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Post by job on Mar 28, 2012 16:17:47 GMT 3
Nereah
Eugene is very likely to win his seat back as an MP but he is of little clout in greater bukusu politics. The wamalwa name is known but that was his brother and it is but a whisper in peoples lips. Anything louder than that, well, it could be blown with the wind.
That said, it is currently very tricky to lick a finger and point it in the air to judge where the political winds are blowing in Bukusu land. Gemagema, Politicalmaniac and Omundu,1. Is the Bukusu electorate satisfied they got worth their backing of Kibaki in 2007? Did they receive commensurate spoils and access to State largess? May be there's a Super Highway around Webuye that I missed. Probably coffee loan write-offs (doled in Central) were similarly extended to sugarcane farmers in Bungoma. May be the greatest regional employer (Panpaper Mills) and local industries were subsidized to safeguard local jobs and economy. Even before this inconsequential eleventh-hour reshuffle, are the Bukusu indeed satisfied they are seated at the High table they voted in; or are they looking in from outside the window (in the rain)? 2. What is the electorate take on Nancy Baraza's kicking-out as Deputy Chief Justice - a position that should otherwise be guaranteed almost life tenureship (thus incomparable to whimsical and short-lived ministerial appointments like Wamalwa's). 3. If Wamalwa's ministerial elevation was meant to placate for the Nancy Baraza booting and Wetangula's demotion; is the electorate now pacified back to toe the line?4. Does the electorate see Wamalwa as a Mt. Kenya mafia poodle; whose main role is to scatter the greater Luhya vote and give muthamaki a chance to fuata nyayo ya Kibaki; or the best thing since slice bread - a hero in the mould of Masinde Muliro?5. Does Wamalwa read anything from Wetangula's own tribulations (swinging from a fierce Kibaki fighter right from KICC; Kibaki rep at the Serena talks; Kibaki supporter in cabinet and parliament; into hounding, humiliation and ultimately demotion)? Has anyone noticed the surreptitious and silent attempt to decimate Ford-K and it's Chair Wetangula (akin to Kombo's tenure). In Kisii, Ford-P's decimation in lieu of PNU is almost complete (see elevation of PNU/KANU's Ongeri to Wetangula's position). Please offer an insiders view from Ford-K lens? Watu wa ODM na PNU munyamaze!
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Post by mwalimumkuu on Mar 28, 2012 16:23:21 GMT 3
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Post by job on Mar 28, 2012 16:26:43 GMT 3
Thanks for your fantastic insight; and URP perspective!
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Post by Omwenga on Mar 28, 2012 17:02:05 GMT 3
CABINET RESHUFFLE: Balala sacked, Eugene Wamalwa (Justice), Ongeri (Foreign Affairs), Mutula (Edu), Mwazo (Tourism), Wetangula (Trade), Githae (Finance), Mwakwere (Env), Jamleck Kamau (Nrb). Balala is now shamelessly whining about being sacked, www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000055066&cid=4&. Others are predictably trying to make this a Muslim or Coast issue when it's neither. Retired veteran journalist Mohamed Warsama shared the following SMS he says he sent to Hons. Anyang Nyong’o, Hassan Joho, Kalembe and others expressing his apparent displeasure with the removal of Balala from the cabinet and not appointing someone else from Mombasa to replace him: “ This is no longer a partisan issue. It is an issue affecting the whole Mombasa Community. We must stand as One People for our rights, not beg for them. If all other big towns have Ministers in the Cabinet, it goes without saying Mombasa also must have its share of Cabinet jobs. The era of standing with a cap in hand and begging for crumbs from the table is gone for good. Raila’s action will strengthen MRC’s hand in its campaign for Pwani Sio Kenya!” In response to Mohamed, I said as follows: We need to move Kenya from where appointments to the Cabinet and other key positions are made on account of connections with the appointing authority or on account of tribe or community as is the case now to where appointments are made on account of merit, period. The constitution provides for regional, not town or city balance. By your formula, each “big town” must be represented in the cabinet. What about small towns? Are the citizens who live in those towns not Kenyans whose interests should also be represented in the cabinet? This is a slippery slope argument you really should abandon. I expect you and all of us to call for appointments based on merit and fitting the requirements under Chapter Six of the constitution for if you start going the road of seeking appointments based on any other criteria, you will be taking our country back to where we have been and should never return to. Also, I know its hard for some but try and separate church from politics. I like what the former Chief Kadhi Sheikh Hammad Muhammad Kassim said some time ago to Muslims and that is, “choose leaders who would champion the interests of the community…Let us vote in leaders who have our interests at heart.” This is obviously counsel that applies to all Kenyans, not just Muslims. Let us chose leader who would champion our collective interests, not their own interests or the interests of a few. That is the criteria and I hope you and all others can join in pushing it as opposed to others which promote nothing but division and/or hatred. As for the sacking of Balala, it was long overdue. No party leader can tolerate a person who constantly badmouths him or her and shows no loyalty even to the party itself for as long as Raila did. Balala is now whining about the sacking which he must be a moron of the decade if he didn’t see it coming yet he is moronically invoking his religion and other nonsense to try and paint Raila in bad light and try to gain sympathy. Sometimes one really wonders how dumb some of these politicians can be or do they think Kenyans are so dumb as not to see their shameless idiocy? The following responses in the Standard Online where Balala’s shameless whining is reported say it all: On Wednesday March 28, 2012, 12:48 PM , Elizabeth Langat, Kenya wrote: By his own words & actions he quit ODM long ago, that makes him the one betrayed Raila & ODM. Parties are like families, they have heads. When one starts disrespecting the head (& family) while benefiting from it, how long should he be tolerated? If he had any integrity/principles as claimed he would have left long ago without casting aspersions. His are mere infantile tantrums 2. On Wednesday March 28, 2012, 12:43 PM , Wamiti Jemedari., United States wrote: So Mr. Balala you needed the post that much that you are now crying and whining after all the show-off and chest thumping? Whoever said that you know the importance of something when you lose was right. 3. On Wednesday March 28, 2012, 12:36 PM , Hassani, Kenya wrote: Hon.Balala please do not drag Muslims into your predicament. We are tired of selfish leaders like you misusing Islam for your own financial benefits. You did not involve us when signing so do not involve us now that you are jobless. 4. On Wednesday March 28, 2012, 12:34 PM , Peter Otieno, Kenya wrote: I thought the pact with moslems was valid as long as Balala was in ODM. Raila has no obligations to non-ODM MPs that Balala was before being sacked. It’s Balala who sacked himself by leaving ODM, and making noise about it. if anything is he the only moslem?, and what proportion are moslem voters of Arab origin at the coast? 5. On Wednesday March 28, 2012, 12:31 PM , Mag Piny, Uganda wrote: Just wait for next elections mweshimiwa. No need for bickering. 6. On Wednesday March 28, 2012, 12:27 PM , Sylvan, Kenya wrote: “…prompting the leaders of his faith to prevail upon him to sacrifice his presidential ambition in 2007 and support the PM”. Deep down you know your presidential ambition is not a threat to anyone. My Turn omwenga.com/2012/03/28/the-sacking-of-balala-is-a-non-issue-and-those-trying-to-make-it-one-are-simply-off/.
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Post by mzee on Mar 28, 2012 17:52:34 GMT 3
Balala has been thrown out of every place he worked eg as mayor of mombasa, minister in NARC government and now. He must be doing something wrong. It's up to him to correct whatever wrong he is doing.
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Post by toddo on Mar 28, 2012 18:52:22 GMT 3
Balala has been thrown out of every place he worked eg as mayor of mombasa, minister in NARC government and now. He must be doing something wrong. It's up to him to correct whatever wrong he is doing. You are so right mzee! As much as he performed well in his position as Tourism minister, his political calculations are very poor to say the least.
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Post by jakaswanga on Mar 28, 2012 18:58:12 GMT 3
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."~Charles Dickens. In other words, this is A Tale of Two Interests. Which interest in Kenya, given that it can not be the national interest, is best served by guaranteeing that exclusively feeble material gets into the most powerful portfolios? Just for starters, I conseder the quality of the following men inferior, with respect to the challenges their offices bring. Eugene Wamalwa, Githae of Finance. PLO [anti-corruption Czar] was of course a tragedy I have barely recovered from. Meanwhile Iteere of the police is still waiting for somebody to tell him there is need to investigate forged documents tabled in parliament! forgeries which have already led to a diplomatic storm in a tea-cup between Kenya and the UK! How do people like Iteere run anything, even their own farms, leave alone a police office! The top-cop sent 40 armed officers to arrest a cosy blogger! Recently the AG, a professor at law by Kenyan standards, in the face of calls for the resignation of Uhuru & Muthaura after their indictment by the ICC, made a distinction between private and public persona which, outside Kenya, would make the universities whose fellowships he holds, disown him and recall their association with him. Ongeri now of foreign affairs, is the man who presided over the massive theft of grants from Britain, and the taxpayer has been forced to foot the refund bill. His integrity or adminstrative skills do not match the minimum I would recommend for performance indices. Jim Orengo, the ostrich who has never heard of the Ndung'u report, nor the primacy of land reforms in an economy in unstable transition, I have disparaged enough in past posts. His intransigence in pushing forward the progressive land agenda, will be a good reflection of the expected intransigence of Eugene Wamalwa in pushing forward the progressive agenda, as far as the new constitution goes. So what is it that Raila supervises and co-ordinates really? This band of state sponsored scoundrels? At his paycheque I insist on knowing. And if no answer nor rationalization is forthcoming, then I declare him a conman -- like the bankers who took bonuses even as their banks were nationalised to prevent bankruptcy. [Some euro finance ministers at public pressure have fixed some emergency laws to recover those bonuses!] So maybe the GCG gang should pass a forward looking law, to guarantee themselves immunity from future prosecutions on the grounds of having misappropriated public funds, in the sense of high pay for sub standard service. I have seen a government in Asia backdate an anti corruption law by 15 years and recover nearly 8% of her GDP! -- with PUBLIC backing! So pass your amnesty law quick, you thieves in parliament. Don't say you were not warned! The future is bad, ruthless and uncertain.
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Post by nowayhaha on Mar 28, 2012 19:21:25 GMT 3
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Post by jakaswanga on Mar 28, 2012 23:11:31 GMT 3
Thanks for your fantastic insight; and URP perspective! mwalimumkuu,Your stocks are heading the wrong way! You are giving teachers a baaaad name. Kibaki welcomes Eugene to the cabinet. Ha ha! The cabinet which has failed to meet for when is the last time you heard of a cabinet position on anything? I expect more from your critical faculties than the quack of an animated Walt Disney duck! And that is the politest way I can think of saying it. Will you please mind the pride of our profession? ama ulibadilisha kazi, ukakuwa mtumua?
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Post by gemagema on Mar 29, 2012 14:34:25 GMT 3
Nereah
Eugene is very likely to win his seat back as an MP but he is of little clout in greater bukusu politics. The wamalwa name is known but that was his brother and it is but a whisper in peoples lips. Anything louder than that, well, it could be blown with the wind.
That said, it is currently very tricky to lick a finger and point it in the air to judge where the political winds are blowing in Bukusu land. Gemagema, Politicalmaniac and Omundu,1. Is the Bukusu electorate satisfied they got worth their backing of Kibaki in 2007? Did they receive commensurate spoils and access to State largess? May be there's a Super Highway around Webuye that I missed. Probably coffee loan write-offs (doled in Central) were similarly extended to sugarcane farmers in Bungoma. May be the greatest regional employer (Panpaper Mills) and local industries were subsidized to safeguard local jobs and economy. Even before this inconsequential eleventh-hour reshuffle, are the Bukusu indeed satisfied they are seated at the High table they voted in; or are they looking in from outside the window (in the rain)? 2. What is the electorate take on Nancy Baraza's kicking-out as Deputy Chief Justice - a position that should otherwise be guaranteed almost life tenureship (thus incomparable to whimsical and short-lived ministerial appointments like Wamalwa's). 3. If Wamalwa's ministerial elevation was meant to placate for the Nancy Baraza booting and Wetangula's demotion; is the electorate now pacified back to toe the line?4. Does the electorate see Wamalwa as a Mt. Kenya mafia poodle; whose main role is to scatter the greater Luhya vote and give muthamaki a chance to fuata nyayo ya Kibaki; or the best thing since slice bread - a hero in the mould of Masinde Muliro?5. Does Wamalwa read anything from Wetangula's own tribulations (swinging from a fierce Kibaki fighter right from KICC; Kibaki rep at the Serena talks; Kibaki supporter in cabinet and parliament; into hounding, humiliation and ultimately demotion)? Has anyone noticed the surreptitious and silent attempt to decimate Ford-K and it's Chair Wetangula (akin to Kombo's tenure). In Kisii, Ford-P's decimation in lieu of PNU is almost complete (see elevation of PNU/KANU's Ongeri to Wetangula's position). Please offer an insiders view from Ford-K lens? Watu wa ODM na PNU munyamaze!Luhya politics are very interesting and like any other community, there exist different views from political analysts of exactly what is happening on the ground. Bukusu politics changed since the death of Muliro and Kijana Wamalwa. Under the two leaders, the Bukusu vote was very united, but after their demise, the community was thrown in groups. Kombo, Wetangula, Eugene have not and I doubt that any has the charisma to unite them Ford Kenya, the party Bukusus identified themselves with is currently in the pockets of Wetangula. When Ford Kenya held elections for chairman and the other offices in Nairobi last year, Wetangula just paid some money loving delegates to travel to Nairobi and vote. On the same day that he was made chairman, Eugene was hosting Ruto and Uhuru in a rally in Bungoma. Now, Wetangula’s event only had about 200 peoples, but Eugene’s rally had a massive attendance. If we should judge popularity by the numbers of people who attend rallies, then Eugene would come across as very popular. However, do not forget than many who attend Eugene’s rallies (which are normally in attendance by the ICC duo) may do so for the only reason of curiosity, idleness or to see Uhuru and Kenyatta. We all know that the duo attract a lot of attention Here on Jukwaa, perspectives on the situation of Luhya and Bukusu politics will very much depend on whichever camp the Jukwaaist belongs. Hence, their take on Luhya politics may not represent the case on the ground. However, if you follow Luhya online political discussion, mostly on facebook, you will realise that Eugene is more popular than Wetangula, especially among the youth. Also remember that the only case against Eugene, is that of being friends with the unwanted...but as for wetangula..he has got a lot of baggage. Foremost, he is a great thief..yet with even what he steals, there is not much he has done for his people. However, it is very clear that most Luhyas do not like Eugene’s cooperation with the G7. Eugene has been on very many occasions been heavily chastised for his relationships with G7 and Mungiki (Maina Njenga). Even with his new appointment as Minister, many are advising not to do what Uhuru would love him to do...so luhyas have warned him. But does he have the muscle to disobey Uhuru, who has given him the Bendera...only time will tell As for Mudavadi, he can only receive Bukusu support if he will be running for president in G7 or ODM...even though I doubt that will be the case. Remember that there exist an unfriendly and suspicious relationship between the Bukusu and the Maragoli. As of yesterday, there was a bukusu professional meeting which stated clear that if G7 front Eugene for presidency, then the whole bukusu community should support him...and sure enough they will. And if G7 dumps Eugene for Mudavadi, then Eugene should jump camp andl probably join ODM. All in all, regarding ODM..their situation in Bungoma and Trans Nzoia is not good. If Odinga does not come up with some crafty strategies, his luhya block is slowly getting chipped away. Bukusu’s are very excited about Eugene new position.
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Post by kamalet on Mar 29, 2012 16:01:54 GMT 3
Thanks for your fantastic insight; and URP perspective! mwalimumkuu,Your stocks are heading the wrong way! You are giving teachers a baaaad name. Kibaki welcomes Eugene to the cabinet. Ha ha! The cabinet which has failed to meet for when is the last time you heard of a cabinet position on anything? I expect more from your critical faculties than the quack of an animated Walt Disney duck! And that is the politest way I can think of saying it. Will you please mind the pride of our profession? ama ulibadilisha kazi, ukakuwa mtumua? Jakaswanga Do try and check out the available resources before making statements that would appear misinformed. You suggest that the cabinet has failed to meet for ( ?)....but the truth is that it still does meet and issue media briefs. So here is the brief for 15th March 2012: www.statehousekenya.go.ke/Nairobi, March 15, 2012
Cabinet media brief
Cabinet today met at State House, Nairobi, under the Chairmanship of President Mwai Kibaki and received a report of a five member committee that was mandated to investigate and find solutions to the perennial congestion problems at the Malaba border post.
The Committee reported that following government interventions there was a major reduction in congestion at the border post and a 40% reduction in congestion at the port of Mombasa.
Some of the steps taken to deal with the issue were the reshuffle and transfer of officers who had overstayed at one station and a reduction in corruption.
The five member cabinet committee will now make a follow up on their mission and will now be joined by the ministers for lands, tourism and environment to seek further ways of dealing with the issue on a long term basis.
The team will visit Mombasa with a view to implementing further steps to deal with congestion at the port. It will also seek ways of streamlining the general flow of traffic especially between the port, airport and Makupa causeway.
Cabinet underscored the need to deal with the congestion issue in a sustainable manner noting that operations at the port of Mombasa and the Malaba border post were closely intertwined and hence the need to address the congestion issue in a holistic manner.
In this regard Cabinet resolved to hold consultations with the government of Uganda with a view to expanding the 24-7 work schedule that is currently underway at the Port of Mombasa and Malaba border post.
Today's Cabinet meeting also welcomed the decision of the United Nations to re-hat the Kenya Defense Forces in Somalia under the wing of AMISOM. The Cabinet was briefed on the process of re-hating that will see Kenyan forces work closely with other AMISOM troops currently engaged in efforts to stabilize the Republic of Somalia.
The meeting also called for the fast tracking of the Counter Terrorism Bill to allow the country to effectively and systematically deal with acts of terrorism.
Cabinet also passed several bills aimed at significantly improving the economic and business environment in the country. The adoption of the bills comes soon after the city of Nairobi was ranked as one of the most competitive locations to invest new capital, in a survey done by the Economist magazine Intelligence Unit.
Bills approved were;
1. COMPANY'S BILL 2012 that provides for some of the most modern company laws in Africa. Among the proposals in the bill is the approval of one person company registration and the requirement that companies re-register once they move from being a public entity to private or vice-versa.
2. INSOLVENCY BILL 2012 that governs bankruptcy of companies. The bill proposes to transform the process of company receivership from one lengthy laborious process to one that gives a company under receivership the chance to revert to normal operations. It also gives clear guidelines and deadlines for the receivership process.
3. VAT Bill 2012. The bill has zero rated basic essential commodities such as maize and wheat flour, milk, bread and medical supplies. It also exempts goods and services for export from VAT and gives better dispute resolution mechanisms between tax payers and the KRA. The bill proposes the removal of withholding VAT, the filing of tax returns through ICT while the Minister for Finance will no longer have the provision for remission of tax. The Cabinet reiterated the need to make basic essential commodities affordable by the majority of Kenyans hence the decision to zero rate the goods.
The Cabinet also ordered the fast tracking of resettlement of the post election violence and forest evicted IDP's. The Cabinet noted that several farms had been approved for the resettlement of the IDP's and ordered that the resettlement begins as a matter of urgency.
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Post by jakaswanga on Mar 29, 2012 19:28:31 GMT 3
mwalimumkuu,Your stocks are heading the wrong way! You are giving teachers a baaaad name. Kibaki welcomes Eugene to the cabinet. Ha ha! The cabinet which has failed to meet for when is the last time you heard of a cabinet position on anything? I expect more from your critical faculties than the quack of an animated Walt Disney duck! And that is the politest way I can think of saying it. Will you please mind the pride of our profession? ama ulibadilisha kazi, ukakuwa mtumua? Jakaswanga Do try and check out the available resources before making statements that would appear misinformed. You suggest that the cabinet has failed to meet for ( ?)....but the truth is that it still does meet and issue media briefs. So here is the brief for 15th March 2012: www.statehousekenya.go.ke/Nairobi, March 15, 2012
Cabinet media brief
Cabinet today met at State House, Nairobi, under the Chairmanship of President Mwai Kibaki and received a report of a five member committee that was mandated to investigate and find solutions to the perennial congestion problems at the Malaba border post.
The Committee reported that following government interventions there was a major reduction in congestion at the border post and a 40% reduction in congestion at the port of Mombasa.
Some of the steps taken to deal with the issue were the reshuffle and transfer of officers who had overstayed at one station and a reduction in corruption.
The five member cabinet committee will now make a follow up on their mission and will now be joined by the ministers for lands, tourism and environment to seek further ways of dealing with the issue on a long term basis.
The team will visit Mombasa with a view to implementing further steps to deal with congestion at the port. It will also seek ways of streamlining the general flow of traffic especially between the port, airport and Makupa causeway.
Cabinet underscored the need to deal with the congestion issue in a sustainable manner noting that operations at the port of Mombasa and the Malaba border post were closely intertwined and hence the need to address the congestion issue in a holistic manner.
In this regard Cabinet resolved to hold consultations with the government of Uganda with a view to expanding the 24-7 work schedule that is currently underway at the Port of Mombasa and Malaba border post.
Today's Cabinet meeting also welcomed the decision of the United Nations to re-hat the Kenya Defense Forces in Somalia under the wing of AMISOM. The Cabinet was briefed on the process of re-hating that will see Kenyan forces work closely with other AMISOM troops currently engaged in efforts to stabilize the Republic of Somalia.
The meeting also called for the fast tracking of the Counter Terrorism Bill to allow the country to effectively and systematically deal with acts of terrorism.
Cabinet also passed several bills aimed at significantly improving the economic and business environment in the country. The adoption of the bills comes soon after the city of Nairobi was ranked as one of the most competitive locations to invest new capital, in a survey done by the Economist magazine Intelligence Unit.
Bills approved were;
1. COMPANY'S BILL 2012 that provides for some of the most modern company laws in Africa. Among the proposals in the bill is the approval of one person company registration and the requirement that companies re-register once they move from being a public entity to private or vice-versa.
2. INSOLVENCY BILL 2012 that governs bankruptcy of companies. The bill proposes to transform the process of company receivership from one lengthy laborious process to one that gives a company under receivership the chance to revert to normal operations. It also gives clear guidelines and deadlines for the receivership process.
3. VAT Bill 2012. The bill has zero rated basic essential commodities such as maize and wheat flour, milk, bread and medical supplies. It also exempts goods and services for export from VAT and gives better dispute resolution mechanisms between tax payers and the KRA. The bill proposes the removal of withholding VAT, the filing of tax returns through ICT while the Minister for Finance will no longer have the provision for remission of tax. The Cabinet reiterated the need to make basic essential commodities affordable by the majority of Kenyans hence the decision to zero rate the goods.
The Cabinet also ordered the fast tracking of resettlement of the post election violence and forest evicted IDP's. The Cabinet noted that several farms had been approved for the resettlement of the IDP's and ordered that the resettlement begins as a matter of urgency. Kamalet,Thank you amigo, for catching me when I was giving bloggers a baaad name! But help me some more. I was looking for a full photo of the cabinet meeting of 15th march --it is protocol to have one. And some beefs from my buddy Alfred Mutua. And the list of attendees and absentees, which is also standard practice. You see, I have these cheeky reports that cabinet only meets in series and by numbers! And some topics are no go anyway. That the kitchen cabinet meets regularly, is not in dispute!
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