South Africa: Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) – EFF Statement on the Jaggerfontein Mining Tragedy (12.09.2022)

Kenya: The Judiciary – Sponsored Sustained Attack on the Supreme Court on Social Media (12.09.2022)

South Africa: African Transformation Movement (ATM) – ATM to Instruct its Lawyers to Oppose the Unholy Alliance of the DA, Ramaphosa and the Deputy Public Protector (12.09.2022)

Kenya: Raila Odinga Presidential Secretariat – Press Statement (11.09.2022)

Kenya: County Government of Kisumu – Office of the Governor – Message from the Governor to all MCAs in the Kisumu County Assembly (07.09.2022)

Kenya: Elections Observation Group (ELOG) – Press Release (06.09.2022)

Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) – Press Statement on the 2022 General Elections and the Outcome of the Election Petition at the Supreme Court of Kenya (06.09.2022)

Opinion: Kenyatta has disrespected the Courts before…

The ones who was hearing the speech of outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta shouldn’t be surprised that he doesn’t care much for the Supreme Court. The same man called it a Coup d’Etat when it did overturn or rule in favour of Raila Odinga in 2017 Presidential Election Petition. That’s why the state held a second Presidential Election that year before he was sworn into a second term. Therefore, we know he despise the Courts.

Kenyatta is a man who has defied Court Orders. He hasn’t favoured the Judiciary or cared much for it. The independence of the Judiciary has blocked his legislation or important parts of his governing. The Courts has really created trouble for him and that’s because Kenyatta haven’t cared to follow protocol or do it after the 2010 Constitution.

So, when I heard he questioned the Supreme Court ruling today. It follows a pattern. Just like Miguna Miguna is still in Canada. Even after he won the rights to return back to Kenya in the Courts. That’s the sort of rule Kenyatta has aspired too and how he cares about the Courts.

What was most striking in his 7 minutes address was this:

For this is the civic duty of every single Kenyan. In particular, this civic duty requires every citizen to constantly put the truth presented by our constitutional institutions to test. And they must test them for coherence but also for correspondence. They must constantly scrutinize the coherence of the truth given by these institutions and to ask themselves whether the truth has been coherent from one election to another. Has there been a consistent pattern that is acceptable toward democratic ethos? We must ask ourselves is it about numbers or is it about process? Which of these two is it? And can our institutions rule one way in one election and another way in another election without scrutiny? I do invite you Kenyans to keep vigil and, indeed, hold all institutions to account. The second thing we must place under scrutiny is whether the truth given by institutions has correspondence – that is, do the truths given by our institutions correspond with what is observable by the citizens. True beliefs and true judgments must correspond to the actual state of affairs. But do our constitutional institutions meet this threshold? While we must appreciate these institutions, we must also hold them to account at every juncture and their truth has to be consistent and coherent. This is the only way we will build our democracy” (Uhuru Kenyatta, 05.09.2022).

No one should be shocked or in awe by this. Neither should anyone be worried that Kenyatta didn’t congratulate President-Elect William Ruto. Well, Kenyatta wanted his heir to win and that wasn’t happening. Neither did the Azimio prove that there was rigging going on or had evidence or proof, which proved that there. Therefore, Kenyatta has is now questioning the Supreme Court in 2022.

No one should be concerned by this. Especially when Kenyatta dismissed the Supreme Court for their judgment in 2017. We all know he did that back-then and no again the same Court gave an unfavourable ruling, yet again. Kenyatta is showing his disdain and throws the insinuation of doubts. Because it didn’t go in his favour.

We know Kenyatta is sad that the BBI was dismissed and other rulings has gone against him. That’s why we know the man isn’t the sort of fellow who loves or praises the Courts. He prefers getting it his way and the Supreme Court isn’t the place for that. This is why he speaks like this.

That he dismiss and is disgruntled over the Supreme Court judgment isn’t anything new. If he was himself on the ballot. He would have called this a putsch or a coup d’etat. Uhuru Kenyatta is just himself and it’s far from revolutionary… but more reactionary, which is what his know for. Peace.

Kenya: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) – Verdict of the Supreme Court on the Presidential Election (05.09.2022)

Opinion: Odinga never got to Canaan

Today it’s final and there seems to no other way. Every option has been exhausted and the Supreme Court Ruling over the 9th August Presidential Election is settled. The declaration of 15th August 2022 is now the law of the land. This means the loser with the smallest possible margin Raila Odinga didn’t reach in 2022.

Raila Odinga has tried since 1997 to get into the Presidency. Odinga has fought and tried, and never ever given up. No one would have faulted him or been disregarding him in any way. Odinga has fought and justifiably so. In 2017 I felt it was unfair and the second term for Jubilee seemed forced. The Fresh Presidential Elections wasn’t making things any better and now we are here 5 years later; and the Azimio couldn’t deliver or get him there.

Odinga has wanted to go Canaan and the promised land for so long. That has been clear. His only gotten into power or in close association with influence by making handshakes. Either that was Mwai Kibaki or with Uhuru Kenyatta. He himself didn’t get elected or get the majority to settle in. Even if that seemed believable in 2017. However, now? Well, it doesn’t seem so and if it did. There would be more worrying aspects or reports coming out from all corners of the Republic.

The tiredness of the Odinga might have come this time around. It might have been fatigue or even the whole machinery thought it was covered. That’s why it didn’t get across the finish-line in time. Odinga could seem arrogant and ready. It was his “turn” and he was the next in line. Still, the man didn’t get there and now it’s all gone.

Some says Baba the Fifth is the President that Kenya never had. That is true. This is not for the lack of trying. He has sought for it for decades. Built coalitions and parties that others has built their careers around. The Orange Democratic Movement, CORD, NASA and Azimio will be things associated with him. That’s for his role in this structures, movements and coalitions.

If Odinga banked on the Jubilee and Kenyatta’s popularity. Well, that didn’t serve him well. That sort of gamble was not giving him way. No, that has backfired and is evident not being the case. Odinga was close, but it didn’t take him there. That was the whole point of it all.

I’m not writing these things to dismiss or discredit Odinga. Odinga has fought the good fight and been a reformist with a presidential ambition. That final goal was something he never achieved. Odinga fought a lot of other battles and has built a legacy around his name. While that being said, he didn’t overcome the obstacles and found the platform to get ahead. If he had… he would have compete in the Fresh Presidential Elections and would have done it now.

Now we know that both of these is water under the bridge. Odinga will never see the Presidency and be a President. He is a man who was close and who built teams to get there. While these teams and these politicians wasn’t enough. This time it should have been so. Ruto wasn’t that popular and such a beloved character. However, he was still able to play the game and win.

That’s why Azimio have to look into themselves and how they spoiled the race. This should have been in the bank. Was it running on a “third” term of Kenyatta that was spoiling it? I don’t know… but Ruto will be sort of that too. However, he was able to do it and it shocked some people to the core. Now the Supreme Court verdict is out and there is no way back.

There will be people who are lost, feels betrayed and are in a state of mourning. They should be respected and honoured. These people invested into a man and his campaign. These people stood tall and believed in the causes of Odinga. Nevertheless, it was never his time and it’s evident today…

Odinga is the President, Kenya never had and never will have it seems. Raila Odinga, Baba the Fifth was only a dream and it turned into a nightmare. Odinga will be written about and be well respected long after life. He has stood in the test of time. Baba has fought and been on the frontline for rights, justice and liberties. That shall be remembered, but he will also be remembered for never winning and getting into promise land.

He never got to Canaan. He went through the desert and walked in circles, but the Lord Almighty never allowed him to cross River Jordan into the Promised Land. Peace.