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Post by Onyango Oloo on Aug 5, 2011 14:40:47 GMT 3
A Note for My Friends
By Miguna Miguna
Nairobi, Friday August 5th, 2011
I am still alive.
I have been on a one month vacation which started on July 6th, 2010. The Prime Minister had granted my request for vacation in June.On July 9th, I accompanied the Prime Minister to Juba, South Sudan for their independence celebrations. I travelled to Canada on July 10th and brought back my two children studying there for their summer holidays on July 18th.
On Thursday July 21st, 2011, I published an article in the Nairobi Star newspaper. The article was titled IIEC Chair Isaack does not deserve all the plaudits. Like my articles I have authored, I made factual and logical arguments based on publicly available information. No one has refuted any of the factual assertions and issues in that article. The article was not about Isaack as such. It addressed issues of good governance, discrimination, corruption and nepotism at the IIEC. Those are important issues that cannot be trivialised. I stand by my story.
Sometime last week, I received an invitation for a two-day party strategy team retreat from the ODM Secretariat. The two-day retreat was scheduled for August 4th and 5th, 2011 at the Enashipai Resort and Spa in Naivasha. I arrived for the retreat at about 11 am on Thursday August 4th. We proceeded to a session after lunch.
At about 3:30 pm, I started noticing numerous calls and texts from various media houses. My phone was on vibration.
One text from a Star reporter attracted my attention. It asked:
“Can you confirm the suspension? What’s your response?”
Since I hadn’t received any information (no letter, text, email or telephone call) about the so-called suspension, I texted back:
“Suspension of whom?”
The answer came back:
“You!”
I further inquired from him who had told him about it and he responded that he was getting the ‘suspension letter’ in a few minutes and would get back to me. Within minutes, I started receiving calls from all kinds of people – media, friends, et cetera.
I then texted the PM’s spokesman Dennis Onyango, Sarah Elderkin, Prof. Edward Oyugi and Sylvester Kasuku to find out if they knew or if they had heard anything. They promptly replied that they knew nothing. Dennis told me that he was with the PM in Kisumu and that I should treat the story as rumours.
Apparently not, for within minutes Joshua Kawino passed me his phone with the Nation Media Group’s “breaking news”.
So, quite clearly, something had happened.
Later, one of my friends informed me that he had seen a similar “news flash” on Face Book but had ignored it as rumours.
By 4 pm, major TV, radio and electronic media were “officially” announcing my “indefinite suspension without pay.”
By 4:15 pm, my secretary sent me a short text message that my personal assistant, messenger and she had received letters of termination. No reasons were given. At or about 5 pm, the personal assistant sent another text message saying they had received a letter from Dr. Mohammed Isahakia addressed to me. It was marked “top secret” and the person who delivered it had instructed them not to open it.
By 6 pm, I had had enough and after a brief consultation with Prof. Oyugi, I decided to return back to Nairobi. As I was leaving, our house keeper called to inform me that the Administration Police at the gate had been “collected” and that there was nobody at the gate. As I scrambled to make my way back to Nairobi, I saw missed calls from two cabinet ministers close to me, an MP and another good friend. I knew things were elephant.
And I knew the script. An announcement is made by a major media house that a prominent person has been fired. “Reasons” and “justifications” are quickly concocted. The story catches fire. The prominent person’s career is in tatters. He goes into hiding and remains there, ashamed of the humiliation! Friends and relatives take cover. Enemies emerge, emboldened. Life goes on. It was obvious that the chain of events had been carefully choreographed.
As I drove back to Nairobi, another telephone call revealed that the “decision” to ‘suspend’ me had taken place that morning in Nairobi. Some people who were supposed to have been attending the Naivasha retreat were at that meeting. That explained why one of them failed to show up but gave two conflicting “stories” of his whereabouts. Two others arrived about four hours late and couldn’t maintain eye contact with me. They didn’t even greet me.
At the meeting, I understand that the ODM Chief Whip demanded that I be fired immediately. He doesn’t appear to have disclosed the reasons for this demand. A number of MPs present - I don’t know how many – supported him. But Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba and another un-named MP defended me strongly, arguing that someone like me is needed by both the PM and the party; that if we want to triumph in the struggle ahead, then “we cannot get rid of Miguna.”
As Ababu was arguing to the wind, the “story” had already been carefully leaked and planted in various reactionary media. And boy, were they having a field day!
On my way to Nairobi, I gave the media my brief response to the hilarious hullabaloo. I told them that I had not received any information – letter, email, text or telephone call about the suspension. I explained that I have been on vacation for nearly a month and that I was only that day gone to a party strategy retreat in Naivasha. I added that whatever might have been concocted as “reasons” for the suspension are baseless and unfounded, and that I shall neither be cowed nor will I waver. I then declined further comment until I received the letter.
CONTINUED...
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Aug 5, 2011 14:41:44 GMT 3
I arrived home safely just before 7:00 pm and found my children outside. "Daddy, why did the soldier leave? Daddy, are we going to have security? Daddy this, daddy that!" "Shhhh...quiet. Everything will be all right" was my response. I didn’t have an explanation. I couldn’t look at them. I could see the confusion in the children’s eyes. Nobody gave me advance notice or warning and I hadn’t prepared them. Now, I had no way of explaining anything. The calls and text messages then started coming like torrents. My phone couldn’t cope and ‘died’. As I charged the phone, I responded to the most urgent ones; essentially repeating what I had told the media. Later, I watched the 9:00 pm news and couldn’t believe the disinformation, slant and propaganda. What was very clear to me is that whatever had happened had been planned and calculated. The only drawback for them is that they couldn’t conjure up coherent “stories”. The ones they were peddling weren’t persuasive. Take the one about the IIEC. I don’t work for the commission. Nobody has presented credible evidence or set of facts linking me to anything unlawful, illegal or unethical at the commission. I author my opinions without any external assistance. I stand by the opinion I published on how the IIEC being mismanaged. Nobody has credibly and logically refuted or responded to anything in my article. Yet, rather than deal with the issues and facts in that article, my detractors have chosen to spread rumours, innuendos and propaganda. The second myth they have conjured refers to “failure to sign local agreement forms despite several appeals”. These are forms forwarded to me by Isahakia more than one whole year after I had been hired. The forms sought to fundamentally change the terms of my employment. My remuneration, allowances and benefits were arbitrarily reduced by half. I had written to Isahakia and the Head of Public Service, Francis Muthaura, that I couldn’t sign the forms unless and until they amended to reflect what I had been offered and I had agreed to. The terms I had agreed to were identical to those of the advisor of President Mwai Kibaki on constitutional affairs, Kivutha Kibwana. I have never received a response to my letters demanding those amendments. Indeed, I have filed a case in court seeking compliance with the contract. The trial is scheduled in a few months. Is this claim valid? Is it supposed to be the means somebody has devised as a response or “defence” to the legal action, which incidentally, the Attorney General has not responded to? I have now seen that Hon. Midiwo is claiming that I have no legal or constitutional right to sue for my interests. I am not sure where he gets that. But one thing is clear: Jakoyo’s comment was either actuated by malice or ignorance of the law, or both. More fundamentally, I don’t see how it is Jakoyo’s mandate to determine whether I keep or lose my job. And he does so through the media. The other scandalous allegations about misrepresenting the PM’s Office; harassment, intimidation and use of abusive language are only added for colour. The purported letter presents no particulars. There isn’t any indication who I subjected to any of these, where and when. Nothing. And of course, nobody accorded me the opportunity to respond to the illegitimate charges. I guess somebody thinks that all you need are allegations however unfounded and they will stick. For me the issues of good governance, the rule of law and constitutionalism aren’t things I negotiate about. We either have a country governed by the rule of law or we continue with the culture of impunity. I have opted to be a soldier in the fight to end impunity. That will never change. Today in the morning after breakfast, my son went to the “gate house” and retrieved some papers from the roof, which I had no idea were there. And lo and behold, there is an unsigned letter by Francis Kimemia, Permanent Secretary, ministry of internal security and provincial administration dated 22 July 2009, inviting me for dinner at State House on 24th July, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. I never received the letter. Then there is a copy of a nine-page document titled “The assassination plot against Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga and the prominent Kikuyus [sic] businessmen involved”. I’ve never seen that one too. Then there are two copies each of unsigned confidential memoranda I had written to the PM on August 12th and 23rd, 2009, respectively; two copies of my article: “Reform the judiciary by transforming the law society and creating an independent judicial service council; not by removing tenure for judges dated August 23, 2009; and one copy of my article: “Raila has power to release arrested youth under power sharing accord”. Clearly, the security that the state had stationed at my Nairobi home was doing more than “guarding” me. I understand I have been suspended without pay. I don’t know the legal basis for that. Let me conclude by saying the following: I don’t know the charges against me. I haven’t been given notice of the allegations. Neither have I been accorded an opportunity to respond to them. But I am completely disappointed that under the new constitution that I played a pivotal role in drafting and having ratified, I would be treated with such callous disregard to my legal and constitutional rights, including simple human decency. The struggle for a democratic, equal and humane Kenya shall and must continue! I am going to stand upright up to the end!! END |
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Post by phil on Aug 5, 2011 15:06:43 GMT 3
Thank you Oloo for this. It reveals something and actually stands out in comparison to that far fetched story from the Nation. Obviously, someone somewhere is feeding the nation with nonsense.
This is what has caught my eye.
One one hand you have Denis Onyango asking Miguna to treat the story as rumour yet on the other you have a letter reportedly authored under the PM's authority by PS Isahakia suspending Miguna without pay and withdrawing his security.
A clear case of the head, the left hand and the right hand not knowing what the other is doing. Like I said, this just goes to vindicate my sentiments of the other thread.
The lack of co-ordination and style of hounding of Miguna out of office is an absolute insult to the Orange Democratic Movement fraternity.
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Post by mzee on Aug 5, 2011 15:08:01 GMT 3
Thank you Miguna Miguna for putting it down in paper.
As I said before, you must soldier on.
The forces of impunity are all geared up to fight you but stand firm.
If Raila wants to remains with dunderheads such as my MP Jakoyo Midiwo so be it.
How in the world can your suspension be discussed and decided by a group of ODM MP´s?
Was it not the PM who employed you? Or was it Jakoyo Midiwo? Am I confused? If its Railas cousin Jakoyo Midiwo who is instructing him on what to do then I dont want anything to do with Raila.
I think that this is just jealousy on their part. Your star is too bright for most of these useless Luo MPs.
And why do I suspect that NSIS is involved? Could Raila not see this?
What is the assassination letter all about?
Raila can go to hell if this is the way he wants to treat his loyalists while treating enemies with kid gloves.
Raila cannot and must not take our anger for suspending you nor our votes for granted. The die is cast.
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Aug 5, 2011 15:59:14 GMT 3
3:20 PM (36 minutes ago)
[Offline] Godwin Murunga to me, kptj
show details 3:46 PM (10 minutes ago)
The Prime Minister is Naked; Who Will Tell Him?
When any leader is naked, there ought to be someone close with the guts to tell him/her. In a country where people with such guts are in short supply, the presence of Miguna Miguna in the team close to the PM Raila Odinga was a blessing. It is sad that because of his candid approach to issues of national importance, Miguna Miguna has been suspended. This represents a temporary triumph for impunity in Kenya.
I know there are those who will disagree with me. A number are already celebrating the suspension of Miguna Miguna. One cheerleader in ODM, Jakoyo Midiwo, was quick to note that the suspension was ‘long overdue.’ According to him, Miguna Miguna is guilty of suing the Attorney General of a government he serves in, of abusing fellow civil servant in the media, and of criticising the Speaker of the National Assembly in the media yet Miguna is himself junior to the Speaker in government structures. But if these be a valid reason, isn’t Midiwo himself guilty?
In fact, other than the fact that Miguna Miguna is junior to many of the people he has criticised, none of the reasons cited by Jakoyo Midiwo are illegal. Seniority in any bureaucracy is no insulation to public scrutiny and criticism. There is nothing that prevents Miguna from exercising his right to criticise public officers in their performance of duties. Worse, those who accuse him of writing articles that gave the PM a ‘bad name’ conveniently ignore the fact that all of Miguna’s columns end with the caveat that the views expressed are his own. Why everyone refuses to see this caveat is anyone’s guess.
It is reported that the letter suspending Miguna accused him of ‘gross misconduct.’ But in fact, the real reason behind this suspension is populist in every sense as it is less about Miguna’s alleged misconduct and more about shielding PM from the perception that he is seeking to influence the composition of the yet to be constituted IEBC. There is every reason for the PM to seek to distance himself from the debate around IIEC/IEBC. And perhaps, in the interest of the PM, Miguna Miguna should have been advised to treat this issue with greater care and caution.
Yet, when the interests of the PM clash with the interests of Kenyans, the interests of Kenyans must prevail. I assume that Miguna wrote the piece criticising the IIEC in this spirit. In that piece, published in the Star of July 21st 2011, he cited the Chair of IIEC for hogging the limelight and claiming all credit for the successes of the IIEC. He accused Mr. Isaack for ‘logical incoherent, confusion and uncertainty.’ Miguna further questioned Isaack’s performance at CKRC and the Kiruki Commission which he found wanting and patchy especially because Isaack often aligned with reactionary forces eager to protect the status quo.
It should be left to Kenyans to decide whether Isaack is incoherent, confused and uncertain. I think the views on this will be as varied as there are people who like or dislike Isaack. But on the charges of affiliating with reactionary forces, no one has presented any logical rebuttal, not even Mr. Isaack himself or the Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager at IIEC, Tabitha Mutemi. Of course, the IIEC Commissioners and Secretariat have come down strongly in support of their Chairman. This is fine except that their unity of purpose should not be geared towards guaranteeing an easy sail from IIEC to IEBC.
The piece in the Star of August 2nd 2011 that accused the IIEC of tribalism and nepotism raised fundamental question of integrity that have to be addressed. The standard and tiring response inviting the KACC to investigate will not do. In succumbing to populism, the PM office did not help in any way and has actually contributed to stifling the spirit of open national debate. This sideshow of suspending Miguna only goes to indicate that even the PM is not mature for serious discussion of important national issues; or if he is, then he is crowding himself with an undemocratic cheering squad. These are the issues the IIEC has to respond to:-
Is it true that ‘in the entire Rift Valley, all the three regional election coordinators (REC) are either Kipsigis or are related to the Commissioner from the same region?’
Is it true that ‘the REC for South Nyanza, a Kisii, has lived and still lives in Eldoret Town’, is a neighbour to the Commissioner from Nyanza, also a Kisii, and ‘the two are long-time family friends’?
Is it true that the Chairman of IIEC is ‘himself a relative of the REC for Garissa and many Constituency Election Coordinators’?
Is it true that the Commissioner for Rift Valley protected a CEC who misused Kshs. 400,000, money meant for paying clerks?
I have cited a few examples of allegations in the letter that accused the IIEC for tribalism, nepotism and corruption. There are other allegations in the letter that require a candid response. It does not matter to me that these letters are surfacing when the transition from IIEC to IEBC is starting. Indeed, there is no better time for these allegations to surface. If they are true, they should destroy the careers of officers who are responsible. This is what our new constitution anticipates.
As for the PM, he must know that he needs people with integrity around him. Court poets and cheerleaders like Midiwo will not do. The PM needs people with knowledge who will not only speak candidly to him but should be people who can stand the test of patriotism and who cannot be corrupted.
Godwin R. Murunga
Kenyatta University.
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Post by einstein on Aug 5, 2011 16:03:49 GMT 3
MM,
Weep not my brother, remain strong and firm!
You have your freedom now; just fly like a majestic bird!
For no one, apart from the majestic Father can halt your flight!
Beat the best and be the best brother!
For the scripture says:
For the Lord is your shepherd, you shall not be in want.
He makes you lie down in green pastures, He leads you beside quiet waters, he restores your soul.
He guides you in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you will fear no evil, for you are with the Lord; His rod and His staff, they comfort you.
He prepares a table before you in the presence of your enemies, He anoints your head with oil; your cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life, and you will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever!
Check out the scripture: Psalm 23, in the name of The Most High, The Most Gracious!!
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Post by destiny on Aug 5, 2011 16:42:29 GMT 3
Where is our Prime Minister and why isn't he saying anything? Has there been a coup d'état in prime minister's office such that PNU are now calling the shots there? Raila needs to issue a statement as fast as possible and make things clearer. What does he know about this sacking? Just when you want him to speak he goes mute, come on bwana PM toboa yote, even if it means using vitendawili.
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mrembo
Full Member
Jaber
Posts: 136
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Post by mrembo on Aug 5, 2011 16:45:01 GMT 3
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Post by b6k on Aug 5, 2011 16:50:51 GMT 3
Folks, it's good to hear MM's side of the tale but let me do something I would never have imagined I would ever do; give my layman's advice to MM.
a) Clam up.
b) Lawyer up
PS: were the letters on the roof protected from the elements or fresh deliveries in envelopes?
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Post by politicalmaniac on Aug 5, 2011 16:55:36 GMT 3
As you can see,clearly, this was a palace coup, intrigue of sorts.
Its basically an ego battle, as to who has the Rt Hon Prime Ministers ears.
This just goes to show that the main bull in the political ring in Kenya is the Rt Hon Prime Minister. Some self seeking folks want a piece of him.
The Rt Hon Prime Minister should know this.
There is no one who can replace Hon Miguna. Few are as learned, as articulate as fearless. Few have the CV of illegal incarceration and therefore have the moral authority to rail against it.
And to Hon Miguna, I want to tell you that we got your back, here in Jukwaa, and country wide too.
You are a political brand on your own. Is there some one who hasnt heard of your name? I doubt it.
You are one of the few who go by one name.
Its time you decided how best to engage in the fight against impunity.
If you cant be an insider, come outside then, go to the legico!
Dont waste time starting think tanks like Panua's prof kangawanja.
Head straight into the monsters mouth.
More later.
I gotta take the Rt hon Prime Ministers namesakes places.
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Post by commes on Aug 5, 2011 17:07:23 GMT 3
PM you are damn right! This is a palace coup, intrigue of sorts. An ego battle, as to who has the Rt Hon Prime Ministers ears.
What I found to be curious is that MM should not be allowed to have access to or be near the Right Hon. PM.
How can a simple suspension letter have “court restraining orders”? Let me laugh. I smell fish
Godwin R. Murunga in his article “The Prime Minister is Naked” posted by OO sums it up well. “As for the PM, he must know that he needs people with integrity around him. Court poets and cheerleaders will not do. The PM needs people with knowledge who will not only speak candidly to him but should be people who can stand the test of patriotism and who cannot be corrupted”.
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Post by b6k on Aug 5, 2011 17:20:35 GMT 3
Mrembo, judging purely by the quality of the prose in the text, it's a hoax. |
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Post by b6k on Aug 5, 2011 17:29:56 GMT 3
Mrembo, judging purely by the quality of the prose in the text, it's a hoax. Mrembo, allow me to rephrase. Judging from the quality of the prose, or lack thereof, it's inadvertently regrettably, a hoax. |
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Post by Onyango Oloo on Aug 5, 2011 17:31:35 GMT 3
Read the story in the link. Smells suspiciously like rotten fish from the kitchens of the Dirty Tricks Department of a certain tax payer funded state bureaucracy. Onyango Oloo
Nairobi |
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Post by einstein on Aug 5, 2011 17:37:06 GMT 3
Mrembo, judging purely by the quality of the prose in the text, it's a hoax. ;D ;D ;D ;D!!!! |
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Post by adongo23456 on Aug 5, 2011 19:25:13 GMT 3
Folks,
Now that we all know the story from Miguna's side may be we can look at a few angles to this.
1. The Moi style "firing", "suspension" through the media is plainly obscene and uncalled for. It makes the PM's office look like a Moi revival squad and the PM should be told in plain language that Kenyans did not remove Moi from office to replace him with a bunch of other Mois.
The PM talks to Miguna frequently on just about everything. Miguna is a direct employee of the PM. If there were issues with Miguna's work, the least the PM would have done is to have a talk with him, tell him his concerns if any and if it is desirable that Miguna steps aside that is not a big deal.
But to pull some monkey business with the likes of Jakoyo Midiwo calling the shots is an embarassment to many of us who respect the PM and to ODM as a party.
2. The suspension letter/leakages etc amount essentially to an exercise in defamation. The accusations look like a fishing expedition for something, anything to put dirt on Miguna.
The accusations range from failure to sign Local Agreement, abuse of office, misrepresenting the PM's office, harrassing staff, using abusive language and then to writng articles in local papers. There is no relation between the charges whatsoever which makes one believe that they were concotions on anything they could of. I mean if these guys can't figure out how to suspend anybody from office, what else can't they figure out.
3. The attempt to humiliate Miguna by the abnoxious "process" itself, withdrawing his security even before he gets the letter of suspension, treating him as a pariah, asking him to return this or that are all childish and silly gimmicks which are unacceptable in any civilized administration of any kind.
All that was needed was a meeting with Miguna, a decision made on his fate and for him to be provided with the opportunity to hand over whatever was necessary, ask the security not to go to his house (no need to run there and remove them invading the privacy of his family) and do things in a respectful and dignified manner.
What is even more telling about how confused and just uncouth the whole operation is that Miguna's assistants were actually also removed from office. What did they do? Is there any respect for people who work in the PM's office. Aren't those assistants employees in their own rights? Why should they be punished for alleged sins of Miguna? Are they accomplishes in those alleged sins.
4. In June 2007, then Presidential candidate Raila Odinga made one of the most moving speeches in his political career and one that turned his fortunes significantly. In that speech the Raila promised Kenyans that if he is elected to State House as the president of Kenya, he will put an end to cabals of informal power brokers, tribal gangs and money bags who owned the presidency and instead ensure that the presidency is answerable to the people not to the brokers.
It is time for the PM to reflect on that speech and ask himself if he has actually done what he promised in his office as the PM. In my view if the PM had done what he promised do in State House in his new office none of these clumsy things we are seeing would be happening and the PM would stand even a better chance to ascend to State House.
5. Those who think some of us will turn the heat on the PM and his office will be disappointed just as those who think we will keep quiet and look at a few incompetent civil servants and powers brokers turn the PM's office into a laughing stock. None of those options are acceptible to us.
6. Last but not least there are those who may think getting rid of Miguna opens some new alliances for the PM for his 2012 presidential hopes. That may be true but I don't know what makes those people think that Kenyans who favour progressive outlook for the presidency will just endorse a new mascot for the office. There is a reason some of us support Raila and he can take that for granted at his own peril. Progressive Kenyans are tired of mascots.
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Post by merkeju on Aug 5, 2011 19:27:29 GMT 3
While ODM is showing that what Ruto has been saying about use and dump is true, the Kikuyus are taking an oath to support their son to the end.
Miguna has done more than what Midiwo and Nyongo combined together, let this fellows dont turn ODM into a Luo party, i have been a loyal party member, supporting Raila in hostile waters because i believed ODM follows the rule of law and those who work hard for the party should be congratulated not embarrassed and shamed so that our competitors can have a field day.
ODM should have a secretary general from another region say coast region, Amason Kingi can do a good job, get rid of this Midiwo guy, he has nothing to offer ODM as a party, Raila should know that he is shooting himself and people are starting to question the democracy being played within ODM.
Is it true what Ruto has said all along that Raila is ungrateful? i wonder
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Post by jakaswanga on Aug 5, 2011 19:42:58 GMT 3
I do not know whether most fellas here are just playing plain ostrich! Expressing shock and Awe at Miguna's sacking! I was of the opinion one does not need to be endowed with Shakespearean olfactory sensibilities to sense the rot at the core of the PM's entourage! Haven't any of the Luos in this forum heard some Luos say: Raila ing'eni tinde Jakoyo ringo gi wiye! [That Midiwo runs Raila's head these days!]. And that there have been concerted efforts from Luo Nyanza to have Miguna fired?
I expect Jukwaa to analyse why! not to show enthusiastic but fake surprise, like a Roman crowd cheering on the favourite gladiator of the emperor, knowing the end has already been scripted!
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Post by tnk on Aug 5, 2011 19:51:33 GMT 3
hey guys
[final edit] whenever things like this happen, there is a tendency to get totally immersed in it. something referred to as being too deep in it and therefore cannot see the forest for the trees
its a simple tactic and am not sure who the authors of this plan are.
miguna miguna is not only immovable on his convictions, but he is also very quick to spot mischief
so lets for a moment step back and look at kenya in total
we are at a very critical stage, there are numerous bills already behind schedule. there are plans to extend either the life of parliament or some kind of extensions. there are important posts to be filled ahead of coming elections (whenever they will be held) e.g AG, IEBC, etc. there are police reforms to be carried out. All these will be done under the coalition government. these are but highlights. there are numerous critical bits and pieces that need to be synchronized to bring the first phase of implementation of the constitution to some reasonable point. each of these steps is loosening the grip of the lords of impunity.
right in there are people who are ready to be bought and dont care one way or another, and then there are those who will stand on principle
what we need to find out is which and how many of these events are likely to happen and need to be pushed to happen within the next several weeks. such as the AG appointment.
my reading of this saga is that there some operatives who must push through some specific agenda, whether its bills to be enacted, or persons to be appointed. and in my view miguna miguna is viewed as a potentially immovable stumbling block to that process and for that reason must be pushed aside either in the interim or permanently
i draw the cue from the press report that the OP is not too happy about opposition from raila on githu's appointment - the star reports it as kibaki being unhappy.
i would strongly suggest that we dont just get caught up in the heat of miguna's suspension but be wary to what it is that we are being blind-sided on.
and oh-yes, whoever worked that angle of suspension and RAO bought into, they all are allowing history to repeat itself, here i recall one hezekiah oyugi and how he consolidate his power base. looks likes some folks have started the power play by eliminating any potential threat (independent minded). RAO better watch his step otherwise he will suddenly find himself surrounded by people with similar characteristics as biwott, oyugi, nassir, chotara and lately, such as gitonga, keriri, kabage and i dont know who the current power barons are and the likes. i.e sycophants whose only agenda is absolute power
get out people and study that forest.
OO and Adongo, you guys are more connected with miguna, check with him whats on the horizon, there must be significant events coming up or unfolding for which he is an impediment.
in other words my take is that miguna miguna's suspension has been crafted as the "big news", but i tend to think that the "big news" will be slipped by as we are engrossed with the suspension.
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Post by adongo23456 on Aug 5, 2011 19:57:51 GMT 3
I do not know whether most fellas here are just playing plain ostrich! Expressing shock and Awe at Miguna's sacking! I was of the opinion one does not need to be endowed with Shakespearean olfactory sensibilities to sense the rot at the core of the PM's entourage! Haven't any of the Luos in this forum heard some Luos say: Raila ing'eni tinde Jakoyo ringo gi wiye! [That Midiwo runs Raila's head these days!]. And that there have been concerted efforts from Luo Nyanza to have Miguna fired? I expect Jukwaa to analyse why! not to show enthusiastic but fake surprise, like a Roman crowd cheering on the favourite gladiator of the emperor, knowing the end has already been scripted! I don't think turning this debate into a tribal bashing of Luos will help anybody. I hate tribal orgies of any kind. I have given my views up there and of course everybody is entitled to their views but if this matter was to be reduced to some Luo bashing orgy I would go as far as asking Oloo to delete it because it will serve no useful purpose except provide cheap fodder for the usual Luo bashers and some of think that adds zero value to the matter. The PS who actually carried out the operation is a Luhya. In fact many of the Miguna haters used his presence in the PM's office as one of the evidence of Luo dominance in the PM's office which in itself is a lie. It is kind of funny that Miguna being suspended is now once again another evidence of Luo's controlling ODM. What happened here was a travesty of justice. If the PM did not want Miguna to work for him there are better ways of working out. The PM does not owe Miguna a job but the office had no business trashing Miguna the way they did. And then there are bigger political issues including the ICC angle where Miguna's uncompromising stand has been very unsettling to some. If we want to discuss the overall issues, I am all for it but if this is going to eb another orgy of Luo bashing. I woudl rather do something else. I think we need a principled critique of what we think the PM did wrong and demand changes. We have never been afraid to call a spade a spade and criticize anybody including Raila. But the Luo bashing angle adds zero value to this discussion. Thank you very much. |
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Post by mugabe on Aug 5, 2011 20:12:03 GMT 3
Adongo
Fair comments. While I have had issues with Miguna's abrasiveness I think the way the PM handled him was in poor taste. The PM is making a big mistake in letting his cousin Midiwo call all the shots. What raises is not so much the issue of so-called Luo dominance but of the influence of relatives i.e. nepotism. The PM's critiques will excitedly argue that the PM can not be trusted with the presidency
(1) Because he is not loyal to his foot soldiers, and
(2) On account of the fact that a cabal of advisers that happen to be his relatives call all the shots.
The question is if Midiwo ochestrated the humiliation of MM while Raila is not president then how powerful will Midiwo, Fidel and Ida be in a Raila presidency? It seems patently obvious to an ODM sympathiser like me that before letting go of MM, the person to be let go should have been Midiwo. If MM is a liability in terms of his abrasiveness then surely Midiwo on account of his relationship to the PM, his ineffecacy in parliament and general other weaknesses is a bigger liability. The likes of Duale accuse ODM of becoming a tribal party, but they may soon on account of the role of Midiwo make an even more dangerous argument that ODM is a party ruled or dominated by a single family.
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Post by adongo23456 on Aug 5, 2011 20:15:51 GMT 3
hey guys whenever things like this happen, there is a tendency to get totally immersed in it. something referred to as being too deep in it and therefore cannot see the forest for the trees its a simple tactic and am not sure who the authors of this plan are. miguna miguna is not only immovable on his convictions, but he is also very quick to spot mischief so lets for a moment step back and look at kenya in total we are at a very critical stage, there are numerous bills already behind schedule. there are plans to extend either the life of parliament or some kind of extensions. there are important posts to be filled ahead of coming elections (whenever they will be held) e.g AG, IEBC, etc. there are police reforms to be carried out. All these will be done under the coalition government. right in there are people who are ready to be bought and dont care one way or another, and then there are those who will stand on principle what we need to find out is which and how many of these events are likely to happen and need to be pushed to happen within the next several weeks. such as the AG appointment. my reading of this saga is that there some operatives who must push through some specific agenda, whether its bills to be enacted, or persons to be appointed. and in my view miguna miguna is viewed as a potentially immovable stumbling block to that process and for that reason must be pushed aside either in the interim or permanently i draw the cue from the press report that the OP is not too happy about opposition from raila on githu's appointment - the star reports it as kibaki being unhappy. i would strongly suggest that we dont just get caught up in the heat of miguna's suspension but be wary to what it is that we are being blind-sided on. and oh-yes, whoever worked that angle of suspension and RAO bought into, they all are allowing history to repeat itself, here i recall one hezekiah oyugi and how he consolidate his power base. looks likes some folks have started the power play by eliminating any potential threat (independent minded). RAO better watch his step otherwise he will suddenly find himself surrounded by people with similar characteristics as biwott, oyugi, nassir, chotara and lately, such as gitonga, keriri, kabage and i dont know who the current power barons are and the likes. i.e sycophants whose only agenda is absolute power get out people and study that forest. OO and Adongo, you guys are more connected with miguna, check with him whats on the horizon, there must be significant events coming up or unfolding for which he is an impediment. tnk, I will respond very quickly because I have to run. Miguna has been the most consistent in holding the principles of NARA. It all started in the Kilaguni Lodge fiasco where the two principals were to hold a mini conference to iron out the dysfuntional nature of the GCG. That meeting was supposed to be between the President and the PM with a few of their key advisors. Instead Muthaura brought almost twenty ministers including people like Mutula Kilonzo. In short the meeting never took place since the Kibaki handlers could not even let Kibaki out of his room. Miguna was instrumental in setting the terms of the meeting and letting Muthaura know that the strangers he invited wil not be allowed into the meeting. When things could work not out, a shocked Muthaura saw Miguna mobilize the ODM crew to abandon the meeting and head back to Nairobi. That was the beginning of a new more assertive ODM and PM and that is how better power sharing arrangements evolved. Right now Miguna has been a thorn in Muthaura's flesh because he refuses to accept fake consultatiosn and a more assertive PM has forced Muthaura and Kibaki to concede to a few things. The real trouble now is that key appointments have to be made. Muthaura is adamant the next AG must be Githu Muigai. They think he might help them with the ICC and other things. If Kibaki insists in appointing Githu and the PM refuses to accept there will be a stalemate. With Miguna out of the way State House is confident they will force the PM to accept Githu Muigai with some token promises here and there. The way the appointments will go now is Muthaura sends the names to Isahakia as the PS in the PM's office. Isahakia looks at the names and typically gives the OK. Then a statement is issued from State House that so and so has been appointed by the president to this and that job after consultations with the Prime Minister. Expect a ton of those appointments in the next 30 days. |
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Post by akinyi2005 on Aug 5, 2011 21:35:15 GMT 3
Tnk and Adongo,
how i wish you were both wrong in your analysis. unfortunately i gave to agree with you that there's some high octane politics at play and yes, it's only a matter of time before Kibaki/PNU take full advantage of the 'manufactured confusion' in orange house as well as the PM's office.
Jeez we knew the status-quoists wouldn't helplessly sit and watch as they lost control of everything, but must everything be this chaotic?
Y'all we seriously need to pray for MM's safety.
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Post by nyarsiaya on Aug 5, 2011 21:55:54 GMT 3
I dont know much but if ODM continues this way, myself and my 10 votes are convinced to start searching elsewhere. This is a case of the inept ganging up against the best that ODM has. Same antics PNU tried on Namwamba. Very useless. Maybe Raila is too old and tired. We need new blood  If you try posting anything positive on Miguna in Nation, it gets deleted. Are we coming or are we going? Where is the petition to get Miguna back in ODM. And who is Iskhalia? Is he the cousin to formec Minister Masakhalia. |
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Post by einstein on Aug 5, 2011 22:16:14 GMT 3
Where is the petition to get Miguna back in ODM. This is a brilliant idea! Kathure, OO, and Adongo could you please organise for us to sign a petition to get MM back? We got nothing to lose especially when the reasons for suspension do not even add up!! I mean, he does not have to be the PM's advisor, but he's got to be largely visible in the PM's office! What do you guys think? Or we wait for the PM to say something first!? |
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