From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2014
Claris from Naivasha writes: “Fr Omolo Beste I read your article (attached here) on BISHOP OBALLA’S MESSAGE TO THE YOUTH ON MORAL and found it enriching. I agree with the bishop that youth should keep to moral values and self-discipline as the only way to keep off from sexual immorality. http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=35432
I have brought this argument Fr Omolo because of the Reproductive Health Care Bill sponsored by nominated Senator Judith Sijeny, of which if passed it be possible for school children as young as 10 years old to have access to contraceptives, including condoms.
As a parent I am so upset. Can you imagine Father that parental consent is not mandatory for the children to access the contraceptives if the bill which is before the Senate is passed? Could it be that this bill is pushed by PSI? This organization has been spearheading the condoms adverts in Kenya even to children”.
Thank you Claris for this good question. You are not very far from the truth. PSI was registered in Kenya as an international non-governmental organization in 1989. Since then, PSI/Kenya has been implementing social marketing programs to address HIV and Aids, reproductive health, malaria and child health promotion.
Their programme seeks to promote safer sexual behaviour among younger and middle aged individuals through social marketing and behaviour change through increase of and access to availability of condoms.
This is the very organization that led to a public outcry last year with their television advertisement on condom usage even to married couples who cheat on each other. This year they have continued with similar adverts. This time they have included young people in the adverts.
Among people who have opposed the bill include Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi who said the ministry would not allow “introduction of immorality” to young school children by any institution or law.
Like Bishop John Oballa, Kaimenyi says his ministry has an obligation to educate all children and promote good values and we will not be dragged in attempts to propagate bad teachings in schools.
The Kenya National Parents and Teachers Association (KNPTA) has also opposed to it. The Kenya Primary School Heads Association (Kepsha) also rejected the proposed law arguing children should be kept away from contraceptives.
The Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) National Chairman, who is also the Principal of St. Mary’s Yala Secondary School, John Awiti has also rejected it. Awiti who is devout Catholic and my parishioner from St. Mark’s Obambo Catholic Church, Archdiocese of Kisumu, says is a mistake because innocent children will become curious and they will start experimenting and that will compromise their morality.
Awiti argues that all parents, teachers and other persons who play a role in bringing up the children must allow the children to grow naturally through proper guidance if we still intend to have a sane society in future.
“Why do we even allow this to be part of national debate?” Awiti asked, telling MPs to focus on pressing issues. On his part, Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet) National Chairman Omboko Milemba warned the Senate against passing the Bill, arguing it would encourage moral decadence.
According to Senator Sijeny, the Bill is very important because it seeks the development of a system that is aware that many children are exposed to situations that could lead to risky sexual behaviour.
Her argument is that 10 years old girl is already sexually active and it is her right to fulfill her sexual desires through intercourse just like other sexually active adults. Although it sounds as if foreign NGO’s, including PSI are behind the bill, the Senator said the Bill was her own creation and not sponsored or pushed by any third party.
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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Raila owns a gas company that supplies gas to Heritage hotels owned by Uhuru Kenyatta.
Then Raila takes the CORD meeting to Great Rift Valley Lodge which is owned by Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila and Uhuru refer to each other as brothers.
Raila wants dialogue with Uhuru Kenyatta and Uhuru invites Raila for tea.
In all circumstances, when Raila and Uhuru meet, they always shake hands and smile to each other. They don’t fight.
Now, Uhuru opposes Raila’s rallies and sends a great number of security officers to ensure all is well in those meeting.
Raila cannot be touched because he is guarded by government police force.
When the big people are busy doing business stealing away what our sweat has brought, some fool is busy abusing and hurting his or her fellow poor citizen in the name of TRIBALISM.
Don’t give terrorism a chance to use your weaknesses to destroy your bonds..
I wish our poverty at grassroots level would bring us closer to each other to make us work against the rich selfish and acquire some of their wealth. So, don’t tell me Luos, Kikuyus, Kambas, Kalenjins, Luhyas, Merus, etc.
Everyone is struggling to make ends meet. Merus are crying, Luhyas are mourning, Luos are wailing, Kikuyus are weeping, Kalenjins are grieved and others are complaining sadly for the poor state of the economy.
We all in the same boat and if it sinks, we either perish together or survive together.
UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL
Get rid of TRIBAL Updates from your friends–just remove them to be stressfree..
From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, JUNE 20, 2014
Lorene from Bungoma writes: “Fr Beste what do you say about the order by the Director of Public Prosecutions that Gatundu South parliamentary aspirant Moses Kuria should be prosecuted for hate speech. Do you think this can end hate speech in Kenya?
A statement posted on the DPP’s Twitter account says Kuria will face charges following recommendations by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission. He is accused for having posted inflammatory remarks in a Facebook conversation.
The Law Society of Kenya has also written to Tobiko, seeking to have two Members of Parliament investigated for hate speech, Othaya MP Mary Wambui and her Starehe counterpart Maina Kamanda for remarks they made recently on Cord leader Raila Odinga that he went to America for military training how to remove Uhuru from power, and that he came with grenades to kill particular ethnic communities.
I also saw yesterday on KTN news at 7pm Mohamed Ali showing Aden Duale on the top of his voice openly abusing Raila and Luo people in Parliament, and how Raila is shedding blood of innocent people in order to take power from Uhuru. Millie Odhiambo was annoyed with Duale’s remarks and angrily talked on top of her voice.
Mohamed also showed the clip where Otieno Kajwang was openly abusing Uhuru Kenyatta in public. Surely Father, where is our beloved country Kenya leading us? I am just disgusted and tired of these hate speech from our politicians. They just incite Kenyans along tribal and religious line. This should stop.”
Thank you for this concern Lorene. I was also as disgusted as I watched that clip on KTN, especially when Kamanda said: “I want to tell Raila that all members of the Kikuyu community will protect Uhuru’s Presidency by all means necessary, even if it means shedding blood.
The fact that we are silent does not mean that we don’t know what is happening. I urge you all to be ready to respond when we sound the warning. We must defend the Uhuru Government,” Kamanda was seen saying in public. This is of course the first class hate that we should not allow in Kenya.
Wambui was also seen saying: “You have been sleeping and the time has come for you to wake up. We cannot allow this man to destabilise this country the same way South Sudan is going.” Kamanda was accompanied by MPs Kareke Mbiuki (Maara), Francis Waititu (Juja), Chege Njoroge (Kasarani), Ben Mutura (Makadara), Richard Tongi (Nyaribari Chache), Kimani Inchung’wa (Kikuyu) and George Theuri (Embakasi West).
DDP also ordered Mombasa the arrest of Women’s Representative, Mishi Juma for hate incitement speech during Madaraka Day celebrations. Last year James Orengo of Siaya, and Otieno Kajwang’ of Homa Bay were also ordered to appear in court for hate speech.
The two ODM Senators were alleged to have incited former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, to overthrow the Government of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy, William Ruto, when the two would both be at The Hague attending their trials at the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the same time. They urged Raila to prepare to take over power once the two jailbirds would be away in The Hague.
The reason why such hate speeches cannot end in Kenya Lorene, is because nothing is done to them whenever such prosecutions are made. Former Assistant Roads Minister Wilfred Machage (now Migori Senator) was charged with inciting hatred but could not be jailed even after Mwai Kibaki suspending him from his ministry.
Along with two other MPs, he was charged with hate speech during the campaign for a new constitution. They allegedly said some ethnic groups would have to leave their land if the constitution was approved.
By then Higher Education Minister William Ruto (now deputy president) was among three MPs accused of hate speech but not charged. Mr Ruto was alleged to have asked Muslims to reject the proposed constitution if they do not want a war with Christians.
NCIC chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia wanted the politicians to be prosecuted quickly after the experience of 2008 but this has never been successful, thus frustrating the office of the NCIC. This is the same with former Environment Minister Chirau Mwakwere who was accused of hate speech but late cleared of the charges.
In the case, Mwakwere was alleged to have made a speech, during a by-election campaign in his constituency in July 2010, to the effect that indigenous coastal people have been oppressed by Arabs.
Be assured Lorene, that when it comes to social media hate speech cannot be controlled. This is because internet users, especially young people in particular, have found social media, particularly Facebook as their right to perceive their online interactions as benefitting from the freedoms of expression and information.
Another reason why you cannot control hate speech on social media in Kenya is because of accumulated anger since 1992 ethnic violence to date. Many Kenyans are so angry to the extent that they do not care whether you charge them or not.
Anger comes about when one feels that his or her basic boundaries are violated. That is why most social media users use it to react to anger through retaliation. People feel angry when they sense that they or someone they care about has been offended.
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
THURSDAY, JUNE 19, 2014
Teddy from Kwale writes: “Fr Beste following what Joni quoted from Standard digital that Jomo Kenyatta took Kikuyus from Kiambu to illegally allocate them land in Mpeketoni can be concluded that is one of the reasons why Kikuyus were the targets?
Secondly, Internal Secretary Joseph ole Lenku announced the interdiction of the Lamu county police commander Leonard Omollo, Mpeketoni sub county commander Ben Maisori and Hindi area divisional officer a Mr Mutua. President Uhuru Kenyatta confirmed the suspension of the officers the following day. Could this explain why Raila is connected to the attacks?
Thirdly, when Bishop Emanuel Barbara of Malindi, who is also apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Mombasa, visited Mpeketoni after the attack he concluded that the attack was carried out by Kenyans and some foreigners.
Bishop Barbara told Fides News Agency that from what he saw he could say that there was an Islamic matrix to these assaults, but it also clear that ethic groups were the main targets. This he said because the assailants killed people based on their ethnicity and religion, what lesson could be learnt from this statement? Thank you.”
Thank you Teddy. Your first question whether land grabbing could be one of the reasons why particular ethnic community was the target we can say yes. This is going with what the Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission report of last year condemned that the Mpeketoni land settlement scheme of the 1960s was “unprocedural”, “dubious”, “irregular” and the cause of perpetual tensions in the area.
The TJRC report, which was handed over to President Uhuru Kenyatta last year, also analysed conflicts in Lamu in the context of the Shifta (Kenya-Somali) conflict of the 1960s. The commissioners also factored in historically-rooted threats to peace posed by the proposed construction of the new Lamu Port. It said the Jomo Kenyatta presidency (1964-1978) engaged in setting up.
Your second question whether the interdiction of the Lamu county police commander Leonard Omollo, Mpeketoni sub county commander Ben Maisori and Hindi area divisional officer a Mr Mutua can explain why Raila is connected to the attack is not the issue.
The issue is that targeting Kikuyu communities because of land came in the open in 1992 when Youth for Kanu’92 (YK92), a group co-founded by William Ruto to help Moi retain power in 1992. Kikuyus in the Rift Valley were the targets. The idea was to have them out of the province. Those who resisted were slaughtered alive, properties destroyed, leaving many landless and traumatized.
These attacks continued in 1997 with the worse one on the night of 13 January 1998 when some Pokot and Samburu men attacked Kikuyu communities in the Magande, Survey, Motala, Milimani and Mirgwit areas of Ol Moran in Laikipia. Attackers were armed not only with spears, bows and arrows, but also with guns. Some of the attackers were dressed in military-type clothing.
It was estimated that over 50 Kikuyus were killed during these attacks and over 1000 others fled the area and sought refuge at the Roman Catholic Church at Kinamba, from where they were later relocated to temporary shelters at Sipili and Ol Moran.
On 21 January the same year, about 70 unidentified people invaded three farms in Njoro including one belonging to the newly elected DP Member of Parliament for Molo Constituency, Kihika Kimani. Three days later, groups of what local residents described as Kalenjins attacked Kikuyus in parts of Njoro in the same constituency.
There were varying explanations given for these attacks. One version of events blamed them on the refusal of local Kikuyu traders to supply goods and services to Kalenjins in response to the events in Laikipia.
Another suggested that this was simply an unprovoked attack on Kikuyus by local Kalenjin youths. The attack on Kikuyus on 24 January provoked a counter-attack by a group of apparently well organised Kikuyus, who on 25 January attacked Kalenjin residents of Naishi/Lare in Njoro.
According to police reports, 34 Kikuyus and 48 Kalenjins were killed during these initial attacks and over 200 houses were burnt down. Hundreds of people from both communities were displaced by the fighting, and many of them fled to temporary ‘camps’ at Kigonor, Sururu, Larmudiac mission and Mauche.
Your third question on what Bishop Barbara concluded that the attack was carried out by Kenyans and some foreigners has also been witnessed by some journalists on the ground. The BBC’s Anne Soy reported that the gunmen shot dead anyone who was unable to recite verses from the Koran.
According to the report, the attackers were well organised, and as soon as they finished their mission, they disappeared, supporting the theory that they may be locals. There are long-standing political and ethnic divisions in this area for decades now.
Another report said it could be that local Somalis and Oromos who claim the area as their ancestral home are trying to drive out Kikuyus, who they see as interlopers. Such disputes over land ownership were behind much of the ethnic violence which broke out across Kenya after the disputed 2007 elections.
Although Al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack in order to take revenge on Kenya for the presence of its troops in Somalia, where they are battling the militants, as well as for the killing of radical clerics linked to al-Shabab in the port city of Mombasa, a group of Kenyan Somalis or Oromos could easily wave al-Shabab flags and shout slogans such as Allahu Akbar (God is great) in order to divert blame.
It could also be argued that President Kenyatta would want to downplay the al-Shabab angle in order to try and protect Kenya’s embattled tourist industry. This would also enable him to send Kenya’s security services after some of his political enemies.
It is very unfortunate Teddy that ethnic conflict is now threatening the decades of stability that has set Kenya apart from so many of its neighbors, like Congo, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan. No one knows exactly when this land disputes and grabbing will end in Kenya.
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
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2014
Joni from Nairobi writes: “Fr Omolo Beste Jubilee government claims that Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) are responsible for killing people at Mpeketoni, which according to Internal Security Secretary Ole Lenku and President Uhuru Kenyatta was planned and orchestrated by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
In 2010 then Lamu West MP Fahim Twaha claimed that a son of President Jomo Kenyatta, Mr Peter Muigai Kenyatta, Mzee Kenyatta’s eldest son was illegally allocated 50,000 acres of prime land at the Mpeketoni scheme in Lamu District. Could this be the reason why Uhuru is trying to bring in MRC and ruling out Al-Shabaab militias?
Mr Twaha told a public rally held at Mkunguni in Lamu town that the land was given to Mr Muigai Kenyatta because of weaknesses in the land processing system. He told a rally attended by then Lands Minister Joseph Nyagah and assistant ministers Zebedeo Opore and Francis Tarar that flaws in the land acquisition process had denied a lot of people their rightful share.
This claim is similar to the story by the Standard digital description how Mpeketoni came to be. It was created as a settlement in the late 1960s and early 1970s by President Jomo Kenyatta to settle landless Kenyans, mainly from Murang’a and other parts of the former Central Kenya, who were expelled from Tanzania after the collapse of first East Africa Community. And that explains why the majority of the occupants of Mpeketoni are Kikuyus.
According to the story, the settlement was centred on a fresh water lake named after the first President of Kenya. The original inhabitants were Bajuni and Watta who were soon outnumbered by the newcomers.
Mpeketoni township, owes its name to an admixture of Kiswahili “Mpe” meaning “give” and carton (English) — “Mpe katoni”. Locals say that as the landless settlers got off the lorries that transported them to the settlement with cartons bearing their essentials, the officer-in-charge barked, “Mpe katoni” (give him/her the carton). “Mpe katoni” later evolved to Mpeketoni, the popular name of the settlement.
By June 1977, the Mpeketoni scheme was fully occupied with 3,480 settlement plots covering an area of 14,224 hectares, with one settler’s allocation averaging 10 acres. Their numbers have grown by leaps and bounds and according to the 2009 census report, the population is nearing 50,000 with the age of the second generation averaging 37 years old.
Another question Father is, how comes that despite what President Uhuru claims that intelligence informed the security about Mpeketoni attack but did not act. Why was there a poor response from both police and the military, eliciting public outrage? How could the killing take 6 good hours without the knowledge of the police and government? This is outrageous.
Recently, it has been in the limelight with indigenous communities complaining that the 2007/8 Internally Displaced Persons were being ferried to the area. Why could the government do this without involving the locals? And why bring only one particular ethnic community?
This is very elaborate analysis Joni. The Standard digital description you have quoted about Mpeketoni to my opinion is why President Uhuru Kenyatta is alleging that Cord leader Raila Odinga used Mombasa Republican Council to fuel ethnic cleansing in Mpeketoni, aiming at Kikuyu community who are practically the occupants of the region.
Remember Joni, Uhuru and his deputy Ruto have cases at The Hague related to ethnic cleansing and to convince the world that Raila is the architect of ethnic violence could probably reduce the ICC case. Recently the ICC Chief Prosecutor added the 1992 classes when Ruto and his team used Kanu for youth 1992 to force Moi’s comeback.
During this periods Kikuyus were the targets in the Rift Valley. Mwai Kibaki’s DP party had become a threat in the province and in order to win they had to be moved out. This resulted to hundreds of deaths, loss of properties, trauma and landlessness.
Again Joni, you remember Ole Lenku saying in public that Raila is to blame for the attack at Mpeketoni because he has history of ethnic violence, referring also to the 2007/2008 post-election violence and the 1982 coup to remove Moi from power.
This according to my opinion is to come in to demonstrate to the world and ICC that Raila is to blame for 2007/2008 post-election violence to ease The Hague case. The idea in short is that all political or any type of violence in Kenya is orchestrated by Raila.
Uhuru and ole Lenku were to bring in the MRC, ruling out Al-Shabaab militias to convince Kenyans and the world that this was Raila’s plan. What is very clear is that Kenyatta family have been accused of grabbing big chunks of land, leaving many Coastal residence landless.
MRC was formed in 1999 was to address perceived political and economic discrimination, and land grabbing. The group traces its secession claims to the 1895 and 1963 agreements transferring the ten-mile strip of land along the coast to the Government of Kenya from Zanzibar.
MRC want this agreement which some critics characterize these as a form of bribery designed to facilitate colonization of the interior revoked. Their efforts to plead with Uhuru government to do so has never been successful.
The group contests these agreements as invalid, because they were enacted without the consent of coastal stakeholders, and says the state of Kenya has failed to honor the provisions designed to protect the coastal population.
The MRC was dormant until 2008, when it first raised claims that Mombasa should secede from Kenya to become an independent state. They argued that secession would liberate the people of the coast province from marginalization by the successive governments in Kenya. It would also enabled them claim back their grabbed land.
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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Philips introduces innovative ultra-mobile ultrasound system ‘VISIQ’ in Kenya to bring high quality, affordable healthcare to a wide range of clinicians
• Tablet-sized miniaturized ultrasound system enables incredible portability; VISIQ is a clinical innovation that addresses local needs
• The fifth consecutive Cairo to Cape Town roadshow continues focus on mother and child care
NAIROBI, Kenya, June 18, 2014/ — Royal Philips (AEX: PHIA, NYSE: PHG) (http://www.philips.com) today unveiled its new ultra-mobile ultrasound system VISIQ (http://www.healthcare.philips.com/main/products/ultrasound/systems/visiq) to the Kenyan market during the Nairobi leg of its annual pan-African Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow (http://www.philipsafricaroadshow.com). Currently in its fifth consecutive year, the roadshow enables Philips to engage in dialogue with customers, governments, NGOs and media to ascertain a better understanding of each country’s unique requirements and to develop relevant technology to support their needs on maternal and infant care.
Logo Philips: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/philips-1.jpg
The size of a tablet, the VISIQ is the first ultra-mobile system from Philips. It provides high quality images for expectant mothers wherever care is taking place. VISIQ (http://www.healthcare.philips.com/main/products/ultrasound/systems/visiq) exemplifies Philips commitment to more cost effective, simplified, patient-focused health care innovations with high clinical performance.
By launching this new system in Kenya, Philips continues to demonstrate its dedicated support to the Kenyan Ministry of Health in its mission to reduce child mortality rates, improve maternal health, meet the UN Millennium Development Goals 4 & 5 and revitalize Kenya’s health infrastructure as part of Kenya’s Vision2030 (http://www.vision2030.go.ke/index.php/vision).
Maternal screening allows for early detection of complications
According to the Philips Fabric of Africa trends report (http://philips.to/T6KhQp), women in Africa are at significant risk of premature death, with particular high mortality rates recorded in pregnancy. Women in semi-urban and rural areas across Kenya (in fact all of Africa) often die due to preventable complications during child birth as they have no access to ultrasound screenings to detect critical conditions. Many of these deaths can be diagnosed with basic imaging technology.
One of the benefits of VISIQ is that it is portable and easy to use so it’s available for expectant mothers in remote areas who wouldn’t otherwise have access to this type of innovative technology. “It makes me proud to see how Philips’ cost-effective, easy to operate ultrasound systems can make a real difference in Africa. It shows that meaningful innovations can contribute to saving people’s lives,” says Peter van de Ven, Vice President & General Manager, Philips Healthcare Africa. “Improving access to healthcare is high on the Philips agenda in Africa and we are very eager to contribute to the Vision2030 goals of the Kenyan government to improve access to quality care for all Kenyans. VISIQ allows clinicians to provide ultrasound in a variety of clinical environments, offering soon-to-be parents the comfort of having regular pre-natal check-ups.”
Designed for the needs of the Kenyan market
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), diagnostic imaging is crucial in healthcare. Many countries in the developing world cannot afford to purchase expensive high technology imaging equipment despite the urgent need to use imaging resources in these countries.(1) “There is a growing global focus on cost effective systems, smaller footprints and imaging equipment which is both easier to operate but has improved clinical functionality. The Philips VISIQ has been specifically designed with this in mind and embodies Philips’ image quality legacy, driving innovation and efficiency in ultrasound imaging. VISIQ provides high quality images for quick and reliable diagnostic decision making,” summarizes, Peter van de Ven.
VISIQ’s unique combination of mobility, ease of use and image quality, will enable clinicians to perform ultrasound examinations across a variety of clinical settings. Small outpatient clinics or community centers can carry out comprehensive obstetric and abdominal scans themselves rather than referring patients to regional ultrasound centers. This enables fast diagnosis and treatment. Approximately ten times smaller than a traditional ultrasound machine and with reduced energy consumption, VISIQ can also be used in community care programs in remote rural areas for screening, triage and fetal well-being scans, all of which helps to address the critical issue of maternal and infant care in Kenya.
Maternity screening camp to enable early detection of complications
As per previous years, Philips is organizing a maternity screening camp during the Cairo to Cape Town roadshow jointly with African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) (http://www.amref.org) in Kibera; the largest informal settlement in Nairobi. For a majority of the expectant mothers in this community, this screening camp will be their first ever opportunity to have a scan. This will ensure that any complications are detected in advance of labour. Philips will be providing ultrasound equipment, including the VISIQ system and clinical specialists for the camp, whereas AMREF, through its referral programme with the local public hospitals, will take care of any complications detected during the screening.
Philips is also organizing a roundtable discussion as part of its ‘Fabric of Africa’ campaign (http://www.philips.com/FabricofAfrica), on the topic of “Innovations in Rural Healthcare” and will organize clinical training workshops on topics including fetal monitoring, infant warming, jaundice management and clinical ultrasound. Over the course of three days, Philips will train close to 120 local healthcare professionals, increasing the quality of healthcare workforce in Kenya.
The fifth pan-African Cairo to Cape Town roadshow
Nairobi is the fourth stop on Philips’ annual flagship Cairo to Cape Town Roadshow (http://www.philips.com/africaroadshow) (from 14th April to 3rd September 2014) which focuses on two key challenges facing Africa today – the need for energy-efficient lighting and the revitalization of African healthcare infrastructure. Philips remains consistently committed to reducing child mortality and improving maternal health, linked to the current UN Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5 (MDGs) (http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals). In contribution to the Post-2015 Development Agenda (http://www.post2015hlp.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/UN-Report.pdf), Philips calls for improving universal access to healthcare and reducing the double-disease burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as additions to the current MDGs. The Roadshow will make its way across seven countries and ten cities in Africa. The next stop will be in Lagos, Nigeria on the 8th of July.
Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Royal Philips.
For more information please follow the Cairo to Cape Town roadshow on:
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) (http://www.philips.com) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 112,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.
Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
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The rate of daily deaths in Kenya at the hands of foreign sponsored terrorists has reached the most alarming proportions which now calls for a quick solution.
A Homa-BAY politician Hilary Ochieng’ Alila has said that if the dialogue which is sought by the opposition group could save the country from further bleeding to death, then such a meeting is necessary and must be held urgently before any more deaths.
Alila who is also a businessman in Nairobi spoke to this writer by phone from Dubai where he had gone for business. He said he was disappointed to read the disturbing news of fresh terrorists attack in Mpeketoni in Lamu which has left 48 Kenyans dead and property worth millions of dollars destroyed. ”We have lost so many precious lives in Kenya in the last ten years. We now say enough is enough. “This is a very serious issue and there is joking about it. Our leaders must come forward and save the lives of Kenyans.”
Alila criticized those who he described as amateurish politicians who instead of acknowledging the existence of Jihadists terrorists in Kenya were shifting the blame on to the CORD opposition leader Raila Odinga.
He said Odinga has been out of Kenya for close to three months, and during his absence from this country, there were more than 20 terrorists attacks in Mandera, Mombasa, Likoni and Nairobi in which innocent Kenyans lost their precious lives. He told those tasked with the responsibilities of protecting Kenyans and their properties to take the responsibilities and quit their jobs with immediate effect to take responsibility for the complacency and laxity.
The on going blames gamed and irresponsible comments from amateurish politicians out to attract cash handouts are some of the factors in undoing things. “Kenyans from all walks life must be patriotic enough to protect their beloved motherland, and its hard-worn independence.
Alila pointed out that it is was wrong to places all the security responsibilities in the hands of people from one ethnic background. This has made the security of our country becoming compromised. And this has resulted in the lapses of security apparatus in this country. The government must ensure that the posting of the key security men carries the face of the entire Kenyan society..
Alila warned those bad mouthing the others to tread carefully. They should only make their constructive contributions towards the need for a genuine dialogue between the opposition and the government. Some of the sycophants around the president have since coined the word, that Raila wanted to overthrow the government of President Kenyatta.
The politician did not say he had read the statement by the Cabinet Secretary Joseph Ole Lenku via CNN news footage and felt that the man is not up to the task nor is he capable of holding the so important security docket. Ole Lenku should quit and go home to take care of his herds of cattle instead of making big blunders in a such life threatening situation in KENYA. He appeared not to know what he is doing. In such important docket with the government security docket
Turning on ODM politics, Alila heaped a lot of praise on Raila Odinga for having met with then Nairobi governor Sr. Evans Odhjiambo Kidero to iron out a few contentious issues affecting the party and its members in the City. Yhe Raila / Kidero meeting was a healthy and fruitful one. Leaders must consult one another in a friendly atmosphere and discuss issues affecting the wananchi This is why I am supporting to the hilt the idea of the proposed meeting between President Kenyatta and Raila Odinga so what they should work out a road-map to permanent peace and tranquility in this country..
Alila at the same time advised theODM HOma-BAY county branch officials who were recently ousted from the leadership to take things easy. They should go home and re-brand themselves resolved to come back and claim the leadership in the future. But for now, the team which was formerly led by Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ are no longer in the picture..
from: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014
Sura mbili writes via Facebook: “How can 50 armed terrorists on foot, hijack two matatu vehicles and take hostage a busy town centre for more than four hours, leaving about 50 people dead, trailing a huge destruction of property worth billions of shillings without any information being leaked in by our intelligence organs?.
For how long are we going to allow this to happen? I have said in this page that the government must overhaul our intelligence network. The government must start its intelligence from the village level and cut any bureaucracy in between. The president should be able to get all the information on intelligence from the village level through our intelligence network and which is not happening.
The president must have his private intelligence which apart from national intelligence, is trusted with state security intelligence. This organ will be trusted with all other security intelligence for clarity. Currently we are being fed with unconfirmed intelligence information, which sometimes is not reliable.
Let us wake up to reality that terrorism is here with us and find ways of improving our intelligence networks to conform with the current trends of terrorists. Politicians should stop this nonsense of blaming one another”.
Although this is a good advice to President Uhuru Kenyatta and his government Sura mbili, there are numerous reasons why Uhuru will not allow this to happen. One of the reasons is what I answered in September 27, 2013-click here WHY PRESIDENT UHURU WON’T SACK NIS to read more. http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=36036
This was an response to NARC Kenya chairperson, Martha Karua who had said that it would be impossible for President Uhuru Kenyatta to sack NIS boss Michael Gichangi, not only because he was appointed on basis of tribal, but because Gichangi is his confidante.
Karua sensationally said President Uhuru Kenyatta and National Intelligence Service (NIS) boss, Brigadier Michael Gichangi, are incompetent on how they have handled country’s security matters especially Saturday’s Westgate terror attack.
On her twitter account, Karua put blame on the NIS head over the deteriorating security in the country, saying that if the NIS was active and competent, Westgate’s terrorists attack could have been prevented from happening.
Like Karua, members of the National Assembly had also accused the National Intelligence Service of laxity, saying the agency’s director General Michael Gichangi has failed to lead from the front.
Political analyst, Mutahi Ngunyi looked at it differently. He wanted Kenyatta, not only to fire Gichangi, but also Chief of General Staff, General Julius Karangi and Interior Ministry Cabinet Secretary, Joseph Ole Lenku for their incompetence over Westgate Mall’s terrorist attack.
Sura mbili, it might be easy for Jubilee government to deny, but the fact is and remains that Kenya’s security agencies are covertly politicized and as a result overtly ethnicized. That is why all security agencies do not pass the minimum test of Article 232 of the Constitution on Values and Principles of Public Service.
If you Uhuru was genuinely against terrorism, then he must of essence return the National Police Service (Amendment) Bill, 2014 to the National Assembly for further re-alignment in line with Article 2(1)(3) of the Constitution. That is also why the “Nyumba Kumi” concept is not effective.
It is also why, even though on November 7, 2013 Uhuru told corrupt senior officers in his office to either resign or be sacked, that has not happen because of politics. Uhuru knew and worked with them during his time at the Treasury when he was the minister of Finance.
That is why no senior officer has resigned or been sacked from his office. It is also why he won’t focus onto overall police productivity in terms of crime detection, response and management, despite the fact that there is need for urgent changes to police workforce policies and practices to assist police officers to respond more effectively to the challenges the government faces currently.
If it were not because of politics Uhru would have attained a police service that embraces successful initiatives and addresses gaps in the modernization agenda to be developed. Otherwise he would have spent whatever it takes, hire and fire high level security leaders without favour or fear.
Had it not because of politics, Uhuru would have created a new security agency, whose job would be to patrol and secure the national borders and its officers deployed in counties that are close to borders.
The President would also stick to his promise that he would expand the National Police Service by hiring 15,000 police officers every year over the next five years. These officers would be given modern equipment to combat crime.
It is not enough to allocate sufficient security budgets if this was not accompanied with transparency, eliminate wastage and guarantee quality and value for public funds. If this money is not looted it would create a command that would ensure all security agencies work together and to “establish functional linkages through training and command structure of various disciplines of the armed forces.
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
\Let’s fix Kenyan history; “The Mau Mau Rebellion” or “The Kimathi Rebellion”…?
From: Jeremy Kinyanjui
“The Mau Mau Rebellion” or “The Kimathi Rebellion”…? “The Kenya Land & Freedom Army (KLFA)” or “The Kimathi Land & Freedom Army (KLFA)”…?
Why is it that the legendary Field Marshal Dedan Kimathi appears to be the only Mau Mau warrior of the iconic Mau Mau Rebellion, honoured and paid tribute to i.e. & e.g.
1. Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Nyeri, Kenya
2. Kimathi Street, Nairobi, Kenya
3. The Dedan Kimathi Memorial Statue, Kimathi Street, Nairobi, Kenya
KENYANS are lucky for having a well schooled and dynamic President in the name of Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta who in my opinion has the wealth of experience in public affairs, which if properly utilized could turn our beloved country into the highest height of economic development and growth.
HOWEVER, Kenyatta and his ruling jubilee coalition appeared to be vulnerable and easily panicking a lot about several issues of national importance, which only calls for soberly approach.
This panic has made the jubilee coalition government full of contradictions, utterances coupled with loose tank and chest thumping whose uncoordinated utterances which are only polluting the air and polarizing the existing peace and tranquility in the country.
The recent utterances from both the jubilee and the CORD opposition are only fueling further political wrangling instead of cooling down the existing high political temperatures in our country.
Any sane person and good Kenyan who have the country’s interest could see that the situation is genuinely calls for a dialogue between our national leaders from the political divide.
And while blaming Kenyatta and his team for being belligerent and overreacting to issues, which need some kind of sober approach, the opposition group under the flagship of CORD coalition calls stand blamed for poorly presenting its call for the national dialogue, which is of course a good idea while at te same time issuing threats intimidation and ultimatum to the government.
It could be that the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula were carried by the huge and enthusiastic crowd of people that turned out at the UHURU park to welcome Raila home. The trio, however, In my opinion have other alternative way of constructively engaging the Jubilee government on the dialogue issue instead of issuing threat of mobilizing mass action and mob justice.
There has been a lot of reckless utterances of the Jubilee government I response to this calls. Two wrongs never made good ends. There has been a lot of hustling recklessness in speeches by those purported supporting the government, which did not go down well with the moderately thinking Kenyans who cares for the well being of Kenyan people and their hard acquired properties.
The call for a national dialogue is genuinely a good gesture, which should be deliberated in a sober manner, especially when considering the myriad of problems facing our country at the moment
Kenya is on the cross road, taking into account the thousands of sophisticated weapons now in the hands of criminal thugs. A day hardly passed without a newspaper report about a Kenyan trader having been shot and killed with these illegally acquired weapons.
And even in the usually quiet rural locations in the countryside, thugs are ruling, though its more worse in urban areas and trading centers and in market places.
The prices of the basic commodities like food, fuel, detergent etc have skyrocketed and have become unaffordable by ordinary average Kenyans rural folks.
Most Kenyan families can now ill-afford three or four meals a day. the Taveta MMP DR Naomi Shaban opening her big mouth before a huge crowd in KISII and telling President Kenyatta before a huge crowd of people in KISII that those opposition leaders pressing for the national d Kisii and telling President pack lies by saying that those opposition pressing for a national dialogue between the government and the opposition groups were liars. These kinds of sycophantic outbursts to appease the President are so opportunistic and are some of the undoing on the part of jubilee government.
I trust that President Kenyatta is capable of using his own political magnanimity to decide which way forward for Kenyans who have mandated him to rule this country, and he will make a firm and positive response response on this contentious issue of the national dialogue.
The president and his handlers also need to instill some amount of disciplined to his outspoken Deputy president whose language need to be out into a constant check. Ruto’s belligerent and quick rejoinders on some issues only amounted to loose talking and careless utterances, which nobody needs now in a situation where Kenya is grappling with myriad of problems including terrorists threat and insecurity.
Let the President not to allow his Deputy to plunge this our beautiful country into a distasteful and chaotic situation.
We are not on election mood. The elections are still four years away and I therefore concurred with President Kenyatta that he should be given time and a breathing space to implement his election pledges to Kenyans and those dissatisfied lots could wait until 2017.
ABOUT the author; LEO ODERA OMOLO is a veteran Kenya journalist ho comments regularly on topic issues
KISUMU ASSEMBLY IS ACCUSED OF SQUANDERING MILLIONS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY ON USELESS FOREIGN TRIPS.
Writwea Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
RESIDENTS of KISUMU city are up in arms against the county government headed by governor Jack Ranguma of spending the taxpayers money extravagantly by sponsoring foreign trips for MCA’s with no material gains to the residents
The issue has raised political temperatures in this lakeside City, which is now stinking in filth owing to non-existence of refuse and garbage collection. With waste paper littering the town streets and broken and sewerage lines goes unrepairable for weeks, some of the broken sewerage lines passes through the residential estates thereby posing health hazard to the residents.
Some of the MCAS who are scrambling for inclusion into the numerous foreign trips are semi-illiterate persons who can gain no experience that could be beneficial to the residents due to their communication problems’. The Kisumu governor Jack Ranguma seemed to have been captivated by the MCAs and is therefore unable to control the county government’s budget making millions to go to waste.
Discontent has arisen following the revelation that sixteen Kisumu MCAs have left the country for the tour of the State of Israel amid public protest against these fruitless and no value added foreign trips by MCAS which have no value to the residents. However, sources have revealed that when the sixteen return home, another 25 MCAs will also make yet another money fubbling trip to Singapore. Later this month. These trips, says the residents, could gobbles being stinking and giving bad dour everywhere include a Central Business district {CBD}, these valueless trips could cost the Assembly as much money as Kshs 30 million, which goes to the wastes and yet the City lacked basic amenities such as street lights, persistent acute shortage of water and poor system of refuse collection which as contributed to the City to be in bad state of stinking due to left and uncollected garbage and waste papers.
Those who are reported to have traveled to Israel are members of the County who have nothing to learn in the ultra modern Israeli farming system due to their communication problems. Some of them were petty kiosk traders with no elementary education before they were elected from the various town wards to the Assembly.
They include the Assembly Speaker Ann Adul and the Clerk Nelco Sagwe. The same Assembly Speaker Ann Adul last year squandered the sums of Kshs 694,847 when she was sponsored by the Assembly to attend a conference in Atlanta, US.
In January, this year, the County government coughed out the colossal amount of money when it sent 47 MCAs on a six days educational tour of the neighboring Uganda at the average rate of Kshs 3000 expenses per day each, The Assembly was also on spot for s trip to Germany for eleven MCAS who were paid Kshs 3000 each per day expenses per day.
Upon these MCAs return from such luxury trips, they offer no explanation of the experiences they gained in those countries, which could be of benefits to the Kisumu residents. These MCAS only come home quietly without calling either a press conferences to explain the gains and experiences they had acquired as a result of their expensive trips abroad. The residents of Kisumu now viewed and maintains that these trips are amounting to naked looting of the Assembly resources and therefore must be stopped. The Central government should ma pout the plan governing foreign trips by MCAs. The Office of the President must also initiate the system of giving clearance for such trip in conjunction with the relevant ministry in charge of the devolution .
The residents now call upon the Central government to intervene and to ensure that these luxurious Childish and useless foreign trips by KISUMU MCAs are stopped forthwith.
There is also a disaster in waiting in KISUMU. The dumpsite, which is located between Kachok and the Moi’s stadium, has attracted a lot of birds, feeding on the filth. The dump site is located right in the middle of the town. It is on the direct routes of the aircraft flight coming and leaving the recently much improved Kisumu International Airport. And the risk of the bird strikes on aircraft is there. This is because the dump site is on the direct route of aircraft coming and leaving the recently expanded Kisumu International Airport. Therefore there is an urgent need fr the KISUMU County government to look for another suitable dump site. Air disasters have occurred in other countries caused by birds hitting the airplane engines in flights and causing death and injuries to the passengers.
It is even causing amusement to leaned that the Assembly is currently using street urchins [Ninjas} for the purport of refuse collections in the town. Why? This kind of negligence is impacting negatively on the residents of KISUMU. The main Kisumu Bus terminal is stinking with dirty garbage and the same is sighted n Henderso,Lumumba, Ondiek, Kaloleni and Maakasembo and other residential estates
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Pitson – Lingala Ya Yesu
Prezda Bandason – Christina & Beautiful Nyiluo
Madanji Perimeter & Maxwell -Christina
Odos Jasuba: Wendo
Odosh Jasuba
Aboy lanlord – Arossy
20ème Anniversaire – Franco & le T.P. O.K. Jazz 1976
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Uhuru: Dialogue any time, but campaign later
On Friday, I hosted a huge delegation from the Kenya Private Sector Alliance for our quarterly roundtable. For the whole afternoon, we engaged in intensive discourse over a wide range of issues, and received reports on a multiplicity of initiatives aimed at making the business environment more conducive to greater productivity and competitiveness.
RAILA: We must talk, and this is why
One of the unfortunate assumptions that African countries have made in adopting western democracy is that those who get elected are infused by their victory with an omniscience that enables them to formulate solutions for all the country’s problems.
Stalemate as Cord, Jubilee leaders maintain hardline positions
The question on whether there should be a national dialogue conference as proposed by CORD seems to be generating more heat than light a week later.
Mudavadi offers to lead mediation on proposed national dialogue
After a year in the political cold, former Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has finally asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to give him a chance as a mediator in the national dialogue that the opposition and Cord leader Raila Odinga has asked for.
Uhuru: Let’s go slow on politics, focus on growth
President Uhuru Kenyatta made a triumphant entry in former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Nyanza backyard with calls on the opposition to stop blame games.
10 hours ago
Rejuvenated Muite is back and enjoying every bit of the game
By Nation Correspondent
More by this Author
The recent involvement of veteran lawyer Paul Muite in a series of high-profile cases has led to suggestions that the former Kikuyu MP and unsuccessful presidential candidate is on the rise again after a trying period marked by the loss of political favour and financial challenges.
Muite, who was recently appointed by the Director of Public Prosecutions to carry out an independent assessment of the claims of wrongdoing surrounding the government’s acquisition of Malili ranch, has been the lawyer for the Judicial Service Commission, which he has represented in a number of high profile assignments, including before the committees of Parliament.
Muite has also acted in the legal proceedings spawned by the impeachment of Embu Governor Martin Wambora, and also for the Media Owners Association in the battle with the government over the switch to digital television.
FEARLESS LAWYER
Muite is one of the best known lawyers the country has ever produced. He was a fearless lawyer during the one-party era and represented several people considered enemies of the Kanu regime. Among his big cases at the time was the defence of the late George Anyona, Njeru Kathangu, Prof Edward Oyugi, and Isaiah Ngotho Kariuki in their trial for sedition in 1990, one of the last acts of tyranny before the Kanu regime caved in to pressure for multiparty politics.
In the same year, Muite was elected chair of the Law Society of Kenya, an event that coincided with great political activity as the forces of reforms fought for a resumption of multiparty politics, which Kanu fiercely resisted.
Muite was one of the actors behind the Kamukunji rally held that year, which demanded a resumption of multiparty politics. Charles Rubia and Kenneth Matiba were detained without trial after the rally, and Gibson Kamau Kuria fled the country to avoid a similar fate.
While it was widely expected that Muite would also be detained, he turned up at State House instead, accompanied by his wife, for dialogue with Moi. The mystery remains how he managed to arrange all that and to avoid detention himself.
MULTI-PARTY POLITICS
Before multiparty politics resumed in 1992, Muite had teamed up with opposition figures, including the Opposition leader Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, to form the Forum for Restoration of Democracy (Ford), which Jaramogi chaired, with Muite as the vice-chair. When Ford was transformed into a political party, it splintered into Ford Kenya led by Jaramogi, and Ford Asili, led by Matiba, after the leaders failed to agree on a presidential flagbearer.
Muite stuck with Ford Kenya, becoming its vice-chair, and supported Jaramogi’s presidential candidature in the country’s first multiparty elections. He has written on his website that “Jaramogi had wanted Muite to be his successor as leader of the party.” Although Jaramogi lost his presidential bid in the 1992 elections, Muite was elected MP for Kikuyu.
In Parliament, Muite was one of the five members referred to as the Young Turks, who were regarded to be pursuing a progressive agenda in the House. In the later stages, he served as chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, a position to which he brought much of his vigorous style. It is thought that the subsequent chairs of this committee have heavily been influenced by Muite’s style in the manner in which they seek to lead it.
One of the issues that Muite had championed while chairing the LSK was accountability for the Goldenberg scandal that broke out during his term. Amid a refusal by the government to take action against the perpetrators of the scandal, Muite led the society in bringing a private prosecution against Kamlesh Pattni, who it has since been established, was the architect of the multi-billion-shilling scandal.
Muite’s charisma and reputation as a fearless lawyer and his credentials as a national leader, illustrated by his decision to side with Jaramogi — seen as the face of the progressive forces — positioned him as a serious presidential contender in future.
But this image crumbled when in 1999 Pattni sensationally claimed that Muite had shaken him down for a bribe of Sh20 million in return for immunities in the Goldenberg scandal. When Muite denied the allegation, LSK under the leadership of Nzamba Kitonga constituted an independent probe of two senior members of the Society, Benjamin Okuom, and Philip Ransley, to look into the allegation.
The probe concluded that the payment of Sh15 million had been established.
This money was paid by several cheques in favour of third parties following Muite’s instructions. The panel found that the balance of Sh5 million allegedly paid in cash to Muite could not be substantiated.
These allegations were to prove a severe blow to Muite’s political standing. Although he went on to serve as MP for Kikuyu for three terms, it is considered that the substance of his national appeal was effectively shattered by the allegations.
Although Muite maintains his innocence up to today, the claims by Pattni have inflicted lasting damage on his stature and are viewed as a glass ceiling on his presidential ambitions.
After losing his seat in 2007, Muite went into a political wilderness, during which the only news about him was the two attempts by auctioneers to throw him out of his home, which was to be sold to recover a debt owed to a bank.
In an interview with the media, Muite did not dispute the debt but contended that the sale was orchestrated by President Kibaki and his wife Lucy as punishment for daring to oppose some of the President’s political actions.
Muite also accused the bank of bad faith in seeking to sell his home at a gross undervalue compared with the debt claimed.
It did not matter that the auctioneers were eventually unsuccessful in their attempts to sell Muite’s home. The spectacle on national television, of Muite’s household items, strewn all over his compound by the auctioneers who had been repulsed by Muite’s men, confirmed how far the great lawyer had fallen.
SAFINA TICKET
Thereafter, Muite ran for president on a Safina ticket, in last year’s General Election, positioning himself as a candidate who stood for principle, a reminder of the Muite of old. In his campaigns, he threw barbs at the two main contenders, Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta, who was declared the winner, and in the process reducing some of the polarising effect these two candidates had in the elections.
Analysts consider Muite’s decision to run a desperate attempt to remain relevant in greatly changed circumstances.
His historical position made it unseemly for him to run for his former seat of MP in Kikuyu which, moreover, he stood little chance of winning unless he aligned himself with the dominant TNA party in the area.
Muite’s otherwise irrelevant presidential candidature was given prominence by the debates that the media organised, initially among a select number of candidates, excluding him.
However, Muite obtained a court order that forced the media to accept him in the debate, and the occasion provided him the opportunity to display his considerable oratory skills bring his candidature some attention.
In March 2013, only days after the announcement of the results in the hotly disputed elections, Muite joined three other losing presidential candidates in a delegation that paid a courtesy call on Kenyatta, the President-elect. The other candidates in the delegation were James Kiyiapi, Musalia Mudavadi and Hussein Dida. Those who stayed away were Peter Kenneth, Martha Karua and Raila.
The timing was significant because the petition filed by Raila challenging the declaration of Kenyatta as the winner was then under way at the Supreme Court. The meeting was part of a series of activities carried out by the President-elect that were viewed as calculated to remove the sting from the electoral challenge he was facing in court by presenting his election as a fait accompli.
The meeting was seen as an endorsement of Kenyatta and undermined Raila’s petition.
Muite used the occasion to state that election petitions would not help the country and that he was ready to work with the government if the opportunity was offered to him.
The Malili ranch saga contains allegations against the current LSK chair Eric Mutua. The appointment of Muite to carry out the Malili probe places him in judgment over the leadership of the society that once carried out a probe against him after Pattni’s allegations.
One problem that Muite will confront when he probes Malili is why his results, especially if they implicate anybody, should be accepted by the parties when he rejected as false the results of the probe against him based on Pattni’s allegations.
Whatever the case, it looks like Muite is back in a big way and is now at the centre of national activities as he was in the 1990s. And, as always, controversy is never far behind him.
From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2014
Yuvinalis from Kisii writes: “Fr.Beste I read your article on Rose about her husband cheating on her and I just pity her. I worked in three major media houses in Kenya and during those days we did not have much to report on women divorcing or separating with their husbands because they cheat on them.
Strictly speaking, if you divorce your husband or wife because of extra marital affairs, in my opinion it is not right. It is the duty of husband and the wife to protect each other. They need to have dialogue.
I have seen many cases of wives or husbands cheating on each other, but what I can advice Rose and other women is that cheating on them should not be the reason for divorce or separation. There is no need of fighting each other, but better dialogue.
In most cases divorce is thought of as a solution because of lack of good communication which may lead to lack of understanding hence divorce. Rose has not divorced but I assure her that long period of separation may lead her to divorce.
If it persists seek the council of the parents or the small Christian community members. It is only when the other party completely refuses council from the elders that you could consider a divorce. I would also advice Rose and other women that it is not right to check their husbands’ phone or emails. Husbands should also not do the same to their wives.
I leave my phone in the sitting room when I go to the bedroom or the shower. I have big kids and I don’t mind them picking my phone. I don’t have any lockable item in my house. Hence all of us can access any items in the house. This is just to do with trust.
I should also advice men who cheat on their wives to stop doing so because this is just destroying your family and you”.
Thank you for your concern Yuvinalis. I hope Rose will follow your advice and have a change of heart. Your advice to men who cheat on their wives is fantastic. Remember this is not only Rose. The rate of divorce in Kenya on such illicit affairs is on the increase.
Filing a divorce case in court is even more expensive. Legal sources indicate that the cost of filing a divorce case could range from a minimum of Sh200, 000 to Sh500, 000, and the case could drag on in court for years.
A party seeking divorce is known as a petitioner while the one against whom the petition is filed is known as the respondent .The petitioner must illustrate or prove to the court why he or she wants the court to grant the divorce.
The party must prove that their case fits within one of the few grounds for divorce as stipulated in the law. For example, the petitioner has to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the court that a matrimonial offence has occurred, and hence the marriage should no longer continue.
Section 8 of the Matrimonial Causes Act provides divorce proceedings may be commenced either by the husband or the wife on the ground that the respondent:
(a) has since the celebration of the marriage committed adultery; or
(b) has deserted the petitioner without cause for a period of at least three years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition; or
(c) has since the celebration of the marriage treated the petitioner with cruelty; or
(d) is incurably of unsound mind and has been continuously under care and treatment for a period of at least five years immediately preceding the presentation of the petition, and by the wife on the ground that her husband has been guilty of rape, sodomy or bestiality.
The court can also dissolve a marriage if parties show that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, and that there is no love between the parties anymore. These are the only grounds upon which parties can seek to have a marriage dissolved.
Kenyan law prohibits the presentation of a divorce petition to a court of law before three years after the marriage, unless good reasons are shown to the court as to why the petition should be entertained. Parties have to remain within the marriage for a minimum of three years before they lodge a divorce petition.
Like in the case of Rose she is still in a marriage, until the court will grants her a divorce. This is because separation does not break marriage. It is only divorce that breaks the matrimonial bond completely. In other words, she can be free to be remarried.
In Catholic Church this is quite different. Marriage in Catholic is a vocation which fosters the good of the spouses and naturally leads to the procreation and education of children. Above all marriage is a sacrament (Eph. 5).
The couple must understand what marriage is and they must intend their marriage to be a lifelong partnership which is open to children. They must intend fidelity and the mutual good of one another. They must also have the physical and psychological ability to follow through on these intentions.
When all of the above factors are brought together, a sacramental, indissoluble union is established by God. The Church believes that God, the author of marriage, established it as a permanent union. When two people marry, they form an unbreakable bond.
Divorce can only be considered on an annulment. It is a finding by a Church tribunal that on the day vows were exchanged at least one essential element for a valid marriage was lacking. For example, one of the parties did not intend to be faithful to the other party or approached marriage as merely a temporary bond.
A decree of nullity may also be considered on the grounds that one of the parties is incapable of entering into a valid marriage due to fear or coercion, a lack of judgment caused by mental illness or gross immaturity, a psychological disorder or the fact that one of the parties is still validly married to another party.
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
Historical feature By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu CITY.
It was indeed an historical evening that many people would wish to forget as fast as it happened more than fifty years ago.
This was a day in 1965. The place was at the D.C.’s house in Homa-Bay town in what used to be the old greater South Nyanza district Commissioner for the area was Isaiyah Mathenge a stoutly built and tough and most efficient administrator from Nyeri town.Nyanza district.
The founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta was on an official tour of the district in the company of several cabinet ministers, KANU MPs, members of the defunct Nyanza Regional Assembly, chiefs, civic leaders and party operatives.
This was the day when a drunken body guard of one of his ministers forced his way into the room where the President was a having a consultative meeting with the local leaders.
The incident occurred after the founding president had made an extensive tour of the vast region where he addressed a series of public meetings.. Mzee had arrived at the D.C’S house looking a bit tired and needed sometime to rest. But before this, he was entertained by the traditional Ramogi dancers from Kochi and Karachuonyo and crowned with the a school choir from the nearby Ogande Girls Secondary School.
The entertainment left the President in a jovial mood. He was now making hearty exchange of jokes with the ministers, MPS and other leaders as the meeting progressed well.
All of a sudden, there was a big commotion at the door. One man by the name Owino Aguyo, a former Mau Mau detainee who before the coming of independence in June I fst 1963 was one of the many active KANU youth wingers in Kisumu Town who were always hanging around the then KANU Vice President Jaramnogi Oginga Odinga. Although he had no formal police training, Owino became the security detail of the MinisterI for Information and broadcasting Richard Achieng’ Oneko and was issued with a service revolver or a pistol the time usually carried by policemen guarding VIPs.
This was immediately after the formation of the Republican cabinet In December 1964. Oneko was the KANU MP for Nakuru Town He had won the seat after the JuneE 1ST 1963 independence general election.
Owino menacingly tried to force his way into the D.C’s living room where the meeting was in progress. He was then the KANU MP for Nakuru Toiwn. engaged in rowdy argument at the door with one Joseph Ouma Nis a KANU youth who was also acting at times as Tom Mboya’s bodyguard after the latter had realized that he was drunk and had a loaded pistol. The two were engaged in wrestling match and Ouma Nisa knocked Owino to the ground. The commotion alerted the security policemen who were guarding the D.C”s compound and Owino was overpowered, disarmed and taken into police custody. He was later arraigned in court, found guilty of carrying an offensive weapon in a public place and sentenced toi 18 months imprisonment by a court in KISII Town.
President Kenyatta looked a shaken man after the commotion which took close to ten minutes as more policemen moved in to arrest the drunken man. He addressed Oneko down Oneko down and told him in Kiswahili “Tafadhali sana Bwana Oneko ussije tena kwangu na mutu huyu.”Ameleta Kinyoriro mbaya hapa.”
Cabinet Ministers present at the function included S.o.Ayodo {Wildlife and Tourism} Tom Mboya {Economic Planning and Development},Richard Achieng Oneko [Information and Broadcasting}.Dr Julius Gikonyo Kiano {Commerce and Industry},assistant kello- Ministers were Benjamin Maisori Itumboocial Services} Joseph Gordon Odero Jowi { labor} and Tom Okello-Odongo {Finance}
There were also back-bencher MPS in attendance included John Henry OKwanyo {Migori}. Clement Ngala Abok {Homa-Bay},Elijah Omolo AGAR {Karachuonyo}
Regional Assembly members present were George KING Omolo {Homa-Bay}, David Okiki Amayo{Karachuonyo}. Matthews Otieno Ogingo OgingoaNdhiwa} Harrison Odhiambo Opiyo Midiang’a{ Mbita};Herman Odhiambo-Omamba}{Migori},Samson Mwita Marwa {Kuria} And Silas Abong’o Oloo {Kasipul-Kabondo}
The then Nyanza P.C was Daniel Owino. Several Permanent Secretaries were also in attendance. They included Aloys Philip Achieng’ {Fisheries}, Joel Meshack Ojal Adem{Education, and Nathaniel Oluoch Adinda of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting} Aloiys Phillip Achieng’ of the Fisheries department.
Among the elders and civic leaders were Mzee Wilson Lando from Ndhiwa, SENIUOR chief Damianus Ajwang’ from Gembe, Senior Zepphania Malit fromKarachuonyo, EX-senior Chief Simeon Wasonga From Mfangano Island, Chief Zemekiah Wakiaga from Rusinga ,Chief SamueL Odoyo , Chief Mishael Anyango RayolA {Kabondo, MZEE Paul Mbo {Karachuonyo{Kanyada,Chief Julius Ouma {Kabuoch}.
The otherwise a very cordial and friendly meeting between President Kenyatta and the Luo elders almost came cropper, when Ex-Senior Chief Simeon Wasonga of Mfangano
[Nyathi Kwach} sought to know from the President what he termed as the widely rumored and disturbing information what he termed as the very sensitive and most disturbing rumor and speculation widely spreading in both Nairobi and some parts of Nyanza and countrywide that some members of his cabinet were not comfortable and happy with the sterling performance of Tom Mboya and were actually in the process of hatching the plot for his elimination.[Assassination}
President Kenyatta appeared to have been disturbed and perturbed by this particular question and and gave an assurance that Mboya was very safe and therefore there was no cause for alarm ,adding that his government would give each sand every Kenyan citizen the maximum security protection, Mboya included, therefore there will be no harm to anybody. Briefly, there were some murmuring among participants who at first thought Kenyatta in his usual style would rebuke the EX-senior Chief, but he did not and instead gave a very polite answer to the satisfaction of everyone present at the meeting and the meeting ended in a happy and pleasant note.
Ends
SOME PARTS of this article are included in a book being prepared and written by this writer about Tom Mboya
The Homa-Bay governor Cyprian Otieno Await has earned a lot of praise by the residents of the region for his tireless and concerted effort to empower the youth and women living in the region economically.
The lavish praise for the governor came as a result of his distribution of chewing machines, welding and hair dressing materials to dozens of women and youth groups in Ndhiwa constituency this week.
A Homa-Bay and Nairobi prominent politician cum-businessman Hilary Ochieng’ Alila
A while heaping a lot of praise on the governor for his concerted effort to stamp out poverty among the Wananchi appealed to the MCAs and ODM party of officials and members to give their unqualified support and backing to the governor so that the devolved government in the region could succeed in pushing the development f the region to a higher level . He said all the members of the County executives and deserves praising for working together with the governor in harmony and unity of purpose, adding that the region has a lot of potentialities and a lot of resources whch if used properly could turn the region into the hub of ,massive development.
Alila told this writer during an exclusive interview that other neighboring counties need to learn a lot from Homa-Bay county good governance.
On ODM Alila appealed to the former county branch officials who were recently voted out of office to take a sabbatical leave and vacate their offices in peace so that the new group under the former Rangwe mp Martin Otieno Ogindo could work and harmonize the party activities in the region. He urged the ousted for branch chairman Senator Grald Otieno Kajwang’ to accept the verdict of the ODM members and to stop dirty maneuvers and uncalled for agitation He urged the ousted former branch chairman Senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ to accept the people’s.
Alila said he had full confidence in the new branch leadership because they were elected democratically for the p[purpose of resuscitating the hitherto falling apart branch. The new team, Alila said is capable of revitalizing the branch and should start membership drive immediately, and recruit as many members as possible in preparation for the 2017 general election. They should make the party to become the popular vehicle for winning the next elections. It is tie for the leaders with stale idea and those who have run bankrupt of new methods of organizing the party to give room for new ideas to be injected into the p[arty hierarchy, while the deadwoods who have become liability than being assets to the party should step aside honorably because no one is indispensible.
Alila advised the Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga to desist from making public pronouncements which are full of confusions over the party new in the region. Leadership. Maguwanga seemed to be uncomfortable with the new county branch officials because of the inclusion of Charles Ong’Ondo Were his arch-rival at the local parliamentary contest in the last general election. But it appeared as if he had forgotten that the new office county branch officials were elected by delegates from all the eight parliamentary constituencies that makes the HOMA-bay a county and not few from his Kasipul backyard therefore he should stop fighting the lost war and accept to work with the rest.
Newspaper reports emerging from the Kenya’s Eastern Province says that a man has died while nine others were admitted to the Embu Level Five hospital for medical treatment after the residents of Embu, Muranga and Machakos counties feasted on the carcass of a dead hippo suspected to have died of anthrax.
The body of the dead man was taken to Embu Hospital for post-Morten examination. The police boss in the region Kyford Kibaara confirmed the incident and said they were actively investigating the matter. The deceased hails from Karuku village in Mbeere Soutth within Embu County.
The police said the dead bull of hippo was found washed on the bank of Sagana River at the boundaries of Embu, Muranga and Machakos Counts and the residents scrambled for its meat which they shared. The police said they suspected the dead hippo had anthrax which might have cause its death.
The local administration has since organized for mass vaccination within the region, which started this morning at Makutano Trading Center for all the people who had ate the hippo’s meat. The police explained that the residents gave them very contradictory statements on accounts of what had happened. Most of them are suspicious and fearing prosecution if suspected of having killed the animals .Investigations are still in progress to established if the animal was killed by the residents or it was found dead by the river bank. However, the police issued a stern warning to the residents against feasting on the carcasses of dead animals whose causes of its death are unknown to them.
Some of the residents told the police that two bulls of hippo were seen fighting and one of the emerged with serious bodily injuries and died. It was after this when they moved in, skinned the animal, and scrambled for its meat which they shared with their neighbors..
THE medical Superintenant at the Embu Level Five hospital Dr gerald Nderitu was quoted by the local media as saying that the nine who were admitted at the institution for treatment were responding well and some of them would be discharged to go home within the next three or four days.
Phares Oluoch Kanindo a one time two terms KANU MP for the larger Homa-Bay constituency has died at the Agakha Hospital Kisumu after along but undisclosed illness. He was 72. He had served briefly In the KANU government as an Assistant Minister for education. However, he did not last longer at the Ministry because he was sacked within three months after his appointment by the retired President Daniel Arap MoI following allegation that he had used his ministerial position and lured girls students at the Ogande Girls High school and took them out of the institution for an evening outing.
The most eloquent politician, especial in Dholuo vernacular, Kanindo, however, never made his maiden speech in the house owing to allegation that he was handicapped in English owing to his elementary education standard which never went beyond KAPE.
He took his early primary education at Manyatta,Pe-Hill and Luwala Primary schools between 1949 and 1961.He was one of the hundreds of Kenyan students who benefited from scholarship received by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga from Eastern European countries then under the USSR communist and went to Yugoslavia where they were taught guerrilla tactics and warfare and how to sabotage communication infrastructure including dismantling bridges to harass colonialists. Jaramogi was a close friend and political associate of Kanindo’s late father Mzee Andrea Anindo Nyakachunga a prominent businessman at Awendo town. with the KNA developed interest in productions of disc records and became a prominent producer with his own branch of “POK” records. He prospered very fast and became a prominent businessman in both Nairobi, Kisumu and Awendo. He was later managed to win the larger Homa-Bay parliamentary electoral constituency, which has since been sub-divided into four electoral areas, namely Rongo, Awendo, Rangwe and Homa-Bay town
After losing his parliamentary seat to the late John LINUS Aluoch Polo in 1992 Kanindo served two terms as the chairman of the board of directors of the SONYSUGARcompany.
Kanindo was a polygamist with married to ten wives and left behind dozens of children, most of them grown up and grand children. On Monday morning the family and friends flew the body of the politician to Nairobi’s lee Funeral Home where it will stay pending the burial arrangement. This is an act which did not go down well with his hundreds of supporters, relatives and friends. A member of the family said the politician body would attract a lot of money in terms of donations for funeral arrangement than in Kisumu. Those who did not welcome the idea said it is wrong for the body of such a respected person to be taken to Nairobi for the use the body of a man who died peaceful near his home commercial purpose of attracting hefty donations from politicians.
From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 2014
Vivian from Kipchimchim, Kericho, Kenya writes: “Fr Beste you really know Kenyan politics. You had said that President Uhuru Kenyatta had the power to dictate what he wishes and no one can bar him from doing so. He has finally paid the Anglo Leasing money just as you said he would do.
Now Beste what do you say about recent action by Devolution Secretary Anne Waiguru to fire National Youth Service Kiplimo Rugut (Kalenjin), replacing him with former State House Comptroller Nelson Githinji (Kikuyu). Don’t you think Kalenjin communities will look at this as tribalism of the high class?
I am a Kalenjin but afraid we will not vote Uhuru again come 2017. This is to me he used Kalenjins to ascend to power. I wonder when tribalism will end in Kenya. Imagine firing Rugut, who had served as the NYS director general for just a year.
Thank you for this important question Vivian. For your information, tribalism is not going to end in Kenya very soon as Charles Hornsby points out in his book, chapter on ‘The Kikuyunization of Kenya. He says this has been inherited from Jomo Kenyatta who in 1970s gave crucial posts of provincial commissioners to his tribesmen.
These posts were held by a small group of conservative insiders, more than half of whom were Kikuyu from 1967 until Kenyatta’s death in 1978, and three of whom were sons of chiefs. Appointments to statutory boards and parastatals showed the same trend.
Hornsby adds: in “popular imagination”, Jomo Kenyatta was not only “the benevolent dictator but simultaneously ‘the chief architect and patron of the Greater Kikuyu Community’.” (Read a History since Independence pp.254-258 by Charles Hornsby, 2012).
Senior Kikuyu Parastatal leading the 1970s under Jomo Kenyatta were as follows: Ephantus Gakuo, Director-general of East African Railways (later Kenya Railways), 1987-1970s (Uhuru Kenyatta’s father in-law), Bethwell Gecaga, Chairman, Industrial Development Bank (1976-9), Julius Gecau, Managing director, East Africa (later Kenya) Power and Lighting Company (1970-84), James Karani Gitau, and General manager, Kenya National Trading Corporation (1969-79).
Others were Stanley Githunguri, Executive chairman, National Bank of Kenya (1976-9), Charles Karanja, General manager, Kenya Tea Development Authority (1970-81), John Matere Keriri, General manager then managing director, Development Finance Company of Kenya (1972-82), Peter Kinyanjui, Chairman, East African Harbours Corporation (later Kenya Ports Authority) 1970-80, John Michuki, Executive chairman, Kenya Commercial Bank (1970-9), Philip Ndegwa, Chairman, Agricultural Finance Corporation (to 1974), and Matu Wamae, Executive director, Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation (1969-79).
The Kikuyunization under Uhuru Kenyatta came real in September when he appointed Nancy Gitau – Chief Political Advisor, Joseph Kinyua – Chief of Staff and Head of the Civil Service, Arthur Igeria – Head of the Nairobi Centre for International Arbitration Board, Mutahi Ngunyi – Senior Political Advisor, John Mututho – Chairman NACADA, Lee Kinyanjui – Chairman National Transport Authority, and Kiragu wa Magonchi – Chairman Teachers’ Service Commission.
When Kalenjin communities complained, instead Uhuru went on by appointing more Kikuyus. A committee appointed by Uhuru to investigate whether to repatriate Somali refugees in Daadab and Kakuma camps following the Westgate attack, consisted of Kikuyus with only one Kalenjin.
They were, Daniel Njuguna Waireri-Chairman, Joyce Wanja Mburu-Vice Chairperson, Wamuyu Wang’undu, Gladys Njoki Muhia, Nyokabi Githiura, Charles Karanja, Elizabeth Nyaguthi, Stephen Kiraithe, Athanas Gichuki Mwathe, Christine Agatha Waitherero, Dr. Githinji Wamwoka, James Lee Mukora, Joe Nyaga, Presidential adviser on regional cooperation (Embu) and Hosea Kimkung Maiyo (the only Kalenjin).
The complaint from Kalenjins did not prevent Uhuru from appointing more Kikuyus and people from his TNA party. Kalenjins were surprised when he appointed former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura as the chairman of the Lamu Port-Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (LAPSET). Muthaura is Merian who comes from Mt Kenya region as Uhuru Kenyatta.
Other appointments included Dr. Githinji Wamwoka, James Lee Mukora, and Joe Nyaga Presidential adviser on regional cooperation (Embu). Former Kenya Airports Authority Managing Director George Muhoho, Uhuru’s uncle, was poised to take over at Kenya Power, former Kengen CEO Eddy Njoroge was appointed the informal energy adviser to Uhuru at State House.
Former Kikuyu MP Lewis Nguyai, a close Uhuru ally, chairman of the Kenya Leather Authority, former Kamukunji MP Simon Mbugua, chairman of Kenya Betting and Control Board and Joe Kibe, chairman of the Kenya Pipeline Authority. Uhuru inherited this tribal appointment to key positions from Mwai Kibaki.
When Kalenjins complained bitterly and threatened to move away from Uhuru’s government, it emerged that DP William Ruto went to State House on 12th Nov 2013 citing mistreatment and shortchanging on parastatal appointments. Uhuru just kept quiet and went on with similar appointments.
You should be aware Vivian that Kalenjins are not only furious with Uhuru on tribal appointments. As Kericho Senator Charles Keter sensationally pointed out Kalenjins are also furious with Uhuru for retaining some individuals who ‘fixed’ Deputy President William Ruto to ICC.
Mind you, Anne Waiguru is not alone to blame. Transport and Infrastructure Cabinet Secretary Eng. Michael Kamau did exactly the same by confirming Lucy Mbugua as the Managing Director of Kenya Airports Authority. Furthermore, Ms Waiguru is only effecting orders from her boss.
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
A prominent Homa-Bay politician-cum-businessman is back in the country and immediately declared that he has rejoined the ODM and would work hard with other party luminaries to promote the party activities in the region order to make it the most popular vehicles for the 2017 presidential election .
Victoryin 2017.
Alila whose business activities entail a lot of overseas travelling has been away for sometime. He gave the incumbent Homa-Bay senator Gerald Otieno Kajwang’ a run for his money during the March 4,2013 elections when he contested the seat on a PDP ticket after the much flawed ODM preliminaries.
He said the recent changes in the ODM county branch leadership was timely and would resuscitate the branch which hitherto has been adamant and non-performing owing to poor leadership new lease of life.
Alila said that he had full confident on the leadership of the new county branch chairmanship of Martin Otieno Ogindo the former Rangwe MP and the branch secretary Eng. James K Rege.. The new team ,he said has injected political dynamism in the branch leadership. Prior to the 2013 elections, Alila wa one of the ODM stalwarts who had sacrificed their own resources to ensure that the party wheels were well oiled in preparation of the 2013 presidential contest.
He advised all the political dead hoods who have lost their party branch [lim jobs to vacate their offices peacefully and retire honourably. In politics, no one is indispensable and the party belonged to the people, therefore once the people have decided to send someone home, such a person should vacate the office in a peaceful manner to avoid unnecessary wrangling, “he said, adding that bad leadership had killed the spirit of ODM members in Homa-Bay, which has witnessed a lot of violence in the last two years.
Alila urged party leaders to cooperate with the county governance and ensure the success of the devolution system. The same be practiced by the County MCAs who should also ensure that the is annoyed by both teams.
From: joachim omolo ouko
News Dispatch with Father Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014
John from Narok writes: “Fr Beste thank you for this good work you are doing to educate Kenyans through your news blog. In one of your articles you said corruption cannot end in Kenya as yet. Why do you say so Father?”
Thank for asking this important question John. I am saying so because one factor that fuels the problems of corruption in Kenya is tribal loyalty. Member of the same clan or tribe often form cartels of corruption, and as such it becomes their turn to eat.
It explains why corruption played a role with all 3 Kenyan presidents up to now. Jomo Kenyatta handed over land to members of his own clan and tribe. Kenyatta himself became one of the largest private land owners in the country.
Daniel arap Moi did exactly the same. Mwai Kibaki continued with the system. Like Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki administration consisted largely of his tribe. From 2003 to 2006, Kibaki’s cabinet spent 14 million dollars on new Mercedes cars for themselves.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is doing exactly the same. Key- job positions in his government has been taken by people from his tribe. Raila Amolo Odinga probably would have done exactly the same when he could be the president.
This is despite the fact that legislation against corruption is mandated to deal with such corrupt deals. Under the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes act, the KACC is mandated to fight and prevent corruption.
Unless corruption is weeded out, Kenyans will continue to become poorer and poorer. It explains why majority of Kenyans continue to live below the poverty level. This is mainly because of mass unemployment, which has resulted to rising crimes, especially armed robbery and carjackings – in Nairobi and other major towns.
That is why between 1992 and 1998, infant mortality for under five-year-olds rose from 74 to 105 per 1,000 and still continues to do the same. That is because the pledges presidents who succeed another make that they will fight corruption is not honored.
Partly because they were in the same government they are succeeding. It means they were part of that corruption. It was with this in mind that President Mwai Kibaki could not charge people who were implicated in Goldenberg scandals, despite recommendation by the Attorney general Amos Wako that they should be charged.
This was according to the commission Kipaki appointed to fully investigate the Goldenberg export compensation scandal, which cost Kenya billions of shillings in the early 1990s. According to witnesses at the commission’s hearings, as much as 60 billion Kenyan shilllings (US$850 million)—a fifth of Kenya’s gross domestic product—was looted from the country’s Central Bank through billionaire Kamlesh Pattni’s Exchange Bank in 1991.
Kibaki could not charge them because the inquiry implicated Daniel arap Moi, his two sons, Philip and Gideon (now a Governor in Kentatta’s government), and his daughter June, as well as a host of high-ranking Kenyans.
In his testimony, Treasury Permanent Secretary Joseph Magari recounted that in 1991, President Moi ordered him to pay Ksh34.5 million ($460,000) to Goldenberg, contrary to the law existing then.
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
