Banana Splits?

[Onyango Oloo]

Onyango Oloo Declines to Sample the Melting Dessert...



Part The Ist...

SUMMARY: As the November 21st Referendum date nears, it is becoming increasingly clear that President Kibaki is heading for a humiliating comeuppance at the hands of the very wananchi he has been trashing as “wapumbavu”. Despite the orgy of game park and title deed give away, not to speak of reckless advance political appointments, cracks and fissures within the Banana Camp are coming to the fore more and more. The essayist makes the argument that NAK is going to replicate the fate of poor Humpty Dumpty post the fall from the fabled wall. In the coming months in the post referendum period nasty dog fights will emerge as the principals of the Banana Canoe come to political fisticuffs over insane and desperate promises that were never meant to be kept. The upshot is that the power intoxicated NAK clique will limp on as gingerly as a wounded warthog which has barely survived a vicious mauling by a hungry lion.

First things first.

Respect is due.

Kenyans inside and outside the country, especially lovers of contemporary music and youth culture are reeling with shock at the sudden death in a Nairobi hospital of Kenyan rapper/anti-piracy activist

Poxi Presha.



Rest in Peace Prechard Pouka Olang’(1971-2005)

We will miss you.

I prefer to remember you thus:

216.17.145.92/news/2005/10/293.php

A few hours ago, a certain rafiki wa kisiasa was gently chiding me over the phone for my recent (sometimes I get this burst of energy so I beg your forgiveness for my minor digital torrent over the last couple of days) essay offering President Kibaki an exit strategy.

Actually he was not so much chiding as sharing with me a different take on the whole thing- expressing a desire to stay on message and push the Orange message of submitting the




DRAFT to the















Museum of Unworkable Devices.

I explained to him that my offering President Kibaki an exit strategy did not negate my unshakeable Orange stance- in fact it underscored it. Essentially what I was trying to explain to the government was that there was a way in which they could still save face and end up by doing the right thing- essentially by humbling themselves a little bit. I further expounded on this using of all people, Larry Holmes

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Holmes

one of the most under appreciated heavyweight boxing champions of the world. Before he rose to global prominence he had been a sparring partner to the great Muhammad Ali-a pugilist that Holmes idolized as his former employer, but the “Greatest” wanted to soar even higher to celebrity immortality by being the first person to win that title four times. Many people offered the aging Ali an exit strategy- not to embarrass himself by stepping into the ring with a more agile, younger opponent. Was it Ali’s ego which propelled him to his ultimate hubris? Here is an account of what happened next:

(Muhammad Ali’s) retirement was short-lived, however, and on October 2, 1980, he challenged Larry Holmes for the WBC's version of the world Heavyweight title. Looking to set another record, as the first boxer to win the Heavyweight title four times,



Ali lost by technical knockout in round eleven, when Dundee would not let him come out for the round. The Holmes fight, promoted as "The Last Hurrah", was a fight many fans and experts view with disdain, because of what many viewed as a "deteriorated version" of Ali. Holmes was Ali's sparring partner when Holmes was a budding fighter; thus, some viewed the result of the fight as a symbolic "passing of the torch." Holmes even admitted later that, although he dominated the fight, he held his punches back a bit out of sheer respect for his idol, and former employer. It was revealed after the fight that Ali had an examination at the Mayo Clinic, and the results were shocking. He admitted to tingling in his hands, and slurring of his speech. The exam revealed he actually had a hole in the membrane of his brain. However, Don King withheld this report, and allowed the fight to go on.

I hope that the above passage explains my motivation for the exit strategy essay sufficiently.

(Continued...)

[Onyango Oloo]

Part the 2nd...

What is exceedingly sad to contemplate is the continuing arrogance of the NAK team who seem oblivious to the nationwide opposition, resentment and united wall of resistance that they have helped build cementing Kenyans who only yesterday deliriously catapulted them to the highest political offices in the land. A day after Mama Rainbow made it clear that Mwai Kibaki could put a down payment on her political conscience, we see of all people the totally disgraced pharmacist-politician Chris Murungaru by turns strutting on the Nyeri political stage, by turns quivering like a newly arrived Savannah dweller to Canada in mid winter.

I mean, if I made it all up, I would not manage to top the man’s own real live performance:


www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=30566


To my mind, the outbursts of Murungaru provide some startling clues about the real state of the Yes Campaign behind the façade of fake bluster.

The fact that

Prof. Wangari Maathai and other elected representatives from Nyeri District shunned the Murungaru meet because it was stacked by political discards should indicate to the Ndizi Hqs that perhaps they have thrust the wrong people to mingle with the grass roots-

eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=30614

Nyeri people as we all know have a very well earned reputation of bucking trends and holding their own- not swayed by government propaganda.

Besides, it is not exactly a secret that Murungaru is regarded in many quarters to have been openly rigged in as opposed to being a genuine democratic choice of the Kieni wananchi.

Speaking of the same province, a very reliable source citing contacts in some parts of Central Province points to an emerging backlash against the Bananiacs among Central Province youth who are moving in droves to the Orange team.

In a vindication of some of the things I said about Mungiki a few days ago, there are independent reports that there is a Pseudo Mungiki already in the works up to a lot of mischief- but with its targets the rebellious Agikuyu speaking youth who are not buying the tribal propaganda of the Karumes and the Michukis.

Even though few doubt that the Yellow Posse will carry the day in Mkoa wa Kati, there are indications that it may not be the lopsided rout that the Kimunyas, Karuas and Machages may be fantasizing about. There are people who are already projecting that Central Province maybe the only province in the country where the Banana Camp prevails- Eastern Province with its huge Akamba base may split the vote with perhaps Meru and Isiolo tilting towards Kiraitu, Mwiraria and Muthaura’s adopted matunda.

Even if the Banana Camp was able to win Central Province by 99% of the vote, what would that say?

That the Wako Draft is only good for one region and one cluster of affiliated ethnic communities?

Would it anticipate the consolidation of ethnic apartheid in Kenya?

Can President Mwai Kibaki for instance have any kind of legitimacy if his rule can only be shored up only in those communities with a mother tongue (outside the two official languages) that Kibaki can understand without needing an interpreter?

What would have happened to the Kibaki who got 70% of the vote with some tribes outside Central Kenya voting for him almost 9 to 1?

Other problems that the Yes Camp is creating for itself are all these reckless handouts and rash promises.

Earlier this week, a lawyer hired by the very Ogieks that Kibaki tried to bribe with title deeds got a court injunction effectively stopping the Kenyan head of state dead in his tracks from dishing out any more land- at least not just yet.

Ngilu, we understand has been promised the PM slot. So we understand, others as well- like Raphael Tuju.

What did Musikari Kombo settle for?

Is he a future Vice-President?

How about his FORD-Kenya arch-rival, Mukhisa Kituyi?

And where does that leave the highest ranking Luhya politician the Kenyan government- Moody Awori who comes from the relatively smaller Samia tribe and is a member of the LDP?

Why should he continue campaigning for the Yes Team with enthusiasm when he can already see the newly arrived guillotine being set up to await his neck in the coming months?

On Friday, there were rumbles of discontent from Yes propagandists at the Coast Province who seem to be very insecure now that Charity Ngilu is apparently riding high.

Will they ditch the Banana Plantation at the last minute when they realize that once more, some devious Wabara wanasiasa have tried, once again to use them, con them and dump them.

Yes campaigners in North Eastern and the Rift Valley seem to require security reinforcements when they arrive back into their own constituencies to talk to the masses who sent them to Bunge.

What I have found to be disconcerting is to see the plaudits thrown Ngilu’s way COMMENDING her for the gross opportunism.

Over at the Nation’s Discussion Forum for instance, one wag airily showered his audience with the following spittle:

4 out of (the 5 Ngilu Demands) are noble conditions.
Anyone still kidding themselves that the referendum(sic) is still about the constitution should wake up. Drought and famine are NOT temporary things in this area and she has demanded both immediate and long-term conditions for her pple (sic). That 80% of her demands were not about herself but about her pple should be telling us something about who she is! It sets her apart from her counterparts who are 'happily' in charge of slums and never once made demands on behalf of their constituents! Wamama waendelee!

This is what I said in response:

is it not a shame that charity ngilu, mama rainbow herself, part of the same crew which preached to kenyans about the need to do away with the mentality that one had to supplicate herself to the head of state to garner "development" for her constituents is today cynically exploiting poverty and underdevelopment to advance her political career? you know, some of us thought that it was the responsibility of all kenyans, including of course the government playing a leading role, to tackle these issues. i did not know that mwai kibaki had the resources of eradicating poverty in kitui central alone, not even speaking of kenya.

oo
to


And speaking of the Albert Einsteins of the Yes Camp, consider this NATION account of statements attributed to assistant minister Danson Mungatana:

"Meanwhile, the Banana team termed the proposed Constitution as second liberation from neo-colonialism. Assistant Lands minister Danson Mungatana claimed that was why foreigners had panicked and were now using those in the No camp to defeat the Draft. Mr Mungatana said the foreigners were particularly uncomfortable with the clause requiring the State to take back huge tracts of land on which the colonists had allowed a 999-year lease. "This colonists held Mzee Jomo Kenyatta to ransom during the fight for freedom by making a Constitution that favoured them and the Asians in exchange for Uhuru," he said. And he went on to say it was a shame some Kenyans were still being used by foreign powers to further their agenda. "If President Kibaki was to give me power, for just 10 minutes, I would give Raila, Kalonzo, Ruto and Balala a cane each, while for Uhuru I would reserve two strokes," he said."

It is merely mirth inducing to observe representatives of the very same government that dashed to quash a court case where a White Settler millionaire was accused of killing a government officer in cold blood and absolutely tummy churning to read Mungatana talking of “colonists(sic) “ and their 999-year lease- this coming barely months after Amos Kimunya trashed attempts by the Maasai to renegotiate new agreements to get away from the racist con trick that granted the ancestors of the Cholmondeleys and their indigenous African neo-colonial sidekicks tracts of land larger than entire Kenyan provinces.

Personally, even though I would hesitate to dub myself a proud dog owner, but I do nevertheless, think that for those who do own those rather reckless runny tummied hygiene unconscious canine creatures, there should be some kind of strict municipal by-law requiring said pet keepers to keep their potty untrained domestic dingoes on a short firm leash which should only be unleashed or released when it is time for the dog owners to stoop and scoop their pooch’s plopping poop.

You see, I am not even a Bananiac, but I am totally embarrassed at such crass displays of political IGNORANCE about our contemporary history emanating from someone of Mungatana’s obvious intellectual potential- I mean, he must have been a bright, brilliant Straight As mkufunzi to make it as a wakili turned mbunge.

Speaking of Kibaki's festival of giving away game parks, forest lands, relief funds, future prime ministerships and what not, consider this other report from the Kenya Times:

AN 80-year-old freedom fighter has appealed to President Mwai Kibaki to intervene and ensure that war veterans were given state land to settle. The freedom fighter, General Wacera Githinji from Mwototo village in Saba Saba location of Maragwa District told KNA in Murang’a yesterday that she was a founder member of the Kenya Iregi Gikuyu na Mumbi Group which fought for Kenya’s independence and was promised land, which she never got. The frail woman with failing eyesight and hearing problems said that the founding President Mzee Jomo Kenyatta had been sympathetic to their landlessness situation but died before he could settle the fighters. She said she and another freedom fighter, Mungai Njuya, who has since died, were leaders of the group which had 115 members. The war veteran at the Aberdare ridges and the Mt Kenya forest during the struggle for independence lamented that efforts to have the Maragwa Member of Parliament, Elias Mbau, take her to the president had failed.


Well, my question to President Kibaki, to echo Mzalendo Jemedari Wacera is this:

Why stop with the Ogieks?

Why stop with a few assorted Kalenjins?

Why not lead a comprehensive land redistribution and agrarian reform program?

For instance why don’t you nudge your fellow Bananiac Beth Mugo to give back the Dawida some of the land her uncle grabbed in Taita-Taveta District in the 1960s and 1970s?

How about you, Baba Jimmy?

Why not hive off a portion of your thousands of hectares to the ahoi of Nyeri district, especially Mau Mau veterans like Cucu Wacera?

It took LESS THAN TWENTY FOUR HOURS for the Ngilu-Kibaki sordid pact to cause ripples, schisms and tensions within the Banana Camp itself.

Here is an excerpt from a story appearing in the Saturday Standard of October 15, 2005:

But defending President Kibaki against claims that he entered into a deal with Ngilu over the premiership, Ndwiga said there could not be such promises on positions, which do not exist. "How do you promise or put your hopes on things that do not exist. There should be no demands or conditions. There can be no assurance as to whether the premier’s position will definitely go to Ngilu or not," Ndwiga said. Speaking to The Standard on phone, Ndwiga said there are probabilities and all Kenyans are eligible to such positions. He said there was no name tagged to any position, adding that the current focus was the referendum and not positions. "I do not believe there is such a promise or a position waiting for a particular person because the positions do not exist in the first place," said Ndwiga. Mwakwere said it defeated purpose for somebody to make a demand or request for a position, which is yet to created. "The premier’s position or any other can go to anybody and not necessarily be kept for one person. Right now, we are focusing on the task ahead of us which is to make Kenyans understand the proposed document," said Mwakwere. "Everybody is equal and nobody has more advantages than the other. Kenyans are ambitious but at the same time, we must be more realistic," Mwakwere said. He said it was difficult, "almost a dream", to promise anybody a position provided for in a document, which is yet to be passed. "Nobody is more special than the others and all considerations will be open to any eligible Kenyans," he said. Mwakwere asked politicians not be too ambitious and unrealistic, adding that probabilities of positions being given out depend on several other probabilities, which begin from the referendum date. Kimunya said a pledge or a promise for such a position at this immature stage was just an ambition and not reality. "I treat that as speculation. The premiership will only be effective after the 2007 General Election. From now until then is a long period of time," said Kimunya. He said though he did not attend the State House meeting and was not aware of what was discussed, the transition chapter in the proposed constitution was very clear."The position you are talking about does not take effect until after the General Election. However, any eligible Kenyan, including Ngilu, can qualify for that position then," Kimunya said. He said the issue at hand was the proposed constitution and not positions. "We have a long way to go and what we need to focus on right now as leaders is to exercise our roles as teachers and make Kenyans understand the contents of the proposed constitution and not talk about predictions of years to come," he said. Dzoro said the issue at hand was about the benefits that the proposed constitution could have for communities and not individual positions. "You cannot begin to divide an animal which you are yet to trap. You trap it first and even after that, the division will depend on varied factors such who did what in the hunt," Dzoro said. He called on leaders and Cabinet ministers to look beyond positions and also stop canvassing for positions before victory. "This is the same mistake that Narc made before coming into power. Drawing up an MoU which has ended up being a nightmare. "Let us look more into what our communities will benefit from this proposed document before looking at out benefits as individuals," Dzoro said.



If I were Kibaki I would take my helicopter and fly to Lokichoggio or Lake Turkana and order my security detail to identify and summon the leading cattle rustlers in the area. I would then invite them to a private face to face meeting behind closed doors. At our meeting I would reveal to the notorious majambazi wa mifugo:

"Wi mwega wezi wa ngombe wenzangu, naomba msaada kutoka kwenu. In other words, I just wanted to find out how you folks usually distribute the stolen bulls and heifers after raiding a neighbouring village. How do you make sure that the gang of cattle rustlers doesn’t start fighting amongst each other? You see, I may not have stolen anybody’s pig or eaten anybody’s goat, but I am currently having a problem in my Ndizi Jambazi Posse. You see my fellow gang members are getting very restless because of the recent cattle rustling. What do I give, for instance to Kombo to make sure he does not give Shikuku and Mudavadi a secret call? What do I tell Mzee Nyachae after turning around and offering the same job to Ngilu? And how do I convince Raphael Tuju he is a rising and shining star who will replace Raila Odinga as the next Nyanza linchpin? What do I give Dzoro and Mungatana and how do I make sure that Koech, Kirwa and Saitoti remain within the Banana Plantation? Wazee na Maodinari wa Kazi, I really, really need your advice right about now."

The Luos have an expression, Idonjo Epier Mong’am which does not go over very well in a literal direct translation into English or even Kiswahili.

You know what it is with idiomatic expressions. Try translating the Kiswahili proverbs, “Mwenye haya hazai” (if you are shy you will never conceive) “Mtaka Cha Uvunguni Sharti Ainame (If you want what is under the bed, bend over!” “Nyani haoni Kundule” (the monkey cannot see its own red coloured ass) and you get into similar problems.

So I will not even attempt to tell you what the expression literally means in the English language because the vulgar literal transliteration does not capture the idiomatic nuances of the Dholuo original.

An English equivalent of the Dholuo expression above is “jumping from the frying pan into the fire”- I am sure Luos or people who understand Dholuo scanning this will guffaw in disbelief at my rather cavalier free hand translation….

In any case, I was going to use that expression to suggest that the NAK gang has got itself into an internal pickle because of this shameless descent into pork barrel politics.


You know what the biggest and sickest joke coming from the Banana Camp is?

It is the HYPOCRISY of people like Charity Ngilu rushing to accept the very positions that they used to huff and puff against scornfully saying that the Katiba was not meant for a single individual. I see Banana Supporters online changing their tune and endorsing Moi style open bribery of politicians. Here is an exact from one such rabid Raila fearing supporter writing at the friendly Kenya Talk site:


Kichwa Mbaya: Do I detect that you feel Orange might lose? :-)
From: _ - Sat, Oct 15, 12:09 PM

Reading between the lines it seems as though you are already coming up with excuses for Raila's defeat.

Kibaki is the incumbent president. He is entitled to use his office to help communities with the hope that they will vote his way (so long as he does not break the law). That is what politics is all about.

Stop your usual pro-Raila cry baby tactics!



This particular Railaphobe actually happens to be quite a well known Kenyan abroad who is too ASHAMED to his use real name when he utters his twisted tribal and opportunistic statements.

Some of us have been quite amazed to see the extent that some Kenyans abroad can stoop in their quest to ramba the matakos of their godfathers in Nairobi.

Well...

Whatever.


Let me make a bold pronouncement:

Within months of the November 21s Referendum, the bananas in the Banana Camp will degenerate into a quickly melting banana split that crumbling from internal dog fights as the political heat cranked up by the Orange eaters roasts their collective derrieres….

Watch this space…

Onyango Oloo
Toronto

[Onyango Oloo]

How Gullible Can Some Ministers Be?


PLAINLY SPEAKING

by DAVID OCHAMI, senior staff writer with the Kenya Times

No knowledegeable person expected Health minister Charity Ngilu to disappoint when she walked into State House for talks with President Mwai Kibaki on Thursday.

Ngilu swept into State House with a tribal delegation to the soon to be expanded residence, supposedly to discuss issues troubling her tribe, but in reality to beg him and, according to some newspapers, place her conditions for supporting the Banana camp.

The details of what happened there are not hard to find. From history, a minister only leads a tribal delegation to State House to press parochial demands. These dark meetings are called to upstage rivals and turn knives in their backs, spread rumours, seek favours and bask in self-importance.

Because they are motivated by short-term thinking and goals they lead to short-lived solutions. The truce Kibaki has got from Ngilu’s assurance over the 'Yes' vote and promises made to her in return are not cast on stone. She or both will realise that promises about Ngilu being made PM if the Wako Draft is promulgated are a big joke, unworthy of the paper they are written on, the man-hours expended, drinks taken and media blitz accorded Thursday’s events.

Kibaki must be congratulated once again for pulling a fast trick on his ministers. Has he not said they are wapumbavu? Ngilu should be sympathised with for exposing herself this much. There is no guarantee Kibaki will honour the promise after November 21 vote no matter the outcome.

Kibaki has violated truces and MoU’s with more weighty politicians and persons of greater intellectual depth and abrogated all pledges made to Kenyans at the altar of the ethnic ideology, the only thing that matters to him and got away with it.

By weeping into State House, Ngilu has demonstrated her low threshold and shortness of goals. Unable to compel the president to live up to his word she will be begging for another meeting with the head of state to scheme afresh against Mutua Katuku and other people this duplicitous president has been using to harass her.

How horrified and used will she feel to discover that Kibaki is more interested in reaching an accommodation with Musyoka, the LDP or KANU and not sulking sycophants, in the long-term? How trusting and gullible can one become overnight?

She is unlikely to get another chance to plead with Kibaki despite according him a much-needed lifeline at this time of need. Ngilu has not proved she is suitable for the post of PM even a weakened one. Thursday’s events demonstrate how parochial the president has become in his quest to perpetuate his rule with ethnic games, carrots, sticks and musical chairs.

Like Moi, before him, Kibaki knows the mentalities of his ministers: which one can be controlled with a cup of tea, empty promises or opulence of State House. He knows some love to be massaged like tribal lords and who in his cabinet can be ignored and despised.

Compared to Musikari Kombo, Ngilu has acquitted herself well though for creating an impression she can force the president to negotiate with her which means the president does not take her contributions to Narc and the 'Yes' campaign for granted and will always strive to cultivate her.

Despite the many misgivings about her, there is something to write about the beautiful lady, the victim who deserves better treatment if Kenya’s was a politics that does not suspend principles and morals.

But she must tell the country whether her people have stopped dying of hunger or eating toxic cassava because she has visited the president. On Wednesday she claimed her peoples’ problems with drought were more important than the referendum debate only for her to jump on the 'Yes' side on Thursday. This limited understanding of the connection between the famine in Ukambani and the constitutional order the president is foisting on the country makes him look like a genius for no good reason.

From the point of view of fiery speeches, charting a political path, valour, issuing demands and seeing them through, the striking Ngilu can lay claim to Akamba leadership, qualities the drab and uninspiring Kombo can only admire. What Ngilu’s achievement on Thursday teaches is that the man who claims to lead Ford Kenya and the Luyia people is sinking deeper into irrelevance as asset to the president. His support for the 'Yes' crusade and Narc is taken for granted. The president did not have to beseech him or call this man to State House, to promise him this or that. Kombo will always fall in line, for free.

Ngilu or Musyoka can lead the Akamba people to Canaan. The man who will lead the Luyia people out of their present status is not yet born or is not in politics. Kombo and Moody Awori symbolise this sad state of affairs.

[e-mail]

Copyright © 2003 Kenya Times Media Trust,All rights reserved.

[Onyango Oloo]

President Hands Out 12,000 Deeds Despite Court Order

by SIMON SIELE and KENNEDY MASIBO, Sunday Nation
Publication Date: 10/16/2005


Susan Tonui and Kipsang Kilel could not hide their joy after President Kibaki issued them with title deeds at Olenguroine Stadium in Nakuru District on Saturday, October 15, 2005.

President Kibaki issues a title deed to an Ogiek woman at the Olenguruone grounds in Nakuru yesterday, before he addressed a rally. Lands Minister Amos Kimunya is on his left. Photo/PPS

President Kibaki on Saturday, October 15, 2005 gave out 12,000 land titles in Nakuru amid controversy on whether or not he had ignored a court order stopping the issuance of the documents.

State House maintained that the titles for the Ogieks were processed long before the court order.


The President who handed over few deeds to the beneficiaries before the exercise was marred by a heavy downpour at about midday, said the issuance was not to solicit favours.

He said it is an inalienable right for all Kenyans who own property to be issued with titles and criticised representations to the contrary as cheap propaganda.

The President was speaking at Olenguruone divisional headquarters in Nakuru district where 12,000 land title deeds were issued to members of the Ogiek community.

"It is unfortunate that such a well-intentioned action meant to benefit the people had been politicised," he added.

The President pointed out that the issuance of the titles was not connected to the ongoing court cases adding it was cheap propaganda and an act of mischief to try to deny the people these important documents.

"The government is simply fulfilling a pledge made to the Ogiek community 13 years ago and it is insincere to politicise the matter," he said.

President Kibaki said the government would continue to issue title deeds to land owners across the country to enable them to develop their farms confidently.

The President assured the recipients that the exercise would not be hampered by few individuals who were dissatisfied with the way it was conducted.

He said it was their right to get the title deeds and that they should not be worried about the legal processes that had been introduced.

"Those who have disputes with the process should seek legal redress against the individuals and not the exercise," he said.

On Thursday, a Nakuru High Court Judge issued an order stopping the issuance of the title deeds to the Ogiek community.

The barring orders were issued against the commissioner of lands, the chief lands registrar, the principal registrar of titles and the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner.

But a State House official argued that no law would be breached because the court order was directed at the Ogiek community, who were to receive the deeds and not the President.

Lawyers were divided on whether the president was in breach of the law.

But Kabete MP Mr Paul Muite, while supporting the President's decision to issue the title deeds argued that although there was need for the three arms of government to respect their constitutional boundaries, orders given by the courts in bad faith should not be obeyed.

Mr Muite, the chairman of the parliamentary committee on justice and legal affairs, said the judiciary would be breaking the law to step on the boundaries of the other arms of government.

It was in bad faith, he said, for the judiciary to give an injunction at the eleventh hour without allowing the Executive to state its case.

But International Commission of Jurists chairman Otiende Amollo said that the President would be setting a bad precedent to give out the titles if a court had issued an injunction.

"If it is indeed true that a court issued an injunction, it will be contempt of court for the President to go ahead and give out the titles," he added.

The Law Society of Kenya has also in past condemned those defying court orders arguing doing so was a recipe for chaos.

By ignoring a court order, LSK argued, the government showed it had no respect for the rule of law.

Chief Justice Evan Gicheru is on record accusing the executive and the legislature of encroaching on the Judiciary.

In June, the judiciary issued a stern warning to leaders who defy court orders and asked them to obey the orders or face three years in jail.

The judges said is a statement then, "In a working democracy and as a matter of civility, court orders must be obeyed by all if we are to abide by the rule of law."

They warned, "Let those concerned be warned that under Section 121 (1) of the Penal Code, disobeying a court order is punishable with imprisonment of three years which the court will enforce without fear or favour."

Last month, Mr Justice Gicheru repeated the warning asking ministers and members of Parliament to stop meddling with the judiciary.

Mr Justice Gicheru warned ministers could be found guilty of contempt of court, in their official and personal capacities.

Mr Kimunya and his information counterpart, Raphael Tuju have in the past been accused of disobeying court orders.

Mr Kimunya was accused by MPs who had sought to block the eviction of people in the Mau forest of defying a court order.

He had announced that the cabinet had endorsed the evictions to stop the destruction of forests and that the court order was not directed at the cabinet but to Narok county council, in whose jurisdiction the land is.

On his part, Mr Tuju was accused of forcefully taking over Kenyatta International Conference Centre in the face of a pending ownership dispute case.

Yesterday, one of the applicants in the case, the Ogiek Welfare Council, said they will still pursue the matter in court after obtaining the samples of the titles.

The President on his way back to Nakuru State House he addressed crowds at Kerenget, Elburgon and Njoro.

Additional reporting by Tony Kago

[Onyango Oloo]

Posted by: Haki Today, 07:59 PM

OO,

Just tell Wananchi what realy lies behind all this ink that you are spreading so generously. So far, it is destroy, destroy, destroy, but you are silent about what to put in place after the destruction. Could it be that, like Goerge Bush in Iraq, all you know is how to destroy, but not how to build? If you had a viable development plan to share with the wananchi, I am sure you are quite capable of articulating it clearly. Admit it - you dont have one.

That one about throwing the old rascals out is 'the most important thing' is a tired one. We heard it during the run up to the NARC elections, only to discover it was a trojan horse for power hungry politician to achieve their selfish political ambitions.

One good thing about you and your ilk is that all that pseudointellectual adrenaline coursing through your vains makes you so overconfident that you begin to devine the future as though you were demi-gods. The problem with that is you have to be assuming that the opposition is blind, stupid, and completely lacking in strategy, because if they did they would be matching you empty propaganda sentense for empty propaganda sentense. They are not. Think about it!

And to demonstrate how realistic your sense of judgement is about Kenyan politics, you tried it once in 1982 and lost big time. Your methods have not changed one bit. The lawless methods you guys opt for, got you big thunderous headaches in the end. I can see that after the orange turns sour on the morning of Nov 22nd, you guys, instead of swallowing your lumps like men, will be in the streets with bad breath and rocks agitating of a coup of some sort. I know this because you have done it before. But this time around, you OO will be sitting comfortably in some sofa in Montreal, won't you, while those hapless Luos you are promising that kifua mbele will bring them glory face the full fury of the machinery of a legitimately elected government, operating according to the only legal constitution in the land.

And get this, the Luhyas are not with you on this one.

Some poeple in central and rift valley might be applauding loudly as you guys put your clown shows on the road, but how they will vote in the end is still a big mystery.

One thing I know for sure is that in Kenyan realpolitik, blood is still thicker than water. For example, the Raila family will always vote for Raila, in spite of any overridding circumstances to the contrary. The NARC thing was an experiment to see if Kenyans had outgrown this primitive habit. The last two years of this experiment have shown conclusively that we have not changed one bit. So going to this well once more will not work especially since you still walk, talk, and quack like the rainbow duck we remember from the pre-NARC days.

Posted by: Onyango Oloo Today, 08:55 PM

Haki:

First of all, stick to the topic at hand and stay away from the unprovoked personal attacks. I am pretty sure that if it was Oloo who would have written what you just did, I properly would have earned a "warning" by now.


Secondly, stop lying.

Over the last year and a half, I have written over 200 essays on topics which run the gamut from how to tackle alcoholism, how to tackle unemployment, what do about crime and insecurity, how to promote Kiswahili, how to develop a national culture; what do about entrenching science and technology; specific steps on how to achieve social prosperity; how to combat HIV and AIDS; how to promote gender equality; recommendations on how to minimize homophobia; how to foster peace, international cooperation and global harmony- to give just a very small sample. I have helped to bring to a wider audience dozens of up and coming kenyan musicians, writers, athletes and so on.

In the light of the above, my question then becomes the following:

What is the reason for your infantile outburst against my person? Who are the "you guys" who tried in 1982 and failed? Are you talking about Luos? Is that all you see when you see my name on this forum- another pesky Luo. Shame on you. It appears as if Luophobia is one of the planks that some shameless tribalists are clutching on to in a bid instil fear and despondency in the country. You have seen Nyachae, Mirugi, Kombo, Tuju and others try it- Kenyans are not buying that bunk and I am surprised to see you resorting to such cheap ethnic demagoguery. It is also crystal clear that "nimetonesha kidonda". Are some of your relatives part and parcel of the arrogant NAK cabal? Is this why you are making this so personal? Well Haki, you may have to take a number because the people who are standing in line to trash Onyango Oloo are snaking around the next block.

Could it be perhaps that I have been consistent in sensitizing my fellow Kenyans about our patriotic and democratic demands?

Could it be that I have remained focused on issues that have to do with social justice?

You see Haki, red herrings such as yours are things I accost every single day on many other forums.

Trying to make Oloo the problem, Raila Odinga the problem, Luos the problems usually speaks volumes about the detractors than they do about the people who are used as convenient scapegoats in a bid to derail discussions.

Note that my essays are fact based- using information in the public domain that is easily and freely accessible to anyone.

Please respect my right to freedom of expression and I would appreciate that the next time you feel like attacking me- start a new thread instead of hijacking an already existing thread.

Since I know Mambo is reading this I would also like to ask him a direct question:

Do Mambogani rules apply to everyone without fear or favour or are there some presumed enfant terribles who face the ire of the powers that be?

By the way Haki, welcome to JUKWAA- I saw you registered not too long ago.

Onyango Oloo
Toronto

[Onyango Oloo]

Mambogani _ Politics _ The Art of Bull Fighting
Posted by: Haki Today, 02:48 PM

www.mambogani.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=4450

In Spain they have a sport called “Bull Fighting”.

It involves special bulls with a high level of aggression bred in them.

The sport is held in a big arena akin to a football stadium, with the spectators in the stands to watch, cheer, and bet on the fighting going on the field. The bull fights a man with special skills called a Matador. The Matador understands aggressive bulls real well, and as a result carries only a red cloth the size of a small carpet, and what would appear to an African like me like a spear of some sort.

As the bull works itself into a frenzy in a stall behind a set of gates into the arena, the Matador matches on to the battle field and prepares to engage the angry bull. When the gates fly open, the bull charges onto the field, snorting and huffing, while pounding one front hoof after the other on the groung, digging up clumps of sod. His red hot eyes quickly scan the field to locate his adversary whom he knows to be out there somewhere. He sees him, logs in his coordinates and locks on. Then he assumes his charging posture and rumbles into action. It is truly a ferocious site to see this beast in motion, nostrils flaring as his diaphragm pumps liters of air in and out of his lungs. .

But the Matador remains real calm, because that is his first line of defense. A brain does not function very well when it is being pumped full of adrenaline. First he needs to tire this bull out some by letting him expend most of his crazy pent-up energy performing athletics all over the field. As the bull covers half the distance to him, he elegantly raises the red cloth in front with both hands and squares his body to face the bull. The bull recalculates the new coordinates and locks in on the cloth behind which he knows he will find the cheeky Matador and let him taste the full length of his sharp horns. When the bull is several feet away from him and a spearing of his gut by the bull’s horns appears imminent; he deftly steps to one side without moving the cloth, and as the bull rips into the cloth, the Matador lets go with one hand and the cloth freely twaves to let the full power of the attacking bull pass through harmlessly. haha.gif

This action alone is worth the cost of a ticket to the bull fight! beerchug.gif

So elegant, so swift, and so well timed! As the bull thunders by without either of his horns registering a solid ‘thud!’ in the intended target, he realizes he has been fooled, and boy does this make him mad. His ego is now hurting something wicked! He turns around as fast as the momentum of a half a ton of flesh in rapid motion can allow, causing his hoofs to transfer the excess kinetic energy to clumps of sod being dug up and flung every which way in this process. He sights the cheeky Matador from the corner of his eye and heads for him again. censored.gif

This time the little twit is going to see! This time he will really get it! The Matador awaits this second encounter with great patience. He is focused and cool. And sure enough, just like the last time, he outmaneuvers the thick bull. The encounters continue in this manner until the Matador senses the bull is tiring. Then, at the opportune moment he decides to end this fight. He lets the bull come at him for the last time as his eyes pick the weak sport behind the front leg. As the bull thunders by, real close this time, suddenly the Matador strikes! The blow thrusts his spear deep in between two ribs just behind the front leg and clean through the heart. The applause from the stands is deafening as the triumphant Matador takes his bows. What a show and what an outcome! Thoracic power versus brain power and brain power makes it look so easy as it slices and dices thoracic power to nyama choma. chef_h4h_sp.gif

The looming show down on November 21st between Raila (LDP) and Kibaki (NARC) may be viewed just like the bull fight I described above. The bull got to its usual early start by flexing its thorax, snorting and grunting. The crowds applaud at this display of raw muscle and steam. It is quite a spectacle to behold! As the gates to the arena fly open, Raila charges into the field and aims a piercing glare at Kibaki the Matador. The Railamaniacs (LDP) in the stands cheer madly, confident that Kibaki the Matador will be mauled. The bull appears so awesomely powerful that there is no doubt how this one will end. Kibaki remains cool because he has the mandate of the people from the ballot box in one hand, and the full machinery of the Kenyan government in the other, with which to fend off this highly agitated bull. The fight gets under way and runs its predicted course. The bull gets speared and the Matador takes his bows before exiting the fight arena to feast on nyama choma. bowdown.gif chef_h4h_sp.gif

Posted by: Onyango Oloo Today, 09:33 PM

reducing the referendum to a lopsided contest pitting an animalized raila(ldp) and a supersmart matadorial kibaki appears not only presumptous but rather entertaining. since this is the POLITICAL section of Mambogani, i will not comment further than this.

oo
to

[mutungu]

@ Haki, that is a good piece to say the least.

[Onyango Oloo]

Postpone Plebiscite, Now Maathai Appeals to Kibaki


By Emmanuel Onyango, Kenya Times, Tuesday, October 18, 2005

THE Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) yesterday warned campaigners on both the ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ camp that they risk being prosecuted and their names published in a list of shame.

And Nobel award winner and Assistant Minister for Environment Wangari Mathaai called on President Kibaki to postpone the referendum and open negotiations on the contentious issues.

Without mentioning names, the human rights commission said it was concerned by the ‘blatant lies being peddled by politicians’ drawn from both camps. The organisation will sponsor prosecutions against such persons.

In a veiled reference to cabinet ministers involved in both the Orange and Banana campaigns, KHRC said the prosecutions will be pegged on section 18 of the Public Officer Ethics Act, which requires public officers not to avoid giving give false or misleading information to members of the public.

“The commission is concerned that there appears to be campaigners on both the ‘No’ and ‘Yes’ sides who are bent on deliberately distorting the content of the draft constitution,” the notice said.

Prof Mathaai made a passionate appeal to President Kibaki to postpone the forthcoming referendum and open up the controversial Wako Draft for negotiation.

But even as she assumed a middle ground, the Nobel laureate tacitly accused President Kibaki of being insincere in his resolve to push forward with the plebiscite, saying the President’s haste had created a national problem that should now be handled by the urgency and seriousness it deserves.

“These glaring mistakes suggest that it may not have been such a bright idea to get the document straight from the printer to the referendum. It would be wiser for us as country to stop and evaluate the path we have taken. The country is more important than any of the leaders or their ambitions,” said the outspoken laureate.

In a statement, KNCHR announced it will also make public the names of those found breaching the act in a list of shame to be published in the daily newspapers.

“We urge members of the public to notify the commission should they note deliberate attempts by any public officer to mislead them,” the statement signed by commissioner Khelef Khalifa said.

Mathaai offered herself to steer a renegotiation exercise over the draft. She also urged that constitutional experts be involved to harmonize concerns and facilitate further discussions with the leaders in an effort to reach a consensus.

Mathaai’s stand is a boost to efforts towards a revision of the referendum’s time frame and negotiation over contentious issues.

[Onyango Oloo]

Police thwart attempt to disrupt Orange meeting

Story by NATION Correspondents
Publication Date: 10/18/2005

Police dispersed a Yes crowd as it tried to disrupt a No meeting at the Timau market yesterday.

The intruders were led by four councillors from Meru Central District.

The Orange meeting was convened by Mr Robert Angaine, Mr Kirimi Mbogo, a lawyer, former Meru mayor Meru Samuel Kirunguru and former councillor Catherine Kagwiria.

Rowdy Banana supporters assembled about 300 metres from the venue and started shouting anti-Orange slogans. Then they started walking in a procession towards the No crowd.

But before they could reach their rivals, the police, led by the officer in charge of the Timau station, stopped and directed them to clear the area.

Councillors Hezron Kiremi, Paul Kinankau, Ken Murithi and Margaret Nkandau entered into a heated argument with the police boss. But the officer stood his ground and ordered the crowd to disperse. He said that neither their meeting nor the demonstrations had been licensed while the No meeting had been given the green light.

The councillors tried to dissuade their followers from dispersing but the crowd obeyed the police and dispersed peacefully.

District police boss David Ng'etich monitored the altercation but did not intervene.

Speakers at the meeting alleged that the area's MP, Mr David Mwiraria – the Finance minister – had organised the attempted disruption.

They claimed that county council vehicles had been used to ferry the civic leaders and the crowd to the meeting.

Mr Mbogo criticised Constitutional Affairs minister Kiraitu Murungi for presiding over the proposed new Constitution. He said the document was flawed and would impoverish the majority while benefiting a few.