Opinion: Jubilee is ready to skin you now that the elections are over!

Let it be known that the State Coffers and the Government isn’t a well-oiled machine, the Kenyan government is taking up debt to cover old debt, which is all created by the current administration and the current President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. Both of them have taken up expensive loans for both running the government, but also development projects. However, they have run their tab and is struggling.

They have subsidized lots of things people needs, they have paid providers and importers, they have made sure the costs of importing and producing has been lower. Especially in the months in advance of the Presidential Elections in 2017 and also a little after. However, they don’t need the votes and public goodwill anymore. Therefore, the subsidizes are now ceasing to exist.

The prices of gasoline and similar products are going up now in January. The prices of electricity has already been rising. The eminent rise of prices on UNGA is also coming. All of this is coming, as the subsidizes are ceased. The Jubilee Government cannot afford the billing and the tab, they have gained so much debt, that they cannot muster enough money to pay for this too.

Expect sugar and cooking oil to go up. If the airtime for the phone companies and the charges on M-Pesa would go up as well. All the Mobile Money and Airtime could also rise. The inflation and the current instability in the economy will hit all parts of the economy. The signs are there and the government need to tax and get more fresh funds. Easiest is to charge every single costumer and citizens through what they are already needing and spending on. That is all of this.

Make sure that the needed products, the food, the electricity and the gas cost more. So that the charcoal and other ways of heating will cost more. There will be more blackouts and less businesses can afford to hold the generators working.

Parents are also feeling growing school-fees combined with payment for uniforms and extra curricular activities. All of this is adding cost and making it harder for people to send their kids to school. This all combined means that there is a higher cost of living, while the salaries are not following. Meaning that the citizens are getting poorer, by just existing and breathing in the same space as the politicians.

That the Jubilee Alliance Party have tricked the public is clear, that they are trying to earn money on the public and find ways to fix their ill-gained debt spiral with added taxes and higher cost of living. The expenses of ordinary and needed products are rising. It is worrying, the signal of a falling economy and problematic investor space. Where cartels are controlling sugar, flour-milling and imports. Where the cronies and families of the political circle are owner and involved in key businesses.

We can wonder why it had to happen just small months after the elections and the swearing-in in November 2017. That Kenyatta and Ruto have planned this for a while. That is why the Forex Levy is now being changed and making things more costly. The UNGA and Sugar subsidy are also gone, as it was just a temporary relief. The gasoline and the electricity are controlled by the state and special levy, which is now taken away.

The ones paying this is the public, its the citizens and the politicians, the government know why it happens and let it happen. We can wonder, why they are accepting making life harder for their citizens. Peace.

Kenya: Energy Regulatory Commission – Press Release – “Maximum Retail Pump Prices in Kenya for the Period 15th January 2018 – 14th February 2018” (14.01.2018)

Kenya: KPLC to Competition Authority – “Re: Abuse of Dominant Position, Monopoly and Buyer Power by KPLC/Fuel Cost Charges (FCC)” (10.01.2018)

Kenyan Government Press Release concerning the EU-EOM Final Report on Fresh Presidential Elections released today (10.01.2018)

Kenya: Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga Press Statement – “Uhuru Personalising the State to Protect Illegitmate Authority” (09.01.2018)

NASA Statement: Public Statement on National Conversation Call by Section of the Business and Religious Community (21.12.2017)

American Company (Harris Media) peddling dangerous propaganda in the recent elections in Kenya!

Privacy International Reported through their investigations that a Texas based Harris Media LLC, who made web-pages the “The Real Raila” and “Uhuru for Us”, which both targeted not only the National Super Alliance Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga, but also addressed deep issues with tribal affairs. Which a foreign entity should use as a tactic or even think about using in a political atmosphere. Where there has been violence because of tribal tensions as late as 2008. Clearly, there we’re international companies involved the 2017 elections, not only Harris Media, but also Cambridge Analytica, who both worked for the Jubilee Party and for Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Therefore, all of the companies that has been hired in, has mostly worked to benefit the cause of the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and his party. The same did also OT Morpho, a french company delivering the KIEMS system to the IEBC.

So today revelation isn’t a new thing, but what is new is that they are directly using spiteful means to boost Kenyatta. This is devious and devilish to use the tactics that the pages of Harris Media did. Harris Media has represented Ted Cruz, Benjamin Nethanyahu and Rand Paul. They themselves call their methods: “We pride ourselves on creativity, innovation, and client service. We have a creative in-house team of graphic designers, web developers, and video editors. Our team has overseen multi-million dollar digital advertising budgets and will work with you to deliver the most targeted, innovative, and creative online strategy that fits with your goals. We believe every client deserves a unique digital strategy that is tailored with their specific needs in mind” (Harris Media, link: https://www.harrismediallc.com/our-work/).

Just to show what the Uhuru for Us is, let me take a few pieces:

On Facebook page 21st October it said this: “Kenya is a democratic nation where our citizens exercise their god given right to vote on who should lead our country. Raila Odinga is the greatest threat to our democracy!” (Uhuru for Us, 21.10.2017). On the 20th October 2017: “Exercise your right to vote and make your voices heard! They are trying to steal our democracy. They are even talking about splitting up Kenya and stealing our country. Ensure this doesn’t happen! Get all your friends fired up and ready to vote for Uhuru! He is the only leader who can keep Kenya growing, keep Kenya united, and keep Kenya peaceful!” (Uhuru for Us, 20.10.2017). On the 17th October 2017: “Do you believe in Uhuru’s peace as opposed to Raila’s violence? Do you believe in Uhuru’s progress as opposed to Raila’s backwardness? Do you believe in Uhuru’s unity as opposed to Raila’s divisiveness? If you are voting for peace, progress and unity with Uhuru pledge your vote today!” (Uhuru for Us, 17.10.2017).

This are some of what they did during the elections to sway people. Calling Raila evil and despicable things in favor of Kenyatta. The ironies into that is that Kenyatta has used the police and military, who actually killed numerous of people right before and during the campaigns. Even right before polls, there been big extra-judicial killings. Therefore, this campaigns are trying to target the opposition in a manner that they can question the ruling party.

That the Harris Media as a provider and a targeting campaigns are going this far in their propaganda shows the levels of little integrity. The American Media and Political Lobbying Firm are clearly using their methods to tarnish the opposition. They do it by all means and with no favors. There is no justification. Just spreading fear and more fear for the purpose of re-electing Kenyatta.

The elections this year has already been put in question and viably so. There is enough issues within the IEBC to start counting the doubts of a real counting of the votes on the 8th August and 26th October 2017. Harris Media and Cambridge Analytica worked really well to fix the message that Kenyatta wanted and to make Odinga look even worse.

Privacy International stated this about their work: “Three Harris Media staff, including Josh Canter, its vice president for content production, an account director, and a designer worked on The Real Raila site, authoring blog content, mostly republishing lightly-sourced characterisations of Odinga as a dangerous, racist xenophobe with promoting his tribe and family as his primary political aim. The Uhuru For Us Twitter account still appears linked to a Harris Media email address. Created in March 2017, its first follower was Kenyatta’s Digital Media Strategist” (Privacy International, 13.12.2017).

The American Business and Media Corporation was certainly peddling propaganda in favor of Kenyatta, that is shown just by one page on Facebook. Kenyatta paid these foreigners to serve his purpose, even if it created a more hostile environment. This also proves that American interests has been involved in keeping Kenyatta as a President. That is foreign interference from the United States in the Kenyan election. Certainly like they are looking into the involvement of Russians in their own, this would be the same sort of methods done in Kenya by them.

That Harris Media has been peddling this sort of content and put adverts in favor, that diminished the reputation of Odinga and his NASA. Shows that they we’re already invested in the Kenyan government and the current leadership, that is why they also got to hire certain companies to send their message. Kenyatta knew this all along, the same must been known by the American Ambassador Bob Godec. That has known about the communications done by Harris in favor of Kenyatta. Clearly, the Godec paradigm is to let Jubilee and Kenyatta continue to rule.

We can certainly question all of the American involvement as the Harris Media did their part in creating the separated nation as it was shown on the Jamhuri Day of 2017. This is as a results of the two previous presidential elections this year and non has ended well. The involvement of all of these companies should be litigated and be subpoenas to get intelligence on their direct involvement in the elections. Not that Kenyatta want to do that, because that weakens him even more. He is already fragile and not having the proper support anyway. He needed to cheat to win and that is proven. Peace.

Igara East By-Election Results (14.12.2017)

NASA Statement on the The People’s Assembly (14.12.2017)

Brexit: David Davis, the Secretary for Brexit is just making it harder for himself and his country!

David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union and running the Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) who is working for a sustainable and as good as possible agreement between United Kingdom (UK) and European Union (EU). Even as all the months has passed and the EU and UK came with a Joint Report last week, ending the Phase 1 of Negotiations. Still, that doesn’t seem enough for the Secretary Davis. Who has concurred differently apparently, as the EU and UK should be focused on ironing out more difference and making sure their status is good after the departure of Membership by the UK. Seemingly, Davis is more busy creating more havoc.

On a BBC Interview at the Andrew Marr show on the 10th December 2017, he answered this:

it’s been made clear by Number 10 already, so that’s not actually new. The second element about this is the other areas. Now look, one of the things we have had as a major objective, a major negotiating objective for the British government and we don’t normally lay our red lines out in public, that’s one of

the things I’ve always said, is we want to protect the peace process and we also want to protect Ireland from the impact of Brexit for them. So we – you know – this was a statement of intent more than anything else. It was much more a statement of intent than it was a legally enforceable thing” (BBC, Andrew Marr Show, 2017).

So he significantly downplayed the joint report that was fixed between UK and EU that was signed on the 8th December 2017. Therefore, it just took two days after signing and agreeing between the partners, before the one leaving downplayed the whole agreement between them.

The start of that agreement specify this:

This report is put forward with a view to the meeting of the European Council (Article 50) of 14-15 December 2017. Under the caveat that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed, the joint commitments set out in this joint report shall be reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement in full detail. This does not prejudge any adaptations that might be appropriate in case transitional arrangements were to be agreed in the second phase of the negotiations, and is without prejudice to discussions on the framework of the future relationship” (EU/UK, 2017).

Seemingly, the Secretary is not so good with details, since the Joint Report will be reflected in the Withdrawal Agreement, meaning that the words and the specifics be a bit altered, but the reality is that the ideals of the Joint Report will be mirrored in the end. Therefore, the words of David Davis is reckless. Considering the commitments the United Kingdom has done by signing and agreeing on the Joint Report. Its like he brushing over the importance of ending Phase I to join the negotiations at Phase II.

That is why European Union are striking back at this towards Davis, who clearly doesn’t what his actions does to the Union they are leaving. This are joint resolutions that are attacking and addressing the misconceptions of Davis. First amendment made by the Joint MEPs which says:

Is of the opinion that the report allows for the negotiations to move on to the second phase and recommends that the European Council acts accordingly, but believes that negotiations must be connected in good faith and is or the opinion that negotiations can only progress during the second phase if the UK government also fully respect the commitments it made in the Joint Report and they are fully translated into the draft Withdrawal Agreement” (Joint Motion for Article 2 on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom, 2017).

So the MEPs of European Union in various parties are reacting with force and wanting the EU to sanction the words writing the Joint Report and take it seriously. But they have more important issue to amend:

Whereas comments made like those by David Davis calling the outcome of phase I of the negotiations a mere “statement of intent”, risk to undermine the good faith that has been built during the negotiations” (Joint Motion for Resolution on the state of play of negotiations with the United Kingdom, 2017).

Clearly, the EU is not having it with this sort of foul play. They are not accepting any cheap trick concerning the withdrawal of UK. The EU MEPs and leaders who has written these motions to secure the developments are moving forward and with respect to the things already agreed upon. We can see that David Davis wasn’t acting wise, when he is trying to forge an agreement that fits both parties. Clearly, Davis are only thinking of his own career and not of how it makes him look elsewhere.

That Theresa May has something to answer for in Brussels later this week is clearly. When Phase II is coming and the secretary in charge from their negotiation team has made a mockery of the Phase I. He did it on BBC and on a live TV-show. Typical recklessness of the Brexiteers and their campaigns too. Just like they did with facts concerning the Brexit before the polls as well. Same thing, just more dire now, since the opposite party, the one they are leaving will not be so helpful if you disgrace them days ahead of negotiations.

However, Davis like to put some more gasoline on the fire and see how much it burns. At least that is how it looks like and with his previous actions as well. Instead of acting with some tact and some consideration. He is blatantly undermining the efforts done by both EU and UK. This could have been a good start for Phase II and the needed details before an agreement. Therefore, the reflection of the Joint Report shall and should naturally be a part of the Withdrawal Agreement. It is not just a mere statement, it is the pre-binding text for the coming agreement. Putting context and perspective on how the actual agreement will be. Peace.

Reference:

EU/UK – ‘Joint report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on progress during phase 1 of negotiations under Article 50 TEU on the United Kingdom’s orderly withdrawal from the European Union’ (08.12.2017)