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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 15:44:19 GMT 3
A Digital Essay by Onyango Oloo in Nairobi
PART ONEFrom the look of things, it would appear that we are still a long way from resolving the serious post-election crisis that is gripping and almost crippling Kenya. Even after Raila Odinga and ODM considerably softened their pre-conditions for internationally mediated talks with their opposite numbers by dropping their demand that Kibaki must resign; calling off a series of rallies and mass actions across the country and lowering the decibel of their political rhetoric, Mwai Kibaki and his fellow usurpers seems set on a suicidal path to tighten their hold on the stolen public offices.On Tuesday, January 8, 2008 the besieged Pretender President in the State House compounded the putschist, undemocratic initial injury he had inflicted on the Kenyan nation by unilaterally and illegally appointing his cronies and side-kicks to ministerial positions literally hours before African Union Chairperson John Kufuor of Ghana landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to mediate in scheduled talks between ODM and PNU. Not only did Kibaki violate Kenyan law by appointing these individuals before they had been sworn in formally as members of parliament, the Othaya MP was desperate to confront the visiting Kufuor with a fait accompli in grabbing the most powerful and strategic cabinet positions for himself and his faction. In doing so, Kibaki also laid bare a lot of what Kenyans had been suspecting for months:
Kalonzo Musyoka, the ODM-K leader and also ran presidential candidate had always been a fifth columnist amidst opposition ranks causing much rancour while still in the original ODM and bolting off to form ODM-K as a stratagem of wangling for himself the coveted VP slot. Now every boast of Kalonzo’s about being a "peace maker" and "Mr. Clean Hands" rings hollow; words and phrases added to the growing hill of human turd, the self-created merde composed of his swaggering and sauntering election campaign boasts of being the “most formidable opponent” of Kibaki and the "people’s servant".
How could Kibaki’s so called "most formidable opponent" agree to be a mere junior stand in for his alleged nemesis?
How could an alleged "peace maker" and so called "servant of the people" jump hastily into bed with someone whose criminal actions had led to so much blood shed, ethnic acrimony, economic devastation and political uncertainty?
What is also clearly evident is that Kibaki's move to appoint Kalonzo Musyoka as his deputy could be an advance gambit anticipating a re-run of the presidential contest where Kibaki and his schemers reckon that Kalonzo may single-handedly delivered the Akamba bloc vote.
Judging by his less than stellar showing at the just concluded parliamentary and presidential elections, it is by no means a sure bet that Kalonzo will actually live up to this lofty expectations.
Many of us in the progressive and democratic camp here in Kenya have been chastened with the emerging agenda of the United States and such multi-lateral global bodies like the World Bank.A leaked memo authored by the Guyanese born Kenya Country director of the World Bank Colin Bruce basically setting the ground for an acceptance of the Kibaki coup de tat www.ft.com/cms/s/0711226e-befb-11dc-8c61-0000779fd2ac.htmlis a very sobering reminder that when it comes to crunch time, institutions such as the World Bank will gravitate towards the pro-imperialist status quo. Some of my reliable sources here in Nairobi inform me that the United States' own publicly unstated position militates against a re-run of the election, leaning more towards a negotiated power-sharing formula between Raila Odinga and Mwai Kibaki-as if the national crisis that has seen tens of thousands of democracy seeking Kenyan protesters lash out in anger in response to the stolen presidential vote outcome can be reduced to a little disagreement between two individual politicians residing in Nairobi. It is also not very clear what the mainstream African agenda is regarding the current crisis in Kenya. Conterminous with the arrival and presence of John Kufour was the puzzling tour of ex-Presidents Kaunda of Zambia, Mkapa of Tanzania, Chissano of Mozambique and Masire of Botswana. Were they in Kenya to bolster or undermine the shuttle diplomacy of the Ghanaian head of state?What are more disturbing are the personal, ideological and strategic intentions of President Yoweri Museveni from the neighbouring nation-state of Uganda. Credible reports indicate that Ugandan troops-some of them dressed in Kenyan police uniform, some of them in civvies- have been implicated in the extra-judicial state ordered executions of unarmed civilians in Kisumu, including many infants and minors, with some shot at close range while cowering in their own homes. An observer in Nairobi has privately suggested to this writer that the Kibaki posse of political criminals did approach the Ugandan government expressing their insecurities about dealing with any negative fallout from within the Kenyan military establishment in the aftermath of the elections. Museveni, according to this source, is supposed to have reassured the Kenyan head of state and his shadowy kitchen cabinet that Uganda was ready to do ANYTHING- including dispatching troops to Kenya to thwart any efforts at overturning the Kibaki civilian coup.
The observer in Nairobi is of the opinion that the main thing driving Museveni’s mother hen attitude towards Kenya has less to do with guaranteeing Kenyan political stability as with the Ugandan president’s own megalomaniacal ambitions to be the capo di capo of East and Central Africa over the next few years. As many readers of these lines know, there is a push to consolidate the process of implementing the East African Community as an economic, legal, social and POLITICAL entity. Part of the provisions of that process is the creation of an East African Community President. My source avers that Museveni sees himself as the natural born leader who will fit that slot. M7 (as the Ugandan president is often referred to, especially in his native land) thinks that Kenya's Raila Odinga stands in Museveni's way because of the ODM flag-bearer’s own charisma, Pan African appeal and political pedigree (it never hurts to be scion/offspring of one of the Third World’s most celebrated nationalist heroes, Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga). The observer in Nairobi is convinced that Museveni’s covert and overt (he is the only leader to have so far "recognized" the illegitimate hostage in the State House) support for Kibaki is rooted in a cynical, mid term quid pro quo strategy of neutralizing any aspirants to the ultimate East African crown jewel. I ran this hypothesis by another friend of mine, this one a highly placed individual embedded at the core of Kenya's National Security Intelligence Service. My NSIS contact was very skeptical about the Museveni Factor as delineated by my observer pal. He says that going by his own contacts within the Ugandan armed forces and intelligence agencies, there does not seem to be ANY credence that could lift the Museveni Hypothesis above the level of wild rumour and baseless speculation. He also doubts the reports, lately echoed by Raila Odinga himself, about the active participation of Ugandan troops in the state-engineered massacres of civilians in Kisumu. I will leave my readers to use their own discretion to interrogate, verify and/or corroborate the veracity or otherwise of these serious allegations regarding the role played by President Museveni in the current Kenyan crisis. Nevertheless, my spooky intelligence pal shared with me something else:
He told me that there is a high level of uncertainty and even mild dissent within the armed forces, the regular police and other elements of the Kenyan state security apparatus. He claims that the wildly and widely circulated and strenously refuted SMS rumours which speculated that Kenya’s army chief and the police commissioner had resigned around New Year’s Day were NOT totally baseless because there had been some kind of heightened pressures on the duo within those ranks that the military and the police should not be seen to be condoning Kibaki's electoral grand larceny. The NSIS Deep Throat also told me that overall morale within the Kenyan armed forces has been lowered considerably and that there are more and more middle-ranking officers who are quitting the Kenyan military to pursue soldier of fortune opportunities in places like Iraq or take up private civilian security consulting gigs within the country- a trend that he evaluates as not being in the best interests of the Kibaki junta. My shadowy source also asserted that the MAJORITY of the members of the REGULAR police are OPENLY sympathetic to ODM and that could be one reason why the Michukis and Murages opted for members of the dreaded GSU and the A dministration Police together with the elements from the National Youth Service as the storm troopers to protect the illegal installation of Mwai Kibaki. Even here he says that many of those young people dressed up in those fierce looking anti-riot gear are actually NOT GSU but AP and NYS personnel because the commander of the Administration Police is allegedly closer to the kitchen cabinet cabal than the other police heads. Again what I am purveying here is a perspective from one individual. Whether what he is saying is true or not is subject to further investigation and verification. There are so many things which have been happening in Nairobi which are yet to make it to the public domain. For instance we are told that immediately after the polls, former President Moi (with or without some of his kids) boarded a plane bound for Germany. Upon arrival, the authorities in that European state promptly loaded Moi on another Nairobi bound flight, barring his presence in Germany. Moving away from that angle, I want to examine the options ahead for the Kenya democratic movement. Many of us heaved a sigh of relief when Raila Odinga announced the postponement of the rallies. Let me hasten to add that our sigh of relief DID NOT coincide with NOR WAS IT THE SAME AS the sighs from the Kenyan comprador and petit bourgeois elite. Rather, our own sense of relief was grounded on organizational, tactical and strategic considerations. We felt that the initial round of protests were largely spontaneous and unfocused. Even the first attempts of ODM to rally the troops to Uhuru Park relied heavily on the passions and voluntarist energies of the ODM popular base. These actions were not very well coordinated in our view and that is why the cops had an upper hand. We also felt that after the series of lumpen jacquerries in the informal settlements which had left in their wake infernos, innocent victims and tribal acrimony, it was crucial for the ODM to step in and take charge, because contrary to the strident accusations of PNU supporters online and throughout the country, the Orange Democratic Movement as a party HAD NO ROLE in the riots and subsequent carnage.
This fact is graphically illustrated by the plight which befell hundreds of innocent Kisii speaking voters in Nyanza and parts of the Rift Valley.
A comrade of mine who was one of the defeated aspirants in one constituency on the southern tip of Nyanza province recounted to me the violent reprisals and terrible ordeals which befell innocent Kisiis who had actually voted for Raila Odinga.
He told me that there was a series of very blatant rigging of the ballots for Kibaki in parts of the Greater Kisii region where the PNU Presidential candidate got abnormally high amounts of votes-a clear plan to steal votes from Raila Odinga.
When these artificial tallies were announced by ECK and especially after the shocking award by Kivuitu to Kibaki of the 2007 Presidential prize, mass anger erupted in places like Migori, Kericho, Kuresoi and Kisumu.
The target this time was not confined to innocent Kikuyus and their property but also members of the Kisii who were wrongly accused by enraged Luo and Kipsigis mobs of having "betrayed" the people of Nyanza in bringing back Kibaki to power.
I am told that even now there are unclaimed bodies literally littering some of the tea estates in Kericho with many members of the Kisii community losing their businesses in Kisumu and some areas in the Rift Valley.
The many illegal road blocks erected on the Kisii-Nairobi road especially the Sotik-Narok section were scenes of unbelievable horrors if one happened to be a Kisii.
This account corroborates the harrowing narrative of the Toronto-based Dr. Matunda Nyanchama that was posted on the Africa-Oped and Mwananchi online discussion forums. My comrade told me that it took his own urgent personal intervention to two members of the ODM Pentagon that enabled the leadership of ODM to travel to the Rift Valley and Nyanza to appeal for calm and the end of ethnic slaughter. The point I am trying to drive home is that the ODM leadership could have hardly "ordered" an ethnic attack on the Kisii community which rallied together to rout Simeon Nyachae and eliminate the PNU as a political force in Gusii land.
If anything, the ODM leadership, especially in southern Nyanza can be accused of being largely impotent in the face of a grave crisis affecting their own fervent supporters.CONTINUED>>>>>>>>
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 15:45:28 GMT 3
PART TWOI would like to state for the record that I have been disgusted by the emerging PNU propaganda that attempts to portray the ODM leadership as Interhamwe type masterminds of genocide when the facts point to two developments: The deployment of state troops who went on a shooting rampage in Nairobi, Eldoret, Kakamega, Bungoma, Kisumu and Mombasa killing innocent civilians and two; The cynical abdication of duty by the same state employed uniformed security forces when looting and plunder was taking place in Kisumu, Kibera and Mombasa, to just cite three examples, where eye-witnesses (including my brother in law in Mombasa who happens to be a half-Kikuyu and who had his bar on the west mainland pillaged and plundered under the uncaring eye of hordes of heavily armed cops who stood by as his club was stripped of all the equipment, appliances and facilities that he spent the last two years installing to revamp the place). It is my considered opinion that the looting and plunder WAS CONSCIOUSLY FACILITATED BY THE STATE TO DISCREDIT RAILA ODINGA AND THE ODM. This position was echoed by an elderly clear headed Kisumu resident when he was interviewed last night by a KTN television crew. The PNU propagandists peddling the spurious "genocide" allegations are of course blissfully oblivious to the fact that the MAJORITY OF DEAD VICTIMS of the post-electoral violence had police wounds riddling their corpses.
If there is a case that can be made of pre-meditated mass killings, then the persons in the dock should be those Kibaki connected and conniving political schemers who instituted a shoot to kill policy after arming cops with live ammunition instead of rubber bullets.The breaking news revelations by Maina Kiai, the fiercely independent Chair of the state funded K enya National Commission on Human Rights to the effect that members of the dreaded Mungiki sect had been reactivated by the Kibaki regime to carry out murderous attacks in Nairobi slums thought to be ODM strongholds constitute a stunning setback that is already causing ripple effects and knocking the wind out of the sails of those Kibaki supporters online who have been trumpeting a concocted campaign against Raila Odinga and his ODM colleagues who they have stridently accused of ethnic cleansing. What is even more astonishing is that this story was broken by none other than Mungiki insiders who took the initiative of contacting Maina Kiai's offices. It should be recalled that only a few months ago the same Kibaki regime was indiscriminately executing innocent Agikuyu youth suspected of being Mungiki members based on the sole "evidence" of ethnicity. What a CYNICAL case of Use and Dump and Abuse Again!The PNU propagandists may very well get what they wish for with unintended legal consequences for their paymasters because I earnestly believe that an independent, transparent international inquiry composed of legal experts into the Kenyan post-electoral deaths is far more likely to indict the Michukis and the Murages than anyone else within the ODM leadership.
And that is why I say:
Bring on the Inquiry, the Tribunal, the Commission!Let the investigations commence this very afternoon!As I was saying before I veered off on that tangent, many progressive and democratic minded Kenyans were grateful when ODM called off the mass rallies. Why?
The masses were fatigued; they were famished; they were unorganized and disorganized and certainly not very politically conscientized and sensitized.
As one of my comrades was pointing out to me yesterday evening, organizing mass action is NOT A JOKE.
You need a detailed strategy.
You need mobilizers.
You need resources; in the same way an army needs supply lines, commanders and maximum flexibility of tactics to outwit the other side.Of course Onyango Oloo is NOT going to delve into any kind of detail about how one can implement a successful, sustained and popular mass action strategy here online. I would have to be certified INSANE for me to do that. The key thing to remember is that the crisis in Kenya has by now evolved far beyond Raila Odinga and the stolen Presidential vote or the right of ODM to form the next government. What we are now dealing with as Kenyans is the need to repulse a criminal conspiracy to overthrow democratic rule and restore the neo-colonial fascist ethno-kleptocracy of the Moi-KANU years. What we are dealing with as Kenyans is a direct danger to ALL of the democratic gains we have made over the last twenty-five to thirty years. What we are dealing with as Kenyans is an immediate threat that could plunge Kenya into a bloody civil war that would make Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Congo look like child’s play. The danger we face as a nation calls IMMEDIATELY for, among other prerogatives:
1. A UNITED response that does not look at the problem through PAROCHIAL ETHNIC spectacles;
2. A DEMOCRATIC and PEACEFUL response that eschews militaristic and violent conspiracies;
3. A perspective grounded on SOCIAL JUSTICE and ANTI-IMPERIALIST precepts to ensure a progressive, egalitarian and just eventual outcome;
4. A PROTRACTED approach realizing that Kibaki and his henchmen, having tasted state power, will not, of their own accord relinquish the same unless forced to do so by united, democratic, progressive determination of the Kenyan people rising up to demand their country, their rights and their aspirations back from the PNU usurpers;
5. An organic linkage with the international solidarity and fight back campaigns spearheaded BY PROGRESSIVE AND PATRIOTIC KENYANS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY together with our other global comrades in many countries throughout the world;
There is ONLY ONE WEAPON at the disposal of the Kenyan people at this present time and that weapon is:
ORGANIZATION.Let me repeat Ho Chi Minh's revolutionary dictum over and over and over and over again: Organize, Organize, Organize!Yes, we know that the MOST AGGRIEVED IMMEDIATE ENTITY is the ODM who have just been robbed of an election that they won fair and square in broad daylight. However the issue is far, far beyond the ODM and its immediate supporters. There are millions of Kenyans who are not necessarily aligned to ODM who are completely outraged and want to be part of a successful fight back. This reality calls for the launching of a Kenya- wide organizational and democratic conduit which is much broader than any one political party in the country. The other day I called for the formation of a NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT founded on the four pillars of JUSTICE, PEACE, DEMOCRACY and TRUTH. This movement must be based on the poor wananchi in the urban and rural areas from all ethnic groups, the youth, the women, the cultural and religious minorities, the progressive elements among the middle-class, patriotic Kenyans outside the country and all anti-imperialist forces. My call is merely one of dozens of such calls emanating simultaneously from Kenyan progressives from all over the country, from Mombasa to Malaba, Moyale to Loitoktok. Already we see fast mutating ancestors of that kind of an organization sprouting almost on a daily basis. At the civil society front, a network of over 30 NGOs and non-profit formations formed a Coalition for Peace, Justice and Truth within the first few days of January. At the core of this coalition are such credible institutions like the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Mars Group, Law Society of Kenya, Kituo Cha Sheria, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, NCEC, the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy-Kenya and other like minded bodies. We must commend the admirable work of such Kenyan militant patriots and progressives like Muthoni Wanyeki, Gladwell Otieno, Cyprian Nyamwamu, Kepta Ombati, Ndung’u Wainaina, Maina Kiai, Zahid Rajan, Haron Ndubi, Zarina Patel and Mwalimu Mati in jump-starting this much needed vehicle and process. Among the praise worthy initiatives of the new coalition are efforts to engage members of the Central Kenyan communities through an entity called the Republican Forum- a network of younger business people and professionals from among the Agikuyu. This forum which meets regularly at a certain Nairobi hotel and counts among its regulars people like David Ndii, Mutahi Ngunyi to name just two, is right now assessing the ECONOMIC and FINANCIAL immediate impact and long term ramifications of the Kibaki/PNU coup on Central Kenya within the context of the national reality that the Agikuyu, like other Kenyans, live all over the country and if the anti-Kibaki backlash maintains an ethnic tag how this will mess up national harmony. Apart from that, the group has a mandate to emphasize to the GEMA communities that Kibaki’s coup should not be seen as synonymous as a "victory" for millions of individual Kikuyus, Merus and Embus but rather an insult and assault on every one of them who as Kenyans are equally affronted by this callous subversion of democracy, justice, and yes, prospects for peaceful coexistence across all our diverse Kenyan peoples. Over and above the above, forces within the coalition are exhorting Kenyans to do the following:
(i)Agitate for new presidential elections within the next three months;
(ii)Urge ODM to take up their seats and continue their struggle in the 10th parliament because a boycott will be a political faux pas that will play right into the hands of the PNU usurpers;
(iii)Engage the police, the paramilitary and the military with a view of winning over these security forces to the side of the democratic and patriotic forces;
(iv)Mobilize the international community, especially the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union to realize that Kenya will be UNGOVERNABLE under an illegitimate regime and that their interests and the interests of neighbouring countries like Uganda, Rwanda, the DRC, Sudan, Ethiopia etc will be at risk if the current political impasse persists;
(v)Step up indigenous, in country humanitarian efforts reaching out to ALL the victims of the post-electoral strife regardless of ethnicity, political affiliation and regional origins;
[/i] There are of course some other interesting developments but I guess it as this point that I will dutifully ZIP MY LIPS. Onyango Oloo
Nairobi, Kenya
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Post by demogod on Jan 10, 2008 16:19:47 GMT 3
Keep up the pressure, thats the only way we restor the sanity in our country. We cannot allow "thieves" to lead our great country, we must have a progressive society that is inclusive of all, and not just the elite! This country of Kenya belongs to each of us, albeit race, religion or its political affiliation. Protect the democracy of our country, otherwise our children will suffer the wrath of the arrogrant cronies currently occupying the SH illegally. They must go, and the people of Kenya must take this country back. It should be the people's government, and not some neo colonial gang of brotherhood, who feel that their world is the right way!
If we all love our country, and to bring justice to the people who have lost their lives, we must stand up to these psychophants currently in SH!!!
JUSTICE SHALL BE SERVED IN DUE COURSE!!!!
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Post by kamalet on Jan 10, 2008 16:44:21 GMT 3
Your informant is truly shadowy.
You are only trying to achieve what ODM lost - the intiative
You are being paranoid
One can nearly see the tears in your eyes at the loss. (it is not the end of the world and kenya will not die!)
It is not a requirement that Raila MUST be president for it to survive. Perhaps you need to listen a lot more to your friend Adongo.
I shall as usual come back and batter the lies, innuendo and propaganda.
Laterz
Kamale
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Post by dubois on Jan 10, 2008 16:45:32 GMT 3
Among the praise worthy initiatives of the new coalition are efforts to engage members of the Central Kenyan communities through an entity called the Republican Forum- a network of younger business people and professionals from among the Agikuyu. This forum which meets regularly at a certain Nairobi hotel and counts among its regulars people like David Ndii, Mutahi Ngunyi to name just two, is right now assessing the ECONOMIC and FINANCIAL immediate impact and long term ramifications of the Kibaki/PNU on Central Kenya within the context of the national reality that the Agikuyu, like other Kenyans live all over the country and if the anti-Kibaki backlash maintains an ethnic tag how this will mess up national harmony. Apart from that, the group has a mandate to emphasize to the GEMA communities that Kibaki’s coup should not be seen as synonymous as a “victory” for millions of individual Kikuyus, Merus and Embus but rather an insult and assault on every one of them who as Kenyans are equally affronted by this callous subversion of democracy, justice, and yes, prospects for peaceful coexistence across all our diverse Kenyan peoples.
Oloo,
Unless you are far removed from reality the above statement is ridiculous to the extreme. ODM instigated violence begun even before the election results were out. You can close your eyes and do all the finger pointing but ODM and especially Raila and Ruto are the main perpetrators of the ongoing violence. The Kenyan police should be lauded for their courage in the face of marauding killers. Members of the Gema community, more than ever, know who the enemy is and no amount of hotel meetings by the young professionals will change a damn thing. Kenya has been fundamentally divided into two competing blocks and neither side can claim to have the numbers. It is therefore laughable to even suggest that Kibaki does not have the mandate to govern Kenya. Soon, this recycled "progressive" talk by the usual suspects will be exposed for what it really is - blind ethnically driven support for Raila Odinga.
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 16:52:13 GMT 3
Your informant is truly shadowy. You are only trying to achieve what ODM lost - the intiative You are being paranoid One can nearly see the tears in your eyes at the loss. (it is not the end of the world and kenya will not die!) It is not a requirement that Raila MUST be president for it to survive. Perhaps you need to listen a lot more to your friend Adongo. I shall as usual come back and batter the lies, innuendo and propaganda. Laterz Kamale Thanks for your feedback. I am looking forward to reading from you. Onyango Oloo
Nairobi, Kenya |
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 16:55:21 GMT 3
Oloo, Unless you are far removed from reality the above statement is ridiculous to the extreme. ODM instigated violence begun even before the election results were out. You can close your eyes and do all the finger pointing but ODM and especially Raila and Ruto are the main perpetrators of the ongoing violence. The Kenyan police should be lauded for their courage in the face of marauding killers. Members of the Gema community, more than ever, know who the enemy is and no amount of hotel meetings by the young professionals will change a d**n thing. Kenya has been fundamentally divided into two competing blocks and neither side can claim to have the numbers. It is therefore laughable to even suggest that Kibaki does not have the mandate to govern Kenya. Soon, this recycled "progressive" talk by the usual suspects will be exposed for what it really is - blind ethnically driven support for Raila Odinga. Greetings. How is life in Australia? I appreciate your comments. Later Onyango Oloo
Nairobi, Kenya |
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Post by roughrider on Jan 10, 2008 17:39:21 GMT 3
What surprises me is the naiveté of a few people sympathetic to Kibaki and his now World famous theft. They seem to believe that everything is now ok; that people will now go back to their business-as-usual; that a cabinet has been appointed and that parliament has been called…
Utter, utter myopia.
Far from it, they need - like the rest of us - to be in serious prayer; they need to pray that John Kufuor achieves something with his mediation. Little arrogant men and women like Martha Karua and Alfred Mutua should really pray and humble themselves. Otherwise, they will see fire like never before. We all know that what we have witnessed is only but kionjo – a mere inkling of what is possible.
And why not?
People can put up with only so much bull-crap. Enough is often enough. Whichever way the dice falls, we will have to fight to destroy hegemony and rebuild a new republic; violently or constitutionally. I am surprised at people who think we’ve had the worst conflagration. They will be aghast when the real fighting begins. Let’s pray that diplomacy succeeds over arrogance and chest-thumping.
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Post by demogod on Jan 10, 2008 17:54:56 GMT 3
Talks have now broken down - news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7181184.stmYou can't have "imbeciles" running this country with their stupid arrogance and disregard of the people of Kenya and their constituitional right to democracy. Dubios/Kamale - you may benefit from this Kibaki "opera", but remember this that there are 20-30 million Kenyans who will not stand up for this non-sense. They have now seen the real characters of the henchmen occupying the SH illegally. Brace yourself with the "people's" revolution, watch, learn and listen, the days of the "illegal" regime are numbered! |
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Post by dubois on Jan 10, 2008 17:59:29 GMT 3
Roughrider,
You are misguided my friend. What makes you think that ODM and its supporters hold the monopoly on violence. To be frank, so far, the violence has been one sided especially in the Rift valley. The so called PNU supporters also have their limits and if it comes down to 'seeing fire' the country will see it in equal measure. I am for peace (btw) however I believe that Kenya should not be held hostage because ODM and its supporters have promised violence if things don't go their way. There is no room for appeasement and every Kenyan should realize that if things go the Rwanda or Somali way everyone and not only the Gema communities will be decimated. Kenyans have had enough of the ODM instigated violence and it is about time Odinga and his associates are held accountable.
Dubois
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Post by kamalet on Jan 10, 2008 18:02:27 GMT 3
Looks like Mutua was correct after all. Kufuor came for a cup of tea with Kibaki and pat Raila's head.
From BBC
Kenya crisis talks end in failure
President Kufuor, left, said both sides wanted dialogue
Talks conducted by Ghanaian President John Kufuor to end Kenya's political crisis have broken down, opposition and government sources have said.
Mr Kufuor had been hoping to broker a deal between President Mwai Kibaki and opposition leader Raila Odinga after last month's disputed elections.
However, Mr Kufuor said both sides had agreed to work together under a panel headed by ex-UN chief Kofi Annan.
About 600 people have died in unrest which followed the poll.
In addition to those killed, some 250,000 are feared displaced by the violence following the 27 December election in Kenya - previously seen as a relative beacon of stability in East Africa.
'Eminent personalities'
A government spokesman confirmed that Mr Kufuor was leaving the country with no sign of success.
Both sides agreed there should be an end to the violence and they also agreed there should be dialogue
John Kufuor
Tough task for Kenya diplomacy
He had spent hours in a meeting with Mr Odinga but had been unable to persuade him to meet Mr Kibaki, the spokesman said.
But the Ghanaian president seemed more upbeat.
"The parties agreed to work together with a panel of eminent African personalities headed by Mr Kofi Annan... towards resolving their differences and all other outstanding issues including constitutional and electoral reforms," he said.
"Both sides agreed there should be an end to the violence and they also agreed there should be dialogue."
Mr Kibaki maintains he won the election fairly, but Mr Odinga says it was stolen.
Earlier Mr Kibaki swore in members of a new cabinet, though some minor posts have been left vacant leading to speculation that these could be offered to the opposition.
Mr Odinga has so far refused to recognise the cabinet or participate in a government of national unity.
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Post by roughrider on Jan 10, 2008 18:15:17 GMT 3
Roughrider, You are misguided my friend. What makes you think that ODM and its supporters hold the monopoly on violence. To be frank, so far, the violence has been one sided especially in the Rift valley. The so called PNU supporters also have their limits and if it comes down to 'seeing fire' the country will see it in equal measure. I am for peace (btw) however I believe that Kenya should not be held hostage because ODM and its supporters have promised violence if things don't go their way. There is no room for appeasement and every Kenyan should realize that if things go the Rwanda or Somali way everyone and not only the Gema communities will be decimated. Kenyans have had enough of the ODM instigated violence and it is about time Odinga and his associates are held accountable. Dubois You surprise me. I have made no mention of ODM or PNU anywhere in my posting. However to answer you, I have no doubt that both sides can and have been violent (Witness the indiscriminate police executions accross the country, the Chinkororo, the Mungiki and others). There, most likely, will be violence from all sides, if it must come to that. Heck, even the army is divided. This is precisely why arrogance will not do! I suggest we all get ready. We shall count losses and poick up the pieces later, perhaps much later. |
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Post by kamalet on Jan 10, 2008 18:22:13 GMT 3
There, most likely, will be violence from all sides, if it must come to that. Heck, even the army is divided. This is precisely why arrogance will not do! Now even rumour mongering by Oloo is being taken as gospel truth? Haki we have issues in this forum! |
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Post by adongo23456 on Jan 10, 2008 18:41:20 GMT 3
Looks very good to me.
The ODM refused to succumb to Kibaki's offer of come talk to me I will give you something and Kibaki is telling Kenyans fight me if you can. That is good news. The ODM now has to go back to its supporters and chart a new path.
In fact I agree with Oloo's perspective that the ODM has to be in control of the mass action they have been calling for. People are more ready today than they were a week ago. The cops and GSU are going to come and beat people up but there is need to have flexible tactics.
Two key words from OO's piece namely DEMOCRATIC & PEACEFUL have to define the actions that Kenyans will have to take. Kibaki is in for the fight of his life as a pariah and a dictator facing a mass movement at home and a global diplomatic onslaught. He is exactly where we need him to be.
Let's wait for the ODM's public response.
adongo
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Post by podp on Jan 10, 2008 18:50:37 GMT 3
Looks like it will be life in the trenches.
Long since we had trench warfare. And that brings in the organization....organization....and more organization bit.
The earlier scenario of a Philipine swearing in will need fuel. Easiest methodology is what happenned in Ukraine, but considering we have moved past the Madagascar experience....we have to create a Kenyan scenario.
The shock treatment has passed very well and its clear who is a hostage where.
Now the enterprising part is coming.
Organize....organize....and as in any elections get numbers on your side.
Shock and awe will only happen in dense population areas
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Post by denno on Jan 10, 2008 19:18:27 GMT 3
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Post by denno on Jan 10, 2008 19:21:09 GMT 3
Kamalet,
A lot of things have been said both here @ Jukwaa and within Kenya. For the most part you have dismissed a lot of those accusations as mere rumors only for the rumors to turn out to be true from the rigging to the killing of Kenyans by the police.
I will not be quick to dismiss what Oloo is saying as rumors
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Post by job on Jan 10, 2008 22:10:29 GMT 3
Many have missed Oloo's fundamental issue and are dealing in small and piecemeal sideshows extracted from his bigger piece by the likes of Kamale.
What is not a rumour is that there has been a PNU civilian coup, overthrowing Kenyan voters verdict at the ballot.
What is not a rumour is Oloo's apt question "How can Kenyans Fight back"? and his own prescription of the way forward which includes in (his perspective):
"1. A UNITED response that does not look at the problem through PAROCHIAL ETHNIC spectacles;
2. A DEMOCRATIC and PEACEFUL response that eschews militaristic and violent conspiracies;
3. A perspective grounded on SOCIAL JUSTICE and ANTI-IMPERIALIST precepts to ensure a progressive, egalitarian and just eventual outcome;
4. A PROTRACTED approach realizing that Kibaki and his henchmen, having tasted state power, will not, of their own accord relinquish the same unless forced to do so by united, democratic, progressive determination of the Kenyan people rising up to demand their country, their rights and their aspirations back from the PNU usurpers;
5. An organic linkage with the international solidarity and fight back campaigns spearheaded BY PROGRESSIVE AND PATRIOTIC KENYANS OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY together with our other global comrades in many countries throughout the world"
THEN OLOO GIVES THE WEAPON FOR ACHIEVING THAT:
"There is ONLY ONE WEAPON at the disposal of the Kenyan people at this present time and that weapon is: ORGANIZATION"
I also entirely agree with Oloo's viewpoint about:
"However the issue is far, far beyond the ODM and its immediate supporters. They are millions of Kenyans who are not necessarily aligned to ODM who are completely outraged and want to be part of a successful fight back"
This is precisely the reason why I personally opposed the wearing of Orange caps & other ODM attire during the first Washington DC protests (of course many defied) .
My logic was that such an act had the possible effect of devaluing the protests and making the demonstrations appear a simple case of expression of anger over electoral loss.
This was about a fundamental assault on Kenya's electoral process and our entire democratic system. Any protests or counter activities must make this theme key, and shun aside partisan interests to all its underlying processes.
Any reductionism into partisan one party versus another party debate makes this grave thing appear so simplistic.
Oloo's BIGGEST point which many miss is the concept of calling for the institution of an umbrella NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT founded on the four pillars of JUSTICE, PEACE, DEMOCRACY and TRUTH,.....that transcends the current party outfits.......this must transcend beyond ODM my fellow brothers and citizens........
Lets accept certain realities that even a coveted name and body can be overtaken and transformed in the desire to be more inclusive. Dynamism appreciating realities of the day is one crucial factor.
How many genuinely progressive citizens within say Central or Eastern Province (unhappy about Kibaki's assault on democracy) would now hesitate to join such a well meaning movement for the simple fear of affiliating with a party/name called ODM, in the heat of current tribal murders going on today? Very many indeed, with fears that are not unfounded.
Let's start seriously thinking about a movement anchored on aspirations of "the poor wananchi of all tribes in the urban and rural areas, the youth, the women, the cultural and religious minorities, the progressive elements among the middle-class, patriotic Kenyans outside the country and all anti-imperialist forces" to quote Oloo.
The people, and not the foreign multinational party financiers including the US and World Bank should determine our future.
As we here in Washington DC prepare for our second "SAVE KENYA's DEMOCRACY" demonstrations tommorrow, and presentation of another memorandum to the US State Department (which has expressed how easily duped they can get),....we are already appreciating the positive effects of a concerted effort to galvanize like-minded democratic and progressive forces both in and out of Kenya. Not to forget to mention the late addition of World Bank HQS in Washington DC as one of our stop points for VISIT in our busy schedule tomorrow.
We are deliberately trying not to make this an ODM rally. We are KENYANS PROTESTING AGAINST ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY. The threat to our democracy affects millions others who are not in ODM and we must see that AS IT IS.
Coalitions must coalesce and galvanize the people together in a way that has never happened in Kenya.
Resources must be mobilized into this like never before. All must put their ORGANIZATION and MOBILIZATION gloves on.
Our Cerebral input into proposals, lobbies and media blitz in the local and international circuits must move a step beyond arm-chairs my fellow citizens, if we are to SAVE our DEMOCRACY. It must come knocking from all eight corners of Kenya, not leaving out any single region,..... from Kenya or without.
That is the only way to get the anti-democratic forces embodied by the Kibakis and Michukis out immediately.
They cannot withstand such "out of the box" fights, and if I'm not wrong, that's exactly Oloo's BIG point in this thread, and I'm inclined to think Adongo and others fundamentaly agree judging from their posts so far. It is not easy but it has to be done. Let's get out of our comfort zones and add onto these efforts.
Sideshows will always attempt to derail such poignant debates as raised by Oloo. Well I think Kamale's interests can't agree with Oloo's on this, since he would probably love to see Kibaki further entrenching his undemocratic hold onto power.
I wouldn't waste energy debating with such sentiments, or other views expressed by the apparently fearful Dubois who assumes that the immediate problem of Kenya is to focus only in the post-electoral trouble in Rift Valley (to the exclusion of Nairobi, Nyanza, Coast, Western & Central) that he misguidedly believes were instigated by two individuals called Raila and Ruto.
Why some folks actually think that certain national politicians are actually the ones who think for, and direct (like robots), certain criminal gangs (Mungiki equivalents) in Rift Valley is stunning. It's like saying Kibaki is responsible for the Mungiki murderers exerting revenge killings in Mathare simply because he is Kikuyu.
I would concern myself with the bigger picture of seeking democratic justice as a conduit for long lasting peace.
Job
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 22:20:56 GMT 3
Oloo i-- Kenya for all Kenyans! -- Re:PNU's Coup: How Can Kenyans Fight Back?
Onyango,
Thank you for that kind of "rare" reporting which gives some of us an aperture view into some innards of what's or was happening in some areas and aspects of country. Being far away from home and for so long -- we thrist to get a feel like you've penned today.
But my wish and requesto to you and all of us is that we should try to separate the elections problems -- those can be resolved...those are solvable problems -- from the harrowing problems of ethnic cleansing and heinous killings of innocent people within our country! Oloo you should be free to live and enjoy yourself wherever you want in Kenya whether Raila or Kalonzo or Kibaki steals any elections -- without fearing that fearing that a Kamau or a Mutua will harm or kill you! The progressive arm of ODM need to help improve the image that ODM is violent.
My observation on life teaches me that ordinary folks dont just wake up one morning and decide to kill their good neighbors -- and this happening simultaneously in Eldoret, Kisumu, Mombasa, Burnt Forest, etc ... all at the same time and doing the same things -- killing innocent men, women and children of the same community! It's too much of a coincidence to suggest (and I asked Matunda about this) that these killings just erupted simultaneously in far-off different places against one community -- and they did not have some higher command or co-ordination! No wonder we have not seen any farvor in condemning these ethnic-cleansing.
The other thing that the progressive team at ODM should try to emphasize is that Kenya should include ALL Kenyans. If ODM takes over they should care for all Kenyans, To many people it seems like when ODM talks about Kenyan people they tend to mean Kenyans minus certain communities that ODM has been said to call "enemies"!
ODM can achieve a lot by being cool and stop constantly sounding too angry! Leadership demands coolness. ODM needs to push for greater inclusiveness of all Kenyans without calling some communities enemies. Let's always remember: two wrongs have never made a right!
Aluta continua!
Best.
Joe
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 22:28:11 GMT 3
Joe:
Greetings from Nairobi and thanks for your feedback.
My sentiments exactly.
Having been born in Nakuru, Rift Valley to parents who both had Luo and Luhya heritage, baptized in Muranga, educated in Nyeri, Nairobi, Kakamega and Mombasa; having a son whose mother is Meru; having later married a woman whose father was born in Sagana and mother from Mwatate; having three first cousins from one family marrying or being married into Kikuyu families from Nyahururu, Kiambu and Muranga respectively; having an adoptive Somali sister who is an orphan from the Shifta war of the sixties; speaking Kiswahili more often than I speak Dholuo having my network of friends from across our beautiful nation, yes, in short as a Kenyan I agree with you 200% that Kenyans have a right to live and prosper in any part of the country- in harmony with all our neighbours cherishing the dream of all of us living in a peaceful, democratic, just and egalitarian nation that cherishes and protects our unity in diversity.
Onyango Oloo
Nairobi, Kenya
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Post by adui on Jan 10, 2008 23:43:24 GMT 3
Greetings to the folks! Apart from Kamale and a few other fellows, I’ve observed that almost everyone seems to agree - Kibaki bad. Is it because the forum represents one view? May be the smart Kibaki supporters know that they cannot defend Kibaki's actions following the elections. Kamale and many others have made up their minds and no amount of reason will get them out of the time machine. The theme song is loud and clear “Raila will never be president, wapende wasipende…” After reading the Ngugi piece news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7180946.stm, I’m now convinced that we are all missing the point here. It might be well and right to fight for “democracy” but let us not get ahead of ourselves. As Ngugi has shown, many of us retreat to our ethnic cocoons once rubber hits the road!! See also Uhuru Kenyatta, Joseph Kamotho and others. The ODM election rhetoric was too scary. The majimbo talk and suggestions of drastic changes in the way the country is run is a direct challenge to the powerful Kikuyu elite who after being in the cold during Moi’s reign cannot imagine another drought!! I think ODMers were naïve. As the piece in the Economist indicates, these guys had made up their minds even before the elections that they would cling on!! Their participation in the elections was a public relations exercise. As part of a grand “plan” the opinion polls were inflated to reflect a “tight race”. I imagine that they must have known what would follow. Humiliated Kalenjin elite rallied their community in pride hoping to return the favor to Kibaki through the ballot. Ruto even warned them that if elections were rigged “wataona chamtema kuni!!” They must have calculated that there would be some “collateral damage” Kibaki’s demeanor and actions suggest that the boys are ready to use repression to stay in power and they know they can get away with it. Are they the only ones who have done it? Elections have been stolen in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and even in Uganda. The last time I checked, Museveni was in Washington singing ABC’s with Bush.So now what? No amount of negotiations –international/local/village will change Kibaki’s stand. So as double O says it will be back to the streets. Frankly, I have a feeling that Raila and some of the older boys have been through this before and will be hesitant to go back to the streets. It is time for a new generation of activist to take over the fight. As named, Muthoni Wanyeki, Gladwell Otieno, Cyprian Nyamwamu, Kepta Ombati, Ndung’u Wainaina, Maina Kiai, Zahid Rajan, Haron Ndubi, Zarina Patel and Mwalimu Mati will be the Kivutha Kibwana, Martha Karua, Kiraitu Murungi’s of the future. Raila may or may not see Canaan but there is no doubt that the man whether for selfish gains or not has forced dramatic changes in the country. I predict that it is going to be another 5 yrs of violence mikoani, chest thumping and grand standing in parliament and the streets. The new activist will be singing “we shall overcome”, few important constitutional changes may occur and politicians will go back to what they do best, positioning themselves for the post Kibaki era. This is a very optimistic view my friends. |
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 10, 2008 23:59:32 GMT 3
Adui:Greetings.
Strange handle, especially at this time in our country's history. But let me move on to what I actually wanted to say.Having survived solitary confinement
Behind cold and massive
Maximum security walls
Having mourned many a comrade in the struggle
Having tasted the desolation of exile
I can ill afford the luxury of cynicism
I take heart in revolutionary optimism
Forever inspired by the South African activist poet
Dennis Brutus
Who taught us long ago
About Stubborn Hope
Even though I do not profess to be a Christian
I seek solace in the African-American spiritual
Which encourages us that
We Shall Overcome
I find strength in the slogan from the Labour Movement
Solidarity Forever
And let me end with this quotation
From the prison poems
of the Vietnamese revolutionary leader
Ho Chi Minh:
"Without the cold and bleakness of winter,
The warmth and splendour of spring there could never be
Misfortune has steeled and tempered me
And strengthened my resolve even further" [/color] Onyango Oloo
Nairobi, Kenya
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Post by adui on Jan 11, 2008 0:50:30 GMT 3
Double O there is no escaping it; I am someone’s "adui" by default – especially at this moment in our country’s history! I use the handle purposely because I imagine that no matter what I am, we must be realistic and rational in our arguments.
Note that there is no contempt implied, the brave freedom fighters led us out of Moi’s chains. I may be wrong but as a student of history, I think that Kibaki and his boys will be a 5-10 yr setback. The level of violence in the country will depend on how they manage their coup henceforth. Even if he were to step down immediately, the killings and displacements have caused damage that is irreparable.
We are both optimistic my friend. The other scenarios are too grave to contemplate.
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Jan 11, 2008 7:02:07 GMT 3
Comrades:
Comrade Onyango's analysis of the Kenyan situation before and after the election of 27 Dec 2007, is a cause for concern to us social movements, but also a call for intervention. The working class and democracy in Kenya is under attack. We have to defend both democracy and the working class and poor people of Kenya. In our countries where there are embassies and consulates of Kenya, we should begin to ask their legitimacy and positions to what is happening in Kenya. We should ask them to go home and appeal for political engagement and demand justice. They must go back to provide leadership as leaders about making sure that the processes of resolving conflict are politically is established. At the moment the issue is allegations of rigging to genocide; let them make sure that through democracy, they can solve their problems by establishing a process for re-elections first and foremost. People understand what is a meaning of presidential and parliamentary elections, if not, then they must educate them in the process of appealing for calm and peace, and let then the leaders in these embassies go and establish that.
The leaders have the duty to make sure that people are freely allowed to choose their leaders as the constitution requires. There is nothing else to bring back democracy to the people of Kenya, particular for the working class and the poorer, except for the ambassadors to go back to Kenya for the reasons I put forward, otherwise they will be siding with the civil coup of the comprador bourgeoisie and the imperialists, that is causing this carnage. As social movements in our countries we should demand our governments to expel these ambassadors if they do not do anything about restoring democracy, justice and peace in Kenya. We have learned that the oppressor class rules by manipulation and divide-and-rule (i.e. racism, tribalism and xenophobia) the oppressed class and the state is the machinery by which the oppressor class dominates the oppressed. And the embassies are institutions of the state in other countries.
We must also use the Global Day of Action of 26 January 2008 to highlight the civil coup in Kenya and force the international relations institutions to take a stand. Just moments after we left Nairobi, after we finished our affairs in the WSF, the Kibaki regime shows us that they do not care about what we were doing in that country. The Kibaki regime does not shows us respect in the manner they deal with the people of Kenya. We must appeal to all social movements in their countries and regions to incorporate the demand for democracy, justice and peace in Kenya. The capitalists globalisation does not only attach Kenya people, but us in our countries and we need maximum unity and solidarity for all our demands.
An injury for one is an injury all!
Kindly Regards
Mhlobo Gunguluzi (Coordinator of Anti-Xenophobia Campaign, Johannesburg, South Africa)
Revolution continues
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Post by Titchaz on Jan 11, 2008 7:13:18 GMT 3
Asalaam Aleikum Bwana OO na heshima yako upewe,
Kwanza kabisa nasema asante sana kwa kunipa hii fursa ya kuwa mwanachama wa hii tovuti ambayo nimekua nikiifuatilia kwa m'da mrefu mno.Mie na baadhi ya wanaODM wengine tulifungiwa kule tovuti ya Mashada kwa sababu ambazo kwamba wanazijua wenyewe.Wengine wetu tushaamua kujitolea mhanga katika kipindi hiki cha kutafuta suluhisho la kudumu katika nchi yetu tukufu.KWa mara nyengine tena nasema asante na natarajia kutoa mchango wangu katika hii sindimba.
Pili sijui kama nitakua naeleweka humu ndani maana mimi mijadala yangu napenda kuipiga katika lugha ya Kiswahili..lugha yetu teule!Kule mashada kuna baadhi ya watu walifanya chuki nami kwa sababu hii na pia walikua na wivu kuwa lugha hawaimahiri nami napeta nayo kana kwamba mitihani ya shule za vidudu.Kwa wale wasionielewa basi nitawapa tuishene kwa chemba.Nione kwas m'da wako iwapo unataka tafsiri.
Tukirudia mada husika, nadhani sio siri kuwa Kibaki na wandani wake waliiba kura za wakenya hivi kwamba watu sasa hawaoni umuhimu wowote wa kupiga kura tena.Wafuasi wa Kibaki wanajaribu kutudanganya na mawazo tasa huku wakijua kwamba iwapo ingekua wao basi ngoma ingechezwa vengine.Je wanakumbuka siku za Moi?Hebu fikiria kama mwaka wa 2002 jamaa angetubandikizia Uhuru naswi tungesemani???Acheni kupiga domo na mnajua demokrasia imenyongwa kifo cha kifedhuli!
Kwa hivyo kama wakenya tufanyeje?Tum'ruhusu jamaa aendelee na uzembe wake?La hasha!Tutasubiri viongozi wetu watuelekeze kulikoni nasi tutafuata bila shaka.Kibaki kaiba kura na sio siri.Baraza lake la wabunge sio halali..na hii pia sio siri!Uhuru utapatikana tu hata iweje!!!!!
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