Kenya: Revolutionary Socialist League (RSL) – Statement on Kenya’s Decision to Deploy the Kenya Defence Forces to the Democratic Republic of Congo (07.05.2021)

Somalia: Ministry of Information, Culture & Tourism – A Communique on the Resumption of Diplomatic Relations Between the Republic of Kenya and the Federal Republic of Somalia (06.05.2021)

Opinion: The BBI is a hill not worth to die on

The Building Bridges Initiative to National Unity or the BBI is not worth all of this. It is the works of the elites and for the elites. This is a referendum packaged in a massive flamboyant imprint, but the product is flawed. It promise salvation, betterment and greatness, but will only deliver agony.

As the BBI in the current form is only beneficial for the ones running for office. For the next President and his Cabinet Secretaries. This is to ensure more loyalty for the elected officials, but not to change Parliament or the governance for something substantial better.

No, the peace-offering between Kenyatta and Odinga was good. It bought them together and brought peace. They became civil and even acted as kin. The Orange Democratic Movement went from opposition to a blind ally. The Jubilee had suddenly a super majority and no real opposition. As the other parties of the National Super Alliance was left with little to nothing. This whole term the government has practically been run without any real opposition and “yes-men” surrounding him.

They release the Joint Press Release today just to push for it even more. As they are pursuing a possible end-game and a final victory for it. They want it too happen, as they have put all the eggs in this basket. Not like the President or his unofficial Prime Minister haven’t traded all the goods to sell this legislation. The President have seemingly given up all the promises of Jubilee and the Big Four. On the other hand, Odinga bailed on Promised Land and “Canaan” over this.

That is why for these two to come out good from this term. They need this enacted and be a success. Because there is little other to achieve. They need the BBI to work and be their joint venture. Not that it will serve the general public or do any good. However, they will sell it like a saving grace. Though, the ones who has studied it knows it will not do what these two are saying.

Everyone with a little knowledge knows that this one is only bad. Nevertheless, Kenyatta and Odinga needs to go all in. It is not like they have anything else to sell. This is what they have done and worked for over the last three years. Not like the President can show stadiums, a profitable SGR or anything else. He cannot even say his been conclusive on his forever battle with corruption. There is only a lot of disappointments and failures, which he doesn’t want to be associated with.

That is why Kenyatta and Odinga needs the BBI to passed. Even if it is based on a lie and built on a foundation of sand. The house will be torn to piece by a storm and be washed away by the waves. Still, the sand-castle seems so magnificent and speaks volume of the time making it presentable. As soon as the winds changes and the waves start hitting its walls. The sand will not muster strength and hold it up. It will give way and vanish.

The same will happen to all the promises of the BBI. The BBI will only deliver the good results for the next President and his allies. There will be no redemption and good gifts. This will only further the expenses of the state without any proper justification for added domestic revenue. Neither does the mechanisms and the other adjustments really deliver on old promises either. It is just a flamboyant way of getting more power to the Head of State. Making sure the person on top has more control and can rule supreme.

Kenyatta and Odinga has wasted this term on the BBI. If this is how they will be remembered. It is surely a tragic way of Kenyatta to end his second term. Not to mention that Odinga went from standing strong in opposition in two elections to sell his soul on the altar of BBI. He went all in and will not even get proper reforms or changes that his talked about for years. This is just serving the dynasties, cartels and not creating anything tangible.

The BBI is the trick and the hustle. That has broken the Republic, but also shown the ugly side of the political elite. How they think they can fool anyone and get away with murder. Because, this is a homicide and a destruction of the Constitution. Just so someone can get more power. That is the gist of this bill and this legislation. That they are selling like a remedy against bad governance. However, it will not deliver and will not work. Only a fool buys into this thing and believes the stories.

The two bedfellows have to merry and be giddy about it. They know the verdict and the victims of it. They know and we know… that’s why its weird that this is the hill they decided to die on. Peace.

Kenya: Muslim Woman Advancement of Rights and Protection – Persistent Drought in the North Eastern Kenya and som parts of Former Coast Region and its Impact to Woman and Girls (04.05.2021)

Kenya: Police Reforms Working Group – Kenya (PRWG-Kenya) – A Police Service Gone Rogue: Torture, Extra Judicial Killings and Enforced Disappearances (02.05.2021)

Kenya: The National Treasury & Planning – Press Release – Budget & Finance Bill Presented to Parliament (30.04.2021)

Kenya: Council of Governors – Press Statement on Divison of Revenue (29.04.2021)

Opinion: First trade chickens before you establish a confederation …

Since the establishment of the East African Community (EAC) on the 30th November 1999 there been a promise of more integration and “open” borders between the member states. However, there has by the time and the promise been hurdles. Seemingly with time the EAC Partner States or Member States should have resolved these, but there seems to significant changes with every twist and turn.

This involves Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. They are part of it and has their place. The EAC is working on a Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and the Political Federation/Confederation.

The last piece has moved further as the EAC secretariat is having a 14 day consultations in Uganda and drafting a EAC Political Federation Constitution. That will be vastly different than the treaty, which established the EAC in November 1999. The EAC haven’t even been able to create the other features promised in the EAC. How will it be able to create a confederacy? When it cannot even ensure common market and a customs union over all these years?

Rwanda has distrust with Burundi. Burundi has distrust with Rwanda. Rwanda and Uganda are distrusting each other. Kenya and Tanzania are having squabbles. Even Kenyan and Uganda are having trade-wars too. All of this are supposed to be settled and be water under the bridge. All the people are supposed to be humble and let bygones be bygones. Just forgetting about the issues and the diplomatic impasses, which haven’t been settled and cleared.

Justice Benjamin Odoki can believe in the Confederacy and establishing a Confederation. However, there are two many chickens who isn’t allowed to pass border points. There are to much milk wasted and fighting over ownership over islands on Lake Victoria to suddenly kiss and make up. There are so many hurdles which needs a resolve before even starting writing a constitution for a huge project like this.

Burundi wouldn’t even participate or be part of EAC Heads of State with Rwanda as the Chairman of the EAC of late. There so many possible conflicts and landmines, which if one person dances on that field. It would blow up right in your face.

In 2021 the EAC Confederacy seems like a dream. A dream Yoweri Museveni has had for years. However, it is not sustainable or viable when you cannot even set the bar or the standards for trading chickens across the EAC. When you are not able to trade milk or maize. There are just to many issues with the small offerings, before you take the whole house.

The EAC will go from being a regional intergovernmental organisation to a League of Nation with a Union of Sovereign States united for one purpose. The EAC would become similar to the European Union in East Africa. The EALA and EAC Head of State Summits would have more power and a bigger mandate. They would regulate the trading agreements and joint movement rules between all the member states. That is furthering the powers of today’s secretariat in Arusha.

The EAC needs to fix the spoils and the neighbourly spats which are happening in East Africa. Before they are bounding itself a bigger adventure. When it hasn’t fixed and ensured more flexible trading between the nations. How can it suddenly become a EU of the East Africa?

I don’t see that happening. The EAC needs to gets the ducks in a row or be able to trade chickens before it makes the EALA into the next European Parliament and configures its own European Commission. As it already has its Heads of State Summits, which is more a photo-op these days. Than a place of unity and pledges of furthering the integration of the partner states.

That’s why the EAC needs to swallow some chickens and drink some chai tea before it continues this journey. Peace.

Kenya: Declare Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as a National Disaster in Kenya (23.04.2021)

Kenya: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) – Re: Declaration of Dispute in Respect of Notice of Intention by Jubilee Party for Dissolution of Coalition Agreement between Jubilee Party and PDR (Now UDA) – (22.04.2021)