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Post by nowayhaha on Mar 1, 2011 16:25:43 GMT 3
And We Thought with the ousting of KANU the democratic views in Kenyan political parties will be respected but alas once a member expresses a divergent view then the solution is to expel him.
This is just deja vu 21st Century Raila = 20th Century Moi 21st Century ODM =20th Century KANU
Remember this
Monday, 08 November 1999 21:30 Share 0Rebel Kanu MPs yesterday dismissed their party's weekend threat not to sponsor them in future elections.
One of them described the warning by secretary-general Joseph Kamotho as "nonsensical". Another said that the party risked becoming irrelevant in the next millennium and declared he was not even planning to seek re-election on a Kanu ticket.
Cherangany MP Kipruto arap Kirwa, who has been trying to register a new party - United Democratic Movement - with fellow renegade Cyrus Jirongo, said if his party was not registered he would decamp to another.
He told Mr. Kamotho to "guard his tongue" and asked: "Who gave Kamotho the mandate to speak for us?" He and two other Kanu MPs were reacting to remarks by Mr. Kamotho on 25 ruling party MPs who refused to back President Moi's request that they should vote down a Bill designed to strip him of some of his powers.
Mr. Kamotho, speaking in Gucha, had declared that the MPs supporting the Bill by opposition legislator Oloo Aringo were only being tolerated by Kanu and would be dealt with at the next General Election.
Mr. Kirwa said: "I am thankful to Mr. Kamotho for giving a chance to many MPs to realise that Kanu is not a mass movement. It is a party of a clique of people who are seeking political alignment where their democratic views will have a chance."
Mr. Kirwa said the Kanu clique risked making itself irrelevant in the next millennium with such utterances. He cautioned his ruling party colleagues who did not agree with the ideals of Kanu hardliners to watch out and choose their future political parties now.
Mr. Kirwa said Kanu had been scheming all along how to get even with Kanu MPs who did not subscribe to their undemocratic methods of running the party.
"They have accommodated us because they know that without us the political equilibrium will be upset," he said.
Mr. Kirwa said members of UDM had gone to court and expected the party to be registered before the next General Election.
"We hope justice will take place and we will be registered. If the party is not registered I'll vie on any other party ticket but not Kanu."
Mr. Tony Ndilinge, the MP for Kilome, said Kanu was not anybody's personal asset but a mass movement.
"Kamotho should start by respecting his own constitution, before saying nonsensical things to elected leaders," he said. (Mr. Kamotho has been nominated to Parliament twice after losing in both 1989 and 1997 elections in Mathioya constituency.)
Mr. Ndilinge reminded the party boss that Kanu's elections had been pending for 10 years in contravention of the party's constitution, which requires the polls to be held at intervals of five years.
In a statement, Kisii civic leaders told Mr. Kamotho that being sponsored by Kanu did not guarantee victory in elections
They said that only the people of Nyaribari Chache constituency would the fate of former Minister Simeon Nyachae, a leading party dissident.
They demanded an apology from Mr. Kamotho and warned him not to step in Kisii.
"If he comes to his planned fundraising in Nyamira next week, it will be at his own risk," the statement said.
It was signed by, among others, Coun Wilfred Monyenye, Coun Claire Omanga, Coun Peter Monda, Coun Titus Omae, Coun Jackson Ontegi, Coun George Masereti, Coun Masega Nyaboga, Coun Mokweri and a businessman Mr. Michael Nyachae.
Masinga MP Ronald Kiluta, said Mr. Kamotho knows that he lacks the mandate of Kanu members to speak on behalf of the party.
"Who tells him that we will be in Kanu during the next General Election. After all Kanu won't be the same party come the year 2002," he said.
Col Kiluta said Mr. Kamotho and other top Kanu leaders should first ask themselves why there are so many dissenting voices in the party before issuing threats against members, he said.
Mosop MP John Sambu, who is also regarded as a Kanu critic, declined to comment.
Mr. Kamotho, speaking at a fundraising meeting in Kisii district, said Kanu would not expel the dissidents to sustain its majority in Parliament until the next elections.
"The Kanu MPs who have rebelled are a thorn in the party but we can't expel them now for we'll cause a bigger problem," he is reported to have said.
The rebellion came last Wednesday when the President called the MPs to State House, Nairobi, to tell them of the party's stand on the stalled constitutional review. But when he proposed that they should oppose a Bill by Mr. Aringo which would make Parliamentary staff independent of the Civil Service, they rejected his request.
The Bill will take away the President's power to appoint the Clerk of the National Assembly and curtail his influence over parliamentary staff.
The President had suggested that they should vote it down on the basis that Kanu would introduce a similar Bill in about six months and thus take the credit for the move towards democracy.
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Post by nowayhaha on Mar 1, 2011 11:14:35 GMT 3
Fidel Odinga, like his father and grandfather before him, is an astute businessman. He is within his rights to run a business and trade in all manner of things. I do not see anything corrupt or illegal in that. If he went to NCPB and he bought maize on the basis of willing buyer-willing seller arrangement, what is wrong with that? Phil So why should people ostracise Jomo's son Uhuru or the moribund Jimmy? Are they not within their rights to run businesses or trade in all manner of things? Would a little help from their parental backgrounds (including Fidels) be okay with you? That is how much you are spinning this one! Kamalet OO explained it very well Once upon a time Nyani haoni kundule which roughly translated is rendered in English as: "The monkey cannot see its ass (bottom)". Apparently, the saying refers to a particular type of simian which has a scarlet behind. It is said that this monkey will laugh and laugh and laugh at a fellow monkey, pointing out in hilarity at the colour of its co-simian’s buttocks- totally oblivious to the fact that it too, has a kistobe or a madiaba of a similar hue. Apart from the literal translation, the saying nyani haoni kundule refers to those people who are quick to flash the finger of blame at others forgetting the four fingers pointing backwards at them. For the Christians in my virtual online audience, the closet rendition is evoked by the admonition by Jesus about seeing what in someone else’s eye while overlooking an even bigger blemish in one's own. Nyani, kweli, haoni KUNDULE!!
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Post by nowayhaha on Mar 1, 2011 10:59:14 GMT 3
cats have nine lives how many more do you have to go? And what does it have to do with the article- Its clear a preference issue . A U.S. Alumni or East German(Communist) Alumni Learn to read btwn the lines
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 28, 2011 14:40:05 GMT 3
WikiLeaks says US favours Uhuru over Raila NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 28 - The United States government appears to prefer Uhuru Kenyatta to Raila Odinga as the next President of Kenya after Mwai Kibaki retires, it emerged on Monday. Diplomatic cables released by whistle blowing website Wikileaks indicate that US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger wrote to his superiors in 2009 saying Mr Kenyatta's ambition should be supported as it could be helpful in pushing the reform process forward. "Kenyatta may be encouraged to attempt a presidential run due to shifting political dynamics that make potential challengers seem weak. Interestingly, Kenyatta seems to appreciate the need to be seen as pro-reform, and we should encourage him to push for action on key reform issues," the confidential cable by Mr Ranneberger states. However the ambassador seems to have no kind words for Prime Minister Raila Odinga in the June 2009 cable in which he says that the Prime Minister “is unable or unwilling to move forward the reform agenda.” He also says that Mr Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) seems both directionless and less united than before. "Odinga is increasingly perceived as feckless, unable or unwilling to govern effectively and move forward the reform agenda. There is growing disillusionment within his camp (as conveyed by key interlocutors of Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement, ODM, party to the ambassador," the cable reveals The ambassador told his bosses in Washington that Mr Kenyatta had revealed his intention to push for police reforms and also changes in the office of the Attorney General. Mr Kenyatta, according to the cables, was privately pushing President Kibaki to implement reforms. "During a recent conversation with the ambassador, Kenyatta claimed that he is privately pushing Kibaki to carry out key reforms, particularly with respect to the police and Judiciary. It seems possible that given the clear public frustration with the slow pace of reform and our stated concerns - Kenyatta appreciates the need for him, KANU, and PNU to be seen as more pro-reform," the cable states. "He claimed to the ambassador that he is urging removal of Police Commissioner (Maj Gen Mohammed Hussein) Ali and Attorney General (Amos) Wako." In his assessment of Mr Kenyatta's presidential ambition the envoy sees his elevation to the Finance Ministry portfolio as an endorsement by President Kibaki. "His appointment as Finance Minister was seen by many as an implicit endorsement by Kibaki; it provides a powerful platform for Kenyatta to pursue presidential ambitions," Mr Ranneberger tells his bosses. The envoy also hailed Mr Kenyatta's 2009 Budget and said the Finance Minister was using CDF Funds to cement support of MPs who are influential on its use. On the alliance between Mr Kenyatta and suspended Cabinet Minister William Ruto, the cable states that Mr Ruto has made a number of private visits to State House and he is in close contact with Mr Kenyatta. The ambassador sees the cooperation between the two as meant to promote the welfare of their respective ethnic communities in Central and Rift Valley "in order to avoid a repeat of what happened last year (2008) during the post-election violence." He says that tentative, behind the scenes cooperation between Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto is focused on a deal whereby the latter uses his influence among Kalenjins to facilitate the reintegration of the Kikuyu internally displaced persons in Rift Valley. "In return, Ruto would get a significant share of important economic positions for his Kalenjin political allies. What is particularly problematic in a potential Kenyatta-Ruto alliance is who would get top billing on the presidential ticket, but there is some sense that Ruto might accept the position of vice president or prime minister, and thus prepare the ground for a presidential run in 2017.(Ruto is in his 40s.)." Mr Ranneberger however cautions: "Rightly in our view, believe that attempting to have another Kikuyu succeed Kibaki is a recipe for serious instability perhaps for a meltdown much more severe than that experienced last year. While some sort of arrangement could emerge between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities, this seems a distant prospect given what happened last year. (Importantly Moi, rather than Ruto, is still seen as the head of the Kalenjin community and there is bad blood between those two. If Moi supports Kenyatta, Ruto could decide to stay with Odinga, which would mean a split of the Kalenjin vote.)" In the cable Mr Ranneberger describes the Deputy Prime Minister as being far ahead of all other potential candidates from Central Kenya. "Kenyatta is slowly but steadily emerging as the most likely potential presidential designee of the Kikuyus.” Other contenders are not gaining traction. Minister of Security (Prof George) Saitoti is considered too old and not charismatic. Kikuyu dissident Martha Karua, the former Minister of Justice and head of the NARC-K party within the PNU, has not gained wide support in the Kikuyu Central Province. Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka is however seen as a potential standard-bearer if at the end of the day the Kikuyus decide that they should not field their own candidate. "However, that would be seen as a Kikuyu-Kamba condominium, which might well be worse than a straight-out bid by Kenyatta if he can get crucial support from the Kalenjin community," Mr Ranneberger concludes. Read more: www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/Kenyanews/WikiLeaks-says-US-favours-Uhuru-over-Raila-11871.html#ixzz1FFjcf5gNUnder Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 27, 2011 13:12:28 GMT 3
I have been laughing all the way reading through this thread. what were they thinking when they started KKK? i guess they see its not working for them and many things won't be going their way in the coming days so they will have to cry many things to not be used anymore. the moment the ocampo 6 face their destiny maybe " judas" will also tell people to stop saying jomo jnr and ruto were his friends once upon a time. this man should be thinking so hard before he says anything else You can laugh all you want but you lest forget how the 2008 Country Meltdown came about . It was the Orange Elite who Put the "whole country" against the "Mt Kenya" using such utterances .This is allover the Youtube mind you. Calling people Bhang Smokers and you are a whole PRIME MINISTER OF KENYA - Surely
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 26, 2011 17:30:03 GMT 3
;D ;D You cant be serious. This is a well known acronym. They started it. Let them end it. Now that they have requested people to stop using it , would it be prudent enough and respect their democratic right by stop using the acronym
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 26, 2011 12:53:46 GMT 3
The KKK tag has been used by the ODM elite frequently of late , However the PNU elite have requested not to be identified by the tag even going further and writing to NCIC to bar people to use it. Wouldn't it be prudent enough for the politicians using it to stop It.
Reminds me of my primary school days when the backbenchers or the naughty boys created a nickname for a pupil (Tumbiri/Mnyama) and used to ridicule him time and again .
Is it possible to welcome the suggestion and stop using the Tag . starting here in Jukwaa . Charity begins at home
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 18, 2011 16:06:42 GMT 3
Kibaki insists nominations legal www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1110130/-/7owb06/-/index.htmlPresident Kibaki has said that his nomination of four Kenyans to top State jobs was "within the law". Addressing a news conference at his Harambee House office Friday over Speaker Kenneth Marende's ruling on the controversial nominations, President Kibaki said he will await the decision of the Constitutional Court. The President said he "was within the law" in nominating the four individuals to the four justice and budget jobs. He said that the spirit of separation of powers among the three arms of government ought to have been respected. "The interpretation of the Constitution ought to have been left to the Judiciary," President Kibaki said. The President said that he had at all times acted in accordance to the Constitution and that the rule of law is of "outmost importance" in running the affairs of the nation. He said the two House Committee on Justice and Finance had found that the nominations were constitutional. "None of the two committees returned a verdict that neither me or the Prime Minister had acted unconstitutionality." He said that his government is committed to the implementation of the new Constitution. President Kibaki nominated Mr Justice Alnashir Visram to be Chief Justice, Prof Githu Muigai (Attorney General), lawyer Kioko Kilukumi (Director of Public Prosecutions) and William Kirwa as Controller of Budget. But Prime Minister Raila Odinga contested the move saying there were no consultations between him and the President as provided by the Constitution and the National Accord. On Thursday, Speaker Marende ruled that the nominations were done in contravention of the Constitution and referred the matter to the two principals to start the process afresh. (Read: Speaker's ruling on Kibaki's nominees)
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 6, 2011 16:31:41 GMT 3
www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/MPs%20now%20want%20Ruto%20to%20take%20over%20Premiership/-/1064/1102382/-/mgfacy/-/index.htmlHomeNewsPolitics Politics MPs now want Ruto to take over Premiership Share Bookmark Print Email Email this article to a friend Friend's Email Address Your Email Message Submit Cancel Rating Suspended Higher Education minister William Ruto addresses a rally at Muliro Gardens in Webuye By Tirop Benedict Posted Sunday, February 6 2011 at 12:31 Two Members of Parliament have called for Parliament's endorsement of suspended Education Minister William Ruto for the post of Prime Minister. The legislators, Cyrus Jirongo (Lugari) and Julius Kones (Konoin), argue that Raila Odinga no longer has the mandate to hold the position of Prime Minister since he has lost the support of a significant portion of members of Parliament. The National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which forms the basis of the coalition government, recognizes the leader of the party with a majority in Parliament as the legitimate candidate for the Premiership. Currently Mr. Odinga holds the post owing to ODM's numerical supremacy over PNU in Parliament. The legislators however called for a repeal of the accord to allow “for a leader with a large following of MPs to assume the position of Prime Minister." The duo spoke duo during a fund raiser in aid of Kimulot Educational Fund in Konoin constituency Kones said circumstances had changed since the National Accord came into force in 2008 and said most MPs no longer support Mr Odinga. “Who should be the Prime Minister? Raila with 40 MPs or William Ruto with over 60 MPs,” he asked a crowd in his constituency on Saturday. The crowd roared back, “Ruto.” “The spirit of the accord has changed drastically. We call for the repeal of the National Accord and Reconciliation Accord to accommodate these changing circumstances," Kones said. He added: "Right now a Prime Minister with a minority following in parliament is blackmailing the government.” Kones supported calls by legislators from PNU to pull out of the coalition government saying they (ODM rebels) would support them in their quest. “We are ready to form a government of National Unity with the PNU side even if it means repealing the national accord,” he said. On his side Jirongo said Mr Odinga no longer enjoys his initial following and should not hold the position of Prime Minister. “You no longer have the following, why should you insist to be the Prime Minister?” he posed. Jirongo added: “Raila Odinga got the position of Prime Minister because of the strength of ODM at that
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 2, 2011 12:33:02 GMT 3
PNU officials want party to withdraw from coalition www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1100074/-/7oaqf2/-/index.htmlThe Party of National Unity (PNU) is calling for a meeting to discuss withdrawal from the Grand Coalition government by March 4 this year. Related Stories * Groups clash as poll aspirants hand in papers Party officials on Wednesday wrote to chairman Prof George Saitoti asking him to call for a national delegates conference within 21 days, with a view to discussing the withdrawal agenda. This, they said, would be in accordance with Section 6C of the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Act. PNU is one of the partners in Kenya’s coalition, with President Kibaki being the most senior member of the party. PNU cited constant wrangling with partner Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party – led by Prime Minister Raila Odinga - as the reason for wanting to break from the coalition. The officials - who included joint vice-chair Jamleck Kamau and Jimmy Angwenyi, deputy secretary-general Jeremiah Kioni, and Treasurer Christopher Bett - said the move would pave way for the formation of a government of national unity. Speaking at the party offices in Nairobi, they expressed their support for President Kibaki’s announcement of the judiciary nominees last week, a move that sparked controversy and criticized for not being consultative. The issue was a matter of heated debate in Parliament on Tuesday, and House Speaker Kenneth Marende is on Thursday expected to rule on the legality of the nominations. However, on Wednesday PNU officials questioned the move, saying only the courts were mandated to interpret the law.
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Post by nowayhaha on Feb 1, 2011 18:35:58 GMT 3
www.nation.co.ke/News/politics/-/1064/1099636/-/7ax97x/-/index.htmlThe row over the nominations in the Judiciary made by President Kibaki last Friday is currently under debate in Parliament. Image Gallery Related Downloads * DOWNLOAD: The Constitution of Kenya Parliament resumed Tuesday afternoon after a two-week hiatus to a heated debate on the controversy regarding whether the nominations were made in accordance with the constitution. Since the announcement, there has been sharp reactions from different parties, mainly criticising the appointments on the basis that consultations were not made. Prime Minister Raila Odinga had earlier said that he was "shocked and dismayed" by the appointments made while he was away at the African Union summit. In Parliament, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka on Tuesday defended the President, saying the Prime Minister was adequately consulted and they came to an agreements on all but one of the names: that of the Chief Justice. The VP said that the Prime Minister was for appointment of a foreign Chief Justice, but the President insisted on a local appointment, upon which Mr Odinga proposed Justice Riaga Omollo. President Kibaki, however, on the basis of neutrality chose to appoint Justice Visram, since he was from a minority community. He explained that President needed to make the appointments before leaving for the African Union summit. This was to demonstrate that Kenya had made reforms in the judiciary and could have the trials of the six suspects of the post-election violence done locally. He said the PM was informed that the matter needed to be concluded before President Kibaki left for Addis Ababa and consultations could be facilitated on phone. "The Prime Minister was asked to call the President from Addis Ababa so that they could finalise," adding that the PM said that he would call. However, the Vice President indicated that the premier did not call. "The President waited at Harambee House from 12:30pm until 3pm but the Prime Minister did not call." While responding to the VP's remarks, the Prime Minister argued that the appointments were made in a hurry to convince the AU summit of judicial reforms in the country. He said he had proposed for a CJ from a Commonwealth country to stand in for a fixed term of three years, so that there could be ample time to vet the local judges. Mr Odinga said his proposal on Justice Omollo came after President Kibaki insisted on local judge, because he (Justice Omollo) came first, according to the Judicial Service Commission's "pecking order." Earlier, Gichugu legislator Martha Karua while responding to a defence of President Kibaki's appointments, said "the President got tired of consultations." It is my plea that we must not tire on such important issues," she said. She said the matter must be referred back to the two principals, since "in conclusion, there is no agreement." Ms Karua called on the Speaker of the National Assembly Kenneth Marende to be the final arbiter, and determine the direction of the matter. Debate continues.
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Post by nowayhaha on Jan 18, 2011 14:54:26 GMT 3
www.nation.co.ke/News/africa/Gbagbo%20supporters%20attack%20UN%20soldiers%20guarding%20Raila/-/1066/1091640/-/115rl8sz/-/index.htmlHomeNewsAfrica Africa Gbagbo supporters attack UN soldiers guarding Raila Share Bookmark Print Email Email this article to a friend Friend's Email Address Your Email Message Submit Cancel Rating AFP> UN peacekeepers secure on January 17, 2011 the convoy of the African Union's mediator in Ivory Coast's presidential stand-off, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while other UN troops exchange gunfire with supporters of incumbent Laurent Gbagbo on the road leading to Odinga's hotel in Abidjan AFP> UN peacekeepers secure on January 17, 2011 the convoy of the African Union's mediator in Ivory Coast's presidential stand-off, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, while other UN troops exchange gunfire with supporters of incumbent Laurent Gbagbo on the road leading to Odinga's hotel in Abidjan By XinhuaPosted Tuesday, January 18 2011 at 14:07 ABIDJAN, Tuesday Related Stories * Gbagbo agrees to discuss ‘peaceful’ end to deadlock * Mediator Raila arrives in crisis-hit Côte d'Ivoire * Six killed as Gbagbo’s police battle Ouattara supporters A group of youths claiming to be supporters of Cote d'Ivoire incumbent Laurent Gbagbo on Monday attacked UN peacekeepers providing security for the African Union (AU) mediator, the Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Witnesses said the pro-Gbagbo supporters calling themselves "the youth patriots" lined up the road leading to Pullman Hotel, before Odinga's arrival from the Abidjan airport. The demonstrators violently attacked the convoy of UN soldiers who had come at the hotel to wait for Odinga, forcing the peacekeepers to make an about-turn. Calm was later restored when security forces loyal to Gbagbo guarding the offices of the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO), not far from the hotel, started shooting in the air to disperse the demonstrators. Odinga, the AU mediator in Cote d'Ivoire's post-election crisis, arrived at the Abidjan airport at around 3 p.m. local time. Just like during his first visit in early January, he was welcomed at the airport by the prime minister in Gbagbo's government, Gilbert Ake Ngbo, accompanied by his Foreign Minister Alcide Djedje. Odinga was expected to stay at the Pullman Hotel from where he would go to meet Gbagbo at the presidential palace under the escort of pro-Gbagbo forces, and then meet with his presidential rival Alassane Ouattara at the Golf Hotel under the escort of the UN peacekeepers. The United Nations has on several occasions condemned attacks on its forces. Recently, three peacekeepers were slightly injured by pro-Gbagbo forces when they were patrolling Abobo district in the economic capital Abidjan. A UN vehicle was burnt down on a later occasion by pro-Gbagbo youths. Cote d'Ivoire has been engulfed by deadly violence resulting from the disputed second round of presidential elections held on Nov. 28. Both Gbagbo and Ouattara claimed the presidency after the vote, but the international community recognizes Ouattara, who has been holed up in the Golf Hotel ever since. Abidjan is in the hands of Gbagbo, who has controlled the country's southern part since the 2002-2003 civil war. The ex- rebel New Forces, which supports Ouattara, has the northern part. Gbagbo recently suggested Ouattara and his entourage leave Abidjan peacefully, apparently in hopes of clearing the city of Ouattara's influence.
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Post by nowayhaha on Dec 23, 2010 14:53:22 GMT 3
Nice read - Interlink btwn the association of Johos and Wambui www.corriere.it/english/articoli/2006/06_Giugno/20/kenya.shtmlKenya – Shadow of Scandal Hangs Over Ricci Case Husband and wife arrested on drug trafficking charges risk life imprisonment. Couple have languished in Nairobi’s decaying prisons since December 2004. Judge fails to appear. Hearing adjourned until 11 am on 28 June. NAIROBI – The torments of Angelo Ricci and Estella Duminga Furuli, the couple accused of large-scale drug trafficking, are far from over.Yesterday, they were awaiting sentence, which for this kind of crime can be life imprisonment in Kenya.But Judge Aggrey Muchelule failed to arrive at the court and the hearing was adjourned until 11 am on 28 June. The two Italians are answering charges of drug trafficking.The quantity involved is huge – 1.2 tons of cocaine worth 70 million euros, to be precise – and it is for that reason that Foggia-born Angelo Ricci, 70, and his Argentine-Calabrian wife Estella Duminga Furuli, 43, neither with any previous convictions, have been languishing since 14 December 2004 in Nairobi’s insalubrious jails.Five Kenyan citizens charged for the same offence are in jail with them. All those arrested protest their innocence and have described how harsh life is in Kenya’s prisons. Detainees have to pick maggots and insects out of their food, sleep on the bare floor and submit to humiliations of all kinds. The drug trafficking of which the two Italians are accused is becoming controversial in Kenya. After the revelations published by the Corriere della Sera, which referred to the involvement of top-level Kenyan authorities, the story was picked up by a number of other papers, including the prestigious Africa Confidential.It has the hallmarks of a Machiavellian international intrigue in which the two Italians and the other defendants have been cast as scapegoats. The affair in which the Riccis are embroiled appears to be linked to a major scandal that is threatening the presidency of Kenya itself and involves leading members of the international Mafia. On Thursday 8 June, two Armenian brothers, Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan, used their passes to gain entrance to Nairobi airport and prevent customs officers from inspecting nine suitcases owned by a female friend who had just arrived from Dubai. One of the two brothers produced a pistol and then the pair took the woman by the arm, seized the suitcases and marched off with a shout of “You don’t know who we are”.The following day, the chief of police, General Hussein Ali, issued orders that the two were to be deported and not hauled before a magistrate for trial.The Armenians had been living in Nairobi but were expelled a few weeks earlier. At their home, police officers broke down the door and found assault rifles, jackets and berets with “Police” insignia, diplomatic licence plates, Kenyan passports and identity cards issued to police deputy superintendents and permits for access to high-security zones of the airport.There were fifteen cars in the garden, some with government licence plates. According to the Kenyan press, Artur Margaryan claims to be the partner of Winnie Mambui, the daughter of Mary Wambui, the most influential of Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki’s advisers.It is also rumoured that she is his second wife of the chief of the State. Although Mr. Kibaki has always denied it, this widely retailed piece of Nairobi gossip shows just how close the two are. In an attempt to gag press accusations against the presidency, Kibaki suspended the head of the Criminal Investigative Department, Joseph Kamau, and a series of high-level civil servants, including Winnie Wambui herself, a special adviser to the Ministry of Water.It was discovered that their access permits enabled the two Armenians to enter all parts of the airport without difficulty.And it was also discovered that the two had taken delivery of at least twenty-nine containers without having to go through the usual customs procedures. What was in the containers? Obviously something illegal, otherwise they would not have bypassed inspection. News desks at the Nairobi papers that are investigating the affair are in no doubt:“Cocaine”. Inquiries by the Corriere della Sera have established that the huge quantity of cocaine the Riccis are accused of trafficking arrived at the port of Mombasa and was then transferred to Nairobi. Finally, some of it was taken to the Malindi villa that the Italian couple were employed to rent out, and had in fact leased to a group of Dutch citizens. The drug was transported by a Mombasa-based company, Prima Binns & Pest Control, owned by two brothers, Abubakar, known as Abu, and Hassan Joho.The company has the contract for refuse collection and pest control in the port.Until just a few years ago, the two brothers and their four ramshackle lorries were on the point of bankruptcy. Then in 2003, the year in which Mwai Kibaki came to power, they suddenly acquired wealth and a new female friend,the ubiquitous Mary Wambui.“They are extremely arrogant”, someone who knows them well but wishes to remain anonymous says bluntly.“They use money to bribe police officers.And they do it in public, quite shamelessly, in front of everyone.When Mary Wambui comes to Mombasa, the Johos send their black Mercedes to pick her up at the airport.For the Johos, getting goods out of the airport is child’s play.The Riccis have nothing to do with drug trafficking.The cocaine they are accused of selling was taken out of the port of Mombasa in the lorries owned by the Joho brothers.They stuff the packages in amongst the refuse and no police officer at a check point would dare to search them”. Abu and Hassan Joho are in partnership with Artur Margaryan and Artur Sargsyan.Their passes for the airport were issued to the Chelamed Ltd company, of which Abu Joho is general manager.But there is another embarrassing connection.The two Armenians are also in partnership with Baktash Akasha, a member of the powerful Akasha family, suspected of smuggling.Some time ago, Margaryan said that a female Akasha clan member was married to one of his managers.According to the Kenyan daily The Nation, the head of the family and one of Kenya’s richest men, Ibrahim Abdallah Akasha, is a former drug smuggler who managed to avoid a custodial sentence thanks to influential friends in government.He was killed in May 2000 in Amsterdam’s Bloedstrat (Blood Street), ambushed on his way to a meeting with an unknown dealer to discuss the non-payment of a consignment of heroin he had delivered to Holland in 1999. The traffickers who used the Malindi villa rented to them by the Riccis were all Dutch, with the exception of George Kiragu, the husband of a Dutch citizen, Anita.Inspectors from the Netherlands are also making inquiries and have already arrested the individuals believed to be Kiragu’s accomplices in what is a complex international investigation.Their names are Robertus Johannes Stehman, Hendrik Baptiste Hermanj, Johan Neelen, Arien Gorter and Marinus Hendrik van Wezel, the organisers of the drug trade who found powerful friends in Kenya.When they fled just before police arrived at the villa in Malindi where the cocaine was found, they were able to fly to Nairobi undisturbed. They spent the night in the Hotel Panafric and the following morning embarked on a KLM flight bound for Amsterdam.Like the Armenian brothers, the five had permits to enter restricted areas at the airport.No trace has remained of their passage through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on 13 December 2004.Who covered their tracks and who issued their passes? Massimo A. Alberizzi
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