Category Archives: Elections

KENYA: RESIDENTS OF NDHIWA CALLS FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN DURING THE BY-ELECTION AND STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE USE OF HIRED POLITICAL GOONS AND CRIMINAL THUGS.

Writes Arrum-Tidi Ogonglo In Kisumu City.

NDHIWA residents have vowed to voluntary stamp out the use of political goons for the purpose of intimidating the electorate in the area during the impending by-election to fill the vacant parliamentary seat following the untimely of the former MP for the area Joshua Orwa Ojode.

The Interim Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC}. The by-election is slated or September 13, 2012.

A number of political luminaries in Ndhiwa, however, have come out gun blushing and strongly condemned the use of political goon and criminal hugs in the areas.

The wholesale condemnation followed the last Monday fierce battle in Ndhiwa Town which resulted in cores of people sustaining bodily injuries

Aye-witnesses reported that the fight which involved close to 300 combatants was between the loyalist supporter of the late Joshua the three have been criss-crossing the full length and width of the expansive constituency in the company of mobile crowds and excessively drunken goons appearing in almost each and every funeral home.

One of the leading aspirants Ted Odero yesterday called upon the ODM head office to ensure that anyone whose name I associate with the use of political thuggery and promotion of acts

Speaking to this writer from his office based in the lakeside Tanzanian town of MwanzaTed Odero emphasized the need for the Ndhiwa people to maintain peace during the campaign for the by-election and called on all the aspirants to ensure they engage in gentlemen and peaceful campaign, which is devoid of the use of violence. “We would like to have a peaceful transition from the late Joshua Orwa Ojode to the new MP. We would like to do it the Ghanaian style where the dead head of state was replaced in a peaceful style without any political hustling,”

Ted Odero is one among those highly favored to clinch the seat is to face the stiffest opposition from two other populist aspirants, Jeremiah Owiti and Louis Onyango Otieno who is a cousin of the late Ojode. Louis Otieno who is a senior manager with the Microsoft Computer International in East, Southern and Central African regions based I the Kenyan capital, Nairobi

Louis Otieno who is currently on a short visit to the US could not be reached for his comment, But multiple sources within the late Ojode’s clan of Kabwayi has confided to us that the clan which I the third largest I the constituency would lie to back one of their own to succeed the ate Ojode, and that Louis Otieno is also the favorite of the ODM members who are scattered in the expansive. Otieno who has yet to declare his candidature in the by-election join the race then it will be the battle of Titans between him and the most eloquent and aggressive competitor in the name Ted Odero who is credited for his oratory and a smooth political operative

Unconfirmed report reaching us indicated that the widow of the late Orwa Ojode Mrs Mary Ojode is under the heavy pressure by the supporters of her late husband and also close family members of the late Joshua Orwa Ojode to join the race.

So far it is not clear as to whether the recent indications that there is likely to be some court l legal tussle between Mary Ojode and her brother-in-laws over the sub-division and succession saga in the late Ojode’s vast estate could have adverse effect in her popularity. So far her popularity I the vast constituency has yet to be properly assessed and evaluated.

Ojode’s widow, however, has kept the press guessing and has so ,however, have intimated to us that Mrs Ojode is in the process and considering the option of joining he race in the by-election in order to succeed her late husband. However, Mrs Mary Ojode has yet to make her intentions known publicly over the by-election issues and could not be reached for her immediate comment.

However the senior-most member of the Ojode family is the Hon Matthews Otieno Ogingo, former two terms MP for Ndhiwa who is currently said to be unwell and is receiving medical treatment in the United State of America. Ogingo was conspicuously absent during the high profile burial of the late Ojode at his Unga farm in Central Kanyamwa.

The tension charged funeral was attended by President Mwai Kibaki the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, the entire cabinet, Assistant Ministers Permanent Secretaries and close to 100 MPs.

The coming weeks will witnessed intensified campaign activities as he more that a dozen aspirant would be trying to out do each other. The residents are expecting it to be conducted in a peaceful manner and have appealed to the ODM as a party to ensure that it will be devoid of political thuggery.

Ends

KENYA: SCORES OF PEOPLE INJURED FOLLOWING ODM SUPPORTER’S FIERCE BATTLE IN NDHIWA TOWN

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Reports Arrum Tidi Ogonglo In Homa – Bay Town

Scores of people were hurt following an outbreak of heavy fighting between the ODM supporters on Monday morning in Ndhiwa town.

Scant reports reaching here from Ndhiwa says the battle which involved close to 300 youths were between supporters of he former Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode, and those supporting a number of candidates who have declared their interest in vying forth the vacant seat in the forthcoming by-election slated for September 7,2012.

It all started when a group of party members and officials believed to be allied to a number o candidates aspiring to contest for the Ndhiwa seat during he forthcoming by-election scheduled for September 7. 2012.
One group moved to Ndhiwa town and attempted to open a new party office in the in the town. Loyalist Ojode’s supporters, however, saw no valid point in opening a new office town and insisted that all the factions within the branch could use the old office for party activities.

Dispute and serious argument ensued when each group stood its ground resulting in fierce battle. The combatant used crude weapons like rungus, jembe handles and stones. Business at the busy small rural trading center came to a halt as traders’ hurriedly closed their shops for fear of looting and scampered for safety. Market stall owners and petty traders also follow suit.

The locals blamed three unnamed would be aspirants who had launched premature campaigns in the area even long before the seat itself was declared vacant. Three unnamed aspirants have been making the rounds touring various centers addressing mobile crowds here and there.

Unconfirmed reports say 12 people sustained bodily injuries, which requires medication. Unconfirmed report says several combatants were taken into custody. This could not be confirmed immediately by either the police or members of the Provincial Administration in Ndhiwa district. It appears as if one group had preconceived plan to start the fight ad had brought weapons along with them from home, which hidden with the picnics of the town.

Joshua Orwa Ojode, the former Assistant Minister for Internal Securing together with his former boss Prof. George Saitoti and four others perished on June 10when the Police Helicopter they were flying crashed in Ngong Forest near Nairobi.

Ojode had represented he area for close to 17 years ever since 1994. Nudging by the number of people who have already declared their interest in the by – elections, all indications are that the field would be heavily crowded with even over 30 contestants join the race.

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Kenya: IIEC caught up in vested interests needs help

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From: PETER KAMAKIA

From frying pan to fire. That is IIEC for you as we speak.

Earlier rigging of voting was carried out by by stuffing ballot boxes. Now this time around the enemy is not stuffed boxes but technologically savvy techs stuffing digital votes for non existent voters using a laptop or a smart phone.

The drama at IIEC is sad to say the least. And i am really questioning the ability to provide free and fair elections to the Kenyans population?

What “electronic observers” has IIEC put in place to ensure the integrity of the system cannot be compromised. What guarantee is there that the providers of smart voting systems, the ones quarreling over tenders, have no political interests and cannot be bought with the billions of shillings that our lords of politics command.

IIEC continued sidelining of Kenyan programmers and computer experts to audit their systems has not only ensured the most expensive voting expense in the history of Kenya but a very serious possibility of a bungled election exercise as the powers that be would definitely want to be in control of voting machinery.

I pray our politicians, who are easily spotted when their interests are crossed, will arise to the occasion and seriously assist out the IIEC.

Peter Kamakia
Mitambo ICT Company
P.O.Box 25365-00100
Nairobi
Kenya

Tel: 0720219320

Kenya: Ndhiwa parliamentary seats declared vacant as dozen would be aspirants scramble to contest the by election

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DAGGERS ARE DRAWN FOR THE BATTLE OF NDHIWA BY-ELECTION AS MORE THAN A DOZEN OF ASPIRANTS DECLARED THEIR INTEREST AND INTENTION OF CONTESTING FOR THE VACANT SEAT.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo in Homa-Bay Town.

IMMMEDITELY after the speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende issued the writs declaring three parliamentary seats vacant, paving way for the by-elections, a good number of leading political personalities in Ndhiwa declared their intention to contest for the seat.

One Kenyan daily put the number of aspirants interested in vying or he Ndhiwa seat to 32. Whereas a former MP o the area dismissed some of the would be aspirant a simple “Gamblers”.

Tom Okello Obondo had served the constituency as an MP for only one and half years between 1992 and 1994. Then he was handed decisive defeat by the late Joshua Orwa Ojode who consigned him into a political limbo. T.O. Obondo is suspected to have influenced the publication of falsified figure of the registered voters in the area which deliberately to favored his Kanyamwa clan to have the largest number of registered voter in the region..

Ndhiwa constituency is comprised of five major clans, namely,Jo-Kabuoch, Jo-Kanyamwa, Jo-Kwabwayi, Jo-Kanyidoto and Jo-Kanyikela and also several other smaller immigrant settlers like Jo-Kaguria, Jo-Koguta, Jo-Komenya, Jo-Kajulu and o-Kadhola.

The correct figures of the registered voter’s distributions as per each clan is as follows;Kabuoch 28,000, Kanyamwa 24,000, Kwabwayi 16,000,Kanyidoto 12,000 and Kanyikela 6,000. The smaller sub-clans usually voted along their host clans. In this respect those sojourning in Kabuoch always voted along with the Jo-Kabuoch group which is the dominant clan and arguably the majority with more registered voters as per 2007 statistics.. The Kabuoch in this case, however, host more immigrants’ settlers than any other major clans.

The late Orwa Ojode, who hailed from the third largest clan Kwabwayi had managed to subdued his opponent or close to three decades, namely in1994, 1997, 2002 and 2007.

In the past elections, Ojode had always managed to overcome his rivals because he had relied on votes from Kabuoch, where his mother comes from. AT he same time a candidate fro Kabuoch could not win the seat, because the community has always produced several candidates thereby scuttling its majority voting strength at the polls. could not win the seat because this community usually put up several aspirants theeby scuttling its majority and voting strength. But now in the absence of Ora Ojode, the son of their doughter, the electorate in Kabuoch have vowed t back and support only one aspirant of their own.

Information making the round in Ndhiwa and its environs indicate that the three names have emerged and spreading within the public domain as the most favored candidates who are likely to carry the day.

They included that of the Mwanza and Kisumu based Marine expert Ted Odero who hail from Kabuoch.

Odero is an ODM operative and a smooth pollitical operator. Highly respected for his eloquency and militancy, is the man to watch. He is also connected to the ODM leader the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Another name which is featuring prominently in the area is that of the late Orwa Ojode’s cousin Louis Onyango Otieno, a top manager with the Microsoft Computer international. His father Matthew Otieno Ogingo who once served as a two terms Ndhiwa MP and is credited for having been Orwa Ojode’s political mentor. Louis Otieno hails from Ojode’s Kwbwayi clan.

The other political heavyweight in the area who is also eyeing for the seat is Jeremiah Owiti. Known to his peers as “Jero” Owiti who is working with an international NGO in Nairobi is said to be very much at home with the electorate back at home in Ndhiwa due to his massive financial contributions towards the various socio-economic projects.

Another possible contestant is Mrs Monica Amolo a perennial Ndhiwa parliamentary election loser who is always masquerading and bragging t be very close to the Odinga family. She was beaten hands down by Ojode in 2007, but later moved to court challenging the victory of Ojode the man who had garnered close to 48,000 against her 12,000 votes. The case was thrown out b the High court.

Monica Amolo was last year during the much flawed ODM grass root election named the Homa-Bay County branch treasurer through consensus and not through the poplar votes. She hail from kanyikela clan and not posing any threat to the three leading contenders for the by-election.

Obondo was elected to represent Ndhiwa of Ford Kenya ticket during the first multi-party election in 1992, but soon after winning the seat, he served only for one and half year between 1992 and 1994, but jumped over and crossed back to KANU. This is what paved the way for the late Orwa Ojode to clinch the easiest victory in 1994. Tom Okello Obondo, perhaps is arguably the most experienced politician in the region. But his popularity has waned a great deal . Obondo is a member of the Jo-Kanyamwa, the second largest clan in the constituency after the Jo-Kabuoch. However, he is betrayed by his wavering character of hoping from one political party to the other, something which has earned him the name of a “political turn-coat”.

Of late Obondo has been warming up to the ODM, but he is believed to be a member of the Nicholas Biwott’s National Vision party of Kenya.. He was in Biwott’s camp when the latter made a futile attempt to wrestle KANU national chairmanship from Uhuru Kenyatta four years ago.. The former Senior Resident magistrate Charles Oyoo Kanyangi is also said to be in the process of contesting in the by-election. He performed poorly in 2007. He hails from Kabuoch.

Also in is the business man Dennis Orero. He too lost in 2007 to the late Orwa Ojode.Obondo is seen as someone who has lost political direction and sent force

And from Kanyikela come Hannington Orata another perennial election loser in Ndhiwa.Some of those who have declared their interest in the seat are newcomers to Ndhiwa politics and will have to cope up with the fat emerging clannish politics.

At the same time the rumours making the round says that some of the would be aspirants in he Ndhiwa by-election are suspected to be armed with fake academic certificates. Others are said to be semi-iliterate individual characters who are expected not to pass through the Provincial Language Board that may be set up by the government to check on the candidates English and Kiswahili proficiency.

One or two of the aspirants gearing up to contest the impending Ndhiwa by-election are said not to have gone beyond Form One standard of education, though such persons are very active in ODM activities is the region.

The winner, however, will have a lot of difficulties trying to fit into the late Ojode’s shoe, judging from massive development that the region has realized ever since 1994. During Ojode’s tenure feeder and access roads criss-crossing the full length and width of the region were improved up to an all weather standards.

Nearly all secondary and primary schools received the power supplies under the government rural electrification programme. More dispensaries and heath centers were constructed, and Ojode had to ensure that there were adequate supplies of drugs to each of the medical facilities in the region.

The recent recarpetting the Rodi-Karungu new termac road via Mirogi, Ndhiwa, Ratang’a,Aora Chuodho, and Sori in Karungu-Bay is another milestone development.

This particular road apart fro linking the tourists to the nearby Ruma National Game Park in Lambwe Valley is also meant to have to improve communications between the fishermen, fish traders who can now easily access market outlet in the hinterland.

Political pundits in the region have predicted that the battle for the f supremacy will be between Ted Odero, Louis Otieno and Jeremiah Owiti with other aspirants acting like curtain-raisers.

Louis Otieno, who is currently visitng the US, has yet to publicly declared his interest in the seat. But elders from the two major sub-clans of Kwabwayi which are known as Kamdar and Kasirime have resolved to back Otieno in the hope that he could be the beneficiary of the thousands of Ojode’s sympathizers from other clans across the region.

Ends

The photo is that of mr Ted Odero a marine expert who hIs declared his inteRest in the forthcoming Ndhiwa by-eletion.

KENYA: NYANZA YOUTHS TOLD TO MOBILIZE THEMSELVES AND FORM LOBBYISTS GROUPS AND MOUNT AN ELABORATE CAMPAIGN TO PROPEL RAILA ODINGA WIN HIS PRESIDENTIAL BID.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Rangwe,Homa-Bay.

Nyanza youths were told at the weekend to mobilize themselves into various lobbyists groups and mount an elaborate campaign to ensure that the ODM leader Raila Odinga score an outright election victory over his rivals during the impending general elections.

They were also urged to go out flat and reach their counterparts in the neighboring regions and districts with goodwill missions of persuading hem o support Rail Odinga’s presidential ambition.

Addressing thousands of mourners at Nyakwadha Primary School in Kawuor village East Gem Location,Rangwe constituency within Homa-Bay County , Hilary Ochieng’ Alila who is an aspirant for the Homa-Bay County Senate seat said that Rala Odinga’s leadership credential stands tall above those of his rivals in comparison, and he is the man Kenya nation is yawning to have as the next president.

Hilary Alila was speaking during the tearful burial of the late Francis Okwany Osumba, a Kenyan technician who died in Juba,South Sudan in a mysterious circumstances in which foul play was suspected.

The deceased was the son of a Rangwe prominent trader Mzee Elly Osumba Ombuor. He survived by his widow Mrs Rebecca Atieno Odera Okwany and four young sons all of them still in primary schools.

Prior to moving to South Sudan where he was working as a technician, the late Okwany had taught at the various institutions an employee of the TSC, first at the Kisumu-based Ramogi Institute of Advanced Technology {RIAT} ,Rift Valley Polytechnics and Kitale Technical School

Alila told the mourners that Raila Odinga’s leadership credentials stands tall above those of his rivals I comparison. This is a clear evidence hat the country is yawning for this man to be the successor of President Mwai Kibaki.

Under an ODM government the unbecoming habits and practices of looting taxpayer’s money will be safely guarded against the looters and economic saboteurs and get-rich quickly racketeers and lootings of the national resources would be the things of the past. And so is corruption. This is because Raila Odinga is a true reformist. The war against abject poverty will be intensified to ensure that every Kenyan poor or rich had the right to enjoy the fruit of independence.

There will be the pragmatic policy of ensuring fair and equitable distribution of the national cake. There will be no selective groups earmarked for economic marginalization and even the currently marginalized communities would be brought on board. There will be no discrimination in the distribution of national resources. The war for the eradication of poverty will also be intensified

Alila cautioned the audience that s the election days are ticking closer,are likely to emerge cartel of prophets of doom, and political demagogues and hirelings hired by their invisible masters for the purpose of spreading dreadful and sugar coated lies against the Prime Minister by those politicians who have formed amorphous tribal alliances such as G7 not to win the presidential election but for the specific purpose of blocking Raila Odinga fro being elected the next president of the President of the Republic of Kenya.

He told the mourners, however, not to worry s the god isn’t with those rushing into forming tribal alliances to balkanize Kenyans”Because the God is no in heir favor.” An God willing he truth will prevail over the pack of their dreadful the lie and Raila Odinga will triumph

Alila urged those youths who have yet get their identity cards to rush and “take queue at the registration center and get their national identity card and use them in registering as voters during the forthcoming voters registration exercise. Use the voting cards as your best weapon for fighting to for the genuine reform and true democracy as 0ppoed to hypocrates and anti-reformist who are hell-bent to defend impunity and fight of their status quo”. It is a big shame that one family in Kenya is single handedly owning a large tracks of land which is twice bigger than Nyanza Province, while thousands of lands Kenyans are rotting and living under squalid conditions in IDP camps”.

Such leaders should surrender small fractions of their ill-gotten tracks of land to he government for re-distribution to the poor and landless Kenyans instead of running errand seeking for presidential votes.

Ends

Kenya: The contest for the new Kabondo-Kasipul seat will be between the high profile intellectuals

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THE CONTEST FOR THE NEWLY CREATED KABONDO-KASIPUL CONSTITUENCY WILL BE THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE LETTERS AS THE TOP INTELLECTUALS BATTLE IT UP FOR SUPREMACY.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The newly created Kabondo Kasipul constituency in Rachuonyo South district is likely to be center of attraction as it will attract the best brains in the region.

This is one of the 80 parliamentary constituencies which were created by the IEBC and endorsed by parliament. It has since sub-divided the densely populated former larger Kasipul-Kabondo consituency into with the new electoral area being located at the extremely eastern tip of Homa-Bay County.

It has already attracted eight aspirants, most of hem senior university lecturer and experienced political operatives an elites.

One of the perspective aspirants is Hebert Ojwang’,the former PA of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and a former director of Kenyatta National Hospital.

Ojwang’ who served one full time as the chairman of the board of directors of the Awendo based Sony Sugar Company is credited or having turned around the hitherto run-down facility.
Under Ojwng’s pragmatic and shroud leadership Sonysugar company escaped from going under and into burst to the satisfaction of both the workers and the out grower farmer who have since his departure have continued getting paid their dues for cane deliveries to the facilities at regular basis. Before that it was taking he farmers between six months to one yea before they were paid their dues for cane delivered and crushed, crushed and sold by the facility.

Ojwang’ is known as one of the shrewdest businessmen and a sooth political operative
He will, however, battle it out with political giants lie the former Kasipul-Kabondo Mp Dr Ralph Otieno Kopiyo, Prof,Richard Otieno Muga, the former director of the Medical Services in Kenya, who is now the Vice Chancellor at the Kisumu-based Great Lakes University, a senior lecturer at the Kabarak University Dr. T.M.Ayodo.

Also reported to be eyeing the seat is the former one ter MP from Kasipul-Kabondo Paddy Ahenda, the incumbent MP Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga a Mr Enock Ogutu and the beautiful and populist leader of the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake in Nyanza Mrs Eve Obara, who is the CEO of the Kenya Literature Bureau in Nairobi.

Located in the extremely North-eastern tip of Homa-bay County, Kabono-Kasipul constituency is an agricturally rich area, which is bordering Sigowet in the North East, Mugirango Wet in the south east, Nyakach in the sou southeast.Mrs Obara, however,has yet to declare her interest I the seat but only the word is being spread like the bush fire by hundreds of her supporters
Its main economic activities is agriculture. The area produces thousands of tones of sweet potatoes, coffee, tea,bananas vegetable, maize, and other cash crops.I t has two major trading centers,Kadongo and Chabera ad is served by the Ahero-Sondu-Oyugi-Kisii highway with several access and feeder roads, part curly those funded by the CDF.

End

NIGERIAN CIVIL SOCIETY ELECTION SITUATION ROOM

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From: nkwachukwu orji

Interim Statement on the Edo Gubernatorial Election

Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room commends the people of Edo State for coming out to vote in the 14 July 2012 gubernatorial election in the state. The zeal with which they participated in the election demonstrates the desire of the people of the State to elect their leaders through a free and fair election.

Reports received from our network of observers in the field indicate that INEC’s preparation for the election leaves room for improvements. The Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room observes that security agents were absent in a number of polling units, and election officials were not deployed in sufficient numbers in some polling units, prompting party agents to step in and assist the election officials in the accreditation of voters at PU 010 EBEN/NB III, Oguola primary school II, Benin City. We are also particularly disturbed by the reports that many prospective voters were disenfranchised following the omission of their names or photograph in the voters register. The problem of late arrival of election materials and delays in the commencement of accreditation and voting, which has plagued Nigeria’s elections in the past, was also observed in many polling units. In some communities, the conflict over ownership of polling units nearly marred the election. Lastly, the Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room notes with dismay the unlawful arrest and intimidation of two accredited election observers by military officers in Eghor Local Government Area.

In spite of the hitches experienced in many polling units, the distribution of materials and commencement of accreditation have however been reportedly timely in some areas, and accreditation and voting progressed largely in a peaceful manner. In particular, election officials and security agents deployed in the State have conducted themselves in a professional and commendable manner.

As collation of results begins, we urge INEC to carry out the process in a transparent and forthright manner. We call on political parties and candidates to respect the wishes of Edo people, which have been expressed in votes. They are to guard their statements and conduct themselves in a peaceful manner. We condole with the families of the three police officers and the INEC official that died in a boat mishap while carrying out election duties. The Nigerian Civil Society Election Situation Room will issue a final statement on the Edo gubernatorial election subsequently.

—
Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com
Blogu ya Habari na Picha www.patahabari.blogspot.com

USA, Ohio: NOON in Dayton: Tell Romney to release his returns!

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From: Lenore Palladino, MoveOn.org Political Action

Dear Readers or MoveOn members,

We have a huge opportunity right now to turn up the heat on Mitt Romney to release his tax returns. Can you help by delivering a message to his campaign office in Dayton Ohio USA TODAY at NOON?

Everything you’ll need can be downloaded.

Then show up today at noon at the Romney office:

3297 Seajay Dr
Beavercreek, OH 45430

Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore and the rest of the team

Dear MoveOn member,
News just broke in The Boston Globe that Mitt Romney may have been in charge of Bain Capital for three years longer than he’d previously reported—a bombshell that could change the trajectory of the presidential race.1 The press is all over the story, and people everywhere are wondering what Mitt is hiding by not releasing his tax returns from this period.

When George Romney, Mitt’s father, ran for president in 1967, he released 12 years of tax returns. He said, “one year could be a fluke, perhaps done for show.”2

But that’s all Mitt has released, one year. He willingly provided 23 years of tax returns to the McCain campaign in 2008 before being rejected for the vice presidential slot.3 Now he wants to be president—but he’s unwilling to release the same information to the American people.

Why? That’s the question—and the only way we’ll find out is if Romney releases his returns.

That’s why MoveOn members are showing up at Romney campaign offices all over the country today to turn the heat way up and deliver a simple message: Release your returns now!

There’s a Romney office in Dayton. Can you stop by TODAY at NOON to drop off our “Release Your Returns” letter to make sure they, and the media, get the message?

Yes, I’ll be there today!

If you can join in, we’ll follow up with everything you need including a copy of the newspaper article announcing George Romney’s original release of his returns that you can present to the campaign office.

Pressure has been mounting on Romney over his taxes all week after President Obama proposed extending tax cuts only for people who make less than $250,000 a year. The fact that Romney wants to give himself and the rest of the 1% even bigger tax cuts has put the issue back in the spotlight.

The one return he did release showed massive offshore investments in the Cayman Islands, a Swiss bank account, and huge deductions for things like his horse’s stables—loopholes only the super-rich can use to avoid paying their fair share.

Even Fox News just published an op-ed criticizing Romney for refusing to release more than just one selected year of his tax returns and the issue is starting to break through with independent voters.4 It’s clear that Romney’s on the wrong side of public opinion on this one and we have a chance, right now, to turn up the heat and force him to finally come clean—or end up looking untrustworthy in the eyes of voters.

Can you drop by the Romney office in Dayton today at noon and help deliver the message?

Yes, I can stop by!

MoveOn members have been urging President Obama to take a firm stand against extending tax cuts for people making more than $250,000 a year and this week he heeded our call by promising to veto more tax giveaways for the rich.5
With the president firmly on the side of MoveOn members—and working people all across the country—it’s time to turn up the pressure on Romney. The momentum is on our side and we can’t let Mitt get away with hiding the truth from voters.

Thanks for all you do.

–Lenore, Victoria, Emily, Robin, and the rest of the team
Sources:

1. “Mitt Romney stayed at Bain 3 years longer than he stated,” The Boston Globe, July 12, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277303&id=46081-21095459-3OR3PTx&t=5

2. “On tax returns, Mitt won’t follow the leader—his dad,” The Washington Post, July 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277279&id=46081-21095459-3OR3PTx&t=6

3. “Mitt Romney’s offshore accounts draw more fire,” The Boston Globe, July 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277271&id=46081-21095459-3OR3PTx&t=7

4. “If Romney vetted himself, his tax returns would KO shot at White House,” FoxNews.com, July 11, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277272&id=46081-21095459-3OR3PTx&t=8

5. “White House would veto full Bush tax cut extension,” Politico, July 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277273&id=46081-21095459-3OR3PTx&t=9

MoveOn members are going to Romney campaign offices nationwide today to demand that he release the rest of his tax returns NOW—and stop hiding the truth of how he makes his money and where he stashes it from the American people. Can you stop by in Dayton and help deliver the message today at noon?

Yes, I’ll be there!

Produced BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee

Kenya: The campaign for the Ndhiwa by-election has kicked off in earnest with would be aspirants hitting the ground

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FEARS PERSIST THAT THE OLD INTER-CLAN RIVALRIES COULD ONCE AGAIN RAISE ITS UGLY HEAD IN THE FORTHCOMING NGHIWA BY-ELECTION.

Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

FOLLOWING the breaking of news last week that President Mwai Kibaki has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly assenting to the law that allows him to call for the by-election in all the vacant parliamentary seats politicians In Ndhiwa district have stared running u and down canvassing for the votes.

Ndhiwa seat fell vacant following the death of the former Assistant Minister for Internal Security and Provincial Administration Joshua Orwa Ojode who perished in helicopter crash in Ngong forest near Nairobi that also killed his boss Prof. George Saitoti, the Security Minister, two pilots and the Ministers bodyguards.

Ndhiwa is one of the eight parliamentary constituencies within the larger Homa-Bay County

What is emerging in Ndhiwa is that hi time the old inter-clans rivalries is slowly raising its ugly head ahead of the impending by –elections.
During hi long and rewarding parliamentary politics that begun way back in 1994, Orwa Ojode had succeeded in bringing inter-clan political rivalries to an end. He had neutralized the ground by encouraging the diverse sub-clans into working together in unity as a team. This pragmatic policy worked well and saw the area developing much faster even surpassing all the neighboring constituencies.

The expansive Ndhiwa constituency which is located I the middle of the old greater Southern Nyanza region is made of four major Luo sub-clans and a few immigrant communities from outside the region who had settled among the indignant sub-clans.

The major clans include he Jo-Kabuoch and Jo-Kanyamwa. Members of thee two sub-clans considered themselves as the indignant. The third largest clan is Jo-Kwabwayi {Ojode’s own clan, Jo-Kanyikela and Jo-Kanyidoto. There are also small pockets of smaller immigrant sub-clans such s the Jo-Kaguria, Jo-Kogut, Jo-Komenya,Kajulu, Kawango, Kadhola and a few people who migrated from the Suba community.

During the colonial era, the two major clans were classified and categorized in two different administrative sets called West Nyokal Location comprising of the Jo-Kwabwayi, Jo-Kanyikela and Jo-Kanyidoto.
The other group consisting of the Jo-Kabuoch and Jo-Kanyamwa were called East Konyango Location due to the fact that the two major u-clans are cousins.

The inter-clans rivalries flourished during the early part of independence in 1960s,especially during the tenure of Dr Joseph Gordon Odero-Jowi as the MP first for Lambwe and later for Ndhiwa, but it was fizzled out soon after Odero-Jowi lost his Ndhiwa seat to Matthews OtienoOingoi1969.,politicians in Ndhiwa have began criss-crossing he expansive rural constituency on votes canvassing missions.

Already three names of the would be leading contenders for the seat have hit the ground and public domain.

They included that of the marine management expert Edward Ogonda Odero who is commonly known to his peers as “Ted Odero”. He is working for a group of shipping companies operating in Lake Victoria, but stationed in both Mwanza and Kisumu as the managing director. Odero hails from Karading sub-clan in Central Kabuch with Riana Division. He is an ODM operatives believed to be close to the party leader Raila Odinga.
Odero’s Kabuoch community has the largest registered voters in Ndhiwa followed by the Kanyamwa group. Although many see him as the possible winner of the by-election, local pundits say this could only happen if there will be no more aspirants from within the Kabuoch group.

Another aspirant who is worth watching is Louis Onyango Otieno,who iiis a cousin of the late Orwa Ojode. He is the son of Matthew Otieno Ogingo,who was one time two terms MP for Ndhiwa.

Louis Otieno is the regional Chief Executive Officer of the Microsoft Computer International company in-charge of East, Southern and Central African region based in Nairobi. He a soft spoken intellectual properly armed with several degrees from the US universities. Louis Otieno is likely to earn a lot of sympathy from Ojode’s family and political supporters and friends across the region.

Louis Otieno’s father Otieno Ogingo was Ojode’s political mentor and the Jo-Kwbwayi clan would definitely like to see him step into Ojode’s shoes.

The other person who may pose a serious challenge to the two aspirants is Jeremiah Owiti who hail from Kanyidoto. He is the son of a retired former trade unionist. J.R.Apollo-Owiti was at one time the general secretary of the defunct Kenya Sisal Plantation Workers Union and an old confidant of the late Tom Mboya.

Know to his friends as “Jerro”, owiti is a populist leader who is highly respected in the entire Ndhiwa constituency for his massive contribution towards the development of socio-economic projects. Although he contested the election against Orwa Ojode in 2007, the two were later to develop a close working relation. He is an executive with an international NGO in Nairobi.

The three are emerging clearly as the leading contenders for the Ndhiwa seat. Other names being mentioned quite often included that of the former Ndhiwa MP Tom Okello Obondo. He represented the area briefly after winning the seat in the first multi-party elections in 1992 on a Ford-Kenya ticket, but immediately ditched the party and crossed back to KANU, and thereafter he has never made it back to the August House despite of numerous attempts.

There re other insignificant names like that of Washington Ogutu Kale from Kanymwa, Augustino Neto from Kabuoch, and there could be other people rearing to go, but have yet to make their intentions known publicly.

Stepping into Ora Ojode’s shoe will be an uphill task due to the late legislator colorful and shinning example of achievement in the area

Ends

USA: These ads will define Mitt Romney

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From: Justin Ruben, MoveOn.org Political Action

Dear MoveOn member,

In 2004, MoveOn made an ad about George Bush that was one of the most covered political ads, for the least money, in history—meaning, tens of millions more people saw it than we paid to show it to.1

Two weeks ago I asked our creative team to do it again—to give me the very best ideas they had for ads or videos to show that Mitt Romney would be great for the 1%, but terrible for the rest of us.

I just got the scripts back, and I’m totally blown away—I was hoping for one breakout hit, but there are at least six that are memorable, hilarious, and devastating—each one as good as or better than our ad in 2004.

Now we’re in a pickle because we didn’t budget for that many ads. So I’m coming to you for help.

It’s hard to overstate how crucial it is for progressives to define Romney. He’s gaining in the polls, and the election looks increasingly daunting. Last month, the Romney campaign hauled in $106 million, blowing away the Obama campaign for a second month in a row. If this keeps up, President Obama could be the first presidential incumbent to be outspent in modern history—and that doesn’t even count the Super PACs.2

We can’t compete with that directly—we don’t have $9 million to drop in one day on attack ads like the Kochs do3. But we can make and air these ads for $600,000, and I think they’re powerful enough to generate tens of millions of dollars worth of media coverage, spreading our message exponentially and making your contributions really compete with big money donors. We just need to raise the money to do it.

Can you chip in $5 to make these devastating ads about Mitt Romney?

The weakness of the economy means that President Obama faces an uphill battle. A Romney victory would be a catastrophe—he’s promised to slash vital programs like Medicare, Social Security, and environmental protection, and repeal Obamacare, while giving a huge round of tax breaks to the 1%. He’d also be in a position to nominate up to three Supreme Court justices in his first term, skewing the court further to the right for a generation.

But the more voters learn about Romney’s history with Bain Capital, and policies favoring the very rich, the less they like him. That’s why it’s so urgent to get the message out.

The right ad can swing an election—that’s what the Swift Boat veterans did to John Kerry. Theirs was a lie, while ours are just as powerful—but true.

We just need to raise the money to get these ads made and on the air while there’s still time to define Romney. Please help!

Click here to donate $5.

Thanks for all you do.

–Justin, Laura, Emily, Victoria, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. “Censored at the Super Bowl,” Newsweek, January 29, 2004
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277117&id=45883-21095459-gr4rcTx&t=4

2. “Romney raises more than $106 million in June,” CBS, July 9, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277095&id=45883-21095459-gr4rcTx&t=5

3. “Koch-backed group launches $9 million ad campaign against health law,” The Hill, June 29, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=277118&id=45883-21095459-gr4rcTx&t=6

Want to support our work? We’re entirely funded by our 7 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in

We have six brilliant ad scripts that expose Mitt Romney as the candidate for the 1%. We can create an ad campaign that generates tens of millions of dollars in media coverage for a fraction of that cost. But we have to set the budget today—can you chip in?

BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Election of Kenyan Diaspora Leadership Assembly Heats Up as New Candidate Intake Deadline Looms

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From: Comfort Mwangi

JACKSONVILLE, FL–JULY 9–The Kenyan Diaspora is about to have its first elected global decision-making assembly. According to the Election Coordinators, candidates from over 31 jurisdictions in USA, Canada, Europe, Africa and Middle East have already expressed interest in representing their states, provinces or countries of residence.

Previously scheduled for July 7, the Election of the first Kenya Diaspora Leadership Assembly is now rescheduled for July 13-14, 2012. The new deadline for registering as a contestant is 11:59 pm, Wednesday July 11th, 2012 at the candidate intake page http://kenyadiasporadev.org/kenya-diaspora-leadership-assembly. Any Kenyan in the Diaspora, aged 18 years or above is free to contest.

Kenyans in the Diaspora have not been able to participate significantly in Kenya’s development in spite of their economic , intellectual and entrepreneurial strength. This has been caused by lack of a unifying authority that can produce spokespeople and thought leaders.

Self-appointed “leaders” with no authority to speak for the Diaspora have used this leadership vacuum to peddle their personal agendas . An elected representative body is a major step forward in strengthening Diaspora cohesion and empowerment in the development of Kenya.

“An elected member of the DLA would represent a region/country or a sector” the meeting ruled. An elected official shall be known as MDLA –short for Member of ( Kenya) Diaspora Leadership Assembly . The Assembly will consist of three types of representatives: 1. Those representing states/countries 2. Those representing sectors 3. Those representing larger regions/subcontinents to constitute Board of Trustees. The list of contest areas/sectors can be found at http://kenyadiasporadev.org/kenya-diaspora-leadership-assembly .
The elected officials will then meet and elect an Executive Governing Council from among them, also designating Chair, Secretary, Finance Director etc.

Diaspora leaders of organizations, businesses, churches, mosques, media etc are requested to help publicize the election to their members: They may endorse the election and publicly declare their commitment to assist the Diaspora at http://www.causes.com/actions/1664006.
For any questions, please send an email to info@Kenyadiasporadev.org or call +1-904-418-2608

Kenya: Dr.Oburu Oginga told to rennounce his claims on Siaya Senate seat and help his brother Raila with the presidency

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News Analysis by Bob Ndira-Uradi. In Kisumu City

The chest-thumping politics of the Finance Assistant Minister Dr. Oburu Oginga in Siaya County could have adverse and negative effects on the popularity of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in some part of Luo-Nyanza.
Dr Oburu Odinga’s negative attitudes and total disregard for the opinion of other Siaya leaders are causing jittery moments for members of the Kenya’s 10th parliament.

The Prime Minister Raia Odinga who is one of the presidential aspirants in 2013 Prudential elections is the younger brother of Dr. Oburu Oginga. Raila represented an urban constituency of Lang’ata in Nairobi, while his elder brother Dr Oburu Oginga represented the Bondo constituency in her family rural home turf.

Dr Oburhas declared his interest in the Siaya County Senate seat within the County governance

The Bondo MP was quoted early this week by a section of the press as daring those interested in the Siaya County Senate seat to face him. The Ugenya MP and the Lands Minister James Aggrey Orengo had hinted that he to was interested in the same Senate seat. Orengo, however, has yet to show keen interest in contesting for the same set.

Oburu is currently locked into unholy war wit the abrasive Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwoand a section of Siaya leaders who feels that all the County governance elective positions should be divided and shared proportionately so that no area would cry foul among the six parliamentary .constituencies. But Dr Oburu Odinga could not hear of this.

The common rumor making the rounds within Siayadits envirns have it that Dr Oburu Odinga wanted his son Elijah Abony to succeed him as the next Bondo MP,something which is being resisted vehemently by the local leaders in Bondo itself in particular and Saya County in general.

The other contentious issue which is causing a lot of jitteryness among the people of Kisumu County is the recent declaration by Dr Oburu Odinga’s younger sister Ruth Adhiambo Odonga that he would be contesting for the position of the Kisumu County governor.

Jakoyo Midiwo who is a cousin of Dr Oburu is not opposed to his maternal cousin’s intention to contest the Siay Senate seat, but he and other politician in the region wants all the leaders particularly the seat holders to sit down and deleniate others as who will vie for which position so that every constituency is represented effectively in the County governance and that this should be arrived at by concensus.

Ruth Adhiambo Odinga who is the current Managing Director of the Odinga family business flagship, the Spectre International the firm which is managing the Kisumu Molases Plat, based at Otonglo Market within the in the outskirt of Kisumu City.

She is not a native resident of Kisumu County, but rather is a resident of Siaya where the parants home is located in Bondo. His candidature is now marred on members of the Odinga family as selfish and displaying excessive political arrogance. And out and hell-bent on gabbing every elective positions inside Luo-Nyanza leaving the rest of the population with nothing to take home.

Ruth Adhiambo Odinga will be competing for the same seat with the native Kisumu County residents like the former receiver manger at the Muhoroni Sugar Company Jack Ranguma, who hails from Kobura in West Kano, a US-based senior university lecturer Dr Barrack Abonyo,alo from Kano, one woman leader from Nyakach, the Mumias Marketing and sales director Pete Hongo who hail ail from Nyahera area of Kisumu and a Nairobi based youthful insurance executive Simon Ogendo who hails from Kasagam/Kolwa near Nyamaria

Kisumu County is made of Nyakach, Muhoroni, Nyando, Kisumu Town East, Kisumu Town West, Kisumu Central and Seme / Kombewa parliamentary constituencies. These electoral areas represent the people of diverse cultural and communal backgrounds, non-Luo and Asians included.

Members of the Odinga family have dominated politics in Luo-Nyanza for now close t five decades, and some of the dissenting views currently being expressed in private, mostly by level minded members of the community an intellectuals have been heard saying that the time was sup for the Odingas to give the Luo community the breathing space

About two months ago Dr Oburu Odinga had invite delegates from all the six constituencies to a get-together party in his Bondo rural home, apparently to deliberate on the same Senate seat issue following the disclosure the pay was organized purposefully and specifically as part of his campaign strategy.

Residents of Siaya, however, have resolved to elect the former Gem MP Joe Odonde as the next governor for the Siaya County among those who have already indicated their interests in the governorship position.

The former legislator is said to be a moderate and dynamic person who is very capable of offering a more dignified leadership to the County. He is said be getting along well with all the current MPs in the area with exception of the Bondo MP who is being accused of being a lone ranger.

The in Bondo MP’s leadership has been shrouded with lackluster and dismal performance and being too mean.

The common saying in Siaya and in other parts of Luo-Nyanza is that

All the leaders should devote their valuable times in the crucial campaign for the Prime Minster Raila Odinga presidential ambition.

The overzealous ambition of Dr Oburu Odinga and the ambitions of other members of the family who are scrambling for elective seats could hurt and scuttle Raila’s campaign

Ends

KENYA: THE TWO CONSTITUENCIES IN KASIPUL-KABONDO ARE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE FIRE WORKS DURNG THE CAMPAIGN IN THE 2013 GENERAL ELECTIONS

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Oyugis Town

The densely populated Kasipul-Kabondo is one area in the greater Southern Nyanza region which is expected to produce the real fire works during the forthcoming general elections.

The Interim Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC} has since sub-divided the vote rich constituency into two parliamentary electoral constituencies.

The IEBC has renamed the old constituency, naming the upper side as Kasipul-Kabondo, while the lower part has been renamed Kasipul.

The renaming of the two constituencies all located in Rachuonyo South district within the Homa-Bay County is understandably in communal, political and economic interests of the diverse clans and sub-clans living in the region.

The original Kasipul-Kabondo is one of the oldest parliamentary constituencies in the old greater Southern Nyanza region. It was created in 1962 by the then Electoral and Boundary Commission, which was appointed by the British government’s Colonial Office, and led by a British University professor Prof. Mackenzie.

Its first MP was an American trained ex-school teacher called Samuel Onyango Ayodo who was sponsored by KANU. Ayodo beat a fellow teacher John Ogweno Oindi. Ayodo was from Kabondo while Ogweno hail fro Kojwach in eastern Kasipul.

Prior to the 1963 general elections, Ayodo had served for three years as a member of the White settlers-dominated colonial Legislative Council. He was plucked out of Kisii Government African School {now Kisi High School} in 1959 by the late Tom Mboya and successfully contested in the by—election to fill the vacant Legco seat left by the jailed former member Lawrence Gerald Ouda, who had won the South Nyanza seat in 1957 and became one among the first eight African Elected Members of the Legco.Other African el3ecedLegc members were Ronald Gideon Ngala {Coast}, James Nzau Muimi {Ukambani}, Thomas joseph Mboya {Nairobi}, Benard Mate {Central}, Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi {Rift Valley}, ADONIJAH Obadiah Oginga Odinga { Central Nyanza }.and Henry Masinde Muliro {North Nyanza}.

Out of the eight African elected members of Legco, Masinde Muliro was the holder of a and Bachelor of Arts University degree which he had obtained from a South African University and Benard Mater who had a master’s degree.

Ngala and Odinga both had graduated at Makereee University College in Uganda diploma certificates in teaching

Oguda was arrested and prosecuted for flimsy criminal offence of making seditious and inflammatory remarks in a public gathering at Awendo Market. He was taken all the way to Kericho where he was hurriedly arraigned before the one-eyed white man acting as resident magistrate whose name was Capt. Grey and found guilty and sentenced to 12 month.

Oguda was freed from prison in 1960 after serving and completing his jail term and made an unsuccessful effort to recapture the seat. He was handed a devastative defeat by Ayodo. Oguda by then was aligned to Jaramogi Going Odinga while Ayodo was a political associate of Tom Mboya.

But in the 1961 “Little General election” which was called by the colonial office in London and which pitied KANU and KADU after the first round the table constitutional conference held in Lancaster House, London, between February and March 1960 Oguda was in the election race against Ayodo for the same South Nyanza seat.

South Nyanza electoral area covered vast areas as Kericho and Bomet and part of Narok Counties, what is today known as Kisii and Nyamira Counties,Homa-Bay and Migori Counties.

But in the 1069 general election that was called by the founding Preident Jomo Kneyatta immediately after Mboya’s assassination, Ayodo who had been a cabinet Minister in the post-indepedence cabnet waa given a thorough beating by a fellow former school teacher James E. Mbori –Yogo.

Ayodo, however who won the seat once again, bounced back in 1974 and successfully defended his seat in 1979, but lost it to Mbori again in 1983. Mbori was re-elected in 1988.

In 1992 during the first multiparty elections in Kenya a firebrand Dr Ralph Kopiyo who contested the seat on the Oginga Odinga led Ford-Kenya party dismissed Mbori of KANU and sent him into political limbo.Kopiyo was ousted in 1997 by William Oloo Otula who lost the seat to Eng Pete Otieno Owidi in 2002, but the latter died in the midterm causing the by-election which saw Paddy Ahenda winning he controversy-ridden by election. Ahenda lost to the incumbent Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga in 2007.

In the case of the Kasipul origonaly set apart from the newly created Kasipul-Kabondo, which it shall be analyzing in the near future the contest, may be headed for clans politics for the first time in elections history of the people of Kasipul, who consider themselves as shrning one ancestral grand father,Sipul sn of Rachuonyo son of Jok.

All the previous elections in this region have always been contested on personality cult and not on clans and sub-clans and superiority in numbers.

This constituency is divided down the sub-clan line, the Jokatinda Nyar Kamine comprisng Kodera, Kotieno, Konyango, the largest, In this arrangement the Jo-Kachien from Kachien location will provide the swing votes, just in the same way s the Jo-Kojwach voters have been doing in the past eletions.

Several names, however, are being floated as the potential aspirants. Some of the people beng mentioned have aleady hit the ground in their campaign trails.

Other would be aspirants have been heard advertising their potentialities in series of articles posted to the numerous social websites and news online, but have neither foot in Kasip for the purpose of lobbying for their votes and such they have been branded paper-tigers.

They included Kisumu based wealthy business tycon Eng. Tom Awino Okoko,a Nairobi based lawyer Mr Ochilo’a.

Geographically speaking, the incumbent MP Oyugi Maguwanga will have to defense his seat in the lower Kasipul, because the new Ksipul-Kabondo boundary realignment has placed his home in the old Kasipul near Oyugis, while the boundary re-alignment has left the MP’s parents in their home which is in the newly created Kasipul-Kabondo. He hails from the minority immigrant jo-Wasweta sub-clan whose origins can be traced in predominantly Suba regions in Migori nd Mbita.

The may have he option to either defend his seat in the old Kasipul onstituency where he is living or chose to contest the election in the newly created Kasipul Kabondo where his parent and family members lives. He is however, said to be facing lean time in the lower Ksipul due to his dismal performance in the current paliament because he is among one those legislators listed as not being of high performance. the ODM is the party of choice in his region, which has the highest voters registration in 2007 toppig close to 75,000

The newly created constituency retained Kasipul-kabondo owing to the fact that several sub-clans of the indigines people of Kasipul origins such as Kakelo,Kokwanyo and Kojwach were geographically included in the new constituency grouped together with Jo-Jabondo groups to forms the new constituency now called Kasipul-Kabondo.

The men considered as being serious contenders for the seat included the Meru based businessman Ong’ondo Were, Kisumu based tycoon En. Tom A Okok, Nairobi lawyer Ochilo, Norway based Dr. Otien Mbare and the incumbent MP oyugi Maguwanga.

Among these men Dr. Mbare and Sam Kotiende are perennial election losers in the area and have contested the election before in the old Kasipul-Kabondo in previous elections. In fact they include the youthful Sam Kotiende and as such they are not newcomers to the race.

However, the election in Kasipul could be complicated following the recent emergence of a cartel of power-brokers who are known to be shuttling here and there peddling pack dreadful lies and concocted information I vain effort praying other aspirants in bad taste.

Oyugis Town is awash with extortionists and power-brokers for hire and political hireling hunting for cash hand-outs from the aspirants using menaces tactics including slenderous tactics ad crude manner of peddling information. Some of the political hirelings and goons are either found in Oyugi Town huttling between Oyugis and Nairobi in search of the campaign resources, while engaging in slanderous campaign against their perceived political enemies either real or imagined

The main trading center is Oyugis, but there are smaller trading centers such as Kadongo, Sondu, Chabera, Ober, Ringa and Sikri.The region is served by the Kisumu-sondu-Oyugis-Kisii and Migori highway.

Although agriculturally rich with god rainfall, fertile and arable land ,most land are still laying fallow sparsely cultivated with exception of Kabondo region where farmers have turned into growing the money-minting sweat potatoes, tea, maize, pineapples, bananas, vegetables and other cash and food grains for domestic consumption.

There are any immigrant sub-clansi Kasipul such as Nyakach Agoro, Nyakach Jimo, Mugusero, Kagak, Jo-Osije, Koredo, Wasare, and many other smaller sub-clans which are not indigines.

Ends

Kenya: The search for Orwa Ojode’s replacement in Ndhiwa constituency has begun in earnest

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo I Homa-Bay Town.

ALTHOUGH Ndhiwa parliamentary seat in Southern Nyanza has yet to be declared vacant by the Speaker of the National Assembly behind the scene activities have intensified as the area resident search for their next MP.

Behind the scene consultative meetings are reportedly being held behind closed door both in Ndhiwa and in Nairobi pointing to the direction that the field would be very crowded with aspirants one the elections are called.

And with the general elections said to be around the corner and scheduled to be on 3 March 2013, it is not yet made publicly clear as to whether there will be by – elections to fill the two vacant seats left vacant following the recent fatal helicopter crash that killed the Internal Security Minister Prof. George Saitoti and his Assistant minister Joshua Orwa Ojode.

Prof.Saitoti was the MP for Kajiado North constituency while Orwa Ojode represented the agriculturally rich Ndhiwa constituency in the greater Southern Nyanza.

The responsibility of declaring the two seats vacant rest with he Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Otiato Marende therefore those intending to contest for the two seats will have to wait slightly longer for the Speaker’s verdict, which will only be made known after 90 days or three months time.

Indications are, however, clear that Ndhiwa seat is likely to attract close to a dozen of new aspirants including new entrants into parliamentary competitive politics in the area.

Several names have already found their ways into public domain a some of the possible candidates who will be aspiring for the Ndhiwa seat.

Such names included that of a member of Ojode’s close family Louis Onyango Otieno. He is the eldest son of Matthews Otieno Ogingo, the once two time Ndhiwa MP who re-presented the larger Ndhiwa constituency, before it was splinted into two more than a decade ago, with the creation of the neighboring Nyatike constituency.

Louis Otieno is a top executive manager with the Microsoft Computer based in Nairobi, but managing the firm’s operations in East,Central and Southern African regions.

Photo of Louis Otieno, a potetial aspirant for Ndhiwa seat

But when reached by phone to state his intention, Otieno insisted that it was too early for him to say anything that effect, as he was still in the mourning mood, while mourning his cousin Joshua Orwa Ojode with whom he was so close to and intimately related to.

Louis Otieno is likely to face the stiffest challenge from other political elite and academic luminaries in Ndhiwa, who are expected to include Jeremiah Owiti an executive with an international NGO in Naiobi.

The populist Owiti who is known to his peers as “Jerro” hails from he neighboring Kanyidoto Location next to Kwabwayi sub-clan in which both Ojode an Otieno belonged to

Louis Otieno was born in political house, and being a close blood relative of the late MP.. Ojode’s supporters within the constituency.

This could be so because the late Orwa Ojode has left behind a very attractive development record in the constituency.

Another man to watch in Ndhiwa is the Marine expert Edward Ogonda Odero a graduate n Marine Management from a Belgium University who is currently working as the managing director of a Kisumu an Mwanza based shipping firm.

Politically aggressive an highly eloquent public speaker Odero who is known to his peers as Ted Odero,hails from the populous sub-clan in Central Kabuoch location called Karading. He is an aggressive and a tough mobilize for ODM in both Kisumu an Homa-Bay Counties.

Also expected t join the race for Ndhiwa seat,is the former MP for the area Tom Okello Obondo who lost the seat to Ojode in 1994 after ditching the Ford-Kenya then led by late Jaramoogi as Oginga Odinga on whose ticket he had won Ndhiwa seat during the first multiparty election’s as opposed to the one party monolithic system and rejoining KANU

Obondo performed dismally in the consequent by-election that followed and which saw the then youthful Ojode beating him with the largest votes margin.

Obondo, however, hails from the second largest and dominant sub-clan of Kanyamwa

Obondo, however, is considered by he electorate as a spent force and therefore posed no threat to the new group of younger political elite the region,which is one of the ODM stronghold in Southern Nyanza,

Also said to be rearing to go for the seat is a Nairobi and Mombasa based businessman Augustino Neto fro Kabuoch who is another perennial election loser.

Like Ted Odero Neto also hails from Central Kabuoch. Also expected t join the long list of contestants is Washington Ogutu kale,who hails from Kochieng’ sub-can of the large Kanyamwa clan.

What is expected to play the crucial role in the next electioneering campaign in Ndhiwa constituency will definitely be the academic background and achievement. This is will be so because the common talks making the round in the entire Luo-Nyanzainclude the next choice of leadership,especially parliamentarians, Senators and governors within the County overnance.The electorate wants to elect only the academic qualified persons as opposed to the present system whereby the moneyed individuals had sneaked into the legislative body including those known to be politically mediocre.

Some of the so-called semi-iliterate MPs have sat the August House and left after ten years without even making their maiden speeches, leave alone asking questions and supplementary questions.

The electorate in most parts of Luo- Nyanza seemed to have resolved to go only for the enlightened candidates who could actively participate in the crucial debates in the House which are significantly nationally politically importance to the country an strictly not “ common hecklers.

This time around the region will never again be the fertile ground for politically mediocres, who have perfected in the arts of making sugar-coated speeches at funeral gathering, but known to be politically an academically bankrupt and incapable of taking part on important national and international forums in English and Kiswahili which are the twin lingua franca in Kenya.

In the current parliament, only a few Lu MPs are knwn to be making regular contributions n the House. They inclued Gwassi MP John Mbadi, nominated MP Millie Odhiamb, Migori MpJohnPea, Rarieda MP Eng. Nchola Gumbo, Karachuony MP Eng James K Rege, Nyatike MP Edic Omondi Anyanga, Kisumu Town West, John Olago Aluoh, Ugenya M james Orengo, Bondo MP Dr. Oburu Oginga, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo, Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno. And Kisumu Rural M Prof Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o, the rest are just siting in the August House like county bus passengers and seeping on the job.

Ndhiwa constituency was created n 1962 first as Lambwe Valley constituency. It was then covering the regions now known as Mbita and Gwassi constituencies.

Dr Joseph-Gordon Odero -Jowi was elected as its first MP in 1963.The constituency had two regional Assembl elected member These were Matthews Otieno Ogingo {Ndhiwa} who later briefly became the vice chairman of the Nyanza Regional Assembly under the chairmanship of the late Johnson Kiragori from Bonchari in Kisii ad the late Harrison Odhiambo Midiang’a Opiyo who represented Mbita.The late Odhiambo Opiyo is the father of the firebrand nominated MP Madame Milie Ohiiambo.

Dr Odero-Jowi was beaten hands down by Matthews Otieno Ogingo I the controversial loaded 1969 general elections. He later made an appeal tot the High Court citing some far- fetched irregularities.

Otieno Ogingo election was nullified by the High Court and he latter won with even larger votes margins in the consequent by-election that followed.

Odero-jowi lost the election to Otieno Ogingo because he had stepped into the shoes of the assassinated populist the late Tom Mboya and readily accepted he cabinet apointment as the Minister for Planning an Econmic Planning Development was revered o as a hero.

Jowi’ other Luo cabinet collegue to the little known secondary school teacher James E. Mbori-Yogo in similar circumstances.

The founding PresidentJomo Kenyatta appointed Odero-Jwi Kenya’sPermanent Representative to the United Nations based in New York.

Odero Jowi left his U post and retuned home shrty before the 1974 general elections and recaptured his old Ndhiwa seat from Otieno Ogingo,but he didn’t last for longer in parliament He left thec0ntry before the end of his term and joined UN services in Canada.

A former senior police officer, Zablon Owigo Olang’, who is a cousin of Odero-Jowi wrestled the Nnhiwa seat from Otieno Ogingo for the latter to recapture the same during the 1988 mlolongo {queing voting} election master minded by the late Hezekah N Oyugi,then the powerful PS In the Office o the President In- charge of Internal Security an Provincial Administration.

Another potential aspirant who is reported to be under pressure from the electorate to joint the election race is the flamboyant Nairobi and Kampala based businessman Hilary Ochieng’ Alila- He is originally hails from Rapedhi in Ndhiwa, but has chosen Homa-Bay Town as his political center of operations.

Aila has already declared his interest in the Homa-Bay County Senate seat, which is also said to be eyed by the Immigration and Registratin of Persons Miniister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’.

Ends

KENYA: CREDENTIALS MAY LOCK OUT KISIA FOR NAIROBI RACE

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BY JEFF OTIENO

The battle for Nairobi Governor has taken an interesting and intriguing angle with fresh revelations that one of the contestants who is the immediate former Nairobi Town Clerk Philip Kisia may be barred from contesting.

One of the mandatory criteria for a Governor bid is being a Degree holder from a recognized university, but so far it hasn’t come out crystal clear from U.A.S.U. as per the records when he enrolled and graduated with Business Administration Degree.

Frantic efforts by the press is further unable to trace the former Town Clerk School mates during the said years it is claimed he schooled there. Some political pundits are however dismissing the Degree requirement as too much asking or a hefty demand thundering that individuals capability to lead should be the key. The Press however managed to trace his High School roots in Tiriki-Senende Secondary School where it’s said he was a very active student.

Kisia resigned recently as Nairobi Town Clerk and has been criss crossing the City estates to appeal for votes though it’s not clear yet which party he will carry its flagship due to his trademark antics of dinning and winning with almost all the Presidential hopefuls and even attending their functions.

His die-hards though argue that people should not misconstrue that move to mean political prostitution and lack of ethics, but should see it positively as an exhibition of political maturity and tolerance which is key for the Nation unity.

His critics however opine that his gesture is totally confusing, a clear indication of inconsistency and panicky. He will further shake off his ivory tower tag as claimed by his critics if he’s to triumph.

If he’s cleared, he will battle it out with the combative Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu who is a graduate from one of the Universities in India, a holder of Business Administration Degree. Former Mumias Sugar Managing Director Dr. Evans Odhiambo Kidero who is a Pharmacist from Nairobi University. Dr. Kidero also has MBA and did Law through a correspondent from one of the Prestigious Universities in West Midlands, United Kingdom.

He will rely on his sterling unrivalled performance lasting a decade in Mumias to propel his bid. Kidero also left a landmark in Ntaion media Group and Smith Klime Beecham. He’s such a mobiliser and go – getter thus giving him a head start in the quest. Others are Jimna Mbaru former Nairobi Stock Exchange Chairman who has been doing ground work quietly.

END

KENYA: VARSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENT PUNCTURES RAILA AND HIS ALLIES ELECTORAL AMBITIONS

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By Jowi Ratego.

A group of luo Members of parliament are presently under political quagmire after the recent passing of a bill in parliament which only University degree holders will be required to contest for parliamentary seat.

Word going round says the move making those who wants to contest for Presidency and Governorship to have a University degree is aimed at blocking the Country’s current Prime Minister Raila Odinga from contesting the Presidency as he is alleged that he does not posses any degree with many demanding to know which University he went to and whom he schooled with, surprisingly he has opted to either ignore the queries or seems to be convinced that with time the queries will go away and die natural death something unlikely as it keeps on oozing over his head.

His former adviser in the coalition whom he parted ways with unceremoniously Miguna Miguna has always demanded that as the country’s leader he should tell all and sundry his level of education something he has not deem fit to do.

The National Alliance Party of Kenya Secretary General George Onyango Oloo has on many occasions said that contrary to the beliefs of many that Raila was a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, the plain truth is that Raila was a mere lab attendant who was tasked with “washing test tubes” and at no any given time was he ever a lecturer.

“If its true Raila was a lecturer and went to any University he should tell us with whom he schooled with and he lectured who, its better he restricts his ukora to the members of the luo community and not to deceive the entire Kenya populace, the parliament’s move is a good riddance and might shed some truth in regard to the entire issue” Oloo added.

As at the present moment luo MPs who are victims of the recent bill are burning their midnight oil desperately looking as to how the Supreme Court might change the said constitution something which seems unlikely.

“It will be a tall order for the supreme court to change what the parliament has decided on since it’s the law making organ of the constitution “one MP allied to the ODM party lamented arguing that some of his illiterate parliamentary colleagues who have brought all these problems bedeviling ODM party.

Just a look at the current luo Members of Parliament who do not have sound academic background and are wetting their pants as a result that a requirement of having a degree is a pre requisite for one to be in parliament;

1-Edwin Yinga – Alego Usonga

He does not posses any post secondary education and that is what made voters of Alego Usonga for long ignore him at the expense of both the oratorical Peter Oloo Aringo and lately Arthur Weya,

His acumen lies in his marriage to the family of one time PC Eliud Mahihu, he has really let down his voters who says that he is hardly found in his constituency coupled with his playing hide and seek with the said voters either in Nairobi or in Kisumu which is usually his destination upon his arrival from Nairobi under the guise of going to the constituency.

2-Washington Jakoyo Midiwo—Gem

He is in parliament courtesy of his relationship with Raila who is his cousin after having been floored in the ODM parliamentary elections by a leading prominent Nairobi Advocate Ambrose Rachier who is credited with turning around soccer within the country.

He purports to be possessing a University degree yet records shows that he did Food and Beverage at a diploma level and wasted his entire time abroad chasing thighs and skirts.

3-Fred Outa ——-Nyando

One of the most excess baggage in parliament, he hardly contributes to any issue in parliament and anytime he rises to contribute he is permanently out of order.

His academic qualifications is not known as he initially purported to be a cleric and records shows that he spent most of his time in the US taking care of the aged and massaging them at an old people rescue centre.

He is so poor in communicated English with many wondering if truly he studied in the US,

Coupled with how he fleeced rice farmers making the bedrock of his voters, Outa stares abject poverty in his eyes as he is said to have sold all his assets to influence Raila to he lp him get an ODM nomination certificate .

4-Ochieng’ Pollins Anyango “Daima”————-Nyakach

He is one of the few wealthy luo parliamentarians, he is a form four leaver but got his fortune at Kenindia Insurance Company, periodically he contributes to parliamentary debates.

He wasa manager of the said Insurance Company for alongtime

5-Joseph Oyugi Magwanga————Kasipil Kabondo

He is also a form four leaver , initially he used to split firewood at the hospital of his brother where he worked together with the current Mayor of Oyugis Omondi Fwony.

He can be said to be better than Outa as he periodically contributes to parliamentary debates.

6-John Pesa———————-Migori.

He is untrained teacher, a product of those post-independence “gumbaru learners”.

He hardly contributes to parliamentary debates and very few knows him.

7-Martin Otieno Ogindo—————Rangwe

He worked as a revenue collector for most local authorities, he has those weekly certificates accumulated as a result of attending workshops and seminars.

He purports to be an account which is not the case as he has never attended any post secondary institution.

8-Omondi Anyanga Edick————————-Nyatike

He is said to be so illiterate that he can not write his name and he thumb prints any official document.

He is one of the former YK 92 youths who was in charge of Southern Nyanza Region.

He is also an informer of the police where he is usually paid stipends for any information he delivers about his colleagues

Kenya: The proliferation of thousands of small arms into Kenya is the major source of worry to the government

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The Kenya Action Network on Small Arms {Kansa} has raised the red alarm over the circulation of more than 600,000 illegal arms in the country.

The organization warns that terrorists and some illegal groups could use the arms during the forthcoming general elections in the country scheduled for March next year.

Kansa said this was discovered after a survey which was conducted last year jointly by the Kenya National Focal Point on small arms and the Geneva based Small Arms Survey.

The survey indicated that most of the 600,000 illicit arms are concentrated in pastoralist communities in the North Easter regions parts of Kenya as well as major urban centers such as the capital City, Nairobi, Mombasa where they are used in committing serious crimes.

These illicit weapons mainly comprise of assault rifles, hand guns and ammunition, which enter the market through corruption, seizure and loss.

“The Kenya situation is even more critical when one takes into account that this country is still smarting from the near self destruction crisis following the 2007 / 2008 post-election violence caused by the disputed presidential election violence and it stumbling towards yet another election without some of the major triggers that ignited the PEV having been addressed,” said Kansa in a statement released last Thursday.

The statement was read at a Nairobi hotel at a meeting held by Africa Peace Forum Executive Director Ochieng Adala to mark the Global week of action against proliferation of small arms in Kenya.

Amnesty International Kenya Country Director Justus Nyang’aya and the director of security Research Information Center Col {rtd} J.W.Kituku were also in attendance at the meeting.

Kansa said while some reforms highlighted under the Agenda Four of the National Accord are being addressed like the judiciary, electoral, and constitutional reforms, other critical area including historical injustices, such reforms, youth unemployment, corruption, and impunity armament remain unaddressed,” said Kana statement.

The organization said there are also fertile grounds for hate speech and incitement by politicians, Kansa noted that this was going on through intense political competition, polarization ethnic mobilization and the politics surrounding the on-going ICC cases.

Ends

Baffling Scenarios in Kenya – The rule of law must be upheld

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from odhiambo oketch

Lister,

You have raised issues that I was looking at over the weekend. I wanted to post something on similar lines on Sunday, only to be confronted by the killings of our Dear Colleagues.

You have raised very pertinent issues, and I will only look at how prepared we are as a country to holding a Free and Fair Elections on March 4th 2013.

I am talking about Free and Fair, because, this is a process that starts at some points, goes through several stages that ultimately lead to an election. As it were, 8 months to the said elections, nothing is happening that is in any way suggesting that we will host elections on 4th March 2013.

First, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission presented an outrageous budget of Kshs 35 Billion to the public for parliamentary approval. This was the first sign that the team was not interested in hosting a credible electoral process. They were more interested with the money that comes with the process and not the process in itself.

Secondly, there was need for a Biometric Machine, such that, elections could be hosted more efficiently and tallied in real time. This was slowly swept under the carpet.

Thirdly, as people started speculating that there could be a re-run, one wage in position of power pointedly said that there will be no re-run. He looked like he was talking with authority, and to me, it was like either we have a per-determined outcome already, or, plans are under way to make one result supreme.

Fourthly, and this is real baffling, Hon Cyrus Jirongo was recently hosted at Kass FM and he said that they were being lined up for the presidency. This came shortly on the heels of Hon Eunice Wamalwa- our Minister for Justice, who said that if the mush-rooming alliances were only meant to deny one man votes to the presidency, then, he was not going to play ball.

Fifth, as we move towards the 4th March 2013, the delimitation of boundaries is not yet over. The process is still mucky in the courts and as it were, we cannot be certain that a ruling, or rulings will come in time.

Once the Boundaries issues are fixed, we must start a massive awareness on the electoral process since, it will be the first time we will be voting for a plethora of people. This could need about 3 months once the court cases are done with. Assuming the courts rule in July, it means the IEBC will start this process in August or September.

This will be followed by a period of Voter Registration in the new Constituencies. If this is started in February 2013, it means, we will have almost 45 days of doing that. That brings us to Mid April.

A one month period for voter register list verification will follow. Assuming the IEBC are able to compile their voter lists within 60 days at the completion of the Voter Registration period, it means, we will be running to Mid June 2013.

Once that is completed, Parliament will need to be dissolved and in so doing, there will be 90 days within which an election will be held. 90 Days from Mid June brings us to Mid September 2013.

As we are gerrymandering with straight forward issues, Parliament is also not being helpful. Forget about the self serving Commissions that we have created. We do not have Legislation in place to effect the operationalization of the County Governance System. I am yet to know how we are going to elect our Governors, Senators and all those other 9 people.

Again, the Police Reforms are being snowballed. Someone is being more clever than all of us ordinary Kenyans. Someone is playing his own music to our ears at variance to the National Music that we authored on 4th August 2010.

Someone is setting Kenyans up and we must all stand up and be counted for Mother Kenya.

I would not agree more with Lister on his observations.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Komarocks Nairobi

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Kenya: The Rule of Law Must be Upheld

Kenyans feel betrayed by politicians and those tasked with implementing the Constitution which they voted for two years ago. It has become hard to differentiate between the old and the new order. We continue to see the old operational styles being perpetuated by those who should guide the nation towards the change which is tandem with the new law.

Several bodies tasked with the responsibility of ensuring the implementation of the new law have either abdicated their responsibilities or failed to provide clear guidelines to ensure the nation reaps maximum benefits of the new constitution.

From the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), led by Isaack Hassan, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission NCIC, led by Mzalendo Kibunja, Commission for Implementation of the Constitution (CIC, led by Charles Nyachae, The Attorney General, to the Registrar of political parties Lucy Ndung’u, all these bodies have not played their role to the expectations of Kenyans.

It was a great contradiction early this year when the Commission for the implementation of the Constitution (CIC) chairman Mr. Charles Nyachae told the nation that politicians indicted by The ICC, are eligible to vie for Presidency. The same argument was weathered down a month later by the former Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Mr. Mutula Kilonzo who said that if the two legislators were allowed to vie, it would be against the spirit of Chapter Six of the constitution on Leadership and Integrity. Mr. Kilonzo, who has since been moved to the Ministry of education advised Mr. Ruto and Kenyatta to stop their countrywide presidential campaigns.

It’s also discouraging that the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission IEBC, the Registrar of political parties, the Attorney General and the Speaker, have failed to provide direction on the fate of six MPs who were recently declared partyless. If the law is followed to the letter, MPs Linah Jebii Kilimo, Richard Onyonka, Clement Waibara, Gideon Mbuvi, Barnabas Muturi, and David Mwaniki Ngugi technically lost their parliamentary seats.

Therefore, the Speaker should declare their seats vacant thereby giving the IEBC room to conduct new elections in the affected constituencies. It’s clear that the affected MPs were elected under the old constitution which did not have a provision for independent candidates. This is the surest way of living and operating within the law.

It has also been observed that the IEBC hasn’t provided proper guidelines especially on the current premature presidential campaigns when the Country is 9 months away to the next general Elections. This is if the March 2013 date will suffice. Kenyan taxpayers must be told by the government the mandate of bodies like Brand Kenya, and the Mzalendo Kibunja led National Cohesion and Integration Commission.

As citizens and tax payers, we have a right to question or even demand the disbanding of bodies which have failed to discharge their duties or have failed to operate within the mandate under which they were founded. In any society, bureaucracies are created to enhance service delivery to the citizens as well as uplifting the status of a nation’s social, political and economic fronts. What role is Mzalendo Kibunja playing to enhance national cohesion when there is hate speech all over the nation from top politicians to regular citizens? It’s imperative for Chairman Kibunja, to fold up his sleeves to address hate speech which has not only become rampant in political rallies, eating joints, and social gathering but also in the cyberspace.

The current constitution cost Kenyans lives and resources and must be defended and protected. It was passed to steer our nation towards greater heights because of its wonderful provisions. Failing to respect and uphold it is the clearest indicator that Kenya is not ready to overcome impunity and upholding the rule of law.

Is it not at height of corruption and impunity when a Presidential candidate is flown in a tax payer paid military chopper to his political campaign meeting? I think this is a violation of the law and wastage of public resources when the deputy prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi was flown recently from Nairobi to attend a campaign rally in Western Kenya.

What is the purpose of having a good law merely on paper yet our governance systems and processes continue to thrive on the old constitution?

Our political leaders still thrive on the old culture and have become purveyors of hate and tribalism instead of purveyors of patriotism. The ethnic undertones which dominate their political campaigns are clear examples of flouting the current law.

The degree of patriotism from our political leaders is on low ebb. Instead of shaping intelligent debates to allow Kenyans make the informed choices before the next elections, they are busy propagating seeds of discords through ethnic nationalism which does not augur well for peace and harmony in the Country.

It’s therefore sad that the negative image portrayed especially by those vying for the Presidency is slowly sinking into the minds of their supporters when they are supposed to be role models. The arguments we see in social gatherings, social media, eating joints and funerals is tragic for the nation.

The law must be respected and those found flouting it ought to be punished. This is the surest way to build the Kenya we all want.

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey, USA.

http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=6618&magazine=391

Raila is the most suitable presidential candidate judging from his tireless effort to improve the lives of Kenyans

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo in Homa-Bay Town.

SOME of the many presidential aspirants would only turn the country into a tribal fiefdom by balkanizing some tribes and pitting against their neighbors.

The only presidential hopeful with genuine agenda to turn this country around into a better home for every Kenyan is the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

Odinga should be judged by his exemplary dedicated service in the trouble-ridden grand coalition government. While other Cabinet members spent their valuable time preaching tribal politics and incessantly making his work rather difficult, he has defied all the tricks in the books being place on his way to the presidency.

So many tribal alliance have been formed with no agenda for the better future for Kenyans, but simply for the purpose of blocking Raila’s path to the State House.But the ODM leader has always whither the storm and continued serving Kenyans diligently and tirelessly despite of what at times looked like high provocation and near insults directed at him by those disgruntled politicians who ganged up under the umbrella of ethnicity.

This remarks were made in Homa-Bay by the youthful ODM youth leader and coordinator in Nyanza Hilary Ochieng’Alila.

Speaking during an exclusive interview with this writer, Alila recently has launched a high profile campaign for the lucrative position of the Homa-Bay County Senate seat told more than a dozen or so presidential hopeful to change tactics and preach for the unity of all Kenyans.

They must be told that Kenyans are very much awake and keenly following their vitriols and would teach them the best lessons at the polls.”Every one will have to harvest only what he or she had sown.

“Those who are currently busy sowing the seed of discord and thriving on politics of malice will reap the fruits of their sweats. For any leader who want to be the ruler of this country it is imperative that such leaders preach only the gospel of unity and love among Kenyans. They must desist from running back to their communities and mobilizing them into tribal warriors or inciting them ageist their neighbors. Kenyans voters will in future only consider those preaching for cohesiveness and peaceful co-existence of all Kenyan communities.

“Those who have run short of ammunition with which to carry out canvassing or votes should opt out as soon as they realized that they had run short ideas and had nothing to tell Kenyans,” said Alila.

Alila reminded those who have deserted ODM in search of green pasture elsewhere to conduct” gentlemen campaign in their new political homes while exercising some amount of respect towards their former ODM colleagues.

He cited the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi who lost his Sabatia parliamentary seat in 2002 and was consigned into political limbo for close to five years only to be resuscitated politically to recover his lost seat in 2007 due to the ceaseless efforts of the ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Mudavadi was rescued from premature and forced retirement by ODM and he should be so grateful. He recovered from the shock of his dismal performance in 2002.The ODM offered him a second chance in the coalition cabinet and made him deputy leader of the party.

If there is any politician in this country who should be so thankful to Raila Odinga is none other than Musalia Mudavadi.”There are all the signs that those who have moved close to the DPM with ulterior monetary motives hoping to lay their hands in his reported unlimited campaign resources made available I abundance by the clique of anti-Raila elements within the coalition government have since disappeared in the thin air living him in loneliness,” said Alila.

He is one of the former Moi disciples who are known to have been the stumbling block against all kinds of reforms in this country.

Alila appealed to ODM members, leaders and their friends to double their effort with the view to ensure the outright decisive victory for the party in the next polls.

He urged them to strengthen the party at the grass root levels. ODM should win cleans all the civic seats in all he 47 Counties, Senate and return the largest parliamentary majority in the next general elections.

He went on,” Those placing her barriers on Raila’s path to the presidency will live to regret when they come to know that Kenyans are more intelligent voters.

Alila disclosed that it a bunch of anti-reformist who are still dreaming that he politics of impunity would return to protect their status quo who have ganged up behind the amorphous tribal alliances such as Kamatus,Gema etc.

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Kenya: Karachuonyo MP wants ODM to discipline its loose talking leaders and rumor-mongers

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In KIsumu City

The Karachuonyo MP Eng. James K.Rege has strongly condemned a group of disgruntled and idle local politicians in his constituency who he has accused of manufacturing falsified and unfounded rumors about him.

Speaking to this writer via the phone from Mongolia near India where he had gone on a tour of parliamentary duties, Rege strongly refuted claims and allegation making the round inside his expansive rural constituency in Rachuonyo North district within Homa-Bay County that he is a sympathizer to the DPM Musalia Mudavadi and was not loyal to ODM

The legislator accused one of his perennial rivals in Karachuonyo political derby of being responsible for such dreadful rumors.

He called upon ODM as a party to introduce the most stringent disciplinary measures in order to deal with erratic members who engages themselves in character assassination against their fellow elected leader for political expediency.”Such stringent rule would instill discipline and restore respect and unity among her party leaders at all levels.

Rege said he wholeheartedly support the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his presidential bid. His working relation with the ODM leader is cordial and warm.

The MP accused an unnamed politician in his constituency whom he accused of being fond of manufacturing and spreading unfounded and malicious rumors.

“This man he added is unelectable to any elective position either within the ODM hierarchy or in any constituency.” This man is a spent force, and his time for political leadership is over and gone for good.

He appealed to ODM members and followers in Karachuonyo to exercise some amount of respect to the elected leaders. Respect is two way traffic. It must reciprocate. Anybody who is hell-bent in manufacturing falsified rumors against fellow leaders is not worthy being treated as a leader.

Eng Rege reiterated that he was a loytal member of the ODM and a staunch supporter of Raila Odinga, and would not sit idle and entertain anyone preaching he gospel of despondency between him and the Prime Minister or with any other leader in this country.

He told the rumor-mongers in Karachuonyo to look for any other avenue of endearing themselves to the party leader, but not through discrediting other party members.

ODM has no room for gossipers, and therefore must also discard the loose talkers and idle talkers. As a party the ODM has a daunting task of marketing its presidential candidate for the purpose of winning the next general election and forming the government.

“We should not spend our energies and valuable times fighting each other, and yet we are surrounded by many political enemies who have ganged up against our man. We must put our act together and ensure that we succeeded in popularizing our presidential candidate,” he added.

Rege said he was very much aware that one discredited politician was on the loose roaming about in Karachuonyo feeding the electorate with pack of lies with aims of making political mileage over his rivals.”This kind of politics must be considered now as being outmoded, destructive and counter-productive.

Rege appealed to those candidates aspiring or the various elective positions within the Homa-Bay County to conduct their campaign in a rather mature manner, which is devoid of names calling. At the same time, he said, ODM members and leaders must work hard to ensure they maintained unity of purpose and work as a team.

A number of people interviewed by this writer at Kendu-Bay town and its environs, pointed an accusing finger at the former Karachuonyo MP Dr.Paul Adhu Awitias the person who fitted the description of the unnamed leader in the region who is being accused of spreading dreadful rumors against the MP.

Dr Adhu-Awiti who is currently working in the Office of the Prime Minister as political adviser to Raila Odinga could not be reached for clarification.

He defended his seat in 2007 .but lost the election to the incumbent during the ODM preliminaries.

Ends

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Category Archives: Elections

KENYA: RESIDENTS OF NDHIWA CALLS FOR PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN DURING THE BY-ELECTION AND STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE USE OF HIRED POLITICAL GOONS AND CRIMINAL THUGS.

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Kenya: IIEC caught up in vested interests needs help

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Kenya: The search for Orwa Ojode’s replacement in Ndhiwa constituency has begun in earnest

KENYA: CREDENTIALS MAY LOCK OUT KISIA FOR NAIROBI RACE

KENYA: VARSITY DEGREE REQUIREMENT PUNCTURES RAILA AND HIS ALLIES ELECTORAL AMBITIONS

Kenya: The proliferation of thousands of small arms into Kenya is the major source of worry to the government

Baffling Scenarios in Kenya – The rule of law must be upheld

Raila is the most suitable presidential candidate judging from his tireless effort to improve the lives of Kenyans

Kenya: Karachuonyo MP wants ODM to discipline its loose talking leaders and rumor-mongers