****
http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=1046
http://blog.jaluo.com/?p=1053
– – –
sbj: Kimunya, Sale, MP reactions;
   ****
 – – – – – – – – – – –
Folks,
 
The video is proof enough record to have Kimunya bundled in jail awaiting details from other circles and Court Judgement.  He needs to start serving his term.  His arrogancy will not buy him sympathy. He may want to destroy evidence by eliminating through assassination the involved small messangers (erand boys) of Grand Regency Saga or make such people disappear, lest they spill more beans. Remember he is still very powerful out there. This is the more reason he should go behind bars.  Can the President escape and reverse or undo video taped proof even if he loves the man Kimunya? Will the President choose, to serve the Republic of Kenya and protect its interests or will he go for Kimunya an individual?  Whose interest will he stand for?  Rt. PM Raila has played his part as Head of Government, now it is Kibaki the world is eagerly waiting to hear from.
 
When Grand Regency becomes a story, it is not possible to separate Goldenberg Scandal.  They both goes under one file.  When Grand Regency Saga file is closed, the Goldenberg too will be closed along with it.  When a marriage is complete and children are born into a marriage, you cannot separate the children from that marriage, they become part and parcel, a union of a family.  That is exactly what it is with Grand Regency Saga and Goldenberg scandal.  This story is deeper than come we stay.
 
Good Day people ….. enjoy the video!!!
 
Judy Miriga
USA

 http://myvideos.africast.tv/video/02187720-4238-496a-abb8-9acd01669378.htm
 
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANtr2hi8lQw&feature=user

– – –
Date:  Thu, 3 Jul 2008 06:18:54 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:  Fw: Kimunya’s Sensorship in Parliament and Muite’s Comments with youtube

– – – – – – – – – – –

Solo: Domo domo
Chorus: Domo!
Solo: Karua toa domo
Chorus: Domo
Solo: Mungatana toa domo
Chorus: Domo
Solo: Kibaki toa domo
Chorus: Nyinyi mtakaa pale pale na sisi hapa hapa.
 
What? Can this guy ever make a decison on his feet. For me  Kibaki is a person who would not be my commandant at war. All the battalion would be completely dead. In war there is no time for long time reasoning. People have to make decisions on their feet. If you have an army officer who do not have the sixth sense then you are destined for doom.

While the parlierment has passed a vote of no confidence on Kimunya, Kibaki is still quiete. What is Kimunya to Kibaki that he can risk his own presidency for him. I do not think Kibaki takes Kenyans seriously. Kiabki has chosen to keep quite because he still belives that time is the best healer. Unforturenatley, this is not the case anymore in Kenya. We are tired of people taking advantage of us. We are quite aware that Kibaki is quiete because something is in his throat.

The grannd regency money has formed a lump in his eosophagus hence he will never toa domo. For a poor Kenyan like me, there is no fat to reduce my domo. In that case I join the rest

“Kimunya must go”.

If I was Kibaki I would vomit the lump of fat and join the chorus because time will not be the best healer on this one.

Dr. Barack Abonyo

– – –
Date:  Fri, 4 Jul 2008 08:40:52 +0000
From:  barack abonyo
Subject:  KWANINI KIBAKI AME FUNGA DOMO

– – – – – – – – – – –

When the Hon James Orengo lifted the lead on the sale of Grand Regency Hotel, Kimunya’s first response was that this was a deal signed between President Kibaki and President Gaddaffi of Libya.

This was truly telling as Kimunya immediately removed the hang man’s noose from his neck, and firmly placed it on the Presidents neck.

Several days down the line, his storyline is changing. First, he denied the involvement of the President and that of Libya. Then, he is now bringing in the name of the Prime Minister. Can this be true?

If this is indeed true, why did he not come out with all the facts at the first instance when he mentioned President Kibaki? Could this have been an after thought to malign and besmirch the name of the Prime Minister?

Be that as it may, this thing stinks, and Kimunya should resign immediately.

He is saying that no one has come up with anything tangible that can compell him to resign. I wonder what type of skin this guy has, for there are several issues with all his 10 fingers of corruption on;
1] He did not advertise the Hotel for sale as is by law required.
2] He did not invite competitive bids from any interested parties.
3] He transacted this sale behind the backs of the Legal Advisor to the Government
4] He did not bring this issue before the cabinet.
5] He pretended to grant amnesty to one Kamlesh Pattni.
6] He undervalued the Hotel
7] ……….

Secondly, his other dealings with De La Rue, Safaricom, Telkom, Kenren, Anglo Leasing payments, etc are all wanting. If these are not as serious for Kimunya, then nothing will ever be.

For the sake of his family, his wife, his daughter, his father, his mother, and his friends, he should resign now.

Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarock Nairobi

– – –
Date:  Fri, 4 Jul 2008 02:45:25 -0700 (PDT)
From:  odhiambo okecth
Subject:   Kimunya Flip-fopping

– – – – – – – – – – –

On Thu, Jul 3, 2008 at 12:36 PM, Dr MAKODINGO wrote:

Good People,
I have closely followed Government Ministers for a long time. However, so far, none has been as arrogant as Kimunya-not even my professional colleague Dr Murungaru was as arrogant!!!
First he claimed Raila was as good as a fishmonger!
 
Then he went ahead to say MPs are a bunch of ignorant-ass-niggers!
 
And he finally declared Kenyans to be incapable of thinking of anything aside from useless rumour mongering inspired by taking one too many cheap low molecular weight fluidy substances with a high tendency of rendering them sightless!!!
 
As if that is not enough, he asserts that it’s in the interest of this nation that he does not relinquish his docket at the Treasury! Essentially he was saying, I’m your last chance you fools!!! Show me a man more conceited and I’ll show you the devil incarnate!
 
Now have a look at aman who claims to be our last chance:
·         Goes to Parliament to claim the Govt still owns GR when it has been sold;
·         Puts the photo and signature of one man and the ID of another as a single entity in the list of directors!
·         Claims GR has been bought by the Libyan Govt when the Company buying it is a Kenyan-Registered Limited Liability company!
·         Gets 30 minutes on national Radio and TV to defend himself and tells us about his wife, daughter, family and friends!
And now about his record:
·         Has worked in the SERIOUS FRAUD office in the UK;
·         Sat in the Board that appointed Justice Aaron Ringera;
·         Crafted the Economic Crimes Act;
·         Head hunted and Appointed the Governor of Central Bank;
·         Sat on the Privatization act for 3 Years!
Do you know of a better qualification for a man to commit fraud against the republic???
 
If Kimunya is fired for nothing else, it should be because he is STUPID!!!
 
Dr MAKODINGO Washington,
Registered Pharmacist and,
Head of Secretariat,
National Civil Society Congress,
P O Box 10934 00100 Nairobi
Katiba House, Ngong Road.
Mob: 0722 269 749/0736 974 339
“If you go through life thinking about all the bad things that could happen, you soon talk yourself into doing nothing at all!”

– – – – – – – – – – –

— On Fri, 7/4/08, Mercy Katini wrote:

From: Mercy Katini
Subject: Re: This Man Kimunya
Date: Friday, July 4, 2008, 12:32 AM
Dear Wanakazi,

I was just laughing to myself yesterday, our politicians have done it again, they have successfully turned public focus from themselves (to pay or not to  pay tax) and effectively put up a sacrificial lamb (Kimunya) – not that he is innocent, for the public to focus on, by the time we all come back to the issue of tax, the urgency of the matter will have dwindled.

They must have all known about the GR deal a long time ago….why raise it now??

Anyway, let me settle back and enjoy the show as we go along.

Regards,
Mercy Katini

– – – – – – – – – – –

Date:  Fri, 4 Jul 2008 06:10:19 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:   Re: This Man Kimunya – yes this Kimunya man!!!!!

Mercy Katini,
 
You need heads up.
 
There are lots of money from revenue and tax collections Kimunya is holding for distribution for KIKUYUS ONLY (this money collected from levy, NSSF etc needs to be located) something Kenyans dont know about, but must be told, that their money in Kimunya’s custody and its whereabout is questionable.  What does it matter when Parliamentarians job calling require such allowances at their convenience discharge for service in effective participation?  Yes Kimunya must go to jail because he stole from innocent unsuspecting Kenyan Public.
 
Gear-up!!!!!!  and thank you.
 
Judy Miriga
USA

– – –
Re: This Man Kimunya –

The Standard Online | Jul 02 2008
Revealed: Mboya’s fatal links with CIA
Published on July 3, 2008, 12:00 am
By Douglas Okwatch

Fresh details of a conspiracy that could have provided a motive for the assassination of Cabinet Minister Thomas Joseph Mboya have emerged ahead of the 39th year since his death.

The CIA appears to have recruited the flamboyant minister and former trade unionist in a heavily funded “selective liberation” programme to isolate Kenya’s founding President Jomo Kenyatta, who the American spy agency labelled as “unsafe.”

Declassified information in an undated issue of Ramparts, an American political and literary magazine published in the 1960s and early 1970s, accessed by The Standard at the Kenya National Archives, shows an elaborate conspiracy by CIA to prop up Mboya and isolate Kenyatta.

Ramparts closed shop in 1975. Whether this scheme sowed seeds of suspicion and mistrust between Kenyatta and Mboya, who at the time of his assassination was the Economic Planning minister and Kamukunji MP, is a matter for further investigation.

Kenyatta

The revelations come four months after Mboya’s widow, Pamela, wrote to Mr Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general who also chaired talks that ended political violence in Kenya early in the year, asking that the matter be investigated afresh by a truth commission.

“The assassination of my husband, like others after him, is a matter that has remained shrouded in mystery and speculation, and which has been avoided by successive regimes in this country,” she wrote.

Trail of Questions

In a telephone conversation with this writer last month, Mrs Mboya promised to “drop the bombshell” in an interview. But she later changed her mind. Her last word was that she would spill the beans at an “appropriate time”.

Questions also abound on whether the convicted assassin, Nahashon Njenga Njoroge, was actually executed. The testimony of the assassin’s own brother and anecdotal evidence that he has been seen by a retired military officer, among other claims, pile on the doubts of his execution.

MboyaSecret letters, also declassified, further show that Mboya had a particularly tumultuous relationship with Mr Mbiyu Koinange, a minister and power broker of the Kenyatta presidency.

In one instance, Koinange wrote an emotional letter to Kenyatta to defend himself against allegations of disloyalty by Mboya

“Sir, you know my loyalty to you personally, to our Kanu party; of my long loyalty to Kenya and latterly my loyalty to our new independent Council of Ministers.

“My loyalty is beyond doubt, therefore, my Prime Minister. I frankly feel that there is no need for me to reply to Mr Mboya’s letter.

“It is unfortunate, ill-timed, egoistic and, if I may say so, an irresponsible letter which is skilfully designed by one of my colleagues to endanger the good working spirit among us.”

Koinange was then Minister of State in the Office of the President and one of the most powerful figures in the Government. He died in September 1981.

The secret letters in our possession cover the period between 1961 and 1966. Desperate to extricate himself from the tag of traitor, Mboya, in a letter on March 11, 1961, pleaded with Kenyatta, who was languishing in a Lodwar jail: “I’d hate to appear a hero at your expense.”

He attached copies of various statements he had made in meetings with the Governor for Kenyatta’s perusal. The move appeared to capture his own internal consciousness that Kenyatta may have begun to perceive him as a threat.

The letters also reveal how the CIA used Kenyatta to finish Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, his Vice-President, politically by amending the Constitution to his office of all powers.

Traitor or nationalist?

Ramparts reported that: “The CIA programme in Kenya could be summed up as one of selective liberation. The chief beneficiary was Tom Mboya who, in 1953, became general secretary of the Kenya Federation of Labour.”

Koinange

Both a credible nationalist and an economic conservative, Mboya who was popularly known as ‘TJ’, was ideal for CIA’s purpose. The main nationalist hero and eventual chief of state, Kenyatta, was not considered “sufficiently safe” owing to his initial deep socialist leanings, the dossier said.

Ramparts quotes Mboya as saying: “Those proven codes of conduct in the African societies, which have over the ages conferred dignity on our people and afforded them security regardless of their station in life.

“I refer to the universal charity, which characterises our societies, and I refer to the African thought processes and cosmological ideas, which regard men, not as a social means, but as an end and entity in society.”

This powerful quote not only captures Mboya’s own prescription of African socialism, which endeared him to the West and made the CIA view his policy as safe, but it also paints the picture of an articulate, sophisticated and ambitious political thinker.

Soon after, Mboya joined the CIA jet set, travelling around the world from Oxford in the UK to Calcutta in India on funds from such conduits as the Africa Bureau and from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU).

ICFTU, which played a key role in Kenya’s independence through trade unionism, is an aggregation of international trade union secretariats set up in 1949 to counter an upsurge of left-wing trade unionism outside the communist bloc, according to Ramparts. The CIA allegedly funded operations at the time.

But when George Cabot Lodge, one of the directors of the ICFTU, made the statement (believed to have been in specific reference to Mboya at the time) that “the obscure trade unionist of today may well be the president or prime minister of tomorrow”, he left no doubt about Mboya’s personal ambitions and by extension the CIA’s scheme of things.

Initially, CIA’s natural strategy was to underwrite Mboya and his labour federation as a force against Kenyatta. But when tact changed in accordance with the world order and the CIA’s new priorities, it was agreed that Western labour groups stop funding Mboya.

An accommodation with Kenyatta was now thought necessary, particularly to ensure that he did not support rebels in Congo, and to get him to close ranks against the agitating Kenyan left.

But the die had been cast. The CIA, through its activities, had effectively propped up Mboya as a possible future President of Kenya. That threat was real during Kenyatta’s time and even at the dawn of the second decade of his leadership, according to Ramparts.

It was a strategy that the CIA would use again to the benefit of Kenyatta against Odinga – use the credibility of the appropriate militant to crush the rest. The CIA link, which Mboya vigorously fought to distance himself with, would be used later to fight him politically by branding him a traitor and a man who could not to be trusted. He wrote lengthy responses in his defence.

But had the CIA sowed enough seeds of wrath between Mboya and the political establishment in Kenya to provide someone with enough reason to kill him?

– – –
Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:20:02 -0700 (PDT)
Forwarded by: Judy Miriga
Subject: Tom Mboya in Kenyatta Assassination Saga

Date:  Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:11:32 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:   Re: Bulk of KenyanWealth Owned by Foreigners

Alai,
 
Bulk of Kenyan Wealth Owned by Foreigners kwa uongo. Wananyakua mali ya uma bila kulipa kitu kwa kutumia ujanja, ukora, uongo na kwa nguvu ya ujambazi.  Waizi kabisa!!!!  Hata Kamlesh Patni arudi jela na Kimunya, mpaka kesi yao itakapo kamilika.
 
Kiss, Kiss, Kiss, Kiss kwa wabunge wote.  Mtu asiulize mambo ya allowance ya wabunge, wanafanya kazi nzuri, waliburn midnight oil. Afadhali walinde mali ya uma kwa kulipwa ridhaa ya allowance waweze kulipa wasaidizi wao wakazi, kuliko kuwacha mali ya uma kwa nyagau.  Hiyo ni round one, wameonyesha talent.  Kalonzo asione ndani ya bunge tena.  Wakamba wamkatae.  Ana kolude na waizi wa uma. Ana aibu hata kwa wa Christo.  Mnajua kuna ma kalt nyingi sana duniani siku hizi?  Labda hiyo kanisa yake ni mmoja ya makalt. Story yake iishie tu pale.  Arudi Ukambani akalime.
 
Hiyo pesa ya allowance ya wabunge ni drop in the ocean.  Pesa inayoibiwa na akina Kimunya kila mwezi ni ma BILIONI.  Sasa wakazi wa sirikali wakikusanya pesa zote za ma taxes etc., pesa itakolea kenya.  Wabunge pia waweze kuongeza wakazi kwa maofisi yao ili waweze kufanya kazi taimly and efektively – mwaonaje, au sio waKenya!!!!! 
 
Wenzangu weee!!!! nimepumua kidogo.  Ahsanteni.  Kazi iendelee!!!!
 
Parliamentarians both PNU and ODM, you have demonstrated skills that will bring back Kenya to track. I am proud of you. It showed, reform started right with the leaders from the top first.  This badly needed healing will fizzle down to ordinary mwanainchi following the same trend. And do I say!!!!
 
Kudos!!!!!!
 
Judy Miriga
USA
 
— On Wed, 7/2/08, Robert Alai wrote:

From: Robert Alai
Subject: Re: Bulk of KenyanWealth Owned by Foreigners
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 12:23 PM

Shem

Ndemo would rather not hear that. Ndemo is somebody who makes Kimunya looks like an angel. You remember when i started the petition to stop the sale of Telkom Kenya? Ndemo adviced Kimunya to go ahead with it. Last week we were at a meeting where I heard that the french are even not taking stationery from the local market and even bringing many french employees to Telkom Kenya.

 Shem, you know just like me that anybody who controls Telkom Kenya has the capacity to listen to our head of state talking. What Ndemo and Kimunya did in sale of Telkom is treason. Ndemo will never bring any positive change in ict. He tries somethings but make a very negative decision later which waters down the positive one he made. Ndemo is one of the people who should resign with Kimunya.

Why does Ndemo sees it fit to close kassfm while all ethnic stations and even on media house seems to be unregulated on how many stations it can open and operate. I dont support FM stations. Infact i could have closed them long before, the crux of the matter is that Ndemo is acting with alot of biasness. And Ndemo must note that Kenyans are watching and will hold him responsible.

Telkom Kenya, IPO of Safaricom, and the idea factory fraud are all acts of Ndemo. Lets hold people who should be responsible so. We must not babysit such govt officials.

Regards
Robert

On 7/2/08, Shem Ochuodho wrote:
I hope PS Ndemo is/has been watching the proceedings in Parliament (re Hon. Kimunya Censor Debate re Grand Regency, Safaricom IPO, Telkom Kenya, etc!!!).

Shem

— On Sun, 6/29/08, wesley kiriinya wrote:

From: wesley kiriinya
Subject: Re: Bulk of KenyanWealth Owned by Foreigners
Date: Sunday, June 29, 2008, 8:30 AM
“…Way forward, mobilize resources the Transcentury way and buy out all that which is owned by foreiners.  They did not steal what they own.  They simply caught us napping.”

Mmmhhh makes me wonder about this Grand Regency thing. And many other things.

— On Sun, 6/22/08, bitange@ . . . wrote:

From: bitange@ . . .
Subject: Re: Bulk of KenyanWealth Owned by Foreigners
Date: Sunday, June 22, 2008, 11:01 AM

Although in telcom sector the law requiores local partnership, what the research is telling us is not a problem but an opportunity that we must take advantage of.  The Tea estates referred to here have changed hands several times. It is therefore  imperative that when they float them, we shall mobilize resources to buy them out.

It is not enough to complain and leave the issue to die.  There is need to educate our people that in a capitalist economy, there are exit routs to pride ourselves with ownweship of our properties.  Some advamced countries own far less than 31 percent of their assets.

We are fortunate that the investment bug has hit Kenya if Safaricom IPO is anything to go by.  Unless we want to radically change our economic orientation with respect to ownership, which I know it is not possible, there is nothing to fuss about.

Way forward, mobilize resources the Transcentury way and buy out all that which is owned by foreiners.  They did not steal what they own.  They simply caught us napping.

Ndemo
Sent from my BlackBerry(R)

—–Original Message—–
From: Shem Ochuodho
Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:05:27
Subject: Bulk of Kenyan Wealth Owned by Foreigners

— On Wed, 7/2/08, Chifu wrote:

From: Chifu
Subject: On Zimbabwe: Shut up, give us a break Odinga
Date: Wednesday, July 2, 2008, 8:54 AM

Folks,

This herald.co item is from a government owned Herald newspaper

Changu Chandagwinyira.

– – – – – – – – – – –

http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=965&cat=13

Shut up, give us a break Odinga

EDITOR — I have been closely following the unfortunate utterances on the political situation in Zimbabwe attributed to Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga.

While Zimbabwe’s deputy minister of Information and Publicity, Cde Bright Matonga was diplomatic in his response to Odinga’s provocative comments, I felt compelled as an ordinary Zimbabwean to air my views and call a spade, a spade.

Given the mayhem and destruction to human life and property following the chaotic elections in Kenya in December 2007, Odinga or any other Kenyan for that matter is least qualified to tell anyone that the elections in Zimbabwe were not free and fair.

Odinga has on his hands, the blood of more than 2 000 Kenyans he used as cannon fodder to land himself the post of prime minister.

Who is Odinga that he should tell the world that the AU should suspend President Mugabe from the continental body?

Who is Odinga to tell the world that peacekeepers should be sent to Zimbabwe to ensure “free and fair elections?”

On June 18, and obviously having been charmed by Condoleeza Rice, Odinga said, “what we need in Zimbabwe is actually an international peacekeeping force so that proper elections can be held.”

This is a very provocative statement especially when it comes from a dangerous Kenyan whom some view as a tribalist, murderer and power- hungry thug.

While there was indeed inter party political violence leading up to the presidential run-off election, which no one condones, Zimbabwe’s situation is nowhere near what happened in Kenya.

Wherein contrast to the political leadership in Zimbabwe, Odinga himself held several Press conferences where he called on his supporters to engage in violence until he got what he wanted; the post of prime minister at a cost of more than 2 000 innocent Kenyans.

Odinga should be told that peacekeepers are in fact needed in western Kenya where there is an unreported war pitting the Sabaot Land Defence Forces and the Kenyan Government on the issue of land.

Those who are aware of this conflict speak of horrendous atrocities being committed by Kenyan Government forces against the SLDF.

The SLDF took up arms over a land allocation scheme it considers unfair.

Reports indicate that five people were being taken away from their homes everyday and taken to mountains where they are killed in cold blood.

At the targeted homes, every member of the family irrespective of age and gender is taken away and butchered in the mountains.

And, Condoleeza Rice who claims to be a leader of democratic principles, human rights and rule of law has the audacity to share a platform with this murderer.

So, Odinga, and others like you, please give us a break, and just shut up.

Zimbabwe is capable of resolving its problems in a peaceful manner without you agitating them to be violent against one another.

– – – – – – – – – – –

Date:  Wed, 2 Jul 2008 20:01:52 -0700 (PDT)
From:  Elvis mageto
Subject:  Re: On Zimbabwe: Shut up, give us a break Odinga

Chifu,

It is unfortunate that people like you have the audacity to shout themselves hoarse at a man who has fought several battles to liberate the kenyan people. You are just a nondescipt as compared to Raila who ahs a track record of fighting for justice and democratic ideals for all kenyans.
 
It is only Raila who has the leverage and capacity to denounce the Zimbambwe fiasco of an election because all other goons have the track record resembling that of your dearth president in thief.
 
Like the proverbial story of Jesus and the adulterous woman, no man in AU was willing to throw any stones because they are tainted with sins. They are all unworthy the trust of the people they supposedly represent. It is only Raila who stands out in almost the entire African continent to question those who grab power from the people and abuse it to their adavantage.
 
You should be ashamed of yourself especially when inflation in your beloved country is running in millions. Yes, in millions! From the most prosperous African country to a dubious position of savagery where hundrends of opposition supporters have been terrorized and butchered by the government. Democracy is not about the west or Raila, it is about letting people choose their political destiny without undue pressure from the likes of you. It is utter silly to argue that the great people of Zimbambwe had chosen the octogenerian Mugabe. The people of Zimbambwe deserve better and that was Raila was talking about. It is unfortunate that you did not get it.
 
In case you did not know, my friend chifu, there is a new crop of leaders in town. Leaders who are ready to inspire the rest of Africa towards greater prosperity. What you and your ilk are advocating for is long gone and has no place in modernity. We pity the great people of Zimbambwe and yet people like you do seem to see what your own people are undergoing through. It is a shame that you could even respond to Raila’s brotherly concerns.
 
Shame on you.

– – –
sbj.: On Zimbabwe, and Kenyan prime minister

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:08:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: KIMUNYA PONDERING NEXT MOVE AFTER VOTE OF NO ONFIFENCE-EH!!! MCHEZO KANDO

Member of parliament passed a motion of no confidence against Finance Minister Amos Kimunya. President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga are expected to make a decision on the matter after a cabinet meeting today.

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:19:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: Step aside, says Wako team

The Standard Online | Jul 02 2008

Step aside, says Wako team
Published on July 3, 2008, 12:00 am

By David Ohito

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya, Central Bank Governor Njuguna Ndung’u and Director-General of the National Security Intelligence Service … Gichangi should be directed to step aside — that is the verdict of a probe team constituted by Prime Minister Raila Odinga over the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.

The other public official who should also step aside to allow for investigation is the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank, Kennedy Abuga.

The committee report also recommends the repossession of the hotel at the heart of the grand scam.

A source close to the one-day Wako committee of prominent lawyers told The Standard that the Central Bank could be ordered to cancel the sale of the hotel reached on May 5.

The team said the transaction over the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel was fraudulent and designed to deceive.

It should, therefore, be declared null and void, the team resolved, according to the source.

And the team was told of how the Registrar of Titles and the Commissioner of Lands were intimidated into assenting to the deal, said the source.

And in even more confounding revelations, the source said that the team was told of how the parties in the deal evaded payment of stamp duty.

The report of the Wako team was being presented to the Prime Minister last night, and was to be forwarded to President Kibaki.

When presenting the dossier, Attorney-General Amos Wako told a media conference last evening that the team had unearthed information much more than what was in public domain.

The team of legal experts, chaired by Wako comprised Cabinet ministers James Orengo and Mutula Kilonzo, Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director Aaron Ringera and Mr Caroli Omondi of the PM’s office, tabled the report that sources said recommended the recovery of the five-star hotel.

Sources claimed salvos are now directed at the Central Bank of Kenya Governor Njuguna Ndung’u for allegedly flouting the rules and laws of Government.

Kenyans will now see which public officer packs and leaves office over the Grand Regency saga.

The findings, the impeccable source said, pointed an accusing finger at a top National Security Intelligence officer who allegedly proposed a settlement on the matter.

In a Press briefing last night, the PM said the fate of the report would be made public after a crucial Cabinet meeting to be chaired by President Kibaki today.

A source privy to the details of the day-long meeting said the sale contravened the Privatisation, the Public Procurement and Disposal and the Government Lands Acts.

The source said it is believed that the Government may revoke the controversial transaction that stirred a storm across the political divide and threatened the three-month old grand coalition.

Sources said Ringera, a member of the committee, wrote a letter advising Central Bank to follow due process of the law in disposing of the hotel.

“A lawyer, Ms Muthoni Gichohi, the advocate who drafted the sale agreement on and behalf of CBK, is understood not to have done any work for the Bank and her inclusion in the panel was not okayed by the Attorney-General as required by law,” a source said.

It is believed the Lands minister may stop the transaction or cancel the title all together.

Last night Orengo declined to comment, saying: “I am under instruction not to divulge any information until the principals, Kibaki and Raila, give direction. But I can assure the public that we did a splendid job within one day.”

As the details of the transaction filtered through, it was understood that no due diligence was done on the purchasers and no written records of offer and acceptance were available.

A search at the Registrar of Companies for the file containing incorporation documents of the Libya Arab African Investments Company Kenya Ltd did not disclose a relationship with the Libyan government.

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:20:57 -0700 (PDT)
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: kIMUNYA SAYS HE HAS A WIFE A DAUGHTER AND PARENTS

I’m totally clean on this, says Kimunya
Published on July 3, 2008, 12:00 am

By Ben Agina

The Finance Minister has defended himself against any wrongdoing in the sale of the Grand Regency Hotel.

“My hands are totally clean on this transaction,” said Mr Amos Kimunya while flaunting his CV as an indication of his integrity.

And he said Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Attorney-General Amos Wako were in the picture regarding the sale.

Speaking in Parliament, Kimunya told members that if only they would remove the politics surrounding the sale, they would appreciate that the Government had salvaged the hotel that was on the verge of being taken away.

Kimunya said the hotel was disposed of at what they believed was the best price of $45 million (Sh2.9 billion)

“I get really disturbed when people challenge this figure,” he said.

Kimunya accused the Ministry of Lands of not telling the truth when it said it was not aware of the transaction. “Distinguish the facts from the politics of ‘bring him down’. I owe it to myself, my family and the people of Kipiriri and Kenyans to say the truth,” he said.

Saying he was serving his second term in the House, the embattled minister said: “I have a wife, a daughter and parents. I have people who care for me. I must thank those who have stood for me.”

And for the first time, Kimunya revealed that the millions of shillings are in an account at NIC waiting a transfer agreement.

The minister said on April 29, he had gone to the floor of the House and informed members of progress on the sale. The minister said lawyers representing Mr Kamlesh Pattni and the hotel — Wetangula, Adan and Makokha Advocates — had met Wako at least six times on the issue relating to Grand Regency.

He said the Governor of Central Bank of Kenya, Prof Njuguna Ndung’u, has also been briefing the Prime Minister on the issue.

The minister talked about how during his tenure in office, revenue collection had improved and that during his days as the chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Kenya, he was a crusader for integrity in the country.

He said in the 1980s, he had an opportunity to investigate fraud on behalf of the United Kingdom acclaimed Serious Fraud Office.

The minister also said when the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Board was formed, he served as a member of the interviewing panel that ultimately recruited the current boss, Justice Aaron Ringera.

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 16:43:46 -0700 (PDT)
From: PAUL ODERA
Subject: Re: kIMUNYA SAYS HE HAS A WIFE A DAUGHTER AND PARENTS

Can you imagine what could have happened if PNU formed the government on its own!!!!!!!! Even HELL couldn’t have coped with the wanton thieving and arrogance displayed if it happened.

God bless Kenya
Paul

UK

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 15:21:49 -0700 (PDT)
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: Parliament passes censure motion against Kimunya

Parliament passes censure motion against Kimunya
Written By: Graham Kirwa ,
Posted: Wed, Jul 02, 2008

Parliament Wednesday passed a censure motion against finance minister Amos Kimunya and demanded his immediate resignation over the controversial sale of the Grand Regency hotel.

During the motion moved by Ikolomani MP Dr. Boni Khalwale, members of parliament also accused the finance minister of disregarding the provisions of the privatization act in the sale of Safaricom shares.

In his defence, Kimunya said he had acted in good faith to protect the interests of Kenyans and that the procedure followed during the sale was above board.

Khalwale said the Finance minister had disregarded all laid down laws of the republic in conducting privatization of public assets.

According to Khalwale, there were more questions than answers in the privatization of Telkom, Safaricom and the currency printing contract with De la Rue Company and accused the minister of being a wheeler-dealer at Treasury.

Kimunya was also accused by Khalwale of disregarding the advice of the parliament and his fellow cabinet colleagues.

Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula was also associated with a law firm that represented Centarl Bank, Kamlesh Pattni and the Libyan company that is purported to have purchased the Grand Regency Hotel.

Leader of government business Kalonzo Musyoka sought in vain to postpone the debate to Thursday saying the government needed time to prepare volumes of information in defence against Khalwale’s accusations.

The Prime minister was also mentioned in parliament with Central Imenti MP Gitobu Imanyara saying he had been summoned by Raila Odinga and urged to defer the motion till Thursday.

Supporting Khalwale MPS urged Kimunya to step aside and allow investigations to determine if he should retain his job.

In his defence Kimunya maintained that he was clean.

The passing of the censure motion does not automatically strip Kimunya of the finance portfolio.

He is still the finance minister unless he resigns on his own volition or is fired by the president.

But going by Tuesday’s precedent, MPs are likely to pile pressure for his resignation by blocking motions by the finance ministry.

Similar motions have been debated against two former vice presidents, the late Dr. Josephat Karanja and Prof. George Saitoti. The latter survived the onslaught but Dr. Karanja bowed out.

Date: Wed, 2 Jul 2008 16:05:05 -0700 (PDT)
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: Resign, MPs tell Kimunya over sale

Folks,

This 10th Kenyan Parliament when it comes to business on fire in the house, jokes aside. They claim that Government had suffered a confidence crisis; Kimunya got lambasted by angry Members, although he put up a spirited defense. Khalwale moved the motion, and in 20-minutes stinging address, condemned Kimunya sarcastically as the “Prince of Impunity” Wow!!!!

I think, in my opinion they displayed seriousness at the business, because they were working to ensure justice is done.

Follow the story……. and thank you all.

Judy Miriga
USA

Resign, MPs tell Kimunya over sale
Published on July 3, 2008, 12:00 am

By Standard Team

The Grand Regency saga went to the floor of Parliament as furious members censured Mr Amos Kimunya over the sale of the hotel even as he put up a spirited defense of his actions.

By adopting the censure motion, Parliament was asking that either the Finance Minister resigns or the President picks the cue and fires him.

However, the President is not under obligation to go by Parliament’s decision.

Wednesday’s debate was quite animated as Kimunya sought to convince members that the transaction was above board and that he had no interest in the transaction.

Kimunya said the hotel sale deal was never done in secret as has been alleged and was categorical in saying that Attorney General Amos Wako was in the picture and had met the lawyers doing the transaction “not less than six times.”

But the Attorney General, speaking on the telephone to The standard last evening, insisted that he had not been given any official brief on the matter and accused Kimunya of trying to pull him into his troubles.

“When a man is drowning, he clutches at any straw,” he said.

Raila has findings

Attempts by the Government, led by the Leader of government business and the Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka to postpone the censure motion were frustrated on the floor of the house to allow the members ventilate their anger on the minister.

The Grand Regency Hotel in Nairobi. The controversial sale of the hotel has put Finance Minister Amos Kimunya on the spot with MPs and a cross section of leaders calling for his resignation. Picture by Boniface OkendoAlthough the motion to censure Kimunya is not enforceable under the law, its adoption by the house leaves the minister in an awkward position in his future business transactions in the house and technically put the budget proposals at stake.

Kimunya’s censure came on a day that the five-member team that was named to investigate the controversial sale of the hotel presented their findings to Prime Minister Raila Odinga and a day before a full cabinet meeting that will be chaired by President Kibaki.

The probe team was to find out whether there was a breach of any law when Central Bank sold the prestigious hotel at Sh2.9 billion.

The Cabinet meeting Thursday morning is likely to be tense even as ministers from the coalition parties look forward to seeing the recommendations of the probe team.

During the daylong meeting, members of the probe team had to variously consult with both Kibaki and Raila.

Tension remained high during the entire probe exercise as the team, comprising Wako, ministers James Orengo, Mr Mutula Kilonzo, Kenya Anti-corruption Commission Director Mr Aaron Ringera, and Mr Caroli Omondi identified the wrongs and rights committed in the transaction.

A source said a powerful minister who should have been in the technical team opted out and was not included in the list named by Raila.

His conduct questionable

Sources privy to the meetings said the Government had suffered a confidence crisis and remedial measures needed to be taken.

One of the resolutions of the probe team is an independent team of valuer must now urgently get the right value of the hotel

In Parliament, Kimunya lambasted by angry Members even as he defended himself that he had acted above board in the sale.

The censure motion against the minister was moved by Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale. The motion read:

“That, being deeply concerned with the conduct of the Minister for Finance in the manner he has handled the sale of Hotel Grand Regency; the Initial Public Offer for Safaricom in total disregard of the provisions of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act and related regulations governing sale and disposal of public property; and non adherence of the provisions of the Privatisation Act in the sale of Safaricom shares; this House censures the minister and resolves it has no confidence in him and demands his immediate resignation”.

Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka twice unsuccessfully tried to block the motion, pending the outcome of the probe by a Cabinet sub-committee.

He sought to have the motion deferred to this afternoon to allow the probe team chaired by Attorney General Amos Wako to conclude its work.

But Members protested that the House could not be held hostage by ad hoc committees outside Parliament.

Kalonzo said this would allow members an opportunity to interrogate its findings “so that if we have to crucify the minister we can do so with the benefit of facts.”

But the VP ran into trouble when he said that Raila had spoken to Imenti Central MP Gitobu Imanyara — who was on the Chair on Tuesday when notice for the censure motion was given — to defer it.

Imanyara rose on a point of order and denied that any such agreement was reached between him and Raila.

Imanyara clarified that he had protested to the PM that it was unconstitutional for the executive to arm twist Parliament.

“The PM agreed he couldn’t summon the Chair on matters pending before the House. It is therefore not true that the PM requested the motion to be deferred,” asserted Imanyara.

At this point deputy Speaker Maalim Mohammed declined Kalonzo’s request to shelve the motion, saying: “the Chair was not going to exercise discretion to distort the tradition of House.”

Rogue minister

Khalwale took to the floor at 4pm and delivered a 20-minute stinging address in which he roundly condemned the minister whom he (Khalwale) sarcastically crowned the “Prince of Impunity.”

The chairman of Public Accounts Committee listed a catalogue of ills allegedly committed by the minister including the controversial sale of the Grand Regency, privatization of Telkom and Safaricom in disregard of the Public Procurement and Disposal Act.

Khalwale also accused Kimunya of complicity in a questionable multi-billion shillings money-printing deal awarded to De La Rue, arrogance demonstrated by his disrespect for fellow Cabinet members and misleading the House.

“I beg MPs to support this motion and send the not so honourable Kimunya packing like the Ninth Parliament did with (David) Mwiraria,” Khalwale remarked referring to Kimunya’s predecessor who was forced to step aside in the wake of the Anglo Leasing saga.

The MP said time was of essence because there was the need to “contain a rogue finance minister who like a leopard has broken into the sheep’s pen and is currently mauling them.”

The remark prompted Maalim to caution against the use of unparliamentary language and appealed to members to exercise “decorum and dignity.”

Khalwale claimed the minister had hoodwinked Kenyans into buying a stake in Safaricom, the most profitable company in East Africa, during the recent Initial Public Offer without informing them the firm had a Sh68 billion liability.

He said it was ironical for the minister to claim success of the IPO by paying off debts incurred by the Kenya Post and Telecommunications Company through funds raised by investors while those who had plundered the State firm were enjoying their ill-gotten wealth.

Khalwale said by allowing two foreign firms — Alcazar and Mobitelea — to own a substantial stake of the telecommunications firm, the minister had compromised Kenya’s security since the vital sector was in the hands of foreigners.

On top of this, added the MP, the minister had sold the Grand Regency “for a song for only Sh1.8 billion”.

In doing so, the minister had kept the AG and Planning minister in the dark, Khalwale said.

The MP launched a scathing attack on Kimunya over the $51 million (Sh3.2 billion) money printing deal, which he claimed had cost two Central Bank officials their jobs for raising a red flag.

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sbj: Kimunya, Sale, MP reactions;