From: maina ndiritu

Uhuru Kenyatta, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, won election Saturday as Kenya’s new President. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced that Kenya’s richest man — the current Deputy Prime Minister, former Finance Minister and the son of Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta — won 50.07% of the vote, just marginally more than was needed to avoid a second-round runoff. Kenyatta’s running mate William Ruto, a second of the four Kenyans indicted by the ICC, is slated to become Deputy President. Turnout was a high 86%. With the margin of victory so thin, and the count plagued by days of delays and hundreds of thousands of spoiled ballots, Kenyatta’s main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has already said he would fight it in court.

If the result withstands Odinga’s challenge, a win for Kenyatta would represent the most stunning articulation to date of a renewed mood of self-assertion in Africa. Half a century ago, Africa echoed with the sound of anticolonial liberation. Today, 10 years of dramatic and sustained economic growth and a growing political maturity coinciding with the economic meltdown in the West and political dysfunction in Washington and Europe have granted Africa’s leaders the authority and means to once again challenge Western intervention on the continent, whether it comes in the form of foreign diplomatic pressure, foreign aid, foreign rights monitors or even foreign correspondents. In his victory speech, Kenyatta said, “Today, we celebrate the triumph of democracy, the triumph of peace, the triumph of nationhood. Despite the misgivings of many in the world, we demonstrated a level of political maturity that surpassed expectations. That is the real victory today. A victory for our nation. A victory that demonstrates to all that Kenya has finally come of age. That this, indeed, is Kenya’s moment.” He also pledged to work together with his political opponents with “friendship and cooperation.” “Kenya needs us to work together,” he said. “Kenya needs us to move on.” In a pointed warning to the international community, he added: “We expect the international community [to] respect the sovereignty and democratic will of the people of Kenya. The Africa star is shining brightly and the destiny of Africa is now in our hands.”

The ICC, based in the Hague, is a particular focus of African anger. The court accuses Kenyatta of being one of four Kenyans who orchestrated the bloody tribal violence that followed the election in 2007–08. After paramilitary police loyal to the incumbent Mwai Kibaki — also from Kenyatta’s Kikuyu tribe — stormed the counting center, and shortly thereafter officials declared their candidate the winner, the country erupted in weeks of killings in which around 1,200 died and tens of thousands were displaced. The ICC intervened to try to bring those most responsible for the violence to account after concluding Kenya was unable to do so for itself.

But the ICC’s focus on Africa — nearly all of its investigations concern Africans — has earned it accusations of bias. And the manner in which the 2007–08 tribal violence was beamed around the world by the Western media, deterring tourists and overshadowing the story of an increasingly less impoverished, and more healthy, sophisticated and self-reliant, Kenya, also drew widespread resentment. At this election, with a new 2010 constitution, and a new electoral body with a new — though not glitch-free — electronic voting system, Kenyans’ determination to hold a peaceful election has been palpable. The popular mood has also been notably anti-Western. Foreign diplomats have been warned of blood-curdling revenge should they interfere in the poll. Foreign journalists have been publicly ridiculed and denounced as prejudiced if they predicted chaos and disaster. And a central message of most candidates’ campaigns was strident, patriotic self-determination. Kenyatta and Ruto — who deny the charges brought by the ICC — managed to convert a Kenyan public that initially largely supported the ICC’s attempts to call them to account into one that viewed the ICC as a representative of unwarranted Western interference in African affairs. In the last days of the campaign, Kenyatta’s Jubilee Alliance reflected and heightened the anti-Western mood, saying it was “deeply concerned about the shadowy, suspicious and rather animated involvement of the British High Commissioner in Kenya’s election.” Such assertions of sovereignty are only likely to intensify under a Kenyatta presidency. Ruto’s trial is due to begin on May 28, Kenyatta’s on July 9. Both men have said they will attend — a point Kenyatta repeated Saturday when he said his government would “continue to cooperate with international institutions.” Kenyatta has, however, said that his official duties would prevent their pair from being at the Hague continually — a pointed diluting of the court’s importance, and one that will likely drag out trials already expected to last sever al years.

From the West’s perspective, a Kenyatta victory presents a conundrum. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson warned before the election that “choices have consequences,” widely seen as a recommendation that voters should back Odinga. London has already warned that it would keep official contact with a President Kenyatta to a minimum, as it does with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. But the reality is that, in a world where Kenya finds itself as much sought after as suitor, Western powers no longer get to call the shots in Africa. In many ways, and particularly in its homegrown innovations in mobile technology such as mobile banking and solar power, Kenya personifies the new, emerging Africa of young and dynamic entrepreneurs. Its position as East Africa’s business hub has only been enhanced by its recent discovery of large reserves of oil and gas. Kenya is also a linchpin of the U.S. and European security structure in Africa, ranged as it is against Islamist groups and pirates particularly in neighboring Somalia. Westerners rely on Kenya in other ways too: the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is the base of choice for much of the international community in East Africa, from large embassies to aid-group headquarters to donor conferences to security contractors. And should the West give Kenya the cold shoulder, it may find it is not missed as it once might have been: Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and Latin American diplomats and businessmen are also part of the fabric in today’s Kenya.

In Washington last month, Carson’s predecessor at the State Department, Jendayi Frazer, warned Western leaders to be “pragmatic” in their approach to Kenya, adding she was “troubled” by Carson’s “very reckless and irresponsible” statement, which she called “essentially meddling in Kenya’s election.” The ICC case against Kenyatta “is a weak one and is based on hearsay,” she said in a public discussion at the Brookings Institution, and — in words that might have come from Kenyatta himself — she added the ICC was “a very manipulated institution, particularly by the West.”

Read more:
http://world.time.com/2013/03/09/kenyas-election-what-uhuru-kenyattas-victory-means-for-africa/#ixzz2NGoxEHuG

From: Judy Miriga

Good People,

Kwa roho safi,

For Unity and Peace for common good of all, I take this early opportunity to congratulate Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto and team for winning the election.

For healing, we should leave behind our fierce challenging battle, begin the journey of healing and plan to move forward as a family.

I am extending my hands to brothers and sisters from Kenya who hoped differently to do the same so we take Uhuru for his word and waste no time to embark on sustaining our Reform Change working towards development progressive agenda.

Once against, Uhuru Kenyatta and Ruto, I salute you, let us celebrate together your victory as a family……..

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

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Uhuru pledges to unite Kenyans

Nairobi, Kenya: President elect Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday gave his first speech after being declared winner and pledged to unite Kenyans and work towards prosperity of the country.

Addressing supporters at Jubilee Media Center Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Uhuru said he will work without fear or favour with all for the sake of the country.

He extended an olive branch to his opponents and call upon them to join hands in building Kenya.

He commended Kenyans for conducting themselves peacefully during elections and called upon them to maintain the same after polls.

“This victory is not about me, it is about you, the people of Kenya,” he said.

He added; “We celebrate triumph of democracy, peace and nationhood. You all displayed political maturity and surpassed expectations, maintained peace and order, that’s a victory for Kenya.”

He commended IEBC for conducting free and fair elections and pledged to support the commission to get efficient ways to conduct elections in future.

He also commended the police for ensuring peace and order was maintained throughout the election period.

On international relations, Uhuru said Kenya will work with countries in the region.

He said Kenya was part of the international community and will cooperate with nations and institutions but maintained the country’s sovereignty should be respected.

“I expect that the international community will respect the sovereignty of the Republic of Kenya,” he said.

Vice President elect William Ruto said the Jubilee win was miracle and said the coalition will work to honour pledges they made.

“I am lost for words…..Our victory is a miracle. We dedicate this coalition’s victory to God,” he said.

Read full speech by president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta here

Calm in Kisumu as results announced

By Dennis Mosota and Rushdie Oudia

Kisumu and most parts of Nyanza province, mapped out, as hotspots remained calm following the loss of Raila Odinga in the votes cast.

Security officers patrolled the area as religious leaders and the Kenya Association of Manufacturers Nyanza Western Chapter called on businessmen to open their shops.

Heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms forced people to stay indoors as they followed the results on their television sets on Friday night.

In Kondele that was the most affected area during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, by 9am on Saturday, the youth stayed away from violence as they waited calmly for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission’s verdict.

Two trucks of General Service Officers (GSU) patrolled the lakeside town, from 3am. There were also Land Cruisers with regular and administration police backing up the GSU team.

However, Kenya Association of Manufacturers Nyanza Western Chapter Israel Agina appealed to all stakeholders and communities to support the return of normal business operations.

“We all lose out if people let their emotions rise and do not seek constructive solutions,” said Mr Agina.

He added that the city could only attract investors through peace after the elections.

Fear of violence

“How we carry ourselves will show the investors that Kisumu is an investor friendly,” added Agina.

He said as they return to work, peace should prevail despite the results since the main thing is ensuring that Kisumu’s future is bright and prosperous.

Banks and some business premises remained open along the Oginga Odinga Street as residents went on with their activities.

At Oile Market, traders packed their goods for fear of violence since they knew that the president would be declared at that time.

A number of people also closed shops out of fear.

“We are waiting to hear what Raila will say because there are issues that must be addressed,” said Ken Otieno, in Kondele area.

Joseph Owino, a matatu driver, said there is need for the Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta to treat all regions equally, if the IEBC declares him winner.

“Uhuru should not leave out Kisumu and other parts of the province for not giving him enough votes.

He should treat counties equal in the sharing of the cake,” said Owino.

Anglican Church of Kenya Maseno South Diocese Bishop Francis Obiero thanked Kisumu people for showing patience, tolerance and determination during vote tallying.

“All we need is to maintain peace as Kenya is more important than all of us,” said Obiero.

In Siaya County, the ancestral home of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, people gathered in shopping centres to follow what was going on television sets in some restaurants.

Others tuned on their radio sets to follow the historic moment the country was waiting for.

Uhuru hits victory mark

NAIROBI, KENYA: The son of Kenya’s first president has all but secured victory against Raila Odinga and six others to become the country’s Fourth President.

Barring any changes or successful challenges to a final tally released early this morning, Uhuru will win the presidential vote with a razor-thin margin, ending a dramatic contest against the Prime Minister.

Following delays in tallying and verification, announcement of the final confirmed result of the March 4 presidential election was put off until 11am today. Updates to electoral figures at 2am, however, included the tally from the six constituencies whose results were still outstanding. They were Laikipia North, Emurua Dikirr, Molo, Konoin, Narok West and Turkana Central. Uhuru garnered 141, 447 to push his final tally to 6, 173, 433. Raila secured 58, 485 in the six constituencies to raise his final tally to 5, 340, 546.

If the figures stand, Uhuru will go over the constitutional threshold of 50 per cent plus one by a narrow margin of 4,100 votes. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission will make the official declaration of whether he has secured the vote at 11am after verification of the results by all parties.

Earlier, addressing the media at about 15 minutes past midnight, IEBC commissioner Yusuf Nzibo said the electoral body and political party agents needed more time to audit the results before a final declaration could be made.

At the Jubilee alliance’s tallying centre, however, last night had the air of a victory party after the gap in official results between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila peaked at over one million votes just after 10pm. While the lead shrank later in the evening, it mostly remained just above the 50 per cent threshold.

At 3am, with all 291 constituencies reporting, Uhuru had 6,173,433 valid votes (50.03 per cent) against Raila’s 5,340,546 (43.28 per cent). The Jubilee alliance and CORD candidates also had at least 25 per cent of the vote in about 30 counties each. Candidates were required to secure more than half the total votes cast, as well as at least a quarter of all votes in at least 24 counties to win.

Uhuru, 51, and running mate William Ruto, 46, took an early lead in the final manual tally to decide who was headed to State House. In a trend repeated from an earlier electronic tally that failed before it was completed, the two held onto their lead all day, rising and falling past the 50 per cent mark as ballot totals from various constituencies came in. Their thin margin above the constitutional threshold raised the dramatic prospect they might not secure a victory, forcing the contest to a run-off on April 11 this year. For the ‘true believers’ in Team UhuRuto, however, the presidency was almost in the bag.

Uhuru and Ruto have outperformed their rivals in a hard-fought election that opinion pollsters said was too close to call after they ate away at a sizeable lead held by Raila last year. Their hopes for a final result on Friday morning, after almost four days of contentious vote tallying, were dashed as questions about errors in the tallies led to fresh delays. Published figures that were provided to party agents for verification were alleged to have “missing or erroneous entries”. This prompted a decision to verify the numbers from all 291 constituencies afresh.

“There may have been errors and discrepancies here and there,” IEBC chief executive, Mr James Oswago told a media brief at the national tallying centre in Nairobi. “Some we have already detected and we are working on them.”

The election, the most complex ever attempted by Kenya, has been plagued by technology failures and protests from party agents. Earlier, CORD presidential agents complained that electoral officials had failed to include results from 11 constituencies in their final tally. The areas they say were left out include Changamwe, Ganze, Homa Bay, Kanduyi, Khamisi, Kitui South, Kitutu Chache, Kubuachai, Magarini, Mumias East and Vihiga. IEBC officials agreed to an audit of their documents to determine if this was true.

A last minute attempt by civil society activists to stop the process failed when the High Court in Nairobi ruled it had no jurisdiction to handle their petition. The petitioner, Africog, was advised to pursue their suit in the Supreme Court.

Two of the eight candidates in the race conceded defeat before the final result was announced. Eagle coalition candidate Peter Kenneth threw in the towel after interim results showed it was a two-horse race. UDF leader and Amani coalition candidate Musalia Mudavadi joined him Friday as the final tally continued to confirm this, announcing he was “ready to work with the winner”. He added he had spoken to Raila and Uhuru and requested then “not to allow any statements from within their ranks (about the election) that will be misconstrued and lead to a break-up of the prevailing civic order”.

Raila Odinga, who was following the contest from his home in Nairobi’s Karen area, plans to issue a statement today (Saturday) on the final result.

Uhuru and Ruto have won the largest number of voters nationally despite warnings from their rivals and some foreign envoys over the burden of the criminal charges they face in two cases at the International Criminal Court. There are six other candidates in the presidential race: Amani/UDF’s Mudavadi, 52, had 438,215 votes as at 3am today.

In fourth place was Peter Kenneth, 48, the Eagle/Kenya National Congress candidate who secured 72,786 votes. Former teacher Mohammed Dida, 39, who ran on an Alliance for Real Change ticket got 52,848 votes to take the fifth slot. Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua, 55, followed with 43,881 votes.

In seventh place was Restore and Build Kenya candidate James ole Kiyiapi, 51, who polled 40,998 votes. Trailing the pack of eight was lawyer Paul Muite, 67, with 12,580 votes on a Safina party ticket.

IEBC declares Uhuru Kenya’s fourth president

By Standard Digital

Kenya: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) chair Isaac Hassan declares Uhuru Kenyatta duly elected President of Kenya after he garnered 50.07 per cent of votes cast.

Hassan on Saturday announced Uhuru garnered 6, 173, 433 votes against his rival CORD’s Raila Odinga who got 5, 340, 546.

The IEBC chair said Uhuru got 105 per cent of votes cast in at least 32 counties.

There were 14, 350, 533 registered voters and Hassan said the voter turnout was impressive and the highest in the country at 86 per cent.

Hassan issued the certificate of the results to Uhuru who was accorded security and escort befitting a president.

While announcing the results, Hassan urged presidential candidates to put the nation first before the results and commended aspirants who conceded defeat.

“The elections were credible and transparent”, said IEBC boss.

He said the six ballot election was quite ambitious and challenging to the electoral body, political parties and voters.

Uhuru Kenyatta wins Kenyan presidency; rival to challenge outcome in court

By Faith Karimi and Nima Elbagir, CNN

updated 11:31 AM EST, Sat March 9, 2013
Nairobi, Kenya (CNN) — Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya’s founding leader, narrowly won the presidential poll despite facing charges of crimes against humanity over election violence five years ago.

Kenyatta clinched 50.07% of the vote, the election commission announced Saturday, barely breaking past the halfway mark.

His main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, got 43.31% of the vote, and said he will challenge the outcome in court.

The constitution requires a 50% plus one vote for an outright win.

His victory puts the West in a quandary. Kenyatta is facing trial at the International Criminal Court over post-election violence that plunged the nation into chaos in 2007.

Shortly after election officials announced the results, he thanked citizens for bestowing him the leadership role and vowed to work for everyone.

“We celebrate the triumph of democracy; the triumph of peace; the triumph of nationhood,” Kenyatta said. “Despite the misgivings of many in the world, we demonstrated a level of political maturity that surpassed expectations.”
Odinga will challenge Kenya’s election
Monitoring Kenya’s vote — digitally

Winning parties should remain “modest in victory,” he said, acknowledging that nearly half the nation did not vote for him.

Jubilant supporters took to the streets, speeding down crowded streets, honking and chanting his name.

“This is a new dawn, our leader has been elected,” said John Kamau, a Nakuru resident.

‘It is frustrating’

For some of Odinga’s strongholds, the mood was tense but calm.

“Our man has tried to be president three times, it is frustrating,” said James Ouma, who lives in the capital of Nairobi. “We will accept it. What can we do? Life must go on.”

Odinga said the election outcome is flawed.

“We are confident that the court will restore the faith of Kenyans in the democratic role,” he said.

Despite the looming challenge, Kenyatta struck a conciliatory note after the close election, applauding Odinga for a “spirited campaign,”

“I know that all the candidates have made tremendous personal sacrifices .. and I welcome them to join us in moving our nation forward,” he said.

A vital ally

The vote’s significance extends far beyond Kenyan borders.

Kenya is East Africa’s biggest economy and a crucial trade route into the rest of the continent.

It provides an important buffer of stability in a region that includes the fledgling Somali government and the politically tense Sudan and South Sudan.

Most importantly — at least to the West — Kenya is a major U.S. ally in the war against Islamist militants in the region and has remained relatively peaceful amid civil wars in neighboring nations.

Complicated relations

Kenyatta’s victory raised the prospect of complicated diplomatic ties with the West.

The International Criminal Court indicted him for allegedly funding a local militia that conducted reprisal attacks in the last election in 2007. His running mate, William Ruto, also faces ICC charges at The Hague.

Both have denied the charges and have said they will cooperate with the court to clear their names.

The assurance has not allayed fears among some Western diplomats.

Before the election, Johnnie Carson, the State Department’s top diplomat for Africa, issued a stern warning, saying Kenyans can pick their own leaders, but “choices have consequences.”

But in a statement after the election, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry applauded the vote.

“Kenya has been one of America’s strongest and most enduring partners in Africa,” Kerry said. “We … will continue to be a strong friend and ally of the Kenyan people.”

The UK minister for Africa, Marks Simmonds, echoed his sentiment and called on candidates to address disputes in court to avoid violence.

Kenyatta has said the indictment will not affect his ability to do his job and urged the international community to respect the will of Kenyans.

“I have been a member of the government, and I’ve still been able to execute my duties,” said Kenyatta, a deputy prime minister in the outgoing administration. “I still believe I will be able to execute my duties as president.”

Carson’s predecessor, Jendayi Frazer, said she does not foresee much change in ties between Kenya and the United States.

“Kenyatta knows that he needs the United States, and the United States knows it needs Kenya,” she said. “And so I suspect that while it might be awkward, there won’t be a significant change in our policy stances toward Kenya or theirs toward us.”

No faith in the ICC

Analysts say the ICC indictment may have rallied citizens to Kenyatta’s side in defiance of the West.

“Many Africans have lost faith in ICC and view it as targeting African leaders and failing to discharge its justice among non-African leaders,” said Ayo Johnson, director of ViewPoint Africa. “Kenya sent a loud message to the ICC … don’t interfere. And it does not matter if you brand our leaders as criminals.”

The president-elect’s trial is scheduled for July while his running mate’s is in May.

Kenya is the second African nation after Sudan to have a sitting president facing charges at the International Criminal Court.

Eager to avoid a repeat

In a nation with fierce ethnic loyalties, Kenyans were eager to avoid a repeat of the last election.

At the time, the nation plunged into ethnic violence after Odinga disputed results that declared the incumbent president, Mwai Kibaki, as the winner, alleging the election had been rigged.

Ethnic groups loyal to each side took to the streets, where supporters of both camps fought one another. More than 1,200 people were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.

But despite the divisive vote this year, some citizens said it is time to move forward.

“The people have spoken, even though my voice was not one of them,” said Jane Nduku, a Nairobi resident.

Kenyatta’s win at age 51 makes him the nation’s youngest president.

CNN’s Nima Elbagir reported from Nairobi, and Faith Karimi from Atlanta. CNN’s Lillian Leposo contributed to this report.

Kenya’s Election: What Uhuru Kenyatta’s Victory Means for Africa
By Alex Perry | Time.com – 39 mins ago

Uhuru Kenyatta, wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, won election Saturday as Kenya‘s new President. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced that Kenya’s richest man, the current Deputy Prime Minister and former Finance Minister, and the son of Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta, won 50.07% of the vote — just marginally more than was needed to avoid a second round run-off. Kenyatta’s running mate Will Ruto, a second of the four Kenyans indicted by the ICC, is slated to become Deputy President. Turnout was a high 86%. With the margin of victory so thin, and the count plagued by days of delays and hundreds of thousands of spoiled ballots, Kenyatta’s main rival, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, has already said he will fight it in court.

If the result withstands Odinga’s challenge, a win for Kenyatta would represent the most stunning articulation to date of a renewed mood of self-assertion in Africa. Half a century ago, Africa echoed with the sound of anti-colonial liberation. Today, 10 years of dramatic and sustained economic growth and a growing political maturity coinciding with the economic meltdown in the West and political dysfunction in Washington and Europe, has granted Africa’s leaders the authority and means to once again challenge Western intervention on the continent, whether it comes in the form of foreign diplomatic pressure, foreign aid, foreign rights monitors or even foreign correspondents. In his victory speech, Kenyatta said: “Today, we celebrate the triumph of democracy; the triumph of peace; the triumph of nationhood. Despite the misgivings of many in the world, we demonstrated a level of political maturity that surpassed expectations. That is the real victory today. A victory for our nation. A victory that demonstrates t
o all that Kenya has finally come of age. That this, indeed, is Kenya’s moment.” He also pledged to work together with his political opponents with “friendship and cooperation.” “Kenya needs us to work together,” he said. “Kenya needs us to move on.” In a pointed warning to the international community, he added: “We expect the international community [to] respect the sovereignty and democratic will of the people of Kenya. The Africa star is shining brightly and the destiny of Africa is now in our hands.”

(PHOTOS: Scenes from Kenya’s 2013 election.)

The ICC, based in The Hague, is a particular focus of African anger. The court accuses Kenyatta of being one of four Kenyans who orchestrated the bloody tribal violence which followed the last election in 2007-8. After troops loyal to the incumbent Mwai Kibaki — from Kenyatta’s Kikuyu tribe — stormed the counting center and forced officials to declare their candidate the winner, the country erupted in weeks of killing in which around 1,200 died and tens of thousands were displaced. The ICC intervened to try to bring those most responsible for the violence to account after concluding Kenya was unable to do so for itself

But the ICC’s focus on Africa — nearly all of its investigations concern Africans — has earned it accusations of bias. And the manner in which the 2007-8 tribal violence was beamed around the world by the Western media, deterring tourists and overshadowing the story of an increasingly less impoverished, and more healthy, sophisticated and self-reliant Kenya, also drew widespread resentment. At this election, with a new 2010 constitution, and a new electoral body with a new — though not glitch-free — electronic voting system, Kenyans’ determination to hold a peaceful election has been palpable. The popular mood has also been notably anti-Western. Foreign diplomats have been warned of blood-curdling revenge should they interfere in the poll. Foreign journalists have been publicly ridiculed and denounced as prejudiced if they predicted chaos and disaster. And a central message of most candidates’ campaigns was strident, patriotic self-determination. Kenyatta and Ruto — who deny the charges brought by the ICC — managed to convert a Kenyan public that initially largely supported the ICC’s attempts to call them to account into one that viewed the ICC as a representative of unwarranted Western interference in African affairs. In the last days of the campaign, Kenyatta’s Jubilee Alliance reflected and heightened the anti-West mood, saying it was “deeply concerned about the shadowy, suspicious and rather animated involvement of the British High Commissioner in Kenya’s election.” Such assertions of sovereignty are only likely to intensify under a Kenyatta presidency. Ruto’s trial is due to begin on May 28, Kenyatta’s on July 9. Both men have said they will attend — a point Kenyatta repeated Saturday when he said his government would “continue to cooperate with international institutions.” Kenyatta has, however, said that his official duties would prevent their pair from being at The Hague continually — a pointed diluting of the court’s importance, and one that will likely drag out trials already expected to last several years.

From the West’s perspective, a Kenyatta victory presents a conundrum. Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, Johnnie Carson, warned before the election that “choices have consequences,” widely seen as a recommendation that voters should back Odinga. London has already warned that it would keep official contact with a President Kenyatta to a minimum, as it does with Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. But the reality is that, in a world where Kenya finds itself as much sought after as suitor, Western powers no longer get to call the shots in Africa. In many ways, and particularly in its home-grown innovations in mobile technology such as mobile banking and solar power, Kenya personifies the new, emerging Africa of young and dynamic entrepreneurs. Its position as East Africa’s business hub has only been enhanced by its recent discovery of large reserves of oil and gas. Kenya is also a lynchpin of the U.S. and European security structure in Africa, ranged as it is against Islamist groups and pirates, particularly in neighboring Somalia. Westerners rely on Kenya in other ways too: the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, is the base of choice for much of the international community in East Africa, from large embassies to aid group headquarters to donor conferences to security contractors. And should the West give Kenya the cold shoulder, it may find it is not missed as it once might have been: Chinese, Indian, Middle Eastern and Latin American diplomats and businessmen are also part of the fabric in today’s Kenya.

In Washington last month, Carson’s predecessor at the State Department Jendayi Frazer warned Western leaders to be “pragmatic” in their approach to Kenya, adding she was “troubled” by Carson’s “very reckless and irresponsible” statement, which she called “essentially meddling in Kenya’s election.” The ICC case against Kenyatta “is a weak one and is based on hearsay,” she said in a public discussion at the Brookings Institution, and — in words that might have come from Kenyatta himself — she added the ICC itself was “a very manipulated institution, particularly by the West.”

From: mutabaazi lugaziya

Congratulations to all Kenyans!

Let the self-proclaimed “midwives” of democrasy go lick their subdued egos!

May God bless you to build the Kenya you want.

MJL

—
Jobs in Africa – www.wejobs.blogspot.com
International Jobs – www.jobsunited.blogspot.com

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from: odhiambo okecth
date: Sat, Mar 9, 2013 at 4:42 AM
subject: I witnessed; Congratulations

Friends,

Today morning, I witnessed happiness that was like video, like drama. I left Nairobi at 4am for Kisumu in the company of some Cousins. After fueling along Waiyaki Way, we met jubilant supporters of Hon Uhuru Kenyatta immediately after Kangemi.

They were all over, in their thousands, and it took us 2 hours to drive between Kangemi and Limuru. But one thing that struck me, these people were courteous, happy and merry. Of course some of them told us to go eat fish, they were never violent.

Again at Mai Mahiu, we met another group of jubilant fans of Uhuru Kenyatta. Again, they were very happy and peaceful.

Along all the way up till Kisumu, it was like nothing was happening. Kenyans were happily going about their business as usual as they celebrated the win or their loss.

I must hence commend these gallant Kenyans for being this magnanimous and humble in their win and defeat. This is the way to go and we must invite all our leaders to be such humble.

It was a hotly contested race and we all had our sides. I want to sincerely congratulate the Jubilee Team for winning this one. We will work with all of you as a team in building One Kenya of One Family under God.

May all of us be blessed in the service of our Motherland. And may all of us be Peace Agents in our midst.

Let us all work for a Clean Kenya and a Clean Africa as a Transformative Deliverable as Kenya turns 50 and beyond.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Executive Director,

The Clean Kenya Campaign- TCKC

from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images

KENYA: CHALLENGES UHURU IS FACED WITH AS HE TAKES OVER AS 4TH PRESIDENT

from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 2013

As Uhuru Kenyatta takes over as the fourth president of Kenya the challenges he is faced with is how he will distribute fifty-fifty of key positions in the government between him and Ruto as pledged.

Currently some of the key positions which are occupied by people from Uhuru’s ethnic communities include the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial Administrative where Permanent secretary is Francis Kimemia, CID Director – Ndegwa Muhoro, GSU boss Munga Nyale, NSC – Peace and Conflict Management Mr. S.K. Maina, Government Printer: Andrew Rukaria, and Senior Director Administration/Internal Security: E. Mutea.

For more information read GIVE AND TAKE GAME THAT WON’T END NEPOTISM IN KENYA

Uhuru will also have a big challenge of balancing the Finance Ministry where Permanent Secretary is Joseph Kinyua -Pensions secretary – Anne Mugo, ERD director – Kenneth Mwangi D/Finance secretary – Mwirichia, Controller and Auditor – General; Priscilla Njeri Komora.

Another key position where he will be faced with challenges is Central Bank where Govern is Prof. Ndungu, Dep. Governor – John Gikonyo, Kenya Revenue Authority Commissioner General; Board Secretary: Mrs Ngang’a, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement: Mr Joseph Nduati, Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement: Mr Namu Nguru, Deputy Commissioner, Administration: Mr Karimi and Deputy Commissioner Procurement: Ms Murichu.

While he will also have a big challenge replacing Commissioner for customs services Mrs. Wambui Namu, Senior Deputy Commissioner (Customs): Ms Githinji, Deputy Commissioner, Finance: Ms Wachira, Commissioner Domestic Taxes (LTO)-Mr Njiraini, he will also face similar challenge of replacing Deputy Commissioner: Mrs Mwangi.

Others will include Senior Deputy Commissioner, Finance: Mrs King’ori. Senior Assistant Commissioner, Security: Major Kariuki, Senior Deputy Commissioner, Southern Region: Wagachira and Commissioner of Investigation and Enforcement; Joseph Nduati.

The same will apply to Kenya Airports Authority MD is Stephen Gichuki, General Manager Finance; John Thumbi, General Manager Marketing and Business Development; Lucy Mbugua, General Manager Information and Communication, Technology; Anthony Wachira, General Manager Security Services; Stanley Mutungi, Head of Corporate Communications / PA to the MD: Dominic Ngigi, Head of Procurement and Logistics: Allan Muturi.

At Kenya Ports Authority he is faced with the challenge of replacing Gichiri Ndua as MD, in the Ministry of Industrialization: Assistant Minister: Nderitu Muriithi, Chairman of the National Standards Council, Karanja Thiong’o, Permanent Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, Chairman of the Board: Eng. Geoffrey Ng’ang’a Mang’uriu.

The same applies to Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) where the replacement of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer; Joseph K Njoroge, Company Secretary; Laurencia K Njagi, Chief Manager, Energy Transmission; Sammy Muita Chief Manager, Commercial Services; Rosemary K GitongaChief Manager, Others Distribution; Benson Muriithi Chief Manager, Planning, Research and Performance Monitoring; Eng. Raphael Mwaura is going to be a big challenge.

Other key positions include Kenya Petroleum Refineries where General Manager is John Mruttu, Finance Manager: Reuben Ndinya, Human Resource Manager: Martin Wahome and Engineering Manager: Charles Nguyai.

Uhuru will also be faced with challenges of ending mega corruption and swindling of cash at NHIF where billions of taxpayers’ money went to the dogs as the DAILY POST reports. Currently the firm is at the centre of a scandal of over Sh 4.5 billion.

The next is Kenya Power and lighting company (KPLC) which is at the centre of Sh 9.6 billion corruption deal. The company has been one of the most corrupt companies in the country with statistics showing that the company loses over Sh500 million weekly through unscrupulous deals carried by senior managers.

While at the Kenya Revenue Authority the company accounts only 75 percent of the tax collected annually. Out of Sh 600 billion collected over Sh 170 billion goes to the dogs, at Kenya National Highway Authority (KENHA) is believed to be the main funds raiser for all major roads in the country; the firm is in an unexposed scandal of Sh 6 billion.

At the same time, Kenya Railways Corporation (KRC) is on the spotlight since its privatisation. The railways pension’s scheme and selling of company assets are among the issues affecting the National railway’s firm.

While the Kenya Seed Company has been involved in series of scandals including substandard seeds and tribal hegemony, illegal allocation of tendering of seeds and rampant nepotism and other vices associated with it, the national Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) is on the spotlight over series of scandal which made prices of food commodities sky rocket in one night. The firm has been involved in a series of scandals like the Maize scandals. Source: Stephen Njoroge, (The Kenyan DAILY POST)

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
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Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ UN Disarmament Conference, 2002 http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

From: Maurice Oduor

Evans,

This is bizarre. Kioni not voting for the Ticket he’s on !!!! Some things never fail to amaze.

Courage

– – – – – – – – – – –

On Tue, Mar 5, 2013 at 2:37 PM, Evans MACHERA wrote:

Mudavadi’s running mate,Jeremiah Kioni either “intentionally” forgot to vote for his Presidential candidate ,or had his vote spoilt or didn’t turn up to vote at Ndururumo polling station where Musalia Mudavadi’s running mate, Jeremiah Kioni cast his vote givesMudavadi zero (0) as presidential votes while all.

Granted,we had other parties that includes;- Kioni’s family – wife,son and daughter that made a display during the Madvd unveiling of the runningmate.We also have party agents and associates from Kionis reach.

During Hon.Mudavadi’s campaigns in his western backyard, he emphasized that “shienu ni shienu”!

I want to believe that Hon.Koni decided to apply the same slogan to his home turff unless there is a better explaination,but i am remided that once upon a time,one Hon.Lintuli in harmony with Hon.Kabando wa kabando + Hon.Rev.Mutava breath fire to Ouru never to step aside for Mudavadi who cannot be sold to the kenyans of Mt.Kenya.

Now,come round two,how will Madvd sell Hon.Ouru in western where Raila is a sale on his own right!

Lets shame the devil and talk of a “willing seller, no willing buyer” in partinership!

Evans MACHERA

Kibaya cha chiuza!

From: Judy Miriga

Folks,

Up till now, only 41% votes casted have been reported and 59% are still pending with the slow trickling coming to an end. We cannot be convinced that 59% of votes are spoilt. If so, Presidential election between Raila and Uhuru must be repeated to give a proper perspective.

We are concerned of mysterious deathings as voting results begun to trickle in and we are concerned that a proper explanation be made and that they must be properly investigated.

We thank Kenyans for being peaceful and we want to know full report of the voter casted and the rightful winner.

There are great fears that rigging could be in top gear why 59% of votes casted are still being held. It is the voters right that NO winner should be announced before all votes counted with credible report given over what happened to 59% to wind-off any speculations of IEBC rigging or playing faul. IEBC must give satisfying explaination why there is a delay of voter inflow returns with expectation time the delay is expected to be resolved. Any flaws witnessed must be reported and the matter taken to court. We expect IEBC had set a manual back-up just incase machine fails so all machine votes must tally against all odds. If that was not done, for peace to prevail in Kenya, a repeat of the two Presidential candidates must be made as a fundamental crucial concern.

Even after Diasporas being blocked from voting, this election is very emportant to all Kenyans irrespectively and the world.

We would like to know from IEBC how the anomalies that were detected well in advance before elections will be rectified.

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

– – – – – – – – – – –

Kenneth asks IEBC to clear presidential results
Updated 3 hrs 20 mins ago

Kenya: Eagle Alliance presidential candidate Peter Kenneth has asked IEBC to explain the delays in the tallying of the presidential results.

Kenneth urged the electoral body to clear presidential results saying results they were getting from their field agents were different from what IEBC has.

“The country cannot get out of anxiety mood we are heading to. We are getting real time results that differ with IEBC”, said Kenneth.

STREAMING LIVE: 2013 KENYA GENERAL ELECTIONS
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IEBC Releases Final Voter Registration Tally
By Mwakilishi | Thu, 12/20/2012 11:53AM -0500

The Indeppendent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has released a report of the Kenyans who registered as voters during the registration period that ended on Tuesday, December 18th. The report indicates that a total of 14,337,399 Kenyans registered as voters for the 2013 general elections, representing 79.7% of the 18 million Kenyans IEBC had targeted to register.

The top five counties in turnout were: Nairobi (121.6%), Kiambu (113.7%), Nyeri (110.4%), Lamu (109.5%), and Kirinyaga (106.7%).

The bottom five counties in turnout were: West Pokot (45.1%), Garissa (40%), Wajir (35.7%), Turkana (30.2%), and Mandera (25.3%).

In terms of actual numbers of registered voters, Nairobi County led with a total of 1,778,903 registered voters.

Bett faults IEBC’s provisional results

By Nation Reporter ( email the author)

Posted Tuesday, March 5 2013 at 03:10

ODM National Election Board chairman Franklin Bett has faulted the authenticity of provisional results being issued by IEBC.

Mr Bett claimed IEBC was issuing results from Kajiado County despite voting still proceeding in some polling stations in the region.

He cited Ongata Rongai area where voting was extended beyond the 5pm deadline after logistical failures had led to a late start of the voting process.

“Where are these figures coming from? In Ongata Rongai there are people who are still voting. These are just figures floating on a screen,” said Mr Bett at a press conference held at the Bomas of Kenya tallying centre.

Mr Bett also issued a raft of concerns on the conduct of the elections. These included instances of multiple voting in Kitale, voters being allowed to vote without identification cards in Nakuru and voting process extending to March 5.

“March 05 is not designated as a voting day. We have heard of continued voting in Kimilili, Kitale, Uasin Gishu and Kitale. This is placing the credibility of the process in jeopardy,” said Mr Bett.

Lands Minister James Orengo faulted the use of manual voter registers in some polling stations.

New rules could lead to run-off

By EMMAN OMARI eommari@gmail.com ( email the author)

Posted Tuesday, March 5 2013 at 00:30

If no presidential candidate garners more than half of all votes cast countrywide, a fresh election could be held as early as April 5.

But if there will be a winner declared after yesterday’s poll, the new president-elect will be sworn in on March 26.

In addition to more than half, the Constitution also provides that the candidate must also score 25 per cent in more than half of all counties, meaning in 24 out of the 47 counties.

Sleepless nights

These rules have been giving all the eight presidential candidates sleepless nights including the two front-runners Raila Odinga of Cord and Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee.

Although winning presidential candidates used to satisfy the 25 per cent rule in five out of eight provinces under the old Constitution, none ever mustered more than half of votes cast since the re-introduction of multi-party in 1992.

The provisions under Article 138 in the new Constitution means that if by end of vote count last night the IEBC found all the 14.3 million registered voters turned up, the winner must have received more than 7.15 million and the 25 per cent to be declared president-elect.

This is a herculean task, given the stiff competition in the run-up to yesterday’s poll. Similarly, if only 60 per cent turned up ­— as is the trend in elections worldwide — it means only 8.58 million voted, meaning the winner should have got more than 4.29 million.

Still, these are difficult figures to achieve, though feasible.

Where there is no winner, Article 138 (5) provides that fresh election be held within 30 days after the previous one — which would leave April 5 as an indicative date.

At the second round, only the first and the second presidential candidates are allowed to vie.

However, if the results show that two candidates tied in votes, only the two will go to the ballot excluding the candidate who came second.

Though it has never happened in Kenya’s presidential elections, a precedent was set in the 2007 elections when two candidates vying for Wajir North Parliamentary seat tied after two recounts forcing a by-election to decide the winner.

Yet, again it is possible in yesterday’s elections given the close run shown in opinion polls pitting Mr Odinga and Mr Kenyatta.

Every scenario remains a possibility as eyes of all Kenyans are set on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Yes, we have problems with vote tallying, says IEBC boss

By JOHN NGIRACHU jngirachu@ke.nationmedia.com and ISAAC ONGIRI iongiri@ke.nationmedia.com ( email the author)
Posted Wednesday, March 6 2013 at 00:30

In Summary

Poll team will also adjust percentage of tallies to include spoilt votes, a move likely to cut Cord, Jubilee numbers

Commission changes gear and prepares to release final official tallies after computer hitch slows provisional numbers

The electoral team on Tuesday admitted experiencing challenges with its electronic system for transmitting and releasing presidential results.

The commission said it will start releasing official results using the manual forms submitted by constituency returning officers who were on their way to Nairobi by Tuesday.

Mr Isaack Hassan, the chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, also announced that his team would adjust percentages displayed on its screens at the Bomas of Kenya to reflect percentages of all votes cast and not just valid votes.

This could lead to a reduction of Jubilee presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his Cord flagbearer Raila Odinga’s percentages with possibility that none of them will attain the constitutional threshold probably leading to a run off.

The move immediately triggered protests from Jubilee.

Last night, the Jubilee Coalition said it was surprised by what it said was a demand by Cord for the inclusion of invalid votes to be counted along with the valid as part of the overall tally that would define whether a winning presidential candidate gets the 50 per cent + 1 vote threshold.

“There is no precedent in Kenya or internationally for invalid votes to be counted because, by their very nature, they are invalid. They have never been counted in Kenyan elections before and the IEBC has set strict legal boundaries in place that ensure invalid votes should not be included,” Jubilee said in statement.

The coalition said it had sought clarification on the matter from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa which concluded that “recounting rejected or invalid votes had no precedent in Africa.’’

Jubilee leaders also asked the electoral commission to urgently rectify “the technical issues” that were affecting the tallying of votes.

“We are especially concerned by the slow progress in collecting votes in Nairobi and Nakuru, but are also aware of problems across the country,’’ the team said.

Political parties were thrown into confusion last night after the electoral commission said it would start announcing official results this morning, hours after the system for making provisional results available malfunctioned.

With the screens showing the provisional results frozen since 5.30pm, Mr Hassan acknowledged at 8.30pm that the system was experiencing difficulties.

“We had aimed for 100 per cent perfection but we have experienced problems on the last day,” Mr Hassan said.

“What is true is that there has been a delay in transmission of results from polling stations,” he said. He also sought to dismiss rumours that the commission did not have a back-up of the data or that its systems had crashed.

He said the commission has been in constant communication with the chief agents of the presidential candidates and had briefed them on the problems the system was encountering.

“What brought us here are the official results and they are coming. The official results will be announced starting tomorrow (Wednesday),” Mr Hassan said.

He said the four screens would be adjusted as the figures come in.

But asked by human rights activist Maina Kiai whether the commission had abandoned the electronic tallying of provisional results and opted for the final tally, Mr Hassan said the electronic system would continue.

“You remember there was a big turnout. The counting and tabulation of the results at the polling stations and then also at the tallying centres has taken long and that’s why we are beginning to see for the first time returning officers arriving late in the night or tomorrow morning,” Mr Hassan said.

Don’t panic, CORD tells supporters
Updated 2 hrs 25 mins ago

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

Nairobi, Kenya: The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy ( Cord) has appealed to its supporters not to panic following preliminary results which show Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta taking a lead.

At 6PM, Uhuru had garnered 2,726,266 against Cord’s Raila Odinga 2,139, 951 leading to anxiety among the coalition supporters.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka said there was no cause for worry saying the preliminary results were just from about a third of the polling centres across the country.

“It is important that we await the outcome of the remaining two thirds of the polling stations in order to make any conclusion about the results of this election,” Kalonzo said.

While urging for calm, the VP said in any case, results from Cord strongholds were yet to trickle in adding that results from their stronghold stood at about 10 percent while those of Jubilee were average of 40 percent.

Kalonzo taunted the jubilee rivals for what he termed as premature celebrations while exuding confidence that their coalition will pull a comeback and stage their rivals lead once results from their strongholds are recorded.

“We note with worry that there are those amongst our competitors who have not resisted the temptation to engage in premature celebrations that are neither based on data nor fact,” the VP said.

“Consequently, we appeal for calm and call on our supporters to relax because we are confident that after all the votes are in, Cord will carry the day. Results from our strongholds are yet to be made public and once they are, things will change dramatically,” Kalonzo told reporters at the Serena hotel Tuesday evening.

He was accompanied by Cord leaders Franklin Bett, Anyang Nyong’o and James Orengo.

Cord also announced that they had raised concerns over delays in the process of releasing the poll results by the electoral commission especially in areas as close as Nairobi County.

“We have raised the matter with the electoral commission and Safaricom, the service provider who have explained to us their capacity to relay results from areas closer to the city like Kiambu is much faster than far flung areas like Garissa,” said the VP.

Kalonzo said they had written to IEBC to express their concerns and were seeking assurance that the system will be up and running.

“We have forwarded our concerns and hope that they will deal with them expeditiously and transparently,” he said.

Cord has also said they are ready to concede defeat if they lose in a fair and free contest.

“I think we have said severally and our presidential candidate Raila Odinga has reiterated his willingness to concede defeat if beaten ina fair contest. Our competitors have also said the same,” Kalonzo said.

Nairobi, KENYA: About 41 per cent (13,252) of the country’s 31,982 polling stations have reported provisional results for the presidential race as at 4.45pm EAT.

Please note the numbers below are PROVISIONAL or INTERIM TALLIES from results submitted electronically directly from polling stations to the IEBC national tallying centre at the Bomas of Kenya.

Figures that show the presidential vote by constituency and county will be available later. Official results will be announced by IEBC later upon receipt and confirmation of forms signed by party agents and election officials at voting/tallying centres.

9:10: Uhuru Kenyatta (JUBILEE) 2,772,286
Raila Odinga (CORD) 2,182, 408

9.00: Uhuru Kenyatta (JUBILEE) 2,721,097
Raila Odinga (CORD) 2,179,833

5.44:Uhuru Kenyatta (JUBILEE) 2,723,625 (53.49%)
Raila Odinga (CORD) 2,138,206 (41.99)

5.30: Uhuru Kenyatta (JUBILEE) 2,718,445
Raila Odinga (CORD) 2,133,573

One injured in Eastleigh blast
Updated 42 mins ago

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: At least one person has been injured in an explosion in Nairobi’s Eastleigh area.

The Tuesday night blast occured along Muratina road near a church where other explosions had occured last year.

Police say preliminary findings show that a grenade was hurled into a shop injuring a woman.

The injured woman has been rushed to Guru Nanak hospital for treatment.

Bomb experts are at the scene.

IEBC: There is delay in results transmission
Updated 34 mins ago

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) has refuted claims of a server crash at the tallying centre.

In a press conference, IEBC chair Isaack Hassan said there were delays in transmission of results from polling centres by returning ofiicers.

He added that they will resort to manual tallying due to the challenges they were experiencing.

The electoral body chair also appealed to all aspirants especially presidential candidates to remain calm and allow the commission to announce results.

“We would like to request Kenyans and mostly the presidential candidates to remain calm as we await the final announcement of results”, said Hassan.

He further said they will start announcing official results from tomorrow after electronic transmitters experienced delays.

OCS collapses and dies in tallying centre
Updated 2 hrs 52 mins ago

By Patrick Kibet

Kuresoi, Kenya: Sombre mood engulfed Kuresoi North tallying centre after a senior officer from Kuresoi collapsed and died.

Kuresoi OCPD David Wambui confirmed the incident saying that the officer died at Mau Summit tallying centre.

He did not identify the officer since his family had not been informed about the sudden death.

“Am saddened by the death of the officer while on duty. The officer did not inform us of any health problem,”said OCPD.

Party agents and election observers joined police in grieving the death of the Kuresoi OCS.

The OCS collapsed at the tallying centre as ballot boxes were being offloaded and was taken to St Joseph nursing home in Molo where he was pronounced death on arrival.

Officer shoots dead poll official
Updated 8 hrs 28 mins ago
By Boniface Gikandi

Murang’a, Kenya: A policeman accidentally shot dead a Presiding Officer while they were transporting ballot boxes to Kangema tallying centre in Murang’a County.

The two were in the same vehicle when the officer’s gun went off killing the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officer on the spot.

Murang’a North OCPD Chris Mushimba said the deceased was one of the Presiding Officers at Ichichi Polling Station.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was an accident,” he said.

Policeman commits suicide at tallying centre
Updated 5 hrs 13 mins ago
By Robert Nyasato

Kisii, Kenya: Panic gripped Masimba Social Hall after an Administration Policeman shot himself dead while tallying for the Nyaribari Masaba constituency, Kisii County was underway on Monday.

There was anxiety when residents and election officials at the centre heard gunshots at around noon.

Karua faults IEBC on defective BVR kits
Updated Tuesday, March 05 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

By Munene Kamau

KENYA: Narc-Kenya presidential candidate Martha Karua has criticised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) for providing malfunctioning Biometric Voter Registers (BVR) in Kirinyaga County.

Ms Karua wondered why the commission had provided faulty machines, which forced election officials at her Mugumo Primary School polling station to resort to use of manual registers.

Speaking to the Press moments after casting her ballot outside the station, Karua noted voting was delayed for more than half an hour. “After waiting for half an hour due to the technical hitch the BVR machines have experienced, I have finally cast my vote,” she said. The presidential candidate also reiterated that whatever the outcome of the results, she will still remain a Kenyan.

Human rights body alleges anomalies, calls for repeat polls
Updated Tuesday, March 05 2013 at 01:05 GMT+3

KNCHR has raised concern that there were irregularities in some places and security threats
By Ally Jamah

The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights wants repeat elections in three constituencies, Kilifi North, Kesses, and Changamwe saying polling was chaotic in those areas.

Speaking yesterday evening as voting closed, the commission recommended that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) take the drastic step to ensure that the will of the people is accurately reflected at the ballot.

In Kesses, there were no lids for the presidential ballot boxes and the boxes for the member of the National Assembly were missing, said KNCHR’s Deputy Commission Secretary Evelyn Samba. She said the lids were later improvised.

KNCHR has raised concern about the secure mobile phones provided by the IEBC to relay election results, saying some are not working, leaving returning officers to use ordinary SIM cards for the exercise and raising doubts on the security of the critical data.

The commission cited Kesses and Ainabkoi constituencies in Uasin Gishu County as the most affected, saying that the phones were giving error messages such as: “Username and password do not match” or “You have been suspended from the nerwtork.”

Similar cases were also said to have been noted by KNCHR election monitors at St Theresa’s Tallying Centre in Mathare, Nairobi.

“KNHRC is concerned about the safety and security of the data relayed in this method. It opens up the system for possible abuse,” said Mr Kamanda Mucheke, KNCHR’s senior human rights officer.

Vote counting

“The IEBC has to firmly take charge and correct the anomalies at this crucial stage. This includes conducting counting and tallying professionally and in a secure will-lit environment.”

The Commission expressed its disappointment over the IEBC letting some candidates get away with displaying campaign banners in areas near polling stations, or turning up to vote wearing party items, including former Juja MP William Kabogo.

KNCHR also raised concerns about lamps not working in some constituencies, including Kisumu Central, and said that this could have a negative effect on the counting of votes because it might result in anomalies such as vote stealing.

At the Manyata Car Wash and Kosawa Primary School centres in the constituency, voting was delayed until daybreak yesterday for this reason. However, the human rights body urged voters to remain calm during the counting and tallying period and maximise tolerance and peace despite the anomalies noted in some areas.

Human rights officer Lucas Kimathi said that there was general unpreparedness on the part of the electoral commission in terms of missing materials such as rubber stamps, ink, lids and ballot boxes as well security lapses, unprocedural plucking of ballot papers from booklets by IEBC clerks, name mix ups and late training of IEBC officials.

Siaya County goes ODM six piece
Updated 6 hrs 52 mins ago
By Lawrence Aluru

Siaya: Kenya: Voters in Siaya are returned a largely six piece voting style in favour of ODM and Cord presidential candidate Raila Odinga.

Results trickling in showed that even in the hotly contested gubernatorial seat ODM’s Okoth Rasanga was favoured against William Oduol whose nomination was cancelled by the Orange Party. Malick Obama had a platry 235 votes from Alego Usonga constituency votes for governor. Oduol lost to Rsanga in Gem, Ugenya and Ugunja constituencies but won in Alego Usonga by a margin of 6,000 votes.

Oduol started facing challenges when he was stripped of the ODM party ticket at nominations and consequently disqualified alongside Raila’s elder brother Oburu Oginga.

Lands minister James Orengo has attained unassailable lead in the senatorial seat and will win with a landslide estimated to be over 95 percent of the total votes cast. Orengo had 23,433 and Agnes Awuor had 1,414 of votes cast in

The County, which doubles up as the backyard of Raila has, votes being tallied at Siaya Institute of technology.

The only stiff contest so far reported in Alego-Usonga constituency where outgoing MP Edwin Yinda was facing stiff challenge from George Mulwan who decamped from the Orange party but ran on Wiper Democratic ticket. Milwan 13,828 and Yinda 9,173 of votes counted, and Sammy Weya of National Agenda Party 2,518.

Former Maseno University lecturer Mrs Christine Ombaka who is the ODM ticket bearer for Women’s representative in the County has been polling favourable results and is tipped to win with a landslide. She had polled 20,097 votes. She was trailed by Concelia Muga Ondiek od National Agenda party who had 2,828 and Esther Okanga with a patry 429 and Prof Phoebe Nyawalo 403, and Violet omwamba of TNA with 303.

Out-going Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo is set to recapture his seat on an ODM ticket after he was handed the orange ticket in the acrimonius nominations. The latest provisional results showed he was ahead with over 15,000 votes.

In Rarieda Constituency outgoing MP Eng Nicholas Gumbo was enjoying a confortbale leadw while is Ugunja James Opiyo Wandayi was way ahaed on ODM ticket as well as David Ochieng’ in Ugenya constituency on ODM ticket.

In Bondo Constituency Gideon Ochanda was cruising to victory on ODM ticket and had attained unassailable lead by the time of filing this report.

Kimunya sent packing
Updated 3 hrs 1 mins ago

Kenya: Transport Minister Amos Kimunya will be packing his bags and taking transport home after Kipipiri voters showed him the door.

The Jubilee strongman licked his wounds inflicted by newcomer Samuel Gichigi of Alliance Party of Kenya associated with Energy Minister and Meru Senator elect Kiraitu Murungi.

Gichigi polled 18, 958 against Kimunya’s 16, 693 votes.

Kimunya joins Henry Kosgey, Ayiecho Olweny and Sally Kosgey in the list of serving ministers whose political careers have taken a new turn.

EABL workers fail to vote, their IDs mysteriously missing
Updated Monday, March 04 2013 at 16:24 GMT+3

By Cyrus Ombati

Nairobi, Kenya: Eighteen workers of East African Breweries, Nairobi failed to vote Monday after their Identification Documents mysteriously went missing from the main sentry of the factory.

The workers had reported their duties in Ruaraka based factory on Sunday evening and left the IDs at the reception area.

However when they were leaving Monday morning ready for the exercise they realised their IDs were missing out of tens of others.

They reported the matter to Kasarani police station in Nairobi and police moved in and arrested four guards who were on duty.

Nairobi Area police boss Ben Kibue said the four guards were on duty when the documents went missing.

“The workers realised the documents were missing when they were signing out of the factory and we are investigating to know what happened,” said Kibue.

He said the affected workers told them they planned to vote in the exercise but they did not do so because the documents were missing.

Kibue said part of their investigations will spread to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission where they will seek to know if the documents were used to vote.

“If the IDs were used it will be a serious issue because it means there is a lot fraud.’

Kasarani head of CID Valerian Obore said the four guards are expected in court this morning to face various charges.

Obore said they are interrogating the guards to know the whereabouts of the documents. He added the factory management is co-operating well with investigations.

“Some of the victims say they are ashamed going home without the ink on the finger to indicate one has voted,” said police.

A senior manager at the factory said they are taking the issue serious and were also investigating it.

Authorities had asked employers to release their employees to be able to vote in the exercise.

—
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From: Judy Miriga

We must thank Kenyans for the peace that has prevailed……!!!

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

– – – – – – – – – – –

— On Mon, 3/4/13, okello emmanuel wrote
From: okello emmanuel
Subject: Lets close our fingers … results have started to tickle in…..
Date: Monday, March 4, 2013, 10:18 AM

We’re try

Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android

From: Kuria-Mwangi ;
Subject: Lets close our fingers … results have started to tickle in…..
Sent: Mon, Mar 4, 2013 3:19:17 PM

Breaking News
18:08 Presidential provisional results: Raila Odinga (ODM) 8,880, Uhuru Kenyatta (TNA) 6,047, Kiyiapi (RBK) 210, Karua (Narc Kenya) 183…

http://elections.nation.co.ke/news/-/1631868/1710562/-/osje07z/-/index.html

From: peter okelo

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The New Dawn in Kenya1

The New Dawn, A Second Chance

(By Peter Okelo, dedicate to Wole Soyinka and Mwalimu Julius Nyere)

As Kenyans approach the next elections the question you are asking, the question oneveryone’s mind, on many a lips is: who shall Kenyans elect the next president after PresidentMwai Kibaki gracefully retires?

Before answering this question though, in this moment of restless composure, in this urgentmoment of great national expectation, a few things need to be said, and said unambiguously.

It must be first and foremost acknowledged, that Kenya has come a long way since gainingindependence from the British colonialist after a long struggle during the that colonial momentof official primitive discrimination based, but only ostentatiously, on race, skin colour, on beingBlack or White, African or European/British. It must also be acknowledged, that in spite ofwriters like Ngugi wa Thiongo and the first vice president of Kenya, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga,lamenting, quite rightly, that in the immediate years following this self-liberation in 1963 it wasnot yet Uhuru [freedom] in Kenya; much has been realized in terms of self-rule, self-determination, and self-definition. So much so has the Kenyan society made progress thatfurther positive outcome in the coming elections will only make Kenya continue on this path ofself-improvement, particularly through the safeguarding of the much died-for and much fought-for all-embracing constitution that some elite power-hungry individuals and interest groupsamidst Kenyans might not want to see reach its conclusion and finalrealization/implementation.

In this regard, in the context of movement from the colonial moment to post-independence[not necessarily ‘post-colonial’—a terminology frequently applied in academic papers but here avoided for a measure of optimism] Kenya, like many African countries like Mozambique, SouthAfrica and Ghana, Tanzania [to name but a few] have made so much progress that the countryis exemplary and worth emulating unlike any country [not worthy of a mention in this article]that still clings to a colonial primitive constitution that essentially upholds the democraticsuppression of a group or community by the majority, on the basis of absurd freckledessentially racist philosophy that deliberately refuse to recognize the existence of thesuppressed minority or majority community. Most of the times the group imposed upon, terror-nullified to be precise, is the rightful owners of the land upon which much claim is laid. Suchprimitive pathological essentially colonial constitution might as well call upon the unrecognizedminority or majority to prove its existence… Imagine being called upon to prove that youactually do exist as a person or a people… and that you were actually born, and by so beingborn your existence occupies space, land, time, and has a history…sick. Absolute collectiveconstitutional national sickness. Such a country [shall we name obvious names?] does not sleep

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The New Dawn in Kenya2

well, and God knows it shouldn’t sleep well until it has collectively solved the roots of itscollective socio-psychoses that eats away its national soul day and night, in tortured silence orguilty ruptures of righteous hysterical shouting in parliament and wherever else constitutiondiscussions might take place. Ever visited such a tormented country?

Never mind, that will be a topic for another time, in the meantime we shall come back to Kenya, come back home.

There is a revolution underway here, in Kenya. Reading from the lips of the common Mwanachiin matatus, in kiosks, in pubs, market stalls, barazas and places of social meeting and worship;Kenya is on the verge of a revolution. An eclipse moment of progressive change that will befollowed by further illumination of the national psyche, renewed to its very core.

But it will be a revolution without violence, a most peaceful revolution, as it should be. Yes,there will be no violence involving a Kenyan raising a fist against another Kenyan as waswitnessed in that sad-insane moment of stolen elections and mayhem, 2007. There might bedisgruntled rustle here and there, but that is normal theatre, drama, fanfare.

This is not a prophesy—that is the territory of the evangelical, nor is this some wishfulpremonition-hallucination. I believe that to write about grave matters affecting people youneed to walk among the people, listen, learn, look, sleep, and live among them even for a shortwhile—not write from the hills of Paris and New York, removed. Then the pen is informed as itshould be anyway.Thus gazing from the ground, from the crystal ball of actual experience of Kenyans’ ownutterances, words, sentiments; the vote shall surprise many, the trend of voting and the resultshall surprise even the winner who will not be so much of a winner but collective trusteeentrusted with the heavy responsibility, a loaded burden, of seeing that the vision of Kenyans iscarried forward—a vision that was desperately hijacked in 2007 by clique of power-hungry elite sadistically bent on the continued concentration of power in the hands of a few, a minorityprivileged cohort that fences its interest within the walls of brute force, coercion, and anillusion of ethnic protection. That ethnic wall is crumbling, piece by piece, and so it should. Youonly have to listen to young people talking, old people wishing, people discussing, the massesof people calculating in dialogue, to realize that the days of that wall are numbered.

The wishful firewall of ethnic-pawns-protection is not assured in the coming illuminatingrevolutionary elections. The majority of once used pawns are restlessly looking elsewhere forreassurance and their eyes are searching, opening to the fact that lasting collective security andnational progress cannot be granted by a privileged minority elite living in the isolated hills andluxurious heavenly hives of barbed wires and electric fences. It’s dawning on Kenyans that

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The New Dawn in Kenya3

security and national socio-economic progress is and shall always be found in the goodwill ofKenyans, all Kenyan tribes and peoples holding hands and moving forward as one.

As one slips, all fall, and as all rise, all remain afloat, buoyant in national victory and continuity.So gleaning from the sentiments of Kenyans, if a privileged individual or group thinks that it willmobilize some ethnic group against another, such group or individual has much awakeningsurprise coming its way. Kenyans are tired, tired of being used, abused, treadmill-trodden upon.Kenyans will not hurl stones at each other but instead turn scrutinizing critical indignant eyeupon the elite masters pulling shadowy not-so disguised strings of historically misplacedviolence of self-preservation of a few, a handful.

Kenyans are realizing that the average person in Nyeri who is afflicted by poverty-induced-alcoholism suffers the same fate as the average Dorobo unable to find water when water-harvesting technology is not really part of rocket science studies at universities; it’s simplehydrodynamics and accessible mechanics that only needs national free will and thedetermination to tap into the vast economic and human resources to realize this needy thirstydream.

Therefore, reading from the not so distant stars of Kenya’s electoral fortunes and outcome—there will be no run off. It will be a convincing majority vote for one presidential candidate. Allthe polling predictions that rely on a few, a selected sample, do less justice to the complexity ofthe majority left un-polled on the ground. You would recall that the soothsayer polls in the UShad Obama and Romney ‘neck-to-neck’ yet when the secret moment of solitary decision came,the majority voted for their candidate of choice behind closed curtains, not a candidate ofmuch hyperbolic polling predictions and at times wishful faulty academic forecast.

Having said all that though, I here do recognize quite calmly with Dr. Franz Fanon [in his brilliantmasterpiece writing called Black Skin White Masks—a book that you should buy and read inyour free time] that there are numerous idiots in this world, and having calmly said that, I doconfirm too that Kenya has its share of such idiots who might want or try to derail the vote,derail the crucial moment, or try to turn a Kenyan against another Kenyan, a Dorobo against aTeso, a Mjikenda against a Luya, a Kisii against a Kuria.

But reading from the sentiments of Kenyans, god help any political elite, or some power-obsessed group or individual, that might try to turn a Kenyans against themselves or steal theelections, a second time. No, Kenyans will not raise a hand against other Kenyans, they learntfrom the blinding white-lie darkness of a still birth in 2007.

Listening to the silent whispers un-shouted, and reading from the graffiti like the one close tothe fish market on Muindu Mbigu Road in Nairobi, god help any political elite tries to derail the

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The New Dawn in Kenya4

moment, while hoping to avert the avalanche of mass indignation and control it with TNT,gunpowder, police boots, or threats of death. So just as well that the Chief Justice Dr Mutungacame out in public on Wednesday the 20th of February 2013 and spoke about the alleged threatof death received in a letter.

Listening to the whispers of Kenyans, the nation will be voting against discriminatory impunity, voting against any a socio-political elite that tries to maintain illegal control on the way thenation wants determine its destiny, determine its being [being as a continuous everlastingactivity and reality], telling people what they are and what they are not, what they could be orcouldn’t be.

Thus going by the currency of words spoken, ideas expressed, any power-hunting elite whotries to instigate senseless violence against Kenyans would be better off leaving the country andgoing into exile, self-exile. That might turn out to be the best favour that such power-hungryperson would have done himself, s/he might just find himself or herself amidst the brokenpieces of self-integration that s/he will certainly experience in exile and, if s/he does come backto Kenya, s/he might so do a changed self, reconstituted in the psyche and attitude.

So who shall be the president I hear you ask; well, all matters held constant, given that no idiottries to hijack the jet of electoral justice mid-air, then these are the like outcome as oneconcludes from listening to the silent will of people.

The next president will be a person who has good intentions but the fellow Kenyan will gonowhere with mere intentions and no substantial following, clout. Some of our candidates arepeople of good intentions but he still needs feet to stand on.

Gazing at the crystal-ball prism of Kenyan sentiments, and sad as it might be; a woman will notbe the new president of Kenya, not now, not yet, not just yet. And not because the currentcandidate is a woman either. Even the women who would have boosted Mama Martha’schances of winning the presidency will not vote her in just because she is a woman. There aremany ways that she is not seen as trustworthy as she comes across. Those sad moments of2007 would have help set her apart as a person of resolute resolve, but many would recall thatshe had nothing to say about the stolen vote. If she had the blessing of Mwai, and Uhuru, andthe house of Mumbi, then she might have had a chance, a slight chance though.

The next president will not be an opportunist either, with less or no principles that Kenyansneed to move over the hurdles that will come with the new dawn of new the government. Hewill not be a candidate considered soft, resolving issues prematurely before a credibleresolution has been reached. Such candidate would do well in times of ease, when there’s nourgency, as a figure-head president with less to do but to maintain a semblance of presence

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The New Dawn in Kenya5

with no actual duties, more like the shadow of the real president, having nothing to influencebut still being there anyway, for national integrity, to be seen, just in case. Such softness makesany such a candidate a perfect target of a hoodwinking project of influencing a change ofleadership that would otherwise only be a maintenance of the stability and continuity ofprevious powers that had been, or the powers that be for that matter.

In short, given that the new era is allowed to dawn with fairness and transparency, withoutidiotic hijacking interventions of repeated fatal nationhood-rupturing conspiracy, the newpresident shall be one Kenyans have always perceived [‘have perceived’ is present perfect tenseexpressing a state of nationally widespread perception that started in a distant past to thepresent moment, not a perception or impression shaped in recent times and in the heat ofcampaigning and scheming] as a nationalist, a person with the whole country at heart and notinclined to some indispensable stone of illusory ethnic firewall enclave.

So need I underestimate the collective intelligence of Kenyans and tell you who that person, thenext president of Kenya is? No, you won’t have to wait for too long, just go out there and votefor Kenya and watch for anyone, any elite who retreats back into darkness of divisive politicsand pitfalls of aimless retrogressive violence.

Peter Okelo is Language and Communication / Applied Linguistics academic who has worked in Mozambique, southern Africa, Kenya and Australia.

You may contact author at tekta01@hotmail.com

From: Judy Miriga

Good People of Kenya,

I wish you all a peaceful, credible, free and fair elections. I Pray you will all conduct yourselves cautiously and with calm and report or document and with use of your cellphones post in youtube information all that you want to share with Diasporas.

Whoever wins, we shall not allow to be frustrated or intimidated in any way, but will maintain steady pressure to make sure Public Mandate and the New Constitutional Change Reform Accord is in compliance with the Will of the People respected and honored.

We shall not allow to be short-changed or give up for whatever reason, but we will continue to press for complete Reform Change until all is perfect and we trust God will direct our path always.

Any grievances or conflicts to be channeled to Court for hearing without any waste of time.

God Bless us all and we shall keep a watchful eye.

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

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Senior Judge can swear in president in Mutunga’s absence
Updated Wednesday, February 27 2013 at 17:46 GMT+3

By GEOFFREY MOSOKU

Nairobi, Kenya: The senior most Supreme Court Judge will swear in Kenya’s forth president in case Chief Justice Willy Mutunga is unavailable.

The constitution provides that in the absence of the Chief Justice, the Deputy CJ can swear in the president.

However, the position of DCJ is vacant following the exit of Nancy Baraza and her proposed replacement Kalpana Rawal has to wait for the next parliament to approve her appointment.

Attorney General Githu Muigai on Wednesday said he had consulted Dr Mutunga and resolved that in the unlikely event of his absence, a senior judge can perform his duties.

“We have had discussion with the CJ and agreed that notwithstanding the lack of a substantive office holder of Deputy Chief Justice, the senior most Judge at the Supreme Court will step in,” he said.

He continued, “ We are taking abundant caution in the unlikely even the CJ is unavailable, there will be no gap. We will proceed to swear in the president once the results are declared.”

Githu issued a stern warning to public servants found interfering with the conduct of the elections that they will face the full force of the law.

“As a Government, we are committed to abide by the clear policies, which requires public servants, irrespective of their positions to be non-partisan,” he said.

The CJ added that he has finalised arrangements on how the president and County governors and representatives will be sworn in saying judges and magistrates have been designated for the work.

“Mutunga said he had also set up special courts that will deal with criminal cases arising from electoral offences that will operate 24/7,” he said.

The CJ too said disputes arising from election results will be adjudicated within the set timelines saying the Judiciary has completed developing and training judges on the rules of procedure for election petitions.

Leave no ‘stone unturned’ on Mungiki threat to Mutunga
Updated Sunday, February 24 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

The proscribed Mungiki sect has a long, turbulent and ‘fascinating’ history. It has time and again brushed shoulders with successive regimes, along the way making and losing ‘allies’ as well.

That they are now ‘threatening’ the Chief Justice is indeed and must not be treated lightly. Not only has the “criminal gang” severally been banned by former President Moi and President Kibaki regimes, but also severely thrashed and mercilessly ‘rooted out’ via what human rights organisations labelled: ‘extra-judicial killings.’

Illegal terror

This is an illegal terror organisation blamed for bizarre butchering of human beings (especially around Kiambu, Kikuyu and Kiambaa), extortion from matatu operators, illegal ‘tax collection’, among other evils. The most disturbing thing is their ‘impromptu’ appearance when elections are looming in our nation. Human Rights groups and dozens of commissions mandated to look into 2007/2008 PEV chaos did blame them in their reports for allegedly committing human rights abuses in some parts of Rift Valley and Nairobi provinces.

The Government must take stern action and never waiver in its ambitious programme of doing away with illegal sects and groups in our country, especially now that General Election is around the corner.

For Chief Justice Willy Mutunga to come out in public and mince not his words by alleging the threats were specifically emanating from ‘ Mungiki veterans’, such threat must be probed thoroughly.

Lest we forget, our Judiciary, especially under the current hawk-eyed watch of Justice Mutunga, is on the verge of restoring the dashed hopes Kenyans have been forced to nurse for years on end. It is no longer business as usual in our judicial corridors and chances of one embracing genuine justice has since increased!

Crucial organ

The Judiciary is one of the most crucial organs of Government and its role is not only pivotal in case of an election dispute, but also indispensable in a growing democracy like ours.

Kenyans of good will must denounce such unhealthy gestures and ensure every government organ (moreso the Judiciary) performs its roles expeditiously, independently, professionally and without intimidation or manipulation. Surely, we have come of age and the least these ‘ Mungiki veterans’ should have done was applaud the noble tasks the CJ and his colleagues have undertaken without fear or favour.

By Cheruo Levi Cheptora, Trans Nzoia

Embakasi parliamentary aspirant missing

Updated Wednesday, February 27 2013 at 12:01 GMT+3

John Rex Omolle who has been missing since Sunday [Photo: Courtesy]

By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: A Parliamentary candidate for the Embakasi West Constituency in Nairobi is missing after a suspected kidnap incident.

Mr John Rex Omolle of PDP, a party affiliated to CORD went missing on Sunday and is yet to be found.

He is seeking to be a Member of Parliament for the new constituency and had been cleared to contest by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC).

The family of the candidate says they are yet to hear from him or the kidnappers since Sunday morning when he went missing.

Police too confirmed they are investigating the incident and so far no ransom has been demanded or calls made to the family.

Nairobi head of CID Nicholas Kamwende said a team of police is pursuing the case but they have no clue on where he could be or those behind it.

âWe have visited various places including hospitals, police stations, prisons and even mortuaries in vain. So far there are no calls that have been made to the family to make demands as it should be the case,â said Kamwende.

The police boss added said they are yet to know the motive behind his missing and if indeed it was the work of kidnappers.

Omolleâs wife Lilian told journalists the PDP candidate went out for a jog on Sunday morning from their Harambee Sacco residence in Umoja estate but did not return home.

He usually goes for a jog and as usual he left the house but he did not carry his mobile phones. He is yet to call and he never confided to me his life was in danger,â said Lillian.

He had not been threatened in a manner that would require him to watch over his security by asking for armed security as some candidates have so far done.

She appealed to whoever has information regarding the whereabouts of Omolle to let them know.

Most candidates are on final campaign trail for their respective seats and his missing is a blow his bid.

Why ODM aspirants not sitting pretty in Kisumu

Updated Thursday, February 28 2013 at 08:01 GMT+3

By Mangoa Mosota

The political battle for parliamentary seats in Kisumu County has attracted a lot of attention following claims of rigging during the ODM nominations.

And for the first time, the Orange party led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, could lose out to CORD allies, despite calls for ‘six-piece’ voting.

The unsatisfactory nominations led to some aspirants, touted to be popular, but ‘lost’ to decamp to parties affiliated to CORD such as Ford-Kenya and Wiper.

Despite this, CORD presidential candidate Raila’s popularity has not wavered in a county with 388,729 registered voters.

But there is a likelihood of ODM losing at least three seats, to CORD affiliates. Residents claim there are efforts to impose leaders on them, especially members of the next National Assembly.

The scenario has been made complex by ODM candidates’ insistence that voters follow ‘six-piece’ pattern. Some of them, immediate former MPs, are facing a revolt never witnessed before including some being heckled in the Premier’s presence.

Shouted down

The county has seven constituencies namely; Kisumu Central, Kisumu West, Kisumu East, Nyakach, Muhoroni, Seme and Nyando.

The most bruising contest is likely to be witnessed in Kisumu West, Nyando, Muhoroni and Nyakach.

In Nyando constituency, the contest is between immediate former MP Fred Outa and Jared Okello (Ford-Kenya).

Their supporters recently clashed at Ahero town, a few minutes before Raila addressed a rally. Outa was shouted down.

No legislator has ever been re-elected in the area, and Outa is trying to change this.

Why ODM aspirants not sitting pretty in Kisumu

Updated Thursday, February 28 2013 at 08:01 GMT+3

Okello, popularly referred as ‘Jare’ has campaigned aggressively and believes he will win.

But Outa insists he has initiated several development projects, which put him in a favourable position.

In Kisumu Central constituency nominations were marred with tension and at some point, GSU officers had to guard the polling station.

Mr Ken Obura controversially beat three other competitors.

His closest rival Abdul Omar alleged the exercise had been rigged.

Omar, is popular due to the projects he has initiated in informal sectors such as jua kali artisans. He is currently engaged in door-to-door campaigns, and the social media.

The flamboyant Obura used customised vehicles in his campaigns in the run-up to the nominations, but these seem to have fizzled out.

In Kisumu West, Olago Aluoch has been an MP for the two terms, and Ms Rozah Buyu is giving him a run for his money.

Olago decamped to Ford-Kenya, after claiming he had been rigged out in the ODM nominations.

Cause surprise

Education assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny faces stiff competition from his main challenger, Erick Koyoo, of PDP in Muhoroni constituency.

Prof Olweny was heckled despite Raila’s intervention in Awasi, a week ago. Mr Koyoo contested against the minister in the 2007 polls, and lost. But this time, he might cause a surprise.

In Nyakach, there are six contestants, but the race is between immediate former MP Pollyns Ochieng and former Kisumu Town Clerk Aduma Owuor.

Mr Ochieng argued the nominations were not free and fair, but Mr Owuor said he won.

Last week, while campaigning in Kondele, Raila urged residents to vote for him and make their own decision in the other seats.