Opinion: The questions ahead as Jubilee Alliance launch their new Jubilee Party at the Statehouse!

Kenyatta Ruto 09.08.2016

Find something wrong as the 12 Party coalition of the current Jubilee Alliance becomes a new political party during the next month, but the launch we’re today. This is supposed to be joyful, but will start a power struggle and negotiations for the slots for official position in the new party as the former ones ran on ticket for each of the 12 parties in their constituencies, but now will run for the Jubilee Party and cannot even run against each other for another term under the new Party Organization controlled by President Kenyatta and his DP Ruto.

As he boldly wrote today:

“Proud to announce the transformation of our alliance and the launch of the new Jubilee Party, with representation across the nation. We are guided by ideological clarity, a solid development agenda and a progressive governance platform” (Uhuru Kenyatta, 09.08.2016).

The easy thing is announce a change, but to transform a change is much different. Just ask Barrack Obama and his plan to shutdown Gitmo. That didn’t actually go as planned. The same will happen with the Jubilee Merger as the 12 parties and their loyalties of the past will come together and work against a common goal. Because the One-Party will run on one platform and under the current leadership; the organization has to be organized to make sense and gain confidence.

Uhuru Kenyatta have not only inherited people and constituencies under the other parties gone together, but party organizations and party history that has to embedded in the new party. Jubilee should emerge through the different spectrums of leadership from all of the 12 parties combined. Not only the main leadership dodging the minor parties and their loyalties. The different political cultures and backgrounds will also come to surface as they worked on their own in their own area, but now the Nairobi cannot run on 12 tickets, but on ONE from Jubilee. This make the negotiations hard and will make some hurt. The discussion on righteous places and nominations will not happen naturally. People think the CORD will struggle with the leadership trio and the one running for Presidential Nominee for the Opposition. The problem will be who can be the nominations for the Jubilee in the counties and regions for Senators, Governors and Members of Parliament. They will have to garn and credible become nominees for the new party through the new organization.

Kenyatta 09.08.2016

The Jubilee, might be all smiles today after two days of PR exercises at the State House. As Ruto and Kenyatta we’re all giddy and happy today of their achievement of building one singular running government party. Still, the issues before the coming General Election will be hard not to hurt or lose relations as the different parties might want their golden boys up for re-election and the frictions between the old 12 parties might come to forefront. The agreement might be easy to sign as any official document. It is the actual doing and the ratification of it that is the hard scenario. As there are MPs, Governors and Senators who might have to be swallowed in the coming election for the sense of the New Jubilee Party!

Trust me, there will be fallouts, there will allegation of centralized organization who decided over them and the persons from so-and-so we’re not respected. Trust me that will happen as certain individuals will feel the new program doesn’t respect the old-party and want to leave and run as a independent. It will happen as the months are coming, especially when it comes closer to IEBC deadline for nominations of candidates to the General Election.

The last issue, why at the State House? Using government funds and government facilities to launch the new Political Party? Why not a hotel on the bills of parties as they are not government themselves, they are representing the people as representatives of the citizens. They do not own the State House for private and party business, but for government official work. The launch of a new political party is not official government business as the General Election is coming. The Kenyatta Government show’s not well considering of how they use their state resources.
The State resources are used on state business and civil servants who works for the state. The President and New Jubilee Party might become the Government after the next election. Jubilee Coalition should have done this elsewhere even if it is easy and well-spaced area to launch a party. Still, the justification to use official and State House to own party organization is questionable. The Kenyan Government and under the 12 Party Coalition should be more cautious with the use of Government facilities. Especially if it is for Party work and not direct state. The Kenyan citizens deserve the honor of just behavior from their politicians. They will sometimes blunder, but this is more likely the modus operandi by Kenyatta and Ruto. Peace.

UPDF ready to be part of IGAD standby force for South Sudan (Youtube-Clip)

“The government says the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces is ready to deploy in South Sudan .The confirmation comes days after the East African regional bloc, IGAD announced that S.Sudan’s President Salva Kiir had agreed to having a regional force stationed in Juba to help quell the upsurge in fighting in the world’s youngest nation.
Meanwhile , the US government has proposed that the UN Security Council approves the deployment of 4000 strong force in the country” (NTV Uganda, 2016)

Kenyatta with a Statehouse Summit on Transport and infrastructure; not a good look for the Jubilee!

State House Summit 08082016

“I understand that everyone in the rural areas,the MPs, the MCAs,Governors and all aspirants are claiming responsibility for any upcoming infrastructural project.They are fighting about who lobbied for what and who talked with whoever and who met whoever……..it’s not a question of who lobbied for any development be it roads,electricity connection,building of schools and many more….it’s a question of giving service to the forty to forty two million Kenyans who pay taxes.Hii Maneno ingine yote haina maana” – Uhuru Kenyatta

President Kenyatta has today a State House summit on transport and infrastructure projects in Kenya under his leadership and the Jubilee Government. That has soon finished their first term in the presidency. They had pledges upon pledges when they went into government.

They wanted to build a giant and fantastic electric quick railway. The Standard Gauge Railway and also develop the Lamu Port through the LAPSSET project with fellow neighbors. The Pipeline of crude-oil from the Northern Kenya in Kerio Valley in the Lokichar Basin to the upgraded Lamu Port; where the Jubilee Government also wanted the Lake Albert crude oil from Uganda to go to. Something that fell through as the licensed companies in Uganda though it was too costly to build through Kenya compared to Tanzania. So the Kenyan Government has to do it on they’re own. As the LAPSSET it is waiting for private enterprise to engage and use their monies on the planned infrastructure.

KAA Changes

The other issues are stadiums not built in regions where it was promised the fields of glory never came. It was easy to promise the district towns a sports facility, but none of them came to fruition. The others developments we’re that from Kenya had 30 Air-strips before Jubilee and by now they have 50 of those. Still, the discussion on the failed development project and upgrade of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) have not been an issue as the embarrassing project it is for the ruling regime and their PR team.

“There is corruption at the port. Find out who among the people in this room are thieves” – Uhuru Kenyatta.

There are always some issues and even after years in power and set change with rule of law. The Jubilee government tends with the same fractured system, the corrupt Mombasa port where the monies that makes all import more expensive and still they haven’t instilled checks and balances to Ports and therefore the extra taxation of the imports happen on a daily basis. As the corrupt mind and bodies continues to thrive with the speaking up against it, but not dealing with it in Parliament or by sanctions of law.

The Jubilee government has dozens of plans and pledges, as much as they have foreign loans to build the projects from the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Chinese. The extent of debt collected by the recent new loans has come to 49% of GDP. In April 2016 the Jubilee Government had collected $1.35 billion in debt, while fixing a massive deficit in the Kenyan budget. Still, this is worrying as the debt and interest has to be repaid to the International lenders and development banks which the tab is taken from.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (L ) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (R) stand together during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China 19 August 2013.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta (L ) and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (R) stand together during a signing ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China 19 August 2013.

This was not discussed at the Summit and where is the money for the development projects coming from as they shouldn’t just surface out of thin air. Just like the roads and rails need wages, plans, dialogue and trade to get built. As the landowners need to be compensated together with the companies building the roads need paid for service rendered. Therefore the business of infrastructure is expensive as the giant projects cost a fortune because they are supposed to stay for long and be kept for decades on.

The same with all the roads not taken care of as the feeder roads of the Northern Kenya, which is left in mud and dust; the focus on three Nairobi by-passes to fix the congestion of the capital. Not thinking of other towns who could need extra bypasses like Eldoret or other where the Jubilee doesn’t deliver the needed infrastructure, except if it is fitting with the border-passes and agreement with nation on the other side who needs roads of exporting through Kenya there. Therefore the Summit is more a PR Show, than proving real progress as the corrupt, the debt and all the other problems are destroying the champion sound and roar from the Jubilee Government under President Kenyatta. Peace.

Statement attributable to the Spokesman of the Secretary-General on South Sudan (08.08.2016)

IGAD Plus

The Secretary-General welcomes the communique of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus countries.

NEW YORK, United States of America, August 8, 2016 – The Secretary-General welcomes the communique of the Heads of State and Government of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Plus countries. He commends the IGAD leaders for their decisive action and welcomes the Government of South Sudan’s acceptance of a regional protection force. He calls on all South Sudanese leaders to set aside their personal differences and demonstrate their commitment to the implementation of the Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan, which remains the only viable path to ending the crisis.

The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned about the continued fighting in the country and calls for an immediate end to the hostilities. He is outraged by the continued reports of serious human rights violations and abuses, including widespread sexual violence against women and young girls, committed by armed men in uniform. He calls on all parties to uphold their responsibility to protect civilians and demands that they take immediate steps to hold accountable those responsible for these despicable crimes.

The Secretary-General reiterates his commitment to work with all South Sudanese, IGAD, the African Union and international partners, to implement the recommendations of today’s summit.

South Sudan: Zero Draft Communique of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the IGAD Plus on the Situation in South Sudan (05.08.2016)

IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P1IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P2IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P3IGAD Plus 06.08.2016 P4

IGAD-Plus meeting in Addis intervenes in South Sudan with 500 Regional Peacekeepers; what will it really mean to the nation?

IGAD Plus

Here we go again… and again. With more helmets, but what do these helmets really do? Fixing the bows and arrows or making sure the PoC sites are safe?

What where about to happen today:

“The Assembly of Heads of State and Government IGAD and the African Union Ad-hoc Committee on South Sudan, referred to as the IGAD Plus will this afternoon hold a Summit meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to deliberate on the prevailing situation in South Sudan. The meeting will be chaired by H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and current Chairperson of the IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government with the attendance of Heads of State from the region and representatives from the UN, African Union, JMEC and IGAD” (IGAD Secretariat, 05.08.2016).

There been indicated from numerous sources that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) who are holding a conference on the crisis in South Sudan have reported that the IGAD Plus heads of state has decided that the nation should accept 500 Peacekeepers in the Country.

IGAD Maagoub Maalim wanted it to be a ‘protective force’, that ‘we’re to prepare and implement of the Peace Agreement of 2015. That the forces we’re to ‘protection of civilians and on humanitarian issues’; the way the peacekeepers will be hashed out through the South Sudan Army Chiefs and the GoSS. The peacekeepers are not there to keep Dr. Riek Machar safe, but keep the Peace Agreement implemented.

The FVP Gen. Taban Deng Gai will stepdown when Dr. Riek Machar will return to Juba, as he said also in the days before he where swore in. But the initial reports of the IGAD Plus hasn’t said anything of the new cabinet under the TGoNU as the changes of getting rid of loyal Ministers from SPLM-IO have not been stated. As the loyalty to President Salva Kiir Mayardit is the ones behind before the GoSS delegation travelled to Addis Ababa.

What this will really mean for the fragile situation and the armies on the ground is not easy to say. As Dr. Riek Machar and his loyal soldiers is not part of the intervention and in the main discussion other than a bystander at the giant party in Ethiopia. The reality is that 500 peacekeepers can do something, but who pays for the battalions in South Sudan? Who of the noble leaders have state-coffers to sustain the extra mission? Who of the IGAD Plus have the manpower to fulfil the duty of having men stationed in Juba and beyond?

Are this a plan for President Kiir to get President Museveni to send his 500 UPDF soldiers to make sure the SPLA under him safe and sound while working under the paradigm of continuation of Kiir Government in Juba? That is just my conspiracy as the initial speculations to why President Museveni is so against Arms-Embargo as his fellow neighbour. We all know that Museveni might has interests to have a weapon trading partner; not just selling fruit-juice and beers from Kampala.

We can all over time see what this will have to say for the young nation. If this is just lose talk to silence the neighbours or sincere approach to generate a sort of peace between the fighting brothers. Peace.

Opinion: The IEBC dilemma continues even after firing the corrupt ‘band of brothers’ now

gado iebc

The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission of Kenya is now at a standstill after months of hustling from the Opposition against the Commission and their men. The band of brothers run by the Commission Isaack Hassan have been under fire and besieged as their fate have been questioned by ‘Chickengate’ their involvement in the questionable Burundi third term election in 2015 of Pierre Nkurunziza and all the other issues entangled in the current leadership.

Therefore the reasoning for staying while the Jubilee government under President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto could by law keep the men, even as the trust between the IEBC and the people where in tatters. Still, the viable approach through laws and constitution could let them keep the men in charge and run another election in 2017. Though the perception on the rigging and the embezzlement of government funds would be stamped on the foreheads of the commission as they legacy are filled with CHICKENS. The chickens and facilitation of the ones who bought the ballots and needed electoral equipment for by-elections and other elections who earned extra monies on the transactions; these people shouldn’t be there and they can be compromised by the ability to facilitated to give a counted number instead of real cast ballots, as long as the Commissioner would be given a brown envelope.

The Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) Kenya leader and ODM head Raila Odinga wrote today: “Yesterday, those discussions culminated in a very encouraging development—the expression by the IEBC commissioners of their willingness to resign to allow a new team take over in time for 2017 elections. I wish to congratulate Senators Kiraitu Murungi and James Orengo for the steady leadership to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament that has ensured harmonious and mature discussions which has produced this commendable progress” (…) “I thank all the members of Parliament serving in this committee for putting aside partisan politics and focusing on what really matters at this moment in the history of our country which is the need to have a credible electoral body that enjoys the broad support of a great majority of Kenyans ahead of 2017 elections” (…) “Once the talks began, it quickly became clear that CORD and Jubilee have more in common on the IEBC and how to conduct future elections. This is usually what happens when we choose to talk to each other and not at each other and when we give dialogue a chance” (twitlonger, 04.08.2016).

IEBC-ROADMAP-2017

Also this we’re reported:

“The audit report, which also formed basis of a petition forwarded to the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee by Mr Barasa Nyakuri, blamed the commissioners led by Mr Hassan and part of the secretariat for irregular procurement of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits for the 2013 elections” (… ) ”Mr Hassan, who has gone to court seeking to have his name expunged from the report, is also alleged to have single sourced lawyers handling the 2013 presidential election petition, in which over Sh380 million was paid to three prominent lawyers” (…) “The select committee has summoned the IEBC commissioners and senior directors at the commission to present their defence before it today, as it works towards finalizing its report within 30 days as contained in the Motion approved by both Houses, which also set its terms of reference” (…) “The committee’s report could be last nail on the coffin of careers of electoral chiefs mentioned adversely in corruption allegations, including the chickengate scandal, and throw a lifeline to those found not to have engaged in fleecing the taxpayers of millions of shillings” (Njagi, John – ‘Team to probe threats on auditor over IEBC report’ 01.08.2016, Nation.co.ke).

As the reports coming in and the mentality of the change is of guards are coming. IEBC had to be changed before the General Election 2017, as the standstill between the opposition and the ruling regime. Still, with these negotiations, that has happen after the dozen of violent demonstrations because of the police brutality.  In this crisis the judgement from the Police and then CS Nkaissery defending their misbehaviour towards the citizens and members of opposition was not just.

Paying Commissioner for thieving:

“Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich said the Government will use cash from the Contingency Fund to pay off the commissioners. “We have contingency funds for such unforeseen expenditure if it does occur,” Mr Rotich told the parliamentary select committee on electoral reforms” (…) “This means that the nine, each earning Sh1.2 million per month, will get Sh372,000 for the five years served, translating to Sh1.86 million per person and Sh16.7 million for the team. The current commissioners are Issack Hassan (chairman), Lillian Mahiri-Zaja (vice chairperson), Albert Bwire, Kule Godana, Yusuf Nzibo, Abdullahi Sharawe, Thomas Letangule, Muthoni Wangai and Mohamed Alawi” (Michira, Moses – ‘IEBC bosses will take home Sh180m 04.08.2016 Link: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000210764/iebc-bosses-will-take-home-sh180m ).

Nairobi 16.05.2016 Police P2

The Kenyan Parliament must be proud of how they are promising payment and salaries towards the former Electoral Commissioners who we’re embezzling funds. They are initially getting paid for stealing funds from government and even not being trusted with delivering trustworthy elections. Free and Fair elections under their leadership we’re under question as they actions we’re bent for the ruling regime and as their financial adjustments we’re done to create bigger wallets from the ones signing contracts for the IEBC. That shouldn’t be paid to silence and to get rid of them. As John Githongo we’re sent away from addressing corruption for being a whistleblower, the men behind the IEBC scandal shouldn’t be paid, but be sent to court and express their guilt or be free-men for not having evidence of the illegal transaction.

The CORD had grievances with the Electoral procedure and the Electoral laws, not only the Commissioners who could be bought and secure funds for themselves as the Kenyan Constitutional Referendum or the OKOA we’re shut down by the same Electoral Commission under Commissioner Isaack Hassan. The other just happens to follow his lead and create an atmosphere where this is justifiable.

Who will take over for former-IEBC Commissioners are not easy to foresee as the negotiations and the agreement between CORD and Jubilee is not something a man can find the answers on the skyline. The next IEBC men and woman have to be people that the current MPs and Parliamentarians trusts as they will both parties agree to their acts as a Commission and their turn for holding the election. The reality will be that no matter what they do and who get picked they will be scrutinized and should be accountable. As the previous ones tried to keep people in the shadow and keep the monies encircled for themselves instead of trying to reasonable and honourable men who did their duty for their country. They tried to quick fix their own pockets instead of just doing their job and being content. Isaack Hassan and his band of brothers will be remembered for their chickens, not for their work or the ballots casted in the elections. Peace.

Kenya: Preliminary Obejection to Joint Parlimentary Select Committeeon IEBC petitions (01.08.2016)

IEBC Prelimenary Statement 01.08.2016

Watangula’s move against Raila was a Cord strategy to galvanize Western Kenya votes (Youtube-Clip)

New Ford Kenya MPs, CS Wamalwa urge Wetangula to join Jubilee (Youtube-Clip)

“Several legislators drawn from new ford Kenya and water cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa have urged cord co principal Moses Wetangula to dump the opposition and join them in the jubilee alliance so as to strengthen the voice and position of western Kenya leaders. Speaking elsewhere, Sirisia mp john Waluke who is among odm mps from western Kenya who have differed with party leader Raila Odinga, also urged Wetangula to abandon cord and join a new alliance of western Kenya leaders dubbed the third force” (Kenya Citizens TV, 2016).