Category Archives: Activism

Infomediaries: Brokers of public access

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From: Yona Maro

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

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

IS CANCER CONTAGIOUS?

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014

One of our News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste who does not want her name revealed writes: “Father Omolo Beste thank you for your recent articles on cancer. Yesterday I read in one of the newspapers that the act of kissing, especially deep kissing can give you cancer according to the study carried out in Mombasa.

I and my boyfriend we kiss a lot and now I am scared if you can get cancer from kissing. If that is true then many people can die from cancer because kissing is very common, not only romantic kiss but also I have seen in church people kiss each other”.

This is very important question. Although there is no evidence that close contact or things like sex, kissing, touching, sharing meals, or breathing the same air can spread cancer from one person to another, the study in Mombasa demonstrates high rates and quantities of the herpes virus residing in the throats of these women and more so those infected with HIV and with high CD4 counts.

The team according to the research had tested saliva samples in gay men in the US for the presence of the herpes virus. Led by Dr John Pauk they had compared the level of herpes virus in saliva of these men with what was found in other body fluids and concluded that saliva was the most possible rout of transmission to others.

Scientists who refute this research argue that you cannot get cancer through kissing because cancer cells from one person are generally unable to live in the body of another healthy person. A healthy person’s immune system recognizes foreign cells and destroys them, including cancer cells from another person.

It is quite true that kissing is very common. Among Christians is called the holy kiss or kiss of peace, a traditional part of most Christian liturgies, though often replaced with an embrace or handshake today in most churches.

The kiss is an important expression of love and erotic emotions. In his book The Kiss and its History, Kristoffer Nyrop describes the kiss of love as an “exultant message of the longing of love, love eternally young, the burning prayer of hot desire, which is born on the lovers’ lips.

Kissing he implies, can lead one to maturity: “It is through kisses that knowledge of life and happiness first comes to us. Runeberg says that the angels rejoice over the first kiss exchanged by lovers,” and can keep one feeling young: “It carries life with it; it even bestows the gift of eternal youth”.

In some societies kissing has been understood negatively. It can explain why Song of Songs (also called the Song of Solomon) has been neglected part of the Bible. It is a book that is rarely read and hardly known. Such neglect does not befit any of God’s word, because as it says elsewhere in the Bible: All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

Primarily the Song of Songs is a song of praise celebrating God’s creation and what is without a doubt the crowning glory of that creation; the gift of love between a man and a woman. The very presence of the poem in the Bible is a testimony to the fact that God does not divide the world into sacred and secular, and demonstrates the importance that God places on love and commitment.

It is also significant that God has chosen to deal with this most important topic, so central to human life and experience, through a poem, rather than through a long list of rules, regulations, and advice. The love between a man and a woman, the commitment of marriage, is a wonderful, incredible thing, and one that does not reduce easily to words on a page.

Both Jews and Christians have suggested that the Song of Songs is an allegory, a picture of either God’s love for his people Israel or of Christ’s love for the Church, which elsewhere in the Bible is described as his “bride”.

Some have suggested that the Song of Solomon was originally written as a series of songs, designed to be sung during a Jewish wedding feast, which in the time of King Solomon would have lasted for a whole week!

The primary message of the book is this: that human love, marriage and sexual love are a gift from God. Sexual love is commended and celebrated in the poem as a gift from God to be celebrated and to praise Him for.

Love between a man and a woman is fundamental to all human experience; and in the poem we have the most supreme blueprint of what love is to be like. We learn that love means giving one to another. The man is not to lord it over the woman, or vice versa, but there is to be a mutual giving, one to another.

Love means remaining loyal and faithful to one another, no matter what the circumstances. It would have been all too easy for the maiden to give in to the advances of Solomon, betraying her shepherd lover. She would have done no wrong in marrying the king, for she was a virgin. But true love is loyal and faithful, and she could not turn her back on her shepherd.

Love, relationships, marriage, and sex are all gifts from God. The Song of Songs demonstrates and celebrates this time and time again. In the light of this part of the Scriptures, we should give grateful thanks to God for the wonderful mystery of human sexuality, and pray that He guides us into using it responsibly and rightfully; within a one-to-one marriage relationship where there is mutual trust, giving, love, total commitment and respect.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Nuer Students’ Union and Naath Youth Network Refuse Bribes From Naïve South Sudan Government Agents in Kenya

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From: South Sudan Press

The Republic of South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011 and the first elected President of the Republic of South Sudan, Gen. Salva Kiir, was sworn in to protect the constitution, the right of people, and to defend the integrity of the nation. Soon afterwards, President Kiir violated this solemn duty and began to lead the nation alone and ruled by issuing Presidential Decrees. He disagreed with his former SPLM colleagues and because he wanted to eliminate his opponents, he falsely created a story that a coup had taken place.

This false alleged coup transpired into a massacre of only Nuer tribe in Juba even though the leaders, who carried out the rebellion were Dinkas, Nuers, and many other tribes. If this was a legitimate coup carried out by leaders from various tribes, what then would turn it to become a Nuer problem that would cost thousands of Nuer their lives.

What really happened on Sunday, December 15 and why did it happen?

Human rights watch and observers have expressed opinion of the war as being tribal. The element of such claims cannot be completely denied from what had happened. However, what is currently happening is a war between the citizens who want to liberate south Sudan from the hands of dictatorship and to return the nation to the objectives and aspirations of the SPLM liberty, equality and prosperity where democracy is the pillar of these objectives. The people of south Sudan fought against undemocratic policies in the North and never regretted to lose 2 million lives. Our objective is to live in a free, fair and democratic nation where freedom of expression is not a privilege but a right to every citizen as enshrined in the transitional constitution of South Sudan. It is President Kiir’s private army that turned the conflict into tribal war.

South Sudan is a country ruled with Aristocracy and Dictatorship theories, whereby aristocracy is guru where government don’t listen to the citizens but the executive does everything on behave of the citizens being it right or wrong. The case of aristocracy resulted to an infected transitional constitution of the Republic of South Sudan where there were no inputs from the citizens but the then cabinet and legislatures passed the worst transitional constitution in the world history, powers are invested on one man who can do anything he wants any time. Dictatorship is a guru of doing things the way you want them to be, any time anywhere.

Politicians from Nuer community who are still supporting a collapsed government happened to come to Nairobi last week and tried their best to bribes youth in Nairobi in order to waver their support to the regime that has lost credibility and legitimacy in the eyes of the international community and the South Sudanese at large, they called for a public meeting twice and the mighty youth refused and interrupted their meeting because the agenda of the meeting were as follows;

Call for a press conference and denounce the wavering support for the SPLM/A in opposition
Send delegates to Juba and meet the then president in order to assure him of our support in Nairobi
Talked to IDPs in the UNMISS camps in Juba to go back to their homes
Advised the dissatisfied youth not pick up arms against the Kiir regime
Denounce the massacre in juba and other places and put blames on Dr Riek/SPLM/A in Opposition about the death of the of the people

Having listed the above mentioned points from the desperate, naïve, egoistic, self-centred, nay, arrogant, bloodsuckers, filthy-minded politicians, we want to bring to the attention of South Sudanese in opposition who are so bold to fight for liberty, justice and prosperity for South Sudanese that we the students and Youth of Nuer community in Nairobi affirmed our unrivalled support for the SPLM/A in Opposition for their objectives and vision for the republic of South Sudan and the aspirations, objectives of the SPLM/A as a party. The politicians who came to Nairobi had no dignity, integrity, credibility, legitimacy, and we denounced them as representative of their respective constituencies. We regretted for the obvious reasons to elect them to represent our constituencies during the previous election. you cannot sit and watch your people being burnt to death in your present and have the energy to face the mass claiming there was no killings in Juba targeting one ethnic community, your mission to bribes us with our own resources is un-coming.

The list of those who attempted to bribes youth in Nairobi are as follows;
1. Rachel Nyadak
2. Ambassador Majiok Guandong
3. Gen Gony Beliu
4. Majiok Gatluak

These are the Kiir’s sycophants and wanted to destabilize the unity of purpose of the youth in opposition currently living in Nairobi. We had a respect for you before then, but you can only tell the colour a chameleon with its environment, as the environment changes, its colours also changes. We have now known that you don’t care for anything less than money and power.

We want to assure you, that this is the second liberation for equality, freedom, nationalism, patriotism, and most importantly the supreme sovereignty of the Republic of South Sudan, we need national independence, well secure country, and a well- defined constitution for South Sudanese.

The SPLM/A in Opposition were bold in enough to challenge the master (Gen Kiir) publicly for his dictatorship tendencies which were feared by many. We admire their boldness and prefer to be around them because their self-confident makes us gullible of the capricious and that is the testimony of our truism.

“A reasonable man in love may act like a madman, but he should not and cannot act like an idiot’’ By Madame de la Rochefoucauld

Nuer Students’ Union and Naath Youth Network Leadership in Kenya e-mailed us onnuerstudentsinkenya@gmail.com . Facebook page Nuer students association in Kenya

Death Squads in Kenya’s Shadow War on Shabaab Sympathizers

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From: Sam Muigai

– – – – – – – – – – –

Death Squads in Kenya’s Shadow War on Shabaab Sympathizers
The United States supports Nairobi’s fight against terrorists, but it’s getting very ugly.

MOMBASA, Kenya—“The state wants to kill me,” the 53-year-old jihadist Abubakar Shariff Ahmed, better known as “Makaburi,” told me in late February. He said he was sure that one day he’d be gunned down by “unknown assailants” on a street in Mombasa. That’s how so many controversial Islamic leaders have died in Kenya in recent months, he said. And then, earlier this week, the prophecy came true.

On Tuesday, “unknown assailants” gunned down Makaburi as he was leaving a courthouse outside Mombasa. Makaburi was waiting by the side of the road along with four other preachers when a vehicle pulled up and sprayed them with bullets. Witnesses reportedly saw Makaburi’s body, swaddled in a white kanzu, or robe, lying partly in a ditch. His colleague Sheikh Bohero also was killed.

[ . . . ]

read more;
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/04/06/death-squads-in-kenya-s-shadow-war-on-shabaab-sympathizers.html

KAGAME DEJECTS FRANCE AS RWANDA MARKS 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF GENOCIDE

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 2014

As Rwanda prepares to mark 20th anniversary of genocide to morrow, Monday April 7, 2014, Rev Fr Joseph Healey, a Maryknoll priest has shared with News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste a touching and challenging story of forgiveness and mercy – click here to read the story http://www.afriprov.org/index.php/african-stories-database.html?task=display2&cid[0]=598

The day reminds us of 20 years since Hutu extremists killed between 800,000 and 1 million people — mostly Tutsis — in a devastating slaughter. The French government has announced it is pulling out of the commemoration, following an accusation by the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, that France participated in the mass killings in 1994. Mr Kagame has previously made similar allegations, which France has denied.

The French foreign ministry said the remarks went against reconciliation efforts between the two countries. French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira says this is the time Rwanda should put emphasis on reconciliation, forgiveness and healing.

Speaking to the French-language weekly news magazine Jeune Afrique, Mr Kagame denounced the “direct role of Belgium and France in the political preparation for the genocide”. Rwanda was a Belgian colony until 1962.

The violence was triggered by the death of President Juvenal Habyarimana, an ethnic Hutu who was killed in a plane crash on 6 April 1994. It came to an end after Mr Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) – a Tutsi-led rebel group – defeated government troops in July that year.

His party still controls the government and has long accused France – an ally of Mr Habyarimana’s government at the time – of aiding the genocide. In recent years there has been a thaw in relations between the two countries, with a visit by Mr Kagame to Paris in 2011 and the establishment by France of a genocide investigation unit.

Humanly speaking it is not easy to forgive someone who killed members of your family. I am particularly touched by the mercy and courage of Iphigenia Mukantabana whose husband and five of her children were hacked and clubbed to death by marauding Hutu militias. Among her family’s killers was Jean-Bosco Bizimana, Mukanyndwi’s husband.

In Mukantabana’s heart, the dead are dead, and they cannot come back again, that is why she was able to forgive the killers. I must admit that this gesture has challenged and humbled me, especially in forgetting and forgiving everything she lost, everything she witnessed.

Women and girls were raped, and she saw it all. The men and boys were beaten and then slaughtered. The most challenging part is that today as I write this story, Mukantabana shares her future and her family meals with Bizimana, the killer she knew, and his wife, her friend Mukanyndwi.

Bizimana did spend seven years in jail. He then went before a tribal gathering, part of a return to traditional ways by the new government in 2002 with Rwanda’s justice system unable to cope and process hundreds of thousands of imprisoned perpetrators.

The government decided that the master planners and worst perpetrators would face formal justice. But lower-level killers were allowed to publicly confess and apologize to the families of their victims at gacaca courts, where elders would hear grievances and decide on the punishments.

I am just wondering whether this can happen in Kenya following the 2008 post election violence where culprits are still at large. Unlike Rwanda, in Kenya a group of individuals and civil society organizations are filing a petition in the Constitutional and Human Rights Division of the High Court of Kenya seeking to compel the Government of Kenya to address the sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) that occurred during the 2007/2008 post-election violence.

The petitioners claim that the government failed to properly train and prepare police to protect civilians from sexual violence while it was occurring. In its aftermath, the police refused to document and investigate claims of SGBV, leading to obstruction and miscarriage of justice. Furthermore, the government denied emergency medical services to victims at the time, and failed to provide necessary care and compensation to address their suffering and harm.

Although ultimately, the petitioners want the government to publicly acknowledge and apologize to the victims for their failure to protect the rights of Kenyans; to provide appropriate compensation, including psycho-social, medical, and legal assistance to the survivors; to investigate the sexual violence and prosecute those who are responsible; and to establish a special team with some international staff within the Department of Public Prosecutions to ensure that such investigations and prosecutions are credible and independent, I am just reluctant whether the government of Kenya is willing to apologize in public.

Like Rwanda, perpetrators targeted women and girls, in particular, for sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, defilement, gang rape, forced pregnancy, deliberate transmission of HIV or any other life threatening sexually transmitted disease, sexual assault, and other indecent acts. While the vast majority of sexual crimes were committed against women and girls, men, too, were subjected to SGBV including forcible circumcision, sodomy, and penile amputations.

In Rwanda the blame is squarely based on the extremist Hutu government at the time and on vile radio broadcasts that urged on the killers during the 100-day slaughter. They were giving instructions all the time that was from the government.

For Mukantabana, despite his confession and apology, reconciliation would not have happened unless she had decided to open her heart and accept his pleas. She is a Christian and she prays a lot. Still this is not enough reason to forgive unless you truly touched by the message of Jesus Christ on forgiveness.

Today, Rwanda is an African success story. It has one of the fastest economic growth rates in the region, one of the lowest crime rates. Now no one talks about Hutus or Tutsis. There is Rwanda- there are Rwandans, and the common interest.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

WHY NUNS ARE AT RISK OF CANCER

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014

Rentia from Netherlands writes: “Fr. Joachim the same hope and despair we have in the Netherlands. There is treatment but not all cancer can be treated-Strange about “the main disease of nuns” their cancer of breast and uterus. As board member from a Franciscan Convent I am involved in sisters-convents in my country. Just the nuns become very old, more than 90-100 years and don’t die from cancer- why this difference?”

Maurice from Kenya writes: “Father this has really touched me, indeed you are very equipped with the findings, continue helping people, I have a concern on diabetic, and you can post something on the same. Last week I checked my sugar level and it was at 10.1, I was therefore told that it is on the rise and I should check on my diet. I need very elaborative just like you have done to cancers. Thank you and God bless you.”

Thank you for this important question Rentia. I think this is just an assumption that older women are too old to get cancer. Contrary to what they may assume, the fact remains that cases of breast cancer in women aged 70 and over are overwhelming.

The only thing as Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, points out, older women are less aware of cancer symptoms and research shows that doctors are less likely to offer older patients the most effective treatments, despite the fact they can benefit.

Older women therefore, need to be aware that developing breast cancer in later life is a real possibility.’ Surprisingly, one in three breast cancer patients is aged 70 or over. About 13,500 women aged 70 and over are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in England alone.

On why nuns are at risk of breast and ovarian cancer, according to recent report by the Daily Mail based on an article in a medical journal which, Catholic nuns are likely to be at greater risk of breast, ovarian and womb cancers because they do not bear children.

The authors say that the only way to save nuns from this danger is that they should be offered the oral contraceptive pill to suppress their ovulation in order to cut their cancer risk. Even so, this pill is not safe either. It has potential side effects, including headaches, weight changes and breast tenderness. It also carries a small increase in the risk of blood clots, cervical cancer and stroke.

This is despite the fact that the world’s estimated 94,790 nuns have a greatly increased risk of breast, ovarian and uterine (womb) cancers compared with women in the general population. This argument is based on various pieces of research that show that nuns and other women without children have an increased chance of dying from breast, ovarian and uterine cancers compared to women who have reproduced.

This is thought to be because women without children have a higher number of ovulatory menstrual cycles than women with children, due to not going through pregnancy and lactation. Similarly, the authors quoted research to show that women who have earlier puberty or late menopause have a higher risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancers.

Maurice has raised very important concern as well. I am glad you checked your sugar level last week and you were told that the level at 10.1 is not good news. According to Kenyatta National Hospital Diabetes Nurse Educator Phylis Kiiru a healthy person’s blood sugar levels should stand at between 3.5 and 7mmols/l.

She notes that individuals with diabetes needed to take good care of themselves to ensure that their blood sugar levels remained between four and 10 millimoles per litre of blood (mmols/l) when they have fed and between 3.5 and five mmols/l when they had not eaten. Anything beyond this figure is not a good sign.

This is not the same for those with diabetes and they have to make sure that it does not go lower than 3.5 or higher than10 mmols/l. “If it goes lower than 3.5 an individual can go into a coma,” she notes.

Diabetes causes vary depending on your genetic makeup, family history, health and environmental factors. There are two types of causes. Cause type 1 includes genetics, viral infection and several other triggers.

Cause type 2 includes diet and obesity. While cause type 1 is caused by the immune system destroying the cells in the pancreas that make insulin, cause type 2 are usually multifactorial – more than one diabetes cause is involved. Often, the most overwhelming factor is a family history of type 2 diabetes.

There are a variety of risk factors for type 2 diabetes, any or all of which increase the chances of developing the condition. These include: obesity, living a sedentary lifestyle, increasing age and bad diet.

Like cancer, in Kenya cases of diabetes is on the rise. Close to two million Kenyans are suffering from diabetes according to the head of the Non-Communicable Diseases Division at the Health ministry, Patrick Waihenya. He warns that diabetes may reach epidemic levels if Kenyans continue with their unhealthy lifestyles. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputation.

Young people are not safe either. At least 1.8 million young people are suffering from diabetes in Kenya. Parents should therefore, ensure early diagnosis is done so that they are guided on its proper management soonest possible.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Kenya: Father Omolo Beste’s Homily on Fifth Sunday of Lent

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From: joachim omolo ouko
Sunday, April 6, 2014

Today is the fifth Sunday of Lent, the last week of Lenten Campaign 2014. The theme is similar to last week: Constitution and people’s participation in devolved governance. Despite the fact that the village of Bidii had worked hard to have new laws that would introduce better governance systems, this was not.

The leaders ignored the people in decision-making processes and came up with projects that were not for the common interest of the people. The leaders prioritised projects that benefitted them. The people’s standard of living was low because of poor roads, poor health facilities and services, poor education facilities and services, lack of supply of clean water and sanitation.

This raised concern from the people about their government’s performance and prioritization. There has been very little, if any, public participation in constitution implementation. For example, most of the laws that have been enacted by parliament since the promulgation of the Constitution have been rushed, leaving very little room for citizens to participate. The result has been laws that contradict the spirit of the Constitution.

To avert all these social ills, the devolution rules and systems thus need to be properly designed and implemented. There is need for Citizens to master how devolution works. This will enable them develop mechanisms to demand for service delivery, get involved in county businesses and hold their government to account.

The objective of 47 County Governments are to oversee the following functions within their area of jurisdiction:

1. Agriculture (crop and animal husbandry).

2. Fisheries.

3. County health services.

4. Cultural activities.

5. Public entertainment and public amenities.

6. County transport.

7. Trade development and regulation.

8. County planning and development.

9. Pre-primary education, village polytechnics, home craft centres and childcare facilities.

10. Implementation of specific national government

11. Policies on natural resources and environmental conservation

12. County public works and services

This brings us to action questions:

1. As citizens, what role can we play to ensure proactive and meaningful public participation in governance processes at both national and county government levels?

2. How has government and public institutions been involving you in their work in your locality?

3. What do you think are the pre-conditions for effective citizen participation?

4. What are the benefits of participating in your governance processes?

The key note message to the Governors and members of the County Assembly in Kwale by the Constitution Implementation Commission Charles Nyachae adds further challenge:

1. Why did we opt for the system of devolved governance?

2. What are the lessons learned from the 50 years of the type of governance systems that we were subjected to?

3. What is our vision for our counties and what have we accomplished so far as we implement the system of devolved government?

4. What must we do to keep on the track for the implementation of the system of devolved government and the constitution of Kenya 2010?

The constitution of Kenya 2010 seeks to correct this, to ensure equitable sharing of national and local resources throughout Kenya; to facilitate the decentralisation of state organs, their functions and services, from the capital of Kenya; and to enhance checks and balances and the separation of powers.

Today’s first reading is taken from Ezekiel 37:12-14, second reading from St Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:8-11 and the Gospel from John 11:1-45. The Gospel talks of ill man, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. The man Jesus rose from death.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

The Union is dead! Long live Tanzania!

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From: Yona Maro

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

– – – – – – – – – –

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAPTER ONE

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

THE UNITED REPUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE CONSTITUTION OF ZANZIBAR 1984

CHAPTER ONE
ZANZIBAR
PART I
Zanzibar

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HOPE AND DESPAIR AS PEOPLE BATTLE WITH CANCER IN KENYA

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2014

Cancer is becoming a burden the country can hardly bear. Rev Fr Gradus Ochieng battled with it, finally he had to die. This year alone the number of Kenyans who have died of cancer is numerous. Veteran journalist Jerry Okungo died from it. Kenya-based BBC broadcast journalist Anne Waithera died of it at the age of 39 in a Nairobi hospital. She had been battling cancer for the past two years.

The next patient to die from cancer this year is Brenda Ochieng, beloved wife to Mr Michael Ochieng. Brenda was diagnosed with leukaemia in March last year. She was put on medication and has been in and out of hospital since.

Brenda’s ailment is the latest in a family that has been devastated by cancer since 1972, when her grandfather, William Wamunga, died of bone cancer at Kakamega General Hospital. In 1986, Mzee Wamunga’s second eldest son Hazron (Brenda’s uncle) was diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Economically, footing chemotherapy bills has supped many of families’ finances and investments, yet chemotherapy is the only hope for those already suffering from cancer. In Kenya it is estimated that 2000 people die of cancer daily.

It demonstrates a situation which should by now be declared a national disaster. The rating is higher than deaths caused by road accidents or HIV and Aids. Between 2000 and 2006, the Nairobi Cancer Registry recorded 10,484 cases of cancer in both men and women.

The statistics also show that many catholic nuns are dying of the cancer of breast; uterus and endometrial problems which doctors say are the main diseases of the nuns. The doctors recommend that nuns like other women should go for frequent check ups.

Just as breast and cervical cancer are alarmingly prevalent among women, prostate is slowly becoming men’s main killer decease. Like nuns, doctors recommend that priests should also go for frequent check ups.

Many doctors are associating cancer to lifestyle. Some of the reasons as to why there is a high prevalence of cancer cases as; many sexual partners, early sex debuts, use of contraceptives and staying too long without having a child in the case of women.

Among the many types of cancers, the greatest killer of Kenyan women today, is cancer of the cervix according to doctors despite being vaccinated against Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that causes cancer of the cervix; one can still get it if they indulge in irresponsible sex.

Even though one qualifies to be vaccinated against HPV virus, there are many other factors that cause cancer of the cervix. HPV virus can be passed from mother to child during delivery. It can also be passed from one spouse to another since it is sexually transmitted.

That is why it is important that people are educated about HPV vaccine. Doctors say most cancers of the cervix can be prevented if women have Pap smear tests regularly. Today even children are suffering from the disease.

The reason why children are also dying of cancer is because lactating mothers are taking contraceptives that are passed on to children through breast milk. That is also why women are advised to avoid contraceptives as possible.

Doctors say that cancer is a disease of the cell. The cells grow out of control and change in the genetic make-up. They look and function differently from the normal ones and can spread to other parts of the body. Some cells in any organ can become abnormal.

Doctors cite some of the factors that can predispose one to cancer as smoking, alcohol and chewing harmful substances like miraa, (khat) industrial toxins, obesity, lack of regular exercises and pollution. Many nutritionists blame poor diet and lifestyle. Lifestyle is one of the major contributors to cancer.

Unlike in 1960s when cancer was a rare case, today because we live in a world where technology has taken over everything like refrigerators, microwaves and refined foods that have low nutritional value, is why cancers is spreading faster than ever been before.

For instance microwaving food stored in polythene bags produces so many carcinogens that lead to any form of cancer. The accumulations of additives, sugars and fats from preserved food stores toxins in our bodies that pile up and eventually lead to cancer.

Since nutrition contributes a lot to brain development, if a child is not given proper nutrition the brain development and learning is very low. Nutrition can never be treated totally if a child does not have good nutrition in the first five years of its life.

Even though clinical management of cancer requires a multidisciplinary team consisting of medical oncologists, surgeons and surgical oncologists, radiotherapists, pathologists, radiologists, oncology nurses, counselors, and palliative care specialists, among others, Kenya lacks enough oncologists due to high cost of training.

Yet, the few trained Kenyatta National Hospital medical physicians responsible for cancer treatment are overwhelmed by the workload due to the rising number of cancer patients in the country. Again, that all of the oncology specialists in Kenya are located in Nairobi, it is making it almost impossible for the largest number of the population to access their services.

Since cancer symptoms show at a snails pace, it is why many die without ever knowing they had the disease. That is why having routine medical screenings is one way to safeguard ones health and detect early symptoms of cancer development.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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KENYA: IS RAILA BECOMING POLITICALLY IRRELEVANT?

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

Georgina from Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County writes: “Fr Beste I read your article on how Raila’s political cliques are misleading him and that is why Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno is opted to form a new party to rival Riala’s Orange party in Nyanza. Do you think this party will finish Odinga’s dynasty?

It is very unfortunate that Raila’s elder brother Oburu Odinga thinks they own ODM and they must dictate to Luo people whom they want to be leaders. He is the very one who did not want Dalmas Otieno to vie for ODM Secretary General. I think time has come that Luo people should think beyond Odinga’s dynasty and ODM party. Beste you are doing wonderful job please continue opening our eyes and thinking trend. You are really great man Bests you have mastered Kenyan politics in your finger tips.”

Georgina has raised very important issue. The question whether Oginga Odinga’s political dynasty can be finished in Luo Nyanza has been an issue of debate for long now. Click here The Odinga dynasty to read my article dated August 30, 2011 on the issue.

Former Foreign Minister, Mr Raphael Tuju was among the first Luo political leader who vowed to work towards destroying the Odinga’s dynasty. Tuju vowed to destroy it on the basis that this type of politics is divisive game of tribal politics which he says is extremely profitable to some people Odinga’s family deems right.

Tuju wonders why Kenyans should die for their tribal political leaders who cannot even assist them excel in life. The political vision and mission Tuju has is that the Luo people should look beyond the Odinga dynasty for leadership.

The fact that Raila is currently experiencing myriad challenges in ODM and his Nyanza backyard, raising the question whether he is losing grip in his home turf is a clear sign that this dynasty is being destroyed gradually.

Raila should also not overlook the concern of Gem MP and his close ally Jakoyo Midiwo who has stirred fresh controversy in the party’s top ranks by calling on him to shun key allies from his inner circle of advisers, including his brother nominated MP Oburu Oginga.

Speaking to The People by phone recently, Midiwo singled out Homa Bay Senator Otieno Kajwang’, Dr Oginga and former Nyando MP Fred Outa as being behind wrong decisions that have pushed ODM to the brink of collapse.

The trios are using their close links with Raila to influence making of some decisions that threaten the very unity of ODM. They have been misleading Raila on a number of occasions. Remember because of this Midiwo with Siaya Senator James Orengo did not attend aborted National Delegates Convection (NDC) at Moi International sports Centre.

Some notable ODM leaders who skipped the Kasarani event included Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero, MPs Ken Obura (Kisumu Central), Agostino Neto (Ndhiwa), Millie Odhiambo (Mbita) and Dalmas Otieno (Rongo).

The ODM losing two successive mini polls in Kisii to rival parties are just some early warning mechanism to Raila that he is losing greatly. Chris Bichage (ODM) failed to retain his seat that was clinched by Richard Tong’I (Ford People), while in Bomachoge –Borabu by-election held recently, TNA’s Joel Onyancha beat ODM‘s Peter Kimori despite spirited campaigns led by the three CORD principals in the area.

The mini polls were conducted following the High Court’s nullification of the 2013 parliamentary results in the constituency due to election malpractices. It is also not a secret that some of the leaders who quit the party have not yet forgiven Raila and the entire leadership of the party.

Among politicians who left the party include Kisumu west MP Olago Aluoch who captured the seat with Ford Kenya ticket, Muhoroni’s Otieno Koyoo ( PDP), Awendo MP Jared Opiyo (Ford Kenya) and Alego Usonga legislator Omondi Mulwan (Wiper Democratic Movement).

These politicians won in ODM primary elections but their certificates were given to people Raila and his cliques wanted. If Raila does not change he might become politically irrelevant.

Dalmas Otieno has decided to form a new party known as ‘Kalausi’(Luo name for whirl wind) after claim by ODM officials and supporters from Rongo constituency that the Odinga family pressurised Dalmas Otieno to withdraw from ODM party elections.

After the fallout President Uhuru Kenyatta named Dalmas a special envoy for south Sudan peace talks. Dalmas is also said to be keen on working with Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero who also boycotted National Party elections at Kasarani.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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CATHOLIC BISHOPS DEMAND EXPLANATION ON TETANUS VACCINATION

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014

Maurice from Kisumu County would like to know whether allegations by the Catholic Bishops Conference of Kenya that a WHO/UNICEF sponsored tetanus vaccination campaign may conceal an agenda of forced contraception for over 2 million Kenyan women.

I am not sure whether such allegations are true. What I do know is that as reported on March 27th in the Standard Digital, http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/mobile/?articleID=2000107916&story_title=Catholic%20Church%20questions%20ongoing%20tetanus%20vaccination%20targeting%20women%20aged%20between%2014-49%20years/lifestyle/ John Cardinal Njue alleged that the WHO/UNICEF tetanus campaign has been uncharacteristically shrouded from public awareness relative to other national health initiatives that are preceded by a public launch where the public has an opportunity to ask questions.

A Citizennews.co.ke http://citizennews.co.ke/ news story filmed testimony of John Cardinal Njue voicing his concerns, which can be viewed here http://citizennews.co.ke/news/2012/local/item/18145-tetanus-vaccine-controversy According to the report, the Catholic Health Commission of Kenya sent a statement to newsrooms on March the 26th alleging that there has not been adequate stakeholder engagement both in the preparation and implementation of the campaign. The main questions the Church raised for discussion were:

1 – Is there a tetanus crisis on women of child-bearing age in Kenya? If this is so, why has it not been declared?

2- Why does the campaign target women of 14 – 49 years?

3- Why has the campaign left out young girls, boys and men even if they are all prone to tetanus?

4- In the midst of so many life-threatening diseases in Kenya, why has tetanus been prioritized?

Probably the bishops were basing their arguments on the development of a tetanus-based contraceptive vaccine which began in 1975 by Dr. Gursaran Talwar, Director of India’s National Institute of Immunology, which after $4.5 million of funding and 17 years later a working vaccine was created, whose mechanism of action has been described as follows:

“The vaccine works by “convincing” a woman’s body that a11 is unchanged when, in fact, an egg has been fertilized. After conception occurs, a woman produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) that helps to prepare the uterus for pregnancy.

The prototype vaccine, made from hCG coupled to a biochemical carrier, neutralizes hCG by stimulating antibodies against the hormone. Without hCG the embryo can’t anchor in the uterus, making pregnancy impossible. The biochemical carrier makes the hCG immunologically visible to women’s immune system.”

However, according to Nyeri public health Officer Dr Samuel Muthenji the drug administered was a genuine tetanus vaccine. Dr Muthenji adds that it is common for Government critics to start rumours when new health initiatives are introduced. The vaccination campaign covers 60 districts in Kenya.

He says that the tetanus campaign was taking place in select counties, and said pregnant mothers will be vaccinated with the same drug administered to those hurt by metallic items. The initiative was announced last April, and sees free vaccinations given to women aged between 13 and 49 years old.

In April, Head of the Immunization Division Tatu Kamau told Kenya’s Star newspaper that the Government hopes the vaccine helps reduce tetanus infection during pregnancy. The vaccination campaign began in September of last year, is in the second of a planned three phases.

Tetanus usually occurs when a flesh wound becomes contaminated and without treatment, complications of tetanus are likely to develop, which can be fatal. Tetanus is caused by a type of bacteria called Clostridium tetani. The bacteria can live in many different substances including soil, house dust, animal and human waste, such as manure.

The tetanus bacteria usually enter the body through a wound in the skin or a serious burn. Once inside, they multiply and release a powerful type of poison, known as a neurotoxin. The neurotoxin disrupts the normal workings of the nerves, causing symptoms such as stiffness and muscle spasms. Click here to read more about the causes of tetanus and who is at risk.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole

Africa’s Biggest Music Stars & ONE.org Launch ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’ to Revolutionize Agriculture

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From: News Release – African Press Organization (APO)
PRESS RELEASE

Africa’s Biggest Music Stars & ONE.org Launch ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’ to Revolutionize Agriculture

19 recording artists. 11 countries. 10 languages. ONE message to African Leaders: Do Agric, It Pays!

LAGOS, Nigeria, March 31, 2014/ — ONE.org (http://www.one.org) today launched one of the continent’s biggest musical collaborations ever, ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’, in support of a new campaign to boost investments in agriculture: ‘Do Agric, It Pays’ (http://www.one.org/doagric). Nineteen of the top recording artists from across Africa, including D’Banj and Femi Kuti from Nigeria, DR Congo’s Fally Ipupa, Cote d’Ivoire’s Tiken Jah Fakoly, Kenya’s Juliani, and South Africa’s Judith Sephuma, have come together to help rebrand agriculture and tell African youth that their future lies literally beneath their feet—and in their hands.

Download the song: http://www.one.org

Photo 1: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=925

Photo 2: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=924

Photo 3: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=923

Photo 4: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=922

Photo 5: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=921

Photo 6: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=920

Logo ONE: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/one.jpg

Logo Do Agric: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/doagric.jpg

The participating artists are: A.Y. (Tanzania), Bufallo Souljah (Zimbabwe), Dama Do Bling (Mozambique), D’Banj (Nigeria), Diamond (Tanzania), Dontom (Nigeria), Fally Ipupa (DRC), Femi Kuti (Nigeria), Judith Sephuma (South Africa), Juliani (Kenya), Kunle Ayo (Nigeria), Vusi Nova (South Africa), Liz Ogumbo (Kenya), Nancy G (Swaziland), Omawumi (Nigeria), Rachid Taha (Algeria), Tiken Jah Fakoly (Cote d’Ivoire), Victoria Kimani (Kenya) and Wax Dey (Cameroon).

These artists are using their voices to inspire young people to join ONE.org, and tell political leaders ahead of the African Union summit in June that the time has come to adopt better agricultural policies that will help tackle youth unemployment, provide better support to small holder farmers, boost productivity, increase value chains, and help lift millions of Africans out of extreme poverty.

The song is available for download for free at http://www.one.org after signing the ‘Do Agric’ petition that tells African leaders to invest in our farmers, our food, and our futures.

Dr. Sipho S. Moyo, ONE.org Africa Executive Director, said:

“These brilliant artists are role models who connect with African youths. Their voices, in support of African agriculture, are sending a powerful message to the young generation: it’s time for African leaders to scale up public investments in agriculture and ensure policy interventions are targeted to benefit smalholder farmers who provide 80% of the food we eat on the continent.

According to the UN-FAO, agricultural growth is 11 times more effective at reducing poverty than growth in other sectors like mining and utilities. Do Agric is a continent-wide push to appeal to African governments to commit to spending at least 10% of national budgets on effective agriculture investments—a commitment they originally made in Maputo in 2003—and to do so through transparent and accountable budgets. We are indeed proud and greatly privileged to be partnering with such an inspiring group of individuals to spread the message that not only can Africa feed itself, but it can help to feed the world.”

Nigerian music superstar D’banj said:

“As African musicians, agriculture is the single most important cause we could champion together and I am proud to say we are doing it with ONE voice. Here in Nigeria alone, while 70% of Nigerians depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, the federal agriculture budget has been trending downwards, and is now at just 1.47%. This is a serious concern, especially because Nigeria spends billions of Naira importing food every year.

Through this song, we are calling on youths to go online and join ONE.org, to get more involved in agriculture, and to ask our governments to step up and improve agricultural investments, so that the youths can have a better chance of succeeding in it.”

These artists are joining ONE.org to show the current generation of young people that not only can agriculture be cool, but it is also a great way to earn a living. But without strong political will and public support for agriculture, African youth will not be able to take advantage of the potential that agriculture presents. ONE.org is partnering with the popular voices of African artists in calling on political leaders, private sector investors and the youth to “do agric”— because “it pays”.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of ONE.org.

For further information, or interview requests, please contact:

ONE Africa Media Manager, Nde Ndifonka: nde.ndifonka@one.org / +234 81 00 55 00 76

ONE France Media Manager, Annabel Hervieu: annabel.hervieu@one.org

About Do Agric:

The collaboration is part of Do Agric, It Pays, (http://www.one.org/doagric) a ONE.org campaign, launched on 29 January in Addis Ababa with civil society partners including the Pan African Farmers Association (PAFO), ActionAid International, Acord International, Oxfam AU, East and Southern African Farmers Forum, ROPPA, Southern African Confederation of Agriculture Unions, the Africa Union Commission, Becho Welisho and the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). ONE has alos partnered with several grassroots organizations across the continent including Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF) of Tanzania, East and Southern African Small Scale Farmers (ESAFF), National Association of Nigerian Traders

(NANTS), BudgIT, and YPAED.

In 2003, African governments committed to spend 10% of their national budgets on agriculture. To date only 8 countries have consistently kept that promise and as a result, agriculture productivity in Africa is stuck at 1961 levels. To change that, ONE.org launched Do Agric, It Pays to pressure African governments to commit to spending at least 10% of national budgets on effective agriculture investments, through transparent and accountable budgets. At the heart of the Do Agric campaign is an effort to push political leaders to adopt better policies that will boost productivity, increase incomes and help lift millions of Africans out of extreme poverty.

For more information on Do Agric, It Pays, visit the website: http://www.one.org/doagric.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’ was co-produced by Cobhams Asuquo and DeeVee of DB Records. Godfather Productions directed the music video that will launch April 3 on Trace, MTV, Channel O, Soundcity and Canal France International. The verses were written by each participating artist, and the hook was written by D’Banj, whose company, DKM Media partnered with ONE to undertake the project.

• There are 19 artists from 11 different countries in the song: Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, DRC, Cote d’Ivoire, Algeria & Cameroon.

• The song and music video were recorded and shot over three days in Johannesburg, South Africa in support of ONE.org’s ‘Do Agric, It Pays’ Campaign.

• Each participating artist wrote his or her own verse.

• There are 10 different languages in the song: English, Arabic (Algerian), Malinke, Lingala (DRC), French, Swahili, Shona (Zimbabwe), Pidgin (Nigeria), Portuguese, & Xhosa (South Africa).

• Agriculture in Africa is an economic game changer: agriculture is up to 11 times more effective at reducing poverty than other sectors such as mining.

• Cocoa na Chocolate marks one of the largest Pan-African music collaboration ever on the continent.

• The collaboration was co-produced by Cobhams Asuquo and DeeVee of DB Records. Godfather Productions directed the music video. The executive producers were Sipho Moyo, Jeff Davidoff, and Nde Ndifonka of ONE.org.

• The song, ‘Cocoa na Chocolate’, refers to the importance of agriculture both to Africa’s future and in the fight against extreme poverty. The example of cocoa is illustrative: while Africa produces tons of cocoa, which it exports it for processing at prices far insignificant relative to the price of the finished product—chocolate—Africa then has to import the chocolate at exorbitant prices. It is clear that Africa is missing a key economic opportunity in processing and marketing the final product. This must be the future of African agriculture: creating a prosperous value chain that will create more jobs and viable business opportunities, generate better incomes for farmers, and attain productive efficiency that will lead to reduced food prices.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA INTERVIEWS

3/31 – 4/4

LAGOS, NIGERIA

D’banj
Femi Kuti
Diamond
Omawumi
Dama do Bling
Dontom
Vusi Nova
Wax Dey

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA

Judith Sephuma
Liz Ogumbo
Nancy G
Buffalo Souljah

NAIROBI, KENYA

Juliani
Victoria Kumani

DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA

AY

LIBREVILLE, GABON

Fally Ipupa

PARIS

Tiken Jah Fakoly

Rachid Taha

LONDON

Kunle Ayo

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS QUOTES

D’Banj

“As African musicians, agriculture is the single most important cause we could champion together and I am proud to say we are doing it with ONE voice. Here in Nigeria alone, while 70% of Nigerians depend on agriculture for their livelihoods, the federal agriculture budget has been trending downwards, and is now at just 1.47%. This is a serious concern, especially because Nigeria spends billions of Naira importing food every year.

Through this song, we are calling on youths to go online and join ONE.org, to get more involved in agriculture, and to ask our governments to step up and improve agricultural investments, so that the youths can have a better chance of succeeding in it.”

Femi Kuti

“I think this is the most important project I’ve done in my life because agriculture for me is the most important thing for human beings, so I’m very proud to be part of this and I hope it’s going to be successful. I think our lives, everything, our future depends on this, so I think we all need to put all our resources, all our energy into this to make it a success.”

Fally Ipupa

“It is a very important project. It is important for us to tell the African youth to grow hectares so we can have good and organic food. And so we can maybe one day export, pondu, saka saka and other African dishes the same way we export music.”

« C’est une projet très important. C’est important pour nous d’inciter la jeunesse africaine d’aller cultiver des hectares pour avoir de la bonne nourriture bio. Et comme ça, peut-être qu’un jour, on exportera le pondu, saka saka ou autre plat africain, de la même manière qu’on exporte la musique. »

Judith Sephuma

“Farming is really cool. In our country we have young talented people who are trying to get into the industry like mining. Meanwhile farming is such a great business to get into, it pays, literally. Our government has made the promise to support agriculture. Let’s make them keep the promises.”

“This project is about different artists, different genres of music, coming together, saying we stand together as one. “

AY

“In Africa there are a lot of talented artists, we are here to collaborate together and the theme is agriculture. Agriculture pays, agriculture is cool, agriculture is everything. We want to motivate youth and others to invest in agriculture. If you listen to my verse I’m saying I wish I could have invested in agriculture since way back, but the time is good now, it’s better if I can Do Agric now. I’m telling them that agriculture is cool and I want to tell you too.”

“At the end of the day, let me put 100% concentration in this. Its better to help others, to motivate them, and at the end of the day, Africa is one, so we want to push this. I’m cool, I’m happy and when I fly back to my country I’m going to motivate guys to Do Agric.”

Tiken Jah Fakoly

“This campaign is very important for Africa and for the world. Normally we should not talk about elementary crisis in Africa because we are strong, have a lot of young people, so thank you ONE. In the lyrics I am talking to young people from Africa and I say we have to go to farm because we have land and its raining and we have all the things we need for food – we have the possibility to make Africa all about food.”

Kunle Ayo

“It’s all about forcing the hands of government to make sure they make do with their words in terms of agriculture. The project is Do Agric – It Pays, and for me there is no better cause to support than this one.”

Dama do Bling

“For me it was an honor, and very fortunately for me to show from Mozambique, my part of Africa, that we all struggle with the same problems, and this song, this video, all the 20 artists just make this one big great voice. I can say to my country, yes we are a part of this, we have to work and we have to make the politicians change their mind about agriculture.”

“My lyrics talk about how to use the land to develop a country. We know that with a little bit of seed, and water, we can make a developed country. We can teach our children how to use the land, create jobs, we have fertile land, we can create opportunities for all the people in the country. Being part of this project we want to show how as musicians we can stick together and show our voice to the world to say agriculture is important.”

Victoria Kimani

“I’m a huge fruit and vegetable person and I’m really big on natural foods. My brother is a farmer and outside of that I love the idea of investing in yourself. I think agriculture is the way forward to be honest with you, not only from a financial aspect, but from giving back and providing jobs. I think it’s an amazing cause.”

“Its crazy because everyone has their own swag, their own style and when you put all that together its crazy because it doesn’t sound purely Kenyan, purely Tanzanian, purely Angolan, its awesome.”

“This amazing campaign is all about investing in land and promoting farming. My little part is to collect together what everyone is saying their own individual dialect. It’s an amazing effort and it’s all about ONE, so one love.”

Dontom

“Lets make Africa great, a beautiful place, put our hands together and support agriculture. I’m trying to let people understand that there is a need for us to improve the potential of our people by supporting Do Agric initiative that is also aimed at agriculture as a means of developing the African economy. I’m part of history to be part of these artists who are here – I feel elated and glad, its nice to be part of the project.”

Buffalo Souljah

“We are trying to convince the youths that farming is cool, so I try and bring something from my country and my originality too which is really nice.

I just went in there to put in the Zimbabwe flavour. I’m a reggae dancehall artist but when you are trying to pass a message and representing your nation, you need to have sounds of Zim – so a bit of dancehall with the GT home village type of song. “

Liz Ogumbo

“I really believe that if we spend more time reaping in our backyards, farming, and putting our resources together to allow the farming side to happen, then we are going to be saving a lot and build the economy.

As a fashion designer I want to wear my blue jeans and make sure that I can be able to get it from my garden – If I can grow that cotton in the village and then come to the city and use that same cotton to manufacture what I’m doing as a fashion designer then I am playing a big role within the economy and that’s what Do Agric is all about.”

Nancy G

“My lines in this song are about the future, growth and connecting seeds with life and understanding the relationship between them.”

About ONE.org

ONE.org (http://www.one.org) is a campaigning and advocacy organization of nearly 4 million people taking action to end extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. Strictly nonpartisan, we raise public awareness and press political leaders to combat AIDS and preventable diseases, increase investments in agriculture and nutrition, and demand greater transparency in poverty-fighting programs. ONE.org is not a grant-making organization and does not solicit funding from the public or receive government funding. We achieve change through advocacy. Our teams in Washington, D.C., London, Johannesburg, Brussels, Berlin, and Paris – and soon in Abuja – educate and lobby governments to shape policy solutions that save and improve millions of lives. To learn more, go to http://www.one.org.

SOURCE
ONE.org

KENYA: TIME RAILA’S CLIQUES STOPPED MISLEADING HIM

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Julius from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste what is your take on the latest court rulings nullifying elections of ODM Migori Governor Okoth Obado and Nyando MP Fred Outa. Although the courts have nullified some elections in Uhuru Kenyatta’s TNA, Raila Odinga’s ODM is too much.

So far, the court has nullified six elections in the Nyanza region, the highest number in the country. Can we blame Raila for forcing in people he wants to win in particular region because there have been nullifications in Bomachoge Borabu, Nyaribari Chache and Bonchari constituencies.

Even though the court also singled out electoral malpractices committed by Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, Senator James Orengo, Women’s representative, Christine Ombaka and MPs Oburu Oginga, Jakoyo Midiwo and David Ochieng against governor aspirant William Oduol during the campaign period last year, Rasanga was still forced in re-election. I think this is a big blow to Raila.”

I don’t think Raila is to blame entirely on the mess Mr Julius. As you have pointed out in Rasanga’s case, some clique of politicians around Raila Odinga is to blame. They have been accused of giving themselves nomination certificates and deliberately causing mayhem during party primaries.

In Homa Bay for example, Senator Otieno Kajwang has been accused of being given ODM certificate when as a matter of fact Hillary Alila won. Returning Officer John Mulehi was forced to agree to have former Mbita MP Otieno Kajwang’ as the Senate ODM flag bearer, Philip Okundi (Governor), and Roselyne Onyuka (Women Representative).

In every ODM primary party elections these cliques of Raila made sure they forced in people they wanted. They did the same in 2007 ODM nominations where candidates who were defeated were issued with party certificate of clearance.

This includes Prof Patrick Ayiecho Olweny who despite having deployed violent tactics on the polling day was defeated by a large margin of over 1000 votes, yet he was issued with certificate. Olweny had polled 7840 votes against the winner Mr. Joseph Omulo Okal’s 8494 votes.

When Okal went to collect his certificate in Nairobi he found out it had been given to Ayiecho. Similarly winners of the nomination in Gem, Ugenya, Nyakach, Kasipul- Kabondo, Kisumu Town East, Kitutu Masaba, Kitutu Chache, Konoin, Kipkellion and Ainamoi were changed.

In Kisumu Rural, where Prof. Anyang Nyong’o faced imminent defeat, he was given “direct nomination” in a move which ignited violent protests and riots. The situation was even (more) grave in Mbita where a prospective candidate and the people’s choice, Sam Wakiaga, was coerced and forced out of the manipulated and fraudulent primaries in order to give way to Otieno Kajwang.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Kenya: Father Omolo Beste’s Homily on Fourth Sunday of Lent

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From: joachim omolo ouko
Sunday, March 30, 2014

Today is fourth Sunday of Lent. The Lenten campaign theme is Good Governance. First reading is from 1 Samuel 16:1.6.7.10-13, second reading is from St Paul’s letter to Ephesians 5:8-14 and the Gospel from John 9:1-41.The story is about Tswani community who were so excited that with devolved their community would be provided with better service delivery.

They thought the new system would bring leadership closer to the people and that that all be involved in decision-making. Barely a year after the polls, some of the community and village leaders had already clearly put their own interests before those of the community and the villages.

They mismanaged funds allocated to the communities, moved into big expensive houses, bought themselves big cars that cost millions of shillings, furnished their offices with expensive furniture and spent huge sums on entertainment and trips abroad.

The campaign comes at the time Kenya’s Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) is due to launch investigations into 30 county governors after receiving complaints of abuse of office and misuse of funds.

It is also at the time the State cannot account for Sh500b, which got lost during the 2011/12 financial year. Taxpayers lost more than Sh300 billion, but the latest estimates indicate the figure could rise to nearly Sh500 billion according to Auditor General Edward Ouko.

Ouko estimates that up to 30 per cent of the Government’s total budget in any financial year is wasted. Last year, Sh338 billion of the total government expenditure for 2011/2012 was unaccounted-for.

The total budget for the 2012/2013 financial year stood at Sh1.45 trillion, of which 30 per cent or Sh483 billion is likely to be misappropriated. Airtime, flowers and tea alone were reported to account for Sh338 billion.

The campaign is also coming at the time several business surveys reveal that business corruption is still widespread and that companies frequently encounter demands for bribes and informal payments to ‘get things done’ in Kenya.

There are also pending corruption cases which include Kenya Pipeline Company since 2008 in oil scam involving privately-owned Triton Oil Company in which the government lost 7.5 billion shillings ($86.7 million).

The other pending cases of corruption include land fraud over a deal worth 283 million shillings ($3.2 million) since March 2010. Currently the Kenyatta government has also been hit by claims of irregularities in the award of the Sh447 billion Mombasa-Nairobi standard gauge railway that critics say has been overpriced by more than Sh120 billion.

It is about the time Labour secretary Kazungu Kambi was forced to suspend a Sh5.03 billion project by the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) to build infrastructure works in Nairobi’s Tassia Estate.

China Jiangxi International was awarded the Hazina Trade Center contract at a cost of Shs 6.7 billion despite a lower bid of Shs 5.9 billion by China Wu Yi, another Chinese company. The award of the tender raised eyebrows before Atwoli blew the whistle on the Shs 5 billion sewerage and road pavement scam.

Kenyans are also losing more than Sh1.8 billion annually in salary payments to ghost workers in the Civil Service. According to recent revelation the government flushes Sh150 million monthly in salaries for workers who are non-existent, dead, retired or sacked – but are still retained in the State payroll – hence ballooning Kenya’s public wage bill.

Kenya’s public sector wage bill currently stands at Sh458.7 billion, which is equivalent to 12.2 per cent of GDP. The amount is almost equal to the Sh470.8 billion the Kenya Revenue Authority collected in the six months to December 2013; and almost half of the expected total revenue of Sh973.5 billion targeted to be collected by June this year.

It explains why Kenya’s debt load crossed the 50 per cent of GDP mark late last year to stand at Sh2.11 trillion or 57 per cent of GDP by end of December 2013. Unless Kenya puts a tight lid on its debt load by fighting against corruption its economy will not be on a steady growth path.

Fiscal discipline will break down and disrupt provision of public services if the wage bill growth is left unchecked. The country’s image abroad is already at stake following the failure by the Treasury to allocate Sh679 million to cater for subscription fees to international bodies.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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BIBLICAL TEXT ON COURT DISPUTES

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014Top of Form

Suzy writes on my Facebook timeline: “Beste I fully agree with you Chief Justice Willy Mutunga did not mean what he said about going to witch doctors to solve court cases. To me he was only trying to use this joke to emphasize the need of solving some problems amicably instead of going to court.

What he said that people should seek the advice in churches or elders is even Biblical. I cannot remember the text but I remember reading it where Paul says that when one of you has a grievance against another should settle disputes among themselves or seek the advice from elders”

I am glad you understood this Suzy. The Biblical text where St Paul advices Corinthians to settle their disputes outside court is 1 Corinthians 6:1-20. Christians should not contend with one another, for they are brethren. This, if duly attended to, would prevent many law-suits, and end many quarrels and disputes.

In matters of great damage to ourselves or families, we may use lawful means to right ourselves, but Christians should be of a forgiving temper. Refer the matters in dispute, rather than go to law about them.

They are trifles, and may easily be settled, if you first conquer your own spirits. Bear and forbear, and the men of least skill among you may end your quarrels. It is a shame that little quarrels should grow to such a head among Christians, that they cannot be determined by the brethren.

As believers, our testimony to the unbelieving world should be a demonstration of love and forgiveness and, therefore, members of the body of Christ ought to be able to settle arguments and disputes without going to court. We are called to live in unity with humility toward one another.

In Romans 13 Paul taught that God had established legal authorities for the purpose of upholding justice, punishing wrongdoers, and protecting the innocent.

Matthew 5:25 states: “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison”.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Equatoria; rise and defend your rights and freedoms

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From: South Sudan Press

By Col. (Rtd). Wani Tombe Lako Lokitari

This is a formal general call to all men, women and youth of Greater Equatoria. All of you in Diaspora and inside the Sovereign Republic of South Sudan (SRSS), all of you, rise and take the lead, in the defense of the motherland, which is the defense of your comprehensive rights and freedoms. No one shall do this for all of you, in the Sovereign SRSS.

This is a just cause. Do not listen to the accusations that you are war mongers. You are the only peace and love mongers in the SRSS. You have endured excruciating hurts, agonies, humiliations, deprivations, exclusions, processes of pauperisation and diminutions; from 2005 to 2014, for the sake of an elusive and frustrated unity of the peoples of the SRSS.

The ongoing semblances of a civil in the SRSS have been triggered by the genocide committed in Juba during the month of December 2013, against the Nuer Nation and people, by the negligent and culpable government of the SRSS. The government of the SRSS has demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that, it is capable with impunity, to destroy in part, or in whole, any human groups or tribes in the SRSS.

Therefore; if the government of the SRSS, can use our own public war assets, bought by our own money, to kill; murder; and slaughter our Nuer brothers; sisters, sons; daughters; grandmothers; and grandfathers; in chilling cold blood; then, this same government, of the SRSS, can also do it to all of you.

Therefore, before the murderous and blood stained hands; in the current government of the SRSS, can find time to turn on you in Greater Equatoria, assisted by the hired mercenaries operating in the SRSS, it is your natural right and duty, to come together, in unison, with all our Nuer brothers and sisters, and many other brothers and sisters; in Upper Nile and Bahr El Ghazal, to stop these blood stained hands in Juba, from destroying the SRSS.

You the peoples of Greater Equatoria, must not, and shall not commit another mistake of standing by, while history is being rewritten in the SRSS. You must not, and shall not allow the history of our motherland to be rewritten in your absolute absence. If you allow this history; to be rewritten; in your absolute absence, you will be doing a grave disservice, to all posterities of the SRSS. Therefore, we are not going to allow, and shall not allow, this rewriting of the history of the SRSS, without us being privy to the authorship and ownership of our collective history in the SRSS.

You the peoples of Greater Equatoria have already written the historical template of South Sudan with your precious blood since 1947 through 1955 to date. Therefore, do not allow others to distort this history while you standby unconcerned. If you do that, you shall be written-off the history books in the SRSS. Do you want that to happen to you? The answer is a big No. Therefore, wake up and take action now.

All of you men, women and youth of Greater Equatoria, wherever you are, you must contribute to the processes of constituting an Interim Federal Government (IFG) in Juba. All of you must make sure that, all blood stained hands; and their accomplices, whether by intent or negligence, must not participate in the next IFG in the SRSS.

Therefore, in order to be able to be part and parcel of the next IFG in the SRSS, you must all make your presence felt. It is the culture in the SRSS that, all the ruling groups are backed up by force of arms. Do we need arms in Equatoria? The answer is a big Yes? Why do we need these arms in Equatoria? We need these arms in Equatoria, to protect the SRSS from those others; who have already privatised our public sovereign war assets, in order to murder and slaughter the rest of us. Is this an incitement to violence at law? No; this is not an incitement to violence at law. This is called sovereign and national self defense.

The government in Juba is no longer the sovereign that we can continue to obey. We are withdrawing our hitherto surrendered sovereignties. This was a privilege which the government in Juba has abused and misused, therefore, we are withdrawing these collective sovereignties.

The government in Juba is now murdering us, and therefore, we have the right to defend ourselves. The government in Juba is using the force of fire arms to plunder our national economic and financial assets, and therefore, we have the legal right to protect our collective public assets from being looted by individuals, by all means including the use of force.

You the peoples of Equatoria cannot carry on existing in the SRSS as comprehensive underdogs. You have to consciously, from now onwards, begin the process of moulding a New South Sudan (NSS). This NSS must be free from tribalism, nepotism, and all various instances of discrimination. It is time you told those others; who think that, they are born to rule, that, their assumptions are unfounded; and fundamentally vacuous.

You the peoples of Greater Equatoria must recover your stolen lands and other property. There are others in the SRSS, who have stolen villages and other parcels of land. These people argue that, if we in Greater Equatoria, want back our villages and these parcels of land, we must provide buckets of human blood. This is being told our people in Greater Equatoria day and night.

Our people are bluntly told that, these villages and parcels of land were liberated from the Jallabas. Therefore, these settlers and grabbers of the said villages and land; want buckets of human blood in exchange for our ancestral land. Fair enough, buckets of human blood they will get, but, it will be their own human blood, that we shall fill these empty buckets with, and then, give them to their surviving relatives.

You the people of Greater Equatoria, you must put a stop to the kind of governance that has been started in South Sudan from 2005 to date. This is the time that you must all act together. If you failed to heed to my cries and many other cries for action, you will be committing a historical fatal mistake from which you will never recover.

Our reasonableness has been grossly mistaken for cowardice. We are not cowards. History has recorded that we are not cowards. What are you waiting for? Are you waiting for some people to come from Upper Nile or from Bahr El Ghazal to hand you; your rights and freedoms in golden plates?

You have to claw back your stolen rights and freedoms now; and you have to arm yourselves to protect your future rights and freedoms. We shall all put down our arms when we have reformed the SRSS. Until that happens, it is time you took up arms to defend the SRSS and yourselves from the murderous, looting and negligent government in Juba; meanwhile, you work towards the formation of the Interim Federal government in the SRSS.

The author is the Chairman of Greater Equatoria Council of Rights (GRECOR).

KENYA: YATIKE LEADERS ANGERED BY ATTACK ON THEIR MP

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From: LEO ODERA

NYATIKE LEADERS WARNS MIGORI GOVERNOR TO DESIST FROM POLITICS OF MALICE.

A CROSS section of ODM leaders in Nyatike constituency, Migori County have come out very strongly in defense of the area MP Edick Omondi Anyanga and advised the MIGORI GOVERNOR Zachary Okoth Obado to desist forthwith from pursuing destructive and retrogressive politics of malice..

Instead of pursuing the outmoded malicious politics of using hired power brokers and discredited political hirelings to discredit other elected leaders, the governor should fulfill his mandate of initiating more development which are beneficial to the residents of the region.

The group comprising of three leaders from Nyatike were reacting to an article which appeared this week in a section of media criticizing the MP on what they described as far-fetched uncalled for and unwarranted attacks.

In the article, according to the group purporting it to have been written by Natike professionals, they charged the work is by an individual masquerading as professional, but is instead a common Nairobi street broker who is Eric Oloo Kinyaga whom they accused of peddling rumor and writing slanderers articles against their hard-working MP.

The group identified the man as one of numerous power brokers and political hireling who has never visited his rural Nyatike in Kanyuor Kadem for long after getting embroiled in protracted land cases with his kinsmen. He is therefore not conversant with the goings in Nyatike.

Kinyaga is running an insurance brokerage firm which almost has gone burst and as such is not qualified to criticize their hard-working MP. The group comprised William Okello {Macalder},. Tobias Ocholla, Joakim Okoth {Got Kachola },Tobia Ocholla {North Kadem} and madam Zilpa Orwa [Karungu Kachieng’}

Speaking in Migori Town the group expressed their anger at what they described as mischievous attack against their MP which is devoid of even an iota of truth. They cited numerous projects initiated by the MP such as rural electrification, the installation of solar panels now providing street lights to all schools, trading centres, and other public institutions covering the entire constituency.

They advised Migori governor, whom they accused of having sponsoired the destructive and maliciously damaging article against their MP, that Ho.Edick Omnondi Anyanga is not interested in taking over the position of governor and was satisfied with what the public had bestowed on him.

During March 4, 2013, it was Mrs Anyanga and Pro. Edward Oyugi Akong’o who contested the governor position against governor Obado and not the who has so far expressed his wish to continue representing his Nyatike constituents and only to retire as an MP when the time comes.

The group told governor Obado to come out clean over the allegations of nepotism in the recruitment of County workers the allegation of massive corruption including taking of kick-backs from those contractors who have tendered to construct various projects including medical theatre at Awendo sub-district hospital and MTC.”He should clean his house first before embarking on hiring other people to make unfounded allegations against the MP,” they said.

Unconfirmed Rumors making the round in Migori and its environs says governor Obado has employed his brother, sister in-law and brother in-law in the services of Migori County. and to the chagrins of the electorate and these are some of the job seekers are being asked. “This are some of the vices which the governor should spare his energy and efforts in fighting,” they said.

Other rumors and speculation which are rampant in Migori is that governor Obado who was elected on a ticket of the PDP party of the former South Mugirango MP Oming

The Migori governor is also being accused for not being cohesive wit his fellow elected leaders and is working in isolation. The region is the ODM stronghold and unless he changed jhis tactics and humble himself to the dominant party he should count himself out of political leadership come the next elections.

Ends

KENYA: WAR WITH RADICAL ISLAMISTS UHURU WILL NEVER WIN

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 2014

I laughed when I heard President Uhuru Kenya giving Kenyans hope that his government will take decisive action against all those engaging in terror activities at the Coast, saying criminals would not be allowed to hide under the umbrella of religion to harm Kenyans.

Definitely this is the war Uhuru will never win. This is because radical Islam is not merely an extreme version of Islam but a cultural-social ideology dominating all aspects of life. They are ready to die when defending what they think it is their rights.

Like many violent totalitarian movements, radical Islamists’ primary objective is to dominate all those within its reach and suppress all other ideologies, movements, and beliefs in its path, Christianity included. In short, radical Islam is dedicated to the conquest of the world, by any means possible.

Community leaders on Kenya’s coast have already warned that Islamic extremism is not only on the rise, but also a threat to peace and stability in the region. Killing Christians and burning their churches is to send a signal to the government that the truth about the killing of a Muslim cleric, Sheikh Aboud Rogo Mohammed must be found and justice must be done to the Muslim communities at the Coast.

Radical Islamists believe that the Government of Kenya collaborated with US FBI to kill the cleric. A gunman – or gunmen – shot him dead at close range in August. Mr Rogo’s wife was in the car with him. She was injured, but survived.

What irritates the radical Islamists and the entire Muslim communities at the Coast is the manner in which the outspoken cleric was killed. They killed him as an animal, not as a human being, they argue.

It explains why the training and terror attacks are done at the Masjid Musa, the mosque where Mr Rogo used to preach. Aboud Rogo was killed shortly he had urged his followers to take up arms against Kenyan government forces fighting in Somalia.

His name appeared on a US and UN sanctions list, accused of providing “financial, material, logistical or technical support to al-Shabab”, the Somali militant group aligned to al-Qaeda. No-one has admitted to killing the cleric, but many in Mombasa Muslim communities believe he was assassinated at the behest of the Kenyan government.

Radical Islam draws on widely accepted Islamic religious philosophy and customs. The movement also draws heavily on dangerous ideas that negate basic human rights and freedoms of expression.

Terrorism is only one of the tactics used by radicals, with new tactics arising everyday. Some are more subtle such as the use of textbooks, while others are outright violent, such as terrorizing those who embrace freedom of speech.

Radical Islam’s kinship with terrorism, and its willingness to use violence as a means to its ultimate ends, is clearly spelled out in a training manual produced by the radical Islamist terror group al Qaeda, whose operatives carried out the 9/11 attacks in USA.

Radical Islamists tend to gravitate toward three major methods of achieving their ultimate objective. The first is to fight the Near Enemy prior to fighting the Far Enemy. The Near Enemy is anyone inside Islamic lands, whether it is an occupier or someone who has taken away territory that used to be Islamic. It explains why they attack Christians.

The second method is to fight the Greater Unbelief—the major enemy, which today is the United States—before the Lesser Unbelief. And the third method is to fight the Apostates (false Muslims) first, and then the other Unbelievers.

The Sunday Christians attack at the Coast came as the United Nations issued an alert of increased threat of attacks from the Shabaab. The security and intelligence never took this warning seriously otherwise the killing would have been prevented.

This is not the first time Uhuru has given the warning. He gave similar warning six months ago after the terrorists attacked Westgate mall.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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POLYGAMY RECONSIDERED

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2014

Lucy (not her real name) writes: “Dear Father, I am married with 4 children. We are not divorced yet with my husband but separated. I filed divorce case last year when I found out that my husband was having mpango wa kando (secret women outside) and dumped me with children.

I realized this when he could not cater for our family basic needs like food, and being reluctant in paying school fees for children. I managed to find the number of one of his secret women and when I called her to find out why she is moving with my husband she abused me terribly. It is a shame Father.

I agree with your homily that with this marriage bill that a man will not consult with his wife when he wants to marry second wife will bring conflicts in many families, and believe me many families are going to break up.

Now Father what are catholic bishops saying about this, they seem to be silence on this issue. I think they should come in one voice to oppose the bill. Otherwise thank you very much your homilies are indeed enriching and down to earth. God bless your work”.

Thank you for raising this issue Lucy. I do agree with you that when bishops speak about it they can be heard and may be to change the mind of the president in signing it into law. May be they are preparing to make a statement, we are to wait see their reaction.

The amendment was moved by Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chairman Samuel Chepkong’a, saying under customary law, women or wives you have married do not need to be told when you’re coming home with a second or third wife.

The Marriage Bill seeks to combine seven laws on marriage, divorce and come-we-stay unions. It also recognises polygamy and the payment of dowry for customary marriages. It was introduced in July 2013 and is now in the final stage — the Third Reading — in the National Assembly. The Bill states that those marrying must be 18 years or older.

Even in Islam where polygamy is allowed, with the specific limitation that a man can have four wives at any one time, experience has shown that the contemporary Muslim woman is not happy to have a co-wife.

Even though the Qur’an clearly states that men who choose this route must deal with their wives justly, with high cost of life today it is almost impossible for a Muslim man to cater for his many wives and children.

A husband does not have to have permission from his first wife to marry another wife, even though many Muslim women today would like their husbands to consult them before marrying another wife.

Although traditionally it is believed that men were marrying many wives in order to have many children, according to evolution pioneer Charles Darwin men have historically practiced polygamy as a way to both please their sexual desires and maintain household dominance.

In his 1871 book The Descent of Man, Darwin stated that “Judging from the social habits of man as he now exists, and from most savages being polygamists, the most probable view is that primeval man aboriginally lived in small communities, each with as many wives as he could support and obtain, whom he would have jealously guarded against all other men”.

Most Christian theologians however, argue that Christians should not marry many wives. Theologians base their argument on Matthew 19:3-9 and Genesis 2:24 that Jesus explicitly states a man should have only one wife.

Basil of Caesarea also wrote in the 4th century of plural marriage that “such a state is no longer called marriage but polygamy or, indeed, a moderate fornication. He ordered that those who are engaged in it should be excommunicated for up to five years, and “only after they have shown some fruitful repentance were they to be allowed back into the church.

This was the same time in the 4th century that St Augustine wrote that the good purpose of marriage is better promoted by one husband with one wife, than by a husband with several wives. Justin Martyr, Irinaeus and Tertullian also spoke against polygamy, condemning it.

Remember that not all Christian churches have the same view in polygamy. The Nigerian Celestial Church of Christ allows clergy and laymen to keep multiple wives, and the Lutheran Church of Liberia began allowing plural marriage in the 1970s.

Several other denominations permit those already in polygamous marriages to convert and join their church without having to renounce their multiple marriages. These include the African instituted Harrist Church, started in 1913.

Even the Anglican Church made a decision at the 1988 Lambeth Conference to admit those who were polygamists at the time they converted to Christianity, subject to certain restrictions. Polygamy was first discussed during the Lambeth Conference of 1888:

“That it is the opinion of this Conference that persons living in polygamy be not admitted to baptism, but they may be accepted as candidates and kept under Christian instruction until such time as they shall be in a position to accept the law of Christ.

That the wives of polygamists may, in the opinion of this Conference, be admitted in some cases to baptism, but that it must be left to the local authorities of the Church to decide under what circumstances they may be baptized, according to resolution 5.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste

KENYA: HOW CARTEL OF HIGH-RANKING OFFICERS USE MUNGIKI

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From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2014

Jimmy from Nairobi writes: “Fr Beste I read your article on how President Uhuru has a big challenge to weed out cartels of corruption in Kenya. I am shocked Mungiki has made comeback according to Joseph ole Lenku, the cabinet secretary of internal security.

In early 2003 soon after Mawi Kibaki came into power, Chris Murungaru, who was then security minister reportedly expressed shock that a cartel of high-ranking officers could have been involved in ten of the military Land Rovers given to Mungiki sect. Father Beste don’t you think Kenya is in a very bad situation if cartels can use outlawed sect? I am worried.

This revelation was made in the lead up to the general election when then chief of the general staff General Joseph Kibwana was asked to investigate the scandal in person and present his findings to the Office of the President. The report was to detail the value of the ten vehicles, who got them, and why they were disposed of.

If cartels can have such powers to divert the Land Rovers to Mungiki, as detailed in a Daily Nation report on the scandal, then you are right Beste that it will be a big challenge for Uhuru to weed out cartels.

According to the report senior DoD officials involved in the cartel were said to have held secret talks shortly before Dr. Murungaru arrived to plan their next course of action. What is more worrying is that the report and its findings have never been made public to date.

Although Murungaru expressed shock on the revelation, according to military sources at the time said that the orders were issued by Chris Murungaru himself during a meeting with General Kibwana and other top generals at the Department of Defence headquarters in Nairobi.

The issue of Land Rovers cropped up when Murungaru made his first familiarisation tour of the DoD, a month after Narc came to power.

Shortly after revelation the Department of Defence was converted into the Ministry of Defense with Hon Yusuf Haji at the helm. This was meant to cover up the scandals. Father Beste Kenya needs prayers direly.

Jimmy this issue of Mungiki sect is very complicated. According to a commission set up to investigate the 2008 post-election violence Mungiki members were suspected of perpetrating violence. The Waki Report states that powerful individuals in Kibaki’s government used Mungiki to coordinate revenge.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail obolobeste@gmail.com

Omolo_ouko@outlook.com
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Twitter-@8000accomole