Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union – Press Statement on the COVID-19 Policy Brief Launch by KMPDU (16.12.2021)

Kenya: Kenyatta signals Odinga as his successor

It must be written in this unedited book of history that; we chose the bold path over the popular path. The Lion is “…not the strongest animal in the Savannah. Neither is it the biggest. Neither is it the shrewdest. But, it is the boldest”. And this attitude of boldness is what makes the lion, the King of the Jungle. Indeed, this is the reason it is said that “…an army of sheep led by a lion can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.”” (Uhuru Kenyatta – Jamhuri Day Speech 2021, 12.12.2021).

Today at the 57th Jamhuri Day celebration at the Uhuru Gardens. The speech President Uhuru Kenyatta held and his action afterwards proves what has been the unwritten fact for a while. This isn’t shocking, but a mere reality for everyone to see.

The Handshake and Building Bridges Initiative for National Unity (BBI) have mended not only bridges, but has ensured the alliance of Kenyatta-Ruto to stifle totally. The Deputy President William Ruto has been dismissed and is an open opposition in the middle of the government. He is part of Jubilee, but working to build another party on the outside. While the President is busy proclaiming and supporting the unopposed and unannounced second in command, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga.

Now, the Jubilee Party and the ones behind Kenyatta is clearly signing off for Odinga. This is clear and the ambition is there. As Odinga got to speak at the stadium after the President. Breaking with protocol and showing the clear intentions. Not only what he said in his speech.

Just read this…. this is the green-light!

And when the former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and I shook hands on March 8th, 2018, it was because we saw a crack on the wall of our nation. We had run two elections that costed the country Sh1 trillion in business loses and we were staring at a nation divided right in the middle. Because we had disagreed respectfully, we knew that this was a mark of progress. It was difficult, but the necessity, the reason and the recognition that we as Kenyans needed each other, nation before self, as our forefathers had taught us to come together, reinforced our resolve. Therefore, the need to come together and mend the crack on the wall of our nation necessitated the first amendment to our Constitution. And although it encountered some legal obstacles, I can only say that BBI is just a dream deferred. One day, someday, it will happen, because the country cannot survive ethnic majoritarianism and exclusion just as it cannot survive unfair and skewed representation. This is a design defect that we must fix” (Uhuru Kenyatta – Jamhuri Day Speech 2021, 12.12.2021).

We can now clearly resolve that Kenyatta and his allies are behind Odinga. The dynasties and the ones who are connected is working for that. This isn’t shocking, but has been anticipated for a long time now.

It has been clear for anyone who has been following the President and his team. That they have favoured Odinga over Ruto. Even if Ruto is his deputy and been his running mate in two elections. Odinga have been the opposition and main candidate against him.

This shows that nothing is lasting forever in the political landscape. Because, Odinga should be a natural opponent, but we know that isn’t the case. As Kenyatta and Odinga have worked closely with the BBI and been working mates because of that. This has issued a relations and brought peace between them. Which has caused friction and a fallout between Kenyatta and Ruto.

That’s what is visible here and nobody should be in shock or awe. This is preparation for the dynasties to be aligned before the 2022 elections. It is to continue the cartels and ensure the state works like it does.

If Ruto ever needed a reassurance or knowledge of the machinery behind him. Well, he doesn’t have that, but Odinga will have it now. The state and the powerful will make Odinga into an angel and a saint. He will be going on bridges of gold and have Midas touch.

Odinga is the man to look out for now. He has struggled and paid a huge price. The BBI and the handshake salvaged his position. Now, the opposition and the ones who was in alliance with him has been searching for a home. Now, the CORD/NASA co-principals has to find their way too. If Kalonzo, Mudavadi or Wetan’gula will either find a new home or a new head to work with. These has to either go alone or join either of them.

Odinga don’t need the NASA co-principals this time around. He has the machine behind him and Kenyatta salutes that. Therefore, time will tell how the rest of this will play out. However, this is the preparation … for the election and the everyone should be aware if it was to subtle to see it for what it is. Peace.

Kenya: Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) – The manhandlign of Hon. Mary Wamaua – MP Maragua (11.12.2021)

Kenya: Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) – Withdrawal from the Multi-Sectoral Consultative Forum (30.11.2021)

Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union – Press Statement on COVID-19 Omicron Variant (30.11.2021)

IGAD and FAO Call for Urgent Actions to Mitigate the Impacts of Drought Across the Horn of Africa (18.11.2021)

A joint statement by the IGAD Executive Secretary, Dr Workneh Gebeyehu and the FAO Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, Dr Chimimba David Phiri.

NAIROBI, Kenya, November 18, 2021 – Vulnerable communities in the IGAD region continue to experience a complex mix of re-enforcing shocks and stresses that are eroding their resilience to food and nutrition insecurity. As of October 2021, 26 million people were already facing high levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3+), according to the Food Security and Nutrition Working Group (FSNWG), which is co-chaired by the Inter-governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Due to the threat of worsening drought conditions, food insecurity will likely rise during the first half of 2022 across the Horn of Africa. Urgent action is therefore required now to safeguard livelihoods, save lives, and prevent possible starvation in some areas.

Drought conditions are already affecting the arid and semi-arid lands of Kenya, southern and central Somalia, and Belg-receiving areas of southern and south-eastern Ethiopia as consecutive poor rainfall seasons have driven below-average crop production, rising cereal prices, poor rangeland conditions, reduced livestock production, and drought-related  animal deaths in many areas.

Moreover, as forecast by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), the start of the current October-December 2021 rainy season has been significantly delayed, with little to no rainfall observed to date in many areas, raising the probability of another poor season. Should this occur, agricultural and pastoral conditions will further deteriorate, causing households already struggling with the effects of multiple, concurrent hazards (climate variability, conflict, COVID-19, and desert locusts) to employ negative coping strategies and reduce their food consumption. This is a major source of concern as food insecurity in the region has historically increased sharply following consecutive poor rainfall seasons.

IGAD Member States continue to work in collaboration with development partners to anticipate and respond to various food security threats and build the resilience of vulnerable communities to recurrent threats and crises. During the desert locust upsurge, for example, the unparalleled support of resource partners and multi-agency coordination averted USD 1.3 billion worth of cereal losses, meeting the cereal requirements of 29.1 million people. Desert locust livelihood recovery support continues for more than 200 000 households.

IGAD and FAO share a long-standing history of successful partnership and collaboration in building the region’s resilience in several areas, including but not limited to: livelihood support to strengthen resilience against droughts; food security information and analysis; early warning and disaster risk management; implementation of cross border actions in close collaboration with the respective communities, local and national authorities; conflict prevention; natural resource management; market access and trade; and capacity building; institutional strengthening and coordination through the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI).

Such resilience-building efforts have significantly improved the ability of households to withstand the impacts of shocks. However, the increased frequency of climatic hazards, combined with the effects of other stressors, is threatening these hard-won gains. It is, therefore, crucial to act now to protect these resilience gains and prevent more people from sliding into food insecurity and malnutrition.

To this end, we must support farmers and herders who are experiencing the impacts of poor harvests, depleted food and animal feedstock, and rising food and water prices. More specifically, IGAD and FAO call for a scale-up of contributions to existing and future Humanitarian Response Plans (HRPs) as the response remains grossly underfunded in the relevant countries. Through rapid, collaborative action by all actors, we can safeguard the lives and livelihoods of communities currently bearing the worsening effects of the drought, while at the same time, protecting households’ longer-term resilience.

Kenya: Jubilee Parliamentary Caucus – Press Statement on Conduct of the Deputy President (16.11.2021)

Kenya: Meru Young Professionals letter to the Office of the Deputy President – Re: Demand for an Apology (16.11.2021)

Kenya: Jubilee Parliamentary Caucus – Press Statement (04.11.2021)

Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta – An appeal to the Government and the People of Ethiopia (03.11.2021)