Having just spearheaded the realization of the new Constitution together with his co-principal Kibaki, methinks that this is the right time for the Rt.Hon.Prime Minister to hang his gloves and completely retire from politics (not the Moi type retirement but the Mandela type)
For the following reasons;
* In 2012 Raila will be nearly 70 and the current age of progressive world leaders is 50 – 55
* His health is not favouring him
* Having fought for the 2ND liberation for more than 30 years he needs to leave a legacy, that yes I fought and here I leave you with a new Kenya, a new order.
* Should he contest the presidency in 2012 and fail (which he will most likely) that will be the end of him and that is what he will be remembered for – the man who contested the presidency 4 times and failed.
After the much-talked about referendum was over, Kenyans in all corners of the republic of Kenya breathed a sigh of relief that after all the name calling and finger pointing, everything went peacefully. That’s what Kenyans have been yawning for. It’s therefore in order to congratulate those who spearheaded the YES campaigns and equally congratulate those who championed the NO crusade. Democracy requires that people hold divergent views even though they may come from the same party.
It’s against this background that a considerable number of Kenyans find it rather odd that the ODM party is calling for a disciplinary action on members of the party who had expressed contrary views to that of the party. I have said it many times that the referendum was not a party issue but rather, a national issue that required thorough reading, understanding and proper interpretation on how the new law will impact on your life and that of posterity before casting your vote. The call for disciplinary action by ODM is therefore naïve and borders on ignorance – it negates the very essence of a referendum; it’s a call that flies with its filth in the face of democracy yet it’s emanating from the very party which touts itself as the custodian of democracy in Kenya. I think ODM need to borrow a leaf from PNU which also had critics of the constitution but it’s now water under the bridge. There was no winner or loser in the referendum. We need to tolerate and accommodate all the views as a young democracy. We might think we are instilling discipline yet we are just destroying our party.
ODM as a party has been on a self-destruction-path just immediately after signing the national accord that paved way for power sharing. Most MPs in ODM lack proper judgment; they are intolerant and; are not ready for rational discourse. This attitude by mostly Nyanza MPs has alienated many supporters of the party from Coast to Kisii; and from Rift Valley to Eastern. Surely, how does ODM expect to get any national following after descending on all their support bases with such vehemence? Someone needs to advise the party that you cannot expect to run the party like “buch jodong aich” (baraza la miji kumi) and expect Kenyans to provide support again. That can only happen in Luo-Nyanza where people go with any euphoria and recollect themselves later after electing bad leaders. As a person from Nyanza, we need men and women who can transact business on our behalf with others from other communities – not characters who are hell-bent on alienating us from the rest of other Kenyans!
The hard-line positions being taken by some Nyanza MPs indicate that majority of these leaders badly need civic education. Some of these leaders are highly learned but lack education on how democracy works. They should understand that people will always have different opinions in a democracy and that is why Kenyans have been fighting for more democratic space in the country. It’s a pity that Nyanza leaders were at the forefront agitating for democracy in Kenya but a visit to my Nyanza backyard will tell you that Nyanza believes in a One-Party dictatorship – our people don’t believe in democracy! They called president Moi names and all sorts of epithets – but they are stuck in a one-party dictatorship. In short, our people have not understood the meaning of multi-partism! If they believe, you would have seen different results in the just concluded referendum. Anyone doubting my assertions only need to check the way Nyanza voted compared to the rest of the country (even the Rift Valley which was the strong hold of NO), and you will agree with me that a lot of civic education is needed in Nyanza. Nyanza has many good leaders but our political culture (the culture of patronage and intimidation) has not allowed these sons and daughters of Ramogi to provide acceptable leadership. It’s the same bad political culture that some leaders are trying to export to the national politics. ODM will soon become a Luo party if some Nyanza leaders are not tamed!
Dr. Otieno Mbare, Finland
Otieno Mbare, P.hD (Econ & Bus.Adm)
Research Fellow, Åbo Akademi University &
Lecturer, Turku University of Applied Sciences
It is funny how we easily get mixed up. Ruto’s is not a case of democracy or lack of it. This is a case of a messenger, sent by his party to fight for a course and got mixed up on the way and fought his party instead. Ruto is not being punished because he voted YES or NO. Remember that Ruto was and still is the ODM key representative in the Constitution making process and so democracy though we talk about, he is not just a normal voter. He was there to push ODM agenda, which he did very well till the document was agreed on and indeed after Naivasha, he reported back to ODM and Kenyans that this was a good document.
Whereas he was free to vote the way he wanted, i have my doubts as to if he was right to oppose his party position given the responsibility he was given as a party leader for this very function to push the constitution agenda.
I dare say here that what Ruto did here in Kenya can not survive in the USA nor even the UK and other developed democracies. He would have been chucked by his party long ago and lost all his party positions and priviledges that come with such positions. I also dare say that church positions are even harder to go against. They will ex-communicate you very fast and so whoever supports him on this is a champion of impunity. I am sure that even in PNU he would not survive with such behaviour and still expect people to embrace, cheer and promote him for being democratic! What a joke!
Poor Kenyans, why feed ourselves with such dishonesty! No one, I say none can trust Ruto again with serious responsibility like this, cos he will take his democratic rights too far. He was a servant of the party who sent him with a specific message. Democracy or not he was to deliver the message not to distort it to suit his own interests. If he knew this was a task he could not perform, he should have resigned as a party rep and let the party choose someone else. The moment he stuck to this duty, he was duty bound and he failed miserably, and so the punishment. The party however, has a choice to forgive. But having a blanket argument that it was his democratic right is being dishonest because he was not democtratically elected in this position, he was selected by his party.
Just my thoughts.
Only when it is dark enough can you see the stars!!
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From: Jectone Ndunya
Mr Lee. The said constitution that is about to become law does allow for Independent Candidates and Mps etc. It is not something to turn your eyes away from the fact that ODM has lost majority of its support- RV and to smile and dance to pending, if at all it will, expulsion of Mps from the RV who supported NO Side is being just not neive but tooo neive. Those calling and or chairing meetings calling for their expulsion and “Discipline” are themselves not candidates come 2012 they are not sure of their comback to August house come 2012, for this reason i disagree with ODM as a party on their stand regarding this matter.
have you lost it what happened in the first referendum? we are talking of consolidating Kenya to be one Nation and this can only be a reality if we are ready to allow each one of us to have his or her own stand on matters such as this. Those who rejected the Katiba are not dwarfs neither are they illiterate, we know of Medics, lawyers etc who were against it so they did so because they read and understood then took a stand and that is what H.E. The President preached all through…. Read…. Understand …. Decide… that was the creed then.
Please give Hon Ruto & co a break.
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From: Lee Makwiny
Kiprop Simion,
I want to state here categorically that Ruto and co left ODM longtime ago! They have been accommodated for a long time. They have not joined (officially) another party because of Martha Karua’s political parties bill. I want to show you why this people left ODM and ODM must move with speed to consolidate its support base!
1. They refused to support ODM candidate in Bomachoge – The day ODM were campaigning for their candidate, they were launching a political party in the name of PDP (People’s Democratic Party). Democracy demand that they leave ODM and commit to this party!
2. They supported ODM opponent in the concluded South Mugirango elections. These in itself deserve punishment. Otherwise, there is no need for internal party disciplinary mechanism.
3. In Matiga election, they never supported ODM candidate, they sponsored a candidate!
4. In the ensuing civic election, they sponsored and supported their own candidates in their stronghold, but lost to KANU.
Democracy demands that one man, one party!
Just watch this space, we as ODM members, will embark on getting rid of people who are not committed to the party. 2012 is around the corner, and we will not allow them to pull a fast one on us. You are either a party member or not.
You cannot make people kill dogs and cats with lies and expect ODM members to allow you to remain the deputy leader
Thank you!
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Kiprop Simion wrote:
I don’t understand the kind of democracy ODM is putting in practice.
Punishing MPs who Supported NO!
Voting for YES or NO in the referendum was not a party position. These dictatorial tendencies are a threat to democracy.
Why did we go to a referendum in the first place if the idea was to pass it wholesome with no opposition on issues ,if we are ready to sacrifice others on their stands and principles?Are we supposed to follow party dogma blindly without questions:we all Know where Raila comes from in his history of 30years+..if the systems he went though were this undemocratic i don’t think he could be who he is today:Tell my Marxist professor also, that he is directing the ODM party to the KANU of yesteryears..he is masterminding an internal coup in the party…he is planning for an internal revolt within….ideally no democracy ..as an ideal is practised all over the world with no discipline in the party…but if ODM makes true its threats ..then Ruto et al ..has nothing to fear…this part of the political growth curve that the NO sayers have to through..its part of the learning process…they should not apologise for anything…to the party or any other politicos…they need nothing wrong by taking a position…competitive politics is a natural check in any democratic system…this should be nurtured.
Lets wait for the euphoria to settle down…the expectations are sky high…the realignments to take shape…then we shall see who needs the other more…ODM or Ruto et al.You dont build a mass movement of a party like ODM this way…organised dictatorship is counterproductive…
dzombombaru
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From: Kingengeeto
Eti ODM to discipline Ruto&Co for opposing the draft constitution!
I thought we were to vote according to our consciences and conviction!
eti you must toe the ODM party line! is this the ODM I knew or is this ORANGE DICTATORIAL MOVEMENT! suppose these fellows captured the presidency, where would we be? KANU KANU KANU! talk of wolves in sheepskin.Ruto should just have been left alone to roast himself. Some of us love Raila so much but the HECKLERS behind him will always deny him a well deserved leadership position in this country.
I do beg the Kenyan parliamentary house speaker Mr. Marende to visit Scandinavian parliament or the UK parliament before he chairing the constitution implementation. If he does not do that Kenyans will have the worst implementation ever seen in any democratic society today. The document can turn to be a nightmare to Kenyans who voted YES for the paper. The speaker should be neutral but also logical and reasonable and lead to good future. Finland is a small country but have one of the best democratic parliament in the world today. I do suggest to Mr. Kenneth Marende to contact the Finnish parliamentary speaker Mr. Sauli Niinisto for a good advice. This same Marende is the same man who said that MPs can only pay tax if they do feel that they are philanthropic enough. To him paying tax in our society and contributing to society building should only be done if you do feel to be philanthropic what an education he packed in his brain?. Has he ever thought where his salary comes from, how is that money made?. Good people; a House speaker who is supposed to lead and guide the parliament vomiting such words in a country where children are still dying because of luck of proper nutrition or petty diseases which can cured. Now he has jumped with these words; No wonder why even Europeans do doubt if Africans will really catch up with them. It is a pity for a nation to harbour such brains as their leaders.
For any meaningful development to be realized, time and money are factors that must be tied to results in a Forward Strategic Development Agenda, and the Governance environment, the Judiciary, the Executives as well as Legislatures must cultivate New Culture of Accountability and Responsibility.
Any behavioral, attitude or schemes engaged in efforts that promote or encourages stagnation which is tied to failure and backwardness, promoting meritocracy must be condemned by all Reform Activists and with people of good standing. This is what many Kenyans voted against in the past Referendum of August 4th 2010 for a change in culture and behavior that which should promote DEVELOPMENT and PROSPERITY not promoting continued avenue for POVERTY in a failed bracket. As Civil Society, we cannot afford anything else that which is not for progress and sustainable. We are therefore looking for the best from the elected legislatures and other Civil Servant Leaders.
The Legislation must be supported into Law by the Consumer Protection Act a basis for Reform in the Financial Industry. The Reform that which will prevent the kind of shadowy deals that led to Kenya’s Taxpayers being banked in foreign banks, the reason why Kenya/Africa is lagging in poverty bracket.
The Legislation of the New Constitution, is the hope of Kenyans and must provide for stronger measures on financial products and seek to prevent loopholes for corruption, where donor funds to Public projects found their ways in personal and private businesses as was the case in the past. These protections will ensure that enforcement becomes automatic consumer watchdog. So there is need for Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Right now we need emergency funding for the Youth and Women for training and empowerment to take up the immediate job creations and in partnership between Kenya and America business community including Think Tank from the Professionals, the Scholars as well with the Academicians for research purposes.
For this reason, Speaker Marende is becoming increasingly a liability from the kinds of comments he continually makes, those that are in support of the culture of corruption and impunity with support of poor legal dispensation as well as opening to a culture of stagnation in a mark-time. He is not creating platform for a dependable intercessor for prosperity and progress.
People of Kenya voted massively for CHANGE and Reform Agenda for growth and prosperity, for checks and balances and that of legal justification. Kenyans, friends and foes are looking forward to Responsibility and Accountability with good governance with committed Plan of Action for promoting environment for serious International Business Investors to engage Kenyans in sustainable job creation and steady work flow with openings for innovation to meet challenges and competition of the Global Market. Leaders must stop dilly dallying, the corrupt system of wasting time and money of taxpayers. When leaders waste time and money, they are in essence stealing from taxpayers because they earn money doing nothing of progress to the Kenyans and for any sustainable investment program and trade from friends and those in Partnership for Development. People of good intentions must condemn this culture in totality.
Speaker Marende with those of like mind must get their acts right and know that majority of those in the “NO” want to have the Status Quo of Corruption and Impunity continue to be the order of the day, because that is their daily business, that which they thrive in. Their actions are intended to hold the people of Kenya at Mark-Time in the old failed system Kenyan had voted out by a margin of 6,000,000 to 2,000,000 giving a sweeping defeat to the “NO” at the August 4th Referendum. Kenyans voted to defeat the culture of corruption and impunity once and for all.
This means:
All Judges to face sensor and vetting, if found guilty no retirement benefits should be awarded. They must therefore be charged by the Court of Law as is deemed fit.
All the corrupt leaders who were previously named for verious kinds of corruption must be investigated and charged according to legal dispensation.
No Go-Slow in the implementation of the New Constitution the reason why the “NO” group should be left aside, because this is not their interest and the reason why they are advocating for the Amendments of the contintious issues before the New Constituion is made operational. This has been spearheaded by Moi who reached out to the Religious group of “NO” to stand their ground and continue to refuse the New Constitution. Consequently, it is the best option to leave them out completely. This is because, they will not join the team of Reform for CHANGE but CHALLENGE THE CHANGE and stop CHANGE from taking effect completely, clear and simple.
Kenyans with the Diaspora, friends, foes and ally’s want to begin a New Chapter of getting engaged in a Forward Strategy Agenda, that of CHANGE as is in the New Constitution. They want to engage the Professionals and the Think Tanks in a platform of Work Ethics must be formulated where New Set of Order for work must be with immediate effect be scheduled. The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee must therefore not incorporate those fixed minds of the Status Quo of the likes of Ruto or Moi factors by all means. This is when REFORM will hold meaning to the majority who voted “YES” at the Referendum. The Committee MUST not waste anymore time incorporating failures who previous records of the past stood on the way of reform, whose Agenda is to continue to corrupt Kenya and steal from Kenya’s finance resources and facilities. This must stop. Kenyans must know that such leaders must not stand on their way, that they are a complete liability to Kenya and Kenyans, friends, foes, ally’s and with the International Partners for Development, and if they cannot change their attitudes and behaviors and have a New Outlook of things. I do recommend that voters must begin to search for potential dependable leaders who must replace these unfocused and incorrigible leaders by re-calling them back.
I therefore support President Kibaki and PM Raila’s sentiments with those of Orengo and Prof. Anyang Nyongo to be forthright, discipline and exclude the “NO” MPs from the Constitutional Implementation Committee for Reform and the enactment of the same for the effectiveness of the Law to take place with speed and be operational.
Thanks to you all.
Cheers !
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Parliament’s Legislative Agenda
standardgroupkenya | August 10, 2010
Parliament has a busy schedule passing laws to bring the new constitution to life. Its first job after setting up an oversight team is to pass laws creating the implementation team it will supervise. Officials from the justice and constitutional affairs ministry are already in Naivasha drafting priority bills. The Attorney General’s office is also raring to go. Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo has warned that the amount of work ahead is a lot for the time allocated. We examine these issues as the implementation phase kicks in.
The Luo of Kenya: A Visual history (music : VUC Lamo)
SwahiliExperience | July 23, 2010
The Luo of Kenya also known as ‘Jo’kowiny’ settled around the Kavirondo gulf present day lake Victoria which is also the source of the Mighty Nile river. descendent from the larger Kingdom of Nubia, the Luo migrated south from the Sudan. Famed for their intelligence, oratory ability and sense of style. The Luo tribe, through intermarriages and wars, are part of the genetic admixture that includes all modern East African ethnic groups as well as members of the Buganda Kingdom, the Bunyoro Kingdom, the Toro Kingdom of Uganda. The Music ‘Lamo’ meaning prayer in dholuo, is a traditional Luo Christian praise song by Voices United Choir Africa music kenya luo dholuo swahili experience music; kenyan gospel Luo gospel benga rumba ethnic vuc lamo akinyi otieno
Speaker opposes exclusion of ‘No’ MPs from team
By PETER LEFTIE
Posted Friday, August 13 2010 at 11:51
National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende on Friday rejected calls for MPs who opposed the new Constitution to be locked out of the parliamentary team to oversee its implementation.
At the same time, a Cabinet minister accused the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Parliamentary Group of acting like a “kangaroo court” by recommending the disciplining of MPs who campaigned against the new law.
Speaking at a different forum, Mr Marende and Housing Minister Soita Shitanda asked MPs to remain united as they embark on the implementation.
“All MPs have a right to be included in any committee, but I’ll wait for the political parties to forward the names of their nominees to the oversight committee,” Mr Marende said after addressing a breakfast meeting called by Parliament to brief high commissioners and heads of missions of Commonwealth countries on the preparations being made ahead of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference scheduled for Nairobi between September 10 – 19.
The meeting was addressed by the Clerk of the National Assembly Patrick Gichohi, the chairman of the conference’s organising committee, Mwingi South MP David Musila and Matungu MP David Were.
The Speaker asked MPs to shun political sideshows which he said could derail Parliament’s immediate task of enacting various pieces of legislation to implement the new Constitution.
He recommended that the parliamentary team to oversee implementation of the new law should comprise at least eleven MPs but less than 27.
“The trend is that of lean committees,” the speaker said.
Some MPs have publicly called for the non-inclusion of MPs who campaigned the new Constitution from the parliamentary committee on grounds that such MPs will undermine its functions.
Among those who have called for the exclusion of the ‘No’ MPs from the committee include joint Government Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo and Naivasha MP John Mututho.
At a PG meeting held on Thursday, ODM MPs went a step further and called for the disciplining of their colleagues who campaigned against the new constitution, saying they went against the party’s resolutions.
In a statement read to the press after the meeting by Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba, the PG even called for the sacking of Higher Education minister William Ruto who led the ‘No’ campaign.
“ODM which proclaims itself as the most democratic party in the country ought to lead by example by practising what it preaches. Ruto had a right to support or oppose the Constitution so ODM should respect his position,” Mr Shitanda stated.
He accused the ODM PG of taking Kenya back to the days of the authoritarian one-party when the notorious Kanu disciplinary committee would summon members with dissenting views and expel them from the party.
“The PG meeting is similar to the days of Okiki Amayo and Shariff Nassir who would sit down in a kangaroo court and decide the fate of their colleagues,” Mr Shitanda said.
ODM MPs want Ruto to face party discipline
By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com and BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 21:00
In Summary
* ODM caucus sends tough message to members who campaigned against the constitution: the party will not ‘spare the rod’
Higher Education minister William Ruto is to be disciplined by his party for campaigning against the constitution.
All Orange Democratic Movement members of Parliament who were in the Red camp will face party sanctions, an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting resolved on Thursday.
As a first step, they will be kept out of the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee, a powerful new team which will have a role in the implementation of the new Constitution.
Mr Ruto and his Chepalungu counterpart, Mr Isaac Ruto, are members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the constitution, which oversaw the writing of the constitution.
Mr Ruto and his allies did not attend Thursday’s meeting, chaired by party chairman Henry Kosgey.
Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, the Parliamentary Group Secretary, read the terse statement after a four-hour meeting at Orange House.
“The party will take strong disciplinary action against any Member of Parliament who took a contrary decision on an important policy decision like the adoption of the Constitution,” he said.
There is debate in the ruling coalition on what to do with members who campaigned against the draft in the referendum, contrary to the wishes of the government and their parties.
In 2005, President Kibaki sacked Liberal Democratic Party members who had joined Kanu to deliver a crushing defeat to the government during that year’s referendum. They made use of their popularity to build ODM.
The so-called rebels, Mr Isaac Ruto and Mr Charles Keter, were however defiant, warning that the ODM was now on the “path of democratic darkness, reminiscent of the Kanu days”. They would not be intimidated into changing their stand, they said, and invited the party to take whatever action it saw fit.
“They should do it as soon as possible because what they are saying is irrelevant. They have forgotten what befell some of them in 2005 when they were kicked out of the Cabinet and parliamentary committees by President Kibaki,” said Mr Keter.
ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o declared that rebel MPs would not enjoy the same status they did before the referendum. Like a naughty child, he said, they would be disciplined.
“It would be highly unlikely that a person facing disciplinary action can at the same time enjoy the same status he enjoyed before in being appointed to such a committee. If you spare the rod, you spoil the child,” he said.
Some of the MPs who attended the party meeting said there were calls for Mr Ruto to be stripped of his Cabinet post and for the job to go to a more loyal MP, such as Eldoret East MP Margaret Kamar.
It was also suggested that dissenting MPs be kicked out of party positions. The recommendations of the meeting will now be taken to the National Executive Council (NEC), the party’s top organ.
Former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, who was in the ‘No’ camp attended the meeting and defended her stand, saying she could not go against the Church. Ms Wanjiru is a bishop and a
preacher.
MPs said some members have threatened to campaign against her if she wins the party’s ticket to fight for re-election.
The meeting floated the names of ODM members to the Constitution Oversight Committee. They proposed that it be made up of 27 members, 14 of them being from ODM. One of the suggestions was that Agriculture minister Sally Kosgei should replace Mr Ruto.
Other names suggested were Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet minister James Orengo, assistant minister Joseph Nkaiserry and MPs Millie Odhiambo and Sophia Abdi.
Mr Keter and Mr Ruto asked the MPs not to repeat the mistakes other parties have made in the face of differences. The Belgut MP said they will fully participate in the debate on Bills in the House regardless of whether they were named to committees or not.
“Nobody has asked to be included in those committees. The Bills will come to the House and we will debate them,” he said.
ODM to discipline members who opposed law
ODM party secretary general Anyang Nyong’o addresses a media briefing after a parliamentary group meeting, August 12, 2010.The party resolved that disciplinary action will be taken against members of the party who voted against the new Constitution contrary to the party’s position. HEZRON NJOROGE | NATION
By DAVE OPIYO
Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 14:21
Kenya’s coalition partner, the Orange Democratic movement (ODM) party moved to start disciplinary action against Higher Education minister William Ruto and other party members who opposed the passage of the proposed constitution.
The party’s Parliamentary Group’s Thursday meeting resolved to lock out the all their MPs who campaigned and voted against the new law from the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, critical to the implementation of the new constitution.
70 MPs who included former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, who campaigned against the draft law, attended the meeting.
Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyongo said there was no way any party member facing disciplinary action would enjoy the same status like they did before.
“It would be highly unlikely that a person facing disciplinary action can at the same time enjoy the same status like they had enjoyed before,” he said.
“If you spare the rod, you spoil the child,” he added.
The Cabinet minister went on: “ The party is like a club. When a decision is to be made on any issue, the necessary organs must be consulted. Our PG has made its recommendation to the party.”
The Parliamentary Group Secretary Mr Ababu Namwamba, who read the resolutions scoffed at calls for the two principals to lead amendments to the new law.
“Any proposal to amend the Constitution is provided for in the constitution itself and is no longer the responsibility of the two principals,” he said.
The party further congratulated Kenyans for overwhelmingly passing the document at the August 4 referendum.
They particularly paid tribute to President Kibaki and the PNU counterparts for a ‘job well done’.
“The President has shown strong leadership,” said Mr Namwamba.
Any proposal to amend the constitution is provided for in the constitution itself and is no longer the responsibility of the two principals.
US President pledges stronger ties with Kenya
By Chris Wamalwa, in Washington DC
US President Barack Obama has said Kenya plays an important role in the region and, therefore, its success both politically and economically is of utmost importance to the US.
“Given Kenya’s importance in the region, its democracy and prosperity are of special concern to the US,” he said.
President Obama said the US has been supportive and frank about its concerns over the last two years, as Kenya worked toward implementing fundamental reforms necessary to put its democracy and future prosperity on a firmer footing.
“The peaceful and credible August 4 national referendum was a historic landmark in that effort. On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the Kenyan Government, the Interim Independent Electoral Commission and Kenyans on their new Constitution. The US remains your committed friend and partner as you work to build on this important foundation,” he said.
Obama made these remarks when he received the new Kenyan ambassador to the US, Elkanah Odembo in the Oval Office at the White House, on Tuesday.
Close relations
Obama told Odembo: “I look forward to working with you to deepen the already close relations between our countries.”
Mr Odembo takes over from Rateng Oginga Ogego.
Obama said Kenya and the US share a long history of friendship and partnership based on common values and mutual interests.
Recalling his roots in Kenya, Obama said: “My deep personal connection to Kenya makes today’s ceremony especially meaningful to me.”
Speaking to The Standard in his office in Washington, DC soon after the ceremony, Odembo said: “The goodwill towards Kenya is overwhelming, and I’m going to exploit this to increase tourism and investment in Kenya. I feel privileged to be here at this particular time in our long relationship between the two countries.”
Professionals to lead way in the new order
Company secretaries told to guard firms against collapse
By Philip Mwakio
The new constitutional order will pave way for massive capital accumulation, a Cabinet minister has said.
Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno made the remarks while opening the 14th annual conference of the Institute of Public Certified Secretaries of Kenya (ICPSK) at Sarova Whitesands
Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa, yesterday.
“With the new constitutional dispensation, we are entering an era of total respect for human rights and individual freedoms.”
Path to growth
Underscoring the need for re-orienting organisations in the new order, Dalmas said it will be incumbent upon professionals to lead the way in the culture of change.
“Key professional bodies like ICPSK will remain instrumental in helping Kenya re-establish itself on the path to growth,” he said.
“We are in for a massive attitude change because only attitude and leadership will make a difference.”
“Both the public and private sectors will require re-orienting and re-training, leadership development and general behavioural changes to take advantage of the new impetus to growth provided by the now ratified constitution,” Dalmas said.
The conference, themed ‘Building Africa’s capacity for accelerated economic and social developments: Lessons from the East’, started on Wednesday and ends today.
ICPSK chairman, Mr Joe Mwangi Mbuthia, said the theme reflects Africa’s recent increased partnerships with the East, a break from the past when the West determined what route the continent took.
The meet sought highlight lessons from the East that will help build capacity for accelerated economic and social development.
ODM MPs want Ruto to face party discipline
By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com and BERNARD NAMUNANE bnamunane@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 21:00
In Summary
* ODM caucus sends tough message to members who campaigned against the constitution: the party will not ‘spare the rod’
Higher Education minister William Ruto is to be disciplined by his party for campaigning against the constitution.
All Orange Democratic Movement members of Parliament who were in the Red camp will face party sanctions, an ODM Parliamentary Group meeting resolved on Thursday.
As a first step, they will be kept out of the Constitution Implementation Oversight Committee, a powerful new team which will have a role in the implementation of the new Constitution.
Mr Ruto and his Chepalungu counterpart, Mr Isaac Ruto, are members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the constitution, which oversaw the writing of the constitution.
Mr Ruto and his allies did not attend Thursday’s meeting, chaired
by party chairman Henry Kosgey.
Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba, the Parliamentary Group Secretary, read the terse statement after a four-hour meeting at Orange House.
“The party will take strong disciplinary action against any Member of Parliament who took a contrary decision on an important policy decision like the adoption of the Constitution,” he said.
There is debate in the ruling coalition on what to do with members who campaigned against the draft in the referendum, contrary to the wishes of the government and their parties.
In 2005, President Kibaki sacked Liberal Democratic Party members who had joined Kanu to deliver a crushing defeat to the government during that year’s referendum. They made use of their popularity to build ODM.
The so-called rebels, Mr Isaac Ruto and Mr Charles Keter, were however defiant, warning that the ODM was now on the “path of democratic darkness, reminiscent of the Kanu days”. They would not be intimidated into changing their stand, they said, and invited the party to take whatever action it saw fit.
“They should do it as soon as possible because what they are saying is irrelevant. They have forgotten what befell some of them in 2005 when they were kicked out of the Cabinet and parliamentary committees by President Kibaki,” said Mr Keter.
ODM secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o declared that rebel MPs would not enjoy the same status they did before the referendum. Like a naughty child, he said, they would be disciplined.
“It would be highly unlikely that a person facing disciplinary action can at the same time enjoy the same status he enjoyed before in being appointed to such a committee. If you spare the rod, you spoil the child,” he said.
Some of the MPs who attended the party meeting said there were calls for Mr Ruto to be stripped of his Cabinet post and for the job to go to a more loyal MP, such as Eldoret East MP Margaret Kamar.
It was also suggested that dissenting MPs be kicked out of party positions. The recommendations of the meeting will now be taken to the National Executive Council (NEC), the party’s top organ.
Former Starehe MP Margaret Wanjiru, who was in the ‘No’ camp attended the meeting and defended her stand, saying she could not go against the Church. Ms Wanjiru is a bishop and a preacher.
MPs said some members have threatened to campaign against her if she wins the party’s ticket to fight for re-election.
The meeting floated the names of ODM members to the Constitution Oversight Committee. They proposed that it be made up of 27 members, 14 of them being from ODM. One of the suggestions was that Agriculture minister Sally Kosgei should replace Mr Ruto.
Other names suggested were Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Cabinet minister James Orengo, assistant minister Joseph Nkaiserry and MPs Millie Odhiambo and Sophia Abdi.
Mr Keter and Mr Ruto asked the MPs not to repeat the mistakes other parties have made in the face of differences. The Belgut MP said they will fully participate in the debate on Bills in the House regardless of whether they were named to committees or not.
“Nobody has asked to be included in those committees. The Bills will come to the House and we will debate them,” he said.
Speaker opposes exclusion of ‘No’ MPs from team
ODM to discipline members who opposed law
ODM party secretary general Anyang Nyong’o addresses a media briefing after a parliamentary group meeting, August 12, 2010.The party resolved that disciplinary action will be taken against members of the party who voted against the new Constitution contrary to the party’s position. HEZRON NJOROGE | NATION
ODM party secretary general Anyang Nyong’o addresses a media briefing after a parliamentary group meeting, August 12, 2010.The party resolved that disciplinary action will be taken against members of the party who voted against the new Constitution contrary to the party’s position. HEZRON NJOROGE | NATION
By DAVE OPIYO
Posted Thursday, August 12 2010 at 14:21
Kenya’s coalition partner, the Orange Democratic movement (ODM) party moved to start disciplinary action against Higher Education minister William Ruto and other party members who opposed the passage of the proposed constitution.
The party’s Parliamentary Group’s Thursday meeting resolved to lock out the all their MPs who campaigned and voted against the new law from the Parliamentary Oversight Committee, critical to the implementation of the new constitution.
70 MPs who included former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, who campaigned against the draft law, attended the meeting.
Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyongo said there was no way any party member facing disciplinary action would enjoy the same status like they did before.
“It would be highly unlikely that a person facing disciplinary action can at the same time enjoy the same status like they had enjoyed before,” he said.
“If you spare the rod, you spoil the child,” he added.
The Cabinet minister went on: “ The party is like a club. When a decision is to be made on any issue, the necessary organs must be consulted. Our PG has made its recommendation to the party.”
The Parliamentary Group Secretary Mr Ababu Namwamba, who read the resolutions scoffed at calls for the two principals to lead amendments to the new law.
“Any proposal to amend the Constitution is provided for in the constitution itself and is no longer the responsibility of the two principals,” he said.
The party further congratulated Kenyans for overwhelmingly passing the document at the August 4 referendum.
They particularly paid tribute to President Kibaki and the PNU counterparts for a ‘job well done’.
“The President has shown strong leadership,” said Mr Namwamba.
Any proposal to amend the constitution is provided for in the constitution itself and is no longer the responsibility of the two principals.
Race to control implementation of new Constitution
By Alex Ndegwa and Martin Mutua
With referendum chapter closed and new constitution passed and awaiting promulgation, Parliament is the next frontier of battle for the Grand Coalition partners.
Given Parliament will be the theatre of action for the next crucial phase, which is the implementation of the new Constitution, all eyes are on how the political parties will share out the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee’s seats.
The committee will wield a lot of power, as it would oversee the implementation of the new Constitution.
Already the passage of the new Constitution appears to have opened new battlefronts among the traditional political forces as the jostling for membership and leadership of the new committee elbows its way to the forefront.
It is in Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) where there appears to be more heat, because strong forces within the party want Higher Education Minister William Ruto and Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto sidelined for opposing the new Constitution, and rebelling against the official party position. The two were members of the PSC on Constitutional Review, whose members are said to be front runners for membership in the new committee.
Having sat in the committee that brokered most of the agreements on the Proposed Constitution before the referendum, the two are being viewed as ill-suited to sit in the commission that will implement what they fought against. However, there are those who argue they should be taken on board, first as a sign of reconciliation in the country, and to harness the goodwill of the ‘No’ MPs as Parliament gets ready to pass at least 40 Bills to implement the new laws.
There appears to be little contest on the leadership because, given the past fierce rivalry between ODM and Party of National Unity, the solution could lie in both going for a candidate from a small or so-called ‘neutral’ party. In this case, PSC chairman Abdikadir Mohammed, who is a member of Safina, could again be the compromise choice for both groups.
Mohamed is said to be a favourite among most MPs who also feel his performance as chairman of the review committee was impressive.
However, there are some who are keen on pushing for Gichugu MP Martha Karua because during her tenure at Justice Ministry, she was instrumental in crafting the watertight clauses that have protected the new Constitution from derailment or dilution by vested interests.
Frosty relations
Besides her fallout with President Kibaki and her frosty relations with Raila, she may fit the bill given she is running Narc-Kenya as an independent party. However, reports indicate there are those who fear her confrontational style may antagonise some of the groups but still they are those who favour her blunt approach.
But in the end the members, who will be picked from both sides of the political divide, will on their own pick their chairman.
ODM chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo yesterday told The Standard that the committee could have between 11 and 15 members.
“The lesser the number the lesser controversies we will have,” he said.
Midiwo said those who were members of the PSC on Constitutional Review have a better chance of being included in the new team.
“But we will consider those who contributed positively and never used to miss sittings” he said. Insiders in ODM and PNU yesterday said there were names floated to be included in the committee. On the ODM side, names sources mentioned were Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and Cabinet Ministers James Orengo, Anyang’ Nyong’o, Charity Ngilu, Sally Kosgei and Mohammed Elmi.
On the PNU side were Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Cabinet Ministers Kiraitu Murungi, Mutula Kilonzo and Moses Wetangula. Others were MPs Abdikadir, Karua, Danson Mungatana and Eugene Wamalwa.
Mudavadi and Uhuru are the two most senior leaders on the list. It is believed that President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga could take a back seat and let the two take charge of negotiating who should be in the teams.
But Midiwo, who together with PNU ( Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama) will present the names, said it was too early to talk about who was on the list, and added that ODM would have a meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue.
“At the moment the issue of names does not arise because the President is yet to promulgate the new Constitution, but we have a parliamentary group meeting tomorrow and the issue will be discussed,” he added.
Misguided attempts
Yesterday, Ruto allies termed as misguided attempts to lock out MPs who were in the ‘No’ camp from the committee, on the basis of their position in the referendum.
Mosop MP David Koech, who was the ‘No’ side’s chief agent at the referendum, likened the referendum contest to a vote in Parliament, whose outcome is supported by both sides.
Koech was reacting to Midiwo who sparked controversy when he said Orange MPs who were in the ‘No’ camp would be sidelined from the committee.
“Even when Parliament goes to a division and the ayes have it, the nays automatically join them in the implementation of the Bill,” Koech told a news conference at Parliament Buildings yesterday.
The referendum, he added, was not based on a collective party position, but individual decisions.
“Whatever the legislation, when Parliament passes it, and in this case it was the verdict of the people, in a democratic society those who did not support are going to support it and participate in its implementation,” Koech said.
He said those arguing otherwise were “playing to the gallery.”
Koech said the leaders of ‘No’ team had allowed a contest and conceded defeat, which had “helped the country to redeem our image” following the 2007 General Election fiasco.
Midiwo downplayed the issue of those to be named in the committee, saying it was a committee of the House and all members were eligible to be members.
Immigration Minister Otieno Kajwang said Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo should not give prescriptions on who should be in the new committee.
Mutula had on Monday said that the current members of the review committee should become members of the new committee.
Judges to quit rather than face graft probe
File | NATION Judges during a judicial open day at the Nairobi Law courts in 2006. The judges referred to in the story are not pictured.
By Jillo Kadida jkadida@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
* Having survived ‘radical surgery’, some prefer to retire than put up with investigations set out in the new constitution
Judges will on Wednesday discuss proposals on how they should be vetted as required by the new Constitution.
Some of them are contemplating retiring from the Bench, rather than go through the vetting.
Of the six judges interviewed by the Nation, five said that they planned to take early retirement, rather than be investigated for corruption and incompetence.
A team, headed by Justice William Ouko, will take the judges, who are attending their annual meeting in Mombasa, through the Judiciary’s suggestions on the vetting.
Kenyan Judiciary is conservative
The Kenyan Judiciary is conservative and judges hardly ever express an opinion in the Press. The judges the Nation interviewed only spoke on condition of anonymity.
“I have served the Judiciary for long enough and no one has ever questioned my integrity and competence. Why do I have to go through vetting? I have a few years remaining to my retirement and I don’t want to go down in history as the judge who was vetted and found wanting,” a senior judge said.
“Let the State undertake to pay us our dues and I am sure many of us will opt to go home and pursue other things in life,” another High Court judge said.
The Judiciary would like judges vetted by an independent tribunal made up of nine members, according to the report of the Ouko team.
Of the nine, three should be from the reconstituted Judicial Service Commission and the other six picked through a competitive process.
The report also suggests that the tribunal look at existing complaints against judicial officers , complaints in the hands of the Law Society of Kenya, which the judges might have committed while in private practice, among others.
The team asked that organs such as the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, the Criminal Investigations Department and the National Security Intelligence Services be invited to give input on judges and magistrates under investigation.
Many of the serving judges lived through the so-called radical surgery of the Judiciary in 2003. Some do not want to go through the experience again.
The shake-up followed a report by the then Court of Appeal judge Aaron Ringera, which saw 23 judges suspended and 282 magistrates sacked on corruption claims.
Five of the judges were cleared and reinstated and three of them — justices Philip Waki, Moijo ole Keiwua and Daniel Aganyanya, sit in the Court of Appeal.
The other two — justices Roselyne Nambuye and Msagah Mbogholi, are back at the High Court.
The judge in favour of vetting said the government should ensure that the people in charge of the process are independent.
Under the new constitution, judges will be vetted once Parliament puts in place a law specifying how the scrutiny is to be carried out.
Those found fit to hold judicial office will be reappointed, while those who fail the test of competence and integrity will go home.
Now Wako and Gicheru state terms for leaving office under the new law
Gideon Maundu |NATION This is my point, or so Attorney-General Amos Wako (left) seems to be telling the Director of the Kenya Judges Training Institute, Mr Justice Kihara Kariuki (centre) and the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review, Mr Abdikadir Mohammed, during a break at the annual conference for judges in Mombasa, on Monday.
Gideon Maundu |NATION This is my point, or so Attorney-General Amos Wako (left) seems to be telling the Director of the Kenya Judges Training Institute, Mr Justice Kihara Kariuki (centre) and the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review, Mr Abdikadir Mohammed, during a break at the annual conference for judges in Mombasa, on Monday.
By MARK AGUTU magutu@ke.nationmedia.com and EUNICE MACHUHI emachuhi@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Monday, August 9 2010 at 21:00
In Summary
* I am ready but I must go in accordance with the law . We must follow the Constitution, says AG
We will go home but only in accordance with the law.
That was the response Chief Justice Evan Gicheru and Attorney-General Amos Wako had for Kenyans on whether they will retire within a year as required by the new constitution.
“I am ready but I must leave in accordance with the law. We must follow the Constitution,” Mr Wako told journalists in Mombasa on Monday.
Mr Justice Gicheru said: “We will follow the law. It is not a big issue. When the time comes we will follow the law that exists.”
Mr Justice Gicheru’s tenure is expected to expire in February 2011 — six months after the new Constitution comes into force, and the AG’s in August 2011.
The CJ has the option of allowing himself to be vetted — like all other serving judges and, if cleared, continue to serve as judge of the Court of Appeal. He will also be eligible for reappointment if the President and Prime Minister submit his name to Parliament for approval.
Besides the two top public officers, several other constitutional office holders are expected to head home.
On Monday, Mr Justice Gicheru said he was not worried about the vetting process as long as it is done legally. He urged Parliament to enact laws that will ensure no vacuum is created once the process starts.
“We are not worried about this issue of vetting and we are not going to have sleepless nights. We shall deal with the problem when it comes, but what I must insist is that the process must be carried out transparently and in accordance with the law,” he said.
He added: “In any case, if the entire Judiciary goes home, other people will be appointed to replace them and whoever feels prejudiced can always go to court”.
The CJ and AG spoke at the annual Judges’ Colloquium in Mombasa.
The five-day event, whose theme is “Strengthening judicial integrity and working together for efficient service delivery”, is attended by 11 Court of Appeal judges and 45 High Court judges.
Mr Justice Gicheru defended the Judiciary against allegations of incompetence.
“Let no one lie to you that there is interference because judges make independent decisions, which even I do not question,” he said.
Also present was the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission chief Patrick Lumumba and Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Review chair Abdikadir Mohammed.
In a surprise move that caught many residents of Kisumu town unaware and showing that Kisumu Mayor is loosing his grip o the council and the confidence the councilors had waning, Councilors allied to Kisumu Mayor Sam Okello lost all their seats to a faction which was backed by Kisumu businessman and tycoon Councilor James Oyollo Soja and one time deputy Mayor Councilor Pamella Jossy Omino.
The election which was conducted by the Clerk to the Council David ole Nkere and was aimed at electing Chairmen of various Committees saw the Mayor’s side loosing all the sixteen seats with only five being contested while Oyolo’s men took all the eleven seats unopposed.
The elections also saw Councilors perceived to be close allies of the Mayor led by Councilors Isaya Onyango,John Ong’ele,John Onunga and Yusuf Masudi loosing all the committee seats they previously had to Oyollo’s function.
“We wanted to teach him a lesson and tell him that his days at the council is long overdue, since he came here he has no any regard for us elected Councilors saying we are stupid “one Councilors who did not want his name mentioned said.
More drama was to be witnessed when Councilors; Masudi and Isaya literally wept outside the town lamenting why they had taken such a move which led to their defeat.
The seats which were under contentions and which were all taken by Councilors allied to councilor Oyollo were;;Finance-Cllr.Benard Muga,Staff Establishment-Robert Otuge,Planning-Cllr.James Oyollo,Works-Elly Okatch Water-Cllr.Isaac Odinga,Education-Cllr.John Ondele Adoyo,Social Services and Gender-Cllr.Gordon Bugo,Environment-Cllr.Romanus Odhoch,HIV AIDS-Cllr.Grace Wafula ,Children-Cllr.Joseph Osir Nyamwaya,Housing-Cllr.Agness Nyagol,Health-Cllr.Pamella Ogembo,Joint Staff-Cllr.Pamella “Pam Jos” Omino, Audit-Cllr.George Weda ,Inspectorate-Cllr.Tom Ogolla and Tourism ,Heritage and ICT-Cllr.Erick Oricho
While addressing the councilors and members of the public while conceding defeat, Mayor Okello urged the winning side to embrace the losers saying all the councilors stood for the common goal of serving the residents of Kisumu.
“Let us not take today’s event as the genesis of animosity between the losers and the winners since our service delivery task is the utmost” Mayor Okello added.
But Cllr.Pam Jos said that the daggers are drawn, sharpened and causalities will likely to be counted vowing that there focus Is to get rid of the council’s corruption which has been going on for the last one year.
“We are neither puppets nor stooges of anyone, we are elected and there are expectations from our electorates that are why we want to say that things will not going top be the same way again” she said.
Councilor Soja refused to be drawn to the issue that the outcome of the elections were to be repeated come the Mayoral elections next year.
“Let us cross every bridge when we reach it, but today the councilors have spoken “he said before driving off.
ABOUT eleven chairmen from various civic bodies in the greater Southern Nyanza region gathered in Ndhiwa at the weekend and unanimously resolved to give their unqualified support to the embattled chairman of the Luo Council of Elders “Ker”Meshack Riaga Ogalo.
The group, which included local politician and opinion leaders and ODM party activists from several districts in the region gathered at the Unga village home of the Assistant Minister for Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode.
The group disowned the reported election of the new office bearers of the Cultural body headed by Mzee Opiyo Otondi, whose election took place in June after the alleged coup de tat that had ousted Riaga Ogalo and his team from the office. The new office bearers led by Otondi have since been registered by the Registrar of the Societies, while ousted Ogalo’s team has moved to the High Court challenging the validity of the report election of new office bearers.
The group threaten to form a splinter group of Elders in Southern Nyanza region, if those purported to have been elected a fresh were not ejected out of the office. They are in office unconstitutionally and should not be recognized by anybody.
The election of the new office besrers who are purported to have ousted Riaga Ogalo’s group took place at the Ofafa Memorial Hall, Kisumu in June 2010 after the Council had dissolved itself at a similar meeting held at the same venue towards the end of May this year. Some of the contentious issues, which led to the dissolution of the Council include the chairman’s secret visit to Libya without informing members of the Council’s executive committee. His acceptance of motor vehicle purported to have been donated by Paul Kamlesh Patni of the Goldenberg.
Other issues involved the control of funds earned from the rents payable by tenants operating businesses at the multi-purpose building complex, the Ofafa Memorial Hall in Kisumu, which was previously the property of the defunct Luo Union East Africa, a welfare organization which was banned along with other tribal organization by the retired President Daniel Arap Moi during the early part of his presidency in 1980s.
The Hall is reported to be fetching close to Kshs 100,000 monthly from rents payable by the various tenants, but its account was found to be allegedly in red and nobody seemed to be answerable as to where the money is or where the money goes.
Another group claiming to be the legally registered trustees of the defunct Luo Union East Africa had also moved to Court challenging the Council of Elders.
Earlier n May this year the Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the company of the Lands Minister James Orengo had visited the Ofafa Memorial Hall and addressed the meeting of the Luo Council of Elders under the chairmanship of the ousted Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo and advised the Council of the need to hold regular election so that its members can gain public confidence. He told the group that the current office bearers of the Council were there only in acting capacity, but they had acted in that capacity for too long and therefore need fresh election so that they can restore the confidence of members of the community.
The ousted office is said to have been acting as the pressure group of the ODM and consisting of the former hard-core supporters of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, who were inherited by his son Raila Odinga, but did not reflect the true representation of the Luo Community on cultural matters, but were part and parcel of the ODM.
How the group become members of the Council remained a mystery as non-was voted by their local communities at home. The qualification for one to become an elder also raised eyebrows due to the fact that its current members were also ODM party activists. Most of the Council members were only hand-picked from the ODM’s Kisumu office with no blessing from the general population in Luo-Nyanza.
And when the trouble started brewing, members of the general public saw it as a golden opportunity which could enable them to elect the proper office of the Luo Council of Elders which could be n on-aligned or affiliated to a particular political party.
The Ndhiwa resolution only came in the wake of an earlier sentiments expressed by the Minister for Public Service Dalmas Otieno who while addressing a fund drive meeting in Kasipul-Kabondo two weeks ago had expressed the support for the ousted Council chairman Meshack Riaga Ogalo saying the purported election which took place in Kisumu was unconstitutional and illegal.
The wrangling about the Council leadership is likely to have a negative impact on the Luo politics, and could easily split the community into two different camps opposed to each other with new political dimension and repercussion, which might not augur well with Raila Odinga’s presidential ambition in 2012.
In the political, scenario in which the huge support that Raila Odinga enjoyed in Southern Nyanza vanishing I the thin air, “Agwambo’s” control of the voting pattern in the region could evaporate.
A good number of MPs from the greater Southern Nyanza region are reported to be in solidarity with Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo and have since disowned the new office bearers dismissing them as pretenders and strangers and have been calling for an immediate solution to the Council leadership wrangling.
WITH only three weeks to go before the referendum voting for the proposed constitution, a new political dimension has emerged in various parts of Western Kenya.
There is some element of complacency and laxity on the parts of Luo MPs. from-Nyanza Province an area which is perceived to be one of the stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} whose leader is the Prime Minister Raila Odinga who together with President Mwai Kibaki are known to be in the forefront championing the Yes campaign.
The campaign aimed at drumming up the support or against the proposed law reform is yet to kick off in earnest in many parts of Western Kenya,especially in Luo-Nyanza in the same fashion it has hit the roads in the South and North Rift and in some parts of Western Province.
The Yes campaign in Gusii region of Nyanza Province has also hit snag owing to what seemed to be irreconcilable political differences between the two cabinet ministers. Education Minister Prof Sam K Ongeri and his counterpart Works Minister Chris Mogere Obure are both in the Greens Camp, but the two are not in talking terms, a political scenario, which is likely to weaken the Yes camp campaign in the region and possibly benefit the Nyachae led Reds Camp.
The differences between the two senior most politicians in Kisii region recently resurfaced during the just concluded by-election in South Mugirango. In the by election Ongeri abandoned his KANU candidate and backed the immediate former area MP Omingo Magara who stood on the ticket of the hitherto unknown Peoples Democratic Party {PDP},while Obure supported the ODM candidate Ibrahim Ochoi. But both the aspirants lost to a low profiled candidate Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, of the Ford People.
In the by-election Nyachae steered clear of the by-election, but his right hand man Henry Obwocha a former Planning Minister had camped and spear-headed the campaign in South Mugirango during the whole duration of the by-election. In the previous by election in the neighboring Bomachoge, Obure campaigned for the ODM candidate Simon Ogari who eventually won, while Ongeri supported the PNU candidate Joel Onyancha who lost in the by-election.
Other MPs from Gusii region are only showing cosmetic support to either Yes or No proponents and the voters are left guessing as to which way they should cast their votes.
In Luo-Nyanza, which is arguably the region’s political hot-bed, the majority of the MPs have gone silent. Only a few of them have been reported to have organized public rallies to drum up the public support the Yes camp.
They included Oyugi Magwanga [Kasipula-Kabondo}, Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ {Mbita}Dr. Oburu Oginga [Bondo}, Eng.James Rege{Karachuonyo} Prof Ayiecho Lueny {Muhoroni},Jakoyo Midiwo {Gem} James Orengo {Ugenya},John Olago Aluoch {Kisumu Town West}Prof. Anyanh’Nyong’o {Kisumu Rural and Dick Omoindi Anyanga of Nyatike.
Luo MPs who are said to have gone underground not to be heard speaking in favor or against the proposed constitution include Otieno Ogindo {Rangwe}, Cyprian Ojwang’Omolo {Uriri} Eng. Nicholas Gumbo {Rarieda} Edwing Ochieng’ Yinda {Alego-Usonga} Polins Ochieng Daima {Nyakach},John
WHILE the people of South Mugirango constituency in Gucha South district have expressed the hope that their newly elected MP will deliver the goods to the electorate, they are, however, irked by unfolding events that followed last week polls.
The by-elections which show the resurgence of Simeon Nyachae led Ford Peoples party emerged with resounding victory over the Raila Odinga’s ODM and the little known People Democratic Party of Omingo Magara beaten hands down has left behind the trail of enmity and blame games.
ODM luminaries within the locality have pointed an accusing finger at one of the by-election losers whom they accused for an act of “betrayal”. Zebedeo Nyaboga the former Gucha Executive Secretary of KNUT who had earlier lost the by election to the retired head of secondary school teacher Ibrahim Ochoi is said to have alleged switched sides and sided with the Ford People party candidate Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, who later emerged the winner.
Nyaboga had voiced his concern that the party preliminary by-election was flawed and pre-determined in favor of the winner Ibrahim Ochoi. At the same, time other pundits blamed the ODM defeat for lack of the availability of election logistics. It is being alleged that a top ODM unnamed official from the party headquarters at the Orange House who was entrusted with election resources did not deliver it in time facilitate the party campaign to the top gear, and that the materials were delivered in half, and this is what slowed down the party’s campaign machinery.
Nyaboga departure and his dismay remarks questioning the party ability to hold a fair by-election nomination seemed to have worked for the downfall of the ODM at the eleventh hour.
Nyaboga’s departing message was clear. It was similar to the remarks made by the immediate former MP for the area Omingo9 Magara who had expressed his fears and suspicion that he doubted the ODM’s system of nomination. Nyaboga’s kicking departure could be rather insignificant, but taking into account that he ditched the ODM at the eleventh hour.
Senior ODM Minister Prof Nyong’o.Otieno Kajwang’, Chris Obure, Henry Kosgei,James Orengo and other had pitched camp in South Mugirango,for the whole duration of the campaign, but strangely thing they did is that the did not brought on board the Veteran ODM politician in Gusii region Zephania Mugunde Anyieni, the man who had a few months ago steered the party into victory in the neighboring Bomachoge.
Furthermore they ODM team dwelt into very many irrelevant issues that the electorate were not conversant with.
Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, the winner and the man who had petitioned the court and sent Omingo Magara parking had confined his campaign speeches to issues that were directly appealing to the electorate. He decried lack of tangible development on the ground despite Magara having represented the constituency for over seven years and begged the electorate to give him a chance so that they could see the difference within the next two years.
On the other hand, although Simeon Nyachae, the Kisii political kingpin who is now on semi retirement did not appear in any of Nyamweya’s campaign rallies, the message went round that he had sent his wife with the blessing for Nyamweya. His party Secretary General and a close confidant Henry Obwocha the former Panning Minister who is highly experienced in Gusii politics had permanently camped in South Mugirango.
The other grave mistake by ODM was sending its campaign team consisting mostly of Luo Ministers and MPs, and this gave credence to the damaging utterances by Omingo Magara that the ODM flag bearer Ibrahim Ochoi had Luo ancestral background and that the Prime Minister Raila Odinga was an expansionist who wanted to plant his kin on the Abagusii.
This is an area where the relationship between the two neighboring communities has always never been cordial due to other factors such as cattle rustling, tribal skirmishes perpetrated by the outlawed Chinkororo Militia groups”
But other local pundits had put up a strong argument that the ODM candidates ancestral background was irrelevant in the B y-election citing the example of the late Dr.Zachary T Onyonka who dominated Kitutu Chache politics for close to three decades was more of a Luo blood than Ibrahim Ochoi, and even today his son Richard M Onyonka is representing Kitutu Chache I n the current parliament.
What has puzzled many people in South Mugirango is the last week’s incident of torching a private academy school owned by Ibrahim Ochoi the loser of the by election by unknown arsonist. The Tabaka Hillcrest Academy was set ablaze on Friday 11th,June 2010. No one was hurt and the police in Gucha are said to be actively investigating the incident.
The accusing finger is being pointed at overzealous supporters of Omingo Magarawho is said to be bitter with Ochoi for having contributed immensely towards his election defeat by Nyamweya. Magara had earlier clai9med he had the blessing of Nyachae as the community, a claim which was fiercely denied by Henry Obwocha. But no one has ever come forward to connect Magara followers with the cowardice attack o9n Ochoi’s school.
However, what emerged in South Mugirango is that even the Higher Education Minister William Ruto popularity in the region is a matter of public conjecture. Ruto followed in the trail of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga tying all the tricks in the books to dismantle whatever Odinga had told the voters in vain.
And even the high profile campaign launched by PNU point man in Gusii Prof. Sam Ongeri. Despite the backing of the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Rutoand other KK and PNU luminaries could not work or moved the Omugusii, who seemed to have decided to go back to their own house the Ford People party.
If any of the politicians is a hero of the people, let him/her attract crowds first hand. Let him/her NOT wait for crowds attracted by opponents. That is like waiting under the table for bread crumbs after a dinner. What took place in Mugirango is inability to attract people to to a rally. If you are a hero, can’t you just organize your own clean rally? As a man of the people you should stand alone and be independent.
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From: Absalom Edewa
Kip, am not affiliated to Ruto and Raila in any way, but I can assure you that the difference between Ruto and Raila supporters is that support for Ruto has turned into a tribal outfit, while Raila is enjoying national and international support, and that is the truth. About the draft constitution, Ruto passed it in parliament, and was the first to be interviewed by media and he said that compared to the current constitution, this draft is the best. Inciting people to reject the draft on the premise that their meager land will be deprived of them is not true; telling provincial administration that their jobs end with the incoming constitution is far from the truth; abortion is not legalized as he claims (and appearing in church podium and rallies pedaling this lie is sinful). Telling people that if NO wins then Ruto will make sure that the same parliament that passed and failed to amend this draft will make the amendments so that we can have a new constitution by December 2010 is in itself a BIG LIE that you cannot see and feel because he is your brother. Having amendment and referendum again is only feasible if the process is budgeted for (which I doubt that Uhuru cares the less about) and parliament majority agree to it, simple. I beg to know why Ruto and some kalanjin leadership wants the status quo to be maintained?
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sang kip wrote:
Leave Ruto alone you.
I tell the professional Ruto bashers that he has his own to defend him.Leave him alone.
If by voting YES you think you are punishing Ruto, you need to think again.
Some folks are here to malign Ruto as if we are so plaseed and happy for it. Ruto is our son and we shall defend him just as you defend your Raila.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s popularity has surged, widening his lead over rivals in the presidential race if elections were held today, says a new opinion poll. With 41 per cent of registered voters indicating they would vote for the ODM leader, Raila would secure a resounding win over his closest challenger Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who would garner 13 per cent of the vote. The surge in the PM’s popularity ratings could be attributed to his steadfast support for the Proposed Constitution, which seems to enjoy the backing of majority of voters.
Twelve per cent of the respondents said they would vote for President Kibaki, even though he is not eligible for re-election at the next General Election. Higher Education Minister William Ruto, who is pressing for the rejection of the Proposed Constitution in the referendum vote, would garner nine per cent of the presidential vote. Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua follows with seven while Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta would get three per cent of the vote. Wield Influence Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and Water Minister Charity Ngilu had the support of one per cent each. In March another survey by the pollster indicated Raila would have gotten 36 per cent of the overall vote, an improvement on December when he led with 28 per cent. The PM appears to wield more influence on the draft among his supporters compared to rivals. An overwhelming majority of Raila’s supporters (74 per cent) indicated they approved the draft.
Ruto also commands significant influence with 68 per cent of his supporters indicating they would vote against the Proposed Constitution. Fifty seven per cent of the President’s supporter’s approve the draft, showing he needs to rally more of his followers behind the document. Less than half of Kalonzo’s supporters (44 per cent) indicated they would vote ‘Yes’, with an even higher combined majority (48) indicating they would either reject the draft or were undecided. ODM is still the most popular party with 46 per cent while PNU enjoys the support of 24 per cent of the registered voters. ODM-Kenya is the third most popular party with nine, followed by Narc-Kenya (four), Ngilu’s Narc (two) and Kanu one. The draft enjoys much more support (65 per cent) among ODM supporters compared to 55 among PNU supporters.
You don’t seem to make any sense in your write ups – – all the time you talk about RV and Raila not getting votes from RV. Is it that your thinking is limited to this area only?
1.Don’t you ever realise that Kenya is bigger than RV?
2.Does it ever occur to you that RV is a cosmopolitan society?
3.Does it ever occur to you that Kibaki become president in 2002 without Kalenjin votes in?
4.Do you ever realise that Raila is gaining people confidence all over Kenya while Ruto is losing it in RV?
5.Do you ever realise that Papa Likondi has facts than you in matters political much as we assume you are informed than him?
BUGANDA Kingdom has joined a list of organisations and institutions that have drafted strategies for the 2011 general elections. In its strategy, the kingdom intends to back aspirants who would support and pursue the interests of the kingdom regardless of their political parties.
The kingdom’s information minister, Charles Peter Mayiga and his deputy Medard Lubega Ssegona, separately confirmed they have a strategy for the 2011 elections.
They said they would not ally with a particular party, but in each party, they will support candidates who are willing to advocate their cause.
“Of course we have a strategy, which we shall unveil at the right time and we do not want to shy away from it. But at the moment, we urge the voters to go and register and vote for the right candidates who would support Buganda’s interests,” said Mayiga.
Mengo officials declined to say who they would be supporting. However, a number of Mengo loyalists have been linked with the 2011 parliamentary race.
Among them are Moses Kasibante, a former news anchor on CBS FM, who is heading to Butambala; the Mengo deputy information minister, Medard Lubega, eyeing Busiro East; Betty Nambooze for Mukono Municipality and Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda in Kyadondo East.
Others are Mathias Mpuga the Buganda youth minister who is set to vie in Masaka Municipality, Beti Olive Kamya in Rubaga South, Isha Ntumwa in Mawogola County, JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo, John Chrysostom Muyingo in Bamunanika and Erias Lukwago to stand again in Kampala Central.
Buganda’s state minister for co-operatives George Kumama is going to Bbale county, Kayunga district. Aloysius Kyeyune, commissioner of education in Mengo government and a teacher by profession, is standing in Busujju county, Mityana district.
Dr. Lulume Bayiga, who is standing in the Buikwe south constituency in the newly created Buikwe district on the DP ticket, is also a strong advocate of Mengo’s demands.
Asked why they were mobilizing voters at this time and not in the past, Mayiga said Buganda Kingdom would like to consolidate the democratic principle of backing candidates who can give them what they want.
“In the past there was no need to come up with a strategy, but today the need is there. It is important that we tell our people the right candidates to vote for when the right time comes,” he said.
In a separate interview, Ssegona said they would not publicise the details of their strategy. “Strategies are not discussed, but know that we have one for 2011,” he said.
Last week the Buganda king, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, urged the people of Buganda to turn up in large numbers to register for elections and subsequently vote for leaders who will support Buganda’s interests.
While meeting his representatives from Buruli county, Kabaka Mutebi urged Mengo loyalists to vie for various elective offices in 2011. The meeting took place at Buganda’s seat of power, Bulange.
Ssegona defended the Kabaka Mutebi’s remarks, saying the king was free to mobilize his people to participate in democratic activities.
“The Kabaka has always mobilised his subjects to respond to the government’s programmes, like immunisation and taking their children to school,” he said.
Ssegona noted that Buganda has interests it is pursuing, like seeing that the Kingdom is granted a federal status, which they had chased after for a long period of time, but in vain. Ssegona noted that the Kabaka’s voice was louder this time because he was disappointed by the failure of Government to grant Buganda’s demands.
Ssegona criticized the argument that cultural leaders should be excluded from politics. He said as long as they are not support a particular political party, there was no problem with them being in politics.
“Cultural leaders nurture the political maturity of their subjects because of the strong bonds which exist between them and the subjects,” he said.
On the issue of whether Mengo had the power to influence the electorate to vote the leaders the Kingdom wants, Ssegona noted there was no doubt BUGANDA Kingdom has joined a list of organisations and institutions that have drafted strategies for the 2011 general elections. In its strategy, the kingdom intends to back aspirants who would support and pursue the interests of the kingdom regardless of their political parties.
The kingdom’s information minister, Charles Peter Mayiga and his deputy Medard Lubega Ssegona, separately confirmed they have a strategy for the 2011 elections.
They said they would not ally with a particular party, but in each party, they will support candidates who are willing to advocate their cause.
“Of course we have a strategy, which we shall unveil at the right time and we do not want to shy away from it. But at the moment, we urge the voters to go and register and vote for the right candidates who would support Buganda’s interests,” said Mayiga.
Mengo officials declined to say who they would be supporting. However, a number of Mengo loyalists have been linked with the 2011 parliamentary race.
Among them are Moses Kasibante, a former news anchor on CBS FM, who is heading to Butambala; the Mengo deputy information minister, Medard Lubega, eyeing Busiro East; Betty Nambooze for Mukono Municipality and Ssemujju Ibrahim Nganda in Kyadondo East.
Others are Mathias Mpuga the Buganda youth minister who is set to vie in Masaka Municipality, Beti Olive Kamya in Rubaga South, Isha Ntumwa in Mawogola County, JEEMA’s Hussein Kyanjo, John Chrysostom Muyingo in Bamunanika and Erias Lukwago to stand again in Kampala Central.
Buganda’s state minister for co-operatives George Kumama is going to Bbale county, Kayunga district. Aloysius Kyeyune, commissioner of education in Mengo government and a teacher by profession, is standing in Busujju county, Mityana district.
Dr. Lulume Bayiga, who is standing in the Buikwe south constituency in the newly created Buikwe district on the DP ticket, is also a strong advocate of Mengo’s demands.
Asked why they were mobilizing voters at this time and not in the past, Mayiga said Buganda Kingdom would like to consolidate the democratic principle of backing candidates who can give them what they want.
“In the past there was no need to come up with a strategy, but today the need is there. It is important that we tell our people the right candidates to vote for when the right time comes,” he said.
In a separate interview, Ssegona said they would not publicise the details of their strategy. “Strategies are not discussed, but know that we have one for 2011,” he said.
Last week the Buganda king, Kabaka Ronald Mutebi, urged the people of Buganda to turn up in large numbers to register for elections and subsequently vote for leaders who will support Buganda’s interests.
While meeting his representatives from Buruli county, Kabaka Mutebi urged Mengo loyalists to vie for various elective offices in 2011. The meeting took place at Buganda’s seat of power, Bulange.
Ssegona defended the Kabaka Mutebi’s remarks, saying the king was free to mobilize his people to participate in democratic activities.
“The Kabaka has always mobilised his subjects to respond to the government’s programmes, like immunisation and taking their children to school,” he said.
Ssegona noted that Buganda has interests it is pursuing, like seeing that the Kingdom is granted a federal status, which they had chased after for a long period of time, but in vain. Ssegona noted that the Kabaka’s voice was louder this time because he was disappointed by the failure of Government to grant Buganda’s demands.
Ssegona criticized the argument that cultural leaders should be excluded from politics. He said as long as they are not support a particular political party, there was no problem with them being in politics.
“Cultural leaders nurture the political maturity of their subjects because of the strong bonds which exist between them and the subjects,” he said.
On the issue of whether Mengo had the power to influence the electorate to vote the leaders the Kingdom wants, Ssegona noted there was no doubt Buganda could.
“Those doubting Buganda’s potential to influence its subjects should judge from the past and presents events. When the Kabaka asked his subjects to take their children for immunisation after many had refused, the turn up was overwhelming,” he noted.
Buganda Kingdom and the central government have lived in harmony for yearsuganda could.
“Those doubting Buganda’s potential to influence its subjects should judge from the past and presents events. When the Kabaka asked his subjects to take their children for immunisation after many had refused, the turn up was overwhelming,” he noted.
Buganda Kingdom and the central government have lived in harmony for years,but of recent their relationship has been strained.
MAKINDYE West MP Hussein Kyanjo is the presidential candidate of the Justice Forum party, commonly known as JEEMA, for next year’s elections.
Founding party leader Mohamed Kibirige Mayanja stepped down for him during elections at a delegates’ conference held at Tal Cottages in Rubaga, Kampala yesterday.
Hussein Kyanjo
Former Makerere University guild president Asuman Basalirwa is the new party president. Kibirige Mayanja had held both positions. Basalirwa was unopposed after Umar Kalinge Nyago, the outgoing spokesperson, stepped down. Kalinge wants the Kampala mayoral seat.
Commenting on the elections, Kibirige Mayanja said although he had wanted to take both the position of party president and flag-bearer, he stepped down to set an example for other political leaders. Though Kibirige Mayanja did not want any post, the delegates elected him as party chairperson.
Kibirige first entered the national political scene in 1996 when he stood against President Yoweri Museveni and Paul Ssemogerere, coming third.
He stood in 2001, but performed poorly. In the 2006 elections, he opted to back Col. Kizza Besigye.
In the party elections yesterday, Kyanjo polled 180 votes against 17 votes for his rival Hajji Amuzah Ssebunya.
JEEMA is a member of the Inter-Party Cooperation, a loose grouping of political parties planning to field a single candidate in the elections next year. The others are the Forum for Democratic Change, the Conservative Party and the Uganda People’s Congress.
Kyanjo will now have to contest against Besigye (FDC), Dr. Olara Otunnu (UPC) and Ken Lukyamuzi (CP) to become the joint candidate.
Kyanjo said many people underestimate JEEMA, but that the party was ready to produce the president of Uganda.
“I am now going for the IPC contest. I will get for you a good deal as the candidate of choice. Through my candidature, the opposition will get power,” he said as the delegates shouted: “Our Obama.”
Many delegates also argued that Kyanjo was the best candidate because he comes from the central region.
Born in 1960, Kyanjo holds a degree in industrial and fine art of Makerere University. He was elected JEEMA secretary general in 2005 and as MP for Makindye West in 2006. He is the only JEEMA MP.
In 2007, Kyanjo stirred controversy when he called for the secession of Buganda from Uganda, citing marginalisation. Asked about the issue yesterday, Kyanjo said: “Yes, I still hold my view.” He said discrimination and imbalance in distribution of jobs and opportunities in Uganda remain.
“Two reports on the imbalance in the army and in public service have failed to receive sufficient responses from the concerned ministers,” he argued. He said the current acrimony between Buganda and the Government “will result into Buganda seceding from a torturous Uganda.”
Kyanjo warned: “No one should play games in the 2011 elections. If you do so in Uganda, the result is war. Whoever dares unleash violence against Ugandans exercising their voting right will get an equal measure of treatment.”
Some 300 delegates attended the conference. It cost sh80m, of which sh35m was donated by the Deepening Democracy Programme, officials said.
Political Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
A group of politicians, elders, businessmen, teachers and opinion leaders in Luo-Nyanza wants the Higher Education Minister and his team in the No campaign in the forthcoming referendum voting to visit the region and explain their side of the story
Nyanzaisthe hometurf of the ODM leader Raila Odinga. Both Ruto and Odinga are top leaders of the ODM ,but have a sharp disagreement over certain contentious issues.
‘We want to hear both sides of the story from our political divide, so that we can make up our minds and chose which side to vote for on August 4t, said their spokesman Ben R Okoth a Homa-Bay politician.
As much as we welcome the Yes team canvas for votes, we are equally extending our invitation to Minister Ruto. The draft constitution is not the property of any party nor any group of politician, but it is Kenyan document for prosperity. If it is good for us, then the same will be for our children and other generations to come, therefore there is no need for the campaigner for the document to engage in political animosity.
In the same context, a group elders in Kisumu have suggested that Ruto and his team should organ is political rallies in all major urban centers in Nyanza such Siaya, Ugunja, Bondo, Ahero,Kisumu, Oyugis, Homa-Bay, Mbita, Rongo, Awendo, Migori and Karungu Bay.
They said, although they were staunch members of the ODM, it is their belief that the constitution of Kenya is above party politics, there both sides of the Yes and No team should come and campaign freely in Nyanza, And late the voters decide which side to vote foir, and this is the essence of democratic principles.
One elder Mzee Atieno Obira said he has been a good listener of most of the FM radio stations and TV stations and has heard the argument put up by both sides, butthatis 0tenough, he wants to see the leaders of Yes and No campaign teams and hear their argument at a political rally.
Equally, he added, “the Yes team led by President Mwai Kibaki and the Prime Minister should also be free to visit Mr Ruto’s backyard in the Rift Valley as they have been doing before unmolested. A true democrat is that one who is a good listener and accepts competitive politics, which is very healthy in a democratic society.
A group youths in Ahero town told this writer that they would mobilize their colleagues to organize a public rally for Ruto and his team. Ruto is our son just like any other. He is not a villain, but someone who stands and defends the right of his people. Let him come here and tell as all the faults within the draft constitution. They said, however, they totally disagreed with the church leaders heir objection alleged legalized abortion in a clause of the draft constitution. Many foetus of unborn children have been retrieved in the rivers, dustbins, pit latrines. but the church has been silent only to come and trey to scuttle the draft constitution, which Kenyans have been yawning for close to two decades. But the church has remained silent over these ungodly happenings around us.
The Ahero youths said they were looking for William Ruito’s p[hone contacts, and once they got it they will send him an invitation message to come and address a public rally in Ahero town.
A Migori politician John George Omolo told the leaders of both Yes and No team to be tolerant of people with divergence views. He reminded the younger politicians that the likes of the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Masinde Muliro, Bishop Alexander Muge, Bishop Henry Okullu, Martin Shikuku, Charles Rubia, Paul Muite, James Orengo,Ken Matiba and other fought for the second liberation just to create a democratic space and equal playing ground. And therefore all the team in the political divide should tour all parts of Kenya and sale their policy to the voters.
It has been established that a good number of elders, civic leaders and local politicians in the region have established contact with Ruto and his team.
Ours is open society and as such we must learn to be tolerant to other people’s views, even if we disagree with our neighbor’s opinion, we must be ready to accommodate other people’s views on various issues.
It has also been established that a good number of members of the Luo Council of Elders are sympathetic to Ruto’s no camp campaign team, but are only scare to make their opinion known publicly due to fear of possible reprisal from the ODM overzealous supporters.
The rumors making the round within Kisumu City and its environs is that Ruto team is most welcome in the region and therefore the team should make an early contact with its supporters and organize public rallies as soon as the referendum votes campaign is official declared.
The people of South Mugirango should avoid being dragged into succession and referendum politics when they go to the polls in June to elect their next leader after the nullification of the election of the then MP and Trade assistant minister Omingo Magara.
Voters must focus on the qualities of the candidates before they cast their votes and not be swayed by the charged political climate in the Country. After all, they’re electing an MP to address the myriad problems they face in the grassroots and not the President of the Republic of Kenya.
Despite the fact that clan politics takes centre stage during political campaigns in Gusiiland, It’s imperative for the voters to disregard it because it has thwarted civil unity in the Community. They should remember that, whether a candidate is from, Bosinange, Bogetenga or Botabori, they are all citizens of Kenya, and should be voted based on their values and character.
The MP should be a person who will articulate the people’s interests, aspirations, as well as standing up for the common good of the Abagusii and the entire nation. These are the qualities of a leader who has the desire for public service hence, to address common problems in the constituency related to: education, agriculture, the standard of living and infrastructure.
Being induced by cash handouts to influence one’s vote has robbed the Abagusii community off good leaders whom despite having the qualities to be MP are never elected because they don’t bribe the voters. If a candidate buys you a bar soap with no leadership qualities, he doesn’t deserve your vote. After all, this one time inducement should not make you spoil your vote because it can’t change your life, community or nation.
The by election has attracted countrywide attention because of the former MP’s position in ODM party and therefore, leaders like Uhuru, Ruto and the Vice President who augur presidential ambitions want to capitalize on it to expand their political network through Mr. Magara. Don’t vote because Uhuru, Kalonzo, Obure or Ongeri has said so.
You should not be influenced by self seekers who have not satisfied their own constituents. They don’t love the people of South Mugirango but want to use them as specimens in a chemical lab to settle political scores to a well known opponent in their quest for the Presidency. Cast your vote based on your conviction and conscience.
The voters need to avoid all acts of lawlessness during the campaigns. Being treated to the theatrics of a referendum and a by election, is likely to heighten political temperatures on the ground. It will be unfair to injure, insult, curse or provoke some one just because of supporting a different candidate. Upholding a democratic culture that accommodates the political views of others is the best way to go in a modern society.
Remember, you are not looking for an omniscient MP, but one who will listen to all people irrespective of their standing in life with humbleness; showing humility tamped with honest, integrity, selflessness and human love. Above all the MP you are looking should be a person who will conduct the affairs of the constituency with transparency and accountability while upholding servant leadership through dedication, hard work and commitment.
Finally, if voters in South Mugirango consider these factors before they go to the polls, they stand a good chance of electing a good Member of Parliament. These also apply to other constituencies in the Country with impending by elections like: Matuga, Juja and even Kamkunji, should a by election be declared after the awaited court ruling.
The campaign for the vacant South Mugirango parliamentary seat hit the trail over the weekend with eleven of the candidates moving in home to home, village to village in an intensified canvassing for votes.
Bu the aspirants are experiencing a lot of difficulties trying to explain their stands on the on-going Yes and No campaign for the referendum voting for the new draft constitution document.
The voters are becoming increasingly agitated and asking the aspirants to declare their stands on the draft constitution. Some of the aspirants have successfully avoided direct answer to the question insisting that direction on the issue would come from their parties of sponsors.
By Saturday evening, only two aspirants had come out bold enough and told their supporters they were firm in YES campaign camp. Others were said to be still gauging their options and would make their opposition known within days.
The two are Ibrahim Ochoi of the ODM and Ezekiel Okeng’o of the Narc Kenya. By evading to be associated themselves with the two symbols on the on going referendum votes campaign for the draft constitution this is likely to play against some aspirants owing to the already established fact that the majority of the electorate in South Mugirango are supporting the YES camp.
The by-election campaign has also exposed the deeply rooted division and split within the party of independent KANU
KANU Flag bearer had his nomination papers rejected by the IIEC on thre ground that it bears no signature of the party national chairman Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The papers had only one signature that loft hr party’s Secretary-General Nick Salat. But after some consultations between the IIUEC men on the ground and the headquarters in Nairobi, Mr Ondora’s papers were finally accepted and he was declared duly nominated to contest the by-election along side with other aspirants.
KANU torch bearer in Gusii region Prof Sam K.Ongeri was nowhere to be seen and it is understood to be backing Omingo Magara. Uhuru Kenyatta, the party leader is also reported to be one of Omingo Magara’s key backers. The incident has portrayed KANU as a seriously divided house.
Magara whose election on an ODM ticket in 2007was quashed by a Kisii High Court Justice Masinga, who cited irregularities is also reported to be enjoying the backing of the Vice President S Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and the Minister for Higher Education William Ruto, Minister for Special Program Dr Naomi Shaban and other PNU key figures. He ditched the ODM last month and sought for nomination on the ticket of the little known PDP cited bad leadership and policy in his former party, which he had served as its national treasurer.
Magara has, however, cunningly avoided directing his criticism to the party leader Raila Odinga, the Prime Minister whom he referred to as his personal friend and had nothing sinister against him {Raila} personally.
The eleven candidates are said to be men of substantial means and good educational background. They have chosen the path of conducting their own campaign activities individual and are likely to avoid the idea of sharing platform at public rallies on fears this could ignite hostility and violence.
But last Friday Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, the man who had successfully petitioned the high court against Magara’s election in 2007hit the campaign trail when he addressed a series of meetings at Nyachenge, Nyabigenge, Tabaka and Keburunga areas. These areas are considered Omingo Magara’s stronghold. These centers are located in the heart of Magara’s Bosinange sub-clan.
Nyamweya who is contesting the by-election on the ticket of Ford Peoples party pleaded weith the electorate to give him a chance for the remaining two years in parliament. He assured them of offering them different style of political leadership
It was not clear by the weekend whether Nyamweya’s party boss Simeon Nyachae would visit South Mugirango to drum up support for his party candidate. Nyachae is highly respected in the entire Gusii region and his voice counts a lot.
Ibrahim Ochoi the populist ODM candidate said his campaign would be launched later this week when the party big-wigs are expected to pitch campaigns the area. Those party leaders expected to visit South Mugirango include thre party national chairman Henry Kosgei, who is thre Minister for Industrialization, Minister for Works Chris Mogere Obure, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Richard Onyonka, ODM Director of Operations Ms Janet Ong’era, Minister for Lands James Aggrey Orengo, Minister for Roads Franklin Bett, Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, Fisheries Minister Paul Nyongesa Otuoma, Minister for Medical Services Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who is the ODM Secretary-General, ODM MPS from Gusii Kisii and Southern Nyanza regions.
The Prime Minister Raila Odinga is also expected in South Mugirango where he would address a series of campaign rallies to boost his party candidate Ibrahim Ochoi.Raila’s visit is crucial, though his party seemed to have a upper hand in the campaign, many issues still stands unresolved, which would require his physical presence.
Nicholas Biwott’s Vision party candidate Abaga Sagero, who was reportedly assaulted at a fund drive meeting at Tabaka Township School two weeks ago has said he is not pursuing the matter further with the police. Sagero said he had forgiven Magara and his supporter’s who beat him up. Instead he is concentrating his time in intensifying his campaign.
The Gucha South district Geoffrey Muyama said the administration would provide each of the eleven candidates with security whenever they request for it during their public rallies. So far the aspirants and their supporters have conducted themselves very well maintaining peace and tranquility in the area.
Other contestants in the race are Rashind Miyonga {PPK} John Joshua Ondora {KANU}, Ezekiel Okeng’o {Nar-Kenya} Robert Mbaka {Safina} Master Bw’Ondora{KSC}, Ezekiel Okemwa {KENDA} Joash Kengere {Labour Party of Kenya}.
Most candidates have resorted to door-to-door campaign while most of aspirants have retreated back to Nairobi after presenting their papers last Monday and Tuesday at the Nyamarambe Center. Their paper were accepted by Mr Boneventure Bongoy of the IIEC
Issues likely to dominate the campaign include bad roads, poor state of schools, alleged misuse of CDF revolving money by the previous incumbent, insecurity, cattle rustling, poor return for both sugar cane and tea farmers, rapidly dropping education standards, poor infrastructure such as roads and communications system.
AT least nine parliamentary aspirants were on Tuesday officially nominated by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission of Kenya to contest the vacant South Mugirango parliamentary seat. The poll is schedule for June 10.
At the same time, the government has banned all the Harambee fund raising meetings in the area until after June 10 as part of the stringent security measures. This followed the killing of two people in the area in what the locals believes was a botched robbery by criminal thugs, and not related to election violence.
The killing took place at Etago Market, where an elderly man owning a bar was confronted by a gang of criminal thugs who had visited the small shopping centre and remained idly pretending that their motor vehicle had a mechanical breakdown.
The gang later raided the bar and wanted the owner to give them Kshs 100,000, which he is said to have withdrawn from a bank the same day. They shot him dead and one young man who answered the victim’s distress calls and was on a mission was also shot dead.
The nomination exercise took place in a small trading centre called Nyamarambe. The first to present his paper to the IIEC officials was Rashid Miyonga of the Progressive Party of Kenya, He was followed by the immediate former MP for the area Omingo Magara, of PDP who came in a convoy of sleek vehicles escorted by traditional dancers.
The former Principal of Uriri Secondary School Ibrahim Ochoi of ODM followed.He was immediately followed by Josephat Abaga Sagero of the Vision Party of Kenya.
Other candidate to secure nomination were <Manson Oyongo Nyamweya of Ford People, John Ondari of KANU,Ezekiel Okemwa of KENDA Party, Ezekiel Okeng’o of Narc Kenya, and Masta Ondara.
Magara also received a visit and boost up his campaign when two VIP flew into the Nomination venue in a Chopper much early before his own arrival. The two were Assistant Minister for Medical Services Kazungu Kambi and Kangundo MP Johnson Muthama and PDP national chairman Stephen Nyarangi.
The Chopper landed at the nearby ground. The two told the crowd that President Mwai Kibaki and the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka are for Magara and that both would come and campaign for him. They said Kibaki would come and launch various development projects in the area to boost Magara chances of recapturing his lost seat, amid the shouts of disapproval from supporters of other candidates.
Miyonga told the crowed that that the people of South Mugirango were shamelessly cheated in the last general election and he expressed the hope that this time around the election will be free and fair.
At the same the South Gucha D.C. Godfrey Manyama announced that Harambee fund raising meetings in the area had been suspended until, after June 10. The measure he said is to ensure that maximum security is in place. He told the Chiefs and their assistants to monitor funeral gatherings and to inform the police of the funeral and burial gatherings in their localities in timer.
The D.C assured all the aspirants that their security would be assured and urged them to conduct their campaign peacefully. He said night meetings stand banned, and hate speeches that could jeopardize the security are not permitted.
The D.C. also clarified that last weeks killing of two people in the area had no relations to election violence, but was the act of criminal thugs.
Tension has been rising in the constituency following last week’s scuffles involving two aspirants Omingo Magara and Abaga Sagero. The scuffles resulted in Sagero whom is contesting the election on Nicholas Biwott’s Vision Party of Kenya being hit on the head with an object sustaining injured while his vehicles was damaged. A supporter was also hit on the head with a rungu.
In the second incident Sagero had claimed that Magara had spat on him as he was just about to take a seat on the podium, the claim which Magara fiercely denied. But his supporter switched off the public address system causing commotion and scuffles.
From what is appeared to be on the ground the real battles is expected to be between the ODM nomine Ibrahim Ochoi, Magara of PDP and Manson Oyongo Nyamweya of the Ford People party. But this situation could change drastically following the intervention by the principals in the Coalition government of President Kibaki and the Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Claims by PNU MPs and supporters that President Kibaki is supporting Magara would give undue advantage to Ochoi of the ODM.It was not well received. Magara, however, is still a power to reckon with, but his only undoing is poor track record of development in the area, and the alleged misuse of the CDF revolving government money.
Magara’s other disadvantage is his migratory political style which has seen him changing three different political parties. He had at first won the seat on Simeon Nyachae’s Ford People party, but immediately burned his bridges with Nyanchae and joined Raila Odinga bandwagon.This is because the South Mugirango constituents would like to vote in someone who will bring them close to the government.
Ochoi of ODM is a popular and is capable of garnering votes across the various sub-clans. He has a clean track record of active participation in local development activities. While Manson Oyongo Nyamweya, the man who had petitioned the court against Magara election will depend entirely on Nyachae’s visit to South Mugirango to drum up the support for his party. Nyachae is s till highly respected by the entire members of the Abagusii community as their leader.
Nyachae, Raila and other party leaders are expected to hit the campaign trail in South Mugirango within the coming weeks thereafter a proper assessment could be guessed as to who is the popular candidate.
Mine tonight is short, and straight to the point I go.
By now am sure you already know that Green is for Yes as Red is for No. Green also is for Go and Red is for Stop. Green is also for calm or peace while Red is for alert or stress.
Did you know that to get the color Green (read Green Democratic Party – Kenya), you have to mix Yellow (read ODM) and Blue (read PNU)?
But did you know that you cannot get the color Red (Church Party of Kenya) by mixing any other color? How then do you expect the Church (read White) to mix with Red (read Ruto) to stay read?
Oh, I hope you know that Red, Blue & Yellow are primary colors.
Now isn’t it true that to get ODM (read Yellow) you just had to be very extreme from Kibaki’s PNU (read Blue)?
So what does this mean?
My 10th great grandfather Ragem says thus: God molded us by using different pieces of parts so as to be pliable to fit in this green environment. To some he gave a lot of synovial fluid (read joint grease) to be flexible (read Raila & Kibaki), and to others (read Ruto, Karanja, Kalonzo) he gave too little because he run out.
You cannot change or mold Ruto (read Red), neither can you change or mold Kalonzo (read Blue) to please Wanjiku. But you can mold Raila or Kibaki (read Green) to make Wanjiku happy because they have a lotta grease.
I, and not my 10th great Grandfather say thus: it was not fair to give No the color Red. But then, it was foretold, predetermined, preprogramed, by Bahaula to go this way.
EX-SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OCHOI WINS ODM PRELIMINARY NOMINATION IN SOUTH MUGIURANGO AS MAGARA AND SAGERO GOES FOR EACH OTHER’S THROAT AT A RALLY.
Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Rongo Town.
Preliminary nomination exercise conducted by the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} in South Mugirango ended up on Saturday evening with no ugly incident reported in all the 53 polling stations scattered all over the constituency.
The exercise almost marred due to heavy rains which pounded the area making the transportation of election materials to the tallying center at Ndiru Primary School almost impossible. However, all the votes reached the center by about 6.30
And as earlier predicted in this column by this writer, Ibrahim Ochoi, the retired former Principal of Uriri Secondary School in the neighboring Uriri district comfortably clinched the ODM party ticket against his five rivals.
Ochoi garnered 9,910 votes and will be the party flag bearer during the by-election proper scheduled on June 10th. His closest rival Zebedeo Nyaboga polled 2,722 votes, while Gideon Moreka emerged third with 2,169 votes followed by the Kisii based lawyer David Okachi Mogunde’s 764 votes closely followed by Henry Ogeto 705 and the former University lecturer Kepher Marube emerged the last in the tail end with 374 votes.
The returning officer Samuel Rafimbi after declaring Ochoi the winner said he had received no complaint from any of the aspirants who lost in the by-election, and it could be rightly presumed that everything is well.
Meawnhile thousands of mourners scampered for safety when former area MP Omingo Magara clashed with his arch-rival Abaga Sagero who is vying for the by-election on the ticket of the National Vision Party of Kenya
The clash was the second within the brief space of three days. The two had earlier clashed at another function held at Tabaka Township Primary School. The clash a day earlier resulted in Sagero sustaining head injury while his car was smashed and damaged.
The two aspirants caused scuffle at Kenuchi Primary School during the funeral of the late Mr.Nathan Ongoro.
Eye witnesses said the trouble started immediately Magara was invited to address the mourners. As soon as Magara rose from his seat and was getting ready to speak, supporters of Sagero switched off the public address system and the violence confrontation ensued between the two and their supporters.
Mourners sensing the danger took to their heels scampering for safety fearing a fight. But nobody was hurt in the melee that followed the brief scuffles.
Other parliamentary aspirants present at the funeral include Kepher Marube {ODM} Rashid Miyoyo {ONU} and Ezekiel Okengo of the Narc Kenya party.
The former legislator Magara was expected to criticize the NVP party candidates Sagero who had previously accused him of misusing CDF money during another meeting at Tabaka.
Magara later lamented that some of his opponents were inciting their supporters to violence.”Let us criticize each other on issues and not incite mourners and supporters to violence. Violence, he added, will not take us anywhere.”
He former MP is seeking to regain his seat on a little known PDP party, which is suspected to be an affiliate of the PNU.
Magara publicly challenged Sagero of the Vision his Vision party to explain the reason why he was sacked by the government when he served in the public services as District Officer {DO} and later when he served the National Cereal and Produce Board as an officer.
During the early clashes at Tabaka, Sagero was hit on the head and one of his supporters was also injured. His car was damaged, But Magara insisted that his rival was “ escorted peacefully “out of the meeting of the venue of the meeting by a District Officer {DO} and that he was never attacked by his supporters, though he had made some provocative remarks against him {Magara}.
Election violence in South Mugirangoi could prove to be an expensive exercise and bloodiest due to the fact that there are hundred bands of heavily armed members of the outlawed “Chinkororo militia”. The area, which lies along the Kisii-Maasai and Kisii – Luo borders is also infested by the other other bands of the banned “Amachuma outfit “suspected to be a private army gravitating around the former powerful cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae.
Members of the two groups had in November 2007 attacked Magara and William Ruto and beat them up when they gate-crashed at a fund drive meeting in the areas, which was addressed by Nyachae.
