26th October Elections: The Boycott of the Elections is going smoothly!

Youth in Butula, Busia County take off with ballot boxes!

That National Super Alliance (NASA) or the ‘National Resistance Movement’ (NRM) that Raila Odinga announced yesterday at Uhuru Park. Really has shown the election fatigue and distrust in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), that it was real. That President Uhuru Kenyatta are going and voting was expected. Even the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) is on the ballot, even if they wrote a letter to IEBC on the 10th October 2017. Therefore, I am amazed to see pictures with the logo and names of Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka on the ballot even. Proven the ballots was ordered long before and printed ready in advance of these elections.

Like the boycott is working successfully in Machokos County, Garrissa County, Nanyuki, Kwale county, Makueni, Nairobi CBD NSSF Grounds, Meru County, Trans Nozia County, Uasin Gishu County, Eldoret, Kilgoris Country, Turkana County, Nakuru, Wajir County, Luanda South, Kakamega and the list could go on!

There been demonstrations and road-blocks where the police has thrown tear-gas and shot live bullets in the air. This has been in the slums of Kibera and Mathare in Nairobi. There has also been running battles in Kisumu. There been walking processions in Bangladesh, Mombasa, as the opposition supporters boycott the running elections. In Siaya County, the roads are barricaded and there is protests that are going on. Polling Stations has not open up in Homa Bay from Suba South to Kasipul. In Migori there is running battles between demonstrators and police. Where there been tear-gas and live bullets. The Voting material is still stuck in the Migori County tallying centre.

The turnout is low that even in some small pockets of the country, kids let in to vote, who are clearly under-age. This is just a serious breach within the electoral process, but proves how little people are showing up.

In some counties like Nandi, the turnout have been about 50%, but there aren’t an overall experience of elections and the boycott is felt. Last time there we’re long ques and people defying the cold weather and rains. Today there are few places which is packed. There are some, but not on same standard as in previous elections. Clearly, the message is sent. The boycott is showing and the legitimacy can be questioned, since the turnout is abysmal. Even chickens, dogs and whatnot has entered the polling stations. Just so, the staff and polling agents has something to while killing time.

This is just the first reports. Just imagine how it will be when it is collected and making sense. There been already one killed in Kisumu, while several are sent to hospital. There are also stories going around that the demonstrators during breaks have made ugali on the streets. That is a real powerful message to send, we are taking a break to eat, but when we are finished, we will continue to show our force.

NASA and Odinga is showing on the birthday of Kenyatta, that the ignorance and blatant attacks is not acceptable, together with the will of the people to see reforms before a new election! Peace.

Haki Africa will monitor Mombasa and Coast Region during 26th October Election (25.10.2017)

26th October Elections: We can wonder if the ship carrying this elections, either will sail or sink all together!

Darkness is upon us, the shields of moons and planets is not upon us. The stars are not even blinking, the dim lights from the streets and mirroring of weak reflections from the waters are shining. But not the flashing lights of cameras or sun at noon. There is just uncertainty and within reason. The rallies, the speeches and the demonstrations has stopped. The Courts has decided or not decided. The orders has been put and the gazetted elections amendments has been put. Even if the state and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) haven’t followed the Constitution or the procedures.

That people have been shot and killed, demonstrations filled with tear-gas and live bullets. There been warnings and attacks. The Jubilee Party has used government resources to promote itself and even spent fortunes on foreign advisers through the Cambridge Analytica, who even has had the servers of IEBC, which the results has been transmitted too. As well as the IEBC has used several of questionable tenders and facilitation for the polls. That could have been more transparent and shown more accountability to the people. Instead, they have continued to work in the shadows and the Internal Memo’s all through September and October 2017 has proven this.

That National Super Alliance, together with their candidates pulled out, while the Parliament and the IEBC has gazetted changes and appointments in the last minute, even not followed the procedures and articles of the Constitution considering elections. The timelines of events that is supposed to transpire haven’t happen, neither has the IEBC complied with the direct changes in the ruling of the Supreme Court order of 1st September 2017. All of this makes the whole arrangement and polls tomorrow, very very questionable.

It doesn’t help that Uhuru Kenyatta states this to the nation: “As we all know, democracies are born in hardship. The right to self-governance must be fought for; and once won, a people must keep to their word. Fellow Kenyans, few responsibilities are heavier, and for that matter more rewarding. The mere fact that our Kenyan Judiciary can invalidate an election shows that we are a stronger democracy than many would ever have realized. The Judiciary is, in fact, independent, and it made its own decision. That is the act of a mature, grounded, modern democracy; many nations, with many more years of experience as democratic states, have yet to match it. And I believe for this, fellow Kenyans, we have every reason to be proud of our nation, to be proud of our progress, to be proud of our maturity. I believe that this was Kenya’s greatest democratic test, but the decision of our Judiciary suffices to show the world that Kenya is sincere in its commitment to being a modern democratic state(Uhuru Kenyatta – ‘ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H., PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES, STATE HOUSE, NAIROBI, 25TH OCTOBER, 2017’).

I don’t know if it is mature democratic state when Deputy Court Justice of Supreme Court is on the day before the Polls are house-arrested and two others are intimidated to be home. So that the Supreme Court couldn’t make an order or verdict in a case about the 26th October elections. It is like he forgets what the state does and what the police is ordered to do. So let’s me put the appeal of Court Justice Odunga of earlier today, that got a late night order suspending it. This is so the order of making Returning Officers and Presiding Officers illegal because of not gazetting and giving parties and independent candidates time to look into the appointments. But the newest late night order suspended and made it legal.

While Raila Odinga has said this, which is a total different stage than Kenyatta at the Uhuru Park:

As Opposition, we have tried to cure the problem of a compliant electoral body by coming up with what we called the irreducible minimums to help reform the IEBC and create a level playing field.

In response, the IEBC first stonewalled, focusing on inconsequential measures while contending that there was insufficient time to do anything significant” (…) “We are at war with two autocrats; Uhuru and Ruto; vicious, reckless, bitter, corrupt and hungry for power. We have seen them unleash unprecedented and unreasonable terror on citizens across the country and especially in Nairobi and Western Kenya in the lead up to, during and after August elections. We have seen them rope in militia, dress them in police attire, arm them and unleash them on protesters with deadly consequences.

As we speak, truckloads of paramilitary and police officers have been deployed to commit massacre especially in Western Kenya and Nairobi with the sole purpose of protecting an illegitimate hold-on to power by Uhuru and Ruto. We have seen none other than the Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiangi sanction the deployment of militias in Kisii and other parts of Nyanza to complement what Mungiki will be doing in Nairobi. The murders that have occurred during recent protests, together with those committed immediately after August elections, were clearly premeditated and carefully planned to annihilate the people and make them accept a stolen election as a fait accompli. Uhuru and Ruto are looking for a cowed and subdued citizenry in order to roll out a dictatorship” (Raila Odinga – ‘A NEW STRUGGLE BEGINS TOMORROW’ 25.10.2017).

We can just wonder why there was no reactions to the Reforms that was wished by NASA, but not for NASA’s sake. However, it was for the benefit of the IEBC. So the IEBC could have made progress and reformed itself. Even tried to listen to mandate NASA said it needed, since the previous election was cater made for the Jubilee. The Jubilee didn’t want to change IEBC, because they are loyal to the ones who appointed them. Therefore, these elections are not credible now, not only because of the NASA demands for change, but because the IEBC hasn’t change at all.

The Jubilee has just not tried and also just attacked the judiciary since 1st September. They have used the High Court for their advantage today and in the last minute. To validate and stop the order of illegal ROs and POs. Still, the Jubilee has used their government resources to bend and also their control of the media. It has only been bloggers and social media has uncovered the illness inside the IEBC. Therefore, the lacking trust comes from the outside of the main-stream media.

The Jubilee planned to usher in the army for the 8th August 2017 elections with secret plans. There been pictures of the army being stationed all over Kenya today. As a preparation of the Fresh Presidential Election, expect nothing beautiful about tomorrow. There will be reactions and the sense of the manner.

We cannot anticipate tomorrow and the events that follows. That there been reports of Ezra Chiloba sitting in a cafe today filling in forms for the IEBC. While Chairman Wafula Chebukati defended the whole process and elections on National TV. Nothing in this process has been smooth or trustworthy. That Kenyatta wants this sort of polls and elections, where the Commonwealth has fled, the IGAD has come with warnings, where the EU scaled down and United States has come with travel warnings. While Robert Godec the American Ambassador the whole way has been a useful Jubilee puppet. He just want friendly tone so the Kenyan can have troops in South Sudan and Somalia. Nothing else.

This here is the evidence, the foreign stakeholders has just talked peace, but not tried to get IEBC clean or tried to use time to make sure there is dialogue between Jubilee and NASA. That hasn’t been seen as possible or even a solution. The talks between IEBC and stakeholders has been more public shows and little changes, if even any, actually none. The IEBC have only done it to make it seem like something was happening. The 26th October should been postponed, the whole election is ready made soup for the Jubilee. They are trying to cease control and using ballot to legitimize their takeover. This isn’t democracy, this is autocracy and dictatorship. Where the Jubilee gives order and the people has to comply. The Kenyatta and Ruto acts is not out of love and care for the people, but for their hunger for power. Their intimidation of judges and others are proven of their guilt. They have to use other as punching bags, because they don’t credit for their own demise in August. If they had built IEBC to credible electoral body this wouldn’t be case, alas it is. This is worrying and tomorrow will not be day of celebrating the democratic foundation and liberty, the ones where you pick your candidate and you have faith in the system. That ship has sunk of the coast of Mombasa… seems like it was lost before the August elections at this point.

The ones steering the ship out of port, don’t know it has giant holes and will sink, but they are steaming ahead without thinking about all the passengers and the goods. It will drown to the bottom of the sea, unless they listen to wise men on board telling about leaking. Don’t expect it, it is to dark below ship for the captain and the admiral to even see or believe. They will just continue to steam ahead. Even if people are sending warnings to them. The leaders don’t believe them. That is why people should be worried.

Kenyatta and Ruto should worry, not think they are winning. They are running a sinking ship, without thinking about the consequences. People might be worried about the Resistance Movement created out of NASA. They have already kept pushing demonstrations for weeks. This will persist and this will create more uncertain. If there will be low turnout tomorrow, it is because the real support of Jubilee is really low. If not the public is afraid and also worried about the consequences of the ship, if it is sailing or sinking when leaving port. Peace.

Kenya High Court Order intended appeal of Odunga of the 25.10.2017 – “Suspended Judge Odunga ROs order” (25.10.2017)

IGAD Deploys an Obervation Mission to Fresh Presidential Elections in Kenya (25.10.2017)

Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu: This is not Democracy (25.10.2017)

26th October Elections: Intimidation of Courts continue, as the High Court verdict deems the appointments ROs illegal!

Today is dark day for democracy; the Supreme Court could not come with a verdict in the contested fresh presidential election scheduled for tomorrow. The other judges did not show up to the premises. While the scheduled rally for National Super Alliance in Nairobi and Uhuru Park, might be in trouble too, as the Police has sealed off the park. In addition, there been reports of house arrests of Supreme Court judges and some just stayed home. This has all led to the prospects, that the Court Justice David Maraga could not argue the case with the needed staff and therefore, had to end it there. The ones celebrating this is the Jubilee Party and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, who are not in legal troubles, as the case wasn’t taken into consideration and process due trial today. The Judge who didn’t show up was the one was the one who had the bodyguard or driver show, who actually died on the hospital bed yesterday. Deputy Court Justice Philemena Mwilu has been house-arrested since the incident on Ngong Street yesterday.

While in the High Court Judge G.V. Odunga has ordered today as following: “1) the respondent was under a constitutional and statutory pursuant to Regulation 3(2) of the Elections (General) Regulations, 2012 to provide the list of persons proposed for appointment to political parties and independent candidates at least fourteen days prior to the proposed day of appointment to enable them make any representation. 2) The Respondent did not provide the list of persons proposed for appointment to political parties or independent candidates at least fourteen days prior to the proposed date of appointment to enable them any representation. 3) In so doing the Respondent violated Regulation 3(2) of the said Regulations as read with Articles 38 and 81 of the Constitution. 4) Since there is no prayer seeking either the cancellation of fresh elections due for 26th October, 2017 or either postponement, it would not be efficiacous to grant orders herein that manner sought” (Judge Odunga ruling in High Court, 25.10.2017).

If the High Court can establish this to effect, that the Returning Officers of the Fresh Elections was not prepared in time, this should be the final decision in the minds of the polls opening tomorrow, even if the Supreme Court case was stopped, the High Court is still final. Just as their verdicts to add in the last minutes candidates yesterday. Even if that is weird, as the dates of nominations and gazette of candidates are supposed to come in good time of a running election. So all candidates can campaign and compete.

Therefore, that the IEBC continues to prepare an election in this fashion. Is weird and dangerous, there is no legitimacy, as the state and security officials are taking over the streets. The IEBC are playing a dangerous game, the Jubilee Party too, who could inflict even more damages and more hurt on their population. Just for the fraud to be put on the streets. Today, the IEBC web page was down and we can wonder if the reconfiguration of the IEBC Portal will be in time, as well as the rest of the Result Transmission Systems, that are supposed to be in place.

The narrative and the story, as it is, are very questionable, the ones screaming coup, is understandable, as the spectrum of legitimizing this affair is all in the hands of Jubilee. The government are trying to force this election, to secure Kenyatta and Ruto another term, by any means, even scare Supreme Court Justices. There is nothing that cannot be touched by these men.

We can just imagine the next trick up their sleeve. This saga has not stopped and yet to be finalized. Peace

26th October Elections: Sudden rapid changes in the last 48 hours, because of that, postponing it should the agenda!

James Orengo: “There is no position of a deputy national returning officer in regards to presidential elections. Making tomorrow a public holiday was in anticipation of the Supreme Court sitting tomorrow” (KTN News, 24.10.2017).

You can wonder what happen to the Foreign Envoys who defended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) yesterday. They we’re all in the room, even the EU representative was defending the changes of the IEBC, clearly that wasn’t true. As the EU Election Observation Mission for the 26th October Election is scaling down to technical mission for Results Transmission Systems and checking declaration forms. While the Commonwealth have today pulled their whole team out of the election.

This is happening as the Court Justice David Maraga are pushing for a case where they are testing the legality of the current election in the Supreme Court tomorrow. Even as the nation are planned to have public holiday on the 25th and 26th October 2017, this has been gazetted by Acting CS Fred Matiangi just recently. While that has happen someone ambushed and shot at Deputy Court Justice Philomena Mwilu and her bodyguard is now at the hospital. She was not in the car, but sends the signal of what is going on. Even, Matiangi’s house in Kisii has been put on by arsonists.

Also, Amason Kingi and Boni Khalwale has both been arrested, these haven’t had charges that comes out the public. The KTN has been blocked from airing a documentary on the killing of Chis Msando of the IEBC. Mombasa Magistrate Court is blocked by the Police there, as they preparing for the Supreme Court tomorrow. In Kisumu yesterday a Catholic Priest Father Oduor was killed, he was an outspoken father against the government for the killings done in Kisumu.

Even without caring about the amount of time it takes for nominations in the law before the polls, the IEBC has declared this today: “IEBC OFFICIALLY gazettes Cyrus Jirongo of United Democratic Party as candidate in the October 26 repeat presidential” (NationBreakingNews, 24.10.2017). And the IEBC continues their reckless drive as today they also amendment themselves with the sudden appointment of Consolata N.B. Maina as the Deputy National Returning Officer today, even if the IEBC said they gazetted her on the 27th June of 2017. All of this just happened two days ahead of polls. You can imagine why they had to hold this to the last minute and had it scheduled at this time. When they had a month and such to reform. We are allowed to be skeptic about his new found actions.

While this happen today the High Court did dismiss a case made by Pokot South MP David Pkosing, where the IEBC would have to put National Super Alliance and Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga back on the ballot, but because of case and what the NASA has done to the IEBC. They didn’t have a case to begin with, therefore it was dismissed since she had no grounds for it.

Today was also the third day of arrival of ballot paper from the printing company. This was picked up by a Kenya Airways plane and delivered on the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. Today the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) has warned anyone who plans to interfere or create violence during the next few days will be prosecuted and taken to court. The warning of interference and intimidation has been foretold and therefore, the DPP has had to address it. Even Communications Authority has put stern warnings of spreading hate speech and other vicious content on social media in the election period.

This has all happen as the Dr. Roselyn Akombe revelation has not been consider, as her implications of the IEBC Secretariat and also the tenders to the same companies as the 8th August 2017. There are very little different and sending CEO Ezra Chiloba away, who learned all the tricks of Ahmed Hassan Isaack. Like people have forgotten that these two worked closely together in the past. Chairman Wafula Chebukati haven’t been really promising either and his recent statements has put even more doubts of credible elections. Since the IEBC haven’t followed all the stated orders from the Supreme Court from 1st September 2017, like opening the servers who was connected to the Jubilee Party hired agent and spin-doctors Cambridge Analytica, while the revealing standards of the KIEMS of OT Morpho haven’t been well received, as they together with Safaricom agreement we’re questionable as well. There we’re nothing promising the RTS system, combined with the logging-in of Chiloba and other in the IEBC Secretariat during the counting of the ballots and results. As well as how the IEBC Portal lacked transparency and also proof of their results. There we’re even double forms and dubious ones uploaded. Very little has been promised that this will be better during the 26th October 2017. Even if Akombe has left and Chiloba is on paid leave.

Still, with all these movement and all these actions, as the elections are getting nearer. The Jubilee Party has not commented directly on all of this. The actions should be questioning, as the EOM are scaling down or even leaving. As the security is threaten of the people who might judge unfavorable of the ruling regime. The IEBC are clearly acting without consideration of the laws, when they even add another person on the ballot just two days ahead, as the last batch of ballots appear. I wonder, do they fix the ballots who came before the order to fit the judgment made today in the High Court.

All of the violence and arrests. Combined with the killings of even an outspoken priest. Show there are no stone left turned to secure the Jubilee victory, they will cheat and rig to win. But unless there happens a deep killing of CJ Maraga and his people tomorrow as the Courts are opening. If not the Police are blocking the entrance of the Supreme Court. So that they don’t get in.

No signs sends today is of a credible election, the sparking fear and the problematic security operations. Combined with trying to assassinate a Deputy Court Justice on the streets of Nairobi. Really sends bad signals. That the EOM has acted so glacier slow is beyond me, but they have their blind eyes and suddenly had an Epiphany and found God. Therefore, they have to into hiding and pray. Who knows why they haven’t seen all this before and though the Jubilee would give up the second term of Kenyatta simply. Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto are using all means, while putting no official pressure on the IEBC. That is why the Jubilee has attacked the Supreme Court and NASA since 1st September, but kept the IEBC untouched. Because they benefit them and will work for them.

There is nothing trustworthy of the 26th October elections and polls. The Returning Officers and whole system seems ready to make the results fitting Jubilee again. The Security Forces are prepared and we can just wonder what happens tomorrow. The news today has been heavy and come breaking news every hour. No rest in this manner and will be hectic tomorrow too as we can wonder what will happen if the Supreme Court validates the case and orders a new postponed elections. What will the IEBC and the Jubilee do. As they are prepared for a birthday bash for Kenyatta. Peace.

Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) – “Re: Prosecution of Electoral Offence and Malpractices Relating to the Repeat Presdiential Elections to be held on 26th October, 2017 (24.10.2017)

Communications Authority of Kenya: Joint Statement on user generated content on Social Media Platforms during the Electioneering Period (24.10.2017)