Category Archives: Elections

KENYA: POLITICAL WIND IS SWEEPING NYANZA AS VOTERS REJECT IMPOSED ODM CANDIDATES

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013

Since the re-introduction of multiparty politics in 1992 Prime Minister Raila Odinga has not met a tough rebellion like the one he did in Homa Bay County on Wednesday, after irate youths heckled and booed him as he told his supporters in dholuo to vote for ODM candidates only and ignore other affiliates.

He has not met tough hostility because since 1992 Nyanza has traditionally rallied behind political parties led by the Odinga family, and any politician who introduced or came with a different party risked being whisked.

With Wednesday rebellion there are signs that the political dynasty that has controlled Nyanza for decades could lose its iron grip due to the discord brought about by political intrigues within the Cord alliance.

This time along Luo Nyanza voters were pouring their anger on Raila Odinga for allowing his ODM party to give direct nomination to political aspirants they did not prefer. The voters felt they were robbed of victory by issuing certificates to many of the candidates who have served for long in parliament without any development at all.

Because this mess has never been cleansed, there is high possibility that a wind of political change is likely to sweep through Nyanza by voters rejecting the old and corrupt gurus in ODM were imposed to them.

Even though the angry crowds told the PM off and vowed to reject any ODM candidate who was given direct nomination in the whole Nyanza region, he still insisted that they must vote only ODM candidates in March 4th general elections.

Those who the voters allege were defeated but given ODM certificates include Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang for Senate seat for Homabay County, instead of Hillary Alila who the voters say won the nomination.

Kajwang received the ticket after hotly disputed party primaries that led to Alila defecting to People’s Democratic Party (PDP). This is not the first time voters have claimed Kajwang had been rigged in.

In 2007 when Sammy Wakiaga a civil servant and a prominent Nairobi based businessman was heading for a landslide election victory over Kajwang’ in Mbita constituency on an ODM ticket, Raila Odinga had prevailed upon Wakiaga to step down for Kajwang and wait for other job opening up in the event of the ODM forming the government. Wakiaga has since then kept a low profile in politics.

Voters don’t want Kajwang’ because when he was MP for Mbita he did very little in terms of development. Kajwang won the Mbita seat during the first multi-party election in 1992, and has repeatedly successfully defended his seat ever since.

He had a lackluster performance and poor track record of development. That is why when he announced his ambition that he was going to become the Senate representative of the Homa-Bay County he could not augur well with the entire County’s voters.

Homa-Bay County covers Gwassi, Mbita, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo/ Kasipul. Kasipul and Kabondo constituencies in particular may not vote for him because of their belief that he was the one used by Raila Odinga to spear-head the controversial ousting of the influential Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo, from the mantle and leadership of the moribund Luo Council of Elders from his office.

The violence which broke out in Rodi Kopany in the evening occurred when supporters of Peter Opondo Kaluma complained over allegations that immediate former Rangwe Mp Martin Ogindo was awarded ODM nomination certificate yet he never won the election. Voters were already tired with Ogindo and thought it was time for him to give chance for a new comer, only to learn later that he was rigged in.

While Alila’s candidature has drawn large support, especially from the youths and women who see him as a visionary leader and not power-hungry, in Siaya County voters are very angry that their preference candidate William Oduol was denied ODM certificate after winning nomination.

Mr Oduol faced Mr Odinga’s elder brother, Oburu Oginga in the primaries but the two were later disqualified by ODM over alleged confusion during the exercise. Oduol was robbed of victory and has since defected to the little known National Agenda Party and will face ODM’s nominee, Cornel Rasanga Amoth who was imposed to Siaya voters.

In Muhoroni the music is the same, where assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny is facing his perennial opponent, James Onyango K’Oyoo, who moved to Omingo Magara’s PDP after being denied the ODM certificate.

According to Muhoroni voters it is a fact that K’Oyoo beat Mr Olweny by a landslide during the ODM nominations but he was robbed of victory. He will have a sweet revenge on March 4,” when voters are likely to vote for him instead of ODM candidate.

In Kasipul is the same problem, where outgoing MP Oyugi Magwanga is a worried man after his main opponent; Charles Ongondo defected to Kalembe Ndile’s Tip party. Kasipul voters maintain Ongondo was robbed victory and they are likely to vote him against Magwanga.

Similar resistance is also expected in Gem, Nyando, Kisumu and in Rongo, where Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno is facing a tough battle from his main opponents, Gradus Oluoch and Paul Abuor. Mr Oluoch is vying on Wiper while Abuor settled on Tip.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

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

Raila witnessed the election violence as missiles and shoes flew over the dignitary dais in Homa-Bay CORD accompany rally

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town.

SECURITY details of the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga ON Wednesday this week.and shielded the CORD presidential candidate from being hit when the mayhem broke loose during the ODM campaign rally at Homa-Bay Town

The Prime Minister was on the last leg of his three days campaign mission in his native home region of Luo-Nyanza.The trouble started when CORD leader made futile attempt to disown the ODM aspirants who have crossed over into other parties and got cleared by the IEBC to contest the March 4, 2013 general elections.

These were the same aspirants who had contested the election on ODM tickets, but felt aggrieved and deliberately rigged out after the much flawed ODM primary nomination.

Most of the rebel aspirants crossed to parties in partnership with the ODM under the enlarged CORD alliance.

The biggest crowd had turned out at the Homa-Bay campaign rally which was attended by the Prime Minister and several cabinet Ministers. The crowd was splinted into smaller groups of supporters carrying the portraits and electi0on posters of their favorite candidates, most of them those who had ditched ODM and crossed over t other parties.

The Gwassi MP John Mbadi, who was the master of ceremony pleaded with the crowd to drop the posters as this was an embarrassment to the Prime Minister, but the crowd defiantly displayed the posters while bursting into songs of praise for their favorite candidates. The MP’s voice was swallowed into shouting match by the huge crowd.

A heated argument ensued between the crowd and the Ministers followed by flying shoes and stones, some which hit the podium but kissed the dignitaries. The protesters appeared to have targeted the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’

At one point a shoe thrown from the crowd hit the Minister and several others, while the Prime Minister was shielded by his security details and the Lands Minister James Orengo. The Minister had earlier tried to calm down the enraged crowd but was heckled and shouted down.

The security personnel moved in and charged on the crowd and even making the matters worse. It was the youthful Sports Minister Ababu Namwamba who successfully pleaded with the crowd to calm down before Raila made his address after the order and calm had been restored.

During the melee that followed the crowd run helter scalter leaving behind hundreds of shoes which were used as missiles.

Insults were hurled at Kajwang’, who prior to the ODM nomination was the chairman of the party in Homa-Bay County and who the crowd blamed for having messed u the nomination. They called the Ministers names such as “Traitor” “Andhoga’.

Other voices coming from the crowd defiantly praised and approved the candidature of Hilary Ochieng; Alila, who is Kajwang’s only rival in the Homa-Bay Senatorial contest in the Homa-Bay Senatorial contest, though Alila was nowhere to be seen.

Alila is still on the race on the ticket of Omingo Magara led Democratic Party of Kenya and the populist aspirant is expected to give Kajwang’ a run for his money come the March 4, 2013,

Raila faced similar problem when he toured Migori County the previous day. All the problems emanating from the flawed ODM nomination

In Migori, the former Nyatike M Edick Omondi Anyanga, whose wife Anne Omondi Anyanga was among those whose election were questionable had been made the deputy governor, whose nomination is also questionable. Insiders say no nomination took place in the took place in the entire Nyatike constitu4ndfy. although the IEBC had cleared the former MP and sever County representatives plus his wife.The same problems occurred in Migiori East constituency where a Somali Juneet Mohamed who is believed to be a believed to aver won the primary nomination. There were unconfirmed allegation of bribery both at the ODM headquarter and also at the IEBC.

In his address Raila Odinga urged the electorate to vote for ODM candidates only in a six pieces pattern to ensure that his party secure majority MPs.. He said this would give the ODM the majority seats in the August House, but if they voted for those aspiring for the election using other parties tickets, the ODM parliamentary strength could be reduced into minority. But a section of the crowd could not hear of this, though ‘Agwambo” spoke in vernacular telling them’yawa kik ukuod wiya [please do not shame me}

Raila, however, made political blunder when he described those seeking elective position in the region using tickets from other parties including those in partnership with the ODM under CORD umbrella as “Madoadoa”This remark provoked further murmuring among the crowd.

When the former Rangwe MP Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi turned out at the venue of the rally then broke loose as if the heaves had come down on the earth. Okundi is believed by many people within the locality to have won the position of the co. Awiti..

The ODM candidate for the Homa-Bay County women rep 5esentatiuve Mrs Gladys Wanga was subjected to a lot of insult and called name with some of the unprintable insults and insinuations. She is believed not to have won the primary fairly, but was rigged in on instruction of the Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang’.

Wanga is believed to have polled close to 31,00 votes against the winner Mrs Roselyn Onyuka, the former Nyanza PDE who polled 47,000 and above, but her names was cancelled at the ODM headquarters where she was replaced by Mrs Wanga. These were some of the issues which had angered and enraged the Homa-Bay crowd,and provoked them to act violently

From the looking of things,the majority of voters in Luoi-Nyanza appeared ti be hell-bent on voting for non-ODM candidates.

Ends

KENYA & USA: US PRESIDENT OBAMA GOODWILL MESSAGE TO KENYAN VOTERS MOST WELCOME BY ALL PLAYERS WITHIN THE COUNTRY’S POLITICAL DIVIDES

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The US President Barrack Obama’s goodwill message to Kenyans people urging them to conduct peaceful election and at the same appealing to the electorate to reject intimidation and violence to allow free and fair general election was well received last night.

President Obama ‘s message which was beamed over the country via all the television stations appeared to be neutral and impartial and did not favor any particular party of individual presidential aspirant.

The message conveyed in a video posted on the US Embassy website opened up with the President Obama speaking in Kiswahili “Habari” a local dialect which is the joint official language with the English. In the message President Obama urged the candidates to resolved disputes through the courts, rather that on the streets.

While not speaking directly on how the US government would interpret the choice of Kenyan

Make on March 4, 2013, Obama said if the election were credible” you Kenyans will continue to have a strong partners in the US.”.

“Above all the people of Kenya must come together before and after the election to carry on work of building your country,”he said.

President Obama made explicitly clear that the United States of America had not endorsed any candidate and would instead support free and fair elections work of building your country,’ he said, adding,” you can show the world that you are not just a member of a tribe or ethnic group, but citizens and great and proud people nation.

“I cannot imagine a better way to mark the 50th anniversary of Kenya’s independence.”

President Obama message is viewed by the local political pundits and observers as representing positive neutrality and impartiality on the part of the US administration, and a country which has maintained economic and military ties with Kenya ever since it achieved its political independence in 1963.

Obama cited his personal commitment to Kenya saying, he was grateful; for the welcome Kenyans had given him and his family in their beautiful country.”

President Barrack Obama has a family root in Western Kenya where his late father Barrack Hussein Obama hails from. His elder step brother Malik Abong’o Obana is in the race contesting the elective position of regional governor for Siaya County as an independent candidate.

The US President family and relatives lives in Nyang’oma village, Alego Kogelo in Siaya County, about 80 kilometer northwest of Kisumu City.

Many Kenyan had expected President Obama to throw his weight behind the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, who is one of the leading contenders for the presidency, and who had a blood relationships with the Obama family family, but the perception did not materialize. The US President steered clear of the local politics, and this is viewed as a diplomatic coup and score.

Perhaps this was in realization that the slightest mentioning of Mr Odinga’s name could have given the Prime Minister undeserved political mileage over his seven other rivals.

Meanwhile both the US and the UK, the two principal economic partners of Kenya have separately assured the Kenyan voters for the impartiality and non commitment..

Kenyans will to the polls to elect the 4th President on March 4, 2013, and eleventh parliament, This time round there will be a tri-cameral legislative bodies which include the Senate and regional assemblies in all 47 counties governance.

The two Western powers have stressed their neutrality ahead of the historic general election and allayed fears of endorsing any of the eight presidential candidates.

They have also assured the Kenyans that the outcome of the presidential votes will not affect trades ties with Kenya and sanction would not be imposed no matter who become the next President.

President Obama’s message come in the background of some European countries hgave recently said it would not be business as usual if Kenyans elected the candidates with criminal, tugs on their heads, particularly the ICC suspects Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and the former Eldoret North M William Ruto.

Kenyatta is the Deputy Prime Minister and the son of the post-Independence President the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.Ruto is Kenyatta’s presidential running-mate. Both the two men had criminal cases of committing crimes against humanity. Their cases are pending before the Hague based International Court of Criminal Justices {ICC}.The candidature of the two has elicited a lot of discontents and criticism by many Kenyans who felt there was no need electing the pair while they have serious criminal cases hanging on their heads before an international court.

Ends

KENYA: KNOW YOUR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Raila Amolo Odinga

For the vast majority of Kenyans, Raila Amolo Odinga is likely to become the 4th president of the Republic of Kenya come March 4th presidential elections. This is because he is the most experienced of all the presidential candidates seeking to succeed President Mwai Kibaki. Opinion polls have all the times put him as the frontrunner to be the 4th president of Kenya.

Many Kenyans see him not only as a reformer who has continuously propagated for democracy and good governance, but also very courageous man who dared Moi when no one could open his mouth. He was instrumental in bringing to an end the KANU government which Kenyans have suffered under for decades.

Kenyans value him, not only because he was the major force behind the election of kibaki and NARC government into power in 2002 when he declared the famous kibaki tosha slogan, but also instrumental in the passing of the new constitution which promises many good things for the ordinary Kenyans.

That is why to the vast majority of Kenyans it is only Raila who can implement the new constitution as he always promised in his campaigns. That could also explain why his party has more national outlook as compared to other political parties.

Among his promises include creating employment for about three million Kenyans aged between 15 and 29 years who are in low quality, vulnerable jobs that pay almost nothing. One million have no jobs at all. Close to two million do not even look for a job.

Raila wants to make sure the country creates a million good jobs annually so that his government can employ the 800,000 young Kenyans joining the labour market-Making sure that all young Kenyans have adequate nutrition in their early childhood, enjoy good health, and receive quality education. With this, they will build human capital, which will make them attractive to prospective employers.

Raila will also institute cash transfer for all mothers in need of help for the first 1,000 days, on condition that they look after the child well. He will also extend help to poor schools and raise the quality of learning by ensuring better and more committed teachers implementing a relevant curriculum.

While he is intending to call on youth for to create the “Kenyan Peace Corps”, he will be asking young Kenyans waiting to enter university or looking for jobs after graduating to teach in primary schools throughout the country. This will also encourage social cohesion and create jobs.

Kenyans also believe that it is only Raila’s government that will attract investors locally and abroad, focused on expansion of our energy base and development of renewable energy sources of geothermal, solar and wind. The huge involvement being France, Germany, Japan, European Union, United States, Spain, Belgium, China, India, Korea and others in funding geothermal, wind, hydro and coal power development is largely a result of my intense lobbying.

He is the only president who is in the best position to stand shoulder to shoulder with top global leaders, sit with them one on one, and reach agreement on strategic political and economic issues for the benefit of Africans and Kenyans.

He ahs also promised that his government will intend to deepen investment in infrastructure with focus on roads, rail, mobile telephony, energy and ICT. He also wants to expand investment in food security through irrigated agriculture, subsidies for farmers and research.

He also wants to expand poverty reduction measures and make our health care work for the poor and the rich alike. I will push vigorously for the establishment of a national health insurance scheme. He will cut wasteful government spending; expand the revenue base by closing loopholes and lowering tax rates, intending to encourage much more efficient use of donor money. Today, about a third of donor money is currently not utilised.

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta

The fact that Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta enjoys a massive support from his central province backyard and his Kikuyu ethnic group, no doubt for sure that he stands a chance to be neck to neck to Raila, a fact that Raila has acknowledged.

Like Raila, this is not the first time Uhuru is standing. His first short at the presidency was in 2002 when he ran against Mwai Kibaki of national rainbow coalition (NARC). He came second with over 1.5 million votes separating him and the opposition candidate, Mwai Kibaki.

There is also no doubt that because Uhuru has joined with William Ruto, he will enjoy Kalenjin and Kikuyu voting bloc- An Uhuru- Ruto alliance where the former is the president and the later his running mate may see Uhuru win the presidency at the expense of Raila.

While few Kikuyus can vote for other ethnic groups, generally the Kikuyus don’t vote for anyone other than their own. This may also boast Uhuru’s chances of being president. This is a data collected over the years, a trend that has been observed is that whenever elections are held, Kikuyus only vote for their own and not a candidate from another community.

The only obstacle for Uhuru is The Hague factor, and the fact that Martha Karua, Peter Keneth and Paul Muite factor, both of whom are kikuyu and are also in the race to be kenya’s president and this may mean dividing the Kikuyu votes into four parts which means all of them losing ground on the race to be the country’s president.

Some Kalenjins may also decline to vote for Uhuru, not only because the Kalenjins and Kikuyus have never been strange bedfellows, but because Ruto disappointed them by becoming Uhuru’s running mate. All along the Kalenjin communities opted for Ruto to become president.

In the last election when the post election violence broke out they took machetes and pangas against one another while each killed and evicted the other from their backyard and for this reason it is very unlikely for the Kalenjin voters to support Uhuru Kenyatta and same is true for the Kikuyus supporting William Ruto. It is some Kalenjin voters may say; better the devil you know (Raila) than the angel you don’t know (Uhuru).

As former Thika County Council chairman, Francis Wakahia once siad: “Tukuenda ruuri rucoke mukaro na nowe tu ungihota” (we want the river to return to its original course and Uhuru is the only person capable of doing this). (Standards, January 28, 2002), it creates doubts as whether Uhuru will work for the benefit of all Kenyans as stipulated in his Jubilee manifesto.

Martha Karua

While Narc-Kenya presidential hopeful Martha Karua is lauded by Kenyans as courageous, a woman who stands by what she says, like Raila Kenyans believe that she can implement the constitution.

She is the only few among the candidates who can clean the mess by past governments. She has always been on the side of the poor Kenyans, lamenting that the poor had no rights while the rich were favoured everywhere and even got jobs where they did not meet qualifications.

These are the injustices that for sure her government will address. If given chance she will spearhead the fight against discrimination and make sure that all Kenyans have equal chances.

Musalia Mudavadi

Even though Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has not been popular among Kenyans, the fact that former president Daniel arap Moi declared his support to presidency will make him to loose more votes. Kenyans were already tired with Moi having ruined Kenya for 24 years he was on power. His support may be taken by few Kelenjins, especially his Tugen community.

Kenyans know that Mudavadi is not the “champion of the devolved government system as he claims. He is not even the best person to implement the Constitution. For that reason he will not impact the lives and livelihoods of more than 40 million Kenyans.

Paul Muite

While it could be true that Paul Muite has vigorously and consistently fought in the second liberation of this country which was all about bringing change that is in line with the vision and obligations of our forefathers where the country guarantees each and every citizen security, social and economic justice, food security, and development of the youth, health and education, the fact that in 1992 when he was the Vice of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga as Ford-Kenya he told Kikuyu communities to vote for Keneth Matiba for presidency instead of Jaramogi disqualifies him as a reformer.

This contradicts his vision to catapult Kenya from being a third world country economically and socially into being a 2nd or 1st World Country by removing high-level corruption, return billions of stolen public funds stashed abroad and implement economic and social policies focusing on the majority, this is achievable; it is not a pipe dream.

Muite claims he will be able to bring back looted money since 1963. Although very little has changed including during Kibaki’s presidency, being tribalistitly oriented makes it impossible to fulfill this promise.

Peter Kenneth

I fully agree with Eagle Coalition presidential candidate Peter Kenneth Kenyans should choose leaders in the March 4 elections based on their past record. His argument that his competitors in the presidential race have nothing to show for the years they were in government is genuinely correct.

I also agree with him that some of these presidential aspirants have not shunned tribal and that they are tainted leaders. Record has shown that as MP of Gatanga Kenneth is probably the only presidential hopeful that has used Constituency Development Fund (CDF) transparently to develop hid constituency.

So when he says that his government would improve security, healthcare, education and boost food security if elected Kenyans will agree with him. His government would further develop industries for job creation, improve agriculture and ensure economic growth.

James ole Kiyiapi

For Prof ole Kiyiapi, since Kenyans have not known him in public, his promise that if elected president his government would focus on food security, healthcare, education, employment and security may not be enough reason for Kenyans to vote for him.

Abduba Dida

Like ole Kiyiapi, Alliance for Real Change presidential aspirant Mohammed Abduba Dida is not well known to the public. He became known when he presented his papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and was cleared to vie for presidency.

His promise that if elected president his government would uproot toxic leadership that has brought suffering to Kenyans may not convince voters. He also picked little known 29 years old Joshua Odongo as his running mate.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

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

KENYA: THE ZONING OF EXCLUSIVE KALENJIN DISTRICT BY URP LEADERSHIP MIGHT BOOMERANG AND HAS RESULTED IN NOT EVEN ONE SINGLE PARTY PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRANT GETTING ELECTED UNOPPOSED.

From: Arrum Tidi
Date: Mon, Feb 4, 2013 at 8:10 AM
Subject: Ruto URP could come out of the South Rift empty handed without a parliamentary seat after March 4, 2013.
To: “jaluo@jaluo.com” , “Sally H. Jacobs” , “citnewspaper@yahoo.com” , “editor@truthnewspaper.com” , “news@bbc.co.uk” , “oped@nytimes.com” , “opinion@nairobistar.com” , “InsideAfrica@CNN.com” , “news@ugandacorrespondnet.com”

THE ZONING OF EXCLUSIVE KALENJIN DISTRICT BY URP LEADERSHIP MIGHT BOOMERANG AND HAS RESULTED IN NOT EVEN ONE SINGLE PARTY PARLIAMENTARY ASPIRANT GETTING ELECTED UNOPPOSED.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo

IF the former Eldoret North MP William Ruto had a dream that by partitioning several Kalenjin districts in the South and North Rift to be his party’s exclusive votes zone would result in several of URP party candidates getting elected to parliament and senate seat unopposed, the exercise has since turned out to be a pipe dream, because not one aspirant had sailed through to parliament and other legislative bodies without strong opposition.

The strategy had even sealed off aspirants who wanted to contest the election in various constituencies on the TNA ticket, though this particular party is a senior partner within the Jubilee Alliance.. Balkanized together were districts like Nandi North, Nandi South in Nandi County, Uasin Gishu County, Elkeyo County, Baringo County,Kericho and Bomet Counties.

It is even worse in the South Rift region covering Kericho and Bomet Counties. Ruto’s original plan was to shelve his party’s loyalists so that some of them could sail through to the official nomination exercise without much opposition from candidates armed with tickets of other parties. It didn’t work that way.

In Kericho County alone, most of its seven parliamentary constituencies are so crowded by aspirants from other political parties. In the newly created Sigowet constituency, which is located in the lower part of the old Belgut, the URP candidate Justice Kemei, a former director with the Chemelil Sugar Company is facing five other aspirants. In the neighboring Ainamoi, the URP candidate Benjamin Lang’at the former area MP is facing six other candidates, all sponsored by other parties.

Justice Kemei is facing his fellow former Chemelil Sugar Company manager Eng. Richard Koech. All the other parties like KANU, UDF, ODM,, KNC,SAFINA, Kenya Labour Party and others have produced candidates who are giving William Ruto’s men sleepless nights.

The South Rift region who’s inhabitants are member of the industrious Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups is a votes-rich region.

William Ruto, the self-styled king-ping of the Kalenjin community, according to the locals had made a technical errors by accepting to play the second fiddle to the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta as his presidential running-mate within the Jubillee Alliance, something which the members of the populous Kipsigis community seemed not to have approved.

Had Ruto contested the presidency on his own, he would have galvanized the majority of votes in this region very comfortably. But for close to three years, Ruto had traversed the region telling the voters that his name will definitely be on the presidential ballot papers before making an abrupt about turn. Ruto’s waves in these two region was so strong, and when he succumbed to a lesser position than the presidency, the voters have since viewed him as someone who is pursuing selfish interests and politics of deceits.

A section of the Kalenjin now blames Ruto for having mortgaged the community for personal aggrandizement, and this will definitely have an adverse repercussion and even affect the whole of the jubilee Alliance.

Waiting in the wings to benefit and harvest more parliamentary seats in the two regions is the 60 year old party of independence, KANU, which is campaigning under the umbrella, of the Amani Alliance led by the Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

Parliamentary constituencies at stake in the South Rift regions included Chepalungu, Bomet West, Bomet Eastm Konoin, Soitiki, Buret, Belgut, Sigowet, Ainamoi, Kipkellion West and Kipkellion East.

Two of William Ruto’s most loyal supporters in the two regions, namely Charles Keter {Belgut} and Isaac Ruto {Chepalungu} are not defending their parliamentary seats. The two have switched to Senate contest. Ruto is contesting the Bomet County Senate seat, while Keter is in the race for the Kericho County Senate seat.

The other party which stand to gain by way of harvesting several parliamentary seat at the expense of Ruto’s URP and its Jubillee alliance is the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM}, which is led by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The party has planted its candidates in early every constituency, and the local believes and maintains that Raila Odinga is a true reformist despite of concerted effort by the William Ruto and his cronies campaign to discredit him as someone who hates the Kipsigis people due to his role in the controversial mass eviction n of members of the community from the Mau Forest water catchment area.

Some of Raila’s supporters in the 10th parliament from the two regions had deserted him and run into the URP, hoping they would find an easy nomination to parliament and other legislative bodies with little opposition. But things have since turned in the opposite direction.

ODM has only one of its former MPs in the region who is defending his seat. He is Magerer Lang’at the former Mp for Kipkellion. The other former Mp Franklin Bett has since declined to defend his seat and is now playing a different role as the ODM election board chairman.

The last of the former ODM MPs in the region to ditch the party was Mrs Beatrice Kones, who is an Assistant Minister for |Home-Affairs. He has since lost her bid to be nominated the URP candidate for the Bomet seat, which she had inherited from her late husband the late Kipkalia Kones.

Urp’s other headache is the emergence MOI’S new waves of support among the Kipsigis people which appeared to be heading to cutting William Ruto’s influence and political clout in the region into size.

The retired President Daniel Moi is a man who no sane person can underrate his influence among the Kalenjin people; The community believes and maintains that Moi is the true professor of Kenya’s politics. He has since thrown his weight behind Musalia Mudavadi‘s Amani alliance which is using his old political slogan during the Nyayo era of of Peace Love and Unity.

The contest of political supremacy in the South Rift cannot be accurately be predicted at the moment, but from the looks of things, William Ruto will be the loser, due to the fact that the majority of the Kipsigis voters will not vote for Uhuru Kenyatta under all the circumstances.

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KENYA: THE PRICE OF DEMOCRACY

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From: dick.aduonga

It is an elections year and the country is abuzz with all manners of political activities. At this time of the political cycle, we witness some of the most colourful characters in our political life. Going by the just concluded party primaries, one would be tempted to be excited at the prospects of Kenya becoming a thriving democracy but when you pause for a minute; you again wonder if that is really a correct observation of our current political development.

For the past 40 years we have had a grudging political system with the political class taking little interest in the rights of the citizenry. By nature politicians seldom favour change in the interests of the working class and for many years they got their way in an ethnocentric Kenyan politics, sometimes through brutal force irrespective of the wishes of the majority.

Now Kenya has a new dispensation through its new constitution which compels all citizens to play fair and develop governance institutions that support the growth of democracy in the country. Leaders use political parties to ascend to power through the people and this means the people ought to be empowered to elect or deselect those leaders they deem unfit to lead them at a particular time. The price of democracy is that when one engages in a competition with fair rules and loses or wins, we expect them to accept such an outcome.

Kenya as a young democracy has the signs for a brighter future. The last party primaries even though in some cases was shambolic, the fact that majority of the contestants were happy with the outcome is great. To depart from the past ways of doing things has not always been easy. Most of these politicians have often survived political onslaught from their competitors through political patronage. So it was not a surprise that the party prodigal sons did not want to play fair.

It is important that as Kenya moves forward in its political, social and economic development, politicians understand that an empowered citizenry engages and contributes positively to the holistic development of the nation. Their wishes should be respected when they deselect or elect a leader of their choice because there is no reasonable logic in a party forcing a leader on the people. In future parties should ensure their rules of engagement are clear so that all potential participants can robustly evaluate themselves before seeking clearance for the party nominations.

Have a very peaceful elections

Dickson Aduonga

Kenya: A Big Showdown between Otienmo Kajwang and Hilary Alila in Homa-Bay town

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

The presentation by the two aspirants contesting the Homa-Bay County Senate seat was so dramatic in that the Immigration and Registration of Persons Minister Otieno Kajwang’presented his nomination certificate to the IEBC officials in Homa-Bay in the company of a small crowd of followers.Kajwang’ is the ODM official candidate.

The Minister rival the 38 year old Nairobi-based businessman Hilary Ochieng” Alila who is contesting the seat on the People Democratic Party which is led by the former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara pulled the largest crowd of supporters who escorted him to Homa-Bay town in Matatus. Boda Boda motorbikes and traditional dancers.

Immediately his papers were accepted by the IEBC officials, Kajwang’ quietly slipped off the town and drove away accompany by members of the GSU and the security personnel and drove to unknown destination, while Alila supporters continued singing and dancing around the town.

Kajwang was handed the ODM nomination certificate in a discredited and much flawed nomination exercise, which many people in the region believes had been won by Alila with a big margin of votes.

Kajwang’ previously represented Mbita constituency in Suba region ever since 1997, but recently shifted his political camp from Mbita to Homa-Bay and switched to the contest of Senate seat instead of defending his Mbita, the move which political pundits and observers saw as a” a blunder and political suicide.”

Fears persists that the Minister would not be able to garnered enough support from the residents of Mbita in his previous parliamentary constituency because he had burned the bridge between him and the Suba people and would be in the race for the Homa-Bay County Senate seat without their blessing and goodwill.

The flamboyant Nairobi businessman Alila appeared to have attracted more support in all the seven parliamentary constituencies including Ndhiwa, Gwasi, Mbita, Homa-Bay Town, Rangwe, Karachuonyo, Kasipul and Kabondo Kasipul, mainly youths and woen.

Ends

KENYA: AWITI PICKS ORATA RUNNING MATE

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From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste in images
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2013

ODM nominated Homa Bay County Governor Mr Cyprian Otieno Awiti has picked Mr Hannington Orata as his running mate. According to information he has just posted on his Facebook wall, Awiti has picked Orata following his promise during campaigns.

Awiti promised the people of homa Bay County that he would pick his running mate from Ndhiwa Constituency for the sake of balancing. “ I have Kept that promise and I am proud to announce that I have picked Mr. Hannington Orata as my running mate” Awiti says on his Facebook wall.

He says Mr. Orata has a rich experience in the management of public affairs having worked as a chief finance officer at the Kenya anti corruption commission and in the same position at the Kenya pipeline Company.

Mr. Orata he says is an accountant by profession and has substantial experience in financial management gained during his stint in the banking industry for over ten years. Join me in welcoming Mr.Orata to the Team.

Mr Orata hails from Kanyikela and was one of the aspirants for Ndhiwa MP By-election. He lost to Augustino Neto.

Although speculations went rounding suggesting that Awiti could pickTom Obondo who also lost ODM nomination for Ndhiwa By-election, the fact that he remained the political turncoat who once abandoned the then popular Ford-Kenya to rejoin the then powerful Kanu for his own personal gain could be viewed as an obstacle on his part.

Obondo’s effort to explain to Ndhiwa voters that political circumstances forced his defection to Kanu in 1994 for an effort to bring government-funded development projects to the people of Ndhiwa at the time could not convince voters either.

Ndhiwa constituency is made up of five major clans which include Kanyamwa with around 28,000 registered voters; Kabuoch with 24,000 voters; Kwabwai with 16,000 voters; Kanyidoto with 12,000 voters; and Kanyikela with 5,500 voters.

Although they live together harmoniously and share the same language and culture, the fact that five clans have exhibited fierce rivalry on the political arena since the country’s independence, some clans may not welcome well the appointment of Orata as running mate.

The late Ojodeh, who hailed from the Kwabwai clan with around 16,000 registered voters -was able to survive all those terms because he was a tough political player who somehow always managed to cobble together a winning formula by attracting a good proportion of support from the other four clans.

Among those who eyed the Ndhiwa parliamentary seat and provided stiff opposition to Tom Obondo include Manasseh Kidew, Monica Amolo, Neto Oyugi, Owiti Jera, Oyoo Kanyangi (a former magistrate), J.M. Ojuang’, Mireje Onyando, Hannington Orata, Beatrice Ogola and Dr Martin Owino among others.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

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

Kenya: The Peoples Reform Change Movement want a Legally Legitimate Electioneering of Integrity

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From: Judy Miriga

To: Chief Justice Willy Mutunga
Head of IEBC Commission
Head of CIC
The Law Society of Kenya
United Nation Chief Ban-Ki-moon
US Secretary of United Nations Susan Rice
African Union Secretary Ms. Zuma
UK Head of Mission to Kenya
US Head of Mission to Kenya
US Head of Mission Johnny Carson
ICC Hague
His Excellency US President Barack Obama
His Excellency UK President Cameroon

My Honorable good people,

I submit this Rights appeal before your good offices so to be given extreme urgency of attention. I believe the Election will not be legitimate if the Diaspora remains locked out from participating fully in the electioneering. It is illegal and unconstitutional. I feel that to avoid inclusion of Diaspora is another way of rigging Reform Change to favor Special Interest corruption as usual and therefore Reform Change will not have been attained.

As a “Voice of Reason”, a “Voice of the Voiceless”, “a victim of circumstances”, A Self-proclaimed Change Agent Advocate of the intimidated, the oppressed and marginalized and Civil Rights Diaspora Spokesperson, I have the following Statement of facts concerning land grabbers commission report, Claims and Appeals to be heard urgently in order to save a grave situation case-scenario of Crimes, Violation and Abuse of Human Rights going on in Kenya and so election of March 2013 can be legitimate. In which case, if Diaspora are not engaged in this electioneering, the rights will have been violated and the election will not be legitimate.

Statement of Facts:

Sometimes on 28th of December 2007 when civil war got out of hand and innocent people were carelessly being slaughtered mercilessly in their houses with pain and sufferings everywhere, I called on Diaspora people from Kenyan everywhere in the world with friends and sympathizers of Kenyan people on the net to assemble for Demonstration to Kenya’s Embassy wherever they were so the careless extra-judicial killings could be stopped immediately and Law and order should be followed with firm negotiations for Reform Accord for way forward. On the 2nd of January 2008 in the USA, we did our part where I organized and led the Demonstration and ended it at the White House where former President Bush was kind enough to hear our cry and send The US Secretary Condoleezza Rice urgently to Kenya to negotiate for peace. We believe that those suspects of serious political responsibilities who engaged in Land Grabbing, corrupt practices with other terrorism acts unfavorable to Reform change should be disqualified from contesting in the Reform electioneering in Kenya.

From here we begun a journey of Reform we believe in and are committed that democracy should work in a balance, in an equally shared favorable conducive environment of fair play where all must play by the same set of rules without putting any burden, obstacles or barriers on the disadvantaged poor; that Democracy must be established with the Legislative Constitutional Agreement to guide, protect and preserve Public Mandate demands and needs independently from adverse conflict of interest from Politically Correct Special Business Interest which was the reason for the Civil War with careless extra-judicial killings of the innocent in order to drive people away from their land; and for which the Political Responsibility was to heed and comply in an Agreement and take Oath of Public Office to uphold.

In order that we reach our destination in the journey we took on January 2nd 2008, Kenya Diaspora participation in Kenyas Democratization was Constitutionalized. Kenyans in Diaspora have a right to participate in the Democracy and Constitution making of Kenya. This includes participating in the 1st election for Reform Change because it is our right. It is equally so that, in the democracy train, our destination is to see things change for better and peace, unity and love should be the underlining factor to our progressive development agenda where we intend to improve our destiny with reliable sustained fixtures.

The Constitution is a supreme authority that created the Institution of Parliament, the Executive, the IEBC which oversees electioneering, the CIC that ascertain Reform Constitutionality is in compliance according public mandate and the Judiciary which is the independent Jurisdiction Court of Law.

It is illegal for any person within the framework of the Constitutional institution to work against the Constitutional Policy for self political gains away from public mandate which one committed oath of office and swears to uphold. It is a known fact that Conflict of Interest contrasts, and constrains Public Mandate service delivery, thereby shortchanging security, reliability and effectiveness of good Governance with just rule of law function-ability to deliver the constitutional mandated public service. This could mean a demand for an automatic disqualification over non-compliance.

As Diaspora Spokesperson, a Change Agent Advocate, a voice of the voiceless and a voice of reason, I am not going to let this glitter of Reform Hope fade away from the faces of the poor, the hungry, the marginalized, the under-privileged and the oppressed or those faced with situation of innocent killings, insecurity, homelessness, draught, joblessness, environmental pollution and politically engineered ethnic conflicts or of drug influences with adolescent prostitution cases in the rise. As we persistently are on the look-out pushing for the Reform Change for the New Kenya, we noticed that the corrupt political class ganged in the coalition government and engaged in sneaking dangerous clauses unfavorable to Public Mandate and interest, (this is political responsibility that must not go unchecked in the Transparency and Accountability for Integrity) We noticed that the New Constitution specifically on Devolution of Counties, the Land and the Finance Bill was hijacked to serve the Politically Correct in the International Corporate Special Interest cartel network against public mandate and interest. This turn of events are against the National Reform Accord Agenda Signed Agreement by the two Principals Kibaki and Raila. PM Raila remained aloof with cases of such “Youth Fund for Job Creation” at Prime Minister’s Office going under unreported, and totally irresponsible in his service delivery to public.

The Political game at play are tactics with intent to bring back to public office the Politically correct special business interest, people with Serious Political Responsibilities who time and again have engaged in defrauding and frustrating Reform Agenda. Such extension if proved in the Court of Law through Responsibilities and Accountability, may have consequences relative to failed integrity that do not allow such characters to hold public office. So, without it, there should be no election.

The Constitution also demands that Kenya’s elections take place after every five years. Political Parties are also required to be within the Constitutional Policy framework and guidelines. The present scramble for Status Quo leadership engages failed technique of the Old corrupt Rule which failed us 50 years ago down the line. We highly suspect these are the same conspiracies at play meant to evade Reform Accord policy for a New Reform Government we want which is free from the political responsibilities of the past corrupt which has killed and caused pain and sufferings with fall out of meaningful livelihood and survival. Life must be of meaning again and we must fight harder to gain a life of meaning to all if we shall stick with the Legal framework of the Reform Change put in place.

Claims for Appeal from Observation:

1) The Kenya Diaspora have been locked out from election of March 2013 and this is against Rights and equally is against the law

2) There has not been any training to prepare people for electioneering so people would vote on informed choices and likewise, those candidates aspiring for leadership, more specifically the Presidential Candidates have not demonstrated or offered Reform Development packages how they wish to Govern if given another chance. They have not demonstrated passion to accommodate the Reform nor do they have the will to change or Reform to better policies that can bring Reform Development Agenda.

3) Security and political trust in Kenya is still dangerous and worrisome and the test has been proved in the recent Party nominations that just ended where the will of people was not respected or honored and those rejected by the people were rigged back in Party leadership to continue corruption in their unfinished business

4) Land Grabbers, those that have caused the failure and are the reasons for political fall-out are the campaign financiers and sponsors of the top current runners-up of those who are seeking political office. This clearly shows that we are adding fuel on fire for more extra-judicial killings in the political correctness Responsibilities and this is not going to help us in the Reform Change we all want………Please see Attachment of Land Grabbers Commission Report…….

5) Finance Bill was one of the first proposals put on the table, presently, it is incomplete. It seemed like the politicians kept suspending it for special business interest reason, why Oburu Odinga because of special interest with Uhuru in the Finance has been rigged back. This is why we believe the Coalition Government avoided engaging on Finance Bill because of serious controversial scandals surrounding utilization of public funds and expenditure of the same that need to be investigated and be brought to court. Without Finance Bill, there is no way to ascertain allocation of funds to the Counties for Government set-up or management and how will the election help if there is no proper establishment of Governorship structure done. This is why Oburu is rushing for Governorship to continue with corruption they had at Finance Ministry. This would critically fail core value of constitutional legislation for Reform. It is why we want accountability of what they did and where the money is as at now before they can be trusted with another public responsibilities.

6) Since the Reform Change Agreement is being scuttled, (failing Responsibility with Integrity from Transparency and Accountability) it will not be in compliance as per the agreement. There shall be room to corrupt for conflict interest where those with the highest Judicial case to answer and have serious political responsibilities in land clashes, terrorism and killings of 2007/8 are on top of the game trying to manipulate our Reform we struggled so hard and for this reason, we might not achieve the Reform we want if this election must go as planned in March 2013; signs of times are that, they have used big money to rig their own people back in the fray. Land problems have not been resolved and lands in Kenya have been irregularly and stealthily been sold……which is that, Kenya has been sold…………and this must be corrected before election is done. It is because we do not want Land Grabbers as participants controlling electioneering of March 2013

7) Faced with the general falling situation including socio-economic challenges created by the politically correct holding serious questionable political responsibilities requiring threshold for integrity clearance and investigations; matter of present Political situation is not legally safe nor is it conducive for Reform Change we struggle for. Social and economic vulnerability is highly challenging and Kenya livelihood and survival is in serious risk of extinction if Judicial determination of the Reform Accord compliance shall not take precedence to fill the void and conclusively curb the eminent fall-out and collapse by providing way forward through forming an Interim Transitional Committee that will make sure that Training the public before election to vote informed choices is done safely as needed, integrity for responsibility test is performed as required, Governor institutions have been established, Security ensured, Land Grabbing cases formalized and the Will of the People is guaranteed.

8) We need all partners with all good people all over the world on board to join in this struggle (against the corrupt) with us so we can achieve this “Kenya Mpya People’s Movement” that has the packages of Reform Change we all want. We must defeat and burry the corrupt who have painfully terrorized and made our lives miserable failing in abject poverty in the past 50 years. It can be done if we follow the Reform Change Law and Order. There is no another time. We can skip March and have our elections in August when everything is done the way it should with those suspects holding highest political responsibilities disqualified.

9) concerns raised
They say IEBC has been helping in defilement of the Constitution by failing to stamp their authority and bring sanity in the electoral process
Led by lawyer Harun Ndubi (right), they said commisssion has continued to disregard parametres and principles set out in the Constitution
They have also ignored several reports regarding the conduct of some political aspirants

We demand that Uhuru, Ruto and Raila must be disqualified from contesting as they all have serious political Responsibilities and economical challenges with social illegitimate issues emanating before and after 2007/8 election gone bad so that ICC Hague should go on smoothly undeterred and Kenyans begin to engage in Development agenda at peace with each other. Let the truth be told and more specifically, if ICC Hague case must produce the Justice we all want, we must give it substances with which to operate and work sufficiently effectively without discrimination or favors. (Hawa watu wamekula pamajoa wanajuana kwa vilemba) These people plan and ate together, they are fooling us and they want us to pay their price for them…….it cannot happen, we must choose righteousness and stick with it…….. Let the law prevail.

Land Grabbing and politically correct killings from organized thugs and terrorism going ons cannot be corrected when Uhuru, Ruto and Raila are shareholders of the same and Kenyans must correct the land problems as Kenyans from Tana River, Lamu, Kwale, Mombasa, Isiolo, Turkana, Marakwet, Garsen, Malindi, Migingo, Yala Swamp, Lake Victoria, Migori, Rongo, Awendo, Ringa, Uriri etc., are still factors of Land the illegal Grabbers.

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

– – – – – – – – – –

IEBC accused of overlooking misconduct
GLANCE FACTS
concerns raised

They say IEBC has been helping in defilement of the Constitution by failing to stamp their authority and bring sanity in the electoral process Led by lawyer Harun Ndubi (right), they said commisssion has continued to disregard parametres and principles set out in the Constitution

They have also ignored several reports regarding the conduct of some political aspirants

Updated Monday, January 28 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3
By Rawlings otieno
KENYA: The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has been advised to bar candidates with questionable integrity and character from contesting in the General Election.

A section of the civil society members under the banner of Kenya for Peace with Truth and Justice said IEBC has been helping in defilement of the Constitution by failing to stamp their authority and bring sanity in the electoral process.

Led by lawyer Harun Ndubi, the group accused the IEBC of condoning electoral malpractices, which they are supposed to enforce.

“The Elections and the Electoral Offences Act clearly states their mandate and how they are supposed to conduct the elections. Extending the deadline for submission of the party list is by itself rigging, which is an offence under the Act,” said Ndubi.

The group said IEBC has continued to disregard parametres and principles set out in the Constitution and other relevant legislation through practices such as party hopping and accused them of ignoring several reports, which had been presented to it for review concerning the conduct of some political aspirants.

Speaking during a Press briefing at a Nairobi hotel yesterday, the group lashed out at the electoral body and the Registrar of Political Parties for failing to rein in errant political parties. They took issue with the parties for conducting their nominations using the IEBC voter registrations book instead of the political party’s registrar, citing that the move was against the Political Parties Act.

Flawed nominations

Ndubi also said it is the IEBC that should stop candidates with leadership and integrity issues from contesting the various political seats.

He said the Commission of Administrative Justice had given a damning report of some 24 candidates including TNA’s Mike Mbuvi vying for senatorial position in Nairobi County and also former Embakasi MP Ferdinand Waititu who got the nod to contest the Nairobi gubernatorial seat, to be stopped from contesting.

The group also wants the parties that conducted flawed nominations to be punished for allowing their supporters to cause violence.

The Political Parties Act states: A political party shall not engage in or encourage violence by its members or supporters.

“The institution charged with the regulation of political affairs has displayed a disturbing reluctance to enforce their respective mandate. IEBC has repeatedly shifted timelines for the submission of nomination lists,” said Ndubi.

They threatened to use all the means including filing petitions at the High Court to stop such candidates from contesting.

Kajwang, Kimunya, Midiwo cleared by IEBC
By EMMANUEL TOILI etoili@ke.nationmedia.com ( email the author)

Posted Monday, January 28 2013 at 17:36

Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang, Transport Minister Amos Kimunya, Jakoyo Midiwo and Shakir Shabil were among candidates cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Dispute team to vie for their respective seats.

During party primaries, dispute arose in Homa Bay County when Mr Kajwang, a senate hopeful, was accused of being behind voting materials marked in his favour and dropped at Rodi Kopany and Kodiera markets in Ndhiwa.

But Mr Kajwang’ distanced himself from the claims, saying his opponents were determined to ensure that the nomination process does not go through.

On the other hand, Mr Midiwo was granted direct nomination by his ODM party, thus, causing the dispute.

However, the IEBC Dispute team ruled that Mr Midiwo was handed the nomination certificate legally.

Mr Kimunya’s rivals Lawyer Samuel Gichigi and former area MP Mwangi Githiomi had appealed to IEBC accusing him of electoral malpractices.

Oburu: Raila advisers forced me out of race
By JUSTUS WANGA jwanga@ke.nationmedia.com ( email the author)
Posted Sunday, January 27 2013 at 00:30

After the ODM nominations characterised by chaos and irregularities, members of the Odinga family who were controversially denied the party’s ticket by the elections board blame forces outside their Nyanza backyard for their political woes

Two members of the Odinga family who were controversially forced to drop their bids for the seat of governor during the party nominations last week have broken their silence on a matter that sensationally put them in the spotlight for days.

Finance assistant minister Oburu Oginga and his sister, Ms Ruth Adhiambo Odinga, who had sought the ODM ticket to vie for the positions of governor in Siaya and Kisumu counties respectively, say they were victimised because of their family name.

The two have also dismissed the perception that the demonstrations held in some parts of Nyanza over the bungled ODM party nominations amounted to a rebellion against the Odinga family.

Dr Oburu blamed his predicament on the Cord alliance presidential advisers who he said believed that his ambition would jeopardise Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s chances of winning the presidential election.

Big issue

“I had to give in to pressure from them. Personally I – and let me say even Raila – did not believe that my ticket would jeopardise his chances of becoming the president. But these people who call themselves advisers or think-tank kept hammering this on him each morning he got to the office. They created a big issue out of it,” said Dr Oburu, who is the PM’s elder brother.

Dr Oburu was denied the ODM certificate by the party’s elections board after his opponent, Mr William Oduol, contested the results announced by the returning officer.

Ruth Odinga, on her part, blames her opponents whom she accused of using the Odinga tag to lock her out of the race.

“They paid some youths to create an impression that residents of Kisumu could not live with the prospects of me becoming their governor. It is sad they succeeded in this mischievous undertaking,” she said.

She further said that because the Odinga family fought and suffered for the country during the clamour for reforms, it is only fair that they also enjoy the liberty of running for elective seats of their choice.

“We should be allowed to run for any seat like other Kenyans because whether we get elected or not is the discretion of the electorate who I’m sure recognise what we have sacrificed for them,” she said.

“I was vying as Ruth Adhiambo and not as sister to Raila and it is also important to note that I trounced my opponents in the race but I had to consider the bigger picture, peace and sanity in Kisumu, that was getting worse due to isolated cases of incitement.”

Dr Oburu feels that he has been victimised for being the brother of a presidential candidate. He dismissed the claims that a rebellion was brewing against their family, especially if he insisted on getting the party’s greenlight to run for governor.

“Rebellion is a very remote idea. Those who were against my ambition to run for governor were not even Siaya people. If anything, my people had nominated me to be their governor by double the number of votes my challenger was able to garner,” he said.

He said the people of Bondo have nothing against the Odingas.

“They supported me when I was their MP for almost two decades. In fact they feel betrayed that I had to drop my bid,” he said.

Critics and some observers say the Odingas may have borne the brunt of those who rightly or wrongly felt that the family was trying to create a kingdom-like structure to occupy as many elective seats in the region as possible and so they had to be stopped.

A debate has now emerged on whether the manner in which the contested victories of Dr Oburu and his sister were handled by the ODM elections board was actually meant to forestall a likely rebellion against the Odinga family in Luo Nyanza.

Prof Egara Kabaji, a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University, argues that the decision not to award Mr Oduol the certificate to run for governor was informed by a conviction that it would have given him a licence to boast that he had beaten the mighty.

“Giving him the ticket would have led to chest-thumping – that ‘see I have removed the jinx of the Odinga factor in our politics’, and so the panel saw an easier way out of the impasse in settling on a neutral candidate,” Prof Kabaji told the Sunday Nation.

He added that removing the names of the Odinga siblings from the ballot was meant to save the face of their family and eventually the Prime Minister from imminent dissent.

“Much as this is their democratic right, something I totally agree with, common sense should have told them that it was going to be ugly,” he said.

Family grip

Mr Oduol, on his part, says it is in the minds of many of his supporters that the fear of the elections board was that had he been issued with the certificate, he would upset the Odinga family grip on Siaya politics.

“That is their opinion but I’m not fighting the Odinga family, in fact Raila remains my presidential candidate of choice,” he said.

There had been rumours that at least six members of the Odinga family were positioning themselves for several elective seats across the country.

At some point, Jaoko Oburu, who is Dr Oburu’s son and one of the founders of the Friends of Raila lobby, was said to have been eyeing the Bondo parliamentary seat that his father left to run for governor. But Dr Oburu later said the rumours were spread by “haters” out to cast the family in bad light.

“Such talks are being peddled for political expediency and should be ignored in totality,” he said, adding that none of his cousins was running for any elective position.

The Prime Minister’s step-brother, Mr Omondi Odinga, is reluctant to call it anti-Odinga rebellion but he says the riots that followed the announcement of Adhiambo and Oburu as ODM candidates for governor were seen as an attempt by the Odinga family to impose candidates on the electorate.

“I think they are just fed up with leaders being forced on them come every election. They have woken up and are ready to shrug off any form of intimidation from these usual suspects,” he said in reference to his family.

He claimed that the outcome of ODM primaries in Luo Nyanza is usually pre-determined long before they are conducted.

“I think they should have the courtesy to inform the innocent contenders that the party has its owners so they do not waste their money, time and energy campaigning for what will not come to pass,” Mr Odinga said.

Prof Peter Simatei, a lecturer at Moi University, says Ms Odinga’s right to vie for political office seems to have been undermined by a flawed nomination process and a perception that the Odingas have an unbridled hold on the local politics.

“Ruth could simply have been a victim of a mistaken belief that the Odingas had collectively agreed to sponsor her candidature but, again, who knows, perhaps a transparent, independent, peaceful and well organised nomination process would have seen her clinch the Cord ticket,” he said.

Former joint chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo is the only relative of the Odingas left standing after the bruising January 17 and 18 nominations.

But he has expressed fear that now that their detractors are done with Ms Odinga and her brother, he could be the next target.

“After concerted hate campaigns by forces in the government edged both Ms Odinga and Dr Oginga out of the race, I know they may want to target me for being a cousin of the Odingas. This is despite the fact that I won fair and square,” Mr Midiwo said.

“The motive was to create an impression that Raila is facing resentment in his own backyard, which is not anywhere near the truth. It is an isolationist tactic that will not work.”

On blogs and other social media forums where the Ogingas came under scathing attacks from residents and people who felt they were becoming too possessive of the regional politics, Mr Midiwo alleged the National Security Intelligence Service could have played a part.

“The NSIS had a strong hand in the social media hits,” he said, adding that it was a strategy to check Mr Odinga’s popularity ahead of the election.

But Elisha Odhiambo, who was vying for the ODM ticket to run for the Gem parliamentary seat, has accused Mr Midiwo of instigating the violence that hit the area in the primaries.

“He planned all this chaos and should stop pointing fingers elsewhere,” Mr Odhiambo said. Mr Midiwo has denied the claims.

From: DICKENS ODHIAMBO
Subject: Fresh Headache for Raila, Kalonzo Over Defections
Date: Monday, January 28, 2013, 12:12 PM

Fresh Headache for Raila, Kalonzo Over Defections
admin | January 27, 2013 | 0
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Stiff competition is expected among parties supporting similar coalitions in the wake of fallouts over sham nominations.

A countrywide survey shows that the Orange Democratic Movement, Wiper and United Democratic Front recorded the highest defections amid claims of flawed primaries.

This has raised fears that rivalry among parties in the same coalition could cost them seats in battlegrounds, resulting in a president with a minority support in Parliament (as was the case with President Kibaki in 2007) and Senate.

The most affected coalition is Cord, where candidates who were edged out in ODM primaries in Western, Nyanza and Coast provinces defected to Wiper and Ford Kenya.

“If one coalition is split, a weaker rival candidate is likely to win the seat,” Mr Peter Aling’o of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy said on Sunday.

He said friendly parties were cannibalising each other because the number of seats they win on March 4 will determine their strength in the coalition government formed after the election.

“The idea of a coalition is to create a sense of ownership and equality in the coalition. Post-election, this will change, and increase the possibility of underrating some partners. They will begin to ask, ‘how many votes, and how many MPs did you bring?’ The fewer the votes, the lower the standing,” said Mr Aling’o.

Mr Kibe Mungai, a lawyer and political analyst, said the intra-coalition competition will open doors for Kenyans to ‘correct the mess that happened in the sham nominations’, and shield the country from dictatorship.

“This is a blessing in disguise, because it will facilitate credible elections for the better,” said Mr Mungai.

He also noted that because different parties will be fielding candidates, it means whoever wins the presidency will not have absolute control of the Legislature.

“Whatever coalition is going to form the next government, it is in the national interest that they do not have a powerful majority in Parliament …that will be arecipe for dictatorship, and will make the impeachment clause in the Constitution an idle threat,” said Mr Mungai.

In most battlegrounds, ODM losers defected to Wiper, making the party’s leader, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, the biggest rival of Mr Raila Odinga (ODM) in hunt for elective seats in Coast Province. Mr Kalonzo is Mr Raila Odinga’s deputy in the Cord coalition. The same applies in Western, where most aspirants who lost UDF primaries decamped to New Ford Kenya of Eugene Wamalwa. New Ford Kenya and Kanu are part of Amani coalition led by Musalia Mudavadi of UDF.

The defections in Jubilee coalition have bucked the trend, with neither main affiliateparties URP and TNA fielding rival candidates. This could be partly because the parties (URP of William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA) have distinct support bases in Rift Valley and Central provinces respectively — and had a pre-election deal not to field candidates in each other’s stronghold.

The defections have set the stage for a bruising battle among friendly parties for senate, governor and MPs slots.

In Mombasa, former Kisauni MP Hassan Joho faces stiff competition from another Cord member Suleiman Shahbal who is running on a Wiper ticket for governorship. For senate, Suleiman Shakombo of ODM will battle it out with Omar Hassan of Wiper, who quit the Orange party citing favouritism.

The differences between the two wings have trickled down to some parliamentary seats such as Nyali, Jomvu and Changamwe where aspirants are competing within the Cord coalition.

In Jomvu, Environment assistant minister Ramadhan Kajemba’s son, Seif Kajembe (ODM) will face Wiper candidate Badi Twalib who decamped after losing in the Orange party primaries.

In Nyali, the contest is between Mombasa businessman Hezron Awiti Bolo (Wiper) and former deputy mayor John Mcharo (ODM).

Former unregistered Islamic Party of Kenya chairman Omar Mwinyi (ODM) will battle it out with Mr Philip Ndolo (Wiper) for the Changamwe seat.

In Taita Taveta, the contest for governorship will be lost and won in Cord, with Mr John Mruttu (ODM), Ms Jacinta Mwatela (Wiper) and Sophy Kibai (Ford Kenya) seeking the seat.

In Kisumu West constituency, former MP Olago Aluoch defected to Ford Kenya where he will contest the seat against ODM’s Rosa Buyu who was handed the ticket.

In the newly created Kisumu Central, Mr Abdul Omar will run on a Ford Kenya after claiming his victory was stolen. Mr Ken Obura has the ODM ticket.

In Nyando, former MP Fred Outa will square it out with Mr Jared Okello who defected to Ford Kenya.

Mr Hillary Alila, who lost the ODM Homa Bay senate nominations to Immigrations minister Otieno Kajwang’, will vie on a PDP ticket.

In Kisii, Cord parties face a similar dilemma.

Public Works Minister Chris Obure (ODM), Mr Omingo Magara (PDP) and Mr Raphael Raini (Ford Kenya) will fight for the senate seat.

Ms Bridgit Ombati (PDP) will battle it out with Ms Mary Sally Otara (ODM) for Kisii women representative slot.

Foreign Affairs assistant minister Richard Onyonka of ODM, Mr Don Bosco Gichana (PDP) and Anthony Kibagendi of (PPK) are all seeking the Kitutu Chache seat.

Jubilee coalition also faces the same challenge in Bomachoge Chache where Mr Fred Mititi (URP) and Mr Amos Nyamoko (TNA) want the seat.

In Kakamega, former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo (FPK) and university lecturer Shanyisa Khasiani (ODM) are vying for senate within the Cord coalition.

In the Amani coalition, assistant minister Manyala Keya will defend the Lurambi seat on New Ford Kenya ticket after he lost UDF nominations to Bishop Titus Khamala.

Housing Minister Soita Shitanda is vying for the Kakamega govenor post on a New Ford Kenya ticket after he was disqualified by UDF on academic grounds. UDF picked Mr Paul Olando.

At the same time, businessman Julius Asira is vying for the Butere seat on a Ford Kenya ticket while Mr Andrew Toboso who beat former Cabinet minister Amukoa Anangwe in the nominations will fly the ODM flag. Prof Anangwe may vie on an FPKticket.

In Malava constituency, Mr George Munji who lost to Said Khasabuli in UDF primaries has decamped to Kanu, a key partner in the Amani coalition led by Mr Musalia Mudavadi.

However, Mr John Shimaka who was also floored in the UDF nominations decamped to Wiper party and will battle it out with ODM’s Musavin Zakaya Nambwa.

Cord faces another headache in Busia County where Mr Sospeter Ojaamong (ODM) and Mr Philemon Imo of Ford Kenya are all going for the governor’s seat.

Former Attorney-General Amos Wako of ODM will lock horns with former Nambale MP Chris Okemo of Ford Kenya for the Busia senate post.

In Siaya, Mr Cornel Rasanga Amoth of ODM and Mr William Oduol of National Agenda Party of Kenya will face off for the govenor seat. Mr Oduol was denied the ticket alongside Dr Oburu Oginga following protests that the ODM secretariat had unprocedurally endorsed Dr Oginga.

Source:Daily Nation

Kenya: Siaya parliamentary aspirant says he was robbed of his nomination victory due to the family feuds within the Odinga camp pitting Mrs Ida Odinga and Dr Oburu Oginga

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From: Arrum Tidi
By Our Reporter

TROUBLE is brewing with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s family following unconfirmed claims and allegations of gross interferences over the recently concluded nomination exercise in Siaya.

Impeccable sources within the Odinga family of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga Prime Minister Raila Odinga have confided to us that there existed a highly spirited political wrangling with the Odinga family backyard as the result of the much flawed ODM nomination and thereafter the issuing of party’s nomination certificates to the winners in their respective constituencies.

The ODM nomination certificate was issued to the former Alego-Usonga MP Edwin Ochieng”Yinda, the man who had publicly acknowledged that he had been defeated in the nomination by a Kisumu Hotelier Charles Odunga Mamba.

He said he had been very close to Dr Oburu Oginga to the chagrin of Mrs Ida Odinga for some hidden reasons that he could not elaborate on, but he firmly believes Mrs Odinga is responsible for his misfortunes. He was rigged out in 2007 and again durnig the last week’s controversial ODM nominations in Siaya

Odunga mamba who runs the chains of Mamba Hotels in Kisumu City had won the majority votes during the nomination exercises. Another aspirant George Omondi had alleged admitted that he was involved in some election irregularity and was automatically disqualified from the race.

And when Charles Odunga travelled to Nairobi the next day and visited the Orange House, the party headquarters in Nairobi , he was shocked to learnt that the nomination certificate had already been collected by the former MP for the area Edwin Ochieng’ Yinda.

Odunga-Mamba, the man who is known to have been very close to the Odinga for many years and had even at times sacrificed his wealth in backing the ODM has pointed out an accusing finger to Mrs Ida Odinga, the wife of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga has having been responsible for his misfortune..

Odunga said he had always been suspicious that Mrs Ida Odinga was “not very comfortable within him”, particularly due to his unswerving support to the Finance Assistant Minister Dr.Oburu Oginga.

It all started when he threw his weight behind Dr Oburu Oginga during the battle for the Siaya County Sanatorial seat that pits Dr Oburu Oginga against the Lands Minister James Orengo. The issue was resolved amicably and the two senior most politicians in Siaya County were separated with Orengo left to vie for Senate while Dr Oburu Odinga contesting the position of the County governor.

Pressed hard as to why should Mrs Ida Odinga want him out of parliament, Odunga said that he suspected the matter to be related to the family feuds at the Odinga home turf in Bondo, Siaya County.

Pressed to state whether he was going to ditch the ODM, Odunga said he would continue supporting Raila Odinga for his presidential bid, and was not about to ditch the ODM. However, he did not mince his word and insisted that Mrs Odinga had formed the bad habit of interfering in the day to day management of the party.{ODM}.

At the same time the rumors making the rounds within Kisumu and its environs that Jack Ranguma, the man whom won the Kisumu County governorship to accept Ms Ruth Adhiambo Odinga as his deputy governor.

However, the elders from the Kano sub-clans of Jack Ranguma last night had held a meeting behind closed doors and told Ranguma not to yield to the demand from the Odinga family that Ruth Adhiambo be accommodated in the County governance as the deputy Governor of Kisumu County.

Miss Adhiambo had been one of the half a dozen of aspirants, but had pulled herself aside from the race citing her family interests. The latest demand that she be accommodated into the County governance had just come as surprise to all the elected leaders. The move has exposed members of the Odinga family as being greedy people who are ought to hold members of the Luo community at ransom and slavery bondage.

The much flawed ODM nomination exercises has become the popular talks of the town. Many people areleft wondering how Prof.Anyang’Nyong’o is going to sit in the Senate knowing it pretty well that had not won the election for the same seat in a poplar vote?.

Ends

Kenya: The aspirant who incited his supporters to burn Raila Odinga posters and block the roads with logs and burning tires is rejected by Karachuonyo residents

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kendu-Bay Town

A parliamentary aspirant in Karachuonyo constituency had lost the race during the recently concluded ODM nominations. He then ditched the party for the Wiper Orange Movement after mobilizing his supporters to stage the violent street demonstration during which Raila Odinga election posters were burnt down and the Prime Minister effigy also set alight. He now faces a total rejection by the voters.

The demonstrators, comprised mainly of drunken youth, had blocked the main Kendu-Bay – Homa-Bay road at Kanyadhiang’ bridge near the home of the aspirant Adipo Okoume. They used heavy logs, burned tires and, torched Raila Odinga’s campaign posters. The demonstrators menacingly threatened motorists while singing derogatory songs against the Prime Minister,saying “no Adipo Okuome no Raila Odinga”

The close to violent demonstration began in earnest after the word went round that the former Karachuonyo MP Eng had clinched the nomination with landslide voters.

Other aspirants included Dr Ofafa Adede, Anderson Ojwang’, Donny Opar, David Ngala. The other aspirants did not take part in the demonstrations and kept away, while the supporters of Adipo Okuome also hurled stones at the former MP’s convoy of vehicles near Nyakongo causing mechanical damage to some of the vehicles.

The former MP Eng James K.Rege returned home at the weekend to a rousing welcome by a huge enthusiastic crowd. The former MP arrived at Kendu – Bay in the convoy of vehicles numbering about 60 and openly displayed to the crowd his ODM nomination certificate. He later took to road show going around the entire Karachuonyo constituency before winding u at his Kanjira village home in West Karachuonyo.

During the rally at Kendu Bay it was disclosed that three of the ODM nomination losers have moved and secured nomination of other parties outside ODM. Adipo was reported to have moved to the Wiper Party, while David Ngala will be vying for the election in the UDF part and Donny Opar to contest on the Wiper Party tickets.

It was after this revelation that a group of elders in Karachuonyo made an impromptu announcement saying that the constituency will not be the fertile ground for votes hunting by those who have lost in the ODM nomination.

The elders’ spokesman who requested for his anonymity singled out the name of Adipo Okuome saying that although the Wiper party is in partnership with the ODM under the main umbrella of CORD alliance this particular candidate owed the Karachuonyo people an apology for having allowed his supporter to engage themselves in acts of violence, thuggery and lawlessness and for having publicly insulted the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The elders called for peaceful election campaign and asked the aspirants to respect the right of each other and at the same time not to incite their supporters to violence.

One of the elders Ex-Assistant Chief Nyandiko heaped a lot of praise on the former MP saying he had changed the face of Karachuonyo politics from the violence prone constituency to an area of peaceful co-existence and massive development. He appealed to the voters to cats their votes to Eng Rege in their thousands so that he could continue implementing his impressive development agenda.

The elders made it clear that they would not entertain any “Madoadoa” politics or let the people vote for an aspirant whose loyalty to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga is questionable. Karachuonyo is an ODM stronghold and we should like to see all the votes goes to “Agwambo”.

THE Karachuony0 elders advised the former MP Eng.Rege not to relax because the real election battle is still ahead until after March 4, 2013. They urged those who have won the elections as County Representatives in both Karachuonyo South and Karachuonyo North districts to join hands with the rest of the population to ensure massive votes for Raila Odinga’s presidential victory.

Ends

7 Days of Peace Activism- 25th Feb to 3rd March 2013

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From: odhiambo okecth

Friends,

On the 3rd March 2013, we will host The National Prayers for a Peaceful General Elections at Uhuru Park and we will also issue Certificates of Appreciation to all the Teams that have made Kenyans for a Clean General Elections Campaign.

This will be preceded by 7 Day of Peace Activism starting on the 25th Feb and ending with the Prayer Session on the 3rd March at Uhuru Park and we will visit on a Daily Basis, all the perceived Hot Spot Areas in Nairobi. You are invited to be part of this Great Transformation shaping our attitudes towards each other as One People under God.

Mr. Cornelius Wamalwa- DC Dagoreti addressing residents of Kawangware 56 during the Dagoreti Human Peace Caravan. With him is Oto

These are the Team Members for Kenyans for a Clean General Elections Campaign so far;
A Better World/SOFDI
The Public Service Transformation Department
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission
The Provincial Administration- Nairobi
The City Council of Nairobi
The National Steering Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Management
The CHF International- Kenya Tuna Uwezo
PeaceNet Kenya
Kituo Cha Sheria
The Kenya Police Service
Administration Police Band
The Traffic Police Department
The World Vision Kenya
Transparency International
Radio Ramogi- Royal Media Services Ltd
Waumini FM
Kiss FM- Radio Africa Group
Citizen TV- The Power Break Fast Show
Freedom House
Dagoreti District Peace Committee
Kibera Community Justice Centre
Kariobangi Waste Management Alliance and
The People of Kenya

Mr. Stanslaus Alusiola of Kibera Community Justice Centre and Kituo Cha Sheria addresses the residents of Kawangware during the Dagoreti Human Peace Caravan

This Campaign has not been easy. Tomorrow we are heading to Dandora at 10am for a Consultative and Planning Forum for the Dandora Human Peace Caravan scheduled for 2nd Feb, and then at 2pm, we will pay a Courtesy Call on DC Westlands for the same. The Kangemi Human Peace Caravan will be on the 9th Feb.

This is our Revised Programme that also indicates what we have done, Courtesy of the Friends and Partners at The Kenyans for a Clean General Elections Campaign;

. 5th January 2013; Mathare in Starehe- Hosted

· 12th January 2013; Highrise in Langata- Hosted

· 16th January 2013; Kariobangi -Kasarani- Hosted

. 16th January 2013; Voter Education Launch at Dandora Sports Groun- Hosted

. 17th January 2013; Hosted at Radio Ramogi at 8.00am- Hosted

. 18th January 2013; Hosted at Radio Waumini at 10.00am for a Programme that will air at 7.30pm today.- Hosted

· 19th January 2013; Mathare Human Peace Caravan- Hosted

. 19th January 2013; Kongowea Clean-up Campaign- Hosted

. 19th January 2013; in the US; President Barack Obama joins in the National Day of Service- Hosted

. 19th January 2013; Kibabii DTTC Red Cross joins in cleaning Bungoma District Hospital- Hosted

· 21st January 2013; Courtesy Call on the DC Dagoreti- Hosted

. 24th January 2013; Planning Session with various Groups at Dagoreti.- Hosted

. 24th January 2013; A Meeting with the Director- Administration Police Band at 2.00pm- Hosted

. 26th January 2013; Dagoreti Human Peace Caravan- Hosted

· 29th January 2013; Consultative and Planning Session with DO and Team- Kariobangi

. 29th January 2013; Consultative and Planning Session with DC and Team- Westlands

. 31st January 2013; Consultative and Planning Session with DC and Team- Makadara

. 2nd February 2013; The Dandora Human Peace Caravan- Embakasi

· 9th February 2013; The Kangemi Human Peace Caravan- Westlands

. 11th February 2013; Consultative and Planning Session with DC and Team- Kisumu

· 13th February 2013; Makadara

· 16th February 2013; Kisumu

. 19th February 2013; Consultative and Planning Session with DC and Team- Kamukunji

· 23rd February 2013; Kamukunji

On the 25th February 2013, we will launch 7 Days of Peace Activism in Nairobi and this will be our Programme;
25th February 2013; Kayole Soweto
26th February 2013; Kariobangi North
27th February 2013; Kibera
28th February 2013; Embakasi Village
29th February 2013; Mathare
2nd February 2013; Kiambio
3rd March 2013; National Prayers for a Clean and Peaceful General Elections at Uhuru Park

Edgar and the Young Volunteers for the Environment with, Mr. Njoroge Nyagah of Freedom House and Oto after the Dagoreti Human Peace Caravan

Let us all work for a Clean Kenya, a Clean Africa and a Clean General Election as a Transformative Deliverable as we turn 50 in Kenya.

Odhiambo T Oketch,
Executive Director,

The Clean Kenya Campaign- TCKC

Tel; 0724 365 557

Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com
Blogspot; http://kcdnkomarockswatch. blogspot.com
Website; www.kcdnkenya.org
Facebook;University Students for a Clean Kenya

Facebook; Odhiambo T Oketch
Facebook; Monthly Nationwide Clean up Campaign
Mailing Group; friendsofkcdn@ yahoogroups.com

The Clean Kenya Campaign is an Initiative of KCDN Kenya

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

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Diaspora Kenya Peace initiative, Presents

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From: Mary Gakere
To: jaluo jaluo jaluo@jaluo.com

From: Daniel Mwaniki
Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 2:19 PM
Subject: Diaspora Kenya Peace initiative, Presents

Diaspora Kenya Peace initiative, Presents

We, Diaspora Kenya Peace Initiative, are urging every Kenyan and Kenyan friends to spread the word of peace and refuse to engage in any kind of violence during the coming elections. We do not want the repeat of 2007 mayhem that put Kenya in the world’s ugly spotlight. We love Kenya and we cannot seat and watch it slide back. The Kenyans have the power and the will to reject any kind of violence regardless of the elections outcome. We demand smooth power transitions and observation of rule of law.

Please watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8BnNcDkk3o&feature=youtu.be and forward this email to reach as many Kenyans as possible, at home and abroad.

If the link does not work for you, cut and paste the URL to your browser, or do a search on YouTube for Diaspora Kenya Peace Initiative01.

Thank you
Diaspora Kenya Peace Initiative of Southern California.

Kenya: Will the Luo – Kuria power – sharing arrangement brokered by Raila Odinga stand the test and earn him votes in the region?

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The power sharing which was recently hatched and brokered by the ODM leaders in Migori County which resulted in the apportioning of all important elective positions in the newly devolved County governance. Will this work in favor of the Prime Minister galvanizing the Kuria votes for his presidential ambition ?

The answer is “big No”. This is because the arrangement which was brokered under the Minister for Public Services Dalmas Otieno in collaboration with few Luo MPs in total secrecy behind the locked doors of hotel room in Nairobi had excluded many stakeholders in the Migori regional political derby.

The original aims and objectives of this arrangement was meant to ensure the minority Kuria community, which is one of the smaller and marginalized communities, would not be swallowed by their neighboring Luo majority when it comes to the allocation of decision making positions within the MIGORI county under the new constitutional dispensation.

The idea was noble, though it cane very late and only after several Luo and Kuria political personalities had already launched their campaign for the various elective positions.

Under the new arrangement several positions a were dished out exclusively for the Kuria. The senior most of all was the coveted Senatorial position. The County governor position was given the the Luos, while the Deputy Governor position went to the Kuria as well as the County CEO and Speaker of the Regional Assembly.

Among the Luo politicians whose campaign trail had already hit the ground included the former Mathare MP and at one time a member of the East African Legislative Assembly, Gilbert Ochieng” Mbeo, A one time two terms KANU MP for the larger Homa-Bay constituency Phares Oluoch Kanindo. Also in the ace for the Senate seat was a prominent Kuria politician John Magaiwa is the current ODM Migori County branch chairman.

Migori County is a region whose inhabitants comprises of communities from diverse communities. There are thousands of Abaluhyia, Maragolis, Kisii, Abasuba and Somalis therefore it was a great mistake and miscalculation of the fact for the ODM having thought of the Lus and Kurias only.

There were several Luo personalties who were also eying the governor position. They included Prof Edward Akong’o Oyugi, a young technocrat Mark Nyamita, a member of the Kenya Sugar Board Zachary Okoth Obado.

The decision which is believed and suspected to have been influenced and brokered by the former Kuria MP Dr Wilfred Machage. DR Machage is a Kenyan Kuria politician whose family is deeply rooted in the neighboring Tanzania. He has been an MP for Kuria ever since 2002. But wanted to find a soft-landing spot after sensing that PNU was heading for political limbo.

The arrangement was readily approved by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who made two quick tour of Kuria region for the purpose of ensuring that the new arrangement between the two communities is harmonized ahead of the March 4, 2012 general election.

The new arrangement of power-sharing between the two communities was endorsed by th Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who made two quick tour of the region to try to harmonize the frosty relations between the two communities.

What Raila Odinga did not know was that Machage has no political clout over the Kuria people, though he has been their MP for two terms. He is not welcome in many parts of the two administrative districts of Kuria East and Kuria West.

Dr Machage had demanded that he be given direct nomination to the Senate seat by the ODM leadership to the chagrins of the voters and other ODM politicians Dr Machage was found of bashing Raila and the party. The former MP remained the most vocal of critic of ODM and Raila Odinga while he was serving in the coalition government as an Assistant Minister for Works on the PNU side.

At one time he was arraigned in court and charged with making inflammatory and hate speeches the charge which prompted his close to one year suspension from the cabinet

The Kura community is divided into four major sub-clans, namely Nyabansi ,Bugumbe, Bukiria. And Buirege. The constituency has since been sub-divided into two parliamentary constituencies and named by the IEBC Kuria East and Kuria West. It was one of the 80 extra parliamentary constituencies created last year by the ICEBC and endorsed by an Act of parliament .Most of the four sub-clans had close tie with their cousins living across the Kenya-Tanzania borders.

The Luos in Migori County vehemently objected to the new arrangement arguing that apportioning the political seats would mean balkanization of the tribes in the area, though they two communities have lived in peace and harmoniously in the past.·

The power-sharing issue had elicited the heated debate and argument , but Raila Odinga insisted that the Kuria must be brought to the mainstream of ODM so that he could harvest their votes.

When the ODM primary nomination was conducted in the region on January 17, 2012. Raila Odinga’s man Dr Wilfred Machage was handed down e devastative defeat by John Magaiwa who polled over 72,000 votes against Dr. Machage’s 51,000.But strange things happened, Magaiwa wad denied the nomination certificate, which was handed over to the Defeated Dr. Machage.

Magaiwa who had been steadfastly an ODM leader in Kuria for the last two decades was kicked out of the party. He has since reportedly sought for an URP ticket. But on the ground the decision made by the ODM headquarters of denying Magaiwa the party’s nomination certificate despite of his landslide victory over Dr. Machage has disappointed the Kuria people who have now vowed not to vote for Raila Odinga.

Other short-changed aspirants for Migori Senate seat and that of governor have jumped the ODM bandwagon. Other like Ochieng’ Mbeo have decided not to contest the election on other party tickets, but vowed not to campaign for the ODM and Raila Odinga in the area.

With the populist Magaiwa jumping the ship and joining the URP, the ODM should as well forget the Kuria votes. Also short-changed was Ms Ghati, a young Kuria woman who had vigorously campaigned for the Migori women representative. Although she had won in the primary nomination, she was denied the ticket which went to Mrs Owino Acholla, the wife of the one time former Migori MP was dished out to Mrs Anne Omodho Anyanga, the wife of the Nyatike MP Eick Omond

Ends

Kenya & Rwanda: FAREWELL PARTY FOR REBSON DZALA – ASPIRANT KILIFI NORTH (MP)

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From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Fellow Kenya,

Am happy to let you know that, one of our members, Rebson Dzala won the Kilifi North Nominations (for MP). He will soon relocate to focus all his energies in pursuit of his dreams of being a change agent.

The friends of Dzala in conjunction with Kenya-Rwanda Business Association invites you to his farewell party tomorrow 26th Jan 2013 at Foeyes Premier Hotel from 3 pm.

Rebson has requested for your support and prayers in this gruelling task ahead. Find a copy of Rebson’s Nomination Certificate!

Go….. Rebson……. Go for it !!!

Carol.

Kenya: Tension has gripped the South Rift regions following the zoning of the area as the exclusive URP electoral zone

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo.In Kericho Town

Political temperatures has arisen up followed by tension in the South Rift region of the expansive Rift Valley Province after several districts were Cannibalized together and declared the exclusive voting zone outside the jubilee Alliance.

The issue came to the surface immediately soon after the recently concluded Jubilee Alliance primary nominations. In the nomination exercise, TNA, which is the principal alliance and partner of the URP had its members barred from contesting the elective positions in areas which were classified as the URP electoral zones.

The districts which were grouped together and declared as the exclusive electoral zone of the URP included several Counties of Kericho, Bomet, Nandi, Baringo, Keiyo, Baringo, Trans-Mara, Molo, Nakuru Kuresoi and other places.

An aspirant who was vying the election in the newly created Sigowet constituency in the lower Belgut region of Kericho County said that those who turned up ready to contest the elections on TNA were turned away and told that they cannot contest any seat in those areas which had already been classified as the URP electoral zone.

A good number of aspirants have since sought for accommodation in other parties, and the fear persist that those who won in the URP primaries in the region might not make it to the next parliament after March 4, 2013.

In the same context, the jubilee Alliance is also risking being rejected by the electorate in the region due to its discriminative policy, which has Balkanized the communities on tribal line.

TNA members were denied the right of contesting the election on Jubilee ticket and told they can only do so on URP ticket. But not on TNA which is the umbrella of the Jubilee Aliance

Members of the Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic group who form the bulk of the majority of the resident of the South Rift region are known not to be comfortable with the jubilee Alliance that has in the face of it brought together the Kipisigis and the kikuyu community.

This particular community has yet to e wholeheartedly in the Jubilee Alliance, and view the URPO leader William Ruto who has secured the powerful position in the alliance of being the running – mate for the Jubilee Alliance Presidential candidate as someone who has mortgaged the community for his selfish interests.

The Sigowet aspirant who requested for his anonymity has since moved to another political party outside the Jubilee Alliance and has appealed to other who felt grieved to do likewise.

The zoning of these electoral areas is illegal and was made deliberately to have William Ruto’s political surrogates and sycophants get political mileage over their opponents during the much flawed primary nominations. He also blamed the former Belgut MP Charls Keter for being the architect of the political zonng of the South Rift region, and warned that the former legislator who is now vying for Kericho County senate seat will pay dearly for his part in ill-advising the URP to create the tribal zoning.

The zoning of several districts had disarmed many would be aspirant for the various elective positions in these area. It has also raised political temperature in the region which could see the majority of the voters drifting back to ODM and CORD.

The common talks making the round in Kericho and its environs is that William Ruto the URP leader had miscalculated and underestimated the intelligence of the voters in the region in is plan to convince his Jubilee partners that he had the political clout over the voters in the zoned districts, something which he will pay dearly for his mistakes.

The zoning of the vote’s rich districts into URP exclusive electoral zones, might also have a serious repercussion on Uhuru Kenyatta presidential voting system.

“Our people are not for sale, and Ruto seemed to be hell-bent in auctioning the Kalenjin voters for his selfish interest, but we shall teach him a lesson that he will live to regret for years to come, let him just wait for the March 4, 2013,” retored Mr Josephat Lang’at a Litein politican.

The Kipsigis sub-tribe, the most populous among th Kalenjin ethnic group has about 12 parliamentary constituencies in Kericho, Bomet, Molo and Rongai. Some of its members live in Nandi, Cheranganyi, Nakuru, Narok South, Kilgoris,Trans-Nzoia and Subukio.

Ends

Election violence in Kenya? … Not again

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From: Judy Miriga

People,

This is not what Kenya expects in the Reform Change we have been fighting for.No corrupt person should be forced on people once they are rejected. The peoples verdit is final……..People are the boses, they choose how they wish to be governed and all political players must respect wishes of the people.

The fight for Reform change is not over people, we shall continue fighting till the “Voice of Reason” is respected and honored.

We are all in this together for the sake of Reform Change and let justice speak up for the people.

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

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Election violence? Not again

Updated Wednesday, January 23 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3
By Njoki Karuoya

Last week, I lost hope that the March 4 elections would be peaceful. With all the main presidential candidates working hard to be seen as national by appointing running mates from different communities, I was confident that a repeat of the 2008 post-election violence would not occur. But now I’m not so sure.

While the violence that seems set to rock the country in six weeks time may not be tribal-based but more about individual winners and losers, the scary fact is that violence will be a reality; and it may be worse than what we saw last weekend.

Bloated pool

I’m I being pessimistic? Perhaps, but imagine this. The post-primary violence was at the level of aspirants, and a bloated pool at that, which means hope more than guarantee, carried the day. Now there are all these candidates carrying around nomination certificates that declare them as bona fide party representatives for various seats, who believe they are the one.

And in the next six weeks, that ego will get so bloated that it will not be contained within the confines of a ballot box. So can you now imagine the explosions when their opponents are declared winners?

If the police want to ensure a more level-headed, violent reaction (if there is anything like that) after the pronouncement of winners, they need to, between now and then, disarm all Kenyans off pangas, jembes, tyres, matches, petrol and other inflammable and blunt objects. These are often the tools of violent. If they can manage this too, they need to force all Kenyans to attend anger-management crash courses that will also include lessons on the importance of peace, including peaceful protests.

Most importantly, the police will need to increase their bullets (hopefully the rubber bullets), tear gas and other riot-control weapons.

Abducted

But seeing as all these may be a tall order for the police, I’m worried for all those innocents who may be at the right place at the wrong time, and accidentally find themselves in the middle of abrupt violence. The victims of such mayhem are often women and children. When such violence erupts, women walking around are grabbed and gang raped. Children are abducted or killed.

And yes, it may be easy to tell people to lock themselves in their houses right from the evening of March 4 (after the voting exercise) till Sunday, March 10 when, hopefully, the final results will have been announced and any violent rages following such announcements have run out of steam. But we all know that violence tends to find people in the perceived safety of their homes.

Five years ago, when some people went out of their houses to protest the controversial presidential elections, many stayed at home. Others ran to places of ‘safety’ like churches, police stations and the chief’s camp. But the bloodthirsty killers went after them. People were killed in their homes, either by the rioters or by the police. Others were killed in church, while women were raped everywhere.

Accept loss

This is not the life I want for myself or for any Kenyan. I want us to live in peace, irrespective of other people’s opinion – because that is what elections are all about; providing individuals with the opportunity to exercise their opinion. The majority of Kenyans with the same opinion carry the day. That’s just the way it is. If you and those thinking like you lose, it’s simply because not as many people thought the same way.

Maturity is the skill to painfully accept your loss, find reasonable ways to vent your frustration then move along. Violence is never the answer as it costs more than acceptance, what with the collateral damage and loss of property and livelihoods.

Just how mature are we as Kenyans? That will be the major test as we get closer to March 4. Let us choose peace and tolerance instead of war and intolerance.

I wish all candidates the best, but as they campaign, they must realise that those nomination certificates they hold are not the tickets to success. They could lose come March 4, too, and they need to act as gentlemen and ladies when the proof is presented to them; and as leaders by calming their supporters down to peace instead of inciting them to violent protests.

South Nyanza Protests

Published on Jan 18, 2013

Protests rocked most parts of the County over alleged manipulation of results. Riots rocked Kendu Bay town amid claims that the nomination for Karachuonyo Parliamentary seat had been manipulated while in Ndiwa, scores of demonstrators poured to the streets claiming manipulation was going on in favour of outgoing Mp Augustine Netto.

Protests over insecurity in Kisumu

Updated Monday, October 29 2012 at 00:00 GMT+3

By Mangoa Mosota

Prominent Kisumu businessman Shem Kwega has died and his wife critically wounded after being shot by thugs in broad daylight.

Shem Kwega and his wife Rose Onyango were admitted at the Intensive Care Unit at Aga Khan Hospital soon after the incident. Kwega later succumbed to injuries.

The duo was shot at a few minutes after 10am, along Nyerere Road, near Mamba Hotel.

A witness, Morgan Ashino, said the two thugs armed with a G3 gun, blocked Kwega’s car, before he got out.

“He came out and held the gun, before one of them hit him on the head with a fist,” said Ashino, a motor cycle operator.

Kwega then got into his car and tried to drive off, but the thugs shot him several times, as the vehicle swerved into a ditch. His wife was also shot as the gang forcefully took a bag reported with some money from her.

Ashino said together with four other motor cycle operators, followed the thugs all the way to Nyamasaria, about five kilometres away.

The shooting incident sparked off a wave of protests by an assistant minister Ayiecho Olweny and local residents who marched in the streets demanding action.

Protestors blocked the Kisumu – Kakamega road, with over 500 of them surrounding Kondele police station.

More than 30 police officers drawn from Kisumu and Nyando Divisions are hunting the gang, who drove from the town in vehicle they had earlier hijacked.

Kwega is the Kisumu Town West Constituency ODM chairman and in 2007 sought parliamentary seat, but lost in the nominations. He owns two petrol stations in the lakeside town.

The shooting comes only two days after an acclaimed researcher was killed by thugs in Tom Mboya area.

Dr Joseph Odhiambo, of Centre for Disease Control (CDC) was hacked on his head on Saturday night.

The deceased was a senior technical adviser to the CDC’s Global Aids Programme.

Nyongo’ under fire over flawed Kisumu vote

Updated Saturday, January 19 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3
By Rushdie Oudia

KISUMU; KENYA: Five governor aspirants in Kisumu County are demanding the resignation of ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyongo’.

The aspirants accused Prof Nyongo’ of interfering with party nominations in the county, alleging he was to blame for the flawed exercise.

Led by Owino Omolo and Ruth Odinga, the aspirants also called for the nullification of all governorship results, saying the process should be repeated.

The aspirants alleged that Nyong’o was working with Jack Raguma, who is also in the governorship race, to ensure the two of them win. Ms Odinga alleged that Raguma alongside Nyong’,o had gone to collect ballot papers at the Kisumu Airport on Thursday, which was illegal.

“It is wrong for ballot papers to be in the hands of an aspirant,” she said, alleging that the two had a cup of tea with one of the ODM returning officers, who was to oversee the nominations.

“No nominations will take place until returning officers and presiding officers are changed,” said Ms Odinga. However, Nyongo dismissed the claims as cheap politics, saying he was not meddling.

How Kisumu was turned into a battlefield

Updated Monday, January 21 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

By Maureen Odiwuor

KISUMU, KENYA: A returning officer was escorted by heavily armed security detail to Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu where he announced the Kisumu County nomination results.

The officer, said to have been appointed by the party after Albert Mbwaga was replaced for allegedly colluding with Orange Democratic Movement Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o, addressed impatient party supporters at 10.30pm on Saturday.

He declined to identify himself but went ahead to read a list of results that he referred to as provisional. He started by declaring Shakeel Shabbir as the Kisumu East parliamentary nominee.

For Nyando, Kisumu West and Muhoroni, where voting was still going on at the time of announcement, former MPs Fred Outa, Olago Aluoch and Ayiecho Olweny were declared winners respectively. Ochola Ogoda was announced the winner for the senate seat while in Seme constituency no winner was declared.

Mlolongo results indicated Dr James Nyikal was ahead of the rest.

Heated reactions

Hell broke loose when he announced Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s sister, Ruth Odinga, as the ODM governor nominee. This sparked reactions from ODM supporters who began protesting following an earlier announcement that Jack Ranguma had clinched the governor ticket.

The angry crowd reacted violently, with one General Service Unit officer was hit by a stone on the head.

This prompted security officers at the scene to lob teargas canisters to disperse the protesting youth before the team that announced the results was escorted out of the venue.

Tension had been heightened by the long wait supporters had to endure for the release of the results. At 9pm, the impatient crowd attempted to force their way into the college

List of ODM nominees as submitted to IEBC

Updated Wednesday, January 23 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3

Women Representative-Florence Mwikali Mutua

Siaya County

Gubernatorial -Cornelus Arasanga Amoth

Senatorial -Hon. James Orengo

Women Representative-Emily Agnes Awitta

Kisumu County

Gubernatorial -Jackson Ranguma

Senatorial -Hon. Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o

Women Representative-Rose Auma Ogendo Nyamunga

Homa Bay County

Gubernatorial -Cyprian Otieno Awiti

Senatorial -Gerald Otieno Kajwang

Women Representative-Gladys Atieno Nyasuna Wanga

Migori County

Gubernatorial -Prof. Edward Oyugi Akongo

Deputy Governor-Anne Omodho Anyanga

Senatorial -Hon. Wilfred Gisuka Machage

Women Representative-Susan Millie Owino

Kisii County

Gubernatorial -Hon. James Elvis Omariba Ongwae

Senatorial -Christopher Mogere Obure

fredrick Ja Gem24 January 2013 3:25 PM ODM should stop fooling around with luo Nyanza people,the days of party euphoria is over,the days of imposing leaders to people is a “thing of da past” Let Raila and his party know that we need change in our region and NOT BIG names like Nyong’o,Midiwo,Oburu,Kajwang’ and other non performing leaders,Odingaism will never exist in luo Nyanza if this is the case,common mwananchis’ right cannot be violated by some few characters in the name of ODM…ON that note right now am mobilizing Siaya county residents to vote candidates of their choice and not party….Dictatorship should be stopped and democracy be exercised,we are perishing because we lack knowledge and wisdom nnktt.

Esther Wanga24 January 2013 10:16 AM Clearly ODM.Can you revise your list otherwise Raila wont see my vote.I’d rather vote Uhuru.dont u think you are hurting people???Mr Bett???Can you give us the people we chose.I’m disappointed particularly for Homabay County_Rangwe constituency.You replaced the MP we chose together with all the county reps.How do you explain Position 5 securing a certificate??????DEMOCRATIC INDEED!!!You’ll be in for a rude shock!Keep up you mulpractices!!

PAUL TWENYO from Homabay24 January 2013 9:46 AM Sincerely,I am greatly disappointed with ODM party,I have just realized it has its owners,wait for a rude shock on 4th of MARCH 2013,we cannot continue suffering at expense of other peoples benefit,it is in Nyanza where a meter from fresh water lake is a desert,and it in Kisumu where 20litre water goes 20 Kenya shillings during dry season yet, fresh water lake is at stone throw.We must be allowed to elect those we feel can meet our needs “Nitawakataa” come rain, come sunshine.

JARAE24 January 2013 8:56 AM We are not happy with the way Raila dictates luo Nyanza.Nyong’o and Midiwo did not win.This is a total shame and should have just gone ahead to include Oburu and Ruth.Shame

Victor JaAlego23 January 2013 6:46 PM Guys, RAO is not OMNIPOTENT, in fact he was sitting somwhere sipping his tea.Your fury is directed to the wrong person.The National Election Board are to blame and surely something is happening.The corrupt parted with money and will be drained down the loo.ODM is the party to beat like it or not.

Ndege23 January 2013 6:37 PM ODM if that is the way democracy is done then i aint voting any ODM candidate. surely we are no robots they should have seen the mood on the ground imposing leaders on people and its the electorate who have the voice that’s a big NO. Like Muhoroni the so called Prof was beaten yet he was handed nomination. rude shock is awaiting ODM on 4th March.

CONCERNED SERIOUS KENYAN23 January 2013 5:28 PM AS YOU MAKE YOUR BED, SO SHALL YOU LIE ON IT. COME 4TH MARCH 2013, RAILA AMOLLO ODINGA, DON’T REGRET ON THE OUTCOME. YOU MIGHT GET YOUR PRESIDENTIAL VOTES WITH NO MPS, GOVERNORS, SENATOR, COUNTY REPS ETC. THE MAJORITY MIGHT COME FROM OTHER PARTIES WHICH DEMONSTRATE SERIOUSNESS WITH PROPER DUE DILIGENCE ON THE CANDIDATES THEY PICK TO SUPPORT THEIR VICTORY. REMEMBER CHAPTER 6 ON INTEGRITY WHIC DOES NOT EXCLUDE NOMINATION OF PROPERLY VETTED CANDIDATES. I WISH YOU WELL IN YOU PRESIDENTIAL BID.

Elphas Osii23 January 2013 4:43 PM I cant believe what has just happened….if that is the so called Democracy,Jakom,watch these space on 4/3/2013…..

Siasa Kali23 January 2013 1:18 PM Please, this is not what we want or expected, why leave all the preferred nominees and pick your own for the specific sits? Was the nomination process for formality? Wait and see, come 04/03/2013, i know i’m not alone, we will serve you right. I now understand the internal dictatorship within the ODM that sent away all the PENTAGON members.

Thugs attack Judge probing Tana clashes

By CYRUS OMBATI
NAIROBI, KENYA: A High Court Judge was on Wednesday night carjacked and kidnapped in a robbery incident in her Karen home, Nairobi.

Lady Justice Grace Nzioka was driving into her compound at about 10 pm when she was confronted by five heavily armed men.

The Judge, who chairs a commission investigating the Tana River clashes that have claimed more than 160 lives and displaced thousands of people, told police that she was alone in her official car when gunmen who seemed to have been waiting struck.

Taking her hostage, they forced her into her house and ransacked it. The attackers confiscated several documents, a laptop, television set and other electronics.

The Judge’s husband, who is a businessman, drove in during the robbery unaware of the attack. The gang also took him hostage for hours as they demanded cash and other unclear “information”.

Police say the gang later abducted the two and drove with them out of their compound to Dagoretti area where they withdrew more than Sh40,000 from their ATM accounts.

They then took them to Kangemi area where they abandoned the two in the darkness and directed them to where they would leave the cars.

The Judge and her husband later drove back to their residence after they alerted police.

Police, who are still investigating the attack, have questioned why Nzioka’s personal body guard and a police officer stationed at the Judge’s home were unarmed at the time of the incident.

Detectives who visited the scene say their preliminary analysis shows that the gang was interested in the Judge’s laptop.

“We believe the other items they stole were just a cover up and their interest was in the laptop which they took. We are investigating,” said a senior police officer.

Nairobi Area head of police operations Wilfred Mbithi says no arrest or recovery has been made so far.

Judge Nzioka chairs a commission that is investigating Tana River clashes that have so far claimed 160 lives.

She was scheduled to officially release the report on the clashes on Friday after hearing evidence from more than 130 witnesses.

The night attack is believed to be linked to the report that the commission was compiling.

The incident comes a week after lands permanent secretary Ms Dorothy Angote and her husband were attacked in similar incident in their Lavington estate, Nairobi.

Their car is yet to be recovered after they were carjacked and robbed.

The couple was attacked last Wednesday night and robbed before they were dumped in a coffee plantation in Kikuyu.

According to police, Angote and her husband were driving to their home when they were attacked by three gunmen who had posed as her security guards.

Apparently the thugs had earlier attacked the security guards at the compound, stripped them of their uniforms and tied them in a corner. The thugs later wore the guards’ uniforms and positioned themselves in the compound.

When the couple arrived at about 10pm, the thugs ushered them in before holding them at gunpoint. According to reports, the gang was armed with AK47 rifles.

Angote and her husband were then driven around the city before they were abandoned in a coffee plantation past midnight. They were later rescued by police after villagers found them tied to a tree in the coffee plantation.

Police who saw them said they were unhurt. On Wednesday, police said they were yet to make an arrest or recovery of the car.

Detectives handling the case said they have a clue on who the gunmen were but they are yet to know the motive and were trailing them.

Police said the thugs also stole the couple’s X-Trail car, jewelry, cash, an iPad and other personal valuables.

THE FIASCO OF ODM PRIMARY NOMINATION IN NYANZA HAS EXPOSED THE PARTY LEADERSHIP AS NOT BEING SERIOUS WHILE CRUSADING FOR REFORM AND DEMOCRACY IN KENYA.

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

.It is like as if the ODM leadership is preaching water while they drink wines. The outcome of the last week’s flawed ODM primary nomination should place the party leadership into a very shameful position which needs a lot of concentrate and more energy in public relations work.

This mismanaged nomination has obviously given and equipped Raila Odinga rivals in the presidential race with ammunition with which they could use to discredit his crusading for reforms and democracy.

Despite of the strong of massive rebellion against the Prime Minister by his Luo supporters in his home backyard in Nyanza, the corruption ridden and much flawed ODM preliminary nomination exercises has left “Agwambo” like a wounded bull of buffalo.

What has since emerged like selection and not election will see Mr Odinga sitting in the eleventh parliament with not very credible MPs who can be said to be enjoying the public confidence, but a bunch of selected group rigged into the August House. And because the Prime Minister is facing an up-hill task of overcoming his opponents in the presidential race, he really needed a solid support and backing from his Luo home backyard in a similar fashion which he enjoyed in the 2007 general election.

This is so important because of Kenya’s politics is based on ethnicity strength and numbers, it appears here as if the Prime Minister had taken his tribesmen for granted and made no effort of sensitizing the on the importance of maintaining high standard of discipline in their undertakings, especially on matters related to the competitive politics.

Here are the list of the number of parliamentary constituencies where no genuine voting took place, and people purported to have won the nomination and those who are purported to have won the primaries in these constituencies were only handed the nomination certificates by the ODM in silver platter.

In Homa-Bay County, there were no elections which took place in Kabondo-Kasipul, Kasipul, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Ndhiwa, Mbita and Gwassi..It was a big miss because the election materials either arrived in those places twenty four later after the expiry of the dateline and deadline set by the ICEBC.

The valid reason for the apathy shown by the voters in those places could as well be attributed to non-arrival or late arrival of election materials from the ODM headquarters in Nairobi, massive corruption practiced openly by those who were appointed and sent into those rural constituencies either as presiding or returning officers as well as polling stations clerks.

These personnel who were supposed to be responsible in supervising the nomination exercises went into bribery spree accepting money from the competing aspirants and then declaring those who had performed dismally at the polls as the winners to the chagrins of the electorate. After accepting bribes the returning officer later faked stories of kidnapping, some said they were intimidated and that their lives were placed in great danger. and yet some of the were known to have laughed all the way to the banks after receiving fat bribe money.

Still in Homa-Bay county, here no voting took place in places like Mbita, Homa-Bay, Town, Rangwe, Kabondo Kasipul, Kasipul Gwassi and Ndhiwa. Thee only place where members of the public had the slightest chances of casting their votes was in Karachuonyo constituency. Bribery is said to have not been confined within the constituencies, but had also started all the way from the party head office where some ballot boxes were poorly packed and sent out in insecure condition which were prone to interferences while the documents were still in transit

Some places receiving ballot boxes and ballot papers without bearing the names of some candidates or some candidates had their names missing from the ballot papers. This was the case of Kabondo-Kasipul. .In Migori County, genuine voting exercises only took places in two constituencies, namely Migori East and Migori West. It was only in Rongo constituency where the actual voting exercise took place, though there were inadequate election materials.

In the newly created Awendo cons politician with contact and influence at the ODM headquarters is believed to have prevailed upon the party’s election board members to have his political surrogate and sycophant declared the winner in a place which had not received even one single ballot box.

Rumors were also rampant that a vehicle loaded with panga Machetes] had ferried the consignment from Kisumu to Awendo. The machetes are said to have been distributed to the youths, for the purpose of committing a felony during the primaries and thereafter during the election proper.

He residents have appealed to the police to launch a thorough investigation with the view to unearth the whereabouts of the huge consignment of machetes. The same could be used on March 4, 2013 for the purpose of causing mayhem.

Hired political goons were deployed everywhere, including inside polling booths. In places where the goons perceived that their master was on the losing end, they moved, invaded the polling stations,seized ballot papers and destroyed election materials including the votes which had already been casted. To-date nobody had appeared before a court of law charged with the offences causing willful damages to property.

It was in Uriri constituency within Migori district where the voters were able to vote, though in a small scale. And they sent the former MP Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo packing and replace him with the populist Eng Kobado, a former Principal of the Kenya Railways Training School, the only man in greater Southern Nyanza who is believed to have won his primary nomination genuinely.

The former Luo-Nyanza MPs who lost the nomination, though some of them later found their way after their names had been submitted to the ICEBC include Ayiecho Olueny [uhotoni} Otieno Ogindo{Rangwe} Oyugi Magwanga {Kasipul], Edick Omondfi Anyanga [Nyatike}, Fred Outa {Nyando}, Pollyins Ochieng’ Daima, {Nyakach, Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem{, Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town West[.

Hose who had defended their seats successfully included Eng. Nicholas Gumbo [Rarieda],Shakeel Ahmed |Shabbir {Kisumu Town East, Dalmas Otieno,{Rongo}John Pesa [Migori East}Eng James Rege [Karachuonyo} and John Mbadi {Gwassi}.

VERIFICATION OF VOTERS REGISTER (IN RWANDA)

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From: AKR|Association of Kenyans Living in Rwanda

Fellow Kenyan,

Happy New Year !

Be advised that the voters register will be open for verification at the Kenya High Commission Chancery, Kacyiru, Kigali during working hours from today the 23rd Jan 2013 @ 2.00 pm Rwanda Time.

NB – This register has the details of those who registered at the same station (Kenya High Commission Chancery, Kacyiru – Kigali) Only. Please be guided accordingly.

Many Happy returns for the year ahead,

Carol