KMPDU: Statement on the Death of Dr. Hamisi Juma in Cuba (18.03.2019)

Kenya: Clarification – Please note that adjournment is provided for by law and is not a preserve of the DPP (05.02.2019)

Kenya: Judiciary did not release ‘poisonous’ rice into the market (04.02.2019)

Kenya: DPP’s Press Release on the Communique from the Meeting of the Hon. Chief Justice David Maraga with the Judiciary Leadership (01.02.2019)

Kenya: The Judiciary – Communique from the Meeting of the Honourable Chief Justice David Maraga with the Judiciary Leaders (01.02.2019)

Kenya: CS James Macharia – Press Release – Car Free Days in the City of Nairobi (30.01.2019)

Central Bank of Kenya: Monetary Police Committee Meeting (28.01.2019)

Opinion: Random comments about the recent Handshake nonsense!

“Self-control is the chief element in self-respect, and self-respect is the chief element in courage.” – Thucydides

The march 9^th 2018 handshake between Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta, which cleared the air between the National Super Alliance (NASA) and government party Jubilee. This has ensured the parties act together and working towards common goals. Therefore, in some regards the handshake has been positive and ensured the political agenda has moved further.

However, the handshake has also rocked with the need of elections and questioning the Fresh Presidential Elections of 2017. Which have had enough of irregularities in that one. Certainly, the population had deserved the truth about the rigging, but the handshake has blown that away. As the state got cleared by making Building Bridges Initiative.

Therefore, instead of fixing the irregularities and showing good governance. The Jubilee government has made the debt grow, signed shady deals without transparency concerning infrastructure deals with China and also Grand Corruption is daily-life government business. That is why the two recent pieces in both the The Star and Daily Nation, which shows the forgetfulness and how the elite looks at itself.

First:

“A group of elders has proposed a holiday on March 9 for celebrations of the peace Kenya experienced following the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Orange party leader Raila Odinga. In a statement on Friday, Elders Association of Kenya noted that the day should be remembered for years to come” (Sam Kiplagat – ‘Elders call for holiday to celebrate Uhuru-Raila pact’ 12.01.2019, Daily Nation).

Second:

“Members of the Former Parliamentarians Association accused the politicians of disrespecting the President and opposing the handshake that has brought peace and tranquility in the country. “We demand respect for the President and the presidency, because they are a symbol of national unity and nationhood,” group chairman and former Gatanga MP Humphrey Njuguna said” (Julius Otieno – ‘Don’t disrespect Uhuru, critics told’ 12.01.2019, The Star).

That someone wants to make a handshake a holiday is just facade. It is not cool, as it is making the business of the Building Bridges Initiative, much bigger than it really is. This is making so called legacy out of Kenyatta. Instead of looking at the financial mess and the cycle of debt, the grand corruptions. The elites and the politicians wants to remember the Kenyatta legacy to be this. It is noble of them, but not righteous.

The second one states that people shouldn’t disrespect the President because he deserves to be a symbol of national unity. It is in the same regard as the holiday for the handshake. This is putting it further. As the battle for the legacy of Kenyatta is coming back. We are supposed to celebrate the handshake like the genius move it is supposed to be. That the Kenyatta action of reconcile with Odinga. Like it is the best agreement ever made in the Republic. That is how it seems from these folks, since it needs a Holiday and a symbol of National Unity.

Let me be clear, that these people are really putting so much into the handshake. That soon, they are asking for building statutes, writing hymns and own ministries in government. As the Building Bridges Initiative should be given the praise of the moon, the sun and be the beacon, the guiding star for all hope. That is how it sounds.

Lets also be clear, President Kenyatta gets disrespect after how he acts and the words he uses. When he lectures kids for protesting, when he sends army to kill civilians demonstrating in Kisumu or Kibira in Nairobi after the Fresh Presidential Elections. That is what he will be remembered for. He will be remembered for his foul language and his speeches in Turkana. Kenyatta will be remembered for the Eurobond, NYS Scandals, Maize Scandals and NHIF, and so on. These are the ones that will be remembered. Because that shown the governance and acts of government.

So, if the President wants to be remembered for something, than he should act upon it. It is disrespectful to expect respect from people. When the President acts like a overlord. He should show his true face and act like an Executive. This president is busy with PR Schemes instead of giving proper government services. That is what he will be remembered for, because the PR will go away, but what they really did will stick.

Kenyatta will be disrespected, if he acts disrespectful, if he acts with the cartels or with the elites and not serve the public. That is how he will be remembered. Not if he shook Odinga’s hand, because its not like anyone made anything out of 2008 Kibaki/Odinga Coalition Government. However, important that was at the time and how much dire need there was for a peace agreement.

That is why, the ones running wild on the Handshake. Should cool down, before giving the mantle and the praise for the Building Bridges Initiative. Maybe first remember the ones that initially changed the landscape, to where it is today. The importance of the power-sharing agreement made with mediation of Kofi Annan back-in-the-day. This should maybe be celebrated, but that is for me to as outside looking in. However, everyone is stuck on the new handshake. That is built on even more shaky ground, than the power-sharing deal.

That is why, I react and wrote this piece. Because I don’t get it, unless, all of these gentlemen tries to get political mileage and get some credits their way. Than it would all make sense. Peace.

Jubilee signed off the KPA assets if they default on the loans to China Exim Bank!

The Office of Auditor General letter to Kenyan Ports Authority on the 16^th November 2018 has said something striking, but nevertheless something I anticipated, because they stated a fact that everyone should recognize. That the Chinese is not giving toll-free loans without any collateral. In this instance is the loans for the Standard Gauge Railway, which have been a massive White Elephant and is just a doomed project from the get-go. Unless, the Jubilee are able to grow money on trees.

However, the letter from F.T. Kimani to the Ports Authority states that: “The payment arrangement agreement substantively means that the Authority’s revenue would be used to pay the Government of Kenya’s debt to China Exim bank if the minimum volumes required for consignment are not meet as per schedule one. The China Exim bank would become a principle in over KPA if KRC defaults in its obligations and China Exim bank exercise power over the escrow account security. The KPA assets are exposed since the Authority signed the agreement where it has been referred to as a borrower under clause 17.5 any proceeding against its assets by the lender would not be protected by sovereign immunity since the government waived the immunity on the Kenya Ports Assets by signing the agreement. The agreements is biased since any non-performance or dispute with the China Exim bank (the lender) would be referred to arbitration in China, whose fairness is resolving the disagreement may not be guaranteed. The authority did not disclose these guarantee in the financial statement” (Kimani, 16.11.2018).

If you read it, what it states is very clear, if the growing debt to China is not paid on time and defaulted, it means that the Port Authority has to give away its assets or collateral to the China Exim bank, as it is stated in its agreement. This is similar affairs happen in Sri Lanka and now is viable in Kenya. As the Mombasa Port might become an asset for the Belt Road of China to earn back their borrowed funds.

They Government of Kenya, should be worried about when signing the loans from China Exim bank, but they wanted the glory of the giant infrastructure project. Not the fiscal or financial responsibilities, if not the consequences of not paying back the funds. The Chinese has clearly safeguarded the investment with the fine print. Stating the assets of the Port Authority and by this. Securing a vital and important port in East Africa. As they got a nice piece, if the Jubilee starts defaulting or if the next President fails to live up to responsibility that Kenyatta made for him.

That the Kenyans should be worried, because the Chinese is not forgiving, when concerning their money. That is known, the public should know and should anticipate this. As this is a forewarning to the possible aftermath. That has been seen elsewhere and might come to shores close to you. Peace.

Opinion: Odinga explanation of his role doesn’t make sense!

The Building Bridges, the Handshake is really a proof of someone trying to be opposition, but acting as government after all. The Jubilee Government got a lot out of the handshake and that has proven all year round. As the Opposition has no say or no voice. Apparently there are reasons for that and President Uhuru Kenyatta must known he did the best bargain ever. He has nearly no issues, no official opposition as they are co-operating. They are trying to get their cut for working with the government.

That is how it looks like and smells like, that is why these answers are proving that in way, because the denial is there too. Look for yourself.

Raila Odinga answers to an interview:

“Power is in government and it is wielded by those who hold the instruments of power such as the president, his deputy and ministers. I am not in government. We are out here as opposition and want to see that the government does the right thing for the people; that is our role as the opposition” (…) “Most people are still stuck in the parliamentary system. In a presidential system like ours, opposition does not have to be adversarial. We now critique quietly. What would be the need of shouting when I can get audience with the right person? We have also set up a joint task force to deal with issues we feel are of concern to us. It would be foolhardy to again begin hitting the same government” (Sunday Nation Reporter – ‘Raila speaks on ‘handshake’ deal and state of Opposition’ 16.12.2018).

What is mind-boggling is that a career and second generation politician are trying to cover up for the co-operation deal, that partly makes him part of the government, even if there is no official position. Because, of that the “Opposition” will not Challenge or Question the Government in public, but behind closed doors. Like if their was alliance or coalition. This is like a non-official “Government of National Unity”, which has been elsewhere.

This government has just made a Building Bridges Task Force. Also when saying that the “opposition” doesn’t have to be adversarial or being vocal against the government. That is maybe why the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and its leadership is super-friendly, close as kin these days. The ODM and Odinga are there in the limelight. They getting awards, they are getting appointed to government boards and medals.

That is maybe why, Odinga is not interested in kicking and screaming, why he is not calling out the Jubilee for their grand corruption or their scandals. The new Odinga is in peace with the President and could look like mates from college. However, they are former adversaries, who now are working closely. That is positive in itself, but at the same time. This is making sure the government got a free slide for this term. As the government has no opposition that matters or challenge them in Parliament or in General. They are an elite, where everyone gets along.

I have a hard to combining this: ‘Calling yourself opposition, but not calling out the government’. I have a hard time, seeing Odinga and the ODM as opposition, as they practically the long arm of the government.

So if your not in the government, why are your doing back-room deals and negotiations as part of the Building Bridges Initiative. Peace.