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Post by nowayhaha on May 21, 2012 12:15:43 GMT 3
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Post by nowayhaha on May 21, 2012 11:57:14 GMT 3
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Post by nowayhaha on May 21, 2012 11:47:50 GMT 3
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Post by nowayhaha on May 21, 2012 11:44:45 GMT 3
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Post by nowayhaha on May 21, 2012 11:39:04 GMT 3
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Post by nowayhaha on May 21, 2012 11:34:03 GMT 3
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Post by nowayhaha on May 15, 2012 14:58:08 GMT 3
Rumors are circulating that a special police squad has been set up to deal with MRC by October 2012 just like they dealt with Mungiki .
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Post by nowayhaha on May 9, 2012 21:01:01 GMT 3
My records show that Raila once again cheated This is his party change itinerary Ford -> Ford Kenya -> NDP -> KANU->NARC->LDP->ODM-K->ODM That is not four but 8 .
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Post by nowayhaha on May 9, 2012 20:55:56 GMT 3
NAIROBI, Kenya May 9 – Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Eldoret North MP William Ruto clashed yet again in Parliament on Wednesday, this time over party hopping. Trouble started when Odinga in his weekly address to Parliament spoke against the trend saying it was killing democracy in Kenya. He said political parties form the foundation of multi-party democratic system and as such it should be respected. “Our democracy will only be as strong as our political parties. Political parties give life to our democracy. Political parties and leadership thereof that does not respect constitutionalism undermines as opposed to promoting democracy. The ethnicisation of our political parties is a cause of great concern,” he said. He said equally worrying, was the pattern of behaviour by political leaders to exhibit open disrespect of the laws that regulate membership and activities of political parties. ”The enforcement of the laws on political parties need to be strengthened to safeguard our democracy against opportunistic politics and instil the necessary level of democratic discipline amongst the political class,” the PM said in his weekly address. Ruto who has since ditched Odinga’s ODM party shot up and questioned why the PM was castigating those who have defected from political parties yet he held the record for party hopping. “The PM holds the record in this House to having changed parties, he hasn’t told the House how he managed to change to these parties. I think he must be in his 8th party. What drove him from a one party to another?” posed Ruto. But Odinga was quick to point out that Ruto was also a culprit of party hopping. “Whenever I have changed I have changed for the better. The member says I hold a record but I have changed political parties for only four times because NARC was not a political party as such we were all in LDP,” Odinga said. He went on to take on Ruto: “Kanu, ODM, UDM and URP are four he, himself has changed parties four times in the recent time,” he said amid wild cheers from the MPs in the House. In his parting shot to his former ally, Odinga brushed off claims ODM is on the decline which has recently seen its top leadership leaving for other parties. “He says he was once upon a time a member of my party in fact a deputy party leader, he left. But whenever an opinion poll is carried out on the popularity of the political parties, ODM always came out on top. For his own information Mr Speaker, ODM is the only national party today, is the strongest party and that will be proved in the coming elections.” The two leaders also clashed over the issue of the elections date, with the Eldoret North MP – with support of Gichugu MP Martha Karua – faulting the government for failing to move and enact an election date that will be accepted by Kenyans. Odinga had earlier said the uncertainty over the date is likely to affect preparations for the country to hold peaceful general elections. The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission has announced it intends to hold the polls in March 2013, and not in December as is traditional in Kenya following a High Court ruling which stated that the term of Parliament expires in January 2013. Odinga warned that the emergence of ethnically-based political groups could spell doom in elections due next year. He told Parliament that the National Security Intelligence Service (NSIS) had expressed concern over pronouncements by the two groups in particular the Gikuyu, Embu, and Meru Association (GEMA) and KAMATUSA, a group representing pastoralist communities on the candidature of the two ICC suspects. www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/05/raila-ruto-clash-yet-again-in-parliament/
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Post by nowayhaha on May 9, 2012 16:10:59 GMT 3
It was not until th court saga following the death of lawyer S M Otieno did Kenyans know that there was a "house" and a "home" and this was cleverly argued by lawyer Kwach in explaining why SM should be buried in Nyalgunga rather than Matasia as it is in the former where he had a 'home' whilst his palatial residence in Matasia was only a 'house'. So take a case of Jukwaa moderator Onyango Oloo. Somewhere in Luo Nyanza he has what he might want to call a 'home' if we used the Kwach analogy. But anyone who knows Oloo's history will tell you that he has probably spent a lot more time in Mombasa and Nairobi (if you exlude his sojourn in Canada) than in his "rural home". Today, Oloo is a Nairobian like very many perhaps complete with a voting card for a constituency in Nairobi. For all intents and purposes we shall consider him a Nairobian. It is not any different to Kamale who came to Nairobi in the 70s and made Nairobi his home. My 'rural home' would be Njoro but I seriously have no affiliation with the area as my family and most of what I own is in Nairobi. I vote in Nairobi, my daughter only knows of Nairobi as her home as was born and brought up here. I could give a similar story of an uncle (let us call him Paul) who moved to Kakamega in the late 60s and settled there and him and his kikuyu wife speak fluent luhyia (or whatever dialect is spoken there!). He has invested there and will most likel be buried there when he dies. So let us try and constitute the board of KBC and in the process three people are appointed to the board and these are Oloo, Kamalet and Paul. Straight away the board will have two kikuyus and one luo and then the issue of ethnic diversity will be brought out as an issue - and that will be a completly suitable argument for the tribal mathmatecians. For the majimboists, their argument will be that Nairobi county has been given two seats on the board and Kakamega one whilst other counties did not ge a share. Now try winning this argument of why Kamale or Oloo should be excluded! Kamale , What the Kimunyas have done is just plain wrong no amount of justification can purify or wash away the wrongs . Sometimes its good to admit the wrongs and learn from them. The doings of Kimunya are what ODM banked on and formed their campaign in 2007 on platform of "41 Vs 1" -This is the truth and you know what this led too . The others also wrongfully felt they were being maligned and this almost cost Kibaki the presidency in 2007. Rather than learning 2007 debacle the Kimunyas have decided to to repeat this during the electioneering period by putting their cronies who happen to be from Mt Kenya in parastatal boards without caring on the issue of regional balance. This is very damaging to say the less for Presidential hopefuls in G7 i.e. Uhuru and Ruto , but then again Kimunya is known to be the spoiler after his political career came tumbling down during Grand Regency Fiasco and Pro Kibaki MPs left him to fight it out alone . What the Kimunyas should know or should have learnt from likes of Murungaru and Mwiraria is there is no chance whatsoever for his likes to destroy the chances of G7 candidates in the upcoming elections and consequences will be dear just like in the cases of Murungaru and Mwiraria he will be sent to political oblivion come the General elections.
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Post by nowayhaha on May 1, 2012 18:38:26 GMT 3
Points to note .The poll is 10 Months or so to the next general elections. .As rightly pointed out Mudavadi pull out is yet to be felt .He announces his party tomorrow thus trickling effect will be felt months later. .Uhuru is the leading candidate amongst Raila rivals .This is so without even having a party as a platform to run the presidential elections . .G7 have not even converged to rally one candidate .As they have stated during Jamlecks Homecoming they are awaiting for Uhuru to announce a party then the show is on. .Diaspora vote is critical and important was it factored in the poll? .Where have all these undecided voters come from ?
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 30, 2012 17:08:47 GMT 3
Looking at the Board Of Directors one can clearly how Kimunya in his attempt to make sure he continues running K.P.A. after his ministerial tenor has ended and non politicians (cabinet secretary) taking the helm of running the ministries, he is just eroding the support of Uhuru has left or could gather in the run to Presidential elections. It is a fact that Kimunya after getting dropped from Finance Ministry decided to be corrupt to the core in very short period he has acquired a vast number of plots and apartments/flats in Embakasi-Pipeline/Tassia/Fedha that is fine as a time will come where he will answer for this but for putting his cronies(who happen to be Kikuyus )in Transport parastatals can be misinterpreted to mean that Uhuru has a hand in that which is not the case and as a result could cost Uhuru a lot of votes especially in regions like Coast and Nairobi. Uhuru and the whole of G7 should reign on this person ...and is it not strange that Orengo has not noticed these transactions at his ministry and blow the whistle...? Or is he too busy stealing to notice? That is how your theft story sounds implausible! Kamale, One is a former Lands Minister (who actually refused to implement the Ndungu report) and the other is soon to be former Lands Minister(Interestingly also refused to implement the Ndungu report after assuring the public that it will be implemented)
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 30, 2012 16:24:16 GMT 3
Looking at the Board Of Directors one can clearly how Kimunya in his attempt to make sure he continues running K.P.A. after his ministerial tenor has ended and non politicians (cabinet secretary) taking the helm of running the ministries, he is just eroding the support of Uhuru has left or could gather in the run to Presidential elections.
It is a fact that Kimunya after getting dropped from Finance Ministry decided to be corrupt to the core in very short period he has acquired a vast number of plots and apartments/flats in Embakasi-Pipeline/Tassia/Fedha that is fine as a time will come where he will answer for this but for putting his cronies(who happen to be Kikuyus )in Transport parastatals can be misinterpreted to mean that Uhuru has a hand in that which is not the case and as a result could cost Uhuru a lot of votes especially in regions like Coast and Nairobi.
Uhuru and the whole of G7 should reign on this person
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 21, 2012 19:53:52 GMT 3
Mudavadi finally ditches ODM as presidential race hots up www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2012/04/mudavadi-finally-ditches-odm-presidential-race-hots-up/NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 21 – Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi has finally ditched the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), declaring that he must be on the presidential ballot in the forthcoming general elections. The Sabatia MP, who is also the ODM’s Deputy Party Leader recently fell out with the party bigwigs after they submitted the constitution to the Registrar of Political Parties creating uncertainty and apprehension among members. He told Luhya leaders at a meeting in Kakamega that he has decided to leave the party that is led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga who also intends to capture the top seat in the polls. Mudavadi has been unhappy that ODM presented compliance documents to the Registrar of Political Parties without first amending the clause that says the party leader will be the automatic presidential flag bearer. The DPM and his faction wanted the rules amended by the National Governing Council and the National Delegates Conference, while Odinga’s allies argued that the party needed to first apply for registration to beat the April 30 deadline.
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 21, 2012 19:26:22 GMT 3
kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=76045‘I am going all the way’ declares Mudavadi The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government Musalia Mudavadi has declared there is no turning back in his quest to run for presidency in the forth coming general elections. Mudavadi said he has already traversed 42 Counties out 47 Counties in his bid to seek support from all Kenyans and will continue to aggressively reach out to other leaders to solicit support since the decision to elect the president lies on Kenyans. "I have traversed 42 Counties out of 47 and will continue with the push to the end. I have the democratic right to seek presidency like any other contender in Kenya and the decision will be made by Kenyans by voting for the best candidate" he said. He said there is no entitlement to the presidency and aspirants must talk to all Kenyans regardless of their tribes, religion and regions they belong to secure the top job and that is what he doing.
He said tribal politics have no place in Kenya today and he will consult with leaders all over Kenya because he will not be p resident of a party but the whole of Kenya once he is elected president.
"I am consulting with leaders from all over Kenya because I will the president of the whole country but not a party" he said adding he will not be hurried into decisions by his detractors."They are pushing me hard to make hasty decisions but I am telling them mambo bado, let me talk to Kenyans", he retorted. The DPM added Kenyans must conduct peaceful elections devoid of violence. He said politics should be conducted with respect so that aspirants can freely seek across the country. "I offer to stabilize this country from the politics of hatred, vendetta and revenge", he said.Mudavadi was speaking on Friday in his Sabatia constituency at two separate functions at Bugina Health centre where he officially opened a maternity wing built under Economic Stimulus Programme and local CDF support; and at public rally at Chandumba secondary school where he issued out CDF cheques worth Kshs. 20.3million. Mudavadi said he was not surprised that colleagues who have always requested him to contest the presidency were asking him to withdraw.
"They were never serious and wanted to use the bait for political mileage. Now they have read the political mood wrongly", he said.
He was accompanied by former powerful KANU nominated MP Mark Too alias ‘BwanaDawa' who said the Kalenjin community have decided to support Mudavadi for the presidency. "Count on our people for their support. We have decided to support you for the top job and there is no turning back. Other people who have said Musalia is a coward have now turned back to tell him to slow down after he has announced the decision. Ignore them and carry on" said Too.
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 21, 2012 17:33:25 GMT 3
If anything people should be congratulating the DPP for his action. Kenyans now have the opportunity of getting the details of the information that Midiwo had (if did have any!!) when he denies the charge of giving false information and proves that the information that he had was true...with witnesses to boot! Lambasting the DPP is just silly! Kamale, I don't know whether what Jakoyo said is true or not. We will find out but I will say this. As for Midiwo, he may as well just bought himself a free ticket to another electoral office. He is going to be a hero to some for standing up to the goons. Watch this space. Jakoyo should pray that he gets arrested as soon as he lands back in Kenya.Adongo, And this is what is ailing Kenyan politics , majority of Kenyans are living below the poverty line because of such type of politics and not issue based politics which can better their life.Its very unfortunate least to say for people like you who have been blessed to know better are celebrating the "heroism of Midiwo" .If this is not the real definition of misplaced activism then ......
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 21, 2012 13:35:44 GMT 3
nowayhahacan you please remove that stuff you've just posted and give us a link. This is because you have now messed up the settings on Jukwaa. Please take note of how nicely I'm asking you OK? I appreciate that quick action on your part nowayhaha. Why not give us the link though? As per your request imgh.us/carjack.jpg
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 19, 2012 0:20:20 GMT 3
GEMA A and GEMA B Ought to Off Politics the-star.co.ke/opinions/moses-kuria/71926-gema-a-and-gema-b-ought-to-off-politicsToday, a group of people from GEMA communities are gathering in Limuru for what has been dubbed Limuru 2B, a counter to the Limuru 2 GEMA meeting that took place on 23rd March, 2012 Whilst the organizers are going on a limb to show that what they will be discussing are fresh ideas on how to drive the community and the nation forward, I remain highly skeptical. I wonder why they were not gripped by these noble thoughts before Limuru 2 meeting. As such as this did not happen, Limuru 2B comes out as a reactionary, knee jerk move by those who were not at the centre of Limuru 2 planning. However sound the things they discuss today, they will find it difficult to wish away the tag of a carbon copy gathering, desperate to keep up with the Jones of ethnic supremacy A lot of people, me included, are opposed to converting GEMA into a vehicle for political leadership. The way to ensure that this does not happen is not to create a parallel GEMA B as an alternative political vehicle. As a Christian, I go to church to fulfill my spiritual needs. I believe in political parties as the only legitimate form of political expression and mobilization. Organisations like GEMA which I worked very hard to help in the formation should restrict themselves to cultural, social and economic empowerment of the peoples of Mt Kenya region. Luo Council of Elders, Luhya Council of elders, the Kaya elders, KAMATUSA et al should do likewise. These cultural, social and economic empowerment groups, working together, will form a very strong bedrock, the foundation of a strong and cohesive republic. Their bilateral bond should be in the form of embracing diversity and mutual understanding. Their multilateral bond is the new constitution which guarantees the rights of sundry and protects both the individual and the community, whether minority or majority. In as much as GEMA A of Limuru 1 and Limuru 2 and GEMA B of Limuru 2B are dabbling in politics, I remain opposed to both of them. Both GEMA’s have peculiar problems of perception and reality to deal with. GEMA B is perceived to be led by a group of people who remain stuck in the ideology of whining and jealousy. To them the guy next door is always to blame for all your predicaments, even those of your own making. They belong to the club that I refer to as “The Bitterness Society of Kenya”. The initials BSK should always be left to the Bible Society of Kenya. In terms of reality, GEMA B has within its ranks individuals whose past cannot wash, even with a combination of Ariel and Omo. GEMA A equally has problems of both reality and perception. In terms of perception, the old men and women at its helm are seen as people who would go to any depth to use the community for their own selfish ends. The perception, right or wrong, is that the community is them and they are the community, and beyond them, only the floods! In terms of reality, the GEMA A leadership has refused to open up the organization and the wider community to calls for generation change. As I have written in this column before, virtually every other community in this country has modernized its leadership except the GEMA community. Juxtaposed between the GEMA A of the octogenarians and GEMA B of the Bitterness Society of Kenya are men and women who are conscious of their republican obligations and proud of their GEMA heritage. They eke an honest living as farmers, traders, professionals, civil servants or business people. They give their all to educate their children. They suffer silently from the ethnic bile spewed by those who hate the community out of fear and prejudice, and misrepresentation of their own by both GEMA A and GEMA B. One issue that I however support from GEMA A is the need to stand up to that tool for Western hegemony that is the International Criminal Court. Recently German Ambassador Madam Margit Hellwig Boette followed in the footsteps of British Foreign Secretary William Hague by pleading with William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta to drop their presidential bids “for the sake of Kenya”. It reminded me of former International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominic Strauss Kahn whose charges of sexual harassment were dropped the minute he signed off his resignation from the IMF. The French ambassador, Mr. Etienne de Poncins is on record accusing President Kibaki of being inaccessible, confirming one of the claims in the leaked British letters. The fixation by the West to use the ICC as a tool to achieving their strategic objectives in Kenya and prop up a puppet regime in Nairobi should be rejected by all. On this I find convergence with GEMA A. I would actually go further than this and call for total non-co-operation with the ICC and complete withdrawal from the Rome statute as approved by parliament. I however find their route to be unnecessary. Rather than collect two, three or ten million signatures, why not just wait for the General elections which will be with us latest in just over 300 days? The people of Kenya will decide whether the two gentlemen are fit for public office. Surely as Kenyans we might not know much but we can at least differentiate tomato ketchup from rat poison
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 18, 2012 21:07:59 GMT 3
Wololo yaye! The muthamaki has gone overboard. Just last week he was questioned in connection with a plot to murder Raila now he is in another plot to finish Imanyara. What can this fellow born with a silver spoon in his mouth not do??? This is what I had posted in another thread -The Midiwos murder plot. I'm watching Parliament and MP Imanyara just told how he was held at gunpoint yesterday evening and asked to pledge support to one of the presidential candidates. This explains a lot. How many other leaders have been coerced to support this candidate? How many have been threatened? This desperation is getting out of hand. Details to follow.... Topnotch , What is the relation of Imanyara's alleged night ordeal with Midiwos murder plot / This is clearly either the work of hooligans who have no association with the DPM or a political ploy by Imanyara to have the cancelled Limuru 2Bmeeting proceed as scheduled . If you recall months ago when Tuju went to Kondele and he was pelted with stones NCIC condemned the people of Kisumu and not Raila . jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=6073&page=1
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 18, 2012 12:24:21 GMT 3
Is this not panic? I have counted over a handful of threads on one, Musalia Mudavadi. Some even can't spell the man names correctly. All with a view to discredit him and downplay his political 'worth'. Mudavadi has no chance in ODM, which has no democracy. It is rule of the jungle, it seems the winner is the one who throws most stones. He will definitely walk out at one point. My concerted view is that Musalia Mudavadi may turn out to be a blessed middleman in all this caracole when he fully makes his move. His steadfast announcement of his presidential ambitions could reap sympathisers who are not interested in the heavy-handedness we see around. A gainer for Mudavadi, despite being in different camps with the ICC 4, is that he has been playing safe with the Hague issue. Mudavadi knows Raila’s weakness and has exposed his 'game' for the nation to see. Raila’s allies fear Mudavadi could use county nominations in Rift Valley to sway the vote in his favour thus refuse point bank to amend their Constitution. That is why they are keen to maintain the undemocratic rule that the party leader automatically becomes the presidential nominee. I like what I see – ODM operates in full gear, in the process, shitting themselves to oblivion. Sadik , As you have pointed out the tug of war between Raila and Mudavadi is actually about the ODM primaries and that is the reason Railas faction in ODM is trying to kick Mudavadi out of ODM albeit in an unorthodox manner . Once that fails the same way maintaining the undemocratic clause in ODMs constitution of the party leader automatic nomination as the presidential candidate is bound to fail the next focus by Railas faction will be with tampering of delegates i.e. some delegates will be replaced or names will go missing and also some regions(RV,Central,Eastern, N.E &Coast) will have cut in the number of delegates. In short the tug of war is long-haul and dependent on Mudavadis tactfulness it is next to impossible for Raila to beat Mudavadi in the primaries having stepped on toes of vote rich regions like RV,Central Eastern ,N.E. & Coast. From the look of things Mudavadi is doing good he has a good chance for the presidency both inside and outside of O.D.M. After the brutal in-fights in O.D.M. it might be difficult for the party to recover as JOB stated somewhere else here in Jukwaa. Funny how ODM supporters were crying out loud how G7 wont be able to hold up come 2012 and in reality it seems its O.D.M. which might break up.
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 18, 2012 11:46:20 GMT 3
I'm watching Parliament and MP Imanyara just told how he was held at gunpoint yesterday evening and asked to pledge support to one of the presidential candidates. This explains a lot. How many other leaders have been coerced to support this candidate? How many have been threatened? This desperation is getting out of hand. Details to follow.... Topnotch , What is the relation of Imanyara's alleged night ordeal with Midiwos murder plot / This is clearly either the work of hooligans who have no association with the DPM or a political ploy by Imanyara to have the cancelled Limuru 2Bmeeting proceed as scheduled . If you recall months ago when Tuju went to Kondele and he was pelted with stones NCIC condemned the people of Kisumu and not Raila . jukwaa.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=6073&page=1
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 18, 2012 10:01:15 GMT 3
www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Uhuru+Ruto+dismiss+Midiwo+death+claims+/-/1064/1388426/-/6nu1tkz/-/index.htmlUhuru, Ruto dismiss Midiwo death claims ICC suspects Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto on Tuesday dismissed allegations of a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Mr Kenyatta’s spokesman, Mr Munyori Buku, dismissed the claims, saying that they were part of a “scheme to camouflage the biggest failure in that party (Orange Democratic Movement) — dictatorship and resistance to change”. “This issue of dropping names of people holding senior positions recklessly, instead of working for Kenyans, is a scheme that borders on devilish acts,” said Mr Buku. He added: “They should spend more energy resolving their party disputes. There is room for competitive politics without making defamatory statements.” Mr Buku was referring to nomination of ODM’s presidential candidate, which has threatened to split the party, with some members insisting on unchallenged nomination of Mr Odinga as party leader while those allied to his deputy, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, proposing a competitive process to pick a contender. Mr Ruto, the Eldoret North MP, said separately that it was unfortunate that people can make casual statements on sensitive matters pertaining to security. He urged Kenyans to treat ODM chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo’s claims that there was a plot to kill Mr Odinga with the “contempt they deserve”. “It is so unfortunate that people can make alarming, unsubstantiated statements that have no basis and are bound to cause unnecessary friction, especially at this time when the country is gearing for the general election,” said Mr Ruto. Share This Story 5Share Mr Ruto said Deputy Prime Minister Kenyatta, Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri and himself had recorded statements with the police and urged security agencies to move with haste in investigating the motive behind the claims. Mr Ruto described Mr Midiwo’s claims as a “useless story”, adding that it is only a mad man who can think of hatching a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister. Mr Ruto spoke in Eldoret yesterday when he presided over the Eldoret West District education and prize giving day. “If the PM can be at risk with the heavy security detail attached to him, then what about the ordinary Kenyan citizen?” asked Mr Ruto.
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 15, 2012 10:34:00 GMT 3
standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000056307&cid=4¤tPage=3West now cries foul as Kibaki courts the East When President Kibaki announced Kenya had struck oil in Turkana last month, citizens were glad the discovery would bring an end to poverty. But miles away in Europe, a different kind of elation took place: Media houses chest-thumped that it was a home-grown company that had struck the oil first, beating competitors from other countries like China. Chinese President Hu Jintao on a visit to Nairobi. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD] The respected Telegraph newspaper of UK screamed: "A British company has announced it has struck oil in Kenya for the first time, beating rivals, including China, in the race to strike crude." Oil discovery But it would later emerge that Tullow Oil had used Chinese technology that made it possible to locate the oil deposits in Ngamia 1, effectively handing the bragging rights to the Asian country. This best captured the silent rivalry between Western countries and China in the race to win or retain developing countries, only second to the cold war era, pitting the US against former Soviet Union. In Kenya, the West’s frustrations were highlighted a few weeks ago by a public outburst by French ambassador Etienne de Poncins that President Kibaki had become extremely difficult to reach. While such complaint would have ordinarily attracted an outright apology from State House, President Kibaki instead appeared to savour the moment, seeking to explain why Kenya had shunned the West in favour of East. "The President has been strategic and has not been unreachable to any nation that works for the good of the Kenyan people and appreciates the role played by external partners in endeavours to uplift the lives of Kenyans and citizens of neighbouring states," read a dispatch from the PPS. Diplomatic policy It pointed out that the President’s diplomatic policy was being guided by Kenya’s present view of changing geo-political dynamics, which entail an understanding of the West and East convergence on world affairs in an ever-changing environment. "China and Japan have emerged as strategic development partners of Kenya especially in the area of infrastructure development that has been a key pillar of the President’s agenda," the PPS statement added. But while the war existed only in media analysis, the move by the Western diplomats and Kibaki’s administration to engage in a public sparring is raising eyebrows. Diplomat Maria Nzomo gives props to Kibaki for making the Western envoys wait like everyone else. "This is long overdue and the President is in order. We have been very generous giving them preferential treatment," charged Prof Nzomo. Coming hot in the heels of Kibaki’s admission of giving Europe a cold shoulder is Roads Minister Franklin Bett’s sentiments on a local TV station on Tuesday that the Government had opted to deal with China due to the bureaucratic nature of obtaining funds from the West. "Like the southern bypass in Nairobi, we took 10 years to discuss with the World Bank and nothing was forthcoming. When we went to the Chinese, the discussions lasted just three months and today, they are already on the ground," said the Roads minister. UK invitation And on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Ongeri revealed how President Kibaki declined an invitation to visit the United Kingdom two years ago. He said Kibaki had been invited by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown for talks at No 10 Downing Street and was scheduled to also meet Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace but Kenyan authorities declined to accept the invitation after concluding it was "not appropriate to execute the visit". "The President was invited by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The invitation was for March 23 and 24, 2010, and it included a call on the Queen and meetings with Brown," disclosed Prof Ongeri when he appeared before the Parliamentary Defence and Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday. But he said the full reasons for Kibaki’s refusal to meet the British could not be said "in the full flare of (media) cameras." The West has seen its influence politically and economically in Kenya, and by extension in Africa, wane by the day. Nzomo argues the Western diplomats have been breaking existing procedures, which explains their frustrations when Kenya finally decides to uphold them. "Let them queue up. I have been a diplomat in more than four countries and I have never gone to a State House without an appointment. I have also never gone to the media criticising any of their policies," added Nzomo. According to her, things went haywire for the diplomats the day Kenya diversified her relations to incorporate not just China but also regional integration. Traditional allies Data from the Kenya Investment Authority showed that China, South Africa, India and South Korea were the top five sources of foreign direct investment for Kenya in 2010, beating the traditional toppers such like UK, Germany and the Netherlands. China pumped a total investment of Sh40.2 billion into Kenya that year, while developed economies, among them, Germany, Canada, Israel and Italy invested less than Sh500 million in Kenya last year. In practical terms, Foton Motors is currently constructing a Sh1.2 billion assembly plant along Mombasa Road, while Chery Automobiles has mooted plans to build a assembly plant in the country. On the continental front, trade between China and Africa surpassed Sh10 trillion ($120 billion) in 2010. And in the previous two years, China had given more loans to poor countries, mainly in Africa, than the World Bank. The Heritage Foundation, an American think-tank, estimated that in 2005-10 about 14 per cent of China’s investment abroad found its way to sub-Saharan Africa.
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 14, 2012 15:14:56 GMT 3
Mwalimumkuu, yes there are issues which are very difficult to face for true believers in the party. But in as much as you raise the perception you will be happy to see ODM dead [or is it Raila finished politically], there are issues you raise that are highly relevant. The party secretariat under Nyong'o has been KANU-esq. And I speak from experience, like long ago when folks like me were busy in Nyanza trying to organize a local primary election so that truly popular candidates could emerge, only for some candidates to appear with signed certificates from Orange house! direct nomination!
All my eastlands-living folks in Nairobi are still ODM damu, but when I asked them how ODM lost Makadara, I recognized what had happened with me in Nyanza. The majority youth did not want Ndolo, but that is the man the party imposed. The ODM supporters refused, joined the protest candidate Sonko or just stayed at home. That is how ODM lost Makadara. Orange House thought they could impose Ndolo. the youth said No.
And these lessons have not been learnt well. And that is the achilles heel of ODM. There is a fear of democracy at the heart of the party. [or is it a lingering attachment to the politics of patronage and nepotism?] y Jakaswanga, Why lie? Apart from Nyongo which other nyanza politician got direct nomination? What about Orengo being cleared by the party after losing to Mwanga? In Ugenya the youthful aspirants who trounced the rest at the ODM nominations was Stephen O Mwanga .but his victory was rejected for undisclosed reason and the party later cleared James Aggrey Orengo .But the popular Mwanga immediately jumped the ship and took a KADDU ticket. He is expected to give Orengo a run for his money.africanpress.me/2007/11/25/
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Post by nowayhaha on Apr 14, 2012 12:09:17 GMT 3
Exactly what I am talking about. As Kabatesi explains, what ODM has done is to effectively lock Mudavadi out. ------------ ... However, in a rejoinder ,Mudavadi’s camp termed as unfounded and unconvincing the reasons advanced by Nyong’o.
Kabatesi claimed the public has consistently been misled that what ODM did on Tuesday when officials presented registration application forms was merely to "file returns".
"To the contrary, on Tuesday, full registration was hurriedly applied for under the un-amended Constitution, in contempt of the NEC resolution. The legal net effect is that the party’s presidential ticket has been secured for the Party Leader," said Mudavadi’s aide.
He argued the Political Parties’ Act was clear under what circumstances registration was sought and the strict requirement for a notice did not apply at the time.
Kabatesi explained even then the party had sufficient time to hold the NDC had a notice been issued on April 4 after the NEC meeting that unanimously resolved the party Constitution be amended immediately.
He said instead Nyong’o presented the constitution with the clause which NEC had resolved be removed. To date no notice has been issued.
" It is therefore misleading to the public that the party was constrained to urgently issue notice under Section 20. Such notice was not necessary. It will be necessary only after the party is issued with a certificate of full registration," said Kabatesi. www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000056222&cid=4& ----------------- As we can see, the agenda seems to be, to drive Mudavadi out of the party. The guys seem scared of Mudavadi stiff. Raila camp seems to have come to the realization that Mudavadi was going to whitewash them in the nominations. Thus, the underhand dealings they have engaged in. After driving Mudavadi out, the next thing is to temper with the delegates. The number of delegates from RV, Central and Eastern will be reduced to very minimal numbers while those from Luo Nyanza and Western friendly areas such as Busia will be tripled. All Mudavadi allies will be kicked out. After this, a cosmetic nomination process will be called at the kichinjio Kasarani. Men, this is KANU unraveling in our own eyes. As the Americans will say, we haven't seen nothing yet. For neutral observes like us, we can only wish Mudavadi well in whatever house he finally calls home, he is not the kind that can stand and does not deserve such mijeledi. One wonders why a man who according to Ambitho is riding on 52% popularity would be so scared to face a fellow who is languishing at a miserable 5%. MM, What you have mentioned about the delegates from counties in RV ,Central , Nairobi , Eastern , N.Eastern and Coast is the area of concern to ODM-Raila . This circus of amending the constitution will go away there is no way Railas faction in ODM can be seen to be democratic if they dont amend it . Mudavadis faction is playing into the circus as an offensive strategy to avoid the tampering of the delegates and come the primaries Mudavadi will win hands down with majority of delegates from the said provinces with addition of Western voting for him . As earlier stated in another thread , this is the real nightmare for Raila. The more the O.D.M. in-fights continue the better for the opponents as it showcases what they have always been saying and the Kenyans can see for themselves that O.D.M. is undemocratic and intolerant.
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