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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 6, 2011 1:16:01 GMT 3
Lets get the name right. Its Mr Ogora not Ogolla. Correct this!
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 5, 2011 22:32:14 GMT 3
I just read this in the star. The new South Sudan Map includes some of Kenya's territory.
First, it was Uganda, then Ethiopia, then the goons in Somali, now, a state that does not even have an army has hived off sections of Kenya. Kibaki is still sleeping in State house. Since he took power, we have been a ridicule of states around us. My Ugandan friends bravely state that Migingo is there's. Museveni believes he can easily beat the Kenyan Army, thats why he refers to them as mere 'career soldiers'. When they hived Migingo off our territory, we rushed to Kampala for a 'political' solution. I interpret is as a cowardly solution.
Whenever the Merille slaughter the Turkana, we fly to Addis to beg for their withdrawal yet we cannot even send our soldiers to fend off these tyrants. Al shabaab is totally in control of parts of North eastern. Now S. Sudan has joined in the hiving frenzy. Orengo wants a 'political solution', another cowardly act I guess, or rather, a few government ministers and officials want free trips to Juba for 'negotiations'. Whats wrong with Kenya? We are a laughing stalk to our neighbors. If we cannot even defend our land, how are we going to defend ourselves?
Maps of the South Sudan published recently indicate the new republic's borders include a large chunk of Kenya territory. The maps are likely to cause tensions between Kenya and the newest country in the continent. Lands minister James Orengo yesterday attempted to downplay the situation when he told a parliamentary committee that the issue of the boundary between the two countries is "sensitive" and being urgently addressed by his ministry as well as those of Defense and Foreign Affairs.
Orengo told the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations that the government is aware of the new map which indicates that parts of Kenya have been hived off to be in South Sudan territory. Orengo declined to give the committee more information about the annexation unless they held the meeting in camera.
He said Defence minister Yusuf Haji and his Foreign Affairs counterpart Moses Wetang'ula should also be involved in the discussion. “If we are not careful, we will be losing territories every day,” Orengo told the committee. The committee has already commenced investigations into the encroachment by government of South Sudan and is expected to table its report once Parliament resumes.
Wajir West MP Adan Keynan said the border with Southern Sudan is one of the key reasons why his committee had summoned Orengo. “We have been on the receiving end from the Meriles of Ethiopia to foreign fishermen in the Lake Victoria,” said Keynan.
Committee member Raphael Letimalo, Samburu East MP, said he noticed GOSS had encroached upon Kenyan soil on a map he saw in Juba during the country's independence day in July. “I was there during the celebrations of independence in Juba and that is when I saw their map which has encroached into our territory, and I raised the issue there,” Letimalo said.
The accusations are likely to cause friction between Kenya and its northwestern neighbour which has over three decades looked to Kenya to provide sanctuary to hundreds of thousands of its people. Kenya played a critical leadership role in the negotiations that led to the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended the protracted civil war and culminated in February's referendum when South Sudan overwhelmingly voted to secede from the North.
Orengo told the committee that Kenya faces territorial problems with Somalia and Uganda since the boundaries are not clearly demarcated. Orengo said only the Ethiopian border was clearly demarcated through the initiative of President Jomo Kenyatta and Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie.
Orengo said the long-running dispute between Kenya and Uganda over the ownership of the Migingo Island may have to be referred to the International Court of Justice — the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Orengo said resolving the Migingo dispute requires political will and not just surveys by technocrats. He maintained the island is squarely in Kenya. “On Migingo, what is required is a political solution failure to which we will go to a tribunal or the International Court,” said Orengo.
The minister was accompanied to the committee meeting by Commissioner of Lands Zablon Mabeya, the Director of Land Adjudication and Settlements Esther Ogega among the senior ministry staff. Orengo told the committee that public land allocated to the Department of Defence had been hived off and sold to private developers and cited examples of land in Karen, Embakasi, Langata, Eastleigh and the Eldoret bullet factory.
He said the land had been sold off with the connivance of some military officers. He said land where the residence of the Vice President is being built was illegally acquired from the military. While the residence will not be demolished as it is for use by a public officer, Orengo said he had initiated the process of recovering the adjacent plots where palatial homes have since been built.
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 5, 2011 3:21:09 GMT 3
Hey guys, I got this from the Star. Although I do not fully understand the western politics, I guess Luhya's are discovering the anomalies with the G-7 line up. They seem to suggest to Eugene that he is being taken for a ride, which I agree with. The question is, what say you? Its my believe that the Luhya community, just like Kisii is one of the most unpredictable group politically. You never know how things will go. Anybody well conversant with the dynamics in the Luhya region?
The Western Elders Advisory Council yesterday demanded that presidential hopeful Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa stops associating with members of the G7 Alliance fronted by the Eldoret North MP Willam Ruto, DPM Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka. Council spokesman Lucas Watta said after long deliberations, the elders have resolved that Wamalwa dumps the G7 Alliance and instead begin working with the Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Deputy Prime Minister Musalia.
"Eugene's continued association with this group is counter productive....it can only serve to cause disunity at a time when we want to achieve unity and present a formidable team that is unbeatable in next year's election...he can no longer afford to be selfish and he must put the interests of people he wants to lead first," Watta said in Bungoma.
At the weekend Sports minister Paul Otuoma and Budalang'i MP Ababu Namwamba accused Wamalwa of working against the Luhya unity courtesy of his association with the G7 while Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang'ula said both Wamalwa and former Ford Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo had no stake in the alliance.
The advisory council is made up of elders drawn from the Luhya, Sabaot and Teso communities who have been involved in a series of consultations lately with their call coming after Cherenganyi parliamentary aspirant Musoke Muliro asked Wamalwa to check his presidential ambitions and re-align himself with the ODM.
Last week, Musoke said Wamalwa was being "misused" by the G7 Alliance to cause unnecessary divisions among the Luhya and needs to realise "he was only a decoy planted by the real leaders of the mooted alliance."These people will never support Eugene for the presidency when push came to shove," they said.
Mudavadi has gone on record telling leaders ''not to gamble with over the country's leadership by engaging in tribal politics... we must be careful, united and focused in a strong political party as small parties will simply not survive." Luhya Council of Elders chairman Patrick Wangamati has been tasked convene a meeting of the 24 legislators from Western to chart the way forward .
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 5, 2011 3:02:54 GMT 3
Koinange is trying to feed his family. In Kenya sometimes you have to forget your ethics if you want some Unga for your family. He has no choice but to articulate what the 'orders from above' dictate.
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 5, 2011 2:06:20 GMT 3
Guys, could you pose for a moment and rethink UK's performance at the Hague? This man was accompanied by one poppy cock Nguvai (whatever his name is) and UK's defense strategy should be analyzed in tandem with Nguvai's show. For one, UK did not score any goals here, all he did was to deny KANU's involvement with PNU when it came to issues related to Mungiki. The fact that he denied does not mean that the court agreed with him. He may disagree that Kawanja was not on his payroll but we all know that days leading to and after the last general elections, it was arguably difficult to make a clear distinction between KANU and PNU.
Next, Uhuru's response during questioning by the prosecution only amounted to arrogance and evasion, a strategy that the ICC judges can see right through. My judgement on his character then is that he terribly failed to veil his emotions, this could be interpreted as a way to avoid questions. He appeared like a man at war, out to murder Ocampo rather than exonerate himself.
Next, claiming that Raila was the man to blame did not dent the latter's image given that the same man denied culpability of Raila in the subsequent question. Infact, it may turn out to be that many people will see Raila as a victim of hate and propaganda from UK. This may accord him a few more sympathy votes. Further, just like Ruto's strategy, bringing in Raila does not in any way exonerate one from blame, in fact, it is an assertion that crime indeed did take place.
Now back to Nguvai's contribution- I read an interesting comment by someone of Facebook who summarized UK's defense in a single sentence and I quote ' Uhuru quickly scores 2 quick goals against ocampo, then hurriedly scores three more against himself through his defender Nguvai'. When you look at Nguvai's testimony, you could see his admission of meeting the gang, funding the gang, and the gang's request for connection with UK. He admits that he met them several times and each time they persisted with their request. He admits that he knew some of them by name and even had them on speed dial purportedly to enable him identify them when they call. Meaning, these were more of his friends than mere poor youth's who wanted a few coins for transport as he claimed. No MP wants to be associated with poor uneducated youths who constantly bothers him with monetary requests especially after an election.
He may have refused to link them up with UK, but its likely that he was actually the link, otherwise they couldn't have accused him of squandering their 3 million that UK provided. Nguvai was actually the main player in UK's defense as he divulged more incriminating statements that rendered UK's otherwise exemplary performance ineffective.
I could say that a subjunctive look at UK's defense that encompasses Nguvai's contribution could give us a more clearer picture on how he performed. Miguna's article though not overly biased captures only half the story. He may come up with another one this week on Nguvai's pathetic performance. Lets give give him a pass for now.
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 5, 2011 0:20:41 GMT 3
Opanga is certainly in the system. He no longer writes. He is simply a scribe for hire and whoever pays the most gets his services. Its a pity that such a talent is being wasted for personal purposes. But I do understand that Kenyan being a capitalistic state, you gotta put your mouth where the money is. Okwendo perhaps has realized that his days as a writer are numbered. He is probably preparing for his retirement. So he needs a bank account with many zeros.
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 5, 2011 0:15:02 GMT 3
Back in the days when I was growing, I remember you could not use any vulgar language against someone who went through a rite of passage earlier than you. So they could cajole you, abuse you, call you all sorts of names and you wouldn't say a thing. This was the norm. As I interacted with other people from other communities, I realized that not all of them followed what seems to be the norm in my community. So I took a couple of abuses from folks much younger than me and I dished out more to older folks. Factoring in the western influence made me realize that vulgar language is relative. African Americans for example call each other black person, but a white person cannot use that word. White people use all sorts of vulgar terms mostly in private and when drunk. We use all use these words to describe whomever we do not like. So whomever who feels like being called MF is way off is probably stuck in the old norms. In a rapidly synchronizing world, old customs and ethics are slowly giving way to one uniform society that does not care so much about tongue lashings. So long us that term does not kill you or injure you, shelf your emotions, keep them in check, soldier on, there are many more worse things that people can do to you other than calling you 'MF'
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 4, 2011 2:06:02 GMT 3
You are all wrong, Kenyan women need to step up. They should not look upon men for their survival. This idea that a man should be the provider is as old as the humanity, but we all know that times have changed. These same women speak of equality. They should work hard and make sure that they contribute equally so that in case the man passes, they wont have to suffer.
I have discovered that the work purportedly women do (housework) is very simple and can be done by men too and its actually very simple. I have actually done it. The only real work that we cannot do is carry a pregnancy. Women should have sound investments on their own just like their men do for cautionary purposes. Just like we should not look into inheritance as our right, women should certainly re-engineer themselves upon lose of a loved ones to take over the family and continue generating revenue for all rather than fighting over a few coins that the men worked hard to obtain. Wake up girls!
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 3, 2011 3:02:08 GMT 3
Instead of according her a state funeral, I believe Wangari's soul will be more happy to see 1 billion trees planted in Kenyan on her honor. That will be a true state funeral
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 3, 2011 2:54:25 GMT 3
Zambia may have voted in a new president, but it remains to be seen how different Mr Sata will be. He is known to have served as a minister in the last regimes for a long time. He just changed parties 10 years ago over disagreements with the then presided Chiluba. In my opinion, Sata may not over any new solution. He belongs to the old guard. Perhaps Zambians did not have an alternative. They just chose the better of two old guards.
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 3, 2011 2:32:48 GMT 3
This man Nguvai or whatever his name is admitted to have been funding an illegal organization the other day. These illegal organization is known to commit illegal acts including killing. He admitted that these illegal organization was in possession of firearms. Therefore, for Nguvai to order these organization to finish off someone who knew too much is not all that remote. It does not matter what the timeline was. I bet by the time Ogalla was Killed, Waki had already cleared his investigations or was working on it. It wouldn't be difficult for Nguvai to obtain the report or be privy to issues touching on his actions. We all know that when such commissions like Waki's are set up, the supporting staff are always people not well known. Perhaps Nguvai and his allies had moles within the commission. We know that Ocampo's investigations were largely based on Waki's work which was completed much earlier than Ocampo's input. Therefore, lets not base our reaction of Ocampo's, perhaps we should first find out whether Nguvai's name was in Waki's report. If it was, then its totally possible that he ordered the elimination of his beloved driver Ogalla who happened to have heard a little too much.
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Post by subsaharanite on Oct 1, 2011 23:35:26 GMT 3
September the 23rd 2011 became an important day to the 'snake kingdom' specially the Zambian venomous spitting king cobra, one Michael Sata conclusively took the big sit as a winner of a hotly contested presidential elections, thus figuratively ushering in the reign of the King cobra. For a man who was once a Police officer in the Zambian force and a London railway platform sweeper, victory did not come on a silver platter. Born 74 years ago, he has been involved in politics for over 45 years, having served the Zambian public in different political levels, more specially as one of the longest-serving ministers. His quest for the 'King' post started 10 years ago after his frustrations on the nomination of Levy Mwanawasa as the 2001 presidential candidate for movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party by the then outgoing Zambian Leader, Fredric Chiluba. He quit the party and formed the Patriotic Front (PF) in which he challenged Mwanawasa but lost miserably. He suffered yet another defeat in 2006 at the hands of his nemesis Rupiah Banda. The cobra slithered on to fight another day as evidenced by his recent triumph.
For a man who was once appointed to a portfolio-less ministry just because Chiluba wanted him to increase his influence within the then ruling MMD party, he has been described as a blustering, self-confident, politically cunning and forceful in character albeit lack of strategic thinking. While then, he his said to have had a following of thugs that controlled various public transport quarters. He could use these extortionists to bludgeon high-profile politicians who were against the then leader Fredric Chiluba. This 'populist poppycock', is known to take radical and sometimes ill-advised and decisions that more often than not cost him politically. In 2007, he excommunicated half of his party's parliamentarians over disagreements on the National Constitutional Conference.
He once promised to nationalize foreign owned companies and he is an ardent supporter of Mugabe and his land grabbing policies that have seen white Zimbabwean farmers lose their land. He particularly harbors a long-standing grudge against the ever influential Chinese presence in the Zambian economy more so their interests in mineral exploitation. He has however retracted from this stance notably for political reasons. He is remembered for being the principal force behind the Zambian constitutional amendment in the 1990's that saw former President Fredric Chiluba ran for presidency for a third term. He his believed to have done this in the hope of obtaining a political favor and support from the former, perhaps he expected Chiluba to endorse him as the party leader for MMD in the ensuing elections that could have most likely resulted in him becoming the next Zambian leader. As it came to pass though, Chiluba instead chose Mwanawasa has his successor.
Sata's, supporting cast is largely composed of experienced politicians who have weathered through the political dynamics in Zambia over the last four decades. These seemingly cunning politicians are willing to overlook Sata's, shortcomings for their own political survival. It remains to be seen whether the spitting cobra will reward these supporters with plum ministerial positions within his government. It is believed that he has received funding from Taiwanese donors, ostensibly for his anti-Chinese stand. The embattled Zimbabwean president is also thought to be one of his bankrollers as well as some corrupt Indian bank owner. Sata's age will most likely influence his choice of ministers; he is likely to select his age mates or those he deems ready to articulate his often not so brilliant political agendas. It is expected that young leaders will not be part of this team.
The reign of the King cobra might have started and we are already seeing its effects. First, the Zambian Kwacha lost ground against major currencies as foreign investors, particularly the Chinese and the Indians, fear lose of their already existing interests in Zambia following Sata's earlier statements. Everyone his taking a wait and see attitude. The venomous Cobra has already stroke its first political victim -Lusaka Province's MMD chairperson William Banda. The latter has been arrested over corruption related charges but it is clear that this one of the cobra's pollitical vendetta against the former regime. His predecessor Rupiah Banda, has expressed fears of his arrest. It is widely expected that Sata will arrest several members of MMD. The cobra's tongue has already spitted out a myriad commissions that will investigate corruption allegations that would most likely be used to convict his adversaries, more so in the outgoing government. His venom has spread to the Zambian central bank, firing its head who is widely touted for his monetary policies that saw stability and growth of the Zambian economy.
Sata's win largely aided by votes from young Zambians within the urban areas as well as poor country dwellers within the copper mining regions did not come that easy. He promised sweeping reforms that include raise in the minimum wage, jobs for the unemployment, distribution of 'Zambian wealth' justice and a corruption free regime. For a man known to be pragmatic owing to his down to earth and practical approach in execution, it is expected that he will quickly institute several directives that would appear to fulfill his promises. His vendetta with his political nemesis may also act as a derailment to the execution of his agenda. It is however expected that he will soon realize that meeting the electorate's demand will not be easy.
For a man who owes so much to the Zambian electorate that hold him as hope to a better future, it remains to be seen whether his actions will match his venomous tongue. He clearly has a gargantuan task before him. He obviously has no time considering his predecessor was only given five years. Sata might have metamorphosed from being an old, spent force within the past regimes into people's champion, but clearly, it wont take long before the real serpent brings forth its ugly head. His checkered past leaves many to wonder what to expect from a man who has been in the government for such a long time. Previous regimes may have tempered with the Zambian republic, but its my believe that if the King cobra decides to dance to the vendetta tune, he may have no time for improving the lives of the Zambian people. He should desist from posing for retaliatory sideshows. Rupiah and Chiluba are now in the past Zambians know what they stood for, lets see what a cobra can do otherwise come 2016, the public will force him to swallow his own venom.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 29, 2011 1:12:40 GMT 3
B6K
You are right,GOK, in principal is made up of two factions; Kifaction which also encompasses the KANU remnants and RAO's half loaf. But we all know the latter has limited access to the inner working and decisions of the GOK. This is well illustrated by the ministerial allocations. Whereas Odinga's side controls most physical and infrastructural ministries, Kifaction controls administrative and the finance units. In other words, Kifaction indirectly controls Odingas half loaf. So when I talk of the GOK, its I disagreeumption that we all know whose faction is in control.
Apart from MOBITELEA, GOK still has a major stake in SAFARICOM through TELKOM and if I were the MD of SAFARICOM, I would definitely listen to what my boss (GOK) says because it wont take Kifaction a lot of time to change a few laws here and there that would either fire me or change the business environment. Further, you only need one IT geek within the organization to effect Muthaura's or GOK's orders.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 27, 2011 22:42:50 GMT 3
We all know that a company like Safaricom that is partly owned by GOK will have to tore the line. We further know that the unknown shareholders of Safaricom are possibly government officials who arm twisted vodafone into allocating them 5% of the company as a kickback. This company clearly has and can engage in not so transparent deals. Safaricom therefore is a corrupt institution.
In a world where catastrophic events can occur at a click of a button, its not rocket science to make records of Muthaura's phone conversations disappear from Safaricom's servers with no trace. Lets be realistic. Phone records are not emblazoned on someone's forehead. Muthaura's grip is strong enough to have them expunged.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 27, 2011 22:28:05 GMT 3
This must be another tough stance taken by Ox2. Its good many of you contributed to this thread. The question is, have we solved anything? All I see is hardening of the position taken by admin. Additionally, he has flashed out his resume together with his past administrative assignments in a myriad of both fallen and existing forums. He seems to have the last word. After all, it seems he sets the member's 'democratic' space limits. Is there a possibility in the future for forum members voting on his unilateral decisions? Will allowing all sorts of topics and views be expressed herein make Jukwaa a popular forum? Is there a possibility of censoring him too or this is a taboo? Is there a possibility of other members voting on who should be suspended or not?
Its my believe that even people with extreme mundane thoughts or views on certain issues may not be doing so in order to willingly harm others' feelings. The least we can do is try make them understand our perspective. If suspending them achieves this, then let double O do it . If it doesn't, we actually solidify their positions. Perhaps double O should find another form of 'rehabilitation' for such members.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 26, 2011 17:29:31 GMT 3
Just read this from the DN, Whats up with Opanga, has he been paid again? Everyone has vilified him in their commentaries. I cant seem to make out what he is up. Again just like the OC6, he is kin to draw in PM in the frying pan that they are in. Opanga has been bribed before, I think he just been bribed again. His article displays raw arrogance and veiled anger akin to what Muthaura and UK's lawyers have been doing at the ICC.
International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has serious challenges with the evidence he has presented against the sextet suspected of masterminding Kenya’s post-election violence of late 2007 and early 2008.
For a man who promised to make Kenya an example; for a man in whom many Kenyans invested hope for justice; and for a man who never saw a media camera he did not like, the on-going confirmation hearings are a massive anti-climax.
The credibility of Mr Moren-Ocampo as an international prosecutor and of ICC as a global court of justice are at stake.
While previous criticisms of ICC as targeting Africans remain ill-informed, the court now faces the patently damning tag of an incompetent investigator.
That is pretty perturbing. Every lawyer, veteran or greenhorn, criminal or constitutional, will tell you that a prosecution is sustained or not, or that a case stands or falls, on the basis and credibility of the evidence presented and or adduced in court.
Again the lawyers will tell you that credible evidence is gathered from painstaking investigations.
Where investigators do a shoddy job that is sure to cost them a case. Indeed, the surest way to sabotage a prosecution is to carry out shoddy investigations.
Conversely, lawyers build their reputations from the way they gather evidence and interrogate and corroborate, and sieve and sift it.
Again, how lawyers assemble and interrogate witnesses builds or destroys their reputations as courtroom performers.
Notice that lawyers for Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta, postmaster-general Hussein Ali and Public Service head Francis Muthaura repeatedly taunted Mr Moreno-Ocampo, and boasted that they had, unlike the prosecution, carried out investigations.
What investigations did Mr Moreno-Ocampo carry out? He did not interview any of these three suspects and yet he knew pretty well that the Rome Statute demands he gathers and inquires into both incriminating and ameliorating evidence.
The prosecutor did not produce phone records to back up claims that the suspects made telephone calls, yet these are readily available from the mobile phone providers.
I am dumbstruck
All along I expected, nay, knew, Mr Moreno-Ocampo had these records! Alas, I am dumbstruck!
The prosecution has alleged the military ferried fighters to theatres of combat but produced no records to back up this. In government and military no vehicle leaves its parking lot, fuels and exits without the written say-so, complete with itinerary, from the bosses.
It is why I cannot believe Mr Moreno-Ocampo has not made these records available and, worse, appears not to have them. But remember he confidently dragged that most secretive of establishments into the murder of those it is supposed to protect.
Second, Mr Moreno-Ocampo made good use of the report of the Justice Philip Waki-led inquiry into the post-election violence.
In this report, Justice Waki, at every turn, recommended further investigations, but, it appears, Mr Moreno-Ocampo’s team had no stomach for such work.
And we were told the prosecution carried out investigations in Kenya. I am yet to see and hear their evidence.
I see neither smoking gun nor bombshell. Mr Moreno-Ocampo does not have the sextet over a barrel; he appears to be scrapping the barrel for evidence.
On Wednesday, as lawyer Steven Kay QC (Queen’s Counsel) graphically defended Mr Kenyatta as a preacher of peace and demonised Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a war monger, he sarcastically mocked the failure of the prosecution to investigate its own case.
How about Mr Moreno-Ocampo’s witnesses? When lenient the defence has derided them as anonymous. Otherwise, they have been depicted as hunting with the hounds and running with the hare, drunkards, nomadic fortune seekers and — wait for it — career witnesses.
I am not saying that the cases will not be confirmed. What I am saying is that it appears at this stage that Mr Moreno-Ocampo & Co have not amassed the kind of evidence to nail the suspects or, going forward, accused.
What would be the implications of Mr Moreno-Ocampo’s failure to nail the sextet? Whether this happens at this stage or the next, the reputation of the ICC, its prosecutor and evidence gathering processes would take a mighty — but richly deserved — hammering.
However, going forward, ICC would learn, improve and mitigate the damage. What it would never mitigate would be the dashed hopes invested in ICC justice by those who lost property and loved ones.
Politically, as I say, Kenya’s next General Election will be about the last General Election, which is what ICC is about.
Kwendo Opanga is a media consultant opanga@diplomateastafrica.com
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 24, 2011 6:28:28 GMT 3
One thing that is confusing is what is really killing the people. As you can see, all the deaths have been happening in central, Nairobi and section of eastern provinces and the drinks causing this havoc are bottled. From the nature of their deaths, you can tell that the major culprit is methanol whose physical characteristics are similar and often indistinguishable from ethanol - the good stuff. So someone is obviously either deliberately selling methanol to blenders or passing it out as ethanol . In most cases, both methanol and ethanol are byproducts from the sugar industries, notably Mumias, but ethanol has a ready market to clients like KWAL who further refine it and blend it to make various hard liqueurs.
Methanol on the other hand is cheaper as it has a limited market and unscrupulous dealers often obtain and sell it to those gutter bottlers who do not even test it before blending. These guys are so greedy that they do not even want to invest in simple detectors that can check out what raw materials they produce. They are blaming bar owners yet I'm pretty sure they know who owns the factory that bottles these drinks. They claim that alcohol is supposed to be bottled in glass bottles, yet those plastic bottles are particularly produced for particular brands of beverages by well known bottle blowers. We only have a bunch of plastic bottle manufacturers and they are well known. How comes nobody has arrested them or asked them to stop the manufacture of these bottles?
We have already seen the government purportedly arresting lorry drivers with different chemicals en-route to Kenya from Tanzania. Lets not be cheated; Tanzania is not the main source of methanol, Its our sugar industries. When I saw those TV clips whereby it was claimed that 40000 liters of methanol had been impounded on transit, I was disgusted by the lies they were peddling. For those of you familiar with the chang'aa manufacture can tell you that it was mere beer that had not been distilled to yield ethanol and maybe some methanol.
I bet what I am trying to say is that the real culprits are the sugar industries. They are the ones who sell methanol to unscrupulous dealers. Its not the Tanzanians. If indeed it was Tanzanians, then there should have been similar deaths down there and from what I know, Tanzanian government is more strict than Kenya's. We already have problems with Ugandans over Migingo, Al Shabab is causing chaos to our east while the Merille are busy slaughtering our people and increasing tension between us and Ethiopia to our north. We already have too much tension with our neighbors. Only Tanzania and South Sudan still remain. Lets not create tension with the Tanzanians over methanol which we know is produced here in Kenya.
Notably, we have not had similar death incidents from chang'aa brewing regions like Nyanza, Western and parts of the Rift Valley because these brewers know their recipes and use genuine raw materials in their processes. These people have been drinking chang'aa for a long time but you will never hear their women complaining of low libido unlike their central and eastern province counterparts. In fact, they're known for their high sexual octane. I suspect these people in central and eastern regions drink something other than mere ethanol. Its time we realized that impunity is killing us.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 21, 2011 23:27:47 GMT 3
Phil,
As usual, you display inexplicable anger in your writing. Calm down. Facts mixed with anger will not deliver the presidential ticket to ODM. If indeed you are part of the ODM propaganda group, then you need to shed the arrogance associated with ODM supporters a from a certain community in Kenya. Your work is to appeal to these other communities who have not yet joined the ODM bandwagon and they need more that raw arrogance and anger to convince. ODM may table out all facts and injustices that have been committed by their political nemeses to the electorate, but if it presents them in an acrimonious nature, the former would wish to stick to the devil they know than you know who.
Calm down, in a blog like this where political dreams and outcomes are predicted each and everyday, I wouldn't give the slightest hint of my true feelings to my enemy. Instead, I would hold my cards close to my chest as I smile at my enemy till I get what I want. That is what the Kikuyu have been doing all along and as you can see, they have ruled in Kenya for more that 25.
I repeat, elections will not be won on facts alone, minute details like demeanor play a major role on the outcome.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 21, 2011 5:19:45 GMT 3
I know Jukwaa has so many professionals. I would like to get in touch with process engineers preferably with those with advanced degrees. I have a small project back home that I would like to get some help. Thanks
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 20, 2011 5:49:16 GMT 3
Hey guys, watch this out. Watch the video from about 5 minutes on to see what Sonko did at JKIA. Impunity at a port of entry. How far Kenya can go on like this?
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 20, 2011 3:02:11 GMT 3
I hope Raila wont heed this illl advice that I believe is orchestrated by the PNU side of the coalition. This is the same strategy they used to alleviate the RV from ODM. PNU strategists having long known that Raila will handle the Mau deforestation head-on, they strategically placed that issue under his office since they knew that the RV legislatures wont be happy with it. Look at what happened next- Nothing. As soon as there were signs of Ruto severing links with ODM, they cut the funds to the project given that their objectives had been achieved.
They want to use the same strategy to alienate the Luhya from ODM knowing very well that they will be the beneficiary. In as much as Martha or Ngilu look like formidable candidates for a VP post, I doubt if that will translate to votes come 2012. In a race where a Uhuru is the candidate, no Kikuyu will vote for Raila/Martha ticket. Same with a Kalonzo ticket with Uhuru as VP vs Raila/Ngilu ticket. Raila should squarely stick with Mudavadi lest he risks being further alienated.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 20, 2011 1:37:16 GMT 3
EINSTEIN,
I did not state that I am the only political analyst. I can also tell that your thinking is old school - You believe that the longer you are in Jukwaa, the more better you get, akin to those leaders keen to keep the old order. Open your mind, I may have been here in a different name. You are the kind of people who believe that just because Eugene or Tuju are greenhorns, they shouldn't even be considered as presidential contenders and do not have a chance to Win. Let me remind you that Obama was worse than a greenhorn but as we speak, he is the commander in chief of the world's most sophisticated and advanced state. I tell you what, minds like yours are the one who are resisting regime change in Kenya. Do not judge me by my date of membership.
Further, I did not state that ODM does not have a sound political analytic team. It was my hope that they do. As a matter of fact, they may do. The question is, are they using their results the best way possible?
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 19, 2011 14:52:33 GMT 3
B6K Thanks! I wonder if they have a reality team. The propaganda seems to do a good job. I just hope they have a sound team of political analysts too.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 19, 2011 4:29:39 GMT 3
Phil,
From your reply I can already tell that you are an ODM sympathizer. Please be, many are. Its not a crime. Just do not eat, sleep and dream ODM all the time such that you fail to look at the dynamics going on in other political outfits.
For the second time, let me state that Odinga's choice to join KANU whether for the intention of changing it from within is nothing other than changing his political Ideal. It does not matter whether he dissolved his party and moved en mass to join KANU after negotiations which I believe did not even take place because they did not even form the so called 'New KANU.' KANU remained the same old 40 year old party with a Jogoo as their symbol and the name 'new' was not ever adopted. You can check records at the registrar's office, you will not see any party called 'New KANU'. Just because Odinga did not agree with the nomination of the party candidate that ensued him walking out does not mean that he did not change his ideals. Second even if Uhuru was not officially in ODM, remember by then it had not been registered as a political party. Just like the name states, it was still a movement and Uhuru happened to be in it. Besides, the bone of contention is not what one did or did not do, it is their propensity to alter their ideologies depending on the prevailing political climate and to me and indeed everyone else, Uhuru's abandoning of his official opposition leader position in parliament followed by his retraction to his tribal cocoon in a bid to save his Gatundu seat is changing his ideologies. It does not matter whether he did it after resigning or not.
Second, I have not touched anything on Nyaga's nomination and political balancing, I only posed a question on the percentage oof votes Raila garnered from Nyaga's turf. I know ODM very well maybe more than you. Dont twist my story.
Further, I have not touched on PNU's side. I know all about that already. You seem to be bitter about PNU's handling of the coalition matters and sharing of crucial position in the government. Well very many people are but I did not touch on that. In my analysis, I only touched on the possibility of Tuju and Raila facing off in an election and nothing on injustices perpetrated by PNU. Save that for another day.
You seem to have rushed through my analysis too. Now I stated that if all other members of the G-7 alliance support Tuju, He will garner the threshold votes in more that 23 counties. My point still remains the same. Just because he wont garner anything in his Rarieda constituency and its environs does not mean that he wont do it in other regions with G-7 alliance support.
Again, just because you happen to be enlightened with the affairs of the country does not mean that the entire electorate is. I repeat, in most cases, the village folks determine who is elected. Not even the the youth and the schooled. And, in young democracies like ours, elected people are not always ideologically sound. How many cartoons do we have in parliament right now. How many goons and thugs do we have in parliament? Do they have any leadership qualities? Let me give you a good example, Joe Donde and Orengo stuck to their guns in 2002 and did not join the Odinga campe, these are brilliant legislatures, did the people elect them? Why didn't Orengo still do the same thing in 2007? If you really think your mere ideology will give you presidency, then perhaps PM Lumumba would have been our president right now. If you think it all about good leaders, then you giving a mere textbook definition of what a leader should be and I tell you reality is often way off from the ideal situation.
I outlined what we are likely to see. Is it possible? Yes. Is it impossible? Yes it is. Lets go back to 2001, just after KANU joined with the Odinga group. Did anybody forsee, any other party other than KANU winning the presidency? Non. But radical events played out at the right time such that it happened. So my friend, impossibles can be possible under the right circumstances.
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Post by subsaharanite on Sept 18, 2011 3:05:41 GMT 3
Einstein,
I'm not a political pundit. I am a political analyst.
To Katurekebaara,
In my analysis, I did not state that Tuju will be Raila's checkmate in Nyanza. In fact, I stated that Tuju will get votes from other areas other than Nyanza and Nairobi.
Now thanks for pointing out Opanga's article. A few years ago, many of you will remember Opanga's stint as a respected political commentator working for Nation newspapers. Did you remember what threw him out ? He lost credibility when it was discerned that he had been compromised by the Moi's regime. He may have been bribed or not , the fact is, we discovered that he too can be influenced. Since then, I always read his articles with a pinch of salt and I never take them at gospel truth since I doubt if he is absolutely neutral
Now what he has written in the article is merely a textbook description of what an Ideal leader is. Further he has pointed out to the electorate that we should select leaders based on their political ideologies as opposed to their tribes. This message is very correct and I applaud his bravery for doing so, however we both know and Opanga knows that in an immature democratic society that we are in, people do not select leaders as a result of their ideologies.
We choose people based of the prevailing euphoric sentiments, that are more often than tribal. It is not an anomaly, its just that we would rather stick to someone closer to us so that perhaps we would derive some protection or help from them when in need. This has been the norm in most poverty stricken states. Even large democracies like India with a large poor population are riddled with bribery cases during elections. Emerging economies like Malaysia whose leadership is in the hands of an amorphous conglomeration of several independent parties is rive with tribal innuendos as a result of the tribal nature of these individual political outfits. Thats why, they can pass laws that accords the so called ethnic Malays, special privileges that can only be given to minority communities in other mature democracies given that these so called ethnic Malays account for over 60% of the population. They have in turn ensued skewed resource allocations just because the ruling alliance is largely from from one ethnic community.
Let me remind you that the Kenyan elections will not be determined by people with computers or people who read news but rather by poverty stricken country folks whose casting decisions are often not based on political ideologies but rather on the prevailing conditions at that juncture. They are the ones who will be at polling stations six in the morning while the younger more enlightened group will be either too sleepy, drunk or both to go vote. In most cases, the old folks in the villages always have their opinions on particular candidates and in most cases hard to convince.
Okwendo's article therefore does not reflect the reality at the ground, rather, it describes an ideal situation. I also wish people voted for leaders as a result of their ideologies. I also wish to inform you that our leaders have dynamic ideologies that take a static nature in very short and transient political time. Take UK for example. The first time I listened to him in a political gathering in his home turf in Gatundu, his words and demeanor exemplified a well educated individual with superbly good leadership qualities with an untainted past. In the few years he was the head of the opposition in the Kenyan parliament (2003-2005), he vilified Kibaki. In a meeting he had with the former American ambassador, he gave a negative criticism to the then Kibaki government. When it looked like he was going to lose his Gatundu seat as a result of his involvement in the Orange movement in its formative days, he forgot the political Vendetta he had against Kibaki, instead he sprinted back to him for political protection. We have seen him mutate into a different animal -displaying inexplicable anger on Camera, like a toddler, reverting to the age old unimportant statements against the Prime Minister when he questioned the latter's stand on the president's unilateral decision of appointing key leaders in several institutions early this year. Up to know, we still do not know UK's ideologies. Better still, can you give me a hint? How about Ruto's, or even Tuju's. The only leader who has displayed some form of ideology is Odinga. Even Martha Karua has not. She pretends to speak for the people but when Kenya was burning down in the last general elections, she was the most notable Kibaki pawn at KICC with her sharp instructions to Kivuitu on what he should do.
Let me conclude by stating that presidential election in Kenya will not be won by ideologies, it will be won by numbers, and whoever has tally high enough will be the occupier of state house.
Phil, I will get back to you later.
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