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Confronting China: US Boosts Military Presence in Africa

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From: Yona Maro
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By Andrei Akulov

President Obama has instructed the Defense Establishment to pivot its forces and reorient its efforts toward Asia. Instead, the U.S. armed forces step by step get drawn into the quagmire of messy conflicts in Africa. Recently, the United States has become embroiled in conflicts in Somalia, Libya, Mali and central Africa. The presence is about 5,000 U.S. troops strong. The forces are scattered across the continent in the places like Djibouti, the Central African Republic and now – Niger.

The official reason is fighting al – Qaeda affiliates and other extremists. In a written statement provided to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Army General David M. Rodriguez, who is expected to become the next commander of the Africa Command (AFRICOM), estimated that the military needs to increase its intelligence-gathering missions in Africa by nearly 15-fold. «I believe additional intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities are necessary to protect American interests and assist our close allies and partners», the General wrote in the statement, which during his confirmation hearing in Congress. «The recent crises in North Africa demonstrate the volatility of the African security environment», Rodriguez is cited by the Washington Post (1).According to the newspaper, «Rodriguez said the Africa Command needs additional drones, other surveillance aircraft and more satellite imagery adding that it currently receives only half of its «stated need» for North Africa and only 7 percent of its total «requirements» for the entire continent».

When AFRICOM was created there were no plans to establish bases or have boots on the ground. In reality a network of small staging bases gradually comes into existence along with a forward base for special operations forces in Kenya. The US Congress has criticized the administration for not being able to rapidly respond to the September 2012 attacks on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya, when the U.S. ambassador and three other Americans lost their lives. Since then, the Defense Department has intensified the steps to boost military capabilities to react on short notice in case there is a contingency in Africa. «That is a fight we have a dog in», Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said during a Jan. 24 2013 taping of «This Week in Defense News».

AFRICOM – military tool of US expansion in Africa

The Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative (TSCTI) was begun by the Pentagon in 2005 to strengthen US presence in Africa. Mali, Chad, Mauritania, and Niger were now joined by Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, and Tunisia in a ring of military cooperation with the Pentagon. The Trans-Saharan Counterterrorism Initiative was transferred to the command of AFRICOM.

On 1 October 2008, AFRICOM was separated from USEUCOM and began operating on its own as a full-fledged Unified Combatant Command headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. It is responsible for U.S. military operations and military relations with 53 African nations – an area of responsibility (AOR) covering all of Africa except Egypt (the responsibility of Central Command). The command has defense attaché offices in 38 African nations, as well as numerous subordinate commands located in Germany, Italy and the Horn of Africa. The Sixth fleet is responsible for providing naval forces in case of contingency. The Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa is ready for emergency actions. AFRICOM numbers around 2,000 assigned personnel, which includes military, civilian, contractor, and host nation employees. About 1,500 work at the command’s main headquarters. Others are assigned to the command’s units in England and Florida along with security cooperation officers posted at U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions in Africa to coordinate Defense Department programs within the host nation. AFRICOM has limited assigned forces and relies on the Department of Defense for resources necessary to support its missions.

The command defines its mission as follows:

“Africa Command has administrative responsibility for US military support to US government policy in Africa, to include military-to-military relationships with 53 African nations». Speaking to the International Peace Operations Association in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27, 2008 General Kip Ward, then Commander of AFRICOM defined the command’s mission as, «in concert with other US government agencies and international partners, to conduct sustained security engagements through military-to-military programs, military-sponsored activities, and other military operations as directed to promote a stable and secure African environment in support of US foreign policy.”

Dr. J. Peter Pham, a leading Washington insider and an advisor of the US State and Defense Departments, states that one AFRICOM prime objectives is «protecting access to hydrocarbons and other strategic resources which Africa has in abundance … a task which includes ensuring against the vulnerability of those natural riches and ensuring that no other interested third parties, such as China, India, Japan, or Russia, obtain monopolies or preferential treatment».

Military activities

While joint military exercises between the US and South Korea hit the radar screen of global media this March, there have been two major military operations conducted by the US armed forces with the participation of the UK, France, Canada and several African states. The drills are an element of annual maneuvers targeted against terrorism in Africa.

In February Exercise Obangame Express 2013, an at-sea naval exercise focused on counter-piracy and maritime security operations, was conducted in the Gulf of Guinea. The event brought together African, European and Atlantic partner maritime services to work together, share information and hone skills to better monitor and enforce their territorial waters and exclusive economic zones. The exercise included a wide variety of training for all participating forces including at-sea ship boarding and queries, air operations, communication drills and regional information sharing. Participating countries were Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Netherlands, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Spain, Togo and the United States.

In March AFRICOM conducted Operation Flintlock, an annual exercise that has been conducted since 2005. This time it involved over 1,100 troops from twenty African, European and North American countries honing their skills in Mauritania (the village of Weizen).

Another military exercise led by the command in March was the Saharan Express 2013. The mission was to enhance maritime interaction between the US, European and African states. It involved naval forces from the U.S., France, Britain, Spain, Portugal, The Netherlands, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Mauritania and Morocco. The project featured numerous training drills including ship boarding, air operations, medical familiarization, communications and regional information sharing. The training event has been organized annually since 2011. It is one of four African regional maritime exercises taking place within the framework of the «African Partnership Station (APS)», a global maritime initiative developed by the US to boost cooperation with of the armed forces of African states.

Last December the US Stars and Stripes newspaper reported on plans to create an AFRICOM rapid reaction force (2).

Speaking at George Washington University, AFRICOM commander General Carter Ham said his command is now outfitted with a new capability. «With regard to a response force, when the command was initially formed there was a sharing arrangement with what’s called the Commander’s in-Extremis Force with European Command. That was a good relationship that up until the 1st of October of this year was a shared arrangement», Ham said. «And now we have our own». The force will be permanently stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado, home to the 10th Special Forces Group. According to the Stars and Stripes, AFRICOM declined to comment further about the placement of its elite Special Forces team, whose movements are generally shrouded in secrecy. Jim Gavrilis, a security consultant, said, given the U.S. military’s small footprint in Africa, it is likely that the rapid response force will deploy on rotational missions.

On March 6 Gen. Carter Ham told a Senate Committee «A new Africa-focused Marine crisis response unit could soon be in place as part of a broader effort to beef up Africa Command’s ability to confront emerging terrorism threats on the continent». AFRICOM is also looking to place other special operation forces in three strategic locations in southern Europe and West Africa to bolster the command’s response capabilities, according to Ham. The General pointed out that AFRICOM’s response capacity is gradually improving. In October, AFRICOM received its own Commander’s in-Extremis Force, which is comprised of Green Berets from the Army’s 10th Special Forces Group that maintains a forward presence in Europe along with the unit, headquartered in Fort Carson, Colorado (3).

In January The United States dispatched about 100 military trainers to six nations that will contribute troops to a pan-African force being prepared for deployment to Mali. The training mission in Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Togo and Ghana is the largest U.S. involvement to date in preparations for the African force, which is being assembled by the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. The United States also has promised to help fly equipment and troops for the force into Mali. That effort may involve U.S. aircraft but could also be done with Nigerian, South African or outside commercial aircraft paid for by the United States.

On Jan 28, 2013 the US signed a Status-of-Forces (SOFA) Agreement with Niger. The U.S. already has twenty-four such agreements with other African states. The U.S. Army, for instance, is launching a pilot program to deploy small Army elements to about 30 places in Africa to conduct partner-building missions and support American embassy outreach activities(4). On January 28, 2013 the government of Niger made public its consent to allow the deployment of US drone base on its territory. The facility is located in Agadez province bordering Mali, Algiers and Libya. President Obama announced the base was operational on February 21. The force is added to the US drones unit deployed in Djibouti. Mr. Obama said the 100 strong contingent armed for self-protection would support the French-led operation in neighboring Mali. Interestingly, this move comes just one month after the U.S. agreed to fly French troops and supplies into the country. According to the New York Times, «The new drone base will join a constellation of small airstrips in recent years on the continent, including one in Ethiopia, for surveillance missions flown by drones or turboprop planes designed to look like civilian aircraft». (5) The Pentagon has also expanded operations and construction at the only permanent U.S. base on the continent, Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, which serves as a hub for counterterrorism missions in Somalia and Yemen.

China in Africa

It’s an open secret AFRICOM was created to counter the growing presence of China in Africa. The Chinese African performance is a story of success. China’s dynamic economy has great need for oil and other natural resources to sustain it. The country currently imports approximately 2.6 million barrels of crude per day, or about half of its total consumption. Approximately a third of its imports come from African states.

China secures long-term economic agreements for raw materials from Africa in exchange for Chinese aid and production sharing agreements and royalties. In comparison with IMF-dictated austerity measures, China offers large credits, soft loans to build roads and schools, something greatly appreciated by African countries.

In terms of development lending, as opposed to conditional lending by the World Bank, Chinese aid is rendered with no strings attached and usually spent on infrastructure projects that raise grass roots living standards. The most frequently cited example is Sinopec, a China’s state oil company. It has acquired oil concessions in Angola and is rebuilding the country’s transport infrastructure, hospitals and state buildings. China is viewed by African countries as a more attractive economic partner, compared to what the West has to offer.

Just a few months before the US decision to establish AFRICOM, China hosted an historic Beijing summit, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which brought nearly fifty African heads of state and ministers to Beijing in October 2006. In 2008 then Chinese President Hu Jintao announced a three-year, $3 billion program in preferential loans and expanded aid for the African continent. The funds came on top of the $3 billion in loans and $2 billion in export credits announced by the Chinese government earlier. In the ensuing four years China’s trade with Africa reached $166 billion in 2011, according to Chinese statistics. African exports to China rose to $93 billion from $5.6 billion over the past decade. In July 2012 China offered African countries $20 billion in loans over the next three years, double the amount pledged in the previous three-year period…

The trend is clear – Africa is becoming a theater for strategic competition between the United States and China, as both countries seek to expand their clout and secure access to resources.

Stiff competition for strategic resources like oil, gas, uranium, gold or iron is the specific feature of the situation in Africa. It’s not only about fighting extremists. The mission of AFRICOM is to push China and other rivals, like Russia, for instance, out of the continent or at least to cripple their access to the resources. The war on terror is a good disguise.

Talking about the Mali and other flashpoints. These are the follow-ups of the recent mistakes. In a television interview last month, Mr. Lavrov said, «France is fighting against those in Mali whom it had once armed in Libya against Qaddafi».

Russia has pointed repeatedly that the ongoing unrest in North Africa testifies to the fact that the Western-supported Arab Spring has created turmoil and instability, the breeding grounds for terrorists. The US and NATO went beyond the UN resolution 1973 in Libya against Russia’s and China’s warnings not to do so. The NATO’s intervention spurred a domino-like effect across Africa’s Sahel region. Now we all face the implications. While supporting the efforts to combat terrorism in Africa, Russia has simultaneously criticized Western nations, including the USA and France, for arming the opposition in Libya. Now military skills and weapons spread across the region. The US presence in Niger may provoke further entanglement in case the facility is attacked, for instance. Like the very presence of Iraqi troops provoked attacks against the servicemen.

Military force, even when used for peacekeeping missions solely, is not the only thing the region needs. On March 1 Russia also announced the beginning of its involvement in the conflict by delivering 36 tons of aid to the country, including canned food, 45 tents, 2,000 blankets, cereals, and rice. Russia’s action comes just one day after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with the U.N. Special Envoy for the Sahel, Romano Prodi about the ongoing conflict in Mali. It is expected the situation in Africa will be addressed during the BRICS summit in Durban, South Africa 26 – 27 March 2013. There is a hope the members will discuss the situation in wide perspective, perhaps coming up with proposals to positively tackle the issue of Africa’s instability.

Notes
(1) http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2013-02-14/world/37100512_1_africa-command-djibouti-west-africa
(2) http://www.stripes.com/news/africom-announces-it-will-have-rapid-reaction-force-1.201162
(3) http://www.stripes.com/news/more-crisis-response-headed-to-africom-amid-terrorism-concerns-1.210891
(4) http://www.defensenews.com/article/20130130/DEFREG04/301300017/Pentagon-Increases-Focus-AFRICOM
(5)http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/23/world/africa/in-niger-us-troops-set-up-drone-base.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Kenya: The recent election has created political leadership vacuum in the South Rift

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

The recently concluded general election in which the euphoria of the URP party swept the board in the South Rift like a tsunami winning nearly all parliamentary, senatorial and governorship positions has created a new political dimension in the South Rift region of the expansive Rift Valley Province.

IT has created a new political dimension among the members of the most populace Kipsigis sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups. It has also created what the political pundits have termed as vacuum political leadership in the agriculturally rich region.

For many years ever since KADU a political party that was involved in s cut-throat competition with the ruling KANU during the pre-independence and post-independence era voluntarily dissolved itself soon after independence in 1963 and merged with KANU.

The Kipsigis land has ever since steadfastly remained under the grip of the ruling KANU. However, the miraculous turn of events occurred during the 2007 general election when the former Kipsigis political kingpin, the late Donald Kipkemoi Kipkalya Kones, the longer serving cabinet Minister under the Moi KANU regime rebelled and teamed up together with the influential Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the combined armed forced of Kenya, Lt. General John Arap Koech and changed the political land-map of the region.

The two forcefully introduced the ODM and its leader Raila Amolo Odinga in the region against the vehement opposition from the pro-Moi die-hard elements. The two criss crossed the full length and width of the region and vigorously campaigned for the ODM, which in turn clinched all the eight parliamentary seats in the South Rift.

Kones retained his Bomet parliamentary seat and was appointed to the Ministry of Works slot in the PNU / ODM coalition government. Unfortunately Kones perished in an aircraft mish up together with the former Sotik MP Miss Lorna Laboso.

Raila Odinga then appointed the colorless former State House Comptroller and businessman Franklin who succeeded Kones at the Works Ministry. Bett, however, lacked the political masterly and magnanimity of the Kones caliber. Under Bett’s stewardship, the former Eldoret North MP William Ruto who had fallen out with the ODM and Odinga began fishing out the party MPs one by one and at the time of March 4, 2013 general election it was only better and the youthful Kipkellion.

The man who should have taken over from Kones had left is Zakayo.K Cheruiyot the current Kuresoi South MP elect. He had served in a powerful position of the PS for the International Security in the Office of the President under the Moi regime.

However, Cheruiyot who is highly respected in Kipsigisland is a man who did not cherish controversies. He is always shying away from controversial political issues, most of the time preferring to concentrate on his own expansive businesses and farming empire. He is arguably the wealthiest Kipsigis man.

Heruiyot the son of an assistant chief in the colonial era the late Mzee Daniel Arap Komuilong from Kapsuito near Litein runs an ultra dairy farm in Kuresoi, several large scale tea farms, sugar cane farm in Kimwani area near Songhor, a wheat farm in Njoro a mixed maize farm in Trans-Mara, and a horticultural farm in Kitengela near Nairobi.

He has also established an ultra modern ICT commercial college in Litein town and sent most of hi spare time supervising his own business and as such shies away from intrigues of local politics.

The politics of the South Rift region has had along history of intrigues. This could be traced back to the days of the late Dr Taaitta Araap Towett, the early Kipsigis nationalist who dominated the politics of the Kipsigis land ever since 1958 when he first won the election to the colonial Legislative Council as the member for Southern area. Towett and his team won all the four seats in the national Assembly. However, Towett resigned his Buret seat when KADU dissolved itself and merged with KANU arguing that since he was elected on KADU ticket he must go back and consult the electorate and seek for their permission.

IN the consequence by-election that followed, Daniel Moi sponsored a primary school teacher in the name of Alexander Arap Bii who consigned Dr. Towett into premature political retirement. After Towett’s defeat it was the late Ex-Senior Chief Cheborge Arap Tengecha who led a group of ex-chiefs, councilors, missionaries and local leaders to the late President Jomo Kenyatta and to presurerize him to appoint Danile Arap Moi his Vice President, though man believed Dr. Towett had already been tipped for the veep job.,

Toweett regained his seat three years later, but while serving as the Education Minister, he was confronted by Moi at a public rally in Kapkatet and forced to vacate his Buret seat in order to give way for the entry of Prof .Jonathan Ng’eno into parliamentary politics.

At the moment the power politics of the South Rift is gravitating between Isaac Ruto and Charles Keter. The two are staunch supporters of Ruto, but at times acting as protagonists when it comes to local political derby.

In the 2007 there were only eight constituencies in both Kericho and Bomet Counties, but during the March 4 general elections four more constituencies were added. These were Sigowet in lower Belgut near Sondu and Kipkellion West in Chilchila area, Bomet and Chepalungu. This can now give the region a total of 12 parliamentary strength, plus two in Kuresoi South and Kuresoi North in Molo.

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See photos of the swearing ceremony of the Kisumu Governor Jack Ranguma with Bishop Dr Washington Ogonyo Ndegfe and the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Willis Otondi.
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Technology of military conflict, military spending, and war

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From: Yona Maro

This paper studies how the technology of military conflict affects the allocation of resources in military spending (\guns”) and productive investment (\butter”). We first identify the fundamental property of conflict technology which the two commonly used contest success functions, the difference and ratio forms, share. Using this property, named the constant elasticity of augmentation, we construct a new class of contest success functions, hence generalizing the two forms.

We provide axiomatic and probabilistic characterizations of the new contest success function. Then, adopting the new contest success function, we study how the elasticity of augmentation affects the trade-off between guns and butter, and countries’ international policy to settle or wage a war. Finally, we estimate the elasticity of augmentation using actual battle data including seventeenth-century European battles and World War II battles and explore the implications of the estimated parameters of military technology on military spending and the preference of settlement.
Link:ftp://163.239.165.41/RePEc/sgo/wpaper/HSH_RIME_2011-17.pdf

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KENYA: ALREADY SETTLED IDP AND FORMER MAU FOREST SETTLERS ARE SNEAKING BACK and forcefully RECLAIMING THEIR FARMS – – EVEN THOSE WHO HAD SOLD THEIRS.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho town.

UNCONFIRMED reports making the round in this town says, that some of the already settled IDPs and former illegal settlers in Mau Forest water catchment areas were slowly sneaking back and forcefully demanding that those who had been allocated the land by the government quit.

Some of them are allegedly returning to both Mau Forest and Mau Narok and other areas like Molo, Elburgon, Likia, Njro, Kuresoi and even in Uasin Gishu, Burnt Forest and forcefully demanding back their old farms. Other unconfirmed allegations say the returnees are always coming in the company of armed security personnel.

THe common saying is that with the new Jubilee government likely to be in office soon after the March 4, 2013 general election, even those who were forcefully expelled from their farms as the skirmishes of 1992 / 93, 1996 / 1997 and 2007 / 2008 are sneaking back and putting up new houses in some places where the government had already spent the colossal amount of money in reforestation efforts.

Our informer who requested for his name to be kept anonymous for fear of reprisals said those returning to the vacated land are members of the two communities, namely the Kikuyus and the Kalenjin, and that tensions is likely to go up in the region.

He said he had some information that even those former settlers who sold their land on their own volition long time ago before the tribal skirmishes were now demanding their property back in total disregard of new developments already made by new owners on such property. This, he added, is likely to raise political temperature by way of touching on old wounds.

New settlers have also been sighted in the Mau West and Mau Narok, Kuresoi and areas, while new structures have also
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Africa: LAKE VICTORIA FACES ECOLOGICAL DISASTER IF THE DRY WATER HYACINTH IS SUNK IN THE WATER.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Experts have once again sounded a stern warning that Lake Victoria is facing ecological disaster if the particles from dry hyacinth weed are left to rot and sink inside its waters.

The Kenya Marine and fisheries Research Institute {kemri} said in Kisumu this week that if the hyacinth weeds sunk, aquatic life would be placed at the high risk.

Several fish species in the lake, especially the much cherished Nile Perch and Tilapia and small fish like [Omena} that cannot survive inside the water with few oxygen concentration might be completely wiped out, said Dr Ojwang’ Oweke the KEMRI’s senior scientist.

Mad fish, locally known as “Kamongo” and cat fish locally called “Mumi”are among the specifies that can survive in the water with low oxygen concentration.

According to KEMRI’s researcher’s water hyacinth produces humid acid when it decomposes in the water-a process that used oxygen and deprives aquatic plants and animals of fresh air.

The acid contains harmful elements lie iron and manganese which the scientist attributed to the brown color of water supplied in the region by the Kisumu Water and Sewerage Company ltd.

Dr. Oweke called upon the government to make use of colleges and universities in the region to assist in removing the dry weed by use of conveyor belt.

“This is the time for the government to come and try to use the conveyor belt mechanism t remove the dry hyacinth so as to save the lake.:

“The manual removal used by Lake Victoria Environmental Management Project in 2011 and late last year was a total waste of money, and time because this poised a high risk to the laborers and it also led to ever sprouting of the dreadful weed.

The scientist the machine would clear the dry water hyacinth and ump on the shore where it would be burned.

Reupen Omondi, another scientist said the hyacinth had turned brown because weevils had fed on it as it was drying up.

He insects were introduced in the lake by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute in 2005.

“Weevils are killing the weed and the government need to respond quickly to remove danger from destroying ecosystem, he said.

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KENYA: CLERIC DENIES CLAIMS THAT KENYA’S PRESIDENT – ELECT UHURU KENYATTA NARROWLY ESCAPED SNAKE BITE INSIDE HER WORSHIP PLACE IN THE COASTAL WON OF MOMBASA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

A female cleric has severely criticized the media report over a highly sensational report that a highly venomous African bush-snake almost struck Kenya’s President – elect Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta when he attended the church service with other worshipers in her church.

The incident took place when the Kenyan leader went to worship at a church, which situated at the Coastal port City of Mombasa two weeks ago.

Bishop Mary Kagendo Francis of the Kisimu Cha Mwana wa Daudi church also denied that the reptile had slithered into the place of warship where Mr Kenyatta was seated and was with9n the striking distance, but it was quickly shot and killed by one of the presidential security guards after it attempted to attack the jubilee leader.

The Bishop was quoted by the Kenya News Agency {KNA]as saying she only learnt of the snake story through the media and after some enquiries, but she discovered that it was only a small green mamba snake, which was killed by a young boy using a walking stick.

Speaking in Kitui about 100 kilometers south east of Mombasa after conducting a crusade at her Mlango home, Bishop Kagendo blamed the local media for over-blowing the report thereby creating national storm out of a small incident, adding that wildlife animals are always frequenting as a garden situated outside her church.

“We have monkeys, baboons, birds and occasionally we see snakes at our place of worshipping, but we cannot resort to killing them because we embrace nature,” Bishop Kagendo said.

She said that he church attracts a huge crowd of worshippers at time forcing them into open air prayers where they do occasional interacting with wild animals is inevitable.

He Bishop also down played claims that the snake could have been sent by Mr Kenyatta’s political nemesis or the work of witchcraft was involved.

The cleric, however, vowed to take some actions against those peddled this information terming them as alarmist.

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Eac member states may be losing the lucrative tourism revenue to other African region due to several factors

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The position of East African region as the continent’s most attractive tourist destination has come under serious threats from other regional blocs taking advantage of the region’s lengthy business procedures, insecurity and poor infrastructure to boost their competitiveness edge.

The latest publication of the World Economic Forum {WEF] survey on global tourism and travel competitiveness is jointly written by experts and just released.

It shows that Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi are badly trailing emerging global tourism giants in sub-Saharan Africa as Seychelles, Mauritius, and South Africa.

In the sub-Saharan region, the three countries were ranked at the top followed by Cape Verde, Namibia, Gambia, and Botswana.

Kenya, the EAC’s top tourism investment destination come eighth. The WEF cited the insufficient property rights, protection, insecurity, lengthy and costly business procedures as well as dilapidated infrastructure as the main drawbacks.

In the sub-Saharan Africa ranking Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda took position nine 112 and 13 respectively while Burundi was ranked at 30.

At the global level, only Kenya made it to the top 100 countries of the 140 surveyed, coming in at position 96, Rwanda was ranked 105, Tanzania 109, Ugfanda 116, Burinbdi was two positions shy at the last position.

The EAC has been pushing to increase its share of the growing global tourism market. Last month, the EAC secretariat in Arusha reported that it had lined up several projects to increase tourism earnings from USD 7 billion to USD 16 billion annually by the year 2020 .

The planned investment is expected to cost the USD 3.95 billion by the year 2020 up from the current USD 1.65 billion.

The coordinator of the East Africa’s Tourism Platform, Wateri Matu was recently quoted as saying tha6 whereas the traditional tourism products based on the region’s natural resources will continue playing a crucial role in the industry, there is the need for innovations and creativity.

The region’s problems, he added, is the over reliance on traditional source markets. Europe and the US with little emphasis on Africa and in particular the EAC,” Matu said.

The WEF ranking came at a time when East Africa’s tourism sector is preparing for a bumpy ride in 2013, caused by a show down over fears of insecurity and Euro zone crisis.

In Kenya, the managing director of the Kenya Tourists Board Murithi Ndegwa was last week quoted widely by the local media as having said that the country’s recently investment in transport infrastructure such as the up-grading of the Kisumu Airport and the on-gong expansion of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport could boost the county’s competitiveness.

In what may be affecting the market is the Euro zone crisis because the most of the country’s visitors come from Europe. The other effect is the issue f the travel adversaries, adding that that now that the general elections in Kenya are over Kenya are over, the Tourist Board hopes the travel adversaries would be lifted.

The Kenya Tourist Board, Ndegwa disclosed, has been meeting with its counterparts in the EAC to plan joint marketing initiative and strategies. The project line up included the introduction of a single tourists’ visa classification of hotels, increased marketing expenditure and training of industry players in the hospitality industry.

“We also need to harmonize immigration management system and introduce some sophisticated equipment in collaboration with the relevant authorities in the five member countries, mainly for security reasons.

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Kenya: Chemelil Sugar Company is insolvent and on the verge of total collapse exposing its 850 workers to extreme danger of hunger and starvation

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

CHEMELIL Sugar Company Limited, the wholly state owned sugar manufacturing company based in Muhoroni district within the Kisumu County has ground its production to a halt.

The company owed its suppliers cane farmers, worker and other stakeholders close to Kshs 2 billion.

Its employees estimated to be numbering about 850 have yet to be paid their salaries since December,2012 last year. This has exposed these workers to extreme suffering starvation and diseases as the can no longer afford to cater for themselves and their families or pay for their medical bills due to lack of money.

Unconfirmed reports say one worker had died of what his workmates have described as caused by extreme starvation and hunger. The body of the deceased whose name was given as Walter Marega is still lying at the morgue in hospital.

The facility, which for many years ever since its inception was the centre of excellence, and the mainstay of sugar production within the Nyanza sugar belt has been run-down owing to what an insider has described as “gross political interference” into its day-to-day management, corruption, and “pilferage with impunity.”.

Although aware of the tremendous suffering of the employees of the facility the political leadership in the region couldn’t care less and made no effort to install the sanity in the once vibrant and prosperous sugar industry management.

Human Rights groups and NGOs operating in the area have raised an alarm about the pathetic state of affairs at the Chemelil sugar company to no avail.

The current managing director of the Chemelil sugar Company is Charles Owelle, a man who has for many years been involved in its previous management team, which were discredited with numerous allegations of looting and excessive pilferage and vandalism of the firm’s resources.

Owelle, a Luo, took over from Eng. Edwin Otieno Musebe, a Luhyia, whose concerted effort had turned the facility around from being run-down to a vibrant profit making firm. His removal was viewed as having been instigated by excessive tribalism. Owelle by then was the company’s agricultural manager and had even twice before acted as an interim MD.

The company’s debts have increase to about Kshs 2 billion The most affected groups are the suppliers, cane farmers and the 850 workers who have not been paid their salaries since August 2012 and are still living in squalid conditions in their dilapidated houses while penniless and suffering not to be able to cater for their basic needs such as food and school fees for their school going children.

Sugar can farmers and other stakeholders have also not been paid their dues since last year either the Kenya Sugar Board doing the reportedly never ending annual mechanical maintenance since last year has also been informed of the extreme difficulties the stakeholders were undergoing, but has done nothing.

Other reports emerging from the facility says that on the night of Friday March 15, 2013 an employee of the company by the name Walter Marega had complained to his neighbor about extreme hunger and starvation he was experiencing.

A generous neighbor sympathized with Mr Marega voluntarily offered to take him to a food kiosk in the nearby market so that he could get some porridge. The deceased then went to the estates shop to look for some eggs, but he got nothing because he had exhausted all his credit facilities. All this happened while the late Mr. Marega’s wife had given birth to a new born baby at Nambale hospital. A neighbor offered him 500/- loan to enable him to travel to Nambale, but the same night Marega died lonely inside his company estate house even before seeing his new born baby.

The recent change in political patronage of Muhoroni in which the former immediate MP or the are Prof.Ayiecho Olueny was voted out an a new MP elect James Onyango Koyoo voted in has given the residents, especially members of the farming community the ray of hope that things could change to the better.

Ends

KENYA: THE KWS OFFICIAL HAS DISPELLED THE DREADFUL RUMOR WHICH ALMOST PLACED PART OF NANDI AND UASIN GISHU COUNTIES INTO DUSK TO DAWN CURFEW ABOUT MAN EATER BEAST

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kapsabet Town.

The dreadful rumor which kicked off two weeks ago later spread like bush fire into the neighboring Uasin Gishu County.

The rumor was about the myth about the existence of the”Man Eater” beast in the region.

The rumor was sparked off following the discovery of a half eaten man Unknown people or person took the photograph of the half-eaten body an posted it to one of the social media outlets, the Facebook.

Earlier this week, the villagers mobilized themselves and while armed with arrows, bows,spears and rungus and other crude weapons went into hunting spree ransacking all the nearby thickets and bushes in search of the alleged ‘Man Eater Beast’.

The incident also kindled an old myth about the existence of a mysterious beast alleged the Nandi Bear.The story o f the existence of the Nandi Bear has remained unresolved for decades, and even during the colonial era, some whites conducted a thorough studies in search of the Nandi Bear’ but never traced the animal, though its existence has remained so famous I the local folk-tales.

The Whites farmers and administrators working in Nandi district had established a social Club called Nandi Bear Club, which is located next to the Nandi Hills town. The Club is one of the most exclusive one in the region surrounded by an ultra modern Golf Club.

The Nandi Bear is known in Kalenjin as “Getet” its mythological existence is associated with clams that the Nandi Bears used to struck into the villages, beheaded people and took away their carcasses.

The myth of Getet was mainly used by nursing mothers in calming heir crying babies or children during the dead hours of the night, by frightening the minors that their cries would attract “Getet” the Nandi Bears to come and kill the family.

After raiding several bushes and thickets the villagers came into face to face encounter with three “Jackals”. They cornered the Jackals and killed two of them, while the third one escaped.

Jackals are smaller than dogs and cannot kill a grown up person. The carcasses of the dead jackals were handed to the officials of the Kenya Wildllfe Services, but nothing like a man eating beast.

A senior KQWS official has discounted the rumor about the existence of the “Man Easter Beast”. He said the deceased who appeared to have been stabbed all over the body by unknown assailants had blood oozing from the stab wounds, and this could have attracted the stray dogs.

The KWS official Joel Kunda said the police in both Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties were actively investigating those who might have posted the photographs of the half-eaten body to the social media thereby sparking rumors and fears among the population.

The rumor has caused a lot of panicking with parents believing that they should not send their small children to school for fear of being attacked by the ‘Man Easter Beast”Even those fond of visiting the Chang’aa dens have curtailed their movement and chose to remain indoor after darkness.

The rumor has clamped down on what one resident of Chepterit Market Samuel Limo described as “down to Dusk Cufew.

On the other hand it has made young married women happy, especially those whose husbands are known to have been spending long hours of the night in chang’aa drinking den.”They do come home much earlier and even had time for supper with the children before retiring to be, “ remarked Rachel Jebet a mother of four.

Ends

KENYA’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS DISPUTE IS CLOSELY BEING MONITORED BY TANZANIAN AND OTHER REGIONAL LEADERS

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

INFORMATION emerging from the multiple sources in the Tanzanian city of Dar Es Salaam are all indicating that the majority of Tanzanian citizens are closely watching the unfolding political events inside their northern neighboring state.

All the indications that leaders of the various political parties, the ruling CCM party and its ach-rival the CHADEMA are said to be keenly watching events in Kenya.

President Jakaya Kikwete is reported to be neutral and keeping his cards to his chest. He has yet to sent a personal congratulatory message to Kenya’s president – elect Uhuru Kenyatta. However, junior cadre of CCM leadership including member of parliament are said to be leaning towards the Jubilee side of Kenya’s political divide, while Chadema leadership is said to be sympathetic to the CORD alliance.

The CCM stand on the Kenya’s election dispute is said to have been prompted by unfounded rumor that CHADEMA has been covertly cultivating close working relation with the CORD ALLIANCE.

Chadema is reported to have donated several motor vehicles to the CORD alliance during the recently concluded electioneering campaign in Kenya. It has also been reported that President Paul Kagame of Rwanda is another regional leader who has yet to offer any comment about the election despite in Kenya. Rwanda is another important trade partner of Kenya. Lie the other land-locked countries, which depended entirely on the Kenyan port of Mombasa or their export and import.

From the neighboring Uganda the current presidential election results dispute between the h . . .

Uganda was embroiled in a mega financial scandal involved the reported theft of millions of dollars from donor nations meant for its development in the North. The money is said to have been siphoned with the Office of the Prime Minster in Kamala.

Although it has its own sea port of Dar Es Salaam, its northern parts of the country as well as western, especially towns and gold mines , which are allocated around the LAKE Victoria also depended on Kenya for supplies via Lake Victoria.

The mayhem that broke out following a similarly the disputed presidential election of Dec. 2007 had impacted negatively to the economies of both Tanzania and in particularly when the political goons in Nairobi uprooted the rail LINE LINKING THE Kenyan port of Mombasa and Uganda at a section in Kibera within Nairobi suburbs.

The incident sparked off the fuel shortage in Uganda and other land-locked nations in the hinterland and almost crippled that country’s economy.

These are some of the valid reasons why Tanzanians and Ugandans, particularly the big business people would not entertain seeing Kenya collapsing into a distasteful conditions.

A correspondent operating in the northern Tanzania town of Arusha described the recently concluded presidential election in Kenya a sham and not credible enough to convince the neighboring states that it was held in good faith.

However, we love Kenya and its people and as such would go with their wishes, said the TANZANIAN WRITER, ADDING THAT IT WAS TIME Kenya learn how to organize its elections and put only the most credible people to the task of overseeing the elections.This time around people tasked with the handling of the elections in Kenya were not sufficiently qualified for the task.

One Tananian politician commented that the time is ripe or those organizing elections in Kenya to put aside their monetary interest and make sure that such elections are helped in a better manner for the prosperity of the country and its future generation. Must be strictly devoid of corruptive deals.

Ends

2013 Human Development Report – “The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World”

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From: Yona Maro

The 2013 Human Development Report – “The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World” – examines the profound shift in global dynamics driven by the fast-rising new powers of the developing world and its long-term implications for human development.

The Report identifies more than 40 countries in the developing world that have done better than had been expected in human development terms in recent decades, with their progress accelerating markedly over the past ten years. The Report analyzes the causes and consequences of these countries’ achievements and the challenges that they face today and in the coming decades.

Link:
http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/HDR/2013GlobalHDR/English/HDR2013%20Report%20English.pdfhttp://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/corporate/HDR/2013GlobalHDR/English/HDR2013%20Report%20English.pdf

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Coders4Africa Year in Review 2012

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From: Yona Maro

Some of the remarkable achievements in 2012 where the creation of http://coders4africaradio.com/ which allowed the African developer community to engage in knowledge transfer and reach a wider audience in regards to the apps/projects they were working on. This tool also allowed C4A to communicate its goals, visions and strategy to its Pan-African ecosystem at wide. We launched our signature Practical Project Based Training (PPBT) in Senegal where we provided 20 developers with free training in the standards and best practices of Software engineering and soft business skills.

In addition, the C4A online community saw an increased number of registered members and groups; hosted and attended several events in the Africa, US, Canada and Europe which led to increased visibility and public relations; and ultimately sealed new partnerships and collaborations.

Link:
http://www.coders4africa.org/images/pdf/coders4africa2012yearinreview.pdf

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2013 Top 10 Technology Trends for Business

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From: Yona Maro

Emerging and disruptive technologies are reshaping strategies, business models and enterprise investments. Each of these technologies has the potential to be a key driver in an organization’s business agenda. This document may help to find some new insights and ideas, and look forward to exploring them in person.

Link:
http://www.pwc.com/en_US/us/advisory/2013-digital-iq-survey/assets/digital-iq-top-trends.pdf
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www.jobsunited.blogspot.com International Job Opportunities
www.naombakazi.blogspot.com

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Kenya: Raila was let down by Luo Ministers and MPs who contributed nothing to popularize the ODM inside Luo-Nyanza

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THE ODM SHOULD CARRY OUT A POST-MORTEM THROUGH AUDITING AND DISCOVER ITS AFTERMATH OF THEIR DISMALL PERFORMANCE AND ANY OTHER LOOP HOLES.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo

NOW that the genera elections of March 4, 2013 has come and gone leaving behind many looming faces of the election losers, and at the same time, the jovial faces of the winners, the time is ripe for major political parties to take the stock of what happened during the polls.

Instead of engaging in the blame games, these parties should go back to the drawing boards of their secretariat and immediately start examining the reasons why some of them had performed disastrously below their expectation.

I would rather concentrate in examining in detailed accounts, some of the most valid reasons why the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM], the party which has its stronghold inside Luo-Nyanza.

The ODM performed dismally in Nyanza. First of all there was apathy on the part of the registered voters. Only a paltry number came out to cast their voters, while the majority stayed at home. This is contrary to claims by the IEBC that the turn out in many places of Nyanza Province, the turn out was slightly above the 75 percent.

The most populous constituencies inside Luo-Nyanza are Ugenya, Rongo,Kasipul-Kabondo and Karachuoyo. And going by the statistics of the votes casted, this was far much below the voting patter shown in 2007, Rongo,Ugenya,Kasipul-Kabondo had all been subdivided into two parliamentary constituencies.

The populous Karachuonyo remained intact, while the old Rangwe created the Homa-Bay Town constituency. At the same time Migori saw the birth of the Suna East and Suna West

Ugunja was curved out of the of Ugenya, while there were major constituencies realignment in areas like Kisumu Town West and Kisumu Rural constituencies with the creation of the Kisumu Town Central and Seme constituencies. The creations of these rather smaller constituencies, however, were insignificant as far as the voting pattern in the region was concerned. This did not alter the voting pattern

What happened is the fact that the immediate former Luo MPs who had served in the 10th Parlilament did not bother to sensitize the population to register themselves as voters in their respective constituencies during the registration of voter’s exercises.

Out of the 21 MPs from Luo-Nyanza none came home and mobilized or sensitized the rural folks in their respective constituencies to take the voter’s registration exercise seriously.

The Luo MPs only made cosmetic appearances in their rural constituencies during the emotionally charged burial and funeral ceremonies. These MPs spent most their valuable times trailing the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga wherever he went.

The people who are credited for having let down the Prime Minister down were Ministers Gerald Otieno Kajwang’, {Immigration and Registration of Persons, Dalmas Otieno {Public Services}, James Aggrey Orengo,{Lands}and Prof.Anyang’ Nyong’o{Medical Services}.

Two Assistant Ministers also had the lackluster performance. These were the PM’s own elder brother Dr Oburu Oginga, the Finance Assistant Minister. Also contributing immensely to the ODM waned popularity were the frequent belligerence and reckless utterances of the PM’s cousin Jakoyo Midiwo the MP for Gem.

There were too much undercurrent and undercutting among the Luo MPs and the ODM local party branch officials, something which had placed the Luo-Nyanza under the election mood all the time.

The registration of voter’s exercises came about in Luo-Nyanza at the time when the relations between the Luo MPs and members of the Provincial Administration had gone a sour.

The administrators who included PCs, DCs.Dos, Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs are the pillers of administration within the localities and have always been responsible f9rmobilizingthe voters during the voters registration exercises.

IMMEDIATELY SOON AFTER THE ADOPTION OF THE NEW Constitution, some of the Luo MPs went around shouting at the members of the Provincial Administration asking them to pack and go, “because their services were no longer needed. These administrators were humiliated in nearly all the public gatherings. This what killed their morale of serving the public.

On one occassi9on the whole Minister Otieno Kajwang’ [Immigration and MP for Mbita went public and requested the administrat0orstopackandgo.

The Minister’s utterances prompted the then Assistant Minister for the Internal Security and Provincial Administration the late Joshua Orwa Oj0de and his then boss Prof.George Saitoti to withdrew the entire administration officials in Mbita district.

Mbita district despite its proximity to the sensitive border was without the D.C. for close to six months.It was the OCPD who remained the senior most government official in Mbita durng the period when the D.C. was not there.There were no DO

[1], Do for Lambwe Division and D.O.in-charge of Mfangano Dvision.

Answering a parliamentary question as to why the government had not posted a DC to Mbita, Ojode told hushed House that there were no plan of posting any D.C. to the area as the services of this calibre of officer were not required by the residents. And this was precisely the time when the voter’s registration exercises was taking place in the area. The chiefs relaxed and went about their daily scores without urging the population to register themselves as the voters.

In Rongo district some unknown people hired six vehicle loaded with political goons hired from 0utside Rongo constituency and send them to Kitere village specifically to go and break a meeting of local elders.The fighting that ensued saw close to7people hacked to death by the villagers.

Despite of the death of people, investigations were done haphazardly carried out and nobody was punished for this heinous crime. Rongo is the constituency represented by Hon.Dalmas Otieno.

On top of all this the ODM primary nomination was the most flawed exercises.It was mismanaged by the ODM headquarters and even some senior staff at the PM’s office and also at the Orange House headquarters were heard giving the names of people considered as not favored by Raila Odinga whom they advised not to be issued with nomination certificates even if such persons had won their primaries.

As Raila Odinga traversed the country while canvassing for the votes for his presidential bid,some people perceived to be close to him were engaged in political war of attrition in his Luo backyard.

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KENYA: RESIDENTS OF SUBA AND MBITA DISTRICTS ARE GRAVELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE DELAYED COTNSRUCTION OF HOMA-BAY-MBITA ROAD

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo.

Residents of Homa-Bay, Suba and Mbita districts have expressed grave concerned at the slow pace with which the construction work on the Homa-Bay Mbita road.

The construction work on the 44 kilometers road was commissioned by the Prime Minister Raila Odinga three years ago, and as expected to be completed within the next three years.

This road, which is linking Homa-Bay town to the several fish landing beaches in Gwasssi Kakisingiri, and in the twin-fishing islands of Mfangano and Rusinga, is economically so important to the region, especially o the fishermen and fish traders who can use it to access market outlets in the hinterland.

This road is also the main link between the mainland Homa-Bay and Ruma National Game Park in the Lambwe Valley, and also to numerous pre-historic sites in Suba region. Only about 30 kilometers has been completed. Many heavy earth moving machineries e seen just parked idly by the roadside. The workers who were found idling themselves by the construction sides said the construction is slow due the Treasury taking a lot of time before disbursing the project fundst to the contractors.

The resident have appealed to the two MP-elect from the Suba region to take up the matter with the relevant Ministry of Roads and other authorities with the view to ensure the work is moving on at speed and much faster.

The two MP included Millie Odhiambo [Mbita} and Jon Mbadi {Suba]. The portion linking Mbita town, Luanda, Waondo,and Kamata Roads are half-way completed. The work between Kodiera and Kodoyo junction are moving at very slow pace. It has sine ma the half-way completed areas became risk for the motorists

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Kenya: Top Kipsiis journalist has won Sigowet parliamentary seat in kericho County

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kaericho Town

A TOP Kipsigis journalist from the South Rift has won a parliamentary seat in the newly created Sigowet constituency in the lower Belgut within Kericho County.

Justice Kipsang’ Kemei who contested the election on an URP ticket beat six other aspirants. The new constituency was curved out of the old larger Belgut.

A holder of a master’s degree in Mass Communications, Kemei is the former Corporate director of Communication and marketing at the Chemelil Sugar Compan y in Nyando district,Kisumu County.

Prior to joining Chemelil Kemei had served in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting as a district information officer and a reporter with the Kenya News Agency. He later moved to the National Cereal and Marketing Board and served as its Pubic Relations Manager.

He resigned and contested the parliamentary politics in 2007 when he contested the election in the old and large Belgut constituency against the then incumbent Charles Keter. He had sought for the ODM but was rigged out in an unclear circumstance. Thereafter Kemei got engaged in private businesses acting as a consultant in Mombasa and Nairobi.

And while he was working for the Chemelil Sugar Company, Kemei made a lot of contacts with the local people, helped many youths secured jobs at the sugar complex.

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KENYA: CARTEL AND MANDARINS OF BUSINESS TYCOONS IN AWENDO TOWN ARE WARNED TO STOP FRUSTRATING THE WORK OF THE MP – ELECT FOR THE AREA.

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

Members of the sugar cane farming fraternity within Awendo cane growing zones have issued a stern warning to a cartel and mandarins with vast economic and business interests in the Awendo-based SonySugar Company Limited to desist from the bad habit of frustrating the work of the newly elected MP for the area.

The farmers through their spokesmen said that the elections are over, the resident of this agriculturally rich area should renew their concerted efforts in growing more cane. This, they said is the only way forward to promote economic activities and poverty eradication in the area.

The farmers were reacting on rumors and speculations, making the round within Awendo Town and its environs, to the effect that unknown persons suspected to be the associates of a cartel and mandarins of big business tycoons within the town have been issuing threats against the life of the newly elected Awendo MP Hon Fred Otieno Kopiyo.

Kopiyo, the former Principal of Gamba High School, which is located about ten kilometers to the west of Awendo town, had won the election against a half a dozen of other contestants on a Ford Kenya ticket.

This was after his victory for the ODM ticket was cancelled by the party headquarters following the intervention of unnamed senior politicians and businessmen in the area, which saw the ODM nomination certificate being handed to the nomination loser one Walter Owino who was the ODM official candidate.

The MP elect beat the latter hands down and other aspirants, and immediately swore to serve the much exploited and marginalized sugar cane farmers in the area to his best.

IN a phone conversation with this writer, Hon Kopiyo said that since the elections were now over the resident should work together in unity of purpose and I a concerted effort to develop the area to the highest level.

The MP – elect extended an olive branch to all those who competed against him, saying there is a room for all to work together for the interests of the residents.”Our common goal should be how quickly we could succeed in eradicating poverty among our people, ”he said.

He said despite of the area producing a lot of sugar cane and other cash crops, the poverty index is the highest

There must be no more witch-hunting, but leaders worth their salt should stand united together and developed the common approach toward the elimination of abject poverty in the area.

Symptoms that there were some people who were working secretly and covertly by placing the barriers before the newly elected MP had emerged during the height of electioneering campaign. One aspirant was allowed to hold public rallies within the Sonysugar company’s compound, while Hon Kopiyo could not even come close to the company estates and talk to the workers. But he said yesterday that he had forgiven the Sonysugar management for that kind of discrimination and was willing to work hand in hand with its managers for the benefits of all.

Another allegation against the SonySugar management was that some of its top managers are working in business partnership with the cartel of the Awendo based tycoons in partnership in the chains of fuel stations operated by the Kenyan Oil Company. “There is nothing wrong in people coming together and forming business partnership, but such partnership should not be operated while based on the malice.”

“People with business interests such as providing services to the SonySugar company or suppliers must desist from exercising undue influence on this public owned company”.said one Tom Okello a cane farmer in Oyani area.

The farmer also asked the Provincial administration and police authorities in Migori County to investigate the alleged threats being issued to the elected individual personalities and ensure that those responsible area brought to book.

Kopiyo, however, denied having received any direct threat for his life from anyone, but have heard the rumors that some people, especially those involved in multi-million shillings businesses with the SonySugar company were not happy with his recent election victory

Ends

KENYA: POLITICAL ROW LIKELY TO ERUPT BETWEEN THE KURIA AND LUOS OVER THE DISHONORED POWER-SHARING ARRANGEMENT IN MIGORI COUNTY.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

Political row is simmering between the Luos and their neighboring Kuria community in Migori county following the power-sharing deal which was hurriedly brokered by the cord leader Raila Amolo Odinga shortly before the March 4, 2013 election.

Under the deal, most key positions within Mogori County governance were supposed to be the preserved to the minority Kuria community.

In return the Kuria voters in the two parliamentary constituencies of Kuria East and Kuria west were to vote as a bloc for the ODM and Raila Odinga.

One of the posts which was at stake is that of the Senate representative for Migori County. The deal was brokered by Dalmas Otieno the Minister for Public Services and the four other former Luo MPS representing various constituencies and the former Kuria MP Dr Wilfred Machage.

The deal, however, flopped and did not materialize. On march 4th, 2013, the voters in both Kuria east and Kuria West constituencies voted heavily for the jubilee candidate Uhuru Kenyatta who appeared to have shared the votes in the region with Raila Odinga on almost equal terms.

The elective positions which were at stake include the coveted Senate seat, women representative, deputy county governor.

Dr. Machage went on and contested the Senator seat during the ODM primary nomination and was beaten hands down by one John Magaiwa from.the party headquarter in Nairobi which turned the results of the election upside down and handed the nomination certificate to Dr.Machage, who went on to win the seat.

The Minority Kuria community are sharing the Migori County with their neighboring majority Luos. However, the Luos have a bone to chew with Raila Odinga and all those who brokered the deal which left the community with no senior position in the County governance.

However, the Kuria attitude leaned toward voting for Uhuru Kenyatta, instead of Raila Odinga as had earlier been agreed on between the two communities. The issue has raised political temperature in the region. And the Luos are now demanding that the ODM should appoint Gilbert Ochieng’ Mbeo, the former Mathare MP as the Speaker of the Migori Regional Assembly in order to strike the tribal balance.

After the deal was struck, Ochieng’ Mbeo, Magaiwa and Phares Oluoch Kanindo who is also the former Homa-Bay Mp who were on the campaign trail for the Migori Senate seat, were prevailed upon to stop their bid so that Dr. Machage could win the seat.

And now the Luos feel they were short-changed in the deal. They want the ODM to appoint Mbeo the Assembly speakers because their Kuria neighbors failed to honor the arrangement and voted for the jubilee candidate instead of the ODM and Raila Odinga.

The mandarins at the ODM head office who took part in the discussion and negotiation for this arrangement have been urged to reconsider the possibility of appointing Ochieng’ Mbeo the Speaker of the regional Assembly.

The Luos clinched the position of County governor which was won by Zachariah Okoth Obado, who had also a Kuria as his running-mate, meaning the Luos have been left empty handed.

Ends

Kenya: Uhuru Kenyatta Acceptance speech

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From: Yona F Maro
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– – – – – – – – – – –

I thank all those who have remained vigilant in prayer for our nation
during this time. I want to thank the people of the republic of Kenya
who have shown patience over the last few days as we all awaited the
outcome of this election. I thank the thousands of officials who
worked with the IEBC to make this, the most free and most fair general
election in our nation’s history. Despite the challenges that you
faced, you managed to keep the trust of Kenyans and to do your job
professionally.

While we look forward to a day when electoral results are relayed in
real-time to curb anxiety, we acknowledge that every process can be
refined and I pledge to give you my support as you seek more efficient
ways to conduct future elections. I would also like to acknowledge and
thank the police and all security agencies for their diligence and
commitment to ensuring security.

I would especially like to acknowledge the Kenyans who lost their
lives on the eve of the elections. They made the ultimate sacrifice,
laying down their lives, in the name of democracy. To the families of
those who lost their loved ones, I offer my sincere condolences and I
assure you that I, and the people of Kenya are standing with you in
prayer.

The incidents that took the lives of our officers are a reminder that
security remains one of the biggest challenges to our nation. It is
unacceptable to see the lives of Kenyans lost so senselessly. As we
move forward, I pledge to keep the issue of national security high on
our agenda.

To the Kenyan media – you have shown remarkable responsibility as this
country’s fourth estate. You have shown sensitivity in the
dissemination of news and impartiality in your treatment of the
results. You have no doubt helped to keep the country calm.

We are grateful for this, and we will continue to consider you our
true partners as we embark on our journey. To the presidential
candidates – I salute you all. Thank you for all that you have
contributed to ensuring a robust democratic process. I in particular
want to single out my brother, Raila Odinga, for his spirited
campaign. I know that all the candidates have made tremendous personal
sacrifices for the progress of our country and I welcome them to join
us in moving our nation forward. My fellow Kenyans today, we celebrate
the triumph of democracy; the triumph of peace; the triumph of
nationhood.

Despite the misgivings of many in the world, we demonstrated a level
of political maturity that surpassed expectations.

We dutifully turned out; we voted in peace; we upheld order and
respect for the rule of law and maintained the fabric of our society.
That is the real victory today. It is a victory for our nation. A
victory that shows that finally, Kenya has come of age. This indeed is
Kenya’s moment.

Today, I am honored and humbled that in a free and fair election, you
the people of Kenya, have placed your trust in me to lead our nation
as your next President. I am here because of you. I am here because of
the unyielding support of millions of Kenyans, from all walks of life,
from every corner of our nation, who sacrificed their time, energy and
resources to make this campaign a success.

Throughout this process you, the people, have remained unwavering in
your belief not only in me but in the possibility of a stronger, more
prosperous Kenya that has room for all our hopes and aspirations. I am
here because of the Jubilee secretariat who have worked tirelessly
throughout this campaign period. Last and not least, I am here because
of my family: My wife, Margaret; our children and all the members of
my family, this has taken a heavy toll on them and I thank them for
their patience and support. However, this is has never been about me,
this has been about you, about the people of Kenya. You have put your
faith not in one man but in a team.

In our Deputy President –Elect Hon William Ruto; a man with a proven
track record, who has demonstrated to all of us, his ability to both
speak and act with unmatched zeal and energy. You put your trust in my
sister, Charity Ngilu and my brother, Najib Balala both of whom have
remained committed to serving the people and putting our nation first.

You put your trust in TNA, URP and the wider Jubilee family.

And because you gave us this trust, I am proud to say that the
majority of women who were elected to parliament come from the Jubilee
Coalition – a fact that demonstrates the commitment that our Coalition
has to supporting women and to supporting the full implementation of
the constitutional provisions designed to ensure gender parity.

We are a team

I want to say to all the Jubilee aspirants — those who won, and
especially, those who did not – that you have done your parties, and
this coalition proud. Your dedication, to the ideals that the Jubilee
Coalition represents has been an inspiration to me. We came together
as a team, and we will continue to work together as a team for the
good of all the people of Kenya. However, today is about much more
than one Coalition or Party.

It is about all Kenyans: those of you who voted Jubilee and those who
did not. My pledge to you is that as your President, I will work on
behalf of all citizens regardless of political affiliation. I will
honour the will of Kenyans and ensure that my Government protects
their rights and acts without fear or favour in the interests of our
nation. To all those who won various seats – regardless of what party
or coalition you may belong to, let us remember that we are all
Kenyans, and that Kenyans have bestowed upon us the responsibility to
work for them. I extend a hand of friendship and cooperation to you so
that together, we can truly serve the Kenyan people.

In the nearly five decades since independence, we have made great
strides as a nation. Kenya has experienced huge success but there have
also been enduring problems. In the last 10 years under the Presidency
of Mwai Kibaki, we have begun to overcome many of the challenges we
have faced as a nation. We are indebted to his leadership and grateful
for the services he has rendered to our country. As I assume office,
my task, and the task before us all is to secure the gains we have
made while focusing on solving the challenges that remain.

My fellow Kenyans, the elections are now over.

While we celebrate today, let us bear in mind that this, in itself, is
not an end; it is a beginning and there is work to be done. That work
begins with all of us taking personal responsibility for the future of
our country, the inheritance of our children.

It begins with all of us returning to our jobs, to our businesses; to
our farms – and continuing in the daily decisions that will determine
the course of Kenya’s future. I promise to do my part, but I need
every Kenyan to play their part as well. I pledge that my Government
will play its role both here in Kenya, and as part of the
international community. To our brothers and sisters in the region and
in Africa as a whole we appreciate your support and encouragement
before, during and after the elections. This is the true spirit of
Africa. We look forward to playing our rightful role in the region and
in the continent. The African star is shining brightly and the destiny
of Africa is in our hands.

To the nations of the world I give you my assurances that I and my
team understand that Kenya is part of the community of nations and
while we are, first and foremost, servants of the Kenyan people, we
recognise and accept our international obligations and we will
continue to co-operate with all nations and international institutions
– in line with those obligations.

However, we also expect that the international community will respect
our sovereignty and the democratic will of the people of Kenya. Indeed
it is the desire of the people of Kenya to be a nation that is at
peace with itself, at peace with her neighbours, at peace with our
continent and at peace with the world at large.

We will pursue this ideal – upholding the values enshrined in our
constitution and continuing in the spirit embodied in the words of our
national anthem: “Oh God of all creation?

Bless this land and nation, Justice be our shield and defender? May we
dwell in unity, peace and liberty Plenty be found within our
borders.”

Thank you,
God bless you
And God bless the Republic of Kenya.

KENYA: THE LUO-KURIA POWER SHARING ARRANGEMENT IN MIGORI COUNTRY FLOPPED DISASTROUSLY AND TURNED OUT TO BE A BIG CHEAT.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The much highlighted Luo-Kuria political marriage of convenience, which was brokered hastily and shortly before the March 4, 2013 general election specifically for the purpose of persuading the minority Kuria community to vote for the ODM leader Raila Odinga flopped disastrously.

The deal did not materialize as the Kuria voters in the region’s two parliamentary constituencies voted heavily for Raila’s arch-rival Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta.

The deal was the brain-child of the Minister for Public Works Dalmas Otieno and quite a good number of Luo MPs and the former Kuria MP Dr Wilfred Machage.

The arrangement was brokered during a series of night meetings held behind the closed doors of hotel rooms in some of the Nairobi’s posh hotels.

The details of the power-sharing deal was later was later passed on to Raila Odinga by Dalmas Otieno and his parliamentary colleagues who in turn r5eadily accepted the proposals contained therein it.

It apportioned all the elective positions within the Migori County governance to be shared by members of the Kuria minority and their Luo majority neighbors. But it didn’t take the interests of all the stakeholders into acco8unt.It also required wide consultation between the local ODM leaders on the ground, which didn’t happen.

Raila Odinga made quick hurriedly organized tour of Kuria a district and Migori town to drum up the proposals to the members of the public, and to coerce them to accept it.

Kuria community had two parliamentary seats , namely Kuria East with its headquarters at Kehanca,and Kuria west with its administrative headquarters at Mabera near Isebenia border town.. However, the Kuria voters turned out in full swing and voted for Uhuru Kenyatta’s jubilee alliance.The electorate turned hostile to Raila Odinga and voted Uhuru Kenyatta, even at Dr.Machage’s own home turf of Kehancha where Kenyatta got 14,000 votes. The trend was the same in Kuria West and other places.

What Raila Odinga appeared not to have adequately advised about the Kuria community was that Dr. Machage who had represented the area ever since 2002 was not a popular leader among the community. It happened when he was under heavy pressure and was about to be kicked out of the parliament.

In the much dissented deal, the Kuria community were given the lucrative position of Migori County governor, and also Migori women representative in Parliament, the County CEO.

Raila and his handlers were not bothered to inquire about more details of Dr. Machage’s status. On April 17, Dr Machage participatred in the ODM Primary nomination even before resigning his position as the PNU leader. He stood against the ODM stalwart John Magaiwa who had already campaigned for the same seat for a long period spaning two years. Other aspirants included Gilbert Ochieng’ Mbeo , the former Mathare MP, a two others MP for the larger Homa-Bay constituency Phares Ouoch Kanindo.

Magaiwa the populist local leader and a former Councilor Machage won the Senatorial seat on an ODM ticket. Magaiwa challenged Dr. Machage in the ODM Primary and came out the victor with 72,000against Dr Machage’s 51,000 votes. The ODM headquarter instead of issuing Magaiwa with nomination certificate gave it to Dr. Machage.

Dr Machage, however, failed to deliver the Kuria voters to Raila Odinga as promised. Those Luo MPs who supported the idea, have since been shown the exit door by the voters. They included former Uriri Mp Cyprian Ojwang’ Omolo, former Suna East MP John Pesa and Nyatike MP Edick Omondi Anyanga. And Dalmas Otieno. Only Otieno and Anyanga retained their parliamentary seats..

Prof. Edward Akong’Oyugi who contested the Migori governor position also lost his bid. He was defeated by one Zachary Okoth Obado a member of the Kenya Sugar Board representing Awendo zone.

Obado hails from Uriri and was denied his victory at the ODM Primary as a result of the nomination certificate being irregularly given to Prof. Oyugis.He contested on People Democratic Party of Omingo Magara party and won the governor position.

The whole exercises was the case of miscalculation and underestimation of the intelligence of the voters in Migori

Ends