Folks,
 
Work is under way to grill those involved in the Grand Regency Saga and the Waki Investigative Team has began their work today.
 
Like I said before, The Grand Coalition Government has a clearly defined purpose of duty.

The Agreement must come to fruitation, Kenyans are eagerly waiting. Nothing will sway them from the bigger picture…..to give Kenyans the much needed Constituion and to get steadfast on the road to Justice, Human Rights and Democratic Governance.
 
There is hope, we can see light through the tunnel!!!!
 
Keep Praying for the Legislatures and the Executives as well as the People of Kenya together with those who have been steadfastly in our support.
 
Thanks to America and Koffi Annan, May our Good God continue to Bless you.
 
I love you and thank you again.  I attach some video and latest News for your updates.
 
Amen!!!
 
Judy Miriga
USA
 
 
 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
 
 
National News

Options after Kimunya
Updated on: Thursday, July 10, 2008
Story by: By Emmanuel Onyango
………..
KEY figures from Central province met President Mwai Kibaki at State House, Nairobi on

Tuesday evening, Kenya Times has reliably learnt.

It is thought that the meeting was convened to review and strategise on how to deal with the aftermath of Amos Kimunya’s resignation as Finance minister. Sources say President Kibaki summoned Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti, their Environment counterpart John Michuki and other close allies to State House where it is understood they caucused on the implications of Kimunya’s removal.

A number of influential businessmen perceived to be close allies of the President are said to have attended the meeting. Although details of the meeting were scanty, sources claim it mainly centred on Kimunya’s succession at Treasury and the implications of his resignation to Kibaki’s government and the Mt Kenya interests.

Uhuru and Michuki are said to have reiterated their position that Kimunya’s woes were politically motivated, saying the disgraced former minister was crucified unheard. And a day after Kimunya bowed in to pressure to step aside, focus has shifted to the remaining personalities implicated in the clandestine sale of the Grand Regency hotel.

Eyes were turned on Finance Permanent Secretary Joseph Kinyua, Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)

Governor Prof. Njuguna Ndung’u, National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) director Major  General Michael Gichangi and other senior public officers.

Also under the spotlight was Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula whom sources said both Parliament and the Government are out to establish what role, if any, he played in the Grand Regency saga. Mr Wetangula was before getting appointed to the Cabinet associated with the law firm of Wetangula, Adan, Makokha and Company Advocates that handled the legal transfer of the hotel from CBK to the Libyan company that bought the property.

The Amos Wako_led technical committee appointed by Prime Minister Raila Odinga to review all documents relating to the sale of the Grand Regency hotel two weeks recommended that the former Finance Minister, the NSIS Director General and the CBK Governor step aside to allow a proper probe into the transaction. The committee also recommended that the conduct of all public officers in the Office of the President, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Lands and CBK with regard to the sale and transfer of the hotel be investigated and appropriate action taken against them if found to have acted improperly.

 “Pending the completion of the investigations, the Minister for Finance, the NSIS director general, CBK governor and the Secretary to the board of directors of CBK step aside,” the Wako report stated. As the country’s chief diplomat, the heat is also on Minister Wetangula following Monday’s admissions by Hisham Ali Sharif, the Charge de Affaires at the Libyan embassy in Nairobi, that the Grand Regency sale was a “government to government agreement.

” All foreign relations, including trade protocols like the one jointly signed between President Kibaki and Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi last year, are under the custody of the Foreign Affairs Minister who also oversees their implementation.

The Minister is therefore believed to have been in the thick of things throughout the deal. Gadaffi and Kibaki signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that contained three protocols covering trade, air travel, hotel and tourism when Kibaki toured the Maghreb state last year. Libya’s local envoy has since confirmed that all relevant bureaucracies involved including the Foreign Affairs ministry, had approved the hotel’s purchase by Libyan Arab African Investment Company Limited.

Given that the protocols in the MoU accorded preferential status to the Libyan investors, questions now abound over what the Foreign Affairs ministry knew about them, their association with the Tripoli government and other vested interests they have in Kenya’s hospitality, infrastructure and energy sector.

Wetangula is yet to be adversely mentioned in the Libyan conspiracy but pressure is mounting from Parliament for his resignation and subsequent prosecution of all government officials implicated in the Grand Regency sale. And yesterday, the firm at the centre of the controversy, Libyan Arab African Investment Company Limited insisted the hotel deal was handled above board and that there was nothing to could regret about.

Gichangi was the first person to introduce to the Central Bank the possibility of a settlement and sale of the Grand Regency hotel. Gichangi even indicated to the CBK Governor Njunguna Ndung’u that an advocate by name of Bernard Kalove, together with Wetangula, Adan, Makokha and Company Advocates –representing Kamlesh Pattni_ would contact him (Ndungu) to discuss the matter.

It was after Gichangi’s intervention that the Central Bank made an offer to sell the Grand Regency to Libyan Arab African Investment Company Limited without consulting neither the Attorney General, the Kenya Anti Corruption Commission nor the CBK board of directors. Prof Ndungu is even in a murkier crisis given that he withheld vital information from his board of governors, failed to conduct due diligence on the purchasers, refrained from consulting with the Attorney General and failed to hold direct negotiations with representatives of the Libyan government over the transaction.

 Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale called for a constitutional amendment to provide for the immediate resignation of Cabinet ministers and civil servants whom Parliament has passed a vote of no_confidence against.

He wants CBK governor Njuguna Ndungu, NSIS Director General Michael Gichangi and Civil Service head Francis Muthaura shown the door to pave way for independent investigations.

Others calling on action to be taken against all those adversely mentioned in the hotel saga include Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, Machakos Catholic bishop Martin Kivuva and Law Society of Kenya chairman Okong’o Omogeni.

It is thought that the meeting was convened to review and strategise on how to deal with the aftermath of Amos Kimunya’s resignation as Finance minister. Sources say President Kibaki summoned Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Internal Security Minister Prof George Saitoti, their Environment counterpart John Michuki and other close allies to State House where it is understood they caucused on the implications of Kimunya’s removal.
 
Waki Investigative Team Begins Work
 
National News

Waki team asks Kibaki for more time
Updated on: Thursday, July 10, 2008
Story by: By Kipngeno Cheruiyot
……….

Justice Philip Waki (second right) and his team leave the plenary hall after holding sessions over the post_election violence at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, yesterday.PHOTO/MOSES MWANGI.

THE Commission of Inquiry into the Post_Election Violence (CIPEV) chaired by Justice Philip Waki began its first public hearings yesterday with a request to President Kibaki to give it more time to execute its mandate. The commission also showed interest in tackling the issue of youths incarcerated following the disputed poll and which has been a subject of intense debate on whether or not they should be graynted amnesty.

 Justice Waki said following the commission’s consultative meeting, it found out that the 90_day time frame set for it to accomplish the task is insufficient given the magnitude of the work before it. Said he: “We are now in the third phase of our commission mandate. After the planning and consultative phases, we have realised we need more time to complete our work.

 We have written to President Kibaki to put across our request.” On the amnesty debate, Waki said the commission will investigate all allegations and give recommendations on the way forwards but insisted that the solution must be within the law. “We will look into cases which are already before the police and we will decide on what we will do with them,” he added. Justice Waki said the five_member committee is on its second phase of inquiries and has identified the public institutions that would be required to testify before the commission.

 He said the commission would make recommendations to prevent violence in future, reconcile, promote peace and ensure those involved in the mayhem are brought to justice. He said they will recommend legal, political and administrative measures. Saying their duty to Kenyans was enormous, the judge said those affected by the unprecedented events that followed the disputed election results feel that the answer lies in the serious ventilation of the disputes that caused Kenyans to take up arms against their neighbours.

The commission established through the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation process started its sessions at 9 am with Police Commissioner, Hussein Ali making appearance as the first witness. The commission is expected to investigate the facts and circumstances relating to the violence and actions or omissions of state security agencies during the mayhem that claimed at least 1,200 lives.

 Waki also said the commission would use existing material which have been compiled relating to violence since 1992 in a view of coming up with comprehensive account to curb its repeat. In this regard, he said, the Akiwumi report would also be an integral part of the commission’s resource document and it would be looked at in the course of its work depending on the developments that would emerge during its life.

 He said the team would question security organs such as the Internal Security ministry, the National Security Intelligence Service and the police force. The commission which was set up on May 23, 2008 is also mandated to probe incidents of sexual violence among other things during the crisis. He was flanked by other commissioners who include former Newzealand Deputy Police Commissioner Gavin McFayadden and Democratic Republic of Congo’s Pascal Kambale. Also present were the commission’s secretary George Kegoro and counsel David Majanja.
 
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSPy58dCgPY

Kenya’s Finance minister quits over hotel saga
By DAVE OPIYOLast updated: Tue, Jul 08, 2008 16:22 PM (EAT)

Kenya’s Finance Minister Amos Kimunya has quit over the controversial sale of a luxury hotel at the centre of Nairobi.

Mr Kimunya called a Press conference and issued a brief statement, saying: “I have requested President Kibaki to be allowed to step aside to facilitate an inquiry into this matter.”

At the same time, police have beat up and arrested a group of activists who were meeting to plan protests against Mr Kimunya’s handling of the Grand Regency sale.

Mr Kimunya said his conscience was clean that he well managed the sale of the hotel.

“I’ve held several consultations with President Kibaki, my family, friends and colleagues on Grand Regency. My conscience is very clean on the role of the Treasury and specifically myself on this matter. I am open to an independent inquiry to prove my innocence,” he told reporters.

Earlier, police stormed a Nairobi restaurant and arrested a number of civil society activists who were planning demonstrations against Mr Kimunya over the sale.

The group, meeting under the aegis of Name and Shame Coalition Against Corruption, had gathered at the city’s Garden Square restaurant adjacent to the Kenyatta International Conference Centre when riot and regular police in full gear stormed the venue.

POLITICS
Wako orders probe of sale
Story by JILLO KADIDA
Publication Date: 7/9/2008

Attorney_General Amos Wako has ordered the police commissioner to start investigations into the sale of controversy_hit Grand Regency Hotel.

The AG directed major general Hussein Ali to commence investigations against public officers in the ministry of Lands and Finance and the Central Bank of Kenya who played any role in the transaction.

The police commissioner is expected to complete his investigations and report back to the AG in 30 days.

The letter from the Attorney General reads in part: “I hereby require you to carry out thorough and comprehensive investigations into all the allegations and the surrounding circumstances relating to the above_mentioned sale transaction (of the Grand Regency).”

In his letter dated July 4, Mr Wako says going by the information he has received so far he suspects that criminal offences have been committed.

He requested the director of Kenya Anti_Corruption Commission Justice (rtd) Aaron Ringera to offer necessary help to the police in the probe.

Civil society groups have written to the AG in relation to the hotel saga.

Kituo Cha Sheria said the hotel saga is a violation of human rights and rule of law.

It said the inertia within the possible government institutions continues to give corruption a clean bill of health despite its obvious effects.

The group said the matter ought to be concluded through the prosecution of those involved and asked the AG to look into the conduct of Finance minister Amos Kimunya, Justice Ringera and Central Bank governor Prof Njuguna Ndung’u.

Abuse of office

They want the three charged with many offences, among them conspiracy to defraud and abuse of office.

The group gave the AG a 10_day ultimatum to prosecute the three, failure to which it will take it upon itself to institute the charges.

In his response to the group, Mr Wako said he is equally concerned about the allegations against the three individuals. However, he said he cannot institute criminal proceedings against anyone in the absence of a criminal investigation file giving enough evidence to sustain a charge.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJKl2U4f9dU
 
_ _ _
Date:  Wed, 9 Jul 2008 16:36:54 _0700 (PDT)
From:  Judy Miriga
Subject:   KEY figures from Central province met President Mwai Kibaki at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday evening