Monthly Archives: December 2009

Could a Raila fall bring healing to this country?

From: BOB-K BOB-K
Subject: What country does he live in?

Date: Sunday, December 6, 2009, 9:07 AM
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Could a Raila fall bring healing to this country?

By MUTAHI NGUNYIPosted Saturday, December 5 2009 at 18:17

In Summary
* The Raila-Ruto ‘catfight’ has its owners. The latter is a mere hangman.

This week did not make sense to me. Kofi Annan arrived on an irrelevant mission. And then he said nothing new. All he did was whine about a local tribunal. And on this, the man does not get it. We have said no to a local tribunal. Period.

But if he is unhappy with us, he is free to set up a “local tribunal” for Kenya in “Kumasi” or wherever he comes from. It is that simple. Then there was the constitutional review debate. This one is dying. For some reason, it did not even pick. It has no oomph, no energy! And I blame the lethargy on the draft constitution.

It has no legs; no future. But in the razzmatazz of the week, two things stood out. One, the Raila-Ruto “cat fight”. Two, the looming shadow of Moreno-Ocampo and his expected announcement before Christmas. If the week was confused, it is because of the two things. And, in my view, they are related.

Allow me to explain.
Raila Odinga is a slow-punctured revolutionary. And the tragedy is this: He is in denial. But on this, I do not blame him. The brother is keeping it real!

As the Chinese say: “… if you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must first allow it to flourish”. This is the “Odinga tragedy”.

As Prime Minister, he is ‘‘expanding’’ and flourishing. Unfortunately, he has become a balloon. Bloated, flighty and full of air. Soon, he will be popped. And, in my view, this is deliberate.

Even in the Holy Bible, they fattened a lamb. The fat lamb believed it was the best until they sacrificed it. The ancient tribes did the same. They looked for the finest human being. Then they fed him, oiled him and elevated his ego. And when the time was ripe, they offered him to the gods.

Like in ancient times, Mr Odinga is being fattened. The tragedy is that he is enjoying the “fattening”. Soon, they will present him to the “gods” as a sacrifice.

And William Ruto will be the happy “High Priest” to perform the ceremony. In sum, the Raila-Ruto “cat fight” has its owners. Mr Ruto is just a front; a mere hangman.

But if this is true, who are the owners of this ‘‘fight’’? There are two layers of owners. The first is vicious, the second is cautious. The vicious layer has nothing to lose “except its chains”.

This is the group mentioned in the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights report. On this list we have Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, Mr William Ruto and Mr Najib Balala.

If Mr Moreno Ocampo relied on this report, the three have reason to panic. And in panic, it is only reasonable for them to form a “brotherhood” of sorts. The “Mau rebellion” is therefore an excuse; a platform that brings them together.

Unfortunately, Mr Odinga is in denial. He cannot read the ploy. Yet in the scheme of things, he is the target; the fat sacrificial lamb to be offered to the political “gods”. But why do I say so? I have two reasons.

One, he is seen as a traitor by the Kalenjin Nation. If they fought in 2008, it was because of him.
But when Moreno Ocampo came to town, he disowned them. And for this, they can no longer call him “Mibei”. The fond nickname is no more. In fact, the fallout between him and the Kalenjin Nation is total.

Now they must send him to the gallows. And their hangman is Mr Ruto. The second reason involves others: those afraid of the “Ocampo process”. Their options are few.

To buy time, they must destabilise the coalition government without collapsing it. And the best way to do this is to bring Mr Odinga down. The tool for doing so is a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister.

This vote requires 112 MPs. If the Mau harambee could summon 56 MPs overnight, it can double the figure in a month or so.

But what does such a vote mean? Would it collapse the government? Would it lead to an election? Zero! The option for a snap election was removed. It is not in the Accord; not in the constitution. If the coalition government collapses, President Kibaki takes it all. No election; no contest.

Similarly, if Mr Odinga is removed, ODM would have to look for a new party leader. Constitutionally, the new leader would be appointed Prime Minister. And if they fail to get a new leader, the President can decide to do without a Prime Minister. After all, Mr Moi operated without a Vice-President for eight months. In sum, if Mr Odinga is sacrificed, the country would move on!

Let us consider the second layer now. In this group we have everyone Mr Odinga has betrayed. And when you summon the evidence, he has betrayed almost everyone. In political science, we love such people. In real life, however, they get killed; sacrificed to the “gods”.

Beginning with the president, he would love to sacrifice this man. If he was not a decent man, he would support a vote of no confidence in the PM. This would declare him the “winner” of the 2007 election rather late. It would bring an end to power sharing constitutionally.

The vice-president would support this to settle an old score. Mr Odinga betrayed him when he decided to run for president in 2007. As for Mr Kenyatta, the Prime Minister is a foe. He betrayed him in 2002 when he left Kanu to join the Rainbow Coalition. If he had not done so, Mr Kenyatta would be president today. The wounds of Mr Ruto and the Rift Valley MPs are still fresh. Their betrayal is “now”!

They would support such a move. And the question to the prime minister therefore is this: where are your troops? My reading is this: He has none. If this is true, he is being fattened as a sacrificial lamb. Like a good sacrifice, the sins of the post- election violence will be forgiven if we sacrifice him. This is why he must be afraid. Very afraid!

Mutahi Ngunyi is a political scientist with The Consulting House, a policy and security innovation think-tank for the Great Lakes Region and West Africa. Mutahi@myself. com
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Bob-K
Enquiring mind wants to know

Prime Minister Raila Odinga gets defensive when US ambassador Michael Ranneberger questions $918 per day gluttonous allowances to Government Ministers on overseas trips

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An Open Letter to PM Raila
Fom: Judy Miriga
Sun, Dec 6, 2009 at 12:02 PM

Dear Prime Minister Raila,

This is to bring to your attention our concern that many times your public utterances are wanting, so confusing, contradicting, worrisome and questionable to an extend majority poor Kenyans are left to wonder if their public interest are taken care of or their demands according to your view, would be given favorable consideration as partners in development and or be treated with honor incase you become the next President of Kenya.

My purpose for writing this email is as a result of recent public disagreement you had with Ambassador Ranneberger when he questioned recent raise in allowances for Civil Servants which he thought was not urgent or important as yet under the prevailing urgent humanitarian grounds where majority are lagging in poverty including the displaced persons and also it is thought sensible tackling serious issues of great importance which are believed were politically motivated and are severely affecting survival of ordinary poor Kenyan public (Mwanainchi ) presently.

Things of salary to Civil Servants can be considered when the country stabilizes. This shows we are lacking Experts in Finance Controller General who plans and balances expenditure budget usage for the Country. This give question to weather Parliamentary Finance Committee is functioning. MPs salary alone for a poor country like Kenya, which is unable to generate their own finances or support their people independently, is world wide questionable when Kenya Government rely heavily on Donor funding and grants to maintain their running expenditure in the Government. Members of Parliament salary increase takes place two to three times in one year, is this justified? This kind of behaviour is stealing from public. We want a considerate People’s Representative who will be willing to make partnership with the people so the public can achieve their desired ambition goals in life.

We are worried that you are not considering urgent remedy and resolution in matters affecting Kenyans for which we thought would be your agenda number one (service to ordinary people). To deliver, you must treat delivery as matters of life and death in your consideration and must be given top attention with urgency in order to be trusted. Position of Kenya is totally shaken from political quagmire, that engulf the Country with issues that scuttle Reform Agenda for Kenya and Kenyans, requiring immediate attention, so people can live at peace united with each other. I am contemplating issues surrounding implementation of Reform Agenda 4 which; your slow pace in giving unequivocal support to the Local Tribunal Bill, your slack way of interjecting on Draft Constitution which in my opinion is lacking PUBLIC CONTROL POWER, and where the so called Legal professionals were paid huge handsome money to do a shoddy job is robbery to the public, which you seem to support, and your jumpy way of cooperating with the International Community who are giving Kenya and Kenyans a jump-start financial back-up support necessary to help Kenya remain stable financially under these shaking stormy political condition which are about to sink Kenya into oblivion and throw Kenyans into a state of hopelessness, a people without direction is worrisome.

Any money that come to Kenya from International Donor or Government is not free money, one way or the other it must be paid back by the people/public. The people who pay back this money through hardship are the ordinary WANAINCHI. It is the responsibility of PEOPLE/PUBLIC therefore to question or know how and where their money is spent. They have the right to question. If it is stolen, they have the right to demand their money back, whether through court or otherwise.

In my opinion, you just seem to think of foreign money coming in to the Country without a plan how to transparently disburse the said money to the involvement and information of PUBLIC to bring achievable desired result which is possible in a short space of time. In your government as President, how will you treat donor funding. Public money used carelessly is what has failed Kenya and is the reason why Politicians are stealing from Kenyans, why Goldenburg ripped off Kenyans resource utility, why Anglo Leasing (Anglo leasing) is a big issue, Kenyans must recover through International Courts. This donor money, we want to believe you seem to think should circulate feeding your individual pockets in the Government without questioning, which is wrong, it is public theft. You do not turn jittery when that kind of question is put accross. You should defend such questions with dignity and humility to be able to achieve reform.

There will be no development success in Kenya or the removal of poverty without responsibility, commitment and transparency involving Civil Society as partners of Development in any Government. Checks and balances must be the way to go.

We worry that you may be having good professional experts to advice and guide in the Coalition Government in your leadership, but you ignore to utilize their expertise and do not give them express open hand to utilize their knowledge so they can deliver. For what use, Prime Minister Raila, is the increase of salary to Civil Servants if they are not going to deliver according to their profession because your type of leadership is tying their hands from performing, yet the public expect them to perform? This is tax payers money spent without due regard, the public money which the people pay back through thin and thick in TAXES in the form of rising costs of food, transportation, rent including other basic daily needs or otherwise from the poor’s hard earned earning which they (the public) conditionally oblige in order to survive. This behavior is considered knowingly subjecting and suppressing humanity through negligence into harsh reality of conditionality is considered abusive to humanity and is treated as Criminal against Human Rights in the International Treaty for Human Rights. This manner of behaviour can also scuttle Reform we badly need.

You also want to compare US State Secretary Hillary Clinton to her recent visitation to Kenya, that she had a big entourage yet they were spending Tax Payers money……you are attacking the same hands that are feeding Kenya and Kenyans. USA is so organized 50 years ahead of its Country basic finance budget. USA have Government reserve facility to accommodate their expenditures. The Government itself is able to generate its independent funds in many small sublet activities, in other words the Government has a creative ways of generating independent money so they are able to pay back any monies they borrow from public kitty. How would you therefore want to compare yourself or Kenya with USA? Is this not lacking wisdom?

Bwana Prime Minister you are letting Kenyans down. You cannot bite the hand that is feeding you because it will stop feeding you and you will be putting the country in arms length danger to invasion and terrorism. Step up and have a reality check so we can trust and believe that you are able to lead Kenyans to prosperity and deliver effectively to Kenyans without meandering. I believe you have an apology to the Envoy.

Best Regards,

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com

Envoy and PM spat over civil servants allowances

Updated 18 hr(s) 6 min(s) ago
Related Stories
EU Sh90m grant to boost conservation
By Martin Mutua
Prime Minister Raila Odinga almost fell out with US ambassador Michael Ranneberger over the push for austerity measures in Government.
Trouble started when Ranneberger questioned the recent raise in allowances for civil servants, saying the economy was still weak.
Raila, who had called a meeting between donors and top Government officials in his office, defended the raise, claiming the envoy was out of order. The envoy said the donor community had suggested that the Government limits the number and size of delegations overseas and were disappointed by the turn of events.

Ranneberger said a minister visiting Switzerland would claim $918 per day (about Sh68,850) in allowances, which is more than what an average Kenyan earns annually.

“By comparison it is perhaps worth noting that a US government official traveling to Switzerland receives only about half the daily allowance of a Kenyan minister,” the envoy is reported to have said. At this point an agitated Raila hit back and told Ranneberger he had overstepped his mandate.

“The PM actually told the ambassador that he had now gone overboard and was meddling in the internal affairs of the country and should stop,” added the source.

Raila is said to have referred the envoy to the visit by US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton whose entourage occupied the entire Inter Continental Hotel for a week.

“The PM asked the envoy to state whether by taking an entire hotel Clinton was also not burdening the US tax payers,” added the source.
Other issues the donors are said to have raised include Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing scandals. Ranneberger asked whether the Government was preparing to make more payments to Anglo Leasing-related companies.

Read all about: Prime Minister Raila Odinga Michael Ranneberger civil servants

EU Sh90m grant to boost conservation

Updated 22 hr(s) 11 min(s) ago
ACP States to lose Sh28b annually after EU treaty ends
The Draft constitution is not about power but on best living standards for all
By Standard Correspondent

The European Union, through the Community Development Trust Fund (CDTF), is setting aside Sh90 million to fund projects located in Mwea, Embu, Mbeere, Kutui, Mbooni and Mwingi districts. These areas have suffered massive environmental destruction that have been perpetuated by human and animal activities in the areas.
The CDTF Programmes Co-ordinator, Salesius Njoka Miu, said the Sh90 million disbursements was part of a Sh1.3 billion EU kitty, which will be used to fund 179 environmental projects in Kenya.

Adopt skills
The EU Head of Social and Environment section, Daniel Plas, called on the project beneficiaries to utilise the grants effectively by adopting the skills learnt through the capacity building sessions, after he joined the board of trustees of CDTF in assessing progress made in the nine projects.

The skill upgrade, Plas said, would enable them sustain the project even after the close of the donor funding.

The nine projects are being implemented by community-based organisations, which have to contribute 10 per cent of the projects funding. Among the conditions set was gender inclusiveness, a move that saw women leaders participating in the projects.

CDTF also insisted that provincial administration and other environmental stakeholders be included in the formulation, implementation and sustenance of the projects to guard against inter-departmental conflicts and suppress vested interests.

Miu said the EU funding would also be channeled to agro-forestry projects, which include agro-organic farming, fishing and poultry farming, beekeeping, tree growing, pottery and brick making, which will improve environmental protection besides addressing the community’s livelihood.

Moreover, EU’s Project Manager, Joseph Mathuva, said the EU was ready to channel more funds into projects that will address the millennium development goals (MDGs) and improve rural communities.

Among the projects that CDTF visited included the Thiba and Nyamindi River Basin, which got Sh20.6 million in funding. The organisation aims to restore the area’s natural resources, and improve the livelihoods of communities through fish and poultry rearing, and rehabilitation of the area rivers.

The Allamano Mianya Primary School, in Mwea, received Sh2.5 million to improve learning facilities and the road access to the school, while the Nyanyaa Secondary School Laboratory, in Kitui, Sh1.7million.

Road access
In Embu, the Rwere-Kianjokoma Bridge received Sh5.5 million to provide reliable and efficient road access between Kavutiri and Kiriari sub-locations. CDTF is also funding the improvement of the Rupingazi river ecosystem.

EU has also channelled Sh1.8 million into the Kandara water dam, in Mbeere District, to increase availability of water for domestic and livestock. Moreover, communities used the funds to put up a dam that will serve over 500 households that initially trekked over 20 kilometers daily in search of water.

Additionally, drought hit Mwingi District will have reprive after the rehabilitation of the Mwingi -Katiliku-Kwa Mbungu water supply at a cost of Sh5.6 million is complete

In Mbooni, the Mutonguni Ecosystem Environment Management group received Sh18.2 for environmental rehabilitation. The group will establish a tree nursery, construct a sand dams and forestry processing unit, in addition to procuring of four brick making machines, and 183 beehives.

EAC SECRETARY GENERAL SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF CHURUNDU BORDER POST

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STATEMENT BY AMB. JUMA V. MWAPACHU, SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY AND CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMESA-EAC-SADC TRIPARTITE TASK FORCE DURING THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE CHIRUNDU ONE STOP BORDER POST, 5TH DECEMBER 2009, CHIRUNDU, ZAMBIA-ZIMBABWE BORDER

Your Excellency, Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe, President of Zimbabwe,

Your Excellency, Rupiah Bwezani Banda, President of Zambia,

Honourable Ministers,

Your Excellencies Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Heads of International and Regional Organizations,

Distinguished Representatives of DFID and JICA,

My colleagues, Sindiso Ngwenya and Dr. Tomaz Augusto Salomao, the CEOs of COMESA and SADC,

Invited Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

I am honoured and profoundly privileged as Chair of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Task Force of Chief Executive officers to thank your Excellencies, our dear Heads of State, for your distinguished presence at this event of historic importance to our region and to Africa.

Your Excellencies,

This event marking the official Launch of the Chirundu One Stop Border Post, the first of its kind in Africa, is a lucid demonstration of the new dynamic in regional integration; a dynamic whose underlying ethos is the forward movement towards the realization of the African Economic Community.

Your Excellencies,

Our region, sparked by the vision and resolve of our political leaders in COMESA, SADC and the East African Community, is path breaking in collapsing the artificial national borders created by colonialism and taking revolutionary strides towards unleashing a new economic integration momentum. A higher growth and sustainable trajectory and indeed the economic liberation of the people of our regional crucially hinges on this dynamic political leadership and on the measures being unfolded of which this One Stop Border Post is only a small manifestation. The bigger resolve is what our leaders decided in October last year in Kampala, Uganda that COMESA-EAC and SADC proceed expeditiously to establish a Grand Free Trade Area followed by a Customs Union. Much headway has been realized on this front. Indeed as we meet here, all the Member States of our three Regional Communities are now reviewing concrete proposals which our Task Force led by the three CEOs have developed and tabled. Our plan is that our political leaders should by May next year pronounce themselves on the establishment of the Grand Free Trade Area.

Your Excellencies,

Within the framework of the Tripartite arrangements, there have been resolute efforts taken, even prior to the establishment of the Grand FTA, to address our region’s transport and logistics deficits. This is in the realization that supply side constraints distort our region’s costs of doing business and undermine our economic competitiveness. It is this realization that gave birth to the North-South Corridor Development Project within which the Chirundu One Stop Border Post is an inherent part. In April this year at Lusaka, the Tripartite Leadership supported by a number of close Development Partners, notably DFID, JICA, EU, World Bank, African Development Bank and Development Bank of Southern Africa, the North-South Corridor Project was able to attract USD1.2 billion in funding pledges. DBSA is raising an additional USD1.5 billion for the project.

Your Excellencies,

Years of cross-border trade experience around the world and not just in Africa have shown that the costs of doing business are invariably distorted where the efficiency of supply chains, both in exports and imports, is thwarted by poor facilitation at border points. A recent study report of the World Bank points out that in fact only 25% of the supply chain high costs are attributable to poor physical infrastructure. 75% of the cost distortion is contributed by what are described as soft infrastructure deficits. These are principally people-driven and related to cumbersome customs procedures, bureaucratic behavior and corruption. It is these trade facilitation deficits that the One Stop Border Posts seek to address. And this Chirundu One-Stop Border Post is in this vein a milestone project. A model whose success will constitute a huge case for replication around our COMESA-EAC-SADC region and Africa generally. We have every confidence that this Chirundu Project will significantly reduce supply chain transaction costs, spur higher trade flows and boost the competitiveness of our industries and agriculture.

Let me offer a real example. Currently, it takes 2-3 days for a haulage truck to cross the Chirundu Border point. If you consider that Chirundu handles an average of 268 trucks per day, this translates to a traffic volume of 96,840 trucks per annum, as a minimum. From our calculation, it costs each truck USD140 per day in fixed costs and Drivers’ time. Thus for 3 days, the cost per truck is US$420. This cost is saved by use of the Chirundu One Stop Border Posts because it is now estimated that each truck should not take more than 2 hours to cross and only 15 minutes for fast track pre-cleared traffic. In our estimation, the potential cost saving per annum is about USD486 million which accrues to our economies and leverages competitiveness.

Your Excellencies,

The advantages realized from the One Stop Border Post are not merely economic. They are also social and importantly so. Public health research in our broad region shows that there is close association between high incidences of HIV/AIDs transmission and delays in border crossings of haulage trucks. Chirundu and other planned One Stop Border Posts will contribute to a significant reduction in HIV/AIDs vulnerability in this important regional economic sector.

Your Excellencies,

Allow me to conclude by thanking DFID and JICA for their financial and technical support to this Chirundu Project. DFID and JICA are working closely with the Tripartite to develop other Transport Corridors in the COMESA-EAC-SADC region notably the Northern Corridor in Kenya and the Central Corridor in Tanzania. These corridors will further open up the economic spaces embracing Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Eastern DRC.

Your Excellencies,

The Governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia have made a huge contribution to this Chirundu Project. The presence of Presidents Mugabe and Banda here today attests to their valued support of this One Stop Border Post Project. We hail this support and salute our comrade Presidents for their solidarity. Finally, special gratitude to Mr. Kingsley Chanda, the Manager and Coordinator of this One Stop Border Post Project. He has done a commendable job.

Your Excellencies,

Friends,

On behalf of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Task Force, I have great honour to invite their Excellencies, President Robert Mugabe and President Rupiah Banda to address us and officially inaugurate the Chirundu One Stop Border Post.

I THANK YOU.

Climate Talks Must Yield A Comprehensive Climate Package

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Climate Talks Must Yield A Comprehensive Climate Package
Ochieng M.K
Nairobi, Kenya.

As we set our eyes on COP15 in apparent reference to the forth-coming Climate Justice negotiations in Copenhagen, it suffices to embolden the connection between global discussions and the local circumstances and related factors. After all it is one world, one climate and one people. This is the message en-route to COP15 as world leaders and delegates ensemble in Copenhagen ahead of the climate talks. It is common knowledge that local factors and circumstances are instrumental in defining and directing global climate. Consequently, what affects one country directly affects all countries either directly or indirectly especially in so far as climate issues are instrumental.

A cursory glance at the vicissitudes of global climate confirm that the global ecosystem/global climate or Mother Earth is increasingly under threat from forces of depletion and is increasingly immersed in challenges of varying dimensions by reason of depletion, ignorance, marauding vested interests, pollution, corruption, greed, sheer pilferage, political irresponsibility and modern day vagaries of unbridled capital economy. As a result the world is experiencing unpredictable climate behaviors and worrying tendencies such as global warming, shift in weather patterns, drying of rivers, rise in sea levels, etcetera. Indeed the ravages of drought and related famine, floods and tsunamis continue to attract consequences of tragic proportions especially on key facets of productive economy.

The Copenhagen Climate negotiations therefore present an historic opportunity for serious global reflection and decisive actions on the future of our planet. COP15 must in my view make bold steps into a better future by generating an acceptable climate justice package. In the words of Abraham Lincoln; ‘we can nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth.’ The Copenhagen meeting is challenged to measure upto this historic mandate of nobly saving the last best hope of the world as well as securing the future of humanity by building a common climate agenda. This can only happen if leaders from across the globe clasped hands together in all the things that are essential for a responsive climate regime by ensuring that the common good of all humanity is not sacrificed at the very altar of vested interests and sectarian considerations.

Climate constitutes a shared resource just as humanity is a mutual network of human beings hence unequivocal commitments by leaders is both critical and inescapable. A comprehensive climate justice package is imperative especially putting into perspective the perils and threats facing our climate today. A substantive and effective outcome of COP15 will no doubt generate a comprehensive blue-print on global climate renewal and/or regeneration aimed at bolstering and buttressing the KYOTO treaty as well as internalizing value for important principles as equity, climate justice and human development. Suffices it to reiterate the importance of the five pillars of the Bali Plan of Action namely adaptation, mitigation, technology development and transfer, capacity building and financing

The concept of common but differentiated responsibilities holds sway particularly given the gap between developed and third world economies. The fact that developed or highly industrialized countries emit more gases that contribute to global pollution than developing countries cannot be gainsaid. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities is based on shared responsibilities proportional to levels of pollution. As a consequence, developed countries are morally obligated to take responsibility for the current climate mess and associated challenges as well as show higher levels of commitment in so far as future climate justice is necessary.

A comprehensive climate regime will no doubt usher in a new dispensation of responsibility and systematic approach to climate renewal. Kenya remains a critical player in the climate talks hence the need to think global put act local by putting in place plausible arrangements aimed at redressing the woes and challenges facing our ecosystem. The need therefore to energize ongoing local efforts at formulating appropriate climate policies that will engender a culture of environmental regeneration is imperative and must constitute a priority item on the national agenda.

Environmental renewal requires a comprehensive blue print that will ensure that all our resources, fauna and flora are afforded the requisite attention and value. We must therefore clasp our hands together in replenishing and regenerating a people’s responsive climate. It is a duty we owe to ourselves and to posterity. A new Kenya with permanent rivers, evergreen forests and sustainable endowments is possible. After all, global is indeed very local. COP15 must therefore yield unequivocal commitment and satisfactory climate package.

Habari za Zitto Kuondoka Chadema Na Kuangaliwa Email Zake Bila Ruhusa

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Kuna Habari kupitia gazeti la Mwananchi kuwa Zitto ameweka bayana kuwa anataka kujivua nafasi zote kupitia Chadema kutokana na hali ya
kisiasa kupitia Chadema na kudai kuwa anataka kuendelea na maisha yake ya kawaida na pia amesema kuwa ataendelea kumuunga mkono mgombea wa NCCR MAGEUZI Kigoma Kusini hata kama CHADEMA wakiweka mgombea wao.

Je Ndugu zangu wadau wanasemaje huu ya hali ya mambo ndani ya CHADEMA.

Hali kama hii inakatisha sana tamaa na kuona badala ya kwenda mbele
tunarudi nyuma.

New baby bull rhino is born in Uganda after nearly 30 years since rhino population was decimated by poachers.

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UGANDA HAS A NEW BABY BULL RHINO, AFTER ITS FIRST BABY BULL NAMED BARACK OBAMA WAS BORN SIX MONTHS AGO.

Conservation News By Leo Odera Omolo

UGANDA has seen its second rhino born at the Nakasongola Wildlife Sanctuary this year. The country had its hitherto large herds of rhino population wiped out and put into extinction by poachers about thirty years ago.

After giving birth to a bull calf named Barack Obama six months ago, another male calf was produced at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary last weekend.

The arrival of a healthy baby male calf now brings the total number of rhinos in the country to eight. The number is expected to increase to nine, because another pregnant mother is expected to deliver next month.

The new calf is also a bull and has been named Augustu. This is second rhino calf to be born this year. It bring the number of rhinos born in Uganda to two in 28 years.

Augustu’s mother, Bella, was brought to the country from Solio Ranch in Kenya, but had a still birth in March. .

Currently, the baby and mother are living in seclusion. They are being closely monitored by Ziwa Sanctuary rangers and are reported in good health conditions.

“All the rhinos are wild and roam freely on the 70 square kilometer Sanctuary…. The birth of both calves was totally natural. Our third cow Kori, who also came from Solio Ranch in Kenya, is heavily pregnant, and we are expecting her to calve either in December or early in January next years”, said the chief executive, Mr Genade.

The first baby rhino, Barrack Obama, who was born on June 24,2009, is said to be doing well, according to Mr Genade. “Obama has so far doubled in size and is a very busy boy! He runs like the wind and the rangers struggle to keep up with his energy”.

The two calves are Uganda’s first rhinos to be born in Uganda since the extinction of the black and white rhinos in that country in the early 1980s.

Rhino Fund Uganda, a non governmental Organization [NGO}, runs the Ziwa Sanctuary, which was formed in the 1990s to mobilize funds and technical expertise to bring back the rhinos. Their first initiative was to import rhinos from privately owned Solio Ranch in Kenya.

The two imported rhinos, Sherino and Kabila, are kept at the Uganda wildlife Education Centre. The NGO and Uganda Wildlife Authority are preparing to import six more rhinos from South Africa early next year.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

NOISE POLLUTION

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NOISE POLLUTION

The level of decibels that human ears can tolerate is limited. Exceeding it leads to health troubles.

Noise pollution is dangerous for the health of the people since it can cause permanent deafness or even death in some of them. On medical grounds, I salute the minister for taking steps that will save Kenyans from noise pollution. Noise interrupts sleep in all people: children, the sick and even normal people.

When people are chronically deprived of sleep their heart beat could change and this could lead to sudden death in some of them.

People who are engaged in serious thought might find their trend of thought diverted by stray noise, which in fact contributes nothing to the well-being of the people.

The Nyanza churchmen should be the last to challenge the minister for environment over noise control since they are well versed in the way the people of old in Jericho raised a thundering noise that made the walls come down tumbling.

Resonance created by the building up of noise in degrees till it reaches a crescendo could in fact cause such vibration that could break solids. High frequency vibration is used in cutting through tissues in surgery. This is measured and controlled vibration. What about the uncontrolled noise that we are bombarded with daily by other people in the streets and homes where we live?

With the passing of time we might not even know the salient causes of our ill health, but this could be directly linked to the noise we are exposed to. What right do other people have to maim or kill us with their noise?

Hiring a room to sleep over night on Tom Mboya Street, prior to the banning of noise by the minister, was like throwing money into rubbish bin. I have yet to meet anybody who enjoyed sound sleep in the hotels along this street, prior to the banning of noise, thanks to the noise leashed out by matatu touts all night.

When we sing, play music or preach aloud, do we ever stop and think whether or not other people enjoy our music, songs or even preaching? What right have we to impose our feelings and likings on others?

A time came that the amount of noise in the center of Nairobi BD was so high that one could not even hear their own cell phones ringing.

Some business people might even argue that they play loud music to attract customers. But are all and sundry exposed to the pollution created by noise going to be customers?

How will the business people who are making noise as a trade benefit their customers by making them permanently deaf or even dead from the effects of resonance?

Is it lost to these Nyanza churchmen the fact that more often than not, musicians are dropping dead as a result of the repeated loud noise that they expose themselves to in the course of their work? It is no wonder that the clever ones protect their ears as they ”kill” their clients with the noise that they create as they sing.

There is more to noise that meets the eye dear Nyanza clergymen.

DR ODIDA OKUTHE.

Ever changing pattern of Rangwe politics is full of contradictions and intrigues

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THE EVER CHANGING PATTERN OF RANGWE POLITICS HAS CONTRIBUTED TO STAGNATION OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE AGRICULTURALLY RICH CONSTITUENCY

Local Rural Feature by Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Rangwe electoral constituency, in Homa-Bay district, in the greater Southern Nyanza, is an area which is full of contradictions, controversies and political intrigues.

This centrally situated semi-rural constituency, which was previously the largest, and known as Homa_bay constituency, before it was sub-divided and split into two constituencies, namely Rangwe and Rongo constituencies, has had the highest turnover of MPs, eleven in total ever since its inception in June 1963.

Those political giants who have had the opportunity of representing Rangwe’s electorate are the late Ngala-Abok {1963-1969, Aloys Phillip Achieng {1969-1974}, the late Isayiah Owalla Orwa {1974-1979, Phares Oluoch Kanindo “Galamoro”{1979-1983 and 1983-1988}, Prof Joseph Ouma-Muga {1988} and Raymond Oloo Ndong’ {1992}.

Prof Ouma Muga never had a chance of completing his first term. He was expelled and dismissed by the KANU big-wigs in very intriguing circumstances somewhere midway on his term. The man who completed this term was a former banker, Raymond Oloo Ndong’, who won the seat in the subsequent by-election that followed the controversial expulsion of Prof Ouma Muga from both parliament and the cabinet, where he was serving as an Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.

This was during the 1988 and 1992, when the constituency, then the largest, was covering from Kochia on the Karachuonyo Homa-Bay border, to the Luo-Maasai border in South Sakwa Location, in what is today Rongo district.

And when the first multiparty general election were called, Prof. Muga, who after his expulsion from KANU, had joined hands with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s Ford-Kenya party, bounced back and won a parliamentary term for the second time, but this time on a different political party, and in a different constituency.

The newly created Rongo constituency was then won by the late John Linus Aluoch Polo on a Ford-Kenya ticket, sealing the fate of KANU politicians in Luo-Nyanza for the first time, a trend that has continued haunting the party of independence up to this very moment.

After the death of the late Jaramogi in January 1994, there came a major fallout between the late Michael Kijana Wamalwa, who had taken the mantle of Ford-Kenya, after a bruising battle with the late Odinga’s son, Raila Amolo Odinga.

A large number of Luo MPs joined Raila’s bandwagon in the newly formed National Development Party of Kenya {NDP} . However, those who insisted that they must stay put in the party of their mentor, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, were to be consigned into political limbo in the 1997 general elections, as they were swept out by the euphoria of NDP in Luo-Nyanza.

They were James Denis Akumu {Nyakach}, Aloo Ogeka {Muhoroni}, Clarkson Otieno Karan {Nyando}, Ra,ogi Achieng’ Oneko {Rarieda}, John Linus Aluoch {Rongo}, Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o{Kisumu Rural}, and Otieno Makonyango[Alego-Usonga}. They were all voted out in the new waves of the LDP, which was simply baptized as {Luo Dar Pile}, simple interpretation “Luos are always on migratory politics”. The only Ford Kenya Luo MP who retained his seat was James Aggrey Orengo {Ugenya, and the green horn Joe Donde[Gem}.

The two, Orengo and Donde, however, were not lucky in 2002. They were swept out in the bonfire of the Narc Kenya euphoria.

After Prof Ouma Muga lost his Rangwe seat in 1997, then came the youthful firebrand, Dr Shem Ochuodho. But the outspoken top computer scientist immediately fell out of favor with Raila Odinga, and his brief parliament career was brought to premature end in 2002.

Ochuodho was floored by the much experienced corporate manager and wealthy politician, Eng Phillip Okoth Okundi. The former managing director of both Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Bureau of the Standards, however, is being credited by the electorate for having done a good job.

Okundi was voted out when a former County Treasurer and Clerk, Martin Otieno Ogindo, won the controversial election, which only fell short of sparking off the sub-clans warfare between the populous Jo-Kanyada group and the Jo-Kochia.

Rangwe is made of five major sub-clans of the Luos. These are Jo-Kanyada, Jo-Gem, Jo-Kagan, Jo-Kochia and Jo-Gongo. Jo-Gem groups are loosely related to Jo-Kochia in a loose alliance called {Nyang’ur}. This alliance has always given candidates from the Jo-Kochia sub-clan upper hand in Rangwe elections of the past.

Out of the eleven MPs who have represented this constituency, the Jo-Kochia have had a lion’s share. Four of the eleven people who have had the opportunity of representing both Homa-Bay and Rangwe constituencies hailed from the Jo-Kochia sub-clan. They were Clement Ngala Abok, Aloys Phillip Achieng’, Prof, Ouma Muga and Eng. Phillip Okoth Okundi. The sub-clan’s rival, Jo-Kanyada had two of their own representing the area. These are Raymond Oloo Ndong’ and the incumbent Martin Otieno, Ogindo. The Jo-Kagan have had only Dr. Shem Ochuodho, while the second largest sub-clan, Jo-Gem, have had no representation and so is the minority Jo-Gong.

Rangwe constituency remains one of the most populous and the largest constituencies after Kasipul-Kabondo, Rongo and Ndhiwa. Sub-division of the constituency would bring the clans rivalry to an immediate end.

Out of all the ten previous Mps, only Phares Oluoch Kanindo represented the constituency for two consecutive five year terms. The rest were shown the exit door after only one, five year term. This has contributed to relatively poor record of development, making the constituency to be one of the most backward in the region.

The upper parts of the constituency, covering areas like Marindi, Rodi Kopany, Asumbi, Rangwe are rich with arable red soil, which is capable of producing maize, sornghum, bananas, sweet potatoes and sugar cane as cash crops. Some parts of Gem are good for production of coffee and tea. The local still prefer keeping zebu native cattle, instead of the more economically viable grade cows.

Northern areas of Rangwe constituency, especially Gongo location, which is neighboring West Kasipul and Bonchari locations, is rich in agriculture and produces a lot of maize. Kagan locations are suitable for ground nut, cattle rearing and production of maize, while upper Kochia is suitable for production of pineapples and ground nuts and other domestic crops. Lower part of Kochia has good black soil, which is good for production of cotton. There is also intensive fishing activities along the shores of lake Victoria in both Kochia and Kanyada locations.

The amount of work put on the ground as far as modern farming is concerned is negligible. In many parts of the constituency, the land is still lying fallow, with peasant preferring to cultivate small plots for family subsistence. This is making only paltry contributions towards the effort to eradicate poverty among the rural folks.

There is a lot of laxity in approach to modern farming, though the area is endowed with good annual rainfall, particularly in areas of the upper part of the constituency, which are close to the ever-green Riana Valley. In upper Kanyada, covering Marindi and Ongeng’, along the Kanyada-Kabuoch locations, the land is fertile for both maize and sugar cane crops. The farmers here only needs someone to motivate them so that the area could be turned into a bastion of food granary in the region.

However, there are serious allegation against the current MP, Martin Otieno Ogindo. He has deserted the constituents, and poorly supervises the needy projects being funded with CDF and other devolving government funds.

All the projects in the constituency were initiated by his predecessors, including the African Development Bank funded Oluch Nyangweso irrigation scheme, which is so important to the communities living around Oluch River on both sides. This river is the natural boundary between Rangwe and Karachunyo constituencies. The Project was initiated by Eng. Phillip Okundi.

The rumours making the round in Homa-Bay Municipality and its environs is that the Rangwe MP has deserted the electorate. He has taken his entire family to Nairobi and rarely appears in the constituency. The disbursement for the CDF cash money for the budgeted projects is being poorly executed by his political cronies and sycophants. Most of them are semi-illiterate busy bodies, who are armed with half-baked elementary education, not being conversant with the government accounting system.

The MP therefore is likely to join the long list of one term MPs in this particular constituency, which is so famous for cutting short the careers of many politicians, after only five years, sometimes less.
At the moment, the individual personalities whose names are being mentioned as possible candidates, come the year 2012 include that arrogant, strikingly and excessively wealthy Mumias Sugar Company Managing Director, Dr. Evans Kidero, who hails from East Gem, near Asumbi Teachers Training College and the RCM Catholic Mission.

Eng. Okundi, going by his clean and most illustrious record as a development conscious person, would definitely not shy away from making a second shot at the constituency politics. Okundi is a close political associate and friend of “Agwambo”, whereas the incumbent Ogindo is being accused of wavering between Raila and William Ruto’s camps, with no clear cut sorts of convictions.

The man who appears to be the darling of the youths and women, is the US based intellectual, Dr. George Omburo, who hails from Kochia. If this young man choses to stand, he will give both Okundi and Ogindo a run for their money. Taking into account that the youth are the majority of voters, Dr. Omburo seems to be leading the pack in so far as popularity in Rangwe.

Dr Omburo’s fame came as the news from the United States, filtering back home, said he was one of the key fund raisers among Kenyans living in America for the ODM, and Raila’s presidential election campaign of 2007. ODM is the darling of the residents of Homa-Bay region, and the name of Dr. Omburo is frequently coming out in almost every political conversations and gossips, though he has yet to make his position known publicly as to whether he will join the race or not.

As for Dr. Kidero, it will cost him a fortune to be able to convince the electorate to vote for him, because it is being alleged that he a man of class and inaccessible to the ordinary Wananchi, However, of late, he has been trying hard to bend his lifestyle. Other hurdles, which he must clear includes the claims that he belong to a minority “Wakeru” sub-clans, which is suspected to be of the Luo Abasuba descendants . This particular sub-clan is considered as immigrants and not indigenous Jo-Gem people.

These are some of the hurdles ,which Mumias Sugar-Guru will have to clear, in order to market himself and endear himself to the electorate . Dr. Kidero is said to be one of the few wealthy Luos who are allegedly bankrolling the ODM. Of late, he has bee going round Rangwe constituency, attending funerals and giving hefty cash donations towards the various Harambee fund drives. Other remote, and seemingly unfounded allegations against the Mumias boss, is that he is fond of making use of political hirelings and goons in settling old scores, with his perceived political enemies, either real or imaginary.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

UGANDA OIL TECHNICIANS TO TRAIN IN CUBA

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UGANDA IS TO SEND ITS OIL TECHNICIANS FOR EXPLORATION AND DRILLING TRAINING IN CUBA, FOLLOWING PRESIDENT MUSEVENI VISIT TO HAVANA.

Business Report By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City.

Uganda is to send oil technicians to Cuba, a country which has been successful in oil and gas production, for training, the NEWVISION has reported this morning..

The government-owned daily says in its current edition that the plan to cooperate in the oil industry follows Uganda’s major oil and gas discoveries in the Albertine Graben region, stretching about 23,000 square kilometers from the West Nile to the South-Western tip district of Kanungu..

While visiting the Energas SA Plant at Veladero Matanza Province in Cuba yesterday {Thursday}, President Museveni said Uganda will use the gas from the oil wells for generating electricity.

A total of 34 oil wells have so far been drilled in the Albertine region,32 of which have oil deposits.

The resources, according to the energy minister and oil companies, can sustain long term oil production that could propel the country to the top 50 oil producers in the world.

Sources in the Ugandan ministry of Energy disclosed that the exploration has attracted about {Ushs 961.7 billion} in direct foreign investments. The figure is expected to go up to USD 900 million{Ushs1.7 trillion} by January. Five exploration areas have been licensed to prospecting foreign companies.

The four oil prospecting companies include Tullow Oil, Heritage Oil and Gas, Dominion Petroleum and Neptune Resources..

According to the press release from State House Entebbe, President Museveni, who has been in Cuba for a four day visit, reported to have congratulated Cuban people for locally drilling oil and gas successfully, utilizing it to benefit their country..

President Museveni went to Cuba soon after attending the just concluded Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting {CHOGM} in Trinidad and Tobago. He is being accompanied by the First Lady and cabinet ministers as well as permanent secretaries.

He was further quoted by the NEWVISION as saying, “I was in Cuba 22 years ago. The country had not discovered oil by then, but I am happy to find that for the last ten years, Cuba has become one of the oil and gas producing nations”.

The was shown around by Vadeva Garcia, Cuba’s Oil and Gas Minister, who briefed the Ugandan leader and his entourage about the progress of Cuba oil exploration and productions associated gases using new engineering concepts and technology.

She told the visiting Uganda delegation that oil and gas production in Cuba was a strategic national project, which was closely monitored from exploration, extraction and utilization.

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

MUMIAS SUGAR’S PROFITS MASSIVE

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MUMIAS SUGAR’S PROFITS MASSIVE

BY JEFF OTIENO

Kenya’s leading miller, Mumias Sugar Company Ltd, has made a staggering profit of Kshs. 1.6 Billion after taxation. This represents an increase of 33% over the previous years profit, after tax of Kshs. 1.2 Billion.

This was revealed during the Company’s 38th Annual General meeting (AGM, which was held at Tom Mboya Labour College (COTU) Kisumu.

The Managing Director, Dr. Evans Kidero, also revealed that the Company contributed a whopping 3.2 Billiiion to the exchequer for the year runnin, compared to 3.4 Billion last year.

Dr. Kidero further disclosed that the Company successfully commissioned the 38MW Co-generation project in May this year. This, the MD noted has led to an increase in export of power to the national grid from 3MW to 26 MW.

“Through this project, the Company has managed to diversify its product range and expanded its revenue streams”, Dr. Kidero told the well attended AGM.

“This is an initiative of the board and management, in preparing for the expiry of the COMESA safeguard measures in 2012, and the full gains will be realized once the loan from PROPARCO of USD 35 Million is repaid in full”, Dr. Kidero reiterated.

The Company Chairman, John V. Bosse, told the attentive share holders that the board is looking at various projects that are aimed at repositioning the Company in the face of the current market changes.

“I’m optimistic and confident that the implementation of the said projects will give the Company a competitive advantage and a better investment refunds”, Bosse said. He however noted that the operational environment has become more challenging than before.

“Whereas the first half witnessed the Perennial adverse weather challenges, the second half of the year met disruption in cane supply, occasioned by political agitation for higher cane prices”, Bosse concluded.

The Company processed 2,161,031 tonnes of sugar cane compared to 2,408,141 tonnes in 2008. Sugar produced at 231,014 tonnes was 13% lower than the 2008 production of 265,263 tonnes. The performance for the year under review was therefore greatly affected by cane supply and factory performance operational challenges.

END

Dreams of a Kenyan economic refugee

2 Replies

Fuambo Janyandito
Fri, Dec 4, 2009

Yes people, politics and endless tribal power games is counterproductive and verily so.

The PM has advised that we rely on science and technology to develop our country. It really does not require rocket science to rely on science and technology. Instead of us using the internet day in – day out, inciting fellow citizens to hate one another, and feeding them on cheap propaganda, let use this technology to sing and shout about investment opportunities in different areas of Kenya.

Let us woo dollar laden visitors to come and see for themselves the rich culture and beautiful landscapes in our motherland.

Let them come and see that a Luo can actually marry and live with a Kalenjin and a Kalenjin can actually marry and live with a Kikuyu.

A time has come when we should stop blaming the government for all our woes.

With good road network, land, electricity at the disposal of our people and banks willing to extend loans, in addition to sons and daughters in diaspolands, what do you want the government to do for our people?

Kindly invest those dollars in agriculture, agribusiness, fishing, tourist
facilities, and telecommunication kiosks and our people will improve their
lot.

Diaspo people, facilitate technology transfers from US, India and wherever you are instead of remaining chained to tribal politics back home.

Our son in office mentality will never take anybody anywhere. Instead,
people should be told to invest their knowledge and resources for a better tomorrow and that politics is not the most lucrative profession in Kenya.

I long to see fish processing plants on Muhuru, Sori, Usenge and Mbita
employing our youths. I long to see model high schools in each constituency, model primary schools in each location, model village polytechnics and workshops and model middle level professional colleges in every district.

I long to see more enthusiasm in having higher learning institutions and
research centers in MIT, Rongo; ICIPE Mbita and community development NGOs working in the remotest of the villages.

I dream of a time when with good qualifications, I would be comfortable
down at the village, discharging my professional duties without imposing a self exile to diaspoland on myself.

Let me finish by asking: who among you is not an economic refugee?

Another British oil firm lands a lucrative oil deal in Southernm Tanzania

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ANOTHER British oil firm, Solo Oil, will spend usd 10.7 million to fund a buyout agreed upon with Aminex for a 12.6 per cent interest in the Likonde-1 oil well in Southern Tanzania.

Reports emerging out of Dar ERs Salaam says the transaction will see Tullow Oil owning 50 per cent of Likonde-1, Aminex,37.8 per cent and solo Oil 12.5 per cent. Likonde-1 is the first well scheduled to be drilled under the Ruvuma Production Sharing Agreement in Southern, Tanzania, with pudding likely in about two months.

Under the terms of the farm-out Agreement, Solo Oil will reimburse Aminex for 12.5 per cent of pro-drilling costs, amounting to USD 1.25 million, and pay 18.75 per cent of the drilling cost of Likonde-1 {USD3.4 million}.

The chairman of Solo Oil David Lenigas, said the farm-out agreement is subject to formal approval from the Government of Tanzania, and the passing of the relevant resolutions at the company’s general meeting..
“If solo exercises this right, it will also become a full party to the Ruvuma joint operating agreement, “said Mr Lenigas.

According to Mr Lenigas, participation in the agreement will cost Solo Oil an estimated USD4.6 million.

The balance will be used to strengthen the company’s balance sheet and for general working capital.

“This exciting farm-in opportunity with Aminex and Tullow is the first oil and gas deal undertaken by the {Solo Oil} company since it changed its investment strategy in July this year.

Likonde-1 is the first well being drilled in one of the last unexplored major onshore basins in Africa,”said Mr.Lenigas.

The Ruvuma PSA covers approximately 12,000 square kilometers, of which 80 per cent is onshore. Within PSA are specific, adjoining structure associated with a strike slip fault, is thought to have the potential of producing 500 million barrels of oil.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

KENYA’S GREATEST NEED

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KENYA’S GREATEST NEED
Wambua Kaloki Wakenya
Thu, Dec 3, 2009

That Kenya is not doing well is not in doubt. The steps to lift Kenya out of the mud are also not in doubt. The biggest question is: who is it that will organize Kenyans for the needed change?

Can Kibaki lead Kenya out of the quagmire? Can Uhuru do it? What about Kalonzo, Ruto or Balala? What about KKK? Can Raila do it?

This is a tough question that any Kenyan who is able to hear, talk, read
and write should be asking himself or herself.

I might not be able to directly give an answer but Kenya needs men and women in its leadership who are principled, patriotic and can neither be bought nor sold. People who can stand for truth even though the world around them is crumbling. People who see all Kenyans as equals. People who have a vision for the nation, a vision that is not overshadowed by personal greed and tribal feelings.

How I wish religious leaders stood up and enlightened the nation on the
profile of a good leader.

Poor Kenyans! Can’t Kenya still be Kenya with a fresh crop of politicians.
Must we stick with the stale Nyayo left overs and white elephants? Must the scions of the stale past continue? Ask the agronomists and they will tell you pruning is a good practice.

Oh! you tech savvy enlightened Kenyans, I wish you enlightened Kenyans on good governance and good leadership instead of the tribal craps we normally read. Tell them that the vote is to be used for political prunning- be it at a referendum or general election.

Tell them to chant every day: Long Live Kenya! Down with the Tribalists!
Down with the Corrupt! Down with the unprincipled and down with the
anarchists such that by 2012, the tribalists, corrupt, unprincipled and
anarchist would be swept away from the political landscape.

If that happens, it would be the best revolution for Kenya.

Ripoti ya Umoja wa Mataifa Juu ya Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Hii Hapa

12 Replies

Summary
Yona Maro

This report concludes that military operations against the FDLR have failed to dismantle the organization’s political and military structures on the ground in eastern DRC. The increasing rate of FDLR combatant defections and the FDLR temporary removal from many of its bases are only a partial success considering that the armed group has regrouped in a number of locations in the Kivus, and continues to recruit new fighters. This report shows that the FDLR continues to benefit from residual but significant support from top commanders of the FARDC, particularly those officers in the 10th military region (South Kivu), and has sealed strategic alliances with other armed groups in both North and South Kivu . External support networks, both regional and international, have been used by FDLR in the field to counteract the effects of Kimia II, for instance networks in Burundi and Tanzania . The Group has also documented that the FDLR has a far reaching international diaspora network involved in the day-to-day running of the movement; the coordination of military and arms trafficking activities and the management of financial activities. This report presents two case studies on the involvement of individuals linked to faith-based organizations.

The Group investigated the FDLR’s ongoing exploitation of natural resources in the Kivus, notably gold and cassiterite reserves which the Group calculates continue to deliver millions of dollars in direct financing into FDLR coffers. This report illustrates how FDLR gold networks are intertwined tightly with trading networks operating within Uganda and Burundi as well as the UAE. The Group also documents that a number of minerals exporting houses, some of whom were named in the Group’s previous report in 2008, continue to trade with the FDLR.

This report shows that end buyers for this cassiterite include the Malaysia Smelting Corporation and the Thailand Smelting and Refining Company, held by Amalgamated Metals Corporation, a UK entity.

The report analyzes the integration of non-state armed groups into the FARDC through the rapid integration in January 2009; as well as prior and during the FARDC/RDF joint operation Umoja Wetu and Kimia II. In this context, the CNDP officer class, in particular General Bosco Ntaganda, has continued to retain heavy weapons acquired during its period of rebellion in spite of its official integration into the FARDC and still controls revenue generating activities and parallel local administrations. The Group also presents documentary evidence showing that Gen Ntaganda continues to act as Kimia II deputy operational commander.

CNDP military officers deployed as part of FARDC Kimia II operations have profited from their deployment in mineral rich areas, notably at the Bisie mine in Walikale, North Kivu, and in the territory of Kalehe , in South Kivu . In both these areas, the FARDC commanding officers on the ground are ex-CNDP officers. The Group includes evidence in the report showing direct involvement of CNDP military officials in the supply of minerals to a number of exporting houses in North and South Kivu , some of which also supply the same international companies mentioned above.

The Group has monitored compliance with paragraph 5 of resolution 1807 (2008), by which the Security Council decided that all states shall notify the Sanctions Committee in advance regarding the shipment of arms and related material for the DRC or any provision of assistance, advice or training related to military activities, especially given the Group’s findings on the continued diversion of FARDC military equipment to non-governmental armed groups, notably the FDLR. The Group has conclusively documented irregular deliveries of arms to the DRC from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Sudan as well as deliveries of trucks and aircraft that have been used by the FARDC. This report also documents the failure of a number of States to notify the Sanctions Committee of training they provided to the FARDC.

The Group also reports on violations of human rights committed in contravention of subparagraphs 4 (d), (e) and (f) of resolution 1857 (2008): This report concludes that the FARDC and non-governmental armed groups continue to perpetrate human rights abuses, and in the context of Kimia II operations, in contravention of international humanitarian law. The FARDC and the FDLR have been involved in significant killings of civilians and other abuses from March to October 2009 causing additional waves of displacement of several hundred thousand civilians. The findings of this report underline the need for the urgent establishment of a vetting mechanism as well as the strengthening of accountability and justice system in the DRC. A list of FARDC commanders currently deployed in the Kimia II operation, with an established record of human rights abuses is annexed to this report:

SEE ATTACHMENT

Message from Mr. Rashmin Chitnis-National General Secretary- Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK)

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The attention of the nation is now firmly riveted on the new draft constitution of our country. But we can not get away complaining, as we have to bear this formality of the launch of Nairobi East Business Association.

It is not for the sake of mere formality that we have assembled here. A journey of 1000 miles begins with the first step. Equally it must be remembered that not every launch is associated with pomp and fanfare….many large corporate have grown from very humble beginnings! So I wish NEBA a bright and successful future and God’s choicest blessings.

I have always believed that the key for social development lies in social transformation first. It is sheer coincidence that I interacted with Oketch and we shared similar ideological thoughts. We shared ideas on how to engage youths in community projects for economic empowerment. The country has a vibrant youth population that is waiting for opportunities and rearing to go. The opportunities for social development have to be created at grass roots by giving the youth a platform. That platform can be created through public private partnership dialogue.

I am happy to learn that Komarock Community Development Network has already embarked on environmental conservation and improvements such as canal cleaning. It has also taken up the challenge for a Model Satellite Estate in Africa in pursuit of Safer Cities Initiative where the environmental and security needs of the residents are factored in. These initiatives will make Kenyans proud, more so because Nairobi is home to Habitat and United Nations Environment Program – UNEP.

There are many innovative projects Komarock Community Development Network and Nairobi East Business Association can undertake. I am aware that some are in the pipeline already, some are being undertaken but let me elaborate for those from the audience who are not introduced to the concepts of the projects.

· The issue of environmental conservation by the youth is the most laudable proposition. Let us have clean environment, green environment and healthy environment and recapture the title: “The green city under the sun”. Today the City Council of Nairobi is lacking capacity for cleaning the sidewalks / footpaths and levelling them. There are also open spaces and river banks that need regular cleaning and constant improvements. Building partnership with CCN for environmental upkeep is the first step towards social transformation.

· One can only turn to beautification once space around the neighbour-hood is clean, neat and trim. There will be a positive change of attitude in the residents, in a cheerful and healthy atmosphere.

· City Council of Nairobi has long resigned from the task of garbage collection and disposal. But garbage dump sites are the proven source of power generation. Only yesterday it was highlighted in the press of its immense potential. This project is capital intensive and highly technical but the community youth have an opportunity in recycling glass bottles, plastic wares, metal articles etc. Even manure can be harvested from bio degradable waste such as vegetable off cuts and left over food.

· One of the greatest challenges to safer city is insecurity. Like City Council of Nairobi, the police force has failed to curb this menace. Community policing is the only answer to reduce crime and improve security. Community policing is not the preserve of corporate. The social responsibility to provide security lies with every individual, every family. The socio-economic transformation takes place with a safer and secure environment.

· Today, the youth lack the opportunity to acquire skills necessary for gainful employment. There is an urgent need for vocational training. With the current size of the population of the city of Nairobi, we must open more technical training institutes to enable youth in improving technical skills.

· The technical skills, such as plumbing, electrical, carpentry, welding, painting etc. help a person to set up small scale businesses which complement industries and promote entrepreneurship.

· In social transformation, advocacy plays a critical role. The advocacy has many advantages of promoting family and moral values, religious education, the effects of HIV-aids on the families and even the benefits of water harvesting.

· And finally, I seek your support for the Child Alive campaign. This is a Unicef program to help an African child undertaken jointly with religious organisations. Funds are raised by sending out messages from your mobile phones, and they are used to sensitise the general population on the importance of post natal care, nutrition, hygiene and sanitation, immunisation etc.

All the above examples show that a small initiative can match the strides of large corporate in terms of vision and mission. It is possible to bring about a change by people’s initiative.

We want the community to embrace positive civilisation values. The civilisation can not exist without the residents and the civilisation can not thrive and flourish without moral and family values. These are two faces of the same coin. So we must promote and enhance civic responsibility, education and action leading to a better Nairobi East community

While I wish to congratulate Odhiambo Oketch and his team for the launch of Nairobi East Business Association, I can assure the support of Hindu Council of Kenya which is an umbrella body of over 150 institutions and 5 branches in Kenya. As a representative body of 60,000 Hindus in Kenya, it has participated in the inter-religious, social and political fora in the country.

HCK is a key stakeholder of the faith based organisations in Kenya and a strong voice of the Hindu population. HCK through its member institutions has over 100 years of legacy in diverse sectors of the Kenyan society – a legacy of bringing communities together for national cohesion and to alleviate poverty. This we have achieved through our traditional and religious value systems.

We can assure the residents of Nairobi East of our support for this noble cause when we see in this initiative desire, commitment and drive.

And let us remember that it is not in the hands GO/NGOs to transform but in the hands of every one of you. You will need each other’s support to facilitate in our journey.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Rashmin Chitnis
National General Secretary
Hindu Council of Kenya.

Note from Odhiambo T Oketch; Kindly visit; http://nairobieastba.blogspot.com and http://kcdnkomarockswatch.blogspot.com

RAILA AND ODM STILL ENJOY ENORMOUS SUPPORT IN THE RIFT VALLEY

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ODM IS THE PARTY OF THE DAY IN THE SOUTH RIFT DESPITE WELL ORCHESTRATED ANTI RAILA CAMPAIGN MOUNTED BY DISGRUNTLED KALENJIN MPS.
News Analysis By Odera Omolo.

The Orange Democratic Movement [ODM} is still the most popular political movement in the South Rift, despite the well orchestrated anti-Raila Odinga campaign, mounted in the region, by disgruntled Kalenjin MPs.

A prominent Kericho politician, Mr.Nicholas Tum, has told the Kalenjin to control their emotions and to handle the volatile Mau Issue soberly, saying they should not allow themselves to be duped by those with overriding presidential ambitions.

Tum, who is a nominated Councilor in the Kericho Municipality, cautioned an unnamed politician from outside Rift Valley, whose family background and history is closely associated with massive land grabbing, not to underrate the intelligence of the Kalenjin community. The man, he added, is taking the advantage of the unfortunate Mau issue, shallowly thinking he could manipulate the community by way of using the sugar-coated heap of political slogans.

Tum further cautioned Kalenjin MPs to be cautious of those politicians from outside the Rift Valley who are out to exploit their emotions over Mau saga. He urged the legislators to be tolerant and to remain steadfastly in the ODM, which, he said is the party of the day, and the darling of the Kalenjin people.

The ordinary Kalenjin people and the electorate are firm behind the ODM. The people have told us that they are not ready to leave the ODM, or blindly follow any bunch of political prostitutes to any party’s whose agenda is not clear to the community.

The ODM had vision to usher in the necessary constitutional and law reforms in this country. We cannot therefore leave this party before our vision and objectives are achieved.

Tum, who was speaking during an exclusive interview with this writer at the posh Tea Hotel in Kericho Town, said those Kalenjin MPs who feel frustrated and uncomfortable with the ODM were free to quit the party and join any other party of their choice. But they should not try to rock the boat from within.

Heaping praise on the Prime Minister, Tum said Raila Odinga is well known as uncompromised champion of the poor, under-privileged and oppressed Kenyans. “The Prime Minister hails from a community which has no history of land grabbing ..At personal level, Raila Odinga’s name has never been tainted with the series of mega scandals, which have engulfed Kenya in the past. He therefore meant well for the Kalenjin people whom he loves genuinely.”, he said.

The politician singled out several Kalenjin MPs foir praise, sayting the legislators have steered clear of cheap-votes hunting, cheap politics, which is full of deceit.. He gave their names as Mrs Beatrice Kones {Bomet} Dr.Joyce Laboso {Sotik}, Magere Lang’at {Kipkellion}, DR sally KOSGEI {Aldai}, Henry Kosgey{Tinderet and Franklin Bett {Bret}. ”These are the genuine representative of the people, “ he added.. He has a special praise for the Nominated MP Musa Sirma, whom said has maintained firm stand and unswerving loyalty to the ODM.

Some of the Kalenjin MPs, he charged, have been dancing to the tune of leaders from other Provinces, who are only interested in harvesting Kalenjin votes for their selfish political ends. “The same politician and leaders from outside the region never raised objection to the manner of eviction of Mau Squatters, especially with their cabinet colleagues in the coalition government, but have come out fire=spitting with packs of lies pretending to be sympathetic to the community. And yet they are a lot of cheats and hypocrites”, he added.

He announced that he and other ODM party stalwarts are planning a series of public rallies in the South and north Rift to enlighten the public to be aware of those feeding them with packs of lies and empty propagandas.

“We have been assured by the electorate that some of the MPs are playing politics of the stomach {Tumbo}, and we wish them well and temporary success in their endeavor, but they should be rest assured that none of them will ever again see the inside of Chamber of Parliament come the year 2012.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

African Union says foreign mercenaries from African nations and other countries are fighting alongside Somali terrorists

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THE AL SHABAAB ISLAMISTS TERRORISTS IN SOMALIA HAVE ACQUIRED THE SERVICES OF FOREIGN MERCENARY FIGHTERS RECRUITED FROM KENYA,UGANDA AND OTHER NATIONS.

News Analysis By Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

KENYANS, and Ugandans are among more than one thousand foreign militants fighting alongside Al-Shabaab forces to overthrow the UN and African Union supported Transitional Somali Government..

This startling revelation was made yesterday in the Ugandan capital, Kampala, by the AU Special representative for Somalia, Wafula Wamunyinyi, a former Kenyan MP-turned diplomat..

The AU representative also listed Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, America, Tanzania ,Sudan as countries where Al-Shabaab militants have recruited its foreign fighters.

Speaking at the opening of a confidence building workshop for the Somalia peacekeeping mission, dubbed AMISOM, Wafula Wamunyinyi pointed out that the presence of Al-Qaeda in Somalia is real and the world should be put on notice.

The AU diplomat observed that the managers and operational commanders of Al-Shabaab belong to Al-Daeda.

“If we don’t put our hands together, the Al-Qaeda will take over Somalia and then spread its terrorists activities to other neighboring African nations, considering the grip they have on Somalia,” Wafula Wamunyinyi said.

“With the involvement of foreign fighters, we need to adopt a new approach towards the conflict in Somalia, away from the perception that these are sub-clans fighting.”

The Special representative informed the two days workshop, held at Speke Resort Munyonyo, that Al-Shabaab has established training camps with Al-Qaeda’s help and financial assistance. “With Al-Qaeda training, you know what to expect, suicide bombing and kidnaps,” he noted.

The AU official said Al-Shabaab foreign fighters strength is currently being estimated to be approximately 1200, half of whom are said to be Kenyans. But others are scattered in other smaller towns, scattered all over the Horn of African nations, and as such the exact figure cold not be assessed.

Wafula Wamunyinyi noted that the foreigners holding important positions within Al-Shabaab establishment as Sheikh Mohamed Abu Faid, a Saudi Arabian born, who is the financier and current ”manager”of the group, while one Abu Musa Mombasa is the head of security and training operations. Mombasa purportedly arrived in Somalia recently from Pakistan to replace Saleh Ali Nebhan, a Kenyan who was killed in US military operation.

Another important foreign element is Abu Mansur Al-Amrik,an American, heads the finance and payroll department of the foreign fighters, while Muhamed Mujijir, a Sudanese is in charge of recruitment of suicide bombers, said Wafula Wamunyinyi.

Also l listed is Ahmed Abdi Godane, an Al-Qaeda graduate from Afghanistan,and Abu Suleiman Banidiri, a Somali of Yemen descent.
Wafula Wamunyinyi said AMISOM has been able to collect valuable information about the fundamentalists through intelligence gathering . “Several militant foreign fighters have also been killed, “ he added.

The AMISOM spokesman, Major Bohoko Bargye told the government owned newspaper, THE NEWVISION that he had personally talked to the three of the Ugandan Al-Shabaab fighters, who issued threats against him, claiming that they knew his whereabouts, and the whereabouts of all his relatives back home in Kampala.

Ajor Bargye said the three spoke Luganda,Kifumbira and Iteso, local dialects in Uganda respectively. He said one of the Ugandan mercenaries had told him that he was a member of the Alliance Democratic Forces {ADF}, a rebel group that is fighting the Ugandan government and operating inside the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Majr Bohoko noted that despite the challenge posed by the militants, the AU mission would not demand a change of its mandate.

Al-Qaeda involvement was not a secret, he observed, saying the terrorists published their presence on the various websites, claiming they were in Somalia to defend their Muslim brothers.

“Going by the information we have gathered, these people are fugitives. They are being sought for by security agencies and criminal investigators for criminal activities, in other countries and were now caught up in this web”.
“They are creating anarchy because they don’t know where to go next if the conflict in Somalia get solved,”said Major Bargye.

He went on saying that Al-Shabaab Islamist Extremist want Somalia to be portrayed as a no-go area, a country that cannot be rectified, so that social criminals from around the world can continue operating from it with impunity.

The two day conference was intended to create awareness among the media and civil society organizations on current and potential peacekeeping troops contributing countries.

Uganda and Burundi are the only countries that have contributed soldiers to the AU mission..

Djbouti, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Malawi promised to send troops, but they have not done so. Out of the 8,000 soldiers needed to pacify the Somali capital, Mogadishu alone has 5,000 deployed.

Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty

11 Replies

Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty
Charles Makakala Jr

Remember the time you read something in this forum that struck you as very professional? Try googling it and 3 out of 4 times you will discover that it is wholesale plagiarism. At least that is my experience. The one time that was the exception I discovered that the person that wrote it is actually a newspaper columnist. Very good. But unfortunately that is not always the case…

(Plagiarism, as defined in the 1995 Random House Compact Unabridged Dictionary, is the “use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one’s own original work.” (Wikipedia).)

Now, I understand that ‘Plagiarism’ is a new concept for many of us, in fact, the first time I heard that word 11 years ago, the whole class laughed. The word sounded funny. But the idea it represents is not a laughing matter.

It is not always easy to know other people’s intentions- sometimes a person is simply trying to contribute to the discussion, or they don’t know any better. Sometimes he intentionally wants the forum members to think that those are his own original words. Whatever the intention, using anybody’s work without acknowledging it is plagiarism and it is intellectually unethical and unacceptable.

For those of us who are of the opinion that a society’s culture is the reason for its development or as is the case with Africa, underdevelopment, this discussion takes a completely different perspective. I remember the time when I was a student at Mlimani where students casually copied each others work and cheated in exams- and easily got away with it: apart from graduating from University using dishonest means and getting great jobs afterwards, these students actually learn that cheating is the best way to go ahead of everyone else. It was amazingly easy to cheat and get away with it… And this is how a society will collapse under the weight of its own useless culture.

(One student I know graduated with a Degree in Economics- and this student is now a manager somewhere. As a third year student he could hardly formulate one sentence in English without everyone around bursting out with laughter- forget about the fact that he never picked his books unless there was an exam within 12 hours. How that person could ever graduate- thanks to the A-factor (the African Factor which needs to be considered in many decisions and issues, according to one former Western mentor of mine)).

Intellectual honesty, and honesty in general, is a very important element towards producing a progressive society. This is something that needs to be a deep-seated conviction in all of us- especially children and young people. Now, considering the fact that this forum includes members from different backgrounds, and that we need to establish a firm intellectual culture of honesty and responsibility: I move that we publicly DENOUNCE any contribution that can be proved to use another person’s work without acknowledging it. I also propose that any contribution that is a wholesale copy of another author’s work- even if acknowledged- should also not be permitted.

I hope that these measures will help to protect the young members of this forum from trying to acquire cheap popularity that has no substance in it. (I actually argued against publicly exposing plagiarists in another forum but considering how casually some members do that in this forum, I think stricter measures are needed in this case.)

Charles.
———— ——— ——— ——— ——-
‘Any cat that catches mice, black or white, is a good cat’– Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997)

Aberdares mountain villagers to generate their own electricity

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Aberdares mountain villagers to generate their own electricity
Sam Wangwe

In the Aberdares, a small group of villagers got fed up with waiting
for the government’s electrification programme to reach them and
decided to take matters into their own hands. They formed an
electricity company, the Gatiki Electrical Company, in which they had
bought shares of 10,000/- each. The villagers’ plan was to develop
three electricity generating plants along the Gikira River – Chiki,
which is set to produce 0.75MW of electricity; Kiawambogo, which will
produce 0.375MW and Gacharageini which will generate 0.25MW of
electricity.

The seven thousand villagers will all have their households lit up, where they will pay between a mere $ 0.65 and $1.25 for their electrical usage – a minute fraction of what most Kenya Power and Lighting Company customers have to pay.

This is an exciting initiative for Kenya because it could portend the
beginning of the adoption of a microgrids strategy for Kenya’s power
problem. The fact is, that while Kenya Power and Lighting Company is
currently serving about 20% of Kenya, they will not be able to cover
the country in the next decade even if they tripled their efforts –
not using the current operational framework.

Kenya’s power problems – and indeed all of Kenya’s problems – are also
its opportunities. The Gatiki project is a clear example of how the
Chama culture that Kenyans have so perfected can be taken to the next level so that they will aid in Kenya’s transformation efforts.

The idea here would be that communities could form companies such as
Gatiki and generate power from wind, solar, water and biogas for
themselves. Under existing law, communities will be able to generate a
maximum of 1MW per installation – beyond which the extra power would
need to be shed into the national grid and a power purchase agreement
be signed between the national electricity company and the local one.
Either way, communities will be lit up faster and they will make extra
income.

It is important to be clear that the payoff for such radical ventures
goes beyond the electrification of villages around the country. The
impact on education, health and small businesses cannot be
underemphasised.

The chama culture that we Kenyans have done so well would come in
handy when Kenyans in remote villages get tired of the long distances
that their women and children must travel and come together to build a
dispensary near them and go as far as take responsibility for their
running and sustainability. It will be revolutionary when villages in
Loitoktok, Kijabe and Pokot – to name three examples – set aside a
piece of land and build a police station near them and then go to
Commissioner Ali and ask him to staff it.

The idea here is that for Kenya to be a middle class nation by the
year 2030, then some fundamental changes must be made in the way the challenges are handled. Gone must be the days when the villagers look to their parliamentarians to sort out their problems. While it is true
the government has a lot to do with regards to the
transformation of the country and the provision of essential services
to the people, we must accept that the most aggressive of
transformational efforts will take years – especially, when governed
by the government’s rules on procurement and so forth.

Also, from a prioritisation perspective, it may be a while before
government reaches village roads and so forth as they must begin with
the bigger corridors and towns where the return on investment for the
nation would be highest and use the proceeds to repair and develop
smaller roads. However, the main pain points of a country are normally
the sum total of small aches at community level.

I may not feel, at a personal level, the damage to Kenya when the
Mombasa – Kisumu corridor is not functional but I do tend to be most
aware when the road in my estate is full of portholes. The deplorable
state of national hospitals is lamentable and a subject of whiny
conversation with friends in an evening, but the lack of maternity
services at the local dispensary or the lack of medicine, or indeed,
the lack of a roof at my child’s school is what I feel strongly about.
Why then should I wait for technocrats who can only see the big
picture to prioritise my project, when it is in competition with so
many others?

Assuming that we can accept that neither government, business, the
citizens nor any other person can effectively sort out the country’s
challenges, it is incumbent upon us to take on a more transformational
perspective to our approach to solving Kenyan problems at a local
level. We must get fed up as Mzee Ngai, the convenor of the Gatiki
projects did. Speaking to The African Business magazine, he said, “For
14 years, I waited patiently for KPLC to come and bring electricity.
In 2005, I just got fed up. I was getting no younger.”

I don’t suppose that any of the rest of us is, either.

Why Practicing Homosexuality in Public Should Be Criminalised By Law

5 Replies

Why Practicing Homosexuality in Public Should Be Criminalised By Law
Charles Makakala Jr

What a person does in his bedroom is hardly anybody’s business (unless it is done with a minor or does endanger others). But the moment that person brings his bedroom issues to the public- it becomes a public issue.

Homosexuality has always accompanied human life- and in several instances in history (say during the Ancient Rome times) it was an accepted practice. But those instances are very isolated in time. The general opinion has been homosexuality is an abnormal, unnatural, immoral, unethical and sinful practice. Now, not all those definitions suit everyone. Sinful for example depends on one’s faith- and that is one argument that can be used in the Churches/Mosques and not in a secular community.

With that one exception- the solid fact remains that homosexuality is an abnormal, unnatural practice (unnatural with reference to human anatomy- nature.) The same can be said about its being immoral and unethical.

People speak of choice. People have choices all-right. Why end with homosexuality then? If two adults choose to engage in incest (relatives), bestiality (man-to-animal), etc, what is wrong with that? Somehow people are assumed to have the ability to choose their sexuality when it comes to sleeping with a relative, or an animal, or a 17 years old boy or girl (minor in many Western countries)! This logic fails on its tracks.

Homosexuality is not a genetic issues- otherwise it would have been transmitted from one generation to another by inheritance (and since homosexuals cannot reproduce, they would have become instinct.) It is not a hormonal issue- otherwise it would have been ‘curable’ by chemicals. True, human beings are very diverse- there are dwarfs, giants, and sometimes the sexually impaired. But nobody argues that dwarfism is a normal human condition. The contrast is true.

The truth is- the current homosexuality issue is a cultural issue- a choice issue. These are usually people that can function normally sexually, and many of them do (thus the ‘modern’ term bi-sexual). But if they are sexually dis-oriented, why force the world to accept a dis-orientation as an orientation? Again, a bedroom issue is not a public issue until one makes it one.

The homosexuality movement is an attack on the most important human institution- the nucleus family. Suddenly we are confronted with new definitions of family: Joe has two dads! She has two moms! If it is a matter of choice- is the choice of a baby being raised in this unnatural ‘family’ considered? One could give so many arguments against homosexuality- such as its tendency to be militant and domineering, etc, etc, but one argument is unassailable: the human body. One would think that those who champion Evolution would also champion criminalising Homosexuality for natures purposes (since nature knows best and it has equipped people with the sexual organs that we know), but alas, the depravity of human reasoning becomes apparent in such a time as this. As I said one time, the sight of two men kissing is grotesque and appalling- and that is why homosexuality should be forced to remain in the bedroom. By law. Let us not confuse children by making them considering unnatural practices as if they were natural…

Friends- I have not even touched any religious argument here lest I become branded a hater!

Charles.

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Monthly Archives: December 2009

Could a Raila fall bring healing to this country?

Prime Minister Raila Odinga gets defensive when US ambassador Michael Ranneberger questions $918 per day gluttonous allowances to Government Ministers on overseas trips

EAC SECRETARY GENERAL SPEECH AT THE OPENING OF CHURUNDU BORDER POST

Climate Talks Must Yield A Comprehensive Climate Package

Habari za Zitto Kuondoka Chadema Na Kuangaliwa Email Zake Bila Ruhusa

New baby bull rhino is born in Uganda after nearly 30 years since rhino population was decimated by poachers.

NOISE POLLUTION

Ever changing pattern of Rangwe politics is full of contradictions and intrigues

UGANDA OIL TECHNICIANS TO TRAIN IN CUBA

MUMIAS SUGAR’S PROFITS MASSIVE

Dreams of a Kenyan economic refugee

Another British oil firm lands a lucrative oil deal in Southernm Tanzania

KENYA’S GREATEST NEED

Ripoti ya Umoja wa Mataifa Juu ya Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – Hii Hapa

Message from Mr. Rashmin Chitnis-National General Secretary- Hindu Council of Kenya (HCK)

RAILA AND ODM STILL ENJOY ENORMOUS SUPPORT IN THE RIFT VALLEY

African Union says foreign mercenaries from African nations and other countries are fighting alongside Somali terrorists

Plagiarism and Intellectual Dishonesty

Aberdares mountain villagers to generate their own electricity

Why Practicing Homosexuality in Public Should Be Criminalised By Law