Forum for Democratic Change: ‘Re: Change of Opposition Leadership in Parliament’ (06.08.2018)

My take on the FDC Reshuffle: Entitlement and Political Maturity doesn’t goes hand-in-hand!

“When Alexander the Great visited the philosopher Diogenes and asked whether he could do anything for him, Diogenes is said to have replied: ‘Yes, stand a little less between me and the sun.’ It is what every citizen is entitled to ask of his government.” – Henry Hazlitt ( Economics in One Lesson: The Shortest & Surest Way to Understand Basic Economics).

There been some bad blood after the Forum of Democratic Change (FDC) reshuffle of the shadow cabinet. This piece will tell how I sees it, maybe you will disagree, but everyone see things differently. Everyone should see themselves as representatives of the constituency and the party they are representing. They are not their on their own pocket and will, they are there for a reason. If that is forgotten, than these leaders should be changed, maybe that is why the FDC Party President changed a few. They needed a lesson of humility, as the leadership should be moved, to progress and also get new ideas into the bodies. There been reactions, especially by some.

The reacting the hardest is the likes of Aruu MP Odonga Otto, Bugweri County and MP Abdu Katuntu. The ones who haven’t said anything is Kasese Woman MP Winnie Kiiza and Aswa County MP Ronald Reagan Okumu. Even if all of these MPs was dropped from the shadow cabinet and changed by the Central Leadership this week, as the sweep of changes done by the Forum for Democratic Change Party President Patrick Oboi Amuriat came into effect. That should people be prepared to as a party changes with a new President and signaling new way of steering ahead.

Even if the current shadow cabinet and committee members by the FDC have done a good job, the need for fresh blood isn’t a bold move, but an aspiring move, to show that people aren’t entitled to titles and roles, even within the FDC. If it was so, than the old-guard of the FDC would naturally have positions. These people was appointed by the previous leadership under Gen. Mugisha Muntu, they are still party members and have rights as that. Still, this shows the maturity of the party.

Even as the likes of Odonga Otto says he will leave the party, but that is something he has promised to do dozens of time and always returns. Unless, he has other plans and not sure where to go for his support. Because, Hon. Odonga has usually, nearly once every year promised to leave the party, but never had the guts to do so. Who knows what Hon. Katuntu will do now, as he calls it a purge, and is disregarding the party, he goes total warfare over losing the committee seat in COSASE.

What is special and shows real maturity is how silent former Leader of the Opposition Hon. Winnie Kiiza have been. She has been a leading example, even as she has to step dow. I was skeptical to her in the beginning, because of the disbandment of defiance campaign and giving into the dictatorship as a minority party in the Parliament in 2016. Still, she has played her part and been a vocal voice with reason in the chambers. Winnie Kiiza have shown leadership skills and proven herself. The two years she has had as LoP has shown her ability and capacity as opposition politician. Therefore, her silence now shows maturity and also what sort of person she is.

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) apologists that has attacked this changes, maybe, just maybe, look into your own party and how you have to follow every whim of the State House. If anyone inside the party has any ambition, they are taken out and losing their position. Look at Amama Mbabazi, Gilbert Bukenya and so on. Not like NRM would have changed the top head like the FDC has done, the FDC is on their third Party President. The NRM have the same head and his controlling it through the NRM Caucus to follow his guidelines like they are all blind and have no visions themselves. Therefore, their defense of themselves should come first and secondly, their attacks on fresh bloods of the shadow cabinet. Should be a warning of the lack of movement within the movement. It is a movement that isn’t moving, but the FDC has the guts to change, to spark new ways.

Some might comment and say this is a purge on the loyalists around Muntu and making sure the loyal around POA instead. Not like that could ever happen in the NRM, they are encircled by Museveni and no one else. If they are trying to show some flash and ambition, the President will call them in and demote them. No one cried foul when the NRM ‘rebels’ was demoted in Parliament. Because, they was demoted not for political reasons, but because they didn’t follow the NRM Caucus and voted against the Age Limit.

Still, the same people have an issue with the changes within the shadow cabinet, maybe, just maybe, the apologist should be more sincere. FDC has made a decision, a healthy one and ones seeing the party as bigger than personalities, will accept this. But the ones who feels entitled to leading positions will be disenfranchised, like Hon. Katuntu.

Time will tell, but salute to Winnie Kiiza, she carried this steady and should be proud of her tenure. Even I who was really against her role and playing this out. Sees what she has delivered to role. Now lets see what the new leaders and shadow cabinet will do. Peace.

Amuru Land Grab – Apaa Village Evictions: A long process of failure from the state!

That the Northern Uganda have been in deep end of the stick in many eyes is evident, by how lax the state has been to take care of their needs and their rights. That can now be proven by the forceful evictions from land in Apaa Village in Amuru District/Adjumani District. Where the previously have been attempts to make a giant farm for an investor called Bruce Martin and also become sugar cane plantations and factory for Kakira Sugar Factory owned by the Madhvani Group, this goes all the way back to 2006. Therefore, the plans to evict these people has been slow process from the state.

Now in 2018, the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) have evicted dozens upon dozens of the local residents from their lands. As the purge on the village and the area continues, this has been in the making, but the ones losing their lands get nothing, but lose their homes and their livelihoods at the same time. The government authorities have torched the houses and left nothing behind, as they are continuing to evict people. Their lives are no meaningless, as they have to flee their land and are living on the United Nations Compound in Gulu, while awaiting their future, as the state, UWA and the Uganda People’s Defence Force have been evicting them over the last two months. Surely, the hurt is felt and real.

Who can wonder if the state is finalizing the agreement with Madhvani Group to deliver his second sugar factory and also sugar plantation in the area or they are making a game drive from Bruce Martin. However, this is still grabbing the land without any forewarning and also taking their livelihoods without any compensation for the hurt.

The District Land Board and Area Land Board cannot been informed or care to inform the people, as the army and UWA have been busy evicting people with force. They are just pawns on the chess-set, and the authorities in Kampala let it happen. The leadership from afar are accepting it and have gazetted the land and taken the land. Therefore, the people who has settled in Apaa have to flee or be evicted from the land, without any justice or law helping them out. No compensation and nothing left for them.

This sort of play has to stop; I am sure the State House is fully aware and let it happen, as they are getting their cut of the transaction of the land for whatever purposes it has. Its been planned for years, but doesn’t make it better, when they could have had solutions back-in-the-day as the government knew this would come. They were already in talks with both Kakira and with Martin. They knew perfectly well, what was up. There is even a third scenario where the land is sold to someone else named Linton Brimblecombe.

Clearly someone forgot the memo and left it stranded. They just evicting people in the favour of one lucky bastard who capture all lands, without paying the needed ones who was actually living their and done so for generations. This is a violation of the trust between the citizens and the government. Because someone accepted the trade of the land people where living on and had rights too.

The Apaa village and Apaa community deserves better, all of the Acholi deserves better. They are being misused and taken for granted by the government. They are just pawns on the chess-set. No value, the first one in the battle-line to take out so the ones of value can be put into play. That is how it looks from the outside.

This have been planned for decades and now it happens.

Amuru Land Grab: What is ours, is OURS; What is their’s, is OURS; and Whatever is your’s, is still OURS. Peace.

Kakira Sugar Limited addressing farmers strike (02.07.2018)

Kenya International Freight & Warehousing Association letter to KPA: “Re: Noticing to Port Stake Holders on Empty Containers” (31.05.2018)

KRC/CCCC: SGR Operation ‘Secrecy Agreement’ is a disgusting way of muffling the employees!

You know that Kenya Railways Corporation sucks, you know that the Standard Gauge Railways project is fatigued. As the circulations of the Secrecy Agreement that all employees has to sign onto. Which states that the employees cannot tell the truth about the operations or the works of the corporation.

They expect all employees to be strictly confidential about all matters connected with the SGR and the Kenya Railways Corporation. You are not allowed “to record, store copy any information or violating the SGR Operations”. Therefore, the SGR and Corporation are clearly muffling its staff. This includes “participating in negative articles, writings or videoes or photoes on social media or Facebook or Youtube and etc. that involving SGR Operation”. So when the company goes this far, it says how dire the operations are, they cannot be golden, but instead grim.

This is happening after the state orders all Containers from Mombasa to be put on the SGR and also pushing for the public to use the rails. However, it is still not profitable. As the project has been costly and also embarrassing as the grace period for the loans are soon hitting the government. Meaning, the huge loans for the infrastructure investment comes to roost. Therefore, the needs for revenue is even more important. To patch the hurt, before moving on to other projects.

That is why these sort of leaks and showing how far the Company takes it. Shows how bleak the situation is. When they have to muffle and silence the employees. Since the Secrecy Agreement has Chinese signs on them, it could be given by the tendered company, China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), which have the 4 extensions tenders to the previous built railway from Mombasa to Nairobi. Therefore, this could be the direct interference of the contractor CCCC, that would explain why the agreement wrote Youtube as Yutube. Because, that is a site that is banned in China. So, if the CCCC employees wouldn’t know about it and its spelling it would make sense.

Because if the employee was to break the agreement, they would meet the SGR discipline, whatever that means. If that would be termination or put on leave, its hard to know, since their protocols are not out and the KRC/CCCC are not that open on this matter. I am sure they didn’t want the Contracts into the public sphere anyway. Since this is disgusting silencing of the workers and taking away their rights as citizens. This is all communications outside the operations is not allowed. This is not about keeping away company secrets, but keep negative social media impact of the company. However, now that the agreement is out.

I can assure the negative articles will come, not only that the state has order transports of containers directly, that its not profitable and not a wholesome company, instead its a mismanaged State Operated Enterprise (SoE). Surely, the Kenyans should feel betrayed, as they are silenced by outside forces, who are building railways in their republic. The CCCC is acting as kings and they are the servants on the spot. Not allowed to talk or express opinions, just work on the clock and shut-up. That is initially what the contract is saying. Peace.

Ruto snubbed at Kabarak: Next time have an official Plan B!

“Marcus Burnett: Is this still plan B?

Mike Lowery: Naw, this is definitely plan C!” (Bad Boys 2, 2003).

Before politics, William Ruto was a walking preacher, who later joined in with the Orange Democratic Movement. Until he got tired and couldn’t eat enough. So he launched the United Republican Party in January 2012. In December 2012 he went into an alliance with Uhuru Kenyatta. That led to the victory of the 2013 General Election and also the formed alliance, that became a joint party now named Jubilee Alliance Party. With this in mind, Ruto has been playing the cards as he has seen fit.

When he was on the rise to power, before becoming someone to mention, he used the platform of Raila Odinga to become someone. While he didn’t rise enough or eat enough. He went out of that party and created his own. That he did just in time to join the The National Alliance of Kenyatta and create the Jubilee. So he could live among the allies and secure the battlefront against his former allies.

This weekend, as the bridging gaps between ODM and Kenyatta is in full affect. The handshake that has put torn in the flesh of many and also far from patching the hurt. Still, Ruto want to be the big-man and be someone you respect. Therefore, he doesn’t want to seen as a leach, but someone who can carry himself and importance. This weekend has shown how much power he really has.

When Gideon Moi, the KANU leader, the son of former President Daniel Arap Moi. Everyone of some relevance visits him and have talks. The likes of Odinga and Kenyatta has recently been there in the home in Kabarak. This weekend the Deputy President traveled to Kabarak with his helicopter. However, the doctors appointment was more important, than seeing Ruto and shaking his hands.

Whatever reasons for the snub, this is still showing the obvious. That Ruto isn’t as all powerful, he didn’t become the victor of the handshake between Kenyatta and Odinga. That was the first thought coming to mind. As it seemed that the grand-big-man, with his little village project of houses and expanding businesses, he is clearly not respected. That is accurate to say. Because, the reports of Gideon Moi being behind the snub. Shows that KANU has respect for Kenyatta, but not Ruto. He is lucky enough to be DP, but not lucky enough to visit and have lunch with the former President. Wonder if the same would happen if he visited Mwai Kibaki?

Because Odinga went there too… Ruto might have made a Public Relations impact, as people feels sorry or people are disgusted in Gideon Moi’s actions to block him from having lunch in Kaberak this weekend. However, I just feel that this shows lack of power that the Deputy President currently has. Secondly, he is disrespected and also shown the door. Therefore, a man with his office and stature can be blocked like a bloke asking out a girl and getting the door shut in the face. Instead of eating out and having a decent date. That is what happen to Ruto. Which is for all reasons humiliated.

But it also make Gideon looking giddy for the wrong reasons, as he knew that Ruto was coming, but sent his father to Doctor. Such a gentleman.

This is the first shot from Gideon, as people are speculating about 2022. However, this shows just how fickle the roads to power are. Even when your on the top, you can still get shade like everybody else. That has been seen with the sudden Kabarak visit from Ruto. Maybe prepare a believable Plan B? Because, you cannot trust anyone I suppose. Peace.

Kenyatta apologized, but will he patch the hurt?

In the State of the Nation Address, the fifth of his kind, President Uhuru Kenyatta did go into the expected territories, however, he went in one direction I didn’t anticipate. He asked for forgiveness. But as a leader, I hope he acts, because he knows how he came to power for the second term in 2017. We know how he was the loudest voice of discontent, the one who has blatantly disregarded the rule of law, the one that has used the army and the police to hurt civilians. Therefore, the ones that was in-charge of doing these ills should pay for the hurt they caused. Not just, apologize and move-on. Just as if Rail Odinga got his handshake and his role in government, so now he does not care how the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) rigged the game. Here is the part of the speech I felt had some values, worth mentioning.

“We also learned, again, a hard truth. Neither peace nor unity are a given; we have to work for them. I say so because last year taught us that if we don’t put an end to unrestrained political competition, it will put an end to Kenya. You saw what happened. In the heat of the campaign, words of anger, malice, and hatred were spoken. Politics was no longer a debate between opponents on issues; it was a clash of irreconcilable enemies. You saw the consequences: lives lost, property destroyed, our unity sapped. I want to be clear here: never again should Kenyan life be lost for politics’ sake; never again should Kenyans’ property be destroyed on account of politics. But that will not just happen on its own. All of us, and in particular we leaders here, will have to admit that last year, we failed in our duty to preserve the unity of this country. And we must make amends. First, I pray that all of us will spend the days and weeks after this address repairing the bonds that frayed last year. Let us apologize for our words, and for the anger and malice that Kenyans heard. From Mandera to Maseno, from Mbita to Mvita, from Lodwar to Lunga Lunga, let us shake hands and embrace our neighbours, and let us celebrate the diversity that is God’s gift to us. Let every leader in the country reach out to our sons and daughters, and remind them that they have it in them to forge a Kenya that speaks gently, that criticizes constructively, and that embraces and respects dissent and competition as healthy and civilized ways of collaboration. And since leadership is best done not by exhortation but by example, let me do as I have asked you to do. If there was anything I said last year that hurt or wounded you, if I damaged the unity of this country in any way, I ask you to forgive me, and to join me in repairing that harm” (Uhuru Kenyatta – State of the Nation Address in Parliament, 02.05.2018).

It is good to hear this from the President, I just hope it is sincere, but if it is, then there is need for action. Not just handshaking Odinga, give him some coins and thinks the families, the tragic deaths that occurred on your watch goes away. All the Extra-Judicial Killings, the big shots who sudden killed days ahead of the elections. Those will be remembered, they will not be forgotten, even if you ask forgiveness. They are still bloodstains on the hands of the President, who hasn’t really done anything to investigate or more like a cover-up to not look into those who has lost their lives. So that he could rule a second term in office.

I wish it was differently, but it wasn’t only innocent civilians that passed away because of protest, police-brutality and electioneering. There was people who mattered and was high upon the food-chain, still the deaths of these lingers on. With many unanswered questions, into the levels, of who paid who and who ordered to send for who? As long as those questions are open, you can wonder if the highest command want it die down and go silent. So that they wont be questioned for their role in their demise.

It is hard to forgive, when your not even trying to cover-up or trying to patch the hurt. You don’t even try to forge or change. Seems like all talk and no play. Since, everything you have done is to pay-off your worst enemy. However, not look into the systemic indifference nor the activity that lead to the demise of the people during the elections. That is because that will hurt your own allies and the dark shadow of your presidency.

Therefore, I don’t expect President Kenyatta to really look into the Police Service, the Military or the Government institutions involved, even investigate into the Cambridge Analytica, the tenders of electoral frauds and the rigging of himself. Since, that will delegitimize his role as the President. It will humiliate him and his allies. He can talk about apologizing, but will state offer more condolences to the ones who lost their loved ones during the skirmishes of the police in and after the Presidential elections? Will he offer them a trust-fund, something to secure the families of the ones who lost their lives? Will the kids get support for their education and a safety net for the ones who were betrayed by the state in the run-up the fresh presidential elections?

Because, I hate to say it, its easy to apologize, but takes courage to investigate himself with a independent body and also use the coins you self have gotten to help the lives of the ones you hurt. That would have been mature, that would have been righteous. However, I doubt it would happen. Since this government is all about PR and not about delivering service to the community. Peace.

Opinion: After today’s speech seems like Odinga is the unofficial PM!

“We have a big workforce in our country and most of them are youthful and looking for jobs. This is why we in NASA are in agreement with Jubilee in matters of job creation, universal healthcare, poverty and food security” – Raila Odinga (01.05.2018).

Today’s speech by the National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga in Nakuru is unequivocal a sign of loyalty to Jubilee. This is happening now close to two months after the handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta. What striking today, is his tokens, his resignation of fighting spirit and his direct vision within the government. That meaning, he is practically not an opposition figure, but a stooge inside the Jubilee. Just like the Thirdway Alliance did before the 26^th October 2017. Therefore, the is no difference. Only that the words of Odinga matter a bit more than the words of Dr. Ekuru Aukot.

Because today, the National Resistance Movement of Kenya (NRMKe) was dissolved, the whole boycott of government sponsored products and companies, which has been connected to the direct government works. Companies that worked directly during the elections in 2017 and was partly responsible for the rigging and the electoral malpractice, which occurred. So now, its official done. But that has sort-of-died down months ago anyway. It was serious when first unleashed, but a month or two in, the reality wasn’t changing enough. The NASA knew this and their People’s Assemblies has also been dissolved. Before they we’re even built or even became official shadow organizations to the Local Government structures.

Odinga, is really the unofficial Prime Minister, the Republic is a mixed Republic and not a Presidential Republic. However, that is not officially yet, but his actions speaks like it. Especially, with his support of the Big 4 Agenda of Kenyatta. It is like a sign of loyalty to the causes of the Government. That isn’t a sign of an opposition leader. That seal is broken, therefore, Orengo should resign, the ODM shouldn’t be seen as the biggest opposition party, but a direct partner with Jubilee in a coalition. If Odinga supports and works for the agenda of Kenyatta, he is practically part of the Kenyatta paradigm. Even if he says otherwise. He still is, the words and actions shows it.

Odinga is practically the third on the food-chain. The third force in the Jubilee government, if he speaks like this. Odinga should be sworn-in again and get an official title. You can fool people once, maybe twice, but sorry brother, not the third time. Maybe Aukot should start the Fourthway Alliance to get some relevance, because the Third Way right now is Odinga. After Kenyatta and Ruto.

Its time to stop nonsense from this man, the time of opposition is over. Someone else is the real opposition. Someone else is fighting the indifference, the lack of governance and the deteriorating levels of poverty, that so many are feeling day-to-day. Therefore, they were willing to fight and join Odinga during 2017, because his message was different then of Jubilee. Now he sounds and acts like them. Its a betrayal of Canaan, but was already sealed with the handshake in March 2018.

So Kenyatta, do your thing, give the man his office and portifolio. He is your man now. Odinga will not fight you, he is tired and hungry. It is time you feed him and patch his hurt. Let him become PM again, because that is all he wants. Peace.

Kenya Medicial Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists Union: KMPDU Position on Importation of Doctors from Cuba (30.04.2018)