PEELING BACK MIGUNA'S OWN MASK

b6k

It is a marathon read, this Sarah. But I am not in church so I am sport. Take a look.

Those who have worked for politicians and gotten out sane and early enough, will humorously recall the horrors of the contradictions raised by the various boards on which the game is played simultaneously. Wheeling and dealing in politics is of such a nature, that it is no wonder, that many successful heads of gigantic corporations, making a step into politics anywhere, usually find out they do not have what it takes, and regret the career switch.

Politics is the business of millions of everybody, a multinational concern, merely the money-making machine for her shareholders. A simple agenda.

Sarah Elderkin, is my favourite journalist in Kenya, even if technically she is no longer into that business. She combines passion, wit, intellect and ratio --that is plausible reasoning, with a flair for the script that annoints the hearts of the literati. And like my brother Omwenga, who is going places and, I am afraid, will soon find altercations on jukwaa beneath his dignity --(forgive me, O Oyomito)-- Elderkin is not into a 500-words-column just for the sake of it. Like Noam Chomsky on a good day, she is 'readers only'. 'Perusers' be gone!

So when Sarah turns her formidable prowess into spin-doctoring, I am in the front line of readers, to learn . Between the lines. I rate her a grandmaster in the arts. You can search the market, you wont be finding a handful in East Afrika, and Elderkin tops Kenya, in my opinion. That she is caucasian is an added bonus. With the best brains of Kenya indistinguishable from every Omollo Kamau and Mutiso, I take full responsibility for that sentence. Tongue very cheeky in cheek. To avoid cisgender Kathure's wrath.
See following disclaimer ;D:
Emilio Kibaki --AAA brains at economics. Look at his achievements. George Saitoti --nobel class maths of a brain. Look at his achievements. Mutula Kilonzo --highest intellect in law ever since SM Otieno. Look at him. Dr. PLO Lumumba --God kissed his brains. But a total public failure. Amos Wako -another god of brains. A total public failure. Yes, trying to explain systematic, inbuilt failure in public administration in places like ... not necessarily Kenya, has led me to study how the best brains of Afrika work when they achieve power. Unfortunately, only caucasians are ready to pay me for this kind of nonsensical research. So it is a good change, to see a caucasian working at the top of her ability for a Jaluos! Evens the scales a somewhat.

===================================================
Sarah
[quoteStar] Unfortunately, huge success stories can lead to terrible jealousy, as Ouko’s case also so sadly demonstrated. A Commission of Inquiry into the Illegal/Irregular Allocation of Public Land was appointed by President Mwai Kibaki on July 4, 2003. It presented its report, commonly known as the ‘Ndung’u Report’, to Kibaki in June 2004.

The main part of the report lists many ways in which directors of public corporations with large public land holdings had misused their positions to make these organisations – for which they had a duty of care and a responsibility to the public – fail, so that the assets could be sold off cheaply for private gain.

The commission found that such state corporations’ land was illegally allocated “in total disregard of the law and public interest”. It said no justification for the allocation of such land could be found in any of the records, and that subsequently “the lands so allocated were then sold by the allottees to other state corporations for colossal amounts of money far in excess of the prevailing market value of the land. This way, many individuals were unjustly enriched at great expense of the people of Kenya.”

The report went on to detail how “the loss of corporation land was triggered by the actions of the Commissioner of Lands”, whose office would engage in some “specially designed correspondences” prior to wrongly granting title to individuals or their third part proxies “The corporation management would wake up to a rude fact that their land had been acquired and title issued thereto without their knowledge,” said the report, adding that another ploy was the illegal allocation of state corporation land after “irregular surrenders” of that land.

“The allottees would sell the land so illegally acquired,” said the report, so that “in a space of say three months, a civil servant, a politician, a political operative, etc, would transform from an ordinary Kenyan, financially struggling like many others, into a multi-millionaire. Thanks to the rampant illegal allocation and sale of state corporation land.”

The report cited Kenya Railways, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Kenya Power & Lighting Co Ltd, Kenya Airports Authority and Kenya Industrial Estates as among many state corporations that “lost huge chunks of their land in these circumstances”. None of this applied in the case of the Kisumu Molasses Factory.

But despite this, the allocation to Spectre International Ltd of land on which the molasses plant stands is also mentioned in the report, which concluded that the “direct allocation of alienated government land to the company by the commissioner of lands was illegal”. This conclusion would appear to be in direct contradiction of the facts, as detailed above, which are that:

• The land on which the molasses factory stands was acquired compulsorily by the government for the purpose of building the molasses plant.

• The land was already allocated to the molasses plant in 1982, though the transfer had been only partly completed by the time the company went into receivership in 1983.

• The land was properly allocated a second time, this time to Spectre International, in 2001.

• Spectre paid 20 years’ rent arrears and all the necessary government fees for the land.

• The land has been used for the economic realisation of the original objectives of the government, of the investors and of the local community.

• It was government land, and government is not in the business of selling land. Government merely allocates land for industrial and other development. This is a normal procedure and it is precisely the procedure properly followed in the case of the molasses plant.

As in no other case investigated by the Ndung’u Commission, the land on which the Kisumu Molasses Plant stands has been used for the purposes stated. A hugely successful company has been established on it, which has been of immense benefit to the country via the returns the plant remits to the Treasury every year, and to the local population through jobs, education and health care. And its success is down to the determination of one man, Raila Odinga. Let no one tell you otherwise, for whoever does so is not telling you the truth. [endquote Star]
Sarah
==========================================

part 11.

Sarah has reached a very important conclusion, made a very important discovery, whose consequences are yet to be overseen. She questions, no, positively indicates, that the Ndung'u commission, it its final report, is in error in having cited the Molasses land-plot as part of the state-tracts illegally alloted to the Who-is-Whos of Kenya, where the public lost large chunks of land through the corrupt dealings facilitated by the office of the commissioner for lands. The den of dens of corruption. That now is a power pack, a sledge-hammer hit.

The credibility of the report must now be called into question. Are there other errors? can such a disreputable report, form the basis of a national policy of land reclamations? Is it not so, that those whose lands face confiscation or requisition on the basis of these findings, can now sue for injuction, pending a more credible report. Or a revision of the current version?

If Ndung'u was not accurate in Raila's case then, who knows what other errors his carelessness --or is it malice, have let seep into the devastating conclusions? Conclusions which on the intergrity bill, if chapter six is not watered down, will hinder many political careers (with the suspected activistic judiciary in place).

I am sure Sarah has calculated and factored in what the attack on the credibility of the Ndung'u report entails in the wider political picture, just like, on the other side, those who attack the alleged [jurisprudential] activism of the new CJ Mutunga, have a game plan in the offing. No hazarding a guess on that.

It would have been better, if Sarah categorically stated, soon as the Ndung'u report came out and this was in the report, that Spectre took steps to seek clarification and absolution on that paragraph. But now, the timing of this Elderkin response, and coming in the aftermath of the Miguna book, makes it rank as a damage control exercise. A PR gimmick. I find that sad.

PS: these things read like thrillers and I wonder where our financial journalists are. A power alcohol company collapses as bad investment in Kenya, even as elsewhere, Brazil, the industry is becoming bigger than oil! a cabinet minister is murdered by his colleague? Murder by cops, politics, big money, IMF, World Bank, shady international investors. Better than any Godfather story Mario Puzo can dream up!

PART 3.

It is a statement which brought a grin to my face. If only because of its blow back potential. Sarah writes: `Moi’s action was also interesting from another point of view: it came days before Kenya was to meet its increasingly reluctant donors in Paris.' --This is in reference to Moi disbanding the Ouko inquiry, and in the same breath, sacking Nicholas Biwott from the ministry of energy, just days before the meeting by donors in Paris with Kenya on the agenda.

Sarah is no fool, and her pedigree in journalism too, makes her read between the lines... The manoeuvres, and rules of the game. The Big Game. Therefore, one of the most interesting things in her post, is the total ommission of political history. What shifts were in play, and in which context do they fall? How, by the theory of non random events, were collisions and coalitions re-arranging the members of the poliical class, who too, were involved in real life economic disputes? This is where a strange word enters dholuo lexicon: kopareshon.

A word, to write a thesis on. this kopareshon.

Raila had, by one version, led the Luo out of 'Wamalwa's' FORD. Another version is, the desperate ideological tendencies could not be contained under one party. This led to the famous NDP with its 21 Luo MPs after the 1997 elections, in which Raila lost the presidency but retained Langata. Sometime later, in a move later to be copied by opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta, the leader of the NDP abandoned the opposition benches and entered a kopareshen with KANU-Moi. This koparesen would see NDP rewarded with 3 ministries in 2001, with, I am not sure who else, but Adhu Awiti at Economic planning, and Raila at Energy. Energy had been Biwott's brief earlier on, the total man, the alleged killer of Ouko, and the primary author of the sabotage of the Mollases plant, which fell under this ministry.

It is interesting, therefore, in good roman sense, when Elderkin's super attention to detail, discards these earthquakes on the political scene as of no consequence. If it were I, I would sit back and tap the bridge of my nose. Becase Moi, by my profile, is too wily a political knave and calculator not to be abreast of what goes.

So when manager Agina writes in 1999 to him, Moi, on the Molasses land just at about the second auction, and subsequently the lawyers write to the auctioneer, that 'they are negotiating with the government on land issues, and they do not anticipate difficulties in that regard'; and the receiver (Muiruri and the rest, who had made this land issue a sticking point in the first round of the auction, forcing it all the way to Ringera HCCC 2324 1996) prove very accomodative, the investigative instinct of the old journalist Sarah is definitely misfiring when she does not investigate it further, nor offer a considered opinion. Her keen insight, should not have gone blunt, or perhaps dim is the better word, just as the need arose to shine light into the inner workings of power. The boardroom deals of the governing elite as they pact, which made Marx quip, parliament is the golf-club of the bourgeoisie. Drinking wine preaching water. Cut Moi some slack guys, behind the scenes.

Kanyotu, I think he wil be the greatest sealed lips in our history, on the request of Moi, some say at the behest of Biwott who also understood power, had a complete economic ongoing profile of 'all' (), and it gave Moi a capacity to play financial chess with deadly effect. Called negotiations. I think the tale of one, Githunguri, is the best anecdote: He had to pay some debt-servicing pronto or loose a giant property. And then no bank in the republic could effect a transaction on any of his accounts within the specified period. A technical fault? a compulsory banks holiday by God? a sudden epidemic of diarhea effecting only bankers? You wonder.

Kenya ni nchi ya ajabu, some musicians sing. And they have that smile on their face, you wonder what they are thinking of.

Now Ndung'u has to salvage his reputation. Our Sarah, you can not buy her in the market. I just saw Ouru added another caucasian to his defence team. Caucasians, you just can not trust a brother to do a job when you are in deep sh!t, can you???

I will be back.

Jakaswanga, BINGO! You hit the nail on the head. What Elderkin leaves unsaid speaks volumes of the damage control article she penned about the molasses plant. As you hit the nail on the head, NDP's cooperation after the '97 elections led to the subsequent merger which resulted in Jakom getting his first taste of cabinet in 2001. Is it a coincidence that the newly appointed Energy Minister also found his long awaited title for the plant being granted to Spectre in the very same year?!!! This was when Agwambo started to EAT!

As you rightfully point out, Raila was the first to "pull an Uhuru" & abscond his duties as an opposition leader for political gain. All this is carefully airbrushed aside by Elderkin. In fact, to keep it in perspective of just how disappointing his cooperation/merger gimmick was in KE at the time, I came across an interesting article by another Kenyan in Toronto, Matunda Nyanchama, written back in 2002. Excerpt 1:

"As he worked with Moi, Raila saw his role in parliament grow culminating in his election as Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee for constitutional reforms. From this perch he presided over an extremely partisan and painfully slow constitutional reforms process. It is not clear whether he was aware of Kanu machinations to stifle constitutional reforms and whether or not he was playing an unwitting accomplice. Today, though he must be aware of his role in retarding the pace at which constitutional reforms could have happened.

Over the past five years Raila acted more of a hatchet man for president Moi, rivaled only by the likes of Kipyator Arap Biwott, William Arap Ruto and Joseph Kamotho. His support for the president in the face of James Orengo’s no-confidence motion in Vice-President and hence the Moi government ensured Kanu’s survival in power. In this respect, Raila and his NDP have been more than a lifeline for a Kanu that would have long been defeated and consigned to oblivion!

All along, Raila’s has said that there is more than one way to skin a cat. He has been insistent, contrary to most Kenyans and many others that had fallen out with Moi, that power and democratization could be realized through working with Kanu. How much he believes this today is a matter of conjecture. Without a party he controls and a Kanu Secretary General (some think it is a matter of time before he is thrown out) only in name he must be asking what history’s verdict will be, assuming he cares for posterity. Indeed cooperation was NOT the only option at the end of 1997! Yes, there is more than one way to skin a cat. However, Kanu is no cat and the democratizing Kanu with cooperation, merger and all is more like skinning a live elephant using a razor blades!"

Excerpt 2:

"It is no wonder then that many saw cooperation as duplicitous considering Raila’s history as a freedom fighter who had suffered in the hands of the same man whose regime he now actively propped and defended. The act was seen as betrayal and selfishness considering that the fight for democracy called for creativity and rededication to the cause. There has been no greater disappointment (George Anyona’s conversion is a distant second!) to Opposition against the corrupt and murderous Moi regime by someone whose hitherto known cause appeared so righteous. Raila, in the eyes of many nationalists, had committed the greatest treachery to the course for democracy in the country."


www.matunda.org/?p=419

Just the other day (I believe it was last Wednesday during PM's Question Time) RAO quipped in parliament when his stint as KANU Secretary General was broached by Isaac Ruto that he was not Sec Gen of KANU but of "New KANU"!

Elderkin may try to remove the warts on her master's political past with her laser surgery tool, but the truth is out there for those who have eyes & ears & keep tabs with recent history. Her patient has been rotten to the core since at least 1997, if not before that.

For those who want to read up more on the NY Times article alluded to by Elderkin in her PR piece click on the link below & see how Nicholas Biwott's non-payment of loans almost forced Citibank to leave KE until they were told by the Brits that Barclays had even BIGGER outstanding loans by the rogue minister ;D

www.nytimes.com/1991/10/21/world/citing-corruption-by-kenya-officials-western-nations-are-canceling-aid.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

Jakom makes his first comprehensive rebuttal against serious corruption allegations in Miguna's book & all you can see is "come baby come" & "lick (sic) my feet". R911 you really sound like you need help & if KE had a 911 service I would dispatch them to you. As William Blake said, "if the fool would persist in his folly he would become wise". So, kaeni hivyo hivyo, & keep yapping the same tune, post after post. Someday you will eventually "get it" ;D

R911, first of all Miguna is not my friend nor am I his "groupie". The Jukwaa archives are full of my postings tearing down his arguments while you & others were busy kissing his feet. I believe the phrase Miguna used was "kiss my feet" not the "lick my feet" you continue to repeat ad nauseam. That may be a Freudian slip given the short-lived pro bono appearance of American political consultant D!ck Morris who appeared on ODM's behalf in KE back in 2007 before he had to high-tail it out of the country once his propensity to lick the feet of prostitutes was made public. Maybe this is why you are so stuck on foot licking/sucking of late. But, I digress, here's a reminder of those heady foot-licking good days:



Kindly note that you do not have a monopoly on losing loved ones to the PEV in Jukwaa or in Kenya for that matter. I too lost a relative & had countless others, as well as friends, disposessed of their earthly belongings thanks to the PEV. The one who died I'm sure went to his unmarked grave knowing that his neighbours believed he hadn't cast a vote for ODM, thanks to his tribe & being madoadoa where he lived. His family has abandoned the family farm since 2008 & vowed never to go back.

As you may be aware, Miguna is back. He has already had an interview with NTV where he addresses all the questions you have asked him on Jukwaa regarding PEV, his rape case(s) in Canada & so much more. Let him shed more light (as shading light that you request would amount to showing nothing) for you so that you can stop sounding like a broken record.

So sit back & enjoy 30 minutes of your former hero Miguna Miguna on the link below:

Carry forward!! stop dribbling and slurring.. get your friend Miguna to hand over the crucial PEV information that he is withholding... I haven't heard you asking .. fast forward to now not yester years of post on Jukwaa.. the Innocent Kenyans 6ft under want justice pronto! why is your friend Miguna dragging his " feet" does he expect the dead to come Kiss his feet before he hands over the information to the Kenya police or ICC? wacha upuzi wewe..
As for his Canadian Cases.. let the those who accused him of rape speak for themselves they are the only ones who know what happened.. Kapiche..
can't waste time watch your Miguna buddy that you so worship on NTV.. my questions is why aren't the police asking him to hand over the PEV information he claimed to have? ;D amazing turn of events.. last time it was reported that Police went to his house to question him but found that he had left the country? why didn't they then meet him at the airport take him in for questioning? Most Kenyans are wondering... rumours are that the same handlers control the police too.. ;D what say you B6K? seems you are busy licking his feet!!

Now where did all this come from? R911, let me give you a word of advice. If you are trying to prove that your man, Raila, is clean it doesn't do your message any good when you bring up other notorious looters & grabbers in a bid to prove RAO has only shoplifted a handkerchief to wipe his teary eyes. That just will not fly. Instead you should prove that his family initially owning 95% of the molasses plant while the Luo community who put forward their meager savings were left to share 5% was not a classic hoodwinking exercise on his part. Prove that Jakaswanga's 25 shillings share still exists & all Raila did was above board to enable him to retain his safi kama pamba tag. Prove that his selling off 50% of the plant to a foreign investor was kosher & not done at the expense of the community he lords over. Even a small thief is a thief. Nancy Baraza committed a relatively small crime (nobody was hurt...at least physically) & yet she has paid with her job. Prove Raila still deserves the top job in the country given his seedy past. This is all Miguna is asking, & all those of us who have read the book objectively would like to have answered by Jakom himself, not the lady whose skirts he hides behind ;D

Hehehehe. R911, if you were a convict the warden would put you in solitary confinement & throw away the key. You are irredeemable ;D. In other words, according to you Jukwaa-ists can only discuss matters that are in court? Even coming from you that is stretching credulity beyond breaking point. Your beginning to sound just like your friend cum enemy Miguna by rubbishing anything that does not conform to your world view as "bogus articles" & "unsubstantiated allegations". Isn't that exactly what we are trying to analyze on this forum? Aren't we trying to determine if the rebuttal by Elderkin on the molasses plant really addresses the core of Miguna's unsubstantiated allegations? The truth will set you free ;D