Monthly Archives: February 2009

TENSION HIGH FOLLOWING ARRESTS OF KENYAN POLICEMEN BY UGANDAN MILITARY POLICE OVER THE DISPUTED FISHING ISLAND

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By Leo Odera Omolo

Tension is building up between Kenya and Uganda on the reported arrested of 12 Kenyan Administration Police Officers over the disputed small and rocky fishing island in Lake Victoria for alleged trespass.

The 12 administration officers were sent and deployed to patrol “Migingo”island in Lake Victoria, but were on Wednesday morning picked up by a contingent of soldiers believed to be members of Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) and held in captive for more than 12 hours by eight hours by UPDF soldiers who have been pitching camp on the island for the past two years.

According to impeccable sources, the Kenyan Policemen had arrived on the island and lowered the Uganda National flag that had been hoisted on the island and replaced it with a Kenyan one.

Local Kenyan fishermen using mobile phones had reported the Uganda had brought more security personnel.

The situation is tense and we do not know what will happen next, said a fisherman Mr. James Okoth.

Migingo island comprises of two rocky islands, the largest is close to the Kenya shoreline ,but it is uninhabited due to its stiffness and slippery rocks.

It is measuring about 3 acres and the second island which is relatively smaller measuring for an acre is of rocky land is densely crowded by close to 400 fishermen and fish traders mainly Kenyans.

The East African map drawn many years ago particularly during the British colonial rule shows clearly that Migingo is located right on the Kenyan side of the border.

The island is part of the newly created Nyatike District but the Government is yet to post the District Commissioner and his tea to administrate the new District. Its administration is still being carried out by Migori DC

Kenyan fishermen have reported that the UPDF soldiers who consider the lowering of the country’s flag as an act of aggression, disarmed the APs before detaining them and calling for reinforcement from the nearby UPDF camps in Bugiri District,eastern Uganda..

The APs were briefly detained at the UPDF camps while the Provincial Administrator headed by Migori DC Julius Mutula contacted his Ugandan counterpart in Bugiri District, Mr.Chikomeko and negotiated for their release.

The twelve administration Officers were deployed to Migingo to protect the local together with the Ugandan counterparts. The decision to take the officers to the island was reached at last November,after a meeting between Migori DC Mr. Mutula and BugiriDC Mr. Chikomoko.

And last month while on a visit to the Nyatike constituency, the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and regional development Minister Fred Gumo made it clear that the island belongs to Kenya.

Mr. Odinga told a home coming party for Nyatike MP Dick Anyanga that it was wrong for Ugandan security to harass and arrest Kenyans going about their business on the island as the two Governments had exhaustively discussed the issue at the diplomatic level.
Ministers from Kenya and their Ugandan counterparts , said Mr. Odinga were currently handling the matter , I don’t really see the reason why the Ugandan security forces should continue to harass Kenyans.

ENDS

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

About the author; Leo Odera Omolo is a veteran Kenyan journalist opperatiung as a freelance writer in the lakeside City of Kisumu, but also in Western Tanzania and Uganda.
He can be reached by telephone Number 0722-486181 and 0734 509215 day and night. Postal address P.O.BOX 833,
KISUMU,
Kenya

– – –
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 06:06:01 -0800 [02/20/2009 08:06:01 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: TENSION HIGH FOLLOWING ARRESTS OF KENYAN POLICEMEN BY UGANDAN MILITARY POLICE OVER THE DISPUTED FISHING ISLAND

If the shoe was on the other foot ….

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People,

Reading the numerous postings on this forum about politicians, we can count the number of times that anyone has had a good thing to say about any of our politicians. Why is this so? Does it mean that all politicians are rotten from the core and to the core? Does it mean that there is not a single nice thing that any politician has ever done for Kenya?

Supposing the shoe was in the other foot? People elect you to parliament to represent them, but all they do is complain and insult and nag and say despicable things about you. Is it possible, even remotely so, that we might be too harsh on these guys? I submit that maybe we ought to, every once in a while, recognise the efforts that these guys make. These guys are human too, and if the only thing we do is criticise them, maybe that’s the reason they say to hell and focus on eating since they know you wont be voting them in come the next elections.

Supposing at your work place the boss did nothing else but complain about you, criticise you, abuse you, say despicable things about you, trace your private life with a comb – how would you feel?

Am challenging guys on this forum to try and recognise at least some nice things that our leaders have done for us. No-one is 100% perfect, and conversely, no-one is 100% evil!

I remember at the beginning of 2007, people would have done anything (I mean anything, including having Moi come back to lead us) to restore some semblance of peace and order on the streets.

If you have something nice to say about our politicians, let’s hear it!

– – –
Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:57:09 +0300 [02/20/2009 08:57:09 AM CST]
From: Harun Kaburia
Subject: If the shoe was on the other foot….

Miller’s Appoinment

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Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:50:01 +0000 [12:50:01 PM CST]
From: Kennedy Oduor
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:50:01 +0000 [12:50:01 PM CST]
Subject: Miller’s Appoinment

I support Miller’s appointment on the following accounts though I would have wished that Maina Kiai was appointed.

1.First, its a break with recycling old men who have grown knowing only serikali and the old ways of doing things. Hon. Kaparo would have been the worst in my opinion. Kenyans are tired of these old folks who continue doing things the old way. If we appointed Kaparo, it would have looked as if there are no people in Kenya with capacity to such important jobs. For me, Kaparo should just retire and go rest. This goes to Gabriel Mukele too. Almost 60 percent of Kenyans are youth but still being led by Octogenerians. Please let wazee go home and rest. There is nothing new that Gabriel Mukele and Ole Kaparo would have brought to the new ECK.

2.Secondly Miller seems to have very little political affiliation that is publicly known and therefore could lead the new ECK well. He is qualified..young and energetic. Lets support him and see what he does with the new ECK. We need more and more young people taking positions of authority in this country and not just young people but young PROGRESSIVE people. We have seen young people who are of the old school like Mungatana..Not those ones..

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 20:19:02 +0300 [11:19:02 AM CST]
From: Samuel Aloyo
Subject: Re: Parliament

Really interesting opinions but should it have been a son of a former ……………….. why not a Nyaguthiii, auma, mukolwe, Kivuva, aziz etc out of nowhere. Being a Miller probably made his success easy especially knowing his Dad had connections that he probably inherited. I am glad though that its a young person but lets be careful hawa watu wasiwe tu wanainherit from each other. Power will always move from one hand to the other and we must break those chains.

Let me know your thoughts

Samuel

On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 6:02 PM, Betty Otieno wrote:

Cant think for now. Ruto motion in progress?

On Wed, Feb 18, 2009 at 4:39 PM, Samuel Aloyo wrote:

Wanabidii parliament is so hot bana. Things are tough there. What do guys think about Millers appointment!

Re: Martha Karua the Iron Lady of our time

1 Reply

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:08:54 +0000 [11:08:54 AM CST]
From: Kennedy Oduor
Subject: Re: Martha Karua the Iron Lady of our time

Winnie my questions are leading us to the BIG THIEF who conspired to steal the elections and led us the violence never seen before in this country. People are forgeting that the violence did not just erupt and Ruto is right..what impunity is greater than a person who conspires to steal a PEOPLES RIGHT to choose their leader? We are concentrating too much on the Post election tribunal(not that its less important) and leting THIEVES off the Hook.

The Kriegler Commission did a very shoddy job. What we have refused to ask ourselves is that If there was THEFT and therefore NO WINNER..Who stole? who conspired to steal even if its on both sides? Who threatened the Chairman of ECK that he/she will take the certificate by force to state house???? Why cant we give Kivuitu a chance to tell Kenyans what happened in 2007??? Why cant put the ECK Commissioners on the DOCK and let each tell his/her story??? Why are we running away from the theft and concentrating on the VIOLENCE which was TRIGGERED by the THEFT???? Without the THEFT of the elections there would have been no violence-BELIEVE ME..

— On Wed, 18/2/09, winnie waeni wrote:

From: winnie waeni
Subject: Re: Martha Karua the Iron Lady of our time
Date: Wednesday, 18 February, 2009, 3:43 AM

Mr.Kennedy Oduor,

You have very valid questions, its just that am wondering where they are leading us to. Well, we go ahead and know WHO did what, then what next? For instance we already know what Kamlesh Pattni, yagnesh devani, Samuel Kivuitu and the rest did………… what have we done??????? Talked and are still talking one year down the lane. And truly as Kenya stands now, the talk will continue forever!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway most of the answers to your “WHO” question pretty much lies in the ENVELOPE, yeah that one. If only it could be open and made public, you would be a satisfied man

Waeni

— On Wed, 2/18/09, John Kihara wrote:

From: John Kihara
Subject: Re: Martha Karua the Iron Lady of our time
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 12:09 AM

All,
A commission investigated the conduct of the elections. Its report was endorsed by the contestants of 2007 elections. The verdict was that it is impossible to find out who won the elections obviously because the evidence presented implicated both sides in electrol malpractices. Continuing to point fingers to one side is like a pigmy calling another pigmy short.
If Mr Oketch and others did not present all the evidence they have against Madam Karua to the Kliegler commision, they should forever hold their peace. If they did, the commission gave its verdict after weighing all the evidence presented before it.
Therefore, no side has a moral standing to claim that the other side stole the election. Period!!

As for Madam Minister Karua, she is bound to attract a lot of criticism, slander, bellitlemet etc because of her ambitions. And her courage to take on her adversaries and leave them panting,……….hahahaaaaa……. in the male dominated political world is the envy of both friend and foe.

My message to her,
Go Madam Karua, go ………………………….. !!!!!!!!

— On Tue, 2/17/09, onguru daniel wrote:

From: onguru daniel
Subject: Re: Martha Karua the Election Thief and No. 1 Crook
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 11:02 PM

timothy,
when talking about something as gracious as the integrity of the kenyan people, lining up at 4.30am to vote, only to be told that the ECK did not know who won, keep your seeming rage down. if you were watching your favourite TV station during the fate-filled period following vote casting, you saw your Karua stressing a few points, then kivuitu plastered an ulcer with chilly cement!
face facts and dont call others “tribalist’ for if the name you use here iseal, you sure belong to one tribe that you adore!
nyani lazima aonyeshwe kundule for kenyans to play right!!!

— On Tuetalking , 2/17/09, timothy kihara wrote:

From: timothy kihara
Subject: Re: Martha Karua the Election Thief and No. 1 Crook
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 10:21 PM

Kennedy and Mike,

I need to add my voice to this.

I hope those who are not sleeping for fear of being prosecuted can pick your que and present this “water tight defense” that they murdered/raped/torched houses because Martha stole an election.

I hope too the judges who will hear this will not be “corrupt or Tribalist” to deny the accused such GREAT evidence.

Just as there are paid hecklers in a rally so are there paid Bloggers.

On 2/18/09, Kennedy Oduor wrote:

Thank you very much Mr.Oketch for bringing this very important discussion on board. It seems that as Kenyans discuss the Post-Election Tribunal, we have forgotten that this tribunal was necessitated because some people colluded to steal the 2007 General Elections. NOT TOO FAST. I have argued that as much as I abhor impunity, I also abhor theft and especially theft of a “Peoples Right to choose the Leader they deserve”. What greater impunity is the impunity where one is accused of manipulating the electoral commission and leading the country to a bloody violence that killed about 1,500 people and displaced over 300,000 people?

This is my take..as we pursue the Post Election Tribunal..LETS ALSO GO BACK TO THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE VIOLENCE that rocked the country in 2007. Lets answer these questions:
1. Who conluded with ECK to defraud Kenyans of the electoral outcome?
2.Who threatened the ECK Chairman that he/she will take the certificate to State House by force?
3.Who changed the election figures at ECK headquaters?
4.Why are we not charging ECK with fraud?
5.Were there meetings organized to manipulate the election results?
6.If yes,who organized them and who ordered the organizations of the meetings?

ECK should immediately once paid off be charged with FRAUD. As Kenyans need to find out who organized the post election violence we also need to find out who brought us to this violence.Who stole the elections, No matter how you look at it, without elections being stolen we couldnt have had such widespread violence. The argument that with or without stolen elections, there was going to be violence is unfounded, primitive,backward and has no place in this important discussion. Someone stole the elections and led us into all these commissions of inquiry and some people helped in the stealing of the eelctions. Lets be honest and face the truth..

— On Tue, 17/2/09, mike oketch wrote:

From: mike oketch
Subject: Martha Karua the Election Thief and No. 1 Crook
Date: Tuesday, 17 February, 2009, 1:33 PM

Wanabidii

What greater impunity than to have someone who helped Kihara Mutu and Kivuitu rig elections stay as minister?

What greater impunity than to have someone who has not had even a single pursuit of corruption cases but have an anti graft chief earning salary than the President of Kenya?

What greater impunity to have a lady who has consistently been singing war songs claim to be the champion of justice?

What greater impunity than to have a lady who doesn’t care about cohesion made to lead cohesion?

What has Martha Karua done? What has she done to be able to point fingers? Martha Karua is the chief crook and the most corrupt of the corrupt. Martha Karua is against cohesion and a tribal chauvinist and cheap useless insults and temper and profanity with a man of God. What greater impunity is that?

Re: Mungatana and Chidzuga

17 Replies

Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:06:07 -0800 [11:06:07 AM CST]
From: Odhiambo George
Subject: Re: Mungatana and Chidzuga

Guys, common guys this is abit more of old skul and I would nt be wrong if I say this forrum was not meant for such kind of crap and bullshit that we people have found ourselves in. I mean we all have our private lives that are better looked up in our closets, so fellow Kenyans lets stop this kind of nonsense and give some catchy points on this sight.

— On Wed, 2/18/09, THOMAS MUKOYA wrote:

From: THOMAS MUKOYA
Subject: Re: Mungatana and Chidzuga
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 7:57 AM

On second thoughts, I belive majority of us have our very very dark sides and it is not fair to rally blame game to anyone. For those of us who were born Human; we have our private lifes that are our best kept secrates so I beg that this forum builds Kenya. Let us not scandalize issues. I belive the brains behind this forum were not committed to this kind of communication. Lets wake up and get a better direction of bailing our country our of those greedy breed in BUNGE.

— On Wed, 2/18/09, THOMAS MUKOYA wrote:

From: THOMAS MUKOYA
Subject: Re: Mungatana and Chidzuga
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 7:37 AM

Can we Vote on the Matter?

— On Wed, 2/18/09, mike wrote:

From: mike
Subject: Re: Mungatana and Chidzuga
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 6:11 AM

MM

If you are a public person expect public scrutiny. There are people sleeping even now and rapping their daughters. We cant discuss them because they are private and we dont know much about them.
Mwanaisha Chidzuga is public and sleeping around with an MP is disgusting and we must condemn. Will she face issues and scrutinise the MP?
No. She has already been bought a house

Mike

On Feb 18, 4:59 pm, M M wrote:

HE WHO IS BLAMELESS LET HIM BE THE FIRST TO THROW STONES TO CHIDZUGA.
Remember when you point fingers, Three are pointing to you.
________________________________

From: mike
Sent: Wednesday, 18 February, 2009 16:44:18
Subject: Re: Mungatana and Chidzuga

Murianki

So today a journalist or even you rape a child then you tell us that your employer has got nothing to do with it? Every media house has an in house policy and ethics policy. If the ethics policy of KTn is Chidzuga sleeping with married men then let Chidzuga go to Koinange so that even us we can onja

Mike

On Feb 18, 4:37 pm, murianki mutea wrote:

Mike,

I dont believe somebody should blame an empoyer for alleged misconduct of an employee. If the employee is not doing it at work I think it is upto her and whoever it is she might be doing it with/to. I mean if this was the case all the men out there working even among the clergy could be sacked for ever having had any misconduct that can be construed as such by the public.

I submit that KTN has got nothing in the social affairs of it’s staff-more so those done in strict privacy.

My opinion bro.

mutea

— On Wed, 2/18/09, mike wrote:

From: mike
Subject: Mungatana and Chidzuga
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009,4:45 AM

Guys

Thats sweet. And then KTN claim high standard. Did you see Chidzuga ysterday? She was lamenting about corruption. Why is Mwanaisha Chidzuga lamenting about corruption in Triton while she is sleeping with someone’s husband? Thats the folly of having an hypocritical Station. KTN cannot hold triton to ransom when they have mandated their scribe to sleep with Mungatana. Just the same way Karua cannot hold Ruto at Ransom while Triton is not solved Nothing personal

Mike

On Feb 18, 2:38 pm, Eunice Kagure wrote:

Mungatana na chidzuga? Well i cant say its true, you know ” how did rumours get started?

Eunita!

— On Wed, 2/18/09, Penny Njuguna wrote:

From: Penny Njuguna
Subject: Re: SOPHIE IKENYE??
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 3:23 AM

Yeah….the gal is still a TV news anchor and they now have a child together.

— On Wed, 2/18/09, Felix Otiato wrote:

From: Felix Otiato
Subject: Re: SOPHIE IKENYE??
Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2009, 3:10 AM

Yes David, this is one juicy story i would also like to get to the bottom of. Tusaidieni hapa tafadhali!

—
Regards,
Felix Otiato
0722986617/0733435587

On 2/17/09, David Kilonzi wrote:

And for those who read the pulse magazine (standard) there is always a story featured every week about a former TV beauty who has stolen a politician from his wife and children and now the TV gal and the politician and living together in an apartment, does anybody know of the details, I mean the names!
On 18/02/2009, Witinesi Mkenya wrote:

Good one,
Sophie was always sharp and quite professional on the screen. I suppose a time comes to move anyway….best of luck Sophie Ikenye in your new posting!
Witinesi

— On *Wed, 18/2/09, Wesley Maritim wrote:

From: Wesley Maritim
Subject: Re: SOPHIE IKENYE??

Received: Wednesday, 18 February, 2009, 7:09 AM

Sophie has joined the BBC. I think this very good for her.

— On Tue, 2/17/09, Sam Mwaura wrote:

From: Sam Mwaura
Subject: Re: SOPHIE IKENYE??
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 5:05 AM

Eunice,

Sophie left NTV sometime ago – same period with Julie and Tom Mboya. She will be back on screen very very soon.

Rgds Sam

On 2/17/09, Eunice Kagure wrote:

Hi Guys!

What is the story of Sophie Ikenye? What happened to her? I thought she was there to stay!
Eunita!

—
With Kind Regards,
Samuel Mwaura

Re: Ever been blessed with my thoughts/writings?

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I am sure that at one time or the other, you have wanted to know from your wife/husband, children, parents, friends, colleagues, community, fellow church goers, church members, employer, employees and many others what they think of you or the work that you do.

Their sentiments including positive criticism, helps you to grow as
a person or contributes in making you a better person. Do you think that this is seeking self glorification? By no means? If anything, we were born with a need to be appreciated!

That is why we have evaluations and opinion polls!

If you can recall, when the man of Galilee-Jesus Christ of Nazareth-Our Savior, friend, and elder brother, was on earth, he at one time desired to know what people thought of Him. Note how he paused the question:

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Whom do men say that I the son of man am?….He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (Mathew 16:13-15.)

I love Jesus Christ as my personal savior. Despite the many challenges that I have ever faced, He has always been there for me. He means everything to me.

I truly love His children and love to share the good news! Although my life is ever busy with two full time jobs-pastoral and cashiering, I still can find time to send His word out.

Among those who read my thoughts are:

-Family members
-Friends
-My church members
-And many Internet friends that I haven’t met yet

What I know is that I post a lot of thoughts ! What I have no idea, is how many read them.

From time to time, some of you drop a word of appreciation. Know that your comments are always appreciated.

But today, I would like to hear from all those who have had a chance to read my postings. Of all the articles that you have read, which one/ones blessed you most.

I have decided to declare a truce until the beginning of March so as to give you a chance to write to me. So for the next two weeks, I will cease to send anything. I’ll resume starting March, 2009!

I will be happy to hear from you. Will you spend a few minutes to get back to me?

Have a blessed two weeks.

Pr Birai

– – –
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 07:49:57 -0800 [09:49:57 AM CST]
From: Absalom Birai
Subject: Re: Ever been blessed with my thoughts/writings?

RWANDA HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN ROUTING OUT CORRUPTION AMONG TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; WILL OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW SUIT?

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News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo

THE tiny Central African Republic of Rwanda is turning the screws on corruption in public offices with the recent major crackdown on suspects that has resulted in a dozen arrests of top officials.

Two Permanent Secretaries are among the top senior government officials currently languishing in police custody awaiting trials on for graft related criminal charges..

One of the suspects is believed to have bribed his way to freedom for allegedly escaping from prison, and the government has pointed an accusing fingers to powerful elements within the same government who are afraid that after the interrogations the susect would disclose more names.

The police, working under President Paul Kagme’s anti-corruption czar, the Prosecutor General Martin Ngoga, have arrested senior official from the Ministries of Education, Infrastructure, the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda,the Centra Public Investment and External Finance Bureau and Strabag, a German construction firm.

The first to fall under the police dragnet in government offices was Mr. Justine Nsengiyunva, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education.

Nsengiyunva, according to news emerging from Kigali was arrested in November last year after the police were tipped off by a businessman that he {Nsengiyunva} was demanding for a bribe money before authorizing a payment order for the supply of IT equipment to the Ministry worth 99.7 Rwanda francs {USD 175,000}.

The police, working with the businessman by the name of Mr. Moses Byaruhanga, trapped the former Permanent Scretary’s accomplice Mr Ervariste Grirabo, an employee with the Central Bank of Rwanda.

According to a source in Kigali, Byaruhanga had informed the Criminal Investigation Department {CID} about the solicited bribe. The CID officers then swung into action and in turn supplied him {Byaruhanga} with RwF 2 million {USD 3,500} in marked banknotes. And at the appointed venue Byaruhanga handed the money to Gasirabo and the police pounced, arresting the later red-handed with the incriminating evidence.

The police then went for the Nsengiyunva {The PS} who reacted by trying to bribe the officers thereby creating another fresh criminal offence.

Nsengiyunva and his sidekick were immediately led away to jail pending court cases for soliciting a bribe, extortion and attempting to bribe th police officers.

But much as theb Rwandan government is committed to fighting graft and all kinds of abuse of office by publ;ic servant, there are those who want to look the other way or even abet the crime.

After about a week in jail, the former Permanent Secretary {Nsengiyunva} was later reported to have escaped.

It is, however, suspected that his escape was engineered by some powerful government officials who were afraid that, when interrogated, the suspect could implicate them in corruption.

The Prosecutor General Mr. Ngoga was recently quoted as saying that “corruption got the man in, and got him out.”

The Rwandan government is reported to have issued a warrant of his arrested, which has been circulated to the Interpol system of police and flushed all over the world. The suspect PS is still at large.

Another high profile arrest was that of Mr.Louis Munyakazi, the director of the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda.Those who kew the susopect well, says he is a man who has the look of a college professor with eyes peering out of thick-lensed spectacle and a tall, lanky frame always smartly dressed in dark brown blazers and unmatching pants, seemed the least likely candidate to be caught in a corruption probe.

But three weeks ago, Rwandan woek up to the television footage news that he had been arrested after investigations by the CID and the Prosecutor General’s office established he had embezzled a large sums of NISR money.

But the case clearly highlights the government;s intent to rout out graft is the one involving officials of the Ministry of Infrastructure, Central Public Investment Bureau, and Strabag, a German road construction firm.

Quuite a number of officials from these institutions have been arrested so far. The first to be arrested was Infrastructure Permanent Secretary, Vincent Gatwabuyenge for authorizing and signing off payment of over RwF 1.7 billion {USD}2,998 million} to Strabag for services the company did not provide.

The payment was for the installations Strabag was supposed to put up including residential housing for staff, stores and central building in Kigali and the small provincial town of Nyamata.

A few years ago, Strabag won a tender to build a 70-kilometres tarmac road from Kigali to the rural region of Bugesera.

Once in jail under relentless questioning Mr Gatwabeyenge is said to have divulged more details about the graft involved in construction of tht road.

In one incident, he is repprted to have told his interrogators, tht together with a Mr George Katurebe, director of the Central Public Investment and External Finance Bureau, they conspired to exonerate Strabag from payment of a RwF 456 million{USD 804,000} fine for breach of contract after the company failed to complete the road within the stipulated timeframe.

A quick investigation showed that indeed,Strabag never paid the fine, Mr. Katurebe was soon after this revelation got arrested.

The Director General of Finance at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Mr. Foustin Gacinya was no spared either. He too, was found complicit in the RwF 1.7 billion {USD 2,998 million} payment.

The head engineer in the same Ministry, Mr. Eliab Habyarimana and Jean Naptiste Habyarimana and Jean Bgarambe, two employees of Studi International- a company that the government of Rwanda hired to supervise construction of the Kigali- Bugesera road.

President Paul Kagame was recently quoted in the local media houses as saying that he will not tolerate corruption and so far, he shown that he means it. “This man is not someone to joke with”said a Kigali resident.

Local political pundits have said that Kigali is increasingly becoming too hot for a place for the corrupt.

Rwanda is a member of the East African Community which groups her together with Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi, but the other states are soaking in graft, and it expected and hope that government leaders in all the partner states of the East African Community would follow suit.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

– – –
Date: Wed, 18 Feb 2009 06:15:39 -0800 [08:15:39 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: RWANDA HAS TAKEN THE LEAD IN ROUTING OUT CORRUPTION AMONG TOP GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS; WILL OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOW SUIT?

Re: THE MOST AMAZING MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED!!

Leave a reply

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:54:37 -0800 [02:54:37 PM CST]
From: Amos Kibara
Subject: Re: THE MOST AMAZING MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED!!

John

I am not sure where you can buy the movie in Kenya, but its available on www.ebay.com. I would encourage you to look for it in the movie places in Kenya or buy at ebay (about 12 dollars) or you can google it and see if you can watch it over the internet.

Sincerely

Kibara, Amos Gakobo
Montgomery Alabama, USA

Life is a sum of decisions made in the past. The better the decisions, the better the quality of life.

— On Tue, 2/17/09, John Gichuru wrote:

From: John Gichuru
Subject: Re: THE MOST AMAZING MOVIE I HAVE EVER WATCHED!!
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2009, 9:28 AM

Where can one get the movie in Kenya?

On 2/16/09, > wrote:

Amos, i saw this movie in 2001 and it changed me. I have been looking for it but can’t find it. Anyone who has the movie?

—
Kind regards,
—
AMOS KAMAU, MD, Myalbum Ent.

On Sun, Feb 15, 2009 at 10:33 AM, Amos Kibara wrote:

Wakenya Wenzangu

In the Movie “PAY IT FORWARD” a teacher gave his social study class an assignment to think of an idea that would change the whole world. so many students came up with ideas that standard 5 kids can think of, but One of the student came up with an amazing idea. Huuh, the homeless
people!!!.
This boy went by and took one the men to his mama’s house and gave him a hot meal. This boy kept doing this to this specific man for some time. This man kept asking the boy why are you doing this?, and the boy would say because it is the right thing to do.

After a duration of this interaction, the boy charged this man with one command: what I have done for you, I want you to do it to just three (3) people in your lifetime and give them the command to go and do it to three other people, and that those three should do it to 3 others, and those to three each, and on and on and on.

With this boy’s act of kindness the whole world was changed, lives were saved and enemies became friends. We want change but its not without, it is within. Show some kindness to that stranger and charge him to show kindness to 3 others, and keep it going.

Now, as Wanabidii I think we have the numbers to change to Kenya. The tribalism, the hunger, the poverty, the nepotism and discrimination that has rocked our country can be tackled from this dimension.

Just Thinking!!!!!

Sincerely

Kibara, Amos Gakobo
Montgomery Alabama, USA

Life is a sum of decisions made in the past. The better the decisions, the better the quality of life.

Re: I miss Hon. Kalembe Ndile

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Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:10:49 -0800 [03:10:49 PM CST]
From: Amos Kibara
Subject: Re: I miss Hon. Kalembe Ndile

Owiti, that was hilarious.

What I miss about Hon. Kalembe is his natural capability to interact with the high and mighty, and then connect so well with the lowly and the trampled down members of our society. This is is a characteristic that many of our learned leaders in parliament do have. In other words, there is something that Kalembe has that people do not learn in schools and universities, and I wish everybody in our leadership would be able to connect with it.

Think about this, when 10m Kenyans are hungry, hundreds of life lost in the fire tragedy, PresidentKibaki was so busy defending Hon Saitoti, In other words he only connect with the poor when they die in masses, what a shame. Kalembe would be busy advocating for the welfare of the aquatters.

Our schools curriculum is lacking something.

Sincerely

Kibara, Amos Gakobo
Montgomery Alabama, USA

Life is a sum of decisions made in the past. The better the decisions, the better the quality of life.

— On Mon, 2/16/09, Philip Owiti wrote:

From: Philip Owiti
Subject: Re: I miss Hon. Kalembe Ndile
Date: Monday, February 16, 2009, 10:13 PM

Dear Amos,

Find KAlembe Ndile on this Link

http://graduates.com/vg.aspx?i=3025832

Kivuitu team to get send off package

1 Reply

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 10:45:41 -0800 [12:45:41 PM CST]
From: Judy Miriga
Subject: Kivuitu team to get send off package

Folks,

Malipo ni hapa hapa, Mungu si Athmani, atawaona……….

Blessed are the poor and those persecuted….the hand of God is not far.

It will pay back all that the locusts have eated. Take heart……

Thanks,

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson.
USA

News
Kivuitu team to get send off package

[Former commissioners of the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya]

Former commissioners of the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya in a file picture. The Cabinet has approved a termination package for them. Photo/FILE
By ANTHONY KARIUKI and PPSPosted Tuesday, February 17 2009 at 17:53

In Summary

*

Cabinet approves termination deal that was recommended by a task force report on the dissolution of the ECK.

The package will cost the Kenyan taxpayer around Sh400 million.

Other staff to be redeployed to various ministries.

Former employees who will not be absorbed will receive a golden handshake of Sh170,000.

Former commissioners of the disbanded Electoral Commission of Kenya will finally get their send off package.

The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a termination deal that was recommended by a task force report on the dissolution of the ECK.

The 22 commissioners will get a payment that equals their three month?s salary.

They will also be entitled to: Service gratuity of 31% of basic salary for the period served, one month salary in lieu of notice and an unutilised leave to be commuted for cash.

The package will cost the Kenyan taxpayer around Sh400 million.

The electoral body was disbanded by Parliament last year after MPs passed the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2008, which was then signed into law by President Kibaki.

The then ECK, under the chairmanship of Samuel Kivuitu, was accused of mismanaging the 2007 General Election that sparked violence protests after the opposition said that the government had rigged the polls.

As a result, 1,133 people were killed in the violence and 350,000 others displaced.

The Cabinet also agreed to the re-deployment of other staff to various ministries through the ministry of Public Service as recommended by the task-force.

Those who will not be absorbed will receive a golden handshake of Sh170,000.

Other benefits will include: One month salary in lieu of notice, a severance pay of one month basic salary for each year worked, an unutilised leave to be commuted for cash up to the maximum days allowed under each staff category and the payment of pension dues under the terms and regulation of the ECK pension scheme or any other private pension scheme.

Cabinet also reviewed the food situation in the country and requested the Finance minister to prepare a detailed program and schedule on targeted food subsidies for consideration at the next cabinet meeting.

Parliament will then debate and approve the subsidies.

The meeting also decided to hold consultations with the Parliamentary Committee on Budget to resolve issues which made it difficult for the President to give assent to the Fiscal Management Bill 2008.

After consultations with Parliament, the Cabinet will then table an Organic Budget Bill that will have been harmonised with the Fiscal Management Bill which parliament had earlier passed.

The Bill was meant to give MPs more say on the budget-making process.

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1.

Submitted by joemuirurithige
Posted February 17, 2009 08:26 PM

hawa watu wamefanya kazi yao. talk about being subjective, these people did even more than Kofi Anaan. bad governance is better than no governance, look at somalia. wakenya tuvulie hawa watu kofia jameni.

Submitted by nani_ngombe
Posted February 17, 2009 08:12 PM

You bungle an election, you get a send off package. Phew!

Submitted by OumaDuncan
Posted February 17, 2009 08:05 PM

Go for good Mr. Kivitu, its bad that you have lost all the respect you earned while you served. That money is even still too much, the money belongs to the same Kenyans you lost their lives, relatives and property coz of you.

Submitted by yesuwangu
Posted February 17, 2009 07:07 PM

kweli pesa Iko for them politicians inly!! but for citizens they ar always told their is no money! Labour day they said shillingi za koungeza hakuna! during a rally in Nairobi they said pesa tunayo suddenly prezo said hakuna pesa! even for the sick or starving.but for compensations,Mp salary,weapons,somali pirates their is money.!surely they are worse than colonilialist

Submitted by swala nyeti
Posted February 17, 2009 06:30 PM

There seems to be a definite figure tagged on the victims of the PEV. This is 1,133 for the dead and 350,000 for the displaced. Can we kindly match these figures to the individuals since we have the definite figures. Au vipi?

Submitted by Kapere24
Posted February 17, 2009 06:22 PM

I dont think Kivuitu and his team should cost the country 400M… Our legislatures pass bills favoring them directly or indirectly which is not a good show. People are dieing of hunger, whats the government doing about it, is probing Ruto solution to famine in the country… Kiviuti and all these people had already made fortunes, LETS FEED THE NATION TOO!

Re: Nairobi today and then

Leave a reply

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:07:38 -0800 [10:07:38 AM CST]
From: tony mochama
Subject: Re: Nairobi today and then

Long complexplanation Anniel. 80s Nairobi a sedated tranquil suburbic space.

In the 90s till oh two, turned into one big garbage dump with crooks all over gradually. When you moved here in two thao, remember the black-outs n water shortage, n govt lifts where we all smelled of armpit deodrant??

Really lucky the city, if nothing else, has improved aesthetically. Tony.

— On Sun, 2/8/09, Anniel Njoka wrote:

From: Anniel Njoka
Subject: Re: Nairobi today and then
Date: Sunday, February 8, 2009, 11:32 PM

Marugu,

Just curious How was Nairobi in 80s and 90s. Have known Nairobi when i came to join UON in 2000?
Just curious though

On 2/9/09, Erastus Marugu wrote:

Can any one compare the state of Nairobi during the 80s and the 90s, and Nairobi today?

Re: Technology in Parliament

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Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 18:46:23 +0300 [09:46:23 AM CST]
From: John Gichuru
Subject: Re: Technology in Parliament

And probably these budget highlights should be presented using powerpoint, they would look serious and easier to understand besides being lively. Probably UK will present his using a prompter, the way he did in Kasarani. The fulll budget could then be distributed by hard copies or/and email. Gichuru

On 2/17/09, Tom Onditi wrote:

Wanabidii,

I have been wondering why renovations in parliament that cost many millions of shillings have not been accompanied by other important technological innovations that are now part of normalcy in the world. I am talking here about presentation of documents in parliament. There are now trendier and less boring presentation methods.

Many times I sympathize with wajumbe sitting through a three hour presentation of the budget speech. I would myself sleep as many of them do. It is today primitive to read through a 340 page document to a literate audience who can read the full version at another setting. The budget speech is a highly technical document loaded with jargon from the subject of economics and fiscal issues that many of our legislators are not schooled in. Why not just work on its highlights for presentation to parliament and deposit the full version for easy access to those interested in the full version.

Apart from the fact that the budget speech is not interactive and many parliamentarians do not follow it, they sleep in numbers, it is also a tough task for the Minister for Finance who consumes large amounts of water to keep cool and purse his lips etc (It will be most difficult for Hon. Uhuru who is also known to indulge in the intake of many dehydrants in his freer times). I am sure there are many wanabidii who are communication experts who will only take the little they deserve to design modern communication/ presentation methods for use by the August house. It is terrible today, when proceedings of the house are televised, to see an already indolent lot slumbering in the chambers when they should be representing more alert constituents

Re: The explanation changes the picture!

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I can’t believe how fast my attitude changed! As a matter of fact, it encouraged me to go an extra mile in all that I do! What Am I talking about?

You see, my cashier job was beginning to get into my nerves.
As a minister, I need more time to do that which the Lord has called me to do! The only reason why I took up this job was to assist my needy mum, siblings, and my orphan nephews and nieces back in Kenya.

But the schedule is something else. It differs from one week to another. Anywhere from 6:00 AM-11:00 PM, Sunday-Thursday, and 6:00 AM-4:00 PM on Fridays. As though that was not enough, the last couple weeks, they have been assigning me register three, one of the lanes that no one wants.

As you can imagine, I was beginning to read too much into the whole saga, when the manager’s words changed all that. As if they read my mind, the manager called me to his office yesterday and said things that really humbled me. “I called you so as to tell you how much we appreciate you and your willingness to work flexible schedule and work at any lane without complaining. We are happy and proud to have you as one of us!”

All I did was to nod my head in appreciation, although deep inside heart, I was truly humbled. I even felt bad that I had started reading too much into stuff that did not exist.

While driving home from work, I found myself thinking of many people who become overly offended because either they do not have a clear picture of the situation,or fail to see the reasons behind the whole thing. And others also fail to see any benefits, if any, that will come with such. Some examples will suffice:

-This last December, I celebrated 28 years of marriage. Although I am good at making Mandazi-bread- and soup, I normally don’t like to cook. Why? Because I love my wife’s cooking. Besides my mother, I know very few women who can cook as good as my wife. I have therefore told my dear wife that the reason why I want her to cook is not because of the man thing but because I love her food.

-I love my church members so much that whenever I don’t see them at church on Saturday, I send them an e-mail telling them that I missed them. As you might guess,there are some who started to think that I was monitoring them until I made it clear that mine was based on love and nothing else.

-The only reason why I am concerned about who my children will marry is because I love them and don’t want to see them suffer.

-Although many people don’t like cops/police, their work is extremely important. They want to make sure that all are safe! An understanding of that will change our attitude towards the cops.

How about our God?

It’s important to note that our God more often than not, applies the same principle. How so? Note the following:

-When God wants to get our attention, He sometimes allows certain things to come our way so as to wake us up from our slumber.
-In the story of John, the Baptist, as found in the Gospels, the good Lord allowed him to die in prison, so as to become an encouragement unto many over the ages.
-The apostle Paul writing to the Hebrew believers said this” Because the Lord disciplines those that he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son/daughter.” (Hebrews 12:6.)

So, my dear friend, before you react or throw tantrums,please wait until you have all the facts. Will you?

Just a thought.

Pr Birai

– – –
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:35:18 -0800 [09:35:18 AM CST]
From: Absalom Birai
Subject: Re: The explanation changes the picture!

A Keynesian view : A General Theory of Pub Economics …

Leave a reply

Or, the financial crisis explained in simple terms: –

Linda is the proprietor of a bar in Cork . In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers – most of whom are unemployed alcoholics – to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Linda’s bar.

Taking advantage of her customers’ freedom from immediate payment constraints, Linda increases her prices for wine and beer, the most-consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Linda’s borrowing limit.

He sees no reason for undue concern since he has the debts of the alcoholics as collateral.

At the bank’s corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS. These securities are then traded on markets worldwide. No one really understands what these abbreviations mean and how the securities are guaranteed. Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, the securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager (subsequently of course fired due his negativity) of the bank decides that slowly the time has come to demand payment of the debts incurred by the drinkers at Linda’s bar.

However they cannot pay back the debts.

Linda cannot fulfil her loan obligations and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95 %. PUKEBOND performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by 80 %.

The suppliers of Linda’s bar, having granted her generous payment due dates and having invested in the securities are faced with a new situation. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy, her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor.

The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties (and vested interests).

The funds required for this purpose are obtained by a tax levied on the non-drinkers.

Finally an explanation I understand…

– – –
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:16:33 +0000 [08:16:33 AM CST]
From: amatindi@ . . .
Subject: A Keynesian view : A General Theory of Pub Economics……..

TANZANIA WARNS INDIAN RAILWAY INVESTOR OVER POOR OPERATIONS

3 Replies

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:55:53 -0800 [08:55:53 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: TANZANIA WARNS INDIAN RAILWAY INVESTOR OVER POOR OPERATIONS

Business News By Leo Odera Omolo

Tanzania might have review the 250 year lease agreement granted to Indian railway operator Rites due to what a government source in Dar salaam described as unsatisfactory operations.

Rites is currently running and managing Tanzania Railways {TRL}

President Jakaya MrishoKikwete was recently quoted as saying than the firm has been seeking credit from international financiers without involving the government which would have to pa back the loans from tax payers money
.
The head of state said rites was also ferrying locomotives and wagons to india for repairs instead of using the railway workshop at Morogoro and Tabera. ‘ The coats to the government in transporting the wagon to India is immense he added.

‘The firm has been trying to solicit loans of undisclosed amount from lender abroad behind the back of the government yet the government will have to pay back the loan said the president.

Tanzania government is the firms majority shareholder owing 49 per cent of equity shares rites hold 51 per cent.
.
The firm was also told not to remove the Kahe -Taveta rail section that links Kenya and Tanzania. Doing so would lead to revocation of the lease agreement it was told.

TRL acting managing director H.L Chaudhry said TRL, wanted to use the Kahe Taveta as an alternative bypass to return home the 40 wagons currently stranded in Uganda after ferry services at the port of collapsed last year
.
The MD said the firm was about to reach a deal with Rift Valley Railway(RVR) to move the missing wagons through the Taveta -Kahe section true found out that the track was in bad contention.

Uganda bound transit goods that pass through Dar ES Salaam port are normally carried by train to Mwanaza port where they are transferred to rail mounted xxx for their last destination to the country.

TRL says that the International Financial corporation have mocked it from accessing a USD 30 million loan facility
.
Meanwhile news emerging from the Ugandan capital , Kampala says Kenya and Uganda have appointed an Inter-ministerial committee to work on a fall back position regarding the activities and operations of the Rift Valley Railways {RVP}
.
This council see the two countries terminating the 25 year consortium agreement with RVR that was signed in 2005.

Ugandan Minister for work films Nyabagambi was recently quoted in the local media as saying that the governmental has also issued notices of intention to terminate the agreement with RVR. We told them to prepare their exit
.
A senior Uganda official disclosed another technical committee made up if technology from the two East African states will back up inter-ministerial committee. Management of the regional railway line expected to return for the national bodies – Kenya Railway corporation and Uganda Railway Corporation.

Operations of railway line won’t be interrupted. “We have prepared for eventualities. We are aware that that this railway that there could be severe implications of the termination but we are asking everybody to understand.” Minister Byabagambi said.

Kenya has also notified the beleaguered railway company to start packing its bags partner of he Rift Valley Railway consortium are TransCentuary, Prime Fuels and Mirambo Holdings who are said to be very much worried
The Lead investor in the venture, Roy Puffet might set a soft landing while they are left holding the can should Kenya and Uganda terminate the consortium 25 year concession to run the two countries rail network.

The small print of the RVR concession agreement says Sheltam stands to walk away with a USD10 million payment should the concession be prematurely cancelled for any reason during the 25 year contract period
.
Sources have revealed that this sum of the money has already been deposited into an escrow accounts.

Mr Puffet need only to walk into the path with the termination letter to own the money. The biggest loser would be Mirambo Holdings Prime Fuels and other small shareholders who are not beneficiaries of the charge.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

– – –
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:55:53 -0800 [08:55:53 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: TANZANIA WARNS INDIAN RAILWAY INVESTOR OVER POOR OPERATIONS

TONY NYADUNDO LIVE IN NEW JERSEY ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

Leave a reply

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:40:57 -0800 [06:40:57 AM CST]
From: Dorothy Agwa
Subject: TONY NYADUNDO LIVE IN NEW JERSEY ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

TONY NYADUNDO LIVE IN NEW JERSEY ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2009

DATE: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 2009

TIME: 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM

VENUE: TOUCAN RESTAURANT, 1850 EASTON AVENUE, SOMERSET, NEW JERSEY 08873 (LOCATED INSIDE THE QUALITY INN AT THE INTERSECTION OF I-287 @ Exit 10 and EASTON AVENUE.)

COVER CHARGE: $20

DIRECTIONS: Please check MAPQUEST or GOOGLE or visit http://www.toucanrestaurant.com/newjersey/map.htm

CONTACT INFORMATION: For further information, please contact any of the following:
Tony – 571-214-1602
Otiende – 845-337-4317
Erick -732-770-3554
Josi – 732-447-3717
Ken – 301-996-5775
Karume – 732-887-9448

Re: Museveni fires minister of finance and appont his wife

Leave a reply

Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:04:22 -0800 [05:04:22 AM CST]
From: BEN NYUGUTO
Subject: Re: Museveni fires minister of finance and appont his wife

Museveni replaced Finance Minister Ezra Suruma with Sydda Bbumba and appointed his wife, Janet, as a minister for the remote Karamoja region.

From: ceeya
Sent: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 1:04:34 PM
Subject: Museveni fires minister of finance and appont his wife

Yup just heard that in news at one!

true isn’t?

CUT FLOWERS EXPORTS EARN KSHS 40 B for Kenya; COWS POISONING DEATHS – – CHINESE BATTERY MAKER TO BE SUED;

1 Reply

Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:39:52 -0800 [02/16/2009 06:39:52 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: KENYA EARNS KSHS 40 BILLION FROM HER EXPORTS OF CUT FLOWERS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

KENYA EARNS KSHS 40 BILLION FROM HER EXPORTS OF CUT FLOWERS TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.

Business News By Leo Odera Omolo

Kenya’s flower exports mainly to Europe rose by almost three percent to 93,000 tones earning the country Kshs.40 billion in the mean score foreign exchange .And

even then this is a lower take than Kshs. 43 billion registered by the industry in 2007 largely on the back of currency fluctuations and higher production costs.

The rise in export was despite the post election violence that hit the country in early 2008, and will be good news as the industry worms up to valentine day which is traditionally its biggest pay day.

Surprisingly this years exports were highest at the height of post elections violence that arose out of a disputed presidential election result.

Export rose from 8,500 tones in January 2008 to 10,00 tones at the end of February 2008, the highest export volume recorded that year according to figures released recently by the Kenya Horticulture council. The council said that exporter were preparing to take advantage of the frenzied days leading up to valentine day and Mothers Day.

Valentine day is celebrated on February 14 while Mothers Day is marked on various day in different countries in the United Kingdom it ells exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday, while in the US it is celebrated on the second Sunday in the month of May.

“We see growers very busy serving orders, Kenya Horticultural Council CEO Jane Ngige told newsmen in Nairobi

We expect to perform as before to satisfy both domestic and international customers demand are added.

Cut flower exporters were hit by high fuel prices last year. Diesel pump prices doubled from Kshs.58 a liter to Kshs.104 in 2008 while petrol prices went up from Kshs 69 a liter to Kshs.107 during the same period.

Ms Ngigi said that affects of the global financial crisis would affect the flower industry met the council experts demand for flowers to grow although at flower speed.

The CEO said that studies on global consumer behavior indicate that consumers have reduced travel and were eating more at home. This mean they also buy a bunch of flowers to lighten up houses which they have to stay in for a longer time said Ngigi.

Flower farming is the number two foreign exchange earner after remittance from the Diaspora.

Kenya is also the heading cut flowers and ornamental supplier to the European Union market with 35 per cent

To survive in the competitive market , the CEO said the council that developed protective such as hypercems flowers which now controls 37 per centrols Japanese market.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

THE CHINESE BATTERY MAKER IS TO BE SUED OVER COWS POISONING DEATHS

By leo odera omollo

A Kenyan farming family whose cows died after grazing on contaminated pastures has moved to court to fill a legal verdict civil suit against a Chinese battery manufacturing company for 200,000 compensation and damage.

Ms Esther Wanjiru a farmer in Nakuru district ,Rift Valley Province blames the Chinese company Xhuang Hui international Kenya ltd had refused to compensate her family for the loss three top diary cows and a calf which died a few days after grazing on grass contaminated with lead.

She accused the company of dumping the industrial waste which was then swept into her one acre grazing field by the rains .

When the animal died ,the carcasses were then taken to a veterinary surgeon operating a private clinic in Nakuru town for a postmortem examination.

A medical analysts was later carried out at the university of Nairobi faculty of veterinary medicine by dr. James Mboria who confirmed the cows had died of lead poisoning.

The high yielding top dairy died while undergoing treatment for lead poisoning at the same zero grazing dairy unit at Kamaungi area of Nakuru district and we have confirmatory diagnosis of lead poisoning based on symptoms laboratory samples analysis and postmortem findings , said the reporter .

The soil and blood samples were found to contain lead level of 64,070 ppm and 2,292 ppm respectively

“based on the history symptoms ,laboratory analyses and postmortem findings it was concluded that the was an assurance of sub-acute lead poisoning and the source of the lead was industrial waste from Xhiang Hui battery manufacturing company ,said dr Mborra

And me Wanjiru the former said a driver at the battery company who lives in the area had in October last year “ignorantly” dumped the industrial waste in a bid to patch a section of the road which become almost impossible during season.

“we were as happy that our neighbour had decided to seal the roads as it was impassable during the rainy season .we all thought he was using rocks ,little knowing that this would have disastrous effect of wiping out my entire herds of cattle said a tearful ms Wanjiku

If the matter ends up in court this would be the first care of life kind in Kenya’s judicial history.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA

4 Replies

Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2009 02:17:51 -0800 [02/09/2009 04:17:51 AM CST]
From: Leo Odera Omolo
Subject: Fw: TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA
Part(s): 2 MAGAGA TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA 050209 (3).doc [application/msword] 34 KB

— On Sat, 2/7/09, magaga alot wrote
From: magaga alot
Subject: TRIBUTE TO PAMELA MBOYA
Date: Saturday, February 7, 2009, 9:42 AM

As discussed, please find attached Tribute to Pamela Mboya for publication.

Magaga

– – – – – – – – – – – –

PAMELA MBOYA – a Tribute

By Magaga Alot

Pamela Arwa Mboya captured the Kenyan imagination in the early sixties – and remained inscribed there forever thereafter.

That was the time when the photographs of her wedding event were splashed on the front pages of the newspapers and the phrase, “Wedding of the Year” entered the Kenyan lingo for the first time.

The wedding was the enactment of a fairy tale romance, complete with a meeting of stars scenario that, with hindsight, presaged a tragic, if also, classic denouement.

The man she had married, Tom Mboya, was charming, debonair, and suave. He was also the most articulate and electrifying political personality of that moment. He was young, gifted and black, as the craze of a later time would soon have it.

With only a practiced modesty would therefore the usually irreverent gossip columnists of the time proclaim that the wedding had marked the resignation from the Bachelors Club of one of its most eligible members. The phrase “most eligible bachelor” also had its debut into the Kenyan vocabulary.

Pamela herself was living poetry itself. Young, outgoing and pleasant spirited throughout from the image she projected in those pictures of her wedding. From that wedding moment, many Kenyan mothers would name their girl babies Pamela.

Many composers penned “Pamela” songs. Only a few of them needed declare that she was the inspiration behind the compositions. She was, after all, the one and only Pamela. Commanding presence, composed, elegant and, well, prim and youthful to the end.

As fate would have it , Pamela never made it to First Lady but for generations after the wedding event and, much too soon after, when her husband was assassinated, she remained in their hearts the First Role Model for many Kenyan girls and women.

Like Kennedy’s widow, she was the heart of Kenya’s own Camelot. When I heard of her passing away, my first reaction was to remark to myself that, at least, she had lived on to witness the entry of Obama and his bouncing young family into the Whitehouse.

I cherish the privilege of having known Pamela for a long time, before and when we worked together at the Office of the United Nations Development Programme in Nairobi in the seventies and through her later appointment as Ambassador to the UN Habitat.

There is much that I would like to recall and relate about Pamela during this time. However, for the sake of this brief tribute, let me state that to us at the United Nations she became the picture of majesty and a matriarchy .

As the foul stench of tribalism, corruption and other indulgences of betrayal of our independence struggle swirled around our national life, she stood out as a pillar of rectitude.

She encouraged us to always demonstrate our sense of high professionalism and integrity, insisting we must never give our foreign counterparts in that UN office any cause to look us or our country down.

We should always demonstrate our sense and spirit of national unity, devoid of tribal or racial sectionalism. That all this should also show in the representative nature of the UNDP development intervention and coverage of all parts of Kenya, with emphasis on the arid areas and on the marginalized communities.

She was the highest ranking Kenyan in the UN Office and all of us Kenyans, from all tribes and races that served under her supervision were ever rejoiced in the appreciation of her distinguished presence and stern protection. We were always motivated never to let down “PMb”, as we all fondly and reverentially referred to Pamela.

Pamela had launched her public career in social work, specifically in the area of children’s development; and in political work as companion to one of the most celebrated politicians in this country’s history.

She proceeded to international development work and to the distinguished diplomatic service for her country. She did so much for so many people of all extraction, class or station in life, finally in the twilight days of her life, graceful bowing out of the scene with focus on the care for the aged.

Pamela was kind and compassionate to an extent very few people I have known would ever manage. She was able to touch so many people with her generosity, not because she was so rich but just because she was so kind and a loving mother to all her children and to all the children of Kenya.

Pamela has left behind a duo legacy. She bore her pain and loss with great dignity and resilience; and she endured to the end in her faith and love for her country and people of Kenya with great joy.

If she should ever find a place in the Kenyan folklore, she would be serenaded as the queen of compassion. And should she, in that however distant horizon of time, enter the realms of Kenyan mythology, she will be adored as the goddess of fortitude and forbearance.

Now we must accept that for a long time to come there will not be another like Pamela Mboya. PMb. Nyowila. May the good Lord rest her soul in Eternal Peace.

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