Category Archives: Kenyan Election Crisis: Negotiations

Constitution Debate (Round 2): LET KENYANS REVERT TO INDEPENDENCE (1963) CONSTITUTION

Leave a reply

KOLers,

Taking the cue from the lamentations of Mw Edari as to how Kenyatta and Co messed up with Kenya’s constitution to serve personal ends, I  searched for, located and have read Kenya’s Indpendence (1963) Constitution, and I recommend that you too read it! 
 
I find that it has all that Kenyans wanted (even at the Bomas Constitutional Review Conference) in a pro-people constitution.

Why then do we need to ‘reinvent the wheel’? 

Some of us were not yet born when Kenyans held protracted negotiations over this document, which was finally agreed unanimously, paving the way for Independence. 

It was subsequently adulterated at whim by the first president of Kenya to suit his, dare I say, PERSONAL interests!
 
Recognising the people’s need for an accountable and responsive governance within an accountable and democratic institutional framework, the Independence constitution provided for the following:
  
1. Bicameral parliament (Senate and House of Reps);

2. Regional Assemblies (1 in every province);

3. Executive PM as Head of Government, appointed by Parliament and answerable to the Kenyan people on a daily basis through parliament;

4. Ceremonial president as head of state (like Israel; Germany; Italy; etc);

5. District Education Boards;

6. District Medical Boards;

7. District Agricultural Boards;

8. 100% empowered and locally accountable local authorities/local government (County Councils, etc).

Aren’t these the stuff Kenyans are looking for in the new constitutional dispensation as attested by the views at BOMAS and throughout the country?
 
Why then do we need to go so far to give ourselves a brand-new constitution when all we can do is CALL the very same Parliament that has interfered with the contents of the FIRST CONSTITION to sit down and ANNUL / REPEAL all such previous alterations/amendments so as to let Kenyans REVERT to the very same document we had on DAY ONE of our Independence?
 
No more referendums, no more wastage of money, and we get back what we already agreed unanimously to guide our national collective?
 
As I said before, let Martha Karua and her PNU thieves not tell us about ‘constitutionality’ when Kibaki and her likes have failed to deliver a contitution responsive to the needs of Kenyans!
For, deeply burried in the very same current constitution, is the document that we all need: … all that we have to do is FAST-REWIND to the document before any change was made to it, and BINGO – we are home and dry!
 
Here is the document for all of you to download, digest and promote!
 
http://www.4cskenyatuitakayo.org/downloads/1963Constitution.pdf
 
It is the kind of constitution Martha Karua would demand to have in place were Raila to be the Executive President and Head of State under the current constitution! That is how good the document is, and certainly a very long way from “the Kilifi Draft”; “The Wako Draft”, or the “Naivasha Consensus”, whatever!
 
HOW DO YOU DISAGREE?
  
Blessings.
  
  
+Fr.

For the First Time: A PNU Proposal to Move Kenya Forward

2 Replies

I am amazed. For the first time PNU and their commentator have an outstanding proposal to move Kenyans forward. GOOD JOB Mr. Kibaki. The test is “Can you stand to it?”

This is an extract from yesterdays Standard:

Kibaki said that despite the challenges the country has faced recently, the broader Kenyan leadership should have the capacity and the will to arrive at a political settlement, which galvanizes the citizenry.

Should the deal be reached, it would herald a new Kenya, where Parliament, and not the President, as is the case now, will create ministries and assign them functions.

That could mean death to or even expansion of some of the existing ministries and creation of new ones.

This was ODM’s answer coming from their school of thought:

The Orange Democratic Movement wants all the issues agreed turned into law through a constitutional amendment.

ODM’s position was that gentlemen’s agreements like the Inter-Parties Parliamentary Group Package of 1997 and the Memorandum of Understanding of 2002, have failed to work because they had no legal force.

Therefore, Mr. Kibaki we will keep you in check, so that you don’t take Kenyans for a ride.

Thanks!

William P. Odhiambo Okello

PNU IS DEVIOUS

4 Replies

BEN:
  
  According to International Crisis Group 35 page report entitled Kenya In Crisis (Africa Report No. 137), soon after Kibaki was “hurriedly sworn in at State House”, he was “flown to a coastal military facility” and “the internal security minister suspended all media broadcasts”(p8). In simple terms the military was part of the rigging process.This is quite probable given the fact that Kibaki promoted Kikuyus to senior positions in the army soon after winning 2002 election.
  
  My own view of the election rigging reveals elaborate plan that was oblivious of the repercussions.
  
  PNU is now a step ahead of ODM. It is are preparing to sabotage mayoral elections by nominating PNU moles in ODM and supporting them for key positions in the councils.We are at war with PNU and no matter what mediation comes up with, PNU is out for an overkill. They are now buying time for the next assault and  have now had enough time for another battle.
  
  PNU is modern day colonial power. It has to be fought and defeated. It is faithless and untrustworthy unlike ODM. PNU is simply positioning itself to obliterate ODM and incarcerate its leaders. Kibor is victim number one. By arresting Kibor, PNU is testing waters and depending on our reactions we are soon witnessing mass arrests and fabricated judges that will be characterized by false witnesses prepared by the state. The idea is to destroy ODM and its leadership before 2012.
  
  Brace yourself for more from PNU!
  
  
  J.K. LELEITTO SANG
   
   
  ——————————————

“Ben” wrote:
            Why should the army resign when they are in a position to take over. Resign and come home to defend the community with pangas and Kotiek?
  Ben
——————————————

Dick wrote:
      I could not agree more! However, the name should not be “East Africa Republic”. Instead, we can call it, ” Western Kenya” or some other appropriate name. It is hard to imagine that kifaki and traitor Kalonzo will voluntarily leave State Hse before 2012. Thief Saitoti will use maximum force to torture ODM MPs and its supporters.  Why has the army kept so quiet as if they are not part of Kenyans? Why can all army officers from ODM strongholds resign in mass numbers and paralyze the government? Next week is the last week for meaningful talks. Thereafter it will be unpredictable. I think the US and other Western Countries will support ODM’s declaration of independence.

DJ
 

——————————————

Kipkemboi wrote:      

  This PNU people are playing around.  ODM should just take the BOMAS draft and declare it as the new constitution for the East Africa Republic comprising the the following provinces, Rift Valley, Coast, North Eastern, Western, Nyanza and half of Nairobi.
  
  The capital city of the Republic of East Africa will be temporarily in Eldoret, where there is already a State House, an international airport and military barracks. The issue of the permanent capital city will be ratified at a later date.
  
  We better leave PNU  people in peace,  because the rate they are provoking their fellow countrymen, the will soon be in pieces.
  
  So future residents of the Republic of East Africa, let us take a bold step and unitedly declare Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga as the First President of the East Africa Republic. The East Africa Republic shall be governed according to the Bomas Constitution of 2005, without reference to the landmass and people of Central and Eastern Provinces.

For more, please see http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=188  

Major General Kagame and President Bush set up strategy military action on Kenya

4 Replies

US President George W. Bush (R) whispered to the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame as they walked to the motorcade on his arrival at Kigali International Airport in Rwanda on February 19. Bush was on his third day of Africa tour that took him to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. His tour focused on development, fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria.

  Military projection on Kenya is at hand! Strategy and logistics are in force!
  The battle to save the Great Lake region from collapsing under the corrupt Mt Kenya Mafia’s illegitimate Kibaki government rule, is taking a new twist and Kofi Annan will soon call it quits as the military option takes natural cause.
  
  The main battle will be to have Kenya divided into Jimbos whereas the Coastal Jimbo will be under the US and British Marines units to guard the main port of entry from the looming economic and humanitarian crisis being felt in DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda Northern Tanzania and Sudan.
  
  While Western Kenya ( Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza ) Jimbos shall be manned by a UN peacekeeping force under the command of Rt UN Major Gen. Opande together with experienced contigents of the Kenyan military UN peacekeeping veterans still in service who worked with him in Liberia/Kosovo/Angola.
  
  The regional leaders have agreed to have Major General Paul Kagame supervise the military action if the talks fails, while all the immediate neighbors (Tanzania and Uganda) will provide security escort to all the goods from Mombasa to the Great Lake region countries.
  
  The enforcement of a sanction against Kenya will force Kibaki and his cronies, Kalonzo included, to accept Bomas Draft or face full wrath similar to what the late Saddam of Iraq was subjected to.
  
  It is now advisable that all other community who are pro-ODM-Majimbo government to immediately find the way to their ancestral land following the major onslaught genocide being planed by the Mungiki militias who now make up 70% of Police/GSU force. Their will be no guarantee for their security in Central Province, the only safe haven is in ancestral homes.
  
  Mr Kalonzo is campaigning to undo the said plan by persuading the international community to have them have Kibaki step down for him to lead the country in order to avert chaos, the proposal which has been rejected and dismissed as selfishness, because it is Raila and ODM who have been mandated by Kenyans to lead.  Therefore, Mr Kalonzo is being described as one who lacks intelligence and is corrupt. Mr Kalonzo is a traitor and is now working around the clock to betray Kibaki and the Mt Kenya Mafia internationally.
  
  This move is in the last stages and will be implemented immediately when the Kofi Annan mediation fails next week. (unedited)
  
  

Rev Okoth Otura,
President/Founder,
Christian Democratic Movement of Kenya-(CDMK) &
East Africa Christians Transformation Mission Fellowship-(EACTMF)
  CANADA
www.cdmk.org

www.eactmf.org

Received by Jaluo Press on Fri, 22 Feb 2008 at 21:37:49 -0800 (PST).  Edited by Jaluo Press, Sunday February 24, 2008. 

—————————–

READERS: Please note that this report is UNCONFIRMED. 

World must help Kenya enforce Bomas draft

1 Reply

Published on February 20, 2008, 12:00 am
East African Standard

By Prof Henry Mwanzi

  EXCERPT:

  The Presidency is the problem that has been ravaging us since 1964. Kenyans realised this and came together to cure this disease in 2004 in the Bomas draft constitution. That draft contained proposals to establish a just system, where power and resources are devolved. It is those who subverted democracy who sabotaged the Bomas Draft implementation, because, as they said, one of their own had become president.
  Now is the time to implement that draft constitution to bring justice and peace. It is this draft that was the true change that the majority of Kenyans voted for last year. Seven provinces out of eight voted for change. Status quo will not bring peace, because there will be no justice.

  When young people say there will be no peace without justice, they mean it. And they do not mean Raila Odinga. They mean an agent of change.

  The international community, especially the US, Britain, Australia, Norway, Canada and France should help implement the Bomas Draft Constitution – a local initiative, which contains a homegrown solution to the crisis.

For the full article, please see http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143982109

Sent by Iqbal

The Constitution Debate (Round 1)

6 Replies

 Subject: RE: Constitutional Change 

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 10:21:38 

ODM is for Bomas Draft while PNU is for “WAKO draft” I agree. having said this, ODM needs to pull out. Some time back, someone recommended in this forum that ODM needed to pull out. Now I see such need. Kabaki is playing games with people’s lives. I thought PNU would be civil about this matter but they are not. How can WAKO Draft, a loosing document even be considered in this matter? I don’t think these people are looking ahead at all. There will be a civil war if this matter is not resolved accordingly. Kenya will have to be divide or there will be a civil war. Kabaki can take Eastern Kenya and Central and ODM take the rest. ODM is for Federal System which we all like and PNU is for dictatorship and mismanagement of resources.
 
Thanks,

Gerald 

—————————————-

 Subject: Constitutional Change 

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 07:53:10 

ODM is for “Bomas Draft” while PNU is “WAKO Draft”.  Bomas Draft deafeted Wako Draft in the last referendum. Do we all agree to this at least?

With WAKO Draft having been overwhelmingly shot down by majority of Kenyans during the referendum do we still need to argue how long it should take to change the constitution? Kenya already has a new Draft Constitution in place, the BOMAS Draft. At the very most, it should take less than 2 weeks to enact this Document as the new Constitution for Kenya. From then, our Parliament can embark on legislative debates for necessary ammendments i.e. 1st amendment, 2nd amendment etc

Of priority right now is to put in place the New Constitution (BOMAS Draft), begin the process of transitioning to a devolved government, start building solid institutions that cannot be abused by anyone.

Kibaki still argues as if there was no new Constitution in place. Talking of 12 months to write a new Constitution is to say the least showing off ones ignorance to the extreme. Does Kibaki understand that Kenyans already wrote a new Constitution while he became complacent during his last five years in office. Who advises this guy? Does he remember how the party that trashed his party in the last elections which he decided to steal to hang on to power, got its name Orange?

Obviously, Kibaki is not fit to lead Kenya even if this mediation process decides to make an allowance for him to stay on as head of State. Kibaki sounds to me like an incapacitated person who needs medical help. Why should kenya be at the mercy of a sick person like Kibaki honestly?

We need to be blunt with some of these people. Kibaki is sick. There is no doubt about that. If you doubt me, then I would ask you to question your faculties first.

Julius Okelo

Constitution as the only avenue

3 Replies

Mr Mwai Kibaki and his supporters have realized that the constitution is supreme and ought to be followed in resolving the current political impasse that they created.

I also agree that we ought to follow the constitution. But I have gone through our constitution and I have not come across any chapter that condones a palace coup.

I have not seen any chapter that allows a loser to hijack the process and declare himself the president.

I have not seen any chapter that allows for a president to overthrow himself, install himself and declare a police state.

I would want to follow the constitution as well, but in light of such discrepancies, I will not attempt to follow such a useless constitution, one that cannot guarantee the sovereign rights of all citizens.

I would not want to recognize a partisan constitution.

Oto

Kibaki’s Survival Strategies

3 Replies

  Kibaki and his cronies are using some of the Moi/Kanu tactics of the past dictatorial regime of Moi.  These included using boot lickers like Mungatana to go out there and tell the world something completely out of line with the public desire.  This approach usually serves two purposes in a dictaorship; first it sends signals in advance of what is going to happen, and secondly it is used to gauge the response of the public.  Kalonzo Musyoka having worked for Moi for twenty years, perfected these methods.  Nowonder, he recently chaired the PNU/GPC meeting that opposed any power sharing arrangement even though “his” official party is ODM-Kenya.  In the same breadth Kibaki announced yesterday that any agreements must be in line with the existing constitution of Kenya.
  
  What in effect these people are telling the world is that while Koffi Annan’s negotiations which they “suport”, might soon strike a deal, all agreements will first have have to go to parliament for debate as is required by the constitution before they are passed into law.

 They hope that ODM may not be able to garner enough majority to vote in a power sharing deal having killed two of ODM’s MPs.  How many ODM MPs have since been bought is any one’s guess.
  
  The point here is that ODM has somewhat lost ground down from demanding Kibaki’s outright removal, to a power sharing arrangement which must first be endorsed in parliament.  Kibaki and PNU having succeeded to this point are now telling ODM that they are not even willing to share power but that they are willing to accomodate or coopt ODM members on board.  
  
  It is critical that ODM does not lose ANY further ground to these thieves.
  
  Reliable sources now confirm that Kibaki has thought out option number 2, should the above option become bloody;
  
  The Othaya MP last week held a meeting with all heads of the armed forces in Kenya and other top ranking security officials.  The details of this meeting were not made public but it would not be far fetched to conclude that; Kibaki and his Mt Kenya friends, rather than share power with Raila and ODM where his party is a minority, may opt for a military solution lead by his own clique in the forces.  This transitional Military Junta  would promise to call for elections in the “near” future.  
  
  It is crystal clear that the goal right now for this regime is survival and so far they are managing.  Will they survive a power sharing arrangement with Kenya’s largest and most popular political party?  
  
  We in the diaspora have recently been silent because of our trust in the Koffi Annan mediation and the hope that these might bear fruits.  My concern is that we can all pick the signals that this illegitimate government is sending and yet we are now silent.  I once pointed out that a thief will never both own up and agree to return stolen property.  Most thieves serve their time without ever returning thge loot and Kibaki is no exception and he knows this.  After all, he is from a community whose expertise in thievery has in the passed attracted many genetic scientists/engineers.
  
  It is time we resumed the momentum of January to drum up support and point out loudly to this illegitimate regime that they are there illegally and that the least we can accept is a transitional situation that will allow them to exit peacefully.
  
  George Nyangweso
  Minnesota

————————————————

William wrote:
    

George,
  
  I think it is about time we convened a forum to have/add some consistent voice to call for international pressure to push for comprehensive constitutional reform before Kenya can truly claim democratic credentials that the likes of Mwai Kibaki are so ready to hide behind.

————————————————
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:15:54 -0800 (PST)
From: George Nyangweso

Subject: Nyongo’s Interview with VOA

          Below is an excerpt from Nyongo’s interview with VOA yesterday.  
  
  While most of US believe in sovereignty, we cannot hide behind this when it has been clear to all, that the Kenyan Constitution needs an overhaul.  It is ironical that Kibaki was in the team that six  years ago was advocating for a change of the Kenyan Constitution.  It is bordering on blasphemy for Wetangula to tell the whole world that the way forward for Kenya now is to go back to the same Constitution that Kenyans have wanted overhauled for over 20 years.
  
  Wetangula is a learned friend but clearly his state of mind does not reflect that and we in the diaspora should continue to push for change and removal of all stumbling blocks.
  
  George Nyangweso
  
  
  
  
  
  Kenya’s Opposition Says Power Sharing the Way Forward
    By James Butty
Washington, D.C.
18 February 2008
 
  As Kenyans await the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Monday, an official of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has given more details on what would constitute a possible solution to the country’s post-election crisis. ODM secretary general Peter Anyang Nyong’o said the opposition hopes Secretary Rice is coming to Kenya to re-enforce former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan’s mediation effort and President Bush’s call for a power sharing government.  
 

 Nyong’o told VOA that only a power sharing government can produce a needed political stability for Kenya.

  “Given what President Bush himself has said, I think she is coming to re-enforce the Kofi Annan initiative to ensure that there’s a political solution that will finally bring justice and peace to our country. And that solution has to include power sharing in a coalition government in which the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) being led by Raila Odinga and the Party of National Unity (PNU) of Mwai Kibaki will share power and produce political stability for the nation,” he said.

  Nyong’o said whether President Kibaki remains head of state of Kenya during this power sharing period would depend on what formula is used.

  “He could still be head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and perhaps in charge of foreign affairs as is in the case in France between the president and prime minister of France. The prime minister will then head the government and chair the government. I think that kind of arrangement is something that is being considered. And do hope that the secretary of state would lend support to the principle of a political settlement for the grand coalition, and then the details can be left for Kofi Annan and his team to work out,” Nyong’o said.

  He rejected Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula’s warning of outsiders forcing a deal on Kenya.

  “Nobody is interested in forcing anything on Kenya. This constitution that is in place now has been contentious for many years. The multiparty era started in 1992. We had called for radical constitution change. The authoritarian presidency had remained in tact and got Mwai Kibaki. And I do believe that the foreign minister does not think that the authoritarian presidency is an answer to Kenya’s problems. So saying that things must be done within the framework of the present constitution is actually dragging that debate backward,” he said.

  Nyong’o said all of Africa must draw a lesson from what is happening in Kenya.

  “The lesson that can be drawn is that people must understand there has been lot of changes in Africa for the last 40 years since independence. Those changes are demographic; those changes are based on the social structures of our countries. And unless government structures respond creatively and imaginatively to these changes by allowing greater political participation, transparency, and accountability in government, then of course Africa will not move forward. I think the example in Kenya is something that should be a lesson to many African countries to understand the complexities of democracy and yet its vitality and necessity,” Nyong’o said.     

RENEWED THREAT OF KENYAN PROTESTS

Leave a reply

 EXCERPT:

Meanwhile, Nobel peace laureate Wangari Maathai told Kenyan reporters that she had received death threats from the banned Mungiki armed sect by text message.

Ms Maathai is a former minister and from the same ethnic group, the Kikuyu, as President Mwai Kibaki, but she has called for compromises by leaders on both sides since violence flared following the 27 December polls.

“Because of opposing the government at all times, Professor Wangari Maathai, we have decided to look for your head very soon. Chunga maisha yako (Take care of your life),” the text message read, she told reporters.

For the full article, please see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7254833.stm

Sent by Kiambu

Does Kibaki have morals to talk about Confines of Constitution?

5 Replies

Kenya has a constitution in place and that has been the problem since independence. I don’t think that Kenyans woke up and said enough is enough to themselves and started burning homes belonging to neighbors for the sake of it. I condemn acts of such violence personally and I hope that such atrocious acts do not reccur. Having said that I would like to comment on Kibaki’s latest rhetoric on the impasse.

Kibaki, after having been holed in State House, while Kenyans were butchering themselves and burning homes, comes out to say that “he would not mind sharing responsibilities (note the change of terminology) with ODM as long as it is within the Kenyan constitution. I think this is one of the most outrageous statements that Kibaki of all the people could say.

First and foremost, Kibaki violated the constitution that he pretends to uphold. By putting pressure on ECK to declare an unlawful announcement of stolen election results, trigerring violence and killings, usurping executive powers of the presidency and ordering innocent kenyans to be shot and killed by police, to me is murder and felonious. If this is not enough to send this man to the gallows then I don’t understand the law. Are these not stipulaed clearly within the legal statutes of our constitution that he is invoking now when Kenyans need a way forward?

This is the kind of impunity that has been used to abuse kenyan citizens for a very long time. We have to put more pressure and petition all the help that we can get for the right change to come to kenya. I welcome US, EU, UN call for immediate resolution to the whole impasse as long as justice is seen to be done to meet majority demands. kenyans voted to bring change. This demonstration was denounced by an iron fist. Kibaki abused the constitution so much in the extreme that it is an insult to kenyans for him to come out and make such a foolish demand that Kenyan constitution ought to be respected after he has shown total disrespect for the same constitution himself!

I am calling upon brave Kenyans to tell Kibaki that he is very wrong on this and change must be made. He is already getting away with so much just being offered some sort of power sharing because Raila should have been in State House already, having won the elections by popular vote and provincial percentage. If Kibaki cannot realize the plight of the majority of Kenyans, then we ought to force him to vacate State House because he is not living there legally. He should be in jail together with Kivuitu, Gicheru, Ali, and all those who took part in the illegal swearing in ceremony based off forged results. Haiti, Iraq, Liberia among others have been helped to rid such dictators in the past. Same should be applied to Kenya. I call upon the Kenyan and International Community to do the same to Kibaki if he continues to stand in the way of this, Kofi Annan, mediation process with such foolish rhetoric!

Julius Okelo

Dictator Kibaki of PNU (Party Not United) wants more blood shed.

Leave a reply

I have said it over and over again that this “gentleman” is not about peace but PNU.

According to the worst president Kenya has ever, in my opinion,  had, it is constitutional to steal the elections and impose the presidency on the good Kenyan people, but it is NOT constitutional to bring PEACE to Kenya.

I have been waiting with bathed breath, but I am now getting impatient with this “WE DON’T CARE” attitude of Kibaki and his hardliner fire-spewing dragons of antagonists. Who do they think they are?  I have a feeling that they think that they are little “gods”.

I have news for you, Kibaki and your cronies, your days are numbered.  You are finite and not infinite.  You are blood and flesh, which pass away into dust.  In the mean time I promise you that no matter how long it takes, the people of Kenya will get justice.  Why do I know that?  Because we serve a God who loves us with an everlasting love.

Kenya is a God-loving nation.  If God promised to save Sodom and Gomorrah for as little as 5 souls or even 1 soul, I am persuaded that He will save our beloved country of Kenya.

I am glad you do not control the oxygen our people breathe.  I have a feeling that a lot of people would be asphyxiated by now.  Thank God you do not make the rain, many a fertile land will be turned arid overnight.  I find some similarities with King Belshazzar of Daniel 5.

Kibaki’s governance has been weighed and found wanting indeed.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Daniel 5:   1-4 King Belshazzar held a great feast for his one thousand nobles. The wine flowed freely. Belshazzar, heady with the wine, ordered that the gold and silver chalices his father Nebuchadnezzar had stolen from God’s Temple of Jerusalem be brought in so that he and his nobles, his wives and concubines, could drink from them. When the gold and silver chalices were brought in, the king and his nobles, his wives and his concubines, drank wine from them. They drank the wine and drunkenly praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

5-7 At that very moment, the fingers of a human hand appeared and began writing on the lamp-illumined, whitewashed wall of the palace. When the king saw the disembodied hand writing away, he went white as a ghost, scared out of his wits. His legs went limp and his knees knocked. He yelled out for the enchanters, the fortunetellers, and the diviners to come. He told these Babylonian magi, “Anyone who can read this writing on the wall and tell me what it means will be famous and rich—purple robe, the great gold chain—and be third-in-command in the kingdom.”

8-9 One after the other they tried, but could make no sense of it. They could neither read what was written nor interpret it to the king. So now the king was really frightened. All the blood drained from his face. The nobles were in a panic.

10-12 The queen heard of the hysteria among the king and his nobles and came to the banquet hall. She said, “Long live the king! Don’t be upset. Don’t sit around looking like ghosts. There is a man in your kingdom who is full of the divine Holy Spirit. During your father’s time he was well known for his intellectual brilliance and spiritual wisdom. He was so good that your father, King Nebuchadnezzar, made him the head of all the magicians, enchanters, fortunetellers, and diviners. There was no one quite like him. He could do anything—interpret dreams, solve mysteries, explain puzzles. His name is Daniel, but he was renamed Belteshazzar by the king. Have Daniel called in. He’ll tell you what is going on here.”

13-16 So Daniel was called in. The king asked him, “Are you the Daniel who was one of the Jewish exiles my father brought here from Judah? I’ve heard about you—that you’re full of the Holy Spirit, that you’ve got a brilliant mind, that you are incredibly wise. The wise men and enchanters were brought in here to read this writing on the wall and interpret it for me. They couldn’t figure it out—not a word, not a syllable. But I’ve heard that you interpret dreams and solve mysteries. So—if you can read the writing and interpret it for me, you’ll be rich and famous—a purple robe, the great gold chain around your neck—and third-in-command in the kingdom.”

17 Daniel answered the king, “You can keep your gifts, or give them to someone else. But I will read the writing for the king and tell him what it means.

18-21 “Listen, O king! The High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar a great kingdom and a glorious reputation. Because God made him so famous, people from everywhere, whatever their race, color, and creed, were totally intimidated by him. He killed or spared people on whim. He promoted or humiliated people capriciously. He developed a big head and a hard spirit. Then God knocked him off his high horse and stripped him of his fame. He was thrown out of human company, lost his mind, and lived like a wild animal. He ate grass like an ox and was soaked by heaven’s dew until he learned his lesson: that the High God rules human kingdoms and puts anyone he wants in charge.

22-23 “You are his son and have known all this, yet you’re as arrogant as he ever was. Look at you, setting yourself up in competition against the Master of heaven! You had the sacred chalices from his Temple brought into your drunken party so that you and your nobles, your wives and your concubines, could drink from them. You used the sacred chalices to toast your gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone—blind, deaf, and imbecile gods. But you treat with contempt the living God who holds your entire life from birth to death in his hand.

24-26 “God sent the hand that wrote on the wall, and this is what is written: mene, teqel, and peres. This is what the words mean:

“Mene: God has numbered the days of your rule and they don’t add up.

27 “Teqel: You have been weighed on the scales and you don’t weigh much.

28 “Peres: Your kingdom has been divided up and handed over to the Medes and Persians.”

29 Belshazzar did what he had promised. He robed Daniel in purple, draped the great gold chain around his neck, and promoted him to third-in-charge in the kingdom.

30-31 That same night the Babylonian king Belshazzar was murdered. Darius the Mede was sixty-two years old when he succeeded him as king.  (The Message Version)

  

God bless the Democratic Republic of Kenya and its wonderful, patient citizens.  Amen.

Keen Nyamwange  

WECHE ….ODM Mass Action

3 Replies

RECONVENE PARLIAMENT OR MASS ACTION 

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 05:11:22  

by Ceeloh
   
  The Orange Democratic Movement parliamentary group has issued a one week ultimatum for parliament to be reconvened for necessary constitutional amendments.  If it is not, then they say that they will resume countrywide peaceful mass action.
  
  The ultimatum also applies to the Annan Mediation team who are expected to give a solution to the election crisis or change the talks to discuss the country’s boundary definitions.

   
  Addressing the press at the parliament building, the party’s Secretary General Peter Anyang Nyong’o blamed the Party of National Unity for using delay tactics to frustrate ODM and the talks by taking hard-line positions and using the constitution to resist democratic change to protect their selfish interest.
   
  Nyong’o added that, in 1964, a precedent was set when the constitution was changed to abolish regional assemblies and the Prime Minister’s post so as to give the president more powers without going to the referendum.
  
  Pentagon Member Najib Balala also blamed PNU for portraying arrogance in the talks and referred to last week when the talks were postponed in Kilanguni because it was Valentines Day as they were postponed today because the government side wanted to attend a funeral service.
  
  END

Ears ringing, Kenya negotiators return to table

Leave a reply

THE TRUE MENACE IN KENYA IS KIBAKI WHO IS BANKROLLING MUNGIKI. ANY THING TO DO WITH KIBAKI IN KENYA IS EQUIVALENT TO DEATH. KIBAKI SHOULD BE HANGED TO SAVE AFRICA FROM DICTATORS WITH KILLING SECTS LIKE MUNGIKI- Opado
 

———————–

EXCERPT:

Opposition leader Raila Odinga would be almost sure to take the post. He says Kibaki in the past reneged on a pledge to give him such a post in exchange for support at the 2002 election.

Asked if the job would have executive powers, Kilonzo said: “We will not give anybody a hollow shell.”

The opposition has demanded the post, wanting it to have real power, and a 50-50 split in cabinet jobs including what it views as top-tier ministries like finance and internal security.

A senior opposition official said there were two potential forms of the prime minister job being discussed.

“One of them is some sort of chief minister … or there is a head of government who is answerable to parliament. You have a real separation of powers,” the official said.

Kilonzo said the interim post would come with a sunset clause that causes the position to expire either when parliament is dissolved or when a new constitution is enacted.

 For the full article, please see http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/kenya_crisis_dc

Whatever the outcome of talks, respect our Constitution

4 Replies

I found this commentary by Patrick Maina from Kampala lacking in intelligence and quite shallow in its attempt to compare Kenyan situation with the US elections.
 
The incumbent, Mwai Kibaki has abused and violated the Constitution on the extreme!
 
A few things that this writer ought to understand first hand:
 
1. President George Bush, won the the elections against Gore because he had the majority of the Electoral votes and popular votes as well. Florida helped to maintain this win for Bush after all the counting was complete. Your understanding of this outcome may be skewed.
 
2. The electoral process of the US is quite transparent and anyone including a common person can verify the data.
3. Police force or Military or Paramilitary are never used to cover the voting places or vote tallying centers as was done at the KICC.
4. The international community is not imposing nothing on Kenyans. They are friends of average kenyan citizenry and are determined to see that the interests for us Kenyans are upheld and not abused by those in authority.
5. Kibaki and PNU themselves do not respect the very constitution they are calling upon. First, the corruption is a relfection of that. Secondly Kibaki stole the elections which is a felony in the criminal code. Kivuitu was drugged and we need to find out who was responsible for this. Was it Muttu or one of the junior officers serving the commissioners.
6. The Judiciary is delinked from the executive in the US. You have seen Senators and Congressmen close to President Bush get indicted for the wrongs committed by them. In Kenya this is impossible!
 
We should be proud that the International Community has come to our aid on this political thievery!

Julius Okelo

Why I support a Coalition government

Leave a reply

We will not have to endure these type of scenarios again

FINANCE MINISTRY (Controls Finance, Banking, & Economy in general):

Minister-  Amos Kimunya

Permanent Secretary – Joseph Kinyua Economic Secretary – Kamau Thuge
Pensions Secretary – Anne Mugo Budgetary Director -P.B.Ngugi
ERD Director – Kenneth Mwangi D/Finance Secretary -Mwirichia

CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA:

Governor- Prof. Ndung’u
Ag. Dep. Governor – John Gikonyo

CONSOLIDATED BANK OF KENYA:

Chairman – Phillip Njuki
Chief Executive – David Wachira

KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY

1. Commisssioner General: Michael Waweru
2. Board Secretary: Mrs Ng’ang’a
3. Senior Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement:
Mr. Joseph Nduati
4. Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and Enforcement: Mr. Namu Nguru
5. Deputy Commissioner, Administration: Mr. Karimi
6. Deputy Commissioner Procurement: Ms. Murichu
7. Commissioner Customs:
Mrs. Wambui Namu
8. Senior Deputy Commissioner (Customs): Ms. Githinji
9. Deputy Commissioner, Enforcement (Customs): Mr Maina
10. Deputy Commissioner, Finance: Ms Wachira

11. Commissioner Domestic Taxes (LTO)- Mr Njiraini
12. Deputy Commissioner: Mrs. Mwangi
13. Senior Deputy Commissioner, Finance: Mrs. King’ori
14. Senior Assistant Commissioner, Security: Major Kariuki
15. Senior Deputy Commissioner, Southern Region: Wagachira

CAPITAL MARKETS AUTHORITY:
Board Chair – Chege Waruingi
CEO -Edward N’talami

DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: Chief Procurement
Officers – 23 out of 36 first appointees are all from GEMA.
  
  Source: http://kenya.rcbowen.com/talk/viewtopic.php?id=64582; Monday, February 18, 2008

Gordon

Angry opposition youths oppose Kenya compromise

1 Reply

Odinga has made conciliatory statements during recent peace talks brokered by former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Kenya Monday to urge both sides to agree to powersharing measures that diplomats hope will stem the violence that has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced more than 600,000. But Odinga faces pressure from his own supporters not to be too accommodating.

Angry youths don’t want to compromise

The youths from his Luo ethnic group who burned buildings in Kisumu in the wake of the election say they will accept little in the way of compromise. The stones in the road – marking the spot where one their friends was shot by riot police – could quickly become missiles.

“We voted for a president, not a prime minister,” says one. “The least we can accept is an interim government with a revote in six months.”

 For the full article, please see http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0219/p07s02-woaf.html

– Sent by Gordon

Some Advice for the Anti-Annan Voices

Leave a reply

It is becoming clear that an overwhelming number of Kenyans would wish to see an end to the political stand off that has gripped the country since the beginning of the year. It is equally clear that for the first time, Kenyans have learnt that ours is a loved and highly valued country. It is so heart-warming to see well respected men and women of Africa  and the world who have literally converged in Kenya with the latest lot, prominent African leaders literally refusing to accept anything less than a decisive resolution to a potentially explosive problem (forget about the recent burning, shooting, looting and beheading). According to experienced analysts, our country could easily and quickly have degraded into the example of our neighbouring countries recently hit by ethnic hate.

a)  It is interesting to note that ODM claimed that PNU stole the 2007 elections. But apparently a number of available pointers appear support this claim:

b)  Doubts were expressed by a section of the ECK and later confirmed by the chairman.

c)  Of all the views expressed by foreign election observers, none passed the verdict that elections were free and fair.

d)  The polls statistics throughout the year right up to the election week had the same direction. Kenyans recall that only one poll (with same defects as 2007 results since the figures did not add up) gave Kibaki a gap of 0.3%behind Raila; all the rest gave Raila and ODM a win of 4% or better.

There is, of course, no “documentary evidence” to prove the ODM claim of election theft as has been observed in the confidence and insistence by PNU that ODM goes to court. But the mere fact that nobody was ever charged with killing Robert Ouko in 1990 does not make him alive today. They say the law is an ass.

I am not a lawyer but I will attempt to explain the case for ODM utilizing the following facts:

a)  The ODM and allies have over 50% of the parliamentary seats

b)  The ODM has over 50% in the local council elections

c)  The ODM has a clear win in 6 out of 6 provinces while PNU won only in the two provinces which are GEMA strongholds.

d)  ODM and allies had an easy win in speaker and deputy speaker elections.

e)  The deaths of two ODM MPs appears to have been calculated to pass a strong message to them that the GEMA leaders will not cowed by dogs, as one PNU diehard is fond of saying.

 f)  The determination with which the PNU negotiating team has been opposed to the foreign intervention led by Dr Kofi Annan sometimes appears to be aimed at ridiculing him so that he can give up if he so wishes.
The PNU cannot insist on the avenue of legal channel especially when they were the first to unilaterally abuse the constitution:

a)  They ordered the police to shoot to kill (rather than preserve the lives of) the rioters who were unhappy with the manipulated election results.

b)  They banned Kenyan citizens from their freedom of association and speech while they enjoyed the same freedom. This made Kenya like apartheid South Africa for a while. 
My sober opinion is that the proud and arrogant members of PNU should consider this: let us try this unconstitutional avenue to restore sanity and order in this country. You need it as much as I do. I know that from some quarters, false confidence has been in the air that if the worst comes this time round, you have the military supremacy over your unarmed, weak and helpless enemies.

Georgie

Kenya Secession Debate (Round 1)

1 Reply

The proposed plan to a Kenyan solution by my friend Odhiambo Oketch is inspired by the devil himself. And because this is a very significant period in the history of our country. Every one must take a stand on the Kenya s/he wants.
  
  If  I were to  leave Odhiambo Oketch’s dangerous proposal to go unchallenged then it might be taken ten years later, that I supported him. Odhimabo your proposal is down right unacceptable. It is not a solution to the Kenyan Problem. It is just an idea on how we can create more Animal farms. Our animal farm is already too painful for all of us, why do you want another animal farm? Are you using your brain?
  
  A few Days ago I published on this forum what the Kenyan problem is. The Kenyan Problem is not the Gikuyu people, or Merus, Embus or what Odhiambo calls Eastern Kenya people ( I guess here you have the Akamba in mind targeted for exclusion also from this new Kenya you have proposed). Indeed there is no community which is the problem. The The Kenyan Problem is  the Criminal state. I like what Rev. Njoya has published in the Daily Nation Today, Thursday Valentine’s Day about the diagnosis of the Kenyan Problem. Read it again.
  
  The Kenyan criminal state can only be healed through a new constitutional order. Not the division of the country. Our people are not the problem; they are the victims of the criminal state.  
  
  Odhiambo I want you to reflect seriously about the problem we have in Kenya. Last year in the run down to the election, Michuki issued shoot to kill orders in his attempt to deal with what came to be called the Mungiki Menace. About 613 young Kikuyu men were killed in cold blood. 21 of them were killed on a certain Friday morning while taking the oath and eating raw goat meat in Murang’a. Odhiambo and Sande agreed that that was the way to go because we needed to deal with insecurity and Mungiki. YOU ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE SUSPENSION OF THE KENYAN CONSTITUTION and the violation of RIGHTS. Those young men died yes, but was the election not contested? Has Mungiki not renewed its fangs and bitten many Kenyans to death? Have Kalenjin, Luo, Kisii, Luyha youths not barricaded roads and burnt houses and raped women in the wake of the post-election madness?
  Would Odhiambo support the killing of many more young Kiukuyu in cold blood because they are Kikuyu or would he prefer dealing with the root causes of poverty and disinheritance in Kenya?
  

Is it true that those hapless, poverty stricken families in Ngecha in Limuru, or those jigger-rdiden masses in Mathioya and Maragua are sucking wealth from Odhiambo Oketch and the rest of Kenya? Can’t we attack in unity the parastic class of exploiters in Nairobi, majority of whom are Kikuyus today, but have been Kalenjins before, and also include My own Nyachae and Mr. Moi, Biwott etc?
  
  The persistence Odhiambo has invested in trying to brainwash us that the problem is the Kikuyu of Kenya, is just scary and worrying. The consistence of Sande to lie that Kibaki won the election is very insulting. The burger just did not win that election. Wake up from this collective denial and start helping Kenya agree to deal with the gory past of injustices. I mean who does not know that Kibaki DID NOT win the last election? Then you should be some hospital, seeing a counsellor!
  
  Raila is not Kenya’s solution either. A non-Kikuyu president is not the answer, a Kikuyu president is not the answer, At all! We are missing the point that way.
  
  The answer, is a new constitutional order that creates democratic, accountable governance and power strucutures; where elections will truly be elections. Where life will not be desecrated with murder, arson, police truncheons and bullets, violence and rape.
  
  And the new constitution will need democrats, human rights respecters, men who believe in equality with women and citizens who treasure values including nationhood and honesty. Kenya must not be divided by tribalists who want a piece of our nation to rape. We do not want rape of any part of our country. Odhiambo, we must tell you to just shut up or publish articles that promote the principles of justice, fairness, truth, nationhood, unity, and democracy.
  
  Speaking of which, now that Kanyotu has died, Kibaki should take the opportunity to apologise to Kenyans for signing the warrants that took Raila and nearly 1000 other Kenyans including Ng’ang’a Thiong’o to Nyayo house torture chambers. In Kibaki we have a dictator who has for four decades participated in the killing the soul of the Kenyan nation and defiling democracy.
  
  Happy Valentines Day guys. My Love goes to all of you and those fellow Kenyans in the camps, waiting to die of pneumonia, or Poverty. We must Love them enough by working for a united, democratic, multi-racial, multi-ethnic, gender sensitive, equitable and prosperous Kenya, where every child has an equal chance to make it in life. Currently if you a child from certain Kenyan regions and ethnic communities, like the Luo, your chance of making it in life to the top may be threatened.

– Orina Nyamwamu

——————————
Sande wrote:        

 Odhiambo brother,
You are a very good debater and I like your view world. I only beg to differ with you on this wild assumption that ALL western people want to be cut off from the rest of the country…

Kibaki was voted by over 400,000 residents of Western Kenya, Luhyas, many Kisiis, many North Easterners who went on to vote in many Pro-PNU MPs, at the coast and
in the Rift Valley…Where Raila got votes that was a majority win, with a minority losing, not absent but losing!

We must be aware of a very important democratic belief that democracy is where majority have their say and minority have their way. THIS IS WHAT MANY FROM
WESTERN AND RIFT VALLEY CHOSE TO FORGET!

I am from Khwisero constituency where Raila got majority presidential votes, we accepted that, we have an ODM MP and we have not contested his election…  However, Kibaki was voted for by about 4000 people…  These are a minority but Westerners.

I WILL NEVER ADVOCATE FOR secession/being cut off from the rest of Kenya just because of Kibaki and Raila, mere human beings who are here today and will be past tense tomorrow! THAT IS MYOPIC INDEED!

We should correct this mess today and work for tomorrow’s greater Kenya.

Kikuyus didn’t take anything from us…since 2002-2007 it’s been 5 years! How about the Kalenjin who took 24 years and messed the whole country yet we did not secede! (sp).

Who tells you that in the new region…after five or ten years of “good” Raila rule, we shall not be confronted with another so called bad leadership emerging from Mudavadi (Luhya), Ojaamong (Teso), Ruto (Kalenjin) or an Alqaida terrorist from some quota
from the newly found geo-political space. LET’S BE CAREFUL OF GENERALISATIONS THAT CAUSE HASTY DECISIONS THAT CAUSE LASTING NEGATIVE EFFECTS!

Hey, why do you assume that all Luhyas want Luo leadership, or Kalenjin for that matter…  I could be the next gorrilla leader in that new order you envisage! BE WARNED!

Sande

——————————

Odhiambo Oketch wrote:

George,

When Kibaki had the Maasai at Mau Narok evicted violently with their houses, schools and even churches being burnt by the police, all in the name of clearing the water catchment areas, the Maasai complained, and Kimunya told the title deed holders that those were mere pieces of paper.

I bet they will say the same for all those who have been evicted from Rift Valley.

About autonomy, I will now support the Independence of The Independent Republic of Kenya. This will have 6 provinces; Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Nairobi, Coast and North Eastern Province.
 
Once we declare our Independence from Central and Eastern, we can go ahead and Install our own government, a government which will treat all residents of The Independent Republic of Kenya with respect, dignity and equality.
 
In Africa, we have Congo, and The DRC.
 
In South Africa, we have Lesotho completely surrounded by South Africa.
 
Instead of being the milch cow for the Kikuyu elite, we can leave them to lord over themselves.

This should be a clear resolve of all Kenyans. We will never quarrel again.
 
Oto
 

——————————
George wrote:

Kenya like Yugoslavia risks disappearing from the world map to be replaced by new independent federal republics.

Just like in Yugoslavia Slobodan Milosevic lost the presidential election in 2000 but refused to accept the result and was forced out of the office.


Kibaki risks taking Kenya the same route which may eventually lead to a break up of the country called Kenya.
 
This brings into question the country called Kenya? Do we need to continue having the country exist as one? Are we happy to be under Kenya or would we better off in our own regions? In the last 40 years of independent has kenya our collective “mother” treated us all equally, fairly or as it been very selective in providing for its siblings depending on your tribe, religion etc?

 The vast majority of Kenyans would say No to the above questions. Most of them have nothing to show for the 40 years of independence. Some of us in Rift Valley feel rightfully that the white man left and was replaced by the Kikuyus who went into a grabbing spree with their altar boy Moi taking anything they could lay their hand on.

Majority of the communities west of Nakuru have nothing to boast of as Kenyans. Kalenjins, Luos and Luyhias are treated as second class citizens, all the government resources and employment are all concentrated in the hands of members of the GEMA with a constant reminder that we are Kenyans. Our region has some of the worst infrastructure, and roads, power, and water are all in a sorry state of affair. Our youths are wasting away in the local shopping centers despite their qualifications.
 

With Annan around we need to start agitating for the independence of our regions. We need to remind Annan that our problem is Kenya and Kenya needs to be reconstructed afresh to meet our diversity. Anything short of this will lead war.
 
I am actually encouraged that a country like Yugoslavia 7 years back gave birth to Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. Kosovo with a population of 2 million people will soon be declaring its independence. The process is being mid-wifed by the EU. 
 
I don’t see what’s stopping Kenya from taking this route. The majority of Kenyans outside Central would not mind taking this route. We have proven in the 21st century that we cannot stand one another as a society.  Everything else that Annan is involved in is about
quick fixes to enable Kenyans start tolerating each other. In Rift Valley, for instance, the divide, mistrust and hatred is too big to be ignored, it cannot be solved by handshakes but by hard decisions based on secession.

LEADERS SHOULD BRIDLE THEIR TONGUES

Leave a reply

When Wetangula shouted back at George W. Bush for asking Kenyan leaders to share power, it was well evident that far from what Kofi Annan is telling us, there is no deal and there will never be a deal. Kibaki and his cronies have not moved an inch from from their erstwhile position of impunity and careless arrogance. While ODM, the rightful winners of the Presidential elections, have tried to accommodate their views and even bent low to negotiate with them on an issue that many would not dare negotiate. Kenyans should be reminded that that they are not special. There is nothing in the world that can stop Kenya from being worse than any state in History if arrogance and stupid hard-line cannot be tamed. If we do not bridle our tongues, it will just be a matter of time. Kenya is yet to see a fight to death if these talks fail. If these few conceited people cannot see the anger that is written all over the faces of Kenyans, then let the world stand aside and watch from the
 sidelines. No group of people will remain to call themselves Kenyans within Kenyan borders. Those who are trying to delay or sabotage these talks can at best be called foolish.
  
  Sillah Oriato

Good Job Mr. President – Democracy must prevail in Kenya

4 Replies

“There must be an immediate halt to violence, there must be justice for the victims of abuse, and there must be a full return to democracy.” 

– President George Walker Bush, United States of America; Friday, February 15, 2008

Mr. President,

As a person who believes in Democracy, liberty and justice, I would like to applaud your recent statement on Kenya. I believe this is a right move that could see an expedited restoration of full Democracy in Kenya. With the mediation talks in progress under the moderation of Kofi Annan, I believe that Kenyans deserve justice and total respect for their voice as they expressed in last year’s election. With the US enforcing travel bans on the individuals responsible for trouble in Kenya, including hardliners who would like to maintain Kenyans on this path of self destruction, a clear message is sent to such saboteurs. Thank you for sending Secretary of State Condi Rice to Kenya to offer suppport to Kofi Annan to get a fast resolution for Kenya.

Mr. President, while your move is greatly helpful for Kenya, we urge you to use the Kenyan case as an example to send a clear warning to other dictators and despots in Africa who would like to take advantage of their positions to do what they deem fit for their selfish interest, that such leaders are not good for global peace. Mr. President, we have seen your actions help countries like Haiti, Iraq, Libera among others to eliminate dictators and despots and a return to a streamlined pathway to democracy and liberty. This is what we wish for Kenya. While we acknowledge that it can be a challenge, we believe that it is possible to restore the peace that this great Nation once enjoyed. Kenya is an important trading partner of the US as well as a convenient hub for US interests in Africa. Finally, Mr. President, more pressure should be appllied on Mr. Kibaki to understand the essence of democracy and respect for freedom of association.

You have the support of Kenyans in the Diaspora on this!

Thank You!

Julius Okelo

For more on the US government’s recent stance on Kenya, please see:

“Bush says paternalism over in US aid”

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2008-02-13-85358538_x.htm

“Rice Headed to Kenya to Help Resolve Ongoing Conflict: Violence must stop, democracy must return, President Bush says”

http://www.america.gov/st/peacesec-english/2008/February/20080214161640idybeekcm0.8321344.html