Category Archives: BLOGGERS

Four reasons Chinese companies thrive abroad

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From: Yona Maro

Despite the global economic and financial crises of recent years, corporate China continues its push for globalization. China now ranks third in the world for outward FDI (2012 data), with its fastest revenue growth over the period 2008?2012 coming from operations in North America and Europe. The top Chinese multinational corporations (MNCs) are increasing their overseas assets and overseas employment at rapid rates, and seeing greater revenue increases from overseas operations than from their Chinese ones.

Moreover, today’s Chinese globalizers have even more aggressive plans for geographic and functional expansion in the near future. A survey by the World Economic Forum and Booz & Company of 125 leading Chinese globalizers shows these companies planning to expand in the next five years in virtually every region of the world and to expand their functional footprints outside of China as well.

Our research on the success of leading Chinese globalizers has also found, however, that increased effort at globalization does not necessarily lead to increased output. Furthermore, companies with similar, perfectly sound globalization strategies do not necessarily achieve similar results. What distinguishes a group of companies the report identifies as Chinese Globalization Champions from the rest of the pack is their ability to systematically tackle various operational challenges in the globalization process.

In analyzing these challenges and how Chinese Globalization Champions overcome them, we developed a reference framework for a global operating model, a framework with four building blocks: Culture, Governance, Processes, and People. Successful execution in these four areas, in turn, allows Chinese Globalization Champions to address three sets of polarities or tensions that challenge all globalizing companies: Home country & Host Country, Consistency & Innovation, and Control & Empowerment.

Our research on how Chinese Globalization Champions successfully manage these three polarities in their operating models reveals several best practices in the areas of Culture, Governance, Processes, and People from which other Chinese globalizers can draw lessons.

Link:
http://forumblog.org/2014/04/china-companies-abroad-globalization/

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Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Demand for Democracy Is Rising in Africa, But Most Political Leaders Fail to Deliver

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From: Yona Maro

Africans’ support for democracy is robust and rising (seven in 10 Africans prefer democracy to other political regimes) but the supply of democracy has not kept pace with demand, according to this report. Its findings reveal people’s dissatisfaction with political leaders on the workings of democracy in the 34 countries surveyed.
Link:
http://allafrica.com/download/resource/main/main/idatcs/00081403:92cb6c2d9b9a29e9edf3ab0b2a4058b4.pdf
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Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

KENYA: OTIENO KAJWANG’S LOOSE TANK COULD COST RAILA THE MASIVE BACKING BY THE LUOS

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MAJOR POLITICAL FALLOUT IN LUO-MYYANZA OVER OTIENO KAJWANG’S LEADERSHIP IS INEVITABLE.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo.

What was originally thought to be a simple matter and an internal political wrangling within the ODM appeared to have taken a new dimension which could consign the party to its political dustbins and doldrums unless a quick solution.

It all started last when the officials from seven sub-branches from seven parliamentary constituencies that forms Homa-Bay County converged at theHoma-Bay Farmers Training School and unanimously voted out the branch supremo Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang’

Sen. Kajwang’ was kicked out together with his acting vice chairperson Mrs Monica Amolo. And a new branch executive commitee was formed headed by the former Homa-Bay MP Martin Otieno Ogindo with a Kasipul politician Charles Ong’ondio Were as his deputy.

Homa-Bay County has eight sub-branches representing eight parliamentary constituencies of Mbita, Suba, Ndhiwa, Karachuonyo, Rangwe, Homa-Bay Town, Kasipul and Kabondo-Kasipul. Only Ndhiwa sub-branch was notably absent at the meeting.

The original agenda of the meeting was meant to welcome back to the party those members who had crossed over to other parties and contested the March 4, 2013 elections using those parties nomination certificates. Members had taken the nomination certificates from parties which preconceived to be friendly to CORD Coalition. The exodus was caused by the much flawed ODM Primary nomination system which was so chaotic.

However, the mood at the meeting abruptly changed and the name of Senator Otieno Kajwang’ featured prominently when some delegates accused the former Immigration and Registration of Persons minister in the Kibaki-Raila coalition government.

The songs of “Kajwang’ Must Go” rent the air with some of the delegates accusing the Senator of bad-mouthing other elected leaders. The other key position in the branch which was left untouched is that of the branch general secretary the position which is held by the Karachuonyo MP Eng. James K Rege.

Racting to the move the ODM acting leader Prof. Anyang Nyong’o was quick in dismissing the ousting of Kajwang’ as illegal and not in line with the ODM constitution. Nyong’o said that the headquarters will under no circumstances ratify the removal of the Senator from the County branch leadership. countered Prof Nyong’o’s remarks by issuing a threat that if Otieno Kajwang’is indispensable then they would walk out of ODM en mess, and leave the party to its owners who included Otieno Kajwang’.

Signs of Otieno Kajwang’ surfaced last weekend when hundreds of mourners at Konyango Jieri village near Kendu-Bay violently heckled and booed his deputy Mrs Monica Amolo forcing her to cut short her speech. He had made a veiled criticism of the Nairobi governor dr. Evans Odhimbo Kidero who waves is sweppng the luo-Nyanza region like tsunami. Mrs Amolo had cautioned the Luos against readily accepting the money whose sources is not known to them.”If one of your children brought home a huge sums of money please do not just accept it blindly without quarrying about its original source. It could turn out to be stolen money.” She thundered amid massive murmuring of disapproval.

The charged crowd jumped to their feet and began heckling, booing and making wild-cat calls.

The incident occurred during the well attended burial of Mrs Pamela Atieno Ezra Odondi Opar the managing director of the Big Five chain of hotels in Kendu-Bay town. She was buried at her family home at Konyango Jieri village about one kilometer from the town. The burial ceremony was attended by Homa-Bay County governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti in the company of dozens of his County executive members, the Area MP James K. Rege, the chairman of the Luo Council of Elders Mzee Meshack Riaga Ogalo and many ODM local and regional luminaries.

Those in attendance felt that Mrs Amolo was directing her veil criticism to the Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero who of late has been criss-crossing the the entire Luo-Nyanza conducting high profile and successful fundraising for the various socio-economic development projects.

The huge crowd appeared to have been worked up when Mrs Amolo told the mourners that she was representing Senator Otieno Kajwang’ who was unable to attend the function himself. Earlier on during the week, Senator Kajwang’ had faced a near violent street demonstration by ODM youth at Rodi- Kopany town about 10 kilometers south east of homay-Bay town. The youth danced and blocked the junction of the road which is linking Ndhiwa, Rongo, Rangwe and Homay town forcing motorists to stop for close to two hours and sung anti-Kajwang’ songs using unprintable words.

Kajwang’ is a confidant of the Luo political kingpin Raila Amolo Odinga kicked off his anti-Kidero crusade last December during the end of the year get together party at the Opoda Bar Opuka rural home of Raila Odinga in Bondo when he said that people of Nyanza must question the source of the colossal amount of money the Nairobi governor was dishing out extravagantly at his Harambee fund raising meetings in Luo-Nyanza. Raila did not respond to Kajwang’s remarks, but the chairman of the Luo Council of elders {splinter Group Mzee Eli Otondi caution the people to be wary of those who might be using huge sums of ill-gotten money to divide the Luos.

So far Dr. Kidero and Raila have shared three plate forms on two occasions. and the two appeared to be getting well with no signs of suspicion on their faces. The first such meeting was the Harambee held in Kisumu City’s Kaloleni Ward and the second such meeting came last month during the fundraising in aids of the Jua Kali artisans in which close to Kshs 16 million was realized last month.

Anti Kajwang’ sentiments is so rampant in many parts of Luo-Nyanza, and if Raila Odinga cannot intervene in time and bring back sanity in the Orange party, it now threatens to split the community into two major political camps hostile to each other. The majority of Luos from the greater Southern Nyanza could easily jump the ship and join Dalmas Otieno in his still yet to be named new political party.

Raila must also instill some amount of discipline in his party by cautioning those members with loose tanks.

ENDS

KENYA: SENATOR OTIENO KAJWANG’ IS KICKED OUT OF HOMA-BAY ODM BRANCH

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THE Homa-Bay ODM County branch chairman Gerald Otieno Kajwang was last Sunday kicked out of the branch leadership and the immediate former Homa-Bay MP Martin Otieno Ogindo elected in his place. Also kicked out was Mrs Monica Amolo, who has been the acting County branch chairperson wile Kajwang’ was contesting for the coveted office of the party’s chairman during the aborted party national elections. Mrs Amolo, however, will remain the branch treasurer.

Also named the branch vice chairman is the Kasipul politician Charles Ong’ondo Were, while the Mbita MP Miliie Odhiambo was named the branch organizing secretary. The position as the branch secretary is held by the Karachuonyo MP Eng.James K Rege whose status quo remained the same.

Delegats from all the eight parliamentary constituencies covering the entire homa-Bay county converged at Homa-Bay town where they carried out the elections to fill most of the vacant positions at the branch.

The officials also resolved to forgive all those party members who for one reason or the other had contested on March 4, 2014 using nomination tickets of other political parties and welcome them back to the ODM from now onwards.

Last Friday Mrs Amolo had faced the hostile crowd of mourners at Konyango Jieri near Kendu-Bay when she made veiled criticism of the Nairobi governor Dr Evans Kidero questioning the source of millions of shillings, which he has been dishing out at the numerous fundraising meetings in Luo-Nyanza. Apparently angered by the unwarranted attack on Dr Kidero the hostile mourner heckled Mrs Amolo booed her forcing her to cut short her speech.

The incident took place during the well attended burial of Mrs Pamela Ezra Odondi Opar,the managing director of the Big Five chains of hotels in Kendu-Bay. Mrs Amolo who had reported that’s he had gone to the funeral home to represent her boss Otieno Kajwang’.

The ball was set rolling by a hard hitting and electrifying speech by the chairman of the Luo Councilog elders Mzee Meshack Riaga Ogalo who questioned the rationale of branding those who have ditched the ODM TRAITORS.

Mzee Ogalo said that Kenyans had fought the bloody war in the second liberation battle while fighting for the democratic space and he was disturbed to hear other saying that those with diverse opinion were dividing the Luos The community has remained united for close to fifty years, but gained nothing from such unity if purpose except abject poverty.

He told the mourner to jealously guard against those who are hell-bent to destroy democracy in the country and also at the same timeto preserve the devolution system at all costs.

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KUYO: ZEITUNI ABONG’O ONYANGO OBAMA’S BURIAL IN KENYA IS SET FOR THURSDAY.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

The burial of the US President Barrack Obama’s aunt Zeituni Abong’o Onyango Obama is set for Thursday, April 24,2014. It will now take place in a public Muslim cemetery I n Kisumu city.

Zeituni’s mother Mama Sarah Obama made an announcement in her Alego Kogelo home in Siaya County. She disclosed that the body of her daughter who died in the US two weeks ago will be flown from the US to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi on Thursday morning and thereafter will be flown further to Kisumu about 400 kilometers south west of Nairobi.

From the Kisumu airport the body will be taken to the main Muslim Mosque in the city center for prayers and will then be buried the same day at the town’s Muslim public cemetery.

It was previously hinted that Zeituni was to be buried at her matrimonial home at Kendu-Bay. The place where she was married. She has four children three sons and one daugfter all grownups. And according to Luo traditional norm and virtue, a married woman either divorced, separated or otherwise is required to be buried in her matrimonial homestead. It could be that the negotiations between the two families which could have seen her being buried her Kendu Bay did not materialize.

Since the death of Zeituni in the US was broken at her rural home I Alego Nyang’ma Kogelo there has been a big influx of friends, relative and well wishers as well as mourners to the home to condolence the family.

ENDS

EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL HAS ELECTED NEW EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

Information emerging from Arusha says the East African Business Council has elected Felix Mosha, a Tanzanian, as its new Executive Chairman for 2014/2015.

Mosha now succeeds Virnal Shah a Kenyan who had served the umbrella of private sector organization since May 2013.

Mosha, who is an Economist, will be tasked with ensuring that non-tariff barriers are eliminated as they are main uniting factor to the growth of the private sector and are slowing down the integration process.

The region also needs to speed up the integration process for the benefit of its citizens.

Mosha has outlined key privileges that he will focus on during his tenure.

They include free movement of persons across the region, movement of services, ensuring food security across the region, elimination of NTBs, free and speedy acquisition of work permits, domestic taxes, harmonisation, improving EABC viability and mobility enhancement.

Other Board members elected were Vice Chairperson Nyumbere of Burundi, Olive Kigunga of Uganda and Denis Kabera of Rwanda.

A report released by the EAC Secretariat that cover he past 55 NTRS were resolved from 36 that were resolved in 2012.

The World Bank doing business 2013 report highlighted NTBS as one of the key challenges the region faced with. Inadequate infrastructure, particularly roads, railways and energy, have also hindered the process.

Established in 1992, the EABC is the apex body of business associations of the private sector and corporates from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. It also aims to protect the environment conducive to business and growth.

Meanwhile other new items came out of Arusha based secretariat of the EAC syas that a push to remove unnecessary trade barriers and develop key infrastructure progrests has driven trade between East African countries to new heights.

New data by the United nations (EAC) ensurer that between 2000 and 2012.

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EAST AFRICAN HEADS AGREED TO CONSTRUCT NEW OIL REFINERY IN UGANDA

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Business feature By Leo Odera Omolo

East Africa regional leaders have agreed to set up a regional oil refinery in Hoima town in western Uganda and a pipeline in Lamu on the Kenyan coast.

Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda struck the deal at a recent meeting held in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatt, Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of Rwanda were in attendance during the mini-summit which was held on April 6 , 2014.

Discussion centered on the oil refinery at Hoima stated presidential joint strategic communications unit issued after the meeting.

The regional leaders also agreed on joint construction of a crude oil pipeline from Hoima to Lamu in Kenya.

The regional refinery and a crude oil pipeline to Kenya’s seaport of Lamu are among a raft of agreements that are covered in a trilateral pact signed last year.

The pact, however, left room for the three states to decide whether to pull resources for the refinery and how to do so.

Uganda and Kenya have both confirmed commercial quantities of recently discovered oil and both are currently sprucing up their midstream capacities

Kenya closed down its aging Changamwe based oil refinery last year citing inefficiencies that made locally refined fuels more costly than imported finished products

The assets of Kenya petroleum Refinery Ltd were also found to be unstable in refining the waxy oil discovered in both countries. The Changamwe based facility was built to handle urban demand and oil from the middle east. As a result, regional leaders have been favorable to pipeline and refinery options when the oil find came online.

Experts, according to media reports, have however warned that a pipeline for waxy oil is likely to be a very expensive undertaking. Concerned states therefore, will not only have to invest in an …heating system to keep the crude flowing, but also ensure its security from sabotage.

South Sudan and Ethiopia are also expected to join the initiative at a later stage as it professes flow at the Lamu port.

Meanwhile EAC countries traded more with each other than with any other trading blocs on the continent, boosting an average intra regional export as a percentage by destination of 19.5 per cent.

Comparatively, southern African Development Community (SADC), is second with an intra regional trade export average of 10.9 per cent, followed by intergovernmental authority on Development, at 0.92 per cent, and West African Economic community (ECOWAS), coming fourth at 8.6 per cent.

However intra EAC trade still suffered hiccups arising from several barriers evicted by member state. For example the latest scorecards on EAC trade launched in February show that Tanzania and Burundi have retained the highest number of restriction to cross boarder trade and flow of foreign direction investment in the East African Region.

Since the common market protocol was implemented in July 2010, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania have introduced at least 10 restrictions on the movement of capital in service. Several new restrictions have been introduced – – at least 10 restrictions to cross border on the movement of capital In service. Several new restrictions have been introduced or carried over into laws.

And for the case of goods, since…the enactment of the custom reunion on January 1, 2005, 51 non tariff barriers arising from regulatory measures by governments were identified between 2008 and June 2003.

The UNECA argues that the average intra regional export members are low and more needs to be done to help push them up.

While in the recent past there has been a focus on approving infrastructure by EAC heads of states, it remains a major aim to increasing intra- organization trade. Both roads and railway network are still not well established to allow the easy movement of goods and services.

UNEAC further says that intra- regional trade promotes cohesion and strengthens the barganing power of African countries as a critical of factor when negating trade agreements with rich nations.

The deal which increased intra-regional trade would also help Africa gain more from its measures. Usually the developed world buys raw materials from African Nations to manufacture goods and later sell to the continent at exravegant prices.

“Dependence on commodity prices and in some cases mineral extraction makes growth vulnerable to external shocks,“ says Andrew Mold, a senior economic affairs officer at the sub-regional office for Eastern Africa.

Economics and observers believe a diversified economy will help East African countries more from a traditional agriculture based economy to one industrial one

Ends

KENYA: NOMINATED MCA HECKLED AND BOOED AT A FUNERAL FOR CRITICIZING DR.KIDERO

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Reports Le Odera Omolo.

FIGHTING broke out at a high profile and well attended funeral at Kendu-Bay town last Friday. The scuffles briefly sent the mourners scampered in all directions for their dear lives.

The chaotic situation erupted during the burial of a prominent business woman at Konyango Jieri village in Central Karachuonyo Location Homa-Bay County . It was during the tearful sending off of Mrs Pamela Atieno Ezra Odondi Opar ,the managing director of the Big Five chains hotels, which are located at Kendu Bay Town. Pamela was the wife of Ezra Odondi Opar also a businessman in the same Kendu Bay town, which is located only a kilometers from the funeral home.

The trouble started when the Homa-Bay County governor Cyprian Awiti had just arrived in the company of several members of the County executive committee {cabinet} and were being ushered in to sit at the VIP main dais.

A local politician who appeared to have taken one or two was politely requested by the master of the ceremony to push his seat a side at the dais to create space for more visitors [VIPs}. To be seated. The man called Wycliffe Odhiambo Ojijo flatly refused to follow the instruction prompting the ODM chairman in the constituency Tom Dolla to intervene. Instead the drunken man insulted Dola sparking off fist exchange of punches. Party youths and other mourners joined the fray and descended on the man with kicks and punches. He was beaten up savagely to the ground.

Earlier on the mourners had angrily booed and heckled the County nominated MCA Mrs Monica Amolo forcing her to cut the speech short and sit down. The had lunched scathing criticism of the Nairobi governor Dr.Evans Odhiambo Kidero by way of questioning the source of the huge sums of money he was dishing out at the various fund raising meetings in Luo-Nyanza. She said the LUOs were easily and readily accepting money without knowing its source and were therefore being bought cheaply.

Amolo who is an ODM official at the County branch said she had gone to the funeral place to represent her boss Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang,’ who is the county branch chairman of the ODM, and heckled the county nominated MCA, Mrs Monica Amolo, forcing her to cut down her speech.

These remarks appeared not to have been taken lightly by the mourners who appears to be supporting Dr Kidero

Also in attendance were two prominent members of the Luo Council of Elders led by chairman Ker Meschack Riaga Ogalo and elder Nyandiko Ongadi. Don Opar an unsuccessful parliamentary aspirant, arachuono, in the March 4, 2013 election, Achills Gogo who contested the position of Deputy governor and Charles Ong’ondo Were another unsuccessful parliamentary aspirant for Kasipul seat in 2013.

Karachuonyo MP Eng James Rege appeared briefly at the funeral but left immediately after reporting that he was feeling unwell and therefore was being rushed to Nairobi to get quick medical treatment .

Also booed and asked to sit down was the perennial election loser in Karachuonyo Adipo Okuome who was given a chance to address the mourners, but instead said that he had won the March 2013 election but was robbed of his election victory. The crowd shouted back telling Okuome that he had lost the election because he was fairly defeated at the polls.This forced him to drop the microphone and sit down.

It was later established that homa-Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’ was to attend the the burial of Mrs Odondi, but after surveying the area and discovered that the mood of the people and the area was that very hostile ground. He skipped it and instead sent Mra Amolo. Sen Kajwang; of late is having lean time and seemed to have lost touch with the peole in Homa-bay County following his recent recklessness in attacking the Nairobi governor Dr Kidero who has become the darling of the people in most parts of Luo-Nyanza.

Ends

Space for civil society: how to protect and expand an enabling environment

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From: Yona Maro

In many parts of the world, the work of civil society is becoming increasingly dangerous. Civil society organisations (CSOs) speak out about social injustice and are often forced to put their own staff at risk to defend the human rights of others. Why? Because they believe that protecting the freedoms that constitute a democracy are worth fighting for. This report looks at the situation in Colombia, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Malawi.
Link:
http://www.actalliance.org/resources/publications/Space%20for%20civil%20society.pdf

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

Community Matters: Fulfilling Learning Potentials for Young Men and Women

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From: Yona Maro

The fourth policy brief in the UIL series recommends youth engagement in multipurpose community learning spaces and centres. The aim is to improve their access to full participation in learning and community development activities. It is based on discussions from the International Policy Forum on Literacy and Life Skills Education for Vulnerable Youth through Community Learning Centres held on 20 – 22 August 2013 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Policy Brief 4 is built on the second policy brief published by UIL, Youth Matters: Equipping Vulnerable Young People with Literacy and Life Skills .
http://uil.unesco.org/home/news-target/transforming-youth-from-vulnerable-to-victorious/e66f9d0ae8a6256df6411f63ae75d4a6/
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002230/223022e.pdf

UIL Policy Brief 4 Community Matters: Fulfilling Learning Potentials for Young Men and Womendescribes features of community learning centres, which have different names in local languages across world regions. Furthermore, it illustrates how community learning centres from Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Thailand, and the United Kingdom engage young men and women in the planning and implementation processes.
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0022/002265/226570E.pdf

Link
http://uil.unesco.org/home/programme-areas/literacy-and-basic-skills/news-target/uil-publishes-policy-brief-4-on-community-matters/dd93611bcc48ee6ed34d404e81148334/

Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

KENYA: EAACC AND CHIEF JUSTICE URGED TO INVESTIGATE THE CONTROVERSIAL CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD LEADING TO THE HOME OF SUPREME COURT JUDGE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

The Ethics and Anti Corruption Commissions {EAACC} and the Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga have been urged to probe the hasty and suspicious decision by the Migori County government to construct the road leading to the home of a Supreme court judge.

Migori residents are suspicious that the work which started last weekend is coming immediately after the embattled Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado had lodge an earlier judgment by the Appeal Court had nullified his election on march 4,2013 as the governor and recommended that a by-election be held.

Obado has since lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Kenya seeking to overturn the Appeal court ruling and the case is scheduled to be mention on April 23.

The road construction is viewed by Migori resident as aimed at circumvent justice.The work not only ill-timed, but is also in bad taste giving bad innuendo to justice system

The work sparked off street demonstration by the ODM youth in Migori town last Saturday. The youth demanded that the work is ill-timed and therefore should be cancelled until after the hearing and determination of the court case.

The work began within three days only after the Supreme Court had suspended the dismissal of governor Obado and allowed him to resume his work as the Migori governor pending the hearing and determination of his appeal case.

The work sparked off a street demonstration by a group of rowdy DM youth in Migori town last Saturday.

The road which is branching off the Awendo-migori main road and leading to ogwedhi Is leading to the rural home of the Supreme Court judge Jacton Ojuwang’ Boma.The youth said the construction of this road by thr county government when the area governor is embroiled in protracted legal tusle before the same court where justice Ojwang’ is a member of the bench would portray the court in bad picture. and should be cancelled in the interest of justice.

Justice Ojuwang’ Boma is the husband of the PSS for Science and Technology Prof. Corette Suda. However, a top county executive official ln-charge of Roads Erustus Nyamori dismissed the complaints by the youth as unwarranted, arguing hat the PSS Prof Suda had applied to the County to repair the road last August “At that time the work was approved we didn’t know she was married to the judge. The repair work is normal”

The construction work began last weekend only a few days after governor Obado returned from Nairobi and resumed his duties. The County truck were seen busy delivering murrams while the workers were digging drainage on the site

Other unconfirmed sources said the County was also laying water pipe to connect the home with water supplies and that the whole exercise would cost the County government close to Kshs 30 million.

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World Investment and Political Risk 2013

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From: Yona Maro

For a second straight year, FDI to developing economies remains soft, still below previous peaks (figure 1). After declining from the 2011 peak of $628 billion to $604 billion last year, 2013 is expected to see a 2 percent increase to an estimated $617 billion—a further increase is expected only in 2015. While there has been explosive FDI growth since the turn of the century—FDI was 337 percent higher in 2011 than in 2000—the rebound of 2009-10 looks more distant. FDI now appears stable and at high levels, but with persistent economic concerns and stuttering growth, it does not look likely to return to the growth rates of the mid 2000s anytime soon.

At a sub-regional level, trends are more diverse. Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia have shown healthy growth this year, achieving 19 percent and 21 percent increases in FDI inflows, respectively. Other developing regions are experiencing declines, particularly Europe and Central Asia, where FDI flows are expected to fall by 16 percent for the year. The other key success stories of recent years – increases in FDI from developing economies and South-South investment—continued. FDI outflows from developing economies reached a record level of $164 billion in 2012, representing a record share of 12 percent of global FDI outflows.
Link
http://viewer.zmags.com/static/production.zmags/3Wv_pdf_dd6bd5a095a2683462d61a8f6606eefa

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Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

CORRUPTION AND USE OF POWER-BROKERS CAUSING RIPPLES IN COUNTY OFFICES

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RAMPANT CORRUPTION, BIASEDD ISHING OUT OF TENDERS, NEPOTISM IN RECRUITMENT OF COUNTY WORKERS ARE THE CAUSE OF ANIMOSiTY

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

RAMPANT corruption biased dishing out of tenders to selected contractors related to some MCAS,por system of recruitment of workers massive ripping off of public funds are among the major cause of animosity with the County governments.

Other factors contributing to hostilities and protracted internal political wrangling, embezzlement and misappropriation of devolving government money meant for the development of socio-economic projects.

There is also the reported intensified scrambling for the extravagant use of the billions of shillings loosely disbursed to the County governments by the Central government without putting in place the proper supervision and proper financial management by experts posted by the government.

The last one year has witnessed the extravagant usage of the government’s money on not intended projects, which are also not properly documented. The Ministry in-charge of the devolution in conjunction with the treasury should workout a tentative plan of seconding government’s financial experts to the County governments for the purpose of safeguarding the taxpayers money and ensuring that the same is put into proper use in line with the guidelines of County government’s expenditure.

MCAs are currently competing to access the County government’s funds, which they are known to put into reckless use. They have resorted to get rich quickly activities. Some have opted to purchase Lorries, tractors and motor vehicles for personal use with no relevance to the benefit of the taxpayers.

Other areas of massive corruption is through the procurement and suppliers. Prices of items such as vehicles, graders, tractors and trucks are highly inflated to create space for “Kick-Backs”.

Some of the above reasons could have contributed largely to the last week’s shooting to death of the 27 year old Kibiri Ward MCA in Rachuonyo North district, within Homa-Bay County.

The killers of Boaz Odhiambo Ondiek seemed to have been not ordinary criminal thugs, but a hired execution squad.And the police have an up-hill task to tack down the MCa’s killers and bring them to book

Taking into account that the assailants did not steal anything from the house is pointing out an accusing fingers that it was an inside work of the cowards plotters within the County government. Homa-Bay County government has been bedeviled with serious of internal wrangling ever since it was established last year. Despite the political magnanimity and dynamism displayed the County governor Cyprian Otieno Awiti, there has been some of the most unwarranted desputes over the recruitment of workers involving the workers employment board members and the governor. Some of the disputes only got resolved through the courts. But in spite of all the myriads of problems governor Awiti stands out to be the best inside Luo-Nyanza whose administration has envisaged and lined up several important projects such as ultra modern roads, infrastructure meant to benefit the rural farmers, fishermen and the rest. His administration has earmarked multi-million projects for road network, covering all the eight parliamentary constituencies.

There is also the need for the County governors in this region and elsewhere to discard the use and deployment in their offices of the idlers masquerading as power brokers. These power brokers are the same people fueling rumors and hatred among the County officials. They have become the most powerful wheeler=dealers permanently idling around governors offices in search of handout cash money from anyone who has a business to do with the County, and even visiting some suppliers and contractors as well as spreading malicious and dangerous rumors. Power-brokers are commonly found at the Kisumu, Homa-Bay, Migori and even in Nairobi offices of governors, though they have no official business to be there. The majority of the so-called power-brokers political failures or those who have tried their hands at either parliamentary and senatorial or MCA, but failed to garner enough support to propel them to the position of MPS. These people have stick to the governors like ticks and could be seen accompanying them to all the official functions officiated by the governors.

The power-brokers are also blamed for fleecing professionals and other workers seeking employment with the Counties. Some of them accept bribes money under the pretext of talking good to the governor, MCA and members of the executive committee for the purpose of securing employment. But because members of the public had seen them in the company of the governors and MCAs, members of the public targeted for conning usually believe, and cough out thousands of shilling while seeking their patronage And support.

The Siaya governor Rasanga Amoth is the only person who is credited for operating his office free of the idle power-brokers.

Ends

KENYA: THE NEW CROPS OF LUO MPS HAVE SCORED THE HIGHEST MARKS FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Unlike the crop of Luo MPs from Nyanza who sat in the August House for five years during the life of the 10th parliament. This was the period between 2007 and 2013 who had performed dismally preferring the politics of sycophancy and hero worshipping and making empty slogans and noisy.

The good number of the youthful MPs who won their seats on March 4 , 2013 election have secoredred the highest marks in terms of initiating and supervising the construction of the various socio-economic development activities in, coupled with proper disbursement of CDF and devolving government funds meant for development in the region where development has remained stagnant ever since 1966.

Commonly and popularly referred to as the “Great Horns” the youthful group of MPS comprising mostly the technocrats have performed miracles .The new politics dimension in Luo – Nyanza a region which has gone through decades of stagnant developments and political marginalization spearheaded by the previous KANU administrations and put the hitherto sleeping region back on the road on once again.

Out of the 20 parliamentary constituencies, which are represented in parliament, more than half of the MPs have scored high within only one year after the March 4 , 2013 election.

Leading the pack with the Highest score card is the outspoken Suna East MP Mohammed Juneet. He has scored the highest marka which stands at “A+’ Juneet is followed immediately by the Karachuonyo MP. Eng. James K.Rege who has scored “A”. This is the only MP who has made it sure that the CDF and other devolving funds meant for the development in the constituency are controlled by a team of intellectuals, most of them university professors to ensure the efficiency disbursement to the satisfaction of the electorate.

Silvance Oselle (Kasipul Kabondi “B+” He is a green Horn, but his performance is well felt within the contituency.

Eng. Nicholas O. Gumbo (Rarieda ) has scored “B” and is said to be doing extremely well. He is also a regular contributor in the critical debates in the House.

David Ochieng (Ugenya has scored “C” while another top scorer is the outspoken Muhoroni MP. James Onyango Kaoio His Scored card is reading “B+”.

Erick Omondi Anyango (Nyatike ), is another top scorer at “A”.The abrasive and outspoken MPM is the second term and one of those who retained their seats in the March 4,2013 elections. has done wonders in the improvemetn of feeder and access roads well and other infrastructures including Ruralo Electrification program and upgrading of schools and health facilities.

Augustine Neto Oyugi has scored “B” but his performance still lagging behind the remarkable performance of his predecessor the late Joshua Orwa Ojode whose score card still stand the higness at “A”. Ojode’s achievement has remained unequalled by any other leader in Nyanza.

Eng Kobado [Uriri] the colourless MP has scored “D” while his immediate neighbours Jaret Kopiyo has scored the LEAST markS at “D-”while his immediate neighbours Jared Kopiyo has scored the lowest mark at “f”.

George Oner (Rangwe has scored C+ while his immediate neighbour Opondo Kalima has equally scored the last mark at “C+”.

Millie Odhiambo Mabone ( Mbita} the most eloquent and outspoken and firebrand and MP has scored the highest marks at {A}in a constituency where her predecessor Gerald Otieno Kanjwang now the Homa – Bay Senator had represented for close to 19 years that left no legacy ito account for his manyyears of neglect and lacklustres performance ad left not even single socio – economic projet to cater for his name millie has scored “A}. Odhiambo happen to h AS Tas the nominated MP and gained experience on parliamentary prcedures and because of her legal training ; like Martha Wangari Karua,sometime she is sounding like the lonely the voice of reason in the male dominated house’

Fred Outsa(Nyando} is another second term MP who has scored the least marks despite bragging that he is related to the ODM supreme Raila Odinga by Marriage .He ha scored but displating a lot of political mediocrity at times. “F”

John Olago Aluoch (Kisumu west ) is another top performer which score mark is lending “B+”.He is the one of the second term MPs who have performed well to the satisfaction of the electorate .His score is leading “B+”.

Joshua Aduma Owuor (Nyakach )inspite of having encountered numerous of myriads 0f problems including , the grisly murder of his parents by unkonwn assailants , across Nyakach – Kericho borders skirmishes while left six of his constituents dead has done well scoring moderate mark at “B”.

ShakeslAhmed Shabbir (Kisumu Town East)has performed poorly scoring the least mark at “D”.The MP sometimes is acting erroneously and emotionally like a youth winger which has saw him involved in public scuffles with the constituents during funeral gatherings.

Opiyo Wandai (Ugunja )who is aslo one of the “Green Horns “ has performed poorly at “D”.

Followed by the neighbour Omondi Muluan…..(Alego – Usonga )with score mark at “C”

Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem )the abrassive and at time very controversial politician in the region has done well at the constituency level being credited for having supervised proper disbursemnt of CDF and other devolving funds for for deelopment to the satisafaction of the constituents.

Gideon Ochanda (BONDO)The other (Green Horn } who has gone quiete in the constituency where political temprature usually goes up. He is perhaps still sizing him to ensure that he fits well into the sesof Dr Oburu Oginga who had performed well ever since wining the election after the death of his father the doyen of oppositionist politics in Kenya and the hero of the struggle for independence.

Dr.James Nyikal [Seme}, the former long serving PS is one of the green Horns, but his previous experience in government matter is said to be guiding well in hs parliamentary duties. Hisscore-card stands at [B}.Dr Nyikal is showing signals of much improvement n the constituency in the future.

Another better performer is the Kasipul] MP Oyugi Maguwanga whose his constituents tells me that he is a man who is workerholic and down to earth and seriously committed to the development of thr area, whch he he is is in the process of representing for the second five year term. Maguwanga score-card .

stands at [B+.}Silvance Oselle [Kabondo-KASIPUL}], the youthful MP who could pass as a high school student is doing extremely well and easily interacting with his constituents. His score-card stands at [B-}

One of the most experienced MP from the region whose star is reading rather deem is Dalmas Otieno {Rongo}The man who brokered what was unpopular called “Negotiated Democracy”’ within the IODM when he prevailed upon the ODM leader Raila Odinga to give direct party nomination to Senator Wilfred Machage at the chagrins of other party leaders and aspirants for the same seat.

Otieno is having a very lean time in Luo-Nyanza politics after he had come out full blast and announced that he would challenge Raila Odinga the Luo political kingpin in 2017 in the presidential contest.

However, many people in his ongo backyard have dismissed his party arguing that the Makerere trained economist lacKed the financial ability to organize a vibrant mass political movement that can rival the ODM under Raila Odinga armpit. He is therefore viewed as someone n his way out of political limelight Otieno’ssscored –card standa at [C].He could be as well as bidding goodbye to the August House.

ENDS

KENYA: CIRCUSES REPORTED AT MIWAMI SUGAR MILL AS HIRED GOONS CHASE AWAY INVESTORS AND NEMA OFFICIALS

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reports Leo Odera Omolo

THERE were circuses and near physical combat on Tuesday this week when a group of local land foreign investors toured the facility for the purpose of making assessment about its viability ahead of its privatization ,which is scheduled in two months time.

The investors were accompanied by the officials from NEMA, but they were confronted at the gate cf the facility by rowdy goons masquerading as local farmers and stakeholders who threatened to beat them up forcing the group to cut short and call off their mission.

It has since been established that a cartel of wealthy Kisumu based Indians with the vested interest in Miwani Sugar Mills had held a secret night meeting the with the goons previous night at undisclosed venue within Miwani and instructed the youth not to allow any other groups of potential investors to access the facility.

Mi9wani sugar Mills the oldest sugar factory in Kenya which was the first to be established in the country in 1927 by an Australian white settler farmer is currently closed. It went burst in 2001 and was placed under the joint official protective official receivership together with the Muhoroni Sugar MILLS by the government which is the sole shareholder.

The goons acting at the behest of their invisible hirer masters insisting that there should be no visit to the facility before it was advertised for privatization and were adamant not to allow any such visit. They also threatened to burn down the vehicles that conveyed the investors to the facility unless the owners made a quick about-turn.

Businessmen intending to make their bid for Miwani Sugar Mills are said to be very much scared after getting the information about the expected cut-throat competition involving the hiring of criminal thugs. \they have expressed the fear that unless the government moves much faster with speed and advertise when it plan to off-load its shares as all the five public owned sugar factories in Western Kenya the possibility of the exercise being sabotaged by the interested parties cannot be ruled out.

All the previous attempt to have Miwani sold to private entrepreneurs have always hit the snag. The attempts were followed with series of court cases filed on flimsy grounds deliberately to have the exercise time barred. When the cases were finally over and determined, some unnamed officials at the lands Ministry corruptly and deliberately withheld the facility’s land title deeds pre-empting the transactions.

The major source of all the commotions is the 10,000 hectares Miwani nucleus estate farm, which some wealthy cartel of RICH Indians tycoon based in Miwani and Kisumu have focused their attention and hell-bent grab through the hook or crook. These cartels of crooks have been putting all sorts of barriers on the path of Miwani Sugar Mll’s privatization, while its owner which is the government seemed to be toothless bull=dog on the issue.

The carcasses which erupted at the facility is the clear indication that something fishy is going on, which calls for the government action.

Ends

KENYA: VILLAGERS FLED IN DISSARAY AFTER THE POLICE VAN PULLED UP IN THE CRIME PRONE MARIWA

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo In Awendo Town.

A large group of villagers fled in all direction following the unexpected arrival of a police men who were on a mission to investigate a non-related case of a murder suspect.

The incident occurred near Mariwa Market, Sakwa South Location, Awendo district within

Migori County. It happened when the villagers gathered in the homestead of one deceased person called Oyamo Doty who was lynched last week by a mob of motorbike boda boda riders who were in hot pursuit of a murder suspect.

It happened at the time when the villagers had converged in the deceased home to deliberate on funeral arrangement meeting to prepare or the burial of the deceased scheduled for next week.

The police van carrying the OCS at Awendo police Station to investigate the whereabouts of the suspected killer Dan Okoth Aero Ranyimbo who is linked with the recently mysterious killing of a boda boda rider, a Form Four student whom he had hired from Migori to take him to his home near Malunga primary School and whose decomposing body was a week later discovered in the thicket near Oyani Bridge on the main Awendo-Migori road.

The killing sparked off last week orgies of violence in which several houses in the home vilage of the suspect were set ablaze and torched into ashes. This is when the mob comprising of close to 200 boda boda motorbike riders from Migori invaded the home village of the suspect on a revenge mission to protest the death of their colleague. The suspect is reported to have smelled a rat and fled his home much earlier and went underground. This is after his dwelling house in Mgori town had been burnt down with all the household worth thousands of shillings.

After failing to locate the suspect the mob visited another home of his friend by the name oyamo Doty, who was reportedly feeling unwell and had gone to the nearby Mariwa Health Centre for medication When they caught up with Oyamo the mob dragged him out of the hospital beat up unconscious before tying his already buttered and weakened body on a motorbike and rode with him for nearly 20 kilometers to a place called Kanyuka where they killed him. The mob also beat up nurses and medics staff before they vented their angered at the villagers who had gathered near the health facility with the purpose of rescuing him. They left several villagers with injuries and event he police team which arrived at the scene from Awendo could not rescue him, but took to their heels and left the scene in huff.

When the police van pulled up, those in attendance took to their heels and fled in disarray and vanished into the nearby sugar cane plantations, only leaving the chairman of the funeral committee Babu Oloo alone.

The village elders together with the local administrative chief later converged in the suspect’s home and gave his family an ultimatum to produce the suspect, who is currently in hiding, to the police within the shortest possible period of time so that he could face the murder charge. Before the court of law.

Information emerging from Awendo, MIGORI AND Mariwa have hinted that the suspect Dan Okoth is hiding somewhere in Kisumu City where one of his wives is working as a nurse at one of the government hospitals.

The suspect’s wife who hails from Asembo in Rarieda has a house in one of the nurses quarters where the suspect killer is said to be hiding while trying to escape from the long arm of the law. His other wife who is also said to be a civil servant had their Migori in search of the suspect and will only stop after the culprit is apprehended by police to answer for his heinous crime.

The suspect is said to be a hard-core criminal and has always committed serious crimes, but always got away scots-free after his release is brokered by the deceased Oyamo Doti,

Ends

Infomediaries: Brokers of public access

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From: Yona Maro

This study investigated the role of infomediaries in shaping outcomes for users at Public Access Venues (PAVs) in Bangladesh, Chile, and Lithuania. We examined the extent to which technical skills and empathy are relevant to and appreciated by different types of users, and whether differences in infomediaries are evident across different types of PAVs. We asked whether particular infomediary behaviors were associated with significant changes as reported by PAV users.

We learned that infomediaries provide the human face for the information age by taking on the functions of facilitation, coaching, referral and teaching and assuming the role of a trusted gatekeeper. The process of infomediation turned out to be of prominence within which the infomediary is a key component. In the absence of infomediaries, those left behind (or excluded due to their age, socio-economic status, level of education/literacy, gender, disability or caste) will face additional, perhaps insurmountable, barriers.
Link
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/dspace/bitstream/item/25410/GIS_Infomediaries_final_report.pdf?sequence=1

KENYA: MIGORI IMPENDING GOVERNOR’S BY-ELECTION MAY TAKE A NEW TURN

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POLITICAL TEMPERATURE IN MIGORI COUNTY HAS RISEN UP AHEAD OF SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT.

News Analysis By leo Odera Omolo

NEWS EMERGING OUT OF Migori County indicating an area where political temperature has risen sharply following the recent Court of Appeal decision that saw the former governor Zachary Okoth Obado‘s election victory nullified and fresh polls ordered.

Governor Obado has, however, moved to and lodged an appeal with the supreme Court of Kenya challenging the appeal court’s Decision.

Indications are that the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment is likely to create dilemma for the ODM, which is arguably the dominant political party in the region. Going by the weekend utterances attributed to Migori Senator Wilfred Machage, sharp division and fallout between the two main communities sharing Migori County namely the Luos the majority and the Kurias the minority there in the impending tug-of-war as to who should be the running mate of an ODM candidate should the court throw out the case filed before it by Obado and order for fresh polls.

According to Senator Machage’s statement the 70,000 Kuria voters will settle on nothing less than one of their own being the running mate of an ODM candidate.

During the March 4, 2013 election ,Governor Obado had picked up a Mr Nyamhanga as his running mate on the PDP ticket. At the same time PROF. Edward Akongo’ Oyugi had picked Mrs Anne Omondho Anyanga from Nyatike as his running mate. The two had jointly petitioned the court against Obado’s election.

He has received unanimous support, and even all the The popular opinion in Migori is that Prof. Oyugi should be given direct ODM party nomination and should not be subjected to the primaries.

This suggestion that Prof Oyugi be exempted from primary has received unanimous support of the electorate. This suggestion has also backed by all the ODM MPs representing various constituencies within Migor county with the exception of one namely the rebellious Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno ,who has since declared that he had ditched the party and is currently in the process of forming another political party in the region to rival the ODM

Sources at the ORANGE House the Nairobi based headquarters of the ODM have confided to us that the decision to issue Prof. Oyugi with the direct party nomination is high on the card.

All the indications are clear that the PDP, the party on whose ticket Obado and Nyamuhanga had contested the governor’s election as running-mates and won has since then abandoned the CORD coalition and now an affiliate of the jubilee. PDP which is headed by the former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara was previously allied to the CORD coalition. And in the event of the fresh elections being called by the IEBC, the duo will have to look for another party’s ticket to contest the election.

The weekend remarks made by Senator Machage has earned him scathing criticism from the electorate and ODm leaders in Migori who have told the Senator to immediately desist from making parochial statements, which only made ODM leaders in the region and supporters to question his loyalty to the party.

Sen.Machage was given direct nomination in 2013 at the insistence of the ODm leader Raia Odinga, by all the standards had sacrificed the former Migiori ODM county branch chairman J.Magaiwa who was prevailed upon to stand down for Machageion the undersadig that this would persuade all the kuria voters to cast their votes for Raila Odinga in his presidential bid. The plan did not work and Magaiwawh had withdrawn his candidature for the Senate seat in anger moved to the URP, though he did not contest the election he used his political clout and influence to drum the Kuria support for the jubilee coalition of TNA/URP collation. Magaiwa’s efforts yielded the fruits that saw all the two parliamentary seats in Kuria East and Kuria West won by the URP/TA coalition. Raila Odinga the votes sharing arrangement and plan which had been brokered by Dalmas Otieno flopped and Raila Odinga garnered the least number of the presidential votes in the region where President Uhuru Kenyatta harvested the highest number of the 70,000 or so votes within the Kuria community.

Odm leaders this week warned Sen. Machage that stern disciplinary action might be considered by the party against him for tying to coerce ODM to nominate a non-member as its running mate ON ITS ticket.

“If Sen. Machage had any other party has something mind that would guarantee him a Kuria tribal running-mate for the governorship then he is free and within his democratic rights to quit ODM altogether with the Kuria voters and join that party, but he should not try to rock the boat from within.. There are well over 280,000 registered voters in Migori county and the 70,000 votes in Kuria region are like just a peanut and a small fraction in this cosmopolitan Senatorial electoral constituency and as such the ODM can still easily emerged the victorious with or with9ut Kuria votes ,said an ODM MP who requested for his anonymity.

MPs who are reportedly backing the direct nomination of Prof. Oyugi included the outspoken Mohamed Juneet [Suna East}, Eng Kobado {Uriri}. Joseph Ndiege [Suna West], Edick Omondi Anyanga {Nyatike and Jared Koopiyo [Awendo}

In the March 4, 2013 election aspirants who vied for the senate on ODM ticket, but were prevailed upon to withdrew their candidature in favor Machage included J.Magaiwa, Ochieng’ Mbeo and Oluoch Kanindo. The trio reluctantly withdrew their bid after having deposited the colossal amount of money with the ODM head office.

ENDS

ARCHIVES – The Pride of the Blacks over the Whites

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From: Yona Maro

—
Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

– – – –

This is the full text of a book called “The Pride of the Blacks over the Whites” written in the second century of Islamic civilization to defend dark-skinned Arabs and Africans from the prejudices of the lighter-skinned Arabized Persians, Slavs and Turks living in Iraq.

al-J??i? was an Arabic prose writer and author of works of literature, theology, and politico-religious polemics. Born: 776 AD, Basra, Iraq. Died: 868 AD, Basra, Iraq.

—

In the name of the Almighty, Merciful God ;
May God protect and keep you; let He make you obey Him and make you part of his favorites.
[ . . . ]

read more …
http://selfuni.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/al-jahiz-the-pride-of-the-blacks-over-the-whites/

The Union is dead! Long live Tanzania!

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From: Yona Maro

—
Yona Fares Maro
Institut d’études de sécurité – SA

– – – – – – – – – –

(The Union is no longer valid. A complete merger should be in place. Zanzibar’s sovereignty is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!)

THIS will be – by far – the most polemic opinion article that I have ever written for my Truth Be Told column. It could get this newspaper barred from being published, but let’s take that risk, shall we? Unless freedom of opinion and freedom of the press are no longer God-given rights in Tanzania, therefore, anyone who speaks freely – without seeking permission to do so – risk certain jail terms and being barred from publishing their papers? We shall see!

When you speak, talk or write about the Union of Tanzania, which was forged in 1964 (if my memory serves me right) between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, you risk certain punitive measures. The Union has
become a central issue that has been highlighted in the current Constitutional Assembly, and, indeed, it has been a dividing issue. There are several camps of thought; there are those who want the Union gone completely that we have a severance – dissolution – whereby Tanganyika retains its former status and Zanzibar becomes a complete and independent nation, which, by the way, it ALMOST is! Zanzibar – save for this erratic and confusing union – can be defined as a sovereign state, as it already has its own flag (which incorporates the flag of the United Republic of Tanzania, reduced to abou 25% of the entire flag, or less), its own national anthem, its own FULL and autonomous Presidency – the President of Zanzibar under the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar has full powers to administer the “country” as he sees fit, without seeking whatsoever permission from the President of the Republic of Tanzania.

I remember, a while back, Zanzibar made declarations that it wanted more autonomy, especially in terms of natural resouces. Zanzibar declared that the recent and abundant oil (and other fossil fuel) deposits found in Zanzibar, whereby there are five plots – of petroleum and natural gas – in the Indian Ocean, were purely Zanzibar property and where not to be considered Union property. This infuriated some bigwigs in the United Republic, who adamantly insisted that the oil deposits remain – as was prescribed – part and parcel of the United Republic.

Today, we have learned much about the Union; there is a second camp, in Zanzibar, which wants an arranged and contractual Union, whereby if eiher country – Zanzibar and Tanganyika – contravened the perninent articles of the Union Treaty, such action would constitute in the breach of law, which would make either country – after the severance due to breach of law/contract – a free and independent dominion; a state!

One thing that is clear is that, under the present arrangement, Zanzibar – as per the Union – is NOT a free state, because the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania states as following (right from the VERY BEGINNING):

CHAPTER ONE

THE UNITED REPUBLIC, POLITICAL PARTIES, THE PEOPLE
AND THE POLICY OF SOCIALISM AND SELF-RELIANCE
PART I

THE UNITED REPUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE

1. Tanzania is one State and is a sovereign United Republic.

2. (1) The territory of the United Republic consists of the whole of the area of mainland Tanzania and the whole of the area of Tanzania Zanzibar, and includes the territorial waters.

(2) For the purpose of the efficient discharge of the functions of the Government of the United Republic or of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, the President may, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law or provisions of such law as may be enacted by Parliament, divide the United Republic into regions, districts and other areas:
Provided that the President shall first consult with the President of Zanzibar before dividing Tanzania Zanzibar into regions, districts or other areas.

3. (1) The United Republic is a democratic, secular and socialist state which adheres to multi-party democracy.

(2) All matters pertaining to the registration and administration of political parties in the United Republic shall be governed by the provisions of this Constitution and of a law enacted by Parliament for that purpose.

4. (1) All state authority in the United Republic shall be exercised and controlled by two organs vested with executive powers, two organs vested with judicial powers and two organs vested with legislative and supervisory powers over the conduct of public affairs.

(2) The organs vested with executive powers shall be the Government of the United Republic and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar; the organs vested with judicial powers shall be the Judiciary of the United Republic and the Judiciary of the Revolutionary government of Zanzibar; and the organs vested with legislative and supervisory powers over public affairs shall be the Parliament of the United Republic and the House of Representatives.

This is what the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania says – from the BEGINNING – and here is what the Constitution of Zanzibar (Revised Edition of 2006) says:

THE CONSTITUTION OF ZANZIBAR 1984

CHAPTER ONE
ZANZIBAR
PART I
Zanzibar

1. Zanzibar is an integral part of the United Republic of Tanzania.

2. (1) The area of Zanzibar consists of the whole area of the Islands of Unguja and Pemba and all small Islands surrounding them and mcludes the territorial waters that before the Union formed the then People’s Republic of Zanzibar.

(2) For the purpose of the efficient discharge of the function of the Government, the President of the United Republic in consultation with the President of Zanzibar, may divide Zanzibar into Regions, Districts and any other areas in accordance with procedures prescribed.

3. (1) There shall be a Seal of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar whose insignia shall be as laid down by law enacted by the House of Representatives.

(2) The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar slall be empowered to prescribe anything whatsoever that shall serve to Identify the Government in accordance with the law as enacted by the House of Representatives.

4. This Constitution is the Constitution of Zanzibar and shall have the force of law throughout the Country save for provisions of Article 80 if any legislation is found to be in conflict with this Constitution this shall prevail and that law shall be null and void to that extent that conflicts with this Constitution.

NOW, I am not a Constitutional Affairs expert nor am I a legal expert, but using my simple-man’s deductive powers, I can attest to the fact that Zanzibar IS A SOVEREIGN STATE for this single reason, as following:
2. (1) The area of Zanzibar consists of the whole area of the Islands of Unguja and Pemba and all small Islands surrounding them and mcludes the territorial waters that before the Union formed the then People’s Republic of Zanzibar.

Simply put is that Zanzibar – through THIS constitution openly declares that its territorial coverage is t he whole of the Islands of Unguja and Pemba and all the small islands surrounding them and it also includes the territorial waters that before the Union formed the then People’s Republic of Zanzibar.

This is an open and blunt statement that BOLDLY DECLARES that Zanzibar is a sovereign state, because, as per the Articles of the Union, and the Constitution of the Union, “Tanzania is one State and is a sovereign United Republic”. There is no question of Zanzibar being “an integral part of the United Republic of Tanzania”. In ESSENCE, as per the Constitution of Zanzibar, the SHOULDN’T even BE a Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, and this is where the problem started, a long time ago!

The Presidencies of the late Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, Benjamin Mkapa and Jakaya Kikwete HAVE ALL IGNORED the fact the Constitution of the United Republic was breached a long time ago, simply by the mere fact that – legally – a Union means the “merger” of two separate entities into ONE!

The Constitution of Tanzania declares that Tanzania is a sovereign United Republic – a one State entity – which wad formed by the union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, therefore:

2. (1) The territory of the United Republic consists of the whole of the area of mainland Tanzania and the whole of the area of Tanzania Zanzibar, and includes the territorial waters.

However, there IS a contradiction in terms, which is:

(2) For the purpose of the efficient discharge of the functions of the Government of the United Republic or of the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, the President may, in accordance with the procedures prescribed by law or provisions of such law as may be enacted by Parliament, divide the United Republic into regions, districts and other areas:
Provided that the President shall first consult with the President of Zanzibar before dividing Tanzania Zanzibar into regions, districts or other areas.

Now someone tells me, IF at all we are talking – really – about a ONE STATE entity, why the heck would the President of the United Republic ever need to “first consult with the President of Zanzibar before dividing Tanzania Zanzibar into regions, districts or other areas”? I am sorry, but THIS DOES NOT COMPUTE! It doesnt make any sense, AT ALL!

I guess this is the BIGGEST LIE ever told to us all – both Tanganyikans and Zanzibaris – because, simply put, a Union, even by the simplest of definitions, means “the action of joining together or the fact of being joined together, especially in a political context.” or “the act of uniting two or more things”. So, this really WAS A LIE, to tell us that Zanzibar and Tanganyika were ONE STATE under the United Republic of Tanzania, only to have each one have its own independent Government AND a Presidency? WHAT A CROCK!

Simply put, the Union DIED the very minute the Articles of the Union were signed and put into motion, because, IF AT ALL – and I am sorry for over-emphasizing this – the Union was a reality, there would be only ONE government. What are we going to do about this – “we” meaning YOU and I? – is simply a matter of reflecting; we need to sit down and plan a course of act and ask, “If we have been lied to about the Union for 48 years, what else have we been lied to that we don’t yet know?” THEN and ONLY THEN will it all begin to sink in, and we shall – with great resolve and perseverance – overcome all obstacles that stand in the way of our becoming a truly independent ONE state!

AND THAT IS THE TRUTH THAT MUST BE TOLD! AMEN!

P.S. I am just a messenger. don’t shoot the messenger. Shoot the person who sent the messenger if you don’t like the message.

By @Paul Francis
Twitter: @PaulFrancisTZ, a.k.a. Citizen Paul
Email: paulfrancis.mongi@gmail.com
Text/Voice: +255-772-949577 and +255-762-949577