Category Archives: Elections

KENYA: THE NEWLY FORMED UNITED REPUBLICAN PARTY IS A REPLICA OF THE DREADED KY92 OUTFIT AND FACES AN UPHILL TASK IN ITS EFFORT TO WIN THE HEARTS OF KENYANS.

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News Analysis by Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

The newly launched United Republican Party is nothing new, but a replica of the dreaded infamous KANU Y92 outfit which the retired President Daniel Arap Moi used to perpetuate falsified election victory during the first multi-party elections I 1992.

It has regrouped all the top of leadership of the defunct KANU Y92 which was
famed for having inflicted injuries to many Kenyans in its effort to restore the presidency of the retired President Daniel Arap Moi by way of hook and crocks means, which included the alleged dishing out of millions of fake currency notes to the voters and event torturing the perceived opponents of KANU regime either real or imagined.

The URP does not reflect to be a party with the national outlook, but a regional and tribal outfit whose leadership is perhaps armed with fictitious imagination that it could use the three million votes in the votes rich Rift Valley Province for power bargain after losing out to other parties during the impending general elections. And of course its failure could be inevitably projected in advance.

The URP has brought on board a highly respected individual personality, like the former Speaker of the National Assembly, Francis Ole Kaparo. It dumped the retired former KNUT National chairman and perennial parliamentary election loser in Buret constituency, Joseph Arap Chirchir, who it has used to destabilize the UDM in a vain attempt to gain a foothold in the party through the backdoor.

The URP might have succeeded temporarily in using and dumping Chirchir, but its entry as an acceptance in the vote’s rich Kipsigis region in the South Rift would be an uphill task, which would require a lot of political magnanimity and acumen.

Asked if the UDM would accept Chirchir back in its hierarchy, a top official of the party told this writer at the weekend that it is up to Chirchir to decide as to which party he would wish to join. He should either to remain an ordinary UDM member and forfeit his claims to the party leadership or move out and stay put in the URP. The choice is for him to decide.

Speaking to this writer by phone the UDM leader Lt. Gen {rtd} John Arap Koech dismissed as mischievous those claiming that without the support of the Eldoret North MP William Ruto the party is doomed to fail and would soon be on the verge of total collapse.

Koech reiterated that UDM, which is allied to the ODM, is here to stay and would soon launch its own programme of membership recruitment countrywide. The party has one MP in the tenth parliament in the name of Prof Hellen Simbili and elected civic leaders in several Urban, County and Town Councils throughout the country. It has been performing extremely well at the recent parliamentary by-elections until an attempt to grab its leadership was made by a group of disgruntled ODM rebel MPs. They had grand design to make the UDM their soft landing political party after breaking ranks with the ODM.

“This move by the MPs landed the otherwise vibrant UDM party into a series of legal tussles through courts and tribunals thereby temporarily interrupting and interfering with the party’s programmes and schedules. The intruders have finally seen the lights on the other side of the tunnel and moved to their newly found party and the UDM wished them well.” Said Koech.

A good number of political personalities among the Kipsigis elites insist that the Kalenjin MPs who are allied to William Ruto are thriving in politics of riding on the back of other people and as such are not leaders worth trusting. They are thriving on persistently calling the name of the Prime Minister Rala Odinga whenever they opened their venomous mouths and wherever they go. They lacked visionary kind of politics an the policy to sell to the voters apart from bashing the PM.in the hope of cutting Raila to size, and yet by doing so they are unknowingly making the PM a hero in this country.

Uncoordinated and recklessly designed attacks and unfair criticism of Mr Odinga, which some of the politicians are in the habit of using in this country to popularize themselves, is actually working in favor of the ODM leader, and those doubting this political scenario should wait and see the outcome of the next general election. This is because many Kenyans believe that Raila Odinga is the genuine and true reformist.

Agwambo is also being credited for having fought a long battle and won by making the Kenya citizens to realize the new and modernized Republican Constitution, whereas those who have since ganged up with the aims and objectives of thwarting his presidential bid have done nothing Kenyans.

So many political parties have sprung up in the recent years and months with short sighted leaders who thrives on gaining political mileage by way of incessant attacks on Raila Odinga for the cheap aims of whipping out tribal support, but according to a civic leader in Kericho County all the uncalled and unwarranted attacks by Raila’s critics appeared to have boomerang and worked in the opposite direction in his favor instead.

Councilor Nicholas Tum of Kericho Municipality says Raila is the darling of thousand of Kipsigis people who for many years were marginalized by their cousins from the North Rift who took the lion’s share during the long reign of the retired President Daniel Arap Moi. “The people of this region want to be right inside the next government and not in the periphery and the only short route to that dream is through Raila’s ODM party, and strictly not via any amorphous and unrealistic political alliances,” said Coun Tum.

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Kenya: What next after judges’ ruling on election date?

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from Judy Miriga

Folks,

Raila Odinga held a strong lead in vote counting on December 28th 2007, and the whole country was a lit and I received a phone call declaring Victory for ODM on December 29th 2007. Early on December 30th, it turned that Kibaki won, but hurriedly there were confusion at the returning counting hall where Kivuitu and Martha Karua with other ODM members to include Orengo and Prof. Anyang Nyongo with Kosgey were having heated argument with Kivuitu and Martha Karua, pleading with Kivuitu not to declare Kibaki the winner until they are heard and the matter is resolved.

Martha Karua and Kivuitu decided to take the Certificate to Kibaki and were later seen at the inauguration ceremony at the State House, having announced on the same day within a few hours that Kibaki won.

The Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Samuel Kivuitu, said that while irregularities did occur, they were a matter for the courts to settle and not the Electoral Commission. Kibaki as he was being sworn in, he said that he had been told by his people that he had won, after he was sent the certificate……He then maintained that it was the Verdict of the people”……and so, it must be respected.

Kivuitu said that there were some problems in the vote counting, noting that in one constituency voter turnout was reported as 115%, this was later clarified by Kivuitu appearing in an interview by Nation Television, was due to a double entry of one polling station in Maragua Constituency on the parliamentary tally and not the presidential tally. According to the European Union’s head observer in the election, Alexander Lambsdorff, the election was “flawed”, and the Electoral Commission failed to establish “the credibility of the tallying process to the satisfaction of all parties and candidates.” The United Kingdom’s , David Miliband, he said that there were “real concerns” about the election. While the United States congratulated Kibaki and called for the results to be respected, but it also expressed concern after pressure was made from Diaspora’s demonstration and on January 2, 2008 a spokesman for the U.S. State Department declined to confirm U.S. recognition of Kibaki’s victory. At this point, Kivuitu said on January 2 that he had been pressured by PNU and ODM-K (Kibaki’s and Kalonzo Musyoka’s parties) into announcing the results without delay, declaring Kibaki as elected winner; claiming that he did not personally know who really won.

Immediately after elections were rigged in Kenya, the US Ambassador to Kenya, Michael Ranneberger, was confronted by journalists at Kenyatta International Conference Centre and asked what he thought about the results. To the utter shock of Kenyan viewers who were watching the event live on TV, Ranneberger accepted the results, congratulated Kibaki and asked the losers to go to court to seek redress. The Ambassador was speaking the “court language” of Samuel Kivuitu, Martha Karua, Moses Wetangula, Alfred Mutua, John Michuki repeated severally that ODM should “go to court” following the stealing of Raila’s Presidency.

What surprised many is how quickly Raila with his Son had made private arrangements to meet with Kibaki without the Pentagon Team of his ODM, while Kibaki brought along his Team from PNU…..He became very adjustable and comfortable with Martha Karua with Wetangula and rumors took its turn that he had strike a deal with Kibaki…….this was shocking to many of us and we got very angry and confused.

The situation was brought to normality after the US and Kofi Annan with team arrived for reasonable Reform Agenda which brought about the Coalition Government in place.

The Coalition Government under the two Principles were to see to it that the Local Tribunal was put in place according to Reform timetable. Many politicians had campaigned against the local tribunal and voiced support for the Hague option in the belief that it would take a long time for Kenya’s case to come up at the international court. Some people feared they were in the secret list drawn up by the Waki Commission, and therefore did not want a local tribunal that would handle their case immediately. The Bill for Local Tribunal received support from Mr Annan who is supporting the establishment of a local tribunal to try lesser offender while the ICC tries the masterminds, and so a deal Agreement was struck by the two Principles to form the Coalition Government with an understanding that the Coalition will follow and go according to the timetable of the Reform Agenda to Referendum and consequently conclude the New Constitutional order according to Public Mandate, leading to election within a framework of five years.

The Reform Train:

With the shove and push from angry Kenyans and Diaspora, we saw through frustration the Reform Train developing serious mechanical problems, moving too slowly and veering off the rail from Public Mandate Interest to Special Interest under “Free Trading Enterprising” and where Public Wealth became the target by Special Interest Cartel. The preying eyes targeted Public Corporation, Public Facilities and Utilities, Public Land, Natural Resources, Oil and Gas Resources, are being dished out carelessly in a hurry, without proper planning or balancing, and funds are transferred and banked in private accounts. Misappropriation and mismanagement of public funds became the order of day. International Loans and promissory agreements incurring billions of sums of dollars instead begun to disappear. Free Primary Education Fund did not fizzle down to the intended program but disappeared into individual accounts and those involved, even after public cry, were kept in public office without any proper investigations done to curb leaders who are responsible for the Education Ministry. A loan of 8 billion for Kazi kwa Vijana funds meant to create job opportunity for the youth, disappeared from Prime Minister’s Office under his watch. Vision 2030 took a centre stage, spending huge sums of Public finances and resources without Transparency or accountability…….A lot of other public funds were spent on careless shuttle diplomacy to lobby and protect the interest of those criminal suspects targeted at the ICC Hague…..The general public begun to feel the economic crunch in economic financial instability when “Ponzi Scheme” and “Hedge Funding” failed to balance the corrupt expenditure pushing the country into serious financial deficit which affected fundamental demands through the “Bubble Burst” in high rising costs of basic needs.

Although the two Principles of the Coalition government constantly are heard saying that they are both keen in implementing Reform to avoid a repeat of the post election violence, the general public do not believe them. The truth is, they are both seen working towards self greed of the International Corporate Special Interest cartels in a closely-knit network which is working against Public Interest and are stealing public wealth and transferring the same to private and personal accounts, and it is the reason why Public Institutional system is falling apart and employment are diminishing, drug trafficking and human organ and trafficking with crime and insecurity are rising at an alarming level, destroying fabric of Nationhood, livelihood and survival. Poverty with poor health has become a menace, high rise cost of food, power and water is out of reach and people cannot afford high cost of basic needs, and lastly, the environmental pollution has become hazardous and toxic ……….

The Devolution of Counties for Senate Reform has been blocked by the Cabinet and Finance Bill is being shaped to serve Special Interest instead of Public interest according to Public Mandate at Referendum. The New Constitution is being broken down and changed against public mandate.

For what purpose will the people of Kenya accept to retain the two Principles Coalition Government after their term of office expires, knowing too well that, their continued stay spells doom and is a disaster, that their continued stay is a way to severe and destroy public wealth, exterminate lives, paving way to the Special Interest cartel network to invade and steal the country’s resources under “Intellectual Property Thieving”, or make it difficult for the public to have peace or be united under love (in a divide and rule) blocking all ways or hope to have or achieve opportunity for Progressive Agenda for development under Mutual common interest of all stakeholders…….

Things must change for the better and it can be done with a drastic change by those willing to realistically inject change that can benefit the Public Interest. In other words, public interest must be put top in the agenda of Reform……

It is Against the Constitution to Change Election Date Unless it is done through a Referendum:

With the information stated above the following is a crucial concern that must be observed:

1) it is illegal and unconstitutional for the High Court to provide an option for the change of the Constitution to 2012 or give the two principles a choice to dissolve the Coalition Government, except, if the ICC Hague confirms the Ocampo six, it will be clear that Kibaki will have to appear as a witness and confirmation that Kibaki stole election will be evident enough to diprive him of holding his position as a President.

2) There is a laid down procedure for the Reform Agenda to change course from the two Principles of the Coalition government and the Supreme Court, the CIC of Nyachae Commission with the Speaker of the Assembly of the Parliament are obligated to form a Caretaker Committee to formalize the remaining Reform Bills and settle process for election.

3) The Coalition Government of Kibaki and Raila have failed and lost all credibility and trust from the Public and believing they have any will to deliver and complete reform without throwing the country into chaos is hard to believe…….

4) Both the two Coalition Principles are panicking and are both engaged in dangerous corrupt practices that must be urgently stopped and halted……..as their corrupt actions have resulted in a timed bomb from grouping and regrouping of those engaging in corruption, impunity and graft against the people of Kenya

5) It will be difficult to punish or set up the Tribunal Court in Kenya to charge suspects of 2007/8 election crime if the same High Court has mentality to scuttle election by providing a ruling to extend election to 2013, and knowing how corrupt and difficult the two Principles are, giving them an option to dissolve the Coalition Government…….this is tricky and cannot be relied or trusted…..It is giving a lee-way for the corrupt to destroy Kenyans and Kenya…..They have done it before and they are able to do it again.

It is for this reason, Willy Mutunga, leadership of Nyachae and Speaker Marende must take their rightful position in the Reform process and do the needful……….The mood is sombre and people are extremly very angry………..

With the dram we have witnessed, it is clear that even if they are given an additional time, they still do not have the will or momentum to serve public interest as they already have vested interest of Special Interest where they are sharing in the corruption stealing from the public wealth………

We need help urgently from leaders of the World, the United Nations Security Council, from friends and sympathizers good people of the world to help step in and save a situation. People’s lives in Kenya are at stake and the wicked are set to destroy innocent lives for the sake of selfishness and greed……….This Kenya’s situation if not watched carefully will affect the whole world because of the International Special Interest Cartel Network………It is wiser to arrest this situation now than later……..if two more weeks is left to pass, the situation will be disastreous………

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

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— On Sat, 1/14/12, maurice oduor wrote:

Subject: Understanding the Elections Date Ruling.

Evans,

I believe that even incapacity of one of the Principals (Raila or Kibaki) will not create a power vacuum. Kalonzo can jump in for Kibaki, and Mudavadi for Raila.

But this ruling is not one that Kenyans welcome. Elections should be held by December at the latest. The extra 3 months upto March 2013 is a money-grab by the MPs. I would support the ruling if MPs stay unpaid for those extra 3 months.

Courage,
Oduor Maurice

— On Sat, 1/14/12, Evans MACHERA wrote:

· Kenyans must appreciate the teething problems occasioned by the New Constitution, Coalition Government and competitive politics seen in the prism of succession , tribal affiliation and the unintended Coalition Government that was formed after the highly and or heavily disputed 2007 presidential results.

· At no time shall there be a vacuum in the government and so , the current coalition government can only end courtesy of a joint agreement/ consultation in writing,by the Principals or withdrawal by one party, or incapacity of one of the principals.
·

Further,the New constutution did not do away with the manner the current coaltion government can dissolve or end its term.Its thefore important to read the constitution with all other enabling laws possibly applicable and implimented with the spirit with which they were made.

Hence the courts could not have come up with a ruling that is in vain – difficult to implement.

Evans MACHERA

— On Sat, 1/14/12, otieno sungu wrote:

Gitonga Maina,Wams, Kuria, Oduor, Kombo and all others,

Thanks for your encouraging words, we are keeping the fire burning, besides that, we are working on bringing progressive leaders together so that they can eventually converge their progressive ideologies and have one of them run against the status quo folks.

This would be the surest way against the well entrenched and financially endowed status quo.

As for media talk shows, we will get there, even the Bench we shall do, just like we shall be at The Breakfast Show at Citizen soon.

Already, The Star is keen on our articles, slowly, we are beginning to get attention from mainstream media.

It has not been easy but our resilience, steadfastness and focus is winning Vugu Vugu Mashinani accolades around Kenya.

We have been invited to several forums across the country, Oduya has done some travel and so have I as we continue to activate networks that will be handy when elections come.

Best,

Otieno Sungu.

My Take on Baraza, Election Date, ICC & Decisions.

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from Joram Ragem

Baraza may just become the first casualty of the end of the era of impunity in Kenya.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/JSC+wants+Baraza+out+/-/1064/1305256/-/c708g5/-/index.html

Perhaps the era or ‘Big Man’ is over. But lets hold our breath. Baraza has been accused, and a ‘grand jury’ in the auspices of JSC has indicted her. She is suspected of having misbehaved. She has not yet been charged with any criminality. Keriako Tobiko has not confirmed that she should be prosecuted. On their part, the grand jury comprising of the JSC members have recommended that she be suspended and tried.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Baraza+gun+probe+is+shoddy+says+Tobiko+/-/1064/1304764/-/myf0it/-/index.html

Only next week or so, ICC is also coming up with a decision. If any of the Ocampo Six are indicted through confirmation buy the grand jury also called the pre-trial chamber, they too must be suspended. No Government official should continue to work while the trial is going on. Even Sang should be suspended from Kass FM if he still works there. Otherwise, it will make the Baraza case look worse than Lynching. Why? Look, she is accused of misbehavior, not crimes against humanity.

Lastly, here is my take on the court ruling on the election date.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Early+polls+up+to+you+judges+tell+Kibaki+and+Raila+/-/1064/1305338/-/4h1qibz/-/index.html

I think the judges are either morons or are under the influence of certain politicians, or certain politicians drugs. Why? Look, we all know that the Principles in this coalition government have brought us where we are because of refusal to accept certain decisions or their own indecision. We gave this case to our celebrated Chief Justice, and he passed this very important decision to a junior court. The Junior court was give a case to make a determination on 3 questions. 1. Should the election date be in August as is explicitly written in the constitution? Should it be in December before the anniversary of the previous election? Or is it in January after the end of the 10th Parliament. As learned as these folks are, they did not pick one specific date. In fact, they have created a national disaccord about the date of our next elections.

Yet in memory of all who have lost their lives in pursuit of a harmonious Kenya, we the commoners must just sit on our fingers, until these folks decide for us yet again. Or else, we can liberate ourselves buy performing a civilian take over, like it has been done in many other places. Your guess is right. The former is the better option.

—
I am Joram Ragem.
You are not.

KENYA: ELECTION WILL BE HELD IN MARCH 2013

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from odhiambo okecth

I do agree.

Time to concentrate on Nation Building.

One funny thing, bloggers will fall themselves head over heels discussing this now. Yet, it is a sure way through which they are kept busy as serious staff is cooked somewhere else.

Oto

– – – – – – – – – – –

From: Henry M. Mwereria

Hello,

I believe Kenyans can now concentrate with nation building knowing clearly that elections will be held in March 2013. This comes from my believe that the two principals will never agree to terminate the National Accord till its sale by date. High court has given two scenarios today. That of terminating the National accord so as to hold election in 2012 or wait till it expires next year. Of course you must agree with Prof. Okot P’Bitek that ” All african leaders are self seeking scoudrous, they think from their stomach rather than from their heads”. What do you think?

Henry

Kenya: Raila Leads In Latest Opinion Polls

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PM Raila Odinga is the man to beat in the forthcoming General Election. This is according to the latest Insight Strategy Solutions Research opinion poll that shows the PM leading at 34.7% followed closely by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at 30.7%.
The third most popular candidate is Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who got 8.2% and the fourth candidate is Eldoret North MP William Ruto who stands at 5.7%. Gichugu MP Martha Karua popularity according to the opinion poll stands at 3.7% while Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti got 2.6%. Another contender Peter Kenneth has 1.6% while the combination of the rest of the candidates who have announced their intention to vie for the seat will get a total of 2.7%. Another important factor in the opinion poll is that a bigger number of Kenyans are still undecided on who they will vote for. The figure of the undecided according to the opinion poll stands at 8.8%. According to the Insight Strategy Solutions Chief Executive Idy Pembere, the PM appears to be losing ground while Uhuru Kenyatta is gaining ground. Some of the reasons for Odinga to be losing ground according to the poll was the controversial Miguna Miguna sacking saga and the just concluded ODM elections that were chaotic. Pembere on the other hand said Kenyatta is gaining ground owing to sympathy due to the ICC case facing him.

Latest Opinion Polls Raila Leads the Presidential Aspirants
The latest opinion poll on presidential politics in Kenya was carried out in January 2012 by Opinion Polls and strategic solutions company known as Insight strategic solutions. The polls released on 11th January 2012 captured information about the popularity of presidential aspirants such as Raila Odinga, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto among others.

The most notable was that Raila Odinga, the Prime minister has the highest popularity, followed closely by uhuru Kenyatta.

Raila Odinga was ahead by 34.7%, Uhuru kenyatta got 30.1%, Kalonzo Musyoka got 8.2% while William Ruto got 5%

ODM as a political party is the most popular at 37% PNU following at 35% whereas Kanu has 10.2% Wiper Democratic Movement led bu Kalonzo had a popularity of 6%. UDM was only popular with 1% of the respondents.

http://www.citizennews.co.ke/news/2012/local/item/345-raila-leads-in-latest-opinion-polls

—

http://www.kuria-mwangi.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/kjmwangi

Kenya: Banning of political speeches at funeral gathering in Luo-Nyanza is most welcome by residents

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The stern security measure of banning political speeches in funeral gatherings inside Luo-Nynza is most welcomed as a security precaution by the government to pre-empting in possible disaster in waiting.

Issue the ban, the Internal Security Assistant Minister Joshua Orwa Ojode warned that leaders who take politics to funeral places now risk being arrested on the sport.

The chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo is among the community leaders who readily welcomed the government decision citing insecurity, especially during this year of the impending general elections. It is also in line with the Luo culture and traditional norm that the departed souls are given peaceful and solemn sending off.

The Assistant Minister was reaction came about following last Sunday incident in Oyugis in Rachuonyo South district where Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang, Kasipul-Kabondo MPOyugi Maguwanga, the chairman of the ODM election board Eng.Phillip Okoth Okundi’, civic and ODM party leaders, Senate, Parliamentary and County Governorship aspirants were forced to scamper for their dear lives when they were caught in chaos and fighting melee that had erupted at a funeral.

The ugly incident which saw scores of youth sustaining serious injuries occurred during the burial of the immediate former Mayor of Oyugis Town, the late Coun Ogweno Ong’ondo.

The chaos erupted following the heated argument and disagreement over protocol between the area MP and ODM party boss prompting the youths allied to both side of the local political divide to swung into action during chairs and stones flew over the main dais causing bodily injuries to many mourners.

The residents and observers alike blamed the incident on the abrasive MP and also cited the arrival of many professional mourners who are to be roaming all over the villages appearing in almost every one single funeral after being hired to deliver slanderous speeches against the targeted victims, mainly aspirants for the various elective positions under the new constitutional dispensations. Others comes in their hundreds and thousands hoping to get handout cash from potential aspirants and for the purpose of feasting on free food provided to guests by the bereaved families.

“Let politicians be warned that we will arrest them and disrupt their speeches at funerals. Let them hold political rallies instead of using funerals to preach politics,” said the Minister, adding that Churches have been asked to take a leading role to ensure that politicians hijack funerals.”

The Anglican Church of Kenya Maseno West Bishop Joseph Wasonga welcomed the move, saying it was wise to respect the dead n the bereaved families.”We as a diocese had long banned politics at funerals, and we are happy that the government has followed the suit,” the Bishop said.

A near bloody confrontation occurred last Saturday following disagreement between the Luo Nomiya Church clergymen who had turned to perform the Christian burial rituals of the ODM politician Zachariah Omolo at Kokuro village, Sakwa Central, Awendo district within Migori County where one the local leaders who Is a suspect in another recent incident in Rongo where hired youths had been sent to disrupt a gathering of another group leading to the hacking to death more than five youths, is said to have issued instruction for the youths to be beat up the priest for refusing to allow political speeches.

But the churchmen stood their ground leading to a temporary disruption of the burial ceremony, which only resume several hours after the politician and their gangs of youth have cleared the funeral homestead.

The funeral gatherings are said to be attracting those aspiring for the various elective positions from far flung parts of the region, and professional mourners and hirelings.

One notorious professional mourner is said to have been seen making political speeches in funerals in far places like Mfangano, and Rusinga Islands and traversing the entire Homa-Bay region covering all the funeral homes in Karachuoyo Kasipul -Kabondo, Gwassi, Ndhiwa,Rangwe and Homa-Bay. The man is said to be an ex-civic leader who is politically bankrupt and could not even win a primary school committee in his own home turf. But he has been suffocating funeral goers everywhere with his political rhetorics.

Many residents of the region have welcomed the government statement on funerals in Nyanza which are becoming dangerous with high security risk. When fighting broke out, the sufferers are aged men and omen as ell as children and those who had lost their loved ones.

Across section of Luo leaders said the banning was the most appropriate action taken by the government imed at safeguarding the Wananchi who attend the funerals of their departed relatives. But who are of late been polarized by professional mourner and power brokers.

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Kenya: Ker Riaga Ogalo appealed to Luo leaders to humble themselves and avoid using goons at funeral gatherings

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Writes Ndira-Uradi

The Chairman of the Luo Council of Elders “Ker” Meschak Riaga Ogalo has expressed fear about the escalating act of violence inside Luo-Nyanza and appealed to politician and their supporters to restrain their followers from actions that cause insecurity in the area.

KER RIAGA OGALO PHOTO

He was reacting to an incident which took place Sunday in hi own backyard of Oyugis where mourners including a cabinet Minister were forced to scamper for their safety as fiercest fighting between the two different political camps raged.

The incident left score of youth seriously injured, while highly respected dignitaries were forced to flee the homestead of the former chairman of Oyugis Town Council, the late Coun. Ogweno Ong’ondo. The incident occurred at Kaditong’e in Kachien Location, Kasipul-Kabondo with the County of Homa-Bay.

Ker Ogalo said the burial of a departed soul, according to Luo traditional, culture and norm, is a, exclusive solemn ceremony for close members of the deceased families, and does not require the importation of a large number of political goons and hirelings from other arts of the region.

Ker Riaga blamed the alarming increases in the spate of violence at funeral places .These incidences have resulted in serious injuries being sustained by innocent mourners, particularly aged men and women as well as children. The practice must come to and end immediately.

Mzee Riaga blamed the escalating violence in funeral homes in Luo-Nyanza on the recent emergence of political brokers and hirelings who are reportedly hired and imported to funeral homes by politicians who hires them to distort the characters of their perceived political enemies.

‘”At times these hirelings are openly engaged in speeches which amounted to characters assassination. They are not genuine funeral goers, but hired specifically to speak on behalf of their invisible masters to distort the characters of their perceive opponents either real or imagined, “said Ker Riaga.

The hireling have been seen addressing each and very funeral gathering, one or two being so famous of roaming the entire Homa-Bay County and demanding to be allowed to address the mourners, and in the exercises engaged in attacking the characters of personalities and aspirants for the various elective positions within the County governance, parliament and senate.

Luo culture and customarily law requires anyone who is over 40 of age to strictly attend the funeral of either a close relative or personal acquaintance. The guest mourner is only allowed to address other mourners if he or she is personally acquitted to the deceased or had blood relations, but no Tom Dick and Hurry. And even in such a situation the permission of the family must be obtained before the visitor is allowed to address the mourner. But of lately these political hirelings on hire have been heard speaking in almost every funeral even of those persons who are aliens to them.

It is a very unfortunate state of affairs that these hirelings do invite themselves to funeral homes for the purpose of attracting handouts from politicians and food from the deceased families thereby over-burdening them.

Ker Riaga appealed to politicians in Luo-Nyanza to stop the use of funeral gathering as political platform and to humble themselves to one another, particularly during this yea of general election so that they could maintain their unanswered unity and vote as a bloc. In this way the community could succeed in realizing their political ambition in voting in the next president of their own choice.

“Hiring goons to hurl insults at opponents could cause breaches of peace, hindering the best component of peaceful development”, said Ker Riaga who revealed that he missed the last Sunday incident, which took place only six kilometer away from his rural home by a whisker because he had traveled to Ndhiwa at the invitation of the Assistant Minister for the Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode who ha organized a New Year party his Unga home near Ndhiwa Town.

Ends

Kenya: Government is urged to control funeral gatherings inside Luoi-Nyanza as they are increasingly becoming dangerous for the public safety

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Reports Ndira Uradi In Awendo Town

The campaign for different elective positions inside Luo-Nyanza has taken dangerous dimension, which is causing serious breakdown to the safety of innocent people, especially funeral goers.

Taking into account the fresh incident which occurred in Rongo district in which six people were hacked to death after factional confrontation between the different groups of the ODM, fears now persist of possible recurrence of similar incident, particularly when funeral homes are turned into political venues of confrontations.

An incident occurred last Saturday in Kokuro village in Central Sakwa, Awendo district,m which is still part of the Rongo constituency. It was during the buria of the late Zacharia Omolo, the ODM sub-branch chairman for Central Sakwa location.

Two parliamentary aspirants were in attendance. They were the two time former MP for the larger Homa-Bay Phares Ouoch Kanindo and the as[prant for Awendo parliamentary sea Fred Otieno Kopiyo, who is the Principal of Gamba Secondary School.

Also in attendance were a nominated Councilor in Awendo Ton Council Odera Awene, Coun Gordon Achilla from Kamagambo South Ward and and Councilor David Ndira of Awendo Town Council. The chairman of Awendo Town Council Coun Johnson Omolo Owiro was also in attendance.

The deceased was a member of the Luo Nomiya Church which had sent it priest to conduct the Christian burial ceremony.and after the church had completed its preaching it became the turn of the politicians and members of the provincial Administration to make their speeches when the church all of sudden moved in and decided to conduct a parallel ceremony/With two speakers talking loudly within the funeral home, the entire funeral goers became confused.

The church insisted that politicians were wasting their time and they wanted to complete the solemn burial ceremony. The politicians on the other side decided that each prominent politician inn attendance must be given a chance to address the mourners. As the situation threatened to get out of hands, someone in the crowd shouted calling for the intervention of the ODM youths who in turn swiftly swung into action ready to beat up the church men. The mourners got scampered and run into different directions fearing the confrontation could led to physical combat. Women and children run helter salter and within minutes the unreal home was deserted.

The trouble had started when a civic leader from Nyatike whose name was only given as Coun.Nyakwaka from Nyandiwa told the mourners to support Phares Oluo Kanindo in his bid to get elected to the Senate. Coun. Nyakwaka is a member of PNU. It could be remembered that in 2008 all the elected civic leaders in Nyatike were members of the PNU after confusion within ODM secretariat and the party failed to present its candidates. It took close to six months before the PNU councilors could be sworn into office. They had fled across the borer and went into self-impose exile in the neighboring Tanzania fearing for their lives.

During the same election Phares Oluoch Kanindo had contested the election of Ford People Party’s ticket after losing out in ODM. Ford People is an affiliates of the PNU, and this provoked shout s of PNU.. PNU..PNU.. Among the mourners making the situation much more aggravated to an extent of degenerating to physical combat.

It has been noted that some aspirants for the various positions of governance in the Counties, parliament and senate have of ately made it a point of attending each and every funeral in the villages for the purpose of selling their policies to the electorate, even in the homesteads where they are not known. They do attend funerals of people they don’t know, but only wanted to be heard by the voters and this is another source of uneasiness and physical confrontation, especially when the bereaved families resisted this kind of move.

Musicians in Luo-Nyanza are also not left behind. They are mining thousands of shillings from parliamentary .governors and Senate aspirants by way of composing hastily composed songs of praise aimed at promoting the image of their preferred candidate. The worse are those involving in Ohangla instruments musics and that playing in some live bands at the various public joins. Funeral homes are no loner the preserve of the bereaved families owing to invasion by the various interested groups.

Ends

KENYA: PRESSURE IS MOUNTING ON WILLIAM RUTO TO ABANDON BOTH G7 AND UDM AND REJOIN ODM OR HAVE HIS PARTY MERGED TO RAILA’S PARTY UNDER ANY KIND OF POLITICAL ALLIANCE.

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News Analysis By Kipsiele Arap Sugurut in Kericho Town.

Rumors and speculations making the round in this tea rich region says the pressure is mounting on the Eldoret North MP William Ruto and Kalenjin MPs allied to him to either abandon his UDM and the G7 alliance and rejoin the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM}.

The majority of the inhabitants of the two votes rich Counties of Kericho and Bomet are members of the most populous Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups believes and maintains that their community interests would be best served by an DM government.

This particular community has been close to the government for the best of the 48 years ever since Kenya attained its political independence in 1963. At the independence, the community had rallied behind the defunct KADU party which was beaten hand down at the 1963 elections by the former ruling KANU party. But immediately soon after independence, KADU voluntarily dissolved itself and its leaders rejoined KANU and thereafter this community has all along been close to the government.

As far as the current politics of the South Rift region is concern it is pointing to the direction of the community which is heading to the cold due to inconsistencies of its leaders, especially the MPs representing the various constituencies located with the two counties.

This community, however, believes that by rejoining and strengthening of the ODM is the only sensible way which could assure the community of a place in the next government.

“We have been in the cold long enough and we now want to be part of the next government”, said a Kericho businessman Joseph Rono, adding “we do not see any possibility of the G7 or any other amorphous alliances beating the ODM at the next polls,”.

The evidence of the latest move and pressure on Ruto to soft his stance towards the Prime Minister could be mirrored on his reconciliatory public pronouncement, his last week surprise visit to Kisumu City,an area which is the bedrock of the ODM.

Ruto had told thousands of audience both at Nyahera, Kajulu and Kondele suburb that his political differences with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga were persona and as such should not be construed by anyone to fuel animosity between the Kalenjins and the Luos and that the two neighboring communities should continue living and working together harmoniously.. These remarks were well taken by local political pundits and observers as meaning that Ruto is ready and willing to reconsider his working relations with Raila Odinga afresh.

Pundits believe that Ruto seemed to have seen the light on the other side of the tunnel and is just about to make an abrupt about-turn towards the ODM. His name is still registered at the offices of the registrar of political parties as the deputy leader of the ODM.

The majority of Kipsigis people want Ruto back in ODM early enough for the preparation for the impending general election. Alternatively, they say, he should form an alliance with ODM instead of PNU and its allies. “Forming some alliances with politicians from the Mt Kenya region would not augur well for us, because of the expansionist attitudes of the people of that region”, said one civic leader there.

The civic leaders in Kericho have cited the recent move by some of the majority shareholders in the KETAPA to have the tea packing factory move from Kericho to Nairobi, an action which could have had adverse effect on the local community because hundreds of workers at the plant, which is located a few kilometer east of Kericho Town where many works from their rural home in the Kipsigis reserve land as an attempt to marginalize the community economically.

The former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta is among the majority shareholders in the plant, which was established in Keicho in the 1950 by the Brooke family that owns Brooke Bond Tea Company, which later sold it to the public in the 1970’s.

Originally KETEPA was the central tea packing plant handling made teas from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania until it was sold out to a private enterprise owned by shareholders in early 1970s. An attempt to dismantle the plant and move it to Nairobi was blocked by the Kipsigis people who insisted that they would be an alternative plant of the same nature to handle the tea from their region and would not allow their t to be transported all the way from Kericho to Nairobi for the purpose of packaging.

Other factors is that the Kipsigis people get along well with their neighbors, the Luos whose easy going lifestyle make them much more friendly. The Luos are known not to be interested in land grabbing or expansionists making them easy to handle. This particular community has never fought any land related tribal skirmishes and many Luo men and women works for the relatively wealthiest Kipsigis farmers an traders and are the one helping the Kipsigis to maintain their tea bushes scattered I the rural areas of Kericho and Bomet Counties,

A number of secret and behind the scene meeting have been held at the various parts of the South Rift region where issues such as long term political implications in connection with the community move to ditch the ODM were reportedly deliberated upon. At one such meetings and in the presence of Ruto, those in attendance had queried the rationale of ditching the ODM for UDM or other parties with speakers after speaker arguing that such a move would only weaken the community political bargaining power when it come the formation of the next government after the impending general elections.

Furthermore the Kipsigis believes that political hostilities between Raila and Ruto could hurt intra-tribal trades and cross border trades between the Kalenjins and the Luos which is booming all the year round. It has been reported that taking all these into considerations, even the most hardliner ant-ODM MPs in Kipsigis land such as the Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto have toned down their vehement opposition to Raila and have been heard

But when Ruto and his parliamentary colleagues from the region comes hard on Raila Odinga, the Luo workers seemed to be nursing a feeling on insecurity and shy away from the manual jobs in the tea farm, something which hurts the local farmers economically.

The two communities have lived harmoniously fro the immemorial and sharing cross border trades at Sondu, Muhoroni, Fort-Tennan, Soliat ,Koru and Kapsorok border markets and towns.

Moreover, the Luos are the mainstay of labor force in all the large scale tea plantations and factories owned by foreign multinational tea companies in Kericho and Bomet Counties.

The Kipsigis people are said to have refused to buy the Ruto contention that it was the Prime Minister Raila Odinga who instigated his prosecution at the International Criminal Court of Justice at the Hague.

One civic leader came strong in defense of the Prime Minister by dismissing the claims as far fetched propaganda aimed at slandering the good name of Raila Odinga. The civic leader Councilor Nicholas Tum of the Keicho Municipality reminded the Kipsigis that it was Raila Odinga who made the frantic effort to have those suspect in the cases of post elections violence be tried locally at home. An attempt which was vehemently scuttled by Ruto and his group in preference to the ICC arguing that by trying such cases locally the victim would not be treated to a fair trial. The group even went as far a staging the spirited opposition to the motion sponsored in Parliament by the government to that effect, which the Ruto’s group voted against.

“Raila is not Luis Moreno Ocampo nor has got anything to do with ICC therefore anyone linking him to the ICC cases is underestimating the intelligence of the Kenyan people,”said Coun. Tum.

He further disclosed that the community has already prepared the most credible parliamentary aspirants ready to take on the pro-Ruto MPs across the two counties and in all other elective positions in the entire South Rift regions, and most of them he added, have started feeling insecure not sure whether they will retain their seats or not.

Ends

Kenya: Message from Dr. Barack Abonyo in Kisumu!

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From: Dr. Barack Abonyo For Kisumu Governor 2012

Dear Supporters:

We are here in Kisumu! Our grassroots campaign is about alleviating poverty, creating social justice, empowering ordinary people in Kisumu to embrace democracy and vote their voice. Its foundation is not of money distribution for votes, but the mobilization of compassionate committed men and women who together want to change Kisumu once and for all.

We are creating a pathway to democracy, from the bottom up by working with constituencies to identify with their specific issues and developing targeted sustainable strategies.

We will produce messages that are responsive to the concerns of the people in Kisumu County and be mindfully demonstrative in every aspect of our grassroots campaign. We want to be known as the people who care about the issues in Kisumu and come together to create viable solutions.

We will conduct an aggressive campaign to alleviate poverty in Kisumu. For forty years no significant changes to address these issues have been made, these problems can be fixed. Together with my team, I’m stepping forward to offer the voters of Kisumu a choice, Kisumu needs change and the time is now!

Will you stand with me? www.barackforgovernor.com.

We need your continued support, thank you.

Sincerely,

Barack Abonyo
Dr. Barack Abonyo for Kisumu Governor

Kenya & USA: Col. Dr. K’obuoyo a Kenyan professor in the US and a surgeon with the US Air Force is to contest the top seat of the President of the Republic of Kenya

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Writes Leo odera Omolo I Kisumuy City.

A top Kenyan scholar who is living in the United States of America has declared his intention to contest the top most job on the Land come the next year polls.

Col. Prof. Rachilo Luo K’Obuoyo who is a top cardiologist and surgeon with the United States Air force said in a message to his writer that he is vehemently opposed to ll sort of malpractices and corruption which has been devilling Kenya for years.

Col.Prof.K’Obuoyo, however, did not disclosed any existing political party of his choice, but he promised that the would be herein Kenya early next year. He said he has consulted widely and he is likely to get the blessing of the two major Western powers namely the US and Great Britain.

K’Obuoyo said none of all those who have shown keen interests in contesting the presidency is capable of effecting the meaningful change and political reform. Most of those presidential aspirants have been part of bad political machinations and corruption and as such cannot genuinely and meaningful make any change.

Col Prof K’Obuoyo strongly condemned the current coalition government headed by President Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga saying it has failed to deliver to the satisfaction of the electorate. He wanted all those who are involve in the current administration to go home and leave the field open for more energetic and dynamic youthful leaders to be in the forefront.

Col Pof.K’Obuoyo who had earlier announced that he would contest the election for the most powerful and lucrative position of Migori County governor, said he had changed his mind after conducting extensive consultation with his friends both in overseas and here at home who had wished him to go for the top most job {the presidency}.

He hail from Sori-Karungu in Nyatike constituency within Migori County. He said politicians I Kenya have been taking the country citizen for granted and have been running the country like their own fiefdom, but the time has come for these leaders with outmoded ideas to pack up and go.

He sad he was not happy with nearly all the existing political parties which are being run of sycophantic basis with no clear manifesto for proper economic empowerment of Kenyans. The parties, he added, lacked vision with which to improve the living standards of Kenyan, indeed, the leaders have been enriching themselves at the expense of the down trodden Kenyan poor. He strongly abhorred the use of hired political goons to intimidate their perceived opponents or any sort of acts of political thuggery, saying he would conduct gentleman’s campaign in his quest for the presidency of Kenya.’Prof.K’Obuoyois an associate professor of medicine at the Harvard University School of Medicine an Surgery at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. He has reached the military rank of a colonel n the United Air Force

view images, CPP550680.pdf, 948KB

Ends

Kenya: Peace meeting between Kipsigis and Kisiis rubbished as William Ruto’s political gimmicks and presidential votes shunting

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisii Town.

The much highlighted last Monday peace and reconciliation meeting between the two warring communities of Kipsigis of the South Rift and the Kisiis of Nyanza Province was nothing but simple presidential votes hunting political gimmicks of the Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

A cross section of the Abagusii people interviewed here have faulted the leaders who participated at the so-called peace meeting held at Chebilat border town and reportedly attended by 17 MPs from the two communities.

They accused the participants for having made no mention about who were the aggressors and further more the hundred of Abagusii people who are still languishing in the Internally Displaced Persons {IDP} and living under a very squalid conditions.

The participant made no mention how the Abagusii people who lost millions of shillings in terms of the their torched dwelling homes, farms, properties and domesticated animals in areas like Kuresoi, Olenguruane,Molo,Burny Forest,Uasin Gishu,Trans-Mara, Trans-Nzoia and Kipkellion.

The leaders who took part in bogus and phantom meetings have also been faulted for not having mentioned the fate of the Abagusii people who were forced out of their legally acquired land and property in two previous tribal skirmishes launched by the Kalenjin warriors in 1992/1993, and also in 1996/1997.

The situation is even worsened by the participation of William Ruto, the Eldoret North MP and a man who is currently facing criminal charges at the International Criminal Court of Justice {ICC} at the Hague for his alleged offences of human right violation including forcing people out of their homes making the IDPs to live in a squalid conditions in make shift camps.

Ruto’s participation in the search for lasting peace between the two communities look like not genuine exercise, but pure case of political miscalculation and underestimation of the intelligence of the Abagusii people who have suffered the brunt of communal violence each time there is an elections ever sine 1990s.

One Kisii town resident who requested for his anonymity gave example of close to 200 people who have perished in he recent year as the result of cattle rustling between heavily armed Pokots, the Marakwets, the Tugens and Turkanas of the North Rift, an area which are located next door to William Ruto’s Uasin Gishu district home, but for which the MP has never made any attempt to reconcile the warring communities.

Ruto whose styles of political leadership is shrouded by mysteries and intrigues and miscalculation has made no effort to broker the peace between the warring communities of the North Rift region where he lives

Moreover cattle’s rustling between the Kipsigis and their neighbor is century’s old phenomenon ever since the day’s of the War of the Mogoren and Abbosi areas, these tribal wars pitting the two neighboring communities which inflicted permanent scars and enmities took place long before the arrival of the white men in this country.

The tribal skirmishes between the two communities had continued in earnest even long after the Colonial authorities had established their administration headquarters in Kisii and in Kericho towns in around 1906

The two administrative bridgeheads by the British expedition forces came at the time when the border between Kisiis and the Kipsigis was drawn around the hills near Mokomoni and Mosobeti in North Mugirango and also near Gesima in Kitutu East and around Nyamasibi in Nyaribari Masaba near Keroka.

The colonial authorities forced the Kipsigis people out of these areas and created space to accommodate the white settlers for large scale farming in dairy cattle and later tea and coffee bushes and renamed the area Sotik highlands.

But in 1962, the Colonial Office appointed a British Professor Mackenzie who headed a Boundary Commission in Kenya and whose Commission had come up with the finding that the areas in question belong t the bagusii people. This was due to lack of effective representation by the Kipsigis community. The area member of the Colonial Legislative Council was then the late Dr. taita Araap Toweett who was not bothered and did not appeared before this commissions, whereas theKisii leaders of those days led by the late John Kebaso, James Paul Nyamweya, Lawrence George Sagini, Johnson Keragori, Samson Nyambati, Johnson Nyandigisi and Washington Ondicho with the help of two powerful and influential chiefs Musa Nyandusi {Manwar wuod Ayacko} of Nyaribari and Zakiah Angwenyi {Ogoro}effectively represented Abagusii community in all the Mackenzie Commission’s public hearing meetings held in Kisii an Kericho towns.

Finally the Macknzie Commission handed the areas now called Borabu district in an area previously known as North Mugirango Location back to the Kisii and its rightful original owners, and when the white settlers stated moving out of their farms at the time of independence in 19673 the Abagusii with the help of colonial authorities moved into the area which were created as new settlement scheme covering KIjauri, Nyansiongo, Chebilat and on hilltops areas over looking the Sotik Highland tea estates and factories. And the contentious new boundaries were drawn fresh. It had pushed the Kipsigis miles away beyond Ndanai River and Sotik town. Then the industrious and mostly densely populate Kisii people moved into the new settlement scheme in their thousands. These are the historical crux of the truth about the continued hostilities between the Kipsigis and the Abagusii people and unless the proponent and advocate of the peace looked into these deeply rooted grievances and avoiding cheap populist political gimmicks like the ones spearheaded by the likes of Ruto the solution into the tribal hatred will be far from being brought to an end.

He hostilities between the Kisiis and the Kipsgis ceased only in he late 1920s after the Colonial authorities had appointed two chiefs in Bomet and Buret locations who had the mixed blood of Kisiis and Kipsigis. These were Sgt Kenduiywo Arap Balliach {Sotik / Bomet and Cheborge Arap Tengecha in Buret in an agriculturally rich area hitherto known as Location three while Sotik was known as Location Four. The two chief who were members of the Kapecherek sub-clans meaning people with the mixture blood of Kisiis / Kipsigis meaning the Kisiis who were assimilated and naturalized by the Kipsigis.

The two Chiefs ruled the region with an iron fists and brought cattle rustling and all form of hostilities between the two communities to an immediate end. And thereafter the two communities had lived together in peace and harmony, though were scattered reports of isolated and sporadic incidences of cattle rustling here and there, but not on full scale conflagration as it happened in 2007/2007.

This he added, I because the meager and sparsely of the votes in this particular region where the loss of human lives has been so enormous. But Ruto is cleverly and cunningly showing interests in the votes rich Kipsigis and Abagusii communities. This is purely a cheap and simple political gimmicks and part of Ruto wide scheme hatched mainly for the votes canvassing in this region. It is bound to fail no matter how he deployed the sugar-coated language unless the wronged Kisiis people are adequately compensated, given back their land and property seized by he Kalenjins in the rift Valley, he added.

It was, however, encouraging to note that MPs from across the political divide and inter party who lines participated in the deliberations, but it is also imperative to know that from the presence of Prof Sam K Ongeri, all other MPs like Richard Onyonka, Dr Julius Kones, Joyce Laboso, Monda, Isaac Ruto, and even William Ruto himself, are all of them too young and lacked the sufficient information an knowledge about the historical background of the deeply rooted Kisii-Kipsigis enmities.

These political novices need to carry out proper consultations and research before jumping cheaply onto William Rutoi’s votes catching bandwagon.

Ends

Kenya: Peace and reconciliation initiative rubbished as Ruto’s presidential votes hunting gimmicks

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Commentary by Leo Odera Omolo In Kisii Town.

The much highlighted last Monday peace and reconciliation meeting between the two warring communities of Kipsigis of the South Rift and the Kisiis of Nyanza Province was nothing but simple presidential votes hunting political gimmicks of the Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

Across section of h Abagusii people interviewed here have faulted the leaders who participated at the so-called peace meeting held at Chebilat border town and reportedly attended by 17 MPs from the two communities.

They accused the participants for having made no mention about who were the aggressors and further more the hundred of Abagusii people who are still languishing in the Internally Displaced Persons {IDP} and living under a very squalid conditions.

The participant made no mention how the Abagusii people who lost millions of shillings in terms of the their torched dwelling homes, farms, properties and domesticated animals in areas like Kuresoi, Olenguruane,Molo, Burny Forest, Uasin Gishu, Trans-Mara, Trans-Nzoia and Kipkellion.

The leaders who took part in bogus and phantom meetings have also bee faulted for not having mentioned the fate of the Abagusii people who were forced out of their legally acquired land and property in two previous tribal skirmishes launched by the Kalenjin warriors in 1992/1993, and also in 1996/1997.

The situation is even worsened by the participation of William Ruto, the Eldoret North MP and a man who is currently facing criminal charges at the International Criminal Court of Justice {ICC} at the Hague for his alleged offences of human right violation including forcing people out of their homes making the IDPs to live in a squalid conditions in make shift camps.

Ruto’s participation in the search for lasting peace between the two communities look like not genuine exercise, but pure case of political miscalculation and underestimation of the intelligence of the Abagusii people who have suffered the brunt of communal violence each time there is an elections ever sine 1990s.

One Kisii town resident who requested for his anonymity gave example of close to 200 people who have perished in the recent year as the result of cattle rustling between heavily armed Pokots, the Marakwets, the Tugens and Turkanas of the North Rift, an area which are located next door to William Ruto’s Uasin Gishu district home, but for which the MP has never made any attempt to reconcile the warring communities.

Ruto whose styles of political leadership is shrouded by mysteries and intrigues and miscalculation has made no effort to broker the peace between the warring communities of the North Rift region where he lives

Moreover cattle’s rustling between the Kipsigis and their neighbor is century’s old phenomenon ever since the day’s of the War of the Mogoren and Abbosi areas, these tribal wars pitting the two neighboring communities which inflicted permanent scars and enmities took place long before the arrival of the white men in this country.

The tribal skirmishes between the two communities had continued in earnest even long after the Colonial authorities had established their administration headquarters in Kisii and in Kericho towns in around 1906

The two administrative bridgeheads by the British expedition forces came at the time when the border between Kisiis and the Kipsigis was drawn around the hills near Mokomoni an Mosobeti in North Mugirango and also near Gesima in Kitutu East and around Nyamasibi in Nyaribari Masaba near Keroka.

The colonial authorities forced the Kipsigis people out of these areas and created space to accommodate the white settlers for large scale farming in dairy cattle and later tea and coffee bushes and renamed the area Sotik highlands.

But in 1962, the Colonial Office appointed a British Professor Mackenzie who heaed a Boundary Commission in Kenya and whose Commission had come up with the finding that the areas in question belong t the bagusii people. This was due to lack of effective representation by the Kipsigis community. Th area member of the ColonialLegislative Council was then the late Dr. taita Araap Toweett who was not bothered and did not appeared before this commissions, whereas the Kisii leaders of those days led by the late John Kebaso, James Paul Nyamweya, Lawrence George Sagini, Johnson Keragori, Samson Nyambati, Johnson Nyandigisi and Washington Ondicho with the help of two powerful and influential chiefs Musa Nyandusi{Manwar wuod Ayacko} of Nyaribari and Zakiah Angwenyi {Ogoro} effectively represented Abagusii community in all the Mackenzie Commission’s public hearing meetings.held in Kisii an Kericho towns.

Finally the Macknzie Commission handed the areas now called Borabu district in an area previously known as North Mugirango Location back to the Kisii and its rightful original owners, and when the white settlers stated moving out of their farms at the time of independence in 19673 the Abagusii with the help of colonial authorities moved into the area which were created as new settlement scheme covering KIjauri, Nyansiongo, Chebilat and on hilltops areas over looking the Sotik Highland tea estates and factories. And the contentious new boundaries were drawn fresh. It had pushed the Kipsigis miles away beyond Ndanai River and Sotik town. Then the industrious and mostly densely populate Kisii people moved into the new settlement scheme in their thousands. These are the historical crux of the truth about the continued hostilities between the Kipsigis and the Abagusii people and unless the proponent and advocate of the peace looked into these deeply rooted grievances and avoiding cheap populist political gimmicks like the ones spearheaded by the likes of Ruto the solution into the tribal hatred will be far from being brought to an end.

He hostilities between the Kisiis and the Kipsgis ceased only in he late 1920s after the Colonial authorities had appointed two chiefs in Bomet and Buret locations who had the mixed blood of Kisiis and Kipsigis. These were Sgt Kenduiywo Arap Balliach {Sotik / Bomet and Cheborge Arap Tengecha in Buret in an agriculturally rich area hitherto known as Location three while Sotik was known as Location Four. The two chief who were members of the Kapecherek sub-clans meaning people with the mixture blood of Kisiis / Kipsigis meaning the Kisiis who were assimilated and naturalized by the Kipsigis.

The two Chiefs ruled the region with an iron fists and brought cattle rustling and all form of hostilities between the two communities to an immediate end. And thereafter the two communities had lived together in peace and harmony, though were scattered reports of isolated and sporadic incidences of cattle rustling her an there, but not on full scale conflagration as it happened in 2007/2007.

This he added, I because the meager and sparsely of the votes in this particular region where the loss of human lives has been so enormous. But Ruto is cleverly and cunningly showing interests in the votes rich Kipsigis and Abagusii communities. This is purely a cheap and simple political gimmicks and part o Ruto wide scheme hatched mainly for the votes canvassing in this region/ It is bound to fail no matter how he deployed the sugar-coated language unless the wronged Kisiis people are adequately compensated, given back their land and property seized by he Kalenjins in the rift Valley, he added.

It was, however, encouraging to note that MPs from across the political divide and inter party who lines participated in the deliberations, but it is also imperative to know that from the presence of Prof Sam K Ongeri all other MPs like Richard Onyonka,Dr Julius Kones,Joyce Laboso,Monda,Isaac Ruto and even William Ruto himself are all of them too young and lacked the sufficient information an knowledge about the historical background of the deeply rooted Kisii-Kipsigis enmities.

These political novices need to carry out proper consultations and research before jumping cheaply onto William Rutoi’s votes catching bandwagon.

Ends

KENYA: THE BATTLE FOR GOVERNORS WHO WILL BE CONTROLLING THE ECONOMIC RESOURCES IN THE FOUR COUNTIES INSIDE LUO-NYANZA HAS KICKED OFF IN EARNEST

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News Analysis By Ndira-Uradi In Kisumu City

WHAT is increasingly taking the center stage in the impending general election slated for next year is the battle for the four lucrative and powerful positions of the County governors under the new constitutional dispensation.

Those aspiring for the four positions of governor in the four counties, namely Migori,Siaya,Homa-Bay and Kisumu have already hit the ground.

The potential aspirants for the four seats have of late been seen criss crossing the full length and width of their respective counties while canvassing for votes, though the election is still twelve months away, an indication that the impending battle for the four slots within the county governance will be the toughest ever seen in this region.

And as the situation stands the battle for the control of the mineral rich Migori County is promising to be the most grueling he judging from the list of the individual personalities who have already shown keen interests in the seat.

Led by the administrative genius Kisumu Town Clerk Christopher Odhiambo Rusana who hails from Suna West location within Migori district, the race also involved other high profile political giants and heavyweights in the region it will also involved much experienced and seasoned politicians.

Rusana, however, has the best and most attractive track record couple with experience gained mostly in the in-service and numerous local; an overseas training in local government administration and management. He has served in the local authorities for close to sixteen years since coming out fresh from the University of Nairobi.

Rusana will face it off with one of the region’s political giant in the name of Prof.Edward Oyugi Akong’along time political associate and confidant of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. His unswerving loyalty to Jaramogi at one time landed him into detention camp and later into voluntary exile to a foreign country in Europe after his failure to secure back his teaching job at the University of Nairobi after upon his release out of the detention camp where he was detained together with another radical politician in the name of George Moseti Anyona, the former Kitutu Masaba MP.

Prof Oyugi Akong’o who also hail from the Osingo Group, but is a resident of Wasweta West in Suba West Division of Migori district like his credible rival Rusana.

The two will face formidable opposition from Sammy Onyango, a chief account with a private firm of accountants and auditing in Nairobi. Onyango hails from Otacho area of Central Sakwa within Awendo district.

Also in the race is the youthful, industrious and populist Eng.Mrk Nyamita who hails from Central Kanyamkago location Rapogi Division within Uriri district. Nyamita is a senior manager with the Airtel Kenya.

Also in the race and busy campaigning is the administrator of Ojele Hospital one of the most flourishing medical faculties in Migori Town Joseph Ngao Ojele. Ojele belonged to Karungu sub-clan of the Jokonyango group in Nyatike constituency.

Migori County is covering five parliamentary constituencies, namely Kuria, Migori, Nyatike, Uriri and Rongo. However, following he recommendation of the disbanded Andraw Ligale Interim Boundaries Commission, the region could see three more electoral constituencies following the sub-division of Kuria, Rongo and Migori constituencies.

The number of aspirants for the governorship could be swelling up in the next few months with the possibility of two new aspirants emerging from the Kuria community.

This an area which is minerals rich, and also full sugarcane and tobacco growing and longest shoreline of Lake Victoria making it rich in fishing an fish trade. Migori Town which is expected to be the headquarters of the new County is only about 20 kilometers from the common Kenya Tanzania borders making the area a fertile ground for intra trade between the two countries.

Migori has minerals such as gold, nickels and copper. Part of the region has the most fertile and arable for all kind of cash crops and domestic food grains.

Reports emerging our of the neighboring Homa-Bay County says a dagger is drawn between the three leading contenders who included the immediate former Rangwe MP Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi who hails from Kochia West in Rangwe, the former Country Director of Marie Stoppie Clinics Cyprian Otieno Awiti from East Karachuonyo in the North Rachuonyo district and an executive with the Microsoft International Computer firm Dr Mark Matunga from Mfangano Island in Mbita district.

Others in the race include Prof Joseph Akeyo Omolo from Wagwe in Central Karachuonyo.The incumbent Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo. Rumors is a wash in Homa-Bay and its environs that the former Kenya’s High Commissioner to India and Namibia and a one time Trade Assistant Minister Lazarus Ombaye Amayo might join the race for the same position within the county governance. But Amayo who hails from West Karachuoyo is a still a public servant and has yet to make his position clear over these claims and unconfirmed reports.

Homay-Bay County, perhaps the biggest run through six parliamentary constituencies, namely Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Karachuonyo an Kasipul-Kabondo.But there is the likelihood that the number of constituencies will be increased to seven with the sub-divisions which were recommended by the defunct Andraw Legale Boundaries Commission for the creation of two more new extra seats one for Homa-Bay and another on in Kasipul-Kabondo.

So far the cut-throat battle is expected to be between Cyprian Awiti and Dr Mark Matunga with Okundi likely to play the third position, perhaps owing to his advanced age. The popular saying is that the position of governor would be the most challenging and Okundi is considered too old and tired and need t take a leave from active politics. It will be a taxing one which requires energetic person ready to serve the public for long hours a day.

It will b an up-hill task for Prof Akeyo to beat Awiti within the vote reach two districts Rachuonyo.Akeyo the professor of mathematics at the Maseno University, however is credited for having handle the volatile Karachuonyo constituency CDF fund to the satisfaction of the electorate as its local CDF chairman responsible for disbursing millions of shillings to the needy socio-economic projects.

The arrival of Amayo for the same race, however, this political scenario would hurt Awiti chances more than anyone else, though the two Rachuonyo districts have registered more voters compared to four other constituencies so if the voting pattern could turn into clans, then a man from the two Rachuonyo districts will have his way through the polls.

Meanwhile another region where the battle for the governor position has elicited a lot of controversies is Kisumu County. Its area of jurisdiction include Nyakach ,Muhoroni, Nyando,Kisumu Town East,Kisumu Town West and Kisumu Rural parliamentary constituencies.

There will be one more extra parliamentary constituency as the result of the recommendation by the Legale Commission or readjustment and realignment of both Kisumu Rural and Kisumu Town West constituencies with the creation of a new Seme or Kombewa constituency or the residents of Seme locations and the Kisumu Town West which has created a new electoral area between the two existing constituencies laying west and north of Kisumu Town.

Those who have already declared their candidature to contest for the governor sea include the abrasive Sales and Marketing Director of Mumias Sugar Company Peter Hongo.He is an indignant man from the Jo-Kisumo group. He is said to be a head of the pack which included Ruth Adhiambo Odinga the sister of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga who is a sales executive with Odinga family business flagship Spectre International, which is managing the Kisumu Molasses plant, Jack Ranguma a former received manager of Muhoroni Sugar Company and the KRA, He hails from West Kano Kbura.And also in the race is Simon Ogendo an insurance executive in Nairobi who is also the son f the former Kisumu Mayor the late Ogendo Von Ponge. He hails from Kolwa Nyamasaria within the Kisumu Town East constituency. Others who are said to be eyeing for the governor position include the one time Minister for Water Development and Kisumu Town Clerk Ojwang’K’ómbudo. He hail from Lower Nyakach

The majority of he rsidents of the sugarcane and rice growing Kisumu County are I favor of the Mumias sugar man who they said as all what it takes to be the best qualification and reputation for the governor’s job. Hongo is poplar with youth and women.

Raila’ sister Ruth Adhiambo is treated as an outsider and being dismissed of being bullies and excessively arrogance to b consider or any elective position within the county governance.

O the Siaya side the ace for the County governor has yet to gain momentum, although the names of Joe Donde the former Gem MP and financial genius is frequently being mentioned as the most suitable person for the job. Other names include that of the immediate former Alego-Usonga MP Sammy Weya, and the Bondo MP and Finance Assistant Minister Dr Oburu Oginga.

Dr Odinga is a trained economist, and although rumors making the round sys he might also opt for the Siaya Senate representative seat. His performance as the MP for Bondo has elevated his personality, especially his handling of the devolving government funds including the CDF has made Oburu to score the highest marks among the current crops of Luo MPs. At the constituency level Dr Oginga has come out of his late father’s shadow and proved himself of a good leader.

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Kenya: News from Dr. Barack Abonyo

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from: Dr. Barack Abonyo For Kisumu Governor 2012

Dear Friends:

For some time I have been looking for an appropriate word to be grateful to all those who have chosen selflessly to support our quest to deal with poverty in Kisumu County. However, I have ended up with the same common words I could have said a long time ago. “THANK YOU COMRADES FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART”.

Sincerely,

Dr. Barack Abonyo
Dr. Barack Abonyo For Governor

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The Fight Is Bigger Than We

What we are fighting against is bigger than what one would describe as running for office. It can simply be defined as fighting a demon that almost stopped me and many of you from gaining our potential. As many now know, I am an Associate Professor of Pharmacology in a University in the United States.

If only the Save the Children fund did not come for my rescue, I would have never gotten a chance to be recognized by American Physiological Society and International Innovation Magazine among other achievements. Worse still, I may have never had a chance to help any child, educate many students in my field, contribute to the field of science and technology and now work on a variety of philanthropic and social initiatives in my country. Simply put, mine would have been a wasted brain. To tell you the true, this happens every day in Kenya and it is getting worse. Many brains are wasted and not only brains, many lives are lost. The reason for this is senseless poverty. And if one can think through it, poverty is perpetuated, it does not just appear.

It is our responsibility to stop the perpetual life cycle of poverty in Kisumu. No one will do it for us. We together as a people we must decide enough is enough.

Dr. Barack Abonyo Grassroot Campaign

Dr. Barack Abonyo grassroots campaign is about alleviating poverty, creating social justice, empowering ordinary people in Kisumu to embrace democracy and vote their voice. Its foundation is not of money, but one of compassion for the people.

We are creating a pathway to democracy, from the bottom up by working with constituencies to identify with their specific issues and developing targeted sustainable strategies.

We will produce messages that are responsive to the concerns of the people in Kisumu County and be mindfully demonstrative in every aspect of our grassroots campaign. We want to be known as the people who care about the issues in Kisumu and come together to create viable solutions.

Dr. Barack Abonyo For Governor

“Changing Kenya, One Leader At A Time”

Kenya: We needed Kibaki & Raila to Reform Kenya! NOT TRUE…..VICE VERSA IS TRUE

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from Elijah Kombo

This is a terrible lie! Its a lie to say that its Raila and Kibaki who steered Kenya towards the reform path. I will reserve my remarks on Raila since his record speaks clear. He has been an oppositionist all through and for the last few years in power – he has demonstrated gross inefficiency and lack of self-confidence. He has been tagging people along his reform path. But however, he has played a significant role in the reform process…destroyed the Moi rulership and one party rule etc

However, Kibai has done nothing significant. Let me twist this a little bit in another way. The Mount Kenya Mafia withheld capital and swindled funds out of the country, stacked them in foreign accounts. They made Moi rulership hell of time. The economy was on its knee. From central ban to commercial banks, insurance companies to biug corporation – they ensured that state coffers were empty and the semi-literate President self declared Professor couldnt contain the inflation. The crunch began in Kenya long ago before the global one started! It was all the rich, famous and elite class mostly fdrom Mt Kenya that controlled Kenya’s economy for ages. Moi had only to obey and repay them back – Uhuru Project!

When the Uhuru Project failed, the Mt Kenya mafia was divided – whether to support Mwai ibaki or vote Raila. The first round was without hitch since the wealth and status quo will still remain within the boundaries of the Mt Kenya and its invasion of other territorries. The second round was with a terrible hitch and glitch. Elections were stolen while we watched on out sets that Raila won the elections. Mt Kenya mafia stole the elections to maintain the status quo.

Now here is a good story. The funds that were stacked in foreign accounts were now brought back to Kenya to paint the Kibaki Administration as efficient and pro-development. Economic intelligent reports indicate that some of these funds invested in China, Turkey, Sudan and UAE is what has made significant but little progress on the economy.,Basically, part of the money that is being used now are proceeds/profits ffrom the funds that have stayed in foreign accounts.

On the other angle, if Raila was to win Presidency – the mafia would have also withheld funds for his administration to fail and fall with economic shudder. Kenyans should praise Kibaki for he has made the rich class to invest and thus recoupo the funds they stole and stashed in foreign accounts for some progress, however little. Raila Odinga is having hell of time trying to convince the mafia that he can protect their status quo if he becomes the next President. He will have to have a balance and ensure he keeps the mafia’s top strategists to ensure that the next administration doesnt touch, reveal and dispose their ill got wealth at the dispense of 40 million plus Kenyans.

Its therefore not judicious to conclude that Kenyans needed Kibaki and Raila to reform KENYA. But Kenyans needed these two men to keep the status quo as we slowly progress to full political and economical freedom.

Kombo Elijah

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— On Thu, 12/15/11, Evans MACHERA wrote:
Subject: We needed Kibaki & Raila to Reform Kenya!

The current constitution was passed by Kenyans after the PM and the President joined hands to reform the country.This is after false engagements on the issue of reforms that saw the bungled elections of 2007.

Suppose Raila went to petition the courts for irregularities of 2007 presidential results,could we have had;-

1.The current constitution at hand!
2.The changes towards reform such as in the judiciary and police among other institutions.
3.The current recruitment processes that even parliament can say NO to nominees ( case of graft tzars).

Now,where are the presidential candidates who will exhibit political will for real implementation of the constitution after application for the administration of the country!

In spite of being prisoners of “their men”,we needed Kibaki and Raila to trigger the real reforms that kenya has been yearning for.

One is hyper (Raila),while the other has a gentlemanly mien ( Kibaki).

One is none assuming(Raila),the other can assume to the extent of ignoring (Kibaki).

Both can decide to agree and join. hands from where we are able to move.

Without the two,the reform agenda could have been a pipe dream.Fate had it that in 2007,we were to encounter a process that engages kenya to a real change.

Evans MACHERA.

KENYA: RONG RESIDENTS CALLS FOR KIBAKI AND RAILA TO SUSPEND MINISTER DALMAS OTIENO TO FACILITATE THOROUGH INVESTIGATIONS OVER POLITICAL VIOLENCE IN HIS CONSTITUENCY

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Reports Ndira-Uradi In Rongo Town.

Residents of Rongo district have sent a passionate appeal to the two principals in the coalition government urging the to effect the immediate suspension of the Minister for Public Service Dalmas Otieno in order to facilitate thorough investigations over last weekend politically related violence deaths of five people.

The residents said they were unhappy with the directions the ongoing investigations over latest political violence was taking The incident resulted in the death of five hired goons at Kitere Village in Kamagambo South location, Rongo within Migori County.

So far the Minister has yet to issue any comment either absolving himself from the heinous crime committed by political goons, suspected to have been hired by closely connected to him, nor has he come out and condemned he acts of political thuggery within his backyard.

Investigators have been busy picking he wrong people, particularly those perceived to be his potential opponents and parliamentary aspirants for 2012 and taking them into custody. Whereas the culprits, suspected to have hired half a dozen of vehicles which ferried the goons to the venue of the meeting organized by the Minister’s opponent, are walking scot-free.

“This is not the first time goons, suspected to be operating at the instruction of politicians allied to he Minister, unleashed violence to innocent people within Rongo town and its environs. In the last incident the goons had beaten delegates who had gathered in the town to deliberate on ODM elections matters and violently dispersed them.

Some of the delegates ended up being hospitalized, but the attackers, who appeared to be immune and enjoying patronage of someone higher, left the scene of crime unmolested. The police and the Administration police were seen protecting them. Some of the delegates were fished out of Matatus and beaten up senselessly.

Last Sunday, however, those who masterminded a plan and hatched the plot to unleash violence on peaceful people in the name of politics got it wrong in that they dispatched the hired goons to go and attack, beat up and maim innocent people in the remote village of Kitere. The goons and their master would have foreseen the danger of attacking people in their rural homes, and the possibility of the villagers turning heir weapons on them.

“Moreover the raider were hired from distant places like Ndhiwa,Rangwe and Oyugis who had no idea about the land train around the place wee they were assigned to carry out their heinous actions of disrupting an dispersing the so-called unlawful ODM meeting. And even if the meeting organized by a faction opposed to their man was not lawfully convened [MW1] , it could have been wise for the goons and their masters to seek for the police assistance and help. However the same action could have amounted gross violation of the freedom of speech and that of association which are all well entrenched in the new constitutional dispensation.”

Meanwhile the newly elected ODM Migori County branch John M Magaiwa has called for peace and tolerance among the political leaders in the region.” leaders should respect each other and adopt the spirit of tolerating one another irrespective of their diverse opinions. He said the death of the five youths has robbed the ODM of the five votes it needs so dearly.

Magaiwa added that Rongo incident had painted Migori County in wrong footing. We must strive to correct the bad impression created by the last week murder if the youths in Rongo,” he said adding that the cold blooded killings were the act of big shame. Which all the sane leaders in the must be condemned unreservedly and which must not be allowed to reoccur again.

Across sections of Rongo residents interviewed agreed in principles that the area MP Dalmas Otieno and his overzealous supporters should be held responsible for the death of the hired political goons.

They want members of both Provincial Administration and police authorities’ in Rongo behave professionally when discharging their duties and they should not allow themselves to be compromised.

Speculations and rumor making the round within Rongo say some the victims had mobile phones containing vital information and SMS messages and MPESA money transfers sent to them by some known characters.

The residents are up demanding that the police should surrender all the mobile phone handset, found on the bodies of the dead goons, be handed over to the experts for thorough examination and analysis which could reveal the names and numbers of those who had sent them the money and for what purpose.

The Miiste Otieno could not be reached for his immediate comment about the last weekend’s violent orgies, and that the mounting pressure that he should steps aside to enable proper investigations to be carried out within view to establish the truth abut who was responsible for the violence at Kitere which left five people dead scores hospitalized after the brutal machetes and panga attacks

During the constitutional campaign for the constitutional referendum one man, an aide to the Uriri MP Cyprian Ojwang’Omolo, was stoned to death. The group of hired goons were sent to disrupt with intention to dispersing a meeting organized at Sibuoche about 15 kilometers away from Rapogi Trading Center. There, Another similar meeting was going on with several MPs in attendance. There were protests that the rally had been called by the faction of leaders opposed to the area MP. The incident was in similar fashion in the Kitere blood bath incident. The attackers had purchased new pangas and hoes handles, rungus and sticks.

Instead of the police pursuing the attackers, who were outnumbered and overwhelmed by the villagers who sent them to their heels,and detaining the vehicle they had hired for the job, the police tuned on the conveners of the meeting whom they arrested.

The on-going investigations about Kitere’s mayhem ae being conducted in biased and unprofessional manner that it only targeted the victims instead of the aggressors and planners of the bloody incidents. They want those found to be responsible for financing it to be disqualified from contesting any elective point in the 2012 general election on the party’s ticket.

Ends

Kibet : Ruto is fighting for ODM (UDM)

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from Lee Makwiny

Kuria Mwangi, I am heading into hiding. I want to ask Omwenga and Maurice to follow me into hiding. Can you ask Kibet and the renowned lawyer to read this and comment:

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Eldoret North MP William Ruto has come out fighting following a move by two Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members to expel him from the party.

Mr Ruto and four other MPs have filed a preliminary objection to a petition by Mpuru Aburi and Kepher Odongo seeking orders to expel them from the party over their public declaration that they had quit ODM and joined another party.

Mr Ruto, MPs Charles Keter (Belgut), Isaac Ruto (Chepalungu), Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany) and Aden Duale (Dujis) submitted that the petition is premature since what they are asking for can only be determined after the next General Election.

Through lawyer Kioko Kilukumi, the legislators said that the provisions of Article 103 of the Constitution are suspended until the final announcement of all the results of the first Parliament to be held under the Constitution.

Article 103(e) states that a person ceases to be an MP if he resigns from the party which elected him to Parliament or is deemed to have resigned from that party.

The petitioners argue that the five legislators are in Parliament in contravention of Article 103 of the Constitution and Section 17(4) of the Political Parties Act.

The two submitted the five MPs have through public declarations and activities indicated that they quit ODM and have joined the United Democratic Movement.

They added that according to the Political Parties Act, a person who, while a member of a political party forms another, joins in the formation or as a member of another, publicly advocates for the formation of another political party loses membership in their original party.

Mr Ruto is an ODM deputy leader while Mr Duale is one of the party’s vice-chairpersons.

In their objection to the application, the MPs contend that the first election under the Constitution has not been held hence the claims by Mr Aburi and Mr Odongo are moot and that the petition should be dismissed.

“All the substantive reliefs sought by the petitioners are not available by operation of the Constitution since they will only come into effect after the elections,” said Kilukumi.

Mr Kilukumi added that the Political Parties Act relied upon by the petitioners was repealed with effect from November 1 and therefore cannot be the bedrock of the petition.

He submitted that the repealed section enacted in pursuant to Article 103 of the Constitution came long after the petition was filed in July hence cannot apply in the current case.

Justice Mumbi Ngugi will rule on the preliminary objection on March 20, 2012.

Source: http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Ruto++four+MPs+fight+ODM+expulsion+/-/1064/1289206/-/8rspjp/-/index.html

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Kenya: Ruto dream to fit into Moi’s shoes is being scuttled by the residents of the South Rift

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

IF the Eldoret North MP William Samoei Ruto’s pipe dream of stepping into the shoes of the retire President Daniel Arap Moi by anointing himself as the newly crowned political kingpin of the three million plus Kalenjin community is anything to go by the idea has tumbled down and has become cropper.

Ruto and his UDM party is facing myriads of problems and some of the serious hurdles to clear before he realizes his pipe dreams.

The MP and those allied to him are facing total rejection in some regions of the expansive rift Vally Province where the Kalenjins community forms 75 per cent of the total population, particularly the vote rich Kipsigis region in the South Rift.

This Kipsigis is a sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjn ethnic groups. It is the most populous single community which boost close to 1.5 million registered voters in the region and forms 55 per cent of the close to eleven sub-tribes of the entire Kalenjin groups. This when it is put into comparison with the votes from the other sub-tribes, particularly the Nandis which is rivaling the Kipsigis, and William Ruto’s own sub-tribe that can only manage to produce slightly over 600,00 votes In Nandi North,Nandi South, Uasin Gishu and Trans-Nzoia.

In the 2007 general elections, the Kipsigis votes clocked one million marks. The community voted for nine members of parliament in eight rural constituencies within the two counties of Kericho and Bomet.

It captured one extra parliamentary seat in diaspora, namely in Kuresoi, in Molo district which was won by the former powerful Internal Security and Provincial Administration Permanent Secretary Zakayo K.Cheruiyot.

The Kipisigis voters almost extended their gains into the nearby Trans-Mara district in Maasailand where the incumbent MP Brigadier {rtd} Gideon Konchellah nearly succumbed to a defeat by a Kipsigis aspirant.

The community members form close to 45 per cent of the voters in this particular constituency due to massive settlement by Kalenjin ever since 1961 and whose numbers are almost equaling that of the indignant Maasais.

Economically the Kipsigis people blessed and endowed with fertile and arable land with the sufficient annual rainfall are the richest compare to members of the other Kalenjin sub-tribes. The average earning of each family in Kipsigisl and has improved tremendously in the recent years and remained the highest due to money accrued from the sales of green tea leaves.

The leading money minting cash cops is grown in abundance by small-scale farmers in the regions which boost close to twelve green tea manufacturing plants owned by the Kenya Tea Development Authority {KTDA} Kapkatet, Mogogosyek,Chemamul.Litein,Tegat, Kapkoros.Toror,Girgaga,Kobel,Kapset Borok and Chelel There are two more, but privately owned tea factories on at Kab9anga.

There are four privately owned tea factories which include Kaisugu Tea Company, which is owned by the family of the retire President Daniel Arap Moi and Mau Forest Tea factory which is owned by Kasang’wan conglomerate company owned Kipsigis farmers and traders.

The community Iist also involved in massive milk production, producing a lot of English potatoes for sales in the nearby towns of Kisumu, Kisii, Migori, HomBay, Siaya,Mbota, Usenge, Keroka, Oyugis, Kendu-Bay, Ahero, Nakuru and Naivasha minting millions of shillings and other places and many other cash crops.

This community has a strong voting strength in other constituencies such as Rongai,Tinderet, Aldai,Narok North and Narok West as well as Nakuru Town and Naivasha constituencies. All its votes went into the basket of the Raila Odinga led Orange Democratic Movement {ODM}.

However, immediately and soon after disagreeing with Odinga over the Prime Minster’ handling of the Mau Forest eviction saga and the unrealistic claims that the Prime Minister was responsible for his impending criminal charges before the International Criminal Curt of Justice{ICC} at the Hague, William Ruto had launched full scale war of attrition against the ODM leader in a wrong footing assumption that these allegations would win the hearts of the Kalenjin people who had voted for the ODM party on a man t man in 2007 so that the community could ditch the ODM.

His plans and schemes worked well, but only temporarily. However, the political tides changed its course in the region immediately Ruto and his allies launched the plot of pushing out the former UDM chairman, the highly respected Kipsigis man for deputy SGS Let. Gen.{rtd} John Arap Koech

He made a gross miscalculation of trying to push Koech out of the UDM so that he could preserve the party and use it as a ladder for his future soft landing when his seemingly irreconcilable disagreement intensified. He had used the retired and perennial parliamentary election loser in Buret constituency and former National chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers {KNUT} Joseph Arap Chirchir and made hi the new chairman of UDM.

Ruto father mad another political blunder when he tried to short-change Chirchir by trying to bungling him out of the held of the UDM leadership in preference to the former National Assembly House Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo whom he thought could be more useful and help make a major inroad into the Maasai community in which he had been kept at bay by the ODM leaders headed by the Minister for ulture and National Heritage William Ole Ntimama +

Ruto single handed brought on board Ole Kaparo a respected Maasai leader after realizing that he could not penetrate the Maasailand due to the presence of the ageing William Ole Ntimama the MP for the Narok North constituency, who is the de-facto leader of the Maasai who had chosen to stuck with the ODM.

The Kipsigis people read malice in Ruto’s move and took a firm stand in rejecting his political machinations. Moreover, they are arguing that Ruto has never been mandated by the party NEC to make any changes in policy including the appointments at the UDM secretariat as he is considered as a friend of the party only and not its leader.

Another blow which has struck the Eldoret North MP below the belt is his recent unlawful move in cancelling the UDM elections held in Kericho Bomet in the presence of the de facto leader Joseph Chirchr after his supporters led by he MP were locked out of the election venue which were held at the posh Tea Hotel and conducted by the party’s deputy National Organising and Publicity Secretary Justice Kemei in the presence of the National Chairman Joseph Chirchir.

The National chairman of the UDM Chichir has since defiantly ordered for the reinstatement of those elected in Kericho County despite the cancellation of the elections by Ruto.

This move has put the Eldoret North MP in an awkward position in the party, a position which could only be resolved by grass root and national elections. Chirchir is working in cohort with the party’s Secretary General Martin Ole Kamwaro himself a Maasai.

The Kipsigis politician maintains that Ruto has no respect for their own elected leaders. He recently made a blunder when he told a public rally in he region that the Kipkellion MP who is the Energy Assistant Minister was never elected to parliament in a democratic manner and that the MP was the product of the massive rigging of the 2007 general elections.

These utterances have caused high degree of annoyance among the level mined Kipsigis leaders.They has vowed to ditch UDM and return to ODM en mess.

Ends

KENYA: FOUR PEOPLE CONFIRMED DEAD IN POLITICALLY INSTIGATED VIOLENCE IN RONGO FOLLOWING THE ODM DISPUTED ELECTIONS

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Reports Ndira-Uradi In Awendo Town.

FOUR people were hacked to death while scores of others were seriously injured at Kitere in Kamagambo South Location, Rongo district within Migori County following the recently flawed much ODM grass root elections.

Scores of people who sustained serious injuries were hospitalized; while others believed to have suffered serious bodily wounds inflicted by machetes {pangas} escaped and run into the nearby sugar cane plantations.

Several suspects who are believe to have masterminded the bloody confrontation between the two groups were taken into police custody for questioning while tension remain high in the area next to Moi University College, Kitere Campus.

The incident took place in late Saturday afternoon. The combatants groups are believed to belong into two rival political camps vehemently opposed to each other, one such groups are reported to be rotating around the Minister for Public Services Dalmas Otieno who is the area MP, while the other group comprises the potential parliamentary aspirants for the 2012 elections in both Rongo and Awendo constituencies.

During the recently concluded but much flawed ODM grass root election the two groups opposed to each other had emerged and held two parallel elections in Kitre sub-branch of the ODM party. And the Saturday’s bloody confrontation between the officials of the two parallel sub-branches came about when one group had grouped at Kitere ready to open a new sub-branch office.

Unconfirmed reports say the attackers who suffered heavy causalities were suspected to be the supporters of the Minister Otieno’s camp. They went to the site in futile attempt to disrupt and disperse those who had planned to open the sub-branch ODM office in Kitere.

The police had difficult time to control and restore law and orders. By the time of writing this report, the bodies of the victims were still lying at the scene uncollected.

Several politically related deaths were also reported in Rongo during the 2007 general elections.

So far the ODM elections board chairman Eng Phillip Okundi had nullified the elections in this particular sub-branch and ordered for a repeat of the exercise. It was haphazardly conducted producing two sets of parallel sub-branches, and the party supporters placed the blame on the supporters of Dalmas Otieno and the gross interference into the party matters by members of the Provincial Administration in the area.

A week earlier before the party grass root elections in Rongo and Awendo district the Minister had convene an urgent meting held in Rongo Town where the mode of the impending elections were discussed in detailed accounts.

Selectively invited delegates from the ten administrative locations in both Rongo and Awendo district numbering about 400 people mainly known supporters of Dalmas Otieno were in attendance and it was later rumored that strategic plans on how to lock out those suspected to be allied to the new parliamentary aspirants were allege deliberated on.

The ODM sub-branch election had been scheduled for Kitere, and close to 300 delegates had already gathered at the venue ready for the elections when the Location chief and an assistant chief appeared at Kitere and made an announcement that the election venue had been changed abruptly and was switched to a new venue at Rakwaro Center about seven kilometers away.

This abrupt change of venue made it impossible for the delegates to walk and rush to the new venue due to lack of quick means of transport. Those who had their own vehicle rushed to Rakwaro while the rest made it to the new venue by foot, and the time they reached the new polls center, the elections had been long held and completed by Dalmas Otieno’s. Other delegates reused to travel to the new venue and organized for a parallel election at the old venue,.

The situation was even worse at Kuja where the district branch elections were held the following day when several delegates were locked out and sent packing.

The party members and leader who felt short changed at Kuja and locked out of Migori Teachers Training College for the County branch elections then moved to court and obtained an injunctions order, but the election officials refused to accept the court papers and defiantly went on with the election at the County branch which was conducted on consensus basis not by secret balloting a stipulated by the ODM constitution.

All these political manipulations are what breed the last Saturday death orgies at Kitere when those who felt wronged through political machinations resorted to to act of bloody violence, which claimed the lives of innocent people at Kitere, The death toll figure is expected to be on the higher sides when those who run into sugar plantations with serious bodily wounds an those hospitalized are accounted for.

The violence prone Rongo politics is gravitating between the Minister Otieno on one side and his perennial arrival the former cabinet Minister George Ochillo Ayacko on the other side.

Ends