Kenya: Ministry of Interior and National Administration – Press Release (09.04.2024)

Kenya: National Rainbow Alliance (NARC Kenya) – Calling out the Ruto Regime for the Callous Mishandling of the Doctors Strike causing untold Suffering and Loss of Lives (08.04.2024)

Kenya: Press Statement by Silas Jakakimba (26.03.2024)

Opinion: The Signature Brew of the State House is worth billion of shillings…

“People who are learned, people I look up to and call honourable members, what do you sit to do at that state house? Even in the budget, you have added KSh4 billion to take tea. Is Jesus cooking that tea?” – Busia Woman Rep Catherine Omanyo (20.03.2024).

Time and time again, there are stories that are amazing. There are stories that is shocking and showing public wastage of funds. Today in Nairobi there should be a shocking affair, but I am sure the Kenyans are used to it. The Kenya Kwanza Government aren’t known for being frugal or being careful about spending, especially not on their own.

The State House is clearly using huge funds on Tea and Hospitality. We have read stories about this in the past. The State House has even tried to make it special last year. As the Daily Nation wrote about Firs Lady own signature brew of tea, which she served foreign dignitaries. Alas, that’s a way of making sense of the spending.

Just read here…

Kenya’s First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto is known for her signature gesture whenever her counterparts from other countries visit. It is not the tea that netizens popularly refer to as gossip, but real brewed tea. The brewed State House tea, as it is famously known, has been taken by two visiting first ladies so far.” (Manny Anyangoo – ‘Signature tea served at State House by First Lady’ 14.03.2023, Daily Star).

It just really shows the state of affairs, that the Government of Kenya is willing to do this and spend money like that. They don’t mind spending fortunes on tea and misusing the office doing so. The tea must be specially imported and a limited production. It cannot be Kericho tea or anything like that. Because, the tea isn’t that expensive.

Someone calculated that this was costing the tax-payer about Shs. 11 million shilling. That’s a huge bill for the public to pay. This burden is on the public…

Just imagine the cost on every cup of tea if this is the case. The people are paying massive amount of shillings, just so dignitaries, secretaries and others can have a cup of tea. The tea leaves must be unique and special. They got to be… and cannot just be a Lipton box or such. No, it got to be exclusive and extravagant. Especially with the cost it has. If not… someone is eating the funds and using it on other endeavours. That would be a Tea Cup Scandal rocking the State House.

I’m not shocked by this… it is more of the same. The Kenya Kwanza Government don’t mind doing stunts like this. They don’t mind overspending on the elite and the high ranking officials. However, the same government cannot afford to pay medical interns or do what it needs for civil servants. Which means the high ranking officials are a priority and the tea cup at the State House is a proof of just that.

4 billion shillings spent on Tea for the State House. There should be other government services that needs these funds. Anyone with a working mind get that. Peace.

Kenya: Office of the Leader of the Minority Party, J. Opiyo Wandayi – Ministry of Education’s Empy Promises are Setting Up School Heads for Failure (19.03.2024)

Kenya: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) – Press Release (16.03.2024)

Kenya: Kenya Medical Practitioners Pharmacists and Dentists’ Union (KMPDU) – Nothing to lose but the chains (01.03.2024)

Kenya: Statement by the Government Spokesperson Hon. Sen. Isaac Mwaura CBS on the 2nd Retreat for Members of the Cabinet and Senior Ranks of the Executive held at KICC on Sunday, 18th February 2024 at 10:00AM (18.02.2024)

Opinion: Odinga’s new solo-venture…

“I am ready to go for the chairmanship of the African Union.  I have been consulting widely. I think I am ready to serve the continent of Africa. Africa deserves better” – Raila Odinga, Azimio Leader (KBC Channel1News, 15.02.2024).

By the time of 2025 there is a need for a new Chairman of the African Union after Moussa Faki Mahamat who has held the office in two terms and was only allowed to be re-elected once after being elected first in 2017. Therefore, his term is in the endgame now and this is why Odinga comes into play.

Raila Odinga the “Baba” of Kenya is now trying to sway himself internationally. Now he cannot run on the remarks or the tales of old in Kenya. Odinga must make himself heard and recognized across the Continent. If he wants this… he must seek allies and fast. Because he needs them and they need to vouch for him.

Odinga cannot trust the East African Community (EAC) has his backing. That first has to announced and he needs sureties from President Ruto on that front. Odinga needs to trust Ruto and that he will play offensive for his cause. Ruto have to say that their candidate and who he wants to get elected. If that happens and God willing… then Odinga might have backing from other EAC states like Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Somalia, and South Sudan. These can possibly stand behind him, if he is the official candidate of Kenya and the Head of State tries to sell him to the neighbors. However, that is far from enough.

That’s where the trouble remains. We cannot even be sure if the IGAD nations of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Sudan wants him. Kenyan diplomacy hasn’t been strong in IGAD and at this point. The goodwill of Juba and South Sudan can help Odinga, but we don’t know if that is enough.

The ECOWAS and SADC nations are whole another ballgame. Where several factors of interests in combination of old grudges. There is nothing set in stone. Odinga have to play and be cordial with the francophone nations too. These has to feel supported and that his weight matters. We can even wonder if the Northern nations like Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, or Egypt will ever vote for him.

Then you have the Comores, Cape Verde, Madagascar, and other island nations where you can wonder if he will have any sort of function or possibility to reach. It is hard enough seeing Odinga getting the votes of Niger, Mali, or Burkina Faso. Unless he wants to be a challenger to the old order and wants to be the future in the African Union (AU). That’s something to be seen, but then he will alienate Nigeria or even Ghana for that matter. Therefore, it isn’t a easy game to play.

We can wonder how Odinga will play this one out. He has campaigned all his life for Presidency. That’s how it feels like and he has fought for his position all the time. This is why his up to the task. Alas, that might also be his disadvantage, as he will play by the rules that has been the standard in his nation. Odinga might try to think and consider the implications, as if it was elections in Kenya.

Raila Odinga is a seasoned politician and a man of all seasons. He can stand on his own. While this will be a burden. We can wonder if he is capable or this will be a solo mission that will pre-occupy him. Because some will feel that his leaving a chapter behind and someone else can take his place. However, until his elected and gotten into office. The ones willing to do so… should chill and await further instructions. Odinga will not mess around and will act swiftly.

Raila is a character and a leader who has been tested. We can wonder if he will use the formula of Building Bridges or the OKOA vibes. Hard to know really… but he must sell his candidacy and get feedback that they want him. Unless he wants to run on vibes and not organize it correctly.

This is a free for all and you can wonder if it will have any setbacks. Whatever it is… Harambee House should be happy and so should everyone else. This will take time and be costly for Odinga. He will not be as involved or able to test the authorities in Kenya. That’s a gift to Ruto in itself. As Odinga has to travel, experience and be in talks across the continent. There is nothing given here, and he should know…

He has played with fire and been burned. Odinga knows the price of losing. Surely, he wants to avoid that this time. Peace.

Kenya: United North Organization (UNO) – Press Statement by United North Organization on Highway Banditry along Major Roads in Samburu (31.01.2024)