Kenya: The Clock is Ticking Away when The Big Brother and the World are keenly Watching; Compensate all Nyayo-era victims of torture and then prosecute Moi

Folks,

All is well is what ends well.

We have keenly taken stock of what has failed Kenya all these years. We know who the enemies of Kenya and Kenyans are, those who are determined to fail Kenya But, we have faith and trust in the two Principles’ Leadership (President Kibaki and PM Raila), we believe they will deliver the much awaited Reform Agenda through the Referendum in August 4th 2010.

We have faith that the New Constitution will pave ways for a New Era for “The Kenya We all Want” that which we will be proud of.

We also believe majority Kenyans are tired of living a wasted lifestyle. It is time for CHANGE and REFORM in a forward strategy development agenda for progress and prosperity.

It is time Kenya must show the world that “It is Ready for the World” in Economic, Social and Political challenges and competition, that which will provide a balance and make the Universe a better place to live in Unity, Peace and Love, caring and sharing for each other and preserving nature as was purposed by God upon creation.

Big brother and the world are all keenly watching the unfoldings in Kenya as the time keeps ticking.

This will be an opportunity for President Kibaki to offer and deliver a special gift to Kenyans. He will have broken the cord of the Devil which has been holding Kenya backwards and has kept Kenya behind from achieving its development worth, a sorry and truely sad-state-of-affair.

For many years, Kenya has remained sunk into bottomless deeper in oppression, corruption, impunity and in depleting poverty which has caused Kenya to remain behind in their development agenda strategy. This will now remain behind us.

President Kibaki will have in essence delivered true and real “Freedom” to the people of Kenya to mark the dead end of the long, hard and strenuous journey for Kenya’s freedom. Consequently, this move will begin to heal the broken hearted and be able to make history that which will be remembered by all Kenyans for very many years to come. A very memorable record will then be set on the Books of the World History of Fame, that which will have been made in Kenya, following with the rest of Africa in general.

We also noticed President Kibaki has already declared August 4th a holiday for Kenya. Surely this holiday is worth Celebrating in a big-big way. May I take this opportunity to request for a chance on behalf of all Kenyans, sympathizers, friends and foes to provide a moment for “Shake the Leg”? I believe it is prudent? This will suffice for an immediate antidote, a sure way to begin to forget and heal…..Spread the Word people, because, Ni Dawa !…. Let us all CELEBRATE.

We will all value, cherish and celebrate the month of August 4th in a couple of many ways, not forgetting that, the August 4th is also a Grand Memory Birthday of President Barack Obama, and for this, President Kibaki will have given Kenyans a privileged opportunity to appreciate and honor the Son of a herdsman from Kogelo “The Pearl of Africa” The President of United States of America in style. Glory to God, what a Blessing!

Seeing all women come out to soldier, I am already in a good mood. I must therefore, in advance take this moment of relief and offer appreciation, sending a word of “Thank You” to all from the bottom of my heart. Those who participated in all other ways and means to assist, those who pulled and help put all these activities together to a fruitful end, the push and shove of all kind that brought us this far, with those who stood by me in breathtaking moves, including those who acted in spar of moment upon the sound of the voice of alarm from the wilderness, to all partners and sympathizers, with those who diligently worked on their own volution, doing their own things which they know how that which contributed in part, as a result which has brought us this far, and in the most weird moments in upscale, deserve to be thanked…….and I thank you all.

Most sincerely, I must say, you deserve Kudos President Kibaki! Because of you, we are in a FREEDOM CORNER.

At such times, therefore, when Great Things are about to happen, many are called home to God, BUT, I humbly Pray to God to let me and my family with all those who are in the struggle, have a chance to see and feel the beautiful moment of the end of this Wonderful Story of The long Journey for Struggle of 50 years for Kenya’s True Independence.

I am looking forward to seeing a situation where the People of Kenya will be in command to make things happen for purposes of Sustainable Development where in Partnership with the Government, and under the New Constitution will provide Good governance with improved Legal Justice dispensation, where Public will Demand for their needs and provide directions to their legislators for service delivery, while focusing on how they wish to be governed, within the code of Ethics Rules of checks and balances, transparency and accountability, Responsibility and Commitment in a shared Public Services delivery. Or else, lazy leaders will be re-called back for poor performances …………This will in essence be a journey to a success story of True Reform Agenda achieved within time frame ….. proving the fact that, in Faith, “Yes” it can done People ! ……

Let us not relax, the struggle is not over, we must continue to endeavour in close watch and observation for the best of results……….

So Go Vote “YES” on the Referendum Day for a New Beginning…..

Cheers !

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

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Compensate all Nyayo-era victims of torture and then prosecute Moi

By PETER WANYONYI

Posted Thursday, July 29 2010 at 18:39

In a welcome departure from the norm in Kenya’s Judiciary, a Nairobi court late last week awarded compensation to 21 Kenyans illegally tortured and detained without trial by former President Moi’s regime.

The compensation comes late: the cases were first filed in 1988, and other cases with similar complaints are still pending in court, while seven earlier cases were concluded last year, with Lady Justice Roselyn Wendoh awarding the victims compensation of Sh1.5 million each.

Allegations of torture at the hands of Mr Moi’s corrupt regime have been made many times – indeed, many contend that Mr Moi did not stop at torture, but that his regime murdered opponents seen as a threat to its survival.

Even hard-boiled pro-democracy activists like Kiraitu Murungi and Gitobu Imanyara – who was the lawyer in the latest case involving these allegations – had to flee into exile when Mr Moi’s security men turned the heat on.

It came as a massive relief to Kenyans when Mr Moi’s Kanu was soundly defeated during the General Election of December 2002.

A line was quickly drawn under State-sponsored torture, as President Kibaki threw the infamous Nyayo House torture chambers open to public tours, and then closed forever.

That was the first step – closing the doors on an unfortunate chapter in our recent history.

It surprises no one that torture and political repression to this extent occurred under Mr Moi’s regime, a period in Kenya’s history that will not be forgotten quickly – such was the repression, economic retrogression and ethnic discrimination under the ruthless regime.

Few were surprised when Mr Moi’s motorcade was pelted with stones as he left President Kibaki’s swearing-in ceremony after the 2002 elections.

The courts, in awarding compensation to the victims of torture, have taken the second step in righting this massive wrong against the people of Kenya.

The compensation is not much, and can never make complete restitution for the evil visited on these Kenyans for merely standing up for what was right.

It is a mere recognition that the State – and Mr Moi, with whom the buck ultimately stopped – were not just wrong in doing what they did, but actually committed criminal offences against Kenyans.

These are people sworn to upholding the Constitution, but who went ahead to arrest, maim, imprison and murder citizens who had done no wrong.

This is why the third and final step in this process is vital. It is not enough for the courts to merely recognise that crimes were committed against the victims of torture by the State.

The responsibility for these crimes must be apportioned accordingly, and criminal justice procedures should be instituted against the perpetrators.

Mr Moi left power eight years ago after the ignominious defeat of his protégé, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, by a coalition of then-opposition politicians and civil society activists.

These people had clearly had enough of his regime’s evil ways.

To President Kibaki’s credit, Mr Moi and his regime’s goons were largely left alone after they were turfed out of power, to the extent that some of the former president’s most loyal acolytes – like Mr William Ruto – even found their way back into government as ministers.

To no one’s surprise, Mr Moi is opposed to the proposed constitution, a document that is strong on the very civil liberties that his regime ruthlessly curtailed.

Indeed, the people who were closely associated with Mr Moi during his ruinous reign – such as Mr Ruto – have also come out against the draft. No surprise there.

It is, however, amazing that none of the politicians in favour of the document have pointed out this consistency.

Mr Moi’s regime was always against respecting the rights of ordinary citizens. It naturally follows that he would be opposed to a constitution that actively seeks to protect those rights.

In the quest to entrench civil liberties, it is crucial that the abusers of such rights – past or present – be brought to book.

This is why the Attorney-General, Mr Amos Wako – or his successor – should open criminal cases against Mr Moi and his erstwhile government’s associates, for the torture of the victims that were recently awarded compensation by the courts.

Anything less than that is unacceptable.

Mr Wanyonyi is an IT professional working in the Middle East. (pwanyonyi@gmail.com)

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