Jubbaland authorities and UN agree to form joint committee on Dadaab camp returnees (19.09.2016)

Dadaab Refugee Camp

KISMAAYO, 19 September 2016Jubbaland authorities, the United Nations and other key international partners have agreed to form a joint committee to address the humanitarian needs of returnees from the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya.

The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia Peter de Clercq led a delegation consisting of representatives of UN agencies, the World Bank and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation who met today with Jubbaland’s second deputy President Abdulkadir Haji Mohamud-Luga Dhere to discuss the reintegration of returnees. The meeting also addressed durable solutions for internally displaced persons living in Kismaayo town.

“We just spent a very important mission here, to discuss with the Jubbaland authorities the return and reintegration of refugees from Dadaab, but at the same time, also durable solutions that include the internally displaced persons, as well as the host communities that have to bear the burden of these big challenges that are coming at them. We have had very good discussions, we will have continued co-operation.We will have a coordination committee that will be based here in Kismaayo, where we will discuss concrete programmes that we will go to the donors with, to increase our co-operation with Jubbaland authorities, to increase activities around the reintegration of displaced persons and of refugees,” said Mr. de Clercq.

The Jubbaland second deputy President expressed satisfaction with the talks, which he said also discussed the initiation of development projects in Jubbaland.

“We are very pleased with the outcome of our discussions. I thank the United Nations for their assistance to the people of Jubbaland. I welcome any other organizations working on humanitarian aid in Jubbaland region to work with us. Jubbaland is ready to develop its people and to improve on the security situation, develop policies that impact positively on our people,” Mr. Dhere stated.

Earlier, Mr. de Clercq handed over two vehicles to the Jubbaland Minister of Justice, Constitution and Religious Affairs, Mr. Adan Ibrahim Aw-Hersi, that were donated by the United Nations Development Programme.

Joint Communique issued by the Government of the Republic of Kenya, The Government of the Federal Republic of Somalia and UNHCR, following a Joint Meeting held on 15th September 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya (15.09.2016)

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President Kenyatta, DP Ruto the brains behind Jubilee (Youtube-Clip)

“Exactly who is the brainchild of the new Jubilee baby? Deputy President William Ruto is thought to be the force behind the formation of the Jubilee party. He is said to have engineered the formation of the party in preparation of the 2022 general election, but not to those in the know. In fact some say Ruto maybe the biggest loser in the new set up, not everyone thinks so as Ken Mijungu found out” (Kenya NTV, 2016)

H.E. Benjamin Mpaka Statement at the Extra-Ordinary EAC Heads of State Summit recently (Earlier in September 2016)

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Opinion: The battle for the Presidential Ticket in CORD is only benefitting Jubilee; Odinga and Wetan’gula should step aside for Kalonzo Musyoka if they care about the CORD agreement!

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It is clearly going to be heated in the contest of being the CORD Presidential Candidate. This isn’t a new problem for the Opposition. The Opposition been having this problem and they knew it was coming. It is not like the ruling regime who has two big men under accord; the newly fantastic Jubilee Party that we’re launched at Safaricom Stadium this weekend. Uhuru Kenyatta the principal flagbearer and Presidential Candidate; the second in command is his loyal comrade Vice-President Willam Ruto. So with this in mind the Opposition seeing the Jubilee becoming more structured and even more established the CORD shouldn’t be bickering over who is the head, but how to get ahead.

CORD the coalition of the willing in the Opposition. There three or even four possible candidates in the Opposition. Musalia Mudavadi the leader of Amani National Congress (ANC), Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka the leader of Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM), Moses Wetan’gula, the leader of Forum for Democratic Reform (FORD-Kenya) and Raila Amolo Odinga, the leader of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). So there are enough talent and proven leaders to pick from in the Opposition.

The Opposition has made promised to each other, especially between Odinga, Wetan’gula and Kalonzo Musyoka. These three has been loyal to each other, but also since creating the alliance that gives way to expecting that every leader has their turn. Raila Odinga and the ODM had their chance in the recent election in 2013. So the former VP Odinga by all means after the endorsement in his own party feels obligated to be the Presidential Flag-bearer for the coalition. Still, he should be cautioned about doing so because this will cause friction with the previous agreement for the coalition.

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There are not only hearsay that the three leaders made an Memorandum of Understanding that we’re signed on the 7th December 2012 totally said the direction of the leadership inside the coalition. The article from the MoU that is important for the matter is the same as before:

“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”.

So for 2017 it is supposed to be Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and not the other fellows in the Coalition Party. If Hon. Raila Odinga really want to screw over the Opposition Parties than he has his turn, but then he is not following the pecking order. Because the other leaders are expecting succession; the same is evident for Hon. Moses Wetan’gula that even back a few months wanted to rally for his Presidential Candidacy rally at Muliro Garden in Kakamega on the 4th April 2016. So all of the leaders seem to shuffle the agreement into the drain except for the on leader in the WDM, the ODM and FORD-K should care about their fellow big-men agreements. This isn’t some petty nonsense crap; this is the pivotal agreement that established CORD. The CORD that we see today!

Hon. Wetan’gula and Hon. Odinga know about this, the ones following from the sidelines should know this. The ones who knew shouldn’t be silenced as the ignition before the campaign rallies for 2017 is really starting. They know they are betraying the WDM and Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka and they are doing it in public spreading their words of their intent without regard to the MoU. It proves the validity of the Union of the Alliance as a fragile piece of paper that loses value with time. If the CORD is serious business then they respect the agreement and let bygones be bygones. Instead this can vandalize the alliance.

Do they want to risk for their personal pride and their ability to work together as they go against the ruling party, the newly created function of Jubilee Party that are stronger and more united as they lose 12 parties as they function as ONE. The President and his Vice President are strictly concerned with manifesting the power and rule of engagement before the coming election. They have the upper-hand and continue with it as the Kenyatta Government get free-will of strength, while the Opposition can weaken themselves and their causes.

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The General Election of 2017 and the coming months will be interesting to see if the Alliances and the loyalties between the fellow Jubilee and Cord will sustain as the deflections and the wish for seats, tickets and security of own fortunes are at stake.

The CORD cannot live with the unfortunate weakness of having three leaders fighting at will for the Presidential Candidate ticket. The thing about Hon. Raila Odinga is that if he pursues this and doesn’t give in, than it’s his own person agenda and not the greater will of CORD or Kenya. Because if that we’re so he would not question the place and time for Hon. Kalonzo Musyoka of WDM. The same will show if the Hon. Wetan’gula of FORD-K asks for his time too. Hon. Wetan’gula in the agreement accepted to wait to 2021. So by that one it’s not his time.

It is not Odinga and Wetan’gula time, if they are gentleman who follows agreements and accords an is not petty men who are there only for their purpose and their own wealth. If they are there for the greater good and for the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD) than they should step down and run behind Kalonzo Musyoka to strengthen the Opposition and try to win on reform and accountability. As the Jubilee has done enough blunders and done enough questionable acts in their last term for them to tear they’re possible pledges apart.

It is true that the man in question the man in the crossfire, the WDM Kalonzo Musyoka hasn’t even started to fight for or acted upon his just right for the Presidential Ticket. Still the two other candidates and leaders of their own party have now done so. Odinga and Wetan’gula have now both said they want to run. Even Mudavadi (ANC) want’s his ticket on the top of CORD. So there are many men for the one special ticket. But only one who has the right if the MoU still is valid and the guideline for the Political Coalition of all of these opposition parties that are going to campaign to beat the current government and ruling regime Jubilee. If they are internally not sure of whom that is supposed to lead and more fractions.

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If the CORD wants to seriously contend with Jubilee, they need not to fight for the Presidency between themselves. Jubilee is only earning on the internal weakness of CORD. If they want to keep staying Opposition, than they will be so because they couldn’t keep their words, instead of being stronger together; than they could just be a dozen horses running in the race instead of two main Candidates as it can be if the CORD continues to be the Opposition versus Ruling Regime.

I hope that the personal glory, the personal ambition doesn’t overshadow the will of the parties. The two other big-men shouldn’t let their own ambition drive them to hunt for the time set for WDM. That is just common sense, if they do then we know that the deals and agreements don’t matter for Odinga and Wetan’gula as their own pockets and pride means more. Certainly the only ones earning on that is Kenyatta and Ruto. Peace.

Opinion: I am not worried about the Iphone7; I’m more worried about grander issues!

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I am worried not worried about the new Iphone 7 or its headphone features. That doesn’t get a fig of imagination as the reality is so much deeper than the American Tech Tax Evasion in Ireland as the Multi-Billion dollar profits of Europe doesn’t deserve to pay the Nations that they are trading their goods in. The Apple Company are greedy gutsy and expect me to care about features and design. They deserve discredit for their blatant Sports Direct ways of scrapping paying tax in Europe. Did they call Mike Ashley to get advice on how to solve issues of avoiding being honourable and actually paying tax like ordinary fellows? Than when they have to cough up money after being sued by the Irish Republic then they claim to stop having their business and sacking thousands of people for actually doing what they we’re supposed to do all along. Pay tax on the profits and now trying to scam their way to get rid of taxes. This proves that the Apple Corporation doesn’t have only have a headphone problem, but a heart problem and cynic dissolution dividing themselves from ordinary folk’s ears and minds. Their Apple Geniuses at the stores need to pay tax on their income; the same should the CEO and the Boards for their profits. Maybe time to frame the company to the pedestal of European scams of fraudulent behaviour for their fear of tax from European nations.

Well, there are other issues boggling my mind today as the continuation of oppressive behaviour in Ethiopia as Oromia and Amhara protest been silenced with the army aggressively cracking down and assaulting the population. As the country we’re supposed to celebrate New Year’s, still the internet is blocked in Amhara as the fear of knowledge and intelligence leaking to the world apparently. Still, the Government has blocked the phone lines in the area to. So with mercenaries and Agazi squad assembled in the area with heavy artillery and even bombings proves the extent the Ethiopian Government goes to silence their own population as the American Ally on the Horn of Africa is allowed to act as it please.

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Just to give you a moment and to let it sink in: “Secretary of AEUP, Adane Tilahun, in hiding after imminent arrest threat for interviews he gave to VoA”. If an interview get you into such trouble that you have to hide from the authorities than there are showing their no-reason non-sense control of the citizens as they are bombing and assaulting their own. Also, doesn’t want the word the out!

I am worried that people forgetting the violence of Gabon after the rigged election for the second Generation and Second term President Ali Bongo Ondimba; who just “won” with 4000 ballots after the 3 day doctoring of the ballots that gave him 98% votes in his stronghold. I was expecting 100% and a few donkeys on the tally. Jean Ping the former AU man have been tarnished and been demoted, even if he won the election; the Bongo presidency still controls the Authorities and Institutions. That the world doesn’t react to men not stealing a chicken, but a nation; we can be so grand in our ignorance because it is more important that the Iphone 7 can use ordinary Audio Connection and not Apple’s own Headphone system.

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What also worries me is the current state of CORD and Jubilee in Kenya; as the newly united party under the Jubilee Party and their structure together with the workings of the new board for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). President Uhuru Kenyatta and DP William Ruto can sell their story even if it fiction or reality to the people with their expensive PR campaign of Prado cortege through Nairobi and the Summit of setting the program. As the new pledges and fixing the cartels for Sugar and Coffee and all other industries; end corruption and fix the Mombasa port. But, if they do so doesn’t they recycle the pledges of past, will the Jubilee promise more stadiums and infrastructure projects, like making the grandest airport out of the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). Wonder if that will happen?

What I worried about is the men and woman who will jump ships and what their values of parties really was; let say certain individuals who has been Flagbearers, Senators, Governors and MPs for a dozen of Jubilee parties as there we’re 12 of those bad-boys in the current administration. There will be less tickets as you slash 11 parties… that means that in some districts there will dozen of candidates, new and old who will do whatever to get their seat as there is not enough place in a new structure compete the places in a new National Executive Committee and others.

So if these MPs and whatever position in the Jubilee who shuttle over to the Cord, than what is the difference and what is the key aspect of the Cord if they take in everybody who isn’t “good” enough for Jubilee and their new tickets. An if so, they should already have older or new blood through the parties of Cord that doesn’t need the high-blooded and thinking of their own ticket than about the general clue to why there are politicians. To represent the constituencies an citizens where they need support. If MPs and such are opposition are easily leaving Cord for Jubilee, why we’re they in opposition was they there because they didn’t have credit or ability to be part of current government until now? We should just worry about the values of these politicians and their wish for making a difference and even create a better future for their children’s children. Not to talk about making clearance and making sure that the debt cycle of Kenya doesn’t go over hurdle of the future ability to pay the rates and bills instead of building projects and salaries.

Robert Mugabe

I am worried about the state of affairs in Zimbabwe as the government doesn’t have cash, the banks are empty of Rands and Dollars. The bond notes are coming with future debt while the Zanu-PF elite are riding expensive SUVs through streets where people are begging to take out the savings from the banks. Zimbabwe and President Robert Mugabe are threating the demonstrations with “enough is enough” while the Courts are allowing it. The same Police and Anti-Riot Police commanders that have thrown tear-gas and brutality against citizens are still getting the same treatment as the other civil servants. The Police are now not getting a raise, not getting salary on time and also the same struggle as the nurses, soldiers and everybody else as the budget deficit is growing bigger and bigger. Since also the Finance Minister recently painted the grim picture and with the oppressive behavior from the Central Government has lost touch totally with their own citizens and their view of righteous and just actions from the ones that are facilitating businesses and safety.

I am worried about the silence on the crisis in Burundi, as the CNDD-FD youth group ‘Imbonerakure’ has apparently raped over a 150 girls in the recent days. This is happening as after the start of the third term for Pierre Nkurunziza as the President. With that in mind the assassinations and killings of opposition, military leaders and police officers proves that the AU/EAC based dialogue is pointless as the parties are silenced by the regime and the ones aggressively retaliating makes the civilians in the cross firing fleeing to Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda.

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Well, I am also worried!  Even Rwanda have been connected to groups violating the government and to a point of coup plot against the CNDD-FD regime; not strange as the High-Coltan exporter Rwanda are stealing Coltan from DRC and exporting better quality and levels of resources than their mines and mountains doesn’t have. Still, the world isn’t worried about the absence of justice in Beni, DRC and the RDC issues of thieving with guerrillas Nord (North) Kivu and the areas around. Paul Kagame likes to eat on stealing and killing as he has done all through his Presidency, still nobody questions him and let him by high quality weapons without any problems.

I am worried about the current instability of Juba, the PoC and United Nations actions in South Sudan. The Troika looks like three stooges who doesn’t cover their actions and expect warriors to be peace-loving drones as the riches get by the gun and not by dialogue. The Government of National Unity (TGoNU) that has installed Gen. Taban Deng Gai from the SPLM-IO and the SPLM-IG President Salva Kiir. The battles in Western Bahr El Ghazal State in the town of Wau; this proves the battles between the different fractions.

That the former Vice-President Dr. Riek Machar are back to heal in Khartoum where he was loyal before, while the SPLA where fighting Khartoum to get freedom from the Sudan Government under President Omar Al-Bashir. So the iconic leader of South Sudan seems lost, while Gen. Taban Deng Gai hasn’t had the control of the opposition even as the TGoNU have been able to get a battalion from SPLM-IO to Juba because of his appointment. The worrying is that both TGoNU and US spokesmen saying Machar doesn’t having any rights to get back to Power and be underling under President Kiir. That he giant level of fleeing citizens to Uganda and the little bound monies to camps in Northern Uganda proves the UNICEF and underfunding of the United Nation Refugee Agency that are running the refugee camps together with the NRM regime of Uganda. This show’s level of internal problems in South Sudan affects the Ugandan politics and funding.

This is just some of the things that go to through my mind. So I am not worried about the headphones of the Iphone7 and their technical changes from the last edition. There are bigger questions and more hard questions to ask about the world. Like why are the world still taking the so-called Presidential-Candidate Donald Trump serious when he recycling his lies to an extent that if you took the account of monies the Apple Corporation didn’t pay tax in Europe, the amount of lies that we’re not questioned by journalist towards Trump would be practically the same. Enough for now! Peace.

Opinion: The U.S. we’re hoodwinked by Kenyan Government on Dadaab; If not it looks like it!

Dadaab Refugee Camp

The Jubilee Government and their leadership have conned themselves from a giant heist today. The heist includes innocent civilians who fled civil wars and disasters in their home country either in South Sudan, Ethiopia or Somalia for safety in Kenya. The reality is that these refugees are pawns in the money game made-up by the Kenyan Government under the lead of CS Interior Joseph Nkaissery who used his powers to succumb the West with their ideals and wishing for the bail-out they needed.

The Dadaab Refuguee Complex we’re a pawn on the chess-set in the fitted schedule of the Government. Therefore the debt-rising government of Kenya just needed to schedule a closure of the settlement to spread fear of their hospitality. With the sense of national security that they could sell to own citizens and also the international community; the news of the closure just happen about the time the European Union we’re triggering negotiations with Turkey about the immigrations and transport of refugees from the Greek Islands toward the Turkish hinterland. This is the kind of cash-flow that Deputy President William Ruto wanted to taste and also President Uhuru Kenyatta. They got their loyal man CS Nkaissery to speak their peace and pay respects to the Somalian Authorities with threats of serving them the fleeing population back to the shores of Mogadishu. Take a look!

Joint Communique from Kenya and Somalia:

“H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta and H.E President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud held bilateral talks at State House Nairobi on Tuesday, 7th June, 2016. The meeting reviewed a wide range of bilateral and multilateral issues in particular peace, security and stability in Somalia, repatriation of refugees from Dadaab and economic cooperation” (Full Joint Communique from Kenya & Somalia ‘On Dadaab’, 2016).

Update from Ministry of Interior:

“For reasons of pressing national security that speak to the safety of Kenyans in context of terrorist and criminal activities, the Government of the Republic of Kenya has commenced that exercise of closing Dadaab Refugee Complex. The refugees will be repatriated to their countries of origin or to third party countries for resettlement” (…) “What is worse is that Kenyans have to pay for the water while refugees get it for free, not to mention the enormous economic cost to businesses in Kenya furthered by the use of the camps as smuggling centres for contraband goods. Refugee camps have become centres for poaching human trafficking and proliferation of illicit weapons which compromises Kenya’s international security rating” (…) “Finally, government shall be putting out a timetable for the execution of the representation process once the Taskforce presents in report, which should be ready by or before 31st May” (Kenya Ministry of Interior, 2016)

From the US to Kenya:

“WASHINGTON D.C., United States of America, August 23, 2016 – Today, Secretary of State John Kerry announced in Nairobi that the United States is providing more than $146 million in additional U.S. humanitarian assistance to support refugees, voluntary returnees, and drought victims in Kenya and Somalia. This new funding includes a significant new contribution of more than $59 million for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to protect and assist refugees in Kenya, and support voluntary refugee returns to Somalia. In addition, the funding includes new humanitarian assistance of more than $87 million in food and non-food support for refugees and drought victims in Kenya and Somalia. This announcement brings the total of U.S. humanitarian assistance in Kenya and Somalia to nearly $265 million in fiscal year 2016” (…) “The funding announced today will support UNHCR and other international humanitarian organizations as they provide for basic survival of thousands of vulnerable people and durable solutions for refugees, and as they help assist with efforts to improve conditions for return inside Somalia. This contribution is available to support UNHCR’s enhanced plan for the voluntary return and reintegration of Somali refugees from the Dadaab camps and to ensure that any returns that take place from Kenya are truly voluntary, safe and dignified, consistent with international law, and within the framework of the Tripartite Agreement among UNHCR, Kenya and Somalia” (U.S. Department of State, 2016).

Kerry Kenyatta

So the initial plan payed off for the Kenyan Government that they made sure to get extra funds using the Dadaab Refugee Complex and supposedly close it. Well, that doesn’t have to happen if you give us some more donor-aid or general agreement for funding it. Then we can walk away from it. That is how it looks like as the closure of Dadaab happens as the UNHCR and voluntary return of refugees. This is seems like a scheme for me. Not a legit action from the Government of Kenya. They did it when the refugee transports and the negotiations in Europe happen and the Kenyans thought! Why can’t we do the same?

Seemingly with time the U.S. Government knows the issues on the Horn of Africa and in East Africa, as they are allies with Ugandan counterparts, Ethiopian counterparts and also the Kenyans. All of them are involved in the AMISOM mission in Somalia. So the liability of making it more fragile will make it not feasible for the economic development projects from United States to the area if the place turns into shambles. The stability is needed and the Dadaab isn’t a hotbed, but is giant fatigue on the NGOs and the Governments as they are not temporary housing anymore. It’s been static for decades now and the Kenyan wants to get their rewards for their humanitarian activity. So why not the extra donations from the American Government as the looming election and the other prospects as the U.S. Government want to be in peace and diplomatic to the Kenyans.

The Kenyan Government felt the pressure of the International Community as they planned to close the Dadaab. The Multi-National Organizations that are supporting the Camp would be frustrated as much as all the people who wouldn’t have a place to go to or secure future. The mentality of the government proves to what level they will use leverage to gain capital and the fiscal funds. While shipping the rest of the billing are going on the USAID and UNHCR. Peace.

Reference:

U.S. Department of State – ‘Additional Funding for Kenya and Somalia’ (23.08.2016)

Kenya Ministry of Interior & Coordination of National Government – ‘GOVERNMENT STATEMENT AND UPDATE  ON THE REPARATION OF REFUGEES AND SCHEDULED CLOSURE  OF DADAAB REFUGEE CAMP’  (11.05.2016)

Full Joint Communique Republic of Kenya and Federal Republic of Somalia ‘on Dadaab’ (09.06.2016)

 

Nike Apparel scandal for the Kenyan Athletes as the NOCK we’re skimming off the Rio2016

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“You can run wit losers, or run wit winners and win” 50 Cent on Young Buck – ‘Let Me In’ on LP ‘Straight Outta Ca$hville’ (2004).

It is Olympics season and Rio Olympics started the 5th August 2016. There we’re long planning for each athlete and Olympics team through the National Sports Authorities who fixes funds and also allocate monies to the needed equipment and so on. Therefore the recent days mayhem around the Kenyan Olympic Team and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K). This team and Committee have come under fire. The NOC-K and Kenyan Athletics have both been questioned about their use of funds and corrupt behaviour.

Today I am going over the recent articles on the Rio Scandal of the Athletes who was not getting their needed National Nike Kits from the NOCK. As they we’re even at one point claimed to been stealing from a Nike Shop in Rio and had a meeting with Nike Officials in Brazil. This happens as the Nike Corporation has already gotten shredded review for their newest agreement with the Kenyan Athletics and NOCK in 2013. They can be questioned for their “commitment bonus” and the reason for paying off Chinese counterparts to keep the Kenyan Runners running in Sports Appeal from Nike.

The NIKE Corporation wants the best wearing their gear at the biggest sports events so they can be the Golden club, like 50 Cent said so poetically: “Run wit winners and win” in 2004, the same kind of acts are apparently the key for the Nike Executives who rather for branding sake bribe Kenyan Officials to have the quickest men wearing their running shirts. This should be a crown example of the American Sports Industry and how far they go to pay off Athletes and Sports Organizations who fit their bar. The Kenyan Sports Officials are getting easy money for their associates to wear clothes and brand them. But it goes further as some officials apparently have been selling of special clothes made for the athletes and this year’s Olympics. So they didn’t have enough Sports Gear for their delegation in Brazil. So the greed of NOCK officials just sold the designated apparel for the Athletes. That shows the little care for their obligated work and more about the extra funds for themselves.

Kipchonge Rio Olympics

Reports from earlier in 2016 – Commitment Bonus saga:

“In a contract signed several years ago, Nike agreed to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in honorariums and a one-time $500,000 “commitment bonus,” which the former employee called a bribe” (…) “For more than 20 years, Nike Inc. has been paying the Kenyan national runners’ association millions of dollars in exchange for the Kenyans wearing Nike’s signature swoosh, superb advertising in the running world” (…) “After they received a letter from a Nike lawyer saying there were no legal grounds to terminate the contract, the Kenyan officials abruptly changed course. They negotiated a new contract in which Nike agreed to pay Athletics Kenya an annual sponsorship fee of $1.3 million to $1.5 million — plus $100,000 honorariums each year and a one-time $500,000 “commitment bonus.” (…) “In a sworn statement provided to Kenyan investigators, the former assistant said the $500,000 commitment bonus was “bribe money from Nike” so that the top officials could pay back the $200,000 from the scuttled deal with the Chinese company and then make even more by agreeing to sign up again with Nike” (…) “Nike wired the money into the federation’s account instead. But before that, the chairman emailed a Nike executive, Robert Lotwis, with “invoice” in the subject line. “Urgent!!” the message said. “Dear Robert, U.S. 500,000 being commitment Bonus. Regards, Isaiah Kiplagat, Chairman.” (Gettleman, 2016).

It was all well in July 2016:

“Kenya’s track and field team received it’s Nike kit for the Rio Olympics yesterday with the elite distance runners saying they are ready to take the game to their Ethiopian arch rivals at next month’s game” (…) Stephen Soi (above), Kenya’s chef de mission to the Rio Games, said Nike had sent training leisure and competition kit to the Tusker­ sponsored Team Kenya” (Makori, 2016).

What they we’re supposed to get:

“Some athlete revealed that the National Olympic Committee (NOCK) officials were diverting the kits for sale in Kenyan market. “Nike submitted 1,900 pieces of uniform both for training and racing to the 52 athletes who were in Rio. Nike had a different set for coaches, trainers, and officials,” said a Sports ministry official who had travelled with Ruto” (…) “NOCK chair Kipchoge Keino dismissed the claims saying every athlete was given enough kits.”There is no problem with uniforms. All the athletes were e given enough pairs of uniform,” said Keino. One member who traveled with Ruto to Rio, however, faulted CS Wario and his PS for the problems that faced the athletes in Rio” (Mwalimu, 2016).

Kenyatta Rio Team 2016

CS for Sports and Culture Hassan Wario Speaks:

Nock officials were being chauffeured around in limousines. I walked to most of the venues where Kenyan athletes were competing and some of them were five kilometres away” (…) “The Rio Olympics will go down as one of the Kenya’s best ever, in terms of performance. But what people are seeing are unnecessary problems entirely created by guys managing the team” (…) “Nock are the ones who draw up the list of the athletes and the travelling team. They are the ones to accredit all members of the travelling team. I, too, had to request Nock officials to get me into the Olympic village because I did not have the right accreditation from them. There are some things that went wrong, but we could not help because whenever we try to do so, Nock says they are independent” (…) “We also need a new team at Nock, which is 21st century in thinking. Some of the current officials have been in office for more than 30 years. They operate in a cartel-like manner. They ensure they vote one another to office in perpetuity” (…) “I am the one who prepared his itinerary in Rio. It is just that when he landed, I was caught in a traffic jam coming from cheering Okwiri (boxer Rayton Okwiri). I called the DP and requested that I meet him at his hotel together with the Kenyan team” (…) “We paid Sh800,000 into the accounts of each of the athletes a week before travelling to the Olympics. There are only four cases which we shall solve soon. We shall add each one another Sh150,000 as a token of appreciation. The cheque is being prepared” (Kipchumba, 2016).

Alleged stealing kits:

“Mr Robert Lotwis, a Nike executive, wrote to Nock: “Dear FK (Francis Paul, the Nock Secretary General). I have not heard back from you around any of the product issues I have emailed you about. I have sent you a list of product that was sent and you received. “I don’t understand why I have athletes both here (in Rio) and back in Nairobi saying they did not receive the products. I’m asking again for an explanation. I’ve also listed what each track (athletics) athlete should receive in a pack. I’ve also relisted below what was sent to Nock. Please respond with an explanation on why athletes are saying they are not getting all the products they should.” (…) “In an invoice mailed to Nock, which is in our possession, Nike shipped a huge consignment of kits to Kenya, which confirms claims raised by Mr Korir. For example, they sent 450 bags but very few were distributed to athletes. Nike labelled a clear distribution order of the consignment on what each athlete would receive” (Komen, 2016).

Kipchonge Rio Olympics Finish Line

What we can questioning is how much does the NIKE Corporation accept to have their name on the Apparel for Olympic runners in global sports events like the Olympics and World Cup. The Kenyan Runners are famous and together with Ethiopians has a running tradition when it comes to sports. That is something the Nike Corporation has supported and been a sponsor for decades.

This seems okay that they are paying facilitation fees to the Kenyan Officials because Marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge wins Gold on 42 kilometre Marathon while wearing the NIKE Apparel shirt. The reason why they have the Sponsorship with the National Olympic Committee – Kenya (NOCK) and Athletics Kenya (AK); are there to make the company get a feel good vibe and be there with the right people even if they are bribing officials to get it there; doesn’t seem like a problem for NIKE. I am sure NIKE has some good deals with the FIFA organizations as they want the Governing Football body to be associated with the Nike brand.

That the NIKE Company accepts deal which CS Hassan Wario calls Sports Cartels as they are licensing the sports and delegating the teams for the Olympics. Therefore they knew how much Apparel they would need; still they had the greed to sell it. This shows the length the Officials who are in charge of the deals and facilitation of the Athletes and their trainers for the competitions like Rio 2016. The ironic is how much money the Sport Organizations gets from Sponsorships and apparel; still the Gold Medal winner of Marathon today Elihud Kipchoge didn’t get picked up on the Airport or even scheduled by the Athletics Kenya or the National Olympic Committee Kenya. He was driven by a Ugandan Athlete to his destination instead, which shows the brotherhood of East Africa, but also the indifference from the AK and NOCK. This should worry NIKE who pays fortunes to have their name on their Apparel and are affiliated with the corrupt behaviour.

The Kenyan Officials are earning funds and even thieving to earn extra out of the deal. As much as the Government also gives funds for the Kenyan Athletes as they represent the Nation at the Rio Olympics. That because of the issues with funding, apparel and the rest Deputy President Willam Ruto had to show up. Sure not just drive limousines with other officials to the stadiums, but hopefully to get clarity in the scandal of NOCK.

team Kenya

So it proves the systematic use of the sports to gain personal gains for the Sports Organizations as they use sponsorship deals to earn more shillings. The BOBs must be spent on more heavy things as the total amount of monies can be used on more than chapaties. The scandal makes the Kenyan Sports look bad, when they could be looking shiny. Instead of the representation and golds will not glimmer because of the artistic ways of diminishing money and plans that the Gold Winner of today might have felt twice with the problems of Nike Apparel and the left behind in Rio before coming to the Olympic village. That shouldn’t be an issue for well-funded organizations who are sponsored by Multi-National Corporations and Tax-Payers Monies to deliver results for the common good.

The Sports results and gotten metals for the Kenyans and that should be celebrated. But the organizations behind it should deserve to scrutinize for their economic behaviour and their organizational work towards their athletes before the Rio Olympics and during. The Athletes shouldn’t be in the cross-fire for Apparel before their time to start doing their thing as Olympians.

If there is nothing backfiring the Organizers and the men and woman who run them; then the Government are actually fuelling and accepting their corrupt behaviour earned on the sweet and tears on the athletes. Peace.  

Reference:

Gettleman, Jeffrey – ‘Money Given to Kenya, Since Stolen, Puts Nike in Spotlight’ (05.03.2016) link: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/world/africa/nike-under-scrutiny-as-payments-for-kenya-runners-are-drained.html?_r=0

Makori, Elias – ‘Freshly kitted Kenya track team ready for the Ethiopians’ (18.07.2016) link: http://www.ipsos.co.ke/NEWBASE_EXPORTS/Unilever/160718_Daily%20Nation%20-%20Monday_50_b9066.pdf

Mwalimu, Kaka – ‘Revealed: Why Uhuru sent Ruto to Rio de Janeiro’ (19.08.2016) link: http://www.hivisasa.com/kisii/news/163517

Kipchumba, Some – ‘I’m not to blame, Nock is a cartel, says Sports CS Wario’ (21.08.2016) link: http://www.nation.co.ke/news/I-am-also-a-victim-of-Rio-Olympics-cartel-says-minister/1056-3352298-95os78/

Komen, Jonathan – ‘Nike alleges shoplifting, seeks answers from Kenya team managers’ (20.08.2016)

Link: http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000212655/nike-alleges-shoplifting-seeks-answers-from-kenya-team-managers

Opinion: Kenyatta goes after CORD claiming they trade insults instead of policies; maybe he ought to show his own achievements in office!

Kenyatta Aug 2016

“Policy not to compete with insults. Kenyans can shipyard insults” – Uhuru Kenyatta

As Uhuru Kenyatta the current Kenyan President dropped this tweet with fire-power as a direct answer to the Coalition for Reform and Democracy (CORD). Kenyatta goes against the alliance on the opposition. The Jubilee who are next month becoming one party, the Jubilee Party. Instead of the 12 parties it where in the recent elections. The Jubilee will be one big party under Kenyatta and Ruto.

Kenyatta goes after ODM Hon. Raila Odinga, FORD-Kenya Hon. Moses Wetan’gula and Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) Kenya Hon. Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka as he wants to say they trade insults instead of moving Kenya forward. Well, the CORD are asking for another way forward.

If Uhuru Kenyatta we’re serious about insults of his opposition, than he should look into the words of his running mate and Deputy William Ruto. He has been saying this on national broadcast himself about his opponents without any consideration:

“What we are doing to the country today in these street engagements is not different with what the Al- Shabaab  is doing to us” (…) “What the Al-Shabaab want is to instill fear in Kenyans, they want to sabotage our, they want to create an impression that the country is unsafe and you cannot do business.  CORD is doing exactly the same thing with their weekly street battles,” (News24.co.ke, 08.06.2016).

So that Kenyatta speaks about policies are more important why they stifled the Referendum of the constitution (OKOA) to get a free and fair election in 2017. After all the demonstrations and police brutality had to happen before the Jubilee sat down to discuss the matters of the corrupt and insubordinate Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that needed to be change. The IEBC board will change, but hopefully the deemed new leadership gives credence to certain procedure and righteous behaviour that the Kenyan citizens can trust.

Uhuru Kenyatta has to think of his own men and woman that are on the Jubilee tickets not only the Opposition. As the CS Interior Joseph Nkaissery attacks all other for “hate-speech” but doesn’t consider how the Ruling Regime are discussing their opposition. That is combined together doesn’t show the progress of a ruling party as the Jubilee. The Jubilee should show what their so-called policies have done. Instead they are addressing the opposition.

Together with the hate-speech Members of Parliament that we’re arrested for their words like Moses Kuria, Ferdinand Waititu and the others who have spoken out of terms for their political gain. So the Jubilee and CORD work out for them as the heated discussions and the reality of the political landscape for General Election 2017.

But the President should expose his policies instead of directly attacking his opposition as a real competitor and a real politician that wants to be elected for his second term. But his PR Games from the State House of late haven’t made him look smart or the next in line. Instead of doing so he is directly going into the fire without the needed plan to extinguish the fire. Therefore the common sense isn’t common; the sense of Kenyatta isn’t common. Apparently the policies are in the background as the other subjects are keys to keeping the mantle and leadership from 2017. Peace.

CS Nkaissery allays divisions in National Police service (Youtube-Clip)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk0vh7lJGSA

“Interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery  has today  downplayed the friction between the Inspector General of police  and the National Police Service Commission over the list of police officers to be promoted. In thinly veiled admission of discrepancies in the list of promoted officers Nkaissery clarified that the confusion emerged from a miscommunication between commission and the Inspector-General saying  adequate measures have been put in place to  prevent  a recurrence of the anomaly. Nkaissery spoke after holding a two hour closed door meeting with NPSC chairman Johnstone Kavuludi and Inspector General of police Joseph Boinnet” (K24TV, 2016)