DP Ruto: Your gig is up!

Deputy President William Ruto is one of a kind. The kind that uses fine words and speeches, the ones are defending values, but his actions differs from that. He has finessed the game, using his influence and his value in the system to gain monetary funds. This at a rampant speed, that the check-books cannot recover or even account for the funds. His play-by-play book is made for unaccounted funds and for forging results.

Therefore, a man who has earned a well-fortunate salary in his position, still his wealth over the years has risen astronomically. His houses, his business and his ownership is like a Jeff Bezos of Kenya. The DP has a village called home, own newspapers and whatnot, who knows he has gotten in his hands and pockets. It’s like a giant fountain of money that spiralling in his veins.

He is the guy that praises the rule of law, but orders to not respect the court orders. He is the sort of man who speaks of fighting corruption, but is corrupt as hell. He is the sort of man who speaks of accountability and transparency, while he himself accepts bribes, graft and unaccounted funds in boatloads. He is the man who speaks in twisted tongue, but expect people to speak honest to him.

DP Ruto, we know you now, we know what your up too. We have seen it for years. It isn’t cool anymore, we know that your in your place for one reason, not to serve Kenya, but serve yourself. You are in position to enrichen yourself and your family, not to be representative for Kenya. If it had been so, you wouldn’t be the famous hustler and the famous go-to-get wealthy politician vibe. Because that is true.

We know you own K24, The Star, Karen Homes, Osere flats in Rongai, Major Amaco Insurance, Oseng Properties Limited, Orterter Enterprises Limited, Weston Hotel, 680 Hotel and Uasin Gishu Residence. This you have gotten on your meagre salary. Billions upon billions in property and ownerships of companies, while earning only millions. You cannot make this up. You have also bought a copper and whatnots of cars within your time in office. Therefore, we know you speak, but do financial warfare.

So please, don’t speak ill of corruption, when you’re the benefactor and owner of it. It wouldn’t be like this if your salary and your benefits was sincere, if your role in government and wealth was real, as your eating like there is no tomorrow. Grabbing whatever possession there is and taking it. We see that, as step by step your grabbing ownership of vital plots, of vital news organizations and also producers, which will generate more income. But in the first place, you shouldn’t have the capacity or wealth to be able to get these. Your not earning enough to be here.

So the gig is up. We know you. You can speak those fine words. But we know the reality, the fantasy is all in your mind. We know that and you cannot say otherwise. We know you will, but it is valued as nothing. None. Okay?

Just stop, it is not funny. Peace.

Planned established Task-Force against Corruption: What about the EACC, DPP, IGP, DCI, Ombudsman and AG in Kenya, aren’t all of them enough?

ODM LEADER Odinga says a task force to end corruption will be established, and that claims he has been silent on recent scandals are untrue” (Nation Breaking News, 26.05.2018).

That Raila Odinga has today on the 26th May 2018 has said there is soon an established a new taskforce to combat corruption in Kenya. Well, I have my doubt about there mandate and their place in the hierarchy. That is the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Noordin Haji, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Chairman Eliud Wabukala, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Joseph Boinnet, Director of Criminal Investigation (DCI) George Kinoti, Ombudsman and Auditor General (AG) Paul Kihara Kariuki,

That a proclaimed new task-force seems insane and outrages, like they are playing and toying around the subject. They already has the DPP, EACC, IGP, DCI, Ombudsman and the AG. All of these should have more than enough provisions and mandate to stop the grand corruption, the minor corruption and the petty theft from public institutions. However, seemingly all of these are just cashing in their checks and take the small fry. As the Jubilee Party and the government are to preoccupied with eating, to see that they are eating state services. This corruption is so grand and big, that the state services are failing because of it. While the state is adding more and more debt to cover the shortfall, which is created by the government itself and feeding itself.

All of these agencies, institutions and security organizations should have the ability to cover, find and build cases to get people detained and convicted for corrupt behavior. However, that is not in the interest of the party and the heads of the state. They cannot be taken and their elites, which is eating of the plate. Cannot be touched or be questioned for their mischief against the state. They are allowed to steal and take public funds for personal gain. That is the evident activity.

Therefore, with this in mind. It is foolish to add-on a Task-force in the midst of all these bodies. Where is the mandate, who is it running too and what sort of legal boundaries does it have? What is the provisions for its activity and jurisdiction? Will it answer to the AG, IGP, Ombudsman, DCI or the DPP for that matter? Or will it be a part of the EACC, which is such a soft gum-ball of a government institution.

That is why it is healthy to ask what will it do, that all of these others are not already involved in and who do they answer too? Are they blind muppets of the EACC or anyone of the other organizations? Since there are so many to be under and who just needs the provisions and the legal framework to allow the Task-Force to work under them. If not are it totally separate, will to actually investigate the lack of investigations inside the others as well?

I don’t have the answers, but I feel there should be enough legal investigatory bodies within the republic to get rid of corruption. If the will was there and if the will was really there, it should be enough. All of them should have the capacity, the ability and the legal standing to combat corruption. However, they are either gutted, silenced or not being used properly, because the elites, cartels and the ruling regime is stopping what they could expose. That is how it seemingly is and how it clearly is pushed.

That since they don’t have the ability to fight it within the bodies that are there, but it is really a sign of failure, when all of these are irrelevant and the government might start yet another one. What about the rest? Are they there for the pay-check and go home? Is that it?

That is how it seems. Peace.

Hon. Otto Odonga: Notice of Motion to Censure Betty Amongin over abuse of Office (23.05.2018)

The National Coffee Act of 2018: A sour cup of Coffee or just another Robusta?

It is hard to see any significant change of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, as the law of 1994 is planned to be repealed, as the Cabinet accepted a new bill yesterday at the State House. Let me explain, It would seem more reasonable, if someone leaked the text of the law, but the short tide bottlenecks of information leaked. That information is showing, that it is more of the same. Just some new buzz-words, to keep the donors buzzing.

Since the UCDA are already in charge of monitoring, pricing and promoting coffee, both internally and externally. They are supposed to help raise the quality of the coffee and educate farmers, both in production of better coffee, but also raise the yields for the cash-crop. The UCDA is rally a state organized body in both education, trade and promoting of coffee. Where all parts of the transaction from the seedlings to the trade of the ready beans has been in connection with the government body.

That is why the Cabinet decision that is released to the public, the one page dossier, as the law and the new provisions aren’t out, but if these footnotes are the realization of the changes from 1994 to become the new law in 2018. There are really just putting in the word sustainable and harmonize the roles of all the roles. Which is fancy lingo, for making sure everyone along the line is taxed and made sure they pay for the government services. Since they are already having the mandate by the law of 1994.

As sub-section 4 in the UCDA Act of 1994 states:

The functions of the authority shall be— to issue certificates in respect of the grade and quantity of coffee; to register in accordance with guidelines issued by the Minister, from time to time, on the advice of the board, all organisations and bodies applying to market coffee; to liaise with the Bank of Uganda in respect of repatriation of foreign exchange obtained from the sale of coffee; to set the quality control standards under which coffee is sold; to certify all coffee exports; to collect, maintain and disseminate statistical data in respect of all aspects of the coffee industry; to advise the Government on the mechanism for determining the minimum price for the sale of coffee; (h) to monitor world market price changes and adjust the minimum price on a day-to-day basis to reflect the changes; (i) to research and make extension arrangements through the Ministry responsible for agriculture or any other organisation established in the country for the purpose; (j) to reconcile coffee subsector policies with the macroeconomic policies of the Government; (k) to liaise with the International Coffee Organisation and be responsible for the administration of the stamps of the organisation; (l) to liaise with other international organisations and promote Uganda’s coffee on the world market; (m) to be responsible for the overall supervision of the coffee subsector, including related industries, and advise the Government on coffee subsector policies; (n) to organise training for technicians, coffee processors and quality controllers” (CHAPTER 325 THE UGANDA COFFEE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY ACT, 1994).

So when I read from the spreadsheet from the Cabinet meeting at the State House, where the gist is to replace the 325, because they want to development of competitive, equitable and sustainable coffee, promote Coffee research, good Coffee farming practices, domestic coffee consumption and add value to the Coffee. Also, provide the Authority regulate all on-farm and off-farm activities in the Coffee Value Chain, streamline and harmonize the institution in the development of the Coffee Sector and to promote the Coffee sub-sector.

As what I see, the UCDA Act of 1994, not only hold the grabbing hands on all of this, but the mandate of the Authority is already, just not managed well, apparently. If the state cared about the Authority, they wouldn’t lack needed staff, as the Auditor General Report of December 2016, said the staff had 29 open positions, I don’t know if its as bad today, but wouldn’t be shocked if there was openings that the UCDA couldn’t fill, because of lack of funds.

What is striking to me, is that what the Cabinet Meeting of 21st May 2018, is what is in the statute of 1994. It just using a few different words, but if they cared about the UCDA, they would fund it properly and also actually have proper oversight of the operations. As the UCDA has often given away bad seedlings to Coffee farmers, in the same fashion as the Operation Wealth Creations has to its SACCO’s around the Republic. Like the Auditor General report of December 2016 says: “ Failure to plant and maintain coffee seedlings that were distributed and received by the farmers is wastage of Government Funds and eventually leads to failure to achieve planned coffee outputs at national level. Further, beneficiary lists withfarmers that never received inputs may be an indicator of irregular dealings on the part of seedling suppliers” (AG Report on UCDA December 2016, P: 19).

Therefore, the changing of words within the law is not fixing the remedy of the goodwill to generate more coffee and better yields. It is actually giving the king, what the king needs. That is not more fancy lingo, but actually actions and funds, also accountability, so that the farmers and the other part of the coffee production chain. Can all benefit from the Authority. On December 2017, the MoFPED delivered the National Budget Framework, which said this: “Continued implementation of the Coffee 2020 road map aimed at achieving 20million bags of 60Kg each per annum, including supporting research interventions at the National Agricultural Coffee Research Institute (NACORI) to produce high yielding coffee varieties and disease resistant tissue culture plants for coffee as well as development of a National Coffee Bill, 2017 that focuses on developing the entire coffee value chain and enable the country consolidate its dominant position in export earnings and employment” (MoFPED, P: 18, December 2017).

Therefore, the Cabinet meeting has initially decided to follow the guidelines of the National Budget Framework, as it was in December 2017. That is not surprising, but what is weird is the wording and how little change it is from the original law, that they are repealing. Unless, they have some magical formula sprinkled over it, making it a beautiful cake, instead of a boring bun with a little whipped cream. Because that is what it seems.

If you read the objectives of 1994, it doesn’t seem so far away from 2018, does it?

The objectives of the authority shall be— to promote, improve and monitor marketing of coffee with a view to optimising foreign exchange earnings and payments to the farmers; to control the quality of coffee in order to ensure that all coffee exported meets the standards stipulated by the contract between the seller and the buyer; to monitor the price of coffee in order to ensure that no export contract for the sale of coffee is concluded at a price below the minimum price; to develop and promote the coffee and other related industries through research and extension arrangements; to promote the marketing of coffee as a final product; (f) to promote domestic consumption of coffee” (UCDA Act of 1994).

That seems a lot like the spreadsheet of the Cabinet from yesterday, right?

Its only the value chain and add value on the coffee that is very new, but the rest more of the same. I am baffled or even shocked by this. It is like the Cabinet haven’t read the old bill or cared about the provisions there and thought. Maybe we should have better oversight of the Authority, instead they are changing wording and thinking that is magic wand to change the current predicament. If they wanted real change, they would have reformed the organization internally and used the provisions already there. But it is easier to make a leaflet, than change people’s mind and allocate funds.

Good morning and smell the coffee, well, I smell it, but more of the same. Just attached “sustainable” on the package, but taste is the same as yesterday. Peace.

The Spreadsheet of the aka National Coffee Bill of 2018!

Opinion: NRM, It is hard to see Middle-Income Status coming quickly!

He explained that the NRM manifesto is anchored in Vision 2040 and the second National Development Plan. It commits to deliver Ugandans into middle income status and to ensure sustainable development” (Mubiru, 2018).

Well, it is that time of the year. To prove the National Resistance Movement (NRM), that their empty promises. Because when you collect the news together. It is easy to see how things doesn’t add up. If the NRM was on their way to sustainable development, like Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda talked about earlier last week. Then all of the news coming wouldn’t fit. The narrative cannot be growth and development, when all of these issues are happening at the same time. It doesn’t fit. The glove has to fit the hand. The three things that doesn’t add up is the missing funds for the Presidents own Village Poverty Program, relief food for Karamoja and also a missing sugar factory.

Village Poverty Program:

State House has said it needs at least Shs 5bn to roll out the model village poverty alleviation initiative by President Yoweri Museveni. In the request contained in the Ministry of Presidency’s policy statement and budget estimates for 2018/2019, State House said the existing Shs 1bn budget for the project is too little and therefore a 500 percent increase is vital. The current Shs 1bn has only managed to establish small scale commercial agricultural farms in 21 model villages. The country, according to Electoral Commission of 2016 data, has 59,700 villages” (Okello, 2018).

Donate relief food:

The government of China has donated food aid worth $5 million (about Shs 18bn) to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support a feeding programme for vulnerable groups threatened by malnutrition in the Karamoja sub-region. More than 2000,000 people mostly school going children, infants and mothers are threatened by malnutrition in Karamoja according to official figures” (Lyatuu, 2018).

No existent Sugar Factory:

It is five years, since Atiak Sugar Factory under Haryal investment Holdings Limited was rolled out in Amuru District, to commence sugar production, but has since stalled, leaving a number of sugar cane farmers stranded. “The people shifted from food crops with hope to earn from sugar cane. Out growers are now worried that the factory will not take off in time to fully untilise the 4,000 acres planted,” reads part of their petition. Kilak North MP, Anthonu Akol who read out the petition to the Speaker said that the farmers are stuck with no factory to sell their sugarcane and questioning why the minister of Finance, Matia Kasaija, sold to them hot air” (Kyeyune, 2018).

All of these issues shouldn’t be at this state, if the state was seriously developing and on the way to Middle-Income status. There are so many issues that is missing, not only the ghosts and the added debt ratio in the budgets. This is all minor measures in the bigger picture, but it proves the lack of governance and accountability, when the state can grab land in Amuru district, but never deliver the promised the factory. As this been going on for years.

That the middle income cannot be fulfilled when the village poverty is so prevalent, that the scale is not fitting the needs. You know that the state lacks resources and well-funded plans to even achieve this. The President should have made sure and ensured the progress and at the planning stages, it this is his program, to be sure about the right amount and needed facilitation to deliver to the needed villages. That is apparently a mixed bag wooh-ha and nonsense.

Last but not least, is the donating of food to Karamoja, which in it self a sign of lack of progress. When your not able to meet the needs of your population and have good enough agricultural policies and output to feed yourself and your own kind. You know that the Middle Income Status is far-fetched, when this is still an issue. You know there are miles afar from the promise land. That the NRM and the President is clearly not delivering. There is no excuse in the book, that can fix the grandest issues of not being able to feed all communities and districts of Uganda. You know they are far from Middle Income, when China has to donate food to you….

Enough of the nonsense. Peace.

Reference:

Kyeyune, Moses – ‘Acholi sugarcane growers seek Parliament help over stalled factory’ (16.05.2018) link: http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Acholi-sugarcane-growers-seek-Parliament-help-stalled-factory/688334-4565238-ueostj/index.html

Lyatuu, Justus – ‘China donates relief food to Karamoja’ (19.05.2018) link: http://observer.ug/news/headlines/57707-china-donates-relief-food-to-karamoja.html

Mubiru, Apollo – ‘NRM Manifesto: The road to modernity’ (18.05.2018) link: https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1477948/road-modernity

Okello, Dickens H. – ‘Shs5Bn Needed for Museveni’s Village Poverty Alleviation Program’ (21.05.2018) link: http://chimpreports.com/shs5bn-needed-for-musevenis-village-poverty-alleviation-program/

Opinion: DP Ruto shows again how he finessed the game, yet again!

What happen on Sunday on the 20th May 2018, that everyone has accept the results of the Fresh Presidential Elections on the 26th October 2017. Like he knows perfectly well the flaws and the issues with the elections. He was part of the issues that the elections of 2017 had, it was him and the President who ordered and fixed the results. Therefore, it is insulting to tell others how to cope with the end-game. But that is his arrogance.

Deputy President William Ruto has finessed this game, using the CORD/NASA as the wrong-doers, while his party is justified. Ruto has all along said that you should respect the constitution, rule of law and fighting insecurity. While his government are disrespecting the same values, attacking the Supreme Court, not following Court Orders or even securing the people, as the police continues with brutality after the elections in 2017.

DP Ruto is really just disrespecting the values that he is so concerned about, he is defending it, when it goes his way. But when the same courts and same rules of law is in his way, the state and the Jubilee will say its a problem. We have all been here before, Ruto is really just finessing his way. Now we have to accept the outcome of the elections. Just like they wasn’t fully flawed and deserves an independent investigations into the Cambridge Analytica, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Safaricom and the OT Morpho controversy, as the digital results transmission, the BVR Machine nightmare and the IEBC Server connected to the Cambridge Analytica server. All of these issues should be looked into, but that will also undress the king and the prince, which is Ruto. He and his kind will not accept the madness of doing so.

Also, that Ruto thinks people forget the number-crushing, the lack of openness within the results transmission, the lack of truthful voter register and amount of voters, which changed with time. As well, as the problematic high turnout for the 26th October elections, compared to the lack of people actually turning out. It is like Ruto forgets this. There are too many issues with this elections, just to let it go and say: Your the DP and President, we cannot question your legitimacy.

Even with the building bridges project, it doesn’t erase the history of these elections, that is why Ruto tries to finesse it. Tries to overshadow and let people forget the grand issues of it all. Ruto should be careful to even mention the elections. Because he knows perfectly well, all of these issues and underlying problems.

So, if he says they are legitimate, lets someone really independent, not judges who we’re besieged and house-arrested give the verdict, not let the boycotts and the grandest issues fall behind the swords of your tongue. Because we know the deal, we know the outcome and we know about what happen. It is the ignorant and blatant disregard for electoral practice that lets this go. It is you and your kind that don’t give a fig, about respecting the ballots and the people’s will.

Ruto, I will not accept a computer generated elections, where donkeys, chickens and kids voted your in and the electorate was disenfranchised. That is forgotten and people like me will not accept it. People were sleeping as guards on the polling stations. Therefore, Mr. Ruto, your legitimacy is fragile, it is fake and you can blame and tell others how to feel.

However, that will not change the reality and the real outcome of the 26th October 2017, maybe you should send the army to spread more fear, maybe more leaders in house-arrest. Because that was how you got the courts to comply to your wishes. Peace.

Opinion: When will the grace period of the Chinese loans end? – While, Kenya and Uganda continues to borrow more!

The Government of Kenya and the Government of Uganda, should both worry about their arrangements and their growing debts, as the non-sustainable rates of debt and higher interests. As the unnatural growth of the national budget, where the lack of revenue is covered with more state debt. To cover both salaries and development projects. All of this has happen over the recent years. As more and more of the yearly budget goes to pay interest on old loans, as the old loans also mature and the rates will become more dire. As the strength of the economy isn’t going in the same rates as the loans. This is in the end a debt trap. A debt trap China has used in other countries.

Sri Lanka is the recent example, which has come into a debt trap, where the Chinese loans has become so dire, become so big and not able to recover. That the collateral for the state was to favorable lease the harbor of Hambantota to the Chinese. They had too, since they couldn’t repay the creditor from Peking. That should be realization from all the others who borrows big and think that the Chinese will not get something valuable back for their funding.

This should be a warning for the Kenyan and Ugandan counterparts, this should be a warning for President Kenyatta and President Museveni. That is if they care about the state resources, about their minerals and about the possible extractions from their republics. If they want to be debt-slaves, or lease away the crown jewels to the Chinese, because they promised favorable debt plans, that in the end put them in juxtaposition, that they cannot come out off; unless they trade away something very valuable. If that would be licenses to drill oil in Turkana or in Bunyoro.

Who knows what the end-game of these massive loans are and if the Presidents and their parties plans to repay them. Or hope that the next generation will try to invent new way of generating money. If so, then they are saved by rare luck and not by planning ahead. These loans are big and taking bigger and bigger slices of the GDP. They are going far beyond the levels of revenue and possible future forecast of funds. Therefore, the loans can only at this point benefit the ones giving them. They will get the repayments and the interests. If they don’t get that, they will take collateral and take other state entities to get their values back. The Chinese are doing that in Sri Lanka, they could easily do that with Kenya and Uganda too. They are in for the taking and ready to muscled out.

The Chinese doesn’t play and doesn’t play with money, they will recollect and they will recover the funds spent. As they are not playing games, they are really investing and hoping to get paid-in-full. They are waiting for the numbers to go from red to black. They don’t expect to loose, and if they do. They will figure other ways to collect the lost.

President Kenyatta and President Museveni should know this, but I doubt they are thinking in this direction right now. They are eating and not caring, but their states and their economist should worry. As the growing debts has a backside, not only the interests and the lack of development it creates, as they have to find bigger revenue to cover the debt and the mature loans, as they have to settle old affairs and such. They don’t go away or get deleted over nothing. They got to take charge and find a way to solve it.

The Chinese will take advantage if they start to default, if they struggle to pay, which could come, if the loans and the negative spiral of lack of revenue continues. That is if the state doesn’t find ways to repay. Than, the Chinese might take a port, might take state owned enterprise, but surely they will be paid-in-full. Peace.

Opinion: Every crony wants to eat; now the Ex-MPs wants a grander treasury chest!

The National Resistance Movement (NRM) is something special and unique, their supposed vital role in society and their added liberation struggle, should in consideration make sure the society was better off after their reign, not being a burden after the NRM MPs leave office. However, they are just figuring out new ways to eat. Now the fallen MPs, the ones who served and had a majestic pay in Parliament want a bigger slice of the cake. Because getting 30 million shillings in pensions isn’t enough for this big-shots. They need more, they we’re representatives and honourable, they cannot go back to ordinary life after that.

The reports that they are poor and unemployed, shouldn’t make Museveni give them favors, he already have over 163 Presidential Advisors, a Cabinet reaching over 60 ministers and the space inside the Parliament isn’t big enough for everyone staying there at a Plenary Session. Therefore, this is just another waste. This is just more greed, from the previous Members of Parliament, who most of them at one point gave more salary increases and perks for themselves. Every single parliament of late has done so. They are getting suits, they are getting cars, they can spend allocated funds on foreign trips, they are paid for if they need health care abroad. Nothing is untouchable for these fellow brothers and sisters.

Now they expect to get a 100 million shillings add-on from the President, in way of a Presidential Handshake, paying them off, as you may, because of their previous engagement. Not that the ones now are getting the same, they we’re getting extra funds for voting on the age-limit and giving Museveni life-presidency. These people most likely we’re part of abolishing the term-limits and go their kick-backs for that.

That is why NRM is so special. So unique, so vibrant and fresh, it is the testament of greed. They we’re while in office, eating millions upon millions and getting kick-backs for voting correctly on the right laws. If they had been smart, they would have put the extra in the bank and in funds. To secure wealth for the years to come, if they cannot go into the private sector or get other jobs in their own districts. However, they we’re busy eating like there is no tomorrow. In addition, even when they have a giant pension package compared to the fellow citizen, they expect to nearly triple it. From 30 million shillings to 100 million shillings. That is insulting, to everyone else in the Republic who goes from hand to mouth.

They we’re supposed to represent the district, the people, the citizens, but their actions, time and time again. Shows, that they we’re only there to represent themselves and their tummy. It is a sad affair. It shows the greed and the lack of understanding of their role in society. Their lack of acceptance of their part of the play, which they anticipate to eat even more of the state. That has already doled dozens of millions on them, when they were representing.

Now they are just citizens, they are not honourable anymore, I am sure that the President can appoint enough advisors to have about 200 of them within next year. To fill the quota of former MPs. However, what they guide him about, expect being another crony on his payroll. Who knows, maybe they can all become deputy and chairpersons under the RDCs. So they get something to “do”. But that is still just a waste of public resources, just like giving them triple salaries. They shown now that they are not there for the public, but was there their tummy!

National Remittance Movement, that is the real NRM. Transmit funds from state reserves to private accounts. Handshakes, bribes, graft or overzealous pricing on government services. All of come into play and these former Members of Parliament knows that perfectly well. Peace.

Kenyatta’s Cybercrimes Act is a crackdown on all content online!

During this week, President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act of 2018, meaning this is becoming actual law, that all citizens of Kenya has to comply to. As this is the legal framework and provisions, that can incriminate or be used against the citizens. They are really prepared to assault the digital world and the ones putting content online.

Two of these provisions, which is really cracking down on the online content is article 22 & 23:

22:“A person who intentionally publishes false, misleading or fictitious data or misinforms with intent that the data shall be considered or acted upon as authentic, with or without any financial gain, commits an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five millions shillings or to imprisionment for a term not exceeding two years, or to both”.

23: “A person who knowingly publishes information that is false in print, broadcast, data, or over a computer system, that is calculated or results in a panic, chaos, or violence among citizens of the Republic, or which is likely to discredit the reputation of a person commits an offence and shall on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding five millions shillings or to imprisionment for a term not exceeding ten years or to both”.

This is clearly attacking and if they finds something as fake, they can make the people liable and criminal. While the Jubilee party and President signed this off, their own party should be careful signing this off. As they have worked with Cambridge Analytica and Harris Media, created fake news and also spread wrongful deceitful messaging online. This has been deliberate by them during the General Election of 2017, as well as the Jubilee has spread fictitious promises. Just like the fantastic trains and massive stadiums. Therefore, Kenyatta should know better.

They will use this law to go against the likes of Cyprian Nyakundi and others. The ones like the Elephant and others. Who are not spreading the message of the state, but are questioning their powers. Kenyatta knows this, even his own Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU), who spread the news of an honorary title from the UNICEF to Kenyatta. Which was false, I even got caught in the hype. I know I did, because it seemed like possible, as a month before the WHO gave a Mugabe a title too. Therefore, I got pissed and felt it was unfair to give a title for championing youths, when he destroyed the lives of plenty with the crackdown on protests during the elections.

Therefore, this sort of bill should make sure the PSCU also get arrested on their malicious content and propaganda. Even the planned messages from the team around the President should be spotless, however, the PSCU isn’t. They should have been, since the President has sanctioned these provisions. Why I am concerned, as they are putting restrictions on others, but the Social Media program of the state itself has been questionable and attacked the public itself.

We now can see what the state wants to do to its own citizens, as the are getting stronger provisions to follow and to track, in the end also making their content illegal. This is not just for safety, because these sorts of laws can be used against whistleblowers, and even the ones who drops data online on frauds and such. Since its damaging for the government, this might be a criminal offense for some.

What is the definition of a panic? Is it that Kenyatta cannot stomach a beer? Is it that DP Ruto don’t get a handshake? What is the stakes? Because the provisions that matters for most of the citizens are vague, meaning it depends on the interpretation of the officers and judges. That is not a good signal, that is a bad one, however, doubt the PSCU will get into trouble. More like bloggers, writers and television journalists that suddenly will be detained, because Kenyatta didn’t like what they said, wrote or broadcast. Peace.

KMPDU – “Status of Doctors’ Uemployment in Kenya” (16.05.2018)