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Kenya: Kalenjin want Biwott and Gen Koech to take over the community leadership

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Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo In Eldoret Town.

IN recent past, many analyses of Rift Valley politics have only focused their attention on the future leadership of the embattled suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto, but lost sight on the rapidly changing pattern of the region’s politics.

The residents of this region are calling for a realistic change in stewardship of the community saying they are tired of childish politics of the likes of Ruto, Kutuny and Keter.

They have called upon Nicholas Biwott to come out full blast and take over the mantled of leadership of the community and guide to the future into working in harmony with leaders from other community.

The Kalenjin says they are tired of the belligerent leadership of William Ruto which they said is full of blamish and empty poltical slogans with no tangibke results.

The white color analysts appeared to have concentrated on issues commonly featured in the newspaper columns, but have lost sight on what is actually happening on the ground. These analysts portray Ruto, the Eldoret North MP as an untouchable and undisputed leader of the Kalenjin.

Surely these analysts who seemed to be operating from within the media houses, at times relying on information spread by discredited power brokers and rumor-mongers.

They should visit various parts of the expansive Rift Valley Province and have access to the fast class assessment of what is happening on the ground, thereby making their articles look like the work of “Paper Tigers’.

Politics of the Rift Valley is shifting the ground so fast, and come the year 2012 the likes of William Ruto, Joshua Kutuny, Charles Keter, Zakayo Cheruiyot, Benjamin Lang’at, Sammy Mwaita and others, all these MPs might find themselves not relevant anymore.

There is an upsurge of the new crop and seemingly unstained leaders. They are arguing that the injection of fresh blood into the region’s politics would bring some sanity to the region’s politics. And bring to into end the present politics of confrontational and unpredictable shifting to a new era. This will bring to an end the tribalism politics of amorphous alliances such as KKK and others.

The outcome of the August 4 referendum voting is a testimony and an indication of the shape of things to come. Joshua Kutuny became one of the causalities when he suffered humiliation defeat in his Cherangany constituency despite being right inside the Red camp. Kutuny constituents overwhelmingly voted for the Greens.

In the neighboring Eldoret North Constituency, William Ruto squeezed a narrow win over the green, but the insiders attributed his shaky victory to the alleged excessive intimidation of non-Kalenjin voters by the marauding bands of Nandi youths who went around threatening non-Kalenjin with eviction if they voted for the Yes Camp.

Ruto’s constituency is a cosmopolitan parliamentary electoral area with more Luhyia,Kikuyu and Luo votes, which are slightly edges those of the Kalenjins. And even among the Kalenjins themselves there is a sharp division between the wealthy farmers most of who are from Keiyos Tugens,Marakwets and the Nandis. The Keiyo’s and Tugens, most of them who were the supporters of the former MP for the area, late Reuben Chesire.

The result of the referendum voting show that Ruto himself is standing on a very precarious position in his own Eldoret North Constituency, and if in the and in the event of him ditching the ODM, and non-Kalenjin aspirant with the national political outlook could easily oust him. I am talking of some one of Francis Atwoli or Nicholas Bowott’s caliber whose appeal will sell through the town’s workers could be the next MP. Alternatively the good idea should be that of grooming another strong Nandi aspirant who will win the Luhyia,Kikuyu and Luo votes could see Ruto biting the dust.

Unfortunately, the former Keiyo South MP has already made up his mind of contesting the Elkeiyo/Marakwet County Senate seat.

The current battle line have been drawn in the Rift Valley Province pitting MPs who support the suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto against those supporting his political rival the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.In the past elections.

Mr Odinga enjoyed massive support in the Kalenjin, but his working relations with his deputy in the ODM hierarchy William Ruto and his gangs of Kalenjin MPs soured shortly after the formation of the grand coalition government over the latter described a raw deal in the distribution of Cabinet posts. Residents of the South Rift complained bitterly that the ODM leader had exhibited favoritism towards thgeir cousins from the North the Nandis with three cabinet slots, while giving the Kipsigis only one with two Asistant Ministers and yet the Kipsigis gave Mr Odinga close one million votes in the 2007 general election in comparison to Nandis 230,000.

The dispute was over three ministers, namely William Ruto, Henry Kosgey and Dr Sally Kosgey who are all members of the Nandi sub-tribe of the larger Kalenjin.The Kipsigisi harvested only one cabinet slot that which went to the late Kipkalia Kones and later to Franklin Bett following Kones death in aircraft crash.

The dispute has, however, been overtaken by event, especially by the political wrangling over the eviction of the Kalenjin illegal settlers in the Mau Forest Complex, one of the most important water tower in the country. Ruto and his friends have turned the heat on Raila blaming him for being responsible or the eviction of their people. What they Ruto oasis could not explain to the satisfaction of their followers is the fact Ruto is a senior member of the cabinet where the decision to force illegal settlers out of Mau Forest were deliberated and decided.

Mr Odinga, however, is still enjoying the backing of four Kalenjin Ministers and a host of MPs. These are Henry Kosgei {Industrialization} Dr Sally Kosgei {Agriculture} Prof. Hellen Sambili {East African Community}, Franklin Bett {Roads}. The MPs included Magerer Lang;at {Kipkellion},Dr.Joyce Laboso {Sotik} Mrs Beatrice Kones {Bomet} Prof. Margaret Kamar {Eldoret East}.

Odinga is also controlling the votes in the South Rift region. But only if the Kalenjin and the Maasai who supports him could join and out their act together, he will be still be a power to reckon with in the Rift Valley.

A cross section of Kalenjin opinion leaders as well as professionals and civic ldears appeared to disapprove William Ruto’s leadership style contending that it is full of excessive arrogance, empty rhetoric’s as well as political deceits and blame games. Ruto’s leadership, they say is offering no tangible development strategies. They viewed Mr.Odinga as a serious reformist and reliable development partner.

Coun. Nicholas Tum of Kericho Municipalty said some the Kalenjin politicians were following Ruto blindly,but would soon regret. They would soon find themselves isolated and shut outside the next government.

Tum strongly condemned the group of 30 civic leaders from Kericho and Bomet Countries who last week issued a joint press statement denouncing the unswerving support to Mr Odinga by the Road Minister Franklin Bett.

Tum added the Minister was right. He is one of the people in our region with the vision for the future and as such we must give him our unqualified support.”Those hell-bent on rocking the ODM boat must leave the party now and we shall teach them the lesson that they will live to regret.

He said Ruto is misleading the Kalenjin community simply because his egoistic politics. He has spokesman millions of words, but nothing has been put into practice. He has been a member of the cabinet that made decision to evict the illegal squatters out of the Mau Forest, but never uttered even one single word in the opposition to the government decision, But when he speaking outside the government embark of his usually cheating antics, which are full of contradictions.

Howe can one man Raila Odinga became a stumbling block to Kelanjin development, and yet in the same government there are more than five Kalenjin cabinet members/ Is Ruto really telling us the truth? And how low is the community going to rely on these kinds of rhetoric’s which are nothing but pack of lies? Tum asked.

In Eldoret, a group of young Kalenin technocrats challenged Nicholas Kiprono Biwott to come out and lead the community. He is an experienced and moderate leader who can easily work with leaders from other communities for the best interest of all Kenyans.

The group led by Ezekiel Bitok appealed to Biwott to join his forces with the UDM and give the community the right direction. We need Biwott badly. He is the only Kalenjin who is experienced and with the wealth of experience who can step into the sh9oes of the retired President Daniel Arap Moi.

One Kennedy J.Lagat said the Kalenjin needs someone who is cohesive enough wh9 can cultivate good relatiu9ons and friendship with the neighboring and even inspire the community to mend its fences with its Esther-while rival communities for the benefit of all. Ruto and his team are only serving selfish interest, but with no regard to the people welfare. They can go making noise and cheating people here and there, but will achieve nothing good for the Kalenjin even if they remain in Parliament for another twenty years. The politics of Ruto and his friends is suspect and based on jealously and childish way of handling sensitive issues.

Biwott is the patron of the National Vision Party of Kenya, while Lt. Gen {rtd} John Koech the former deputy CGS is the national chairman of the UDM. Both parties appeared to making major inroad in both Southern and Northern part of the Rift Valley.

Kanu still has small patches of support here and there, but ever since its national chairman the Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta allegedly abandoned it for the PNU, it following has dwindled. Uhuru has also refused to vacate the chairmanship something which seemed to hurt KANU most.

Ruto addressed a series of political rallies in the South Rift at the weekend where the attendance appeared to have fizzled and only a paltry distraught looking crowd attended his rally at

At most of his weekend rallies in the South Rift, Ruto accused the Land Minister James Orengo for delaying in resettlement of Mau Forest evictees and internally displaced persons. He alleged that the Land Minister is with holding Kshs 3.6 billion meant for the resettlement.

He said after the eviction of Mau and Embobot forests, the Kalenjin MPs sought for assistance from the government. To resettle the landless people. The government gave Kshs 1.6 billion for the Mau evictees and another Kshs 2 billion for the IDPs. In total about Kshs 3.6 billion was given to the Lands Ministry for this purpose.

But things have so far turned nasty even for the Kalenjin leaders. In a recent statement the chairman of the evictees Mr Phillip Ng’eny demanded to know the whereabouts of the Kshs 6 million raised during harambee fund drive organized by the Kalenjin MPs to assist them.

But Ruto said the money was only Kshs 5 million and it was given to the Red Cross Society of Kenya to continue with the work they were doing to assist the evictees. Ruto alleged that even PNU is part of the scheme that caused him present woes. He said he became the target immediately he started defending the retired President Daniel Arap Moi from vengeful and harsh Narc by PNU and government.

But a group of politicians in Kericho countered these claims by saying that some f the Kalenjin leaders who were shouting the loudest were responsible for the IDP and should be taken to the Hague and prosecuted for human right violation.”These are the same people who planned the executed post election violence of 2007-8.,”

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Kenya: What happened to the Kimwani ADC Farm in Songhor Mr Orengo Tell Us The Truth?

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Investigative Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

KENYANS do appreciate the concerted efforts being put by the government in ensuring that corruption is wiped out and consigned to the dustbins of history.

The same effort to retrieve public land illegally acquired either by companies, families, groups or individuals.

However, something is a miss somewhere. Nobody in the government or elsewhere seemed to be interested in knowing the fate of an ADC farm at Kimwani at Songhor, which sits on the foot of Nandi Escarpment below the Nandi hills.

The close to 10,000 acres of vast farm was previously owned by Mr Roderick Macleod, the younger brother of a one time the British Colonial Secretary Ian Macleod. The same white settler owned what was then known as JOLLY FARMERS HOTEL in Molo, which is located next to the Molo-Nakuru highway. The hotel was bought by the Kenya government in the late 1970s and it is now the GSU headquarters.

Large portion of the Kimwani ADC Farm was bought by the former Minister for Agriculture the late Dr. William Odongo Omamo, who was also one time Bondo MP and in his later years represented Muhoroni in the August House between 1997 and 2002. But before he succumbed to his death last year the late Omamo had sold most parts of his vast farm to the local communities and individuals.

The Agricultural Development Corporation {ADC} had the lion’s share and owned Kimwani ADC farm. Most part of the farm, which is believed to be in excesses of 6,000 acres, had planted sugar cane on it. The ADC had used the public funds in cultivating and planting all the sugar cane on the farm.

But all of a sudden, the former KANU regime in late 1980s and early 1990s moved with snake speed and appropriated the Kmwani ADC farm, and sub-divided it into 100 acres or more pieces, which were later allocated to the top government security chiefs, military men, permanent secretaries all of them Kalenjins. In fact the list of the names of the allotted with free land in Kimwani ADC farm reads like “Who is who in Kalenjin”.

In fact some of the luckiest individual who got over 100 acres of land with plant sugar cane ended up reaping off millions o shillings when their cane was harvested by the nearby Chemelil Sugar Company.

These are the same characters and politician who were in August this year were vehemently opposed to the new constitution dispensation, arguing that it will infringe into individuals land. The majority of people apart from the former nominated MP and Moi’s spanner boy Mzee Ezekiel Bargetuny and his family, who ended up with lion’s share, are to-day the same people who sitting in our Parliament. They are the same people who were so vocal about the land distribution and other shallow and hollow agitation and protracted argument about the clauses touching on the land as contained therein the new constitution.

A lot has been spoken about the illegal acquisition of large scale land or farms in this country, but everyone seemed to be keeping silent on what has happened to the Kimwani AD farm in Songhor on the border of Nyanza –Rift Valley Province.

In the same Songhor Valley, a top Kenya technocrat the late Mr Jonathan Owako had bought 1600 acres of a farm previously owned by a white settler. Owako had voluntarily sold half of his farm to groups of local land buying company owned by the local communities He built a magnificent farm house at an estimated cost of Kshs 6 million on the remaining 800 acres.

,But immediately after Mr Owako’s his death, a prominent Nandi politician {Name withheld} who was then one of the untouchable individuals during Moi’s administration, mobilized the Nandis who forcefully moved into Mr Owako’s property and settled on. His magnificent house was turned into a nursery and later a primary school for the new settler.

The unnamed Nandi politician himself slashed the largest portion of the land and converted into his own farm. The family has never been compensated for both the house and the farm, leave alone the close to twenty acres of mature cane and several patches of premature cane which were found on the farm. All were harvested and the money pocketed by the new farmers who had moved into the farm through mob justice.

Protracted legal court battles have followed and all ended up in judgments delivered in favor of the Owako family, but his sons could not move back and settled on the and due to constant threat of physical inhalation.

At one time, a court injunction was obtained by the late Owako’s family and served on Chemelil Sugar Company barring the facility from crushing any sugar cane illegally grown and harvested on the late Mr.Owako’s farm, but the company flagrantly ignored the court orders and continued harvesting sugar cane from Mr Owako’s farm with impunity. The matter is far from being resolved to-date.

Another Luo famer from Nyanza, the ate Mr Walter Fanuel Odede lost close to 2000 acres of prime agricultural land in the Songhor Valley in similar circumstances.

Odede one of the early nationalist and heroes of the struggle for independence who stayed in detention and restriction British colonial camp in the remote Northern Kenya for close to the duration of the State of Emergency was the father in-law of the late Tom Joseph Mboya another architect of political independence in this country.

The Minister for Land Hon James Aggrey Orengo is just sitting on the job. We have not heard him saying anything about the Kimwani ADC Farm in Songh0r, and yet those who had illegally acquired the land and apportioned it themselves are sitting with him in the 10th Parliament. The same people have become of the sung heroes and defenders of the so-called Kalenjin land, perhaps including the stolen ones as well.

In order to silent his critics, the retired President Moi moved to Muhoroni and slashed half of the Muhoroni Sugar Company nucleus estate far,, and after its sub-division distributed small pieces of farms to his political cronies, sycophants and then politically correct Luo surrogates.

TheJ0hnie come late and laxity ridden merry-making new Luo farmers immediately abandoned their ill-gotten farms immediately after harvesting the cane which was planted on land prepared and cultivated by the company at its own cost and minting millions of shillings and vanished away with their lined pockets.

Some of these farm, have since remained fallow, while most of Moi’s right hand men in Nyanza have since sold out or abandoned their ill-gotten farms. This list also read as “Who is who in Luo-Nyanza’ starting with former Permanent Secretaries, judges, administrators and political hirelings. These and many others are some of the impunity which the government must clean up the messes now.

Kenyans are sudden by the new culture of shifting blame on ethnics. Each time my fellow Luo committed a serious criminal offence, and once cornered. Such a person quickly jump into conclusion that “The Luos are being finished” or the subject matter is politically motivated” Witch-hunting are some of the cheapest English vocabulary commonly deployed by politicians in defense of criminal suspect.”

A case in point is the court cases in which the suspended Higher Education Minister is presently a suspect in a criminal case involving the alleged fraudulent sale of forest land at Ngog Hills. Without prejudice, the name if the Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been so common in the lips of the Kalenjin MPs as the person responsible for the Minister’s woes.

Such allegations against Raila Odinga defeats all the logics simply because the alleged offence which has brought Ruto and his other friends before a court of law were committed around 2001. During this period of time, Raila Odinga was nobody in the government of President Moi, but an opposition MP for Lang’ata involved with others in the clamor for the introduction of pluralism system of politics in Kenya. In all fairness, if the Prime Minister is the one instigating Ruto.s prosecution. Who else is responsible for the cases against the three others who are jointly accused with Ruto for the same offence? I am saying that Ruto and his colleagues are merely suspect, because the law says that the accused person becomes an offender after being proved guilty for an offence as charged. Therefore Ruto and his co-accused persons are merely suspects

But Kenya has gone a notch high of even discussing matters which clearly appeared to be even capable of being subjudice matters before the courts for political expediency.

Those blaming Raila Odinga on such issues are just exposing their political naivety and mediocrity. They should learn how to play politics of maturity, but not elementary like the road working gangs.

It is equally good for those who wished to ditch the ODM to do so on their own volition, but they must not hold the party leadership hostage.

If they are men enough, they should have left long ago without making too much fuss or trying to rock the boat from within. They must vacate their elective positions which they won on the ODM tickets and contest the same on other party tickets instead of hanging around making things difficult for the party’s loyal members.

Ruto himself need to tirade carefully because and strategize for his future otherwise he might soon find himself irrelevant even long before 2012.He need the like of Raila Odinga to propel his future presidential ambition, but if he goes on despising every colleague and nursing false notch that the Kalenjin votes are so numerous and can use for power bargain, this could be a pipe dream because he does not own the Kalennin nor is that community out for sale.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Museveni want to run for Uganda’s presidency for his 30th year

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni yesterday launched his re-election bid with a huge rally during which he outlined his achievements and said there was still work for him and the NRM to do for the country.

President Museveni, the NRM party flag-bearer, addressing a crowd at Kololo airstrip yesterday

He said the country under his leadership is on the road to economic transformation.

Museveni was addressing jubilant supporters at Kololo Airstrip hours after being duly nominated as NRM’s presidential candidate in next year’s general elections.

He cited peace, security, economic recovery, disciplined army, free education for all, and democratisation as some of his key achievements.

Museveni said NRM’s achievements are not only recognised in Uganda, but across the world.

“NRM has liberated Uganda from dictators and has brought peace to the country. Our economy is self-reliant as we can work on development programmes without depending on foreign loans and grants.

“It is us who have liberated Uganda from those problems, who deserve to be entrusted with the leadership of the country,” he said amidst ululations from supporters.

Museveni dismissed his competitors in the 2011 presidential race asking him to relinquish power, saying they are underachievers with nothing to offer.

Referring to his achievements, stability and a robust economy with enough revenue to finance government programmes, Museveni wondered why his opponents were demanding that he relinquishes power.

“They say Museveni agende (should go). Why should he go and you remain? What have you achieved to qualify to replace him? Uganda had problems of murderers and dictators, why didn’t you solve them? The Museveni you tell to go led those who liberated Uganda from those problems,” he elaborated.

Museveni equated himself to an old broom, which knows all the corners and to a fighter, who has surmounted all the country’s problems.

The NRM leader assured the citizens that there is enough revenue to run government programmes. He cited the Kampala-Masaka road, Matugga-Ssemuto-Kapeeka road, and Busega-Mityana road, which are being constructed on internally generated funds.

Referring to the 1962 UPC alliance with Kabaka Yekka that resulted into the bloody 1966 crisis, Museveni cautioned voters against making wrong choices while voting.

“The Baganda say ensi egula mirambo (a nation is liberated through bloodshed). If that is the case, why do you gamble with politics? You elect Ken Lukyamuzi who talks about conserving butterflies. If he likes them so much, why doesn’t he rear them?” he wondered.

Museveni promised to construct free public toilets in all the divisions of Kampala as part of his new programmes in the next term if re-elected.

He said he would, in the next financial year, ensure 100 free public toilets are built in Kawempe division and 50 in each of the other Kampala divisions.

“It is unfortunate that the poor cannot access toilets because of charges ranging from sh200 to sh700. I want to stop this exploitation of the poor and introduce free toilets,” Museveni said.

He arrived at the rally at 2:30pm in his car which moved through the ululating crowds. Accompanied by his wife Janet, he waved at the supporters before taking his seat in the tent.

The rally was attended by a mass of supporters donned in yellow t-shirts, with Museveni’s portrait and inscriptions declaring their loyalty to NRM.

The airstrip was pasted with banners praising Museveni. Various drama groups and brass-bands moved around chanting NRM’s slogan of ‘no change’ and tajja’genda (he will not go).

Several supporters travelled from various parts of the country to attend the rally.

Among the guests was former FDC vice-chairman for the northern region Alex Onzima, who crossed to the NRM and former DP stalwart and Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala.

Onzima seconded Museveni’s nomination after NRM national vice-chairman Alhaji Moses Kigongo proposed Museveni’s name to the Electoral Commission at Namboole Stadium.

Several artistes, including veteran Kadongo Kamu singer Dan Mugula and local musician Eddie Kenzo of the stamina hit, entertained the crowd. Museveni joined them on the stage and belted his new rap song, “give you some rap?” which sent the fans into laughter.

Addressing the underprivileged, Museveni said he would ensure that he deals with the problem of high market dues so that vendors can remain with enough income to solve their problems.

He cited a levy of sh500 imposed on each bunch of matooke, which he said constitutes overcharging the ordinary vendors.

He said since Kampala mayor Nasser Sebaggala had joined him, the problems of Kampala would be solved with the help of the Kampala City Council.

The NRM secretary general, Amama Mbabazi, and his deputy, Dorothy Hyuha, were the MCs. Mbabazi thanked the supporters for turning up in big numbers.

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UGANDA: MUSEVENI AND BASIGYE AND SIX OTHER PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS ARE EXPECTED TO PRESENT THEIR NOMINATION PAPERS TODAY.

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Writes Leo Odera Omolo

SIX presidential candidates have been cleared by the Electoral Commission for the nomination due at the Mandela National Stadium in Namboole today and tomorrow.

The EC spokesperson, Willy Ochola, yesterday said the six had fulfilled the required conditions after submitting 100 signatures of supporters from at least 75 of the 112 districts. The signatures were approved after verification.

President Yoweri Museveni, the National Resistance Movement (NRM) flag-bearer, and Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) leader Col. Kizza Besigye were cleared on Saturday.

The EC yesterday also cleared the Uganda Federal Alliance presidential candidate, Olive Beti Kamya, Nobert Mao of the Democratic Party, Dr. Abed Bwanika of the People’s Development Party and Jaberi Bidandi Ssali of the People’s Progressive Party.

This makes six candidates eligible for nomination. Museveni will be nominated today at 10:00am, Bidandi at 11:00am and Mao at 3:00pm.

Besigye, the joint flag-bearer of the Inter-Party Cooperation, will be nominated at midday today. IPC brings together the FDC, Conservative Party, Justice Forum (Jeema), the Social Democrats Party and a pressure group, Suubi 2011, headed by former Buganda premier Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere.

Bwanika and Kamya have booked Tuesday 11:00am and midday respectively.

Museveni, Besigye, Mao. Bidandi, Kamya and Bwanika are part of the 11 presidential aspirants who had returned the nomination forms by yesterday. A total of 56 candidates picked the forms.

The others are Uganda Peoples Congress (UPC) led by Olara Otunnu and the Green Partisan Party led by Jamil Ssali.

Ochola named the independent candidates who returned the nomination forms as Gideon Tugume, Drake Sebunya and Samuel Lubega.

By last evening, the EC was still verifying Otunnu’s nomination forms and he had only secured 50 districts out of the required 75.

Ochola said the Green Partisan Party had signatures from about 20 districts approved, Gideon Tugume had 16 districts, Drake Sebunya had 15, while Samuel Lubega had only 11 districts.

He said verification of signatures would end today. Whoever fails to get the required signatures by then will not be nominated.

The EC vice-chairman, Joseph Biribonwa, said each candidate will be given 15 minutes for nomination, since verification of supporters and payment of the sh8m fee had been done.

Biribonwa said the nomination will be carried out in the stadium’s main hall. Two holding rooms have been secured for candidates who will arrive earlier than their appointed time or who will come late.

He noted that stake-holders like political parties, diplomats, religious leaders and election observers have been invited to witness the exercise.

Ochola added that the commission had already secured 10 vehicles for presidential candidates, as well as escort cars.

About 14 million people have registered to take part in the 2011 general elections that will kick off on February 18, 2011 with the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The district leaders will be elected on February 23. Leaders of municipality local governments will be elected on March 2. LC2 leaders will be elected on March 7.

Ends

Kenya: Dr. Machage and Raila have buried hatchet and willing to work together in harmony

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Migori Town.

The anxiety and discontent that had gripped the future inaugural of Migori County as created in the new constitutional dispensation is over following last week act of political magnanimity between the hitherto arch-political rivalries between the majority Luos and Minority Kurias.

The good gesture by the two will now easy out the tension and suspicion that had existed between the twoi communities, and would make it much easier for the inaugural of the new Coumntyof Migori where members of the two communities will work together and promote the economic growth of the region.

The two communities are grouped together with people of diverse ethnic background such as Luhyia, Maragolis and Suba in one of the Counties in the defunct Nyanza Province, which is expected to be one of the richest in the region.

It is an area which is covering five parliamentary constituencies, namely Rongo, Uriri, Nyatike, Migori and Kuria. May be the recently concluded work of the Boundary Commission, which was headed by Andrew Ligale would favor the region and give it an one or two additional parliamentary seats nobody knows.

The source of anxiety has been the hostility between the Kuria MP Dr.Wilfred Machage and the Luo political kingpin Raila Amolo Odinga. The short, bearded, stout and outspoken MP has lost no chance whenever he opened up in a public gathering without launching scathing criticism of the Prime Minister in particular and the Luo community in general.

The hostility between the two had reached the highest peak, even leading to the MP being arraigned in court charge with giving hate speeches during the August 4, referendum voting for the new constitution. He adamantly stuck to the Reds side led by the suspended Higher Education Minister William Ruto.

Machage hate for the Luo was o0enely displayed when the MP made a vain move to have his minority Kuria community separated from being in one administrative unit with their neighboring Luos.

Machage had even suggested that then Kuria be moved out Nyanza Province,and that the community either join the Trans-Mara County with the neighboring Maasai or the Kisii County County.

But all these suggestions failed because they lacked logistic and political backing of the ordinary Kuria people, who were vehemently opposed to the idea. They argued that these suggestion were impracticable taking it into account the geopolitics of the region.

If such a pipedream were put into practice and implemented by the government, it could have forced the Kuria people to travel for more than 100 kilometer to do their normal business in Kisii Town or similar distance to carry their normal business at the Kilgoris Office of the Trans-Mara County. Moreover the Kuria and the Maasai had the long lasting history of hostility against each other as the result of the intermittent bloody cattle rustling.

The Kuria and the Luos have lived and worked together ever since 1907 when the old, but now defunct Southern Nyanza district which was created by the early colonialists and which had grouped the Abagusi, Luos and Kuris together for many years with its administrative headquarters in KJisii Town.

But when the first act of splitting the district, which was then the largest and most populous occurred in 1962 with the creation of a new district of South Nyanza at Homa-Bay as its administrative headquarters, the Kuria moved along with the Luos. The ordinary Kurias and Luos get along very well and are used to each other. The two communities had a lot in common to share together.

The hostility between the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and the Kuria MP started the other day following President Mwai Kibaki relegation of Dr. Machage to an Assistant Minister from the lucrative post of the Minister for East African Community Affairs during the re-organization and re-arrangement of the cabinet to accommodate the ODM Minister in the coalition government following the signing of the National Peace Accord worked out as the result of reconciliation by the former UN Chief Dr Kofi Annan following the post-election violence that had engulfed the country. Dr Machage is a member of the PNU, which is one of the principal partners in the coalition. Kibaki had to offload some members of the cabinet, and the Baringo East MP Kamama was among those relegated to the junior Ministerial clot from the cabinet.

The new arrangement stirred up hostilities between the Prime Minister and the Assistant Minister. But despite of the persistent outbursts against him by Dr Machage, the Prime Minister has kept it cool and never reacted or said anything as a rejoinder to the MPs criticism.

This is was so because Raila Odinga knew it pretty well that he had a large following among the Kuria people who half of them are supporters of his party. Therefore trading accusation with their MP might jeopardize his position among his supporters in Kuria.

But last week Dr Machage voluntarily came forward and announced before the mammoth crowd during as meeting in Kuria that he and Raila Odinga have buried their hatchet. He softened his stand and apologized for his persistent opposition to the Prime Minister both inside and outside Parliament.

“I want to state here clearly today we have buried the hatchet. Henceforth, I will support Raila’s presidential bid,” Dr Machage announced amid prolonged applause by the crowd.

Machage trickled the enthusiastic crowd when he p[raised his erstwhile political opponent, saying he was ready to work with the Prime Minister and support his presidential bid.

“I want to assure your Mr Prime Minister of my support and at the same time seek your help to have my suspension as an Assistant Minister lifted.” Said Machage as the crowd roared in laughter.

Dr Machge was suspended after he was charged in court with hate speech during referendum campaigns. He asked the Kuria electorate to be ready to support Raila’s presidential bid in 2012describing him as the best bet for Kenya.

Raila in hjis address assured the Kuyria that he had nothing personal against them or their MP. “ I want to assure you that you will not be relegated or marginalized in Migori County, which has brought together the Kuria and the Luos in one administrative unit within the locality,” said the PM.

During the meeting the Prime Minister brought with him lawyer Kipchumba Murkomen and Moses Kurgat who were assigned the duty of civic education to explain the contents of the new constitution and what it entails.

The two gave a long catalogue of viable issues contained in the new laws as Machage, who was an ardent critic of the new constitution at the August 4 referendum listened to the lecturers while his voters cheered.

Raila Odinga then came to the stage and further explained how the new laws would ensure a united and democratic Kenya nation.

Migori County is one of the places in Western Kenya, which is endowed with good rainfall all the year. Local farmers grow cash crops such as tobacco, sugar cane, finger millets, sorghum, vegetables, banana, maize, which is the staple food and keep large number of zebu cattle for beef. Plans are also a foot for the introduction of dairy cows in most p[art of the County, especially, on the Rongo, Uriri and Migori side of the region.

The region is also rich in minerals such as gold, nickel, copper and some parts is suspected to be having substantial quantity of uranium. Several farms are prospecting along Migori River, and also in the disused of former gold mines at Masara, Macalder.Several companies have expressed their intention of going into full scale in prospecting for gold, which is said to be in large quantity enough for commercial mining.

The Riana Valley is said by geologist to be full of gold, and this is why Kamwango areas in North Kamagambo is declared as a gold zone. Plans are a foot to have the commercial mining firms operating in the area in the near future. This would boost the economy of the region. At the moment small scale mining and prospecting for alluvial gold along Migori river are going on.

The Awendo-based Sonysugar is the largest manufacturing industry in the region which has engaged close to 2500 workers and almost similar number on indirect employment such as casuals etc. There is a fish processing plant in Migori town with the reasonable number of workers.

The government, however, need to increase the crushing capacity of the SONYSUGAR plant from the current 2500 tons per day to more than 3500 tons of cane per day. If this is done, it will help in easing out the case of over grown or over matured cane, which are rotting in the farms and could not be harvested in time. This is a big loss to the small scale vane farmers.

Tobacco is one of the major source of income for peasants in Kuria, Kamagambo, Sakwa, Uriri and most part of the upper areas, while the resident of lower Part particularly those area bordering the shorelines of Lake Victoria depends on fishing and fish trade. In the lower part farmer are also keeping large herds of native zebu cattle for beef trade and generating income of the same scale as fishing

The residents need only to pick up the right men and women for the County governance with the managerial ability and supervisory capability to turn around the region and making a vibrant County, which is able to susta8n its own economic growth for the benefits of the local community.

The region is currently served by the super highway road that is linking Kisii and Migori town and winding up at the Sirare border post, which has recently undergone widening exercises to minimize road fatalities which has became common on this road, especially on the portion separating Awendo and Migori Towns.

There are several good access and feeder roads cross the entire region, but the economically important Migori Muhuru Bay road need to be termacked to facilitate easy transportation of fish.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda: Electoral Commission in nation rejects Basigye nomination signatures from 62 districts

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo

THE Electoral Commission has rejected nomination signatures from 62 districts presented by Kizza Besigye of the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC).,the newvision online reported today

EC secretary Sam Rwakoojo (second-left) and other staff are joined by the public at the prayers for peaceful elections next year

A presidential aspirant must submit 100 signatures of supporters from each of at least 75 of the 112 districts.

If Besigye fails to get the required signatures, he will not be nominated. The exercise is slated for October 25 and 26 at Mandela Stadium between 10:00am and 4:00pm.

Besigye is also the joint flag-bearer of the Inter-Party Cooperation which brings together the FDC, Conservative Party, Justice Forum (Jeema), the Social Democrats Party and a pressure group, Suubi 2011, headed by former Buganda premier Joseph Mulwanyamuli Ssemwogerere.

Commission spokesperson Willy Ochola said only signatures from 32 districts had been approved for Besigye. “Dr. Kizza Besigye has only got signatures from 32 districts out of the number he submitted and 62 are lacking figures,” he said.

The nomination forms, he noted, bore the signatures of unregistered voters or duplicate ones. “We have asked him to sort out the problem. He has asked to be nominated on Monday, October 25, so he has up to then to sort out the problem,” Ochola said.

Ochola further said in Bukedea district, Besigye submitted 100 signatures but only 72 were valid. In Kasese, he submitted 203 signatures of which 35 were valid.

In Abim, Alebtong, Amuria, Agago, Apac and Bukwo, Besigye also did not have the numbers, Ochola added.

Besigye has twice lost to Museveni in the past.

Ochola said Olive Beti Kamya of the Uganda Federal Alliance had only signatures from 33 districts approved, while Jaberi Bidandi Ssali of the People’s Progressive Party qualified in just 24 districts.

He said the commission was still scrutinising the signatures submitted by the Uganda People’s Congress flag-bearer Olara Otunnu and President Yoweri Museveni of the NRM.

By last evening, 35 districts had been verified for Otunnu and 20 for Museveni.

Ochola said they had advised Kamya and Bidandi Ssali to go back to the voters and iron out the discrepancies before the nomination dates.

Commission chairman Badru Kiggundu at the beginning of the month asked the candidates to hand in nomination forms by October 11 to allow the commission appropriate time to verify the signatures.

“The commission shall subject the nomination papers to thorough scrutiny to ensure compliance with the law and to establish the authenticity of the names, signatures and numbers of the supporters,” he said.

The presidential candidates are also required to hand in three passport-size photos and certified copies of their academic papers.

The candidates are also required to pay sh8m nomination fees. A total of 56 aspirants have picked nomination forms for the presidency.

ENDS

Kenya: Kajwang’s says he is not switching to the Senate and would defend his seat

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay Town,

IMMIGRATION and Registration of Persons Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ was at the weekend endorsed as the chairman of Homa-Bay County Development Forum at a tension parked consultative meeting held last Saturday.

The Minister who is also the MP for Mbita constituency by virtue of the endorsement became automatically the sole spokesman for the Homa-Bay County.

Several far-reaching resolutions were unanimously passed at the meeting which was held inside the Homa-Bay County Hall and attended by the three members of parliament, professionals, civic leaders and dozens of th0se aspiring for the various positions with the County governance,

Also in attendance were four former MPs who represented the various parliamentary constituencies in the previous parliament. They included Matthews Otieno Ogingo {Ndhiwa}, George Osingo Migure{Mbita} Tom Okello Obondo {Ndhiwa} and Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi {Rangwe}.

The meeting which was chaired by Kajwang had brought together ex-MPs, professionals, clergymen, civic leaders, party operatives and local politician from the six parliamentary constituencies that forms the Homa-Bay County, namely Mbita, Gwassi, Ndhiwa, Rangwe, Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo.

Kajwang’ was accompanied by three other MPs, namely Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipul-Kabondo, Martin Otieno Ogindo {Rangwe} and Ms Millie Odhiambo nominated MP.

Technocrats and professionals who attended the meeting include Dr Mark Matunga from the Microsoft, Dr Kenneth Oscar Kambona from the USAID, the Chief of Staff at the Prime Minister’s Office Karoli Omondi,Prof.Akeyo Omolo from Maseno University, Mrs Roselyn Onyuka the former Nyanza PDE and now a commissioner with the TSC, Dr Eve Obara the managing director of the Kenya Literature Bureau, a Kisii based lawyer Samuel Ochillo.

It was the county leaders who converged for the inaugural of the Homa-Bay County Leaders Consultative meeting. The incumbent MPs from the region were taken to task over their recent decision to “dish” out positions created as a result of the new constitutional dispensation..

MInister Otieno Kajwang’ the convener had hectic time cooling down the tempers of the participant in his bid to protect the MPs

A delegate from Gwassi caused a stir when he challenged the MPs to explain then reason why they ha decided to allocate Gwassi the post of the deputy County governor?

Here were some issues highlighted by the professionals in their addresses. For example, Dr Kambona stressed the need for the Homa-Bay County to go out full blast and shop for new investors.

The Chief of Staff at the PM’s Office Karoli Omondi urged the leaders to come out with proposals that could be used in developing the new Country much faster.

The clamor for both the posts of Senate and County governor took the center stage during the meeting. Those eyeing various seats got the opportunity to declare their stand.

The least of those intending to contest for the position of the County governor were floated to the dalegates They include the former immediate Rangwe MP Eng.Phillip Okundi, who is also the chairman of the CCK, the incumbent Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo, Dr Mark Matunga of the Microsoft and businessman Opiata Ogada.

Other whose names featured prominently at the meeting include the former Country Director of Marie Stoppie Clinic Cyprian Otieno Awiti and a businessman Isaiya Ogwe.

Awiti who is leading the pack of the aspirants for the Homa-Bay Senate seat conducted a very successful fund drive for Mirogi Catholic Mission the next day and was endorsed by the congregation led by Fr Nicholas Otieno, and the faithful endorsed him.

These aspirants hail from different locations within the County of Homa-Bay. Dr Mark Matunga is from Mfangano Island in {Mbita}, while Opiata Ogada is from Rusinga Island {Mbita}, Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi hails from Kochia {Rangwe}, MP Martin Otieno Ogindo from Kanyada {Rangwe},Cyprian Otieno Awiti is from East Karachunyo{Karachuonyo} while Isaiya Ogwe hails from Kanyada in Rangwe

It is expected that more names will com forward for the same posts within the next few weeks. But for now Cyprian Awiti and Eng.Okundi appeared to be in the lead followed by Dr Mark Matunga.

Karachuonyo MP Eng. James Rege had told this writer that in apportioning different slots for several constituencies, the MPs from the region had meant well just for the purpose of protecting constituencies with minority votes..

The MP added that if the contestants were to campaign openly areas with more votes like Karachuonyo and Kasipul-Kabondo would swept the board taking all the important positions and after taking this into consideration, the MP from the region met and decided to apportion the seats evenly so that each and every constituency among the six of them would have their man or woman at the County governance. But the idea was violently rejected by the delegates and did not sell well.

The MPs who were unable to attend the meeting sent their apologies. They were John Mbadi {Gwasi}. Joshua Orwa Ojode {Ndhiwa}

It was rather strange that only two people came forward and declare their interests in the Senate seat for Homa-Bay County. These were the former Kasipul-Kabondo MP Oloo Otula and a businessman Hilary Alila, the son of the former KNUT boss the late Nelson Onyango Alila from Ndhiwa . The nominated MP Millie Odhiambo declared her interest in the Women Senate Representative for Homna0Bay County.

During the meeting Minister Otieno Kajwang’ dispelled the rumor that was spreading around that he was shifting from Parliament to the Senate. He said he would defend his parliamentary seat.

Another MP Oyugi Maguwanga {Kasipula-Kabndo} also declared that he had no interests in the County position and as such would defend his seat in parliament come the year 2012. But the Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo said he would switch to the governorship.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

KENYA: GO FOR GOVERNOR AND NOT SENATOR SEAT, RAILA TELLS CYPRIAN AWITI.

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By Agwanda Jowi.

Luo Political leader and Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Odinga has told Former Marie Stopes Country Director Cyprian Otieno Awiti to go for the seat of the governor and not Senator which he initially he had hinted he was going for.

Our investigations have revealed that Raila was told in the presence of Lands Minister James Orengo,Kisumu Advocate David Otieno Njer who has of late caught the eyes of Raila and he is said to be being pressured by Raila to go for the seat of Kisumu’s Governor and Professor Peter Wanyande that going for the governorship was the option for him with Raila saying that the Senator seat has “nothing ” financially in comparison to the seat of the governor.

“Ja Wigot” go for that seat and i will make sure you have it as i know that you will protect my interest” Rail told Cyprian adding that he wanted able and real men for the seats of Governorship adding that Gedion Ochanda was likely to take care of Siaya Count\ty as a Governor with Advocate Ken Okong’o being his man in Migori.

He leaded with Cyprian to campaign for the current Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’ for the seat of Homa Bay Senator saying Kajwang’ is likely to face alot of resistance from the electorate..

And following the latest developments Kasipul-Kabondo and Karachuonyo constituencies have endorsed former Marie Stopes’s director Cyprian Awiti for the seat of governorship in Homa Bay County.

Speaking over the weekend during a funds drive in aid of Wire secondary School in Rachuonyo South district, five leaders;Kisumu billionaire and Director of Bridgestone Construction Company Eng. Tom Awino Okoko , the area’s Party of National Unity stalwart Mr. Akira Ngadi, Oyugis Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Omondi Fuony, Cllr. Okinyi Rao and and Karachuonyo ODM chairman Jack Nduri made what they called ‘Wire Declaration’ proposing Mr. Awiti as the sole candidate to gun for the seat.

The leaders described the former NGO executive as a man of untainted track records whose desire to develop Nyanza region has endeared him with grassroots attachment following his well demonstrated commitment to improve the livelihoods of people without showing political interest over two decades.

“We want somebody like Awiti who has demonstrated successful and proper management of huge resources to be our governor. We can’t allow anybody to manage the sh. 3bn plus from the Central Government by virtue of populist style of leadership” said Ngadi.

However, during the same forum Nduri and Cllr. Fuony proposed Nairobi businessman Mr.Sam Wakiaga for seat of senate saying he is a good combination with Awiti based on his track record if they were elected.

Nduri said it is foolhardy and pretentious for those who lived in towers to climb down and start behaving as if they have the plight of the people at heart, while they never cared a just a short while ago when they were in strategic positions for the sake of winning the coveted seats.

Cllr. omondi Fwony cautioned electorate against electing those eyeing governorship for the sake of noting that the position of governorship can propel one to presidency just like in United Sates which he said has majority as presidents except for Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy who successfully aspired for presidency while they were senators.

“You should take time to understand the true value of the position of governor before you decide whom to elect, because the position is for a future presidential material” he said.

Awiti, who confirmed his readiness to run for governor, said Kenyans owe the new political dispensation to Prime Minister Raila Odinga whose relentless dreams for the rebirth of new Kenya materialized into a new constitution.

He urged Kenyans to show gratitude to Prime Minister by voting him as the next president of the republic as an appreciation for his die hard legacy for a better Kenya.

ENDS

Kenya: Michuki is misleading Kenyatta over Uhuru Kenyatta future leadership and should stop

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Commentary By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

I was puzzled and dismayed last night when I watched the elderly Environment Minister John Njoroge Michuki in full view of Television news footage telling Kenyans that that politician who may be interested in harvesting the Kikuyu votes in 2012 must consult the Finance Minister Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta who is the chosen leader of that community.
In my view, these uncoordinated and reckless utterances were not meant to help Mr Kenyatta in anyway to realize his presidential ambition, but were most well calculated to ruin his political future.

Michuki ius not the spokesman for the Kikuyu community and has no business telling the community as to who should be their next leader. His utterances were misleading,undemocratic and unacceptable to any civilized Kenyan society.

I must say with all the due respect that I have for the Kangema MP that his untimely outbursts were autocratic and dictatorial. These utterances were misplaced and were aimed at underestimation of the intelligence of the Kenyans electorate, especially those in the Central region of Kenya.

The days of one choosing a leader for the people are long gone. Such dictatorial policy, I am sure for certain, went up in smoke with the bone fire of the failed Uhuru Kenyatta project of the year 2002. And such kind of politics of the imposed leadership will never again see the light of the day in this country. Minister Kichuki, the snake rattler fame ought to have known this.

It seemed that the likes of Michuki nursing the outmoded political tendency of the past, particularly those of the days of KANU “Mama na Baba” which were shamelessly and primitively coined into the body politics of Kenya by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
With such illustrious academic background and wealth of experience in public affairsKen6ans expect Hon Michuki not to stoop too low to an extent of being equal to petty political hirelings in comparison, but to be a man of upright standing above the parochial tribal hegemony.

Had Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta worked hard and succeeded in revitalizing and rebuilt KANU, the party of independence which was handed to him in a silver platter by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi to a vibrant political movement of its old self then it could make sense for the people to talk about his chances of succeeding President Mwai Kibaki as the next head of state. KANU is the only political movement with intact structure throughout the country.
But the Gatundu South MP through ill-advice from certain quarters had abandoned KANU to the dogs in preference to the seemingly structure less and amorphous PNU with falsified hope it could propel him easily to the State House. What a wishful thinking?
Moi despite having lost the 2002 general election to the vibrant Narc-Kenya had left KANU on a strong foot with close to 69 parliamentary strength and Uhuru had officially became the leader of the Opposition in Parliament and the assumed government in waiting. But owing to dismal performance and poor leadership of Uhuru Kenyatta that number had in the 2007 general elections dwindled to less than 20.What card f success Mr Kenyatta would present to the electorate in 2012? Or would it be just a simple tribal symbol?

Michuki appear to be in the process of underrating the influence of the up-coming politicians from Kikuyu land such as the articulate and eloquent Gichugu Mp Martha Karua and his Gatanga MP counter-part Peter Kenneth and their impact on the attitudes of the younger generation of voters in the Central region in particular and Kenya in general. The trio appeared to be the new voice of reasoning in that important region of Kenya as they are capable of outreaching the electorate outside the Kiukuyu land regions.
If I were to be asked to vote for a Kikuyu in the presidential race, definitely my hero is Ms Karua with Peter Kenneth in second place while my old friend Stanley Munga Githunguri would occupy the number three slot.

Michuki deliberately and flagrantly ignore the extent of influence of Martha Karua on the body politics of Kenya.Karua together with Kenneth have of late been playing the political of true national cohesion with the better national outlook than those of the old days of “Nyumba enene and kamwene of the Gatundu days.

I therefore challenge ther Minister to own up his sycophantic outburst and tender an heartfelt apology to Kenyan electorate because his utterances are viewed in the context of being a mockery to the tenets and essence of democratic principles. Hi give Kenyans a breath space to make their own democratic choices of the future leadership of this country.

He should stop polarizing the minds with his miscalculated political gimmicks. The time is up for the likes of Michuki to go home and enjoy their wealth peacefully while waiting for their sun-set days and leave the political atmosphere and space for the younger and upright thinking Kenyans.

Mr Kenyatta should come of out of hiding behind the likes of Michuki and sell his own policy. He should come out of the cell of tribal politic and an sell his own policy to Kenyans from all walks of life if at all he is genuinely and seriously interested in the hot seat at the State Ho8use, and perhaps do a bit of public relations and damage control as well as cleansing about the messes visited to Kenyans by his late father.

May be Kenyatta has been enjoying high profile kind of politics and inadvertently forgotten the naked fact that these were the same stigma that derailed his presidential ambition in the year 2002.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: Raila is still the darling of the Kipsigis people of the South Rift despite war with Ruto

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Political News By Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

CONTRARY to popular believes and perception that the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga’s influence and popularity among the Kalenjin community has diminished and drastically dwindled in the recent past “Agwambo” is still the darling of the majority of ordinary Kalenjin people.

Those nursing this school of thought were proved wrong last weekend. This was during a tension parked consultative forum between the delegates from the eight parliamentary constituencies that forms the two counties of Kericho and Bomet who W came face to face encounter with Raila at a very crucial forum over the last weekend.

It turned out to be a true display of Raila’s masterly political acumen and dynamism, which took everyone in attendance by surprise. Those whom came to the meeting armed with tough questions about the controversial Mau Forest Complex had to change tact and abandon pre-conceived questions.

In fact what the Prime Minister need to do is to frequent the region and come close to the people. This will make his work much easier because he is still a power to reckon with in the Kipsigis land. Regular visit to the South Rift by the ODM party leader can defuse the entire falsified allegation against him by the rebellious MPs from the region.

It is equally important for “Agwambo” to make an overture of reconciling himself with his ester while political friend turned enemy William Ruto, but not through coercion in manner which can makes the Prime Minister a hostage of the Kalenjin MPs. After all Raila policy of making direct contact with the electorate on the ground is gaining ground and paying dividend.

The Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} party needs only to change its tactical approach by putting the right men and women on the ground. This required individual personalities that are articulate enough for damage repair work.

Already the party is enjoying the support and backing of the former Belgut MP Charles Kirui a highly respected politician among the Kipsigis people. It is also enjoying the support of the United Democratic Movement’s leader Lt Gen {rtd} John Arap Koech and the party’s patron Mzee Nathaniel Chebellion,a former two time Konoin MP.

ODM must shift from the use of cheap and unreliable political hirelings and power brokers with no grass root support of the population in the rural areas. It must overhaul its electoral and nomination system, which in the past had encouraged the locking out the popular aspirants and replaced them with power brokers and self-seekers. At the same time the ODM it must discourage the politics of handouts

The forum discussed wide ranging issues including the contentious Mau Forest, the distribution of cabinet positions in the grand coalition government. A section of the Kalenjin MPs felt they were short-changed.

The cheap idea which the rebellious Kalenjin MPs had tried to sell to the electorate is that in the year 2007 the Kipsigis community gave Raila close to 1.3 million votes in the presidential election, while their cousins the Nandis gave only 230,000 votes, but were rewarded with three cabinet positions. In this elementary arithmetic, the Kipsigis MPs were also counting on William Ruto, Dr Sally Kosgei and Henry Kosgei are all members of the minority Nandi sub-clan of the larger Kalenjin ethnic groups, whereas the majority KLi0sigis were only given one cabinet slot that of the former Road Minister the late Kipkalia Kones, who was later replaced by Franklin Bett, and the late Lorna Laboso who was made an Assistant Minister for Home Affairs. She was later replaced by Mrs Beatrice Kones and Charles Keter who was appointed Energy Assistant Minister, but recently sacked and replaced by the youthful Magerer Lang”at the Kipkellion MP.

But political analysts countered immediately countered these claims by telling the rebellious MPs that in the cabinet appointment Raila had the duty of considering political seniority in the party hierarchy. William Ruto is the deputy party leader while Henry Kosgey is the ODM national chairman therefore there was no way Raila could have relegated them to junior positions in the coalition. Their appointment was so crucial, though they belonged to the Nandi community. Similar argument was also the major source of the fallout between Raila and the former South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara.The latter felt that because he was the national treasurer of the ODM party and a member of the Pentagon, he was the one who deserved the cabinet appointment and not Chris Mogere Obure the Minister for Roads who had just came out of KANU. Magara eventually became the loser.. and he is no longer Mheshimwa.

But it took many people by surprise when the same Ruto was later to become a political turn-coat and started inviting the Kalenjin MPs against his chairman. Ruto at first thought that due to the numerical Kalenjin votes that Raila had received at the 2007 general election he would be a hostage and taken for ransom. For this “Agwambo” flatly refused to be a push-over. The entire argument lacked the credence and become illogic when it become a cheap song in the lips of the Kalenjin MPs portraying them as people who are not cohesive and difficult to work with.

It is equally important and could serve as an advance warning to those clamoring to form future political alliance with the likes of William Ruto to know better about the persons they are forming an alliance with, and ask questions whether such alliances would last and be best on mutual respect or on cheap empty political slogans. In other word by launching anti-Raila campaign in the expansive Rift Valley, Ruto has exposed himself to be an unreliable political partner, something which should serve as a deterrent advanced warning to those who might be tempted to form an alliance with him in the next general election.

But the Kalenjin MPs do forget that in the coal9tion government in which the ODM is one of the principal partners, the party had only a half a loaf and not full bread, and Raila had to look for ways how to struck the regional balance when he submitted the names of his party’s appointees to the cabinet. Even if it was the case of the winner takes all, not all the Kalenjin MPs should have been absorbed to the cabinet.

The weekend meting in Kericho proved that Raila is still a power to reckon with and popular leader among the members of the Kipsigis community. But the ODM, the Prime Minister’s party need to put the reliable and trustworthy people on the ground as its torch-bears and not ordinary political hirelings and power-brokers.

For the party to regain its old lost glory in Kipsigis land, it has to work out strategies that can endear it to the people, and not to rely on treasury hunters. It must shift its attentiu9n from those who want to hold the party and its leadership hostage on every petty issue, and work with people with proven political credibility within their community. ODM need to recruit honest and straight forward. But not a bunch of money-maniacs

In the 2007 general election, a section of Kalenji leadership appear to have taken the OIDM leadership by way of ensuring that only weak and not upright persons won parliamentary seats. As such, a plan was hatched and rolled out by Ruto and his supporter that ensure that high profile candidates in the region were locked out and replaced with weak and poor aspirants. This is the same style and fashion used in the region by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi in whose time any emerging Kipsigis political personality was destroyed, finished and reduced to a beggar.

The Kipsigis community was marginalized despite of its numerical voting strength.Any emerging leader from the community was immediatey destroyed and consigned to a political limbo. The man Moi used to perfect this kind of political games was the late Isaac Kipkoriri Salat, the semi-educated one eyed politician from Bomet. After Salat,Ayub Chepkwony took over the job of power broker and was also assigned the role of destroying an dismantling any Kipsigis individual personality with national political outlook on he ground. Chepkwony and Moi are related because they married from one family.

William Ruto being a disciple of Moi had learnt these tactics, which he used perfectly in the ,st general election byu ensuring that the likes of Justice Kemei {Belgut},Gen John Koech {Ainamoi}

In the final analysis, nothing is lost for ‘Agwambo I the South Rift region, and within the Kipsigis community in particular. He only needs to put the right men and women on the ground for the forthcoming general election. All the indications are that the local community would prefer Raila to any of the other possible contenders for the top job on the land.

Ends

KENYA: ODM LEADERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE INNOCENT

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By Agwanda Jowi

ODM chairman Henry Kosgey has exonerated the party from blame that it had a role in the post election violence that rocked the country during the last general elections.

Kosgey who is the Minister for Industrial said the party did not hold meetings at all where mass killings and destruction of property was discussed.

The Minister said that the Pentagon members within the party rank and file had even not time to discuss such issues since they were chased away by anti riot police during the turbulent times.

Kosgey said those who organized the post poll chaos should carry their own crosses at the end of the day.

He was speaking at Sega Girsl High School in Ugenya during funds drive that netted over 2 million shillings.

Kosgey said that ODM was intact adding that party differences were sign of democracy within the party.

He said leaders in the rift valley have resolved to bring leaders in the party together.

Also present was Ugenya Mp James Orengo who is the lands minister and assistant minister for education professor Ayiecho Olweny and Magerer Langat together with Fred Outa.

Kosgey defended the appointment of the new managing director of the Kenya Bureau of standards saying he was qualified.

He said the issue had taken a tribal dimension for no apparent reason.

Kosgey said 15 candidates were applied for the job with 11 being short listed.

He said the chairman of the board later came up with a list of three.

Kosgey said the final list had 8 qualifiers which ended up with five where the final man was picked.

Meanwhile Kisumu Town West Member of Parliament John Olago Aluoch has called on the ODM top command to crack the whip and discipline its members who have openly rebelled against the party.

Aluoch said remarks made by some Mps in the recent past tended to show that they are no longer ODM members.

The Mp said time has now come for ODM to put into motion its disciplinary machinery under its constitutional interpretation that the speaker may declare vacant seat of any Mp who by conduct demonstrates that he or she by intent and purposes has left the party that sponsored the said Mp to parliament.

He said drastic and decisive action must be taken now against such errant Mps.

The Mp said the rebel Mps have now made their intentions known are keen on wrecking the party from within.

He told The People Daily on phone that the speaker of the National Assembly to

Aluoch said the latest episode is the current allegations the Mps are making to the International Criminal Court over the post election violence.

He said the remarks will not tilt the operations of the ICC in the country.

Aluoch said remarks by some Mps were a clear sign that they are panicky over activities of the ICC in the country.

“It should be clearly understood that mass action was not a rallying call to kill or main or destroy property for that matter” he said.

ENDS

Kenya: Raila turns the heat on his Kalenjin MPs critics as he addressed a successful forum in Kericho

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Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kericho Town.

It was a day when the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga turned the heat on his critics in the South Rift region when he met with large delegates from all the eight parliamentary constituencies within the two counties of Kericho and Bomet on a first face-to face encounter in a very controversial public forum..

The meeting was held at the Tea Research foundation of Kenya complex which is located about 12 kilometers east of Kericho town in an area which is bordering the controversial Mau Forest Water Tower.

It was originally planned for few selected delegates from the eight constituencies, but the attendance overwhelmed the organizers when some groups even travelled in matatu and bus loads from as far as Chepalungu,Bomet and Trans-Mara districts. The institute is located in Kipkellion Constituency.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by two cabinet ministers and two assistant ministers. They were James Agrey Orengo {Lands}, Henry Kosgey {Industrialization}.Two Assistant Ministers Mrs Beatrice Kones {Home Affairs} and Magerer Lang’at {Energy who was the host.

Also in attendance were the Kipsigis community leaders who included the former Deputy CGS Lt. Hen {rtd} John Arap Koech, former Finance Assistant Minister Charles Kirui and former Konoin MP Mzee Nathaniel Chebellion, professionals, civic leaders and Kipsigis Elders, youths and women groups The Road Minister Franklin Bett who is on an official tour of the US sent an apology through his wife Mrs Alice Bett a prominent Kericho lawyer. Another legislator Dr Joyce Laboso also sent her apology;

Odinga brought two constitutional experts one a lawyer and senior lecturers from Moi University, Eldoret. Who dwelt at length in the interpretation of the packages contained therein the new counties governance and their long term impact on the people lives.

Raila said the main agenda of the meeting was post-referendum civic education for the purpose of sensitizing Kenyans on the new structure of government as outlined in the new constitution.

It was held amid high tension after a section of the Kalenjin MPs had told the press in Nairobi that the Prime Minister was welcome, but they would boycott the meeting arguing that the development issues should have been given priority instead of constitutional matters.

But the man who should be given credit for the successes of the meeting is Lt Gen John Koech, who travelled the full length and width of the entire Kipsigis region and urged the leaders and all the stakeholders to attend the meeting and to ignore those sending them message via mobile phones urging them to boycott the Prime Minister’s meeting.

Gen Koech is the leader of the UDM party. He was forced out of the ODM by the supporters of the Higher Education Minister William Ruto and his right hand man in Kipsigis land Belgut MP Charles Keter.

Other messages sent out by anti-Raila element within the Kalenjin politics urged the resident to shout him down and heckle him, but all these turned out to be pipedream. But Gen Koech who criss crossed the entire Kipsigis land few days earlier prior to the meeting date had dismissed the anti-Raila groups is mischievous people who have lost the direction.

A day before the meeting was held the outspoken Chepalunguy MP Isaac Ruto had told the newsmen in Nairobi the agenda of the meeting was ’weird’. But it came as surprise that the largest delegation in attendance of the meeting was from Chepalungu at the MPs backyard. They flayed their MPs accusing him of playing politics of “selfish interests” and not speaking the truth that could reflect the feeling of the electorate.

The master of the ceremony Hon Magerer Lang’at had difficult time cooling the tempers as speakers after speaker went straight to the throat of the absent MPs from the region. Magerer in whose constituency the meeting was held calmed down the angry speakers and told them to stick to the agenda of the meeting and stop name calling.

But when he took to the podium, Raila accused the legislators from the region of being insincere with the electorate,

Saying that they MPs were only pursuing their personal political agenda.” I pity a section of the MPs from the two counties of Bomet and Kericho for skipping this important forum for claiming that the meeting was political and a campaign tour.”These people should be able to know that the campaign for constitution debate and campaign for referendum are over”,he said.

The Prime Minister sent out a conciliatory note to the residents of the two regions and their leaders saying he was ready to work with them in the concerted effort of building the nation as opposed to politics of antagonism.

In relations to the families who were evicted out of the controversial Mau Forest Complex and all other water catchment areas, the Prime Minister said those camping o the edge of the Mau Forest would be allocated land. The land has already been identified for their resettlement and it will take only a mater of days and weeks.

His sentiments were confirmed by the Land Minister James Orengo who told the meeting that his Ministry had already identified the land which would be soon dished out for settling those living in makeshift camps outside the forest

The Minister said the government would not settle the landless far away from their former habitats and environs. But the Minister warned those who are still insisting pursuing the politics of Mau issue for making cheap political mileage to keep off in order to ensure smooth and faster settlement program.

There has been discontent and mistrust between a section of the Kalenjin MPs and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga. The MPs all of them members of the ODM , the party which is led by Mr Odinga felt he had betrayed them when he sanctioned the removal of illegal settlers from the Mau Forest Complex without compensation.

Other leaders were opposed to the arrest and prosecution of the youths who were protesting against the outcome of the 2007 presidential polls.

The relationship between the prime Minister and Kalenjin leaders had deteriorated in the run up to the August 4 2010 referendum when the government rejected a move to amend certain clauses of the new constitution before the August 4.

Other contentious issues include the sharing out of the cabinet positions and the rejection of the new constitution by voters in the two counties. But on this, those in attendance admitting that they were misled to believe that the new constitution was bad and also blamed lack of properly organize civic education to enlighten the population about the new document could have also led to the fallout.

Throughout his address the Prime Minister steered clear of the forthcoming general election, but urged the people to continue supporting his party to enable him and his colleagues to expedite development of all regions of Kenya.

At the end of the meeting the Helicopter which had brought the Prime Minister and his entourage to the meeting stalled and could not lift up due to mechanical problems. Mr Odinga was forced to disembark from the Chopper and drove by roadmt0o Kisumu from where he caught u with the evening commercial flights to Nairobi. The Chopper was abandoned at the Tea Research Foundation school ground where the two pilots were still struggling with the repair work up to the evening.

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: Can stupidity be all this dangerous?

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From: Paul Nyandoto

Kenyans,

When I read what some ODM members of parliament are saying about the post election violence which happened in 2007-2008 elections I was shocked. for a long time I did not know that stupidity can be a lot more dangerous than even a gun in the enemies hand facing you. These Mps, especially the Chepalungu constituency Mp Mr. Isaac Kiprono Ruto really surprised me. The man is now saying that they the ODM Mps ordered for mass killings in the rift valley, Western province , nairobi and in Luo Nyanza. In Nyanza even children be shoot dead, Luos were burnt alive in Naivasha. Luos were beheaded in the central province. So according to Mr. Isaac Ruto all is because of ODM and mass calling. How did guns which were used to kill luos and luhjas in western province and nyanza went there?.

Were the ODM responsible for burning of innocent people in Eldoret church too?. Was this a planned action by ODM?. Which party is this Isaac Ruto belong?. What were his role?

Why didn`t he come out earlier to help in the investigation?
This is a man who belongs in jail until proved innocent or guilty. Are these our future leaders who want to rule Kenyans for ever amen?. ODM should have a spoke`s man or woman who speaks for the party and any Idiot who happens to have some voluntary reflex of opening mouth without thinking should not be taken seriously. Who is this Isaac Ruto now after?. Is somebody cheating him that he will be left free if he speaks rubbish and only other ODM members will be punished?.

Paul Nyandoto

Kenua: Cyprian Awiti and Joe Odonde headed for governorship of Homa-Bayand Siaya Counties?

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Election and Political News By Leo Odera Omolo In Homa-Bay town

A new political dimension has emerged in relations to the forthcoming election of Senators and Governors of the two counties of Homa-Bay and Siaya regions.

The electorate now pressing their demands that the position of governors need a certain categories of individual personalities, and the people to occupy this lucrative clots must be those with vast managerial experiences who must also be financial experts on their own rights.

Cyprian Otieno Awiti, the former Country Director of Marie Stoppie Clinics who had earlier emerged as the natural choice of the electorate to contest the Senate seat, which is located to the proposed Homa-Bay County by the new constitution, is now being prevailed upon to switch his interest to that of the County governor instead.

The populist Awiti had emerged as the natural choice of the electorate following his attractive track record of active participation in development activities with the greater Southern Nyanza.

Other rumors making the round within Homa-Bay and its environs says that the latest development has come due to pressure from the ODM party headquarters, which is said to be currently working on new strategies to ensure that all its party stalwarts get important slots with the four counties of Homa-Bay, Migori, Kisumu and Siaya.

And if Awiti agree and accept the proposals ,which are leaked to have been arrived at secret party caucus meetings in Nairobi and Kisumu, the man who is being fronted to contest the covenant Senate seat is the Immigration Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’. In such arrangement, voters in Suba and Rachuonyo regions would be asked to vote for Kajwang for the Senate seat and Cyprian Awiti for the position of governorship.

If it is true as the rumors goes, the position of the former Homa Rangwe MP Phillip Okoth Okundi who had earlier declared his interest in being contesting the Homa-Bay County governor remain unclear. Both Okundi and his arch political rival Martin Otieno Ogindo the incumbent Rangwe MP have declared their interest in contesting the same post.

In the case of governorship for the new Siaya County the name of the former Gem MP Joe Odonde has emerged as the one who is leading the pack of those likely to be elected to the lucrative governorship soot.

The electorate in the new Siaya County says they need someone who is a financial genius in the caliber of Joe Odonde. This is because the region has meager resources and therefore would require a genius financial expert to mould it up and make it compete with the neighboring counties.

During his brief stint in Parliament as the member for Gem between 1992 and 2002,Joe Odonde surprised many people his parliamentary colleague included by his expertise on matters of finances. He even introduced the famous, but what later aborted, but had long lasting impact ‘Joe Odonde Bill”.

Contacted by phone Odonde could not confirm or deny his interest in the position of Siaya County governorship, but philosophically stated that if it is the wish of the party sand the people that he should serve them as their new County governor, then he would give the suggestion a favorable consideration. But only after a thorough consultation with other party leaders and other stakeholders

But so far he has yet to make his mind. He remained non committal only saying it was too early for anyone to start premature campaign for the new positions as such campaign could retard development activities.

However the popular rumors and political gossips in the public domain in Siaya town and its environs is suggesting that the electorate would preferred and even vote for someone of Joe Dundes calibre should he wish to become the governor of the new Siaya county.

Ax moderate politician and son of a former journalist the late Esau Donde Odinga ,who was once the co-editor of the defunct RAMOGI weekly newspaper, which was so popular with the East African wide readership of the popular Dho-Luo weekly vernacular in the early 1940s and late 1950s. His father later joined the Colonial Ministry of Information as an Information Officer and retired at a senior level of the Provincial Information Officer{PIO] in charge of Nyanza Province inthe1970s.

Donde’s eldest sister Ambassador Mary Odinga a career diplomat retired from foreign diplomatic service as Kenya’s Ambassador to Japan after serving in many stations including the UK, Zimbabwe and other places.

A moderate and soft spoken politician, Joe Donde would simply pass anyone as a business executive, but in discussion one would realize that the former Gem legislator is a serious man with vast experience not only on financial matters but also in the world of diplomacy and economic fields.

Donde hails from Gem Kwenda in the Kathomo sub-clan near Nyagondoi Market in Central Gem, Wagai Division, Gem district in the Siaya in the new County.

The political gossips and rumors making the round within Siaya Town and its environs are that Donde would be the right person to take care of the new County as its governor there fore if he chose to contest the position he will have a head-start as the most favored candidate.

The former legislator has been keeping a very low profile ever since losing his Gem parliamentary seat in 1997 general election together with the Land Minister James Orengo, when they stuck with the Ford the ;ate Michael Kijana Wamalwa’s Ford Kenya, a party they insisted was formed by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga. All those Luo MPs who had remained loyal to Wamalwa’s camp and refused to cross the floor to the Raila Odinga NDP side were voted out of Parliament in 1997.

They include J.D.Akumu {Nyakach}, Ramogi Achieng’ Oneko {Rarieda]. Clarkson Otieno Karan [Nyando], Justus Aloo Ogeka {Nyakach} and late Linus Aluoch Polo {Rongo}.All were swept out of parliament in 1997 by the strong current of the Raila Odinga’s NDP torrential rain waters and its euphoria.

Orengo has since repented and rejoined Raila Odinga’s ODM and recaptured his Ugenya Parliamentary seat in 2002while Joe Odonde is said to be leading a quiet life in Nairobi occasionally participating in the activities of NGOs and private businesses.

In Homa-Bay the reported shifting ground of Cyprian Awiti who has abandoned his claims to the Senate seat and settled on the more so important governor position is said to be most welcomed by the electorate, who argues that Awiti who has served in the various senior positions in private and public sector is the most suitable. He is expected to make good use of his vast experience in management of larger organizations.

Contacted by phone Awiti readily confirmed that he has concurred with the popular demand and pressure from the electorate that he should contest the governor slot instead of the Senate, because the Wananchi who knew his past attractive and clean record want him to serve them in that position.

Others have suggested that with his wealth of managerial experience, Awiti should have even suited to be made the overall governor of the entire former Nyanza region on supervisory position over other governors in the region,. But he only laughed at that suggestion, adding tat is outside the constitution.

Other names being mentioned as possible aspirants for the position of Siaya County governor include the long serving Alego-Usonga MP Peter Oloo Aringo, immediate former Rarieda MP and Foreign Affairs Minister Raphael Tuju, the former Kenya.s ambassador to Washington Odinga Ogego,

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leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Uganda elections; UPC leader wants to meet Musevebiu to discuss the modalities of free and fair elections

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Reports Leo Odera Omlo

UGANDA People’s Congress (UPC) president Olara Otunnu wants to meet President Yoweri Museveni and other political party leaders to discuss modalities for free and fair 2011 elections.

“I am aware that President Museveni has repeatedly said he is committed to free and fair elections. Let him accept to meet me and the leaders of other political parties so that we jointly discuss what ought to be done for free and fair elections,” Otunnu said in an interview with The New Vision yesterday at Uganda house.

The former UN diplomat said unlike many other opposition politicians who are preoccupied with capturing power through all possible means; he is preoccupied with advocating for peace and unity of all Ugandans.

“By the way, it should be known that I have no problem with Museveni continuing as the President of Uganda as long he has been elected in a free and fair election. I don’t mind if Museveni rules for as many years as he wants so long us Ugandans freely vote him,” Otunnu explained.

Otunnu said in that meeting of leaders of political parties, church leaders and civil society organizations, should all be included an open public dialogue on the necessary steps that should be taken to ensure peaceful free and fair elections in the 2011 general elections.

“The various categories of Uganda leaders should stop hiding their heads in the sand concerning the issues at stake. There is a clear writing on the wall that the 2011 elections will not be peaceful. Besides the signals from the violent NRM primaries, opposition parties don’t trust the Electoral Commission, the people of Buganda feel they have been trodden upon, and various groups of Ugandans habour bitterness on a number of things the government has not addressed, ” Otunnu argued.

The Uganda constitution provides for establishment of a Political Parties’ Platform where all parties are supposed to come together and discuss issues of national interest and common purpose for the good of the nation, though it has been nonfunctional.

“The situation in Uganda is 100 times worse than was in Kenya as they moved to their previous general elections that ended in destructive violence. Uganda is more vulnerable to election related violence than Kenya was. Whoever truly loves Ugandans should do something to save the people from bloodshed. I have traversed the globe and I know that in all the countries where there is bloodshed and conflicts the situation was as it is today in Uganda,” he added.

Otunnu said President Museveni went to the bush to fight the injustice of vote rigging and should therefore be the first person to support measures aimed at ensuring free and fair elections.

“The issue of a free and fair election is a matter of national interest that oversteps individual and party interests. Let us have an urgent joint gathering of all stakeholders so that we settle the question of free and fair elections once and for all. In that meeting, we shall agree on modality of instituting an Electoral Commission that is trusted by all stakeholders,” he stated.

He cited the September Hillary Clinton report to the congress on the 2011 Uganda elections which concluded that the Uganda government took no action to further the independence of the Electoral Commission.

Otunnu challenged President Museveni to accept his request on basis of his Christian values.

“Museveni always confesses that he is a devoted Christian. The founder of Christianity Jesus Christ told us to treat others as we would want them to treat us. That is the path to fairness and justice. This is therefore a trying moment for Museveni’s Christian credentials and as a crusader of patriotism. If Museveni fails to take the right path he will be harshly judged by history,” Otunnu appealed.

Otunnu and other UPC leaders pulled out of the Inter-Party Cooperation which had sought to jointly dislodge Museveni reportedly after the alliance gave up the fight for an independent Electoral Commission.

“There is no way we can have free and fair elections unless we have instituted an EC agreed upon by all stakeholders and then the new EC cleans up the voter’s register of all the ghost voters. We want fairness, we want justice,” Otunnu appealed.

General elections are slated for between February and March next year. Over 40 presidential aspirants including his main political rival Kizza Besigye have picked nomination forms, although just fewer than ten might contest.

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Kenya: PETITION FILED, ODM, DICTATORSHIP/ What a joke of reasoning

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Kenyans,

I do think that most are misusing these words dictatorship, legal acts and democracy.

What is Petition: legal and official document in which you ask a court to take legal action. PETITIONER = someone who gives a court an official document in which they ask it to take legal action.

So the makadara case NDOLO was the person who filed the petition, so folks how is Raila a dictator if he said that Ndolo should be the flag bearer of ODM?. Why didn`t other people who wanted the post file a petition?. Ndolo losing the election has got nothing to do with Raila being a dictator or not. But if I am Raila I would do away with Ndolo in the next general election. I think this is a good lesson for Ndolo, Raila and ODM supporters.
It will take Kenyans a long time to learn what is democracy and what is not. We do need a good justice system in the country, so how can you do away with the fellow who filed the petition at the same time you claim Kenyan justice system should be just and right in all ways?. I have heard people saying here how policemen should do their jobs correctly, lawyers and judges should do their work correctly, but when it comes to ODM, Raila and this Makadara election, you want the system to work the other way round. Guys let us grow up and be mature adults who can reason correctly.

Paul Nyandoto

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Kenya: Daily Nation: – Politics ODM Juja loss blamed on direct nomination

From MBEMBA NZIU

Folks,

I thought I was the only one complaining about High handedness in ODM during the party nominations(or lack of it) in makandara but now am surprised.
Follow the link below and see what happened in Juja! Could all these people be lying or against ODM/RAO I think seriously something needs to be done.
Over to you YPs

Have a democratic/non partisan day,
Kingasste.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Direct%20nomination%20led%20to%20Juja%20loss,%20says%20ODM%20official/-/1064/1016534/-/fqcy5dz/-/index.html

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Kenya: ODM need to change its nomination tactics to be able to survive in 2012

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo in Kisumu City.

The time is ripe for the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} to change its tactics and nomination style and usher in a more democratic system to reflect its own name.

The past experience has shown that ODM nominations are the most flawed. The idea of giving certain selected individual personalities direct nomination in any election be it a by-election in the election people is undemocratic and autocratic.

It did not only fail, but also ashamed the party leadership when it was first applied during the general election in a number of constituencies. The worse being the two parliamentary constituencies in Gusii region, namely Kitutu Chache and Nyaribari Chache.The two constituencies are located in Central Kisii district within Gusii County.

In Nyaribari Chache, among the aspirants who had sought for the ODM nomination was Dr. Gilbert Monda. He won the party nominations during the preliminaries, but his victory was throw to the dogs. He then sought for nomination and won the he comfortably clinched the seat during the election proper after gaining a nomination certificate from another party and won the seat comfortably. The ODM had rejected his nomination in preference to another aspirant Chris Bichage who was seen as the most loyal; soldier of the party and a persona friend of the party leader Raila Odinga.

The Kitutu Chache MP Richard Momoina Onyonka had similar experience. The legislator had beaten the former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Mr Ongwae. Onyonka sought nomination I another party and when he got it, he succeeded in beating the favorite candidate Ongwae hands down.

The latest being the case of Reuben Ndolo, the former Makadara MP is a case for study.

There were half a dozen of other aspirants who sought for ODM nomination, but got nothing. They were told that Reuben Ndolo has been nominated and were asked to campaign for him. Some of them obeyed the order while other pulled out the race reluctantly and did not help the party campaign in its bid to recapture.

By giving Ndolo a direct nomination and denying the other their democratic right to contest and taste their popularity with the electorate, the ODM had virtually signed its death warrant in Makadara. This kind of system are outmoded and Kenyans think they were long buried in the dustbins of KANU defeat of 2002, and should not be applied again.

Similar ideas were recently proposed by some Luo MPs representing the various constituencies within the larger Homa-Bay County. The MPs had apportioned themselves certain top position within the county governance. The legislators had arbitrarily divided the County top jobs in according to their own wishes, and not in line with the political will of the electorate.

Homa-Bay County comprises of six parliamentary constituencies, namely Kasipula-Kabondo Karachuonyo,Rangwe, Ndhiwa, Gwasi and Mbita.

According to the list floated around by the MP the top jobs would be distributed as follow Karachuonyo{Senate}, Rangwe {Governor},Mbita to produce Deputy Governor,Ndhiwa {Speaker of the Assembly} while Gwassi is to produce deputy Speaker of the Assembly and Mbita again to produce women representative to the Senate. All these political antics were viewed as pipedream and did not augur well with the wishes of the electorate in all the constituencies mentioned above.

And last Saturday, the MP who attended the burial of a former KNUT executive secretary in Suba the late nPaul Onyonyi cane face to face with the political realities of the matter. They wer3e confronted by the electorate who heckled and booed them telling them in their faces that selecting the County officials w the voter who will decided about who takes what position etc.

Rangwe MP Martin Otieno Ogindo had kicked off the debate when Gwassi MP John Mbadi who was the master of ceremony at the burial, which took place at Sindo in Gwassi constituency called on him to address the gathering. Ogindo asked the mourners to endorse the decision of the meeting held previously by MPs in secret venue, in which they had apportioned themselves the positions and divided them in all the six constituencies. He said the purpose was to ensure the equity in power sharing in all positions created by the new constitution.

“We had decided that Rachuonyo will give us a Senator, Rangwe is to give us a Governor, Mbita will produce deputy governor, while Suba and Mbita will produce deputy governor and the women representative. We want you to accept this as away to bring us together and ensure we have leaders from all the regions in Homa-Bay County”,Ogindo explained.

But before the MP could finish his speech, mourners shouted and heckled him and requested the Gwassi MP John Mbadi to snatch the microphone from him with shouts “Keti Chini kwenda mbali {Sit down or go away}.

Mbadi responded to the demand and took away microphone from Ogindo as mourners shouted Kwenda Kwenda {go go}.

At this point the Immigration Minister Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ and Mbadi took charge of the platform. The two rebuffed Ogindo sentiments, saying it will be the responsibility of voters to elect the person they wanted, and not the duty of the MPs to tell them who to elect in those positions.

Kajwang’s remarks seemed to have satisfied the mourner and the calm returned to the meeting. The Minister told the mourners that these are very senior positions that “we must give Kenyans enough time top ensure they elect the very best persons they want. Even I am shy to go for the post of and the MPs must be patient on the issue,”said the Minister.

Mbadi had told the mourners that it was their responsibility to elect the Senators and governor they want and not the MP sitting somewhere and distributing the posts. Whoever is interested in these jobs should inform the electorate, campaign for it and let the electorate decided.

Kajwang’ succeeded ion defusing what could have been an otherwise explosive situation. The MP in their earlier announcement had said their decision had the blessing of top ODM’s leadership. Truly speaking, the OIDM need to change tact for it to fair well in the forthcoming general elections scheduled in December 2012.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Kenya: Kabogo seems to be winning Juja!!!

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Kabogo is at over 14,000 while George Thuo at about 5,000, Alice Nganga 6,000.

Let is see how it develops and hope the best candidate who has the issues wins, not the one who has the kost money or any other thing than the issues!!

Ndolo of ODM leading a slim margin so far against in 3rd place Wathika with Sonko Mike in second place.

Margaret Wanjiru with a slim win over Kamanda but still too early to say!!!

Otieno Sungu

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USA: America is better off with Obama than a Republican

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From: Joseph Lister Nyaringo

President Barrack Obama faces tough challenges than most American Presidents in recent history despite working hard to address the impediments he inherited from his Predecessor, President W. George Bush.

He is hassling to resuscitate America’s dwindling economy through job creation, restructuring the Country’s financial system and to rebuild the broken diplomatic relations that went sour during Bush’s Presidency, a Republican.

It’s ironical that the party that was in power before Obama took over inherited a budget surplus from former President Clinton, a democrat but messed up the economy. They now expect Obama to fix things overnight even after he forewarned them before taking office of tough times a head especially the economic downtrend and job creation for many unemployed Americans.

Obama critics must know that to lead a country of more than 300 million people is not easy. In fact, even if John McCain had won, it would have taken him time to turn things around especially the economy.

In the international scene, Obama has tried to thaw the animosity towards America from the Arab World reassuring them that the US is not their enemy; which is a great stride for reconciliation and global peace.

To the contrary, this gesture has made the Republicans brand Obama as a sympathizer to Islam; a religion they link with terrorism. In fact, John McCain’s Vice Presidential running mate, Sara Palin have used placards in their Tea party rallies with inscriptions that brands Obama as a terrorist, a fascist, a racist, an a Adolf Hitler and an anti-Christ. This is the same woman who would not even differentiate between South Africa as a Country and Africa as a Continent in the 2008 Presidential elections.

How do you brand a legitimately and genuinely elected US President a dictator and still exercise freedom of assembly and speech in rallies, TV stations and on the internet? These Republicans need to wise up. I wish they knew what goes on in Zimbabwe and Iran.

The US President’s diplomatic approach has angered many evangelical Right wing Christian leaders; notably, Pastor John Haggee of John Haggee Ministries of Texas, whose sermons have persistently portrayed Obama, as not doing enough to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. This is a clear demonstration that if Obama was a Republican, they would advise him to invade Iran, the way they did to Bush before America invaded Iraq.

Pastor Haggee and Pat Robert of Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) amongst others accuse Obama for socialising America; an ideology they link with Satanism. Truly, if signing a medical bill to benefit millions of uninsured Americans is communism (socialism), and also extending unemployment insurance to benefit the Americans out of job is satanic, then these Church leaders do not know the true meaning of being “Christ like.”

We of the Kenyan descent living in America cringe with disgust on seeing how Obama’s presidency has ignited racist remarks coming from Christian Preachers whose sermons are watched on TV by Kenyan Christians at home. Instead of challenging him on policy matters, they’re using racial slurs, an indication that the question of racism in America is far from over.

Recently, a former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is mulling a bid to run for President in 2012, said that Obama’s animosity toward the West is influenced by his forefather’s resistance against the British rule in Kenya. What type of a President Mr. Gingrich will be if he doesn’t get it that like Kenya, the US was once a British colony and that Obama is an American, born in the West despite his mixed race?

How gullible is the Republican Party leadership that even after Obama’s two years in the Oval Office, they are still pressing him to produce his birth certificate in order to be convinced that he is an American and not a Kenyan? It’s only in America where you have the freedom to insult a sitting president with unprintable epithets without repercussions.

I believe that, those who elected Obama were not ignorant to vote for a Kenyan or some one whose origin they didn’t know in the 2008 Presidential elections. They will exercise the same right to either vote him out or for a second term in 2012. And therefore, questioning his citizenship is not only an insult to those who came from diverse political backgrounds- republicans, independents and democrats and overwhelmingly voted for him, but also recipe to dent America’s respect and image abroad.

The role of a political opposition in a democracy is to keep the government on its toes with fairness without malice and prejudice while sticking to policies and issues that benefit the ruled. The Republicans are racists and they want to ensure that the Obama Presidency is a disaster so that in future, a person of colour will not be entrusted with the US Presidency.

The Republicans have stooped to low and if they think by trying to dent the image of a legitimately elected President because of his colour will catapult them to take the White House in 2012, they are blinding themselves. In fact, their behaviour towards Obama has set a very grim picture to the US which is seen globally as the epitome of democracy, justice and freedom.

Finally, America is better off with President Obama than a Republican. His management of the US affairs is in tandem with the American constitution which has been exercised by his predecessors.

Joseph Lister Nyaringo
New Jersey, USA