March 19, 2014 – Kenyans living in United States and Canada, have reacted angrily to remarks by Kirinyaga Central lawmaker, Joseph Gitari, that former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, should explain about details of his 1 -month tour to the US.

In a statement read by Raila’s supporters under the lobby group, Friends of Raila Odinga (FORA), Chairman Gordon Teti said this is an attempt by the Jubilee coalition to revert to the KANU dictatorship days.

“That a Kenyan MP is petitioning Parliament to explain why Raila Odinga is in the US to promote Kenya is not right,” Teti said.

Teti said while some ignorant individuals in Kenya were questioning why Mr Odinga is promoting the image of Kenya abroad, Tanzanians are praising and applauding Prime Minister, Fredrick Sumaye, for doing exactly that for their country.

“When will Kenyans realise that Kenya is bigger than one individual or tribe? It is such thinking by those in the present Government of Kenya that make so many of us worried that the KANU dictatorship is creeping back,” he said insisting that Raila odinga is the ‘People’s President’ and he has the right to tour every part of the world without being questioned by anyone.

On Monday, Gitari sought answers from National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale on Mr Odinga’s visit, which is being coordinated by the African Presidential Centre (APC) at the Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.

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KENYA: WHY UHURU’S PLAN TO WEED CORRUPTION IS A BIG CHALLENGE

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2014

Stephen from Longisa, Bomet County writes: “Fr Omolo Beste I always like your opinions on Kenyan politics and courage. What is your opinion on President Uhuru’s yesterday remarks that his Government will put in place policies, systems and procedures that are intolerant to corruption, assuring Kenyans that his Government will fully support the EACC 5 year’s strategic plan of combating corruption.

He also said his Jubilee Government is ready to introduce further reforms to strengthen governance and to fight corruption and economic crime, and will remain determined to protect public resources, and to use them prudently and for the purposes for which they are intended, what about the powerful cartels of corruption surrounding him. I read your recent article how it will be difficult for him to weed them out.”

Stephen you are absolutely right. Even Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Mumo Matemu has complained that lack of a national anti-corruption policy to guide the fight against the vice may affect investigation and recovery of assets because those who looted and still continue to do so are powerful individuals.

You can imagine President Uhuru laying policies that can recover looted resources from former president Moi, grabbed lands as per Ndungu report which include powerful individuals outside and inside his Government.

How can Uhuru dare recover the looted resources from powerful individuals mentioned in Golden and Anglo Leasing scandals, individual cartels in Central bank and entire treasury and his Office?

You can already see how this reform and policies Uhuru is talking about is just like a dog that barks but cannot bite. Kenya is still far from fighting corruption Stephen. There are no indicators that this will be achieved.

You can ask yourself this question: who will be responsible of the design and management of the indicators system for each strategic plan? Generally, strategic planning deals with at least one of three key questions.

“What do we do?”

“For whom do we do it?”

“How do we excel?”

For the strategic plan to succeed it must include an understanding of an entity’s vision, mission, values and strategies. How such policies and reforms will in long term or short term possible end corruption in Kenya.

Is mission able to define the fundamental purpose how these policies and reforms will achieve its vision? These questions are very important because they will help you to design whether these policies and reforms Uhuru is talking about are effective. Whether they articulate actions needed to make progress, and whether they are sustainable and measurable.

Stephen I don’t know whether you have asked yourself this question: if the fraudulent resides in President Uhuru’s office, uses his name and office to loot, cannot be touched because of his or her connections, and is his appointee, how can he fight corruption?

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: GOVERNMENT URGED TO ARREST SUGAR SMUGGLERS

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SONYSUGAR IS ON THE VERGE OF TOTAL COLLAPSE AS IT IS UNABLE TO SELL ITS SUGAR.

Rports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Unable to sell its made sugar and stuck with huge stockpile of the commodity in its warehouses, the Awendo based SonySugar is on its death bed and on the verge of total collapse. If the production at the government wholly owned multimillion shillings facility, located in Migori County stopped production, this will spill thousands of its close to 2500 workforce out job.

The leader of the majority at the Migori County Assembly Johnson Omolo Owiro has appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta and the government to bring to a halt the illegal importation of sugar from foreign sources and protect Kenyan workers from being declared redundant.

Omolo Owiro is the MCA representing Central Sakwa ward in which SonySugar is situated. The ward also houses Awendo Town. He complained that the illegally imported sugar from outside and inside Cmesa region has flooded the market and were selling as cheaply as 70 per kg as opposed to SonySugar products, which is selling at Kshs 140 per kg. The company has has reduced the price of its sugar from Kshs 3800 per 50 kg to kshs 3200 per 50 kig, but still is unable to market its sugar due to the saturation of the market which is currently flooded by the illegal imports.

The problem has spilled over to the sugar cane farmers within the SonySugar cane growing zones. The miller is also unable to pay the cane suppliers in time. Most of the millers have reduced the price of raw cane from Kshs4800 per ton to almost kshs 300o per ton, and sooner or later it is likely to go down to Kshs 2500 per ton.

The cost of cane production for an acre is almost close to Ksh 6000. The government should arrest and prosecute the sugar barons involved in this racket. Some of the smugglers are said to be business magnates and politicians with connection in high places. Illegal sugar imports comes from Egypt, Tanzania and via some ports along the Kenya Somalia borders. “This must stop, because we cannot go on paying our hard earned money to the foreign workers at the expense of our own people. “Kenya must protect its citizen working for the sugar millers, ” said Omoloo Owiro.

SonySugar, he added is the largest manufacturing industry in Southern Nyanza and therefore a major source of employment to the locals. ITS collapse and closure would therefore impact negatively to the economic growth and development of the region.

Meanwhile reports reaching us say that nearly all the sugar millers in Western Kenya have got huge accumulated stockpile amounting to over 50,000 tons of sugar worth millions of shillings. The illegal sugar imports by smuggler has also affected the sales of the same commodity in other mills like Mumias, Chemelil, Muhoroni, Trans-Nzoia, Sukari Industries, Kibos and Trans-Mara millers.

Omolo Owiro, who is the former Mayor of Awendo, said his people, particularly cane farmers, were experiencing a lot of difficulties, unable to pay for their children’s school fees and to buy basic food commodities because SonySugar has run short of money to pay for the cane bills in time. The company is limping, though its top managers are making concerted efforts to keep it afloat and in business, but it can not go on like this when it can not sell its products to the consumer who most have opted for the illegally imported sugar ,which is selling cheaply.

The smugglers of sugar should be arrested and charged with economic crime and treated as saboteurs. Sabotaging the national economy of the Kenya nation. Owiro called upon the Senators and MPs from the sugar producing region to introduce a motion authorizing the immediate arrest of the racketeers.

Ends

KENYANS TOLD TO IGNORE CALLS FOR NEW CONSTITUTION

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To: jaluo@jaluo.com

By Agwanda Saye

The East Africa Law Society (EALS) has raised a red flag over calls to amend the constitution.

The EALS President James Aggrey Mwamu has urged the public to reject demands to amend sections of the supreme law on flimsy grounds.

“Proposals to reduce counties from 47 to 14 are cheeky and dangerous towards returning the concentration of power and resources to the Presidency,” Mwamu said.

The EALS explained that devolution has nothing to do with the wage bill arguing that counties receive from the national Government a paltry 15 per cent of the national revenue.

“The 15 per cent is equivalent to the Local Authority Transfer Fund (LATIF) which used to be given to municipal councils,” Mr. Mwamu said.

The EALS President said that the wage Bill problem has been caused by rampant corruption and unemployment with a bias to ethnic origins of the people who are in power.

“Kenya has experienced economic wastage that cannot be compared to other nations. Many countries have managed to have two Houses of Parliament without problems,” Mwamu said. Mwamu regretted that the problem in Kenya is the Legislators who feel they can earn anything and have everything.

“They (legislators) flout every rule to achieve their desires without thinking what their actions are going to impact on the country,” Mwamu said

The EALS President said recent calls to scrap Senate and constitutional commissions should be ignored.

“This country has a lot of money lost in mismanagement, stealing and graft. Powerful individuals have colossal amount of money stashed in foreign banks,” Mwamu said.

The EALS regretted that the billions of shilling deposited in foreign accounts were obtained from public coffers.

“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) must double efforts and ensure the money is brought back to the country,” Mwamu said.

The EALS President challenged Attorney General (AG) Prof. Githu Muigai to explain what he has done with mutual recognition agreements to bring back public money illegally stashed abroad.

“We are now paying Anglo Leasing projects following negligence and the careless manner the matter was handled. We need action and immediately,” Mwamu said.

“Kenyans must be careful about calls to amend the Constitution. The Constitution is not the problem. The scapegoat that is being used at this time is devolution,” Mwamu said.

Ends

HOW CHINESE FIRMS ARE USED BY JUBILEE MAFIAS TO STEAL TAX PAYERS MONEY

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
MONDAY, MARCH 17, 2014

Jacob from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste I agree with your recent article that President Uhuru cannot do away with cartels of corruption in his Jubilee government and that corruption is in every government sector, from bottom to the top.

Father it is very sad that Sh3.9 billion used by NHIF to build a multi-storey car park at Upper Hill in Nairobi cannot be justified according to report by Auditor-General Edward Ouko. The audit also questions a decision by NSSF to invest more than Sh1.1 billion of workers’ money in public forests, which are gazetted areas, and which cannot be owned or developed. This is terrible.

Even though during the National Dialogue Conference on the rising wage bill last week, President Uhuru criticised NSSF’s investment policy, there is nothing much he can do to recover the stolen money”.

I am glad you have realized this Jacob. President Uhuru cannot do away with cartels of corruption in his Jubilee government because these are powerful brokers targeting multi-billion shilling government tenders.

These are the same “mafia style operators” who were involved in the multi-billion shilling Anglo-Leasing scandal, whose debt the national Treasury has not recovered since it was exposed in 2002.

These mafias are known. Even Jubilee leaders close to Uhuru have admitted they cannot be exposed publicly because they are individuals well known by Uhuru and his deputy William Ruto “since they are hiding under government skirts”.

It explains why, even thoug the President and his deputy were given seven days to name these people who have perfected the art of corruption through successive governments but has since never exposed them.

These are the same mafias who are behind the standard gauge railway project scandal, laptops among other tenders.

That is also why the directives by the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko that former Cabinet minister Amos Kimunya is prosecuted over alleged abuse of office and fraudulent disposal and acquisition of public property means nothing.

The charges are in connection with a 25 acre piece of public land in Njambini, Nyandarua County that was part of a 75-acre plot reserved by the Agriculture ministry for a potato seed multiplication project.

Kimunya, while Lands minister during President Mwai Kibaki’s government, caused part of the land to be allocated to Midlands, a company in which he was a director and shareholder, without the consent of the Agriculture ministry.

Kimunya held various ministerial posts during the 10 years of Kibaki presidency with scandals but Kibaki never laid hands on him. He started as Land minister before moving to Finance, Trade and finally Transport, all with scandals.

Even after Kimunya was defeated by his former ally Samuel Gichigi in the March 2013 elections after which he retired to a quiet private life, Kimunya is still powerful and close ally to Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kimunya is aware of this that is why when he was forced to cut short his appearance before the Public Investments Committee after was declared a hostile witness while testifying on the standard gauge railway project, Uhuru never mentioned anything about him.

It explains further, why in 2008 when Parliament passed a vote of no confidence against Kimunya while he was serving as Finance minister over the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel, now Laico Regency, instead Kibaki reinstated him, this time as minister for trade.

Kimunya then criticized the Parliamentary Finance committee over the Grand Regency report, accusing the MPs of focusing on his character instead of proving that there was corruption. It was alleged that Kibaki new about the sale of the Hotel since he was part of it.

That is also why as Finance minister, when Kimunya was involved in controversies over the Safaricom privatisation and the De la Rue currency printing contract, Kibaki could not sack him, and instead he kept silence about the issue.

While in 2010, when MPs accused Kimunya, while Transport minister, of making appointments from one community only at the Kenya Ports Authority, in August 2012 when he became entangled in the cancellation of a Sh55 billion tender for the construction of a new terminal at the JKIA, he was untouchable.

Even after the Public Procurement and Oversight Authority later declared Kimunya’s actions regarding the airport tender illegal, Kibaki could not take any action against him. Instead the PPOA reinstated the Chinese firm that was originally awarded the tender.

The same powerful mafias have now hijacked the National Social Security Fund’s (NSSF) two housing upgrade projects worth Sh12 billion in Nairobi, leading to award of the contracts to a Chinese firm.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: SENATOR’S NEWLY ACQUIRED CHOPER CAUSES POLITICAL RIPPLES IN KERICHO.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho town

DISCONTENT is high in Kericho County after the word went around that the area Senator Charles Keter has acquired a brand new Helicopter at a staggering price of Kshs 90 million to the chagrins of the electorate who feels that the colossal amount of money spent on this machine could have been put to proper utilization towards socio-economic projects in the region.

Those interviewed were of the opinion that the County is too small and has all – weather roads, therefore a helecopter not an urgent need for the Senator .They further termed the acquisition of the Choper by the Senator as an act of excessive arrogance.

Among those who raised vehement opposition to the frequent use of the Choper by the Senator as a waste of resources is a Kipkellion politician Pastor Hezron Cheruiyot who said that owning a Choper by an elected representative of the people is not be the priority and yet thousands of Kericho electorates are currently wallowing in abject poverty due to skyrocketing prices of the basic commodities.

The acquisition of the new Choper by the Kericho Senator is viewed local as an act of mischief.

Senator Keter who is known as a spanner-boy for the Deputy President William to is also being accused of using his closeness to the DP to intimidate other elected leaders in the two Counties of Kericho and Bomet. He is roaming the full length and width of the two regions on mischief missions mean to undercut and undermine the two county governors Prof.Paul Chepkwony { Kericho} and Isaack Ruto {Bomet}.

Another Kericho politician who requested for his anonymity said a drunkard MCA representing a wqar in Belgut recently publicly disclosed that he had been paid cash money to the tune of Kshs 40,000 and advised by unnamed politician to use the cash to undermine the Kericho governor by way of moving a motion in the assembly for a vote of no confidence in the governor. He alleged that the excessively drunk MCA displayed the bundled of currency note in a public joint.

Senator Keter attended a Harambee fundraising meeting at Chamagosu in Ainamoi constituency, Kericho County two weeks ago and disclosed the gathering of how he had attended the DP function in Nyeri in the morning of the very day, and in the midday he was in Eldoret with the DP William Ruto where they jointly deliberated in ASK meeting before he flew on to Kericho for the Harambee date.

Those who attendedthe fund raising meeting, which was forthepurpose of raisingmoney for medical treatment of a ailing young man estimated the cost of the Choper flight covering Nyteri, Eldoret and Kericho to be approximately in the region of Kshs 200,000in one day and saw the exercise as a waste of resources. As long as we love our Senator, we feel he should change tact and be coercive and work in unity and harmony with other elected leaders in the the region in the real task of nation building in general and development of Kericho County in particular. He should stop the bad habit of working in isolation as a lone ranger,” commented another Kericho MCA.

One local Kericho politician recalled the old days of power brokers” during the Moi era, which saw when the late Isaack Salat used his close connection to the power that be and polarized the region undercutting and undermining almost every elected leader. The same kind of power brokerage politics was witnessed during the reign of the late Ayub Chepkwony.

The question as to who should be the spokesman of the Kipsigis people; all agreed unanimously that the Kuresoi MP Zakayo K.Cheruiyot deserve that position considering his experience in the public service as one time Permanent Secretary in-charge of internal Security and Provincial Administration and as an MP. Cheruiyot is also considered san achiever, who created Bureti district and singled handedly built the district headquarter a magnificent building standing outside Litein town and accommodating all district heads of department. He has also established the most ultra modern Valley College in Litein.

However, the community only recognized the two County governors Isaack Ruto {Bomet} and Prof.Chepkwony of Kericho as the joint official spokesmen o the Kipsigis people.

The Kipsigis is the most populous sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups. This community occupied the fertile highland region of Kericho and Bomet where green tea bushes is grown in abundance making its members to be relatively wealthier than their cousins in the North rift.

The two regions also boosted the best brains among the other Kalenjin sub-tribes with a large number of technocrat’s ad professionals. The previous regime of the retired President Daniel Arap Moi stands blamed for having marginalized the community by using its members at convenience time and dumped them in preference to numerous power brokers.

In the 2007 general election members of the community gave Raila Odinga and the ODM close to 1.3 million votes. It was almost a man-to-man. However, when the ODM supreme formed a coalition government of PNU/ODM Raila appointed three cabinet Ministers from the minority Nandis wh0s3d=combined voting strength was about 400,000 voters as opposed to 1.3 votes, which the party harvested in the Kipsigisland . Many Kipsigis people also lived in diaspora and they voted for the ODM wherever they were at the time.

Raila dished only one cabinet position to the kisigis when he appointed the late Kuipkalia Kone the Bomet MP as the Minister for Roads with the late Ms. Lorna Laboso asan Assistat Minster for Home Affairs in the Office of the Vice President. The community felt it had been shortchanged and ditched ODM en mess. The mass sacking of Kiopsigis people who had served in the senior position during the Moi era by the PNU/ODM coalition was anther contentious issue which contributed to the community parting company with Raila. The other issue which contributed greatly to Raila burning his finger ws the mass eviction of the Kalenjin illegal squatas from the Mau Forest.

ENDS

KENYA: KISUMU BASED CIVIL SOCIETY’S ENDEVOUR TO BRING PEACE AMONG THE KALENJINS AND LUOS

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to: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Agwanda Saye

A Kisumu based Civil society charged with promotion of use of alternative dispute resolution mechanism for peaceful co-existence Uhai Lake Forum Organization is now engaging youths in useful ventures as away of reducing insecurity and has also brought on board elders within the luos and Kalenjins fighting over cattle rustling.

The organization which is now based a long the volatile Kisumu and Kericho Counties has also brought on board elders from where the two communities have been fighting over cattle rustling which has resulted into seven people being injured, fifty seven houses being burnt down and five hundred households being displaced have died resulting to who works in the region to bring the elusive peace among the warring communities have now organized meetings among elders from both sides to address the insecurity situation. Tom Onyango the Co-coordinator of the organization that is being funded by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFORD) said they have identified elders they been engaging in the past and will organize for peace meetings across the border.

“The locals say that the absence of jobs is the reason for the rice in criminal activities that has seen the rise in cattle rustling sparking conflict in the region” Onyango said. But elders in Nyakach are now calling upon the national and the county governments to create employment to the youths and offer soft loans for business start up to make them become self reliant. John Rasare, an elder from Nyakach said the national government needs to assist county governments to earmark projects that could engage the youths in the country. Rasare said that a free and secured society is for the government to invest in its youths who are believed to be the strength of every economy. The locals now want the county governments to establish a youth databank to help develop policies and services geared for young people. “Lack of job opportunities has been blamed for the youths engaging in criminal activities, including engaging in cattle rustling and the government should address the social, economic and security challenges facing the youth. “He added Onyango who led the organization to the ground that was hit with clashes further announced that they are mooting plans to establish community peace committees along the troubling Nyakach-Kericho boarder. He said that in the wake of skirmishes in the area that has led to the killings of six people, the committees should strive to incorporate the youth, women and other interested parties drawn from the border. “The conflict along the border is an issue that has taken the government along time to bring to end and should now resort to home grown solution by involving the locals themselves,” he said. Onyango said they had organized more forums within these areas and have identified peace ambassadors who will work closely with the communities to create awareness on the need to co-exist peacefully.

He also says that youths should maintain peace and learn to live with harmony with each other “As a civil society we will strive to ensure our people live peacefully and put the government on spot over the creation of more jobs for our youths,” said Onyango.

Ends.

KENYA: CAN GOVERNMENT REMOVE INDIAN EXPATRIATE WORKERS IN THE SUGAR FACTORIES

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

CAMPAIGNING for his second term re-election in 2007 the retired president Mwai Kibaki made a pledge that his PNU government would create 500,000 jobs for youth and school leavers annually.

Indeed several half a dozen of newly established industries sprung up during the period of 2007-2013 giving Kenyans the hope for more employment opportunities.

Five new sugar mills were established during the period under review with an opening up of close to 1500 employment opportunity for Kenyans. This was in the agricultural sector where new five sugar factories were established and commissioned to be begin their production operation.

These factories included Sukari Industries in Ndhiwa, Homa-Bay Count, Trans-Mara Sugar Company Limited in Trans-Mara, Narok County, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries limited based at Kibos near Kisumu City, West Kenya Sugar Com0-any and Butali SugarCompany both located near Kakamega town in Kakamega County. The sixth sugar mill is the relatively much smaller Soin Sugar Works , which is located in Ainamoi constituency within Kericho County.

Most of the investors in all these facilities were locally based entrepreneurs and Indians from India.

However, the dream of many Kenya technocrats of securing jobs in these new sugar mills were dashed, when the investors arms-twisted the PNU/ODM coalition government headed by two principals in the name of President Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and made sure that they imported their Indian kith and kins from India ,Pakisan and Bangladesh for all senior managerial positions.

Strange things happened. The very government which issued hundreds of work permits to hundred of expatriate workers in the new facilities, leaving Kenyans with nothing to be proud of.

The most shocking thing, however, is the categories of imported expatriate workers. Most of them are said to be semi-illiterate consisting of motor vehicle and electrical mechanics, store-keepers, account clerks, time keepers, cane yard clerks, cashiers, salesmen, warehouse clerks, messengers and the like.

The existing laws and regulations governing the employment of expatriates in Kenya were flagrantly ignored. The existing law says that expatriates may be engaged to fill up a vacancy on jobs categories where a local indignant Kenyan African is not available to take up the position.

The man who was at the helm at the Ministry Immigration and registration of Persons in the coalition government was none, but Raila Odinga right hand man Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who is currently the Senator for Homa-Bay County.

Expatriate workers, from Indian, were issued with work permits through the back door and within five years they flooded the five sugar factories. In one factory, the proprietors even imported a Cooke specialized in Indian dishes to be In hand to prepare the meals for their expatriate foreign Indian managers and other Indian workers.

This is a very said situation taking into account that after 50 years of independence, Kenya has trained and turned out thousands of technocrats, artisans and so many skilled workers in excess of its industrial output. These highly skilled personnel are jobless while many unqualified foreign workers sits on plum jobs in their doorsteps

A survey recently carried out by this writer revealed that more than 60 Indian are working at the West Kenya Sugar Company, 47 Indians are engaged at the Butali Sugar mill .The two mills are located in Kakamega County. 49 Indians are engaged In KibosSugar and Allied Induaatries ,which is located at Kibos near Kisumu City, 50 are working at the Sukari Industries in Ndhiwa, Homa-Bay County while 45 are engaged on jobs at the Trans=Mara Sugar Company in Narok County.

These expatriates are earning between Kshs 40,000 and 85,000 per month and do repatriates their salaries back home to their families without being subjected to mandatory deductions such as NSSF and NHIF.

All these anomalies happens while the outspoken Secretary General of the COTU{K} Francis Atwoli, who is also the General Secretary of the Kenya Plantations and Agricultural Workers Union is keeping a total mum. Also silent is the Secretary General of the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation Workers Francis Wagara.

The few lucky African who got top jobs such as supervisors, clerks and in most cases Human Resources Managers, their salaries are so discriminative in comparison with the salaries earned by expatriates. The highest paid African only take home between Kshs 6,000 and 25,000 per month. And in most cases their employment is treated as casuals without any letter of appointments. Some of the expatriate workers are too old and arguably pensioners in their home of origins.

In this context the Kenya government is silent while its citizens are being discriminated on a few jobs which are available and being enslaved in their own motherland with their elected government is keeping mum. And at the same time speaking loudly about its plans to attract foreign investment with the purpose of jobs creation, and yet it cannot give the direct to the existing firms of foreign investors, Who are flagrantly and defiantly contravening the labor laws of the country?

Do we really need clerks, mechanics, fitters, welders, plumbers cookes, account clerks, cane yard clerks and time-keepers from India?

The government should send a team of experts to the five Indian owned sugar mills to carry out a thorough surgery and jobs evaluation so as to ascertain if the hundreds of foreign expatriate workers are necessarily required.

Ends

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: DEROGATORY STATEMENTS

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”
From: Gordon Teti

Reference is made to DEROGATORY STATEMENTS associated to the following individuals: Maurice Oduor, Mohamed Warsama, Jagem K’Onyiego and Oduya-Magunga that were circulated widely to the public on March 6/7, 2014.

Take it from me, Gordon Teti, that there is NO person or body called Jane Jamieson. This is a fictitious name that was created by one of these people; namely: Maurice Oduor, Mohamed Warsama, Jagem K’Onyiego, Oduya-Magunga to smear my character.

The whole thing is intended to defame my person, image and standing in society. Above all, the campaign is to destroy my business hence the use of an image of a white woman since the majority of clients in this business are Canadian employers who also happen to be Caucasians. Here are the facts.

The facebook account for the so called Jane Jamieson was created on March 6, 2014. There is no single friend associated with this facebook account holder nor is there any activity on the account except for the false and malicious accusation that Gordon Teti was paid $100,000 by this non existent Jane Jamieson.

The next day, March 7, 2014 this campaign was shifted to my business facebook page where the false accusation was posted. Similarly , the above mentioned individuals (Maurice Oduor, Mohamed Warsama, Jagem K’Onyiego, Oduya-Magunga) took the smear campaign to blogs where Gordon Teti became the subject of slander and hate campaign. The e-mail purporting to originate from the so-called Jane Jamieson was flashed out across the globe to every blog associated with Kenyan communities.

Not just that, the e-mail was forwarded widely to various contacts including a leading Toronto lawyer who is my business associate. What was the motivation? Your guess is as good as mine.

The good news though is that we will get to the bottom of this and those found to be responsible will be held to account.

KENYANS MUST SUPPORT PRESIDENT KENYATTA’S EFFORT TO REDUCE HUGE WAGE BILL.

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Commentary by Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The move made by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto by voluntarily offering 20 per cent of their monthly salary reduction in order to relieve the country out of overburdening huge wage bill is a good gesture should be appreciate by all Kenyans of goodwill.

However, it must be taken into account that the President at a personal level is not feeling the heat of the current skyrocketing inflationary situation, which has pushed the prices of the basic commodities beyond the reach of many Kenyan families.

As the sojourner of the of prestigious State House, the President and his family are enjoying free supply of rations free medical facilities and free education of his siblings, all the bills footed by the state unlike thousands of the ordinary Kenyans who can now hardly afford to put their food on the table.

Nevertheless, it is my passionate appeal to him, to consider the options of abolishing so many money guzzling commissions, though all this would require political will. This would require the backing of both the Senate and Parliament.

The government should draft and introduce radical surgery involving a major constitutional amendment abolishing nomination seats in parliament and the national assembly as well as the luxury of nominated MCAs. With the present 290 parliamentary electoral constituencies, 47 Senate representatives and 47 women and as such the electorate in this country are well represented in all important legislative organs. In this context the only essential groups that need special representation and perhaps a few nominations are those people with physical disabilities. The huge wage bill which Kenya is currently under the obligation to meet the payment is the civil servants

It is also time the for the new constitution had explicitly abolished under the devolution processes.

It is worth for Kenyans to remember that during his election campaign for his re-election to his second term, the former President Mwai Kibaki made a big political blunder by dishing out the “political districts”, the erratic move which had seen New administrative districts recklessly being created in some areas which were previously administered by the locations administrative chiefs being promoted made district. Some of the Kibaki districts should be scrapped and revert to their former areas of jurisdiction. The creation of the new districts had inflated the pay bill for civil servants by nearly 35 per cent.

As a resident of Nyanza Province I can offer the example of old Migori district in the greater Southern Nyanza. Migori, which is now a County has new eight districts. There used to be only four, which include Kuria, Rongo and Migori. But today there are eight administrative district, which included, Rongo, Awendo, Uriri, Suna East, Suna West and Nyaike plus the two Kuria East and Kuria West. In all these new districts there are D.Cs, Dos and Chiefs and their assistants. What a crazy kind administrative arrangement is this?

Members of the Provincial Administration are redundant and idle and should either be redeployed into other government Ministries or be sent home with immediate effect.

His EXCELLENCY President Kenyatta should make a bold step and brig the Administration Police and the regular police under one command of the Inspector General of Police instead of maintaining the APs as different entity and yet they are supposed to be offering the same service.

At the same time the government should cut down unnecessary seminars, workshops and conferences at all levels of the national government and the counties. Uncalled for foreign trips, which of late have become a burden to Kenya taxpayers should be discouraged. And also non-performing Cabinet Secretaries, particularly those whose ministries are reportedly bedeviled with corruptions should be axed immediately.

Cabinet Secretaries should attend the meetings of both Senate and Parliament and be always available to answer the members questions. A certain category of public servants working for the Counties should be on secondment from the national government allowing the Counties to recruit only the lower cadres of workers for their purpose of maintaining efficiency in service delivery by the county governments. I am sure President Kenyatta meant well for the down trodden Kenya and he should also instruct his aides to be mindful of other Kenyans who are wallowing in abject poverty.

Ends

Signed by Leo Odera Omolo.

About the author: He.Is a retired veteran journalist who comments occasionally on topical issues.

KENYA: CALM HAS RETURNED ALONG KERICHO-NYAKACH BORDER AFTER ETHNIC SKIRMISHES BETWEEN THE LUOS AND KIPSIGIS.

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Writes leo Odera Omolo .

RELATIVE calm has returned along the volatile Kericho-Nyakach after three days of ethnic clashes, which left six people dead and scores sustained serious bodily injuries and close to 60 dwelling houses torched with household worth thousands of shillings destroyed.

The peace only returned after the government had dispatched a contingent of the crack paramilitary police unit, the General Service unit [GSU} who have joined other security personnel in patrolling the tension parked border areas separating the two communities in Nyanza and Rift Valley Provinces.

This came about only after Nyakach uutspoken MP Aduma owuor had fired the first salvo s and pointed an accusing finger at an unnamed senior politician from Eldoret North who he alleged is responsible for inciting tribal animosity in the area.

The MP at the same time issued a threat that he would be contacting and consulting the prosecutors at the Hague based International Court of Criminal Justice {ICC} asking it to explore the possibility of instituting fresh investigations on the violation of human rights against his constituents with the possibility of opening up fresh prosecution against the perpetrators of violence against his people

Other sources linked a Senator in the Rift Valley and a Ward Representative from Sigowet area in Kericho West sub-county of fueling ethnic clashes. The MP further alleged that the attackers were being ferried into the border by lorries and Matatus hired by the politicians who areas allegedly sending them fresh supplies of food , mainly loaves or breads and bottled mineral waters, which the criminal thugs have been seen enjoying in their hideout bushes in remote areas where there are no nearby shops.

Nyakach MP recalled that the Kipsigis and Luos have lived together harmoniously from the time memorable years and have always enjoyed peaceful co-existence while involved in batter trades across the common borders.

The Provincial administration who included the County Commissioners in Kerich West and Nhakach have also played the pivotal role in calming down the situation by way of holding joint peace meetings.

Their works were supplemented by a visit by Sigowet MP Justice Kemei who together with Justice Kemei who together with the Kericho Senator Charles Keter flew into the area and addressed a meeting at Kipsitet Market and urged the warring communities in give peace a chance and find ways of solving their problems amicably instead of engaging in combative attack against their neighbors. The flare ups which have so far left six people dead began last Friday night and continued on Saturday and Sunday. The attack covered several villages on the Nyakach side, which included Ngege in Koguta Eas. Onyuongo, Holo, Asao and Cherwa in Agoro area as well as Kandaria areas. Those interviewed said the attackers came in waves of dozens armed with arrows, bows, machetes, swords and spears. They are usually come around in the wee hours of the night and then retreated back to the Kericho West side at dawn.

The victims were puzzled and mesmerized and could not tell exactly what was the cause of the problems. The police Commandant in Nyakach district Ng’etich suspected the politician son both side of the common border for having incited their people into fighting each other, and wondered why some politicians have been holding separate meetings at this time when they need to have joint meetings and talk to the protagonists in a joint effort to end the conflict.

The volatile Nyaka-Kericho border has always been prone to incessant cattle at rustling, which some times ends up in the loss of lives

The two communities, Luos and Kalenjin went into full scale tribal war during the politically motivated Kalenjin Warriors attack in 1992, and in 1996/1997. Thus was durng the clamour for the multiparty politics as opposed to the hitherto monolithic one party system which was favored by the KANU regime under the retired President Daniel Arap Moi. THhe Kalenjin warriors launched spontaneous attacks against Luhiya, Kisiis and Luos in all fronts. Mainly these are the communities which were perceive to be in the opposition against the Moi regime.

ENDS

KENYA: NYANDO MP SELLS HIS LAND FOR KSHS 800m to Madam R Enterprises FOR SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.

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To: “jaluo@jaluo.com”

By Our Investigative Reporter

Nyando MP Fred Outa who is at the centre of the storm loudly supporting the controversial Solid Waste Management is to sell to Madam R the company which was awarded the multi-billion Solid Waste Management his land at Namba Okan at a cost of kshs 800 million hence his strong agitation for Madam R.

The area MPs ;John Olago Aluoch, Aduma Owuor and himself have so far been enjoined in the case as interested parties together with six Ward Reps;the ever hungry Prisca Auma Misachi, Yona Maina Koko ,Jane Omollo and the fatherless “Banian” Aslam Khan.

Outr has of late locked horns with Kisumu Governor Jack ranguma who has so far disowned the tender award vowing that he will fight the Governor to the full until he achieves his desire of selling the land to Madam enterprises.

All those who are enjoined in the petition have been promised good cash rewards if the tender will finally be awarded to the said company.

The MPs have been promised kshs 10million each while the Ward Reps are to take home kshs 5million each.

“I am surprised that our leaders can stoop this low and be bribed and okay such a project just because one of their own is to sell his land to the Company and they share the loot from the tax payers money from Kisumu” lamented aConty Rep who was approached to be a friend of the Court but declined.

So far no Environmental Impact Assessment report has been conducted and submitted to the National Environment Management Authority, lead agencies like Kisumu Civil Aviation Authority, Water Resource Management Authority and Kisumu County on the said land the MP is selling.

Ranguma has vowed that the project will only take place over his dead vowing that the award of the tender was un procedural.

This comes at a time Kisumu High Court ordered the Kisumu County Government to respond to a petition filed by businessman Erick Okeyo regarding the controversial solid waste management project.

High Court Judge Aggrey Muchelule has given the lawyers representing the County government (Wasuna Advocates) three days to file a response against the allegations made by the petitioner.

Okeyo through his lawyer Charles Njuguna wants the county government compelled to produce certified copies of the advertisements for invitation to tender, the valuation report of the tenders, and proof of public participation in the process.

Muchelule ordered lawyers representing both parties to move with speed because the matter is of public interest since it involves huge amount of money and must be expedited as soon as possible.

However Advocate Yogo representing Madam R enterprises which was allegedly offered the Sh. 18 billion tender maintained that no tender was signed and that the county government has not spent any money on the project.

KENYA: WILL RUTO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2017?

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2014

Willis from Kisii writes: “Fr Beste is it true that Deputy President William Ruto will run for President in 2017 as Star reported that Ruto’s close confidant and URP activist told the Star yesterday that Ruto is reaching out to leaders across the political divide to cement his candidature in the next elections?”

Willis I can’t say yes or no, but according to what the same Star newspaper reported recently that Deputy President William Ruto and Ford Kenya Leader Moses Wetang’ula are understood to be quietly working on a political pact ahead on 2017 can shade some lights on this allegation.

According to the report the two leaders have been holding regular talks with the aim of a political partnership although details of their discussions have remained scanty. Report says further that Ruto believes Wetangula is a strong politician who has the capacity to mobilize the luhya, unlike Mudavadi and Eugene Wamalwa.

The report alleges that Ruto has been courting the leaders in the region through UDF allied MPs, but he had to abandon the project after it emerged the group, consisting mostly youthful MPs, has no network in the region. Luhyas are the second largest tribe and Jubilee has been trying hard to win over the western region.

It emerged after the Star exclusively reported that the President was about to shuffle his cabinet and bring in Musalia Mudavadi as the minister for information. The report adds that the meetings between Ruto and Wetang’ula, according to a Cord MP, have been taking place since after the March 4th 2013 elections.

Although Ruto has not spoken clearly on the issue, the fact that the Kalenjin (URP) via MP Alfred Keter have publicly said that Kalenjin communities were not happy with President Uhuru on the manner he made a key position appointments mainly favoring his Kikuyu community can tell a lot on corridors of power.

Keter made it public Kalenjin communities were not comfortable with skewed public appointment yet the TNA/URP memorandum of understanding envisioned a 50:50 power sharing! The Kalenjins feel betrayed and would prefer Ruto to go it alone come 2017 presidential election.

The president who had a few weeks earlier appointed John Muthuto contrary to the NACADA Act was humbled when he was forced to revoke the appointment and follow due process of the Law.

It also very clear that Ruto is not so happy with president especially the powers around him. Ruto revealed this on Citizen TV’s Cheche show, saying that in fact Uhuru was misled and that the president was confused as to what steps to take against those who offered bad advice.

Ruto’s revelation did not go down well with Uhuru’s kitchen team, and can confirm the rumors that a few days later after the Cheche show ago Ruto was kept waiting for the president for more that 5 hours, the presidential officers told him the president was relaxing and later said the president was a sleep- Ruto could later drive a way!

Since then according to the report things are not right at the Deputy President’s office. All the budget expenditures must be approved by State House. Ruto is not happy with this.

Another hint that can confirm that Ruto may go it alone in 2017 is what Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter said recently that the Jubilee government will lose the next election if it fails to tackle corruption perpetrated by top officials, a member of the coalition has warned, citing the rail tender controversy.

The only challenge for Ruto is that Uhuru owns the military. It can explain why Uhuru had to retain Gen Julius Karangi who was due to retire. Similar trick was applied by Kibaki when he retained him after 40 years of service. President Mwai Kibaki extended his term by two years, ostensibly so that the transition in the military would not coincide with the General Election.

Although Uhuru defended himself that Karangi’s retirement is 2015 and for that matter he never extended his term, the calculation here is that by 2015 a number of senior officers will have to retire in keeping with internal administrative rules, popularly known as the Tonje Rules, named after former military chief Gen Daudi Tonje who designed and implemented them.

The internal administrative rules require that the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) retires at 62 years while lieutenant-generals and major-generals retire at the age of 58 and 56 respectively if they are not promoted to the next rank. So Ruto may not be aware what calculation Uhuru is aiming at. Military is to be kept close in any case.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

KENYA: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE DOZENS OF MOI ERA MADE LUO MILLIONAIRES ?

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ASK Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City

THE six million question currently being asked by many people in this City and its environs is the whereabouts of the several dozens of Moi-made Luo millionaires who were created by the regime of the retired President DanieL Arap Moi before his regime was hounded out of the office in 2002.

The Moi made millionaires were individual professionals, business tycoons, politicians and KANU operatives who were then the ones calling shots inside Luo-Nyanza. The majority of them have died mysteriously leaving behind huge bank debts said to have overburden their families.

Only a few are still surviving, who have kept very low profiles. Leading the pack was Kassim G Owango, an economist who had established an enterprising land valuers business enterprises in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumuj, John Linus Aluoch, joel Nyaseme, Hezekiah Nelson Oyugi,Isaack Omolo-Okero, Okumu Aroko, Eng. Maxwell Otieno Odongo, Sam Okello, Edwin Ochieng” Yinda, Tom Okello Obondo Dalmas Otieno.Peter Castro Oloo Aringo, Ouma Okendo, Orwenjo-Umidha, Mijoma a trade unionist, Arap Onyango, David , Paul Demaco GogoDavid Okiki Amayo, Hertbert Ojwang”,Tom Okello Obondo ,Okumu Aroko, W. Onyango Ayoki, Eng.Phillip Okoth Okundi, Z\blon Owigo Olang and other political luminaries of the KANU regime under Moi.

Some of the Moi-Made millionaires traversed the full length and width of Luo-Nyanza dishing our hefty donations toward many socio-economic projects, while at the same time delivering Moi hefty personal donations.

Other had become excessively arrogant and bullies to an extent that anyone who crossed swords with them were in for hot soup. The group polarized The region and even made the D.C.s who were serving in the various administrative district in Nyanza wetting on their trousers on simple phone calls from the men

However, only a few of these Moi’s men made it to the August House inspire having made numerous attempt to garner votes in heavily funded election campaign in various parliamentary constituencies. These were John Linus Aluoch {Rongo}, DalmasandDalmas Otieno.Otieno{Rongo}, Tom Okello Obondo Ndhiwa}, Ot. Edwin Ochieng’Yinda{Alego-Usonga}, David Okiki Amayo{Karachuonyo}, W. Onyango-Ayok,Okumu Aroko {Kisumu Rural} JOHN henry Okwanyo {Karachuonyo} {Karachuonyo Peter Clever Otieno Nyakiamo {Mbita}, Wyciffe Onyango Ayoki [Kisumu Rural}, Sam Odoyo {Nyakach}.Eng Philip Okoth Okundui

Our research has revealed that out of dozens of the Moi-Made Luo millionaires who are still thriving in active business are quite a few. The Moi|s men who had the easiest access to the State House were treated by so many lucrative government tenders,in some cases with payments in advance before the work is done and completed contrary to the government procurement regulations.They were known to be dishing out in return colossal amount of money earned from these contract back to the KANU campaign kitty each tie the election were called.

Those whose businesses are known to be still thriving on and enterprising include Paul D. whom is the CEO Sifa Insurance, Peter Nyakiamo who is a retired CEO of the Barclays Bank of Kenya, Edwin Ochieng’Yinda who is a business magnate in the coastal city of Mombasa and perhaps one of the wealthiest Luo,Eng Philip Okundi whose Asego Investment business flagship is running and managing enterprising Cotton Ginneries, real estates and other businesses. Orwenjo Umidha, the former Siaya mayor who is running real estate businesses in Siaya town, and perhaps controlling had of the business premises in that town.Herbert Ojwang” who is running and owning several businesses in Nairobi and Kabondio-Kasipul as well as in Kisumu.including road transport. Zablon Owigo Olang/ is also reported to be still in business.

Reports emerging fro Siaya say Mijoma died about ten years ago a pauper, the same could be said of the late Mathews Ogutu the former Tourism Minister,the late Ouma Okendo the generous man from Uyoms died while living moderately and an average rural life. Henry Okwanyof9rer Minister for Water Development left behind a well organised family who included the County Commissioner for Pokot Peter Okwanyo and a large family ,living well in hid Migori home, and the same could be said of Samson Odoyo a humble man and forme Nyakach Mp. His son Peter Odoyo served in the Raila -Moi meger government ads an Assistant Minister for Foregn Affairs and he is still an active ODM politician though of limited influence in Nyakach.the former long-serving Minister for Power and Communication is living comfortably in his palatial Ulumbi-Gem rural home, The rest either died in mystery or perished while wallowing in abject poverty

Those Moi”s men who made into parliament only succeeded in their ambition after defecting to the either the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s Ford Kenya, Rala ODM dinga’s LDP and ODM , but not on a KANU ticket.

KENYA: OLAGO AND BUYU’S POLITICAL WAR INTENSIFIES.

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By Our Reporter

The political war between two worst nemesis ;the sitting Kisumu Town West MP John Olga Olago Aluoch and Rosa Akinyi Buyu appears to head on after the recent Court of Appeal’s ruling in Kisumu in which Olago’s win was upheld.

The judgment appeared to have caught most of Olago’s opponents off guard as they had anticipated a bye election giving of what they had believed were credible evidences meriting the area voters to go back to the ballot box.

“Buyu has won and Olago has lost, the court is not the voters of Kisumu Town West and we are thinking of other options including going to the supreme court” swore one of Buyu’s supporters after the judgment had been read by Justice Sankale ole Kantai.

Immediately after the elections Olago said he was now going to focus on his mandate as thwe area MP as the court process had made him spend countless nights not knowing the court’s outcome.

“I am charged to go to the ground and realize the vision I have been having for the constituency, I welcome all my opponents to join me in developing the constituency, its not time to seek revenge rather we should push for forgiveness and embracing of one another despite all that I have undergone during the whole duration of the court hearing” he added

Buyu’s star appears to have risen of late giving that he was going for one of the leading posts in ODM during the recent elections which were aborted.

She appears to have no reverse gears as she is visible in nearly all funds rives within the constituency and constantly always ready to listen to the area residents problem.

“Rosa won the elections but lost to both the High Court and the Court of Appeal however Aluta Continua, we are still with her” shouted some of the youths after the judgment.

The judgment which was issued by Justices Daniel Musinga,Festus Azanglala and Sankai ole Kantai had said that Buyu’s petition lacked merit.

In the case,Buyu was the appellant while IEBC and its returning officer were first and second respondents .Olago was the third resident.

They said they considered grounds of appeal to the alleged malpractices in the conduct of the elections and the standard of proof required to establish the same and concluded that Buyu did not prove that there were irregularities.

“The appellant did not prove to the required standard that there were anomalies or irregularities in conduct of the election that affected the results as would void the same” they said.

Buyu was slapped with costs of the petition of kshs 1.5million

KENYA: KISUMU BASED CIVIL SOCIETY’S ENDEVOUR TO BRING PEACE AMONG THE KALENJINS AND LUOS

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by Agwanda Saye

A Kisumu based Civil society charged with promotion of use of alternative dispute resolution mechanism for peaceful co-existence Uhai Lake Forum Organization is now engaging youths in useful ventures as away of reducing insecurity and has also brought on board elders within the luos and Kalenjins fighting over cattle rustling.

The organization which is now based a long the volatile Kisumu and Kericho Counties has also brought on board elders from where the two communities have been fighting over cattle rustling which has resulted into seven people being injured, fifty seven houses being burnt down and five hundred households being displaced have died resulting to who works in the region to bring the elusive peace among the warring communities have now organized meetings among elders from both sides to address the insecurity situation.

Tom Onyango the Co-coordinator of the organization that is being funded by Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFORD) said they have identified elders they been engaging in the past and will organize for peace meetings across the border.

“The locals say that the absence of jobs is the reason for the rice in criminal activities that has seen the rise in cattle rustling sparking conflict in the region” Onyango said.

But elders in Nyakach are now calling upon the national and the county governments to create employment to the youths and offer soft loans for business start up to make them become self reliant.

John Rasare, an elder from Nyakach said the national government needs to assist county governments to earmark projects that could engage the youths in the country.

Rasare said that a free and secured society is for the government to invest in its youths who are believed to be the strength of every economy.

The locals now want the county governments to establish a youth databank to help develop policies and services geared for young people.

“Lack of job opportunities has been blamed for the youths engaging in criminal activities, including engaging in cattle rustling and the government should address the social, economic and security challenges facing the youth. “He added

Onyango who led the organization to the ground that was hit with clashes further announced that they are mooting plans to establish community peace committees along the troubling Nyakach-Kericho boarder.

He said that in the wake of skirmishes in the area that has led to the killings of six people, the committees should strive to incorporate the youth, women and other interested parties drawn from the border.

“The conflict along the border is an issue that has taken the government along time to bring to end and should now resort to home grown solution by involving the locals themselves,” he said.

Onyango said they had organized more forums within these areas and have identified peace ambassadors who will work closely with the communities to create awareness on the need to co-exist peacefully.

He also says that youths should maintain peace and learn to live with harmony with each other

“As a civil society we will strive to ensure our people live peacefully and put the government on spot over the creation of more jobs for our youths,” said Onyango.

Ends.