From: Judy Miriga

Folks,

August 28th 2011 is here. Politicians in Kenya are in the frenzy of positioning for re-organization for Status Quo. Kibaki is to step aside leaving his son to warm-up with PM Raila before election is called in august 28th 2012…….The Drama is all about the hot pursuit scramble to re-align for positioning to make a kill for Status Quo, a sad state-of-affair and a tall order in the present Kenya.

It has just down on them that time is up and the Constitution Reform Agenda cannot be evaded. It is a law and is going according to the timetable. This is the reason for the rising political temperature and the scramble to glue control of key powerful public offices to themselves before the “D” day. They have just recognized that “Ocampo” factor is REAL…….. the “Pre-Trial” cannot be manipulated or pushed to fit into their conspiracy they were trying to cook……..The skies are coming down on them like “Thunderbolt” beyond their understanding or powers. This is the reason why Miguna’s position is being manipulated to compromise the Status Quo special interest. It is rumored that names of such people like Samwel Omwenga were listed top to be considered while in the spree of beer drinking to be handed by Jakoyo Midiwo to Raila’s wife for consideration to Miguna’s position. Other people in line who were engaged in shoddy lobbyist deals, were to be considered as well within the Diaspora for rewards through Raila’s wife connections in the US, UK and Canada……..These group of people are seen busy shuttling between Canada, UK, US, Uganda and Kenya……….

They are preparing an assault on Constitutional Reform in readiness to tactfully scuttle the complete Reform implementation according to New Constitution, by delaying clear-cut ground breaking civic education to public in preparation of the formulation of Counties for implementation of the New Constitution by positioning sycophants, those of strange characters, being imported early to cause fear and intimidation as well as fracas and confusion for their win strategies, those questionable characters who will support Status Quo’s interest and altogether will block the would be genuine prospective people’s candidates, a show case of what is now happening in Siaya and Kisumu areas. People are currently being killed, ambushed and cut with pangas as they come from work, notably, four days ago, about ten people have been cut, some died and some are still nursing their wounds. This happened in Ukwala and Kodiaga. Jakoyo Midiwo should tell us what is cooking, as he is the Constituent Representative of Gem Constituency. Why does he seem to be quiet like he does not know what sufferings people of his constituent are under going, or is he detached from reality and from his Representation Responsibilities. Can he tell us why the case for the Council women was few days ago, thrown out by the court in Siaya, in favour for Mr. Aggrey who was defeated by Ms. Elizabeth?……..What about schools that were funded by Canada in Siaya, why have they been closed? Are these the political maneuvers meant to interfere with developments for ulterior political motives??? This and many other will not be tolerated and will not be acceptable as, the whole world is watching keenly activities and happenings in Kenya…….This are just tips of an iceburg…….

August 28th 2011 is another deadline for President Kibaki and Amos Wako, when they are suppose to leave Public Office according to the New Constitution. This is why President Kibaki had earlier announced two months ago, that he is remaining with two months to retire, and it is the reason why his son is to join PM Raila in the remaining 12 months of the Coalition Government starting August 28th 2011 to August 28th 2012. At this time, PM Raila will continue to hold the Office of the two positions, as Prime Minister as well as the President while grooming Kibaki’s son to prepare for taking position in the Rank and File.

To Kibaki and PM Raila, politics and leadership of Kenya is a family affair. This too must stop and stop now……!!!

It is therefore this Political fever and frenzy the reason why political temperature has been illegally and unconstitutionally raised, the reason politicians abandoned their duties to effectively implement Federalism Majimbo Governance but are busy with sideshows, the reason politicians are scampering, having thought ICC the Ocampo factor was unrealistic only to find they cannot wishy washy Hague matter as the “Pre-Trial” cannot be manipulated for extension or otherwise in the hope Hague could be bribed and pocketed in any manner…….they are realizing, they assume the impossible. They are treating human sufferings as political gamble or chess card. Everything to them is fools play……the reason there is too much hunger and sufferings in Kenya. This is just poor and bad management with corruption meant to fool the International community and the public………and it is the reason why Miguna Miguna has been sacrificed upon the alter. This must stop and must stop NOW……!!!

ICC Hague is real and it cannot be shelved……….!!!

It is just a matter of time that Reform Agenda for CHANGE, will stay and remain real and be seen to be realistic, where peoples mandate to Federalism Majimbo Governance will offer the needed change for peoples livelihood with good prospects for better future………The Destiny we all want……..

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

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Presidential campaigns disgraceful, premature

Published on 31/07/2011

Our political leaders need to snap out of their obsession with the post-Kibaki presidential race and confront matters that most Kenyans perceive to be of immediate and paramount importance. The issues of the moment are jobs, food, security, cheaper energy, health, land reform and school fees — of course not necessarily in that order. Meanwhile, the field of self-declared candidates to succeed President Kibaki in 2012 (or 2013, whichever year is finally chosen) is getting crowded by the day.

Unfortunately most of these “candidates”, including some very well known names, are driven not by a genuine interest in the welfare of their country, but by personal vendetta, revenge and the need to protect ill-gotten wealth.

Yet hundreds of thousands face starvation in the “triangle of death” that straddles the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Somalia. Also caught up in a daily cycle of hunger are residents of informal settlements or slums in key urban areas.

Rethink agriculture

Despite the vastness of its desert landscape, Turkana has massive potential for farming by irrigation and production of electricity using the wind, yet it remains the most undeveloped and desolate places one finds in Kenya.

Due to global warming, areas of the country that were once food baskets have seen their harvests dwindle as rainfall becomes more erratic each year, and the planting seasons shorter.

The subdivision of land in these areas has also reduced the portions available for growing food crops. Rain-fed agriculture is no longer a viable option for the future.

What is needed is a Marshall Plan of sorts, a complete rethink of Kenya’s agricultural policies to reflect the changing demographics and end perennial hunger that is getting more vicious with time.

But who will kick our leaders out of their lethargy and permanent fixation with elections? In Parliament are lawyers, doctors, insurers, teachers and engineers, but rarely do they come together to push non-political agendas in the House.

MPs have been very vocal on the matter of raising their salaries and allowances, avoiding taxes and fighting to get a pension for life (whether or not they have served just one term) once they leave Parliament, yet they have been remarkably quiet when it comes to feeding the starving and saving the dying in their midst.

Kenyans care little whether elections are held in August or December next year, or March 2013.

What they want is for the Minister for Justice, Attorney General and Commission for Implementation of the Constitution to speed up the drafting and tabling of necessary legislation that will ensure fair and free elections when the time comes, and anchor the new laws.

In exactly 26 days, the new Constitution will be one year old, yet very many Bills that the current Parliament needs to debate and pass have not even reached Cabinet.

Instead, many MPs have adopted a herd mentality and spend most of their free time trailing their favourite “presidential candidates” on their premature campaigns where the latter spend more time on chest-thumping theatrics and insulting and belittling their opponents, than offering a realistic roadmap on how they will create jobs, improve security and health care and reduce Kenya’s dependence on hydro power. What are these so-called “candidates” offering that is different from the rubbish spewed out by others every five years since Independence? Haven’t we heard it all before?

By allying themselves to “presidential candidates” whose only message is hate and revenge, our MPs have become intellectually bankrupt, morally repugnant and a total disgrace to Parliament.

Kenyans need to ask themselves how, where, and when some of our leaders acquired so much wealth in such a short period of time that they even own helicopters and planes.

A day’s budget for flying around in one of those things is enough to ensure many a hungry Kenyan gets at least one balanced meal. Such reckless spending, when others are dying of hunger, is a strong enough reason to reject their candidacies.

Ill-gotten wealth

When asked how they made their money, many lie and spin “rags to riches” tales, painting themselves as ordinary Kenyans who made it through sheer hard work and willpower, when in truth they are beneficiaries of grand corruption.

Kenyans must take a long hard look at those who wish to lead us come the next elections.

If they are not forthcoming on the source of their wealth, then they probably have plenty of elephants in their closets and should be rejected forthwith.

Time runs out as Kibaki eyes good legacy

Published on 07/08/2011
By MOSES NJAGIH

With President Kibaki preparing to leave office, his focus appears inclined to taking stock of his successes as his legacy faces the radar.

Having served the constitutionally allowed two terms as President, Kibaki is expected to retire after the General Election due next year.

While aspirants eyeing the presidency have been galvanising support, Kibaki has his eyes set elsewhere.

He has devoted time to inspect projects he had initiated over the years. The President is also hurrying up to begin new development projects he feels would help shape up his legacy, which has attracted praise and criticism in equal measure.

His new focus has been manifest in activities he has undertaken in the last two months.

Kibaki has been visiting projects while shunning political debate waged by his lieutenants and presidential aspirants in the succession race.

He has on two occasions made it clear he would not name his successor. Unlike his predecessor Daniel arap Moi, he will not be active in campaigns to pick the next president.

Even in his central Kenya backyard, and especially his native Othaya constituency, Kibaki has given indications he would not take sides in supremacy battles between Finance Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and his Gichugu counterpart Martha Karua. Hands-off nature of the President is a strong pointer he will be spending the remaining time consolidating his work on projects that could define his legacy.

Tax evaders

When Kibaki took over power in 2003, his appeared focused on improving infrastructure, hence the decision to tighten the law against tax evaders among other crosscutting reforms.

The Kibaki administration rolled out a massive road construction programme. He is now going round to commission other projects and to push for the hastening of road works to ensure they are completed in time.

Among the projects that have served as pet subjects for Kibaki is the Isiolo-Marsabit-Moyale road, which on completion, will link Kenya and Ethiopia.

After commissioning the road four years ago, the President returned to northern Kenya to open another phase of the project, a 136km stretch from Isiolo to Merille River.

The section is said to have cost Sh6.3 billion, funded by through a partnership between the Government and the African Development Bank.

Kibaki said the road would open up the northern Kenya region for development and investment. He said it would also serve as a connection to Ethiopia from the port of Mombasa.

“The upgrading of this road to bitumen standard is expected to contribute to the development of this region through increased trade and other business activities, including marketing of livestock produce,” the President said during the visit.

He also commissioned the construction of another 121km road from Marsabit to Turbi, calling on the contractors to hasten its construction.

Within the same week, the President had given the go-ahead for the construction on Lamu Port, another of his pet.

An indication that he wants to take credit for the mega- project, Kibaki said he was looking forward to commissioning it next year, the same year he is expected to leave office.

Noting that the project was mooted 36 years ago, he said: “It is my hope that with the completion of consultancy studies, the project can now be implemented without further delay. I look forward to commissioning the first ship docking at the Lamu Port next year,” said the President.

Contractors on the Nairobi-Thika superhighway – which would help define the Presidents policy on infrastructure – have been put on notice to complete work by mid next year.

As Kibaki enters the last year of his term, he is keen on turning his presidency into a success story.

MPs jittery over Political Parties Bill

Published on 07/08/2011
By Stephen Makabila

What would be the future of political alliances if Parliament outlawed pre-election coalitions?

The debate on Political Parties Bill on Tuesday in Parliament saw MPs oppose pre-election mergers, which have been common.

This opposition may just be a tip of the iceberg as more intricate issues continue raising storm. Centre for Multi-Party Democracy (CMD) has planned a breakfast meeting this week to cushion the Bill against being watered-down in the House.

“I have talked to some MPs and they are willing to attend the meeting to discuss the Political Parties Bill,” CMD chairman Justin Muturi told The Standard On Sunday. Muturi said CMD is against funding of regional parties, which he feels are more likely to be tribal, and which he says would be a contrast to the Constitution’s push for parties to have national attributes.

“We are also against the push by some MPs to allow a situation where one can walk in and out of a political party without notice. We need strong parties as institutions of public governance,” said Muturi in an interview. Political scientist Frank Matanga says pre-election coalitions are not healthy, as they end up leading to instability whenever basic agreements are honoured.

He cited the broken MoU between Narc and LDP, which led to a falling out after the divisive 2005 constitutional referendum.

“Post-election coalitions are stable, focused and promising as seen in Germany and Britain. Pre-election coalitions are mainly formed with purpose of capturing power,” said Prof Matanga, who lectures at Masinde Muliro University.

Ahead of the General Election, possible alliance include the so-called G-7, which seeks to block Prime Minister Raila Odinga from succeeding President Kibaki retires.

The G-7 alliance revolves around Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, and Assistant Minister Aden Dualle. Although the G-7 had indicated it was weighing between forming a pre-election alliance and fronting separate presidential candidates to force a presidential run-off, it remains to be seen how the expected law would affect the plot.

County seats

CMD has its own reservations. The Charles Nyachae-led Constitutional Implementation Commission is pushing for funding of regional parties, which may only field candidates for county seats.

“There may be parties which opt to participate in county elections alone. These are legitimate national elections occurring at a distinct level of government,” said Mr Nyachae.

According to him, restricting funding to parties that win seats in elections at the national government is a failure to recognise the legitimacy of county governments and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution in Article 6. CIC also wants the Bill amended to provide that the distribution of funds to political parties be reviewed annually.

“Each party’s political representatives may change from year to year depending on successful election petitions, recall of MPs, and by-elections. It is necessary that these changes be reflected in the allocation of funds to reflect the constitutional principle of fairness,” the commission suggests.

Funding to parties

While opposing CIC’s push to fund parties that only win county seats, Muturi says any serious national party can win seats at national and county levels and that such a scenario should be encouraged.

“Parties should have a national outlook and be ran professionally. We do not want parties formed without ideology, and whose purpose is to win positions,” added Muturi.

Muturi also pointed out that CMD wants the office of the Registrar of Political Parties strengthened.

“The office should be powerful enough to even reject registration of a party that duplicates ideologies. There should be distinct ideological differences between major parties. Those that share ideologies should merge,” added Muturi.

When the Bill came up in Parliament on Tuesday, MPs accused the Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndungu of bias. MPs recommended tough action on destructive dissent in parties.

The Bill proposes deregistration of political parties if they do not conduct free and fair elections and calls for stern measure against defectors.

But Gichugu MP Martha Karua and Sirisia’s Moses Wetangula argued only the High Court and Supreme Court should exercise powers to deregister political parties. Wetangula opposed pre-election mergers and called for action against party rebellion. Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu alleged the Bill was drafted to legitimise political alliances and “party hopping”.

Parties in mad rush to put their houses in order

Published on 30/07/2011
By KEPHER OTIENO

ODM and ODM-Kenya have embarked on an aggressive mission to reinvent their political strategies.

The steps follow a sharp drop in opinion poll ratings, which point to falling fortunes.

ODM, rated Kenya’s the most popular political party, dropped significantly from 42 per cent to 32 per cent in the latest Synovate opinion polls.

Equally, ODM-Kenya did not impress. The parties’ bet for president Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s ratings continued to sink.

ODM brigade, led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga, last week quickly convened National Executive Council meeting to discuss a raft of issues, including the way forward as the General Election nears.

Sources privy to the meeting told The Standard On Sunday that a number of grassroots mobilisation strategies were proposed.

Party offices

The party tasked MPs to troop back to their constituencies and re-activate dormant party offices.

The MPs were also asked to increase their contacts with party supporters by making sure they hold weekly party meetings with local leaders.

The plans are part of strategies adopted by the party as it seeks to endear itself to the electorate.

“We want to see everyone making effort to sell party policies,” Raila told the MPs.

South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya said: “We are keen to bring Nyanza together to rally behind Raila as our presidential candidate without mixing signals.”

Planned meetings

Similarly, ODM-Kenya is not taking any chances. After the party rebranded in readiness for the 2012 General Election, it has now planned meetings with various caucuses.

In an interview with The Standard On Sunday ODM-Kenya Executive Director Henry Rop and National Executive Council member Marwa Maisori said they had lined up a series of strategy meetings.

On Thursday, they hosted women leaders, and next Wednesday they will meet party youth at Bomas of Kenya.

“We have teams, which we intend to invite for a meeting and lay out strategies to strengthen our party,” Rop said. He spoke as Maisori disclosed the VP had been given green light by the top party organ to set up his 2012 presidential campaign secretariat.

They said Musyoka would still be the party candidate next year, and that he would be hitting the campaign trail soon.

“We have also asked him (Kalonzo) to address national issues so that we are seen to be fighting for the national good,” Maisori said.

Your unity will not shake me, Raila tells rivals

By Allan Kisia and Roselyn Obala

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he is ready to face presidential aspirants who have indicated they would pick one candidate to face him.

In an apparent reference to G-7 Raila said the group cannot shake his presidential ambitions.

“You can go round saying how you will unite and will pick one presidential candidate but you will still come to face me. I am waiting,” he said.

And Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who spoke at the same function, said he was also in the presidential race.

“I also want to be president. Raila also wants the seat but there can be only one at a time,” he said. Raila said ODM is still the party to beat and expressed confidence that it would form the next government.

“We will make sure that we beat our opponents with a margin that would not leave any doubt that we won the elections,” he added. Raila claimed that G7 would have a problem picking a candidate who would face him.

He explained it with a parable illustrating the situation facing the G7. “Rats once had plan of putting a bell around the cat’s neck to alert them whenever danger lurked. However, no one volunteered to take up the task of tying up the bell around the cat’s neck,” he said amid laughter.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa and Eldoret North MP William Ruto, who are G7 members, have presidential ambitions.

The three have indicated they would pick one of them to go for the top seat.

Mr Wamalwa, who spoke earlier at the same function, told politicians not to underestimate him and gave the biblical example of the battle of David and Goliath.

They spoke during the burial of Leonida Mukonyi in Chegulo village in Kakamega North District. Mukonyi was Raila’s house help in his Nairobi residence, Karen.

Kalonzo officially kicks off State House campaign

Published on 30/07/2011
By VITALIS KIMUTAI

The rebranding of ODM-Kenya on Wednesday and the party’s Women’s Congress a day later marks the beginning of Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka’s second stab at the presidency in the General Election.

It is a journey that Kalonzo has kicked off in earnest over the weekend following a three-day whirlwind campaign in Gusii-land, in Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s Nyanza backyard.

“We have picked an umbrella as a logo because people use it to shield themselves during rainy and hot seasons, while a wiper is used by those driving vehicles,” party Secretary General Mutula Kilonzo explains the changes.

Party officials also claim the changes were occasioned by the loss of votes during the last election when members confused it with ODM, whose presidential candidate was Raila.

The Standard On Sunday has further established that ODM-Kenya’s top decision making organ meeting last Wednesday also gave the VP the nod to set up a campaign secretariat, which is expected to be unveiled soon.

This development is bound to raise the interest within the so-called G7 group that includes Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

The three, alongside others, are in a pact to field one candidate against the Premier. The mode of doing so is yet to be agreed upon.

The estimated 600 women delegates who attended a national congress at Bomas of Kenya resolved to conduct grassroots campaign for the Vice-President.

In resolutions read by Nominated MP Shakila Abdalla, the women leaders from 47 counties said the party would support the Gender Commission Bill, which would empower women.

“We have also resolved that the party would support policies aimed at attaining food security and end starvation, which has caused deaths of thousands of people especially children, women and the elderly,” Abdalla said.

Beatrice Masis, a NEC member, said ODM-Kenya was entrenching itself at the grassroots and that it was popular among women and youth.

Mary Kithika from Central Province said Kalonzo had endeared himself to the residents of the region and expressed hope that he would succeed Kibaki in the 2012 presidential race.

“I am sure that with more visits to the region, the people of the larger Mount Kenya would vote for Kalonzo,” she said.

Afya Rama from the Coast region said women would conduct door-to-door campaigns for the Vice-President when the campaigns kick off.

Information Minister Samuel Poghisio, who is the party chairman, said he was proud that women were taking part in the rebranding and campaigns for the party.

Kalonzo, while addressing the women, said ODM-Kenya wanted women empowered to achieve 50-50 per cent gender parity, which is beyond the one third provided for in the new Constitution

Constitution committee plans Bills merger to beat deadline

Published on 09/08/2011
The Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee (CIOC) will merge two Bills in a bid to pass 18 pending Bills before August 27.

The committee also asked Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo to discuss with the House Business Committee (HBC) possibilities of extending parliamentary sittings, including on weekends, to speed up the passing of several Bills before the constitutional August 27 deadline.

Last week the CIOC threatened to ‘punish’ the minister if he failed to table Bills still held by the Attorney General, the Cabinet and the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) by yesterday.

Meanwhile, the CIOC will begin to vet nominees to the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board on Friday as Parliament plots to take a final vote on the Political Parties Bill on Thursday.

Vice-chairperson Millie Odhiambo said yesterday that the committee had derived a formula to pass five Bills in a week and announced that MPs have just 13 days, to pass the 18 laws, including the Environment and Land Court Bill and the Power of Mercy Bill, which have not even been drafted.

Odhiambo said the committee “has no intention” of seeking Parliament’s approval to extend passage of these laws beyond August 27 as suggested by Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka last week.

The strategy

The strategy involves the creation of three sub-committees within the 27-member CIOC to scrutinise the pending Bills.

After discussions, Odhiambo said a sub-committee, led by nominated MP Amina Abdallah, would merge the Kenya National Human Rights Commission Bill and the Commission on Administrative Justice Bill.

The merger was proposed at the MPs’ retreat in Mombasa at the weekend which also recommended the Bills’ suspension from debate.

The merger means either a new Bill will be drawn covering aspects in both or one of them will be withdrawn and the remaining one amended to include the other.

CIOC agreed to allow its vice-chair to consolidate all proposed amendments to the Political Parties Bill for a fast approval of the final vote.

She said Parliament would not be held back from vetting the Judges and Magistrates Vetting Board nominees if the President delays in naming the three foreigners to sit on the Board.

“We have confirmed that we actually have 13 days and not 17 days to ensure that all the Bills have been passed,” she said.

Assistant minister Alfred Khang’ati will chair the sub-committee that will scrutinise the private Bill, The Ratification of Treaties Bill.

The committee agreed that the merged Bills (the Treaties Bill, Political Parties Bill and the National Gender and Equality Commission Bill) are approved by Thursday.