Opinion: #MoiDay – Why celebrate a dictator? Why?

I personally don’t get it, maybe its my character, maybe its my misconception. But I don’t see the big need to celebrate a former dictator. It doesn’t matter where he reside or when he ruled. A dictator in his prime, stayed a dictator and did what dictators do. Oppress, kill, destroy and uses ruthless means to stay in power.

Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi was no different for 24 years. He used all sort of schemes, plans and ways to stay in power. If it was eliminating his enemies, if it was buying-off herdsmen, whatever ways to stay on top. There was no soft side.

You don’t get to be President from 1978-2002 by being a mediocre character, being someone who is silent and doesn’t act. No, this president use all his forces, all his means to get his ways.

Therefore, I see no need to celebrate this sort of figure, this sort of leader nor his legacy. Which should be more remembered for the lives lost, the ones used as pawns and the ones sent to exile because of his actions. These people who fled, who lost their lives and the ones who was hurt. Those are the people that need to be remembered. The ones silenced, the ones not allowed to speak, the ones arrested, tortured and killed. These are the ones that needs to be remembered, in a way, that we don’t repeat the mistakes of his leadership.

That what we should do. Not make tokens and celebrate his longevity or his ability to stay in power. Because, very little good came out of it. President Moi has a legacy of disappear, disappearances and murder. Of electioneering and rigging elections, censorship and using tribal clashes to his advantage.

We can act like it doesn’t matter, but it does. It doesn’t matter that his a kingpin at Kabarak University now. That his the man whose every leader pass-by for advice during elections. Like the Jubilee leadership did during the Fresh Presidential Elections in 2017. They was awaiting the anointing powers of the predecessor. They were not going to Kibaki, no they went to Moi.

That is what they did and now the Super-CS Fred Matiang’i blessed the 10th October to be the Moi Day. Like people want to remember the dictator they haven’t had since 2002. The man whose haven’t been in power for 17 years. Still, they are supposed to cherish his corruption, his oppressive behaviour and his techniques to stay in power. That shouldn’t be the case. This shouldn’t be it.

However, it is and there is nowhere to hide. A dictator is praised on the accord with the current day leadership. This shouldn’t be a thing, but it is. Who knows why they are doing it, but it doesn’t look smart nor brilliant. It just looks like the current leaders want to earn political capital on refurbishing the idea and the legacy of the dictatorship of Moi. Do they do this to look better themselves?

What could be the reason and why are they making it like this? A public holiday to remember the ethnic-clashes, the tactical politics of Moi and the unanswered lives, which was taken in his reign. Not only the public treason cases against his opponents. Not only his use of words against Dr. Maathai, but in general. His actions speaks so loud and shall not be forgotten.

They shall not be rewritten and his not a saint. His not a hero, unless heroes are the once the scorn others. Peace.

Kenya: Joint Statement on the Stand against Corruption taken by the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (08.10.2019)

Kenya: Okoa Mombasa – Press Statement – Suspension of SGR directive not enough! (05.10.2019)

Kenya: EACC – Violation of Chapter Six of the Constitution on Dual Citizenship by State and Public Officers (03.10.2019)

Central Bank of Kenya: Conclusion of Demonisation Exercise (02.10.2019)

Kenya: KEJUDE letter to EACC – Re: Request to Probe whether some MPs have dual Nationality (01.10.2019)

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Opinion: Have the Jubilee forgotten Mumias?

In the recent time, not so long ago, the Mumias Sugar Limited was involved in not only spending big on political campaigns in 2017, but they also got big payouts with funds reviving the company that same year in 2017. Now two years after the previous elections, the KCB Bank put the company in receivership. This means the funds are insolvent and they struggle to raise enough funds to keep it afloat. That means the owners like Evans Kidero, Amos Wako and Henry Rotrich are struggling to keep it alive.

Surely, they didn’t see this coming. In 2000 and in 2001, the turnover records was set for the company. Since then the privatization and the other measures done, has clearly made the company volatile, as well as the opening of the boarders for more sugar imports. This must have all hurt the turnover, the profits and the margins of the company. Like back in 2008 alone, the company was behind over 50% sugar production in the Republic. That means and shows the importance of Mumias and its operations in Kenya.

Therefore, when it falls as hard it does today. It shows that its left behind. That the business-model, the strategic enterprise isn’t working. Maybe even, that the Jubilee haven’t seen it as an priority post-2017 Elections. We know the importance of it, as it is reported that professor Tom Ojienda has also obtained and solicited illegal funds from this company. That is why we know its vital place in the political sphere and in the republic as whole. The elite has been eating of the company and enjoyed it services, to a point that its crashing.

The millers, the sugar-farmers and the workers are the losers, as the receivership means the bank will runs the operations, until they possibly find a buyer. Someone buying its stake, since the company lacks funds to operate properly. This means, the investors and buyers needs to be loaded, to be able to fill the gaps of financial input, which is clearly needed. That is ironic, knowing how many campaigns, how much the company has gotten favours and how it has high-ranking officials whose had shares in the company.

The income statement on FT says it all: Year on year Mumias Sugar Company Ltd’s revenues fell -34.06% from 2.09bn to 1.38bn. This along with an increase in the cost of goods sold expense has contributed to a reduction in net income from a loss of 6.77bn to a larger loss of 15.14bn”. This shows how its burning funds and not earning at this point.

We can wonder if the Jubilee will bail on this one or if they are planning ahead for 2022 and want the support of Kakamega. This would be a vital investment, not only in the sugar business, but in the region. As they would save a big business, which has been the biggest producer and miller on the market. This is if the Jubilee cares, but if they are reckless, than they let it go. But then expect them to pay a price. As they are destroying an old institution, business and former state owned enterprise, which is now in the mercy of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

This is not a good look. So my question is, have the Jubilee forgotten this company and its role in society? Or do they think there is someone else’s turn to have that place?

I don’t know, but this is shady, letting a company like this fall and one, which process sugar from the farmers. They will be limbo and need to supply other millers, since this one cannot sustain itself and needs new investments to cover the losses. In the end, the sugar-farmers are the losers. Peace.

KCB Bank Kenya Statement on Mumias Sugar Ltd. (24.09.2019)

Kenya: Report on “corruption plauged” Arror and Kimwarer Dams Projects (18.09.2019)

Kibra By-Election: We don’t know his real age, but McDonald Mariga is cleared to run!

Jubilee party nominee MacDonald Mariga who was today cleared by the Dispute Resolution Committee to vie for the Kibra MNA by election has been issued with a nomination certificate by the Returning officer” (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, 16.09.2019).

Well, we don’t know the real age of the Jubilee Party MP Candidate for Kibra By-Election. If one of his registered age is true, than his younger than his youngest brother, which is a miracle that isn’t even biblical.

Well, we couldn’t expect that Wafula Chebukati is totally honest and cares about proper protocol, even if his loyal buddy Ezra Chiloba is appointed elsewhere. The IEBC is still a den of thieves, only with less of famous faces for now.

That Mariga is eligible to run and stand for MP now, he has to battle the candidate from Orange Democratic Movement Imran Okoth. A contest where the ODM is supposed win in a cake-walk, as the previous international footballer, lack of care for elections and politics in general. His like this weird pawn, that someone planted, but don’t know how to play. Not like McDonald doesn’t know have to deal with this either.

McDonald is not only battling himself, his lack of credibility, but also to show finesse and character. Secondly, we wonder where he stands on anything, what matters to him and such. Not that he has a history of voting, neither being registered to vote. Therefore, he hopes people isn’t as oblivious to the political game nor the territory his eligible to run in.

His like the rich foreigner coming in like tourist and asking for the representation. It is weird that the Jubilee didn’t have anyone else. Unless, McDonald was able to buy the candidacy and thinking because his has a famous name and played as an international player. He could easily get recognized and therefore automatically MP.

That is how it seems, but surely, the man should drop some verified documents to the public. We don’t know his age, his registration or his proper procedure to be a candidate. That is why Chebukati had to bless him with a “Go-Sign”.

McDonald really has to be wise now, but his team haven’t been so in the beginning. So why should it be so to the end?

The way it starts, is usually how it finish. Except some baby-mamas, some rumours and some random quotes spiralling in Githeri media like its no tomorrow. Peace.