The wind of change sweeps the Arab world
From: Stevens Musuku
Civilization, it is said, started from the north towards the south. And so did freedom/independence. It started from the north, cruising the difficult and hard-core minds and hearts of dictatorial colonialists, heading to the down south of the black Africa.
We followed suit; we fought, we got killed in masses, but eventually, we got our independence at at and when we did. Each country at a time. History is now repeating itself in a reverse manner. Democracy is now sweeping the world from down south, towards the north.
But this wind is a little more different from the first two winds. This is more specific and more particular. I will call it "The Wind of Change Sweeps The Arab World". Sorry for our Muslim brothers and sisters; this is just for discussion purposes and does not mean any negativity. This wind of change that is sweeping the Arab world is so very calculated that at some point I stop and ask myself if God has a hand in it. But I guess, people have just had it with the kind of leadership, (is it leadership or rule?) of the Arab nations. They seek equality, equal distribution of national resources et al. They want democracy. In simpler terms, democracy is all they need, all they are asking for. Make no mistake, brothers and sisters, this wind shall sweep until they get what they desire to have.
It started with Sudan, then it went to Tunisia, Egypt, flew all the way to smaller Bahrain, sprinkled into Jordan, a whirlwind took it over to Yemen, and then, there it is....... Libya. Muammar Guaddaffi is on his way out, just like the Tunisian top man and the Egyptian ruler. Nothing is being spared, no country is being spared in this whirlwind of change. The whole of the Arab world is in for a great surprise this time round. God help these brothers and sisters of ours.
Back to Kenya, do we need change? If so, what kind of change? How best do we go about getting this change? Following the kind of government we have in place today and the ills happening in our society, we do need that change very badly. Kenyans may have to go the Arab-type search for change. As much as I respect humanity, I would not not want to see lives get lost for the sake of change. Lives were lost during the fight for independence which we got in 1963. We do not have to shade more blood like the Arabs are doing. What we need is a mature, calculated achievement of change; the ballot. I love my Country, and I would hate to see it rubbished by a few cruel politicians who are turning it into a tribal coin to be tossed right left and centre.
I hate their attitude.
Regds
Steve
Kenya: Political Special Interest Groups Are Not Serving Public Interests
Folks,
Political Special Interest Groups
The whole world exists and forms itself in defining Three Categories of groups in order to successfully and sustainably achieve Democracy and the Just Rule of Law in aspects of "The Social, Political and Economic" concept. These groups if organized well, have incorporated various levels of personality engagements, thus the rich, middle-class and poor, in order to achieve sole purpose to exerting influence to meet their needs on end goals. Facilitators or operatives of these groups have pivotal roles to play which is central to achieving their goals. They draw plans in deciding who gets what, when, where and how in the legislative BUDGET processes. They also play significant role in deciding which values will be promoted for who to gain and who to loose and make sure those values sail through enforcing them through the government institutions and in the Parliament, but incase of objection or suspicion, they apply all principles of maneuvers in the Judicial Court utilizing the power of Police to silence their detractors.
These Legislatures also use public money to pay for Illegal activities including Lobbyist to lobby their corrupt business dealings into the international business platform as well as pay foreign snipers to kill masses of people or key personalities that stand on their way...or force voting in Parliament to take a particular fashion, that of their interests.
Special Interest political groups in many instances attempt to influence public policy as is in The Constitutional statement in many ways. They do this through parliament where they amend and alter wordings those that could implicate them or intimidate their smooth conspiracies in dodging and providing loopholes for stealing from public for them to get away with inclusions of "Amendments", arguing that some policies were not properly written and they were not able to analyze or translate some statements effectively. So they take such advantages to change the meaning of some policy wordings to suit their interests. Sometimes they use delaying tactics for public to get weary and tired, they sneakily they incorporate their "Satanic Verses".
When individuals have common interests, they often join together in pursuit of those interest so they can protect each other incase of public confrontation or challenge, so the public do not suspect them. They master the art of ping pong game of safe play in a glass house, lest they break glasses and they get exposed.
These people use parliament to make their decision, a place where majority of public have no say to influence their needs and demands. So consequently, these are the reason why public always loose in their quest to put their elected leaders to task and to deliver according to their mandate. The public therefore finds themselves in continual roller-coaster time in and time out after electioneering, and thus, they have to bear with the drama hoping to get their say at the next time of electioneering. This is a very discriminative way of managing leadership, it is the cause of poverty in Africa and the reason Africa is being stolen from.
These groups they acquire public resources and taxes for International and Local business then share and distribute the resources within the precinct of the political process. These groups are known as corrupt political leaders who are using illegal means to conspire and steal from public utilities and resources. Their focus is to use maximum force to gain International Trade and Control Economic Power at the expense of public soiling into poverty.
Public Social Action Groups
These are groups of people who form themselves into a pressure group to reverse the trend of the Corrupt political leaders in order to salvage public resources and instil discipline and order in the way their public resources and business is responsible managed so to protected and facilitated activities that are sustainable and profitable to benefit public interests. These are ordinary Citizens who do not control real money power control or real estate from public, but they command public influence power to order the manner at which their Government Legislatures enforces particular values and dignity in an orderly transparent and accountable manner, to the benefit of all Citizens without discrimination or conflict of interests in managing public affairs. These Public groupings command the Collective Bargaining Power and Strength that are able to offer meaningful change on suppressive Business strength including larger International Corporate Business Community, based in a favorable agreeable manner which is conducive and benefiting all stakeholders.
It is for this reason why Public Citizens of different Groups, although belonging to different groupings, from professionals, Civil Society, Public Workers and Teachers Unions including private unionists, are forced to join forces together to confront a common enemy who are the Legislatures into submitting to the Statement of Facts as stated in the Constitutional Policy Guidelines in pursuing public interests that would otherwise be twisted or maneuvered on behalf of corrupt Public Servants and special interest Politically Correct business groups.
Think and Think Again People
1) If Uhuru and Ocampo Six have been named at the ICC Hague as top suspects, why should the two Principles, Kibaki and PM Raila still comfortably keep him and Muthaura in public office where they are utilizing public funds, their public services through occupation and utilities to conspire to defraud and destroy evidence?
2) Why would the special interest in the House dictate the PACE of Implementation of the New Law when the time-table is clearly stipulated on the Memorandum of Understanding of the National Reform Accord Agenda if there are no sinister motives to defraud public interests
3) After failing to follow the spirit of Reform Accord Agenda time and time again, why do the two Principles still feel they are competent in handling the appointments without heeding and involving wise counsel of professionalism as advice by the public as has been also demonstrated through the Popular public outcry, so they are trusted that they can deliver electioneering of 2012 without conflicts of interests and forcing public to slaughter themselves? A case we have been convinced that they are not able to deliver independently without engaging the public interests.
4) The unconstitutional Shuttle Deplomacy by Kalonzo Musyoka spending Huge public funds to engage "Obstruction of Justice on the Ocampo Six"
5) Structural Adjustment factors on Sale of Public Corporations, Land and Equity Bonds and share Government distributions
6) Whose Interest is the BUDGET compilation meant to serve, if not to lure and perform the Psychological Operation Defraud on public interests (who are the Beneficiaries and Stakeholders) to benefit Special Interest International Business Community who do not pay any Taxes in Revenues collected
7) That tribal appointment demonstrated by Kibaki to extend overstay and continue recycling of Prof. Njuguna Ndungu as Governor of Central Bank of Kenya is of bad spirit suspected to defraud public interest and is unconstitutional ....is seen to be discriminative as it is done on tribal line to serve and protect Special Interest
8) That ICC Hague is part of the Constitutional Reform meant to restore Peace, Reconcilliation and Reconstruction, at which Kibaki has engaged billions of dollars in shuttling and lobbying to obstruct justice
9) That there was no Respect or Consideration of Gender persona equality where such excellent outstanding learned member like Ms. Angawa was not even listed to be interviewed amongst other men and women high honor, and how can we not doubt the ability of the two principles Kibaki and PM Raila if Ms. Angawa can escape their minds and especially where we are looking for free and fair, to have a fallen country up on its feet again? How can Kenyans understand the suitability of an individual unless they are subjected to public scrutiny and background check to establish clean record while looking at past and present behaviour and attitude to determine clean bill of record and conduct?
10) How can the vetting of Judges and Magistrates not go in line according to the timetable, if delay tactics of dilly dally is not constituted by the corrupt in order to evade and overlook matters of grave concern in order to continue to mint and rob the public more of its taxpayers money in pretense being late, when all they do presently and before, is time wastages.......
11) That the recycling of the National Security Intelligence Service Director General Mr. Gichangi was unconstitutional and must be revoked, considering security risks experienced in the recent pasts under his watch with other many more security flaws that are ongoing cannot escape our minds and stop us from worrying. His appointment has very many questions of high stake prospects that he needs to be vetted and cleared irrespective of his being already engaged, before the coming of 2012 electioneering for security reasons. This is because the Law was not followed and he cannot escape that like every other employee who must follow the appointment requirements.
12) The High Hue vested interest of Chinese support of the deferral of the Ocampo Six, and the Somali illegal undocumented immigration invasion in Kenya, their united joint interests, with its overgrowing influential factors in and around Kenya and the neighboring especially considering the excessive pirating in Kenya, Indian Ocean and all over the world is alarming, the two Principles are sitting on a timed bomb which is about to consume and destroy Kenyans for good. We all know that Somali Government operate in Eastleigh Kenya and Kenyans are not able to own their houses or businesses in Eastleigh, who are we fooling in the aftermath?
For the above listed and many unspoken issues circulating in our minds, we feel President Kibaki and PM Raila's two some meeting does not represent the interest of the Kenyan public and will not provide successful implementation of the New Constitution according to Public Needs and Demand as per the mandate, and the Law and the security of all Kenyans without discrimination or intimidation.
The Coalition government therefore cannot deliver but will generate some more delay tactics and will engaged on a more advanced pattern of roller-coaster of a sad state of affair. The wind of change is here blowing from the middle east, we cannot let it pass without tapping it for the change we all need for a Newness of life where poverty should be placed in history books for reference.
It is Public's interest and concern that Ways and Means for an early Institutional Caretaker Government be implemented so that the necessary factors for The Implementation of the New Constitution is completed on time and that the 2012 electioneering is done in the spirit of the National Reform Accord Agenda in order to achieve the Free and Fair election and that the Peace, Reconstruction and Reconciliation is met within conducive corridors of Local Tribunal and clear cut democratization that benefits all.
Thank you all,
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - -
Kibaki and Raila in new deal
By OLIVER MATHENGE omathenge@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Wednesday, February 23 2011 at 22:43
President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Wednesday appeared to bury the hatchet as they pledged to work together to end quarrels in the Grand Coalition Government.
The two met at Harambee House for nearly two hours a day after the President withdrew a list of nominees to four top government jobs, which the PM had opposed. (Read: Kibaki withdraws list of nominees)
The meeting started around 12.40pm and ended at around 2.30pm. The two were expected to discuss the nomination of a new Attorney-General.
Sources described it as “cordial” and that the President and the PM “clarified” many issues that were driving a wedge between them.
The meeting came as it emerged that Mr Odinga was to directly criticise the President at his Tuesday press conference, but was forced to change his written statement after the contentious list was withdrawn. (Read: What PM was to say before Kibaki address)
Mr Odinga had said he was not consulted in the nomination of Justice Alnashir Visram (Chief Justice), Prof Githu Muigai (Attorney-General), Mr Kioko Kilukumi (Director of Public Prosecutions) and Mr William Kirwa (Controller of Budget). (Read: Kibaki names new Chief Justice as ODM protests)
On Wednesday, the two principals are said to have agreed on “full and closer cooperation” in government. It was not clear who had accompanied the Prime Minister to the meeting as he left Harambee House in his vehicle.
National Accord
The President was escorted out by his private secretary, Prof Nick Wanjohi, and head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura.
A number of appointments to constitutional offices are lined up in the next few months as the Constitution stipulates that all new appointments have to be made by August 27 this year and that the President has to consult the Prime Minister in accordance with the National Accord.
A number of commissions are also to be put in place and most require that the President, with the authority of Parliament, appoint their chairpersons.
One of the key appointments is that of Central Bank Governor. The current holder’s first term ends next Friday. The appointing authority can choose to extend Mr Njuguna Ndungu’s tenure for another four years. (Read: Parliament directs Uhuru to issue statement over CBK governor)
Other key appointments coming up include that of the Inspector-General of the National Police Service and two deputies. The Inspector-General is to be appointed by the President with the approval of Parliament.
The Kenya Police Service and the Administration Police Service will each be headed by a Deputy Inspector-General appointed by the President with the recommendation of the National Police Service Commission.
The President is also required to make appointments to the National Police Service Commission. The Commission will consist of a person who is qualified to be appointed as a High Court Judge, two retired senior police officers and three civilians of high integrity.
Other upcoming appointments include the chairpersons and members to the National Land Commission, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Public Service Commission, the Salaries and Remuneration Commission and the National Police Service Commission.
Each commission shall consist of at least three, but not more than nine members. Their identification and their recommendation is to be prescribed in each of the respective legislations. They will then be approved by the National Assembly and appointed by the President.
The Constitution requires composition of the national executive to reflect the regional and ethnic diversity of the people of Kenya.
The same is required for the appointments on the command of the Defence Force, National Police Service, Commissions and Independent offices.
Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee chairman Mohamed Abdikadir said Parliament would seek to safeguard the integrity of the hiring process.
However, he said competitive recruitment was not suitable for all the jobs but said inclusion of the youth and women was an indispensable requirement.
“Justice and Legal Affairs committee chairman Ababu Namwamba took a similar line: “The President and Prime Minister need to sustain unflinching fidelity to the new constitutional order, whose dawn they oversaw.
Their task will be made easier by honest, direct engagement instead of giving space to proxy duels between their respective aides most of whom are more interested in succession politics.”
Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Mutula Kilonzo said: “Article 10 of the Constitution requires public participation. Therefore, there must be competitive recruitment for all jobs. They must be advertised to give everyone an equal opportunity.”
Kenya: Barclays Bank; Moving From Talking to Tasking
from odhiambo okecth
Friends,
Now this is what we call; Moving From Talking to Tasking.
Barclays Bank spent Kshs 30m last year supporting various organizations who are working with marginalized communities in providing for them alternative clean energy eg Solar, Hydro, Bio Gas as well as re-cycling of waste plastics.
We are also happy that Barclays did support KCDN in 2008 when the then Haile Sellassie Branch Manager and staff members visited us. The Manager later supported the provision of Sanitary towels to the Girls who were then in the KCDN Child Support Initiative. Visit http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com for more details.
We at KCDN must take this opportunity to congratulate their kind gesture to the many CBOs they are working with. We are looking forward to initiating a structured partnership between KCDN and Barclays Bank that will see their involvement in the Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign.
The Clean-up Exercise in Nairobi is set for Saturday 26th Feb at Huruma and Mathare area. We have the follwing support so far;
Rivers of Peace - 100 seedlings that we will plant on the day.
Area Ward Managers- Huruma and Kiamaiko- Basic tools- rakes, wheelbarrows, spades etc
Local CBOs- voluntary work force- Note- no one will be paid to clean his/her neighbourhood
We are appealing to all Friends of KCDN, Institutions, Religious Bodies, Schools and all People of Goodwill to give us their support as they participate all across Kenya.
We are also happy to announce that the residents of Malindi under Mr. Titus Kangangi are organizing themwelves for the Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign. We know we will make some difference on 26th Feb all across Kenya.
Again, this is what we are championing at KCDN; Moving From Talking to Tasking.
A Clean Kenya Starts With Me.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch
CEO KCDN Nairobi
Nationwide Coordinator - Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0724 365 557 0735 529 126
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com
Facebook; Odhiambo T Oketch
Odhiambo T Oketch is the current Chairman to the City Council of Nairobi Stakeholders Evaluation Team on Performance Contracting and Rapid Results Management. He is also Chair to the Nyamonye Catholic Church Development Fund.He was also the Co-Chair and Coordinator of The Great Nairobi Walk against Corruption that was held in Nairobi on the 22nd October 2010
Board; Mr. Rashid Juma [Chair], Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch [CEO], Mr. Elijah Agevi, Mr. Gichane Muraguri, Ms Kethi D Kilonzo,Hon Lewis Nguyai, Mr. Oduor Ong’wen, Mr. Lameck Siage, Dr Grace Ongile, Mr. Sam Olendo, Mr. Felix Kibet- US and Ms Brigitte Frey- Switzerland
- - - - - - - - - - -
From: Gichuhi, Regina: BB Kenya
Subject: RE: More Teams join the Nationwide Clean-up Campaign
To: "odhiambo okecth" Date: Sunday, February 20, 2011, 10:53 PM
Odhiambo,
You will also be happy to know that last year, we donated Kshs.30m to various organizations who are working with marginalised Communitiues in providing for them alternative clean enegy eg Solar, Hydro, Bio Gas as well as re-cyclying of waste plastics.
------------------------------
Community Relations Manager-Kenya
Barclays Africa
Corporate Affairs
Barclays Bank (K) Ltd.
Office Physical Address: Barclays Plaza,3rd Floor
Postal address: P.O.Box 30120 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya: A lost Generation and its Potential Social,Political and Economical Unrest
The Kenyan economy is beset by problems such as high unemployment and rising prices which could fuel civil unrest as 2012 elections approaches
Our leaders have gradually abandoned programs and initiatives that will stem unemployment, rising food prices, rising fuel prices latter has led to increased fares but these leaders have found its good to engage in sideshows about 4 nominations that wont add Ugali and Sukuma to our Menu.
We have Kenyans starving in some parts of this nation and we have solutions but we don't want to institute legal mechanisms and framework to help alleviate food crisis in Kenya.
Housing in Kenya is very poor for many but leaders are not willing to work on policies that will make housing affordable for all.
I will like to remind our 220 plus MPs that they need to read and hear loudly voices of Kenyans on current events unfolding both in Kenya and in Africa which begun in Ivory Coast,then Tunisia,Egypt finally what is happening in Morocco and Libya could spell doom for us too.
Rising food and fuel prices in recent months have already hit poorer people in slums like Kibera,Majengo these are factors behind massive anti-government protests in Egypt and in Tunisia, whose president was ousted last month.
And as tensions keeps increasing as we approach 2012 elections, we could witness a rising social and political instability within Kenya - even war.
The above may sound far fetched but in reality it will happen unless we take proper measures that will stem unrest and identify ways we shall full engage the young generation that is now gradual becoming a lost generation.
Thanks
Gibson Amenya
Kenya Young Greens
gamenya@kenyayounggreens.org
Author of Wizards of Elections-Samuel Kivuiti and Ballot Boxes
Kenya: Call to action; 26th Feb 2011
From: odhiambo okecth
Friends,
The 4th Saturday of February will be on 26th, this coming Saturday.
Following the call by the Rt Hon Prime Minister on Kenyans to turn out in large numbers every 4th Saturday of the Month to clean their immediate neighbourhoods, 12 CBOs around Huruma and Mathare area in Nairobi have stepped forward and we will be cleaning Juja Road around the Chiefs Camp.
We want to thank Rivers of Peace for donating 100 seedlings that we will plant on the same date.
I want to congratulate the following groups led by Jatheth, Steve and Yvonne for meeting with us this morning and promising that their teams will join in the clean up exercise on a voluntary basis;
Rivers of Peace
Reality Tested Youth Programme
Vision Youth Camp
Mabatini Youth Group
Community Transformers
Manigro Youth Group
Madoya Tumaini Youth Group
Ngei 1 Development
Chini Ya Mnazi
Uprising Youth Group
Young Ladies
Nyakach Ladies
No one will be paid for cleaning his immediate neighbourhood.
We also want to thank the Provincial Administration, the City Council of Nairobi, the area Councilors and the Local Member of Parliament for accepting to joining us in the Clean up.
We want to appeal to all Kenyans whenever you are, be it in Mombasa, Garissa, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega- all over the country, please let us join hands and clean our immediate neighbourhoods.
KCDN would like to appreciate all Kenyans who have Moved From Talking to Tasking. This is our country and it is us who will make her clean.
A Clean Kenya Starts With Me.
Peace and blessings,
Odhiambo T Oketch
CEO KCDN Nairobi
Nationwide Coordinator - Monthly Nationwide Clean-up Campaign
PO Box 47890-00100,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0724 365 557 0735 529 126
http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com
friendsofkcdn@yahoogroups.com
Facebook; Odhiambo T Oketch
Odhiambo T Oketch is the current Chairman to the City Council of Nairobi Stakeholders Evaluation Team on Performance Contracting and Rapid Results Management. He is also Chair to the Nyamonye Catholic Church Development Fund.He was also the Co-Chair and Coordinator of The Great Nairobi Walk against Corruption that was held in Nairobi on the 22nd October 2010
Board; Mr. Rashid Juma [Chair], Mr. Odhiambo T Oketch [CEO], Mr. Elijah Agevi, Mr. Gichane Muraguri, Ms Kethi D Kilonzo,Hon Lewis Nguyai, Mr. Oduor Ong’wen, Mr. Lameck Siage, Dr Grace Ongile, Mr. Sam Olendo, Mr. Felix Kibet- US and Ms Brigitte Frey- Switzerland
Announcement of Death, Prayers and Financial Support for Aggrey Naya
It is with humble acceptance of God’s will that we announce the death of Aggrey Mulo Naya. Mr. Naya is husband to Magdalene Syombua Naya, father to Sheila and Samantha Naya, son of the late Jason Naya Osero and Monica Ngonga Naya. He is son in law to Joyce Wavinya King’oo and the Late George King’oo of Kawethei, Kangundo, and businessman in Machakos Town. He is a brother to Philip Naya, Hilda Odhiambo, Walter Naya, Julia Juma, the late David Naya, Willis Naya, Pamela Naya, Timothy Naya, and Milka Naya. He is brother in-law to Charles Juma, Charles Omondi, Isaac Kachama, Peris Mbithe, Paul King’oo (Boston, USA) and Fred Mutua.
He lived in Kenya before relocating to Maryland, USA in 2010.
Mr. Aggrey’s home is in Obambo Village, Boro Division, Siaya Alego location in Siaya County.
Prayers and fund raising will be held on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at Disciples Fellowship International (DFI) Church (located at Colesville Baptist Church premises), 13100 Andrew Drive, Silver Spring MD, 20904, from 6 pm and 11 pm.
Date : February 26, 2011
Time : From 6 pm to 11 pm
Location : Colesville Baptist Church, 13100 Andrew Drive, Silver Spring MD, 20904
Your prayers and support are highly appreciated.
Please send your donations to:
Account Name : Magdalene Syombua Naya
Bank : Bank of America
Account Number : 446-017-779-564
Routing # : 052-001-633
Zip Code : 20904
Contacts
: Clive Mutunga (703-868-1320)
: Willy Randiki (301-792-8692)
: Justus Mulwa (301-455-3030)
: Paul King’oo (978-230-9993)
: Kasesya Mativo (240-505-3437)
: Rose Kioko (703-863-4330)
Ivory Coast: 6 killed as army opens fire in Ivory Coast; African Union panel arrives
Folks,
Laurent Gbagbo should just relinquish power to the opposition Leader Alassane Ouattara respectfully and avoid confrontational....this is just going too far and hurting many more unnecessarily.
Laurent Gbagbo knows his demands cannot be accepted in any way, because it is unconstitutional and illegal and his continued forceful stay is totally unproceedural and unfair.
His case must now be referred to ICC Hague and he should not expect any compromise.
A win is a win an he must respect the spirit of Voting power and Democratization so people can move on.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - - - -
6 killed as army opens fire in Ivory Coast; African Union panel arrives
By MARCO CHOWN OVED , Associated Press
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - Elite troops loyal to the sitting president Laurent Gbagbo entered opposition neighborhoods in Ivory Coast's biggest city on Monday, throwing grenades, firing machine guns and attacking the population with rocket launchers, witnesses said.
The attack happened as an African Union delegation arrived in a last-ditch effort to find a solution to the crisis that has gripped this nations since a contested election nearly three months ago.
At least six people were killed during the Monday assault, including a 14-year-old boy who was rushed to a local clinic in the Treichville district of Abidjan. Doctors said he died of blood loss and a reporter saw his corpse, his chest and abdomen crisscrossed by hundreds of shrapnel wounds.
A few blocks away, dozens of community members sat vigil around a second body, this one of a young man draped in a bloody sheet who had half his face torn off by what witnesses said was fire from a machine gun mounted on the back of a police truck.
A reporter was led to the spot where two more people had died, and whose bodies had been taken away. At least 15 people were wounded and those that could talk say they recognized the signature red berets of the presidential guard as well as the elite unit's insignia on the trucks.
The crackdown happened in neighborhoods that support opposition leader Alassane Ouattara, who is the internationally recognized president of Ivory Coast. He is expected to receive the AU delegation on Tuesday inside the hotel where he has been barricaded since the Nov. 28 election, unable to govern the country he was elected to lead because the sitting president refuses to go.
Laurent Gbagbo, who has been in power for a decade, has refused to accept the results issued by his country's electoral commission which are considered legitimate by the United Nations and all the international observation missions. The country's constitutional council, headed by one of Gbagbo's closest advisers, has overturned those results.
While the sound of explosions echoed through the town, the pomp and ceremony that accompanied the arrival of four African presidents sent to resolve the political crisis continued as if nothing was going on.
The AU delegation first went to the presidency and is expected on Tuesday to head to the Golf Hotel, a resort hotel on an arm of Abidjan's lagoon where Ouattara and his staff live under 24-hour U.N. guard. The panel created by the African Union comes on the heels of numerous other mediation efforts and is the latest attempt to try to find a graceful exit for Gbagbo, who has been able to cling to power because he still controls the army.
The U.N. estimates close to 300 people have been killed since the vote, a majority of whom were supporters of Ouattara.
The five president panel includes the presidents of Chad, Mauritania, South Africa and Tanzania. Another panel member, Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore, canceled his trip to Abidjan after a violent youth militia aligned with Gbagbo descended on the airport late Sunday, saying they planned to attack Compaore's convoy if he attempted to enter the country.
Of the five, Compaore has been the most vocal supporter of Ouattara. By contrast, Zuma has suggested that the results, which have already been certified by the United Nations and accepted by governments around the world, should be reviewed.
Neither side believes the mediation effort will work. Gbagbo's advisers have said they will not accept the panel's conclusions if the panel attempts to tell Gbagbo to leave.
Ouattara's side is equally pessimistic. His prime minister, Guillaume Soro, said last week he expects the negotiation attempt to fail. He called on Ouattara's supporters to launch an 'Egypt-style' revolution.
In Ouattara neighborhoods over the weekend, police opened fire in places where residents were attempting to hold meetings. On Monday, shots could be heard ringing out from Treichville including what sounded like heavy artillery.
Large caliber bullet holes riddled the storefronts in Treichville and a hole 2-feet in diameter was visible in the concrete side of a building that, witnesses say, was blown open by a rocket. Doctors say security forces used grenades during the operation.
Kady Konate, the president of the youth branch of Ouattara's party in Treichville said that demonstrators had tried to take to the streets.
"We called on our supporters to line the sides of the boulevard," said Konate. "The police pushed us back into the neighborhood, where there were lots of bystanders caught by surprise."
Monday afternoon residents built makeshift defenses to keep the police out, including pits dug into the middle of the road and fires lit in each intersection.
Speaking inside the clinic in Treichville, Amadou Koffi said he and his friends ventured out when they saw smoke rising from the street. It was tear gas, he said.
Kenya: Follow the Constitution — That is all.
From: Keen Nyamwange
Party of No Unity (PNU) never ceases to amaze me in their luck of National interest. They care less about the Constitution but all they think about is ways and means to out-smart the other side. My position is clear: PNU or ODM it does not matter, please adhere to the law of the land and put politics aside when it comes to matters of national security. Democracy must be protected by all. This is why we had blood shed in Kenya in the first place. Great care must be taken to prevent another bloodbath. It is simple: Follow the Constitution. This should be clear even to the least learned. The Speaker of the House gave them a chance which they blew. Now, just let the two Principals go back to the drawing board and stop creating a stage for another mayhem.
Keen Nyamwange
KENYA: SHAME ON YOU UHURU
From GEOFFREY AJIKI
When the renowned South African Writer Allan Parton penned his book, CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY, his main intention was to bring to light what the common folk of the Apartheid era thought of their government.He starts from the injustices that affects the society and which propels the young Absalom Khumalo who goes to the capital to look for his aunt Getrude venture into crime. Being used to life in the village, Absalom finds a totally different environment on reaching Johanesburg and instead of concentrating on what brought him,he joins criminal gangs that sprung up mainly in the hope of fighting the oppressive apartheid regime.Though their actions are partly justified,it reaches a point that they deviate from the initial goal and instead start stealing from the white settlers. Absalom finally murders a white settler who was trying to help Africans and who had dissaproved of the apartheid regime.His actions are no different from what the son of the founding father, the late Kenyatta's son Uhuru is now doing.Being one of those who had the opportunity to be born and bred in State House and who watched as his father sowed the seeds of discord that is now affecting Kenya in the anme of tribalism, it surprises that Uhuru can bang tables in full glare of the cameras and stand infront of a gathering in Kikuyu to continue from where his father left by inciting the people against others who he terms as uncircumcised. It suddens me to see the sons of those who messed this country from independence stand up to continue from where their fathers left.What we want as Kenyans is totally different from what the Uhrus and the Kalonzos of this world want.They want to protect their wealth while we want to good governance.To achieve this , they have resorted to using shortcuts to intimidate the people and to install people in key positions to serve their intrests.These are opportunists who stuck with the old order and only moved when they felt that bthere was no way out for them.Kalonzo in particular worked with Kibaki and his cronies to protect the oppressive Moi regime which would have remained in power had it not been for the man they now refre to as their common enemy.While Raila and his colleagues were spending their time at the Nyayo torture chambers,Kalonzo was being driven around in big cars and never cared to fight for the democracy that he now wants to enjoy.Uhuru was probably miles away in Boston enjoying the money that his father had stolen from Kenyans.When KIbaki realized that the Mugumo tree he had put his hopes in could finally be cut,he jumped ship and joined an opposition which he had vehemently objected to its creation while under the shade of the Mugumo.Today, this people who were then united in protecting the status quo are all over messing up the country and sowing hatered among the people.The democracy that they opposed but that was won by gallant soldiers of this nation is being misused by the very people that were against it.If we continue to let this people divide us then we would not be able to blame anybody for our plight
Kenya: Insist on integrity when vetting judges
Folks,
A carefully-planned and realistic budget is like a road map plan for a take off to fulfil needs in a Domestic House, Start a business, run existing business or lead a management team in a Government or get on to a journey. The budget therefore include considering what you already have in your hands or within your resouce as a tangible point you may want to negotiate from. Most likely, e.g. in Business, you may want to consider Manpower resources, Natural Resources and financial resources that are quantified to make a Realistic whole Budget Cost and Expenditure. Without which, you may have problem in knowing how much petrol/Gas you may need for your driving on a journey, or how much money you may need to pay for your transportation to and from your journey. How much pocket money you need to spend for food and other expenditures. In case your are driving, you will need to know and draw details of where to start and end, which more convenient and shortest route will take you to your destination without overspending or running short in the midway....in the event, you may want to avoid taking too much loan which causes Economic Crisis and fall-out.
To run a deficit, is to have shortage in fulfilling your planned objectives in a budget, where you realize you are falling short on the required amount to succeed in your obligations.
A Budgeting excersise is therefore a monthly, half yearly or yearly budgeting plan evaluation and assessement to keep the balance of activities so there are control and limitation of spending to avoid deficit.
In a Government perspective, a balance to incorporate all areas are necessary so to avoid falling into deficit or surplus but have their finances spread out on a Collective Burgain Rights of all stakeholders.
In Africa, Leaders are soiling into debt and have fallen into serious financial problems because of poor budgeting allocation that are leading the people of Africa into serious financial collapse as a result of accummulative debt, which is a burden on the Public to make a repayment. Most importantly, the ordinary Kenyans and the rest of African poor have no idea why and how they got into debt expenses, why they are paying high cost in buying foodstuff, in rent, in education fees, in Health, in transportation, in energy and water etc., These are the most fundamental basic needs for an ordinary Kenyan or African in Africa.
For those retirees, their retirement benefits are used by the Government in loaning businesses who take Government Contracts to do business and these are equally included in the budgeting. As a result, the poor are the ones paying Taxes while the rich who uses public funds do not spend a penny to boost the tax.
In Kenya, workers have been contributing from their pay check to pay NSSF, National Social Security Fund, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Ministry of Labour Employers tax on LEVY for training workers, Value Added Tax on commodities and food (VAT) paid to the manufacturers and Sales Tax. The Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOPs).
The Kenya Revenue Authority collect Employers Deducted income tax, Manufacturers and Traders, including the International Taxes by Deloitte.
Public Taxes are seen to be paying salaries to Mungiki who have been crafted into Police Force, Special Interest Lobbyist who loot in the money from the World Bank, IMF, IFAD etc., and paying the dead who are included in the monthly pay-rolls, the retirement benefits that are given out to politically right businessmen and women in terms of soft loans without incorporating taxes on the loans, while denying the general public money to start and operate small loans for private self-employed business to create the Middle-Class. These and many other need to be investigated. These are some of the reason why the Budget is fake and does not represent the true facts of reality, the reason Uhuru must step down and the Ministry of Finance investigated. We demand for Authenticated true reports of the Budget.
In the Government Money Management, and according to the New Constitution, Collective Burgain Rights and Information, DEMANDS that Public get involved into their business. This is the reason, the Kibaki Nomination of the three is contentious. It is for part of this factor that women have to play a bigger roll since their DOMESTIC BUDGET and spending is heavily affected. It is for this reason why DEVOLUTION, the Majimbo Federal Government is fundamentally important, where Revenue allocation for distribution according to Resource and manpower potential is crucial, where land ownership by the peasant farmers are the Stakeholders and must be represented by their regional Cooperative Sector for Social Entrepreneurship management including the consulting professionals and the skilled self-employed are contributors whose interests are equally incorporated in the Budget. These and many more including Employee Unions who are Representatives of the employees protective interests are also stakeholders.
It is fundamentally important that all Collective Burgain Rights are included in the Budget Design and the Stakeholders participate in the design of the Budget to cross check the budget while ensuring that all personal spending needs and distributions are accounted for. To also ensure that the rich also pay taxes for their goods and services. As a result, we feel Public Interests are in Jeopardy.
Why I am troubled, and What I have as a problem with the two Principles is how Kibaki and PNU including PM Raila believe that the nomination problem involving the hand picked candidates is an easy matter and can be solve by two Principles. This is wishful thinking. It has been observed that the current Leaders have personal interests and have personal business being run utilizing public resource and facilities, and this puts them on a Compromised state-of-affair. They are all engaged in Conflict of Interests, the reason Kibaki Nominations has been dominated by rejection and has acquired a big reaction from professionals and the public.
With the kind of potentials that Kenya and Africa have, I see no reason why African are in serious poverty situation. I believed, Leaders have failed to provide Leadership in the Management of Public Affairs. It is time there be instituted people of leadership and special talents to reinforce the driving principles of success in the Governance and within the elected Policy making bodies of Ways and Means who will represent public needs, demands and mandate and see to it that as Stakeholders, their interests are fairly looked into.
People feel their TaxPayers money is not being handled under safe hands, but are being run to satisfy corrupt dealings, the reason there are too much Graft and Impunity taking high toll. The reason 2007 election fell-apart. The reason there was heavy casualty as a result of Genocide, the reason why Moi is still rulling remotely, the reason why Government is in pain to utilize public money on Lobbying for corrupt deals and for Ocampo Six, the reason the Government is in the business of "Obstructing Legal Justice" to achieve the Status Quo "Business as Usual" so to keep "Birds of the Same Feather" co-joined together in their Mission, the reason why Kibaki is furiously rejecting Marende Nomination to suffice their autonomy of their business in the utilization of Public TaxPayer funds.
Kenyans do not believe the Spirit of the signed National Reform Accord is fully embraced by the two Principles. It is my concern that women's voices, the reason they ran to Court is not taken seriously by the two Principles and thereby, their sworn Oath Taking to Uphold and respect the Policy Legal Rights and MANDATE as contained in the New Constitution through the Referendum under their Leadership has been defaulted and severed, especially when anger and reactions begun to take hight toll after Speaker Marende gave the rulling on the nominations.
I believe and trust that, Speaker Marende gave a fair rulling and spoke according to the spirit of the New Constitution, and that Kibaki's nominations are unconstitutional.
The Public have the right to take this matter seriously and make sure there is a fresh start to nominating the Chief Justice and Attorney General, the kind of person who can be trusted in protecting the interests of Citizen first and foremost.
Those accusing and contesting Speaker Marende are the enemy of the people, and the people must stand together to protect their interests, so nominations must be done from scratch, including background checks performed and Citizens are given opportunity to endorse a person of their interest. The threats that were sounded by Kibaki, Uhuru, Ruto, Kalonzo are foes are baseless and inconsequential.
Justice Angawa of the High Court Judge should be included in the list of nominations and allow popular vote to take presidence.
It is rediculous, embarrasing and shameful to see Kibaki and Team before public camera contesting Hon. Speaker Marende's resolution. It is high time responsibility and integrity be the yardstick score for all nominees who must be entrusted with public affairs and who can be relied and trusted to deliver goods and services to the safisfaction of the People who are paying heavily for their salaries and upkeeps in terms of taxes and security.
We fought so hard for the New Constitution and we want to see reality of matters.
I conclude that the Ocampo six must have a place at the ICC Hague while the local Tribunal is also set up with trustworth credible people of sound background who will provide the spirit of Peace, Reconcilliation and Reconstruction in the Forward Strategy Plan to lead and direct business of the Kenya and Africa we all want.
Thank you all,
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
- - - - - - - - - - -
Insist on integrity when vetting judges
The Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill now before Parliament sets clear thresholds for vetting judges and magistrates as required by the new Constitution.
It seeks to prevent the process from becoming a witchhunt, as happened with previous efforts to clean out the Judiciary; Judges; and restore public faith and trust in the office. The suitability thresholds for judges and magistrates include, but are not limited to, their "intellectual capacity, legal judgment, diligence, substantive and procedural knowledge of the law, organisational and administrative skills, and the ability to work well with a variety of people.
They are also supposed to have sufficient oral and written communication skills. But all these are useless without the most important qualification of all: integrity.
The Bill defines integrity as "demonstrable consistent history of honesty and high moral character in professional and personal life; respect for professional duties arising under the codes of professional and judicial conduct; and ability to understand the need to maintain propriety and the appearance of propriety."
Unfortunately, many of our political leaders appear to have a totally different interpretation of what makes one suitable to be a magistrate or judge of the High Court. For them, the most important qualifications for one to hold any of these offices are allegiance to their party leader, being of the right ethnic orientation and a willingness to accept bribes in return for favourable rulings.
There is no point in skirting around the truth, which is that a corrupt Judiciary serves their interests better than a clean one.
If indeed our political leaders were sincerely keen on giving Kenyans a clean Judiciary, we would not have been treated to the circus over the recent nominations by the Executive to four key constitutional offices. Just the mere hint that the process was not above board, and the furore and indignation it has aroused among Kenyans would have been enough for them to demand that the list go back to the two principals.
The Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill seeks to address inadequacies in law as regards standards for members of the bench who are supposed to dispense justice equally and without favour.
Speaker’s wise ruling
The US system remains the best example of how to choose judges and magistrates.
The founding Fathers were appalled at the idea of a president who picks judges at will simply because of the significant power they wield from the bench, and ensured that every judge nominated by the president must undergo vetting by the Senate to determine their suitability for the bench
Which is why the ruling by House Speaker Kenneth Marende yesterday that effectively returned the list of nominees to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga is welcome. The Speaker took time to quote extensively from the law and precedents set by the House to show why it is important that not just the letter but the spirit of the law be followed in appointments to constitutional offices such as that of the Chief Justice, among others.
It is now important that both Party of National Unity and Orange Democratic Movement MPs step back from brinkmanship and focus on passing the pending Bills in Parliament that should anchor the new Constitution.
The matter of the nominees is now back in the hands of the two principals who are now expected to make the process more inclusive by involving the Judicial Service Commission and the Public Service Commission.
It was their decision to lock out the two institutions that threw a spanner into the entire nominations process.
This is a time for cool heads and compromise, not reckless utterances. And for this reason, the Kibaki and Raila should reign in their lieutenants and consult in the true meaning of the National Accord.
Triumph of constitutionalism
February 18, 2011 | 2 likes, 0 dislikes
http://www.ntv.co.ke
It is not the first time the speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Otiato Marende has assumed the role of national arbitrator. Marende has been described by many as the de-factor leader of the coalition affairs. His latest ruling appears to have angered a section of MPs in parliament. Pamela Asigi reprots on the many Solomonic decisions the speaker has had to take over the years.
Kenya: Prominent contractor want to be deputy governor in Homa-Bay County
Writes Leo Odera Omolo.
A communication expert who is now an enterprising building contractor in Nyanza and Western Provinces has declared his interest in contesting for the position of deputy governor in the Homa-Bay County comes the year 2012.sting.
Jeremiah Achilla-Gogo, aged 50 years was born in a political house of the late Joseph Gogo Ochok who in the late 1950 was one of the founder of the defunct South Nyanza District Political Association {SINDAPA} and served as the association’s secretary general from its inception to the timer it was dissolved at the birth of KANU in 1960.
The late Ochok also contested Karachuonyo parliamentary seat in 1963 as the official KANU candidate, but lost to the late Elijah Omolo-Agar who had vied for the seat as an independent candidate.
Gogo said politics was in his blood, and that is why he has decided to contest for the less crowded position of the deputy governor.
Photo of Mr Jeremiah Achilla Gogo who wants to contest for deputy governor in Homa-Bay County
Gogo decried the falling standard of education in Luo-Nyanza, saying if elected he will work hand in hand with his other colleagues and officials from the Ministry of Education working in the field to ensure that the education standard in the region is restored to its former.
He also blamed the current legislators in the 10th parliament for not having adequately supervised the utilization of government revolving funds such as CDF in the best interest of the rural community.
The government has pumped millions of shillings through the CDF to assist the population living in the rural areas to spur development of essential service providing such as dispensaries, health centers, primary and secondary schools and other infrastructure in rural areas, but the fund has not been put into proper use.
Gogo said Homa-Bay County has a lot to offer to its residents, and there is an open avenue for raising the money it needs through taxation of the abundance natural resources, fishing, tourism and farming. People must be sensitized to redouble their effort in farming as one way of promoting wealthy and eradicating the poverty.”This one of the most important task the leaders should be involved.
He appealed to the electorate to vote wisely and make sure they elect only development conscious leaders with excellent past track-record of active participation in development activities and not sweet-talkers.
Gogo is a staunch member of ODM whose father was very close to the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga in the old Nyanza political derby of the 1960s and 1970s.
He said if given a chance to serve as the deputy governor by the electorate he will work hard with other elected leaders to improve the lives of fishermen, groundnut and cotton farmers in the regions laying low along the shoreline of Lake Victoria.
And he will also work hard to promote tourism in the region as well as look for investors to open up exploration of minerals.
Ends
Kenya: Are we trading on harmful grounds?
Hi all
I am just wondering if politicians have considered the following things?
1 . If they make good their threats to oust the prime Minster what happens to Kenya?
2. R they planning another violence?
3. Does kibaki have an intelligence on the ground and do they have an idea of what Kenyans what?
4. What do these people have up their sleeves?
Regards
Maryfaith