Jared Oluoch Writes from Kenya on Nyamira NO Rally

[Onyango Oloo]

From: "nyakwarotiya" <nyakwarotiya@...>
Date: Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:26 am
Subject: Thousands turn up for NO vote in Nyachae home turf

as i write, thousands of residents of nyamira and ekerenyo are turning up in their thousands for a NO rally on the constitution bill being addressed by cabinet ministers raila odinga and najib balala and a host of 20 other mps, including but not suprsingly, ford people south mugirango mp omingo magara.

the larger gusii area is widely viewed as the bedrock of ford people leader simeon nyachae who commands a near fanatical following. but the huge turn out of nyamira residents in the peaceful campaign is a sharp contradiction of events in the run up to the last general election when ldp leader raila odinga received a hostile reception punctuated by stone throwing shortly after landing at the gusii stadium to drum up support for narc.

today`s political event will testify once again that although the residents of nyamira respect mr nyachae, their desire to have a constitution that captures their hopes and aspirations is more germane. it emphasises for the umpteenth time that on the review process, the genie cannot be put back into the bottle.

mr nyachae, who has never hidden his disquiet for mr odinga for breaking their promise to utter two words that catapulted mr mwai kibaki-now president mwai kibaki to the vanguard of power- yesterday appeared in various television channels, arguing in sophisticated terms that the YES team is poised to win.

might the latest events in the land of omogusii signal the early apotheosis of mr nyachae as the political barometer of that agriculturally rich region? it has been widely suggested in various quarters that mr nyachae is grooming his son- nairobi lawyer charles nyachae for his parliamentary seat. if it does happen, it may bring
into fore former health minister sam ongeri as the political star of that community.

several days ago, i thought and wrote in these mitambos that although public opinion is heavily tilted in favour of the NO team, it would be early for this group to uncork the champagne bottles. for, if a group of travellers were to set out on a journey from nairobi to kisumu by road, then on reaching kericho, branch into kericho tea hotel for celebrations, would it not be appropriate for them to wait and catch the glimpse of awasi, before breaking into
song and dance?

unedited.
n`otiya
nairobi

[kamalet]

This letter sounds as if it comes from a regular poster in this forum....who has in the past suggested that he may not be in Kenya.

This is a strange post......! Hopefully not one of your stalkers Oloo.

[Onyango Oloo]

Jared Oluoch is a bona fide, Nairobi based poster who is a regular on Kenyaonline(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kenyaonline/) and Africa-Oped (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/africa-oped/)- two excellent yahoo based forums by the way- who is very familiar to many netters through his periodic "Through the Key Hole" dispatches from nyumbani.

You are confusing him with one "JARED OTIENO" fake moniker for a very notorious demon poster over at Mashada.

I hope that clears up matters somewhat Kamale.

[Onyango Oloo]

Raila blasts Yes team for branding No group rebels


By Amos Mokua & Leonard Katela Kenya Times Reporters (carried in the Saturday, September 24th edition)

Roads and Public Works minister Raila Odinga yesterday tore into the leadership of the Yes campaign, accusing them of masterminding a plot of depicting those against the proposed constitution as rebels with an intent of toppling the Government.

Addressing a mammoth crowd in Nyamira, Raila said “Our aim is not to overthrow the Government but to champion for the rights of the ordinary mwananchi,” he said, amid applauds from the charged crowd.

The Roads Minister was reacting to accusations levelled against the Orange team by the Chairman of the Yes National Referendum Committee Simeon Nyachae that they were out to frog march the Government out of power.

Raila further cautioned the Provincial administration against buying the lies being perpetrated by Internal Security Minister John Michuki that they will be redeployed once the proposed constitution is enacted.

“Chiefs and D.C’s should not be cheated that they will be redeployed because government offices are already occupied with relevant people,” Raila said.

But in Makueni, the Yes group, led by Vice President Moody Awori and four Cabinet Ministers, suffered an early shock in Makueni after police were forced to repulse a group of No supporters who attempted to disrupt the rally.

And even after order had been restored, speakers in the low key rally were regularly booed as they made critical statements touching on the personalities of leading lights involved in the ‘No’ campaign. Security minister John Michuki remained adamant that the Provincial administration will remain intact even with the enactment of the proposed constitution.

Both rallies were characterised by a strong presence of the Police force, fully prepared for riotous crowds.

The Makueni rally was attended by cabinet ministers Ali Mwakwere, Charity Ngilu, Njenga Karume Joseph Munyao, Kalembe Ndile, Alfred Nderitu, Adeline Mwau among others.

The Vice President further reiterarted that the constitution debate should not divide Kenyans but instead be taken as a unifying process.

The Nyamira rally was attended by over 30 MPs including cabinet ministers Ochilo Ayako and Najib Balala, legislators David Koros, Charles Keter, Gor Sunguh, Reuben Ndolo, Henry Kosgei Joseph Kamotho among others. Notably absent was KANU chairman Uhuru Kenyatta, who was said to be engaged in personal affairs.

South Mugirango MP Omingo Magara absolved himself from criticisms that he was defying his party leader Simeon Nyachae by supporting the No campaign, saying he was merely exercising his democratic right.

But former cabinet ministers Sam Ongeri and Chris Obure were even more blunt, accusing Nyachae of misleading the Gusii community by supporting the Yes campaign.

[Onyango Oloo]

VP leads peaceful “YES” campaign

By Graham Kirwa ( Saturday, September 24, 2005)

A campaign to drum up support for the proposed new constitution ahead of the 21st November referendum ended peaceful at Wote town in Makueni with the leaders who included the Vice President Mood Awori calling on Kenyans to shun violence.

Awori refuted claims that the referendum would divide the country but instead said it would unite this nation once its adopted.

Internal Security Minister John Michuki said the government had delivered a new constitution and it was up to Kenyans to decide its fate through the referendum vote on November 21st.

Health Minister Charity Ngilu accused those who oppose the enactment of the new constitution of fuelling violence. Ngilu called on the youth not to accept to be used to cause chaos.

The meeting was addressed by six cabinet ministers and 7 members of parliament drawn mainly from Ukambani region.