Category Archives: Elections

Kenya: People claiming to be close friends of Raila Odinga need to be tamed as some of their actions could detrimental to the PM popularity inside Luo-Nyanbza

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IF RAILA ODINGA FAILS TO WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THIS TIME ROUND THAT WOULD BRING THE ODINGA FAMILY DYNASTY AND DOMINATION OF LUO POLITICS TO AN END.

News Analysis By Bob Ndira Uradi

IF what has been appearing in the columns of our local newspapers depicting members o the Odinga family as greedy people who are hell-bent in winning all the important elective positions within the ODM, senate, parliament, county governance and county wards representatives is true then the influence I this region may soon come to an abrupt end.

The Odinga family has dominated the Luo politics ever since this country attained its political independence in 1963 with the zeal, though not much has been achieved under the family leadership and political patronage in terms of the community economic empowerment..

Many Luos re still wallowing in abject poverty while the Odingas are swimming and stinking in massive wealth.

Discontent is building up in many parts of Luo-Nyanza following the rumors making the round that the Odinga had earmarked their own to take over various elective positions within Siaya County and to an extent allegedly positioned their political surrogates and sycophants to win the ODM party tickets for nominations in various parliamentary electoral areas.which are scattered within all the four Counties of Siaya, Kisumu, Homa-Bay and Migori.

The alleged scheme to have their own political surrogate in every elective position has raise political temperature in almost every district in the region.

A near physical combat and fist punch-ups recently witnessed at the home of Dr. Oburu Oginga’s Bondo rural home is a clear evidence of the tension which is building up around the Odinga family.

The Finance Assistant Minister who is the elder brother of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga had invited ODM party delegates from all over Siaya County to a get-together party at his country home.

The purpose this party, according to an insider was to familiarize the party officials and also to seek for their endorsement of his {Dr Oburu} as the ODM candidate for the Siaya Senate seat in the impending general elections.

The delegates, however,got the wind that Dr Oburu Oginga has set his sight on the Senate seat and is planning to relinquish his position as the Bondo MP and has since earmarked his son Elijah Abonyo Oburu to be his successor.

The delegates came to the Assistant Minister’s home while readily armed with information that his younger step-brother Isaack Omondi Odinga who is a civic leader representing Milimani Ward within Kisumu Municipality has also declared his interest in the same seat.

It was also reported that the youngest sister of the Prime Minister Ruth Adhiambo Oginga is also eying the Kisumu County governor position. The move by Raila’s sister to capture the governorship position in Kisumu City is being resisted vehemently by the indignant communities within the County.They included the residents of Nyakach, Nando, Muhooni, Kisumu Town East, Kisumu Central, Kisumu Town West and Seme constituencies.

.She is indeed considered as an outider and an imposer out to deprive the local of their right of representation by an indignant person. He home is in Bondo..

Although it is true that the entire member of the Luo community is unanimous and will their unswerving support the Prime Minister’s presidential ambition, however, what the Odinga family is exhibiting that of trying to bag each and every elective position is viewed in other quarters as excessive arrogance and greediness. Bondo constituency comprises of two major sub-clans, namely the majority the Jo-Sakwa and the minority the Jo-Yimbo group. Dr Oburu’s father the late Jaramogi Ognga Odinga has represented the constituency ever since its inception in 1963 having only had break during his years of tribulations and incarcerations when the likes of Dr.William Odongo Omamo and Jonah Hezekiah Ougo-Ochieng got the opportunity of representing the electorate n the area in his absence.

In the entire previous contest for the seat, Gideon Ochanda from Yimbo has put up a good performance and in the 2002 election that he almost beat Dr.Oburu hand down. The popular opinion now making the round in Bondo town and its environs is that the family should now give a break and a breathing space to another person to be elected as the next MP for Bondo.

Another incident occurred at the weekend when women leaders almost come closer to exchanging fist blows. It was during the burial of a highly respected woman farmer Mrs Dorkas Akeyo. J.Oyugi- Ogot.

The trouble was sparked off by derogatory remarks by the ODM coordinator in Nyanza Mrs Monica Amolo who has always been bragging off as being the one who is close to the Odinga family. Mrs Amolo was recently elected the Homa-Bay County branch treasurer.

In her address before thousands of mourners who had gathered in the homestead to give Mrs Dorkas Oyugi a solemn sending off, she turned the heat on the chairman of the Luo Council of Elder Ker Meshack Ogalo Riaga.

The erratic ODM official who hails from Ndhiwa made a grave mistake when she severely criticized the former Nyanza PDE Mrs Roselyn Onyuka who has already declared her intention to contest the position of the Homa-Bay County Women representative in parliament. She did so despite knowing that the area is in Mr Onyuka’s stronghold and was within her family backyard.

Mrs Onyuka is a woman of high profile and respected former senior principal of the various girls high schools in the region and later served as the principal of Asumbi Teacher Training College before moving on promotion to become the Nyanza Provincial director of the Education {PDE] and recently retired as senior deputy director of the education. Upon her retirement she served as the TSC director for six years.

The attack on Mr Onyuka did not go down well with the huge crowd, which almost reacted violently against Mrs Amolo, but the situation was only claimed down due to the political magnanimity of one Herbert Ojwang’ who in the confusion amid exchange of nasty words by the women confused the matter by immediately called for Harambee donations to off-set the medical bills and other expenses. This diverted the attention of the women leaders who were increasingly becoming combative and ready to take on Mrs Amolo on a physical combat. Such ugly incidences and uncoordinated utterances by someone who claims to be close to the Odinga family did not augur well, particularly at this time when the general election is round the corner and the Prime Minister himself is embroiled in bruising election campaign.

It is imperative that people who claims to be close to the Odinga family displayed some kind of courtesy and respect toward others. They need to exercise a lot of diplomacy when handling sensitive issues.

Unconfirmed rumors and allegations making the round in Kisumu City that the former Vice Chancellor of the Maseno University Prof Fredrick Onyango, who is facing stiff challenge in his elective position as the chairman of the prestigious Nyanza Club had issued a threat by saying that once the Prime Minister Raila Odinga become the President of the Republic of Kenya, the Kisumu Asians will have to pack up and go. The former Maseno VC is said to have bragged the he was close confidant of the PM. Other reports says his defeat at the members annual meeting is inevitable due to the alleged lackluster and dismal performance to the chagrins of the members, the majority are members of the Asian business community in Kisumu.

The Nyanza Club is a private members group who conduct their own elections according to the club’s constitution and have nothing to do with communal hatred or racist sentiments as such.

In his address to the mourners Ker Meshak Riaga Ogalo had challenged politicians in Luo-Nyanza o rebrand themselves and go out flat and campaigned for Rala Odinga to realize his presidential ambition instead of engaged in petty political wrangling within the Luo-Nyanza.

It has been noted with regret that politicians in Luo-Nyanza who masquerading as being close to the Prime Minister are found of bad-mouthing those with diverse opinions. Those who disagreed with them on matters of principles within the localities are being branded as sympathizers of PNU o supporters of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, and yet these people are genuinely supporting Raila as their man.

One MP from greater Southern Nyanza wondered as to what criteria could be used to determine the loyalty of others to the Prime Minister? The MP who had requested for his name to remain anonymous there were many resenting voices inside Luo-Nyanza about the activities of some busy bodies purporting to be working for the PM.

“The PM is the darling of everybody in this region, but some of his so called close friends and kitchen cabinet were doing a lot of harm, which if not checked could ruin his popularity.” said the MP. Adding that may be those purporting to represent the PM may just be some irresponsible opportunists working for their own selfish interest we can’t tell.

One thing members of the Odinga family must avoid at all costs is the idea of standing and contesting almost every elective position in their locality. They should leave the field open as a level playing ground for every ODM members

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two ODM parliamentary aspirants on votes canvassing mission in Rangwe and homa-Bay constituencies

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.

Two leading contenders for various elective seats within Homa-Bay County were on a vote canvassing mission over the weekend which covered the newly created Homa-Bay Town and the old Rangwe constituencies.

Mrs Gladys Wanga an aspirant contesting Homa-Bay Women representative and one George Oner who is vying for the old Rangwe parliamentary seat address series of joint meeting in Central and East Gem Locations within Rangwe and also several women groups within Homa-Bay Town constituency.

Addressing the women groups in East Gem, Mr Wanga urged the women to ensuy4e that their daughters received good secondary and university education. She decried the rule of that stipulates that only women with secondary education may contest for the electives positions as being discriminative.

She said thee were many women of high leadership quality h0 could vie for elective position, but the new regulations would not permit them to do so.

She said women leaders should come out and contest all the elective position either in the County governance, parliamentary or Senate as one way of affirmative action for gender equality.

Mrs Wanga urged women to compete for all the elective positions even in the party branch leadership. She added that she was pleased that the new person who would be voted in as the first MP for the newly created Homa-Bay Town constituency will be starting a new home and must work yard to ensure the area receive faster growth of the ton and make it hub of business activities in the region. The Town has been chosen as the new administrative headquarters for the new Homa-Bay County and as such would require someone who works so hard.

Mr Wanga also spoke about the need for the electorate to go in for only the enlightened leaders whose kn0owledge and experience goes beyond the County and constituency levels, and who could go out there and attract financial and other assistance from foreign sources for the rapid development of the region.

Kenya: The contest for the Homa-0Bay County Senate seat is expected to produce the fireworks

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

The campaign by aspirants vying for the Homa-Bay County Senate seat has kicked off in a high note with the potential contestants criss crossing the full length and width of the region in canvassing for votes.

The battle for the senate seat in this region has promised a lot of fireworks given the kind of the political elites and personalities involved in the race.

Two of the aspirants co so aggressively and his campaign style is sending shock-waves to other established politician in the region.

The politically well established contestants include the Immigration and Registration of Persons Gerald Otieno Kajwang, who is the MP for Suba South {formerly Mbita}, and the abrasive MP for Ndhiwa Joshua Orwa Ojode who is an Assistant Minister for Internal Security.

The third force is the populist and youthful Nairobi and Kampala based businessman Hilary Ochieng’Alila whose waves of popularity in the region has become a matter of serious concern by other aspirants.

The 37 year old Alila originally hail from Rapedhi area of Ndhiwa district, But he has made Homa-Bay his permanent resident and campaign center, Alila is so popular with youth and women groups and has mobilized big following in all the eight parliamentary constituencies, which include Suba North, Suba South, Ndhiwa, Homa-Bay Town, Rangwe, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kasipul-Kabondo.friends, but later turned bitter enemies..Ojode with close to 100,000- registered voters in his Ndhiwa home turf could easily tame Kajwang’. if he could garner close to 75 per cent of votes in his Ndhiwa home turf, then he would be hard nut to crack.

Kajwang’, however, hail from the Suba region, which could only account for about 55,000 or 60,000 after the fresh registration of he new generation of voters after the next registration of voters exercise due before the next polls.The Minister, however, has recently brushed shoulders with the members of the Suba communities in the two constituencies of Suba South and suba North folowing renaming of the two constituencies by the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC} which did not go well with his personal interests. He faulted the IEBC for having renaming Mbita, the Suba North arguing that there were more Luo population residing in the constituency than those of Suba origin.

Pone civic leader in Rusinga Island has since filed a legal suit against the IEBC arguing that renaming of the constituency was not in the best interest of all the residents. The civic leader in question was present during the hearing conducted by the IEBC in Homa-Bay and the presentation of memorandums by the people from the two Suba constituencies. But the civic leader has since developed cold feet and moved to court as a lone ranger against the majority of the residents of Rusinga Island.

The most interesting feature of the impending suit against the Suba population was filed by none other than Otieno Kajwang’ younger brother who is a lawyer in Nairobi, and the residents says they are seeing Kajwang’s hidden hand in the matter. The elders and residents who had requested for the change of the names of the two constituencies have vowed to render the support to the IEBC during the hearing of the case.

Another aspirant is a Mr Enock Aduke, who hails from Kodumo in Kabondo, but a resident of Kosele Town. His political clout and influence in the region, however remained unknown as he is a new comer to the game.

The former Kasipul Kabondo MP William Oloo Otula who had earlier announced that he would contest the Homa-Bay County Senate seat is reported to have chicken out and has since declared the would be trying his hand in his old Kasipul seat Otula made the announcement during the weekend burial at Kojwach village hoe near Ringa Market of a former PNU parliamentary candidate for Kasipla-Kabondo Akira Ngadi who was aid to rest last Saturday.

It is now clear that all the four aspirants for the Senate seat will be battling for the votes in the vote rich Rachuonyo region, which has registered close to 150,000 voters, but this figure could be increased to close to 180,000 after the next voters registration exercise before the polls.

The expected political scenario is that the real battle will be between Kajwang’ and Ojode, though the Ndhiwa MP will have the advantage of having a safe home constituency, while Kajwang’ home support has dwindled following the controversies with the Suba communities.

The man to watch is the youthful Alila whose influence is said to have gone higher notch and cut across the parliamentary boundaries. He has mobilized good following in far ends of the County like Kasipul-Kabondo, Mfangano and Rusinga islands. He is said to be a skillful operative who works with local women group and the fact that the youths are the majority of the voters, his popularity cannot be ignore. If the established politicians choose to ignore him they may do so at their own peril

Both Kajwang’ and Alila recently visited Wachara in Kwabwayi area of Ndhiwa which is Ojode’s stronghold for separate public functions, and the residents have since been speaking well in favour of the youthful Alila as the man of the man to watch.

What is likely to play on the ground is clans alliances within the and in the absent of any aspirant for the Senate seat from the votes rich Rachuonyo districts, Kajwang’ could be advantaged if he chooses to work closely with the area MPs like Eng James Rege {Karachuonyo? Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul-Kabondo}.He is the curret ODM chair for the Homa-Bay County branch, but he ius said not to be in good terms with the former Rangwe MP Phillip Okundi who is the ODN electoral board chairman, Okundi is still a power to reckon with in the old entire Rangwe region.

The coming months will reveal who is the real power in the contest, however, Alila is currently leading the pack with his flamboyant approach.

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Kenya: ODM faces disintegration in Southern Nyanza following inter-clans rivalries and false manoeuvres by MPs

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News Analysis By Bob Ndira Uradi In Homa-Bay Town
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The Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} is facing lean time as its popularity is facing litmus test in the greater Southern Nyanza region triggered by the reported inter-clans rivalries.

The discontent is showing its ugly head between the indignant communities and the immigrant sub-clans whose original homes could be traced in Siaya County, but who migrated to Southern Nyanza and settled in various locations within the region.

And such conflict of diverse interests and inter-clans differences are allegedly fanned by the local MPs who belong to the immigrant sub-clans who crossed the Lake Victoria from Siaya in search of arable land and settled in the region at the turn of the 20th century.

The two MPs who are members of the immigrant sub-clans include Martin Otieno Ogindo, whose family migrated from Asembo Location in Rarieda district within Siaya County. The MPs settled in Central Kanyada Location.

The other MP who is the son of an immigrant sub-clan is Gerald Otieno Kajwang’,is the Mbita MP Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ whose Waondo minority sub-clan is also reported to have migrated from Asembo in Rarieda district, also within Siaya County. The Waondo sub-clan settled in what used to be Mbita district among the majority Suba people.

The leader from the indignant sub-clans now claims that MPs from the immigrant sub-clans who claims to be the most trusted confidants of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga have the ulterior motive and secret scheme to dominate the indignant people of the region.

Also categorized as falling in the same cartel is the self-styled ODM coordinator in Nyanza Mrs Monica Amolo who also hails from Kanyikela/Asembo sub-clan in Ndhiwa district. Is also being accused of collaborating with the two MPs to undermine the local indignant leadership.

Mrs Amolo is claiming to be the confidant of Mrs Ida Odinga and the gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo who is Raila’s maternal cousin. Her role in the party is to undercut and undermine the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Orwa Ojode who has flatly refused to be dragged into vicious political manipulations being exercised in the region by people from Siaya.

During the recently concluded, but much flawed ODM grass root elections in Homa-Bay County, Kajwang was elected the party chairman in the County branch by consensus and not through the balloting. Hon Ogindo was also elected to the office in the same fashion an so was Mrs Monica Amolo.

But immediately after the conclusion of the trio allegedly embarked in changing and replacing the names of those who were elected along with them with their own political cronies.

George Ner from Kagan who had been elected to head the Rangwe sub-branch had his name changed and replaced by one Opondo Kaluma from Kanyada.

The name of the former Rangwe MP Eng.Phillip Okundi who is now there chairman of the ODM electoral board and who was named as a delegate in the Rangwe sub-branch had his name removed and replaced by that of Odhiambo Rare from Kochia.

In Rongo district the same group is said to be fighting the are MP Dalmas Otieno the man who is credited as performing diligently in both the cabinet as the Minister for Public Servants and within the ODM is always being branded as a KANU mole in the party and he is being fought let, right and center.

The group is also allegedly targeting the populist and highly respected former Nyanza PDE Mrs Roselyn Onyuka who has declared her interest in contesting the Homa-Bay County Women Representative and whose records of sterling service to the people is unequaled.Onyuka has the highest profile of leadership and recognized as a workaholic person who is an achiever..

In Ndhiwa district, the hardworking MP Joshua Orwa Ojode is being fought by the same cartel which is branding him as a sympathizer of the PNU? This assertion not based on truth, but simply on falsified assumption because Ojode is working in the same Ministry with Prof. George Saitoti who heads the PNU.

Ojode being tired with the kind of political intrigue has since broken the rank with the Prime Minister and has kept away not to e seen in any official function officiated by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

During the public hearing conducted by the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission at Homa-Bay member of the Suba Community from two constituencies whose inhabitants are the majority people of Suba origin had petitioned the IEBC and requested that the names of the two districts of Gwassi and Mbita be changed to Suba South and Suba North. The request was granted, but the Mbita MP came out spitting fire saying that such name could only be changed over his dead body.

The MP who is also the Immigration and Registration of Persons has since hired his own younger brother who is a lawyer of the High Court to institute legal action against the IEBC.

A legal suit is now pending in court in which the MP working through a local civic leader from Rusinga Island is the plaintiff. However, elders from Suba region who had requested for the changes of names of the two constituencies have vowed that they will be in court as the IEBC witnesses when the case come up for hearing.

These political maneuvers by people who claims to be the closes advisers of the Prime Minister is tearing the ODM into pieces, and the party hitherto supremacy in Southern Nyanza is fast evaporating.

Local indignant now feel the Prime Minister is exporting the Siaya brand of politics into Southern Nyanza by way of using his trusted lieutenants in coercing the local leaders into succumbing to the divide and rule policy.

Those allegedly targeted for possible sidelining included the abrasive Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga, Migori MP John Pesa, Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno and Karachuonyo MP Eng Jame Rege.

The MPs who have been classified as the alleged collaborators of the Siaya cartel included Kasipul Kabondo MP Joseph Oyugi Maguwanga, Gwassi M John Mbadi and Uriri MP Cyprian Ojwang’Omolo. A candidate aspiring for the Homa-Bay governor’s position Cyprian Otieno Awiti is also reported to be playing in the same league with Siaya agents out to exercise their external political supremacy against the indigenous people of Southern Nyanza.

The group it is further being alleged is working under the supervision of Raila Odinga’s elder brother Dr. Oburu Oginga who is the Bondo MP and who is said to be the group’s godfather. The main aim and objective is to have people elected in various position of governance within the counties, Senate and parliament who could toe the lines, and such must be vetted by agents whose loyalties to Raila are unquestionable. Independent minded politician with diverse of opinion stands no chance of clinching ODM ticket to contest the elections in various constituencies in the next general election, even if they could sail through the preliminaries, they would be eventually rigged out and replaced others.

Another immigrant politician whose original home is in Alego Mur in Siaya County who is also suspected to be working in cohort with the group has launched an elaborate campaign to be elected the first Senator for Migori County. He was the once two time Homa-Bay MP Phares Oluoch Kanindo who sat in the August House for close to ten years, but left without uttering even one single word.

Kanindo is involved in serious competitive politics with the academic giants such as Prof. Edward Oyugi Akong’o, former Mathari MP Gilbert Ochieng’ Mbeo and others.

Dr Oburu Oginga, however, could not be reached to deny or confirm the allegation. He was reported to have traveled abroad on government official duties.

The immigrant groups are loosely referred to in Dho- Luo derogatory terminology as “Jodak, Onyalo Biro or Ojuwando” and the rumor making the round is that the group has vowed not to allow anyone who is working independently to win any elective post in the region unless he is allied to the Siaya agents.

Local pundits are quick in pointing out that for the first time the ODM would lose a number of parliamentary and civic seats to other parties unless Raila Odinga himself intervened in time and tell the so called Siaya agents to leave the party members and leers in the region alone to chart their own destiny. People in this region are so much disgusted with these kind of unbecoming political maneuvers.

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Kenya Politicians are stooping too low and practising primitive and parochial politics

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Commentary By Bob Ndira-Uradi
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When the Prime Minister Raila Odinga made veiled remarks about a court ruling on the date for the next general elections it received wholesale condemnation from all quarters within the so-called G7 groups.

But when Honorable William Ruto deliberately and flagrantly choose to defend a matter which is already before a court of law, and as such does not need clearance via the media columns, but only required the adversely mentioned person defend himself of her self inside the court room and give his or her version of the matter therein court.

There was total silent on the part of Raila’s detractors. Why? All the events and political scenarios only point to the direction o the worse political intrigues, now shaping in our country.

In Kenya of today, what used to be known in legal terms as the rule of prejudice is no longer there anymore. People don’t see the seriousness of court cases. People facing serious criminal charges do defend themselves through the public acclamation at political rallies.

Doe it mean that our people have got n faith in our judicial system? They only trust the information conveyed to the reading public via newspaper columns?

They hurriedly convened press conferences to clear the air on matters already before the legal constituted court of law. And they do this with impunity. Surely are thee the same person who wants to become our next rulers? I am sure for certain that level minded Kenya will definitely find an answer to the above questions. If not so they will do so at the polling booths next year.

Another million dollar question is; Are these leaders really getting adequate legal experts advice fro their lawyers before they resort to making populist defense of serious criminal charges through newspaper of public rallies?

Reading some of the reaction and comments posted to newspaper b members of the so-called G7 or KKK one could make an intelligent guesswork and see how seriously panicking are member of this amorphous alliance about the presidential candidature of the populist Raila Odinga. And all the tricks in the books are being deployed to undercut and scuttle his presidential ambition.

However, Kenyans are no longer living in the stone age, but very much awake and do understand well who I the genuine reformer an who is sailing inside the boat of anti-reformist group.

Some members of the G7 tribal alliance have made Raila Odinga their punching bags or an open field of learning elementary lessons in politics and the motive behind all these hullaballoo are meant to undermine and undercut “Agwambo’s popularity with Kenyan electorate.

However, God is Great, because while the Prime Minister is busy everyday tending to state work, and at the same time attending to the various important government duties, his fellow cabinet colleagues from half of the coalition government are busy criss-crossing the full length and width of the republic of Kenya hurling scathing criticism of him while scheming how to derail his presidential ambition.

Most of the Ministers allied to the PNU or G7 are no longer performing their duties and are therefore earning the taxpayers money, but not performing any duty that of mutual beneficial to Kenyan taxpayers. Is this is the kind of a government which Kenyans want to remain in Office until March next year?

Surely, can’t anti-Raila forces change their tactics and sale their far-reaching policy when canvassing for votes instead of wasting their time and energies directing their energies on erratic and destructive criticism of only one man, who is arguably doing a donkey’s load of work for the country. Kenyans now feel highly suffocated with the kind of vitriol’s, they watching through television news footage and reading in the newspaper columns on daily basis and truly want a change in the campaign style to that of political maturity.

Personally, I am not a Raila’s man nor am I one of his many sycophants, but judging from the views of some leaders, particularly his competitors for the same job; I am indeed convinced the man has matured up for the job. He has transformed himself from the old radicalism to that of a true statesman.

My belief in this school of thought perhaps represented the views of millions of silent Kenyans who for other reason might be hiding their heads in the sands of tribalism which is devoid of merit at all.

I their well orchestrated attacks on Raila from many prongs, many members of the G7 team have only been displaying their political naivety an mediocrity, which are devoid of what is known as “constructive engagement” in politics. They have only exposed their politic novices convincing Kenyans that none of them is fit to be our next ruler.

Although it is not in my character to engage in names calling, I am gong to single out the name of one politician who is know to be not only erratic, but very vocal among the ant-Raila group. This is no one else but the youthful MP for Cherangany Hon Joshua Kutuny.

Two years ago, especially during the constitutional referendum, Kutuny had joined the ranks with the pro No group headed by the Eldoret North Mp William Samoei Arap Ruto. While Raila Odinga led the pro-Yes camp that did not only triumphed in the Referendum voting result, but Kutuny performed poorly in his own Cherangany constituency where the majority of the electorate voted for Yes.

The outcome of results in the constitutional referendum could have served as deterrent to Kutuny like mined politicians not to underrate or underestimate the influence and enormous popularity of Mr Odinga with the down trodden Kenyans. In fact the result of the referendum itself speaks the volumes, pointing to the direction that the likes of Kutuny could be only one term MPs come the next polls. Kenyans are obviously looking forward to have a better person in Cherangany comes the year 2013,

I am sure for certain that the next year general elections will weed out all the political mediocre and semi-illiterate MPs out of the August House. This will eventually bring to an end the politics of cash handouts. Those thriving on politics o malice will be swept away in the bonfire of the new constitution.

We are all hoping that the IEBC will make sure that the backgrounds of people who want toi become the next generation leaders are scrutinized properly and thoroughly. They should make sure that the Chapter Six of the Constitution of professional ethics is applied to the letter.

Lawyers with the past history of having swindled their poor clients and fleece them of their money should not be allowed to see the inside of either Parliament or Senate and even the regional County governor’s position.

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Kenya: daggers are drawn in the battle for Sigowet/Soin new parliamentary seat

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Sondu Market
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The newly created Sigowet/Soin parliamentary constituency could prove to be the biggest hub of more economic activities in the South Rift Region.

The area is unique in that it produces a lot both green leave tea bushes and sugar cane at the same time making it an area where the money could be in the highest circulations.

Sigowet/Soin is also an area where the border is proximity for inter-communal barter trade to flourish between the three major communities in Western Kenya. These are members of the Kipsigis, Luos and Kisiis.

The fast growing Sondu Market could be developed into an area of a booming trade. Sondu has half it is land with parts of it and right in Sigowet/Soin and the other half in Nyakach district. It is situated in a beautiful location between several hills overlooking Sondu/Miriu River.

The busy market is also serving the interest of the residents of North Mugirango Borabu who are living just across Sondu Mriu River separate only by the main Sonu-Oyugis road to the residents of Kabondo East in Rachuonyo South district.

Soundu Market is surrounded by five administrative districts, namely Sigowet/Soin, North Mugirango Borabu,Kasipul-Kabondo and Nyakach. Business people and trades from all the five districts have stake in the business and commercial activities of the market, thus the source of rapidly mushrooming new commercial buildings now springing up everywhere in trading center, though in the past its development was for many years hampered by intermittent tribal conflicts of interest and violence.

Insecurity around Sondu Trading Center could be partly attributed to excessive cattle rustling on both sides of the borer, especially between Sigowet/Soin and Nyakach. But with the newer generations of highly educated lots, this primitive culture is slowly being discarded by and replaced by commercial minded people, who prefer putting up beautiful commercial buildings and hotels in the center for the purpose of improving economic activities of the Center.

Unlike the neighboring Belgut and Ainamoi constituencies which boast of several green leave tea manufacturing factories under the management of the Kenya Tea Development Agency, and the multinational foreign tea plantations and factories, this new constituency has only one small size Soin Sugar Factory. A lot of cane produce in the area are finding their ways t the nearby Muhoroni and Chemelil Sugar Mills.

The green leave teas re sent to Mamul, Tegat,Kabianga and other factories in Belgut and Cheptororit in Ainamoi and also crushed by factories owned by multinational tea factories in both Kericho,Konoin and Bureti districts..

The old larger Belgut constituency has had close to seven or eight different MP ever since its inception in 1963. Its first legislator was the late Alfred Kericho who won the 1963 independence general election on a KADU ticket. He was dethroned by Walcey Rono in 1969, but Kerich bounced back in 1974.but was again sent parking by the late Ayub Chepkwony in 1979.

Chepkwony lost the seat in 1983 to Kiptarus Kerior in 1988, but the latter was beaten by Chepkwony again in 1992 only to for Kerior to reclaimed the seat in 1997 and in the 1990, the constituency was subdivided into two with the creation of the Ainamoi constituency.

Eng.Kipng’eno Arap Ng’eny the former Minister for Water Development became the first MP for Ainamoi in 1997, while the former Finance Assistant Minister Charles Kirui captured the old Belgut. However Kirui lost the Belgut seat to his brother in law Charles Keter in 1997.

In 2002 the former CID Director Noah Nondin Arap Too dethroned Ng’eny, while Keter made a history of becoming he first MP to have successfully defended his Belgut seat.All the previous occupants of the seat served only for one time and nobody had served for the consecutive terms, though some of the were sent to the cold and later recaptured the seat, but only after a five year break.

In the coming elections the man who is favored by most of the electorate and is tipped to wit the seat is Justice Kemei, the former Marketing and Communication Director with the Chemelil Sugar Company in Nyando district. He lost narrowly to Charles Keter in 2007 the much flawed ODM nomination system which was open to massive rigging, especially during the preliminaries.

Kemei is now in consultant business in Mombasa and Western Kenya,but frequenting the area almost every weekend while widely consulting with the electorate. He has one of the most attractive track record of development due to the fact that while he was serving at the nearby Chemelil he initiated a lot of development project and also helped many youth secured jobs.

Rumors making the round is that the former MP and Assistant Minister Kipatarus Kerior who is now a member of the Kenya Sugar Boa of service to the constituents. But when reached Kerior evaded questions about his entry into the race, only saying it will depend on the interests of the residents.

Also rearing to go is a senior lecturer at Eggerton University, NjoroDr. Malawi. The other aspirant is the Kericho business tycoon Kenneth Mutai who is a cousin of Keter.

Other potential contestants include the former Agricultural Services Manager at Chemelil Sugar Company Eng. Richard Koech who is currently in consultancy business in East and Southern African regions. The retired former top manager of Finlays Tea and Flower Company Mr Soi and an ex-high shoo teacher Mr.Kemei.

Other areas of economic activities within Sigowet/Soin constituency include the fast growing Soliat border market, which s close to Kericho Nyando border and also Muhoroni Town.

ENDs

PHOTO OF Mr Justice Kemei, one of the leading contenders for the newly create Sigowet/Soin seat.

KENYA: JORAM RAGEM says: IEBC IS RIGHT IN SETTING ELECTIONS FOR MARCH 4th 2013.

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From: Joram Ragem

Dear Kenyans,

By copy of this note, I advise all those opposed to the IEBC decision thus:

Much to my not liking it, I have slept on it, analyzed the law and the circumstances and came up with the conclusion that IEBC is right in setting March 4th 2013 as the safest and latest date Kenya can hold elections.

Here is why.

1. To wit IEBC is not ready to conduct elections in August 2012, and have not announced election date for August, 

2. To wit the court affirmed that elections can only be held if either,

a) To wit the President and the Prime Minister agree in writing to dissolve the coalition by a certain date to allow IEBC set a date.

or

b) The term of the current parliament ends, precipitating the elections to be held 60 days after that date.

3) To wit the President and the Prime Minister have not agreed on a date to dissolve the grand coalition.

4) To wit IEBC must work within a certain time table. They must have a working date for the following reasons,
a) To give civil servants an advance definite date to resign and comply to run for office.
b) To give politicians an advance timeline conduct nominations, to file papers to run for office, allow IEBC to vet candidates, allow candidates to inspect voter registers etc, etc. There are many other protocols requiring a definite date to allow advance notice.

5. Contrary to Martha Karua assertion that the ODM should pull out of the coalition to precipitate an election, the, to wit the constitution does not allow them to dissolve parliament.

6. To wit only parliament can precipitate an election by voting with a two thirds majority to dissolve itself. This will automatically force an election.

Lets remember this, IEBC needs a date to allow timetable of steps to allow the elections to be constitutional. 

WHEREFORE;

1) IEBC does not know when or if at all the President and the Prime Minister will agree to dissolve the grand coalition.
2) IEBC does not know when or if at all ODM will walk out of the Grand Coalition Government.
3) IEBC does not know when or if at all Members of Parliament will vote by a 2/3rds majority to dissolve
parliament.

IEBC CANNOT SIT AND WAIT FOR UNKNOWNS. THEY MUST AND HAVE SELECTED THE LATEST AND SAFEST DATE AN ELECTIONS CAN BE HELD FOR THE SAKE OF PREVENTING THE DATE TO BE POSTPONE EVEN FURTHER. IN ESSENCE, FOR THE SAKE OF THE VOTER, IEBC IS SAYING: MARCH 4TH 2013 IS IT’S IRREDUCIBLE MINIMUM, OR FURTHEST DATE OF THE NEXT KENYAN ELECTIONS.

If I of all people can accept this date for the sake of peace, compromise, and certainty, why can’t you?

 — 
I am Joram, You Are Not.
Yes, Joram Kaulikazi Ragem, wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem (You may be my relative, but it matters less now. This is New Kenya!)

Kenya: Omondi Odinga half brother of Raila joined the Race On a different Party ticket……

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From: Judy Miriga

Folks,

This is a very interesting piece of political dimension taking place in Luo Nyanza inside the Odinga family.

However, it remains democratic politics catching up in a New Nyanza and I believe it is healthy.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

– – — – – – – – – –

Omondi Odinga half brother of Raila joined the Race On a different Party ticket

Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s step brother has seemingly broken ranks with his family and decided to invite his brother’s political rivals, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto to their home in Bondo. Raila’s step brother Isaac Omondi Odinga told the Star yesterday that he had invited the two leaders to the Odinga home in Bondo to help in a fund raising event scheduled for April 6 in aid of Omondi’s election campaign kitty.

Omondi, who is the councillor of Milimani ward in Kisumu has also declared his intention to challenge another half brother, Raila’s elder brother Oburu Odinga in the Bondo parliamentary race.

Oburu, who is an assistant Finance minister has represented Bondo since 1994 when he succeeded his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who died two years after he was elected to Parliament. The late Jaramogi had represented the constituency from Independence until 1969 when he was detained by the Kenyatta government.

Omondi is the first born son of Jaramogi’s third wife Susan Agik Odinga who runs a tailoring businesswoman in Kisumu. Jaramogi was polygamous and had four wives— Mary Juma, Gaudencia Adeya, Susan Agik and Betty Adongo. With these wives he had seventeen children. Mary is the mother of Raila and Oburu and died in 1984. “There is nothing wrong with Uhuru and Ruto coming to Bondo. My decision to invite them is in good faith and I’m sure my brothers will also attend the function,” said Omondi.

Yesterday, Oburu, who is the Jaramogi family spokesman by virtue of being the eldest son, could not be reached for comments as he was away in the UK. However, his younger sister Ruth Odinga was quick to dismiss the planned funds drive by Omondi saying it was ‘political.’ “It is unfortunate that the media is asking me about our brother’s planned harambee even before he tells the family. I want to say that the move is political and l advise my brother to be wary of politicians out to use him and dump him later,” she said.

Raila’s director of communications Dennis Onyango declined to comment on the scheduled harambee at the Odinga home. Raila’s cousin who is ODM’s Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo described the invitation as a ‘welcome move.’ “Ruto and Uhuru have freedom of movement and they are free to come to Kisumu for any occasion. Omondi equally enjoys freedom of association and can therefore associate with anybody regardless of party affiliation,” said Midiwo who is the MP for Gem.

Uhuru and Ruto have been exchanging bitter words after Raila said the two should be in prison for crimes against humanity charges they are facing at the International Criminal Court instead of criss crossing the country attending prayer rallies. Yesterday, the two leaders addressed yet another prayer meeting at Kitale where they repeated their allegations against Raila and accused him of being ‘dishonest.’ Omondi is known to be a lone ranger in the Odinga family and pointedly refused to back the election of Kisumu mayor Sam Okello whom Raila endorsed. Omondi instead campaigned for James Oyolo who lost the election.

Apart from Uhuru and Ruto, other politicians invited to the funds drive by Omondi include Makadara MP Mike Sonko, Eugene Wamalwa of Saboti and Linah Jebii Kilimo of Marakwet East. The three have confirmed they will attend the function. Omondi was confident that the other invitees will also attend the function which will be held at Jaramogi’s Milimani home and whose chief guest will be Ruto.Omondi promised to make a ‘big announcement’ during the event.

Speaking from Kitale where he was attending the prayer rally, Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny who is a staunch Ruto ally confirmed that Uhuru and Ruto will attend the fund raiser. He said the fund raising event will be held a few days before the leaders visit Kisumu for another scheduled prayer rally. “People should not think that we lack supporters in Kisumu. For those who have thought that we cannot penetrate Luo Nyanza region I think it is now evident that we have not only got support from the community but Raila’s family itself,” said Kutuny

Jaramogi’s Milimani home was a beehive of activity as arrangements for the fund raiser began in earnest after Omondi received confirmation from his invited guests that they would attend the function. On hand to help Omondi with the arrangements was United Republican Party activist George Ayugi alias Mbuta who has twice hosted party leader William Ruto in Kisumu. “This is the kind of democracy that all regions must now embrace. The culture where some leaders were not allowed to visit certain regions is long gone and we should welcome one another,” said Ayugi.

Bondo Town Council chairman Henry Ondeje described Omondi as a ‘political opportunist’ who wanted to capitalize on the falling out of Raila and Ruto for his own selfish gain. “It is unfortunate that instead of concentrating on developing his ward, he is looking for opportunities to make money for his own benefit,” added Ondeje.

A close ally of Omondi and Nyalenda ward councillor Jackton Onunga said he surprised by Omondi’s decision. “I think he needs prayers because what is transpiring is not normal,” he said about Omondi’s plan to hold the harambee. Kisumu County inter-party youth forum coordinator Noah Olwero said it was a welcome move and was an “evident sign of democracy at work.”

KENYA: RACE FOR THE NEW KISUMU CENTRAL SEAT HEATS UP

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By Shem Kosse

The youthful Ugenya parliamentary aspirant, who accorded lands minister James Orengo alongside other contestants of Ugenya parliamentary seat in the ODM preliminaries in the run up to 2007 general elections, has thrown his hat into the ring, of the newly created Kisumu central constituency seat, by the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Steve Mwanga, who was mercilessly shortchanged in the ODM primaries in favour of Orengo, having trounced all his opponents, is fully set to cause ripples with his candidature once again.

His renowned and well oiled campaign strategy that shook not only entire Ugenya by then, but also amazed the luo populace at large, is likely to ignite sharp reaction across the political divide and more so to those who have voiced their interest, for the same seat.

Kisumu Central, has consequently, purely, remained a cosmopolitan constituency having been hived off the former larger constituency, Kisumu town west, which is currently under flagship of Olago Aluoch, largely seen as the man to beat courtesy of his stellar performance , as the incumbent Mp.

And the natives, hailing from greater Kisumu sub clans of korando, kogony, karateng, Kanyawegi among others who have been perennially championing clans’ kisumo town marwa! kisumo kendgi! Politics have been confined to their cocoon of the other newly created constituency, Kisumu west.

These are some of the factors, coupled with his financial muscle, Mwanga the accountant by profession and business magnate, appears to be cashing in on to bag the coveted seat: “This is electioneering period and there is no any seat which is a preserve for an individual!” he thundered.

Adding that most of the Kisumu residents were instrumental during his campaign trail that saw him emerging the victor, only for his nomination certificate to be handed over undeservingly to Orengo who despite being reputable democrat, received it religiously, to the chagrin of his admirers across the political spectrum.

The flamboyant Mwanga ,will have to burn midnight oil battling it out with other front runners who are Kisumu based business moguls, Abdul Omar and Philip Anayo.Not left out in the tight race to parliament is also the close confidant to former bulky area Mp Ken Nyagudi who is a topnotch legal expert, Mr. Ken Pundo, and a university don who is lecturing in one of the leading institution, Mrs Farida Ahmed Salim.

Nyagudi too is covertly massing campaign paraphernalia to give a stab once more to the National House: “For now am replenishing myself and whoever wants to rule me out to do so at his own peril…am not an amateur in politics and I’ll blow the whistle at the opportune time” he said,confidenlty.

ENDS Shem Kosse

MUDAVADI; it is rumored is Moi’s newest project for the year 2012 presidential race

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Report By Bob Ndira Uradi in Kericho Town
.
RUMOURS and speculations making the round in this tea land town that the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is the newest project of the retired President Daniel Arap Moi.

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta was Moi’s project in the 2002 general election as his anointed successor to the presidency, but was roundly rejected by his Kalenjin voters. The latter was the son of the Moi’s own political mentor, the founding President the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and therefore was part of his grand scheme for political dynasty in Kenya.

These rumors and speculations, however, the remotest as they are for now, could be somehow credible judging from the sudden change of hearts by many people in this region towards the ODM deputy leader by many Kalenjin, particularly members of the populous Kipsigis community.

The Kipsigis is a sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjn ethnic groups. Its members occupied the votes rich region comprising of Kericho and Bomet Counties, But members of the same community also have a strong presence in the diaspora districts and constituencies such as Trans-Mara, Kuresoi, Molo, Nakuru, Koibatek,Rongai, Tinderet, Nandi Hills .Aldai, Narok North and Narok West and Cherangany.

In the general elections of the year 2007, the community voted for the ODM and the Prime minister Raila Odinga on a man-to-man, and out of its close to 1.3 million votes, the latter is believed to have garnered about 85 per cent, Thus was so despite of the strong anti-Odinga campaign by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi, the self-styled professor of Kenya’s politics whose word is counting a lot among members of this particular community.

Thanks to the strong and tireless campaign efforts mounted by prominent and senior members of this community who included the former Deputy Chief of Staff of the combined armed forces of Kenya Lt.Gen.{rtd} John Arap Koech, the populist and then political kingpin of the community, the Late Donald Kipkalia Kones and his boyhood friend Franklin Bett {now the Minister for Roads, the late Lorna Laboso, the first single and unmarried woman to win a parliamentary seat in a rural constituency inside the Kipsigis reserved land.

It is also worthwhile to mention the names of the younger generation of politicians in the region who played the pivotal role in popularizing the ODM in the 2007 general elections which saw Raila Odinga sweeping the board in the presidential race against President Mwai Kibaki .They included the youthful politicians like Magerer Lang’at, the late David Too, Dr Julius Kones, William {Chemosit} Arap Kettienya and others and to a lesser extent Charles Keter Donald Ng’eny.Nicholas Tum and others.

It became obvious that the community had risen up against the former strongman Daniel Arap Moi and voted for the man whom he hates most, Raila Odinga.

However, the latest rumors and speculations making the round in this region is that Moi and others have hatched the plan to rock the boat of the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} and scuttle the presidential ambition of its leader Raila Amolo Odinga by the alleged scheme of secretly sponsoring and bankrolling Mudavadi to divide and weaken the ODM thereby split the bins for “Agwambo” before he finally ditched the ODM for the prior arrangement for his soft landing into KANU.

Sources close to KANU in Kericho have revealed that there several options. The first option is for Mudavadi to go into full length in challenging Raila Odinga in the party’s presidential nomination, if he succeeds in dethroning Odinga and become the ODM torch-bearer in the next general elections, then KANU would automatically merge or form a loose alliance with the ODM. And in such political scenario, Moi’s favored son Gideon would be Mudavadis running-mate. But before this the current national chairman of KANU Uhuru Kenyatta would be edged out of the party leadership within the next two months.

Proponents of this idea have the Kalenjin votes in mind. They fear that the G47 alliance that would see Uhru Kenyatta contesting the presidential election with the Eldoret North MP William Ruto as his running mate would scare away the Kipsigis votes. This particular community has the history of single handedly having fought so many tribal wars against their Kikuyu neighbors ever since 1992. And therefore the Kipsigis voters might not be comfortable voting for another Kikuyu president in the near future.

Political pundits among this community were quick in saying that although the community loves the Eldoret North MP William Ruto, there are strong discontent and dissenting views about his close political association with Kenyatta. These were some of the reasons why this particular community had rejected Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidential bid in 2002 despite the strong and well elaborate campaign mounted for him in the region by the retired President Moi, who even went out of hand using the government resources and facilities in a well orchestrated campaign, but could not succeed in selling Uhuru Kenyatta to the Kipsigis voters And Moi is said to be very much aware of the inner feeling of the community

Moi is also reported by other unconfirmed reports making the round in this region to have advised his group not to spend the election resources while trying to lure the Luo voters to their side, arguing that the Luos are the most unreliable lots when it come to question of who to vote for, they will always troop up behind Raila Odinga after squandering such resources, therefore it would be a waste of time and energy, according to his past experience.

Kisiis and Luhyias voters are venerable voters in Western Kenya who could easily be manipulated with cash hand outs and other niceties. Experts in the anti-Raila groups have therefore directed Mudavadi’s campaigners to target the Kisiis and Luhiyas.

It says that the Sabatia MP has plan A and B, The plan A involved his aggressive campaign for the ODM presidential ticket, but in the event of his failure to win the party ticket against his , boss, the DPM would ditch the ODM and cross over to KANU.

Plan B is that he is the preferable KANU/PNU alternative candidate in the event of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto being prevented by the law from contesting the presidency due to the ICC cases facing them at the Hague Mudavadi would then be the most favored presidential candidate for the combined parties like PNU, URP, WPK and KANU with Moi’s favorable son Gideon Moi as his running mate.

A number of political personalities in Kericho who spoke to this write and requested that their names should not be published for fear of reprisals said the campaign for Mudavadi’s presidential bid has begun in earnest.

It I being alleged that Moi is the one who is bankrolling Mudavadi’s campaign kitty, The retired President according to sources is not comfortable with Raila nor is he in favor of the Eldoret North MP William Samoei Ruto. He has yet to forgiven the two for having been instrumental for his election defeat in 2002, which brought KANU regime to an abrupt end after close to 40 years of uninterrupted rule.

The link between the Mudavadis and the Mois is dating back close to 65 years ago. It started in 1954 when Mudavadi’s father the late Moses Sabstian Budamba Mudavadi was working in the North Rift, first as a teacher and later as an Assistant Education Officer {AEO} and later as the District Education Officer{DEO}, while Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was the head teacher at the various primary schools in the region and later at Tambach Teachers Training College in Baringo.

Mi by then was the darling of the African Inland Mission {AIM} now African Inland Church {AIC}and the then White Missionaries highly recommended him in the support of Mr Moses Mudavadi, and that is how the self-proclaimed professor of Kenya’s politics entered into politics. He succeeded John Ole Tameno who had voluntary resigned in huff from the colonial Legislative Council.

But in the first election of the eight African elected members of the Colonial Legislative Council in March 1957, Moi won the election as the representative of the entire Rift Valley Province. Earlier in 1948 the colonial government had nominated the late John Chemallan from the Nandi sub-tribe as the first black Legco member for the Rift Valley, while Eliud Wambu Mthu represented the entire Central Province and Nairobi, Mr Beneah Apollo Ohanga a Lup from Gem represented Western Kenya and Jimmy Jeremiah represented the Coast. But in 1952, the son of the late E-Senior Chief of Bureti the late Cheborge ArapTengecha, the late Francis Chuma was also nominated in the Colonial Legislative, but he only served beefy.

The common saying among the Kipsigis people is that it is a repaying time for Moi to help the son of his friend and brother-n-law Moses Mudavadi to become the fourth President of the Republic of Kenya. He previously appointed Mudvadi to the key Ministerial slot of the Minister for Finance and later the Vice President in which the latter had briefly prior to the 2002 general election appointed Mudavadi his Vice President before the last KANU regime was ousted out of power in 2002.

It could be remembered that that Moi association with Mudvadi’s father is dating back to the years 1950s while both were teachers in the North Rift.

It was during this period of time when the colonial administration sought for an intelligent and well educated African in the region who could be fit to be recommended for the nomination to the colonial Legislative Council. Mudavadi was tipped for the job, but instead he recommended Daniel Arap Moi for the job instead of clinching it for himself. The late Muadavadi also was married to a Tugen woman who is a close relative of the Mois. Thus, this was the beginning of the cementing down the relationship that ha survived for over 60 years.

The late Moses Mudavadi served in the Moi’s cabinet in senior ministerial positions of Education and later in the Local Government and had become the most powerful member of the cabinet from Western Kenya. At one time hr served as the Secretary-General of the ruling KANU party after succeeding the late Robert S.Matano.

Taking all these into account, It Is indeed therefore prudent that the rumor about Moi’s covertly involvement in the alleged support or Mudavadi to break the back-born of Raila Odinga’s ODM in the same fashion the latter had succeeded in dismantling Moi’s KANU last regime in 2002 cannot be ruled out.

In order to survive this onslaught on ODM Raila and his lieutenants must pull up their sacks and put in place the most effective plans to effectively and elaborate counter checks. At the moment the ODM is still very safe in Western Province, but not so safe in the South Rift and Kisii regions. The party needs to do a lot of home work in order to regain its lost past glory in the two regions.

It must recruit and groom the most credible individual political personalities to serve as a back-up teams to supplement the services now being rendered by the likes of Franklin Bett, Magerer Lang’a, Madam Beatrice Kones, Madam Joyce Laboso and others. It must shop for strong and credible people in the two regions.

The young Mudavadi had served under the Moi Presidency and was his last Vice President in 2002 when KANU lost power to the amalgamated parties, which grouped under the umbrella of charity Ngilu’s NARC. I regrouped former Moi’s trusted lieutenants and KANU stalwarts like Prof.Geore Saitoti, Charity Ngilu,Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka, Moody Awuori, Raila Odinga, Najib Balala and others.

The group handed a devastating defeat to Moi’s preferable KANU presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and helped President Mwai Kibaki win the presidency.

The name of Musalia Mudavadi is being mentioned in almost every village in both Kericho and Bomet Counties as the next President of the Republic of Kenya. Members of this community, however, are openly saying they wouldn’t be happy with the another Kikuyu president taking into considerations that this is the Kalenjin sub-tribe which has fought the fiercest tribal skirmishes against other communities.

Kenya: Kibaki & Kalonzo To Be Sworn In Again In January 2013

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From: Joram Ragem
Date: Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Subject: Kibaki & Kalonzo To Be Sworn In Again In January 2013
To: jaluo jaluo

From: Joram Ragem

BTW, You can now subscribe to my weekly dreams about my 10th great grandfather Ragem.

Back to my note. You heard me right and don’t get a heart attack or indigestion.

Whereas,

a) There is no clear court ruling regarding the transition clauses in our constitution, and

b) In the event the next general election is to be held in March 2013 as one of the possible dates suggested by Judge Lenola, and

c) Kibaki’s term of office expiring at the end of this year, and

d) There shall be no vacancy in the office of president.

To wit, Kibaki & Kalonzo will be sworn in again, as president and deputy president at dusk on Jan 1st 2013.

In the wider scheme of things, my 10th great grandfather Ragem, revealed further to me.

1) Mutula will be persuaded to withdraw the constitution amendment bill changing the date of the election from August to December. Unfortunately, the next presidents term will be 4 years and 3 months. June 2013 – September 2017.

2) Kalonzo, will be promised a 60 day presidency and will be persuaded not to run for presidency, while Tuju, or Saitoti, and others are nudged on. If they win with 50+1 vote, everything will be alright. If they don’t. “Houston we have a problem.”

My 10th great grandfather Ragem, not I, says thus: Soon after, but before June 2013, and certainly right about the time of the run-off elections, Kibaki will resign and Kalonzo will be sworn in as president for 60 days as afore mentioned.

Wherefore:

My wise 10th great grandfather Ragem says: In the confusion, absence of a clear election date, and per the clear date of elections stipulated as August in the unamended constitution, a new election will be done in August 2014 following the arrival back into the country by those acquitted of crimes against humanity by ICC.

All in an attempt to block a certain candidate, or shorten his term in office as much as possible, in the event he wins.

—

I am Joram, You Are Not.

Yes, Joram Kaulikazi Ragem, wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem (You may be my relative, but it matters less now. This is New Kenya!)

Kenya: Claims ares made that a Kericho tycoon is saying Sigowet/Soin seat against the father’s death wishes

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Reports Bob Ndira Uradi in Kericho Town.

The reported entry in to the political foray of parliamentary politics by a prominent Kericho tycoon is causing discontent among the resident of Sigowet / Soin.

The discontent has come about following claims and reports alleging that before his passing away Mzee Isaiyah Mutai, a pioneer businessman in Kericho town had advised his sons against venturing into politics.

Mzee Isaiyah Mutai considered as one of the wealthiest businessman among the Kipsigis community in Belgut within Kericho County died a few years ago. He left his business empire estimated to be worth Kshs 800 million in the custody of one of his sons Kenneth Mutai.

But unconfirmed reports emerging town says Kenneth Mutai whose business interests has spread into other regions like Nairobi and Mombasa is now eying the newly created Sigowet / Soin parliamentary seat in lower Belgut.

The late Mzee Isaiyah Mutai, according to sources in Kericho, before his death had expressed fears the family fortune would be lost if his son Kenneth Mutai ventured into politics.

Other family members are divided over Kenneth Mutai reported plan to foray into politics .Most of the family members are vehemently to his alleged plan of running for Sigowet / Soin seat arguing that Kenneth Mutai is being pushed into politics by few people who have the ulterior motive hoping to lay their hands into the family money.

His eldest step brother Mr J. Biegon is also understood to be against his younger brother’s running for a political seat and is said to have repeatedly reminded him respect and uphold of their late father’s advice.

Among those who are suspected of pushing Kenneth Mutai to join politics include the Belut MP Charles Keter who is a distance cousin of the Mutais.

Keter, it is being alleged has been good will messages through SMS to Sigowet / Soin constituents purporting to have come from Ken Mutai.

He was recently reported to have sent message to local teachers who had gathered at Kapkibet Secondary School telling hem that Ken Mutai had bought for them breads for their breakfast during their get together party in an apparent motive and aims of luring the teachers to support Mutai candidature.

Ends

Kenya: The battle for Homa-Bay county women Representative heats up as another high profile aspirant joins the race

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

The contest or the position of Homa-Bay County women representative is expected to be the toughest and most grueling battle of wits judging from the characters and individual personalities said to be eying for the same seat.

The lattest entry into the race is Mrs Gladys Wanga, the fiery former student leader having been the first lady to hold the position of Secretary General at the Kenyatta University Students Union {KUSA}.

Mrs Wanga’s development track record is equally impressive having mobilized millions of shillings from the European Union to promote tourism within Nyanza Province, particularly around Lake Victoria region.

This project resulted in the construction of the monumental Abasuba Community Peace Museum as a place for conservation of the Suba Culture and a tourist’s destination.

In additional Wanga has been involved with sanitary towel distribution in schools and giving hearty talks to motivate girls to excel in their education.

Wanga received her early education at the Aga Khan Primary School in Kisumu town before she moved to the Kisumu Girls High School the next door. She was admitted to the Kenyatta University where she studies Bsc an Msc degrees in health science.

Wanga is also credited for having mobilized through Homa-Bay District Water Office resources from UNICEF for the implementation of a major water project in her home turf of Kochia, in Rangwe constituency, a project that has radically changed the life of residents for the better.

With a wealth experience of ten years in the service of community project, Mrs Wanga says her vision is embedded in one core principle – “The power to sustainable development lies with the people,” – the esteemed communities of Homa-Bay county; the brave women old and young who wake up early morning to leave their homes for the farms and markets and return at dusk with something small for their families; the young sons and daughter who take are of their widowed mothers.””In there the solution the solution to the challenges that face Homa-Bay county lies.”

Mrs Wanga has published on this in her hand book entitled “Managing Community Projects.”

She told this writer that vision in a country where the “people” { young and old, rich and poor, men and women} are substantially involved” in finding solutions to the challenges they face.”

Mrs Wanga launched her elaborate campaign a couple of weeks ago and has toured most parts o the Homa-Bay including Mfangano Island where had worked with the local community previously. Homa-Bay County comprises of eight parliamentary constituencies covering Kasipul, Kabondo, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and Mbita. The region is full of tourist attractions and pre-historical sites. The upper part of the County including areas like Kabondo, Kasipul, Gongo, Kagan, Gem, Ndhiwa have fertile land which is arable and suitable for the production of cash crops such as tea, coffee, maize, fruits and vegetable.

The low laying locations along the shoreline of Lake Victoria have the potential of cotton production and other cash crops. But fishing and fish trade, are the mainstay of the economies scenarios for tourist attractions and pre-historical sites in Gwassi, Mbita, Homa, Rangwe and Karachuonyo.

If elected Mrs Wanga is likely to faces the tough challenges including sensitizing the gender issues, encouraging women to venture into businesses to compete equally with their men folks.

Homa-Bay county is also rich in minerals such as gold, lime and cement, whose deposits are said to be in abundance around Ruri Hills, copper, though some of the minerals he remained unexploited for years.

Ends

photo of Mrs Gladys Wanga

Kenya: The emergence of the so called “dot,com” group is terrorising and polarizing Homa Bay County

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News Analysis By Bob Ndira-Uradi in Homa-Bay Town
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The campaign for the various elective positions within the County governance and parliamentary seats has began in earnest in the Homa-Bay County.

The political temperature has been raised following the recent emergence of a group, which has self-styled itself as the “dot.com” whose campaign is said to have hit the ground with the thud like thunderbolt.

The “dot.com” group’s aims and objectives is to sideline all the seasoned and established politicians in the region and replace them with youthful aspirants in all elective positions fro the Senate, Parliament to the County representatives.

The ODM headquarters has yet to come out clean to clarify whether this so called “dot.com” group has its blessing or it just a simple project of an individual.

Silent but highly intriguing scheming by various camps within the ODM and scrambling for close to 700,000 votes has kicked off in high note with claims that some aspirants are being funded by outsiders perceived to be political enemies of the party and its leadership.

The “dot.com” group which is coalescing around the Mbita MP Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who recently won the ODM Homa-Bay County chairmanship during the much flawed party grass root elections only by consensus and not by popular votes is blamed for the unfolding dirty political maneuvers aimed at sidelining certain targeted individuals

The group is said to be comprising of the ODM renegade youths, hirelings, discredited power brokers political turn-coats and mercenaries for hire who can jump onto any bandwagon to campaign for the purpose of attracting cheap cash handouts from candidates. But people with no following or any grass root supports inside the villages and locations where they lived..

Kajwang’, who is also with the Immigration and Registration of Persons, is reported to be fronting for one young woman, who recently graduated fresh from university, for the position of women Senate representative, a move that is vehemently opposed by the majority of the electorate in all the six parliamentary constituencies.

The group is said to be loaded with unlimited funds, which the pundits and observers believes, are not sourced from the ODM party headquarters. But allegedly from unknown and highly intriguing sources of supply which is said to be rather remained mysterious.

The region is currently represented in Parliament by six MPs, representing Gwassi, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo.but the region has received two additional parliament seats as per the recommendation if the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC}.The new extra seat will be in Kasipul-Kabondo and Homa-Bay town.

The woman whose election campaign has sent shockwaves to many season politicians in the region is known by name as Mrs Gladys Wanga . She hails from Kochia West and reportedly working with an NGO in Nairobi. The electorate however, are questioning her background what she has been doing for the people of the region in relations to development to justify he claims to leadership position. In the absence of such explanation, Mrs Wanga will have an uphill task explaining her track record in the region.

However, those have had the opportunity of meeting her consider her as one of the many green horns as far as Homa-Bay politics are concerned. She will need a lot of coaching before her candidature is taken serious by the electorate.

Moreover she is originally from Seme Location in Kisumu West district, but only recently got married to a man who is a resident of Kochia West in the old Rangwe constituency. Her candidature is also suspected to have something to do with alleged plot to derail the Eng.Okundi’s bid for the Homa-Bay County governorship. Both Okundi and Wanga hail from Kochia West within the old Rangwe.

Okundi, however, has the most illustrious track record in term of development activities in the entire Rangwe constituency following his five years representation in Parliament between 2002 and 2007. In addition to this, the former Rangwe MP has what it takes to be considered as credible wealth of experience in public administration and management, having served as the Deputy Managing Director of the former vast Kenya Posts and telecommunications, the managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority, and in the same position at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and finally at the helm of the Kenya Bureau of the Standards..

The most intriguing aspect of her candidature is unconfirmed rumors making the round that she is enjoying the patronage and backing of the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Otieno Kajwang’, Kasipul-Kabondo MP Joseph Ouma Maguwanga, the ODM Regional Coordinator in Nyanza Mrs Monica Amolo from Ndhiwa, and one individual personality who is a former political ally of the immediate former Rangwe MP Eng Philip Okoth Okundi, Mr Agutu Jakorayo and one women leader in Kabondo Mrs Benta Dwassi.

Wanga ‘s candidature came in the wake of the popular views held by many residents that the position women Senate representative Senate should filled by the highly respected the retired top educationist Mrs Roselyn Onyuka from Kasipul-Kabondo, who is also the former Nyanza PDE and later the Director o Secondary Education in the Ministry of Education.

Mrs Onyuka has the highest profile and proved leadership quality. She has served briefly after her retirement as the TSC member and only retired last year.

Both Mrs Onyuka and Otieno Kajwang’ were born in Mbita constituency .She is the daughter of the late Senior Chief Damianius Ajwang’ of Gembe location. Her home is just four kilometers across the River Lambwe from to that of Waondo home of Kajwang’ and the rumor making the round, however, have it that the two had some old grudges as result of some old family feuds therefore the Minister will be much happier if the Senate Women seat goes to someone else.

The popular views are that owing to the fact that she hails next to Kajwang’ home turf it would not look fair to other communities when they will be asked to cast their votes for a man and a woman aspirants from one place.

Mrs Onyuka who served in the region heading several girls secondary school before she was promoted to be the Nyanza PDE the position which she served diligently for well over ten years is known as an “achiever” with colorful track record of development and efficient service t the Wananchi.

photos of Mrs Roselyn Onyuka from Kasipuo-Kabonjdo and the fomer PDE Nyanza who is contesting the elective position of the Homa-Bay County Women representative to Parlament. She declared here candidaure last Saurday hile addressing thioands of morners in Rusinga Island during the buriak of his brother in-law the lte Apollo Okeyo Omuga the former Suba Cultural and Developmenjt Council of Elders.

Another credible contender for the same seat is Ms Millie Odhiambo, the nominated MP who had earlier shown interest in Mbita parliamentary seat, but who is reported to have changed her mind following pressure from her cousin Phares Ogweno Ratego who is vying for Mbita parliamentary seat and who is said to have mounted one the most effective campaign ever seen in the area.

The “dot.com” group is said to be comprises of ODM renegade youths, hirelings, political turn-coats discredited power-brokers and mercenaries like political operatives well known for their lust for money in the region, and who could jump onto the bandwagon of any group with the loaded kitty. But whose impact in term of popularity and influence among the electorate is said to be reading zero.

The group recently hit the ground and traversed the full length and width of the region reaching far flung places like Mfangano and Rusinga islands while distributing calendars with the portrait of Mrs Wanga. The calendars were also distributed in Rangwe,Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo.

Insiders have informed this writer that the “dot.com” aim and objective is to scuttle the candidature o Eng. Philip Okoth Okundi who is currently on the lead in his bid to become the first governor of Homa-Bay County. The group has been telling the electorate that older people should go home and leave the political field for the dot.com generation of youths. Their other intention is to lock-out Mrs Onyuka and Ms Milie Odhiambo from the race or women Senate representative.

In his bid to clinch the Sate seat for Homa-Hay, Otieno Kajwang’ will have to square it with the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode who has also declared that he would be vying for the same seat. Ojode and Kajwang’; are sworn political enemies. Both men have served for more than three terms in the August House with Kajwang” have been elected in 1992 while Ojode was elected a year later following the defection of the former Ndhiwa MP Tom Odongo Obondo who won the seat a Ford Kenya party ticket, but within two months defected back to KANU.

Traveling in a bran new prod car Mrs Wanga recently traversed the full length and width of the Homa-Bay County while distributing new calendars with her portrait to the voters in most parts of the Homa-Bay County. The distribution of the calendars covered areas like Mfangano, Rusinga, Gwassi, Lambwe, Homa-Bay, Kasipul-Kabondo and other paces. The objectives of this solo trip covering the whole of the County was partly meant for introduction and popularization purposes.

The reports emerging from the various constituencies says the moved backfired, and many voters still held the views that two prominent women leaders Mrs Roselyn Onyuka and Ms Millie Odhiambo, the nominated MP, are far much better placed to clinch the women Senate representative should any of them decide to join the race for the women Senate seat.

Ends

Kenya: Two ODM MPS faces ejection in Suba region over the renaming of the two districts in the region

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Mbita Town
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TWO prominent members of the Orange Democratic Movement ODM} from Southern Nyanza region are facing lean times and embroiled in a very tricky boiling issue which could easily lead to their being locked out of parliament comes the next general election.

Unless the Mbita MP Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ and his counterpart Gwassi MP John Mbadi reversed their decision and abandon their vehement opposition to the boiling issue connected to the renaming of their two constituencies as Suba North for Mbita and Suba South for Gwassi they can as well count themselves out of the August Hose come the next general elections.

Kajwang is the current Minister for Immigration and Registration of Persons in the grand coalition government, one of the mot important slots allocated to the ODM in the government.

He has represented Mbita a rural parliamentary electoral area ever since 1997, first on an NDP and successfully defended his seat later on LDP and finally on ODM tickets. He is considered as one of the closest political allies and confidants of the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga.

John Mbadi a first timer whose sterling performance and outspokenness has made his presence in the August House felt beyond the Nyanza boundaries.

Mbadi who is an accountant by profession is sharp and eloquent debater who contributes a lot during debates on local, national and intentional issues, though at times he is time being blamed for acting like common “heckler” in the House when it comes to contentious issues related to the defense of his party boss Raila Odinga.

Discontent is high up in the Suba region following the reports that the two legislators are vehemently opposed to the idea of renaming the two districts as demanded by the electorate who are arguably predominantly people of Suba origins.

A testimony to the myriads of problems facing the two MP was witnessed last Saturday during the burial of the late Mzee Apollo Okeyo Omuga, who until his death late last month was the founding chairman of Suba Cultural and Development Council of Elders. He was laid to rest in a tearful sending off at his Kakrigu village home in Rusinga East, Mbita district within Homa-Bay County.

The burial ceremony was witnessed by thousands of mourners who included Minister Otieno Kajwang’ a good number of people known to be aspiring candidate for the various positions in Senate, Parliament and County governance in the region.

This did not work well, however, because the aspiring candidates who had travelled from far places hoping to be given an opportunity to address the gathering were never accorded that chance at all.

Apart from Minister Kajwang’ who should have been the host of other politicians other include Hilary Ochieng’ Alila an aspirant for the Homa-Bay Senate seat, Mrs Roselyn Onyuka who is vying for the Homa-Bay County women representative, Mrs Gladys Wanga who is also contesting the same women representative seat, Dr. Mark Matunga, a leading contender for the powerful position of Homa-Bay County governor, former Mbita MP George Osingo Migure ,Achilla Gogo who is vying for the position of the deputy County governor and Ex-Senior Chief Omolo Anditi of Rusinga Island who is the vice chairman o the Luo Council of Elders, clergymen, businessmen, farmers, teachers and professionals from the Suba region.

Judging from the hostility displayed by the mourners coupled by hostile remarks and speeches against the two MPs fro the Suba region one could simple make an intelligent guesswork that the issue is really boiling up, putting the political career of the two MPs at a great risk.

Narrating the background of Suba community in a prepared speech Mr Ocholla Gaa, a member of the Suba Cultural and Development Council of Elders who is also retired secondary school teacher formerly of Homa-bay High School referred the late Okeyo Omuga as “The Omwami of Suba”

He said the late Okeyo Omuga was officially installed as the Omwami of Suba in Mfangano Island on August 12, 2011. The installation ceremony was conducted by the Revered Omugambi of Suba Peter Clever Otieno Nyakiamo.

Ocholla Gaa who is the father of Mr Karoli Omondi, the Chief of Staff at the Office f the Prime Minister told the mourners that the journey that culminated in this realization had been long, bumpy and intermittent since the nascent of “Pinje Abich in 1948,

“Pinje Abich” then comprised Gwassi, Kaksingiri, Mfangano, Rusinga, and Gembe {Kasigunga} locations. Former chiefs Gideon Okore,of Gwssi,Kamaria Odundo of Kaksingiri,Simeon Wasonga of Mfangano, Shemekia Wakiaga of Rusinga and Damianius Ajwang’ of Gembe had worked tirelessly as custodian of culture and social organization to mobilize the Abasuba people to realize their identity through sports and building of schools for social transformation and economic empowerment of the people.

The five locations chiefs, he said in an electrifying speech, cooperated with the Abasuba leaders who were, Vincent Oloo Odienge, as the president and Samuel Okello Onyango as the secretary-general and Vincent Odede as the treasurer.

Simultaneously almost during the same period of time, the urbanized and people from Suba region who were then working in Nairobi and other towns formed what was to become the most powerful organization in later years, The Lowland Association whose founder was the late Tom Mboya who served for close to two decades as the Association’s Secretary-General.

The Lowland Association was late r to become an instrumental tool in which the youthful Suba boys and girls with lust for higher education were identified and sent abroad for further studies, some of them travelling to the US n the Great Airlift of 1959 and 1961 through scholarships secured through the effort of the late Mboya and his American friends.

“The spirit of Subaism then and now wanted recognition and respect of the Abasba identity and political space for full realization of the Abasuba socio-cultural and economic development as a distinctive community among the forty three {43} ethnic communities that make the nation of Kenya. The quest to achieve recognition and respect has many obstacles and challenges that many have taken for granted as non issues requiring rectification,” said Ocholla Gaa.

He told the seemingly puzzled and attentive mourners that the geographical contiguity with the Luo community and their earlier access to Christianity and the benefits accruing fro Christian mission education gave the Luo community a false perception that they should dictate terms, socio-politically and chart political path for the Abasuba as subordinates, adding that such innuendos led them {Luos} to derogatively call the Abasuba just simple as Luo-Abasuba.”

He went on,”Our constitution promulgated on August 27th 2010, chapter Three, part two 27 {4 and 5} of equality and freedom from discrimination, states clearly that what Abasuba people stands for is perfectly legitimate. This fact is not negotiable.”

Ocholla-Gaa praised the late Okeyo Omuga saying he had brought to full realization of Suba people and their national identity in Kenya. Abasuba people he added, have a history of their own. They have their culture, social and a political organization prior to colonial invasion and disorientation of the local communities of Kenya.

He said the Abauba people occupy a geographical space on earth. But through their altruism, the Abasuba have allowed a motley non Abasuba community to come and settle in Subaland. So far, he said, the Abasuba have no problems with any immigrant Luo sub-clans into Subaland a ha been attested by peaceful and harmonious coexistence prevailing in the region now.

The ex-teachers revealed that it was Mnister Peter Clever Otieo Nyakiambo who persuaded the retired President Daniel Arap Moi to create Suba district for the Abasuba people in 1995.The mettle of molding Subaism in the 21st Century was then left to Omwami Okeyo Omuga to carry forward without fear or favor. Any geographical entity has two points of the compass. Suba district, therefore he sad, has no exception. It must have North and South, adding, ”What logic is there for any sensible person to deny this reality? Ocholla Gaa asked amid deafening and prolonged applaud by the mourners.

Ocholla Gaa told his audience, “We know that great men and women whose ideas and leadership have shaped the destiny of the people in the world never escaped boos and heckle. In our time Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and Nelson Mandela were all heckled and ridiculed before incarceration, but the ideals they cherished and stood for have borne fruit to send the boos and heckles to the graves of shame.”

“We the Suba Cultural Development Council of Elders wishes to reaffirm here for all to hear that we stand for the ideals Omami Oeyo Omuga {the deceased} cherished and stood for. We shall not waver. We stand not be intimidated. The spirit of Subaism shall live in the comity of other communities of Kenya.”

Ocholla Gaa told the mourners that the Suba Cultural Development Council of Elders now under the leadership of Omwami Retired Senior Chief Thomas Okang’a Asango of Gwassi will work with other like minded Concil of Elders countrywide and would “wish them to joinus in unquestioned support for Hon Rala Amolo Odinga’s presidential bid to arrive safely to State Hose in December 2012.”

He issued a stern warning to sons and daughters of Suba, especially those eying county seats in Homa-Bay County to know that their vehicle to secure these elective positions is Subaism. ”Our message is clear.”

The lengthy of the speech delivered by Ochoola Gaa should serve as deterrent warning to the politicians who have been reported a having rubbished the aspiration of this minority community whose stance could wreck havoc with the ODM.

In Suba region mainly in two districts of Gwasi an Mbita the registered voters could be in the region of between 75,000 and 80,000, but the community is well spread in all other Counties. For example it occupied the largest portion in Migori district and its members are scattered in all the districts of Rachuony North,Rachuonyo South, Rongo, Awendo, Uriri, Nyatike, Ndhiwa, Rangwe and other places. A combined voting strength of the Suba people could be moderately be estimated at between 250,000 and 300,00o strong In the entire Southern Nyanza region.

In the relevant Minister Otieno Kajwang’ was quoted by the STANDARD as having told the funeral gathering in Rusinga Island that the me of his constituency will never be changed under all the circumstances come what may. But the newspaper story has some kind of discrepancies. Kajwang’ might have spoken to the STANDARD reporter elsewhere but not in the funeral home were he had no chance of even greeting the crowd.

He came I with a lorry load of ODM youths an close to 25 policemen in full, uniform and his arrival caused commotion in an already tension charged funeral gathering. But the Minister who came happily flushing his fly which had his mood changed abruptly after realizing that the place was hostile to hi anti-Suba stance, and sat pensively at the dais hardly exchanging conversations with anybody.

The Minister never uttered even one single word at the funeral except he bitterly complained at the inflammatory speeches made by the University Students from Suba region who had spoke early and scathingly criticized his leadership.

Kajwng’ might not feel the weight of the Suba people’s opposition to his political leadership because he ha switched from defending his parliamentary seat and he is now eying for the Senate seat. In the contest for the Senate, the Minister will go out flat in canvassing for votes in all the eight constituencies and could even win the seat with the vote from other region outside Suba.

But the position of his friend and colleague John Mbadi {Gwassi} would remain threatened a he is said to be content in defending his seat.

Ends

Kenya: Former Nyanza PDE Onyuka joins the race for Homa-Bay county women representative in Parliament

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Oyugis Town
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The election race for the Homa-Bay County women representative has entered its most crucial stage following the declaration by one of the women with the highest profile in the region that she will be  in the race.

The usually well mannered and conservative former high ranking high school teacher Mrs Roselyn Onyuka is the latest entry into the race for the seat which is also  expected to attract other women aspirants.

Mrs Onyuka hails from Kasipul-Kabondo constituency in Rachuonyo South district
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She started her long and rewarding teaching career as a high school teacher, but had meteoric rise quickly climbing up the ladder to become the Principal of St Albert’s Ulanda Girls High School in Rongo district {now Awendo district}.

During Mrs Onyuka headship St Albert’s Girls High School acquired the name as one of the girl’s schools with the excellence performance in the national exam. The school appeared regularly among the top list of excellence performance among girls’ schools in Nyanza.
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Coincidentally, this happened at the time when Asumbi Teachers Training College, one of the most important institutions in the region, was experiencing problems of  leadership crisis and almost being run down prompting top planners and decision makers at the Ministry of Education to consider posting the tough and no-nonsense and strictly religious Mrs Onyuka to head the college.
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However, shortly immediately after her arrival, Asumbi Teachers Training College was back on its feet and this again earned her quick promotion to become the Senior Principal followed  with her posting  to the Province as the new Nyanza Provincial Director of Education, a position in which she performed diligently with seal.

Mrs Onyuka is well known as an achiever. This was a clear testimony that during her role as the PDE schools in Nyanza,particularly those  whose names had long disappeared from the rolls of excellence performance got the face-lift and were back on their feet and performed well in national exams.

Mrs Onyuka’s transfer on promotion to become the Senior Deputy Director of Education some years later become controversial with regional leaders and stakeholders were up in arms against it.

 Politician joined the fur ore and commented sarcastically claiming it was the move which was aimed at ruining education in the region. Others viewed it as part of scheme and plans hatched  by those who had been responsible for running down education in the Nyanza
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The politicians complained bitterly arguing that her transfer was part of the well orchestrated scheme to marginalize the residents of the region in education.The Miistry, however, stood their ground arguing that her transfer was just normal.

At the Ministry headquarters she was assigned the responsibility of being the deputy national coordinator of NACADA programmes and thereafter she retired after attaining the mandatory retirement age. She was later appointed the TSC member for which she served for six years.

Mrs Onyuka was born in Gembe West {formerly Kasigunga} Location in Mbita district and got married in Kasipul-Kabondo where her marriage is blessed with several children most of them grown ups.

She received her primary education at Nyamasare Primary School in Mbita before moving to Asumbi Girls High School where she sat for her KCSE and scored the highest marks. She did her From Five and Form six at the same school before joining the University of Nairobi where she graduated with a bachelor of art degree in education.

Speaking before a huge crowd of mourners during the burial of the late Mzee Apollo Okeyo Omuga last Saturday,Mrs Onyuka declared hat she was an aspiring candidate for the elective position of Women Representative in Parliament and pleaded with the electorate to consider her for the job. The late Okeyo Omuga is her brother-in-law who got married to her eldest sister therefore she spoke on behalf of her relatives.

 Onyuka, however, steered clear of the on going local political feuds and wrangling over the controversies surrounding the Suba-Luo issues, which has been boiling in the are o some time now.

She, however, appealed t the residents of Suba region covering what used to be called Low-Lands covering  the low laying locations situated along the shorelines of Lake Victoria namely of Gwassi, Kaksingiri,Mfangano, Rusinga, Gembe West, Lambwe East to work together so that they could achieve faster development.

She decried the falling standard of education in the area, and specifically mentioned schools in Rusinga Island, which she said had nothing to celebrate about during the recent results  of the year 2011 KCSE national exam.

Onyuka urged the stakeholders, leaders, teachers, professionals and elder from the region to brainstorm together and find  the lasting  solution on how to improve the falling standard of education.
If elected Mrs Onyuka the women Representative in Parliament she will serve close to eight parliamentary constituencies in six administrative districts, namely Rachuonyo South, Rachuonyo North, Homa-Bay, Ndhiwa, Gwassi and Mbita district.

Currently Homa-Bay County is made of six constituencies. They include Kasipul-Kabondo, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Ndhia, Gwassi and Mbita. But the County was recently blessed with two additional parliamentary seats under the new electoral are arrangement by IEBC. The newly created seat will be in Kabondo hived out of the old Kasipul-Banondo while and Homa-Bay Town is created out of the old Rangwe constituency.

A survey recently conducted in the region indicated a signs of acceptance of Mrs Onyuka’s candidature with the majority of the electorate hoping she will make good use of her wealth of experience in public service and excellent management.

Ends

USA: Santorum called President Obama a “Snob”…….This is unacceptable people…..

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Folks,

Santorum told a Tea Party rally on Saturday 25th 2012 that President Obama is a “snob” because he wants “everybody in America to go to college”. Santorum’s Attack on College Education values is a sign he is not a serious Presidential candidate ready to serve American people with those of Global Village in a diversity. Calling President Obama a “snob” is in itself an insult lacking respect to the Office of Presidency. Secondly it shows that the Republican candidate has social class problems who would easily fall for attitudinal social superior class and discriminate against those unfortunate victims seen as socially inferior and therefore do not deserve to have a college degree or certification. Is this fair??

President Obama is definitely not a “snob”. President Obama loves, welcomes and cares for all people equally irrespective of Nationality, Religious, Culture or Social class. He respects Human Rights, dignity and virtues. President Obama never at anytime believed that some people are inherently inferior which is the direct meaning of being “snob”. He stands for fairness and demonstrates good faith honoring peoples Trust and differences of opinions and freedom. Despite bottle-neck obstructions with uncooperative stances under difficult stiff situations stage-managed by Special Interest with some Republicans, President Obama Graciously continued to invite Republicans to work with him to deliver effective services to Americans and to Foreign Policies. Without malice, President Obama delivered his campaign promises to the America people. President Obama consults widely to ascertain he is doing the right thing.

Santorum’s attack is an attack on democracy and the institutionalization for America’s Dream for progressive development. An educated community strives to stay ahead in innovative challenges for competitive progressive agenda in the Global Emerging Markets. The power and strength of a Nations lies on its educated community. Talents and skills vary. Good leadership management offers a fair opportunity that benefits all and equally provides a balanced cushion to steady the economy through trading regulations; without which unscrupulous business behaviors would evade paying taxes that are fundamentally important lubricants Revenues for stabilizing the economy’s sustenance.

This statement from Santorum is DUMMY…..makes no sense……It means, incase Santorum becomes President, going to school to get an education will be a preserve for a selective few politically correct people……This statement makes the candidate look and sound ridiculous. It shows in his leadership, he will discriminate against those aiming to improve their lives through accessing education or, he will become a President of less educated community who cannot compete in the world challenges in Technology, Mathematics or in Sciences to achieve the best in producing Progressive Development prospects for growth…….or, according to him, only 1% of the rich should be offered education and the rest of the population should be abandoned or neglected. This will be a serious violation, abuse and crime against humanity.

For Immigrants, it means Immigration policy in America will be at risk of being devalued from providing or delivering quality services to American immigrants.

This will, as a matter of fact, be pushing America backwards, stuck in the mad with economic crisis and collapse……where President Obama laboriously worked painstakingly hard to get country off from staying stuck in the mud. It was not easy but he did it.

I believe no presidential candidate of the Republicans or any other Party would wants to be a President leader of DUMMIES……Santorum is definitely a letdown to Republican Party and the whole community of America’s Pride and Dream opportunities..…….

No one want to go back to the old dark days of discriminatory leadership. America is a Nation of opportunities enjoyed by immigrants from all Nationals of the World and it should strive to stay at the top in the Global Region by improving Unity of Purpose and steadily promoting value for education in diversity…….

I can’t imagine Santorum said this in his right mind…….It is unacceptable…..Freedom fighters and public leaders with all Americans of goodwill will not accept this statement or take it lightly.

On behalf of the voiceless immigrant people with those community of African Descent, we demand an appology.

I believe, Santorum need to offer an appology to all Americans and Immigrants alike.

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

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Santorum: Obama “A Snob” For Wanting Everyone To Go To College

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Rick Santorum Calls President Obama “A Snob” For Wanting All Americans To Go To College
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCi_RfH_Adc
Uploaded by Toxichominid on Feb 26, 2012
Posted at 08:31 PM ET, 02/25/2012

Santorum: Obama is ‘a snob’ because he wants ‘everybody in America to go to college’
By Felicia Sonmez

Speaking to a tea party group in Michigan on Saturday, former senator Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) accused President Obama of being a “snob” because he wants “everybody in America to go to college.”

The statement is a curious one considering that Santorum — who holds a B.A., M.B.A. and J.D. — holds more advanced degrees than Obama, who has a B.A. and a J.D.

And Talking Points Memo reported Saturday that in 2006, Santorum’s campaign Web site stated his commitment to making “higher education more accessible and affordable.”

“Not all folks are gifted in the same way,” Santorum told a crowd of more than 1,000 activists at the Americans for Prosperity forum in Troy, Mich. “Some people have incredible gifts with their hands. Some people have incredible gifts and … want to work out there making things. President Obama once said he wants everybody in America to go to college. What a snob.”

As the crowd applauded, Santorum continued.

“There are good decent men and women who go out and work hard every day and put their skills to test that aren’t taught by some liberal college professor trying to indoctrinate them,” he said. “Oh, I understand why he wants you to go to college. He wants to remake you in his image. I want to create jobs so people can remake their children into their image, not his.”

Santorum graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in 1980, then earned an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981. In 1986, he earned a J.D. from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law.

Obama attended Occidental College, then transferred to Columbia University, where he earned a B.A. in 1983. He later graduated from Harvard Law School with a J.D. in 1991.

The statement from Santorum comes as the candidate is targeting working-class voters in his bid to blunt former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney’s (R) momentum in Tuesday’s key primary states of Arizona and Michigan.

Santorum frequently blasts “elites” on the trail, and has brought his campaign not to meetings of business executives, as Romney has done, but to small, working-class towns, such as the former steel-mill town of Steubenville, Ohio, where he campaigned late last week.

Both the messenger and his message appear to be resonating with working-class voters, a bloc of the electorate to which Romney has struggled to appeal, with limited success.

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Karibu Jukwaa la www.mwanabidii.com
Pata nafasi mpya za Kazi www.kazibongo.blogspot.com

AT 85 WADE STILL WANTS TO STAY ON POWER

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From: People For Peace
Colleagues Home & Abroad
Regional News

BY FR JOACHIM OMOLO OUKO, AJ
NAIROBI-KENYA
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012

The wisdom of African ancestors is reflected in this Ghanaian proverb which says: “If you haven’t been to the war front, you’ll have the pleasure to chastise others for not fighting hard enough.” This is exactly what is happening with some African leaders who want to stay on power until death.

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That is why, even though Senegal’s leader Abdoulaye Wade, 85, was booed as he cast his vote on Sunday in the capital, Dakar, even after losing in his own constituency in the middle-class Dakar neighbourhood of Point E, he still wants to stay on power.

Even after admitting that he may not have got enough votes to avoid a run-off he is not ready to step down honorably. According to unofficial results – with more than half of the vote counted when we were still on press – give Mr Wade 32 percent, with his closest rival and former Prime Minister Macky Sall on 25 percent.

Senegal’s constitutional court ruled that Mr Wade could stand again on the grounds that his first term had not counted since it began before the two-term limit was introduced in 2001, even though his decision to stand again sparked weeks of violent protests – leading to about six deaths – although polling day itself was largely peaceful. Analysts have warned of further unrest if Wade were to win the election.

The protests that have rocked the country began in 2011 when Wade attempted to rush a law through parliament that would have reduced the percentage a candidate needed to win on the first round from 50 percent to 25 percent. He was forced to scrap the proposal after riots immobilised the capital.

Wade is among a list of elderly leaders clinging to power in sub-Saharan Africa despite demands for them to step down. Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe used his recent 88th birthday to lash out at critics and vowed to run for re-election.

Despite rumors that Mugabe is ill with cancer he appeared spry, pledging to defy critics who say he should step down because of his age. “I’m still strong. There’s no going back,” he said. “I won’t surrender.”

Mr. Mugabe led Zimbabwe to independence in 1980 and later to near-economic ruin and bloody conflict between political opponents. In 2000, he allowed his supporters to seize white-owned farms ahead of elections, prompting Western nations to impose sanctions and causing the economy to shrink by 50 percent over the next eight years.

His government responded by printing money, which destroyed the currency—a 100-trillion note was issued—emptied store shelves and set the stage for a bloody 2008 election cycle.

The Zimbabwe government has moved ahead with proposed changes to the constitution that will make it easier for Mugabe to run for re-election. The changes would allow for joint presidential and parliamentary polls next year and amend the rules for electing a new president if the post becomes vacant during the presidential term.

Zimbabwe’s official Herald newspaper on Saturday said the government had published a legal notice of the proposed changes, expected to be brought to parliament next month for debate.

In March, President Robert Mugabe claimed he had won full endorsement from his ruling Zanu PF party to stand for re-election next year, despite policies widely blamed for an economic meltdown.

Other longest strong men of African leaders who have refused to relinquish power include Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Biya of Cameroon. What happened in the second half of 2011 in North Africa and more specifically in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya does not seem to have had any kind of effect on some of these Sub-Saharan African Leaders.

May be time will tell just like in 2011 when Africa for the first time witnessed the removal from power of three sitting presidents without an election. Three of the ten longest serving leaders have fallen – Ben Ali of Tunisia ruled for 23 years, Hosni Mubarak of Egypt ruled for 30 years and the longest, Libyan leader Gaddafi who ruled for 42 years.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea has ruled the country for 32, Jose Santos of Angola, 32, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe,31, Paul Biya of Cameroon, 29 and Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, 25, King Mswati III of Swaziland, 24, and Blaise Campore of Burkina Fasso for 24 years, yet they are still claiming to be strong to rule until death.

In DRC police had to fire rubber bullets at a crowd when Joseph Kabila declared himself the president despite an outcry that he massively rigged the election. The crowd of about 200 gathered in President Street, carrying placards and handing out cards that bore a photograph of a DRC opposition leader, Etienne Tshisekedi whom they believed won the election.

While Senegal has done away with it, other Africa’s election schedule for 2012, Guinea-Bissau 18 March Presidential; The Gambia 29 March Parliamentary ; Mali 29 April Presidential (First Round); Mali 13 May Presidential (Second Round); Algeria May Parliamentary; Burkina Faso May Parliamentary; Lesotho May Parliamentary; Seychelles May Parliamentary; Senegal 17 June Parliamentary; Congo (Brazzaville) June Parliamentary; Egypt June Presidential; Mali 1 July Parliamentary (First Round); Mali 22 July Parliamentary (Second Round); Cameroon July Parliamentary.”

The rests are: “Angola September Presidential/Parliamentary; Togo October Parliamentary; Sierra Leone 17 November Presidential/Parliamentary; Ghana 7 December Presidential (First Round)/Parliamentary; Ghana 28 December Presidential (Second Round); Guinea Parliamentary; Libya Presidential /Parliamentary; Madagascar Presidential/Parliamentary; Mauritania Parliamentary; Tunisia Presidential; Zimbabwe Referendum/Presidential. “All dates are extremely tentative and are based on past poll scheduling patterns.” Kenya is not yet decided whether elections are held this year or 2013 March.

The challenges Wade is faced with if re-elected it to tackle the unemployment among the young people which according to the World Bank it stands at 23 percent. With population of 12,643,799, the birth rate in Senegal is very high. Annual population growth rate is estimated at 2.5 percent.

This is because Muslim is the predominant religion in Senegal at 94 percent, Christian 5 percent and, traditional at 1 percent. Muslims are allowed to marry up to 4 women. Infant mortality rate is at 56.4/1,000 while life expectancy stands at 59.78 years. Work force (5.53 million): Agriculture–77.5 percent (subsistence or cash crops) while Industry and services at 22.5 percent.

Senegal is a semi-arid country predominantly rural and with limited natural resources. As such Senegal depends heavily on foreign assistance, which in 2007 represented about 23 percent of overall government spending–including both current expenditures and capital investments.

Prostitution in Senegal is legal and regulated. Prostitutes must be at least 21 years of age, register with the police, carry a valid sanitary card, and test negative for sexually transmitted infections.

That is why Senegal prides itself on its success in keeping the HIV/Aids prevalence rate in the country at a comparatively low one per cent of the adult population despite the fact that sex trade continues to flourish.

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

Tel +254-7350-14559/+254-722-623-578
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Website: www.peopleforpeaceafrica.org

Kenya: Nairobi governor race could scuttle ODM popularity in South Nyanza if its leader work against Dr Kideroi’s candidature

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town
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The election battle for the powerful position of Nairobi County governor could split members of the Luo community and have a negative impact on the ODM strength and influence inside Luo-Nyanza
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It could rekindle the old memories of old years of political rivalries between the Luos of Southern Nyanza and their cousins from what used to be Central Nyanza, but now the Counties of Kisumu and Siaya.

This political scenario is likely to come about following the deadly rumors making the round within the greater Southern Nyanza that a section of ODM leaders are not comfortable with the candidature of the Mumias Sugar Company’s Managing Director Dr Evans Kidero.who is an election hopeful for the position of the Nairobi City governor.
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Dr Kidero who hails from Rangwe constituency within Homa-Bay County is vying for the lucrative elective position of the Nairobi County governor as a staunch member of the Orange Democratic movement [ODM}.He has made it clear that he would be contesting the election on an ODM ticket.

However, the rumors making the round says a section of ODM leadership is considering the possibility and options of fronting and another aspirant for the same position. And the name of a prominent banker is being mentioned as the first choice of the anti-Kidero group.

The banker is a Kikuyu by tribe and his alleged backers are mainly Luo MPs from Kisumu and Siaya Counties. The theories being advanced to the voters within Nairobi City is that by sponsoring the candidature of a prominent Kikuyu aspirant for the governorship position would attract more votes from the populous Kikuyu community for the Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s bid for State House
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But those well versed with the Kikuyu pattern of voting have dismissed this theory as a simple pipedream, arguing that Raila Odinga who is a national leader with a very attractive track record of being a genuine reformist and true nationalist is capable of garnering the votes from Kenyans from all communities living in Nairobi on his own credibility and track record and personal influence without anyone being made a sacrificing lamp on his behalf.

The local pundits are also in serious dispute with another theory being advanced by anti-Kidero group that it would not augur well having two Luos occupying two key most powerful seats of power within Nairobi with one in State House and another at the County governor.

Observers were quick in arguing that the founding father of the nation the late President Jomo Kenyatta was once occupied the State House while his daughter Ms Margaret Kenyatta was occupying he City Hall as the Mayor of Nairobi and it worked well. And therefore there is nothing sinister for Raila Odinga to be in the State House while Dr. Kidero would be managing the County. It makes no difference nor is it a big deal.

The alleged anti-Kidero campaign by a section of ODM leaders is likely to touch on the already healed old wound of the 1957 and 1960. In the first instance, the late Tom Mboya who was a man from South Nyanza stood against the first African barrister at law and a London trained lawyer the late C.M.G.Argwings Kodhek in the election battle for the Nairobi Area seat{as the east lands African locates were called those days}in the colonial Legislative Council. All the people from Central Nyanza including the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga put their weight behind Argwings-Kodhek and ganged up against Mboya. However the latter won the election, but mainly with the help and backing of the African workers from all the Kenyan tribes with the assistance of Luos from Southern Nyanza.

Again in the mini-elections of 1961 Mboya was once again pitted in one of the toughest election battles against Dr. Munyua Waiyaki and for the second time the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga travelled all the way from Nyanza to Nairobi and threw his weight behind Dr.Waiyaki against Mboya and even went as far as addressing a series of chaotic and violence marred campaign rallies in favour of his chosen candidate and for the second time Mboya won the election with an overwhelming majority of votes, but this particular election left a big scar and rift between the Luos of Central and their cousins from of Southern Nyanza.

But with the emergence of the younger generation of Luo politicians led by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga all the sectional rivalries that existed during the era of Odinga / Mboya are long gone and the community is now solidly united behind Raila Odinga under the umbrella of the ODM as the party of choice, while Raila remained undisputed leader and the symbol of unity in Luo-Nyanza.

It is therefore wrong for a group of MPs from certain parts of Luo-Nyanza to come out in the open in opposing the candidature of Dr. Kidero in the contest for Nairobi governor, which is open for all and sundry by advancing outmoded theories and strategies, which could turn out to be harmful to the community gains including unity of purpose already achieved under the able Raila Odinga.

Dr. Kidero candidature for the City’s governor therefore carries no harm to Raila’s presidential ambition nor harmful to the ODM’s chances of winning the impending general elections and forming the next government. Those Luo leaders advancing such backward theories for the purpose of scuttling Dr Kidero’s ambition of becoming the first governor of the Nairobi must be told in a clear an uncertain terms that they got it wrong and s such the must deist from bad habit and theories of taking the community back to the stone age.

Dr. Kidero is an urbanized man. He was born and bred in the City and has invested heavily in the place therefore making him the most eligible person for the contest of the County governor. His loyalty to the party is beyond questionable and he is not to have been generous contributor to the ODM kitty. This gives him an overriding right to contest the election in any elective positions either in Nairobi and elsewhere in this country without hindrance from any quarters.

Already the alleged plot to derail Dr.Kidero’s candidature is showing the have sign of splitting the ODM followers in Sothern Nyanza down the middle, and the situation could only be saved by a tentative comprehensive press statement from the party headquarters exonerating its leadership fro rumors and speculations that they were all out to scuttle Dr.Kidero’s bid for the City governor position.

However, in the absence of a comprehensive statement clarifying the party’s position, the ODM stand to loose considerable support in the of votes rich Southern Nyanza region.

The Mumias Sugar Company boss is the household darling of the people in this region where he has been contributing immensely and generously towards nearly all the important socio-economic projects and therefore enjoyed mass support in the region which is rural home backyard.

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Kenya: The emergence of the so called “dot,com” group is terrorising and polarizing Homa Bay County

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News Analysis By Bob Ndira-Uradi in Homa-Bay Town

His campaign for the various elective positions within the County governance and parliamentary seats has began in earnest in the Homa-Bay County.

The political temperature has been raised following the recent emergence of a group, which has self-styled itself as the “dot.com” whose campaign is said to have hit the ground with the thud like thunderbolt.

The “dot.com” group’s aims and objectives is to sideline all the seasoned and established politicians in the region and replace them with youthful aspirants in all elective positions fro the Senate, Parliament to the County representatives.

The ODM headquarters has yet to come out clean to clarify whether this so called “dot.com” group has its blessing or it just a simple project of an individual.

Silent but highly intriguing scheming by various camps within the ODM and scrambling for close to 700,000 votes has kicked off in high note with claims that some aspirants are being funded by outsiders perceived to be political enemies of the party and its leadership.

The “dot.com” group which is coalescing around the Mbita MP Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ who recently won the ODM Homa-Bay County chairmanship during the much flawed party grass root elections only by consensus and not by popular votes is blamed for the unfolding dirty political maneuvers aimed at sidelining certain targeted individuals

The group is said to be comprising of the ODM renegade youths, hirelings, discredited power brokers political turn-coats and mercenaries for hire who can jump onto any bandwagon to campaign for the purpose of attracting cheap cash handouts from candidates. But people with no following or any grass root supports inside the villages and locations where they lived..

Kajwang’ who is also the Immigration and Registration o Persons is reported to be fronting for one young woman who recently graduated fresh from university for the position of women Senate representative , a move that is vehemently opposed by the majority of the electorate in all the six parliamentary constituencies

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The group is said to be loaded with unlimited funds, which the pundits and observers believes, are not sourced from the ODM party headquarters. But allegedly from unknown and highly intriguing sources of supply which is said to be rather remained mysterious.

The region is currently represented in Parliament by six MPs, representing Gwassi, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo.but the region has received two additional parliament seats as per the recommendation if the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission {IEBC}.The new extra seat will be in Kasipul-Kabondo and Homa-Bay town.

The woman whose election campaign has sent shockwaves to many season politicians in the region is known by name as Mrs Gladys Wanga . She hails from Kochia West and reportedly working with an NGO in Nairobi. The electorate however, are questioning her background what she has been doing for the people of the region in relations to development to justify he claims to leadership position. In the absence of such explanation, Mrs Wanga will have an uphill task explaining her track record in the region.

However, those have had the opportunity of meeting her consider her as one of the many green horns as far as Homa-Bay politics are concerned. She will need a lot of coaching before her candidature is taken serious by the electorate.

Moreover she is originally from Seme Location in Kisumu West district, but only recently got married to a man who is a resident of Kochia West in the old Rangwe constituency. Her candidature is also suspected to have something to do with alleged plot to derail the Eng.Okundi’s bid for the Homa-Bay County governorship. Both Okundi and Wanga hail from Kochia West within the old Rangwe.

Okundi, however, has the most illustrious track record in term of development activities in the entire Rangwe constituency following his five years representation in Parliament between 2002 and 2007. In addition to this, the former Rangwe MP has what it takes to be considered as credible wealth of experience in public administration and management, having served as the Deputy Managing Director of the former vast Kenya Posts and telecommunications, the managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority, and in the same position at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation and finally at the helm of the Kenya Bureau of the Standards..

The most intriguing aspect of her candidature is unconfirmed rumors making the round that she is enjoying the patronage and backing of the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Otieno Kajwang’, Kasipul-Kabondo MP Joseph Ouma Maguwanga, the ODM Regional Coordinator in Nyanza Mrs Monica Amolo from Ndhiwa, and one individual personality who is a former political ally of the immediate former Rangwe MP Eng Philip Okoth Okundi, Mr Agutu Jakorayo and one women leader in Kabondo Mrs Benta Dwassi.

Wanga ‘s candidature came in the wake of the popular views held by many residents that the position women Senate representative Senate should filled by the highly respected the retired top educationist Mrs Roselyn Onyuka from Kasipul-Kabondo, who is also the former Nyanza PDE and later the Director o Secondary Education in the Ministry of Education.

Mrs Onyuka has the highest profile and proved leadership quality. She has served briefly after her retirement as the TSC member and only retired last year.

Both Mrs Onyuka and Otieno Kajwang’ were born in Mbita constituency .She is the daughter of the late Senior Chief Damianius Ajwang’ of Gembe location. Her home is just four kilometers across the River Lambwe from to that of Waondo home of Kajwang’ and the rumor making the round, however, have it that the two had some old grudges as result of some old family feuds therefore the Minister will be much happier if the Senate Women seat goes to someone else.

The popular views are that owing to the fact that she hails next to Kajwang’ home turf it would not look fair to other communities when they will be asked to cast their votes for a man and a woman aspirants from one place.

Mrs Onyuka who served in the region heading several girls secondary school before she was promoted to be the Nyanza PDE the position which she served diligently for well over ten years is known as an “achiever” with colorful track record of development and efficient service t the Wananchi.

Another credible contender for the same seat is Ms Millie Odhiambo, the nominated MP who had earlier shown interest in Mbita parliamentary seat, but who is reported to have changed her mind following pressure from her cousin Phares Ogweno Ratego who is vying for Mbita parliamentary seat and who is said to have mounted one the most effective campaign ever seen in the area.

The “dot.com” group is said to be comprised of ODM renegade youths, hirelings, political turn-coats discredited power-brokers and mercenaries like political operatives well known for their lust for money in the region, and who could jump onto the bandwagon of any group with the loaded kitty. But whose impact in term of popularity and influence among the electorate is said to be reading zero.

The group recently hit the ground and traversed the full length and width of the region reaching far flung places like Mfangano and Rusinga islands while distributing calendars with the portrait of Mrs Wanga. The calendars were also distributed in Rangwe,Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo.

Insiders have informed this writer that the “dot.com” aim and objective is to scuttle the candidature o Eng. Philip Okoth Okundi who is currently on the lead in his bid to become the first governor of Homa-Bay County. The group has been telling the electorate that older people should go home and leave the political field for the dot.com generation of youths. Their other intention is to lock-out Mrs Onyuka and Ms Milie Odhiambo from the race or women Senate representative.

In his bid to clinch the Sate seat for Homa-Hay, Otieno Kajwang’ will have to square it with the abrasive Ndhiwa MP Joshua Orwa Ojode who has also declared that he would be vying for the same seat. Ojode and Kajwang’; are sworn political enemies. Both men have served for more than three terms in the August House with Kajwang” have been elected in 1992 while Ojode was elected a year later following the defection of the former Ndhiwa MP Tom Odongo Obondo who won the seat a Ford Kenya party ticket, but within two months defected back to KANU.

Traveling in a brand new product car Mrs Wanga recently traversed the full length and width of the Homa-Bay County while distributing new calendars with her portrait to the voters in most parts of the Homa-Bay County. The distribution of the calendars covered areas like Mfangano, Rusinga, Gwassi, Lambwe, Homa-Bay, Kasipul-Kabondo and other paces. The objectives of this solo trip covering the whole of the County was partly meant for introduction and popularization purposes.

The reports emerging from the various constituencies says the moved backfired, and many voters still held the views that two prominent women leaders Mrs Roselyn Onyuka an Ms Millie Odhiambo the nominated MP are far much better placed to clinch the women Senate representative should any of them decide to join the race for the women Senate seat.

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