Monthly Archives: December 2008

Re: No Need to Thank the President

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:52:11 +0300 [12:52:11 PM CST]
From: Kimutai Cherono
Subject: Re: No Need to Thank the President

I was saying he is not doing it out of concern for the Kenyan people. He does not want people to have the opportunity to boo him.

And now that he knows he can get away with that he stays in his ivory tower we see him on budget day only :-)

On 12/30/08, owinga bonfas wrote:

Kimutai this kind of behavior is what has taken this country behind and stagnant for 45 years..Why thank Mwai Kibaki for something that needs no comon sense..We have become a people worshipping our leaders for every little thing that they do..This is the same president who caused untold suffering to millions of Kenyans in 2007 for the sake of power…There is no need of thanking this President who couldnt in his first term:

1.New Constitution
2.Ensure Security in the country (Remember Arturs brothers-where is the report?)
3.Ensure Land Reforms(Where is the Ndungu Report?)
4.End Corruption(where is the Anglo-leasing Report?)
5.Whats Up With Grand Regency Hotel?
6.Kibaki also heightened and practiced Tribalism in broad daylight with arrogance.

We must be people who ask for bigger things and we must be people who keep the government accountable..Lets not be small-minded people..Kenyans need a change of attitude and we must fight tribalism and keep these leaders on check every step on the way…

— On Tue, 12/30/08, Kimutai Cherono wrote:

From: Kimutai Cherono
Subject: Re: Thank you Mr President for beginning to listen to the people
Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2008, 4:24 PM

Or maybe he does not want people to boo him? Once they do not leave their ivory towers your views become irrelevant. Guess 2009 is going to be a messed up year. ‘again!’

James Kimutai Cherono
0735 191362 or 020 2171618

‘if you are not having fun… AND making a difference …… dig a grave.’ Teliwe

On 12/30/08, George Nyongesa wrote:

Thank you Mr President for beginning to listen to the people

President Kibaki’s decision to cancel the traditional New Year’s Eve state festivities at State House Mombasa is a laudable and encouraging move towards people sensitive leadership. For a long time, the Kenyan civil society has been vocal in condemning the unnecessary, spendthrift and morally irregular expense of holding grand state festivities in the same country where citizens are suffering grand social injustices and unaccountable unresponsive leadership.

According to my calculations, by this decision alone the President has saved the Exchequer approximately K.Shs. 100,000,000, not to mention the Kenyan public the cost of transmitting the celebrations live in their entirety on national TV. I would like to encourage the President to show similar leadership in other areas by taking an example from Cuba’s President Raul, who taking into consideration the global financial and food crisis cut down government foreign trips by 50% as well as scaling down on ministerial expenditure. As a Kenyan tax-payer, I am looking for President Kibaki to lead his government in adopting the same tune that he has. For example, in the next budget, rather than allocating 60% towards recurrent government expenditure, 20% towards paying for public debt and 20% towards development objectives, the government should in reverse allocate 60% towards development and utilise 40% for other expenditure.

2008 has admittedly been a very difficult year for all Kenyans. Our woes have been a kaleidoscope of irregular elections, internal displacement of thousands – many of whom still languish in squalid conditions in camps, political experiments in the form of a coalition government, public power struggles amongst the political elite, unrest within informal settlements, schools unrest, grand corruption scandals, food insecurity escalated by cartels supported by irresponsible and unaccountable leadership, death and starvation from famines, high food, fuel, transport and basic commodity prices and political impunity in the form of unpatriotic parliamentarians’ resistance to implementing the National Accord’s Agenda 4 in full, to implementing the Kriegler and Waki Commission recommendations in a timely manner, to paying tax on their full remuneration and more recently the attempted interference with the freedom of information through muzzling the media.

From my discussions with fellow Kenyans, as we listen to the Presidential state address to usher in the New Year, our wish list remains very clearly to hear concrete, practical and urgent action plans towards: ending food insecurity, reducing the cost of living, creating employment, implementing Agenda 4 – especially resettlement and compensation of IDPs, resolving land problems, ending political impunity – especially implementing parliamentarians’ taxation and ensuring commensurate remuneration for Kenya’s working class – especially increasing the minimum wage and sorting out teachers, nurses and the disciplined forces on their salaries.

I wish to urge Kenyans to keep up the growing awareness of their rights and freedoms and not to relent in resisting social injustices and demanding responsive, accountable and people sensitive leadership. With the uniting of Kenyans around common issues, the reduction in Unga prices, the reduction of VAT on electricity, the ban of exportation of maize and maize flour, the plans to subsidize fertilizer costs, the decision by some MPs to pay tax and many other similar victories, it is clear what people power can achieve. We can still make our leaders wake up and smell the coffee. Let us invite our leaders to join us as we march united into 2009.

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
+254 720 451 235

Sent from my mobile device

Re: ANY HOPE FOR GREEDY AFRICA?

Dear all

As we come to the new year just like we have done throughout generations, I have been burdened by many questions. Africa does not seem to get better. What is going on? We all know that the foundations of the convenience we enjoy today in the developed world were laid down by men who had vision and dreams of what we have now. If they had been selfish or visionless, we would not be crossing the oceans or flying the skies or even using the modern technologies.

We must keep in mind that the revolutions never happened in a day, successive generations built upon the previous with improvements each time and getting better.

It is a tragedy that in Africa, nothing is built to last. Corruption, greed and selfishness are eating away the continent inside out. There is a need for a new generation of leaders with higher value system, dreams and visions for the future of the continent and its posterity.

Africa is a continent of consumers of other’s sweat and dreams? Someone has to change the value system of the continent.

We need a clear goal, well defined and to be achieved in a time period. A deadly revolution will be inevitable in the next ten years if no progress shapes up. We can no longer watch helplessly as the worst builds up. Thousands of the new generation are, every year planning migrations into the developed west to enjoy its convenience. I am left wondering about those who could not migrate. Think about it! Kenya currently is planing to lease out to Qutar government while its citizens have no food. Is selling out our land for 50 years the best leadership they could provide? Think again about it!!

As a student of the word, I am aware that the world will not get better, however, we do not know how long we will be on this earth. We still have the responsibility of being good stewards of God’s earth, ourselves and all that it entails. God never created us to be a disgrace to the rest of the world as is currently the case. Africa must re-establish its value systems and stop being mere parasites and scum of the universe. God made us better than that.

Happy and hopeful prosperous New 2009 and wish you all success in initiating a revolution in the society.
God bless all

“FOR IN HIM WE LIVE, MOVE AND EXIST” ACTS 17:28: AND THERE IS SALVATION IN NO ONE ELSE ; FOR THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, BY WHICH WE MUST BE SAVED” ACTS 4:12

– – –
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:31:03 -0800 [06:31:03 PM CST]
From: david bett
Subject: Re: ANY HOPE FOR GREEDY AFRICA?

Re: MINISTERS WHO MUST WAKE UP 2009

On Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 3:10 PM, henry ouma wrote:

Agriculture-Ruto has to do more-Kenya’s food security situation is in jeopardy-He must fight corruption in the ministry-Kenyans still wait for the afordable maize flour

Lands-Orengo must tell Kenyans why we must lease land to QATAR ? Is Kenya’s land available for distribution .Do we ourselves have enough to eat. How about the land related historical injustices.?

Justice-Karua must ensure that justice is done especially to the Mungiki’s

Prime-minister-Kenyans expect more from Raila on economy, on constitution and poverty issues-Rt. Hon. PM let’s see you actually work and supervise & co-ordinate ministries—otherwise we have no biz in 2012.

Housing -Shitanda is most a sleep.Wake up-Landlords are killing Kenyans with rent increases-arbitrarily

Transport-Makwere where are you–wake up or go

President—Where are you ? Kenya needs leadership

– – – – – – – – – – –

Special Programmes – why would innocent Kenyans be languishing in IDP camps, one year down the line?

Environment – I feel there’s still room for improvement as far as improving the environment is concerned.

Energy – We wait with baited breath, Hon. Kiraitu to see how effective your promises to protect us consumers from the jaws of the exploitative oil dealers and the monster KPLC.

Gichuru

– – –
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:10:54 +0300 [12:10:54 PM CST]
From: John Gichuru
Subject: Re: MINISTERS WHO MUST WAKE UP 2009

RE: The Future is a new Political Party

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:21:07 +0000 [03:21:07 PM CST]
From: barack abonyo
Subject: RE: The Future is a new Political Party

Joram
Peter lives in Kenya and has always lived in Kenya. He travels alot though. He has successfully run an NGO called RECA for over fifteen years in Kenya.

What we have been discussing in terms of luo unity through economic development is not new. We have been doing this for the last three years and I do believe your memory of the issues we had are still fresh. To date where is LOLWE. We spent alot of time on this with a back and forth argument between you, Okoth Otura and John Otieno etc. Here we go again. In many instances we have differed and each person had opted to move on on their own. It is always, this does not work, that will never go anywhere, Nobody will buy that, someone wants to make money. One suscpiscion after the other. Well can we have something that everyone will buy into. None whatsoever. At this rate no one among us will ever change the status of the luo community. Indeed, this is the very reason why a disatisfying leadership is always going to thrive.

Formation of a party as suggested has nothing to do with competition with a luo based party. The one suggested was one with a national outlook and not a luo thing.

Robert Alai’s disagreement with this suggestion is respected but I still must say that there are many ways of skinning a mouse/cat. There are still many forums out there which will be useful for doing this and because it is on the rail, we are moving on. There are so many young people who want to do something and it is not fair that we fail them because of perceived obstacles.

There are too many unrealistic suggestions and verbosity here which never translate to anything much and whenever we try to come together, someone finds away to break it up through overanalysis of issues and superimposed hypotheticals. We never even build a foundation. One cannot chart the end of a road before he starts to build it. You cannot postulate your destiny before you are born unless you are a god.

Barack

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:26:19 -0800
From: nyolamo@ . . .
Subject: Re: The Future is a new Political Party

On Dec 30, 2008, at 12:48 PM, “Patrick Obiero” wrote:

Othengo and Barack

Jorum Odus started a very interesting debate indeed!!

I think Robert Alai the founder of Bidii Africa has disowned your political party idea through his forum, but as I know,qq that does not hinder your ambition of forming another brand new party. How can you guys form a party yet you dont live in Kenya, I have just jetted home Luoland have enough protein in their brains to handle maths?? Our kids are inteligent but hungry, that is why Kikuyus are now beating us, read KCPE results.

I dont want to continue writing about the obvious. I find, Paul Nyandoto, Mr. Odus and Williams view on this debate reasonable and therefore worth supporting. If you say that the current political climate is different compared to the Mageuzi, Nyongos SDP, Ochuotho days then I would appreciate to read more than you are saying.

My people, even the best speaker in Africa, PLO Lumumba has a political party, so Barack, Othengo?? tell us more.

Obiero Ja Jera

On Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 6:39 PM, odhengo peter wrote:

Dear All,

The debate has been going on for nearly a month–the subject-to form a new Political Party or Not. If you analyze the arguments against and for we seam to have reached at a cross road. There seams to be no clear way forward, however, according to my opinion I would strongly form a new party. This is on the understanding that the current condition for forming a political party is totally different with the times wakina Nyongo, Ochuodho, Tuju and the likes formed their parties. Those were the era of formation of institutions which were not propelled by the wider perspective, need and clear purpose. Currently, a new party Act requires that a party must have founder memebers in all the 78 districts (district cordinators), 200 members in each province among others-PDM has met all the conditions! let be members and sugest changes neede to enable it fill the missing link-lack of progress and development especially in LUO NYANZA.

However, the fact that they failed do not necessarily mean that NO new parties should not be formed. If this could have been the case, then ODM, ODM-K, PNU, etc would not be in existance todya. In addition, Mr. Manji, the prominent businessman failed more than 55 time before finally coming up with the current famous House of Manji.

We should note that for sustainable development to be realised in a community, country or a continent, there must be a political dispensation which entails the pricinples of democracy, progress and development at local, regional and national levels. It must also recorgnised the centrality of the human factor as the driver. If the political dispensation in a given area, region, or community is focused in black mailling, and destroying potential personalities with skills to spearhead development and innovation, then such a community is doomed. We can not wait untill all the potentail people from Luo land are destroyed by political sycophans in the name of their loyalty to the powers that be. However, long it will take, we need to join forces that have done somthing rather than critism yet time is going, more people are suffering, confusion ranges while we continue to write.

There can never be a change in a society/community without a change in the institutional set ups.

Odhengo Peter

— On Tue, 30/12/08, barack abonyo wrote:

From: barack abonyo
Subject: RE: What amazing tribe we LUOS are?
Date: Tuesday, 30 December, 2008, 1:35 AM

Dear Jokanyanam
The idea of party formation is in the circulation that brings together Wanabiddii and Bunge la Wananinchi. Its is totally seperate from the luo affair and problems in luo land. I think it is critical that the two be treated sepeartely. I thought this circulation here does not encompass the whole republic while the party formation is a republic issue.
Barack

From: iscwn@ . . .
Subject: RE: What amazing tribe we LUOS are?
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:38:09 +0000

Yes, indeed, we are amazing community. Now we are talking about forming a political party as if there is none or better still as if Orengo did not try one and was flawed, what about Professor Nyong’o, Dr Ochuondho and many more. The reality is WE DO NOT NEED a new political party. Absolutely NO, with certainty.

I submit that what we need is a deliberate, clear paradigm shift, with purpose, intent and focus on two issues: Reformation: to change the mindset and perception of our people on issues of sustainable development and political maturity where different views are tolerated and a Revolution where the current failing political leadership are voted out of Parliament in successive future elections. As Mutayi Ngunyi alluded in his article in the Sunday Nation of 28 Dec 08; these two forces are already at play in the wider Kenyan society of which Luoland is no exception. The depth of debate and feeling in this forum is an indication that people are now prepared to challenge the status quo, the issues as to why we are where we are have already been identified here, no need to repeat them now and again. I truly believe that if our people take farming activities, business and issues of development the way we take politic, as a community we should be at par with other communities, if not better off.

As agents of change, let us examine ourselves deeply, our roles as individuals and groups with an aim to catalyse the change process. An to those of us who are running entities; I trust these are for the good of the wider community development not merely for directors/chairmen/CEOs who formed them. As Mr. Obiero observed candidly that there are so many NGOs that claim to work for Nyanza people but a closer look reveals that they are actually individually owned, most of them are ‘briefcase organisations’. I would like to see clear transparency and accountability in the operations of these entities so that people can have confidence in their ability to deliver for both membership and contributions/donations. KCDN has so far done an excellent job of updating us on the progress they are making with clear reports. I others to follow suit.

An to an jaohalo epiny England kani, nene achako ohala higa abieriyo ma okalo bangi somo, emomiyo wech magi community development are very dear to me and I continue to be very active in them both here and at home Kenya.

Be blessed

Joram Odus

Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:36:32 +0200
From: paul.nyandoto@ . . .
Subject: What amazing tribe we LUOS are?

Luos,

We are one of the best tribes now in this planet, believe me or not. 50% of our genes will be ruling the richest and the most powerful country on earth today, but what do we luos have?.

We are the only tribe which seems to know almost everything which needs to be done to uplift our sufferings, but when it comes to actions we are the last. Our Province nyanza is growing backwards but we are more concerned about what should be done in the Kenyan parliament than what should be done in Nyanza.

We are the ones crying mouth wide open for democracy in Kenya while we the luos are hardly expressing democracy in Nyanza. Look at any nyanza election, whether pre-candidate nominations, etc whatever you call it. We have the worst record. Can somebody tell us who won the preliminary ODM election in 2007 in Ugenya, which James Orengo now represents?. We know very well that Orengo did no win it, so who won?. And how did Orengo got the post?.

We were the first tribe in Kenyan history to produce a woman member of parliament, but now with all the democracy we do claim we have today or try to bring to Kenyans, how many women members of parliament do we have today?, ZERO, look at even how many rift valley have, What a shame ?.. Do you want to tell us that luos do not have educated daughters, sisters, or mothers, why are we letting 50% of our forces down or unused?. We have a lot of empty MEN debes telling people to vote for so and so, you can even be beaten if you ask why at the same time we cry loud for democracy in Kenya.

Now we want a party, is it the main agenda? or is it the most important thing today to be done?. Just as somebody said always remember to do the essential first then the less important later.

Or I forgot, it seems that all our leaders have crossed to the Kikuyu`s side and are now serving Mungiki instead of luo youths who are still lingering in prisons or jobless, by the way who voted for those leaders who have now crossed over to Nyeri?. Are we not the luos who did it, and we have been doing it since 1963. In 1963 Oginga was given leadership by the British, but what did this great luo leader did?. Told the British he does not want to lead, but he would prefer Kenyatta to do it, then some years later he started telling luos that Kenyatta is leading very badly so let us revolt and stay poor for 45 years.

I hear we need to frame the constitution on Bomas draft, is it true, it looks a great idea, but the Bomas draft have nothing much better other than the Majimbo and to the diaspora the dual citizenship, otherwise it can be still be manupulated just as they are doing the present constitution, where Mps do not pay tax. But the Draft have also it suprises: The most first suprise that will affect the luo extremist and the Odingaism or Railaism in luoland is this. The Draft states very well that a president should not be above 65 years of age. So Raila is automatically out of the presidential race in 2012. Kenyans have never been clever enough, because any draft or constitution being suggested are made sometimes for individuals or to exclude some individuals, non have been made when considering what our beloved country Kenya needs (the Bomas was against Moi). Guys : can we see why Kenya is not moving forward?. Look at even fuel today the country lacks fuel at a time when a barrel of oil cost only 40 dollars, while at the time when the barrel was costing 150 dollars there was fuel, what a paradoxical life we do enjoy in Kenya ?. Some empty debes will try to convince you that because of christmas people travel alot and therefore more cars then no fuel, rubbish, what about lack of ugali?. Whether you travel or not you need almost the same capacity of ugali, but why is it not available?. In 2001 he Kibaki and Raila told Moi that he was stupid, because lack of food was linked to rain, a natural phenominal. Moi said it did not rain so poor harvest equals no food. Raila went a head to ask Moi to tell Kenyans why there was food in Egypt, where it hardly rains while in Kenya there was not enough food. Ladies and gents why is there not enough food when Raila and Kibaki are all ruling?. How quick do we forget?. In Nyanza still no food, but in nyeri they have enough and infact throw some to the dustbines, so, so what?.

Our country is hijacked and lead by people who are politically incapable of bringing development, these people think that development means taking all the tax payers money and banking abroad or stealing as much as they can, corruption is the order of the day. Or to them development simply means, bringing german cars, japanese motorbikes, filling your shops with foreign goods etc, making good lights on the street etc. Infact some of these leaders do not even know how a simple mobile phone works, how a television gets images etc. While they occupy high positions in the governement and still claims that they are capable of bringing development, what a peace of CRAP.

Guys ; form any party you want but define its goals first and how it differs with the ones we do have today, and how that party is going to help luo nyanza have food on the table. May God bless you and please take luos out of this Odingaism loan, we have been paying for 45 years.

Paul Nyandoto

Nyerere and Tanzania: No Regrets at Socialism

By PAUL LEWIS, “The New York Times,” October 24, 1990

Julius K. Nyerere, who led Tanzania for the first-quarter century of its existence as an independent state, struck an unapologetic note as he said he had no regrets, despite the ramshackle condition in which he leaves his country.

“If I had my time over again, I would do it much the same way,” said the 68-year-old founding father who is called Mwalimu — Swahili for the teacher — by Tanzanians. He made his comments in an interview while on a recent visit to the United Nations.

A thin, gray-haired man with a ready laugh, Mr. Nyerere has given up his last official position, stepping down in August as chairman of Tanzania’s single, ruling party. Five years earlier, he became one of the handful of African leaders to leave office voluntarily, resigning as President, a post he held since 1962, a year after independence from Britain.

In the years that followed, Mr. Nyerere came to be revered throughout Africa as a nationalist who, along with men like Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Felix Houphouet-Boigny of the Ivory Coast and Kenneth D. Kaunda of Zambia, brought an end to colonial rule. They served as the first generation of leaders of independent Africa. Pulling Together

He was also a social engineer who brought his own vision of “African socialism” — he called it “ujamaa,” or pulling together — to his country.

Peasants were regrouped into collective villages; factories and plantations were nationalized; state-run corporations were established; egalitarianism was encouraged; great investments were made in literacy, the accumulation of private wealth was discouraged.

At first, many Western aid donors, particularly in Scandinavia, gave enthusiastic backing to this socialist experiment, pouring an estimated $10 billion into Tanzania over 20 years.

Yet today, as Mr. Nyerere leaves the stage, the country’s largely agricultural economy is in ruins, with its 26 million people eking out their living on a per-capita income of slightly more than $200 a year, one of the lowest in the world.

The World Bank reports that Tanzania’s economy contracted on average by 0.5 percent a year between 1965 and 1988. It notes a 43 percent decline in average personal consumption since 1973 and reports that “food purchases have moved away from meat, dairy products and vegetables toward cheap starches and beans.” A Number of Achievements

To be sure, despite the economic decline, Tanzania can claim some achievements, the work of its gentle and charismatic former leader, an admirer of Rousseau and an intellectual who loved to translate Shakespeare into Swahili.

The country enjoys one of the highest rates of literacy and primary-school enrollment on the continent. It has avoided the civil wars and tribal conflict that plague many other countries. “Tanzanians have more sense of national identity than many other Africans,” Mr. Nyerere said.

But while the former President admits some errors, he argues that his inability to translate a relatively educated populace and a stable society into tangible economic progress is largely the fault of an unsympathetic industrial world.

“What would I have changed if I had my time over again?” he mused. “Not much.”

Mr. Nyerere said socialism did allow the Tanzanian economy to develop in the 1960’s and 70’s. “There was growth and wealth distribution,” he said, and statistics generally support this view.

What knocked Tanzania off course, he said, was “the hostile international environment” of the 1970’s and 80’s, including rising oil prices that “absorbed 60 percent of foreign exchange earnings” and falling revenues from the sale of sisal hemp and coffee, major Tanzanian exports.

Sisal, once the raw material of ropes and mats, was increasingly replaced by synthetics, and the international commodity price of coffee plummeted.

“We used to sell our coffee in London for $:3,000 a ton, now we get $:600,” he said. “How do you fight that?”

Mr. Nyerere rails against the austerity programs that the West is imposing on developing countries these days through the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in exchange for loans. As budget deficits are cut in an effort to reduce inflation, he complains that social progress is being reversed and poverty increased as the promised speed-up in economic growth fails to materialize. Not Just in Tanzania

Many of Tanzania’s problems are widespread in Africa, where living standards have fallen for a decade. But some countries, like Kenya or the Ivory Coast, partly bucked the trend with the free-enterprise approach that Mr. Nyerere rejects.

Even this was insufficent to shield them from the pervasive recession on the continent. And today, Mr. Nyerere almost gloats at their discomfort. “Houphouet-Boigny is really bitter with the West,” he said. “He feels capitalism has betrayed him.”

Mr. Nyerere’s sucessor as President, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, signed an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, something that Mr. Nyerere could not bring himself to do, and in 1987 began an Economic Recovery Program that is slowly reversing many of Mr. Nyerere’s
cherished achievements. Government spending is being cut, the Tanzanian shilling devalued, price controls lifted and foreign investment encouraged. Modest growth has resumed.

Mr. Nyerere remains skeptical. “We’re not earning any more foreign exchange with the World Bank and the I.M.F. running the economy,” he said. “In my day, inflation was 28-30 percent a year. Now it’s 22 percent. I don’t see much success.

“They keep saying you’ve failed. But what’s wrong with urging people to pull together? Did Christianity fail because the world isn’t all Christian?”

– – –
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:59:08 +0300 [06:59:08 AM CST]
From: edwin mwaura
Subject: Nyerere and Tanzania: No Regrets at Socialism

Re: The Late Jomo Kenyatta, Mungiki, Mau Mau land issues and Waki report

Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:12:04 -0800 [06:12:04 AM CST]
From: owili nyatawo
Subject: Re: The Late Jomo Kenyatta, Mungiki, Mau Mau land issues and Waki report

The emergence of all these criminal gangs are a direct result of our failed socio-economic and political policies over the last 45 years. The failure of the state to provide safety nets for the majority of the citizenry leaves people with little options but to indulge into crimininality as a means of survival. Take for instance people in these column who have impressive accademic credentials but can’t find jobs yet we see daily the sons and daughters of the political elite with inferior or without any credentials to write home about walk easily into jobs their connections or set themselves up in businesses with their fathers ill gotten wealth. Yet we all sing praises and bow at the feet of these criminals and even vote them into the office without asking any questions.

It is a clear testament that hard work does not pay. It a further confirmation that crimes pays, where white caller crimes like the goldenberg and it twin the anglo leasing goes unpanished for decades. And in situations where you do not have a tall relative to open doors for you what options do these people have? They have to survive in one way or the other. The sad bit is that you we are all victims. This is by no means a justification for criminality but to tackle crime the policy makers must seek to deal with the root causes.

Secondly the approaches to law enforcement in Kenya leaves alot to be desired if not outrightly pathetic. We all know that dishing violence as is currently the practice by the men and women in blue breeds more violence. Using intelligence networks to gather information on criminals is a better way of collecting evidence and ensuring that the law enforcement agencies do not sleep walk into situations blindly. The collection of such data can help in the prevention of future crimes and planning operations to apprehend criminals. By killing criminals on sight, the police are losing valuable sources of intelligence. The police must not be allowed to be power unto themselves where they can kill any citizen without being called to account for their actions.

Finally, as long as white caller criminals are never punished and there is no deliberate measures to deal with cases of abject poverty and socio-economic deprevation, the resultant social exclusion will breed more criminals no matter how many the law enforcement agencies kill.

From: Robert Alai
Sent: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 6:01:29 AM
Subject: Re: The Late Jomo Kenyatta, Mungiki, Mau Mau land issues and Waki report

Kenyans aare waking up. We wont just support even the civil societies just because they arre civil societies. We will support those who are real. I am very much suprised when KHRC keep quiet when thugs kill Kenyans and Bagdad, Kosovo, Mungiki, Chinkoroos roam the country free but when boys in blue respond you will see one Hassan and Jaoko all over TV. Its a waste and its simply not pleasing. Kenyans want to know if KHRC is a criminal pr team or what. Are they out to speak for criminals only/ What about the kkeenyans beiing killed in Nyeri, Murang’a and everywhere?

On Tue, Dec 30, 2008 at 7:52 AM, David Kilonzi wrote:

I beg to differ with you Rev.

How come you did not address the issue of extortion by sect members? THey have paralysed businessess in Central provinces especially Muranga and its environs? Does it mean that since they are grand children of Mau Mau fighters. they should engage in criminal activities?

Are they the only disadvantaged Kenyans? I come from Ukambani, and there is massive drought ravaging the area? Have the youths turned to extortions of businessess especially the transport industry?

The police are fighting criminals! PERIOD!

On 30/12/2008, ndebele okoth wrote:

Press Release

By Rev Okoth Otura

The Waki recommendation and setting up of the Kenya tribunal to look into the 2007 post-election violence will only bear lasting fruits if the Mungiki militia’s sect matters are also addressed as part of the main agenda.

The top Kikiyus in the government have for the past years been victimising innocent Kenyans in the name of being members of this outlawed sect, through well orchestrated propaganda being spread by security agents as licence to kill and brutally murder innocent people without justice.

Kenyan must not be deceived, there shall be no peace if the Mungiki sect pressing issues are not addressed, and in essence the road map for the tribunal success is to follow up with Kenyan PM Raila Odinga gesture to open up talks with Mungiki leaders, hear their grievances with sober approach to find a lasting solution to the same.

Hundreds of the suspected members of mungiki have been executed in cold blood in broad daylight, the butchering of people without charging them in the court of law shall not eliminate the group, and instead it will further escalate more violence and increase human right abuses in Kenya.

The Kenya government must accept the fact that this group are children of the Mau Mau freedom fighters who’s forefather fought for the liberation cause of the land, now living under extreme poverty in the streets or as squatters or landless, while ongoing killings and abductions are being staged by a renegade faction sponsored by government to distort the genuine and original cause of sect to demand back their ancestral land.

Sweep the history under the carpet in order to avoid answering questions on those behind the mysterious killings will let this myth go.

Many innocent Kikuyus are currently seeking asylum across the world after being falsely framed by the powerful figures of their community in the current government as members of the banned sect, this is a tact being used by these ruthless and blood thirsty wealthy land grabbers to eliminate rightful owners of land grabbed by the late Kenyatta’s family and his cronies.

There are reports that so many Kikuyus in the past years have fled the country and currently seeking asylums around the world under the fear of being implicated as members ofMungiki and therefore if the Kenya government does not take swift action to have formal reconciliation meeting with sect leaders, it won’t be surprised if they transformed itself to sophisticated and dangerous revolutionary movement in Central Province.

(Unedited)

As we Walk in fields of GOLD, Africa is more poorer than any other continent

Guys,

I do not want to distruct your attention on what we luos are trying to do in Luo Nyanza or Kenya. But my point is this. Let us not be shallow in our thinking about all these problems Africa is facing. I do know that it is not right to blame the colonist for all our problems. Looking at the present global financial crisis I tend to think that Africans made the worst choices in choosing their leaders and we are here on earth to pay very dearly for this.

1.) The rainbow country(south Africa) is supposed to host the 2010 world football championship, that is very good and infact anice thing to do. This is a country full with Gold, Diamonds, uranium, a lot of wild animals tourist always come to see. Just sit and look at the Drakensberg mountains, see the wonders of our Lord, the beauty of our continent, the music our traditions do bring. Some body said that African music is danceble even if it is singing a sad story, infact we have almost everything. Money is flowing in South Africa just as the waters of river Zambezi is constantly making it`s way to the ocean, dwindling but finally reaches it`s target. But to WHOM does this money flows to?. Now we hear that the so called world financers are not very keen in financing the south African world championship dreams. Reason, NO MONEY, Oho! world financial crisis. As an African this completely beats me up, because I do see our continent riches, the continent is just smelling GOLD, Butter, Diamonds, Oil, but who actually benefits from all these?. Do we need another dictator in South Africa to extract all those mines from whites or from Europeans and USA billioneers?. Where do our Africanism generousity starts and where does it ends?: To the educated Africans I personally do think that we can not and should not continue like this forever. There comes a time when we have to say enough is enough.

2.) The continent is now experiencing the worst food starvation on earth. We are talking of a continent having the sun almost in all 12 months of the year. Ladies and Gents, do we remember photosynthesis?. and what it really means for human survival?. Africa is now importing more food than any other continent on earth here, but do you know at what price?. At a very expensive price. Infact even the Finnish economist have calculated it and found that during this hunger time in Africa, the continent has used a very large some of money for importing food alone to feed it is population, the continent has already passed its GP . But is that food enough, NO. They expect that this will increase constantly since there are not enough strategic remedies being implimented to avoid this in future. So where is the leadership?, where on earth here do we Africans benefit from all these technologies if we can not make our own food?.

3.) As Mr. Onyango has said, lack of proper management has made a lot of us to run away from that continent, and that is why most of us are outside here. Now Africa is facing the worst brain draining on Earth. A lot of highly educated Africans are running away from the continent. Infact not only the highly educated, but even the uneducated especially from West Africa through the sea to Europe. Look at fields in Spain, Italy or France, grape pickers or Olive pickers are almost all from Africa. Whatever they get, no matter how small it is, is send back to sustain brothers, parents , relatives and sisters back home and infact even the African government that money goes to. It looks that African leaders have got no alternatives.

4.) Empty debes have many times blamed the Somalian pirates operating in the east coast of our continent, but have they really sat down and thought deeply why the pirates are doing what they are doing today?. The indian ocean is full with western fishing trollies. These big vessels extract almost all the fishes in that ocean. Infact some permit were given to them by African leaders. This has put a lot of somalian fishermen out of business and the somalians now do hardly get fishes in those waters. So the African man has started pirates squads for survival. The reaction is almost impossible to believe. The Indian ocean is now having more army, infact almost from all nations than even DARFUR or Congo, Or Guinea conflict, why? because it threatens the white man`s survival, not a black man`s. come on guys let us open our eyes. Why is almost all great power nation have sent their navy into Indian ocean, are we Africans really safe any more. Do we remember slave trade days?.

Financing luo nyanza development with foreign money will be almost impossible, it is us who should do something, just as somebody has said, bit by bit, small by small, buy land in luoland for development. There are no foreingers who are now ready to commit in these financial crisis, even those who are willing are afraid that they will be followed and asked where the hell have they got that money to invest now. Remember there is an investigation going on to find out who are really responsible for this global financial criss.

Paul Nyandoto.

– – –
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:23:50 +0200 [12:23:50 AM CST]
From: Paul Nyandoto
Subject: As we Walk in fields of GOLD, Africa is more poorer than any other continent

SOS – urgent appeal for Bunge la Mwananchi members arbitrarily arrested

— On Mon, 12/29/08, George Nyongesa wrote:

From: George Nyongesa
Subject: Breaking news – 20 arrested for visiting Jeevanjee Gardens
Date: Monday, December 29, 2008, 1:49 PM

Dear Kenyan and friends of Kenya,

In an operation led by area DCIO, a group of twenty people have a short moment ago been arrested from Jeevanjee Gardens allegedly for being Bunge la Mwananchi members. They have all been taken to the Central Police Station, where it is not yet clear what they will be charged with.

Ever since Jamhuri Day, there has been a contingent of armed policemen stationed in a lorry perpetually parked right in the heart of Jeevanjee Gardens. These policemen, both in uniform and under cover, have had the park and its occupants under strict surveillance, arresting anyone sitting in groups of two or more and suspected of being members of Bunge la Mwananchi.

This has been the case ever since the Jamhuri Day events that were a climax of growing Wananchi dissatisfaction over the continued rise in the cost of life, including unaffordable food necessities such as Unga and other highly priced basic commodities, the unchecked rise of transport costs due to escalating unregulated fuel prices coupled with the political elites’ blatant culture of impunity including refusing to pay taxes and seeking to introduce the Media Bill to regulate information made available to the public.

This is the festive season and Jeevanjee Gardens is a public park that is often used by the public for recreational purposes. It is a blatant violation of the constitutional freedoms of assembly and conscience for these arbitrary arrests to be perpetrated unabated against the Kenyan public.

In addition, Bunge la Mwananchi is a grassroot social movement formed by grassroot Kenyans that provides a platform for all Kenyans to resist oppression, fight for social justice and demand for responsive and accountable leadership at all levels in Kenya. Bunge la Mwananchi is not involved in any criminal activities and if the police or whomever’s orders they are acting under has any facts to the contrary, these should be made public. We refuse to be intimidated by scare tactics of the government’s oppressive machinery and will continue to provide Kenyans with a forum through which to set the agenda for their leaders.

This email is copied to the President and the Prime Minister’s offices. We demand that the Minister for Internal Security, the Police Commissioner and the two principals’ offices issue a statement to the public elaborating the reasons for the arbitrary arrests and for the continued violation of freedoms and rights guaranteed to Kenyans under the Constitution by which they too are governed and are charged to protect.

Bunge la Mwananchi invites you to keep vigilant with us to protect all Kenyans’ rights and freedoms.

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
www.bulamwa.co.ke
+254 720 451 235

Bunge la Mwananchi is a social movement and a member of the Kenya National Civil Society Congress

– – – – – – – – – – –

Dear Kenyans and friends of Kenya,

Further to my previous email, please note the following are those whose names I have so far been able to confirm as having been booked at the Central Police Station, Nairobi, for holding an illegal assembly:

Keli Musyoka
Gitau Njenga
Paul Macharia
Paul Wanyama
Japheth Mukoyana
Erastus Karanja
David Ndichu
Salim Mbua
John Abok
Bradley Ouna

The above are among the twenty Bunge la Mwananchi members arrested earlier this afternoon from Jeevanjee Gardens and who are being held at Central Police Station as I write.

This is an urgent appeal to Bunge la Mwananchi supporters for help in any of the following ways:

ü spot-lighting these arbitrary arrests and protesting against them;

ü legal representation for those who are currently in custody. Can any lawyer reading this who is able to join us at Central Police Station as soon as possible please do so and contact me on my number below;

ü we anticipate that we will also require to raise cash bail to secure each of the 20’s release from police custody;

ü lobbying for their immediate release; and

ü any other help you are able to render.

Your support in any way that you can is highly appreciated.

Bunge la Mwananchi members have as other Kenyans been vocal over the past year in protesting against issues such as the continued rise in the cost of life, including unaffordable food necessities such as Unga and other highly priced basic commodities, the unchecked rise of transport costs due to escalating unregulated fuel prices coupled with the political elites’ blatant culture of impunity including refusing to pay taxes and seeking to introduce the Media Bill to regulate information made available to the public.

Although the police have resorted to camping at, and perpetrating arbitrary arrests of people found at Jeevanjee Gardens, we refuse to be cowered by these intimidation tactics and Bunge la Mwananchi remains committed to providing a forum from which Kenyans can set the agenda for their leaders by discussing and adopting resolutions on issues that affect them. We strongly protest against and harshly condemn the continued harrassment, intimidation and arbitrary arrests on trumped up charges that our members are being subjected to.

I will continue to keep you updated as I receive more information.

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
www.bulamwa.co.ke
+254 720 451 235

Bunge la Mwananchi is a social movement and a member of Kenya National Civil Society Congress

– – –
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:43:54 -0800 [06:43:54 AM CST]
From: George Nyongesa
Subject: SOS – urgent appeal for Bunge la Mwananchi members arbitrarily arrested

Re: Christmas Without Viva by Baba Gaston

On Thu, Dec 25, 2008 at 1:50 PM, Joram wrote:

Wandugu,

I have now celebrated 15 Christmases here in Carlifornia and must admit that I do not want the next one to arrive without Baba Gaston.

Please anyone with a good copy of Viva Krismas by Baba Gaston please post it on YouTube. I am prepared to paypal or M-pesa you.


Joram Ragem
wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem! (Are you my relative?)

– – – – – – – – – – –

Wandugu,

Today, someone I do not know has made my day. No, no no, hapana! He has made my year, fifteen times over. Yes, I have missed this piece of art for 16 years, and today, though it is 4 days after Christmas, it finally felt like I was in Lundha, my home village. This piece of art, has brought memories of my trip during ‘mwezi wa decemba.’ As I remember how my parents pushed and shoved to get in the Third Class Coach, and the trip in the Steam Engine from Odhumo to Butere especially when I was sneaked in through the window, tears of joy fill my face. Yes, these were the days of Baba Biro, Ngware Inn, Akamba and Malaika. These were the days of trying so hard just to get my transistor radio to catch VOK, but barely. In the distance, pasted below is the masterpiece of art that came through.

http://ntwiga.net/linked_to/audio/current/Baba%20Gaston%20&%20Baba%20National%20Orchestre%20-%20Kakolele%20Viva%20Christmas.mp3

http://ntwiga.net/linked_to/audio/current/Baba Gaston & Baba National Orchestre – Kakolele Viva Christmas.mp3

William Odongo, I know of another great one called William Odongo Omamo or Kaliech. If you ain’t him, then you are just like him – a great! You have defied all, risked all, held back nothing though you could have and asked for nothing just to make me, an unknown person have a complete Christmas. Yet some, including my wife say that Father Christmas was laid off? Please let ALL, especially the sceptics know that Father Christmas and William Odongo are indeed synonymous! This is the spirit of Kenya. You found it, shared and I hope all will enjoy like I am.

Ahsante.


Joram Ragem,
wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem! (Are you my relative?)

– – –
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 20:03:19 -0500 [07:03:19 PM CST]
From: Joram Ragem
Subject: Re: Christmas Without Viva by Baba Gaston

Re: Charge the 22 ECK Commissioners with Fraud

On 12/24/08, owinga bonfas wrote:

Dear All,

If we want to stop the abuse of power and neglect of duty then we must charge Kivuitu and the other 21 Commissioners with neglect of duty and Fraud that led to 1500 people dead and 350,000 displaced. These people have caused Kenya untold suffering and loss of billions and billions of money, death, injury and above all hatred that will take a long time to heal. Kivuitu can now come clean and tell Kenyans what went wrong and why.

Let Kivuitu and the other Commissioners answer the following questions:
1.Why was the 2007 elections bangled?
2.Who was involved in that fraud apart from the commissioners?
3.Was there any conversation with the government at that time for the ECK to rig the elections?
4.Was Kivuitu given any money or promises to rig the elections?
5.Why did Kivuitu say that he didnt know who won the elections?
6.Who is the Minister who wanted to forcefully take the certificate from Kivuitu at KICC as he said?
7.Kivuitu should name all those who pressured him to release the fake results?

Kenyans want to know the truth about the bungled 2007 elections. Kriegler was too cautious to tell Kenyans the truth becuase he didn’t wait to be blamed for causing more violence. Kroegler knew the truth but decided to keep the truth to himself..Let Kivuitu now tell the truth.

Senator.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Dear All,

I totally disagree with Owinga’s comments.

I strongly believe that total blame lies with the major political parties e.g. ODM and PNU. They should be charged with Elections Fraud and Violence.

The ECK are mere scapegoats in this political chessgame period!!! and in my opinion totally blameless…

Any you imagine the pressure the ECK endured from ODM and PNU political parties during the Election 2007 vote talling process???

Stephen


Thome Estate Phase I, Plot No SD70, Stream Drive, Off 1st Windsorview
Avenue, P.O. Box 53783-00200, Nairobi-Kenya.
Cell: (254-735) 157519/ (254-733) 750233
E-mail: stendu@gmail.com

– – –
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 11:43:08 +0300 [02:43:08 AM CST]
From: Stephen Ndungu
Subject: Re: Charge the 22 ECK Commissioners with Fraud

Bunge la Mwananchi end of year press release!

— On Mon, 12/22/08, George Nyongesa wrote:

From: George Nyongesa
Subject: Bunge la Mwananchi end of year press release!
Date: Monday, December 22, 2008, 12:56 PM

Dear all,

Bunge la Mwananchi end of year Press release

Can we [accept this state of affairs]? No, we can’t!
Press statement – for immediate release Dec 19th, 2008

We have convened as Bunge la Mwananchi leaders to reflect on the past one year of creating awareness on governance issues and generating effective demand for responsive, responsible and accountable leadership in Kenya at all levels. We have been doing this through various activities as part of a nationwide campaign encouraging Kenyans to hold to account all those who have committed improprieties especially in public office.

The campaign, which climaxed on Jamhuri day celebration at Nyayo Stadium, had actually started in March 2008. The campaign was initially mobilized around “unga for 30/-“as a clarion call and later revised to include “ushuru”. Our earlier activities with the public included holding public forums where Kenyans would come and share their views on governance openly and suggest ways forward. However, the government through the police brutality, arrests, threats and intimidation made it difficult for us to enjoy our freedoms as protected under Chapter 5 of the constitution of Kenya. Noticing that the government’s (in)security machinery often violently disrupts lawful and peaceful public meetings and street processions before the message is delivered, in the run up to Jamhuri day we decided to be creative in our communication tactics and instead deliver our message at State organized functions.

Therefore, armed with our mouths on the 12th December, 2008 we made for Nyayo Stadium to dramatize our disappointment with a grand coalition leadership that was presiding over unchecked price increase for basic commodities especially unga, bus-fare increase as result of high uel prices, reluctance of the political class to implement the Waki report, the criminal behaviour of embers of parliament refusing to pay tax and the latest addition of gagging the media.

Through the heroic actions of the thousands Bunge la Mwananchi members who thronged the yayo Stadium on Jamhuri day, and especially, through Fredrick Odhiambo, we terminated resident ibaki’s speech although an attempt to hand the Head of State a petition letter failed. We take ognisance of the failed attempt by Bunge la Mwananchi, Kisumu to petition President Kibaki on issues affecting ordinary Kisumu residents as he stopped at over at Kisumu airport enroute to Maseno University graduation ceremony on Wednesday, December 17, 2008.

We recognize that the issues we risked our lives to bring to the nation’s attention have not dissipated and are therefore making the following demands: Food: while we campaigned for unga for 30/- the government intervention gave us unga for 52/- and 72/-. Why the difference in prices? When will that unga get to shops in the countryside? Why can’t the price go down further? General basic commodity price is still high, many families still cannot access food, and majority of Kenya are on skip-a-meal program or in the danger of starvation. This is shameful. Our message to the government and all political leaders is that they do not have business being in power if they cannot ensure food security for all Kenyans.

Plans must be made to zero rate tax on all basic commodities. If the government, especially President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila, do not check the price of basic commodities quickly, “the terminator” of the Jamhuri speech will pale in comparison as the coming year, 2009, we shall invoke other unconventional methods of communication and dramatization of unga campaign.

Fuel: on fuel pump price reduction – we campaigned for petrol price to come down to Ks. 65/- per litre, however, it has reduced to Ksh. 79/- and there remains looming threat of scarcity of the commodity. All factors considered, there remains no reason why the petrol fuel pump can’t come down to Ksh. 65/-. On the other hand, estimated 15 million urban poor use kerosene for cooking; and according to KRA an estimated 5 million Kenyans have cars. Why then is the price of Kerosene higher than that of petrol?

MPs taxation debate – taxes fund national projects such as roads, schools and hospitals among others. We earn less than 10,000/- per month and we are sufficiently philanthropic to participate in nation building. Does the MPs refusal to pay tax mean they are sufficiently against national building? Why should we pay tax to feed “fat cabinet” while Kenyans starve? In 2009, we shall remain at war with Members of Parliament until they join taxpayers’ army. However, challenge current Members of Parliament who worked in the NGOs and Civil Society and who spoke eloquently as human rights defenders: “When are you writing your tax check so that we come and escort you to KRA?”

On the Media bill: the media serves the whole society and not just politicians. The media has done well in it is work of telling stories of our struggles, especially in helping us demand to know who and why the Members of Parliament don’t want to pay tax. Our message is that the media serves 40million Kenyans not only 222 members of parliament. In a democracy like Kenya, we the 40million must have the day; we demand that MPs stay away from our media of communication. We are challenging President Kibaki to use wisdom not to sign that bill into law. If he does the mistake he shall have invited the wrath of 40 million Kenyans into a protest.

In 2009, we shall expand our campaign to demand for accountable leadership to include: agenda 4 of the national accord, national public debt, national budget allocations, and minimum wage problem and youth unemployment crisis among others. Change is coming to Kenya!

Today’s [ 19th December, 2008] Bunge la Mwananchi Leaders Consultative Forum at Shauri Moyo YMCA, has drawn representation from Bunge la Mwananchi’s network across Nairobi (especially its informal settlements), Kisumu, Siaya, Naivasha, Bungoma, Eldoret, Nakuru, Voi, Machakos, and Mombasa. We have adopted this meeting as a forum to reflect on the past one year activities and also issue our year-end press statement.

We invite all the 40 million members of Bunge la Mwananchi to remain firm in the demand for responsive and accountable leadership and where there are improprieties they must hold those involved to account.

Signed for and on behalf of Bunge la Mwananchi,
1. David Muraya- Nakuru
2. Peter Ngugi- Limuru
3. Raphael Mwongela- Machakos
4. Sheikh Ahmed Mbeja- Voi
5. Getare Moses- Eldoret
6. Philip Ochieng- Kisumu
7. Leonard Oriaro- Siaya
8. Njeri Wangari- Naivasha
9. Gacheke Gachihi –Nairobi networks
10. George Nyongesa- Nairobi

RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=1755
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:50:21 +0300 [12/26/2008 07:50:21 PM CST]
From: Robert Alai
Subject: Re: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

– – – – – – – – – – –

— On Sun, 12/28/08, Okiya Omtatah Okoiti wrote:
From: Okiya Omtatah Okoiti
Subject: Re: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose
Date: Sunday, December 28, 2008, 12:52 AM

Dear all,

Peace be upon you all.

I am happy and ready to play my small part in this great effort.

I am a republican at heart and would request all in the effort to give republicanism a chance. Kenya is a republic but it has NEVER BEEN GOVERNED AS ONE. Hence, my total belief that if we embrace republicanism as the ideology the inspires, informs and explains our efforts then we won’t become limits to what we can do with the opportunity history has given us to lift our country out of the bog greed has got it stuck in.

Because our leaders, who yesterday adorned glittering reformist garb did not have a solid ideological foundation, they sooner rather than later, ceased being catalysts for change and became total limits. We must avoid that at all costs…

It must matter that our country’s official name is The Republic of Kenya. We are not a kingdom, a fiefdom, a serfdom, a princedom, a dictatorship, an emirate, a junkdom, or a dominion of any kind. We are a REPUBLIC!

Invoking the republican foundations of the Kenyan Nation means that we leaders embrace republicanism, broadly, the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, with an emphasis on liberty, rule of law, popular sovereignty and the civic virtue practised by citizens.

Elected representatives must exhibit the sort of values and behaviour necessary for the republic to survive and flourish….

Republicanism is incompatible with office holders using public power for personal gain. It is worthless calling ourselves a “republic” when generally we have a leadership that does not protect the rights or liberty of the citizens.

Republicanism always stands in direct and firm opposition to any form of dictatorship, corruption, or tyranny in the political realm. More broadly, it refers to a political system that protects liberty, especially by incorporating a rule of law that cannot be arbitrarily ignored by the government, group, or individual.

In a republic elected representatives must use the power which is donated and entrusted to them for the protection the sovereign people, not their destruction. As John Adams put it, a republic is a government of laws, and not of men.

So, the new party we form, if it is to be for the good of Kenya, must be republican in ideology.

Merry Christmas and brilliant 2009.

Okiya Omtatah Okoiti
0722-684777

– – – – – – – – – – –

Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 05:58:04 -0800
From: oyookraft@ . . .
Subject: Re: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

Omtatah is right

Republicanism should not be confused with Republican Party ideals. Both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party in the US are republican.

Republicanism is about representative democracy where the public appoints (elects) its workers (What we love to call leaders who should really be called servants) through an elaborate interview process (elections and Campaigns) to identify those that will most benefit the republic (The people of Kenya collectively)

What it means is that the state is in place to serve the common good and not individual good and those that do not serve the common good should be removed and others appointed instead (Recall clause).

Unless we want to have a monarchy (Appoint {Moi, Raila, Kibaki or Kenyatta Family} the monarchs,) we have no option but to enforce Republicanism as we have which is being abused and misused by the current elite.

Nikko

– – – – – – – – – – –

Oyoo

It appears there is some deadline to be met. Could you guys organize a meeting or a teleconference so that this noble idea is not counted out due to inability to cope with the deadline set by the government.

Barack

– – –
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:02:40 +0000 [12/28/2008 09:02:40 PM CST]
From: barack abonyo
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

– – – – – – – – – – –

Subject: Re: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:14:25 -0500
From: angaluki@ . . .

Peter/Abonyo/Oyoo/Barack,

I think that with the prevailing political situation at home, this is a novel and noble idea. However, it is an onerous task that comes with heavy responsibilities that should not be taken lightly or casually. We need a serious movement with which ALL Kenyans can identify and with which they’ll be comfortable, not an ethnic outfit intended to negotiate for political validation by and accommodation with a “big.” We need a movement with credible leaders and members of integrity. We need a movement with a vision, mission and philosophy for posterity. We need a movement with principles and not one that will be used as an electioneering machine to catapult political mercenaries into 1m-shilling-a-month jobs. We need a movement with clear policies and agenda that will make a clear difference for our people and nation. Security, corruption, unemployment and poverty, infrastructure… are a few among our national challenges for which we need clear strategies of tackling. We need a movement which Kenyans can distinguish from the current plethora of parochial and ethnically factional political parties that serve to balkanize our country with nothing to show for the large salaries of their elected political representatives. We want a movement whose elected political representatives will do what they’re elected to do and not just to enrich themselves – legislate for the betterment of our country. Then, we’ll need a movement with the financial clout to penetrate every Kenyan village and directly reach every Kenyan homestead. The good news is that such a movement is entirely possible and our first major advantage is this forum that Ndu. Robert has set up for us. If we can adhere to the aforementioned values, I’d love to be part of the movers and shapers of the movement and I’m sure we’ll go places.

Hatua ya kwanza katika wajibu huu muhimu ni kuwahamasisha wanachama wa baraza letu hili la Mtandaoni kuhakikisha kwamba wao ndio mbegu za kwanza za harakati hii. Miti itakayoota kutoka mbegu hizi itakuwa mikubwa na imara, na manufaa yake kwa Wakenya wote yatakuwa bila kipimo.

My first branding suggestion would be to reexamine the movement name. Let’s have a brief, catchy name. “Progressive Development Movement,” although with a beautiful acronym, is a mouthful and a little awkward. “Progress” and “Development” basically mean the same thing and you don’t want one describing the other. How about just dropping “development” from the name altogether?

Please engage me as you feel fit.

Angaluki Muaka
Kiswahili Lecturer
University of Minnesota
Tel. +1.650.353.0013 (cell – accepts text messages)

– – – – – – – – – – –

— On Fri, 12/26/08, mathias aguta wrote:

From: mathias aguta
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose
Date: Friday, December 26, 2008, 10:56 PM

More political parties will not solve Kenya’s problems. They’ll only add to the confusion. Let’s instead strengthen democracy in those we have. Supposing all wanabidii and the youth became registered members of, say Kanu or ODM. They’ll then use their numeric strength to vote out all the current officials, take over the party and nominate candidates all over the country. Call it a party coup d’etat if you wish but we will have killed two birds with a single stone: 1. Shown the old guards that we have the power and capacity to take power from them, 2. taken over a party with a brand name, may be tainted but can be sanitized with the right kind of campaigns and a new leadership.

mathias.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 23:50:23 -0800
From: oyookraft@ . . .
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

Mathias

I do not understand your fear for wanabidii and other progressive forces forming their party. let me inform you that infiltration like you are trying to advance has been tried before and in 2007 that was what stopped the youth from becoming a party. they were routed in all the leadership positions. Right now after the coronations, other elections can only happen in 2013 after 5 years. So it too late for doing the voting them out. and why waste resources fighting this guys in their terms?

a say there is nothing to fear but fear itself. we cannot continue doing what we have always done and hope that things will change. do you know how many parties are there in the US. more that 5,000. in a confused world you come out with a niche product. the answer is our on party advancing inclusivity, real democracy and progress. Not jionning non parties convincing ourselves they are parties ama we will change them. the structures formed now are going to be in place until 2013.

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— On Sun, 12/28/08, mathias aguta wrote:

From: mathias aguta
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose
Date: Sunday, December 28, 2008, 8:36 AM

Yes, Oyoo, nothing to fear except fear itself. Now if we fear to fight and beat them from their comfort zones, how do we beat them from outside? Recall that most of the current parties, formed as opposition to Kanu in the nineties, were by Young Turks then – Orengo, Muite, Raila, Kibwana, Martha Karua, Otieno K’Ajwang – all young in their 30’s and 40’s to early 50’s – but they were routed because they were not the “people’s” parties but elitist, town-based and out of touch with the realities of the politics “at home”. The votes are with the people in the villages, in rural towns. So what has changed now?

The goal is to win elections, acquire power by the youth and use it for better national governance. The culture of destroying everything originated bt political rivals/enemies is what has brought this country to where we are. The reason there are so many white-elephant projects around the country is because of the culture of hate-politics. We hate our political rivals so much we never want to be associated with anything they touch howver well-intentioned they may be.

People, wanabidii, YDems, there’s nothing wrong the “names’ Kanu, ODM, DP, etc; The leadership is bad. So we call ourselves YDEM, what about O’dems – the old democrats withi the old parties? Won’t we alienated them? We must learn to play real har4d politics. We must learn to compete with them and beat them. Let’s never discriminate against any Kenyan – old or young. Otherwise we wont be any different from them.

Mathias.

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Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:11:52 -0800
From: oyookraft@ . . .
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

Mathias
I hear your concerns. It is not only the leadership that is bad. It is also the structures. And frankly, for me the name, the symbols, the logos, the flags do not really matter. For me what matters are the mechanisms within the party that will ensure that all are included, all can compete and win and those elected are not the masters of the others but their workers and servants

Do you realize that trying to uproot the stractures now that they have held election will anly be possible in 2013? that means they we will have elected them again.

It is not fear that makes us want to operate from outside those structures they have created and thus outside those parties. It is in fact strength that we do not have to rely on them. its being brave.

The root you talk about has been tried. In 2007 it failed miserably for the agents of change. they were tricked and robbed the little they had and kept busy in fights with those who were favoured and that denied this nation good ideas.

If there is a computer available, you do not choose to use a typewriter hoping yopu will one day cahnge the typewriter to become a computer. In fact it is fear of change that will make us not dare think outside the orbit.

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Thanks Nick,

the aim is to bring about good leadership for our country. If we can achieve that through a new Party so be it. The party elections just concluded were for party officials, not parliamentary nominations. Soon all the party will be going to the people to register members. If the youth and wanabidii can target one party and register therein in their millions, it’s possible to uproot the the old guards if we participate at the parliamentary nominations and the ensuing General Elections. That’s a less costly, more actionable strategy than starting from zero.

Mathias.

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Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 08:40:36 +0000 [02:40:36 AM CST]
From: mathias aguta
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

Overweight & Obesity on the rise: MPs & Local artists more affected!

According to a report released by the WHO, Overweight and obesity are on the increase in developing countries and what is more surprising is that the rate and pace of increase is faster than what was experienced in the developed countries.

A shocking revelation is also that more urban poor are affected because of the foods they take, ” Urbanization creates conditions in which people are exposed to new products, technologies, and marketing of unhealthy goods, and in which they adopt less physically active types of employment. Unplanned urban sprawl can further reduce physical activity levels by discouraging walking or bicycling”

In 2005, it was estimated that out of the 58 million deaths, 35 million were due to chronic diseases. The trend is changing in developing countries from communicable diseased to chronic diseases where 80% of the deaths will be due to chronic diseases.

Being overweight was once assocaited with affluence, but this is now not the case because many more rich people have become aware of keeping healthy and are now exercising and going to the gym and eating healthy foods.

Not to my point, what is surprising in Kenya is that just 3 months after their election into office our MPs become overweight and Obese, the local artists “celebs” are also following in the trend, what is really happening?

Regards,

Rhoune

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Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 00:04:08 -0800 [02:04:08 AM CST]
From: Rhoune Willis
Subject: Overweight & Obesity on the rise: MPs & Local artists more affected!

Breaking news – 20 arrested for visiting Jeevanjee Gardens

Dear Kenyan and friends of Kenya,

In an operation led by area DCIO, a group of twenty people have a short moment ago been arrested from Jeevanjee Gardens allegedly for being Bunge la Mwananchi members. They have all been taken to the Central Police Station, where it is not yet clear what they will be charged with.

Ever since Jamhuri Day, there has been a contingent of armed policemen stationed in a lorry perpetually parked right in the heart of Jeevanjee Gardens. These policemen, both in uniform and under cover, have had the park and its occupants under strict surveillance, arresting anyone sitting in groups of two or more and suspected of being members of Bunge la Mwananchi.

This has been the case ever since the Jamhuri Day events that were a climax of growing Wananchi dissatisfaction over the continued rise in the cost of life, including unaffordable food necessities such as Unga and other highly priced basic commodities, the unchecked rise of transport costs due to escalating unregulated fuel prices coupled with the political elites’ blatant culture of impunity including refusing to pay taxes and seeking to introduce the Media Bill to regulate information made available to the public.

This is the festive season and Jeevanjee Gardens is a public park that is often used by the public for recreational purposes. It is a blatant violation of the constitutional freedoms of assembly and conscience for these arbitrary arrests to be perpetrated unabated against the Kenyan public.

In addition, Bunge la Mwananchi is a grassroot social movement formed by grassroot Kenyans that provides a platform for all Kenyans to resist oppression, fight for social justice and demand for responsive and accountable leadership at all levels in Kenya. Bunge la Mwananchi is not involved in any criminal activities and if the police or whomever’s orders they are acting under has any facts to the contrary, these should be made public. We refuse to be intimidated by scare tactics of the government’s oppressive machinery and will continue to provide Kenyans with a forum through which to set the agenda for their leaders.

This email is copied to the President and the Prime Minister’s offices. We demand that the Minister for Internal Security, the Police Commissioner and the two principals’ offices issue a statement to the public elaborating the reasons for the arbitrary arrests and for the continued violation of freedoms and rights guaranteed to Kenyans under the Constitution by which they too are governed and are charged to protect.

Bunge la Mwananchi invites you to keep vigilant with us to protect all Kenyans’ rights and freedoms.

George Nyongesa
Bunge la Mwananchi
+254 720 451 235

Bunge la Mwananchi is a social movement and a member of the Kenya National Civil Society Congress

– – –
Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 03:51:36 -0800 [05:51:36 AM CST]
From: George Nyongesa
Subject: Breaking news – 20 arrested for visiting Jeevanjee Gardens

Re: I THOUGHT HON. KAJWANG WAS A REFORMIST

http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=1753
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:13:25 +0000 [12/26/2008 12:13:25 PM CST]
From: mathias aguta
Subject: RE: I THOUGHT HON. KAJWANG WAS A REFORMIST

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From: “fredwagah21150 . . .
Sent: Saturday, December 27, 2008 10:22:37 AM

Subject: Re: I THOUGHT HON. KAJWANG WAS A REFORMIST

Passport is the easiest to get in Kenya, just tell your mother to follow the right channell and her passport will be issued at the right time. I did renewed my passport 3 months ago while I’m in US and it took 8 weeks for my new passport to be sent to me through my mailing address in US as oppossed to 12 weeks I was told to allow for the processing and mailing. I did not know any officer at the immigration neither did I brieve my way but simply dropped my passport at the Kenya US Consulate with the application form and required documents. The officer at the counter examined my documents to make sure they were inorder. He told me to allow within 8 -12 weeks for normal processing and mailing unless I want to experdite it with extra charges which of course I did not. For that reason I tend to congratulate our Kenya Embassy in Washing DC for their sincere good job they are doing in collaboration with the immigration in Kenya by delivering efficient service for Kenyans in US without going through dificulties by renewing or Issuance of new passports which of course have to be brought from Kenya.
Therefore, I found your mother’s case a bit unusual and she in Kenya where she has a right to walk into the principal Immigration office to register her complain and whoever is holding her passport application process his or her job can be put in jeopardy. The best way is to call direct from US with that particular case and demand that you want to talk with the senior most person in the Immigration office and explain your frastration, I’ve done it several times while I’m in US and do find it working well in most cases.

Thanks

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

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On Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 6:56 PM, Noah Mburi wrote:

One could be a reformist but then you would still be finding resistsance from those opposed to reforms. Most most of the structures are still composed of those opposed to reforms.

FN Mburi

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Let’s not bash the entire Immigration department just because of the problems encountered by a few individuals. There are many people who have received very good service from other branches, such as the one in Kisumu, even before the current office-holders took over. In Februrary 2005, I got my passport from the office in Kisumu within a week and without even a hint of a bribe. I did not know any senior officer there, but it helped that all my papers were in order.

Aggrey Adoyo

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Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:27:16 +0300 [01:27:16 AM CST]
From: vincent okello
Subject: Re: I THOUGHT HON. KAJWANG WAS A REFORMIST

Fw: Join the High Court Petition to Scrap Kenya’s Parliamentary Service Commission

Dear Wanabidii:

We would like to interest you in a public interest litigation a group of concerned Kenyans, led by myself, have taken in a last-ditch attempt to reign in our MPs whose greed is threatening the very constitutional order that is the foundation of the Republic of Kenya.

We intend to go to everyone of the 7000 sublocations in Kenya with popular versions of the case so that Kenyans can understand how the greed of the political class is making them lose out in life. Each sublocation is going to cost us about 10,000/= to cover. That gives us a budget of approximately 70 million shillings (about 2/= per Kenyan). But if we succeeed we are going to save the country 4 billion shillings annually.

Attached herewith for your perusal and action are copies of documents detailing out the issues in the case.

We hope that Wanabidii can be enjoined in the High Court case as part of the group of petitioners demanding Kenya to be governed as a REPUBLIC. To be a petitioner you must provide your pin number and be a registered voter.

Merry Christmas and Happy, Prosperous 2009.

Okiya Omtatah Okoiti for Petitioners
0722-684777

d/l archive of documentation;

Fw_Join_the_High_Court_Petition_to_Scrap_Kenya_s_
Parliamentary_Service_Commission.zip
100 kb which contains:

Part(s):
2 Press [application/msword] 33 KB [Download]
3 Chamber [application/msword] 50 KB [Download]
4 Petition.doc [application/msword] 148 KB [Download]
5 Supporting [application/msword] 51 KB [Download]
6 Supporting [application/msword] 36 KB [Download]
7 Background [application/msword] 30 KB [Download]
8 Petition [application/msword] 32 KB [Download]
9 Budget [application/vnd.ms-excel] 29 KB [Download]
10 Letter [application/msword] 31 KB [Download]
11 About Claws Trust.doc [application/msword] 52 KB [Download]

– – –
Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 23:13:07 -0800 [01:13:07 AM CST]
From: Okiya Omtatah Okoiti
Subject: Fw: Join the High Court Petition to Scrap Kenya’s Parliamentary Service Commission

How much more territory will Kenya cede to Uganda before the State intervenes?

By Joe Ombuor

It is hard to understand how a government can watch while another country invades its territory. Why is Uganda annexing Lake Victoria islands that have always been part of Kenya ? Is it because President Yoweri Museveni thinks Kenya has no interest in them?

What else explains the impudence, invasion and regular arrest of Kenyan fishermen?

Apart from Migingo, Remba and Ringiti islands are also under threat. At this rate, Kenya may soon be without Mfangano Island. The Government has contributed considerably to the mess. Some time in the early 1990s, when Mr Ndolo Ayah took over the Foreign Affairs ministry, something strange happened.

In a bid to stem Uganda’s onslaught on Kenyan islands, Peter Habenga Okondo — then Labour minister and MP for Budalang’i — visited Sigulu Island and hoisted the Kenyan flag there. Uganda had laid claim to it.

Okondo’s brave gesture elicited diplomatic row between Kenya and Uganda. But what did the Government do? Ayah issued a ministerial statement from Nairobi disowning the island inhabited by Kenyans. He said the island was Uganda’s and criticised Okondo for creating unnecessary friction between the two states. It was a diplomatic disaster with far reaching consequences.

He said Wayasi and Hama islands, which had been under Kenya administration, belonged to Uganda. That careless handling of territorial dispute marked the worsening of trouble for Kenyan fishermen. Uganda went ahead to secure the disputed islands.

Ndolo’s statement also gave Museveni the courage to grab more Kenyan territories, including Migingo and Remba islands.

How much more territory will Kenya cede to Uganda before the Government intervenes? Already, Kenyan fishermen are being arrested in Migingo. They are robbed of their fish and fishing gears by Ugandan soldiers. Kenyan authorities only talk of dialogue and make pleas for the release of the fishermen.

If nothing is done to stop the Ugandan invasion, Kenya will remain without a single island in Lake Victoria. Ugandan soldiers terrorise Kenyans on the islands and venture all the way to mainland beaches with little or no resistance from Kenyan security forces. Successive regimes since independence are largely to blame due to neglect of individuals living on the shores of the lake. That neglect is manifested in the absence of major roads in the region. Lwanda K’Otieno beach, an important fish-landing site on Lake Victoria, has had poor roads for many decades.

With electricity also lacking, coolers could not be built to preserve the fish. The two factors have led to the exploitation of fishermen by middlemen, leaving them condemned to perpetual poverty.

Museveni seems to be exploiting that neglect to claim territory that has always been Kenyan and convert desperate Kenyans into Uganda citizens. They cannot not understand why the Government surrendered them to Ugandan authorities.

SOURCE: http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144002644&cid=4&

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Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:18:05 +0300 [12/26/2008 08:18:05 PM CST]
From: Robert Alai
Subject: How much more territory will Kenya cede to Uganda before the State intervenes?

Re: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

On Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 9:58 AM, amenya gibson wrote:

I feel saddened to read in todays Newspapers that Kenyans women are spitting fire and saying that parties major ones have let them done.

I feel this is high sense of hyprocisy from our lovely women

I good faith why can’t great people such as Wangari Maathai, Jelimo, Mugo etc mobilise youth and other women to strenghten a party they feel will give them proper representation

Sitting on fence then cry later is wrong.

They had the voice to say no in PNU,ODM ODM-K and KANU but they did not in fact many women attended those delegates meetings but they did nothing to raise their voices

Bye
Gibson Amenya

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— On Wed, 12/24/08, Otieno Hongo wrote:

From: Otieno Hongo
Subject: Re: Kenyan Women Avoid Crocodile Tears
Date: Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 7:32 AM

The recent party elections held by different political parties in a bid to comply with new regulations once again proved that as a country we are still a long way from Democracy. All the major parties basically “staged the elections” and none of the current party leaders deserve to claim that they were elected. The party delegates merely met to rubber stamp board room decisions. What is even frightening is that parties went as far as creating positions to accommodate certain personalities. Nowhere was this so blatant as in ODM where a position of second deputy party leader had to be created to accommodate William Ruto as the party feared the consequences of Ruto and Mudavadi facing each other. In another party, positions for eight vice chairs were created!! While it is laughfable the way our politicians fear to face each other in elections, what is of more concern to be is the fact that doors are effectively shut on new comers or new blood.

While the law will be making it difficult to have anybody come up with a party just for the sake of it, the mainstream parties are effectively being locked up through board-room maneuovers. This might mean that even having some fringe parties to run on with the hope of upsetting the applecart will be more difficult. And with mainstream parties under lock and key of the establishment, it will be a long time before any meaningful democracy is seen in our political space. I see a continuation where the PNU-ODM-ODMK dictatorship is further going to be entrenched as the political space closes up, more so with the continued attempts to frighten the media through legislation. Given that this axis of evil shares the same values, that is to further entrench and enrich the political and big business class at the expense of wananchi, this really is frightening.

It is time that Kenyans started to identify a political movement that can be shaped and controlled by wananchi, that whose leadership can be a reflection of the people’s voice and not crafted to satisfy the bloated egos of some big shot politicians. And how can we do this. I don’t have an exact answer at the moment but one of the first steps can be to identify a fringe party and take it over…just musing

Hongo

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Date: Wed, 24 Dec 2008 11:28:38 -0800
From: oyookraft@ . . .
Subject: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

We do not have to take over a fringe party. We can register ours. Why is it so hard for us to realize that this can be done and it’s not that hard?

The conditions are that a party must have an office and 200 members in each province and at least one member in each district and 600,000

These are conditions we can meet

All we need is 2500 people paying 1000 each and these people will own the party because they paid for it. Not parties bankrolled by one person of r a few connected people. That will be 2.5M. Thats enough for registartion and 1 years party office rent. If we can get a person in each counstituecy we will have made the district condition.

And we can do an online Convetion using email. it will be a first in the world

Wanabidii, lets nominated proposed party interin Chairperson, Secreratry and Treasurer to start us off on this journey. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a step.

What are we waiting for. i have been counting people favourable for the idea and the list is growing. What do we have to loose for trying? so much is going for the idea, for one it will be the only non parliamentary, non coucil party giving us all the rights of filling the vacuum of the opposition, albeit outside parliament.

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From: luo31@ . . .
Subject: RE: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose
Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 22:10:48 +0000

Dear Wanabidi

Mr. Peter Odhengo is in the process of registering a party called Young Democrats (YDEM). He has done alot of leg work. I have copied him on this mail. His outfit may be appropriate for this group since it is not registered yet. You can reach him at 722984992.

His emails is ccied above.

Barack

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On Fri, Dec 26, 2008 at 12:23 PM, reca africa wrote:

Dear Wanabidii,

This is to acknowledge with much thanks the receipt of the above mentioned subject. Indeed as Dr. Abonyo indicated, I’m in the final stages of registering a party called Progressive Development Movement-PDM. We’ve done recruitment by getting more then 200 people from all the 8 provinces, we’ve also got founder members from 78 districts as required by the political party Act. We’re still working on the finalist of offcials and I would request that, we join hands NOW to register this party. Iam willing to bring more pro-change agents-wanabidii to enable us raise funds for sumbission to the regitrar. I’ve also discussed the same with Dr. Abonyo and Nick Oyoo.

For more infornation please call me on 0722984992

Regrads.

Peter Odhengo

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Peter

Please tell us what the ideals of the party are. We just dont want people who always come to us for votes and money but we know less of what they stand for. What is the vision of the party? Money should come last not first

Robert

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Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 04:50:21 +0300 [12/26/2008 07:50:21 PM CST]
From: Robert Alai
Subject: Re: Lets Form Ourselves into a Party. Nothing to Loose

FW: Inaugural Ball To Feature Lokasa Ya Mbongo and the Soukous Stars

Friends,

This is a follow up update on plans for Obama’s Inaugural Ball Celebration that will be held on the January 20th. in Washington, DC Starting from 8 p.m. and ending at 4 a.m. The flyer with the update is attached.

Wishing All of You a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

read or d/l document
INAUGURATION_BALL_2.pdf

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Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 14:36:36 -0800 [12/26/2008 04:36:36 PM CST]
From: DICKENS ODHIAMBO
Subject: Fw: FW: Inaugural Ball To Feature Lokasa Ya Mbongo and the Soukous Stars