Kenya: Nokia Stole an Idea from Young Kenyan Innovators
From: Theus
Guys
I have been following the Story of the two Kenyan Pascal and Murimi
who invented the dynamo charger and were even featured in a BBC
article here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8166196.stm
In June this year Nokia launched a bicycle charger which is the same
idea wakina Pascal and Murimi showcased in 2008.
Now the students sued Nokia in October this year and Nokia has now
started bribing the student's lawyer and also the court prosecutors
with intention to scuttle the case.
Is this the justice we have been looking for?
The problem is that Kenya ICT Board and Dr Bitange Ndemo doesnt care
much about that but instead have been receiving free gifts from Nokia
in monetary and handsets form
Is this just?
Nokia must compensate Pascal Katana and Jeremiah Murimi
Owicho
Kenya: How can Nation Improve her Image abroad?
Kenyans,
Kenya is a very beautiful country: In Kenya alone we have 43 tribes today, and if you count also Kenyon whites, Asians, Arabs, south Americans, Australians, etc we do have avast number of human natural resources. A wonderful language wealth which is just waiting to be developed by the high IQ holders in the country. On top of this we do have a lot of wild life, birds, lions, elephants etc. Kenya have mountains, rivers, lakes, great rift valley etc. The beauty of our country is beyond describing in this e-mail.
But what sometimes let our country down is the type of advertisements the country put outside Kenya to attract tourists or visitors. Kenya is still blindly copying the types of advertisements the British used to make during colonialism or immediately after Independence. The British used to sell Kenya abroad by showing naked Masais dancing with spears, wild animals and dirty poor Kenyans. I am surprised to see still in some Kenyan foreign embassies full with the old primitive advertisement. For heavenly sake Kenya is not only Masais, or wild animals. In Kenya we do have a lot to show outside, a lot which is still unknown to the Europeans or USA.
Take for example: Europe is now in a financial dilemma, there is no money, universities which used to accommodate African studies are receiving less money than before. A lot of these universities are now cutting down the number of African students. So why can``t our country advertise that in Kenya we do have also universities; you can come to Kenya to learn, not only to see elephants or Masais. Kenya can tap a lot of education funds from European or USA students. Through those funds and a vast majority of foreign students; our country can gain a lot including even the brain drain from Europe. We can expand our universities far much beyond the horizon and above.
We Kenyans should bring change to make visitors come to see also the other 42 tribes in Kenya too.
Paul Nyandoto
Uganda: NRM has ordered all its independent candidates to surrender their membership cards to the party
Reports Leo Odera Omolo
ASPIRING candidates who belong to the NRM but were nominated as independents should return their party cards, the party’s deputy spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, has said.
Tom Butime, Fox Odoi and Urban Tibamanya
Commenting on the fate of independents yesterday, Ofwono said candidates who hold party offices at local level, should also hand over, as the party constitution demands,the government owned NEWVISION reported this morning.
“We expect the party chairman in the district to write to them and demand that they return the cards and resign from office just as it happened in the elections in 2006.”
He said the NRM treats independents as members of any other party “and NRM would be right to de-campaign you. Independents open the window of opportunity for the opposition to win.”
However, he acknowledged that because party primaries were not ‘fairly’ conducted in many areas, many members had genuine reasons to stand as independents.
“As all this goes on, the best that can be done is to persuade them to drop the idea. This is what the Hajji Moses Kigongo’s committee is doing,” he said.
Party electoral commission vice- chairman Prof. Elijah Mushemeza said: “Those people have left the party. It is their decision and you cannot have authority over them. We shall support our flag bearers.”
The NRM scrapped electoral colleges selecting candidates, to avoid the problem of independent candidates but it has persisted.
Though standing as independents, members insist they still love the party and will support President Yoweri Museveni in 2011.
“The final verdict should be made by the people, but we love our party,” state minister for water Jennifer Namuyangu, who is standing as independent for Kibuuku Woman MP said. She promised to campaign for Museveni, but to oppose “self-imposed flag-bearers.”
Soon after the primaries, President Yoweri Museveni said the party would not tolerate independents, but said all genuine cases of electoral malpractices would be addressed.
He said there could be re-runs if the complaints were valid.
Accordingly, the party set up a committee headed by Vice-chairman Hajji Moses Kigongo to investigate irregularities in the primaries. Over 600 petitions were filed.
On November 18, fresh party primaries were held in the disputed areas and flag bearers were announced. However, many of the petitioners felt their grievances were not “properly” handled.
The independent candidates nominated on Thursday included ministers Jennifer Namuyangu and Dr. James Nsaba Buturo, Jacob Oboth, Ruth Tuma, Joyce Babiha, Nalugo Ssekiziyivu and Margaret Muhanga. Others are Tom Butime, Sanjay Tanna, Rose Munyira, and Jane Alisemera. At least seven independents had been nominated on Thursday. They are Isaac Lwanga, (Rubaga North), Musa Bwanika (Makindye East), Judith Matovu (Kampala), Daniel Muwonge (Nakawa), Eliajah Jjemba (Kawempe South), Nsubuga Kijjambu, ( Kawempe South) and Allen Kisege ( Rubaga North).
ENDS
USA, Tx: Kenyans Bursted
from Judy Miriga
What is going in Texas? One of the most stupid things wananchi do is to fail to use common sense. They go to the same place at the same time, some using same address thereby raising suspicion. Last time several wananchi in Iowa were raided one morning, some 25 of them - - but we didn't seem to learn a lesson.
The moment the county clerk asked that question, they should have known that they were walking on a time bomb. They then stupidly hop into the same car after saying that they didn't know each other. Kwani marriage ceremony is a sacrament which has to be eaten at the same time?
MrMeezy wrote:
Texas has long been known as marriage fraud central for Tanzanians with Houston being its epicenter. Sad to see Kenyans now engaging in the same gig. Weren't Kenyans and Tanzanians also caught hapo hapo in a conspiracy to steal expensive microchips from kina Texas Instruments na kadhalika to the tune of several million dollars several years ago? Most of them were caught and are now rotting in filthy federal jails with hakataa some with decades long prison sentences. Crime is never worth it I tell you.
County Clerk Laverne Soefje said she noticed a trend of Harris County residents with spouses from African countries filing for marriage licenses in her office.
Soefje said that once three such couples came to the office to request a marriage license at the same time. It raised her suspicions, she said.
“ I asked them if they knew each other because they were standing next to each other at the counter, and they said no,” Soefje said. “But when they left the office, they all got in the same car and drove off.”
Soefje said she talked to other county clerks from the Brazos Valley who said they noticed the same trend. She said it was then that she decided to ask the Texas Rangers to investigate.
While Soefje said she was unaware of the federal indictments when contacted by The Eagle on Tuesday, she said the Rangers’ investigator has kept in touch and said authorities discovered one man who married 18 times.
“ It caught my attention, because I couldn’t imagine all of them coming to Milam County when they were from Houston,” Soefje said. “You don’t travel such a large distance to come to a county out of the way.”
4 Kenyans busted in Houston
Twenty-two Brazos Valley residents indicted for marriage fraud
By BRETT NAUMAN
Eagle Staff Writer
The names of 36 Texans indicted by a Houston grand jury Tuesday are listed first in the following chart. The people whom they married have not been arrested.
• Salena Allen, 30, of Midland, married Anthony Anazonwu of Nigeria.
• Ruthie Denise Bailey, 30, of Bryan, married Juma A. Mohamed of Jordan.
• Vicki Bisch, 39, of Bryan, married Demba Sidibe of Mali.
• Brandy Coleman, 23, of Cypress, married Ifeanyi Ubesie of Nigeria.
• Jeri Davis, 21, of Bryan, married Charles Maina of Kenya.
• Latira Davis, 30, of Bryan, married Haji Rajab of Tanzania.
• Vernon Felix, 48, of Houston, married Gladys Iheonunekwu of Nigeria.
• Crystal Franklin, 20, of Houston, married Amaniel Bubelwa of Tanzania.
• Shellia Franklin, 40, of Houston, married Mohamed Sillah of Sierra Leone.
• Terrance Franklin, 23, of Houston, married Ann Laimaru of Kenya.
• Veronica Franklin, 20, of College Station, married Mohammedsameh Abujuba of Jordan.
• Almesha Gooden, 24, of Bryan, married Stewart Basil of Tanzania.
• Carolyn Hedge, 37, of Bryan, married Mamadou Diallo of Guinea.
• Christopher Hedge, 37, of Somerville, married Rose Tweve of Tanzania.
• Joe E. Hedge, 30, of Bryan, married Noreen Munabi of Uganda.
• John T. Hedge Jr., 30, of Bryan, married Grace Munthali of Tanzania.
• John Thomas Hedge Sr., 51, of Bryan, married Agnes Mutagurwa of Tanzania.
• Lenora Hedge, 34, of Bryan, married Akinyemi Osinubi of Nigeria.
• Christopher McMurray, 22, of Bryan,married Sheila Mbwana of Tanzania.
• LaTonya McMurray, 22, of Bryan, married Joseph Kiige of Kenya.
• Kelvin Bernard Mike, 21, of Houston, married Elizabeth Osoro of Kenya.
• Chantella Murphy, 33, of Houston, married Marwan Almajali of Jordan.
• Clarace Nutall, 40, of Bryan, married Anne Bassong of Cameroon.
• Floyd Oscar, 30, of Houston, married Jacqueline Coker of Sierra Leone.
• Victor Parker, 31, of Bryan, married Ndong Avomo of Gabon.
• Charlene Robinson, 23, of Bryan, married Makan Kante of Mali.
• Sherrita Ann Royster, 24, of Bryan, married Ferdinand Namulundu of Kenya.
• Katherine Shields, 35, of Houston, married Christopher Honliasso of Nigeria.
• Lacreta Shields, 22, of Houston, married Assane Mbengue of Senegal.
• Larrica Shields, 23, of Houston, married John Ibe of Nigeria.
• Tamara Taylor, 24, of Houston, married Souleymane Diop of Senegal.
• Hazara Vaughns, 29, of Houston, married Khalil Haddad of Israel.
• Tikisha Walker, 25, of Wharton, married Abdul Khaliq of Pakistan.
• Deandre Warren, 27, of Bryan, married Pamela Wells of Tanzania.
• Tametria Williams, 21, of College Station, married Yacine Khelifi of Algeria.
• Anthony Young, 23, of Bryan, married Irene Nafuna of Tanzania.
Recruiters/Brokers
• Emma Guyton, 46, of Bryan.
• Aminata Smith, 43, of Houston.
Twenty-two Brazos Valley residents are accused of taking part in an international marriage fraud scheme based in Bryan that set up fake unions to bypass immigration laws, federal prosecutors said Tuesday.
One of those defendants, a woman from Bryan, also faces a conspiracy charge for allegedly arranging and profiting from the phony marriages.
Emma Guyton, 46, of Bryan and Aminata Smith, 43, of Houston recruited more than 60 Americans to marry an estimated 210 foreign nationals from African and Middle Eastern countries, prosecutors said.
The foreign nationals, most of whom came into the country on temporary visas, paid Guyton and Smith between $1,500 and $5,000 to arrange the marriages so they could obtain U.S. citizenship and other immigration benefits, prosecutors said.
Guyton and Smith were jailed Tuesday and awaited magistration before a federal judge in Houston, prosecutors said. Each is charged with four counts of encouraging unlawful immigration and four counts of marriage fraud, in addition to the conspiracy charge.
The women face a maximum penalty of 70 years in prison and fines of more than $2 million if convicted on all counts. Thirty-six other Texans charged with marriage fraud face five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Half of the 36 fraudulent marriages identified by federal prosecutors Tuesday were filed in Brazos Valley counties and took place between April 2000 and July 2003.
Prosecutors said they will continue their investigation into conspiracy that was run primarily out of the Bryan and Houston areas. The 20-month investigation, dubbed Operation Two Step, was conducted by the Houston and San Antonio offices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
As of 2 p.m. Tuesday authorities had arrested half of the Texas residents indicted for marriage fraud. Arrest warrants have been issued for the defendants still free.
The U.S. citizens are accused of receiving payments of between $150 and $500 from Smith and Guyton for each marriage in which they participated, prosecutors said.
Each of the Americans indicted for marriage fraud has married six or more foreign nationals, has a criminal record or has married a foreign national from a country with suspected ties to terrorism, such as Jordan, Pakistan and Algeria, prosecutors said.
Authorities also have issued material-witness warrants for the 36 foreign nationals named in the indictments so they can be forced to testify in their spouses’ criminal cases, prosecutors said.
Once they’ve provided testimony, the foreign nationals will face an administrative immigration panel that could strip them of their citizenship and recommend deportation, said Nancy Harrier, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston.
An indictment is not a finding of guilt but rather a formal accusation of criminal conduct.
Federal immigration authorities began to investigate the scheme when a Milam County employee complained of an unusual number of suspicious marriages, prosecutors said.
County Clerk Laverne Soefje said she noticed a trend of Harris County residents with spouses from African countries filing for marriage licenses in her office.
Soefje said that once three such couples came to the office to request a marriage license at the same time. It raised her suspicions, she said.
“ I asked them if they knew each other because they were standing next to each other at the counter, and they said no,” Soefje said. “But when they left the office, they all got in the same car and drove off.”
Soefje said she talked to other county clerks from the Brazos Valley who said they noticed the same trend. She said it was then that she decided to ask the Texas Rangers to investigate.
While Soefje said she was unaware of the federal indictments when contacted by The Eagle on Tuesday, she said the Rangers’ investigator has kept in touch and said authorities discovered one man who married 18 times.
“ It caught my attention, because I couldn’t imagine all of them coming to Milam County when they were from Houston,” Soefje said. “You don’t travel such a large distance to come to a county out of the way.”
KENYA: PRESS STATEMENT-THE EXTENT OF THE DRUG MENACE IN KENYA-25TH NOVEMBER 2010
From: olpha bosibori
The extent of the drugs menace in Kenya as exposed yesterday by MP Gitobu Imanyara, and the acknowledgement by none other than the Prime Minister that drug cartels are operation with the help and protection of our security forces is something that cannot be taken lightly.
That police officers brave enough trying to investigate such are either executed, transferred threatened with death and have to go into hiding shows the lack of will to deal with this menace. This is the case of one officer, Senior Superintendent of Police Mohammed Jarissa Godana on whose investigations Imanyara presented the report to Parliament. Kenya begins to sound like Mexico and some of our towns, especially at the Coast are beginning to sound like areas ruled by mobsters and mafias in the early years of drug wars in the US and Mexico. This is a situation that MUST be brought under control immediately.
This is why VVM demands the immediate re-organization of the Anti-Narcotics Police Unit which seems to have been fatally infiltrated by drug barons. The rot in this police unit cannot ensure it fights drugs effectively hence the need to replacement of all officers in the unit, with full independent investigations into the involvement of law enforcement officers into this criminal activities. Those culpable should face the full force of the law, including jail terms that will be a deterrent to any such officers who may be tempted to traffic with criminals in the course of discharging their duties.
The government must not only acknowledge such gravity of the situation, Kenyans needs to see a structured, focused and determined action towards wiping out this menace. That the American Government has given names to KACC regarding 5 prominent public servants, among them serving Cabinet Ministers involved in drug trade is not only a grave situation but an affront on the Kenyan people for such people to continue serving in Cabinet at the pleasure of the President and Prime Minister. It is an indictment on our investigative arms such as NSIS and CID concerned with gathering information which we prop expensively on our taxes to be snoring on the job while drugs are awash in Kenya, killing and rendering our youth, the future of this country, impotent.
Kenyans demand action, and we demand it now. It is not the time to try and give excuses why such enemies of society cannot be publicly NAMED AND SHAMED unless the government wants to protect identities for political reasons. It is also time wealth declarations become a must for public officers. Kenya is awash with suddenly rich paupers of yesterday gearing to take up the highest offices in the land.
Olpha Bosibori-VVM Secretary General.
For Communications and Media Committee-VVM
Email: secretary@vuguvugumashinani.or.ke
Tel: 0208080937
--
"Dont walk infront of me, i may not follow, Dont walk behind me, i may not lead, Walk beside me and be my friend"
"Remember where you have been and know where you are going. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way."
"Happiness is not getting what you want, it's wanting what you've got."
Kenya: Civil Society Week- 22nd -25th Nov 2010
From: odhiambo okecth
The Civil Society Week 2010 was officially closed this afternoon at Bontana Hotel in Nakuru by Mr Alfredo Teixera- UNDP Deputy Country Director.
This was a gathering of almost 250 Civil Society Organizations that are working with Amkeni Wakenya in their Civil Governance Programme.
The functions were officially opened on Tuesday 23rd November 2010 by the Assistant Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Hon William Cheptumo in the company of The Royal Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya, Ms Rigmor from the Norwegian Embassy, Ms Annika from the Swedish Embassy, Mr. Aeneas Chuma- the UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Gilbert Onyango- Chairman to the Stakeholders Reference Group, President Maurice Odhiambo of The National Civil Society Congress and the 250 Civil Representatives.
We had one week that made a lot of difference for many of us. It was important to share on our experiences and interrogate the kind of work that we have been doing all across Kenya in pursuit of Good Governance, Human Rights, Accountability to all, Transparency and Equality.
It was very good of Amkeni Wakenya to bring the groups they have funded to interact with others whom they have not funded. This was a move that shows the kind of willingness of some Donor Agencies to hear the challenges that most CSOs face when it comes to running their programmes.
On behalf of KCDN, I must acknowledge and appreciate the invitation for attendance that was extended to us. We hope that this will be the beginning of some serious partnership between us and many other such Friends of Kenya.
Peace and blessings to all.
Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0724 365 557 0735 529 126
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com
KENYA: A PRIVATE DEVELOPER GRABS ORPHANS LAND IN NYATIKE
By INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER.
A family of three orphans in Nyatike constituency have appealed to the minister of lands Mr. James Orengo to help them recover a piece of land which was left to them by their late parents in 2005 and has now been grabbed by a private developer in Sori town.
These three unlucky orphans of Nyatike are aged between 7and 10 years. One is a class three pupil at Sori primary school.
Speaking on behalf of the three orphans, Mr John Olenge Owino , who is their uncle said the plot no. 2357 was allegedly grabbed by a business lady in the town soon after the death of both parents but attempts by the family to repossess it has met stiff opposition from the influential woman who compromise those in authority in her favor.
Armed with records from various land offices right from the divisional level to the ministry of lands headquarters in Nairobi, Mr. Owino took this journalist through the predicament that befell the family in the hands of this lady identified as Grace Atieno Owuor.
From the land records which we have in our possession ,it is clear that the father of the three orphans ,the late Johnson Onyona Owino is still the registered owner of the parcel which has not just been grabbed but is now a ground where a permanent dwelling unit for the private developer stands, almost complete.
In one of the letters dated 9th June 2009, written by a Mr. S.Kidemi for Director of Land Adjudication and Settlement addressed to both parties categorically states that the land in question was demarcated to Johnson Onyona Owino now deceased and still remains so ,since no objection or claim has ever been raised against the ownership.
And it read in part ‘’ The individuals/parties who may lay claim /dispute on the ownership may seek redress from a court of law’’. The letter from the director also advised those representing the orphans to go to court and seek for eviction orders for the individuals who have encroached into the plot.
But what is more puzzling is the fact that even after obtaining two court orders to evict the strangers on the land, they have refused to move.
The Migori district land adjudication and settlement officer Mr.C.M .Osebe who confirmed he was familiar with the land row said those working on the land have been arrested twice for court contempt but are soon released under unclear circumstances.
The senior land officer said records kept by his office clearly indicates that no transfer has ever been carried out on the said parcel. He said because nobody raised any objection or laid claim during demarcation , they only recognize the deceased as the legal owner of the plot.
When one reads the letter penned by the then area DO a Mr. R.C Kandie dated 9th February last year and addressed to his boss Migori DC Mr. Julius Mutula, over the dispute, one gets the impression that this is a clear case of government officers being fully aware of a mischief but simply refuse to act.
In his letter, the DO states,’’ This is to bring to your notice that the above parcel of land was initially registered in the name of the late Johnson Onyona who bought it from a man who is now deceased. Records in the register of lands indicate the same as per letter Mig./12/2007 from the district land adjudication and settlement officer, Migori district’’.
The DO further states in his letter to his boss that early last year , a brother to the owner Mr. John Olenge Owino found out that a stranger was trying to fence off the plot and bringing in materials to put up a permanent building.
He explained to the DC that efforts by Owino to check on the records at the local lands office in the district yielded nothing because he was denied accessibility and therefore decided to seek help from the ministry headquaters.
To satisfy his boss and clearly drive his point home ,the good old DO informed the senior administrator who also chairs the land adjudication board in the district that he, the DO wrote to the same District Lands Adjudication and Settlement officer to find out the correct position in regards to the matter.
And the Do is quick to point out to his immediate superior in his letter that the reply he obtained over the matter from the lands officer vide a letter Mig/LA/KAC/123 VOL.111/68 dated 5/2/09 ,the officer clearly contradicted his previous letter Mig./LA/KAC VOL.111/36 of 4/12/2007.
He concluded that indeed there was a foul play in the matter and enclosed copies of his communication between his office, that of the lands office and the parties involved in the tussle and asked for further direction.
But as if to confirm claims by the relatives of the orphans that the people who grabbed the said plot were using money to frustrate the genuine owners from laying their hands on it, the Migori DC under whose area the tussle began denied knowledge of the dispute.
When contacted, the DC said he could only handle the matter after seeing the documents, this even after it was clear from the letters written by the DO which confirmed active involvement from his office.
Even the area district land adjudication and settlement officer alleged that the people who are out to deny the orphans what rightly belongs to them were indeed using money to compromise those handling the matter.
‘’I have tried my best to help these people but the kind of impunity being practiced by the other party is terrible. A man I gathered bought the land from Grace is in the US and is reportedly using money through a brother who is a primary teacher to frustrate the efforts to repossess the land.’’ He said.
When the matter was brought to his attention the officer said he visited the disputed land together with the local chief and instructed the lady to up root a temporary structure he had put up but to his disbelief, the lady went a head to sell it off.
Now the developer is busy building his house in disregard to the authorities and the poor orphans of Nyatike.
The matter seemed to take a new twist when the uncle of the three orphans received a death threat and has since recorded a statement at the Karungu police station under OB No.5/24/11/2010.
‘’My life is now in danger because of this matter. I have been threatened severally with death from people who want me to drop this case. Recently I was forced to flee with my assailants in hot pursuit. I had to sleep at the home of our village elder. I ask the government to come to my rescue, I am just a poor peasant farmer trying to help these orphans find a place to live,’’ he said
ENDS.
Kenya: Understanding Why Solar Is King of Energy to mitigate Climate Change
from amenya gibson
First I applaud Rudisha for making Kenyans proud,in spite of looming fuel prices hikes that are in offing and well planned to make Kenyans poor and poorer during this festive season.
However I wish to discuss more on Renewable Energy and what we can do to establish more energy projects in Kenya
The words ‘renewable’ and ‘sustainable’ are being knocked around quite a bit, and both are strongly associated with energy conservation.
We can say Renewable forms of energy constantly replenish themselves with little or no human effort.
Solar energy is just one example — no matter how much you use, the supply will never end (okay, it may end after billions of years, but your using solar power won’t make the sun burn out any faster).
Other examples of renewables include firewood, water (through hydroelectric dams), and wind power.
Note, however, that firewood is notoriously polluting; the term renewable does not necessarily imply good environmentalism.
Firewood also has another potentially severe drawback in that people go out into forests and cut down trees, often without much thought to the overall health of the forest (a good example of not seeing the forest from the trees).
To make sure that resources last, humans need to focus on conservation, recycling, environmental restoration, and renewable energy sources.
Sustainability is commonly associated with such a holistic approach to personal lifestyle.
Not only are sustainable forms of energy renewable, but they also have the ability to keep the planet Earth’s ecosystem up and running, in perpetuity. Sustainable energy, such as solar, is nonpolluting to the greatest extent possible.
The basic notion behind sustainable energy sources is that by their use, society is not compromising future generations’ health and well-being, nor their ability to use their own sustainable resources to any less capacity than we have.
Who can argue with this very fundamental version of the Golden Rule?
Solar power has historically been more expensive than other energy options, but that’s changing fast because of investment in new technologies, as well as the simple fact that many more people are investing in solar, which results in economies of scale.
Solar energy equipment increases your financial standing in basically two ways:
Savings on your monthly bills.
Appreciation of your home’s value.
Going solar will be a great investment, both financially and environmentally.
In short, if you install solar, you’ll be relatively risk free from exploding energy costs. Showing a little appreciation When you go solar, your home value goes up.
How can this be? Solar is catching on, and home buyers are willing to pay more for solar homes that promise energy savings.
We have to embrace solar energy in Kenya and this can be realized through solar programs being aggressively established in Kenya as Kenya plenty of solar energy.
Thanks
Gibson Amenya and Esther Kagendo are members of Kenya Young Greens
We aim to promote green energy in Kenya
Feedback-gamenya@kenyayounggreens.org
Funeral Announcement
Dear friends and relatives,
Funeral Announcement:
Nyadendi Jane Anyango Otieno, for more details please check the attachment!
Best Regards,
Yours sincerely!
J.O. Okullo
Funeral Announcement
Mosenindo Nyadendi Jane Anyango Otieno
Mig. Ogello Okullo (Mig. Ajos wuod Atiga, Wuon Abila, Jaluo dot Kom) kod Anyuola mar jok’Abong’o timo mos kuom tho mar
Nyadendi Jane Anynango Otieno
Mar Kanyango, Kakikwa village, Rachuonyo district, Homa Bay County ma nyocha otimore chieng’ tich ariyo, tarik 16.11.2010, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi.
Jonyuolne gin:
Mosenindo Benedict Otieno Okullo kod mosenindo Mikayi Rose Adhiambo Otieno.
En Nyamin:
Nicholas Kabasa (mar Kisumu), Duncan Ouma (mar MLA Ventures Ltd. NBI.), Irene Adoyo (mar Nbi.), Joan Akinyi (mar Musa Gitau High School, NBI. Kevin Ouma, Roy Ochieng‘, William Ouma kod mamoko...
Wuonege mamoko gin:
Mig. Baldwin Odhiambo Okullo (mar University of Nairobi), Mig. Joseph Ogello Okullo (mar Switzerland), Mig. David Okumu Okullo (mar Denmark), Mig. Dismas Abong’o Odada, George Ouma Odada (mar University of Nairobi), Steven Arum, Joseph Onyango, Martin Ochieng’ duto mag Kanyango kod Mosenindo Patrick Odada, Francis Kibago Okullo, Thomas Ochieng’ Okullo.
Neregi gin:
Mig. Joseph Otieno Mirana (mar Bar El Ghazal South Sudan) kod Phillip Juma Mirana( mar Nairobi)
Minege mamoko gin:
Mik. Pamella Odhiambo (mar Nairobi), Mik. Fiona Ogello (mar Switzerland), Mik. Jane Kibago (mar Kanyango), Mik. Caroline Arum kod mamoko…
Weynige gin:
Mik. Elizabeth Akeyo (mar Switzerland) kod Mik. Evana Obala (mar Spain)
Wede kod osiepe romo Kabete Jericho House Nr. 15 (Od Odhiambo Okullo)
Ringre nogol KNH Mortuary chieng‘ tich abich tarik 26.11.2010, Yikne nobed chieng‘ Ngeso tarik 27.11.2010, Kakikwa, Kanyango sub-location, Rachuonyo district.
“Nyangi nwaheri ahinya to Nyasaye oheri molowa!
Amen”
USA, MD: Update – Dr. Nicholas A Ongele Funeral Arrangement (SATURDAY – 11/27/2010)
from bkojiem@ . . .
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27TH, 2010 - PUBLIC VIEWING AND MEMORIAL SERVICE
VIEWING - 3:00pm - 4:00PM
MEMORIAL AND HOME GOING CHURCH SERVICE - 4:00pm - 5:00pm
REPASS (IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SERVICE) - 5:30pm - 7:30pm
at Largo Community Church
1701 Enterprise Road
Mitchelville, MD 20721
SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27TH, 2010 - FUNDRAISING EVENT
8:30pm - 2:00am
at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church
7410 New Hampshire Avenue
Takoma Park, MD 20912-6907
Telephone # (301) 434-0444
Friends, relatives and well wishers are all invited to the fundraising
event. For those who cannot make it to the event or wish to deposit their
money at a bank, a funds and money transfer account has been made available:
Bank of America NA
Ebba Ong'ele
Routing # 052 001 633
Account # 4460 1779 7449 (Please mail you checks to the home address
mentioned below)
TRAVEL INFORMATION
The body is scheduled for departure to Kenya on Monday November 29th,
arriving in Nairobi on Wednesday December 01st.
BURIAL INFORMATION
Burial is scheduled for December 4th, 2010 in Kenya.
It is with much regret that we announce the death of Dr. Nicholas Aloice Ongele of Bowie, Maryland USA. He died at Washington Hospital Center,
Washington DC on Wednesday November 10th, 2010, after a long battle with cancer.
Dr. Nicholas Ongele, a Psychiatrist in Washington DC, hails from Chiga in
Kano, Kisumu District. He was beloved husband to Dr. Eba Ongele, also of the Washington DC region. He was a loving father, guardian and mentor to
many. Dr. Ongele was a founding member of his union, the Doctors Council.
He was a leader among leaders, demonstrating this by holding the office of Vice President until near the time of his retirement from the Washington DC
Government. He will be greatly missed by family, friends and the community at large.
Family and friends will be meeting every evening at 12301 Kings Valley
Court, Mitchelville, Maryland to condole with the family and to help
organize the funeral. The family's phone number is 301-249-6646.
For more information, you may contact any of the following:
Eba Ongele 202-412-3989
Rev. Peter O. Osano 301-693-3771
Dickens Odhiambo 301-979-1311
Omondi Keens 240-429-2976
Fred Okwaro 301-335-8120
Ben Odotte 732-421-7233
Caroline Lisk 443-367-1278
Kenneth Agwa 301-996-5775
John Akumu 301-384-9666
David Opon 301-814-7070
Edwin Obong 301-512-9018
Onyango Nyunja 240-994-2818
Omullo Okowa 410-971-0521
Tony Oreng 301-437-5293
Kennedy Amollo 240-398-0943
Evans Aguko 240-643-2491
Tom Juma "TJ 301-922-0449
Fred Waga 443-200-3273
Geroge Anyumba 443-600-2284
Banda Nyaware 914-525-1328
Michael Onganjo 804-497-9565
Kenya: World AIDS Marathoner providing dinner dances for 750 orphans
From: Richard Brodsky
you are invited to dine & dance with 750 orphans at Kendu Bay (ancestral home of President Obama's great-grandfather) and Kisumu, Kenya on November 29 and 30. The orphan dinner dances are being sponsored by the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation thanks to the generosity of
Maidenbaum Property Tax Reduction Group, LLC
Five Towns Community Chest
Omar Rodriguez / Associated Food Stores of Long Beach, New York &
UN General Realtors Group, LLC, Owen and Ethel Robinson
If other donors would be interested in co-sponsoring an orphan dinner dance for 375 orphans, a donation of $500 would be required. It would make a nice Thanksgiving gift, early Chanukah or Christmas present knowing that you and someone you love opted to provide 375 orphans a nourishing meal instead of adding a piece of jewelry to a collection. Imagine what that jewelry item would say if it could speak, 'Why did you pick me? I cannot place a smile on a child's face nor can I provide an evening of dining or dancing for a single orphan.
Register Now for the 2010 World AIDS Marathon, co-sponsored by the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation and Kisumu World AIDS Marathon Group, and you will also be entitled to roundtrip transportation to two orphan dinner dances from Kisumu, Kenya to local Kenyan orphanages
Hi November 22, 2010
To all my friends and sponsors, we're really much more than just a marathon, the Foundation's mission is to improve the lives of people affected by HIV and cancer, especially children. Please consider making a donation to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation so my wife Jodi and I can continue to visit Africa and sponsor orphan dinner dances for the Kenyan orphans. It costs about $4 per child to provide a nourishing meal with music and dancing. Perhaps you would like to join Jodi and me and experience firsthand the joy of knowing you are really making a difference in the lives of hundreds of orphans.
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation has sponsored orphan dinner dances for 1,950 Kenyan orphans since 2006.
If you would like to co-sponsor an orphan dinner dance kindly submit a $500 donation online by Thanksgiving. To commemorate your generosity I will send you an 18 X 24 poster with photos of the Event with your name on the poster to acknowledge your gift, or if you choose you may provide someone else's name on the poster. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and may be submitted by
- mailing a check to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation,
1247 Mara Court, Atlantic Beach, NY 11509
- visiting the Foundation's website and clicking on the
PayPal link for World AIDS Marathon or
- visit the World AIDS Marathon website
and click on the Donate link
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation has committed $1,000 in prize money for the World AIDS Marathon. This is a very small amount of money as Kenyans are used to participating in running events where the prize package is much greater. It took me awhile to understand why is prize money being provided as this money is being taken from money that could be given to charity. The fact is for Kenyans to succeed, many of them turn to running and the successful Kenyan runners are very charitable and giving when it comes to helping people living in Kenya. If anyone would be interested in donating $500 or $1,000 in prize money, an 18 X 24 poster acknowledging your donation will be presented to you. See two photos above with text instructions in red on how to donate.
Special thanks to NY State Senator Dean Skelos for writing me a very nice note this week. It is these types of letters of support which make me realize 'Failure is not an option' and my job is to finish the marathon. I never did quite understand why G-d permitted HIV and brain cancer to change my life as there are millions of people who he could have chosen who were more well known, more religious, more tolerant, etc. Honestly, I think rather than being chosen; it was more of a random choice. I promise to do my part and keep running if you promise to help support people whose lives have been affected with HIV and cancer, both in Africa and America.
The rest of this news release is the same as another news release I sent out recently so if you have been reading my news releases, you need not need further.
The stigma of AIDS is much worse in Africa than in America as families often times throw the person living with AIDS out of the home. That's another reason why Jodi and I travel to Kenya to show that AIDS has not destroyed our family and when someone is living with a so-called-life-threatening illness, that is the time for families to come together.
Living in America, I do not consider my being HIV-positive to be a life threatening illness since I have access to the AIDS medicine and follow-up medical care. I also have access to clean drinking water and adequate nutritious food. Clearly, this is not the case for Africans and to the small extent that I can help get the word out about the plight of people living with AIDS, and the problems of malaria, tuberculosis and poverty facing Africa, I feel compelled to help because I realize had I been born in Africa, my children might be three of the 11,400,003 orphans living in sub-Saharan Africa who have lost one or both parents to AIDS. I also am extremely grateful that I am surviving terminal brain cancer for 7 years and I made a promise if my life was spared, I would do everything to help others living with HIV or cancer; hence the three orphan dinner dances the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation co-sponsored with Associated Food Stores of Long Beach, New York; ASAP Screenprinting of Gainesville, Florida, and KenShop Bakery of Kisumu, Kenya.
Many groups such as FACES brought their own banners.
An ecstatic Jodi Brodsky after finding out she finished 4th for the female runners for the full marathon. Richard Brodsky and Alie Eleveld, both congratulating Jodi.
Richard Brodsky finished dead last but then again I was the oldest runner.
The World AIDS Marathon and related Events were attended by over 1,950 people. Pictured below is 1 of 15 athletes with disablities; the real heroes of the day.
-300+ runners signed up for the Marathon and Half Marathon and there were 254 finishers.
-250 children participated in the 5k Childrens Walk.
-700 orphans participated in orphan dinner dances at Reach-Out Orphan Support Center, Hope Initiative and St. Claire's orphanage.
-700+ people (exact number to be determined) were tested for AIDS
15 wheelchair athletes completed the marathon / half marathon and were each awarded 1,000 shillings, about $13. Not a bad deal considering the entry fee was only 50 shillings, about 65 cents and all participants received an Event t-shirt. The balance of the $1,000 prize money was awarded to the top 5 male / female participants of the half and full marathon. Special thanks to Bank of Africa for also providing 60,000 kenya shillings, $800 in prize money. The winning wheelchair participant for the full marathon finishing in a time of 03:06:09 was Pius Otieno Ochieng, pictured above, and for the half marathon, Mildred Auma, in a time of 01:51:49, took home the GOLD. First place winners for the following races were:
Marathon (male) Peter Kipkoech 2:27:56
Marathon (female) Helen Chenonges 3:12:23 repeat winner from 2008
Half Marathon (male) Elijah Tirop 1:06:08
Half Marathon (female) Susan Kiplagat 1:27:26
All runners also received a Certificate of Completion. We were very fortunate to have Douglas Wakiihuri, pictured below, winner of the New York City and London Marathon in the late 1980s presenting prizes to some of the runners.
After the marathon, Jodi and I jogged 4 miles to St. Claire's Orphanage where the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation co-sponsored an orphan dinner for 86 orphans with KenShop Bakery of Kisumu, just kidding about the 4 mile jog. The photo below at St. Claire's was taken by Ibrahim Oiro Odero
December 2, 2009. We had a chance to say good-bye to Joseph Ochieng, (above, standing 4th from left) board member of the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, and six of the 25 orphans he cares for pictured in the green shirts. The two runners dressed in blue were part of a team of Uganda runners who traveled with their coach, William Mungadi, standing third from left.
Farewell lunch at Kiboko Bay Resort, left to right, Joseph Ochieng, Rispah, Jodi and Richard Brodsky and one of my favorite people in Kenya, Beldina Opiyo-Omolo, Public Health Specialist with Millenium Cities Initiative. Beldina is clearly in the minority as she returned to Kenya after graduating from an American college to help her fellow Kenyans.
Prior to Jodi and I visiting Kisumu we spent a day in Nairobi. Saturday, November 28, Jodi and I had the opportunity to visit the local Nairobi Hebrew Congregation and pray that we would run a successful race and we will have the opportunity to run in many more World AIDS Marathons and raise a lot of money for AIDS and cancer charities. We stayed at the President of the Synagogue's home, Dr. David Silverstein, personal physician to former President of Kenya, Daniel Moi. Jodi and I were fortunate to be there for the Sabbath, and even more fortunate as I was the 10th and final Jewish male to be present so the service could proceed and the Torah was taken out of the ark and read. Part of the charm of the congregation is that it has no Rabbi and each of the 10 +/- regular male members take turns conducting the service. This week the service was conducted by a Jew from Cocina, a Jewish Community in India. Kenya's only Synagogue even has a website where you can read more about its history and Interfaith relations. These photos were taken from earlier years as it is not permitted to take photos in the Synagogue on the Sabbath.
It was very difficult raising money for this year's marathon and orphan dinners but Jodi and I decided it was important for us to run the marathon and let the orphans know that we represent people in America who really do care about the orphans in Africa. If you've already given a donation to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, thank you very much. It is not too late to make your donation now. For $100, you can have your name placed on the commemorative 2010 Event t-shirt, see below, and the shirt will be mailed to you. Special thanks to ASAP Screenprinting of Gainesville, Florida for providing FREE Commemorative Event t-shirts and sweatshirts. Sweatshirts are available for a $125 donation. If you would like an Event t-shirt or sweatshirt kindly submit your donation so it is received before Christmas.
One last way to raise money for the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation. While visiting a friend's home I came across a forest of flowers which a florist in America typically charges about $8+ per stem. In the picture below there must be about 100 stems of the flower. If anyone could ever find out about selling these flowers, if they have any on their property, to a local flower exporter and donating a portion of the proceeds to the Richard M. Brodsky, your donation will help feed the orphans of Kenya.
Special thanks to a lot of people
I would like to thank President-Elect Barack Obama; President Clinton; Stephen Lewis, former United Nations Special Envoy for HIV / AIDS in Africa; Senator Ted Kennedy; Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy; Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi; and Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray for their support for the Foundation's work which includes its annual World AIDS Marathon held in Kisumu, Kenya as well as the 5k AIDS / Cancer / Survive / Run / Walk in America. These letters can be viewed by visiting the website link, view letters. The American Medical Student Association, AMSA, has also created a story line of the Foundation's work which can be viewed on FACEBOOK. The One Campaign has also been very supportive of my work. If you are interested in hearing me speak and seeing photos of the Foundation's work in America, the One Campaign and the American Medical Student Association have covered my speaking fee in the past.
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION
The Foundation donates money to various AIDS projects in Kenya, AIDS and cancer research projects in America and to organizations providing aid to people living with HIV and cancer. To make a donation to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation you can mail a check to the Foundation's address, Richard M. Brodsky Foundation, 1247 Mara Court, Atlantic Beach, NY 11509, USA, or visit the Foundation website and click on the PayPal donate link. Alternately you can make your donation via the World AIDS Marathon website, by clicking on the Donate link. A $100 donation will entitle you or your company to have your name on the 2010 World AIDS Marathon commemorative t-shirt and a $250 donation will entitle you to a logo on the shirt. In addition, the shirt will be mailed to you.
For more info about the Foundation's mission and the World AIDS Marathon, please visit Foundation website & World AIDS Marathon website. There are some great photos of the 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2004 World AIDS Marathon which can be viewed by visiting photos 2009 photos 2008, photos 2007, photos 2006 and photos 2004.
October 24, 2010, FREE 5K AIDS / Cancer Run Walk for HIVers, Cancer Survivors & Friends
The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation will be sponsoring its second annual FREE 5K Run / Walk for HIVers, Cancer Survivors & Friends in Oceanside Park, October 24, 9 AM. The purpose of the run is to get people living with HIV and cancer running or walking. As a brain cancer survivor who is also HIV-positive, no one knows the benefits derived from running more than me. Wouldn't it be great if we could get participants living with HIV or cancer to run or walk a few miles.
To encourage participants, the Foundation will be providing $45 in toiletry / gift items to everyone, Even if you are healthy, please accept the items and give them to someone living with HIV or cancer during the week. We will also be serving a sumptuous breakfast and everyone who signs up by October 10 will have their name placed on the Event t-shirt. Also, there will be thousands of dollars of FREE raffle prizes given away.
To sign up for the Free Running Event, click here, and then click on the link in the 5th paragrapgh. Events are a great opportunity to collect toys for children.
Please consider making your annual contribution to the Richard M. Brodsky Foundation as the Foundation's work has become my life's work. There are no other Presidents of Foundations who are HIV-positive and have brain cancer whose main fundraising activity consists of running marathons. But if running marathons can help raise awareness that hundreds of thousand lives can be saved each year if access to the AIDS medicine is free for people who cannot afford the AIDS medicine, then I have no choice but to continue running marathons.
We are always looking for volunteers so if you've managed to read this entire newsletter, we could really use your help. Please contact me, Richard, at the contact information below.
Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
1247 Mara Court
Atlantic Beach,NY 11509
Contact: Richard Brodsky
Phone: (516) 770-7724 (516) 432-1254
E-Mail: RichardM.Brodsky@gmail.com
Very Truly Yours,
Richard Brodsky,
Richard M. Brodsky, President of Richard M. Brodsky Foundation
http://www.worldaidsmarathon.com marathon website
http://www.richardmbrodsky.org foundation website
http://trebloon.com book website
http://www.5kAIDScancer.com 5k run in America website
Contact Information
phone: 516-770-7724 or RichardM.Brodsky@gmail.com
Kenya: Will Raila Odinga be our Gandalf?
Arrows and shields
BY FWAMBA NC FWAMBA
In the Prof J.R.R Tolkien’s fantasy trilogy; The Lord of the Rings, the role of one character Gandalf the grey, who later becomes Gandalf the white is very conspicuous. Gandalf belongs to the group of wizards, the wisest and most knowledgeable creatures in the middle earth.
Unlike Saruman; another wizard who attempts to get the ring of power for himself, Gandalf sticks to his mission of helping the middle earth rid itself of the ring of power by helping in assembling and leading the team to destroy the ring of power in the same chasm inside the crack of Mount Doom where the ring was forged. The ring of power has a history of bringing down great leaders and kings including Isildur; whose heir is Aragorn camouflaged as Strider carries the duty of reinstating Isildur’s lost glory. Gandalf’s efforts to inform Saruman about The whereabouts of the ring turns out to be a calamity for its later discovered that Saruman has defected and joined Sauron; the dark lord to claim the ring.
The ring is in the shire, the land of the Hobbits. Gandalf is faced with the challenge of ensuring that the ring is destroyed before his former ally Saruman or the main antagonist Sauron land their hands on it.
Kenya is a county at the crossroads now. The political challenges that face us to day are akin to the conflicts that bedeviled the middle earth. Kenyans have attempted for long to bring about change. All efforts have been futile because of the greed of the leaders that have hypocritically come together in the name of destroying the establishment of impunity and corruption have ended up being corrupt and unreliable. They have always instead just like Saruman been converted and become allies of impunity and subjects of the same ills they purported to oppose.
Kenya has gone through turbulent waters since the days of colonialism. Every political step in Kenya has been a make believe to the Kenyan masses that time for national redemption has finally come. The chronology of the Kenyan leadership starting from colonialism has always been a disappointment. In Kenya’s war for independence, the freedom fighters fought to return the land that had been taken away by the British colonialists. When freedom was finally granted, the country was optimistic that with an African leader all Kenyans were going to have better lives with equal opportunity to access education and resources compared to the previous regime which had been oppressive, racist and discriminatory against Africans.
It emerged that their celebrations were in vain for the new African establishment became no different from the practices of the British colonialists. Fertile lands that had previously been taken by the colonialist were then taken over and shared among the African leaders that had taken over the reigns of power.
The ordinary Kenyan who had fought so hard for independence became a disappointed person. It emerged that those who were landless during the colonial period remained landless; those who were lucky got small portions of land where they stayed as squatters. It was not forgotten that those who had taken power led by Jommo Kenyatta had claimed that they wanted change for an ordinary Kenyan African who was lacked opportunities because of racism and other forms of discrimination. It was evident that the African government substituted terms but continued with the oppressive ways of the colonialist.
It was not lost to Kenyans that terms like racism were replaced with tribalism. Settlers were replaced by African land grabbers. It’s known to Kenyans that it was under the African regime that those who spoke out their mind like Pio Gama Pinto, Tom Mboya, Argwings Kodhek and JM Kariuki had their lives cut short because of having alternative views on governance.
In 1978, Moi became president and people who had witnessed Kenyatta’s misuse of power and practices of tribalism thought that with change in the leadership, things were going to be different. It however turned out to be more disappointing that Moi declared that he was going to ‘fuata nyayo’(follow Kenyatta’s footsteps).Under the nyayo era, Moi perfected the art of tribalism, corruption and impunity. Under Moi’s leadership, democracy was crushed and detention without trial; a law that had been put in place under Kenyatta’s regime became more effective than ever.
It’s during the Moi era that many pro democracy activists and university student leaders like Tito Adungosi and Wafula Buke were jailed over trumped up charges. Many activists disappeared without trace. It’s during this same regime that saw Kenya’s first Vice President and doyen of opposition Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was put under house arrest. Under the same regime more political assassinations and mysterious deaths occurred. It was during this regime that Bishop Alexander Muge, Dr.Robert Ouko and many others died under suspect circumstances.
The atrocities committed under the Nyayo regime saw progressive politicians like Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Ahmed Salim Bahmariz, George Nthenge, Masinde Muliro, Philip Gachoka and Martin Shikuku to team up and form the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD).It was a new dawn for Kenya when after pressure from the international community Mr.Moi repealed section 2(a) of the then constitution of Kenya which ushered in multiparty politics.
Greed engulfed the country, for every politician saw an opportunity to ascend to power since Moi was very unpopular. Many opposition parties were formed. After the mysterious death of Masinde Muliro at the Jommo Kenyatta International Airport three months to the general election,
Ford split into two factions Ford Kenya which was led by Jaramogi with headquarters at Agip House and Ford Asili that was led by Kenneth Matiba that moved their headquarters to Muthithi House (now Occidental plaza), the Democratic Party (DP) and the Social Democratic Party were formed and registered. Young people like Ruto and Jirongo saw an opportunity to become politically relevant. They formed Youth for Kanu 92’ thereby saving Moi’s regime from extinction by mobilizing the youth vote.
The divided opposition driven by greed for power lost to Moi. The same situation was repeated in 1997.The opposition fielded many presidential candidates who included Mwai Kibaki of the Democratic Party, Michael Kijana Wamalwa of Ford Kenya,Raila Odinga of National Development Party and Charity Ngilu of the Social Democratic party. The opposition lost again and the country continued wallowing in the culture of impunity.
With new wisdom acquired from lessons in the past election losses, in 2002,the opposition united to defeat Moi and his ‘project Uhuru’.The optimism of Kenyans was renewed.Most Kenyans believed that with the exit of Moi, the country had been saved from all the ills that we had fought against.
That was never to be for after one year, the government was grappling with corruption allegations. A mega scandal akin to the Goldenberg that had occurred during kanu’s dark days happened; the Anglo Leasing. It dawned to Kenyans that the greed for power and wish to occupy Moi’s shoes was the driving force for the opposition unity. Kenyans discovered that it was greed for power and money and not good governance that had caused the opposition to unite to defeat Moi and ‘project Uhuru.
In 2007, it emerged that both the incumbent led by Mwai Kibaki and the opposition led by Raila Odinga had been in government. It was declared to be the mother of all battles. The tight race between the two presidential candidates led to a disputed result.
I contend that Kenyans didn’t know what the post election violence was all about. It was about greed for power. 2012 is beckoning and we face the same challenges that Kenyans don’t have a leader who wants to create a respectable state. Kenya needs a Gandalf like figure who will not get entangled into power struggles. Kenya needs someone with an opportunity to be president but because of being selfless will choose not to seek presidency, but will assemble a new generation of leaders who will ensure the country has a new beginning. Kenya needs someone to sacrifice, someone who is above temptations for power, someone with the interest of the nation at heart.
If Moi and old Kanu establishments represent Sauron and Kibaki is Saruman, is Raila going to sacrifice his presidential ambitions and be our Gandalf?