Opinion: Extending the BBI is all about buying the involved parties time

This Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is now the vehicle to keep the relevance of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Jubilee government afloat. As they have a joint project, which has no proper mandate, but buys the President and his cronies time to loot. The BBI is a smokescreen and the project is not only flawed, but built on the wrong premises.

That Odinga is doing is, seems so that he has a purpose. Because without the BBI he would be a lost fellow, who claimed to be President, but gave it away with the handshake. That is how it seems. The Report showed this, like a hallow manifesto with grandeur and big-man words, but not the initial wording to make it a legal text.

That is why December, two weeks or so after the release of the report. The State and ODM still pushes the need for the Taskforce and the BBI. This means its a tool for legitimacy and buying time. Since, there is nothing substantial being done, neither motions nor bills being made with the recommendations from the report. Which is showing the real intent.

Just look at the statements made during the previous week on the matter, first the State House and than Odinga.

State House statement:

The President and the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga thanked the team for putting together a report that captures the aspirations of Kenyans and requested the Taskforce to continue leading the BBI process. The Taskforce will therefore steer the next phase of the process which will largely involve expanding and guiding public participation, and structuring recommendations by Kenyans into implementable action plans” (State House – ‘President Kenyatta Extends Term Of BBI Taskforce’ 12.12.2019).

Odinga statement on 17th December:

As a party, it is in our DNA to take a stand on critical issues of the day. ODM never stands or sits on the fence. We never sway with the wind from this side to that when the interests of the nation are at stake. That is what we have done with the Handshake and the BBI. We have taken a stand based on very clear understanding of what is to be achieved. We have been able to merge our interests as a party with the broader interests of the nation and supported the BBI. We are in this to redesign the architecture of our nation” (…) “ The BBI enabled Kenyans to voice these concerns that clearly threaten our nation. The same BBI gives us a chance to address these concerns. From here one, what we should be debating is what to adopt, what to amend and what to discard out of the BBI proposals” (ODM Reloaded – ‘REMARKS OF H.E RAILA ODINGA, EGH, ODM PARTY LEADER AT THE JOINT ODM PG/NEC ON THE BBI REPORT; DECEMBER 17, 2019’).

Clearly, they intend to do something, but seems like a fancy way of promising change, while conducting more consultations and more rallies for the same. They are supposed to gather more evidence and more public involvement into it. As they are supposed to find the consensus within the public and design the Republic thereafter.

However, that means the BBI will use more government funds for a supposed progression reports and whatnot. Not just the first findings. The BBI halfway project are getting a second mandate. To build on the foundation and supposed do something. Even if there are no real clear mandate, neither here nor there. Neither is the task nor the committee anywhere to be seen.

The BBI seems more and more like a side-show. A play for the guards. To keep preoccupied, instead of actually governing. Because, why do you need to govern, when you got someone in the future giving you guidance, while they are not in office. Why do the work? When someone else will tell you to do something else.

The BBI in this way, seems to be the meal-ticket, the safe-guard and the method to buy relevance of the ODM and Odinga. While Kenyatta get friendly faces from his arch-nemesis and his associates. In this way, get legitimacy and power. In a way, where he doesn’t even have to work. He can just read the delivered paperwork and call it a day.

That is how it seems now. The BBI as a project is just for show and PR. It is not for betterment nor for progress. This is a game for paid state officials jobs and keeping the status quo as it is. The BBI is just letting all the talk go, while the lack of governing is forgotten in the drama of the BBI. Peace.

Kenya: Governor Alfred Mutua letter to IGP Hilary Mutyambai – Re: Treats to me by DP William Ruto, Aden Duale and Kipchumba Murkomen (16.12.2019)

Council of Governors: Jamhuri Day Message (12.12.2019)

Kenya: MLK LLP letter to Chairman Kirogo – Ref: Request for Information on Dennis Njue Itumbi (09.12.2019)

Opinion: Kenyatta’s Week of Anger

It seems like its been a week of anger in concern of President Uhuru Kenyatta. It is hard to know why he suddenly gotten so mad. Maybe the fuzz of the beers or whatever he drinks doesn’t work anymore. Maybe some international organizations doesn’t want to borrow money without to many strings anymore. Who knows? But certainly, his not the happy, go lucky President of the past.

Kenyatta has gone after the ones claiming he was silent. He has targeted the ones who commented on the BBI Report before it was published. Uhuru has addressed the Tanga Tanga and Ruto allies. But not in friendliness, but straight forward attacks.

First with the silent quote, before the carrying own cross!

They see me silent and think ‘he is just there and knows nothing. There is nothing I do not know and when the time comes, I know those who speak and they are not those who are speaking now. When the time comes, we will come and we will speak to you about what we will do. Mwaka mpya, we are with you. Let’s just first listen to their lectures. We are with you” – Uhuru Kenyatta on the 4th December 2019

Please let us not politicize the war on corruption. When an individual is stealing public resources he doesn’t do so on behalf of his family or community. Therefore, anyone who is implicated should carry their own cross” Uhuru Kenyatta on the 8th December 2019

With this he shows that his made and furious. Not that Kenyatta haven’t shown that before. He has whined before in public about his war on corruption. Not that its believable, because his closest cronies and known grand corruption scandals, which are not touched or have had any consequences. They have just gotten appointed elsewhere or gotten away scotch-free.

That is why his anger and frustration only seems forced. That the President only says this things, because he knows this is the right thing to say. However, his actions and his state of affairs is saying otherwise. That is why its not believable.

It is a mirage, that the President think he can create on his own. He thinks he can build it and make the image of it into reality. When its only a creation of his own imagination. The President can continue with his harsh words, warn and talk of sanctions. The President can continue to assault one part of the political elite or professions, but that wouldn’t change anything.

Kenyatta can act mad, can act sad or even glad. Nevertheless, the real actions are shown with what he borrows, the debt-ratio he leaves behind, the state deficit and the lack of good results from his time in office. That Kenyatta have little to show compared to the Big Four promise or the other pledges. Is because the state has been busy doing other things and securing their time to eat. The President has accepted it too, because he has eaten too.

That is why, the current outcry and stable battle against corruption goes old. When it really isn’t targeting the ones on the top, but the small fringe players and the ones whose has their turns. That is why Kenyatta can play and think PR speeches will save his behind. However, it will not. It is a lot of noise, but no real action. Peace.

Kenya: National Police Service – Press Statement on the Arrest of Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko (07.12.2019)

Opinion: It was Sonko’s turn, apparently…

Arresting Nairobi City County Governor Mike Mbuvi Sonko will not solve anything. Neither will it change the ways this are done. Governor Sonko has just followed the footsteps of the previous governors and County Officials. Not it’s righteous or make it right to steal from the public coffers, but that is ingrained in the system. There was no significant change from Evans Kidero or anyone else before him.

The Presser of DPP Noordin Haji and his arrest order of Sonko will not do a big whoop in Nairobi. Than, the whole political elite and all the stakeholders has to change overnight. As they are working as business as usual. Yes, Sonko is a thief, his comrades is involved and his misused power. Nevertheless, in Nairobi, who hasn’t and who of the political elite isn’t benefitting at this current moment?

It is not like the slum-dwellers nor the citizens outside the posh areas feels significant changes from who reside as the Governor. It is just another head and another big-man, who has his time to eat. That isn’t inspiring nor justification for what Sonko did, but he does what everyone before him has done too in this role. Land grabbing, putting associates on County Boards and appointing friends as county officials. That is just what they do.

Before he got elected, he had already been convicted and a run-away prisoner too. So, he knows the rule of law and know what it entails to break it. He has served a stint behind bars and that’s not new to him.

If his corrupt, than his just as blimy and outrageous as plenty of the government officials and the ones running the Jubilee government. Not like the Jubilee have gone long and far between corruption scandals, neither the mere scope and the amounts of grand corruption too.

Therefore, Sonko has to answer for his misdeeds, unless they are baseless and taken out proportions. Some even claim this is the sins of the previous administration and Sonko trying to clear the bill. But that is up for his legal aid to defend the man.

Sonko’s time was up and suddenly he had to appear. Somehow, it isn’t far from being a high ranking official to be answering in courts. Even Cabinet Secretaries has gone from High Ranking Officials to felons overnight. Therefore, that Sonko does it now isn’t that special.

His just one con down, more to go. Wouldn’t be shocked if he got caught slipping and had cases against him with viable evidence. However, that is up to the courts of if the DPP has his paper-trail in order. It wouldn’t be shocking if Sonko got caught doing some illegal bidding and some tenders out of whack. That just meant he was the perfect target at this very moment.

Since the DPP and other agencies has targeted less friendly faces and ensured they have a bad day. Like Hassan Joho of Mombasa has already been under fire for other reasons. Therefore, that Sonko is in trouble today isn’t a sudden new trick of the sleeve. More another play and to show that someone gets charged for corruption.

If this plays out well and not a PR stunt, than the DPP and EACC has done their best. If he just get free and the case is dismissed. Than it was just a play for the façade and hoping that no one notice the charade. However, that is to early to know.

Nevertheless, when you elect a crook and a thief, don’t expect him to not steal. He will not turn into a preacher man and a saint, when he has already been charged with it in the past. That should be public knowledge and common sense, but apparently is not. Peace.

Nairobi City County: Office of the Governor – Press Statement over DPP’s Arrest Order (06.12.2019)

Kenya: office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Statement on Allegations of Corruption in Nairobi County Government (06.12.2019)

Kenya: Council of Governors – Press Release on the Non Payment of County Commitments due to the Vacancy in the Office of the Controller of Budget (29.11.2019)