Monthly Archives: May 2008

Universal Peace Federation Kenya conference with Congressman Payne



UNIVERSALPEACE FEDERATION


In Conjunction with


Kenyans for Peace Justice and Democracy


Invite you to Join them for a Peace Initiative and Reconciliation Conference


Under the Leadership of



Mayor Wayne Smith of Irvington;


The Urban Mayors Association and


Congressman Payne of New Jersey as


Guests of Honor



Saturday,May 24th




4:00PM to 8:30 PM




Mt. Olive Baptist Church


400 Arlington Avenue


Jersey City, NJ 07305




Live Entertainment by a renowned and famous Celebrity.




We will introduce Ambassadors for Peace Initiative Program.


Bridge of Peace Ceremony (Sisterhood and Brotherhood Unity)




For More Info Call: 973-997-3661 or 201-774-4351




It promises to be a rewarding experience to all who participate.


Hope to see you there!




Thank You!



– – –
Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:39:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: george omburo
Subject: Universal Peace Federation Kenya conference with Congressman Payne

The IDPs of Embakasi

Embakasi Constituency has a new crop of IDPs.

Those Internally Displaced Politicians who failed to secure parliamentary tickets are all trouping to Embakasi, so that they can benefit from the forth coming By-Elections.

The people of Embakasi must stick to reality, and choose someone who has been with us in Embakasi.

Lets Return all these guys to sender with a clear message; Embakasi is not a dumping sight for failed politicians.

Oto Octavian
Komarock Nairobi

– – –
Date:  Sat, 10 May 2008 09:34:33 -0700 (PDT)
From:  odhiambo okecth
Subject:  The IDPs of Embakasi

Re: Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=678
Vs: Kisumu City; extreme poverty in Kenya ?

– – – – – – – – – – –

Richard
 
  Let the trumpet sound! Joluo must move away from these backward and jealousy prone attitudes if they are to progress. Sani Ziwa has floated shares and how many people are buying these shares? I had a very lengthy meeting in Nairobi last year with the Directors of Ziwa and they were expressing the same sentiments and frustrations. If we can buy shares in Ziwa I can bet my life that it is just a matter of time before Ziwa become a force to recon with. Wuoyo mangeng ok kony. We are too theoretical. It is time for action. And the time is now.
 
  Owili Nyatawo
  London

– – –
Date:  Sat, 10 May 2008 01:04:42 -0700 (PDT)
From:  owili nyatawo
Subject:  Re: Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

Re: Pastor alilala hapa-Pastor slept here!

Who can understand the mind of a child? When you think that you have heard enough, then lo and behold, they surprise you with something amazing. Here is a recent case by a four year dear friend.

When my auto-biography came out, I went round dropping them to those who had ordered for a copy! I drove to Shakopee, missed the parents, but dropped a book and left.

A day later, a church member called, missed me, but left a message- a very fun one indeed. The next morning, the little boy approached his mum with an exciting but rather disturbing message, “Mama, Pastor alilala hapa (Mum, pastor slept here!” reported the little boy. “Really?” asked the mother. “Ndio mami, pastor alilala hapa-Yes, mum, pastor slept here” answered the little boy. “Alilala wapi? Where did he sleep?” asked the mother. The little boy pointed at the book shelf, where lay the pastor’s book.

Confused and confounded, the mother wanted to know more. She was then told that pastor had stopped by their house and dropped the book. As you can imagine, both the parents and the pastor had a real good laugh.

Now think about this!

1. The little boy was telling nothing but the truth as he understood it. 
2. Such kind of statement if taken carelessly can lead to un- called for damage.
3. Children see things differently. They are not able to differentiate the real person from the picture.
4. We must be careful what we accept from children

What this lesson tells me is that we must always be careful what we hear and act on. The only person who is exempted from such a requirement is the lord of the universe!

Don’t you think so?

Just a thought-612-386-4608
www.themaranathsda.org

– – –
Date:  Sat, 10 May 2008 14:37:40 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Absalom Birai
Subject:  Re: Pastor alilala hapa-Pastor slept here!

Re: Vs: Scandals in the Backyard of Kibaki ALIBI in Corruption involving Public Funds

http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=681
– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 19:04:50 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:  Scandals in the Backyard of Kibaki ALIBI in Corruption involving Public Funds

– – – – – – – – – – –

Judy and the rest,

After reading all written below, as a physician I can just say these words: OUR COUNTRY IS FULL OF VERY SICK PEOPLE ladies and gentlemen. A very simple emergency ward can not rescue that country, we need a very long term chronic ward to rescue that country. All these written just tells us that we are heading nowhere. You might be suprised that even now there are things cooking on as we read these histories.

Paul Nyandoto

– – –
Date:  Sat, 10 May 2008 08:22:56 +0300
From:  Paul Nyandoto
Subject:  Vs: Scandals in the Backyard of Kibaki ALIBI in Corruption involving Public Funds

– – – – – – – – – – –

Paul,
 
  It is an extremely sad state of affairs. Let people of humanity act – because, Save Africa – Save the World.
 
  Judy Miriga
  USA

– – –
Date:  Sat, 10 May 2008 05:35:53 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:  Re: Vs: Scandals in the Backyard of Kibaki ALIBI in Corruption involving Public Funds

Re:The danger of following blindly!

What’s happening in Dallas-someone claiming to be God with several wives, is not something new. That many over the years have claimed to be the Messiah and led many astray is in the archives of both Biblical and secular world.  What beats logic is the failure by many over the years to learn any meaningful lessons. It’s hard to understand how people can follow their leaders to appoint of breaking the law.

Reflect on the following dependence and the danger it poses to those ascribed to it:

1. Church members who trust and rely on a leader to appoint of even inflicting damage on themselves at the departure of such a leader.

2.Spouses who depend so much on their spouses that if something tragic happens to their loved ones then life comes to a stop. Have seen spouses who find it so hard to manage life after their loved one passes.

3.Children who depend so much on their parents that after the passing of their parents, they hardly manage anything.

4.Friends who depend on their friends so much that if anything happens to such friendship, then everything comes to a stop.

And so what’s the solution?  Here is my take:

1. You and I should avoid the temptation of putting our trust in human beings
2. You and I must do everything possible to apply logic and wisdom in all that we do.
3.You and I should stop buying into anything. We are of age to reason out things
4.You and I must remember always that human beings can and have disappointed their fellow human beings over the years
5.You and I must learn to avoid the temptation of following blindly
6. You and I must spend more hours on our knees and place all our trust in the living God.
7.Let us train ourselves to learn to manage life on our own should anything happen to those who have always supplied our needs.

Do you see my point!

Just a serious thought!

Pr Birai 612-386-4608
www.themaranathasdachurch.org

– – –
Date:  Sat, 10 May 2008 05:42:53 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Absalom Birai
Subject:  Re:The danger of following blindly!

Scandals in the Backyard of Kibaki ALIBI in Corruption involving Public Funds

Folks,
 
  This is a serious high level theft involving the stealing of Kenyan public resources.  It therefore requires immediate investigative team of developed country like USA and EU who equally under humanity face of love previously intervened to save Kenya from the stolen election. This case in point is another whirlwind which will cause Kenyans to be tied in slavery bondage of over 50 years paying unwarranted debts to Libya and others from publics taxpayers.
 
  While I take this opportunity to thank Koffi Annan, USA and other EU community for intervening in a special way in saving the sorry situation of Kenya falling apart, May every loving friends of Kenya, sympathizers and business investors both in Kenya and outside including citizens of Kenya, condemn this barbarian act in the most strongest term and help bring the culprits to book.
 
  Thank you all in advance for being a part of saving Kenya.
 
  Judy Miriga
  USA
 
  – – – – – – – – – – –
 
forwarded by : Judy Miriga
 
  SCANDALS IN THE BACKYARD OF KIBAKI ALIBI IN CORRUPTION INVOLVING PUBLIC FUNDS
 
 
 
  Fresh details which emerged today regarding the secret and hurried plans by President Kibaki to sell off the landmark Grand Regency Hotel to a Libyan company revealed the grand corruption that riddled PNU campaigns in the December 27 General Election.
 

  It emerged that the sale revolves around a secret Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) President Kibaki signed with Libya’s President Muammar Gaddafi during a three-day visit to Libya last June as part of his global plans the raise funds to run his re-election.
 
  Libyan Leader Muammar Qaddafi with President Mwai Kibaki when he bade him farewell after his three day visit in Sirte, Libya.
 

  President Kibaki had lost favour in the traditional Western friends of Kenya and his following at home had taken a nose-dive due to his poor leadership and his involvement in the Anglo Leasing Scandal and he was desperately looking for alternative sources of raising campaign funds.
 

  Libya came in handy – but with a heavy price. President Gaddafi required a substantial control of Kenya’s wealth in order to bail out President Kibaki who was facing the biggest test of his political career in the December 27 polls.
 

  During the begging mission, the two presidents “negotiated” and agreed on an MoU that has a direct bearing in the sorry state of affairs regarding the Grand Regency Hotel. Titled “Agreement on Promotion Guarantee and Protection On Investment,” the MoU was signed by Kenya’s then Minister for Trade, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, and Dr Ali Elisaue, Secretary General of Libya’s General People’s Committee for the Economy and Investment.
 

  According to Kibaki’s close aides privy to the MoU deal and the subsequent take over of the hotel by the Government, the purchase of the hotel – a symbol of greed, theft and grand corruption which was the hallmark of President Moi regime – was among six projects that the Libyans had expressed interest in when the President visited the oil-rich North African country between June 4 and 6 2007.
 

  In exchange of signing the lucrative MoU with Libyans, President Kibaki received an unspecified amount of money to fund his presidential re-election campaigns.
 

  Interestingly, Kibaki was committing himself to sell the hotel to a group comprising Libyan investors trading as Libyan Arab African Investment Company even before the Government wrestled the ownership of the prestigious Nairobi landmark from the architect of the infamous Goldenberg scandal, Mr Kamlesh Pattni.
  The MoU was part of President Kibaki’s strategy to raise funds for his re-election campaign. Other major presidential candidates Mr Raila Odinga and Mr Kalonzo Musyoka did similar missions abroad to raise funds for their campaigns. It’s not known how much funds each of the three candidates raised.
 

  Reports indicate Mr Odinga also signed secret MoUs with foreign firms and individuals which he promised to honour if he trounced President Kibaki and formed the Government. Locally, Mr Odinga signed other controversial MoUs like the one he did with a section of Muslims. But the most shocking MoU relate to the unfolding saga of how President Kibaki shamelessly traded with public resources to win funds to run his PNU campaigns.
 

  According to Kibaki’s aides, President Kibaki and his delegation promised to sell the hotel to the Libyan investors at Sh2.5 billion, yet this was the price set by the Central Bank Kenya 15 years ago. Financial market analysts say the hotel is today valued at Sh7 billion.
 

  Last month’s stage-managed handover of the hotel to the Government by Mr Pattni left many questions unanswered.

Receiving the hotel on behalf of the Government was Mr Justice Aaron Ringera, the head of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, and Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, showered Mr Pattni with platitudes “for his selfless gesture”. A beaming Mr Ringera described it a first in the war of asset recovery.

On his part, Mr Pattni talked of surrendering the hotel in exchange of amnesty from further prosecution regarding the plunder of CBK’s coffers under the close watch of retired President Moi. The plunder of CBK and other state coffers under the watchful eye of Mr Moi almost drove Kenya into the knees and rendered more Kenyans poorer.
 

  In a strange twist of events, Attorney-general Amos Wako said he was not consulted in the surrender deal raising questions on why the chief legal adviser to the Government was kept in the dark.
 

  When reports emerged that the five-star, which has been at the centre of furious legal battles between CBK and Mr Pattni for 15 years, had secretly been sold to Libyan investors, Prof Ndung’u, Mr Ringera and Finance minister Amos Kimunya swiftly issued denials. Mr Kimunya claimed the hotel will be sold within a month through auction.
 

  Mr Kimunya has perfected the art of making cheap lies on camera ever since he became President Kibaki’s top confidant. He kept on giving disjointed and incoherent answers when journalists cornered him in regard to the secret Grand Regency deal.
 

  The question that has bogged the minds of many Kenyans in the last one month is: Why was are the content of the deal entered between Mr Pattni and the Government being kept a secret and why was the Government in such a hurry to sell the hotel before advertising it in public?
 

  It emerged today that the secret negotiations with Mr Pattni and the subsequent hurried plans by President Kibaki’s cronies to dispose off the hotel emanated from the intense pressure President Kibaki has been getting from his Libyan counterpart to honour the June MoU (Kibaki has a bad reputation of honouring MoUs bearing in mind he shamelessly trashed a power-sharing MoU he signed with Mr Raila Odinga before he propelled him to State House in 2002 General Election).
 

  The only fruits the Libyans have reaped from the MoU deal is the acquisition of all Mobil petrol stations in Kenya by Oilibya. President Kibaki is yet to honour the other lucrative part of the deal which earned him handsome funds for his PNU campaigns.
 

  According to reliable information from Kibaki’s aides, President Gaddafi started becoming uneasy with the slow pace his Kenyan counterpart was moving at in implementing the deal in February and that’s why he dispatched a top Libyan Government official to Kenya purportedly to “talk” to President Kibaki and Mr Odinga to strike a political deal to end the political and security crisis that was sparked off by President Kibaki’s stealing of an election victory from Mr Odinga.
 

  It was during the meeting with the Libyan official at State House Nairobi that President Kibaki agreed to meet President Gaddafi when he visited Kampala in March.
 

  The meeting between President Mwai Kibaki and the Libyan Leader Muammar Gaddafi took place on the evening of May 19. According to a PPS dispatch to newsrooms, the two leaders held bilateral consultation “to review the status and progress of the implementation of the agreed framework of co-operation between the two countries which was signed in Sirte during President Kibaki’s visit to Libya mid last year.”
  It did not occur to Kenyans at the time what the diplomatic PPS dispatch meant. Kumekucha can today authoritatively reveal that President Kibaki travelled to Kampala because the Libyan president was exerting pressure on him to honour the MoU which they signed in exchange for funds for his PNU campaigns.
 

  It is worthy noting that President Kibaki flew to Kampala in the thick of a political stalemate back at home to meet President Gaddafi who was in Kampala to commission a new mosque. President Gaddafi was on official visit to Kampala on the invitation of President Museveni. Who had invited Kibaki and what was his mission in Kampala?
 

  It has emerged that President Kibaki promised President Gaddafi he would do his best to honour the pact and this is what has triggered a furry of high-profile activities regarding the Grand Regency.
 

  It has emerged that the CBK chief and his KACC counterpart had to literally beg Mr Pattni to agree to surrender his hotel to the state and hence the praises the two showed on a man the Bosire Commission of Inquiry into the Goldenberg Scandal described as Kenya’s Number One Conman.
 

  Our sources disclosed that President Kibaki’s joy of making Mr Pattni surrender the hotel were cut short when an Indian company fronted by internationally- renowned wealthy tycoons, which had already moved into Kenya and placing itself in a strategic position to buy the hotel when it was put to the hammer, sent an unsolicited bid to Mr Kimunya with an offer exceeding Sh2.5billion by far.
 

  The Indian company, through Conman Pattni, had been following the secret negotiations and they swung the unsolicited bid when Mr Pattni sealed the deal with Mr Ringera and Prof Njuguna. According to plan, the secret deal between President Kibaki and President Gaddafi regarding the Grand Regency would have been sealed as soon as Mr Pattni gave in and handed over the hotel.
 

  But the unsolicited entry into the Grand Regency buying bid by the India firm and the sudden attention Kenyan media had shown on the Libyan sole bid, jolted Mr Kimunya and President Kibaki since they feared the exposure of the scandal of how they secretly sold off the hotel without any public bid while there was another bidder offering a higher amount.
 

  Matters were worsened when some Treasury officials, serving the interests of the Indian firm, leaked to the Kenyan media the secret plans to sell off Grand Regency to the Libyan firm without any public bid. The Press went to town with the story.
 

  This forced President Kibaki to order Mr Kimunya to urgently contact Dr Elisaue and Libyan Arab African Investment Company to explain to them the new developments and ask them to raise their bid slightly higher than the amount being offered by the Indian firm.
 

  We established that the Libyan firm had grudgingly accepted to raise their bid but the Indian firm, which boasts of the fifth richest man in the world, Mr Mukesh Ambani, who early last month partnered with an Arabian real estate firm, Arrow Webtex, to form Delta Resources Limited, is not willing to give up the hotel and has promised to fight on.
 

  As Kibaki was promising to sell off the Grand Regency to the Libyian firm, little did he know that the Indian firm had arrived in Nairobi and it had placed itself in a strategic position to bid for the hotel when it is put to hammer.
 

  The Indian firm had already bought a huge parking lot next to Grand Regency at a cost of Sh1.4 billion from the National Social Security Fund in anticipation for the expansion of the hotel if it managed to seize its ownership.
 
The company has also reportedly bought another parking lot between Barclays Plaza and Nyati House, where it plans to build a number of top-end hotel and shopping malls, creating a “city within a city” around the hotel complete with modern shopping centres, casinos and other entertainment services.
 

  That’s how the stakes are so high for the Indian firm and it’s unlikely they will let go their quest to own the hotel, which was built by Mr Pattni using CBK loot, in order to please President Kibaki and his preferred Libyan firm.

  Interestingly, the Kibaki Tena website, a State House-backed lobby group spearheading President Kibaki’s re-election drive, mentions about the visit President Kibaki did to Libya last June. However, the story posted on the website only dwells on the trade packs President Kibaki and the Libyan leader signed but doesn’t mention the funds he received for his PNU campaigns.
 

  The Indian firm’s shocking entry into the Grand Regency purchase bid has given President Kibaki and his lieutenants sleepless nights and it remains to be seen how they will overcome the issue of the campaign funds justify they received from Libya if the hotel goes to other buyers.
 

  Dr Kituyi who signed the MoU on behalf of President Kibaki was a trusted lieutenant of the president but he was sent packing from Parliament by his Kimilili constituents and he is rotting in the political cold. His docket was taken by Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, a foe-turned loyalist of Kibaki. But the question is: Why has Uhuru vanished from the public limelight since the Grand Regency scandal started unfolding and the trade pact that promised to sell off the hotel to Libya lies squarely in his docket? Is he in Libya or India trying doing Kibaki’s errands to contain the Grand Regency scandal?
 

  Surprisingly, all the key figures handling the Grand Regency saga (President Kibaki, Uhuru, Kimunya, Prof Njuguna and Mr Ringera) have one thing in common: the Mt Kenya link. Libyans have firmly set their eyes on the oil and petroleum industry in Kenya and it’s no surprise that another Mt Kenya figure and key ally of President Kibaki, Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, was present in Libya during the MoU signing.
  Under the MoU, President Kibaki committed Kenya into granting an exclusive trade pact to Libya, making Tripoli “most favoured nation” status – making it possible for Libyan companies to start at an advantage over investors when competing for lucrative contracts.
 

  The irony is that Mr Ringera, who earns a whopping Sh2.5million from tax payers plus other lucrative perks to fight high-level graft, is the man at the centre of legalising the Kibaki-sponsored Grand Regency scandal. Instead of doing his job and catching all the thieves in the Grand Coalition Government (there are a good number corrupt political heavyweights in PNU, ODM, ODM-K, KANU and in other parties) and in the civil service, Mr Ringera has chosen to go after the small fish like traffic policemen and junior civil servants who take small bribes from Kenyans who are struggling to rise from the yokes of poverty.
 

  Why should Kenyan’s continue paying huge salaries to Mr Ringera and his staff and pumping billions into the KACC drain every year for no work done and to commit serious acts of legitimising Kibaki-made scandals like the Anglo Leasing and the Grand Regency Scandal?
 

  KACC under Mr Ringera has taken civil servants to court for single sourcing or awarding contracts to companies without offering public bids. Why is the Libyan deal an exception?
  We now know why Kibaki stole the election to remain in power for another five years.
 
– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 19:04:50 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:  Scandals in the Backyard of Kibaki ALIBI in Corruption involving Public Funds

– – – – – – – – – – – –

May 13, 1:51 PM,
DM | dmaina@ wrote:

kumekucha.blogspot.com broke this story.

KCDN Embakasi Peace Run; an update

Friends and collegues,

Our plans for hosting KCDN Embakasi Peace Run has received some good support from;
1] Mr Rodgers Orero [UK]
2] Mr Jairus K’Onyiego [USA] and
3] SGS Kenya Ltd.

We are in discussion with other institutions and persons  to ensure that we have a successful day.

Our theme for the day will be; National Healing and Reconcilliation with a bias to the Kenyan Child.

As Embakasi goes for a By-Election, it is our duty as citizens to preach peace. Let there be peace and harmony as the politicians engage in their game. At the same time, can we seriously focus on the plight of the Kenyan Child; that child that is supposedly born with equal access to all opportunities, and yet, is brought down by the ravages of poverty, crime, and social vices that are detrimental to his achieving education.

We have invited the Nairobi PC  and an Ambassador to grace the occasion and help preach the message to peace and good neighbourliness.

We need your support to make this day a success. That support could come in any form besides what we have indicated below.

Lets join hands to make this day a success.

Odhiambo T Oketch

– – – – – – – – – – – –

KCDN Embakasi Peace Run; 31st May 2008

Komarocks Community Development Network has been involved in the humanitarian crisis that recently engulfed our country following in the post election conflicts of 2007.

We were involved in the evacuation of some of our people from areas that saw massive inter tribal conflicts, and brought some of our people to Nairobi, and settled them in Kayole and Komarock areas. This was a therapeutic measure as we wait for a more permanent solution from the government.

We have since set up 22 families in small businesses for sustenance. We have also taken 19 children to school, and set up 9 youth groups into ventures that can generate for them some income, however small. By absorbing the 19 children, we now have under our care, 189 children spread into 10 schools within Embakasi Division.

To effectively support the ongoing National Peace and Reconciliation, we will be hosting KCDN Embakasi Peace Run on 31st May 2008 in Embakasi. The race will start from Soweto Grounds, go through Outer Ring Road to Embakasi Village, to Mihang’o and back to Soweto through Kayole Estate.

We are requesting if you can support us by being one of the sponsors for this Peace Run. Your support could help a needy child to escape the ravages of crime, drug abuse, prostitution and illiteracy, and more so, could give that child one sure meal daily.

We would appreciate if you can give us text books, exercise books, uniforms, bags, shoes, airtime etc for the 10 schools where our 189 children are, besides any other support that you can give us.

We will give prizes to the top 10 finishers in both the men and women race. The balance of the prize money will go into supporting our KCDN Child Support Initiative, the proposal of which we can also give to you. We will then make it an annual event to remind Kenyans on the importance of peace and tranquility, as we support the Kenya Child.

We look forward to working together with you  in this as Our Social Responsibility to the society.

Kindly acknowledge receipt either on phone, or via email.

Yours faithfully,

Odhiambo T Oketch,
CEO KCDN Nairobi,
PO Box 11204,
00100 Nairobi,
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel; 0735 529 126, 0724 365 557
Email; komarockswatch@yahoo.com

– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 07:36:22 -0700 (PDT)
From:  odhiambo okecth
Subject:  KCDN Embakasi Peace Run; an update

Re: Conversations

Greetings to you all. 

Let me add a little voice to this forum.  We the Luos seem to talk more and act less on issues of development.  We seem to focus on weaknesses that make us fail than strengthening factors which would spur growth.  If you notice we have numerous resources that would make us be at the top.  But to every ones dismay we are somewhere complaining.  It seems to me that whatever took place in Kenya soon after last general election results were announced brought to fore concerns that generated reasons why we need to collectively engage seriously in development.  If anything meaningful is to happen in Nyanza you and I must be part and parcel of the development wagon.  Because of this, something is happening on our end.  After a general meeting this coming Sunday, I will send out a letter to this forum and inform you of what we are doing. 

Our goal is to empower grassroots, to initiate developments through numerical strength, and also relying on abilities that each and everyone of us bring to this gathering.  We are setting up an association and our first meeting attracted about 40 people.  We have been working on articles of the association, and this coming meeting will deliberate on the same.  Everyone who has been contacted is very enthusiastic and we believe we will be able to impact our people and change the economy of Nyanza– thereby increasing the quality of life.

I will not divulge more information until it is more appropriate.  All I can say is that prepare to join us at the appropriate time.  For us this is the beginning of greater things and contributions we as a people can make.  No more talking without corresponding action.

Very kindly

Mordekai Ochieng Ongo
USA

***********************************
  It is not the capabilities you now possess, or ever will have, that  will give you success. It is that which the Lord can do for you. He longs  to have you reach for HIM by FAITH. He longs to have you expect great things from HIM. He longs to give you understanding in temporal as well as in spiritual matters. He can sharpen the intellect. He can give tact  and skill. Put your talents into the work, ask God for wisdom, and it will be given you.
***********************************

Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 06:44:44 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Mordekai Ongo
Subject:  Re: Conversations

Vs: Kisumu City; extreme poverty in Kenya ?

http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=674
– – –
Date:  Thu, 8 May 2008 13:14:03 +0200
From:  Richard Mungla
Subject:  Re: Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

– – – – – – – – – – –

Wuon Nyadoto
While I fully agree with the observations on a number of issues on what keeps us lagging behind and how to jump start the luoism in being actively involved in doing business, attempting to propagate the killing a fellow luo for material wealth cannot be the best antidote for success.

With all good proposals on the table, how do we start? Do we need local and diaspora committees as a spring board? Whichever process we adopt, we need to simply and humble in dealing with others. We need to accept that we are not equal in a number of ways and that my weaknesses as Mungla are other people’s strengths and that way we can move forward. Doing business does not require having many degrees but commitment and resolve to succeed while doing the right things. Ever thought of starting a factory to make bar soaps using cheap Indian technology, what of high quality school (Primary & Secondary)? Look at the Makini’s in Nairobi!!!!!!!!! Are these not some of the areas Kikuyu’s are minting money! How much set up costs are we talking about? All these projects and many others are possible and they can be done with proper goodwill. You start small and you grow.

Richard Mungla Maputo

– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 11:47:41 +0200
From:  Richard Mungla
Subject:  Re: Vs: Kisumu City

– – – – – – – – – – –

RICHARD AND ALL,

WE NEED TRUST & SELF CONFIDENCE  AMONG OURSELSELVES. In the diaspora some of us have been very badly wounded  when it comes to business or money. I personally know luo diasporas who have lost a lot of money on land or properties in Kenya with pending law cases or properties already sold to others. What makes the situation more worse is that sometimes it is just the close relatives who are conning. When it comes to the diaspora we luos do not have also trust among ourselves. Cases of collecting money to do something does not add up. At the start people do agree on openness and accountability but after collecting that money when you ask how much was collected, some start throwing `karate jambs at you. Some end up making `NYAMA CHOMA WITH THE SAME MONEY`.

Infact i am not trying to discourage people, but i happen to see how kikuyus do their things or Kisiis, those people are very different from us. The same money luos send home to their relatives is the same money kikuyus and Kisiis end up sending home, but in Kisiiland or Kikuyuland their relatives down in KENYA end up buying akamba buses, plots in Kisumu,  matatus  etc but in luo land I do not know where most of it goes to…

I do think things like business are very easy to start with people you know very well, but that dose not prevent our MPS to lead by mobilising rich luos to open at least a bank owned by luos in Kisumu, Homabay, where poor people who can not afford loans from barclays or commercial banks to get money to start something with.

Somebody said that there is beauty in all of us, but only if you look for it. If you do not look for it you end up missing the opportunity. We just need a TRUSTED  luo mobiliser to open a bank in Nyanza, and those who want loan to start a business can apply. Of course the bank will have to check what type of business he wants to open, if it is not worthn it, then the bank gives him a good advice. MY friend mentioned something just like hair cutting.  Look a typical luo gentleman will not like to be just an hair cutting creature, but I have seen in Finland here that hair cutters earn a lot of money and that is also a business.  a luo will like to be an office boy BUT NOT a hair dresser or cutter.

TRUST,  SELFCONFIDENCE & A MOBILISER=SUCCESS
Bye
Paul Nyandoto

– – –
Date:  Fri, 09 May 2008 14:15:35 +0300
From:  Paul Nyandoto
Subject:  Re: Vs: Kisumu City

– – – – – – – – – – –

Folks,
 
  Paul has finally hit the nail.  “I do think things like business are very easy to start with people you know very well, but that dose not prevent our MPS to lead by mobilizing rich luos to open at least a bank owned by luos in Kisumu, Homabay, where poor people who can not afford loans from barclays or commercial banks to get money to start something with”.

  Thanks Paul, continuous dialogue is healthy and finally we are getting towards the solution.  I totally do not agree with those who propel stopping others from contributing issues of great importance just because they have debated in the past and nothing happened.  With Obama’s slogan, “it can be done” spirit, I propose Hon. Dalmas Otieno to make a go start.  Outside his personal life, I know him as a business astute, and that he has the spirit of helping ordinary people.  So I need a seconder and lets give it a go buddies.
 
  Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
  Judy Miriga
  USA

– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 05:44:14 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:  Re: Vs: Kisumu City

– – – – – – – – – – –

Dear All
 
This discourse is appropriate, we need to engage and come up with practical ideas on how to move forward, building on already good suggestions made by Paul, Judy and Bwana Mungla. Last year, I paused a question in this forum entitled, ‘FOOD FOR THOUGHT’, to a particularly Luo audience to debate on how we will benefit from the then imminent Raila presidency (now PM). I recall, there were brilliant ideas brought forward by Okumba Miruka, Barack Abonyo, Meshack Owino and a few others, but there were a minority who thought it was a good question, but wrong timed. We MUST now reflect and address the thrust and content of that question, paraphrasing it in different ways. There is a group of prominent Luos who have coalesced around the need to establish institutions that will allow us to be competitive businesswise with the Abagushi and Kikus and as a consequence they formed ZIWA group, which is currently operating as a cooperative while building its financial base for a full-fledged bank and Insurance companies, which will provide our businesses with financial barking and warranties to engage in more profitable ventures (e.g. making bids in both private companies, parastatals, government agencies, engaging in commercial fish farming, poultry etc). Apart from this, there are a number of initiatives in Kisumu and the larger lake region which deals with micro-economy at a very minimal lever which can also be useful, although great care must be taken before any serious dealings take place for the very simple reasons outlined by Paul below. Fundamentally though, we have social responsibility to discourage our people from over-reliance on HANDOUTS and encourage them to develop production mentality rather than consumer mentality which has contributed to our current sorry state of affairs.

Be blessed
 
Joram Odus
London

– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 13:46:18 +0000
From:  Joram Odus
Subject:  RE: Vs: Kisumu City

– – – – – – – – – – –

  Wuon Nyadoto

While I fully agree with the observations on a number of issues on what keeps us lagging behind and how to jump start the luoism in being actively involved in doing business, attempting to propagate the killing a fellow luo for material wealth cannot be the best antidote for success.

With all good proposals on the table, how do we start? Do we need local and diaspora committees as a spring board? Whichever process we adopt, we need to simply and humble in dealing with others. We need to accept that we are not equal in a number of ways and that my weaknesses as Mungla are other people’s strengths and that way we can move forward. Doing business does not require having many degrees but commitment and resolve to succeed while doing the right things. Ever thought of starting a factory to make bar soaps using cheap Indian technology, what of high quality school (Primary & Secondary)? Look at the Makini’s in Nairobi!!!!!!!!! Are these not some of the areas Kikuyu’s are minting money! How much set up costs are we talking about? All these projects and many others are possible and they can be done with proper goodwill. You start small and you grow.

Richard Mungla
Maputo

– – –
From: Richard Mungla
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2008 12:48 PM
Subject: Re: Vs: Kisumu City

– – – – – – – – – – –

Francis Ng’ethe wrote:

You guys have been arguing and discussing your developmental strategies while not forgetting mud-sliding your own people in broad day-light.
 
  Internet has no privacy and therefore cannot pass any brainstorming / planning or advisory test and therefore need to call for action in your future discussions.
 
  And by the way not everyone is comes from luo-nyanza who’s been accessing / receiving these communications?
 
  Ng’ethe.
– – –
– – – – – – – – – – –

    Mr Ng’ethe,
  It seems you do understand the Luos dynamics, luos are thrived in open environment and internal controversies should not be interpreted as  enmity but as measurements of strength in judging and solving problems.
 
  There is no harm of Luos discussing their economical fate freely in an open forum. Luos are social scientists and therefore their culture is built around discussions forums theories as primary abstract statement.
 
  This forums want to explore how and why luos  are extreme poverty in Kenya in comparison with other corrupts community such like the Gikuyus and Asians, after which the appropriate empirical observations can transformed as a test of the theories discussed hereof to gain a sufficient knowledge.
 
  The Mungiki Militias is a thorn in the flesh in Central Province because the Gema secret shady private economical night meetings in 1963.
 
  Your welcome as quest ndugu, but keep kindly your advise for yourself or just spam your way out from the forum.
 
  (“Luos are the Greek philosophers of Africa “, the late Prof ABC Ayaya )
 
  Rev Okoth Otura
  President/Founder,
Christian Democratic Movement of Kenya-(CDMK) &
East Africa Christians Transformation Mission Fellowship-(EACTMF)
  CANADA
www.cdmk.org
www.eactmf.org

– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 11:25:57 -0700 (PDT)
From:  ndebele okoth
Subject:  Should being a luo equals extreme poverty in Kenya ?

– – – – – – – – – – –

Okoth, ma tokoro iloso.  Mano kitwa ero i define – it does not make us lesser socially but wiser, a determined power force to improve life with no painful loads of grudge, a bench mark to future success story.  Good history in the making.  But what do I say!!!!!!!!!!
 
  Enjoy your weekend, Cheers!!!!!!!!!
 
  Judy Miriga
  USA

– – –
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 13:25:25 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:  Re: Should being a luo equals extreme poverty in Kenya ?

Regional News

Colleagues Home & Abroad Regional News   

Our Vision: A Region Free of Conflict

Our Mission: To Organize Parliamentarians for Sustainable Peace in the Great Lakes Region

KENYA Chapter

Opening address by Hon. Ethuro Ekwe, M.P. AMANI Forum Kenya Chapter at the Discussion Forum on The National Accord and Reconciliation Act and its role in promoting nation building and sustainable peace for development in Kenya.

                                    Tuesday April 29th 2008, Nairobi, Kenya
Honourable Members

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentle men:

On behalf of AMANI Forum Kenya Chapter, allow me to take this opportunity to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join us in this Discussion Forum on the National Accord and Reconciliation Act. The aim of this discussion Forum is to critically analyze this accord in the context of promoting nation building and sustainable peace for development in Kenya. The Discussion Forum will also enable us delineate some of the areas that are not contained in the Accord but which require our urgent attention in rebuilding our nation, especially after the post election violence that threatened to tear us apart.

This discussion comes at the most opportune time, when both His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Hon. Raila Odinga have conducted joint visits to areas affected by post election violence in Rift Valley Province. We are aware of the challenges associated with the visit, some of which are directly linked to the National Accord. It is thus imperative for us to interact and provide options and agenda action areas through which we can support the process of implementation of this principle document.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There may be skepticism about the content and practicality of the Accord, both from the legal perspective as well as general applicability in the current social and political environment. There are those who believe that it is too general and may not offer much of a substance that is required to fully take this nation out of the crisis we found ourselves in the days following the announcement of the presidential election results.

However, the symbolic nature of the Accord makes it a key item for consideration in reconnecting the social fabrics that kept us together, despite our political differences. The Accord has deeper meaning to millions of Kenyans affected by post election violence, including over 350,000 in Internally Displaced Persons Camps. It is thus important for us, through discussions like this, to give reality and substance to this document. Whatever comes out of this Forum will be shared with my colleagues in parliament as well as other key actors, who in their separate ways play a role in reconstructing this nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The role of parliament and parliamentarians in fostering peace, security and development is of extreme importance, especially in post conflict reconstruction processes. In their every-day work in parliamentary debates, political party strengthening, maintaining relations with constituents and inter-party dialogues, MPs play crucial roles in averting possible crisis at local and national levels and solidifying the community to common agendas. Whenever peace is threatened in any country, parliament has the obligation to move beyond the familiar boundaries of Executive-Legislature relations, and save the nation. That is why immediately after the signing of the Accord; Parliament was reconvened to pass necessary legislation towards kick starting the implementation process.

But parliament alone may not guarantee quick and full implementation of the various agreements and proposals linked to the spirit of the National Dialogue. There is a need for closer linkages between parliamentarians and civil society actors, research institutions and the academia, in the true spirit of building the nation, to enhance the effectiveness of parliament in fulfilling its mandate. Parliamentarians may not have expertise in all the fields. They may not have adequate time to fully dedicate on critically issues tabled before the House.

But, when few or inconsistent bills are passed, they are blamed. It is therefore important that policy discussions like this be regularized so that Members have adequate information that can boost parliamentary debates. Such discussions should be extended to the proposed bill on Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission; reforming electoral laws;Conflict Management and Peace Building; Small arms proliferation among others.

The Kenya Chapter of AMANI Forum will strive to provide the required space for this regular interaction.  There are numerous issues that need to be adequately discussed prior to tabling in Parliament.  With political will, concerted efforts by all actors, it is my belief that we have the capacity to take this nation further than this. At best we, especially politicians, must always endeavor to serve the interests of majority of Kenyans. Politics is, after all, about human life. I therefore encourage all leaders, especially my colleagues, to play politics in the context of safeguarding the lives of many Kenyans who did their best to put us into positions of leadership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As I conclude, I wish to state that we are partners in this common struggle, to bring an end to the culture of violence, instability and underdevelopment, in this country and across the region. We are in the middle of the struggle and the increased arsenal arising from your presence here will make a great change.  Let this discussion Forum provide a space for genuine interaction, in view of the fact that your contribution will be instrumental in steering this nation forward. 

Ahsanteni Sana

             

Report

Policy Dialogue on the Kenya National Accord and

Reconciliation Act

Panafric Hotel

29 April 2008

The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace-AMANI Forum

Titan Complex, 2nd Floor ¬ Chaka Road

P.O. Box 25592-00603 Nairobi, Kenya

Tel : +254 20 27 30 801-4

Fax : +254 20 27 30 805

Email : communication@amaniforum.org

Participation

The meeting was attended by thirty six people representing civil society, Diplomatic Missions, media, Amani Kenya chapter members of parliament, local and International Non governmental organizations.

Introduction and Opening Remarks

The meeting  begun with a brief introduction of participants and welcoming remarks by the Executive Secretary, Ms Salome Katia and Hon Ethuro Ekwe, respectively.

In her opening remark, the Executive secretary introduced the Amani Forum as a network of parliamentarians who are committed to peace and to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, both within their own countries and in the Great Lakes region as a whole. She noted that peace is a precondition to sustainable development and urged the government to speed up the resettlement of internally displaced people (IDPs) 1. 

            R-L: Former MP Njoki Ndung’u, Hon. Ekwe Ethuro and Ms Salome Katia, AMANI Forum Executive Secretary

Hon Ethuro noted that, the Parliament alone may not guarantee quick and full implementation on the proposals in the National Accord, it is hence necessary to establish links with the civil society, research institutions and the academia.   He then invited the first presenter, the Honorable Njoki Ndung’u former member of Parliament 2.

  Presentation by Hon Njoki Ndung’u

Analysis of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act

Hon Njoki began her presentation by thanking AMANI Forum for the invitation to share her views on the National Accord and Reconciliation Act. She emphasized that her analysis of the Accord offers critical review of the untidiness of the negotiation outcome.

She went further to clarify that the outcome of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act were six (6) agreements. Three of these were political settlements, while the other three were peace settlement.

—————————————————

1 The Executive Secretary’s speech is annexed to this report

2 Hon. Ethuro’s speech is annexed to this report

Political settlement

The Orange Democratic Party (ODM) and the Party of National Unity (PNU) reached an outdoor political settlement which created the office of Prime Minister and its Deputies. The individual members of the party were however not consulted for their input during the negotiation.

Peace Settlement.

The formation of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Committee is a fundamental step towards promoting peace in Kenya. Kenyans were urged to cooperate with the Commission in order to come up with resolution that will encourage sustainable peace.

The promise to deliver a new constitution to Kenyans is one way of making peace. Kenyans have been yearning for a people driven constitution. It is highly expected that the new constitutional dispensation will correct some historical injustices and make Kenya a better nation.   

National Accord and Reconciliation Act challenges:

The following are some of the challenges posed by the National Accord and Reconciliation Act:

There was no time frame set up for the coalition to implement the provision of the Accord; this is a serious loophole that can derail the implementation of Accord’s provision.

In the event of disputes, the Accord has the potential to cause confusion among the electorate, citizens may not know which party to blame when the Accord collapses or who to credit for its implementation.

The negotiations were not done to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, it was more of an agreement between the two chief principals.

The nature of Kenya’s political party may lead to the collapse of the Accord since personality politics is the major drive within the parties.

The two main parties namely the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) and the Party of National Unity (PNU) in the grand coalition do not mention their respective partners in the coalition.

The office of the Prime Minister exists even without the coalition, this means that the coalition can collapse and the Prime minister remains in power.

The Accord presumes that there is no opposition in Parliament.

The following are some of the loopholes of the Accord

The lack of a dispute resolution mechanism between the two parties, namely Orange Democratic Party (ODM) and (PNU).

The powers of Prime Minister are contained in an Act of Parliament which ceases when coalition ends.

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act did not change the standing orders in parliament considering that Kenya is a multiparty democratic State.

The Accord to some extent legalized ethnic politics in Kenya; Politicians now form ethnic blocs to bargain for leadership positions and rewards from the government.

2.1 Plenary debate on the Presentation

It was reported that the body language from politicians indicates their lack of willingness to implement the Accord. Most of the politicians are more concerned with political settlement rather than peace settlement.

 Parliamentarians could not amend the Accord since such a move was seen as taking Kenya back to violence; all the members of Parliament were hence encouraged to consider enacting bills that can improve the lives of ordinary citizens.

It was asserted that the Accord was a temporary measure set up to bring a temporary change, particularly to bring to an end the post-election violence.

The members of parliament present suggested that there is need for an informal meeting between all the legislators to try and internalize some of the provision of the Accord. The de facto and de jure situations regarding the Accord should be analyzed during the above proposed meeting.

Kenyans were urged to interpret the National Accord and Reconciliation Act as part of the Constitution to avoid misinterpretation of facts.

There is need for an active grand opposition to check on the government. It was noted that the party leaders can influence the composition of Parliamentary Committees thereby manipulating their activities and recommendations.  It was however noted that the opposition can still operate without any statutory provision.

The Accord was enacted to create an environment that is conducive to for the establishment of a long term reform agenda for Kenyans.

2.1.1   RECOMMENDATIONS

The capacity of Political parties in Kenya should be strengthened; this can be done through the gazetment of the political parties Act.

Political parties need to be driven by ideology and politicians should desist from using their parties as a means of securing parliamentary seat.

Members of Parliaments were urged to embark on Electoral Reforms which should include the dissolution of current Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK).

Constituency boundaries should be reviewed to ensure proportionate representation.

Kenya should be discouraged from holding Referendum as a way of determining which constitution should be enacted since the result of such a Referendum may end up dividing the country hence not delivering a new Constitution.

Parliament should enact those parts of the reviewed constitution which are not contentious. Thereafter a structured process aimed at building consensus on the contentious issues should be undertaken by parliament.

Amani Forum should engage civil society and other Non governmental organizations in order to monitor the coalition government’s delivery of the National Accord and Reconciliation Act (NARA), particularly the peace settlement component of the Act.

The Forum should act as a voice of the oppressed through holding more policy dialogue series.
PRESENTATION 2

Presenter: Prof Peter Wanyande

Prof Peter Wanyande commended AMANI Forum for organizing the debate on a subject of concern to Kenyans. He extended his gratitude to the Forum for offering him the opportunity to deliver his lecture.

In his introductory remark, he indicated that there is indeed a problem in the National Accord and Reconciliation Act. It is important to think about the spirit of the Accord and the interest of the country rather than personal interest.

RECONSTRUCTING THE SOCIETY

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act major challenge is how to reconstruct Kenya to be a better country where all the citizens are at peace and enjoy their freedom. The reconstruction should enable the community realize their full potential and search; there is an urgent need to identify aspects that require reconstruction.

The following are some of the aspects that need to be reconstructed:

The State is one of the core components to be reconstructed; how can the powers of Executive be reconstructed? Can the National Accord enable Kenyans to restructure the State?

Modern democracies govern through Institutions; Kenya should restructure various governance institutions in order to improve their performance.

The legal system should be restructured; Reallocation of resources in terms of land and employment opportunities should be equitable.

The National Accord and Reconciliation Act Opportunities and benefits:

The post-election violence in Kenya was an aye opener since the people realized that they were not at peace and have been living in lie.

The formation of grand coalition government.

The violence demonstrated to the leadership the power of the people.

The Accord indeed brought to an end the postelection violence and hopelessness was replaced with peace.

The Accord restored the image of Kenya.

The establishment of Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission gives Kenyans a chance to say the truth on matters affecting their lives.

The Ethnic Relations Commission equips leaders with ideas on how to restructure politics since Kenya’s political economy revolves around ethnicity.

National Accord and Reconciliation Act Challenges:

It was noted that the current coalition government has no reconstruction agenda and timeframe in place to deliver changes Kenyans yearn for. It has prove difficult to harmonize the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) manifesto and Party of National Unity (PNU) manifesto. There are conservatist forces in the coalition government who are better of with the status quo.

Kenyans were cautioned to desist from proclaiming that the Accord has brought normalcy back, Kenyans wanted real change and the spirit of the Accord should be the ladder to achieving long desired change.

The conflict resolution mechanism should be put in place and be managed by professionals and not the political appointees. The culture of impunity should be brought to an end, leaders should be ready to take individual responsibility and resign when they fail in their duties.

What will happen if the coalition collapses?

There is a high possibility of the country turning to violence.

Possibility of a re-election.

3.1 PLENARY DEBATE

It was observed that Political leaders did not suffer the post election violence. The Accord was arrived at too soon and was signed in a hurry considering that the Chief mediator His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan had to leave.

The participants observed that the Truth Justice and Reconciliation committee may not achieve its objective going by the history of other committees, for instance, the Ndungu land report whose findings were not considered.

The civil society together with the media should educate the citizens on their roles and advocate for implementation of crucial policies that benefit the society.
Participants

There is a need to change the Kenya’s political culture; political power should be used to serve and not to oppress. The government is expected to lead the management of coalition and the reconstruction process. The laisser faire Approach of management failed the previous NARC government. Coalition government hence requires skilful management.

Members of parliament should prioritize the agenda for change. The National Accord Act indeed threatens the multiparty democracy in Kenya. The Accord should not be a permanent arrangement; it should chat the way towards the reconstruction aiming at sustainable peace and development.
 

RECOMMENDATION

The Kenya National chapter Members of Parliament should lobby for the gazetment of political parties Act.

Amani Forum should extend their advocacy work and educate other organs of government on Peace and Conflict Resolution issues.

The Forum should conduct a regional meeting to deliberate on the way forward for Kenya in regards to the National Accord and Reconciliation Act.

There is a general need to develop capacity for early responses to conflicts.
 

Close of session

The Executive Secretary, Ms Salome Katia thanked everyone and congratulated the speakers for their good presentation. She noted that people tend to assume that Members of Parliament are equipped to deal with conflict issues. The discussion Forum had dispelled this myth.

Ms Katia also highlighted that the media needed to have a balanced perspective; not only pursuing on the responsibility of elected leaders but also that of the citizenry. Can the media hold Kenyans accountable? How can Kenyans avoid shifting responsibility from this or that actor and instead focus on collective responsibility?

She concluded by stating that the day’s discussions could be branded under ‘Early Warning’; adding that for those who were involved in peace building the challenge is often not ‘early warning’ but rather ‘early response’. Related to this is the question of ‘whom are we warning?’ She reiterated that ultimately, collective responsibility was the only approach to build a better Kenya.

AMANI Forum reaffirmed its commitment to educate members of parliament and the public on security and governance issues.

The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace – AMANI Forum

Titan Complex, 2nd Floor – Chaka Road

P.O. Box 25592-00603 Nairobi, Kenya

Cell: +254 720 480 862

Tel: +254 20 27 30 801-4

Fax: +254 20 27 30 805

www.amaniforum.org

People for Peace in Africa (PPA)
P O Box 14877
Nairobi
00800, Westlands
Kenya

E-Mail ppa@africaonline.co.ke
Tel 254-20-4441372
    Website : www.peopleforpeaceinafrica.org

– – –

Date:  Thu, 8 May 2008 10:07:35 +0300
From:  PEOPLE FOR PEACE

Subject:  Regional News

Carry our momentum forward in Kentucky

Obama for America

Dear Readers,

Join us in Kentucky
On Tuesday, Barack won a decisive victory in North Carolina and finished stronger than anyone expected in Indiana.

Right now, you can help carry our momentum forward in Kentucky.

There are only six primaries left, and this is one of the biggest. Here in the Bluegrass State, we can secure some of the final available delegates and move a big step closer to the nomination — but we need your help.

With only 12 days to go until election day, I hope that you’ll join us in Kentucky — just as so many of you did in North Carolina and Indiana — and go door-to-door to build our movement here.

We have thousands of potential supporters to reach, and no time to waste, so sign up to come to Kentucky and Get Out The Vote for Barack:

http://my.barackobama.com/CometoKY

When you come to Kentucky, you’ll see that we have a strong base of support here, with 16 Obama offices and hundreds of local volunteers working hard for Barack every day.

But in contests across the country, home-state supporters haven’t done it alone — they’ve relied on folks like you from nearby states to help them reach the finish line.

We’ll need you one more time in Kentucky.

No prior political experience is required — just a belief in Barack’s message of change, and a willingness to spread the word one voter at a time.

Help us win as many votes and delegates as we can — come Get Out The Vote in Kentucky:

http://my.barackobama.com/CometoKY

Thank you for all that you’ve done,

Lauren

Lauren Kidwell
Kentucky Field Director
Obama for America

P.S. — Make an even bigger difference by recruiting other supporters to join us in Kentucky, too.

Our team has put together a list of supporters and volunteers who live in states near Kentucky, and you can use our simple online tool to call and encourage them to travel to Kentucky in the final days before May 20th.

Whether or not you can join us in the Bluegrass State yourself, make sure we have the grassroots support we’ll need to finish strongly — call fellow supporters from near Kentucky and recruit them to come Get Out The Vote:

http://my.barackobama.com/CallKY

Msg sent by Obama for America

    Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 18:58:37 -0400
    From: “Lauren Kidwell, BarackObama.com” info@barackobama.com;
Subject: Carry our momentum forward in Kentucky

This may make many political diehards smile “Circumstances under which Obama can loose to Clinton”

Obama Doomsday Scenario Contest Results!

Yesterday, Trailhead invited readers to imagine what would have to happen for Barack Obama to lose the Democratic nomination. And boy did you respond. You, dear readers, are a motley assortment of creative and disturbed geniuses.

Scenarios tended to fall into a few categories: embarrassing revelations, major screw-ups, Clinton ex machinas, and unfortunate occurrences. Others involved Obama turning out to be someone—or something—other than himself, such as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright (“note that you never see the Rev. & Obama in the same place!”), “the smoke monster from Lost,” Dennis Kucinich in disguise, and John McCain’s illegitimate black child. Several other scenarios involved zombie attacks and alien invasions. Yet another described a heinous Aristocrats-like stage performance by the Obama family.

We can’t possibly share them all, but here’s a sampling organized by category. Winners are at the bottom.

Embarrassing revelations:

Obama is actually 34 years old, too young to be president.—Marc Sylvestre

Video surfaces of Obama at that Rev. Wright “God Damn America” sermon that he claims he didn’t attend, especially if the video shows him applauding that statement.—Brian Weber

Obama photographed raising pinky while sipping latte!—Benjamin Clark

Customs agents find one of Natalee Holloway’s “Carlos ’n Charlie’s Aruba” T-shirts in his luggage.—Tom Grayman

Obama’s opening his mail while being interviewed by Bill O’Reilly. He drops a Hallmark card. O’Reilly helpfully picks it up for him and reads the inscription: “Barack: Thanks for the visa! See you soon! Your BFF, Nadhmi.”—Boyd Reed

Pictures of an 8-year-old Obama in his local neighborhood bomb-making class with William Ayers and other Weather Undergrounders.—Jen Geiger

The Drudge Report uncovers shocking photographic evidence that Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden were actually college roommates. … They depict Bin Laden doing keg stands while Obama stands to the side holding his turban and counting in Arabic.—Rudy Santelises

He shot Alexander Hamilton. And there’s video.—Andrew Rice

Reader Mark Schondorf submits a whole list of shocking twists, including: “Hillary summons a Kraken”; “Obama was a ghost THE WHOLE TIME!!!”; “Hillary goes back in time to kill Obama’s mother”; “Hillary wins because, as it turns out, she’s Keyser Söze”; and “Unbelievably, the aliens are afraid of water.”

Major screw-ups:

Obama confesses that the blackout “ending” of the series finale of The Sopranos was his idea.—Scott Schiefelbein

The only way that Obama could possibly lose the nomination is if video of him punching a baby surfaced.—Nick Wilhelmy

There is only one unforgivable crime in America … dogfighting.—Tom Bianchi

The reason he doesn’t believe the government created AIDS is because he did.—Shane Mehling

Clinton ex machina:

The best scenario for Hillary is to run as John McCain’s running mate. And for McCain to die.—Dea Henrich [So Obama would still be the nominee, but we had to include.—Ed.]

The Clinton campaign digs up records in the National Archives proving that Hawaii was not a state at the time of Obama’s birth, thereby making him ineligible.—Pamela Belyn

Bill Clinton starts campaigning on his behalf before June 3.—Eric Samuels

Hillary sheds two tears.—Jon Cowan

Unfortunate occurrences:

Obama will need to be photographed windsurfing … and then get eaten by a shark.—Stephen Defibaugh

Obama, trying to fit in with the Oregon locals, goes on a white-water rafting tour arranged by Lanny Davis Excursions.—Boyd Reed

Hillary invites Barack to her home in Chappaqua to talk about ending the race. The visit eerily resembles the movie Misery.—Boyd Reed

The winners: The best submissions managed to make a concise joke, summarize all of Obama’s vulnerabilities at once, or vividly capture the mind-bending paucity of Clinton’s odds of survival. Here are three that did the job:

3rd place: Hillary appeals to the Supreme Court, which, based upon a 2000 ruling, decides that the candidate with fewer votes wins the election.—John Kirkbride

2nd place: Hillary Clinton must parachute into Pakistan while under heavy sniper fire, infiltrate al-Qaida using a fake beard, putty nose, and duct tape, and capture Osama Bin Laden, whilst singing the “Star Spangled Banner” with one hand over her heart and an American flag lapel pin prominently shown on her outfit. She must film all of this in HD and create a montage scored to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.” Meanwhile, Barack Obama must publicly convert to Islam and change his name to Osama Hafez al-Mohammed Hussein Ayatollah Obama, while burning an American flag in the Crystal Cathedral as he replaces the crucifix with a do-it-yourself Piss Christ, while performing an abortion on the exhumed body of Terri Schiavo. He should also be naked. It should then rain frogs. That ought to do it.—Jason in San Diego

1st place: One of the lesser-known consequences of quantum physics is an event called “quantum tunneling.” Here’s how it happens: At a campaign stop in West Virginia, completely out of the blue, the aggregate wave functions of all the particles in Barack Obama’s body end up instantaneously transporting him through the entire Earth and leaving him treading water somewhere in the Indian Ocean, or leaving his various particles scattered inside the mantle. The odds of this occurring are such that any macroscopic object tunneling through any barrier is highly unlikely in the lifespan of the universe, but it could occur!—Michael Blessington

Thank you for the submissions. You heard them here first!

Published Thursday, May 08, 2008 2:48 PM by Christopher Beam Email jcbeam@gmail.com

Filed under: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Contests
___
Date:  Fri, 9 May 2008 01:00:11 +0000
From:  barack abonyo
Subject:  This may make many political diehards smile “Circumstances under which Obama can loose to Clinton”

Re: Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=670
UPROAR BY TENANTS OVER KISUMU ASIAN TYCOONS HEFTY RENTS; Kisumu City too lucrative?
– – –
Date:  Wed, 7 May 2008 16:32:14 -0700 (PDT)
From:  ndebele okoth
Subject:  Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

– – – – – – – – – – –

Ne jokanyanam

The reason why Jaluo cannot prosper the way other tribes are is because we are always jealous of what others do and specialize more in theoretics than in practical work. An Asian in dispora will consign goods to another fellow Asian in Kenya etc based on trust and once item have been sold they share profits amicable and continue. The systems they use circumvent official channels bedeviled with heavy taxes and before anybody else realises, they have made their kill. I went to Kisumu Boys High School (A-level) with an Indian classmate and hardly before we finished A-level studies, the guy was very rich.

No Jaluo I know of can do such things without accusing the partner of stealing the money sent to him, calling him all sorts of names – If you buy a shirt, he will tell others that he is eating all my money.

Joluo as a tribe, of course I belong to it, have terrible short-comings which are detrimental to development. Unless we change our attitude and the way we look at others, we may never excel in business.

I recall vividly when I was studying in UK and Otieno Mbare and others were encouraging other luos to buy shares in the Kisumu Molasses, how a group of Joluo went balistic and bacme so vindictive of the Odinga family. Yawa were ur wach angó mane ok wawacho kuomwa joluo. Sani koro wachiwo the same Molasses as an example of good development.

Jaluo ok nyal ndiko nyawadgi etich moak oyalone, okwaye very many papers! Admittedly, there are certain categories of jobs where papers are necessary and other kaka office boys etc where they are not necessary. I know of many luos in senior positions who are going to retired or have retired without employing kata mana ngato achiel.

Koro sano we are talking of grand projects requiring alot of support and trust but if we go by what some of us have said on projects such as Dominion in Siaya, then we cannot go very far.

I submit that Jaluo should be subjected to an empirical study in order to understand why we behave the way we do. Oganda mamoko wuoro gama gimarach kod jaluo.

Aluru winj tal

Richard Mungla
Mozambique

– – –
Date:  Thu, 8 May 2008 13:14:03 +0200
From:  Richard Mungla
Subject:  Re: Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

Re: To the graduates & their families

As you might be aware, it’s graduation time again in some parts of the world; a time that the world takes to congratulate all those who have worked hard and the people who have stood by their sides.

I just wanted to say, congratulations to all the graduates and all their family members for the job well done.

As you take a break to either plan on what to do next, or join the working class, I want you to know that my thoughts and prayers are with you.

That the good Lord may bless you with prosperity, good health, peace of mind and a desire to know and serve Him, is my earnest prayer for you.

Pastor Birai-612-386-4608
www.themaranathasdachurch.org
Thursday, May 8,2008 @ 3:30 AM

– – –
Date:  Thu, 8 May 2008 01:41:16 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Absalom Birai
Subject:  Re: To the graduates & their families

migori leaders urge IDP’S to return home

MIGORI: IDP’S WELLCOMED.

BY Shem Kosse

A Migori based international business magnate has urged all those who were internally displaced in the post poll upheavals to return to their respective homes.

Fred Otieno Rangili who contested the vast Migori parliamentary seat on a PNU ticket and lost due to the strong ODM euphoria in the region told the news conference that signing of the National Peace Accord between the two protagonists- Hon Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga.

And the subsequent formation of a grand coalition government by the duo principals has restored state of normalcy, nationally.

“Those who were forcefully evicted from their lands or fled for their dear lives should be free to come back home and till their lands since it’s a rainy season” said the popular Rangili, flanked by area political leaders and elders who promised to preach peace and co-existence.

The post election skirmishes triggered by the announcement of the much discredited and disputed elections by the ECK saw over 1000 thousand Kenyans loosing their lives and over 350,000 thousand people displaced.

With, some seeking refuge in the neighboring country and also properties worth billions of shillings destroyed, countrywide.

The Migori leaders call for the IDPs, comes in the wake of the government’ move to resettle all the IDP’S in an operation dubbed Rudi Nyumbani.

– – –
Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 05:17:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Shem Kosse
Subject: migori leaders urge IDP’S to return home

WHY WOULD KENYA BE HIDING A GENOCIDE FUJITIVE

There have been numerous calls for the investigation, arrest and prosecution of Kenyans in Rift Valley who may have incited the killing that errupted after the rigged 12/27/07 Kenya election.

Why is this man hidding in Kenya after being resposible for causing the death of about a million Rwandese???

– – – – – – – – – – –

http://www.africanews.com/site/list_messages/18087

The alleged mastermind of the Rwanda 1994 genocide, Felicien Kabuga, could be hiding and living a luxurious life in Kenya, under the protection of a powerful Western government, ironically among those nations leading efforts to arrest him, we can reveal.

Kabuga mystery resurfaces in Kenya

1. [image: Kabuga]

High placed police sources who agreed to our interviews on condition of anonymity say that In fact in November 2004, he was briefly arrested and locked up at Kilimani Police Station, before being let free after high level intervention.

No less a person than Kenya’s Attorney General Amos Wako admitted in an interview recently that Kabuga had escaped the police dragnet four times before asserting, “he can run but he cannot hide we will catch up with him.”

The renewed interest on Kabuga returns to Kenya after the High Court Tuesday froze his assets in Kenya inclusing banking of rent from his Nairobi Spanish Villa’s that were being banked in a Belgium account owned by the wife.

Kabuga, who has been on the run for the last twelve years, is on 24 hour armed guard has changed houses in Nairobi at least four times, a local Interpol police officer and one of the police constables who were brave to arrest the fugitive with a $5 million (Shs.375m) bounty on his head told unuwasi.com in exclusive interviews.

“I can tell you in confidence, that the man is in Kenya and every time word spreads about his whereabouts he is whisked to another hide-out,” the Interpol officer confided.

We have learnt that Kabuga – a multi-millionaire businessman wanted by Rwandese authorities, has lived in houses in Nairobi’s Kileleshwa, Muthaiga and recently South C – one of our sources even took us to three of Kabuga’s former homes in Nairobi and pledged to return with the address to his current residence.

” On the day three colleagues of mine and I arrested Kabuga and booked him in the cells, we were called aside and told that we should be careful about such arrests, because he was not only being shielded by senior security bosses but also by (a powerful Western government),” our source who was among those who arrested Kabuga in 2004 narrated. (He actually named the nation involved and we have just paraphrased for professional reasons)

Questioned by a local journalist on the issue, Government Spokesman Alfred Mutua, , said, “ we cannot completely say that Kabuga is not in the country but we are looking for him, and anybody with information should bring it to us so that we can take him back to Rwanda to face justice.”

“This government has no business protecting criminals from other countries, we are already focused on fighting rising cases of crime in our country we do not want to add other criminals from other countries, once we know where they are, we will just arrest them and ship them back home,” Mutua argued.

The mystery of Kabuga’s Whereabouts…

At one time, shortly after the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) took power for the first time under President Mwai Kibaki in 2002 , Pierre-Richard Prosper, US ambassador at large for war crimes claimed that Kabuga, an alleged financier of the genocide, has been using his personal wealth to buy protection from Kenyan authorities, but we have established that though Kabuga has been paying for his high level security, the arrangement is under the blessings of a powerful Western government.

Prosper further charged that Kenyan informants had reported that Zakayo Cheruiyot, the then Permanent Secretary for Provincial Administration and Internal Security, is among the Kenyan officials who have been providing protection to Kabuga.

Cheruiyot is now an elected Member of Parliament for Kuresoi – a Rift Valley Constituency, which further complicates the search for a man who has been linked to even local medics.

Late last year the medic – a consultant cardiologist at Mater Hospital Dr Gerald Yonga was grilled by detectives from the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) officers who visited him at his office at 8 am.

“They told me they had information that I have been treating Kabuga or his relatives but I told them I never have,” he said.

He was questioned in the presence of his lawyer Ambrose Weda.

Kabuga “has been using Government infrastructure to maintain fugitive status in Kenya,” Prosper claimed.

However Prosper noted, “We’re very encouraged with the new Government,” he said, adding he is uncertain as to whether the change in administration will have an effect on Cheruiyot’s status.

However, at the peak of the allegations, Cheruiyot denied giving protection to Kabuga, the alleged mastermind of mass murders.

Cheruiyot said he has never seen Kabuga and dismissed claims he was protecting him as “outrageous and unfounded”.

The debate on where exactly Kabuga is hiding came back to the public limelight, end of July 2006, when Kenya’s ambassador to Rwanda, Alex Keter told a leading Rwanda newspaper that the “Kenyan goverment is not completely sure that Kabuga is not in Kenya.”

He went ahead to call for “anyone with information that would lead to his arrest to forward it to the relevant authorities.”

“My government and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) officials are trying to track down Kabuga,” Keter said.

Queried on the same issue in a live Press Briefing Alfred Mutua agreed that ” the government cannot be a hundred percent sure that Kabuga is not in the country.”

“We are however determined to arrest him and bring him to justice the whole world is looking for him, and we are part of that effort anyone with information should give it to us,” Mutua answered a question on if the government was aware of Kabuga’s whereabouts in the country.

The Rwandese parliament on its part says the continued presence of the most wanted Rwandan Genocide fugitive Félicien Kabuga in Kenya seriously strains the two countries’ relations.

A Member of Parliament, Henrietta Mukamurangwa,is on record saying that Rwanda has made concerted efforts to make alliances with the Kenyan leadership but they were being hamphered by issue of Kabuga.

CHERUIYOT’S DEFENCE

“I want to categorically deny these allegations. They are malicious and are intended to cause disaffection,” Cheruiyot said.

He said this was smear propaganda by foreign a news agencies. He added that he has already instituted legal proceedings against the agencies.

Cheruiyot said when word went round that Kabuga was in Kenya, he instructed the then Commissioner of Police Philemon Abongo to investigate and take the necessary action.

Cheruiyot at the time said at no given time had he met Kabuga as alleged by the US investigators.

Cheruiyot said he was capable of defending himself if called upon to do so.

BACKGROUND

Kabuga is believed to have used his resources to buy materials for the killings in Rwanda.

The State Department estimates that 800,000 Rwandans, mostly Tutsis, died at the hands of Hutu militants in a 100-day period in 1994.

The Rwandan war crimes tribunal, based in Arusha, Tanzania, is seeking Kabuga and a number of other fugitives.

The 1998 indictment by ICTR indicates that Kabuga was the main supporter and financier of the Interahamwe militia, responsible for the 1994 Genocide that claimed over a million lives.

Though the United States has offered a US$5m bounty on his head, Kabuga has managed to elude capture by the ICTR and other security agencies for 12 years.

Keywords: rwanda kenya

– – –

Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 15:31:36 -0400

From: Lucia Akech

Subject: WHY WOULD KENYA BE HIDING A GENOCIDE FUJITIVE

UPROAR BY TENANTS OVER KISUMU ASIAN TYCOONS HEFTY RENTS; Kisumu City too lucrative?

  By Shem Kosse
 
  Tenants of the ultra-modern shopping malls of the Mega City and Mega plaza situated along  Nairobi road and the prestigious Oginga Odinga street respectively, are up in arms against what they term exploitative rents.
 
  Talking to this journalist on strict conditions of anonymity, they claimed that the management of the twin malls under the tutelage of one Raj Sunil is charging them hefty fee in their respective shops.
 
  The fire spitting traders who vowed to default their contractual payment and subsequently take to the streets to demonstrate against the management, said that their relentless efforts to Sunil to renew the terms and conditions of their tenancy, has since fallen on deaf ears.
 
  Instead, Sunil who sources surrounding him say that he is an alien who dubiously acquired Kenyan citizenship is busy shuttling between the residences of illegal immigrants and immigration offices in a bid to see them registered as Kenyan citizens. 
 
  Adding that not even their plea to the proprietors Mithesh Shah and Deepak Shah has bore any fruit: “They are all arrogant to us! They are saying they have pocketed all the relevant authorities that can intervene!” said the aggrieved traders.
 
  Further, the disgruntled traders put on notice the duo owners of the magnificent shops to address their grievances promptly or risk their lethal wrath.
 
  “It won’t be business as usual!” thundered the businessmen who have promised to read the riot act to the malls’ management, soon.
 
  The traders move to paralyze the operations of this two gigantic business oufits, brings in sharp focus, the functions of the Kenya’s Rent tribunal department and what became of it.
 
– – –
Date:  Wed, 7 May 2008 04:24:30 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Shem Kosse
Subject: UPROAR BY TENANTS OVER KISUMU ASIAN TYCOONS HEFTY RENTS.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Ne Winam Jimbo,
  Those of us who were raised in the Kisumu-City are still wondering, why is that the Asians are more prosperous than the natives ?  Why should Jo-luo remain in impoverished while the recent Asians illegal immigrants control the economy of our City ?
 
  How can this economical arithmetic traditional arithmatic be overturn  ? 
 
  Our City is now flooded with illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indian and Chinese running major businesses besides the Kikuyu’s, Kiseche, etc. 
 
  Below there is a post in www.majimbokenya.com  on the same on the Nyanza category for your comment.
 
  Will Hon Otieno Kanjwang’ the Minister of Immigration solve this problem or it will be business us usual ?
 
  Jo-Winam Jimbo yie uru ichiw ane weche mabitho manyalo konyo wachni.
 
  http://majimbokenya.com/home/2008/05/07/uproar-by-tenants-over-kisumu-city-asian-tycoons-hefty-rents/

– – –
Date:  Wed, 7 May 2008 16:32:14 -0700 (PDT)
From:  ndebele okoth
Subject:  Is Kisumu City too lucrative for illegal Asians immigrants in Kenya than other Cities?

Deport Italian, says Kajwang

opado moses ologa oywo thought you might like to read this story.
 
 Your friend also said: Kenyans are at home away from home in italy.Forget racism..

Click here

http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143986205&cid=159 
 to read “Deport Italian, says Kajwang\\\’ “.

– – –
Date:  Wed, 07 May 2008 22:49:53 +0100
From:  ologaoywo62@ . . .
Subject:  eastandard.net – Deport Italian, says Kajwang\\\’

The results

Obama for America

Dear Readers,

We just won a decisive victory in North Carolina thanks to people like you.

Indiana remains too close to call. But what is clear is that we did much better than all the pundits predicted, despite Republicans changing parties to support Senator Clinton, believing she would be easier for Senator McCain to defeat.

Here’s where we stand.

As of Tuesday morning, we needed just 273 delegates to clinch the nomination. When the votes are fully counted Wednesday morning, we will have gained more than a third of them in a single day.

We have a clear path to victory. But now is the time for each one of us to step up and do what we can to close out this primary.

Please make a donation of $25 right now:

https://donate.barackobama.com/results

Thank you for everything you’re doing,

Barack

Donate

Msg sent by Obama for America

 

      Date: Wed, 7 May 2008 01:29:54 -0400

      From: Barack Obama ;

Subject: The results