Readout of the Secretary-General’s phone call with H.E. Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya (18.05.2016)

Ban Ki Moon Phone

NEW YORK, United States of America, May 18, 2016The Secretary-General spoke today by telephone with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya following the Kenyan Government’s decision of 6 May 2016 to close the Dadaab refugee camps. He expressed deep appreciation to President Kenyatta and the people of Kenya for decades of generous hospitality to significant populations of asylum-seekers and refugees. The Secretary-General assured President Kenyatta that he appreciated the enormous task and responsibility involved in hosting large numbers of refugees, amidst daunting security challenges.

Uhuru Phone

The Secretary-General urged President Kenyatta to continue to use the Tripartite Agreement, signed in November 2013 with the Federal Government of Somalia and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as a basis for the voluntary return of Somali refugees in safety and dignity. He expressed the United Nations support to Kenya, including the proposal by the High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, that a high-level bilateral review on the refugee situation in Kenya be conducted by the Government of Kenya and UNHCR.

The Secretary-General mentioned that the Deputy Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Refugees would visit Kenya at the end of May. They look forward to discussing this issue forward with the Government of Kenya, and will underline the readiness of the United Nations to garner the support of the international community in addressing Kenya’s refugee challenges, with consideration for the host communities in Kenya as well as the sub-regional security concerns.

My letter to the Minister of Interior Affairs of Kenya Hon. Joseph Nkaissery on the planned closing of Daadab Refugee Camp

Nkaissey 2016

Dear Sir Honorable Joseph Nkaissery!

I write to you again, I know it’s been a month or so, but the actions have to be questioned and the liability of the actions you do Honourable Minister or Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Coordination of National Government. You have an ability of making decisions that area allowed to be questioned.

I am not writing to you because I am not defending terrorism, because I am not, the Garissa University attack, the Lamu Attack and Westgate attack in Nairobi was sad and unfortunate as innocent Kenyans died while Islamist, went in and killed without impunity; that has to be answered and those actions should not control the agenda of the country, but give way to the liberties and freedoms that the citizens are rights to have. While the Government finds ways of charging and hunting down the men who are behind these hideous crimes.

Dadaab Refugee Camp

But, the use of Terrorism to close down Daadab Refugee Camp seems a bit premature.

As this was even stated by academics on the matter in 2014:

“The speaker said that the Dadaab Camp is not an engine for radicalization; rather, it is an engine of moderation. Poverty and displacement do not automatically lead to radicalization. There is a growing need for more anthropological research on the topic. An entire generation has grown up in peace; it is not scarred by war” (…)”More political and economic analysis is needed on this issue. The Kenyans claim to be in charge but al Shabaab remains everywhere. The Kenyans do not have the level of control that they claim. A lot of the radicalism that is currently being seen in Mombasa is very local. Al-Shabaab is also present in Nairobi. Many al-Shabaab suspects are Kenyan nationals. Terrorism is a wider, urban East African problem” (Rawlence, 2014).

So if the man behind Open Society have claims two years ago that can counter your arguments now for closing, can you bring evidence can show that Rawlence is totally wrong, please honourable Sir?

Hon. Joseph Nkaissery I hate to do this as this is your set of laws and the ones that set the guidelines for your government until you get the National Assembly or Parliament to change it with a general vote.

Kenya Parliament

So for now the law of Kenyan Refugee Act of 2006 says this:

“18. No Person shall be refused entry into Kenya, expelled, extradited from Kenya or returned to any other country or to subject any similar measure if, as result of such refusal, expulsion, return or other measure, such person is compelled to return or remain in the country where –

  • The person may be subject to prosecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or public opinion;
  • The person’s life, physical integrity or liberty would be threatened on account of external aggression, occupation, foreign domination or events seriously disturbing public order in part of whole of that country”.

The law is clear and doesn’t seem that it is too important for you, if these laws is still applied then the closure still gives them rights as Refugees or as legal persons in the territory where you are the Cabinet Ministry Nkaissery. I know that shouldn’t be too much to ask that the Kenyan Government are following the laws of the land? Of does this not apply to the refugees and the ones that have left Somalia, Ethiopia or South Sudan because of oppression and aggression there?

In 2015 John Kerry and the United States pledged $40m directly to the Refugee Camps, so they must have had a say in the planned closure you had of the camps last year, with the new idea of trying to do it again.

John Kerry ABC

Here is his latest statement to you Hon. Nkaissery:

“We strongly urge the Government of Kenya to maintain its longstanding leadership role in protecting and sheltering victims of violence and trauma, consistent with its international obligations. We call on Kenya to uphold these international obligations and not forcibly repatriate refugees” (…)”We call on Kenya to continue its support for refugees and voluntary return efforts, and to continue to work with UNHCR and partner nations to find durable solutions that respect humanitarian standards and uphold international law. We also urge the Government of Kenya to honor its responsibilities, including the 2013 Tripartite Agreement on the voluntary repatriation of Somali refugees living in Kenya” (…)”We remain committed to working with Kenya to support voluntary returns that are safe, dignified and consistent with international law, as well as helping Kenya to address security concerns presented by al-Shabaab and other extremist groups” (Kerry, 2016).

So Honourable Minister CS. John Nkaissery, you have lots of responsibility and have to swallow lots of crap in your days in office, while Deputy President William Ruto and President Uhuru Kenyatta got to do the fun stuff and sign decrees and words into laws. You have to clean up behind the scenes and act upon the ideas these two men have. So I am sure the stress is coming to you and therefore is so seldom that the pundits and public see you charming smile.

John Nkaissery

We are not at the point that the Terrorism claim, I don’t feel you can validate that as a reason for the closure of the camp, unless you have evidence you send to me Hon. Nkaissery. I am an advisory, but until I am proven wrong, I will not change my mind. As you are playing your cards this way, is to try filtering the world away from assassination plot that we’re on Jacob Juma or is the something else you want the world to forget? The Pre-Election violence twice in Nairobi under Nairobi Metropolitan Police Commander Japhet Koome towards the Cord Demonstrations, is this right or am I wrong hon. Nkaissery?

But to get back to reality and not the conspiracies that might run as the Kenyan Government said they would close the Refugee Camps last year in 2015. When as I said United States Government pledged more money to run them and filter it through the United Nations programs.

Seems more like this is a way of scaring the international groups, multinational organizations and all to give direct funds to Kenyan Government instead of taking it direct to the Refugee Camp. If not I hope you get a Task Force that really looks into your allegations and also delivers the findings so they can be looked through and are more believable than the financials from Donald Trump.

There are questions that remains Hon. Nkaissery because the issues and the rights, even the laws that are still viable and official guidelines for the refugees and citizens in Kenya, make a brother like me question the rhetoric you have used and arguments. So please take care of the action you do. This here will be greater stain on the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), and you don’t want that as a Cabinet Secretary that creates tensions with the allies abroad that both gives your army funding and equipment together with direct budget aid. That would not be wise… Though I understand Hon. Nkaissery that you care about the refugees and their safety even if you close them; because for many of them have been living there for a long time and they could be by many means Kenyan citizens with Somali ethnicity for instance.

Kibera Golf

Would you clear the Kibera slum and the areas around as the Rawlence claimed that the terrorist and extremist was more likely in Urban areas, and Kibera is Urban and also uncontrolled in some ways. So why are you not focused on the development of Kibera that you have Dr. Evan Kidero, the loyal Governor can access the situation for you and find ways to monitor the extremist that might be trained there? Because, if a so-called expert Rawlence can be some people who becomes violent in urban areas, and that is not politely the Dadaab Refugee Camp. So it must be more political than actual be the reason for the closing as they either want to show character or independence over the Multi-National Organization and the International donors, as a sovereign state.

Hon. Nkaissery, we both know that Kenya is a Sovereign State and because of that have freedoms to do what they want on their territory, but they have international obligation. You and I know that Kenya has internal laws and also have to keep their international laws considering the rights of refugees. Still, you can act this way, but will you consider the implications and the ramifications of this. Even if the European states are considering and signing agreements to ship the Syrian Refugees from Greece, to Turkey; that does not send direct flight back to Palmyra, Syria, as much as you don’t want to be remembered for sending back Somali Refugees from Dadaaab Refugee Camp to hostels in Mogadishu, Somalia. Or will you?

Mogadishu 9th May

I am just worried for these innocent fleeing human beings who has fled their homeland for safety in Kenya, as much as I am worried for the Syrian who are fleeing to Greece and being transported to Turkey. I condemn that and would condemn if the Kenyan transport these men and woman to Mogadishu in the midst of fighting and continuation of AMISOM mission in Somalia.

I know I am nobody, but I had to address it and ask you why you want to, as I also question quickly the biggest argument for closing. As I don’t believe until there are serious report and evidence of the terrorism threat from Dadaab Refugee Camp, and why you don’t check more Kibera slums of Nairobi, but that would hurt your pride, right? Wouldn’t it Hon. Nkaissery, or am I wrong?

Peace. 

Best Regard

Write of Minbane.

Reference:

Rawlence, Ben – ‘Somali Refugees in Kenya: The Case of the Dadaab Camp’ (08.05.2014) link: https://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/field/field_document/2014Somali%20Refugees%20in%20Kenya.pdf

Kerry, John – ‘On Kenya’s Announcement to End Hosting of Refugees’ (11.05.2016) link: http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2016/05/257113.htm

Kenya shrugs off calls from UN to rethink plan to shut Daadab refugee camp (Youtube-Clip)

“The Kenyan government has shrugged off calls from the United Nations to rethink its decision to shut the Daadab refugee camp down. It says the first refugees will be repatriated later this year” (CCTV Africa, 2016).

Footage that shows how the Kenyan Police dispersed Demonstrators from CORD-K at the Anniversary Towers in Nairobi against the IEBC!

Anniversary Tower of Nairobi have yet again filled with demonstrators while the Nairobi Metropolitan Police have dispersed it quickly; as the CORD Kenya demonstrated against the IEBC, yet again!

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P1

In Nairobi today the Coalition of Reform and Democracy (CORD) have yet again decided to Demonstrate against the Independent Election and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). As the Kenyan National Police Force has come out with their mambas and their specialized anti-riot vehicles that the Government ordered from China recently; as well as they have prepared and shot tear-gas at fellow citizens.

CORD Leaders addressing supporters along Moi avenue Nairobi before storming IEBC Offices shortly.

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P4

What the Police says:

“Police now say they have intelligence reports that a section of Opposition supporters intend to carry lethal weapons during Monday’s protest at Anniversary Towers against IEBC officials” (Capital FM Kenya, 09.05.2016).

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P2

The ones present at the Demonstration:

“Cord leaders and supporters defied warnings by police and carried on with their planned protests against the IEBC on Monday. In Nairobi, hundreds of supporters marched to the commission’s Anniversary Towers offices despite warnings by police. Among leaders present were Suba MP John Mbadi (ODM national chairman), Kitutu Masaba’s Timothy Bosire and Nyando MP Fred Outa. Others were woman representatives Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Florence Mutua (Busia), Nominated Senator Agnes Zani and Awendo MP Gerald K’Opiyo. GSU and regular police were deployed to the premises, which they sealed off. In Kondele, Kisumu , demonstrators waved twigs while others carried a banner reading “IEBC must go!”, but they were later dispersed by police.”

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P3 Police

The Police have already said to the Media that the Demonstrators are drunk and cannot be taken serious. As they Police have come with full-gear and full-fledged with tear-gas and cars as the clips and pictures. Contingent of police officers deployed to maintain law and order as opposition leaders and their supporters vowed to stay put as they pile pressure on electoral body to be disbanded.

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P5

“KENYA-Cord supporters on Monday defied government warnings and turned up for their protests seeking to kick out IEBC commissioners from office. In Nairobi, the Opposition supporters started converging outside Anniversary Towers from as early as 7am.The situation was the same in Kisumu town Police officers deployed to guard the electoral body’s premises” (Wish FM, 09.05.2016).

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P6

“Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome claimed that some protesters had planned to cause chaos and had armed themselves with crude weapons. He said intelligence reports showed the protesters were planning to attack IEBC officials and that they will be treated as criminals. “We will not allow a few people to cause violence in the city,” Koome said.There was heavy police presence at the Anniversary Towers where IEBC is headquartered” (X News Kenya, 09.05.2016).

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P7 Tear-gas

The way the Police dispersed the demonstrators by the police officers who used Water Canon and teargas canister to keep them at bay. So the Police officers harassed the peaceful demonstrators with violence. The tear-gas even covered upper-Nairobi after the Police decided to disperse the crowd. So 30 minutes after the Police went in, the streets around the Anniversary Tower was the same and the streets empty of demonstrators as the Police and Japheth Koome of Nairobi Police must be happy.   

Nairobi 09.05.2016 Demonstration P8 Tear-gas

This will not stop here, and the Pre-Election Violence and the amount of tear-gas spread against the opposition. Who should have the right to question the Electoral Commission whom seems to be more a close ally to the Ruling Party and the Ruling Elite instead of being truly independent as it should be and represent all parties not just the Jubilee or the ones who have control of government right now! Peace.

Kenya: Government Statement on Refugees and Closure of Refugee Camps (06.05.2016)

Refugee Camp Kenya 0605.2016 P1Refugee Camp Kenya 0605.2016 P2

This is why Kenya is still a “man eat man society.” Words of President Nyerere (Youtube-Clip)

Kenya Ghost Money 1.0

The Members of Parliament in Kenya take the power to levy laws “after the approval of Parliament” and nobody else.

Kenya Parliament

There are the questions in this day and age where the power of men is unstoppable. Where the Men and Woman in Parliaments use their opportunity to take shortcuts and ways to generate more power if possible! This is what has happen today in the Kenyan Parliament as they want to secure their power and their will to make laws with their approval and nobody else.

The initial act of the amendment is setting the precedence for the approval rating and the grander gesture of the Parliament as they will have deciding effect of the lawful assembly. Not anybody else, as the Parliament can act on their own and the chambers of the Parliament decide the laws and levy them.

Here is the original text from the 2010 Constitution:

“(6) Any treaty or convention ratified by Kenya shall form part of the law of Kenya under this Constitution” (Constitution 2010 Kenya).

The Purpose:

“The Bill proposes to amend Article 2(6) of the Constitution in order to ensure that both Houses of Parliament are involved in the treaty and convention making process, so that all treaties and conventions would only become law after approval by both Houses of Parliament” (Constitution Amendment Bill 2015).

The Actual Amendment:

“Amendment of Article 2 of the Constitution: Article 2 of the Constitution is amended in clause (6) by inserting the words ―”after the approval of Parliament” at the end of the clause” (Constitution Amendment Bill 2015).

So after the vote in Parliament the Constitution will say something else, which gives certain powers to the people, the representative and so on; that is why the Constitution is set the standard of what country should have as a national level of law and justice. That is what a constitution does. So today there become a law into action made by the Representative, Members of Parliament decide to give themselves more power. As this simple added sentence into the constitution. As with the amendment will say this:

“(6) Any treaty or convention ratified by Kenya shall form part of the law of Kenya under this Constitution after the approval of Parliament”.

So there you have it. What the Parliament wants to succeed doing in own powers and nobody else. They can approve laws without anybody else through Parliament. That gives the Members of Parliament the rights to carte blanche to approve the bills into law. So the Modus Operandi will be that the MPs can through approval get it ratified into law. That is really securing POWER of the MPs and nobody else, as the approval is given them power over the judiciary and the Parliament can therefore override the “experts” on laws as they can make it on their own behest. Seems like something CS Nkaissery who likes all the power in his hands. Though has not the imprint on this as the Committee that was set-up fixed this one and other change to the law; this is one added sentence, but the law entitled lots of more as the amendments is 65 pages long. So if you want to study the changes you should. Peace.  

Reference:

The General Suggestion for the Draft Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2015

The Constitution of Kenya 2010

The worrying signs of Police brutality in the coming elections in Kenya; as the Anniversary Tower and the siege of IEBC offices turns heads; My question to the JAP is: If they will be gentlemen or conning rulers, in either the spirit of Mwai Kibaki or the spirit of Daniel Arap Moi?

Odinga 25.04.2016

Just as the dust-settles and the tear-gas canisters get cleaned away from the area of the Anniversary Tower of Nairobi after the demonstration yesterday that ended in Police Brutality and arrogance from the Kenya Metropolitan Police Japhet Koome and his IGP Joseph Boinnet. They did this in service for the ruling party and the ruling government.

Ladies and Gentlemen President Mugabe of Zimbabwe because of yesterday have let the world know that Hon. Raila Odinga cannot look at the Lancaster House in Harare and see the inflation levels up-close in the Republic of Zimbabwe. That because the grand dictator of Southern Africa is disgusted with the actions of the CORD leader and his Political Alliance.

Let’s be clear, for the Jubilee Alliance Party MPs and Leaders speaking their mind and trying to deflect the issue. The Danger is the vacuum that the political framework is creating. Everything can’t be fixed building walls even if Donald Trump and Ministry of Interior CS Joseph Nkaissery building them to secure themselves. The same metaphor should not happen between the current ruling party and coalition towards the ODM, WDM and FORD-K of the CORD. That will just make it more heated then needed in the coming months.

Arap Moi Fronpage

Just as this is happening certain voices has answered with this:

“Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has condemned the Monday teargassing incident by police on a group of CORD protesters who were calling for the removal of commissioners at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission” (…)“The past is never dead. The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” William Faulkner. “Faulkner’s quote is my very painful reflection that teargassing of peaceful demonstrations has not been our past since our independence!” said Mutunga on his Twitter account” (Ombati, 2016).

This is a just answer to what happen as the Police shouldn’t attack fellow citizens in this way. That is not the way of creating dialogue between the CORD and JAP. That just becomes to stale counterparts who creates an environment that makes it harder to reform and make changes in society as the CORD will be bluntly pushed away by the security forces and Police Force without any impunity. Then I came over this fellow. The Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti said this!

Senator Lenny

Also the other reaction the CORD demonstration yesterday:

“We are thankful to God the way Kenya has been peaceful. We do not wish the country to plunge into turmoil again,” said Mr Kivuti” (…)”Anyone who has evidence against any IEBC official who has done something wrong should come forward,” said Mr Kivuti” (…)”Those against IEBC (commissioners) should start their campaigns early,” he said” (Wanyoro, 2016).

You are right at some Point, but the ones creating violence and tension yesterday wasn’t the demonstrators, but the Police Force and their reactions to the demonstration itself. This is the chain-reaction from the ones shooting the tear-gas and demolishing the citizens who have reacted together with their political party; something that Mr. Kivuti should understand as a political figure himself.

Well, the issue I have is that the IEBC have acted in bad-faith and created a uncertainty of their connection towards the ruling regime and the coming election if they will be civil. Then the IEBC need to be a unit that is not connected to none else then the procedure. The IEBC should be independent and not be partial towards any government or the Executive.

IEBC BALLOT-BOX-BYELCTION1

That is the issue that the Opposition have since the lawfulness of the Electoral Commission of the IEBC seems to be embedded with the Jubilee. Since it seems like that and the way they obviously demolished the Constitutional Referendum also questions their level of independence as the rules now is tailor-made for the ruling elite and is not opening up to the opposition parties.

So the Hon. Raila Odinga (ODM), Hon. Moses Wentagula (FORD-K) and Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka (WDM) the main trio of the CORD went into the cross-fire and melee. Because of the Anti-Riot Police under the regime put the tear-gas and the bullets towards fellow citizens without any questions. As they wanted to get answers for their muffling and hustling the reality coming to the opposition.

UhuruandRuto

The Ruling Party and the Opposition need both to relax into the coming months even as the aspired campaigning will start. The worry is that the police of Nairobi have set the precedence and might even create more havoc for the opposition as the ruling party can do as they do without any questions. That with the sense of how the Police entered and made the situation more unclear at Kakamega around 2nd April 2016; where the Police even hurt fellow protesters and fellow supports of FORD-K and ODM supporters. This here is not now a single incidence at the once again the Police went all-in in Nairobi yesterday.

The IGP Boinnet need to think through if his loyalty is to the citizens of the Kenyan People or the President and his ruling regime. The same must the Nairobi Police Commander Koome need to think about. Where does their loyalty lay we may ask?

IGP Boinnet

The other question after yesterday should be to reconcile the Opposition, the Police and the IEBC quickly and briefly if not then the hate-speeches and the termination of the resilience of the opposition will prosper in the vacuum created by this. That is not good for the ruling regime and their rhetoric. Especially, if them in the JAP speaks like the Senator Kivuti, who blames the Opposition for it, and not the ones who created the mess yesterday. Then you will have a stalemate and none will be able to counter each other in peace.

The peace that it will be will be shallow and the sudden impact might arrive later and nobody wants that. The need for dialogue and create an established level playing-ground. Not build walls, not throw tear-gas and not call each other out for non-sense need to be made. As the CORD only did what they knew, as much as the Jubilee live in arrogance and elitist place where the CORD wishes seems to be extra work and not earn extra on. Therefore the reforms from them are pointless as the ruling regime does not earn on listening to the opposition.

kenya-press_2721233b

The Ruling Regime seems to be fixed in their own island and think they are untouchable out of reach and the ones that deserve to run the country without question. That is not a healthy position especially when the bodies that runs elections are questioned for their independence from the current regime. Not that the opposition is always right or always wrong. But when they can question the behaviour and the actions of the institution and then get tear-gassed for doing so; then there are something missing in the dialogue between the opposition and the government body. The Government is an overbuilding of all the citizens, even the ones that didn’t vote for the current government, the government represent the whole country even the voters and supports of the CORD; they do not only represent the JAP. That is important thing to put in mind and in spirit of the discussion and movement into the coming elections in 2017.

There are roads to take and hurdles to pass, but the way they are taken will show the true character of the ruling regime and the real ethical space of all actors in the political landscape in Kenya. The determined actions and rational deficiency of the speech and asks from opposition should be worry for the ruling regime. The vacuum and the impression of the stalemate is not creating the effect or the stable consensus that should be there. This not about Hon. Odinga, Hon. Wetangula or Hon. Musyoka and their parties alone, it’s about the image and maturity of the JAP and their president Kenyatta and Deputy Ruto.

The question is: If they will be gentlemen or conning rulers in either the spirit of Mwai Kibaki or the spirit of Daniel Arap Moi? How will the Jubilee want to be remembered and how will they lead into the elections as the legitimate leaders and might be after the elections. But if the elections are run by a questionable government body then the result of the ballot might be altered in favour of the rulers who secures the payment of salaries; instead of being independent of whom ever who runs and who might be running the government and appoint the government body. That is why we have to worry and question the actions that lead to tear-gas around the Anniversary Square and the outcome of yesterday’s Police Force in Nairobi towards the CORD demonstration. If we don’t then we let them get away without even a scratch for the tears and the agony while the ruling elite rides their Mercedes and appoint officials without questions is not a healthy political environment and not the kind of precedence that His Excellency Kenyatta would leave his name to and be remembered for. Peace.    

Reference:

Ombati, Cyrus – ‘Chief Justice Willy Mutunga condemns teargassing of CORD protesters (26.04.2016) Link: http://standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000199641/cj-mutunga-condemns-teargassing-of-cord-protesters

Wanyoro, Charles – ‘Cord protest against IEBC could spark unrest, Senator Lenny Kivuti warns’ (26.04.2016) link: http://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Senator-warns-Cord-protests-could-spark-unrest/-/1107872/3177060/-/14pl832/-/index.html

Opinion: Who is really the “Empty Suit”? Who might it be the Empty Suit in the Ministry of Health Care or KCCA? As the recent unfolded operations of maladministration in the public view… henceforth somebody who is just nodding to the Executive for the brown envelope.

The Wire Jimmy McNulty

McNULTY: “West Baltimore is dying and you empty suits are running around to pin some politician’s pelt to the wall. Thought you was real police, brother” (The Wire Season 2, Episode 13).

There is in this day and age lots of appointed government officials, they work supposed to be diligent and with honour of the codes of their work, not work directly for the ones that appointed them. That cannot always be easy as the station and the position would not been opened or given to the person if the appointee didn’t give that extended hand or blessing for the job. When you have that situation you need a strong state and strict regulatory regime that counter the possible backhand and kickbacks to the ones that appointed them.

Why do I discuss this at this point? Because it is a vital part of our government regimes and is a question that can be asked in nearly all parts of the globe. As all jobs in the branches of government does not automatically goes to the most educated, relied on or the one person who has the most integrity in the position. Instead the man or woman who gets appointed is an “empty suit”.

Krugman Boardroom

What some of them might do?

“What typically saves the empty suit is the tenuous relation between what he or she does and any actual business results. This may be a function of the job he’s in: a staff post, with lots of power to nix others’ initiatives but no responsibility to make or sell anything. Or a pocket of avoirdupois in a still-too-fat corporate bureaucracy, the kind of position that causes underlings to scratch their heads and wonder, ”Gee, do we really need all these vice presidents?” Or the empty suit may have come up through a system that rotates fast- trackers through a new job every 18 months, even though the effects of his tenure don’t become evident for two to three years. He hardly had time to get any grounding in the work his people do, and he may have royally screwed up the few decisions he was compelled to make, but when the chickens come home to roost, he has flown. If somebody has the bad taste to try to assign responsibility, the suit can easily fuzz the matter over by suggesting that the blame rests with his successor or former subordinates” (Kiechel, 1989).

There certainly similar like the ones described in our time in every department, every corporation and every single institution we know of. This might be the Electoral Commission of Uganda and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya. As much as the regulatory chairs of the banking industry of Kenya must feel like empty suits these days as the confidence at that is low-key as well. The Chase Bank, The Imperial Bank and National Bank of Kenya have fallen from grace. The most likely selling of the Barclays Bank African Group might also make the fragile banking sector into more disarray as the leading regulators seems like the extra board-members instead of people who uses their position and chair with care and uses the mandate to make a difference and even square.

Soroti Hospital April 2016

The situations are different when the appointed is not hired for their knowledge of their field, but the loyalty of the regime or government that is running in the country. The likes of Ministry of Health in Uganda for the moment where the hospitals are creaking and the machines are criss-crossing between life and death. Electricity and other cases of depleted. As the missing extra blood for surgery, the copy-medication and the loss of necessary equipment; that shows the lack of management and reasons for empty suits. The highest empty suit for the moment must be State Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who seems to be more concern with catching checks then doing his job at this point. This point comes with the correlation of Minster of Health Hon. Elioda Tumwesige and the State Minister for Primary Health Hon. Sarah Opendi Ochieng. One of the three must generate a valued pay-check and makes sure that the NMS delivers the Global Funded projects and the other government funded health care, but either Chris, Elioda or Sarah, one of them or more must be a hired “empty suit” as the three of them are put into ministerial position working for initially the same thing.

lukwago-musisi

It is just like the same mess with the KCCA where you have KCCA Executive Director of Jennifer Musisi. You have Frank Tumbewaze who is both Minister of the Presidency and Kampala Affairs. Then you have the third person who got a mandate the Presidential Advisor for Kampala affairs Mr. Singh Katongole what he does is surely only him and the Executive of Uganda who knows, since his appointment in December 2015 his silence must mean a envelope and letting Hon. Tumbewaze and Hon. Musisi does what they like. To make it more hectic you have the actual people’s elected through the ballot who supposed to run the Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. So you have hon. Musisi, Hon. Tumbewazi, Hon. Katongole and Lord Mayor Lukwago. All of them are supposed to central people in the running of administration and regulate the divisions of Kampala politically and create policies that builds and secure the functions of KCCA. That must be hectic one of these men and woman must be a empty suit. Unless Hon. Katongole who I haven’t heard a word from since appointment is an ear-to-the ground and talking or addressing letters directly to the Executive or Head of State as his role has still not been served. As the accountability of the NRM-Regime is not strong they prefer keeping people in the dark.  Hon. Tumbewaze seems more to be the ones who was appointed to turn opposition Lord Mayor on his knees and therefore also gotten a permanent Executive Director in Musisi to shut down the elected person. But the end-game is that one of them must be an “Empty Suit” as the basic needs cannot be that big, and one of them is catching the brown envelopes without doing anything.

There are certainly more empty suits in the system as I started with the appointed men who is not educated for the position, but are there for the loyalty not because of the office is needed or there for a general purpose. That is the same as extra board-members in a corporation who is hired to vote for the general consensus in the board, but not to generate profits in some sense. They are there because the Corporation and LLC need useful idiots to be paid to follow the remarks of the stakeholders and shareholders, not the common-sense of their position.

Appointment of Nat. Gov. Spokesmen Kenya

We can all question the value of these leaders and honourable men-or-woman in a representative or appointed position by the President for instance. The level of credible men and woman and the need for expertise in the government organisations, into the department and the civic care from the road-development to the health care facilities need men and woman who knows the trade. As long the men does what is needed for the President or for the Stakeholders. The ones that lose are the ordinary person, employee or civil servants as they will either work under them or have to pay them tax-money to keep them. As they have to be paid an envelope to be the empty-dress. The person who is an empty dress doesn’t become that for free. Somebody has to be charge to keep him there. Most likely it is me or you. We can just ask ourselves. Who of the appointed leaders in government is an empty suit? Who in the corporate world are the extras?

Byandala

Lastly, why does the Minister Without Portfolio. Hon. Abraham Byandala gets away and is not questioned by the opposition or anybody else. Why is this man the free-man the invisible creature in the parliament that does not have scruples? This since this position is the epitome of a Empty Suit. He is a MINISTER, but does not have an OFFICE, Department or a MINISTRY to run. Hon. Byandala can do as he pleases and still get paid. You cannot check his ministry or running government portfolio as it is non-existence from the get-go. The Government Official without any oversight and anything to initial control or say in other words the official Minister of Nothing (MoN). Hon. Byandala is running the Ministry of Nothing. The Minister of Hot-Air and the checking the chapattis’ in parliament is fresh enough for Hon. Oulanyah’s taste.

Well, what do you think? Are the somebody you feels are an Empty suit? Somebody you question or wonder if really have anything more than pay-check from the Tax-Payers money, but does not use it’s office or even delivers anything. Then that person might be an empty suit who just nods the head to the Executive and the general leadership without exercising power or determine the future of the government institution, department or ministry. Even if the person is really doing anything in the boardroom or a needed voter for the stakeholders; if it is only the needed majority to follow procedure then the scheme need a check or reform.

River Okikolo FDC 13.01.2016

There will certainly be more stories and the existence of similar men and woman who can be described as “Empty Suits” and be stooges needed by any administration and corporations as they viciously need structure to control the citizens and the policies without questions from the inner-circle. Even if that means not procurement of needed medicines, fuel, transformers or building bridges to easier access the missing Okor Bridge in Kumi District: “This project was intended to connect Nyero and Mukongoro sub-counties in Kumi district” (MoFED, March 2015). A bridge that does not exist or is built by now so the sub-counties is not yet connect because of the altered situation and have to run long roads around the area than crossing straight over the river. So a project like this says there some empty suits as in 2009 as company was hired to build the river, by December 2012 the works by the river had stopped. Even if the departments to UNRA gave reports of progress of the project was last monitored in 2014 and by 2016 there not been done more to build the bridge since the monopoly of the Chinese Contractor have stifled the progression and in the end wasted government funds into a building a bridge who does not exist. Just like the Ministry of Nothing Hon. Byandala.

Think that is enough for today! Peace.

Reference:

Kiechel, Walter – ‘HOW TO SPOT AN EMPTY SUIT This breed of modern manager looks good and gets along splendidly with the brass. But is he contributing anything?’ (20.11.1989) link: http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/11/20/72761/index.htm

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – ‘NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FY 2015/16’ (March 2015).