“Uhuru for Us” wants supporters to use Facebook on Election Day to campaign for Uhuru!

Uhuru Kenyatta and his team is working overtime to secure the incumbent and the Jubilee Alliance Party another term on the cost of the National Super Alliance (NASA). This can be said with the messages sent the associates this morning. A group called “Uhuru for Us” send messages on mail or SMS saying:

The title of the Message/Mail is: “Have you voted yet? Stop Raila, Save Kenya!”

Polling Stations has been open for three hours. Have you casted your ballot yet?”

Later the message says: “If you have, then tell the world that you have voted for Uhuru on Facebook. It will encourage your Facebook friends to go and vote for Uhuru’s re-election too. Raila’s team is reporting a high turnout in their strongholds”. Lastly it says: “This will likely be a very tight election. We need to get as many votes as possible. Help us build momentum for Uhuru by using your own Facebook network”.

The “Uhuru for Us” are asking for campaigning on the election day and that people themselves are using themselves as promotional tools on the final day. This for the incumbent and to make sure their majority by any means. The “Uhuru for Us” want the world see a picture of many Uhuru voters over the concern of Raila’s. So that the belief that Uhuru is winning. This is insane to do this sort of play in the last minute of the election day. However, this proves the extent of play the Jubilee and their associates do to get re-elected this time.

They could have done it with some tact and honesty, had faith in their own achievements, but clearly that is not enough. They need another PR scoop before all the ballots are cast. Peace.

Kenya: NASA Statement on Voter Turnout and Election-related Military Activity (07.08.2017)

Opinion: Hope Odinga gets to Canaan tomorrow!

“I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. ”Martin Luther King Jr.

I hope for the National Super Alliance (NASA), the whole opposition party coalition and the Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga, which he gets his chance to, cross the river Jordan and get into promise land. However, there are obstacles and uncertainty of it. Even if many of the polls on the social media has been in favor and grand studies before the election has given him a majority.

The reasons are that other political dynasty under the KANU/Kikuyu umbrella of Uhuru Kenyatta and his teammate, the former student of Daniel Arap Moi, DP William Ruto will not let this go easy. Even if he speaks of a peaceful transition, the legacy left behind after this of extra-judicial killings and enormous amounts of corruption scandals. Should certainly tarnish the reputation and give way for other type of leadership. Alas, the situation is not that easy.

The naked eye might say NASA should have it coming with their added bedfellows, with their strength in the partnership between the leaders and their front man, while Jubilee has consolidated their parties into one Alliance Party before the elections. Therefore, they are not a coalition, but one single party.

The fear is that Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) through all sorts of manipulations, either technical or personal breaches will make the government win again. That through the forgery of non-internet connections double up voters in Jubilee stronghold and hire someone in the place of deceased Chris Msando to fix the KIEMS system in favor. If all of this true, than it does not matter how someone vote, when the system screws it in favor of one-party and their delegates. Let us hope Kenyatta is a better sport and as honest as he claims to be.

“In 1966, Jomo Kenyatta isolated Oginga Odinga as Kenya‘s Vice President and the Luos have never forgiven the Kikuyu community for that fallout. Ironically, it is Odinga who had held KANU together when Kenyatta was in detention. Odinga even declined to form a government without Kenyatta when the British invited him to do so. The dismissal of Odinga was very Machiavellian in the way it was executed, because Kenyatta basically baited Odinga into resigning from government. He made it very hard for Odinga to function effectively as his principal assistant for Kenyatta was a very cunning politician. Although he rewarded his followers and supporters, he was also very sensitive to those who appeared popular and tried to become independent of him” (Maurice N. Amutabi – ‘Beyond Imperial Presidency in Kenya: Interrogating the Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki Regimes and Implications for Democracy and Development’ KSR Volume 1, Number 1, December 2009).

I am sure that Raila Odinga remembers the stories from his father and have felt the pain of people dismissing him, as the legacy of KANU, and Kenyatta has followed him; he is the second generation Odinga and the one has been the shadow of the Kenyatta’s. So to this day, he campaigning and steady struggle to become a President. Might finally pay off.

There is still a road ahead, the former Prime Minister, the one who has been so close before and lost to the other dynasty, might reach this time. He might, but the cost and toil to get there must been long. The walking in desert wondering if he comes, if he gets shelter or get support. Even if he has now done so with a group for so long. The NASA and before within CORD.

Odinga has battled and continued, he has been tear-sprayed, his supporters has been detained, his supporters has even died for demonstrating for just causes. While the Jubilee have lingered in power and in secure positions. They have been blasted and warned, they have been scorned and humiliated, but they have continue to pressure on. Not given-in and not given-up. They could have and some might wonder why they did not, that was for the mere fact.

That fact must have been one thing and one thing only, hope. Hope that your turn will come and you will prevail. That one day the Odinga will reach promise land and get the prize to lead and serve the nation at its highest position. We will see what tomorrow bring, if it is rigging, fear of military police and fear of anti-riot police in the streets. If we will see happiness and peace.

We can hope for a new beginning, a new saga and a new story, which entails not the Kenyatta’s, but the Odinga’s. With mere new enforcement and hope for another type of governance. Uhuru Kenyatta has done his mission and done his part, together with William Ruto. Time for new brooms and new whistles to sound.

It should be time for Odinga to cross the river and get into the promised-land, it took so and seemed like it never would happen. Now we can hopefully see it. Peace.

Inspiring words from Tom Mboya at the ‘Symposium on Industrial Development in Africa’ (27. January 1966)

I know that Thomas Joseph Odhiambo (Tom) Mboya was a vital politician in the first part of the independent Kenya. He was a charismatic person, who even got himself on the front-page of the Time Magazine in 1960. His assassination in 1969 are still unanswered, like so many other extra-judicial killings. But that should not overshadow the impact and the wisdom of the man, who helped to form Kenya after Independence. He was part of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) and worked together with Jomo Kenyatta.

His words in this speech, should not be a fading memory, but something that the leaders of the continent should have worked upon. Since some of it has already been proven to be right. I myself wished it was different, since the trade-imbalanced with the former colonial states and the other developed countries. Therefore, the knowledge he had should be enforced now. As there are to many generations who has been lost and hasn’t gotten what they deserved. Here is the pieces of the speech that should be taken to heart.

Meanwhile, we in the poorer. countries are faced with a rapid growth in population and’ with the standards of life demanded by the. Masses. It has been calculated that a 1% increase in the per capita income of an industrialised country increases the demand for. food and raw materials by only 0.6%, but that the same increase in per capita income in a country importing manufactured articles will lead to an increase of 1.8% in the demand for imports. Super imposed on this has been a tendency for the terms of trade to move against the less developed countries. Unless we in Africa build up quickly our domestic services of supply for enough of the industrial products which are required for the modernization of our countries, we will either become increasingly” indebted’ to and “hence” politically dependent on foreign countries, or have our. progress undermined by balance of payments difficulties” (Tom Mboya, 1966).

Whatever industry we attempt to build the same sort of problems, arise an accurate knowledge, of natural resources is required. Although there is much more to be learned we already know that we have in Africa the natural resources to feed a vast range of industries. Cheap energy has to be obtained. While Africa is rich in energy resource only a fraction of them have been harnessed. Industry cannot grow without efficient transport, but we can get ourselves out of’ the vicious circle since new transport links can themselves be justified in strictly commercial terms by the specific development possibilities now opened up, These three subjects natural resources, energy and transport are Vitally important, but they are not on the agenda, of this Conference” (Tom Mboya, 1966).

These words from Mboya, should be cherished and remembered, as the powerful statement it was. That the will of development on own terms was key and that they could not continue with a trade deficit with the developed countries. This has happen since because the loans, the grants and direct aid from the developed countries to the African continent. That has been a paradigm to control and assess the situation in terms of donors, not on the governments who got the funds. Therefore, the circle of aid and donor aid prospered instead of industrial development and other shifts of supply.

There been many other factors as the leadership and the cronyism has eaten budgets and donor aid. We could have hoped the past had listened to Mboya, that the states and republic’s could have followed this. To build nations on dependent on donors, that in the end will work for their own benefit and not for the African development. They will use the aid and donor aid for their own gain and personal benefit for their constituents, not for the African republic. In an ideal world it would be different, but looking through history and you can say otherwise. Since the development aid and the slums are still there, where Tom Mboya left them. The poverty Mboya saw and discussed are there, the names of the streets and nations might be different, but the troubles are the same.

Tom Mboya spoke wisdom and that should be recollected and not forgotten, not only his vital role in Kenya, but beyond. Mboya’s words here should be discussed and used to change political and trade imbalances to benefit own republic’s, federations and kingdoms of Africa. The states deserves to stop the deficit and also develop themselves on their own terms. That is something they have deserved all along, but the International organizations, Multi-National Financial Organizations and Development Banks has stifled this with their creeds, their protocols and their agreements with the state. To get needed funds they have to open economy and stop government subsidizes to support local production in agriculture and industry. So, the history of the neo-colonial Africa, had deserved to follow the paradigm shift Mboya spoke of in 1966. Peace.

Reference:

United Nations – ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA AND CENTRE FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT – Symposium on Industrial Development in Africa, Cairo, 27 January – 10 February 1966 – SPEECH BY TEE CHAIRMAN OF THE ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOE AFRICA THE HONOURABLE TOM MBOYA MINISTER OP ECONOMIC-PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, KMYA, AT THE OPENING OF THE INDUSTRIAL SYMPOSIUM, CAIRO, 27 JANUARY, 1966

Kenya: The High Court nullifies the 400 metres directive of the Polling Stations and shall have access to the Polling Stations declared results!

At the High Court in Nairobi on the 5th August 2017, where Okiya Omtatah Okoiti made a case against Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Attorney General Githu Muigai. The High Court made an important order for the citizens during the elections and to able to follow the counting of the ballots.

The order of Principal Judge Richard Mwongo has ordered on that day: “I declare that there is a legal basis for the establishment of a four hundred metre radius from the centre of a polling station within which persons not involved in the counting of voters may, where necessary at the discretion of the 1st Respondent, (IEBC), not be permitted to be” (High Court, 05.08.2017). So the voters and citizens can stay close to the polling station to make sure the officials and the agents are acting accordingly to protocol. To secure the ballots of the election, so that the voters can stand behind and do their duty as citizens.

Mwongo continues: I declare, however, that where there are residences or homesteads within the radius of four hundred metres from the centre of the polling station, the presiding officer and police officer at a polling station have no authority to evict, remove or handle the inhabitants and residents thereof in any manner which would keep them out or away from their said residence” (High Court, 05.08.2017). So if someone lives inside a short radius of the polling station, the Police and the security officers cannot banish them. They cannot evict them from their homes as the stages of the polling can be followed by the neighbors of the polling station. So they can be as close as they need to be or want to, as it is nullfied. 

The last order of Mwongo: “It is declared that the members of the public shall be afforded access to the counted and signed results either at the entrance to the polling station or at such other place convenient and accessible to the public at the polling station” (High Court, 05.08.2017). So the public should be able to follow the local results from their own station, before the results leave to central or National Talley Centre. Therefore, the locals and the voters of any given polling station can be near to oversee the works of the officials and also the counting. After that they can oversee the declaration forms of the station with the results. As they declare the winner of the place they voted.

This is clearly a victory and gives the public a unique possibility for checks-and-balances. The citizens, the voters and the ones living nearby can monitor and make sure their votes are respected. They can make sure the results are fair and done correctly. This shows the promise of possible transparent election. Where the Security Officers cannot banish and evict people, since they can be waiting for the results and the declarations of the counting. IEBC and the Police has to follow this.

The public needs to know this so they authorities and the government cannot push them away. They can gather around and make sure justice is done to their ballots. Peace.

Kenya: IEBC Internal Memo’s – “Re: Validity of Correctly Marked but Unstamped Ballot Papers” and “Re: Stamping of Ballot Papers” (03.08.2017 & 05.08.2017)

Internal Memo Number 2:

NASA statement on Police Raid on Oppostion Offices in Nairobi (04.08.2017)

Opinion: “I don’t need your vote” message from President Kenyatta is insulting!

It is getting closer to the polls and the secret ballots to be dropped in the boxes at the polling stations on the 8th August 2017. Certainly, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are confident of their role and to become incumbent in power. This seems for them to be within reach.

In a republic full of tribes and with a former problem of ethnic squabbles, that has created tensions between the tribes. You should think that the political being and second generation leader like Uhuru Kenyatta knew better. Still, he uses tricks of Kikuyu to control, the same is done by the other big ethnic groups like Kalenjin and Luo. The discussion I will bring into, is not the difference between Uhuru and the predecessors like Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Arap Moi.

But what he has done that is insulting. He has told them he doesn’t need their votes. That their secret ballots and their voice into the government didn’t matter to him. This is what have told the people of Turkana, Makueni (Kamba) and Kakamega (Luhya). These people deserve better, they all are as important as the Kalenjin, Kikuyu and Luo. They are all part of the republic. This should be basic for the man in charge and for the man who has run the republic for a term already.

Still, it isn’t visible to him. When he can insult them on the campaign trial. Be so proud and so cocky, just tell them-off. Thanks, but no thanks brothers and sisters. You don’t count and I don’t need you. I will sit in SUV and ride my Presidential Convoy without you. I might do some government projects, but that is more for PR, not because you matter to me. That is what he could have said to the people of Turkana, the Kambas and the Luhya. Since initial that what it means when he don’t need their votes.

As a leader for the whole republic and someone who has been the highest official for the republic, he should say he wants anyone to vote for him and fight for that vote. He could have told in a rally in Nairobi: “I don’t need the people of Kibera”, later in the speech say: “I only needs the people of Karen and Langata”. Let’s be clear, President Kenyatta hasn’t said that, but he could have at this point. Since he has already disrespected three tribes and counties.

A man who has a run a republic should know better and should be more humble. Show some humility and know that he is there because of them. Even if they didn’t vote for him last time, he still represented them for the years of the term. That should go into his veins and changed his mind. Because the way he act, he act so entitled and lacks respect of the people.

I wish it was different, I wish that President Kenyatta showed the people some humility and respect…

Is that to much to ask for the leader and the representative, that the person actually feels he needs every single vote and every single tribe? Is it in 2017 to expect that the leadership of Nairobi doesn’t care about where in Kenya your reside, but still wants to see after your needs? Is that too much?

Seems so, since he can disrespect so many people. Hope the Kenyans make a good decisions in their coming election. Also, we shall hope that the IEBC extra-judicial killing Chris Msanda isn’t to secure the possible rigging together with the 1,3 million extra ballots printed for the election. Peace.

MP aspirant for Emgwen Constituency Meshack Kimutai shot in Kapsabet!

In a race of five aspirant MPs in Emgwen Constituency, there are now only four lefts just five days from the polls. There are possible MPs left behind these are Elias Ngetich, Wilfred Bugei, Alex Kimutai Kosgei and Dr. Kenneth Meli. The one that has left the race is Meshack Kimutai. Not because the person wanted to leave his political ambition, but because a violent attack on happen today. He might survive today, but that can only the doctors and the healing of the wounds say. 

Meshack Kimutai was today shot four or five times in Kapsabet, this was the Jubilee MP candidate. The killers left in a Toyata Maroon Premio.

There are conflicting reports which says this:

Reports reaching my desk says that Meshack Kimutai MP aspirant Emgwen Constituency was today beaten senselessly by his supporters that he had not paid and currently in ICU. We are still following on this reports” (Kiplangat Abraham Mutai, 03.08.2017).

So some says he is beaten other says he was killed by four shots. The other says he is injured after a beating by people he had promised or owed monies to.

Later report came this:

It is important to note that Meshack Kimutai Jubilee parliamentary candidate for Emgwen constituency has not passed on yet though in critical condition fighting for his life at Mediheal Eldoret.

He was shot five times this evening by unknown people in Kapkangani area while on campaign trail” (Fred Ochieng’ Madanje, 03.08.2017).

What the end of game of melee that happe n in Kapsabet and who did what. Is not easy to know, but the MP aspirant are hurt and shot. It is now in the hands of the medical staff and God to decided his destiny. That is as he is at the Mediheal Eldoret and more news will come, either positive note or yet another death by force during the final days of this Kenyan Election. Peace.

Kenya: Senior Counsel Bar letter to Justice David Maraga – “Re: The Honourable Mr. Justice George Odunga” (02.08.2017)