Wetangula disowns National Super Alliance (Youtube-Clip)

“The unity pledge by the opposition is already showing signs of fracture just a day after it was made.
Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula now claims his party does not recognise the national super alliance that was formally unveiled yesterday. Sam Ogina reports on NASA unity test” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016)

Opinion: NASA launch is so no other leaders can come out of Odinga’s shadow!

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I have a conspiracy theory and it is not verified, but I have a hunch why that the leadership of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga is launching a new Opposition outfit and coalition right before the General Election of 2017. It is not so it is ready and amended correctly and following the new electoral laws that the Jubilee government passed this January 2017. No, Raila Odinga has other plans and it will be uncovered!

Honourable Baba, Raila Odinga, has been the opposition kingpin and head honcho for a decade or so. He has steadily been the prince and been the underdog, but never become the Executive. Therefore this hurts his pride, as it did to his father who also became an issue for the ruling elite.

So now that the opposition is gearing up for the general election and deciding their flag-bears and the presidential candidate, that is important for any party and even more vital to a opposition to a consolidated party, which is the Jubilee with key figures like Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto. They will not give up easy and therefore they amended the laws to make it easier to get one more term in power.

So the strength of grand coalition and collective is needed if the Opposition should be covered in the new election. They should act and sound like a possible opposition who is different than the ruling regime under Jubilee. The Jubilee will not go as a coalition, but as one stronger party that we’re created and made ready for the 2017 election. Though their track-record is far from perfect and their years in power have been filled with scandals.

So the National Super Alliance (NASA) which will take-over for the Coalition for Demcratic Reform (CORD), so the parties that in the NASA is mostly the same as in the Cord. Therefore you can wonder why they are changing name of the outfit. That is the reason why I believe there is one main reason for this. Not that NASA or National Super Alliance is the most brilliant name ever. Neither is the timing for changing well-known outfit and PR move to trade the CORD name in.

CORD has been a structure of promise, still fragile and also there we’re agreements made for who was to run in the coming terms. That is why I believe the main reason for the NASA is Hon. Odinga, not anybody else; there might be other deals and backroom kickbacks between the parties. Still this here can be seen as a way of administrating away the old-agreement of CORD. Therefore the new agreement might open ways for Raila Odinga to run again as the Presidential Candidate since this is NASA and not CORD. Also by doing so, he will be most known and biggest political adversary to the Jubilee government.

Odinga, seems to be tactically ready to ambush and silence the old-agreement of Cord, that is well-known. Honourable Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka we’re in the Cord agreement the next in line to try and become the Presidential flag-bearer under the Cord umbrella, as well as the last big-man of the giant trio under Cord Honourable Moses Wetan’gula we’re supposed to run for the Cord in the 2021. But with a new outfit Odinga can outsmart them with the highest flag and popularity; therefore he should run and be again trying to win over the Kenyan citizens.

Because why this coming in January 2017 when they have been is partners since their agreement in 2013, it is 4 years into the agreement and soon renewal of the old pledges between the leadership and secretariat of the Cord. Those protocols are now put into the folders and some of them into the bin. The NASA has to make amends with the old agreements and the other parties that had pledges from the ODM and others should be capable to give way to other than Odinga. If not, than Odinga cannot trust anybody else than himself; that isn’t leadership or stewardship, he has tried and tried and now should open to somebody else to try. It would be big of him, though I think that Wetan’gula and Kalonzo Musyoka will be left behind in NASA is most likely, if Gideon Moi (KANU) or Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) will not be put forward in the pot of Presidential leadership in NASA. That would be even more demeaning for the Wiper Democratic Movement Kalonzo Musyoka or Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD-K) Wetan’gula who themselves deserves to come out of Odinga’s shadow!

So Odinga is smart and resourceful, uses tactics and wise words to sell a dream where he can only run and win over the Jubilee, therefore he cannot continue with the Cord. In Cord he is bound to stepdown and gives way to others. That is a path Odinga doesn’t want to do. The NASA coalition is a new way to secure his Flag-bearer and Presidential Candidacy in the opposition. Also an outfit he can use and also try to gain more power. I could hope I am wrong, but I would be surprised if this was created to levitate somebody else. That would be a grand day for Kenya when somebody who wasn’t related to the ones who liberate Kenya from Britain.

It might be high time for somebody else to run in the opposition, to prove that they should get a chance to rule and get Executive power in the proud nation. The Kenyan deserves a proper option to the Jubilee Party and their misgiving leadership. Kenyatta and Ruto has together with their eating elite, really been feasting without breaks since running the office. Therefore someone has to come in and shake it up a bit. If it going to be without scandal and without grand corruption. But if the leadership behind Odinga shadow gets allowed to shed light on, there might be leaders or even ideology, even political craft that could revolutionize the Kenyan government. That wouldn’t be dangerous, but could be prosperous. Peace.

KANU Statement that they are positive to a Opposition Alliance (11.01.2017)

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Kenya African National Union, KANU supports the idea in its formative stage of opposition unity in that this and the resolve by opposition leaders to field one presidential candidate is a milestone for Kenya’s growing democracy.

However, the remarks made by Hon. Nick Salat, the Secretary General of KANU today at the Bomas of Kenya are his personal sentiments and do not reflect in any way the position of the party on the matter of an election coalition at this juncture.

KANU policies and decisions are guided by the party’s constitution which stipulates that such a decision must first be discussed by the supreme decision making organ of the party, the National Delegates Conference (NDC) upon a resolution.

Since the party has not convened the NDC as per the constitution to deliberate on this particular matter, the remarks by the Secretary General are therefore not official as they have not been subjected to the internal constitutional processes for ratification.

Kanu Chairman, Gideon Moi

The Kenya Human Rights Commission to Commence contempt Proceedings against Fazul Mohammed and the NGO Board (07.01.2017)

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“If we do not agree there will be no election” – Midiwo (Youtube-Clip)

CORD Statement: A Great Betrayal has been committed against Kenyans (06.01.2017)

Kenya Parliament

Our Parliament has witnessed some bizarre scenes and moments between 2013 and now. It has witnessed several attempts by the Jubilee regime to raid the constitution and overturn the will of the people for individual gain. It has witnessed blatant efforts to reintroduce dictatorship in the country in the name of giving the President power to fight insecurity. The list is long.

But the spectacle that began in the National Assembly during a special sitting late last month and ended in the Senate last night, count among the most bizarre. It stands out as a blatant willingness by the Jubilee regime to sell out the entire country for no reason other than the survival of the increasingly unpopular corruption-ridden government.

One by one, Jubilee senators, disregarding irregularities and illegalities in the process, cast their ballot for the Bill whose sole aim is to make it easy for the regime to allow underage and dead voters to cast their votes in addition to stuffing the ballot boxes in the elections slated for August 2017.

Jubilee committed a great betrayal on the people of Kenya last night in the same way it did last month in the National Assembly. Jubilee has disowned what was initially a bipartisan agreement that pulled us from the brink and turned it into a full-blown national and government crisis.

In its desperate bid to create opportunities to rig the election, Jubilee senators went as far as fraudulently casting votes using their nominated senators who had no authority from the elected senators to represent their respective delegations. During all the discussions in both the National Assembly and the Senate, Parliament was put under siege by the overwhelming presence of the Police and other security agencies whose purpose was to intimidate legislators into passing the laws under duress.

This is now a crisis because the people of Kenya are determined today more than ever to hold free, fair, transparent and credible elections the results of which will have to be verifiable.

We will respond to this betrayal of the people comprehensively, decisively and firmly. We therefore wish to announce that we have invited all our elected leaders; members of county assemblies, members of the National Assembly, senators, governors and women representatives both elected and aspirants on opposition tickets to a meeting next Wednesday, 11th January 2017 at the Bomas of Kenya to deliberate on the developments. At this meeting a critical decision will be taken and communicated to all Kenyans on our plans to deal with this betrayal of the people by Jubilee and ensure free, fair, transparent and credible elections in August 2017.

Signed

HON RAILA ODINGA.

HON KALONZO MUSYOKA.

SEN. MOSES WETANGULA.

HON CYRUS JIRONGO.

JANUARY 6, 2017

Opinion: I miss Olara Otunnu, already!

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After this General Election of 2016, he promised to step-down after the continuing process of keeping him away from the Presidency of Uganda People’s Congress as there we’re a strange placement of UPC in connection with the NRM government, as they got cabinet positions. The fighter and long-time human-rights activist and politician said he would give up politics.

“Tension at the opposition Uganda People’s Congress Party hit the boiling point on Friday, as supporters of the newly elected party President Jimmy Akena, battled with outgoing president Dr Olara Otunnu” (…) “The latter, who announced his resignation at the end of his term, is unsatisfied with the process through which Mr Akena was elected president last week, citing irregularities that characterized the entire process that must be probed” (…) “Sources in the party told us a new committee led by one Patrick Mwondha was set up, which will provide interim leadership until the July Delegates Conference when the new President will be endorsed” (…) “The council will handle all party activities leading to the July 10th National Council and July 11th National Delegates Conference” (…) “All this took place in the presence of president elect Jimmy Akena, who was occupying the party Vice President Joseph Bossa’s office” (Segwa, 2016).

This continued with a long process where Jimmy Akena finally overpowered Otunnu and kicked him out of the party, together with others who has essentially cleared the party of the loyalist behind Otunnu.

Therefore the realization that we do something bold again could appear, but instead he did this: ““Ambassador Olara Otunnu, the embattled UPC president’s time at the helm of one of Uganda’s oldest political parties is up. The man eagerly waiting to hand over power says his attempts have since been failed from 12th of June 2015,when he scheduled to officially hand over power only to be sabotaged by what he calls the Akena faction coup – d’état” (NBS TV Uganda, 10.05.2016).

Now months after I have to drop a few words for this man. Who has a long history in Uganda Politics and all of sudden has silently disappeared, something he didn’t deserve and he could have become more vital if people had given the man a chance. That is not something I alone could believe as he has been important for many during his years in the UPC. A place and heart of a fraction that Akena never can carry, because honest political craft isn’t Jimmy Akena’s way, if it we’re so the battle for Presidency of late would have been without tension, court dates and kicking out people out of the famous Uganda House.

But when looking away from the hurt, let look at the gentleman that Ugandan people now has lost, as he turned civilian and surely has a position with good people around him. Because he has the experience and the wisdom to lead and to focus his capacity at greater things!

In 1982 – New York:

“’There’s been a mistake,” he told Mr. Otunnu, who is Uganda’s representative to the United Nations. ”We don’t accept diplomats.” Mr. Otunnu kept looking, and found another apartment. ”Everything looked O.K.,” he said, ”but when I came on the appointed day with my check, I was told it was no longer available. I had a friend call up and cross-check, and he found the apartment was still available. So I went back with him, and they were embarrassed – they said the apartment was indeed available, but they couldn’t give it to me because I was a diplomat.” (…) “He found a third apartment, but he was again rejected and again for the same reason. Mr. Otunnu, who eventually found an apartment in a new building, remembers his experience with anger. But, he said, it is a ”common story” for diplomats.” (Bennetts, 1982).

In 2009 – ‘About his role in 1985:

Melina Platas Izma asks: “Some of your critics have alleged that you were involved in the coup of 1985. What is your reaction?”

Otunnu: “That is absolute falsehood. It is a vicious smear campaign being peddled for political reasons. At the time of the coup, I was based in New York. First, there were those reports about tensions in military barracks on the outskirts of Kampala. When I contacted my superiors in Kampala, I was assured that the incidents were not serious and were nothing to be concerned about. But then, in very quick order (and to my great shock), came the coup itself. I knew absolutely nothing about it and had no part whatsoever in its planning or execution. After the coup, I travelled to London for a previously scheduled meeting of the Commonwealth Commission on Small States. While in London, I was summoned home. At that time, I called Mzee Milton Obote from Shafiq Arain’s office. He told me how the coup by Bazilio Okello had unfolded. He knew I had nothing to do with it. He concluded the conversation by telling me: “The situation in Kampala is very dangerous. Be careful. And stay in touch when you can.” I did stay in touch with him. During the Nairobi peace talks, I travelled to Lusaka to consult Mzee.  Much later I would visit him while I was now based in New York. From time to time, he would send me messages. In fact one of the persons who carried an important personal letter from Mzee to me on one occasion was Chris Opoka, the current Secretary General of UPC. When I reported to Kampala, at the urging of Paulo Muwanga and Tito Okello, I accepted the assignment to initiate and facilitate the peace talks. That was my primary responsibility as minister. At the time, in a television discussion with Col. [Zed] Maruru, I defended the record and programmes of UPC from what was a wholesale visceral condemnation of the party without any regard to facts. I argued for an objective assessment of UPC’s record across the board – both its achievements and mistakes. Incidentally, soon after the coup, and before I left New York, Museveni had called from Gothenburg in Sweden (my telephone number was given to him by Betty Bikangaga from Geneva), urging me to return home to facilitate contacts and eventual peace talks: “The people who are in charge in Kampala know you and we know you; you can serve as a go-between and help to build confidence for talks.” (Izama, 2009)

His own statement in 1994 as member on the Commission on Global Governance:

“I think it would be equally difficult to have Germany and Japan join as permanent members without seeking some way to redress the imbalance which will be accentuated–the North-South imbalance within the Council. At the very least during this transitional period, we would need to have what one might call “tenured members” of the Council. Those who would serve for a period longer than two years–maybe five, six or seven years–but who would not be permanent members. A possible formula would be three-plus-one. Three tenured members would be drawn from the three regions of the world which are now not represented on a permanent basis–Africa, Latin America and parts of Asia. The remaining one would be a global seat, tenured, elected on the basis of some rough standard of good UN citizenship. It would allow a number of countries, who would not necessarily belong to the three regions mentioned previously, but who contribute very actively to the purposes of the UN, to be invited to serve on this tenured basis” (…) “Now I come to the use of the veto, which obviously has to be discussed in any context, whether it is transitional or long-term. In the long term, I am not sure what the fate of the veto is going to be. I have a feeling that it will be a major issue of discussion. As we move into a world that is more democratic (in spirit if not always in practice), the veto will increasingly be questioned. But in the transitional package, I see the veto being retained by those who now have it, for purely practical purposes. They will not cooperate on anything that prejudices their right of veto” (Otunnu, 1994).

In 2005 – His work for Children in Conflict:  

“Reacting to his departure as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, UNICEF said today that it was deeply grateful to Olara Otunnu for being an outspoken advocate for millions of children caught in conflict around the world” (…) “She praised Mr. Otunnu for insisting that egregious violations of the rights of children in armed conflict cannot be overlooked or forgotten, and that the cloak of impunity must be lifted for all war crimes and abuses committed against children” (…) “Ms. Salah also hailed Mr. Otunnu for his close work with UNICEF in negotiating the landmark resolution passed by the Security Council last week, which establishes a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system for children affected by armed conflict” (UNICEF, 2005).

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In 2007 – Otunnu could return:

“The Ugandan Government would not accept &rewarding8 the disaffected diaspora and &terrorists8 through the peace process. Museveni argued that if regime critics such as former U.N. Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict Olara Otunnu wanted to return to Uganda to run for office, they could do so. If northern Uganda was &thirsty8 to have Otunnu represent it, then a member of Parliament should vacate his seat for Otunnu to compete” (WikiLeaks, 2007).

In 2010 – Leadership role:

Last weekend, UPC delegates gave you a hoe to get back to work for Uganda, and the job is very big. Luckily, you bring to the job two very distinct qualities that will allow you to become part of nation building. Foremost, as a former diplomat on the world stage, you are known across the globe; when you call, leaders pick up their phones to listen. Your ability to network, and to connect internationally will serve Uganda well as a developing country” (Opiyo, 2010)

In 2013 – liberate Uganda:

The selection of Prof Omara-Otunnu who comes from northern Uganda may raise eyebrows to many in Uganda but a source close to FUF told The London Evening Post, that the front’s leadership is determined to have leaders from all regions of the country and that no particular tribe would monopolise the front as is the case in the ruling National Resistance Movement. Omara-Otunnu will need all his international experience in bringing together many Ugandans who have for years been frustrated by Museveni’s leadership and are being united because they all share one desire, that of removing Museveni from power and returning the country back to the people” (…) “A practical idealist and visionary, Prof Omara-Otunnu has devoted most of his adult life to promoting democracy, human rights, sustainable development, social justice and the ideal and practice of a common humanity around the globe. He engages these causes as a scholar advocate and a practitioner, by shaping policy and building structures and alliances through which to effect positive change in society. For his achievements, Professor Omara-Otunnu has received international recognition, including the luminary award given by the international affairs council to individuals who have made significant contributions that have profoundly impacted the world” (Gombya, 2013).

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When you see this kind of words and his rich history from the cradle and in the midst of battles as the rise of Museveni was happening, while he also became a negotiation partner for the government of Obote. So he was on the losing side of history. Olara Otunnu we’re a man who at one point of time, though if I remember correctly that the youth had a say in the Obote government after the fall of Idi Amin where Museveni we’re Minister. So the turn of the coup of 1985, made him flee and also his reputation after years abroad made him a candidate for international works in the United Nations Organizations and partners. Therefore he is man with wide knowledge of the world and of his own nation.

Therefore it saddens me that he is now totally silent. That a man of this stature we wing-clipped by James Akena. That a man of hypocrisy and deceit like Akena could bring a man like this down! Otunnu had deserved another outcome. He has been steady and wanted the positive change of an accountable-government and a transparent election where a government like that would be elected. Certainly a vision he hasn’t seen in his time. Where also a transgression in his own party lead to his fall, as Akena made power moves and in the end cut the ties with the man of a rich history and also knowledge.

Otunnu, the diplomat who has a long career has now been gone into oblivion. The reality is that the man who has worked hard for justice for children and against war-crimes. As well as working of peaceful change from Museveni. That hasn’t occurred instead a man who turned loyal against all odds to Museveni got control over UPC. The Party that are old and stood against the Museveni paradigm is now gone. The UPC that stood against and lost that is well known now.

Otunnu has had many transition and been through many storms, been in exile and been through the worst of the worst. Many might not know this, but they should. He is not a relic or forgotten man; he should be a treasure to counter the NRM propaganda and the NRM control of the historical facts. He has been in the midst of the creation of the NRM from the outside and knows what the losing team looks like. He knows the struggle to get back their legacy and recharge a broken party. A party that betrayed him and took him for granted.

UPC was too good and to deceitful to be connected with Olara Otunnu! Olara Otunnu deserves credit for the work for the cause and I miss him from the public sphere. I am sure it does him good to be out of the spotlight. But the politics and the history of Uganda needs men like this. Who fights within reason and with enlightenment, with the tact and procedure and not with brown-envelopes and impunity! Peace.

Reference:

Bennetts, Leslie – ‘DIPLOMATS HAVING TO SCRATCH FOR APARTMENTS’ (06.06.1982) link: http://www.nytimes.com/1982/06/06/realestate/diplomats-having-to-scratch-for-apartments.html?pagewanted=all

Gombya, Henry – ‘EXCLUSIVE: Otunnu set to lead new Ugandan liberation front’ (10.10.2013) link: http://www.nyamile.com/uganda-in-south-sudan/exclusive-otunnu-set-to-lead-new-ugandan-liberation-front/

Otunnu, Olara A. – ‘1994 Conference – Statement by Olara Otunnu’

Former President, International Peace Academy 1990-98; Member, Commission on Global Governance) link: https://www.globalpolicy.org/the-dark-side-of-natural-resources-st/water-in-conflict/32794-1994-conference-statement-by-olara-otunnu.html

Opiyo, Oloya – ‘Olara Otunnu, UPC has given you a hoe get back to work’ (17.10.2010) – New Vision

Segawa, Nixon – ‘Olara Otunnu Overthrown as UPC President’ (05.07.2015) link: http://www.chimpreports.com/olara-otunnu-overthrown-as-upc-president/

Melina Platas Izama – ‘Olara Otunnu on the way’ (06.07.2009) link: https://melinaplatas.com/2009/07/06/olara-otunnu-on-the-way/

Unicef – ‘UNICEF thanks Olara Otunnu’ (03.08.2005) link: https://www.unicef.org/media/media_27835.html

WikiLeaks – ‘UGANDA: A/S FRAZER DISCUSSES LRA, CONGO, AND SOMALIA WITH PRESIDENT MUSEVENI’ (14.09.2007) link: https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/07KAMPALA1449_a.html

Kenya – IEBC “Subject: Talks on Election Law need Fast-Tracking” (30.12.2016)

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Kenya: “Re: Consent to Institute Criminal Contempt Proceedings against Honourable Aden Duale Leader of Majority in the National Assembly and Member of Parliament for Garrisa Town Constituency” (28.12.2016)

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Kenya: “Re: The Contempt of Court committed by Adan Duale, the majority leader in the National Assembly and the Threat to the Independence and Integrity of the Judiciary (23.12.2016)

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