Dear Odhiambo and all,

The height of arrogance has once again been exercised here with Kimunya’s refusal to go home and instead vowing to die instead of vacating the Ministy of Finance. We as Name and Shame Corruption Networks (NASCON) Campaign held a press conference last week and gave the President 7 days to sack Kimunya’s. That is elapsing today and therefore action kicks off tommorow at the Treasury at 9.00am. You have been requested to dress in sports and if you belong to any organisation, put on the organisations Tshirt or Polo Tshirt to signify that we do not belong to a tribe but we are Kenyans (show of diversity). I have attached a statement that we released to the Press. Lets come in large numbers and exert the pressure for action to be taken againast him and any other person implicated in this scandal.

Regards

Geoffrey Birundu
National Coordinator
Name and Shame Corruption Networks (NASCON) Campaign
Tel: 3871614 or 0724 85 2728
  Re: No Amnesty for killers – Kibaki

NASCON_Press_Release.html

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Date:  Mon, 7 Jul 2008 16:45:13 +0300
From:  Geoffrey Birundu
Subject:  Re: No Amnesty for killers – Kibaki

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        Nyabuto,

        I do agree with you; no sound-minded leader can condone violent crimes whether in Kenya, Rwanda or elsewhere. Evil is evil and especially so when it is violently displayed as we saw in January. If they don’t get some form of discipline or get punished then they would start preparing for a repeat of same come 2012 elections which are not far away and unless their choice wins. It is something we have never seen in Kenyan history.

        But, why must we engage in selective justice where we leave the real culprits, and we go after the petty culprits? What happens to the real thieves who put Kenya in that mess? Do we pretend that we do not know them?

        If we must go that way, then, we must stop this nonsense of Peace, National Healing and Reconciliation.

        We will then invite a free for all.

        We shall have achieved nothing.

        Odhiambo T Oketch
        Komarock Nairobi

        — On Mon, 6/2/08, nyabuto mangerere wrote:

          From: nyabuto mangerere
          Subject: Re: No Amnesty for killers – Kibaki
          Date: Monday, June 2, 2008, 9:09 AM
                wananchi,

                    I / We believe that no sound-minded leader can condone violent crimes whether in Kenya, Rwanda or elsewhere. Evil is evil and especially so when it is violently displayed as we saw in January. If they don’t get some form of discipline or get punished then they would start preparing for a repeat of same come 2012 elections which are not far away and unless their choice wins. It is something we have never seen in Kenyan history.

                Nyabuto

                — On Mon, 6/2/08, Matunda Nyanchama wrote:
                  From: Matunda Nyanchama
                  Subject: No Amnesty for killers – Kibaki
                  Date: Monday, June 2, 2008, 8:01 AM

                  On this one, I am with the president.

                  I would add a small variation: let investigations determine who is and who is not culpable. And perhaps (and a BIG perhaps) then one can consider amnesty.

                  If we ever hope to build a nation in which laws are respected, we shouldn’t circumvent the legal process. Doing so (and blanket amnesty would do that) would be sending the wrong message: that you can do what you want (including murdering your neighbours, touching their houses, etc.) and get away with it.

                  As well the government should charge the marauding policemen that shot and killed innocent people. That was justice would be seen to be done. Targeting one group while leaving out the other wouldn’t be in the interest of justice.

                  Matunda Nyanchama

                  Kibaki seals amnesty debate

                  Published on June 2, 2008, 12:00 am

                  By Alex Ndegwa

                  President Kibaki appeared to seal the fate of hundreds of post-election violence suspects with the declaration that they will face the law.

                  While the edict could end debate on an issue that could as well divide his Cabinet down the middle, with anti-amnesty ministers ranged against a pro-amnesty group comprising mostly Rift Valley ODM MPs and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, it is still bound to have far reaching political ramifications in future.
                     
                        President Kibaki arrives at the Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, on Sunday, for Madaraka Day celebrations.

                     
                  Kibaki ordered that those who committed criminal acts during the political crisis earlier this year be punished. He also directed the police to conclude investigation on cases, saying those who engaged in criminal activities will face the full force of the law. The President announced his stand on the issue for the first time only minutes after Raila had said the Government would find a solution to the problem.

                  Saying society should not spare those who unleashed mayhem, Kibaki observed: “As a society, we should reject those who incite others to violence. We should not spare them or those who recruit the gangs that cause mayhem.

                  “Once investigations are complete, those found to be innocent will be released without undue delay. But those who committed murder of innocent citizens, engaged in reckless destruction of property or rape should not expect any mercy.”

                  He revisited the issue in his off-the-cuff address in Kiswahili.

                  “Mtu hawezi kuleta fujo na kuchokoza jirani yake halafu aachiliwe hivyo hivyo. Hiyo hatuwezi. Hakuna mtu mwenye akili timamu atapenda hivyo (Nobody should be allowed to harm his or her neighbour and expect to go Scot-free. Nobody can reason that way)” said the President.12,000 in custody

                  The Head of State was speaking on Sunday at Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi, where he led the nation in marking the 45th Madaraka Day celebrations.

                  Those present were First Lady Lucy Kibaki Vice President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka, Prime Minister Mr Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Musalia Mudavadi, Speaker of the National Assembly Mr Kenneth Marende, Chief Justice Mr Evans Gicheru and other Cabinet ministers.
                  The President issued the directive a day after Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Hussein Ali said 12,000 cases were reported during the post-election chaos, of which 103 were capital offences involving 137 suspects now in remand.

                  Another 550 suspects were being sought over 260 other capital offences.
                  The police boss ruled out release of the suspects saying: “We do not know of any ‘youth’. We are talking of criminals.”
                     
                        Premier Pipe Band entertain guests at the Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi, during Madaraka Day celebration.

                     
                  Sharp differences have emerged in the Cabinet over the call for blanket amnesty for youths arrested following the violence that rocked the country in January after the December 30 announcement of disputed results of the presidential election. More than 1,000 people were killed and an additional 350,000 others uprooted from their homes during the two-month mayhem.

                  On February 28, President Kibaki and Raila signed a power-sharing deal that saw the ODM leader named premier, bringing the violence to an end and hauling the country out of its worst political crisis since Independence.

                  The controversial call for blanket amnesty for youths arrested during the violence seems to be the biggest issue that could split the Cabinet and threaten the fledgling Grand Coalition Government.
                  While ODM ministers have demanded the unconditional release of their supporters, their PNU colleagues insist perpetrators of violence should answer for their crimes.Youths or criminals
                  Raila told a lawyers’ forum on Thursday that the youths should be released unconditionally “because they committed no crime.”
                  “Is it a crime to fight for your democratic rights? Is it a crime to stand and say that last year’s elections were rigged?” posed the Prime Minister.

                  On the same day, Internal Security minister, Prof George Saitoti, said those linked to the violence should be prosecuted to promote peace and to discourage impunity. He ordered police to speed up investigations and prosecutions of the remaining cases, and particularly those linked to capital and other serious offences.

                  Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua, has maintained that the law must be allowed to take its course.
                  The number of youths in custody has been difficult to ascertain, with police saying only 137 were in remand, while some leaders, including Agriculture minister Mr William Ruto saying the figure runs into thousands.

                  Vice-President Mr Kalonzo Musyoka underscored the importance of national unity.

                  “This is the time for reconciliation. We should ensure that never again in the history of the country will one Kenyan rise up against another,” the VP said.

                  Yesterday, the President moved to quell the divisive debate on amnesty and assured that those absolved of any offences would be let free.
                  “The Grand Coalition Government is in place and working well,” Kibaki said.

                  Findings of the Commission of inquiry into post-election violence and the Kriegler Commission on the Review of the Electoral process would be implemented to decisively deal with the problem of ethnicity and impunity.

                  Kibaki toasted to the success of Operation Rudi Nyumbani saying since the Internal Displaced Persons’ resettlement exercise was launched three weeks ago, more than 178,000 people had returned to their homes.

                  “There are however over 40,000 Kenyans still living in camps in Nakuru and Eldoret. The resettlement programme is therefore continuing until all those who were forced to flee their homes and farms return to continue with their normal lives,” said the President.

                  He added: “I am aware that resettlement of the displaced persons is only the first step. As leaders and as communities, we have an obligation to promote peaceful co-existence among Kenyans.”

                  In his 25-minute address, Kibaki dwelt on another teething problem — the spiraling costs of fuel and food prices —saying he was aware wananchi felt the burden of high prices of basic commodities and services.

                  He sketched out a raft of measures lined up by his Government to cushion ordinary Kenyans from the rising cost of living occasioned by the spiraling price of oil in the international market.

                  To reduce the adverse impact of the high international oil prices on the national economy, the Government would expand the market share of the National Oil Corporation to boost its effectiveness in stabilising fuel prices in the local market.

                  In addition, it would ensure the Kenya shilling remains stable. Kibaki acknowledged the post-election violence coupled with failed rains in parts of the country had worsened the problem locally.
                  To deal with the looming food crisis, Kibaki said, the Government would import three million bags of maize in the next two months to supplement local supplies.

                  As a short-term measure, the Government would also increase funding for the expansion of the Strategic Grain Reserve from four to eight million bags in the next two years.

                  Cheaper farm inputs, such as low-cost fertiliser supplied by the National Cereals and Produce Board, would help lower the cost of production.

                  The President also said the first business for the Grand Coalition Government would be to put in place a five-year development plan gleaned out of the PNU, ODM and ODM-Kenya party manifestos.
                  The Government, he said, was ready for next week’s launch of the five-year plan and Vision 2030 that would serve as a springboard to a 10 per cent economic growth by the year 2012.

                  The President reaffirmed his commitment to tackling unemployment and ensuring access to education to empower Kenyans.

                  “We want to build a caring nation which reaches out to those who are weak and disadvantaged, ” he said.

                  On the thorny issue of land reforms, Kibaki said there should be no ambiguity on the security of land rights for landowners and that the sanctity of title deeds, leaseholds and letters of allotment would be respected.

                  “In this regard those who have leaseholds or letters of allotment that have expired should proceed to renew them in the normal way. There should be no reason for panic,” said the President.

                  Raila echoed the President’s sentiments to forge a united Kenya where all Kenyans would have a fair share of the national cake.
                  “Our country’s population has grown and there are so many mouths to feed. We need to expand the ugali,” Raila said amid wild cheers.
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                  He who spits at the sky dirties his own face. – An African Saying
                  Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be. – Kahlil Gibran – Author of The Prophet

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                  Matunda Nyanchama, e-mail: matunda@hotmail. com
                  Visit: www.aganoconsulting .com -  for business information

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Subject:  Re: No Amnesty for killers – Kibaki