Kenya: Defenders Coalition – Defenders Coalition Election Watch 2022 – August 10th, 2022 – 20:00 HRS (10.08.2022)

Kenya: Media Council of Kenya – Media Transmission of Presidential Election Results (10.08.2022)

Opinion: Mutabazi only thinks about his own needs…

Joshua Mutabazi whose candidature for Bukimbiri County (Kisoro) seat was withdrawn by his party, NUP in favor of FDC candidate James Owebeyi has crossed to NRM” (NTV Uganda, 10.08.2022).

It wasn’t long ago that the National Unity Platform (NUP) withdrew their candidate in the up-coming by-election in Bukimbiri county in Kisoro district. It is just mere days since the effects of the Unity Statement came into affect and made the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) the “sole” candidate of the opposition in the by-election. However, as things are turning, the words of the 19 year old student surely turned bitter.

The not so seasoned politician who showed finesse character. Has had a change of heart. We don’t know what swayed him or what the National Resistance Movement (NRM) offered the young man. Whatever it was… it wasn’t serving the nation or the struggle for liberation. No it was most likely for his own needs and not what the country needed.

Just read his statement as he withdrew his candidacy just the other day…

Joshua Mutabazi statement:

But if, its for the people, but if it was for liberation, but had it been for us then why wait long. We cant keep claiming condemning and consoling. I choose to bridge the struggle but most importantly draw lines between what one needs and what the country needs. What the country needed a decade back was our leaders to be one, we are late. Its my turn, I wont delay therefore announce my withdrawal from the parliamentary seat by-election of the latter mentioned jurisdiction in favor and full support for united struggle. As the country’s need to have united forces of Change ages daily, I and my party decided to take it upon ourselves. If you have ever experienced injustice and by the ungodliness, then you are a candidate to stand against the same. “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty. Matthew 23:11-12-11-12 MSG If you are unwilling to make an early sacrifice in life, you’ll be beggars and slaves to the men who did” (Joshua Mutabazi – STATEMENT ON MY WITHDRAWAL FROM THE BUKIMBIRI COUNTY PARLIAMENT SEAT BY-ELECTION, 06.08.2022).

The young man knew perfectly well the deal and what sort of struggle it is out there. The path that his chosen is a road for himself. That is with whatever cherries or dealings the NRM has offered. This is short-term benefits, but in the long-run… his not useful or anything of value for the NRM. No, his just another bought cadre who they were able to corrupt ahead of a by-election. He will be useful as Ashburg Katto or anyone else taken from the NUP. The associates of Bobi Wine who turned the other way.

Mutabazi haven’t even carried himself in a whole campaign. He did the right thing and said the words that was wisely written in the statement. As the party in their efforts of solidarity and planned joint-ventures had to drop-out of certain races to show unified front against the NRM. That’s just a mere fact and Mutabazi isn’t the only one who had to withdraw and won’t be the last either. Especially, if the parties continues with this practice and belief of joint-campaigning to show a vast difference from the NRM.

Mutabazi is unwillingly to sacrifice and will become a beggar or a slave to the system. That’s the choice he made… when he decided not to follow the struggle, but took a choice for his own ends. The young man is in his rights to do so, but he abandoned the struggle and the life of sacrifices. He has chosen the life of cronyism and becoming corrupted by the regime itself. That’s why he gave up on trying to be part of change, but instead joining with the status quo. It is tragic, but that’s the path he has chosen.

When you have opened this door, there is no turning back. People know what you do and who you are. You weren’t the man you made to believe. Instead you sold out and that will forever be a stain on your name. That’s the choice he made and now he has to deal with it. Peace.

Kenya: Elections Observation Group (ELOG) – ELOG Press Statement on the Voting and Closing of Polling Stations for the 9th August 2022 General Elections (10.08.2022)

Opinion: The maturity of the Kenyan election is commendable

I believe the candidates conceding have received their results, this is a very transparent process” Wafula Chebukati (10.08.2022).

The happenings since the polls of the 2022 elections in Kenya is just positive. Yes, there been misgivings, some candidates who has acted out and should be punished for it. However, the bigger picture is a good one. The candidates, incumbents and whatnot has been showing restraint, but also just been sincere.

This could have gone either, which way. The representatives could have acted all out after losses. Career politicians could gone on a rampage and been violent. However, they have instead conceded and showed a peaceful manner of transition. The Governors, MCAs, MPs or Senators has all taken into account the will of the people and seen it wasn’t their time. That should be commended. Because, these has been in the spotlight and been able to win before. However, this time around they are either silent or conceding with honour.

There are giants and big-men who has fallen prey in this elections. People who are part of dynasties and the long time serving politicians. It has been people who are associated with former political rising parties and now losing out. This is all happening and the people has chosen another path this time around.

We are seeing Moses Kuria, Gideon Moi, Jeremiah Kioni, Amos Kimunya, Alfred Keter, Nixon Korir and William Chepkut all losing their seats. They wasn’t able to win their campaigns and other took it. This is why they will not be Governors, MPs or Senators. They will go back to become private citizens and outside of representing government at various stages. That shows something about this election.

We don’t know who will be the winner or get the huge benefit across the Republic. We can only speculate, but the results of the Presidential and the total picture across the political landscape isn’t yet clear. The Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya Alliance will both work to look the best and confident, as the balance sheet is not filled out just yet.

This anxious awaiting the tally and pronounced results can be hectic for anyone. The unknown, but hopefully the elections locally will come out. The map of parties and alliance winners will be more clear. As we are awaiting the full verdict of the announcement of the Presidential elections. Because, all eyes goes there and both sides are trying to make seem like they are winning.

Time will really tell. What we do know is that the public is awaiting the results. The leaders themselves wants to know and the new leadership is on the horizon. The current administration is turning over to a new one, no matter what. Kenyatta’s two terms are over, but we don’t know who his turning over too.

The public did their duty and now the machine has to ensure and safeguard the results. That is what is clear. We can just eagerly await and hope for a better tomorrow. The era of Jubilee and Kenyatta is soon over. There will be another day, a day we don’t know. If it is Blue or Yellow. We clearly don’t know yet. It will be either, because the two other candidates has no chance and they can just reside at home. They are going nowhere. Peace.

Kenya: National Police Service – Security Status during the Ongoing General Election of 9/8/2022 (09.08.2022)

Nigeria: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Amb. Soni Abang: The Ignorance of a Politician on Sabbatical (09.08.2022)

Kenya: National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) – Press Statement (08.08.2022)

Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF): Christian Professionals Press Statement on the Upcoming Elections – Accept and Move on! (08.08.2022)

Busongola County South By-Election: Three major candidates running…

The Electoral Commission in Kasese has cleared the first candidate to vie for the Busongora South by-election scheduled for August 18th, 2022. NUP’s Mbaju Jackson Kathika was dully nominated at 11:00 am. Having been nominated, he is optimistic about victory in the polls” (NBS Television, 08.08.2022).

The increasing number of NRM members opting to run as Independents in the Busongola by-election in Kasese district is giving party officials a headache. The party officials are worried that the numbers might put pressure on the NRM flag bearer should they be nominated. This was revealed during an NRM Delegates Conference to flag off Mujungu Gideon as the party’s flag bearer” (NBS Television, 07.08.2022).

In Kasese district in the Busongola South By-Election scheduled for the polls on the 18th August 2022. There are already three major candidates. The NRM own flag-bearer Thembo Gideon Mujungu who won in the General Election of 2021 and was recently “nullified” in the courts. That’s why the county is again having elections for the seat in Parliament.

The other important flag-bearers are the National Unity Platform Jackson Kathika Mbaju, the former MP (FDC, 2016-2021) and who ran as an independent in 2021, but is returning as a NUP Flag-bearer in 2022. He was the runner-up in 2021, as the NUP flag-bearer of 2021 was Michael Masereka and he came in at 9th out of 10 candidates. So, they went for a more viable option this time around.

While the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) own flag-bearer is Kighema Alozious Baguma. In the 2021 elections he came third and after the then independent candidate Mbaju. That’s why this campaign and by-election will be interesting. Mbaju lacked about 100 votes to win over Mujungu in the General Elections, while Baguma needed about 700 votes to conquer the NRM flag-bearer. Therefore, these three are neck-in-neck.

We should also wonder if Kafunda Boaz returns to the polls again. As his a former MP (2011-2016) for the region, but only came in 6th of 10. Maybe he wants the “pure democracy” as he wanted applause for celebrating the arrest of former Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi. Well, time will tell really.

Here is another contested race and Kasese has been a stronghold for the FDC. That has been well known for some time. That’s why at one point they had all MPs, but now times are maybe changing. However, it is interesting that the NUP picked up a former FDC MP and former Independent for this race. This will certainly make it contested and make it harder to gain the total majority of one of the opposition. That will benefit the NRM flag-bearer and could be a reason for victory. This is just speculation, even as we all know that the NRM state machinery is in the works and eventually the malpractices and the intimidation will start. That’s why by-elections looks like war-zones and not “democratic inspired events” anymore.

It is also interesting that the NUP is fielding a candidate, as the NUP knows the history of Kasese. As they have a statement of unity and planned to work together in elections. They are certainly doing so elsewhere in By-Elections. However, right here… they are seemingly very keen on contesting. I wonder how that will play out or if this is a strategy by both parties.

Busongola South By-Election will be something to look out for. There are so many flag-bearers that this will turn interesting… Peace.