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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 26, 2012 12:07:31 GMT 3
www.nation.co.ke/News/Michuki+taught+me+the+need+for+consensus/-/1056/1334582/-/ql60oz/-/index.htmlDespite our differences, Michuki taught me the need for consensus By SALIM LONE Last month, an ambassador concerned about the imminent danger to a wildlife species sought I disagreeistance in seeking urgent help from Prime Minister Raila Odinga. I proposed going directly to Environment minister John Michuki instead, as that would get the quickest results. The ambassador was delighted with my suggestion and praised Mr Michuki’s superlative effectiveness. My instinctive recourse to Mr Michuki reflected the long distance I had travelled in my views of one of the most powerful Cabinet ministers from Central Kenya – and of my views on how to bring about change in our country. As a young adult slowly discovering the colonial history that our schools never taught, Mr Michuki had emerged as one of those Kenyans I wanted nothing to do with. That opinion was further cemented when I learned more about Mau Mau’s struggles and Murang’a politics from close friends Maina wa Kinyatti and the late Wang’ondu wa Kariuki, who supported J.J. Kamotho’s insurgent challenge against Mr Michuki and the repressive order they thought he represented. Children were playmates So later, when my children and Mr Michuki’s became friends at St Mary’s School and I would sometimes drop them at the minister’s well-guarded Ridgeways home, and even after the minister’s lovely daughter Ann married my close media colleague Mutahi Kagwe, I still did not try getting to know Mr Michuki. Share This Story Share His subsequent outstanding achievements as a minister could not negate from me his hardline role in the Standard raid, the Artur brothers saga and the extrajudicial killings of Mungiki suspects. There was also his astonishing but very candid proclamation in 2003 that the push for reforms had been meant to derail former president Moi, but with President Mwai Kibaki in power, there was no need to pursue change. My view of Mr Michuki changed dramatically in 2009, when we were both part of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York. I had pleasant exchanges with the minister once I became Mr Odinga’s spokesman in 2007, but in New York we were grouped together and ended up having a number of interesting conversations. It was an eye-opener. He was aware of my own history of fighting the system he represented so effectively, and I was very much a junior colleague to boot, but there was not a hint of disdain or lack of interest in hearing my opinions. But what amazed me was that I agreed with him on a number of crucial things, the most important of which was the need to talk honestly about what one believed in if we were to progress as a nation. I actually became very fond of him, and sought him out at any event we attended. I realised that despite his ideology, Mr Michuki was a Grand Old Man with his own dignity. He also possessed invaluable knowledge of a period of our liberation struggle that few on his side of the colonial divide have articulated. I once told him that his memoirs, along with Mr Charles Njonjo’s, would be eagerly sought in Kenya as both had kept their silence as witnesses and commanding actors in the making of our history. He responded with his inimitable mischievous glint which was totally non-committal, hovering between cynicism, disdain and approval! Is it possible he did have a manuscript in the works? John Michuki played a significant role in my view of how national progress must be constructed. Despite my strong views, I am by nature a consensus-seeker. As ODM spokesman for the constitutional referendum campaign in 2005, I got to know many of those who are no longer in the Raila-led ODM - Musyoka Kalonzo, Uhuru Kenyatta, Mutula Kilonzo, Najib Balala and William Ruto, to mention a few. From being able to talk honestly with someone as distant from my life-long convictions as Mr Michuki, I am convinced that uncompromising crusaders for people’s rights and the rule of law must combine their zeal for justice with a strategy for negotiation and principled compromise in order to achieve results. The definition of potential reformers must also be made more elastic in order to include more in the reform net to more effectively exclude those committed to restricting wealth and power to a smaller elite. The way to such a conviction is more easily made when we recognise that however divergent our political views, we are all human and need to live together as Kenyans. We must never allow the political to trump the human. Share This Story Share Despite its many weaknesses, this cooperation is an invaluable contribution that our coalition government has made to making Kenya a less divided nation, reducing tensions while empowering centrist rather than extremist policies. That is how our Constitution came to be passed. Mr Michuki was a strategist in creating deep national divisions before independence and through his role in establishing Kikuyu pre-eminence under Kenyatta. His presence and power in Cabinet was proof of how little Central Kenya leadership had changed structurally since Kenyatta’s time. But Michuki was also a brilliant business pioneer who played a historic role in wresting economic control from non-citizens. The legacy he leaves must be centred around the constant need for intense dialogue among all the powerful forces in Kenya. The writer is a former spokesman at the PM’s office
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 25, 2012 16:57:56 GMT 3
Jacob Agwa controversial article and his penmanship in general resembles that of Koigi Wa Wamwere's. Mmmmmmmh! Also noticed Agwa is more of a wester African name .
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 23, 2012 4:28:53 GMT 3
The Late Michuki describes Ngilu @1.49 See clip [youtube]
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 23, 2012 4:26:26 GMT 3
R.I.P.
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 19, 2012 12:54:35 GMT 3
Even those who opposed constitution can lead There is a theory being propagated by certain politicians that those who voted ‘No’ in the constitutional referendum in 2010 cannot be trusted to manage the implementation of the new laws and, therefore, should not be elected to a leadership position. They argue that those who did not support the then proposed Constitution are ineligible because, by voting against it, they confirmed they had no confidence in the same and, as such, are unfit to lead under the new dispensation. Given a chance, the proponents of this unfortunate theory would ban all those who voted ‘No’ from participating in the coming elections. Obviously, such thinking belongs to a category of leaders who, in victory, would alienate, marginalise and persecute those who did not vote for or support them. This is a demonstration that an exercise of a simple democratic right to choose can, thus, land people in serious trouble with their leaders. For those who may not be aware, I was among the almost three million Kenyans who voted ‘No’ at the referendum and have no regrets whatsoever. The contest was between those in the Red camp who proposed that Kenyans “reject, amend then pass” the new laws while the Greens proposed that we “pass then amend later”. There was consensus that there were contentious issues in the document that needed to be addressed and the only difference was that the Reds wanted the issues dealt with before, while the Greens insisted the issues could be handled after the passage of the new laws. Share This Story 12Share The Greens won and, as democrats, we conceded defeat and embraced the new set of laws as any self-respecting Kenyan would do. Together Kenyans started the implementation process while hoping that the contentious issues would be sorted out in due course. Unfortunately, there are those who seem to be suffering from the hangover of the referendum contest and want to perpetuate it in an attempt to cloud the minds of Kenyans about the choice of leaders needed to take this great nation to the next level of development. These people need to be reminded of the cardinal principle of freedom of choice enshrined in our Constitution and embedded firmly in the holy books. It was as constitutional to vote ‘Yes’ as it was to vote ‘No’. In any case, the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ were choices given and guaranteed by the constitutional review framework as legitimate options carrying no punitive consequences when exercised. To now turn around and attempt to mete out some punishment by trying to disqualify others from leadership on this account speaks volumes of the democratic credentials and tolerance for alternative views of the proponents. To try to assign status to Kenyans on the basis of how they voted is as myopic as it is simplistic and tyrannical Those championing this unfortunate crusade should be told in no uncertain terms that the referendum is over and Kenya has a new Constitution for all irrespective of how they voted at the referendum. Whereas such people voted for the Constitution, they tend to overlook some of its salient points such as the robust Bill of Rights, including freedom of conscience, belief and expression, as well as of political choice. It is a pity that people with this attitude believe that they are entitled to lead and have arrogated themselves a pedestal from which they dictate to Kenyans who and who not to elect. The new contest in town is the contest for the leadership of Kenya. At the elections, Kenyans will be looking for men and women who will match what they say with what they do. People with demonstrated performance track records are needed to take charge of their affairs. This contest is going to be about ideas, programmes, and policies that will create new opportunities for millions of young people who have no jobs, no access to credit and no hope; eliminate the shame of millions who suffer and even die of hunger, and grow the economy by double digits so as to lift millions of people out of poverty. There is no room for cheap talk about how individuals voted in the referendum. The leadership of Kenya is serious business engaging serious minds on matters ideas. Wake up and smell the coffee. Welcome to the new Kenya. The writer is the Member of Parliament for Eldoret North. www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Even+those+who+opposed+constitution+can+lead+/-/440808/1330416/-/item/1/-/156sd6rz/-/index.html
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 18, 2012 16:22:57 GMT 3
Arab Spring revives Cold War alignment Posted on February 18, 2012 Marwan Kabalan For the first time since the end of the cold war two decades ago, Russia and China used the veto twice in the UN Security Council to block a resolution regarded particularly in Moscow as another western attempt to ignore its interests in the international arena. Russia’s firm position in defence of the Syrian regime is seen as a clear departure from post-Soviet Kremlin policy which until recently tried to avoid a direct clash with western powers and hence a resumption of the cold war animosity. That does not seem to be the case anymore. Although many insist that Russia would still be willing to sell its ally in Damascus if the right price is offered, Moscow’s self-confidence is indeed growing and seems to be willing more than before to challenge western policies when its interests deem that necessary. The Russian-Chinese co-ordination on many world issues, including in the UN Security Council, makes it almost certain that the West will, from now on, face tougher resistance to its polices from underprivileged powers in the international system. Indeed, over the past few years, especially after the US invasion of Iraq, Russia started to show more resistance to US hegemony particularly in the Middle East, but the Arab Spring may have provided one more incentive for Moscow to confront western policies in the region. For many, the Arab Spring may act as the trigger for a new east-west rivalry and could lead to reshaping the international system. The argument on the end of US hegemony and the emergence of a multi-polar system has been made several years ago, but gained more ground after the dramatic events of the Arab Spring. In 2006, for example, Richard Haass, Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations, an influential think thank based in New York, insisted that the age of US supremacy is coming to an end. He blamed the George W. Bush administration for contributing to eroding the hegemonic position of the US, which was described as the shortest in the history of the great powers. Yet, the declining influence of the US in the Middle East and the world at large cannot be attributed only to self-created mistakes. It is a natural outcome of a dynamic international system that leans towards preventing any single state from acquiring dominant power. This has always been the case throughout history. In 19th century Europe, the balance of power system described the process whereby smaller powers tended to form temporary alliances of convenience to counterbalance the dominant military state in the system. The membership of these alliances changed over time as the different states became more powerful potential hegemons. From time to time war broke out and was used as a means to cut down the dominant state and distribute power more evenly in the system. For most of this period, statesmen and scholars thought that the balance of power was a self-regulating system and that it looked after itself. French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte discovered this equation when his attempt to dominate Europe was challenged by an alliance of middle powers and was ultimately defeated and he was forced to retreat inside France. Germany was similarly punished for attempting to control more than the other great powers would have allowed it to get. In the post-Cold War era, the absence of a countervailing power or a group of powers in the system allowed the US the opportunity to dominate world politics. Indeed, the US made several mistakes that contributed to undercutting its influence but the other powers – regional and global – while realising that war against the US was not an option, they nevertheless made sure that Washington’s policies would fail in several parts of the world. When the Arab Spring began, the anti-US powers – Russia, China, and indeed Iran – did not seem to be bothered by the removal of pro-US regimes in the Middle East and North Africa. On the contrary, Iran, for example, hailed the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt and saw them as the beginning of an Islamic awakening. When it came to Libya, Russia and China, both had considerable investment in the country, opposed western policies especially when it became clear that Nato was taking the UN mandate beyond providing protection to civilians and towards removing the regime of Muammar Gaddafi. Syria was perhaps the clearest case when the interests of the big regional and international powers have completely diverged. Syria has created the sort of polarisation and division in the international system that has not been seen since the end of the Cold War. Anti-US powers leaned towards forming an alliance to prevent Washington from taking advantage of the Syrian crisis and hence reassert itself as the hegemon in the Middle East. The outcome of the conflict in Syria is likely therefore to end up leading to shifts and changes not only in the region but in the global balance of power too. www.thefrontierpost.com/2012/02/18/arab-spring-revives-cold-war-alignment/
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 17, 2012 11:24:58 GMT 3
Adongo here is a clip which aired yesterday on Nation TV
Truths,half-truths and falsehoods on ICC
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 16, 2012 20:21:38 GMT 3
What George Onyango Oloo is alluding to is Nepostism -
Defination of Nepotism Wiki -Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives regardless of merit
It is an open secret that Foreign Minister Wetangula awarded Railas relatives Ambassadorial Posts without them rising through diplomatic ranks - This culminated to Wetangula getting his job back even after engaging in corruption -Tokyo embassy
Of late there are media reports of a political marriage btwn ODM -Raila and Ford K-Wetangula
Doesnt it sum it up ?
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 16, 2012 19:55:41 GMT 3
Nowayhaha,
Thank you for those excerpts, it clearly shows how desperately the PM was haplessly moving from one issue to another in an effort to run away from the issues of the day. That is what happens when one thrives on lies. The PM has over the years gotten away with propoganda and lies but now he has people who can stand to him and ask him to account for his utterances and actions. As Titchaz will tell you, ^^ akierevuka mwerevu yumashakani, that is why the PM was behaving like a deer in flood lights. As AO puts it, this is a good debate to have, and it should continue and let Kenyans be the judge. Welcome MwalimumuMkuu, The below extract really sums it up - True definition of "Kigeugeu" Queries now come up why the PM "supported " the local tribunal ? Was he in the WAKI List ? and when he realized Ocampo didnt mention him as Ocampo 6 Jumped ship for political mileage. As Adongo says people can "read btwn the lines " unfortunately Raila himself cant see the double standards "The Eldoret North MP, William Ruto, however, disputed that Mr Odinga supported the formation of a local tribunal, and challenged him to state whether a letter allegedly authored by ODM Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o to the ICC calling for the prosecution of the ICC suspects had blessings."
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 16, 2012 17:39:15 GMT 3
Here is the correct report of what went on in Parliament Face-off: Raila, Ruto feud goes to House Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Eldoret North MP William Ruto on Wednesday exchanged angry words in Parliament over the implementation of the Constitution and the trial of the Ocampo Four at The Hague. Facing-off from opposite sides of the Chamber, the former political allies traded words on campaign propaganda and the reasons for the International Criminal Court taking two cases related to 2008 post election violence. (Read: Raila denies role in Uhuru, Ruto ICC cases) Speaker Kenneth Marende was forced to intervene time after time as the MPs allied to the two constantly shot to their feet in defence of their leaders. The afternoon session had just gathered pace after Question Time, with Mr Odinga taking to the Floor to issue his weekly statement on government policies. On Wednesday, he spoke of the need for MPs to pass Bills on devolution and land, which have to be passed in 10 days, rounding up his statement with an announcement that Parliament, not just him and President Kibaki, would have the final say on the General Election date. Trouble started when Mr Ruto asked Mr Odinga to clarify utterances that those who opposed the passing of the Constitution should not seek leadership positions come the elections. “Can the Prime Minister clarify whether this is the policy of the government that those who exercised their democratic rights to vote No during the referendum should not be allowed to participate in the elections or is it just his campaign propaganda?” demanded Mr Ruto. Mr Odinga denied that he had called for the disenfranchisement of those who opposed the new constitution, but added that those who spearheaded the No campaign could not be trusted to implement it. Share This Story 113Share Related Stories PM berates rivals for unceasing criticism Kenyan presidential candidates raise billions ICC: Why Raila is walking tightrope Uhuru-Ruto allies up anti-Mutula rhetoric Raila: Election date will be known soon “All I have said is that if you stood up and engaged the public in propaganda that if the new constitution is passed, homosexuality will be allowed in this country; that if the new constitution is passed, women will be allowed to abort and that there will be wards for abortion in our hospitals ... I have said that if you did not believe in the constitution, can you be trusted to implement it? You can only implement what you believe in,” Mr Odinga responded. The reply prompted Mr Ruto to rise on a point of order, accusing the PM of evading his question. He insisted that Mr Odinga categorically tells the house whether it was government policy or his own propaganda. At this point, Mr Odinga stated that while it was not government policy to lock out those who voted No, he had a right to ask Kenyans not to elect those who opposed the new constitution in the way some politicians had been moving around the country telling Kenyans that they would unite to ensure he is not elected during the next elections. PNU Nominated MP George Nyamweya dismissed the PM’s arguments, arguing that all leaders in government and Parliament had taken an oath to defend and protect the Constitution. “Whether we voted Yes or No does not matter, it is now our Constitution,” he said. In the course of the exchanges, the issues of trials of the Ocampo Four by the ICC came up, with Mr Odinga defending himself against claims that he prodded The Hague to investigate and try those behind the 2008 post election violence. Mr Ruto, Deputy Prime Ministrer Uhuru Kenyatta, former public service head Francis Muthaura and radio presenter Joshua Sang are facing indictment by the ICC. Mr Odinga said that on the contrary, the government had gone out of its way to initiate mechanisms for a local trial, only for Mr Ruto’s allies to shoot down the initiative. “Mr Isaac Ruto is on record clearly saying that ‘do not be vague, let’s go to the Hague’, as a government, we had tried very hard to establish a local tribunal so that our people could be tried here in Kenya where we could even forgive them and forget,” said Mr Odinga. Not recorded The Chepalungu MP denied the allegations and challenged the PM to table the Hansard report to prove that he had made the utterances. Mr Odinga claimed that Mr Ruto had made the remarks when the proceedings of the House were not being recorded verbatim as Parliament had gone into a division to vote on the motion. The Eldoret North MP, William Ruto, however, disputed that Mr Odinga supported the formation of a local tribunal, and challenged him to state whether a letter allegedly authored by ODM Secretary General Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o to the ICC calling for the prosecution of the ICC suspects had blessings. Mr Marende had a rough time controlling emotions as the Eldoret North MP rose on another point of order to accuse the PM of moving around the country hurling insults at his political rivals. Share This Story 21Share Related Stories PM berates rivals for unceasing criticism Kenyan presidential candidates raise billions ICC: Why Raila is walking tightrope Uhuru-Ruto allies up anti-Mutula rhetoric Raila: Election date will be known soon But in his rejoinder, Mr Odinga accused Mr Ruto of moving round the country to conduct prayer rallies yet they had failed to organise any prayers for internally displaced persons. “Why haven’t they also held prayers for the IDPs? Why don’t they say that they will hold their prayers today, and tomorrow, they hold another prayer rally for the IDPs?” Mr Odinga charged. To which Mr Ruto hit back: “If he really cares for the IDPs, why has he not organised prayers for them? Nobody has stopped you from organising prayers for them.” As tempers boiled over, the speaker was forced to caution Mr Isaac Ruto and Heritage minister William Ole Ntimama for breaching the house rules. The Chepalungu MP had accused the PM of wasting public resources globe-trotting. He wondered what the PM was doing at a recent heads of state and government meeting. “He is neither a head of state or a head of government,” Mr Ruto told the house. Mr Ntimama on his part had rose on a point of information for Mr Odinga, only to accuse Mr Ruto and his allies of raising political tension by calling for the censure of Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo. www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1328420/-/item/2/-/xxd212z/-/index.html
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 12, 2012 13:10:21 GMT 3
OO his name is 50 Cent. Reminds me back then when we would call out on people who would refer JAY-Z as JAY -ZED instead of JAY-ZEE .
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 11, 2012 14:17:45 GMT 3
I saw the 'return of cold war' at the head of this thread, and I nearly fainted! Arab spring, no arab spring, al-queda, and all, I think there will never be a return to the cold war in the near future. Not in the way we have all along envisioned war, as a physical duet between the 'superpowers'. These are the reasons 1. The global has become the local. Cosmopolitan world means that there is nolonger a single nation -state that can surely define itself as so. The world revolves around financial prowess of a multitrillionaires who have their headquarters strategically located in all major cities. Which means that a Russia bombing London will probably lead to destruction of 20 Russian billionaires who control both the financial sector in London and the political machinery in Moscow. Similar to any other city and any other country. 2. Politicians and businesses long went to bed together, in an incestous relationship, which means that, as seen in the current 'liberal' government of the US, people leave the corporate sector to take senior government positions, as the people in government positions alternate to take corporate jobs. In the UK, senior advisers to the Prime Minister are also same people who advise corporates in Russia, Geneva, Hong Kong, J'burg e.t.c. Corporates love to make money, and war, is only good for them, if it brings more money. They hate the anxiety and market tremors of 'cold' wars, so it ain't gonna get back to that one. That said, Assad is cooked. What is now happening is that, like Libya, the 'west' (Russia is included- here), as it were , are just negotiating how to share the spoils. They probably have discussed, I suspect, where he will be buried, and what they must do to ensure that his body and burial ground doesn't become a 'shrine' for those who hate the 'free world'. The Cold War was so named as it never featured direct military action "A cold war or cold warfare is a state of conflict between nations that does not involve direct military action but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions, propaganda, acts of espionage or proxy wars waged by surrogates. The surrogates are typically states that are "satellites" of the conflicting nations, i.e., nations allied to them or under their political influence. Opponents in a cold war will often provide economic or military aid, such as weapons, tactical support or military advisors, to lesser nations involved in conflicts with the opposing country."
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 8, 2012 16:52:30 GMT 3
UHURU Kenyatta is continuing to close the gap on Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the opinion polls. Yesterday Ipsos-Synovate released a poll showing that 31 per cent of Kenyans would vote for him in the presidential election, compared to 24 per cent for Uhuru, 10 per cent for Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and 6 per cent for William Ruto. This was a slight fall for Raila from his rating of 32 per cent in December and a slight jump for Uhuru from 22 per cent. The gap between Uhuru and Raila is now just 7 per cent, the lowest it has been since March 2010 when the gap was 32 per cent. In October 2010 the gap between Raila and Uhuru reached a high of 34 per cent but has since steadily declined as Project Uhuru built up his credibility as a presidential candidate. Conversely Raila appears to have suffered from the internal ODM dispute with William Ruto and the loss of support in the Rift Valley. Raila's ratings on the Ipsos-Synovate polls have fallen from a high of 48 per cent in October 2010, to 42 per cent in December 2010, 38 per cent in March 2011, and to 32 per cent in July 2011. In October 2011, Raila improved to briefly 34 per cent before falling again. Uhuru climbed from a negligible 8 per cent in March 2010, to 14 per cent in October 2010, and 18 per cent by March 2011 as he emerged as the main presidential alternative to Raila. He then peaked at 24 per cent in October 2011 before dipping slightly and coming back. “The findings of this recent survey indicate that the ICC has had little impact on the presidential ratings as indicated in the trended analysis,” Ipsos-Synovate boss Maggie Ireri said. On January 23 the ICC confirmed charges of crimes against humanity charges against Uhuru for his role in the post-election violence. Three voters have already moved to court to try and block Uhuru and his co-accused William Ruto from running for president on grounds of integrity. Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Uhuru's co-accused at the ICC, has dropped in the Synovate ratings from 10 per cent last December to 6 per cent. Conversely, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka who fell behind Ruto last December has improved from 9 per cent to 10 per cent today. Musyoka is now the third most preferred presidential aspirant after Raila and Uhuru. Martha Karua, Narc Kenya's torch bearer, has stagnated at 4 per cent in the last three polls. Peter Kenneth is at 2 per cent along with Eugene Wamalwa while George Saitoti and Musalia Mudavadi are on 1 per cent. On a positive note, 69 per cent believe the next elections will be violence-free with the highest proppertion being cfrom the Coast (81 per cent) and the lowest from Central (44 per cent) and Rift Valley (52 per cent). Ipsos-Synovate project manager in charge of opinion polling Victor Rateng told the Star that they had polled about whether Uhuru and Ruto should run for presidency despite the ICC's confirmation of charges. “We had factored these questions and in fact we do have the results but in the light of the recent High Court gag order against public discussion of the subject matter we are unable to release them,” Rateng said. A Strategic Research survey last week found that 61 per cent of Kenyans believed that Uhuru and Ruto should be allowed to stand. High Court judge Isaac Lenaola on the same day barred public debate on the eligibility of the two to run for presidency following the filing of a court case on the matter. The Kenya Editors Guild, Media Council of Kenya and Kituo Cha Sheria have however opposed the order. However Ipsos-Synovate did find that 80 per cent of Kenyans supported the decision of Civil Service boss Francis Muthaura and then Finance minister Uhuru Kenyatta to resign their posts. Another 62 per cent believed that Uhuru should now resign as Deputy Prime Minister. The Strategic Research poll last week found that 58 per cent believed that Uhuru should be allowed to continue as Deputy Prime Minister. The Strategic Research poll found a larger gap of 16 per cent between Raila and Uhuru, with 37 per cent supporting Raila for president and 21 oer cent Uhuru. The Ipsos-Synovate countrywide survey was conducted between January 27 and February 1 with 1,523 adult respondents. The sample size was distributed across the various provinces according to their population size. The margin of error attributed to sampling and other random effects of the poll’s sample size was given as plus or minus 2.5 per cent margin at 95 per cent confidence level. the-star.co.ke/national/national/61303-uhuru-closes-gap-on-raila
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 8, 2012 16:40:06 GMT 3
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Tuesday, sending a clear message that Russia intends to stand by its strongest ally in the Middle East amid an international outcry over the country's response to a civil revolt. Lavrov and foreign intelligence chief Mikhail Fradkov were given a royal welcome by thousands of pro-Assad supporters, who rallied in the streets waving Russian flags in thanks to Russia's veto over the weekend of a UN resolution calling for tough sanctions on the Syrian regime. Syrian state television declared that 1 million people came out to greet Lavrov. "Efforts to stop violence have to be met with dialogue by all the political forces," Lavrov said after the meeting, Interfax reported. "Today we received confirmation of the readiness of the president of Syria for this work." The visit by Russia's most senior diplomat came as several countries — including the United States and Britain — pulled their ambassadors out of Damascus and pressure mounted on Assad over a bloody crackdown on an armed insurrection against his authoritarian rule. "Today was a disappointing one for all those who aspire to build a new kind of relationship between the United States and Russia. Great powers have great responsibilities," U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul wrote on his Facebook page. " Hoping for new progress in coming hours and days before it's too late in Syria."
Syria's opposition had earlier turned down Moscow's offer to organize negotiations in Russia between them and government leaders.
The United Nations has reported that the violence in Syria has left at least 5,400 civilians dead. Syrian officials say 2,000 soldiers have died while fighting what they claim are foreign-backed rebels.
While Lavrov said Assad promised to open up dialogue with opposition leaders, violence continued to escalate in the country as government forces resumed the bombardment of the city of Homs, an opposition stronghold, Reuters reported.
Analysts said the presence of Russia's intelligence chief on the trip indicated that Russia will continue its military support to Syria, a major ally dating back to Soviet times.
On Saturday, Russia and China blocked a UN Security Council resolution calling for increased pressure on Assad. Both Moscow and Beijing said they were worried foreign powers would use the resolution as a basis for a military intervention similar to that in Libya, where rebels — largely helped by a NATO bombing campaign — overthrew and killed Colonel Moammar Gadhafi last year.
Lavrov earlier said "regime change is not our occupation" and stated that the resolution put all the blame on the Assad government's side and none on the opposition.
"There is not one single, but many sources of violence," Lavrov said.
Lavrov's sentiments were backed by some Russian Middle East experts who believe that the struggle against Assad's secular regime could unleash radical Islamist forces in the country.
While fears over the increased radicalization of the Middle East are real, experts say Russia's main concern is to keep Syria as its only dependable ally in the Middle East.
"The loss of Syria would be catastrophic, and we should hold on to it at any price," said Igor Korotchenko, a military expert and an editor of the Natsionalnaya Oborona magazine.
He said Fradkov's presence shows that Russia is serious in defending the interests of its old ally.
"Russia can provide Assad intelligence information that foreign countries might be behind the opposition" he said.
Military expert Alexander Perenzhiyev called Syria Russia's "last frontier" in the Middle East.
"If it is lost, we will be valued as a second-class state," he said, adding that Russia might even deploy military advisers to counter the threat of foreign intervention.
His position was echoed by presidential candidate Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party.
"Let's hope that Russia will not leave Syria alone," he said, according to Interfax. "We have to support all countries which resist the United States."
Another presidential candidate, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, said Russia should continue efforts to force dialogue between the opposition and the government.
"But the opposition should be looked at carefully to make sure who are criminals sent by the West to topple a legitimate power," he said.
Billionaire presidential candidate Mikhail Prokhorov said Tuesday that while he understands the criticism of Assad, he does not support the radical opposition. He said Russian business and military interests in Syria — which amount to $20 billion — should be taken into account.
Syria is among the largest buyers of Russian weapons, and contracts signed with the country amount to $3.5 billion, Vyachaslav Dzirkaln, deputy head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation said in November.
The country is also home to a small Russian naval base built during Soviet times, which functions as a Russian-only port beyond the borders of the former Soviet Union.
Fyodor Lukyanov, editor of political magazine Russia in Global Affairs, told Reuters on Tuesday that Lavrov's visit was an indication to Assad that Russia did "everything possible" by vetoing the UN resolution.
"Now the main task for Lavrov is to tell Assad that if there is no visible change in Syria, then regardless of the Russian position he should be bracing for external military measures," Lukyanov said.
Read more: www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/lavrov-in-syria-to-strongly-back-assad/452593.html#ixzz1lnVIrYZL The Moscow Times www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/lavrov-in-syria-to-strongly-back-assad/452593.html
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 7, 2012 11:18:36 GMT 3
Foresight, surely you jest. Why would RAO scuttle his life's work that's been 30 years in the making? Imagine this happening and Bingo you have another "statesman" in form of Mandela(not to be misinterpreted to mean he is great though ) and whoever he anoints will be difficult to win against . That can be a game-changer in the upcoming general elections .
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Post by nowayhaha on Jan 28, 2012 12:42:47 GMT 3
Posted Friday, January 27 2012 at 17:22 IDA ODINGA calls mechanism for local trial of 4 Kenyan suspects charged at ICC. Says speaking as a mother and has not consulted PM, her husband. ICC Pre-trial judges on Monday confirmed charges against Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of Public Service Francis Muthaura, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and radio journalist Joshua Sang. Mrs Odinga was quick to clarify that she had yet to consult her husband , Prime Minister Raila Odinga, on the matter and was only expressing her opinion as a mother and a wife to a former political prisoner. “ These are people we have lived with and are like my brothers. These are people known to me personally…. Its better this case be handled in Kenya,” said Ida. Mrs Odinga said she shares the anguish that the families and the children of the four accused are currently going through. "Having been a wife of a former prisoner I understand how Rachel (Ruto’s wife), Mama Ngina (Uhuru’s mother) and radio presenter Sang’s wife and children and Mrs Muthaura’s are feeling. “ My own mother in-law succumbed to depression when his son who is now my husband Raila Odinga was in prison. I understand how the families are feeling. I can tell you its not a good feeling,” said Ida. She said there was need for a quick closure for all prosecutions related to the 2007 - 2008 post-election violence. Mrs Odinga noted that the problems facing the country at this moment can be surmounted by Kenyans themselves. She also called for a speedy resettlement of all IDPs. www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1315130/-/8s692i/-/index.htmlWhat Ida is saying is the plain truth this thing was is and will always be political. Look how many times she has mentioned politics and terms related to politics referring to immediate family members who were subjected to political trials and prosecutions and how they tormented them .
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Post by nowayhaha on Jan 27, 2012 11:22:09 GMT 3
If ODM politicians and sympathisers were clever enough - They wouldnt fall in the "political trap " of calling for Uhurus DPM resignation , But then again as exhibited here that is not about to happen.
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Post by nowayhaha on Jan 16, 2012 11:57:50 GMT 3
mwalimuCongratulations are in order. I heard it cost Kshs 50million. You guys have started on a wrong footing. Other than Kaparo perhaps, Ruto, Jirongo, Duale, Magara, Mwakwere are all members of other parties. And they have repeatedly said they are in their respective parties to stay. Where's the mass defection we've been hearing about since 2008? You launch a party and declare interest in the party's presidential ticket, yet you still serve as party leader of another! Walking the talk indeed! Ruto's speach at Bomas was a poor attempt at replicating Raila's vision launch of 2007. If you ask him exactly how his government intends to rehabilitate infrastructure, he will draw a blank. What can we say of Jirongo, surely? But this is good. With URP set to get a few MPs in opposition benches in 2013, one hopes that the 11th parliament will have some sanity and that they will not again start prostituting themselves to a ruling ODM. Talk of pot calling the kettle black , werent Raila , Mudavadi and all ODM founding members in other political parties be it NARC , LDP KANU when they found and started selling ODM back then prior to 2007 elections? worse of all if example of Raila Odinga is taken in example in 2002 and 2007 ??
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Post by nowayhaha on Dec 29, 2011 13:19:56 GMT 3
Honestly ,When all is said and done MM should go back to his job. Wasn't this the ultimate goal why he went to the courts . This is encouraging especially to the civil servants who have been previously " sacked" without the due process being followed.
The talk of MM shouldn't accept the offer back because he badmouthed the PM is farfetched if compared to the badmouthing the PM received from Orengo and Mudavadi (circa 1997-2002) arent they on the same bed and the heros of ODM supporters now ?
What about the olive branch Raila is "offering " Ruto after all the "matusis"
Its predictable that once MM agrees to take back his former position, down the lane (3 Months or so ) praises will come from the same ODM supporters asking him not to assent to the reinstatement .
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Post by nowayhaha on Nov 29, 2011 14:37:15 GMT 3
Raila On The Said "Nairobi-Nyeri Road" Mr Odinga added that the Kenol-Murang’a-Sagana road will be upgraded into a dual carriage way to ease transportation of farm produce in the area. In a move aimed at endearing himself to Central Kenya region, Mr Odinga while addressing a crowd at Saba Saba town described himself as a Muthoni-wa (In-law) of the Kikuyu community. He further said he had helped campaign for President Kibaki in the area ahead of the 2002 elections using the ‘Kibaki Tosha’ slogan but stopped short of asking the locals to reciprocate by voting for him in next year’s general elections. www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/Raila+calls+for+unity+before+poll/-/1064/1280480/-/1joo6wz/-/index.html
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Post by nowayhaha on Nov 16, 2011 17:41:06 GMT 3
www.the-star.co.ke/national/corridors-of-power/49469-corridors-of-powerSpeculation is rife that a well known political strategist will soon join the Office of the Prime Minister to replace Miguna Miguna. The strategist has had running duels with Miguna before and is said to be a target of the ODM because he is disillusioned with the PNU. The man has since been released by PNU. He has been conspicuously missing in G7 Alliance activities
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Post by nowayhaha on Nov 8, 2011 14:11:30 GMT 3
From The Star www.the-star.co.ke/national/national/47128-only-sound-leadership-will-rescue-the-youth-from-unemployment-and-poverty-says-rutoOnly sound leadership will rescue the youth from unemployment and poverty, says Ruto Eldoret North MP William Ruto has said Kenya needs a leadership that will create jobs for the youth and reduce poverty. Ruto blamed unemployment among the youth on wrong structures which he said drive them deeper into hopelessness.He said youths are being misused to do menial jobs under the Kazi Kwa Vijana project whose objective is to enrich a few selfish individuals in government. “It is regrettable that in the 21st century youths in this country are being cobbled up together under the KKV project but the money ends up in a few individuals' pockets. What the country needs are credible structures to lift the youths from poverty and unemployment instead of hoodwinking them ,” Ruto said.The MP said the country has the potential to be a first class economy but regretted that it has been ran down by people “with mediocre ideas who occupy government positions.” He told Prime Minister Raila Odinga to take full political responsibility on the scandal involving the KKV funds instead of passing the back to junior officers saying that the money was lost under his watch.The legislator said that he would stop at nothing to contest the presidency and told off critics who say he does not qualify to contest since he had opposed the passing of the new constitution during the referendum campaigns. “Those who keep on lecturing us about who voted Yes and who voted No should give us a break. We know some of them opposed the draft during the 2005 referendum and contested for presidency in 2007, what makes them more Kenyans than us?” Ruto posed.
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Post by nowayhaha on Nov 8, 2011 8:55:06 GMT 3
This is what Ruto said -Unfortunately Subsaharanite -I dont see in anyway he was trying to trivialize manual labour . www.standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000046297&cid=4&ttl=Kalonzo,%20Ruto%20and%20Wamalwa%20tour%20vote%20rich%20Mt%20Kenya%20region Kalonzo, Ruto and Wamalwa tour vote rich Mt Kenya region By JOB WERU and JOSEPH MUCHIRI Presidential hopefuls camped in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region on Sunday, led Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Eldoret North MP William Ruto and his Saboti counterpart Eugene Wamalwa. However, Kalonzo steered away from politics and instead planted a commemorative tree at Muhoya hills in Tetu, Nyeri County, at Karunaini, a symbolic spot where legendary Mau Mau leader Dedan Kimathi was captured by colonialist forces. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka plants a mugumo at Dedan Kimathi Memorial site at Kahinga-ini, Nyeri, on Sunday. [PHOTO: MARTIN TELEWA AND VPPS] In Embu, Ruto of the G7 alliance urged Britain to respect Kenya and its culture. He criticised the UK’s recent decision to deny aid to countries that are strongly anti-gay as misplaced and un-African. Ruto was speaking at Kiangungi Secondary School in Runyenjes constituency during the opening of a girls’ dormitory and a fundraiser to buy a school bus, He said UK must not give restrictions on donations if they do not have vested interests. Wamalwa was in Imenti South Constituency, at Gakuuni PCEA Church for a funds drive where he challenged new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Isaack Hassan not to "play politics" with the election date. Ruto asked UK Prime Minister David Cameron to respect Kenyans because they are God-fearing people who cannot accept homosexuality. The Eldoret North MP was accompanied by Tourism Assistant Minister Cecily Mbarire, Siakago MP Lenny Kivuti, Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, Chachu Ganya (North Horr), Ekwe Ethuro (Turkana Central).Ruto said G7 is made up of development conscious and like-minded people, who want to unite all Kenyans and address the plight of the youth, especially unemployment, noting that four million young Kenyans are jobless. BITTER RIVAL
He took a swipe at his bitter rival. Prime Minister Raila Odinga, over the Kazi kwa Vijana controversy, saying that in the 21st century, Kenya should be arming its youth with basic skills in carpentry, welding, information technology and not with hoes and shovels.
"Instead of giving shovels to youth, they should be given interest-free loans to engage in farming, start business and industrial activities," said Ruto.Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto who accompanied him said Nyanza leaders should tame youths and condemned the recent pelting of presidential aspirant Raphael Tuju’s convoy with stones. Over in Nyeri County, Kalonzo, accompanied by Public Works Assistant Minister Mwangi Kiunjuri, called for political discipline ahead of the 2012 polls. Kiunjuri called on Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere and National Cohesion and Integration Commission Chairman Mzalendo Kibunjia to investigate and arrest people fanning ethnic divisions. Wamalwa also condemned the attacks on Tutu as barbaric and outdated and only served to polarize the country. The Mt Kenya region has lately become a busy hunting ground. Interestingly, the event came barely two weeks after Prime Minister Raila Odinga cancelled a trip to Nyeri, in which he was scheduled to plant a tree at the same scene. Kalonzo, who was accompanied by MPs, Francis Nyammo (Tetu) and Ephraim Maina (Mathira) toured tea plantations in the region. The VP said the tour gave him a sense of belonging and an attachment to Kenya’s clamour for independence. He planted a Mugumo (fig) tree, which according to Kikuyu traditions is considered sacred. "The tour and subsequent planting of a Mugumo tree gives me a sense of fulfillment, since the name Kimathi is synonymous with Kenya’s independence," said the VP. In a tribute to the late freedom fighter, he said the name Kimathi is synonymous with Kenya’s independence, adding that it was the reason the Government decided to install his monument along Kimathi street in Nairobi. FREEDOM FIGHTERS "I feel privileged to honour him. We must protect our sovereignty and such sites and monuments that remind us of the enduring fight our forefathers fought to liberate us," he said. In what appeared like a recognition of freedom fighters, most of who have already died, the VP said the Government is in the process of improving their welfare, and would gazette spots like these as national monuments. This came after Ephraim Maina said that despite the country honouring Kimathi as a hero, his wife, Mama Mukami was leading a desolate life. "It is a pity that the old woman is struggling to live while the whole nation celebrates her husband as the liberator of the nation," said Maina. Maina caused laughter when he claimed the country risked catching a curse for neglecting Ms Mukami and other devoted freedom fighters languishing in poverty. "Let us take good care of Ms Mukami and other freedom fighters, or we live with a curse in our heads," he said. Tetu MP Francis Nyammo asked the Government to build a memorial at Karunaini to serve as a tourist attraction and museum, complete with a visitor’s book. In a separate interview with journalists a few metres from the patched spot where Kimathi fell, Kalonzo said the Government would put up a museum at the scene, which will also serve as a tourists attraction site. "In next year’s Budget, we will also try to factor in the spot and see whether we can put up a museum in this important scene," said Kalonzo.
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Post by nowayhaha on Nov 1, 2011 12:13:23 GMT 3
Wars are never won..............
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Post by nowayhaha on Oct 22, 2011 14:15:39 GMT 3
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