Odinga has become a Jubilee Stooge: Proof? Praising ODM MPs for voting “Yayes” on added Taxes!

You knew the handshake between Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta would have ramifications, as the Jubilee and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) have gone into partnership with that. This might have de-escalated the tensions, but also killed all real opposition. As the Wiper Democratic Movement (WPM), Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya (FORD-K) and Amani National Congress (ANC) have to figure their place, as the shift of power within the ODM have been apparent. That was also shown with ODM taking the Senate Minority Seat for Sen. James Orengo instead of NASA Co-Principal Moses Wetan’gula.

While you know the Thirdway Alliance are fishing for relevancy too, but however, this piece isn’t about the death of NASA (National Super Alliance), as that died on the Building Bridging Initiative. As them as an official opposition went gone in the wind. The shake between Kenyatta and Odinga settled this, therefore, he has gotten off the hook. Odinga are now really showing his loyalty to the handshake, as he wants to help the Jubilee, even when it costs for all citizens. The pains of these taxes will not hurt the elite or the ones in Parliament. The proof of that, is shown by his statement to his own ODM MPs for voting for and being loyal to Jubilee. Just read this statement!

In a statement released by his spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, the former Prime Minister lauded the MPs who stood by the party’s position during the session that was marred with controversy. “Raila Odinga wishes to thank all Orange Democratic Movement members of Parliament who observed the principle of party discipline and stood by the Party and NASA’s resolutions to back the Finance Bill in the National Assembly on Thursday. “Mr Odinga, therefore, thanks those members who, despite different concerns, were able to honour their word and commitment to the party and looked at the larger picture in line with the party and the coalition’s dream of finding longer-term solutions to the country’s ages old problems,” the statement read in part” (Michael Musyoka – ‘ODM Leader Raila Odinga Thanks ODM MPS Who Passed Tax Law’ 22.09.2018, link: https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/33352-odm-leader-raila-odinga-thanks-odm-mps-who-passed-tax-law).

This ages old problems are newly created and amplified by the coalition and by the Jubilee government, which has created the shortfall and the deficit. Odinga are now not caring or can say words against corruption. Since he has turned the blind eye to the loans, the Eurobonds and the corruption scandals, as they are financed by these new taxes and overseas funding. Kenyatta knows this and must be giddy. He has a loyal stooge who will follow the needs of the government without any cost. Which is officially opposition, but acting as loyal as the Cabinet or Government.

These ODM people could now just become Jubilee, as there is hard to see anything significant different. They are just from other wards and represent other constituency. The Finance Bill will really hurt the public and make life more expensive, even close more of the poorer parts of society from banking services. As they cannot afford the Mobile Money or the Transfer of cash in general. This is what is happening and Odinga, said to his people: “well done, showing discipline and following orders, as you are now apart of the ones overtaxing the public”.

The ODM and Odinga is because of the handshake, just showing contempt of their trust in him. As he seemed like someone who would be a contrast to Kenyatta, now he just seems like another 50 Shades of Grey version of him. The only difference is the suits and the way of addressing the press. The rest is just the facade and not the reality. As the handshake is really bitter now, and the ones that pays the cost is the citizens.

NASA is dead, the Opposition is marginalized and worthless, the waiting game for 2022 will feel like forever. Odinga could just another fellow in the Jubilee, because he acts like it, when he doesn’t act against the vile taxation and actually praise the ODM MPs for rallying behind that. Peace.

SPLM/A-(IO): Resolution of the SPLM/A-(IO) National Liberation Council (NLC) Meeting on the Ratification of the R-ARCSS (22.09.2018)

President Kagame warns the MPs on their Swearing-In Ceremony!

You would think that the opening of a new Parliament should be a joyful day for the new Members of Parliament and the other representatives, as they are starting a new legislative career and also become a vital part of the government. Instead, a major part of the speech made by the President Paul Kagame is more of fear and intimidation, than of trying to tell what is their mission, the plans for this term or even scheduled affairs for this Parliament by the Executive. That really just shows the passion and heart for the Republic, that Kagame has.

I have taken a piece of the Transcript to prove what he was saying, and that the President says this. Shows his attitude and his will power to control. This is not said by a man, whose peaceful or really caring about the lives he touches with his power. As Kagame are saying, if your saying things, which I deem as not true, you might end in prison like these so-called political stars. This shows, that it wasn’t really mercy, but they might end back there if they doesn’t follow the will of the President.

Our political system is to mind our own business not to mind other people’s business. We have become familiar with that kind of political system whereby those who have stolen or made other mistakes are out there talking about political issues in their countries. So, they are hosted but they should know that they cause problems to their hosts and to Rwandans in general as well. After they had taught you that they would host you in case of anything because they will do it in the name of someone who wants to see a change here in Rwanda. In Rwanda things will change according to they way we want them to, not according to how others wish. Recently, as usual, because it is not the first time as a way to solve those problems, we have mercy, not mercy as such but as a way to solve problems. If we did not give clemency, how many people would still be in prison? We would still have hundreds of thousands in jail because that is where they should be. But to build our country, we made the decision to rehabilitate our citizens and enable them to contribute to our country. Recently, when we released people including the political stars as from outside the country, that it is how we do it, it is not for the first time. But some people were saying that they did not and cannot ask for forgiveness but said it was because of the pressure. Which pressure here? In Rwanda, it is not pressure we respond to, it is our own thoughts. Where this country comes from has taught us that we must refuse to be a submissive people. If you keep on saying so, you will find yourself back in jail” (Paul Kagame, 19.09.2018 – ‘President Paul Kagame’s full speech after the swearing in of newly elected MPs’ IGHE, link: http://en.igihe.com/news/president-paul-kagame-s-full-speech-after-the.html).

President Kagame is really showing his force and lack of tolerance. Not that this is new, because intimidation and fear is his tools of control. Now he has to tell this to the MPs as well, so they know that they have to follow him and not speak ill of him or the Republic. Because if they do so, they are not following the wish of him and his closest allies.

This sort of speech shows his true character, as he wouldn’t do this in an international forum or as an African Union Chairman. Then he will be polished and sound like a decent man. But the ones that has followed his career, knows he is a gangster uniformed into the Executive of the Republic. He is maybe dressing smart, but his acts are sinister and use of arms have never been far away from him. The President is clearly also offering this to his MPs.

The MPs should now know, that the prisoners who has been offered pardon, can easily return and if they question the President’s power. They could follow them behind bars. As the thoughts of the President is the ones that matter, not the other voices. If you listen to them, you might serve time, as your a submissive soul, who listen to others than Paul. Peace.

Adjust UN force in Abyei to current realities, peacekeeping chief urges Security Council (21.09.2018)

Amidst an increase in criminal activity in the Abyei area, which is contested by Sudan and South Sudan, the United Nations top peacekeeping official on Thursday called for deployment of additional police units, to enhance the UN’s focus on maintaining law and order there, and furthering peace between local communities.

DAKAR, Senegal, September 21, 2018 – The proposed additional personnel – both formed police units and individual officers – are within the current troop ceiling authorized for the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, told the Security Council.

UNISFA was established by the Security Council in 2011, amid deteriorating tensions in the Abyei region – a resource-rich area contested by the two neighbouring countries – shortly before South Sudan became independent. It is tasked with monitoring the flashpoint border, facilitating delivery of humanitarian aid, and is also authorized to use force to protect civilians and humanitarian workers in the region.

In his briefing to the 15-member Security Council, Mr. Lacroix presented a set of recommendations to adjust UNISFA to the current situation on the ground to allow it to best support the Governments of Sudan and So

The “modest adjustments” would enable the UN peacekeeping mission to better support border demarcation efforts by the African Union Border Programme, including the “much-needed” sensitization of border communities, said the senior UN official.

The recommendations envisage the establishment of two further sector headquarters and team sites with the “Safe Demilitarised Border Zone” to make the border region safer and more secure.

“Troops would be transferred from the Abyei area to achieve full operating capability for the border monitoring mechanism,” elaborated Mr. Lacroix, noting that such a move would harmonize the “diminishing military threat with the corresponding-reduction in military need” for the region.

Mr. Lacroix also briefed the Council on progress made by the Governments of Sudan and South Sudan towards implementing the benchmarks outlined in resolution 2412 (2018).

The benchmarks include freedom of movement for UNISFA air and ground patrols, an improved joint border verification and monitoring mechanism, the joint political and security mechanism, border crossing corridors, and border demarcation.

South Sudan in their efforts to reach agreement over the region and it’s future.

 

Kenya: Hon. Kenneth O. Okoth MP letter to Speaker Justin B. Muturi – “Re: The Proposed Marijuana Control Bill, 2018” (21.09.2018)

After Chaos in the Parliament: Massive Taxes been levied on the Public!

Today, will be the day of “nayes” and “yayes” of the Kenyan Parliament. As there was report of lack of quorum, meaning, lacking the need of 2/3 of the Parliament to vote, as it needs to be to enact a bill. However, that was a none issue for the Parliament and the chaos that has happen today proves it. As the Speaker couldn’t manage the House and neither the voting. As dozens of MPs left the Parliament and the chambers during the first vote, but however, the second vote enacted it. Even if the reports of lacking amounts of MPs are there.

The national assembly has 290 elected MPs; 47 women elected from each of the 47 counties and at least 12 members nominated to represent women, youth and the marginalised. These add up to 349 members but only 215 were present for the vote, but you need about 230 votes to have needed MPs to pass a bill. Therefore, someone has rigged the numbers as the 134 MPs left the chambers today or even didn’t show up to cast their votes. Not just the Presidential Elections are now rigged, but the votes inside the Parliament. Meaning, the state doesn’t care how they follow the needed orders of the Executive and not the laws of the Republic.

Here is the taxes that is enacted today, as the people will pay more taxes at a staggering rate, as the state has damaged themselves with high rates of loans, sky-rocket levels of corruptions and investments that isn’t profitable. Therefore, because of the deficit created by the loans and corruption, the taxes are coming now to pick that up. This is damage created by the politicians and covered by the public. The Representatives are thieving and the ones covering for them is the public.

On the financing of the Supplementary|Estimates, 2018

The Committee was informed that;

To ensure the budget is fully financed, the President, through a memorandum on the Finance Bill 2018, proposed a raft of measures for re-consideration by Parliament. These as follows:

a) Reduction of VAT on petroleum products from the standard 16% to 8%.

b) Re-Introduction of excise duty on fees for banks and financial services at 20% from the current 10%.

c) Telephone and data services at 15% from 10%.

d) Mobile Money transfers services from 10% to 20%.

e) Excise Duty on fees charged by financial institutions from 10% to 20%.

f) Re-Introduction of tax on sugar confectionary.

g) Re-Introduction of tax on exportation of copper waste and scrap at 20%.

h) Contribution of 1,5% of basic pay each for employee and employer to be paid into the National Housing Development Fund.

I) Reduction of gambling taxes from35% to 15%.

j) Introduction of anti-adulteration levy on the importation of illuminating kerosene” (Report on the Supplementary Estimates for FY 2018-19, 19.09.2018).

You can really see that the MPs and the President is punishing the public for their reckless behavior in power, as the growing debt are now hurting the citizens. It is not hurting the MPs and the Parliament itself. As the public will pay more for transferring money, using cellphone services, garbage, higher direct PAYE for the ones working and so much more. Therefore, the cost of living will go up, the prices on the commodities and less money into the formal system will happen to. As people will save their money and they will use less of mobile money, as they rather transfer money in other ways to save and use the informal ways. The same way with other things, as the prices of this goes up. These taxes will surely take the money out of the system and ensure less fiscal funds within the Republic.

President Uhuru Kenyatta with his memorandum clearly didn’t care much for the ramifications, as the MPs actually just rubber-stamped it. This is all for the excuse of closing in the deficit, but these MPs knows why there been growing debts and lack of fiscal funds, as the state are making to big budgets to handle or to find funds. That is why they are in this predicament in the first place.

Kenyatta should try to repay all the grand corruption scandals and get his cronies to do the same, as that is one of the reasons for shortfall and lack of fiscal funding. Therefore, this funds could fix the lack fiscal responsibility, but the President will not do that. That is why these taxes are levied. Peace.

Tanzania: Ministry of Health letter to USAID – “Re: Cancellation of Broadcasting of Radio and TV Sports for Family Planning” (19.09.2018)

South Sudan: Dr. Aleu Garang Aleu Anyang statement as a civil servant in IGAD (19.09.2018)

President Kenyatta wants to overtax the public to cover the deficit [which is half] of the budget

President Uhuru recommends revision of mobile phone transaction excise duty to 20% from 10%, bank transaction 20% & phone, internet costs 15%” (K24 TV, 18.09.2018).

When seeing the new planned taxes from the Jubilee, this meaning the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. It all makes sense, as the new budget as explained underneath is really special. As the graft-ridden, debt-raising government under these fellas are continuing, even as the state is payer bigger and bigger slice of the budget to repay old debts. That is why austerity and ensuring a proper would be priority, however, the Jubilee are really planning an overkill. That is why the explained issue is very clear!

If adopted by the MPs on Thursday – during the second special sitting, the budget will reduce to Sh2.971 trillion as the government fights to bridge the huge deficit because it is only able to raise about Sh1.6 trillion” (Daily Nation, 18.09.2018).

When the Daily Nation calls it a huge deficit, it is half of the budget. It is actually over half of the budget that is a deficit. These funds has to found somewhere, if they are printing money to fill this gap, than the Kenyan Shilling will loose value and soon be valued less than the Ugandan Shilling. That is something Kenyatta doesn’t want to spoil his legacy. If this means more debt, than he he continuing an evil circle of renewing old debt, while adding new debt to pay for the deficit. This shortfall will not be covered by these taxes proposed in the Finance Bill. As these will also ensure that people are closing off from the Mobile Money, using banking less and also later less online.

The Kenyan Government instead of adding growth, they will actually tax themselves into recession and even depression. As the lack of currency will appear, as the monetary system in the way of taxing transactions and mobile money, will discourage people and make life in general really expensive for paying for needed services. They will find other informal ways of doing it or even more in cash, as they will save paying the added fees. People are made like this and the Safaricom M-Pesa will be hit, just like Mobile Money was hit in Uganda earlier this year.

Kenyatta should have learned from that experience, as the Mobile Money and Transaction Tax will hurt the citizens and also ensure that the poorest will find other ways to pay their bills. As they cannot afford and will use other ways of getting the things they needs. Therefore, if the Jubilee government did their due diligence, they would explain these taxes. Instead, they are unleashing them without paperwork. That means they are just to cover the shortfall, but not by finding ways of creating wealth, but taxing everyone. Hoping the funds will magically appear and find ways to pay old debts.

If Kenyatta could print money and just pay the creditors off, that seems like his dream. However, he knows that is a bad idea. Instead, he picks to overtax and kill the economy, as the transactions and movement of money will be costly, this will constrain the public and not create development. Certainly, this will backfire. But at what level is what known, but if the deficit of bewilderment wasn’t bad enough. The overtaxing of the citizens will really put the public over the barrel. Peace.

Commission on Human Rights Urges South Sudan to make peace and justice a reality (18.09.2018)

South Sudanese civilians continue to live in complete insecurity as the violence is ongoing, arbitrary detention and torture at the hands of the National Security Service are on the rise, some 6 million people – around 60 per cent of the population — live under “emergency” food insecurity and humanitarian assistance convoys are routinely attacked.

GENEVA, Switzerland, September 18, 2018 -The Commissionto use the opportunity created by the renewal of the peace agreement to ensure justice and accountability for the victims of the many crimes committed against its population.

While welcoming in its oral update before the Human Rights Council the “Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan” signed on 12 September, the Commission expressed doubts that the peace deal would endure as deadly fighting between opposing parties and attacks on United Nations peacekeepers had resumed less than 24 hours later.

South Sudanese civilians continue to live in complete insecurity as the violence is ongoing, arbitrary detention and torture at the hands of the National Security Service are on the rise, some 6 million people – around  60 per cent of  the population — live under “emergency” food insecurity and humanitarian assistance convoys are routinely attacked.

The many victims of the five-year conflict need justice if communities are to heal and rebuild the fabric of their society. The ongoing sexual violence against women and girls in South Sudan is pervasive and requires a sustained commitment to holding perpetrators accountable and addressing impunity.

“South Sudan is at war with its citizens and currently stands at the crossroads between hope and peace, on the one hand, and more missed opportunities, on the other hand,” said the Commission’s Chairperson Yasmin Sooka.  “Sustainable peace requires justice and accountability for serious crimes”

Timeline

The Commission in particular urged the African Union and the Government of South Sudan to agree on a timeline to fast-track the long-awaited Hybrid Court for South Sudan, the Commission on Truth, Healing and Reconciliation and the Compensation and Reparations Authority, all set out in Chapter V of the Peace Agreement to render justice and facilitate national reconciliation.

“Six months later, we are still waiting for this signature [by the President of South Sudan or his foreign Minister], which is required by the African Union to set up this court,” stressed Ms. Sooka.

The Commission, which includes two other international human rights law experts Andrew Clapham and Barney Afako, was mandated by the Council to monitor and report on violations, establish their circumstances, identify perpetrators and collect and preserve evidence that could be used to try perpetrators of serious crime. It recently visited South Sudan to meet with senior government officials, UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), humanitarian workers, civil society, the religious communities, as well as internally displaced persons. It also visited refugee camps in Eastern Darfur in Sudan, Arua in Uganda and Kakuma in Kenya, to talk with refugees from South Sudan as well as representatives of the opposition parties. The Commission is due to submit its report to the Human Rights Council in March 2019.

New attacks

Just hours after the revitalized peace agreement, government forces (SPLA) were alleged to have attacked Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-in-Opposition (SPLM-IO) forces in Yei River State, South of Juba, resulting in the deaths of 17 members of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Moreover, two days ago, on 15 September, a SPLA soldier shot in the leg a UN peacekeeper in Yei about 1.4 km from a UNMISS base. Yei town experienced heavy shooting throughout the night, prompting the UNMISS to put it on security alert.

South Sudan is considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the world for humanitarian workers, with more than 13 aid workers killed this year alone.  In April, 10 aid workers were abducted and a UN peacekeeper killed in an ambush targeting a humanitarian convoy. In Wau, between June and late August, access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance was denied “for security reasons”, the Commission’s Chair noted.

Despite the stated commitment of the Government of South Sudan to address sexual violence, little has been done. According to a 2017 study by the Global Women’s Institute and the International Rescue Committee more than 65 per cent of women and girls in South Sudan have reportedly experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their lives. Women in South Sudan have been treated by government soldiers and armed actors to the conflict including local militias as spoils of the conflict. They also experience sexual violence during inter-communal violence between rival ethnic groups clashing over land and cattle and live with the threat of sexual violence on a daily basis which is fuelled by the lack of accountability and justice for these crimes.

And yet the Commission noted that, under pressure by the international community, the Government of South Sudan could muster the political will to combat impunity, as evidenced by the recent judgment in the Terrain Case, in which a Military Tribunal handed down jail sentences to ten soldiers for murder, rape, sexual harassment, theft and armed robbery.

Terrain case

While the victims in the Terrain case have welcomed the verdict, they have expressed their disappointment that only the foot soldiers were prosecuted while those with command responsibility have gone unpunished.

The Commission recalled that UNMISS in 2017 investigated and documented that more than 217 South Sudanese women were gang raped by government security forces including at SPLA checkpoints in Juba in the same cycle of violence of July 2016. To date, none of the perpetrators have been held accountable and nor have any of these women received any compensation from the government.

“The plight and suffering of South Sudanese women and girls can no longer be ignored; they urgently deserve justice, compensation and medical and trauma support services. The Terrain trial verdict should not be the exception, but the rule in South Sudan from now on,” declared Ms. Sooka.

Unaccompanied minors

The appalling living conditions have displaced 1.7 million people inside South Sudan. Another 2.5 million South Sudanese have fled the country, including more than 65,600 unaccompanied minors who crossed the border into neighbouring countries since the outbreak of South Sudan’s civil war in 2013, according to UNCHR.

Amongst the refugee population are a number of unaccompanied minors — 65,600 of them according to the UN Refugee agency (UNHCR) — who crossed the border into neighboring countries since the outbreak of South Sudan’s civil war in 2013. These unaccompanied minors are vulnerable to child-soldier recruitment, sexual abuse and exploitation, child labour, drug abuse, criminality, and poverty. They experience intense anxiety and trauma due to separation; they do not know where their family members are, or whether they are alive or dead; in addition they are left to fend for themselves.  UNHCR, UNICEF and the ICRC are doing incredible work in dealing with unaccompanied minors. UNHCR ought to have more resources to carry out their work, declared the Commission.

Given the acute levels of food insecurity in the country, the Government of South Sudan would be expected  to do its utmost to facilitate unimpeded access to UNMISS and humanitarian organizations. Instead the authorities resort to constant bureaucratic stalling which denies access and more alarmingly. Targeted attacks against humanitarian convoys together with these obstructions make it almost impossible to deliver emergency relief.

Death penalty

Finally, the Commission deplored that the Government of South Sudan has not abolished the death penalty or put in place a moratorium on executions despite calls from civil society and the international community to do so, with three executions taking place in May alone this year. A further 40 death-row prisoners have been transferred from state and county prisons to Wau and Juba central prisons, which are the only prisons equipped with execution chambers.  The Commission said it feared that the next few months could see many more executions among the 345 death-row prisoners detained across the country.