Burundi: Note de Plaindoyer sur la mise en Application de la Convention des Nationes Unies contre la Corruption par le Burundi emise lors de la 9th Session du Groupe d’Examen de l’Application de la Convention des Nations Unies contre la Corruption prevue du 03 Au 5 Septembre 2018 a Vienne en Autriche (03.09.2018)

Opinion: If the Cabinet scraps NMS and UNRA, what about the weird expenditures at the Presidential Affairs?

As the giant Cabinet of the Republic are planning to scrap Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and National Medical Stores (NMS), that these are going back into their ministries. Because of how these two organizations has supposed wasted government funds and spending. The National Resistance Movement (NRM) knows the ordeal and the reasons for that, but they are instead scrapping the organizations, to keep the deals in-house and not as sole organization doing the operations as expert organizations for the government. That is why this will go back to Ministry of Works and Transport for UNRA and Ministry of Health for NMS. I have one more vital idea for the Cabinet members, but don’t expect them to so.

Today’s news:

The Cabinet has taken a decision to scrap Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) and National Medical Stores and transfer their mandate to the mother ministries to reduce wastage of resources. According to a source, the decision was taken in two meetings with the first held on August 20 and the last one on Monday last week. The source said President Museveni was unhappy with the UNRA performance, especially in the rural areas where roads are impassable yet it is where majority of votes for his NRM party are” (Andrew Bagala – ‘UNRA to be scrapped in merger of government agencies’ 03.09.2018 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/UNRA-to-be-scrapped-merger-government-agencies/688334-4740804-qvrsbnz/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_DailyMonitor).

As these ideas are noble, but we know the reasons in itself. More direct control and cannot use the organizations as faults for the corrupt, graft and embezzlement anymore. The Cabinet are thinking this will stop this, but they are just making sure the deals and agreements made with tenders and buying, will be happening in-house and not by experts in the same regard as today. That is the real reaction to what is happening with this.

My advise would be find ways to merger and move responsibility from the Office of the President, State House and Office of the Prime Minister. As these could be moved to their representative ministries, as the Youth Livelihood Programme should end elsewhere. The budgets for the Residential District Commissioners are put under the President, this should be put Minister of Local Government and not under the President.

Like what does the budget of Internal Security Organization and External Security Organization lay under neath Office of the President, as this should be under the Ministry of Internal Affairs or Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As well as all the development expenditure that is parts of the Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister. Both of these should have been put under fitting expertise of certain ministries, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Works and Transport and so on. As well, as the ones fitting Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs. All these ministries could have connected these projects under the State House, Office of the President and Office of the Prime Minister.

Like what does the Uganda AIDS Commission does under the Office of the President, shouldn’t this be under the Ministry of Health? Why does the Office of the Prime Minister have the Disaster Preparedness and not the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the Ministry of Local Government?

This is just what I wonder about, because, if the Cabinet is serious about scrapping UNRA and NMS, why are not the government looking into the weird expenditures at the Office of the Prime Minister, State House or even the Office of the President?

They should really ask and wonder. If they are not doing this as a political stunt, as we know how corrupt these enterprises are, but will it make a difference to cut out the middle-man? Peace.

Kenya: DPP’s Press Statement on Investigations into the Allegations of Misappropriation of Public Funds through Mismanagement of Fuel Consumption (31.08.2018)

Kenya: DPP’s Press Statement on Investigations into the Allegation of Irregular Purchase of Maize by Officials of the National Cereals and Produce Board from Traders (30.08.2018)

Kenyatta’s Legacy will not be his fight against corruption: But the staggering growth of it!

I have issues with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Corruption. He has talked so long about battling it. However, nothing of substance happens. There are some political arsonists who is taken out, now and then. But the systems is more of the same. There are parts of judiciary and parts of government that are supposed to work directly against Corruption. Neither does them seem very interested to touch the high-ranking ones and their connected elites. Which eats of the embezzlement, graft, kick-backs and money laundering. This is done at a scale, which isn’t funny.

Why I don’t believe the President isn’t only because of NYS Scandal 1.0 and 2.0, the Ministry of Health tricks, land-grabbing by random individuals within the government or the Eurobond. But because of the report alone, which stated in June 2018, that Kenyatta’s government since 2013 until 2018 the rate of corruption had grown with 240%. That is why I doubt that this man, who is in his second term and final. Really cares about the fight on Corruption. He can lie to Western Media and the BBC. But the reality is that his government is rampant with Grand Corruption and we know it.

Some key quotes from yesterday:

It is something I am committed to do. It is what I want my legacy to be—the fight against corruption, and transparency, and to ensure that the nation’s resources are used in the manner it should be” (…) “As a government, as an individual, I am committed to this fight. This is an animal, this beast of corruption, is an animal that we intend to slay. What is remaining now is for our independent judiciary to do its job, and give justice for and on behalf of the people of Kenya” (…) “We can even go back to my grandfather, great grandfather. . . What we own, and what we have is known to the public. If there is an instance where someone can say what we have done is not legitimate, say it, and we are ready to face any court” – In an exclusive interview with the BBC Hard Talk’s Zeinab Badawi, President Uhuru Kenyatta” (Patrick Lang’at – ‘Kenyatta: Lifestyle audit can go back to my great grandfather’ 29.08.2018 link: http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/ea/Uhuru-Kenyatta-on-Lifestyle-audit/4552908-4734014-143fnxi/index.html).

I have hard time believing this will be his legacy, the fight against corruption. Especially with his track-record. He is more likely about to tarnish the stability of the Kenyan Shilling and add enough debt to the Chinese. So, they have to trade away vital Mombasa Port or even rent away the whole Standard Gauge Way. As the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is made for that sort of transactions. That is if he is careful with his outstanding debts, as the state officials are eating more and more of the tab. This while the president claims to fight the rampant grand corruption.

He is maybe playing like a big-shot on BBC. However, when he comes home, it is back to our time to eat. He can be the king and the fighter abroad, but when he comes home. He will stay cool, only take out the ones who are in his way or to prove to point. The rest will get away with the evident thieving and grand corruption. That is to be expected, the ones who is charged is political motivated and done to take down, the previous power or the ones the Jubilee doesn’t need.

If this was his legacy, all the governing bodies wouldn’t have become worse in his time, but had stopped growing since Kibaki. Alas. That isn’t the case. Peace.

Byandala aquitted for the Project 1034 Mukono-Katosi Scandal: Thieving is apparently legal!

The Project 1034 Mukono-Katosi Scandal that is going as far back as 2009-2010, but the official starting point of the project was in 2014, as the scheduled end of the project was in 2017. This was the works of the Ministry of Works Abraham Byandala. He got siphoned money to a non-existent company, which didn’t work on others than imaginary stuff for years. The bills that the state totally paid was up to 24 billion Ugandan Shillings. That this man was in-charge of and took over the years.

This scandal isn’t new, the documentation between Byandala, the companies and Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) is all there, but that wasn’t good enough for him to suffer. That is because of his connection and that he is married to the upper-echelon of society. If he was an ordinary con-man he would linger in jail, but since he wears a suit and is connected. He could walk like nothing after a prolonged case and now they are clearing him of the charges. That happens as it has gone years since he ate this money and the state is ready to move on.

That the National Resistance Movement (NRM) are above the laws is proven with judgment like these. As the former Minister made up a company, siphoned money into the accounts of the make belief and made paperwork for possible road-works, without anything being delivered. The state paid for nothing and was still billed. They paid for ghosts and an a mirage made by the Minister.

This is like a really bad scam of the people and whoever carried the footed bills for company, which was non-existent. That shows the nerve of the NRM, as they are charging whoever oppose them, but their own thieves they are allowing freedom.

That Byandala has stolen billions of shillings is known. This was done while he was in power and he did it with others. As they tried all tricks to hide it, but it leaked and hit the public. As the prices of the road between Mukono-Katosi becoming to huge. The state was continuing to paying for a projects that lasted forever. That is why this is are real injustice. The people didn’t get the roads and their funds was taken by a Minister appointed by the President.

That is why this is insulting. As Byandala is walking away without a scratch, without an inch of pain and could take the billions like nothing. Peace.

Kenya: DPP’s Press Statement on the Arrest a Prosecution of Deputy CJ Lady Justice Philemena Mbeta Mwilu in relation to Corruption (28.08.2018)

Opinion: There is a 33 Percentage chance that DP Ruto was hurt by that IPSOS Survey!

The constant, perennial and unending headlines and opinion polls about me is sponsored by our competitors because they cannot match our development records” – Deputy President William Ruto

There are certain leaders that are afraid of their shadow, one of them is now apparently, Deputy President of Kenya, William Ruto. Whose been by a Game Changers Survey by IPSOS saying that he is the most corrupt politician in the Republic with a 33 percentage margin.

What the same survey showed there was lack of believe that the corrupt legislators or politicians would be put behind bars as well, the total was only 17 %. That shows, they have reasonable answers for the survey, as the likeliness of that to happen is small anyway. However, I will be commenting on the numbers and the answers after from DP Ruto.

That because he is really defensive and hurt by the people’s feedback. He calls it work to hurt him. If he had delivered a development record, there would be stadiums and lack of growing corruption. That is what has surged, the growing debt, austerity measures from the IMF and growing corruption together. That is a record I wouldn’t smile about, but cry, because I did this to own people. The people I represent.

DP Ruto should consider what he has done in office, has his wealth has sky-rocketed, he has gotten more assets, companies and land. Ruto knows this and the Kenyans knows this too. The Game Changers Survey shows that people are clear whose the most corrupt in their eyes.

He should maybe be more transparent of his growing estates, his village project, his hotels, his newspapers and growing empire in general. As the former walking preacher is suddenly richer, than God. That should put the imagination on most of the public. Since the money-train started to pour-in as quickly as he gotten into power and became the side-kick of Uhuru Kenyatta. Before that, he didn’t own that much and therefore, he was lucky to switch from Odinga to Kenyatta for political and economical gain.

Ruto cannot think everyone is blind and not seeing this. That he can fetch the word and blow it back. Since his family isn’t of a political dynasty, neither of blue-blood or old elites whose owned the Republic. Therefore, the rise of wealth has been extravagant in all ways.

DP Ruto should suck it in and wonder if people wasn’t more skeptical as he can donate millions every weekend, while his salary isn’t close to the donations. Therefore, people know he has the hand in the cookie-jar and wonder how much he is eating. This was his time to eat and plans to continue. He just want people to blind to it.

That is not how it works. With the perks, comes the jerks and time for him to go public and ask for forgiveness for his thieving. Not just go church and lie for what it is worth. Peace.

EACC: Arrest of Member of Parliament for Embakasi North Hon. James Mwangi Gakuya and Three Others (22.08.2018)

Opinion: MPs Security Detail is prepared to be modern day Santana Scandal!

Shiish, there are just some news that doesn’t capture your eyes quick enough. I have read the letter, but didn’t capture all the details, neither the costs. However, there was several of gentleman at the Daily Monitor, that did. Therefore, I am writing here today, because of the possible cost of buying cars for MPs new security detail. This has been ordered by the President and his words is law. No matter how expensive or how insane it is.

Here is the case from today:

“On June 29, President Museveni ordered Finance minister Matia Kasaija to urgently procure bullet-proof cars with “sharp shooters” from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to protect lives of the MPs against what he termed “terrorists”. However, he did not give specifics on the cost of the vehicles and other related expenditures. Daily Monitor interviews with car manufacturers revealed that a 2017/18 model bullet-proof Land Cruiser pick-up costs about $520,000 (about Shs1.9b) while a 2017/18 model bullet-proof Hilux pick-up costs about $166,000 (Shs630m). Therefore to procure bullet-proof Land Cruisers for the 456 MPs at Shs1.9b each, the government would pay out Shs866b while to acquire 2017/18 bullet-proof Hilux model at Shs630m, it would cost government Shs287b” (Solomon Arinaitwe & Moses Kyeyune – ‘MPs security cars to cost Shs1 trillion’ 13.07.2018 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/MPs-security-cars-cost-Shs1-trillion/688334-4660322-shcp27z/index.html).

This here deal is made for corruption and for ghost costs appearing out of nowhere. This here is just built for that. It is amazing if the government starts procuring, knowing with its history and misuse of state funds. This is the perfect blend, buying vehicles and add-ons on the spread-sheet, claim later added cost without explaining where the funds went. If not order things that never appear. That is also a beauty.

With this in mind, here is the old story that could be re-produced by buying the security detail:

“However, in mid-1988 when Balaki Kirya, minister of state in office of the President in charge of security went to Spain to sign an agreement, he found 260 Santana ‘Land-rovers’ valued at $6.1 million had already been shipped while the agents/lobbyists were negotiating for the importation of another 260 ‘Land-rovers’ now valued at $8 million. The saga leaked to the press. The Weekly Topic of May 3, 1989 had a lead story: ‘Old schemers at their game again, STOP MISUSING PRESIDENT OFFICE’. When contacted, officials from the National Treasury said the purchase was done without the knowledge of the Bank of Uganda (BoU). However, from the BoU archives, on April 8, 1988, a memorandum on the foreign exchange position, by the governor indicated among other payments to be made in the year was for the 260 Land-rovers from Spain for the President’s office and 600 Land-rovers for the ministry of Defence as well as the army uniform from Spain” (Eriasa Mukiibi Sserunjogi – ‘High-profile corruption scandals registered under NRM’ 24.02.2013 link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/High-profile-corruption-scandals-registered-under-NRM/688334-1702448-ndh6w6z/index.html).

I wouldn’t be amazed if the Ministry of Defence, the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister would make a scheme worth paying off for. They would secure kick-backs and additional funds, this is a too important project and the safety of the MPs is the highest priority. Everyone knows that. Not that this is misusing of funds and making sure the MPs are driving around like hostages in their Republic. Nah, that is not important at all.

That the 456 MPs who already are allocated money for cars and upkeep of them. Still, they need a second one, with specialized produced safety gear, seems more like they are traveling past war-zones, than friendly neighbourhoods, what about the actual people that live there, are they safe?

Well, that was bit of subject. However, the reality is that this is made for corruption. Someone in the regime will eat and use this as package to get loaded. We can just wonder who and who will be put in charge, who will fake needed equipment and who will give away knock-offs instead of the real deal.

This MPs security deal can be a gold-mine to the right individual. However, whoever that might be, he has to remember to give the king his cut. That meaning the President in the State House, if not your see quickly the other side of the barrel. He has no issues getting rid of people. That is proven in history too.

I wish I could be hopeful, but to me, they are cooking another Santana Scandal. This time it might be the Hilux Scandal or the Land Cruiser Scandal of 2018.

I just know we will get there, but how, that is up to the magicians within the Kings court. Peace.