From: collins odhiambo
Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 11:51 PM
Subject: Obama on his way to collect Nobel Peace Prize
Obama on his way to collect Nobel Peace Prize
1 Reply
Category Archives: Who’s Who
John Kufuor of Ghana should have been given the MO Ibrahim prize
From: Yona Fares Maro
Date: Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 2:44 PM
THE refusal of the committee for the Mo Ibrahim Achievement in Africa Leadership Prize to award the 2009 prize to any of its three shortlisted candidates: Nigeria’s Olusegun Obasanjo, South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki and Ghana’s John Kufuor further underscores the crisis of leadership and democratisation in Africa. The Prize is meant to measure progress in leadership in Africa, encourage responsible, corruption-free leadership and change the “single-story” perspective of Africa in the Western world. The verdict this year, rather than offer a picture of progress, confirms the existing stereotype and the spectre of Afro-pessimism. It also makes nonsense of the NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which was established in 2003, championed by two of the leaders who have now been dismissed as not good enough (Obasanjo and Mbeki). The prize is only three years old, and it is already running into troubled waters: the scarcity of worthy trophy winners. One obvious constraint is that the prize does not go to serving Presidents and Heads of state, it is reserved for those who have left office in the preceding three years.
But how many African leaders retire within three years? Africa’s democratisation process faces a challenge that could hobble Mr. Ibrahim’s initiative. The kind of leaders that are being sought are in very short supply. In Niger, Chad, Uganda, and Cameroun, the country’s constitutions have been amended to allow for an extension of tenure by the incumbent rulers. In Guinea, Mauritania and Madagascar, there have been military interventions. In other African countries, there are reports of grand corruption, particularly the rigging of elections to suit parochial interests.
In some of these countries, certain former rulers have been succeeded by their sons in what looks like the gradual emergence of a dynastic order in African politics (Gabon, Togo and Democratic Republic of Congo -former Zaire). In Egypt and Libya, the sons of the incumbents are also waiting in the wings. The voter’s right to choose is generally discounted and there is so much poor governance and violation of the Constitution. It is not only this year therefore that the prize may not be awarded. Only two African leaders ( in Tanzania and Liberia) may be preparing to leave office in the next three years: Jakaya Kikwete’s five-year tenure ends in 2010. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s six-year tenure ends in 2012. She will be 74 years then and may not be seeking a second term. Across the continent, most of the leaders are either preparing for a second term (Yar’çdua for example) or hoping to stay permanently or are just not interested in such post-retirement windfalls which Mr. Ibrahim promises as a way of providing for good leaders.
The Ibrahim prize is worth $5 million and an annual salary of $200, 000, plus a further grant of $200,000 per year for 10 years to support any good cause that is chosen by the winner. Mo Ibrahim, the cell-phone billionaire founder of the prize means well. He falls in the category of those we call in Nigeria, “too much money.” He wants to promote good governance. He wants to encourage good and responsible leadership by supporting such leaders after office. He says it does not matter if the prize is not awarded in a particular year or for years. Even without a winner this year, the prize ceremony and a debate on leadership in Africa will still be held in November. What recommends the Mo Ibrahim initiative is that it is home-grown. This is not a Soros Foundation, or an Open Society Institute or the USAID-Governance programme laying benchmarks for Africa but an African-led process from within. The focus is well chosen. Bad leadership is the bane of the development process in the continent, the source of the failure of African states. Encouraging, supporting and ensuring good governance in Africa will result in progress, or a shift towards Afro-optimism, and also reduce dependency on Western aid.
But does awarding trophies to retired Heads of State alone serve this purpose? The non-award of a Mo Ibrahim Prize this year may cast the leadership crisis in the continent in a fresh mould but there are also questions to be raised about the prize itself and Mr. Ibrahim’s approach to the governance challenge. Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland, and one of the judges of the prize, had said that it may be difficult to find a worthy winner for the prize in Europe as well. But sorry, no; that is too facile. The African challenge is different, its circumstances are peculiar. The shortage of candidates for the prize should compel a re-thinking of approach to guarantee sustainability, possibly an expansion of scope to include leadership in other areas of African life. Those who deserve to be celebrated are not the retired leaders (who of course enjoy state-provided privileges for life) but the ordinary people of the continent who in the face of all odds, are making a difference or seeking to do so in various leadership situations in civil society.
Mr. Ibrahim’s money would probably serve a better purpose if it is used to support education programmes or leadership training in African states. How about a Mo Ibrahim Scholarship Fund for indigent students or Ph.D research? For that, there cannot be a shortage of worthy recipients. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation publishes an African Governance Index to promote accountability, but the findings are lost in a maze of attendant controversy. Instead of giving too much money to retired Heads of State, the bigger challenge is in the area of infrastructural development for democratic governance, capacity building and human resource development. Bad African leaders do the damage that they can and they leave, but to build democracy, more attention needs to be paid to leadership creation/transformation processes; that is – the institutions that can produce good leaders on a sustainable basis and make banditry difficult if not impossible.
The Mo Ibrahim Prize Committee has refused to give reasons why it does not consider any of the three shortlisted candidates good enough. We have been asked to come up with our own explanations. Fine. One possible explanation is that Mr. Ibrahim is broke. Could he possibly be one of those super-rich who lost their money to the global financial meltdown and is not man enough to eat the humble pie and scrap his money-guzzling leadership prize project? Two, we are talking about Mr. Mo Ibrahim’s money here and his right to spend or not spend it. So why does he owe us an explanation? More seriously, however, for a body that seeks to promote good governance and democracy, its position fails the tests of transparency and accountability. It is not enough to tell us that “this year, the prize committee has considered some eligible candidates. However, after in-depth review the committee could not select a winner.” Mo Ibrahim adds that “no disrespect is intended” towards the spurned candidates.
Still, the Kofi-Annan led committee owes us an explanation – to enlighten us, to convince us that some rigour went into the decision-making process, to allay fears of ulterior motives and to encourage changes in the behaviour of sitting African leaders. It is also not in the interest of the committee to allow speculations over what has ended up as a naming and shaming process. What the panel has said is that Obasanjo, Mbeki and Kufuor are bad leaders who do not deserve public honour. Even they need to be told where they went wrong. And why was the name of Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former President of Sierra Leone, 1996-97, 1998 -2007 not mentioned at all. We would like to know why he is considered so bad the committee would rather not mention his name even though his exit from office falls within the required three-year range. In 2007, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique who left office in 2005 was awarded the prize for “leading Mozambique from conflict to peace and democracy.” In 2008, Festus Mogae of Botswana was honoured for “Botswana’s continued stability and prosperity in the face of an HIV/AIDS pandemic which threatened the future of his country and people.” So what is wrong with Obasanjo, Mbeki, and Kufuor?
Former President Obasanjo is an obvious no-candidate. His inclusion in the short-list is shocking. Before returning to power in 1999, long before the emergence of the likes of Mo Ibrahim in the African power game, Obasanjo had made his mark across the world as a role model for African leadership. He also founded a body known as Africa Leadership Forum which for more than 20 years has done great quality work in the leadership creation and nurturing process across Africa. The naming and shaming of Obasanjo by the Kofi Annan panel further demystifies this leader who used to be an inspirational figure across Africa and the Commonwealth, but who is now classed along with Mbeki and Kufuor and rubbished. Obasanjo’s humiliation is self-inflicted. As Nigeria’s President between 1999 and 2007, he had every chance in the world to build on his well-earned pedigree and prove that he is real. But he blew it all into a balloon and the balloon went burst with reports of massive corruption, insincerity, despotism and electoral fraud which marked his Presidency. His worst crime was his attempt to seek a third term in office in violation of the Constitution. More than two years after Obasanjo’s exit, Nigeria is yet to recover from the direct and collateral damage of the misgovernance that was inflicted on the people by his administration.
Thabo Mbeki is not as bad. As President of South Africa (1999-2008), his government ensured consistent economic growth and the creation of opportunities for an emerging post-apartheid black middle class. The poor, dominated by the black majority, were grossly dissatisfied because the train of economic progress didn’t have as much space yet for the blacks, but real progress could be measured after Nelson Mandela’s largely inspirational leadership which provided the moral force for a new South Africa. Mbeki was also a redoubtable figure on the African continent: he was the architect of the idea of African Renaissance, he was one of the architects of the NEPAD-APRM initiative, and he was most active in brokering peace deals in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi, Ivory Coast and the DRC. He was an ideas man, an admirable figure. But he blew his chances on three grounds: his support of Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe (“there is no crisis in Zimbabwe”), his denial of AIDS which led to his banning the use of anti-retroviral drugs and his unceremonious resignation on September 20, 2008 following a court indictment and the loss of his party’s support in parliament.
John Kufuor of Ghana should have been given the prize. He deserves it. I hope he is not a victim of Kofi Annan’s personal fears (not wanting to be accused of nepotism). Kufuor, Ghana’s President from 2001-2008 proved his mettle as a good leader. Under his watch, gross domestic product, school enrolment and employment rates increased. He introduced free medical care for the poor and free meals in schools. He turned Ghana into a success story. He reduced poverty. In December 2008, he handed over power to the opposition candidate John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress in accordance with the Constitution and electoral rules. Today, the elections which were conducted under his watch, a fact that was indirectly acknowledged by President Barack Obama, are cited as symbols of Ghanaian progress. The opposition accused him of nepotism and corruption but these have not been proven. John Kufuor of Ghana is in my view, the undeclared winner of the 2009 Mo Ibrahim Prize for African Leadership.
—
Yona Fares Maro
I.T. Specialist and Digital Security Consultant
– – –
Subject: John Kufuor of Ghana should have been given the MO Ibrahim prize
Fw: Pictures of Michelle
From: Judy Miriga
Date: Thu, Oct 22, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Our First Lady is a fashion Queen.
The world is ready for her
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – –
Subject: Fw: Pictures of Michelle
President Obama makes me proud
From: odhiambo okecth
Date: Fri, Oct 9, 2009 at 6:51 AM
President Barrack Obama has just been nominated the winner of the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. He joins our own Nelson Mandela, Wangari Mathaai, Desmond Tutu and all those people of repute to have achieved this lifetime feat.
In congratulating President Obama, I want to look at Kenya and the sort of leadership that we have been voting in after every 5 years all through in the last 46 years. President Obama came from a background that does not boast of any political history, yet, in very few years, he was able to climb the political ladder from being what Alfred Mutua called a Junior Senator to being the President of the United States of America.
This is a feat we can learn from as Kenyans.
Can we be able to move with someone else to the promised land? Must it only be these people who have been there to lead us all the time? Are we capable of rising to the occasion and uniting in solving our own problems as Kenyans.
President Obama has been in the front line urging good governance for Kenya, but as Kenyans, what are we doing about it? We are busy strategizing Kalonzo style about 2012. Instead of focusing on the reform agenda, we are busy building alliances against Kenyans. We look at ourselves as Kikuyus, Kambas, Luos, Luhyas, Kalenjins instead of focusing on our Kenyanness.
Then we think of how we can unite to antagonize the rest of Kenyans. Can someone like Kalonzo leave that old Kanu mentality of zoning Kenya against others? Can he and his like think of all Kenya at the same time? That is our paradox. Smallness.
When President Obama is winning the Nobel for efforts he has put in place in entrenching peace across the world, what can our leaders be feted for? Corruption? Nepotisms? Tribalism? Ineptness? Rudderlessness?
And all this just because of us. It is us who vote these people into power every five years, it is us who sing their songs of praise, it is us who kill for them, it is us who will argue and defend their wrongs, it is us…..
In congratulating President Obama, I want to draw comparisons of what we can achieve for Kenya as Kenyans; we can unite and vote out impunity, corruption, ineptitude, nepotism, tribalism and rudderless leadership by voting all the elements who patronize the same vices.
We need to register as voters and overhaul the entire political spectrum right from the Council level to the Presidency. We have time on our side and I believe we can do it. They will not help us achieve this as leaders, they will only come in to fight for spoils, not reforms.
After all, Kenya is leading in IT connectivity and exposure.
Congratulations to President Barrack Obama, at least we have people who have seen leadership in you; Forget Gore Vidal.
Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi
– – –
Subject: President Obama makes me proud
Raila & Ida Meet Barack & Michelle
From: Joram Ragem
Date: Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 4:57 PM
Subject: Raila & Ida Meet Barack & Michelle
—
Joram Ragem
wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem! (Are you my relative?)
DR.ODHIAMBO MBAI 6TH ANNIVERSARY
From: crispus fwamba
Subject: DR.ODHIAMBO MBAI 6TH ANNIVERSARY
Date: Sunday, September 13, 2009, 11:50 PM
I do remember vividly that today marks the 6th anniversary since Dr.Odhaimbo Mbai was killed. Justice has not yet been achieved as far as his death is concerned.Am convinced that our amnesia about some injustices gives the evil side of our society to continue working with impunity.our biggest challenge is addressing these issues for the sake of puting the history of our nation straight.
FWAMBA NC FWAMBA.
– – – – – – – – – – –
From: Ochieng kh
Date: Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 4:05 AM
Subject: Re: DR.ODHIAMBO MBAI 6TH ANNIVERSARY
It is utterly disturbing just as it is of grave concern. Prof.Odhiambo Mbae was a man of profound intellectual abilities and talents. It is saddening that many years down the line, his assasination remains unresolved. Such lackadaisical attitude especially on the part of government, explains the menacing culture of impunity currently presenting challenges of both tragic and monumental proportions. It is equally important to identify tangible means and ways of paying tribute to this great Kenyan. May be a book or a community resource centre would no doubt immortalize his academic achievements and immense intellectual agility. May the Good Lord nourish his soul in eternity. Best wishes always,
Ochieng M.K
Phone Number (Office) +254-20-3861530/1
Cell Phone Number:+254-723-745-817
Email:ochykheyr@yahoo.com
“We can nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth” Abraham Lincoln
Atomy Sifa Singing Obama
From: Judy Miriga <>
Date: Sun, Sep 13, 2009 at 4:32 PM
Subject: Atomy Sifa Singing Obama
Folks,
Have fun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeT0hFszJsg
Atomy Sifa – Obama
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
My Heroes
It takes a moment to set…but it is beautiful
![My Heroes; [image]](wp-content/uploads/2009/09/03/YouWONTB.gif)
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
– – –
From: Judy Miriga
Date: Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Subject: My Heroes
Re: Otieno Ombok
From: maurice oduor
Date: Thu, Aug 27, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Subject: Re: Otieno Ombok
Shouldn’t this kind of exchange be undertaken privately and not on a public forum like this?
Courage,
Maurice
— On Thu, 8/27/09, Judy Miriga
The Lion is at rest.
from: move on dot org
date Aug 26, 2009 8:59 PM
subject The Lion is at rest.
Dear MoveOn member,
The Lion is at rest.
Senator Teddy Kennedy passed away last night and our movement lost a hero. His leadership, his vision, and his passion will never be forgotten.
As we grieve, we must honor his memory and re-dedicate ourselves to his fight. Right now, let’s listen to his words. Below is a powerful video that lots of MoveOn members are passing around this morning.
Tonight, please light a candle in your window to memorialize him.
Tomorrow, as Senator Kennedy said, “…the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”
Tomorrow, let’s re-commit ourselves to achieving the thing that mattered most to him: Quality, affordable health care for every single American.
Thank you for all you do.
–Justin, Adam, Amy, Anna, Annie, Carrie, Christopher, Daniel, Danielle, Eli, Emily, Gail, Ian, Ilya, Ilyse, Joan, Jodeen, Julie, Kat, Keauna, Laura, Lenore, Marika, Matt E., Matt S., Matthew, Melanie, Michael, Nita, Noah, Peter, Sasha, Scott, Stephen, Steven, Susannah, Wes, and the entire MoveOn team
References
Visible links
. http://pol.moveon.org/kennedy/?id=17001-5885054-rnPsRBx&t=3
. http://pol.moveon.org/kennedy/?id=17001-5885054-rnPsRBx&t=4
Regarding MARTHA KARUA . . .
Lady Martha Karua is trying so hard to sell the unsellable, that is herself to Kenyans in New Jersey, USA. She chose rather ”cleverly” not to talk about her contribution to impunity and her anti-reformism while minister of Justice and constitutional Affairs. She has the cheek of saying that she does not take John Githongo seriously. It could have surprised the gods if she did.
To honest Kenyans what it is that has changed arrogant Martha Karua into a gentle peace-speaking politician should be more worrying than what she painfully tries to portray at the moment to a world she strangely assumes does not know anything about her.
She is at pains trying to equate President Mwai Kibaki with Raila Odinga with regards to corruption in Kenya. But black will never be yellow no matter how hard the great Lady Karua would like to wish it so.
Why was the great Lady not loud in New Jersey on her contribution in the rigging of the 27th December 2007? She has faithfully joined her GEMA in repeatedly imparting a 50% slice of blame to Raila Amolo Odinga so that president Mwai Kibaki’s sins against the Kenyan nation could be less by the same 50%. Dear lady! You can never cheat history since nobody has.
If you want to be elected by Kenyans to the highest office, then the most hones thing to do is to apologize on, among many of your sins, the PEV for us to us with our well known big compassionate hearts o forgive you and then the rest will be taken over by history.
DR. ODIDA OKUTHE
– – –
from: DR.ODIDA OKUTHE
date: Aug 18, 2:33 PM
subject: Regarding MARTHA KARUA . . .
MARTIN OKAFOR EMERGES ANAC CHAIRMAN, AKEEM BELLO OUT
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:14:54 -0700
From: memberservices@ . . .
Subject: MARTIN OKAFOR EMERGES ANAC CHAIRMAN, AKEEM BELLO OUT
ALL NIGERIAN AMERICAN CONGRESS (ANAC)
Immediate Press Release
July 1st, 2009
ANAC Passes No-Confidence Vote, Martin Okafor Emerges ANAC National Chairman as Akeem Bello is removed.
Largo, MD – July, 1st, 2009 – ANAC Board of Trustees in a special session held on Thursday, June 25th, 2009 called by Hon. Paul Oranika of Georgia (Trustee representing ANAC USA At-Large District), and seconded by Hon. Samuel Isokpunwu of Texas (Trustee representing ANAC USA At-Large District), in accordance with the ANAC constitutional requirement for calling a special session, voted to remove its Chairman for numerous issues, paramount of which is conflict of interest as it pertains to his creation and direct participation with other organizations in direct competition with the interests of ANAC.
VISIT WWW.ANACWEB.ORG[1] FOR FULL REPORT
Links:
——
[1] http://www.anacweb.org/
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON
By Magaga Alot
On this day we should all spare a thought for Michael Jackson. He is not the one who pulled down the Berlin Wall and solved all the problems of mankind. He is not the one who was sent to redeem all mankind of its sins. But he rode the crest of a wave of human civilization. That today we are all dropped down and feel so devastated by the benumbing sounds of the tolling bells of his passing, it is not at the passing of a Saint, but at the sad, very sad, passing of a young man who started young, blazed the trail of a unique popular culture and entertainment, and died when he was still young and looking forward to doing more.
For those of the 1970’s generation that were privy to his début into his meteoric entertainment and musical career, it was not as if they just had to dance. They would have danced just the same but not to such good music and dance that only Michael Jackson provided. Back then, there was no one greater than him. For a long time there was never to be; and there will not be another like him for a long time to come. He strode the world stage like a colossus.
In its genre, Michael Jackson’s is a legacy unbeaten in the history of mankind. He had his lows and downs and moments of serious issues, some simply silly or just weird, that would find their way into the courts of law and extensive publicity in the media of communications. On the same balance sheet, however, he also reached dizzying heights of achievement, re-inventing, so to speak, the razzmatazz and touching so many around the world with his inspirational music and message.
When he sang “Don’t stop till you get enough”, there were those who might have taken the cue to indulge a vanity and pursuit of human greed and debauchery to the end. Yet there were others, inspired by the same lyrics and thrills, determined to reach out with human compassion and devotion to create a new world social and economic order.
The world is still what it is today, riddled with vice of all kinds and weighed down with a huge deficit of, so to speak, “the milk of human compassion”. This was not for Michael Jackson’s lack of trying, nor for that matter, necessarily the widely perceived incorrigibility of the human race. His plaintive plea in “I’ll be there”, not to mention such blockbusters as “We are the World” and “Black or White”, were intended to be so uplifting of mankind and indeed they were.
But as with life being what it is, Michael Jackson did not win them all. He won some and he lost some. I think the thrust of his message was to bring out the virtue of being and doing the best in all of us to become Number One. On account of this, many people and Barack Obama have become Number One in their various fields and stations of calling. Simply the Best and Great of All Time, that’s what Michael Jackson was and will always be remembered.
– ENDS –
*** MAGAGA ALOT is a corporate communications expert and author of “Daughter of State”
– – –
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:43:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON
I A M D I S A P P O I N T E D & S A D D E N E D .
People,
Sometimes, people do crazy things that were unexpected. Sometimes they crazily don’t do what is expected. This causes disappointment to those who relate to them at a distance, (the public) and those who know such people well (the confidantes).
It will be in perfect honor to Michael Jackson, and great for us his fans, if he was given a state funeral.
I am disappointed that Barack Obama, or congress has not even thought of offering Michael Jackson a state funeral. Personally, I reached out to Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Barbara Boxer about this, and their answer was that there was no precedent to go by. I insisted that this would be a first and that, with the Democrats being the majority, especially today since they just gained a filibuster proof majority, they preferred not to pus the envelope.
It appears that state funerals in the US are only for sitting or retired presidents. This is despite the description of the term. A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony held to honour heads of state or other important people of national significance. They usually include much pomp and ceremony. Generally, they are held to involve the general public in the mourning process after the family of the deceased give consent.
Michael Jackson was not just important enough, and was of little significance to Americans. Perhaps his body should be handed over to the United Nations, for a global or international coalition funeral.
I am disappointed and saddened, that the King of Pop, was taken to the LA Coroner’s Office in a van instead of a hearse.
I am disappointed, but will feel consoled to learn if Michaels family turned down a state funeral offer, or if he wanted a private funeral in his will. The British were smart to give Diana a princess burial even when she no longer was. Otherwise the world would not have forgiven them.
Interestingly, my 10th great grandfather, Ragem informs me that Michael Jackson had sought to know his roots and had asked for DNA testing and matching. It is reported that the researchers he hired determined that his closest match was with a small nilotic tribe settled in on the shores of lake Victoria in East Africa! Hey Obama and Raila, if US cannot do a state funeral, lets send him to Nyalgunga, because his clan might just be Umira Kager or Aoro Wango before the Portugese scattered us all over the world.
Which reminds me of my second disappointment. Raila was advised to put more energy on constitution change rather than this PEV thing. Ocampo will net fish from either side despite his name telling that he too might be from the shores of the lake we know. There are certain things that are not worth fighting for.
I wish Obama, Pelosi, Boxer and Raila would look at the man or the woman on the mirror, nd tell them the change their ways about certain things, like smoking.
—
Joram Ragem
– wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem! (Are you my relative?)
– – –
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 00:43:06 -0400
From: Joram Ragem
Subject: I A M D I S A P P O I N T E D & S A D D E N E D .
Which Song Is our Favourite Why? Obama, Ask Congress To Give Him A State Funeral.
Jacksonians,
Mine is THE GIRL IS MINE. Indeed, one weekend, I accompanied a friend for burial in Lelechwett. There, in the little shopping center, a beautiful PYT was the shopkeeper. She was dark, my complexion. As if by design, Michael Jackson’s THAT DARK GIRL IS MINE was playing on the transistor radio. She was shy, and had a pretty smile. I like her, fell in love and later asked for Cheruto’s hand in marriage. It has been great. Perhaps Michael Jackson played a role in getting us together. Whether you believe this or not, his song certainly did, and we still hold hands when this song plays.
Michael Jackson, you rocked the world. My 10th great grandfather, Ragem say you still will! Rest in peace Wacho Jacko.
So, which one of his songs touched you most, gently or somehow? Below is a list from Wikipedia.
—
Joram Ragem
wuod Ndinya, wuod Onam, wuod Amolo, wuod Owuoth, wuod Oganyo, wuod Mumbe, wuod Odongo, wuod Olwande, wuod Adhaya, wuod Ojuodhi, wuod Ragem! (Are you my relative?)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Michael_Jackson_songs
Michael Jackson singles discography
A
Ain’t No Sunshine
Another Part of Me
B
Bad (Michael Jackson song)
Beat It
Ben (song)
Billie Jean
Black or White
Blood on the Dance Floor (song)
Butterflies (Michael Jackson song)
C
Come Together
Cry (Michael Jackson song)
D
D.S. (song)
Dangerous (Michael Jackson song)
Dirty Diana
Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough
E
Earth Song
Ease on Down the Road
G
Get It (song)
The Girl Is Mine
Girlfriend (Michael Jackson song)
G cont.
Give In to Me
Gone Too Soon
Got to Be There (song)
H
HIStory/Ghosts
Happy (Michael Jackson song)
Heal the World
Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)
I
I Just Can’t Stop Loving You
I Wanna Be Where You Are
In the Closet
J
Jam (song)
Just a Little Bit of You
L
Leave Me Alone
Liberian Girl
M
Man in the Mirror
O
Off the Wall (song)
One Day in Your Life (Michael Jackson song)
One More Chance (Michael Jackson song)
P
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
R
Remember the Time
Rock with You (Michael Jackson song)
Rockin’ Robin (song)
S
Say Say Say
Scream/Childhood
She’s out of My Life
Smile (Charlie Chaplin song)
Smooth Criminal
Stranger in Moscow
T
Tell Me I’m Not Dreamin’ (Too Good to Be True)
They Don’t Care About Us
Thriller (song)
W
Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
The Way You Make Me Feel
We Are the World
We’re Almost There
What More Can I Give
Who Is It (Michael Jackson song)
Why (3T song)
Will You Be There
With a Child’s Heart
Y
You Are Not Alone
You Can’t Win (song)
You Rock My World
– – –
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:24:34 -0400
From: Joram Ragem
Subject: Which Song Is our Favourite Why? Obama, Ask Congress To Give Him A State Funeral.
Discovering Kikwete: Is he a “brand” politician?
In marketing branding reigns supreme. Branding is one of the most effective marketing tool (not the only one) used in business for marketing and selling products. Branding is first and foremost about recognition and acceptability. When customers, for instance, fall over each other to buy a Mercedes Benz, a Calvin Klein item, Coca Cola drink or Kilimanjaro lager, etc, it is possibly more to do with a “brand” than other product attributes. This, however, does not necessarily mean that these brand merchandise, for example, are the best in the marketplace. It is quite possible that there could even be better products out there but because they lack brand recognition they are not sought after that much.
In the human world we have brand personalities who command a lot marketing power but in actual fact may not be the best. Examples abound. Take the former Spice Girls of United Kingdom for starters. This was a group of four British girls (including Victoria Beckham) who took the music world off its feet in the 1990s. It is arguably said that the spice girls were quite successful as a “brand” and less as a singing outfit. In other words their record sales were boosted by the “euphoria” about the spice girls than the appeal (if you like) of their songs!
Soccer Superstar David Beckham is more of “brand” than a real soccer sensation in the likes of Pele, Maradona or Zenadine Zidane. Beckham is reportedly earning more than any footballer in the world at his current American soccer club namely Galaxy in the USA. In fact Galaxy lured Beckham from his former club, Real Madrid not because of his soccer talents he could bring to the club but it was anticipated that because of his brand power he could invigorate the soccer interest in the USA which is currently lacking. If my memory serves me right, actor Will Smith has never taken a prestigious Oscar prize home but his “brand” supremacy makes him the highest paid actor in Hollywood. The list goes on and on. By the way this is not to take anything away from these great personalities. Indeed what they have achieved individually is no mean feat. However, it simply underscores the fact that some people can be more successful as a “brand” and not what they can actually deliver in their actual work.
This brings me to politics. The recent visit to the USA by President Jakaya Kikwete has raised a lot of eye brows. The local newspapers have reported that while President Kwikwete was in the USA for a non-state visit he was invited to pay a courtesy call to the White House. This act alone was enough to send political jitters and cause tantrum particularly in Kenya with the Kenyan press going berserk, screaming and cursing! Reason? Why should Kikwete be the first African President to have a “cup of tea” with USA President Barack Obama? Why not President Kibaki or even Prime Minister Raila Odinga( who happened to be in the USA at the same time) who should automatically be given the priority of meeting the USA President whom they consider to be a man from their soil? Does President Kikwete merit this honour in the first place?
In my view the Kenyan Press was just created a storm in a tea cup for nothing. For many, Kikwete’s visit to the White House was not a complete surprise. Over a decade Mr. Kikwete has created for himself a niche on the international political landscape. Firstly, as a foreign minister of Tanzania (1995-2005) , arguably one of the African countries highly regarded in the world, Mr. Kikwete’s face is very familiar in the corridors of power the world over compared to that of his counterpart across the border. I believe we are the same hymn page with our Kenyan friends on this particular aspect.
Secondly, unlike the Kenyan President our President is a globe trotting socialite. President Kikwete’s critics accuse him of leading a jet-set kind of life at the expense pressing domestic issues. However, State House and his dyed-in-the-wool supporters are adamant that indeed Kikwete’s foreign trips are not in vain after all. That while he is abroad the President is not on a sojourn as such but he is always busy passing around a “bowl” whose benefits are obvious for all who have “eyes” to see. We can debate the merits and demerits of President Kiwete’s frequent trips abroad until the cows come home without reaching a consensus. However, me thinks that these trips have helped Mr. Kikwete to develop a strong rapport and network (mtandao!) with his counterparts around the world which has gradually given him a recognition of some sort. Kikwete is now a kind of politician whom world leaders would like to meet when such a chance arises. In my view that is how President Kikwete found himself at the Oval office, so our Kenyan compatriots should not loose sleep over this.
On the domestic scene, Mr. Kikwete’s likeability and charm is simply mind boggling. Listen to this. In 1995 Mr. Kikwete missed the Presidency just by a whisker! From relative obscurity Kikwete suddenly become a front runner during 1995 CCM primaries in Dodoma to determine the CCM presidential candidate for 1995 general elections. In the first round he trounced seasoned politicians including former Prime Minister Clleopa Msuya and Benjamin Mkapa only to be persuaded by former President J.K Nyerere to step aside. The rest as they say is history. This alone was enough to leave political observers completely bewildered!
Mr. Kikwete is a patient bird. He bid for his time and during 2005 CCM primaries fought a mother of all political battles. With former Prime Minister and once upon a time eminent person, John Malecela down and out of the race to determine the presidential candidate for CCM for 2005 general elections, Kikwete not only outwitted former Prime Minister who never made it to final round but was triumphant by giving his two opponents a bloody nose. Both Ambassador Salim H. Salim and Hon Mr. Mark Mwandosya came a distant first and second runner up respectively in terms of casted votes. How could Kikwete edge out a political pedigree like Dr. Salim? Granted, there are serious allegations of mud slinging and other under hand methods during the campaign but can this alone explain a wide margin of the votes between the victor and the vanquished? Your guess is as good as mine.
Enter 2005 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. The debate-shy CCM candidate (Kikwete) even went on to dodge the Presidential Debate on very flimsy excuses. Critics attacked him of fearing to take the heat from his fiery and eloquent opponents like Prof. Ibrahim Lipumba, Augustine Mrema and Freeman Mbowe. This weakness alone could have been sufficient to blemish his chances of getting a clear cut victory. Well, not according to the Tanzania electorates because Mr. Kikwete went on to win this election big time. He got a landslide of over 80%, just to be precise! The results shocked and awed political observers. Was this victory a product of Kikwete’s political astuteness, hard work or something else?
However, the opposition and critics contend that Kikwete and CCM stole 2005 election through bribery and rampant misuse of public resources. Although there is some merit on these allegations but this could only be one of the factors in Kikwete’s favour, not the decisive one. Truth to be told, the elections polls had consistently indicated that Kikwete was heading for a landslide victory. Part of answers to his conquest, by and large, lies somewhere else as we shall discern shortly.
Fast forward. Assured of mass support and riding on immense popularity, President Kikwete entered State House with gusto and his political engine machine firing on all six cylinders. Kikwete hit the ground running and in a short span of time his administration was able to clamp down on armed robbery. A crime which had been a menace during President Mkapa’s tenure. The President went into overdrive mode by launching a major campaign to raise funds to build more class rooms for secondary school pupils who have hitherto missed out due to lack of facilities. Everything seemed to be in tandem with his new rule book entitled “new vigour, new zeal and new speed”.
But alas! This was short lived because severe drought struck soon thereafter resulting into serious scarcity of food and water in the country. The country was plunged into darkness and industrial production slumped to low levels due to inadequate electricity. As the say, misfortunes don’t come in singles. The administration’s endeavors to acquire emergency power to alleviate the power crisis was bungled and one thing lead to another until the buck stopped at the Prime Minister. As a result Prime Minister Lowassa was went packing, unceremoniously, so to speak.
Without his most right hand man, President was badly handicapped. Dear reader let us pause and reflect for a moment. President Kikwete without Lowassa at his beck and call is like the biblical Moses leading the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land of Canaan without Aaron. Just imagine if Aaron went missing at the critical moment at Mount Sinai! Yes, you guessed right because it would have been disastrous for Moses. No wonder the promised “better life for all Tanzanians” ( manna from heaven ?) has turned into a pipedream because Lowassa (JK’s Aaron? ) is “missing in action” . The ensuing corruption scandals exposed by the opposition has, to a great extent, rolled Kikwete’s administration into the mud. As a result of the foregoing the population is apprehensive and disenchanted with his administration’s performance this far.
However, according the recent research done by Research And Education for Democracy in Tanzania ( REDET) found out that the ruling party CCM has gradually (since 2005 general elections) been losing ground in terms of popularity to the opposition because the population is generally getting disillusioned by its policies and conduct. Similarly, Kikwete’s administration especially his ministers have come under spotlight for not being able to perform and deliver. Ironically, while Kikwete’s party and ministers are getting a flak from the public, the President’s popularity has somehow remained unfazed!
According to REDET, President Kikwete, for good measure, would in fact win landslide if the presidential elections were held at this point in time! Question is: Why is President Kikwete still popular with the public while his party, CCM and his ministers are doing so badly? It is simple. Kikwete has over the time created an image of acceptability and adorability forte for himself. Results or no results, love or loathe him, Kikwete is a “brand” in himself which resonates very well with the public mood at large. Kikwete is a brand politician, no more no less and that what makes him tick.That is why, in my view, if Kikwete stands again on a CCM ticket he will win 2010 elections hands down. Not because he can deliver but due to his brand power.
—
Yona Fares Maro
I.T. Specialist and Digital Security Consultan
– – –
Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:20:49 -0700
From: Yona Fares Maro
Subject: Discovering Kikwete: Is he a “brand” politician?
Re: I miss Hon. Kalembe Ndile
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:10:49 -0800 [03:10:49 PM CST]
From: Amos Kibara
Subject: Re: I miss Hon. Kalembe Ndile
Owiti, that was hilarious.
What I miss about Hon. Kalembe is his natural capability to interact with the high and mighty, and then connect so well with the lowly and the trampled down members of our society. This is is a characteristic that many of our learned leaders in parliament do have. In other words, there is something that Kalembe has that people do not learn in schools and universities, and I wish everybody in our leadership would be able to connect with it.
Think about this, when 10m Kenyans are hungry, hundreds of life lost in the fire tragedy, PresidentKibaki was so busy defending Hon Saitoti, In other words he only connect with the poor when they die in masses, what a shame. Kalembe would be busy advocating for the welfare of the aquatters.
Our schools curriculum is lacking something.
Sincerely
Kibara, Amos Gakobo
Montgomery Alabama, USA
Life is a sum of decisions made in the past. The better the decisions, the better the quality of life.
— On Mon, 2/16/09, Philip Owiti wrote:
From: Philip Owiti
Subject: Re: I miss Hon. Kalembe Ndile
Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 10:13 PM
Dear Amos,
Find KAlembe Ndile on this Link
http://graduates.com/vg.aspx?i=3025832
TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 02:17:51 -0800 [02/09/2009 04:17:51 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: Fw: TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA
Part(s): 2 MAGAGA TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA 050209 (3).doc [application/msword] 34 KB
— On Sat, 2/7/09, magaga alot wrote
From: magaga alot
Subject: TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 9:42 AM
As discussed, please find attached Tribute to Pamela Mboya for publication.
Magaga
– – – – – – – – – – – –
PAMELA MBOYA – a Tribute
By Magaga Alot
Pamela Arwa Mboya captured the Kenyan imagination in the early sixties – and remained inscribed there forever thereafter.
That was the time when the photographs of her wedding event were splashed on the front pages of the newspapers and the phrase, “Wedding of the Year” entered the Kenyan lingo for the first time.
The wedding was the enactment of a fairy tale romance, complete with a meeting of stars scenario that, with hindsight, presaged a tragic, if also, classic denouement.
The man she had married, Tom Mboya, was charming, debonair, and suave. He was also the most articulate and electrifying political personality of that moment. He was young, gifted and black, as the craze of a later time would soon have it.
With only a practiced modesty would therefore the usually irreverent gossip columnists of the time proclaim that the wedding had marked the resignation from the Bachelors Club of one of its most eligible members. The phrase “most eligible bachelor” also had its debut into the Kenyan vocabulary.
Pamela herself was living poetry itself. Young, outgoing and pleasant spirited throughout from the image she projected in those pictures of her wedding. From that wedding moment, many Kenyan mothers would name their girl babies Pamela.
Many composers penned “Pamela” songs. Only a few of them needed declare that she was the inspiration behind the compositions. She was, after all, the one and only Pamela. Commanding presence, composed, elegant and, well, prim and youthful to the end.
As fate would have it , Pamela never made it to First Lady but for generations after the wedding event and, much too soon after, when her husband was assassinated, she remained in their hearts the First Role Model for many Kenyan girls and women.
Like Kennedy’s widow, she was the heart of Kenya’s own Camelot. When I heard of her passing away, my first reaction was to remark to myself that, at least, she had lived on to witness the entry of Obama and his bouncing young family into the Whitehouse.
I cherish the privilege of having known Pamela for a long time, before and when we worked together at the Office of the United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi in the seventies and through her later appointment as Ambassador to the UN Habitat.
There is much that I would like to recall and relate about Pamela during this time. However, for the sake of this brief tribute, let me state that to us at the United Nations she became the picture of majesty and a matriarchy .
As the foul stench of tribalism, corruption and other indulgences of betrayal of our independence struggle swirled around our national life, she stood out as a pillar of rectitude.
She encouraged us to always demonstrate our sense of high professionalism and integrity, insisting we must never give our foreign counterparts in that UN office any cause to look us or our country down.
We should always demonstrate our sense and spirit of national unity, devoid of tribal or racial sectionalism. That all this should also show in the representative nature of the UNDP development intervention and coverage of all parts of Kenya, with emphasis on the arid areas and on the marginalized communities.
She was the highest ranking Kenyan in the UN Office and all of us Kenyans, from all tribes and races that served under her supervision were ever rejoiced in the appreciation of her distinguished presence and stern protection. We were always motivated never to let down “PMb”, as we all fondly and reverentially referred to Pamela.
Pamela had launched her public career in social work, specifically in the area of children’s development; and in political work as companion to one of the most celebrated politicians in this country’s history.
She proceeded to international development work and to the distinguished diplomatic service for her country. She did so much for so many people of all extraction, class or station in life, finally in the twilight days of her life, graceful bowing out of the scene with focus on the care for the aged.
Pamela was kind and compassionate to an extent very few people I have known would ever manage. She was able to touch so many people with her generosity, not because she was so rich but just because she was so kind and a loving mother to all her children and to all the children of Kenya.
Pamela has left behind a duo legacy. She bore her pain and loss with great dignity and resilience; and she endured to the end in her faith and love for her country and people of Kenya with great joy.
If she should ever find a place in the Kenyan folklore, she would be serenaded as the queen of compassion. And should she, in that however distant horizon of time, enter the realms of Kenyan mythology, she will be adored as the goddess of fortitude and forbearance.
Now we must accept that for a long time to come there will not be another like Pamela Mboya. PMb. Nyowila. May the good Lord rest her soul in Eternal Peace.
-OoO-
Re: Khalwale: Waso Millers connected to Ruto
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:10:33 +0300 [08:10:33 AM CST]
From: Robert Alai
Subject: Re: Khalwale: Waso Millers connected to Ruto
Waso Millers is owned by Wife of the late Guracha Galgalo and it seems that Ruto they say is lungulaing the mama? Yaani Khalwale has issues
On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 5:08 PM, Robert Alai wrote:
Ababu Namwamba, Rachel Shebesh, Charles Keter and Niicholas Ruto blocked the submission by Khalwale. You see people here protecting their tribes.
Shebesh wants us to believe that she is not tribal. She is very very tribal. Midiwo also protecting Ruto for Raila
On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 5:06 PM, Robert Alai wrote:
Guys
The speaker blocked the debate defering it for another one week and so Khalwale would have been bribed already and told to keep quiet
Now we are getting the Parliamentary repoort on Grand regency and Kimunya and Michuki are ttrying to derail it
Robert
On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:53 PM, Charles Munene Kiura wrote:
Let us know the truth, even when they dont own anything
—
Regards,
Kiura C. Munene
On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:48 PM, swahili ken wrote:
stop the stupit Khalwale wht does he own apart from WOmen
— On Wed, 1/28/09, Alice Okello wrote:
From: Alice Okello
Subject: Re: Khalwale: Waso Millers connected to Ruto
Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 5:13 AM
Robert,
please keep us updated.
On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 4:04 PM, Robert Alai wrote:
Guys
Khalwale has said that Waso Millers is related to Ruto
The bags taken by the company is 16,503
Namwamba is interrupting
Robert
RE: Ruto and Uhuru: Kibaki please forget!
Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 22:06:19 -0800
From: komboelijah@ . . .
Subject: Ruto and Uhuru: Kibaki please forget!
The statement goes that the President is holding secret talks with Uhuru and Ruto as part of succession plan come 2012. I submit on this forum that never again will the two ministers ever see or be the Presient in our State House. They need to sit down, think and draw formulas on how to repair their damaged reputation rather start thinking being the country’s CEOs. If i were them, i would start planning my peaceful road to early retirement.The Waki report and Jusitce Minister Martha Karua’s proposal sound to be really good to deter and bar anyone mentioned in the report not fit to hold public office -like that of a Minister.
We cannot allow bad history to keep repeating itself. I am sure Kenyan are fed up with same faces mentioned on corruption, tribal clashes, madoido remarks, etc should be even on the newspaper in the front pages. I tend to think that the current crop of politician have reached their political menopause and should not hand over to another vibrant visioned generation. Few of the current leaders have proved worthy and Raila proves to be that one who was to get Kenya out of tribal cacoon. See the example of Congo – young Kabila has tried to bring sanity and he is still struggling with the old guard who are masterminding and planning mayhems in that country. Why for example is Tanzania getting better and better? We have leaders who are supposed to face the Hague worser like Milesovic!
What holds for us is to keep shouting but grassroot civil education need to be enhanced and equiping citizens with knowledge which will give them power to send the fat cows home. So when the President calls the two ministers to discuss succession politics – it means that there was something common that happened and is prone to happen. We know thta both ministers had a cake in the just ended ethnic cleansing – and therefore do not belong to the calibre of political leaders we want. As a leader, i think i will be ashamed if i am not consistent with my stand – i cannot be swayed and change my mind. Thus both Uhuru and Ruto become leaders of no integrity and stand but of contradictions.
As a patriotic Kenyan, i havent come into terms with what happened during the Moi era and the now the Kibaki era. I tend also to think there too much madness around detriment to politics of development. When i go back to my rural home, i still people drinking unclean water, impassable roads, no electricity, poor state of schools, ill equiped hospitals etc. We are much more worse than when we started!
And yet those who havent seen or experienced this penicious, perpetual pernury take an economic advantage to pass laws and rules that are punitive to the development of our good country. I appeal to newspaper to ignore such leaders and start highlighting, moulding leaders who have shown integrity in the character and conduct.
I therefore submit that both Uhuru and Ruto do not fall under that category of leaders with the country at heart. They have made politics a career and profession! President Kibaki should think twice and plan his succession better not to irritate Kenyans but let us choose who we want to leader the nation.
Kombo Elijah
– – – – – – – – – – –
Well said Elijah. Both Ruto and Uhuru are following a well-read script crafted and perfected by the Moi era cleptomaniacs who bought, used and dumped political opponents like sanitary tissue.
Both Ruto and Uhuru are in that promising age-group that could re-enact the Obama political trillology in Kenya yet, in line with politics Kenya-style, they are just opportunists who pretend to champion a different and liberating political ideology while they have greedy, glutonous eyes on the State House buffet. As soon as the president opens the gates, they cannot resist the aroma. They will troupe there, salivating at the succulency of the fare spread by the House culinary wizards. And that, as one Martin Shikuku will confirm, will be the end of the dream for the Rutos and Uhurus of Kenya.
As I said, Knya yearns fro a Messiah. That Messiah isn’t yet born, going by the charade that’s Kenya’s politics.
Any one ready to liberat Kenya from political mediocrity? Step forward.
Mathias.
– – –
Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 08:48:09 +0000 [11/30/2008 02:48:09 AM CST]
From: mathias aguta
Subject: RE: Ruto and Uhuru: Kibaki please forget!