Tag: Uhuru Kenyatta
The Price of being Opposition in East Africa; Tear Gas – Picture Mashup!

PHOTO: Leading Kenyan opposition figure, also former prime minister, Raila Odinga helped to safety amid a cloud of teargas.

“Police in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, fired tear gas into a crowd of opposition leaders and supporters who were marching to demand the dissolution of the country’s electoral commission ahead of next year’s election. Over the weekend, Odinga and other leading politicians demanded the disbandment of the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and vowed to storm its offices to eject its commissioners. Mr Odinga rejected the 2013 election result that brought President Uhuru Kenyatta into power, alleging massive fraud” (NBS TV Uganda, 2016).
13th Summit of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects – Joint Communique (23.04.2016)





The Battle for the Oil the Coast; Double pipelines seems to be the END-game: Kenyan on their own, while Uganda picks route through Tanzania!

There was not too far ago when the Government of Kenya was dreaming in their wild pipedream to advance their own ideas and manage to hook the Ugandan Government so they wouldn’t continue with the progressive agreement with Tanzanian counter-parts. In the end it seems like the waves are long gone. The wind from Lake Albert never seemed to turn.

We had to wait until 23rd April 2016 to be reassured that the President Museveni and his NRM could not be persuaded to be a continued or locked into the LAPSSET: Lamu Port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport. So it would be from Hoima, Western Uganda into the Northern Kenya bypass into the prospected lines would go there both from Ethiopia and South Sudan down to the shores and bays of Lamu Port.
Instead Uganda have continued and promised to honour the 2015 Memorandum of Understanding with Tanzania the Uganda–Tanzania Crude Oil Pipeline (UTCOP); that goes from Hoima or Lake Albert through the Tanzanian nation down to the shores of the Tanga Port. This is also because of the agreements and assurance of both governments and also the new Oil-Drilling companies in Uganda like Total and ENI. They have also spoken their peace and does not feel safe as where the Pipeline goes through uncertain areas of Kenya.

So there will be two pipelines and in close reach and also with distinguished end-game; as the economic prospects are changed, the rates for oil-transport will be lost in the sight of Kenya. The Kenyan cannot now have future prospects of the oil-rates and jobs as a Pipeline gives. They will have cough-up the funding and most likely more borrowed money for the grand infrastructure.
The Ugandan will use funds and borrow monies to fund the pipeline-building and also give tax-payers and jobs in Tanzania. The rates by just transporting the oil from A-B will be a good tax-base for the Tanzanian Government. President Kenyatta hoped that his close relationship would help him and also with his Deputy Ruto also campaigning for Museveni to give something back. Seems like that didn’t help as the President Kikwete already have sweetened the tea and offered something that also helps to calm down the Oil-Drilling investors and their envelopes.

CS Keter of Kenya must be disappointed as his detained moment in Tanga Port came to nothing and the KDF forces inside Somalia are the reason for the fallout. Though I doubt that is the main reason. That is the diplomatic reason from the Ugandan Government. Ugandan Government and NRM-Regime is about money. They are all about the money, therefore the non-accountability and non-open tax-regime. The Ugandan Government would never say that is the main reason, but if Total, ENI and CNOOC words and tax-base is the current controlling the reasons for President Museveni. As he wants them on his side; so he can have secret deals with the Oil-Companies and keep the low-key taxes; not to talk about the un-disclosed agreements between them and the government of Uganda.
Therefore I am not surprised I think they only went into the talks in Kenya to please their neighbour and trading-partner as the relationship have soften over the last few months and the President of Kenya and President of Uganda have cherished more time together. As President Museveni have played the big-man and asked for suitors while waiting for the words from the Oil-Companies. The excuse of not taking Kenya is certainly been given by the Oil-Companies as the Ugandan President will only take the highest rates and the lowest fees for the construction. We can see that the borrowed monies that will be used should have low-charges and be clearly not too bad to GDP or the national inflation.

Still, the matters remain how the relationship really is between Uganda and Kenya. As they have fought over the little Migingo Island and chicken export fiasco. An the Recently also covered a squabble over Yellow Fever Notes to give to Border Patrols to be relieved and be allowed to Enter into Kenya from Uganda. So with the decision to abandon all hope for Kenya and totally give way to Tanzania; will be hurting the pride of the Harambee in the coming weeks. Especially since the Kenyan has tried to get the Ugandan’s to use their port instead. This backfired and didn’t work.
I hope that this doesn’t stop the other Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) as of the Standard Gauge Railway and others that can connect the nations and bring softer transport of people and goods between the East African nations. Certainly the matter is at hand and the justification would be “terrorism” as why the pipeline didn’t get extended. Though I believe it is much more to say “cash money” and in general the black gold revenues.
This here will certainly be uncovered over time and the real reason will show-up by the Al-Shabab is a deflection and we know the gig is up. Peace.
Nominations headache for coalition parties in Kenya as aspirants line up for lucrative positions (Youtube-Clip)
“They may be facing off on all other matters but there is one issue which now threatens the major coalition parties in Kenya. With many aspirants lining up for lucrative elective positions, the race for nomination slots in the parties promises to cause friction and even fallouts within both CORD and Jubilee alliances. In some cases even the slot for the presidency is a matter for much acrimony” (KTN News Kenya, 2016)
Bank collapses to trigger mergers in the industry in Kenya (Youtube-Clip)
“Stakeholders in Kenya’s banking industry say the sector may see a wave of mergers and acquisitions soon, after the liquidation of 1 bank, and the entry into receivership of 2 others, Chase Bank and Imperial Bank. For months now, some local depositors have been seeking safety in bigger institutions. The Central Bank Governor, Patrick Njoroge told journalists on Friday morning that the sector is now entering a new era, where governance and transparency will get a lot more attention. He also said the regulator will establish an unlimited liquidity facility to support distressed local banks, as Uche Okoronkwo, now reports” (CCTV Africa, 2016).
Standard Group Ltd Journalist David Odongo arrested in Nairobi

Well, there been rumored that orders from up-high that Standard Group Limited David Odongo got arrested and detained at Nyayo Embaksi Police Station in Nairobi over a story published in the Nairobian. He is now detained, but the orders from above is not yet approved or claimed by anybody, but if; I see it like this: The IGP Joseph Boinett must have gotten the ‘orders’ and used the local police chief to detain him; Sure that is the Nairobi Police Commander Japhet Koome have to follow the orders of Boinett, as Boinett followed orders from above.

My theory as the reason is that Interior Cabinet Secretary Hon. Joseph Nkaissery, who we’re in charge of detaining John Ngirachu of the Daily Nation, James Mbaka of the Daily Star and Alphonce Skiundu of the Standard Group Limited. That he got detained and questioned for writing about questionable use of government funds in December 2015. Certainly I believe he was in-charge and he is the one from ABOVE. I would not be surprised or shocked. But he has already a track-record for this kind of rash actions; so why not now?
Not that it is shocking that the David Ondongo the writer and Journalist who wrote this piece recently in the Nairobian: “Meet Kimani Rugendo, the billionaire businessman” that got published on the 9th April 2016. That was a puff piece on a business-man who has made business with bottle-water, drinks and some army contracts. So if that is worrying for the nation of Kenya, then what is?

He wrote this on his own facebook yesterday where he was critical about the Kenyan Government Spokesperson writing a Statement that was criticizing PBS for their “Kenya Corruption Documentary Series”. Where he was writing: “Eric Kiraithe, being a spokesman doesn’t mean you have to speak even when you have nothing to say. Are you mad? Do you live in Kenya? Get off your ivory tower and come back to reality. If I posted your number here so that Kenyans can call you every time a cop demands a bribe from them, you will run mad. Your phone won’t stop ringing. Do you know how much Kenyans are suffering? So now, Mr Kiraithe you want to blame the civil society for the mess, you and your fellow cops put us into? Stop taking Kenyans for fools. You must have worked hard to be in the position you are right now, stop cheapening yourself by making statements, that you, deep in your heart know isn’t true. Can you look at your children, straight in their eyes, and tell them the video by PBS is fiction? I also don’t like my country being portrayed negatively by foreign media, but the truth can’t be hidden. You have some good officers in the force, but majority are rotten to the core. #EndOfRant” (Odongo, 14.04.2016).
So do I believe that he was detained for a puff piece in the Nairobian on the 8th of April? No not really, because his own will and his own words on Social Media as a writer and journalist will be recognized just as the words of Charles Onyango-Obbo (COO) quotes on Twitter will create views and questions on Policy. The same reach does not David Ondongo have, but he still have his space and his followers. So I believe that, that statement on Social Media is more worthy of creating some fuzz, then the piece on the business-man who trades bottled water and also investing in Sterling Craft Kenya Limited that they are starting to make ‘Water Tanks’ not tanks for the Kenya Defense Force (KDF). So the puff-piece must be used for deflection for the statement on the Facebook yesterday. As the Government got the whiff of his ideas and attack on the Kenyan government, that should be the case; not the puff-piece. Peace.
Kenya: the rain-drops from the Corrupt Officials turns into a River of Corruption Cases; showing some recent cases of 2016!

“Corruption cannot be tackled from the top, it has to be confronted from the grassroots” – John Githongo.
Kenyan Government might not like it or trying to deflect it, but here certainly a sorry state when it comes to corruption, graft and embezzlement. If it is either getting a better business deal, paying local council-men for having a shop or being a hawker, paying police officers while passing through a district, getting help by government officials and other buying services from officials like judges and Land-Commissions to get ahead of competitions.
This here is a national problem, but many of the Government Officials and Ministers are involved so the Jubliee Government do not want to be too strong against it; if it is then one of their own have to jump on the sword and lose their job. I think they have learned from Mwai Kibaki’s government and how the Corruption made them eat and let the ethical procedures fly out the window.
I will here show the cases that have come since Januar 2016. And this is not all I presume, this is reports and probes of corruption and grafts in Kenya. There are lots of them and the amount of people says how big the picture is and how big the scope of corruption is; there have to be a general cleaning, but then the Government Officials and the codes of conduct have to be taken from streets to the Parliament. But when Kanjo Kingdom documentaries shows how the certain county cars drives around and pocket money from traders an hawkers in Nairobi as they have target funds to get each week. This proves the levels and stages of corruption. There are viable and visible, and as long as county officials in the capital can get away with having open corruption and trading tax that is not deducted through their financial statement. Then it proves that the re-vamp have to happen from the Grassroot as Hon. Githongo says and I abide by, but the precedence have to be set by the Deputy President Ruto and the President Kenyatta!
Here are the cases and probes.

200 State Officials needed clearance:
“Close to 200 people on the List of Shame President Uhuru Kenyatta handed to Parliament last year have been charged with corruption and abuse of office” (…)”A confidential report by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) shows all cases have been investigated and action taken on at least 61 per cent of them” (…)”The status report says some suspects have been taken to court while others have had their cases referred back to EACC for further investigations” (Gicobi, 2016).
Deputy President William Ruto and his Wife; Rachel Ruto dined VISA to the US:
“The first lady who was to be accompanied with the DP’s wife Rachel Ruto traveled alone due to her (Rachel) being denied a Visa by the USA embassy” (…)”According to reliable source, Rachel was denied Visa following allegations that her banking initiative had extorted donor funds” (…)”Recently, it was revealed that Deputy President was banned from traveling to the United States, however, it looks like his whole family was too after his wife Rachel became the first to be denied a Visa” (…)”Ruto’s involvement in almost all corruption cases might also be the reason why Rachel was denied a US Visa” (Bironga, 2016).

Tunoi Probe:
“Supreme Court Judge Phllip Tunoi sought to discredit his accuser in the Sh 200 million bribery saga as he fought off allegations that could bring down his career and those of several colleagues. Appearing before a committee probing the allegations Tunoi said an affidavit implicating him was possibly drawn by judiciary staff in an elaborate plot to end his career. As Francis Gachuri now reports Tunoi’s accuser Geoffrey Kiplagat also appeared before the committee that has until Wednesday to submit its findings” (Kenya Citizen TV, 2016).
Nike Probe:
“Under its terms, the athletics company would pay the Kenyan athletics federation $100,000 in honorariums each year and a one-time payment of $500,000, which was referred to as a “commitment bonus.” The New York Times reports that the bonus was immediately withdrawn by Kenyan officials and kept off the books” (…)”Nike conducts its business with integrity and expects that our partners do the same,” Nike told Fortune in a statement (Addady, 2016).
Bank’s Probe:
“Several banks are under investigations after a major tax evasion ring was busted at a border entry point. The racket, said to cost the government over Sh120 million in unpaid import duties at Namanga border post, comes barely a month after a similar incident was discovered at the Port of Mombasa” (…)”Two Equity Bank staff members and an unnamed number of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) personnel allegedly aided traders at the Namanga border post to import goods without paying duty, depriving the country revenue of more than Sh100 million” (…)”Nairobi-based financial analyst Aly Khan Satchu said the recent edict from the Central Bank where customers will need to clearly explain cash deposits and withdrawals of at least Sh1 million is welcomed. He said if the rules are enforced to the letter, corruption cartels would be dealt a blow” (…)“It’s clear that banks have a duty of care in this regard. If this new regulation is implemented without fear or favour then I am sure the deluge of ill-gotten proceeds going through the system will come to an abrupt stop. It seems to me it is no longer a question of rules and regulations, it is now a question of enforcement, pure and simple,” said Mr Satchu” (Ngungi, 2016).
King of Graft – Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba:
“A former Nairobi County chief finance officer amassed Sh800 million in cash, motor vehicles, buildings and land, which the government is now seeking to recover” (…)”Mr Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba’s wealth is half of the Sh1.6 billion that President Uhuru Kenyatta announced in his State of the Nation address that the government intends to seize” (Mwakilishi, 2016).
State of Jersey Confiscate Money:
“On 24 February 2016, Windward Trading Limited, a Jersey registered company, pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering before the Royal Court of Jersey. The Royal Court imposed a confiscation order of £3,281,897.40 and US$540,330.69, thereby stripping the company of all its assets” (…)”Windward admitted to laundering the proceeds of corruption between 29 July 1999 and 19 October 2001. The corrupt activities took place in Kenya where Windward’s beneficial owner, Samuel Gichuru, is resident. During the period on the indictment, Mr Gichuru was also the Chief Executive of Kenya Power and Lighting Company [KPLC], the Kenyan government’s electricity utility company. KPLC awarded valuable contracts to a number of engineering and energy companies worldwide who all made corrupt payments to Windward. The confiscation order provides an indication as to the scale of the criminal conduct that took place” (State of Jersey, 2016).

Afterthought:
This here shows the scope and reach of it. I don’t need to spell it out. It is clear as water. The rain-drops is becoming so much that they are creating a river in the valley; the same is happening with the corruption. There little rain-drops, but they all create a river and the water touches all parts of society. Time to put the kettle on and heat-up some water, because with all this eaten government funds and shady deals we need some sweet tea; Peace.
Reference:
Addady, Michael – ‘Nike Is at the Center of a Kenyan Corruption Probe’ (16.03.2016) link: http://fortune.com/2016/03/06/nike-kenya-corruption/
Bironga, Huldah – ‘CORRUPTION AT ITS PEAK; Ruto’s wife denied VISA by the USA for corruption linked allegation’ (24.03.2016) link: http://waza.co.ke/corruption-at-its-peak-rutos-wife-denied-visa-by-the-usa-for-corruption-linked-allegation/
Gicobi, Maryanne – ‘Kenya: 200 On Uhuru List Charged With Graft’ (15.02.2016) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201602150294.html
Mwakilishi – ‘King of Graft Jimmy Mutuku Kiamba to Lose Sh800 Million Loot’ (01.04.2016) link: http://www.mwakilishi.com/content/articles/2016/04/01/king-of-graft-jimmy-mutuku-kiamba-to-lose-sh800-million-loot.html
Ngungi, Brian – ‘Kenya: Banks Under Probe Over Link to ‘Dirty Money’’ (28.03.2016) link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201603310135.html
State of Jersey (U.S.A.) – ‘Jersey confiscates £3.6 million proceeds of corruption’ (25.02.2016) link: http://www.gov.je/News/2016/Pages/Jersey-Confiscates-Proceeds-of-Corruption.aspx
The Storm of who has the right of running as Opposition Presidential Candidate in Kenya; Who is the supposed Presidential Candidate in the up-coming election for CORD?

The Diligent race of who will run against Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) and their incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto. Therefore they need to be a strong and viable force to be able to run a good campaign and be a viable choice instead of the men running the country currently. Especially since Kenyatta is the following of a cloth of leaders from his father Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Daniel Arap Moi. So there is even more important for the Opposition to have certainty and clarity of their vision to counter the JAP.
As early as 4th April 2016 there was on this day the FORD Kenya opened the Campaign trail in Kakamega with first consultative rally for Hon. Moses Wetangula for his start for the Presidency 2017-2021.
This didn’t go down well as this sparked reactions as the ODM supporters crashed the venue and had violence between them, the ones taken part of the rally and the Police in the area. There were different excuses for how it went down and who to blame. As there were even reports saying they we’re hired by the JAP to make the Opposition look out-of-control. So there are issues to handle that I am coming to address as they need to be addressed while it still is time.

There are two important characters and opposition leaders who will have their place, first the grand opposition leader in Kenya, Hon. Raila Amullo Odinga and Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.
As there are three main parties in the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) are the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM, Odinga), Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM, Musyoka) and Forum for Restoration of Democracy (FORD-K, Wetangula). These three gentlemen and their parties went into a coalition before the 2013 General Election. Since then they are supposed to be an alternative to the ruling regime.
So the recent days of internal squabble and fight does not look good compering to the solidification and cleared air in the ruling party. Therefore the CORD looks like a wounded dog trying to all grab the bone. That is the outside look of it all. As they all had signed an agreement and if they we’re gentlemen they wouldn’t try to deflect it.
At this time there is emerging that the CORD had written a Clause 8: Special Condition.

That Special Condition says this:
“This Memorandum of Understanding also expressly states that the CORD Coalition Presidential Candidate for 2013, 2017 and 2022 are Hon. Raila Amullo Odinga, Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Hon. Moses Wentangula respectively”. This was part of the agreement that the parties signed in 7th December 2012.
If they should honour this agreement, Hon. Moses Wetangula should have waited a tenure or term, the transition after Hon. Raila Odinga was Hon Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka. That is if this political agreement and framework is supposed to be respected by the fellow parties involved. Since they should have some common sense, if not then all of them just want power by stifling everybody on the way to the Executive Position in the country. That kind of way of gaining power is not great way and you will have less friends to help you out if you get in office, as you left all of your allies in the dust while you shine in the sun.
There more parties in the Coalition they are Kenya Social Congress, The Independent Party, Kaddu Asili, Peoples Democratic Party, Chama Cha Uzalendo, Muungano Development Movement Party of Kenya, United Democratic Movement, Chama Cha Wannachi, Federal Party of Kenya and the Labour Party of Kenya. So there are more constituencies and alliances at stake, the Wiper Democratic Movement, Forum for Restoration of Democracy and Orange Democratic Movement. So there are a lot of fancy names and loyalties involved. As there next coming days will extend and show especially as the alliances will be altered by the inaction and the counter-attacking the running-mate of the CORD alliance.

The Cord Alliance could be strong if they we’re certain of who they wanted to be their Presidential Candidate, if the three main candidates didn’t start to show aggression and ambition, but showed loyalty towards each other. Now the men are showing the tone of the coming election, as the CORD alliance is dwindling as rain-water floods slowly to the river.
They could be strong political unit together and scratch each other’s backs when times need so. But when they are going alone into the campaigns and also dissolving the opposition power that they had. Because they now have to form something new with the other parties, if not then there will be 11 presidential candidates against H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta. And we all can guess the outcome. There will be no struggle and reach to prove their viability towards the ruling party.
CORD could if they go for either of Moses Wetangula, Raila Odinga or Kalonzo Musyoka. Especially considering the agreement of 2012; that the 8 clause said clearly that there was the time for the Hon. Musyoka of WDM and not the term for running for Hon. Wetangula of FORD-K. And Hon. Odinga had promised to step back after the first election under the agreement as he was the Presidential Candidate in 2013. Something that failed, still the other parties was behind him and the ODM as their flag-bearer. Now was the time to support Hon. Musyoka of WDM. Instead before the Kakamega rally of Hon. Wetangula on the 1st April Hon. Odinga endorsed him, while not showing up and having alleged ODM supporters creating animosity at the starting rally for his Presidential Campaign of 2017.

There is certainly something lost between the leaders of the ODM, FORD-K and WDM. The other 8 parties should either get them to choose one leader in peace, or else go to the ones they have the most faith in, instead of dismantling the Power of the Opposition. As if they still standing united they have something to come with, the sense of a sensible choice of leaders that can work together even with their differences. But if they fail to unite right before the races to the 2017 Elections; then there are only one winner, and no winner is at the camps of the Opposition. The winner is the JAP and incumbent Kenyatta, who gets a weak opposition and also together with no reform of the Electoral laws, gives the way into second term without much work.
The internal bickering and fighting for the Presidential Candidate in CORD will only give the JAP a stronger position into the coming elections. As the fighting between Hon. Odinga, Hon. Wetangula and Hon. Musyoka starts, and there can only be sorrow on the opposition side, as they can see the internal fighting only weakens their position and their capabilities to counter the ruling party. And what happens with the other 8 parties can question where they should go and who they want to be loyal with. Or if they want to stay alone against former allied and be single political party with their own Presidential Candidate. That is what the next few days and months will say. But there seems like there are open frictions between the three leaders of CORD coalition and it is not strengthening the opposition, but instead making the election look better for Kenyatta and Ruto. Peace.

