Opinion: Odinga continue to sell the same dream

“A referrendum does not need to cost more than Sh2 billion ,so we should not be told, we have no money, there is no money to do, we can teach Chebukati how to do it so we have everything needed for a country to do a referendum, we will do it before the next General election” (…) “It is not the desire for anyone to make it any more difficult and costly than it is, a referendum doesn’t have to cost billions” (…) “The purpose of the BBI is to have a free and fair election and that no Kenyan blood is shed because of an election” – Raila Odinga (Capital FM Kenya, 13.08.2020).

On 9^th March 2018 President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga made a “handshake” that turned the enemies, the two heads into a team. The Jubilee got an alliance and a friendly opposition by giving the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) a Building Bridges Initiative (BBI). Which have dropped a report in November 2019. Even if the Reported was dated back to October 2019. There was a long time rumours and speculations of what it contained. However, the propositions and the ideals of this. Is to ensure the dynasties and the political another life.

The BBI Report and the whole BBI project is a big-man game. This is not to ensure the wrongs within the 2010 Constitution. This sort of journey has been to ensure relevance of Odinga. Also, buy Kenyatta freedom to do whatever, as he can use the BBI as a bargain chip. Since, he knows Odinga will not trade that away over a vote or a policy in Parliament. This is why Kenyatta have won big by giving away a few shillings.

Kenyatta bought himself peace of mind. That is why he can clean the slate. He has the majority in Parliament in both houses. The President has all houses and controls the state. Kenyatta can just order, direct and push a few buttons. From there it will go his way and fix his needs.

The political gambit was over after the Fresh Presidential Elections. When Odinga and Kenyatta parleyed. These two settled their grudges. The second rigging and the systematic injustice of the vote got erased. As Odinga botched the unease and got a few tokens. He got a little trophy, got a committee and some official appointments. However, he still have very little to no power.

That is why his selling a referendum. The BBI is another OKOA. The same sort of trade-off, where they want to change the legislation and secure the next election. However, not having the powers or the opportunities to do so. It is selling the same dream. As Kenyatta will not give up the cartels, the power and the needs, which enriching himself and his closest associates.

Just like Odinga sold Canaan to his supporters. He is now trading BBI and the Referendum. Just like he did with OKOA too. Yes, the IEBC has faults, yes the rigging is there and the state has pins in it. They are ensuring the ones are picked and appointed. Kenyatta knows this and Odinga knows this too.

Still, he wasn’t kicking and screaming after the handshake. He went into another mode after the handshake. Odinga got a unofficial role and the ODM got suddenly more relevance. His now selling another OKOA, a BBI, a revised edition to make changes. Kenyatta should be grinning, because Odinga is still in 2015 and 2016. Just missing the questionable signatures and other issues that the last go round had.

Odinga better get another song to sing. He needs another message. Baba seems to be on one MO and cannot sing another anthem. Odinga should learn new tricks, but maybe that’s a bit late now? Peace.

Kenya: Governor Kidero & Prof. Swazuri plans for ‘Housing Estates’ at the land of Uhuru Secondary School

4 MPs from Mt. Kenya endorse CS Wamalwa to face Kidero in 2017 (Youtube-Clip)

“A move by four members of parliament from the Mount Kenya region led by Kabete legislator Ferdinand Waititu to endorse Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa as their preferred candidate for the post of Nairobi Governor, has already stirred the political waters in the jubilee alliance. A section of Nairobi mps allied to the ruling coalition have dismissed the declaration made in Kiambu, terming it as self-serving” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016).

Cord Statement: On Free and Fair Elections (26.04.2016)

Free, fair and regular elections are the enduring foundations of every democratic state, not just as episodic events, but as an integral part and societal infrastructure of civilized nations. Africa is now replete with nation states that hold regular elections but many are yet to achieve the distinction of being democratic states where human rights, the rule of law and good governance are respected. Where liberty reigns not in doses but as a way of life.

Everything must be done in every nation, including Kenya, to ensure that citizens have the freedom to exercise their political rights based on universal suffrage and in an election that makes every citizen and every vote count.

The jury is not out anymore. It is now an uncontroverted fact that Jubilee did not win the presidential elections in 2013 but were declared victorious through a conspiracy hatched by IEBC, elements in the Supreme Court and the security agencies. The misuse and abuse of technologies, the illegal recognition of a multiplicity registers of voters and the bias of the IEBC (sanctioned by the Supreme Court) was the path followed to handover power to the current administration. The police and NIS played the role of a rogue cop and a robot soldier controlled by the security barons and operatives in the office of the President and the military.

IEBC is now irredeemably tainted with scandals (chickengate and all). The Supreme Court is collapsing under the weight of corruption allegations. And the police with its infamy of lack of independence has no place in the present constitutional arrangement. CORD therefore declares that there is no proper electoral infrastructure for holding a free and fair elections in 2017.

The referendum and OKOA Kenya Bill proposed amendments to the Constitution to address the legal and institutional reforms that would be necessary to resolve controversy in the electoral law, the independence and impartiality of the police, the judiciary and IEBC. Those who are howling at us for not using legal and constitutional means to remove the IEBC forget that CORD was using the mechanism provided by Article 257 of the Constitution of Kenya.

By a stroke of the pen IEBC frustrated a valid constitutional process by falsely claiming that CORD did not attain the threshold of one million signatures of registered voters. We know that Jubilee has been living in mortal fear of a referendum. The administration has used the threat of prosecution of the Chairman of IEBC and his colleagues to secure decisions to be made in their favour by IEBC.

In Iceland a Prime Minister has resigned recently from office not through a vote of no confidence but by hearing the voice of the people when his name appeared in the Panama Papers. Public outrage was enough to trigger his removal from office. And Jubilee cannot lecture us on legality and validity of process. Mumo Matemu and other Commissioners of EACC were simply hounded out of office through intimidation, harassment and arm-twisting.

The whole of last year we urged the Government to embrace  dialogue as an appropriate and peaceful way of dealing with all issues of national concern that included insecurity; more revenue to counties; questions around ethnicity and nepotism; land; and elections. All was turned down with arrogance and chest thumping.

Yesterday a lawful attempt by CORD to have a peaceful engagement with IEBC on the basis of Articles 37 and 38 of the Constitution was violently brought down through police brutality. Many of our people were hurt. Jubilee has brought back the imperial presidency and state terror as a means of control and running an autocratic administration. We are not impressed. We condemn the state for going back to the dark days of one party state, social injustice and political oppression. We shall not allow it.

All sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya. We, the People, are sovereign. If the state makes an attempt to establish or run the government otherwise than in compliance with the Constitution, we, the people, shall resist. If the administration chooses not to listen to us and run government by unconstitutional means, we, the people, shall exercise our sovereign power directly in accordance with the Constitution of Kenya.

On Tuesday 2nd May 2016 at 10.00 am we call upon all Kenyans to assemble at the Anniversary Towers for a date with IEBC. Subsequntly, we shall assemble at the Anniversary Towers every Monday.

The meeting will be replicated in all major towns and centres in the country to tell the IEBC, time is up, time to go. All meetings outside Nairobi will be held at the IEBC offices with emphasis on Nairobi, Mombasa, Garissa, Machakos, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisii, Busia, Bungoma, Narok, Lodwar, Meru, Isiolo, Nyeri and Kitale. Kenya cannot and will not conduct any other general election under the IEBC as presently constituted.

DATED at NAIROBI

Tuesday, 26th April 2016