Did The Weekly Citizen Expose Kibaki?

[Onyango Oloo]

1.0. Why Was Weekly Citizen Suppressed?

From The Committee to Protect Journalists:

Raids, arrests mark crackdown on Kenya's 'alternative press'

New York, February 21, 2006—Police in Kenya raided two tabloid newspapers on Monday, confiscating equipment and documents and arresting several journalists in the capital, Nairobi. Police also detained news vendors selling the so-called "alternative press" publications, which are known for provocative reporting on sex and political scandals.

Local journalists told the Committee to Protect Journalists that the raid on the privately owned Weekly Citizen stemmed from a front-page story in this week's edition titled "Kibaki Senile," which alleged that President Mwai Kibaki was not in control of the government.

Three reporters and at least two other newspaper employees were in police detention today and could face criminal charges, Managing Editor Tom Alwaka told CPJ today. They include reporters Josphat Mativo, Ken Teyie, and Austin Alwaka; a receptionist, Catherine Oyando; and a printer, Paul Kimani. The managing editor, who said he was in hiding for fear of arrest, said a freelance journalist was also arrested yesterday but was released after several hours in detention.

The Weekly Citizen also ran a front-page story detailing infighting within Kibaki's ruling NARC coalition. Similar stories have recently run in the mainstream press.

The private weekly The Independent was also raided on Monday, the paper's editor and publisher confirmed to CPJ. Mburu Muchoki, who also spoke to CPJ from hiding, said that the reasons behind the raid were unclear. One journalist from the paper, Bernard Wambugu, was detained on Monday and released today without charge, Muchoki said.

Ezekiel Mutua, secretary-general of the Kenya Union of Journalists, said the detentions could signal a crackdown on the media. "The government, which is under siege over corruption, will use this as an excuse to harass and intimidate journalists who are going about their duties," he said.

"We are deeply concerned that the police have raided newspapers and detained journalists for what they have written," said Ann Cooper, executive director of CPJ. "These actions call into question Kenya's commitment to press freedom."

The last crackdown on the alternative press was in 2004, according to CPJ records. That year, police raided tabloid offices and newsstands in Nairobi and other cities, confiscating copies and detaining dozens of vendors who had been selling the papers. Equipment seized from the Weekly Citizen was never returned, Tom Alwaka told CPJ.

SOURCE:

www.cpj.org/news/2006/africa/kenya21feb06na.html

www.journalism.co.za/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3687&CAMSSID=ebe04d7fd198201b527dcd2cf271c580

za.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-02-23T091015Z_01_BAN332920_RTRIDST_0_OZATP-KENYA-MEDIA-20060223.XML&archived=False

www.eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=36853


www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/72400/

On page 19 in the Wednesday, February 15th edition of the Standard is


a captivating Ad from Dr. Goebbels Mutua's Office of Public Communications that is captioned THANK YOU featuring before and after pictures of life in Kenya. In the former we see the exposed naked back of a person with his or her arms tied behind their red-paint splattered back, sitting on a chair labeled "NYAYO HOUSE TORTURE CHAMBERS."

In the latter, we see this orgasmic smiling Kenyan lady about to take off for the Ozone Layer- her picture is captioned "Democratic Space". Below that are the state propaganda lies and lines: "TOTAL FREEDOM! Today YOU can speak your mind, write your thoughts, Express YOURSELF freely. Anywhere, Anytime. We should commend President Mwai Kibaki for providing us with Democratic Space that allows us Kenyans to comment and air our views on a wide range of national issues regardless of their sensitivity. This is real Democracy."

Well, in the spirit of the state propaganda publicity stunt above, I would want to REPRODUCE the offending pieces of the Weekly Citizen that were impounded from surprised Nairobi street vendors-shortly before the entire management, editorial and production staff of the publication were hauled into police vehicles and dragged to court on charges eerily similar to the paranoid political “seditious publication” witch hunts which saw hundreds of Kenyans spend long stints in Kamiti and other maximum security penitentiaries.

Here are the Three MAIN pieces reproduced verbatim, that ignited so much serikali wrath the other day....

READ ON>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Onyango Oloo]

Kibaki Senile: Who Is Ruling Kenya?

By Citizen Team Weekly Citizen, February 20th-26th, 2006


The increasingly besieged regime of President Mwai Kibaki scarred by the Anglo- Leasing graft allegations that has seen some of its key pillars crumble is being run by one man, sources now claim.

And that man, say the sources is not President Kibaki but his overbearing controversial PS for Strategic Policy Analysis Stanley Murage.

Murage and his close allies at State House are said to have capitalized on the president’s lack of political foresight and at times ill-health to independently run the country without consultations with bureaucrats well-versed with political, social and economic basics involved in managing a state.

Weekly Citizen, your favourite and Kenya’s most authoritative newspaper, has information it is Murage who drafted the statement that misled the President to the effect that former Education Minister Prof. George Saitoti and Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi had accepted their resignations when in the true sense the had not and never tendered their resignations.

Surprisingly, while accepting the “resignation” of the two ministers, Kibaki made a blunder in his statement announcing that Saitoti was the Minister for Education, Science and Technology, forgetting the docket of Science and Technology was in the hands of Dr. Noah Wekesa. It is such blunders that sometimes worry many Kenyans over the President’s capacity to absorb crisis.

Sources in the know of goings-on at State House say, Prof. Saitoti and Murungi flatly refused to resign during a meeting with Kibaki. The meeting had been organized with Murage with full blessings of the old guards, namely John Michuki ( Internal Security), Njenga Karume (Defence) Amos Kimunya (Finance) and Francis Muthaura ( Head of the Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet). Of late detractors of the group refer to them as the “sleeping men”(SM). This is due to the fact they like dozing off into slumber even during public functions.

Recently, Karume was in deep sleep at a function in Karen organized by the military. The picture was captured by the entire press and he was even unable to read the speech.

In fact word has it, Kibaki at State House usually takes time to sleep in mid-morning and mid afternoon and that is why after the nap, he addresses the nation after 7 pm. The look of freshness arising from being well-rested is usually obvious to any keen observer as the president reads out his speeches in the evening. Since taking power in 2002, Kibaki has made it his unfailing habit to address the nation in the evening unlike former President Moi who used to make major announcements at 1 pm.

That Kibaki may not be quite himself is further manifested by the fact that he appears not to know the number, names and positions of his entire cabinet. While in talks with a foreign ambassador sometimes back, Kibaki surprised those present when he said his vice-president Wamalwa Kijana was best suited to handle the issue. The President had forgotten that Wamalwa died two years ago and his vice-president is the embattled Moody Awori. At one time he is said to have referred to trade and industry minister Mukhisa Kituyi as Lugonzo, a former Nairobi mayor who died years ago. This appears to be a clear case of memory lapse.

The diplomat had questioned the current state of famine in the country and measures taken to curb the situation.

This is not the first time Kibaki has blundered in public. While on a tour of neighbouring country, the Head of State confused names of ministers accompanying him. It is whispered, in an effort to avoid introduction mix-up, one has to say his name in advance so the president can know who is who.

According to sources, so bad is Kibaki’s memory lapse that he at times fails to recognize members of his immediate family (First Family). During the referendum vote in Othaya, the president was captured live unable to recognize the name of one of his sons, Kangai, and First Lady Lucy had to remind him. Prior to the referendum, the president had surprised Kenyans by claiming the copies of the draft constitution were for sale when in true sense they were given out freely.

At State House, Kibaki is said to forget names of his staff apart that of his chief chef. He at times forgets confidential documents giving his handlers a hectic time in tracing them.

Since the 2002 road accident that condemned him to a wheelchair and the mild stroke that struck him soon thereafter, President Kibaki’s health has been the subject of debate in many quarters.

President Kibaki had to endure several months of poor health since the 2002 road accident and after taking over the reins of power in a historic hand-over ceremony. He was admitted to hospital with a blood clot in his leg after confinement in a wheelchair following the road accident.

Although his medical handlers have on several instances assured Kenyans that his health is okay, political analysts say ever since the road accident and his subsequent admission to hospital for complication of high blood pressure, the President’s ability to discharge the duties of Head of State and at times resulting in memory lapse.

Before the road accident that saw him suffer a fractured leg, arm and neck, President Kibaki was an astute politician whose oratory and grasp of national political events was at his finger tips although he is said to have been treated for cerebral aneurysm, a condition that causes disorders by weakening or enlargement of an artery or vein in the brain that can rapture or cause bleeding.

The president had to undergo surgery to remove the aneurysm; something that left a lasting physical mark on his forehead, which observers explain, is the reason for the regular twitching of the muscles around the mouth, a characteristic common with the president of late.

It is because of this complication, experts say, that caused the blood clot develop into his right leg that had been plastered after the accident, two factors that pinpoint to the mild stroke he had to subsequently suffer, paralyzing some functions such as body movement, which has been noticeable with the Kibaki.

Although experts say that the duration of recovery depends on one’s age, general health and neurological conditions, President Kibaki showed remarkable improvement in his health but turns and twists of intrigues on the political landscape appear to have taken a toll on him.

And with John Githongo’s earth shaking dossier on grand corruption at the heart of the government and mounting pressure on his close allies implicated in corruption to quit office, the president is left facing one of his most trying moments. His indecisiveness in taking prompt action has raised numerous questions at his style of managing state affairs, which leaves the question of whether the president is in control of things.

Aware of Kibaki’s current state, PS Murage has effectively capitalized on it has fast become the behind the throne dreaded by government ministers. The mere mention of his name is said to make many ministers cower in fear. Murage is the man who has more say in the running of state affairs than the president himself.

Murage himself a man who loves the bottle and does not keep secrets is known to boast that he is the seat of power and without him Kibaki cannot rule.

To prove this point, in all strategic ministries, Murage has ensured that he has his person as PS or minister. After hounding out Kiraitu and Prof. Saitoti, the PS made sure his man Amos Kimunya moved to the plum Finance Ministry docket to replace dimunitive David Mwiraria while other ministers were said to in acting capacity.

In the now influential ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Murage has Martha Karua as minister. Both Murage and Karua hail from Kirinyaga district. A directive to have prominent personalities surrender passports and firearms is said to be the brainchild of the influential PS now popularly known as “Godfather” in the corridors of power.

In the Ministry of Energy, Murage’s blue-eyed boy is PS Patrick Nyoike. In fact Murage is linked to the poles tender scandal at Kenya Powe and Lighting. It is said the Tanzanian firm in the controversial tender was introduced to Murage by his long-time friend Samuel Gichuru, a former long-serving MD of KPLC. The relationship between Murage and Gichuru dates back to the reign of Moi when both were members of the Central Province Development Support Group (CPDSG). Hosea Kiplagat, Murage relationship roots can be traced to the KANU era when Kiplagat brokered his appointment as permanent secretary.

At AG chambers Murage’s pointsman is Solicitor-General Muchemi Wanjuki. Inside sources say, Murage was instrumental in the removal of Alfred Getonga from State House as Kibaki’s Personal Assistant and does not want a replacement as he prefers to handle the docket himself.

The PS is currently said to be working on a new look cabinet that will see a number of ministries merged. He is said not to get on well with Francis Muthaura. The other person Murage worked with but with a lot of suspicion is former head of the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) Brig.(rtd) Wilson Boinett. He is also known to have no time for Attorney General Amos Wako. He (Murage) is said to be fronting for Justice Samuel Bosire as the right person to replace the ever-smiling Wako.



NEXT ARTICLE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>..

[Onyango Oloo]

Stanley Murage: Kenya’s new godfather

Our Reporter, Weekly Citizen 20th-26th February 2006

In the history of presidential power brokers in Kenya, no one has ever occupied the position of power currently enjoyed by Stanley Murage, the State House-based PS for Strategic Policy Analysis.

Murage and new Finance Minister Amos Kimunya are the second and third most powerful men of the final stretch of the Kibaki presidency. And given the fact that Kimunya was a popular chairman of the prestigious Muthaiga Golf Club the year President Kibaki, patron of the Kenya Golf Union and a member of the Muthaiga Golf Club, entered the State House, and also the fact that Murage is a very wealthy man, the new power elite around the presidency is being referred to as the Muthaiga Mafia.

Murage’s position is unique because no power-broker of his impact and ambition has cultivated his position within State House itself. Kenya’s premier to power brokers have always been based outside State House in the cabinet, parliament or civil service.

The Kenyatta era had Mbiyu Koinange, Dr. Njoroge Mungai and Charles Njonjo. The Moi era had Njonjo, G.G. Kariuki, Simeon Nyachae, Nicholas Biwott and Mark Too. The Kibaki passing-cloud era has had Dr. Chris Ndarathi Murungaru, David Mwiraria and Kiraitu Murungi before Murage made his masterstroke move and felled all of them in a three month period, beginning with Murungaru’s omission from the cabinet in December 2005.

There have been State House-based powerbrokers but their operations have been behind-the- scenes to avoid overshadowing the president of members of the First Family. The first was the late Eliud Mathu in the Kenyatta era.

Alfred Mwangi Getonga, who until last week was President Kibaki’s PA and Joshua Kulei of the Moi era was the last strong link of the Mt. Kenya Mafia to be broken by Murage. With Getonga gone, it is only a matter of time now before head of civil service and secretary to the cabinet Francis Muthaura also throws in the towel and Kenya Anti-Corruption boss Aaron Ringera is hounded out of his tenured office.

Stanley K. Murage’s triumph has been complete. His role in the destruction of the Mt. Kenya Mafia was pivotal. If it was not for Murage, self-exiled former State House-based PS for Ethics and Governance John Githongo would not have been able to release his devastating with as much impact both locally and internationally as he has.

It was Murage who quietly informed Githongo late last year that his dossiers addressed to President Kibaki on the subject of the Anglo- Leasing scams had disappeared from the President’s office and living quarters at State House, Nairobi.

According to impeccable sources, First Lady Lucy Kibaki, who has a major stake in Equatorial Bank, which is adversely mentioned in Githongo’s dossier, Alfred Getong and three of the president’s children plotted the disappearance of copies of the Githongo dossier of November 25, 2005 from the president’s office and living quarters during the Christmas break.

Murage, who was posted to State House in October 2004, noticed that copies of Githongo’s dossier in the president’s office at State House were missing and so he asked a number of State House staffers whose hiring he influenced and who answer only to him to trace copies of the same that the president had taken with him into his living quarters just before Christmas.

Murage’s informers, who include State House cleaners, valets and kitchen staff reported to him the alarming news that the documents were nowhere to be found, not even in the refuse baskets from the president’s living quarters. Murage promptly informed Githongo about the development.

Sometime in late December and full consultation with the president’s old friend Joe Wanjui, Njenga Karume, Father (rtd) George Muhoho, Nat Kangethe, Prof. Nick Wanjohi, and Solicitor General Wanjuki Muchemi, Murage told Githongo to go ahead and release the Anglo- Leasing scams dossier(s) as he had threatened to do.

The expose knocked out Mwiraria. But not even Kenyans and leaders anticipated that the BBC World Service would take up the story and broadcast it to a global audience, thereby knocking out Murungaru, George Saitoti, Kiraitu, Getonga and (coming soon) Awori and Muthaura.

But the seeds of Murage’s downfall are already present in his greatest moment of triumph. He will be forever remembered as Githongo’s point man inside State House who helped to fell the Mt. Kenya Mafia.

Who is this man Murage and has he outmanoeuvred Kibaki’s own most loyal lieutenants from within the citadel of their own power?

Murage hails from Kirinyaga where he was born on 18th of May 1950. A quantity surveyor, he served President Daniel arap Moi as a trusted permanent secretary for six years ( 1994-2000). During the same period he was an influential member of the boar of directors of Kenya Times Ltd, the then ruling party KANU’s media organ, a job secured for him on the intervention of three key pillars of the Moi regime: KANU Secretary General John Joseph Kamotho; the then Managing Director of the Kenya Power and Lighting Company Sam Gichuru and the then Chairman of the Cooperative Bank of Kenya Hosea Kiplagat, Moi’s favourite nephew.

Today Murage, from his powerful perch at State House, has reduced all three men to his errand boys. Kamotho is the powerful Murage’s pointman in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Gichuru provides Murage with tens of millions of shillings of allegedly “clean money” for “political work” in exchange for a continuing slowdown of his corruption-related cases and Kiplagat runs errands between Moi’s Kabarnet Gardens and Kabarak command posts.

Murage has accumulated his immense powers inside Kibaki’s troubled State House by completely out-manoeuvering everybody that the president held dear to his hold on power. He has even isolated First Lady Lucy from the seat of power by ensuring that she is no longer allowed to the visit the place at night. He has destroyed Alfred Getonga and his network. And now the president is alone at State House with Stanley Murage and people vetted by the same Stanley Murage.

What is Murage’s agenda?

And what are his links to two other powerful Kirinyaga personalities: Matere Kereri and former Director of Intelligence James Kanyotu?

As we went to press unconfirmed reports were emerging that a top anti-corruption judicial official who received a Sh. 5 million bribe in cash in the lobby of Nairobi’s Serena Hotel from one of Murage’s strange alliance.

And then there is the mystery of what exactly Murage does and what his changing designation means. In a conversation with Weekly Citizen on Thursday last week, Murage insisted that his correct designation was Advisor to the President, Strategic Policy. But when he was appointed in October 2004, his designation was given as PS for Strategic Policy Analysis. Even the State House website has been changed to reflect this change. But no official announcement of a change in focus in Murage’s designation has ever been officially given.

[Onyango Oloo]

Wambui Edges out Lucy out of State House:

Our Reporter(Weekly Citizen, February 20th- 26th, 2006)

The saying that when two bulls fight, it is the grass that suffers, graphically describes events unfolding at State House where President Kibaki has not only to contend with mega scams threatening his regime but also the unity of his immediate family.

Even as the purge on corruption continues, a political tit for tat scheme has been unleashed as the Muthaiga camp politicians enjoying the backing of the Othaya activist Mary Wambui square it out with the Hurlingham Group with the support of First Lady Lucy Kibaki majority of whom have now been reduced to political spectators.

Sources privy to the goings-on at State House divulged that the high-flying Wambui team comprising mainly of Kibaki’s old golfing buddies and bosom friends, are the ones now calling the shots in the corridors of power as the Hurlingham team cries foul.

What is causing the Hurlingham group sleepless nights is the treatment Wambui has been accorded allegedly by the state and the source of her wealth which she uses to bankroll the group and other social activities.

Wambui, the woman President Kibaki once categorically denied being a member of his family is allegedly enjoying state security and overwhelming press coverage by the state-run Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

Early in the month, she was spotting using a Kenya Wildlife Service helicopter with a team of security men acting as body guards. To prove how powerful On other occasions it has been alleged that she uses government GK vehicles in her countrywide tours and one wonders who foots the bill.

Back to State House, all is not well for the Hurlingham-based Lucy’s team, comprising of politicians mainly from the known to be Kibaki’s key advisors majority of whom have been sent packing after being adversely mentioned in the scam. The group is nicknamed Hurlingham because they used to hold secret meetings at a Hurlingham hotel.

In Lucy’s camp is former Finance Minister David Mwiraria, former Transport Minister Dr. Chris Murungaru, former Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura, former Education Minister George Saitoti and sacked Kibaki’s Personal Assistant Alfred Getonga.

Wambui’s team includes Defence Minister Njenga Karume, Internal Security Minister John Michuki, former PS John Githongo, State House based Stanley Murage and former State House comptroller Matere Kereri. Others are parastatal heads Eddy Njoroge of Ken Gen, George Muhoho of Kenya Airports Authority, University of Nairobi Chancellor Dr. Joe Wanjui and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Vice-Chancellor Nick Wanjohi.

To prove that the Muthaiga team is increasingly becoming powerful sources say, the appointment of former Lands Minister Amos Kimunya to replace Mwiraria at the Treasury was a result of lobbying by Wambui. Well-placed sources say, after the unceremonial departure of Getonga from State House, it is Murage who is now calling the shots thereby giving his Muthaiga club members an upper hand in meeting the president.

Last week, the Hurlingham team comprising of Kiraitu Murungi and Getonga in a rare show of solidarity accompanied Chris Murungaru to the Anti-Corruption Court to answer charges relating to wealth declaration claims.

The bone of contention in the whole fighting at State House is the Githongo dossier and the Hurlingham team is blaming the Muthaiga team for having recommended the appointment of Githongo ostensibly to “finish” them. Githongo’s appointment had the blessings of University of Nairobi chancellor Dr. Joe Wanjui and a number of the Muthaiga club members.

When word leaked out that Githongo was secretly closing in on the Hurlingham group, they hurriedly organized his operation base base from State House to Harambee House but Karume intervened and their move was thwarted. The game plan was that he was to be denied access to the President as Getonga takes control.

Murage is also said to have played a pivotal role and brokered the appointment of Martha Karua to replace Kiraitu Murungi as Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister. Both Murage and Karua are from Kirinyaga District. Other sources say, the Muthaiga team has now secretly introduced the former Kenya Power and Lighting Company MD Samwel Gichuru to State House and he has of late become a regular visitor.

Lucy who has of late decided to take a low profile since the Anglo-Leasing ghost disappeared with her supporters has finally fell in the trap laid by her main rival Wambui. Kibaki on the other hand has let nature take its own course.

But even as Kibaki watches from the touch line as the Githongo ghost sweeps the Hurlingham team, it is unlikely the can dump his Muthaiga bosom friends just in case they are named in any of the scams.

Those who understand Kibaki’s brand of politics say his relationship with his Muthaiga old friends date back to the formation of the Democratic Party (DP).

A story is told on how close Kibaki was to these people that a special table was reserved for them at the Golf Club known as the “Chairman’s corner.” This was reserved for Kibaki, Muhoho and Karume.

As the Anglo-Leasing scam investigations continue, the man said to be enjoying the goings-on is the Defence Minister Njenga Karume, Kibaki’s trusted lieutenant.

Karume was once in Lucy’s camp during their heyday on DP where he was the patron and party financier but temporarily parted ways in 2002 when Karume dumped the DP chairman and said that “Kbaki was a thankless man”. It was the entry of Karume to the cabinet that marked the end of the Hurlingham group and the emergence of the Muthaiga group in State House.

As the struggle over control of State House affairs continues, lobbying is in top gear to replace the sacked ministers who are also senior members of the Hurlingham group.

Other reports say, the sacked ministers several attempts to seek audience with Kibaki failed as their hotlines at their residential homes had been disconnected. State House comptroller has been playing cat and mouse games with them. He has also been allegedly recruited on the Muthaiga camp team.

Sources say, a major reshuffle is looming and a bruising battle awaits those calling the shots within the corridors of power.

Oloo's Reflections Next>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[Onyango Oloo]

Onyango Oloo’s Take on the Weekly Citizen articles:

1. They are credible, even if we allow for a little bit of salt here and there.
2.The source appears to be someone from deep within the Kibaki political establishment.
3. The writer(s) of the articles are probably not regular (so called) "Gutter Press" ( how I hate that term!) hacks but probably well known journalists and/or columnists who are used to political crystal ball gazing. I have my own guesses, but I will keep them to myself.
4. It appears as if President Kibaki is a very lonely and increasingly very isolated man.
5. It is sad that his inner coterie consists ENTIRELY of his tribesmen and tribeswomen. His administration has already gone into the Kenyan record books as being by far the most parochial.
6. The Hurlingham versus Muthaiga turf wars have effectively seen the banishment of the Meru elite and the rise of the Gikuyu old guard.
7. John Githongo’s anti-graft crusade (as I have been insisting for weeks) is in no small part driven by elitist, tribal and very undemocratic forces around Mwai Kibaki and was not entirely the altruistic enthusiastic moral campaign that has been conjured up by the local and international media.
8. The MAINSTREAM of the Kenyan comprador bourgeois elite is UNITED across tribal, regional and factional “party” cleavages. See the connection between Murage and Kamotho and the links to Moi and KANU.
9. The Murage/Muthaiga axis is just as corrupt, as the Hurlingham Posse. Shudder when you contemplate the role of Sam Gichuru in all this.
10. Before the END of this year 2006, there will be a NEW political party consisting of elite elements drawn from all around the country. This party will enter into an electoral pact with the Uhuru faction of KANU for next year’s elections.

PS: A very knowledgeable pal of mine who lurks in JUKWAA confirmed to me earlier this afternoon that Kalonzo Musyoka DID MEET with Mwai Kibaki. Also there is an unconfirmed report that the Mwingi MP had a slight mishap at his home on Saturday. One report, also unconfirmed indicates that he collapsed briefly. Could be a wild rumour so please do not quote or misquote me...

Onyango Oloo
Nairobi, Kenya

[politicalmaniac]

interesting "news" on kalonzo

there is too much smoke! there must be fire!

The intrigues at SH have been making rounds, lakini hiyo mambo ya kalonzo I hadnt heard

[mossad]

Well, this is oneof the most interesting article i have ever read in Jukwaa.
The most intereting thing is that jokers like Ngilu and Kombo are no where to be found. Thats shows how insignificant they are to Kibaki(AKA Murage)
I am waiting for the day Raila and team will bring them to their knees. And i hope i shall have the last laugh.

Mossad.

[Onyango Oloo]

Mambogani _ Politics _ Did The Weekly Citizen Expose Kibaki?
Posted by: Mtaalam Today, 03:51 PM



OO,

The government (Murage) wouldn't have gone into all that trouble of even locking up vendors if these were merely allegations. Thank you OO for digging the dirt. I have also confirmed that indeed by and large the sentiments expressed by the Weekly Citizen are true.

[Onyango Oloo]

From: Kuria-Mwangi <kjmwangi@...>
Date: Sun Feb 26, 2006 6:34 pm
Subject: Re: [africa-oped] Did The Weekly Citizen Expose Kibaki?

Mig. Oloo:

Thanks for that piece. Please feed us with such pieces since they are beyond our reach. I would have loved to read more on the party you anticipate to spring by end of this year. Who would be the main driving forces behind such a party and what would such move portend for LDP?

[veritas]

Citizen? I feel like I'm reading an opinionated, hinting conspiracy novel as opposed to reported articles. I have to admit it's very encrypted. So encrypted I'm really not interested in figuring it out even if someone paid me. Is this a newspaper? How flaky do they sound. I'm just gonna leave that. I like pictures...

That add could do well with some reader discretion, tone it down a bit. I remember back in Uni we had to analyze the effectiveness of adds to the public. They had this add about speeding? A grim reaper skeleton behind the wheel. That add had no effect whatsoever on stats of people getting caught for speeding. So they approached our Uni in which they did a realistic, feasible appeal, an add where mainstream people could relate to. What do mainstream people here loathe--> discomfort, embarrassment, hassles.

So the new add went with this guy caught for speeding, showing him taken to the police station, waiting in the police station etc. people giving him disapproving looks etc. that add was so effective the stats for people getting caught for speeding reduced quite a bit, they still use that approach, around since the 90s. The other day I was watching their latest one with drink driving, a guy drinking away, then in car accident, kills a kid, sitting in the police vehicle, a rescue guy giving him a "why would you do that" look.

Anyway my mind has wondered.. that add would not work here. Subtle, professional and something mainstream people can relate to is what you want. I mean seriously how many people have been in the Nyayo House or frequently express themselves like an orgasmic lunatic --->"...orgasmic smiling Kenyan lady about to take off for the Ozone Layer." lol I love this. I doubt anyone bought into their "Thank-you" except for Kibaki, that would be considered a mockery here and I don't think the average Kenyan including the mamas would've bought that either. Not in this day and age, just shows once again how outdated Kibaki & co are. Maybe that's what the reporter intended.

[Onyango Oloo]

Acknowledged!
Posted 1141026446 by Kuka (as usual)


Oloo, this is excellent. Before you happened around town - Nairobi, I didn't have the means to sometimes share these exposes' However, that is the picture and it is commendable.

CITIZEN has lately become credible and you can feel it from the pulse of those responding to highlights arising out of there.

Leading dailies sometimes want to share this news with their readership but cannot due to legal rammifications, adverts from GoK etc. So they pass these stories to their colleagues at CITIZEN who will carry them. Now when those concerned respond, it is easier for the mainstream to carry the response quoting the original piece.

Now following the cartoon issue of middle east denmark, this time round, leading TV stations had to black out KIBAKI senile headline fearing rebuttal from special police.

On www.radiokatwe.com, they also discussed Museveni health and medication.

I believe Kalonzo went to State House. I have watched him since then. I have listened to responses from State house and Kalonzo. Why is Kalonzo panicking for the Hot Seat? Why is he presenting himself as desperate ? Anyhow thats another debate. Why didn't he attend Jaramogi memorial? We are watching him.

Let me now read your link.

[Onyango Oloo]

Posted by: kip Today, 01:54 AM

I wonder how long will a senile president lead the country... it’s sickening too that people like kalonzo thought clean are so naïve only driven by the desire to be in the SH, it’s not surprising that the dude passed out when he knew his movements had been exposed. Moi must have pulled some strings on this, knowing his weakness.

Posted by: Kamale Today, 04:26 AM

If you went to Buffet Parkor even Pizza Garden, you will hear these same rumours repeated day in and out. So when a not too self respecting rag such as the citizen writes some of these things, you can only take them seriously at your own peril.

If you asked me, this is a follow up of the call by Magara after the Valentine's day storming of parliament for Murage to resign or be fired. The fact that he is a threat to many people outside of Kibaki's circle is reason for some to want him out. Perhaps the only truth about the entire report is that Kibaki trusts Murage more than any one else when it comes to policy matters....and this is not a rumour!!!

[Onyango Oloo]

From: Joe Kihara Munugu <jmunugu@...>
Date: Mon Feb 27, 2006 2:45 am
Subject: Re: Weekly Citizen Expose Kibaki?

Onyango,

Thank you for that big report. It gives those of us far away from home an aperture to peep, if you will, into the core of Kenya's power. Greatly appreciated.

[adongo12345]

Thanks OO, I was wondering why Kibaki and his people went berserk over the Citizen thing considering the "Alternative" papers have all sorts of stories every day. Now I know.

I have not had the time to go through the whole thing. I am attending a boring meeting all day, I'll print it and read it there and make some comments later.

However I was struck by this nonsense from Mutua



Oduor Ong'wen has an article posted here on Jukwaa by Miguna regarding this ad and I was trying to imagine what it looks like.

I am truly appalled by it. Ong'wen's piece is eloquent enough on the falsehood of claims about Kibaki "opening" democratic space for Kenyans. Those who haven't read the piece should. It is quite forceful and very relevant to the debate about preserving the democratic gains Kenyans have made in the last 2 or so decades at a great price including the loss of life to many Kenyan patriots.

What surprises me about the ad is the sheer crass nature of it all. You would think if these guys wanted to say something about the horrors of Nyayo House Torture Chambers they would consult with the hundreds of Kenyans like Ong'wen himself who survived the heinous crimes committed in there with the full knowledge of people like Kibaki who was then the Chairman of the National Security Committee, which had to approve these things.

In the picture I see a very healthy guy tied with plastic ropes (the ones often used by American soldiers in Iraq) at the back. Boy how I wish we could enjoy that robust state of health when we chilled in that joint. Folks there were literally bare bones because food was rationed like medicine in that forsaken place. Nobody to the best of my knowledge was tied with ropes, certainly not plastic ropes. Those dudes simply beat people to a pulp and left them lying on the floors. The had no patience with stuff like ropes.

The real story in Nyayo house was the swimming pools. This is a tiny room filled with dirty water where people would stay for days with no food, no water (ironically) and no access to the toilet. Meaning sometimes you had to do your thing in the same water you were supposed to sit and sleep in. Most people were practically out (like fainting, collapsing, losing breath or in the case of one Karanja just dead) I did five days and have no memory how I got out.

In my view it diminishes the tragedy of state terrorism practiced in Nyayo house by coming up with fictitious pictures that does no justice to the experience of the survivors and the victims who never made it.

And then to add to this insult, Mutua and company have the gall to show that picture of the free image of Kenyans who allegedly thanks to the same Kibaki (Chairman of the National Torture Committee) are celebrating the Kibaki given "democratic space".

I am glad that Mutua has been taken to task about his silliness. Personally I would like to slap him and probably will some day. We don't need his silliness. I was also encouraged by a piece by Maina Kiai the other day still fighting to do something with the Nyayo House. From what everybody can see, we have bigger fish to fry right now and time will come to do justice to the memory and contributions of Kenyans to free the Nation precisely from the likes of Kibaki.

Adongo

[veritas]

The press should just ignore Kibaki. Conjuring up conspiracy in place of Kibaki who should be clearing up matters is not worth the risk. He’s a president not a king. These leaders thrive on attention and popularity, Kibaki will be reminded of that come election time. There are too many things going on in this world to pay attention to ignorant and inactive people like Kibaki president or not. The press should focus on active people, I personally don’t wanna read anything about Kibaki. I don’t acknowledge him anymore as Kenya’s president, I tell my family and friends Kenya currently doesn’t have a president.

[Onyango Oloo]

From: "awuorblaise" <awuorblaise@...>
Date: Sun Feb 26, 2006 8:30 pm
Subject: Re: [africa-oped] Did The Weekly Citizen Expose Kibaki?

Rev,

Kenya has over 60 political aprties, mostly brief-case parties. How different would an extra one be ..., or asked differently, IN MOI-SPEAK, what value-adding will it bring to the sufurias and plates of hungry households up and down the country?

I ask this becase, even at 2002 elections, numerous party-owning individuals, including some who had made newspaper headlines declaring to contest presidential elections, were later to jump off to other parties - like SDP - to contest parliamentary seats!

Recall SPARK? Recall PPP? There is a BIG problem in Kenyan politics: people form and own briefcase parties, yet when push comes to shove at election-time, they jump ship from their own parties to contest on the tickets of other (equally insignificant) parties! as the Tanzanian (-turned Kenyan) Mzee Leonard Mambo Mbotela would say ...:
Jee, Huo ni ungwana kweli?

So if OO wants to form a party - and that is his constututional right that we must defend with every ounce of our blood - but he would better be planning to use it to contest Kenyan elections ...rather than hop-off it and use other parties' tickets to run for public office!

... it is like Muite leaving Safina to run on NARC ticket, which I believe he will do in 2007 (if he is not yet jailed in lieu of the criminal case he lost in 1996 but his friends like Kiraitu have been 'slowing down' to great injustice to the plaintiff!)!

I trully hope whichever party our OO forms will not turn into another SPARK, PPP, or the over 60+ morribound political parties!

Blessings!



+Fr.

[Onyango Oloo]

From: Kuria-Mwangi <kjmwangi@...>
Date: Sun Feb 26, 2006 9:33 pm
Subject: Re: [KOL] Re: [africa-oped] Did The Weekly Citizen Expose Kibaki?

Oh, is OO going to form the political party he is talking about? Then joining Uhuru's KANU? Then I think you have cause to get worried:)

We actually need to reduce the political parties not add others as OO may be trying to do. Here again we are on the same plane. Where is Bob-K now? I hope he is not planning to be OO's treasurer.

On the question of why no Luo has been a minister of finance, I guess they dont trust them with finances:)

Kuria

[Onyango Oloo]

More Views from Mambogani, Politics Section:


Posted by: dante Today, 05:07 AM

What comes out in all of this is that the kenyan public are mere spectators when it comes to governing the country.time has come for a new and real 2nd liberation.all politicians dating back to the kenyatta era should be removed by the masses to pave way for a new,visionary,ethical,youthful and God-fearing leadership that is untainted by any traces of the 3 regimes during independence.

And by this I don't mean the likes of Ruto(Y92 infamy) or uhuru(immoral ownership of huge tracts of land and other vices),gideon moi(don't even go there) sons and daughters of (in)famous politicians,Odinga and cohorts(are not saints by a long short),mudavadi,ole-ntimama(tribalist of the highest order.instigated the infamous riftvalley clashes) and the rest of the political elite.

Am talking about a completely new and refreshing political dispensation with people who are unheard of and are not remotely associated with the current trash of people who are hypocrites,sycophants,unprincipled,greedy and other things.

Posted by: Mtaalam Today, 09:02 AM

Kamale,

Panapo ficha moshi, pana moto.

[Onyango Oloo]

The wind whispered to me:

"Psst. Shhh. Oloo...Awori may be fired before the end of this week..."


oo
nbi

[Onyango Oloo]

jukwaa.proboards58.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1127871596

[maina]

admin said:

The wind whispered to me:

"Psst. Shhh. Oloo...Awori may be fired before the end of this week..."


oo
nbi

Oloo,
This is actually true! I heard this scuttlebutt almost three weeks ago and it is indeed machinated no doubt by none other than the DP. By the way, whenever I talk about the DP, I mean the “old guard” as you benignly referred to them. I heard that as a climacteric method to somewhat portray Kibaki as poised and instructed in the face of the mess he has supervised as President, and also with the firmness and premeditation to somehow retain power until 2012, the DP will have the President fire Awori and replace Wako anon.

A lot of folks reason that since the Murungarus, Mwirarias, Kiraitus, et al are faithful to Kibaki and have been with him in the DP since its inception, they will categorically continue to be influential and survive politically. Such folks forget that in politics, no matter how much one pretends (in this Kibaki), one will always stick to his/her cause because one cannot simply live a lie! Thus, these folks need to re-examine the President and his doctrine thoroughly.

I have said it here in Jukwaa a jillion times that Kibaki does not care about any of these faithful and crazy loons! He is characteristically mortally steadfast to ultra conservative doctrines. In other words, he is a reactionary faction extremist! That is why his real clique (the Muthaiga connection) is all about beautiful people and old money. Categorically, that is squarely what the supreme DP lineup and schedule is all about. That also explains why Kibaki is most comfortable around the real DP!

Halafu another earful from some back-fence-talkers I got is that there will be a major shake-up of politicos in Nairobi, Rift Valley and Coast provinces (but peculiarly in Central Province). Besides this foment of vice acting as way to consoldate his presidency, it will also be implemented because Kibaki needs to somehow look good and acceptable before 2007. There is actually a scheme in the works to somewhat “revive” him singularly by goosing us (the citizenry) into approbation. For instance, you should shortly begin to hear him being addressed as “the President” as opposed to just Kibaki! In essence and importantly also, the DP “old guard” will resultantly benefit from their images today being whitewashed in the process. They will seemingly spend presumptuous cash to accomplish this end since their names and images are supposedly important to them. The actualization of all this; Kibaki will not appear as a mishief-maker and looter because he and his friends have a lot of money to even spend garishly on the mwananchi and his/her projects.

I pity that mwananchi!

Maina.

P.S.
About Musyoka, I also heard that he indeed visited State House. There are some DP brains here in the US who I heard “whispering” just that! I also heard that Awori = Wekesa and Wako = Muchemi in the "smoke" and "fresh air" to come, respectively..................again, these are merely bruits!


-unedited-

[aeichener]

adongo12345 said:

I am glad that Mutua has been taken to task about his silliness. Personally I would like to slap him and probably will some day. We don't need his silliness.

Hmmmmm... he looks like Alfred E. Neuman, he has the same mimics, and he is approximately as intelligent ("What - me worry?").

Alexander

[Onyango Oloo]

NEWS

Kibaki allies plan to form new party

Story by EMMAN OMARI and DAVID MUGONYI, Daily Nation
Publication Date: 2/28/2006


A number of President Kibaki's allies have taken the first steps towards forming a new political party in readiness for the next General Election.

President Kibaki
Final plans that will eventually lead to the registration of a new party will be thrashed out at a meeting of MPs in Nairobi tomorrow. It has been suggested that the proposed party be named Narc-Kenya.

Water minister Mutua Katuku confirmed to the Nation that the idea of revitalising Narc, with probably a new name, was mooted by some MPs during a retreat in Nakuru two weeks ago.

"For me, I belong to Narc and what we are pushing for is fresh elections in the party. Those who are looking for Narc-K are looking for alternatives and I wish them well," he told the Nation when contacted on telephone from Abuja, Nigeria where he is attending a conference.

The latest development, which could mark the last phase of the National Rainbow Coalition party's disintegration, also coincided with Health minister Charity Ngilu's National Party of Kenya moving to the Electoral Commission (ECK) to register a party symbol.

Party symbol

ECK chairman Samuel Kivuitu has accepted the NPK application of February 15 and gazetted it in the Kenya Gazette last Friday.

The registration of NPK's party symbol – an open book – could be a strategy by the Ngilu camp to get ready for next year's elections in the event that Narc will no longer be useful in sponsoring candidates.

Narc suffered a huge setback when the Liberal Democratic Party luminaries Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Najib Balala, among others, walked out after they spearheaded a government defeat during the November 21 referendum on a new Constitution.

NPK's move to register its own symbol suggests further schisms in Narc. It also leaves Local Government minister Musikari Kombo's Ford Kenya and the Democratic Party as the only remaining big partners.

Contacted yesterday, Narc secretary general Fidelis Nguli, who with Mrs Ngilu are the registered officials of Narc, said: "Everyone came to the coalition with a party. We have heard that they want to form a new party and we must take precautions."

On the formation of a new party, he said: "Even if they register Narc-K, where will it take them and how far can they go with it?"

Mr Nguli thinks that the formation of Narc-K would only lead to splitting further the DP, which would leave Mr Kombo's party to pursue an independent course in the next election.

"If they register it, they should know that they will be compounding their problems. It will split their DP," he said.

Nonetheless, the idea of forming a new party, to be used as a vehicle in 2007 elections, has been on the cards, especially among MPs from Central Kenya who believe that the DP is not a viable vehicle for them to use in 2007.

The MPs view themselves as "political orphans" since President Kibaki is on record as having said that, there was no DP and that after the coalition, the only existing party was Narc.

In a meeting in Naivasha last month, Education assistant minister Kilemi Mwiria said MPs from the region were looking for a party to use in the next elections.

He went on to say that discussions on the new arrangement were ongoing and would be announced after exhaustive consultations.

During the Nakuru meeting where a committee of 24 MPs was formed, MPs from Ford Kenya and Ford People were reported to be unhappy that their colleagues were trapping them into endorsing a resolution to form a new party.

During the meeting, sources indicated that Roads and Public Works minister Simeon Nyachae objected to it, arguing that while Ford Kenya had Mr Kombo and Ford People had himself as spokesmen, there was no clear leader to speak on behalf of Narc.

It was suggested that the DP should clean its house first before discussing the formation of a coalition.

Yesterday, the minister for Information and Communications, Mr Mutahi Kagwe, said he would await the outcome of the committee's recommendations.

"I hope it will be for the best for Kenya," he said.

MPs Muchiri Gachara, also the chairman of the Central Kenya Parliamentary Group, Elias Mbau and Alfred Nderitu were silent about the plans, although they confirmed that they required a strong party for the next elections.

Although Mr Nderitu said the Nakuru meeting addressed the issue of strengthening Narc, Mr Mbau said other MPs were of a different view.

"There could be some reservations about strengthening Narc considering that it was formed by two parties – NAK and LDP," the Maragwa MP said.

Mr Mbau said some MPs felt that LDP could still claim ownership of Narc, prompting the need for a totally new outfit.

However, Mr Nderitu said LDP had decamped for good and its agenda could not be brought back to the table during discussions for a new coalition.

Information assistant minister Koigi Wamwere said he was not aware of the plans. However, he added that there was nothing wrong if individuals wanted to form a party.

Mr Wamwere said: "There is freedom of association (and) if anybody wants to form a party like that, they are entitled to it. It is just one more drop in the ocean."