Kimunya Did The Honourable Thing

Publication Date: 7/9/2008

By relinquishing his position as the minister for Finance, Mr Amos Kimunya has, even if belatedly, done the honourable thing.

His position became untenable once his role in the controversial sale of Grand Regency Hotel was called into question, culminating in Parliament passing a vote of no-confidence in him.

Mr Kimunya’s exit, however, is not the end of the matter. Investigations must continue into the saga that has brought the Government into disrepute.

The investigations must be carried out swiftly and be divorced from the partisanship and political grandstanding that has informed debate within Government and Parliament since the issue broke.

It has already been indicated that Mr Kimunya has not actually resigned, only stepped aside, and that he could resume work if cleared of any wrongdoing.

So be it. But then it becomes imperative that the investigations be fair, impartial and competent so that whatever the outcome, there will be no room for accusations of either whitewash or witch-hunt.

It follows also that if the investigation establishes any wrongdoing on the part of any individual or group, then the next step must follow, including criminal prosecution, if so warranted.

Meanwhile, we must not lose sight of the fact that it is not just merely Mr Kimunya under investigation, but a deal conducted in suspicious circumstances and involving other individuals.

The Central Bank of Kenya, which owned and sold the Grand Regency, must come under particular scrutiny.

If Mr Kimunya has stepped aside because of that particular transaction, then it is only logical that Central Bank Governor Njuguna Ndung’u, follows suit.

If he will not go voluntarily, and he enjoys security of tenure, then the President will have to activate the mechanism of a tribunal to investigate his conduct.

The same applies to the Director-General of the National Intelligence Security Service, Maj-Gen Michael Gichangi, who, like the minister and the governor, was found by a Cabinet committee to have been involved in pushing the suspect deal.

The role of all others officials at the Treasury, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Lands, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority, and the offices of the Attorney-General, the Prime Minister and the President must also be clearly established and action taken.

Meanwhile, as the investigations continue, all persons in positions of leadership must refrain from words and actions that obscure and politicise the issue, and also present the picture of a dysfunctional government riven with feuding factions.

Schisms in Government

The Grand Regency issue threatened to cause deep schisms in Government as Cabinet ministers mobilised support from their respective political and ethnic groupings in Parliament and the Cabinet.

An important lesson from the whole saga is that the Grand Coalition government is still a very fragile institution that must be nurtured carefully at every stage lest it falls apart.

It is important that the Cabinet, which these days meets infrequently, be convened on a regular basis so that all members are fully appraised on all that is happening, and important decisions taken collectively.

It is also important that ground rules be established on the behaviour expected of ministers. They must be reminded of the need to adhere to the principle of collective responsibility.

They serve one government and not factions within; and that their loyalties are to the institution and not to individuals.

This is not to suggest that ministers must close their eyes if they discover improprieties involving their colleagues. Far from it.

The point is that there will be no one in the dark if all important matters are tabled and approved at Cabinet level.

But even if a minister does come across an issue that needs to be raised, then this must happen at the appropriate forum and not become an opportunity for making political capital.

Lifted From The Daily Nation

Will Raila And Kibaki Work Together This Time Around?

By Dennis Onyango

When the two leaders had poured soil onto the coffin of former Minister Jeremiah Nyagah during the burial on Friday, President Kibaki took a handkerchief, wiped his hands, and passed it on to the Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who cleaned his hands with it, and returned it to the President.

But many did not take note. But one MP with a long career in the public service did, and remarked that it was “a kind gesture that looked deliberate”.

President Kibaki and Prime minister Raila Odinga. Coming together five years after falling out, the two leaders have to work at susutaining the coalition. Picture: file
“Kibaki did not have to pass the handkerchief to Raila. He had the option of just giving it back to his aides and letting the PM look for his. That’s what you do when you do not care about or like someone,” the MP said.

Raila is known as one who puts his mind, heart and energy on anything he picks to pursue. Often, he will take risks that many politicians dare not try and he will put his career on the line by fighting for a friend.

Kibaki on the other hand keeps what is in his mind close to his chest, is reputed never to start a battle and will never fight for anyone.

Kibaki is also reputed to be calculating and averse to taking risks in life. Taking these different roots, the two have once again found themselves in the same government, after fighting a bitter campaign in which each sought to bring the other down.

The last time the two politicians came together in 2002, they handed Kanu its first defeat in 39 years.

Raila and Kibaki may have destroyed Kanu forever. They went ahead to excite the nation with the possibilities of a united Kenya governed by coalition politics, a new constitution and an end to corruption.

That was before they progressively began to fall out as soon as they took over power in 2003, then parting ways in 2005, until the disputed elections last year forced them back together.

Few thought the National Rainbow Coalition that brought Kibaki and Raila to power in 2003 would fall apart. It was so good everyone wanted it to stay.

This year, about six years after the two first came together, there is the excitement that the reunion may unite Kenya again and unlock the country’s potential.

But the question lingers: will Raila and Kibaki work together this time all the way to 2012 – the year of the next General Election?

Better understanding

Both sides of this divide appear to have learnt from the past and the chaos of recent months. At least associates of the President and the Prime Minister believe the tribulations that bedevilled Narc and led to its collapse are out of the way this time. They believe the two leaders understand each other better now and circumstances have changed. They also believe the Grand Coalition, whose success or failure depends largely on the two, will survive.

The falling out between Raila and Kibaki began with complaints that the President had failed to honour a Memorandum of Understanding signed before the 2002 General Election. The accusations over the dishonoured MoU later ran hand in hand with protests that the President’s gatekeepers were blocking the Lang’ata MP and others from seeing him.

It developed into a battle that crystallised into what Energy Minister Kiraitu Murungi, likes to christen as one of 3Cs – the coalition, constitution and corruption.

The war over what shape the coalition should take, gave way to the shape of the then expected new constitution. When the sun sets on the battle for the constitution, another began on who, between the President’s wing of the Government and Raila’s was responsible for corruption.

Outside the President’s cycles then, the stumbling blocks to peace in Narc were summarised as a group of people from Mt Kenya region, who were baptised as the Five Ms.

They included Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Mr Francis Muthaura, then Finance Minister Mr David Mwiraria, then Internal Security Minister Dr Chris Murungaru, then Comptroller of State House Mr Matere Keriri and then the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Mr Kiraitu Murungi.

Some of those who were close to President Kibaki in his first administration today admit that they did block Raila and others from seeing the President. But they say they were not malicious. They also believe a lot has changed and the Kibaki-Raila alliance will work, but a lot will depend on the principals themselves.

“Yes Raila was blocked from seeing the President. But it was for a good reason. In 2003, the President was not in a good condition,” said an associate of the President.

The problem, according to the source, was that during most of 2003, the President was in bad health, sometimes worse than the public imagined.

“Some people wanted to take advantage of this. Yet some of us believed the President would recover and run this country and time has proved us right,” the source said.

“In 2003, Kibaki was barely active and did some things by proxy. It was not about the rivalry between the Five Ms and Raila. It was about the President’s health.”

Another ally of the President in his first term also agreed that Raila’s problems with Kibaki began when the two of them could not sit down and talk largely because of the President’s poor health then.

But he blames his colleagues some of whom he says kept blocking people from the President even when he had improved.

“Raila was not fought by Kibaki. He was fought by Kibaki’s dogs,” the source said.

“In 2003 all the way to early 2004, Kibaki was not himself,” he added.

Strong ties

According to this source, who worked closely with Kibaki in his first administration, things would have worked differently between Kibaki and Raila had the President been well.

He reached this conclusion based on what he says the President knew about of his (Kibaki’s) ties to the Odinga family.

“Kibaki knows even today that it was Raila’s father who fished him out of Makerere and brought him to run Kanu. People talk about the incompatibility of Raila and Kibaki yet at one time, the British labelled Kibaki, Odinga and Julius Nyerere as communists. They were close.”

Still, the source said, in Kenya’s “politics of survival”, politicians focus on themselves and their future and do not always show gratitude for the past. But he believes Kibaki and Raila can get along well.

“In the first year of his administration, Kibaki was in bad health and people were being kept away. Some people later decided to keep it that way. Instead of changing to reflect the President’s improving health, they shut him out some more. It did not help things. I believe things will work out differently this time,” the former associate said.

Certain developments in Kibaki’s operations have raised hopes that this time, he will be available and in charge.

The President has decided to conduct most of the serious business from Harambee House, not State House, as was the case in his first administration.

Running the Government from State House, according to sources, gets tricky because the family is also there and friends come to visit. That, one source said, interferes with work.

To see the President even at OP, guests, including ministers, will still need to check with the Comptroller and Head of the Civil Service, who manages the President’s diary. But the hope is that it would be a more formal process than trying to see him in State House.

It is not clear how long the President will be running State affairs from OP. Sources say circumstances forced him to operate from Harambee House.

Bad image

Since the crisis began in January, he has been handling a large number of visitors daily, the media were on him and he was not going to allow them to pry into State House daily. The President also needed a place he could work quietly.

The shift to OP, sources say, is also a testimony to the fact that the President’s health has improved.

“Kibaki could not have gone to OP in a wheel chair in 2003, with cameras capturing him struggling to get out of the car. That would have been a bad image,” an associate says.

He adds: “The President was in pain most of 2003. The right leg was fractured below the knee, the right arm was broken and there were other injuries. Today he is well and there will be no need to protect or shield him.”

But there is also the feeling that with the Prime Minister tasked with supervising and co-ordinating government functions there would be little urge to see the President. Below him are also a younger Vice-President and two deputy Prime Ministers.

Still, across the divide, there is a feeling that the fate of the union depends equally on what the Prime Minister has learnt about Kibaki, particularly in terms of how he operates.

Associates of the President admit that he is a difficult person to work with. He hardly gives answers when people go to him with issues and hardly makes his position known.

But Kibaki also hates being addressed in public, especially through rallies and the media. People lose his trust when they make public what he had discussed with them in confidence.

The President, on the one hand, is serving his last term. Going by confessions of those who have known him, he is unlikely to endorse anyone and campaign for him or her.

Raila, on the other hand, will remain behind as arguably the most senior politician with the best chance for capturing the presidency, or whatever the highest office will be after Kibaki.

“The role he has been assigned gives him a profile for future leadership. It all depends on how he handles it,” a politician said.

Even within ODM, there are those who want the PM to play a complementary role to the President and help him leave a good legacy.

That, they argue, will make Raila look more like a statesman and a team player.

They also advise that the PM adopts “a softer approach to Kibaki”.

Greatest task

“Kibaki is highly unlikely to show his hand on who he prefers. It is unlike him. His age, the fact that he is in his last term and his demeanour shows that he is unlikely to interfere. It will depend on how Raila handles him,” a source said.

Sources in both PNU and ODM say the PM’s greatest task, apart from implementing the national agenda as spelt out in the accord, would be how to handle the President privately and in public, in a way that he is seen to be working with and for him.

“Kibaki is a very private person. He does not take kindly even to an innocent remark like “today I met Kibaki”, if that meeting was secret. To succeed with Kibaki, Raila will need to employ a quiet approach to the man,” a source said.

The President, his associates say, also get along well with people who go to him with solutions, not problems.

“Don’t go to Kibaki with a problem. Go to him with a solution or your proposal on a problem,” an ally said.

Lifted From The Stantard

Kenyans Have Nothing To Celebrate For: Muirani

Following the disputed elections in December last year, Kenya was in the verge of a civil war break out and we do thank God that it never happened despite the fact that more than 1500 Kenyans lost their lives and more than 300000 were displaced without mentioning destruction of properties worth billions of Kenya shillings.

Today there is sigh of relief that Kenyans are going on well with their daily lives despite the fact that price of commodities has sky rocketed and famine is looming.

When Dr. Kofi Annan and other eminent African leaders helped to broker peace accord between president Kibaki and prime minister designate, Hon. Raila Odinga, all Kenyans of good will celebrated and we were all relieved that our country won’t slide into civil war or genocide.

After the deal, parliament was recalled and the new accord was passed in very quickly and it was put in our constitution. Then after, there was the issue of naming the much awaited cabinet and once again PNU and ODM could not agree on the cabinet portfolios and shamelessly, Dr. Koffi Annan has to talk with both principals in order to agree on the issue of cabinet set up.

According to reports which were being filtered by the media and other sources, PNU was rooting for a cabinet of 44 while ODM was for 34.Religious leaders and civil organisations wanted a lean cabinet in order not to overburden the Kenyan tax payers since Kenya is one of the country in the world whereby parliamentarians are amongst the highest well paid.

After some weeks of jostling about over the cabinet naming with some leaders even calling for a re-run of presidential elections, if President Kibaki and Raila were not agreeing; both Kibaki and Raila pulled a fast one and agreed on a cabinet of 40 which will be named on Sunday-6th April.

Now if we are going to have a cabinet ministers numbering 40 and the same if not more number of assistant ministers, it means that we gone have almost the half of parliamentarians in the cabinet. This is a big burden to the Kenyan tax payers to sustain such a huge cabinet.

Kenyans voted for change in last December elections, but now its emerging very clearly that our politicians do not have the well being of our country and its people at heart and rather its only for their well being status together with their cronies.

For the past one month, none of our leaders who has been talking about the displaced Kenyans but they have been busy lobbying for cabinet posts because that’s what they care most about.

Kenyans should learn a very big lesson from the current leaders we are having because when they were campaigning and soliciting for votes last year, our sky was full of choppers but today those choppers cannot fly anymore to go and preach peace and reconciliation, address our own internal refugees and even give them hope of how they will be re-settled and to be compensated.

What has emerged now in Kenya today is an elite political class who are hell bound to stay in power with their cronies and once they are done, their children to take over. So common mwananchi has no place in our political frame work and that’s why we the ordinary Kenyans should re-examine ourselves and form a political party based with one common interest called Kenya.

Unless we start ideological politics, tribal chiefs will always have a free field in Kenyan politics and they will continue playing tribal cards after every five years and we will continue killing each other in their names, and once the “animal” is down, they will continue getting the lion’s share.

Githuku Wa Muirani.

Only God Will Judge Me: Muirani.

God is good all the times and all times God is good. I do give him all the praise because its ONLY him and HIM alone who is my creator and also its only him who knows where I will go when I die and that’s why I am not afraid of those who can kill my physical body and do nothing more than that, but am only afraid of he (God) who can kill me and my soul too.

In the bible we are told that, Joseph was sold to Egypt by his brothers because he had a dream (vision) and when he was sold there it was a blessing in disguise because when there was famine in Israel, Jacob sent his sons to buy food there and to their surprise, it was Joseph who was the governor but since he had good attitude, he never took offence and he treated his brothers well. Despite all their efforts, they never killed Joseph’s dream and so long one has a dream in life, one will encounter all types of critics and admirers.

Concerning my Christian faith, it’s only God who will judge me and not human beings. When Jesus was crucified, we are told that he was crucified with two thieves and one of them went to paradise because he pleaded with Jesus to remember him once he will be there and Jesus assured him that” tonight you will be with me in paradise”.

According to the people of that time, they had condemned that thief to death but thanks to God because he never judges like the way human beings do judge. Its only by turning to Christ that we will receive salvation.

Rev. Dr. Ian Paisley is the head of one the biggest political party (Protestant) in Northern Ireland and he has not been talking to Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein (Catholics) because of the politics of Northern Ireland until recently when they agreed to share power. Rev. Jesse Jackson is another high profile clergy who also indulges in politics.

The late Bishop, Dr. Henry Okullu even wrote a book about church and politics and he was very instrumental in championing the introduction of multipartism in Kenya. Dr. Timothy Njoya, the late Bishop Alexander Kipsang Muge were also very vocal in criticising Moi’s dictatorship.

I have never called myself a Pastor because in the first place I have never gone to any theological college but also to my understanding, anyone who does preach word of God or teach it can qualify for that title though in God’s Kingdom, all will be equal and that’s what God see us as human beings because we are all created in his own image.

On my political leanings, its no secret that I have been supporting president Kibaki because its my God given right to support a candidate of my choice. In all my articles which I have written, I have never attacked any particular community in Kenya but obviously as a supporter of PNU, I had to throw some salvos on ODM, just as they were doing. I have never used any crude language as others have been doing.

About being born a Kikuyu, I have no apologies to make to anybody because that’s what God found fit for me to be born in that community and it was not my choice. I respect other communities because they too were created by God and that’s the beauty of creation and no community or race is superior to the other one.

One is entitled to freedom of opinion and association and it does not mean that if one gives an opinion which another person thinks is not right, one is against that person. I have stated in many of my articles even prior to the elections that I will support whichever government the Kenyan people will chose and right now am supporting the Grand Coalition government.

About funds raised at Bagarmossen Church, its only UHCK committee which can issue a statement on that issue. As for the Bagarmossen Church it is not the first time it has been attacked and if it’s the will of God for it to be there, it will always survive.

If there is anybody who has been confused by my religious status, turn only to Jesus because its only him who is the way, life and light.

Githuku Wa Muirani.

Kibaki Tena Scandinavia Dissolved

Praise and Glory be to God the most high because of enabling us to be where we are today. We know it’s through his mercy and grace that we are still alive.

We do thank God also because of enabling President Kibaki and prime minister designate, Hon. Odinga to come together and sign a power sharing agreement which was spearheaded by Dr. Kofi Annan and other eminent African leaders.

When we launched Kibaki Tena lobby group here in Scandinavia, our first item was to see the re-election of President Kibaki for the second term and we did what we could to campaign and also defend his policies. WE are glad that we achieved what we were fighting for.

Despite the fact that elections were disputed and more 1000 people lost their lives and property more than 4 billion Ksh. destroyed, we have high hopes that peace and stability will be restored in our country and that we will remain a model to other African countries which have been dogged with power struggles which eventually culminates into endless civil wars.

We in Kibaki Tena Scandinavia do whole heartedly support the power sharing deal between President Kibaki and Hon. Raila Odinga.We salute both leaders for showing maturity and what statesmanship calls for.

It’s our sincere hope that, they will lead our country to greater heights of democracy by introducing the necessary reforms needed in our country and also democratising all institutions in our country.

We urge them not to allow to be put under pressure by foreigners because the problems facing our country can best be solved by the citizens and not any imported formula.

WE hope they will put the welfare of our country and its citizens first.

We would like to thank all our supporters in Finland, Denmark, Norway and here in Sweden for your continued and unwavering support. We did achieve our goal and we have to move forward and support the Grand Coalition.

Githuku Wa Muirani , Director, Kibaki Tena Scandinavia (Sweden).

Threats And Ultimatums Won’t Help.

US government and its European allies have been issuing threats and other unknown “measures” to the Kenyan government over the talks headed by Dr. Koffi Annan. So far the talks have been going on well and its our sincere hope as Kenyans that both parties are genuinely interested in restoring our eroded pride back.

Kenya as a country is guided and ruled through the rule of law and even the disputed elections were held under our own laws and within the constitution.

When ECK Chairman, Samuel Kivuitu announced president Kibaki as the winner, he did exercise his powers and authority which goes with his office. ODM party which felt that election has been “stolen” from them, were supposed to lodge a complaint with ECK within 24 hours after the announcement but despite the party having some of the best and well known lawyers in the country, chose to ignore the rule of law and instead they started dictating with their none existence ones.

Just as their leader, Raila Odinga is known to have no respect for the rule of law save when its going in his direction, ODM was not ready to observe the rule of law and even Raila Odinga is on record saying that he has no faith and trust in our judiciary, yet its not known when he ever filed a motion in parliament aimed at changing the judiciary in his entire 15 years in parliament.

In 1982, it’s alleged that Raila Odinga is his usual true character for not respecting the rule of law, was one of the master minds behind the abortive coup which left many hundreds dead and destruction of properly.

During the referendum debate in 2005, Raila and his colleagues were championing for the creation of premier office with executive powers. He was aiming to get that post without being subjected to the electorates thus rising to power through the back door.

If the Koffi Annan fails, ODM will be blamed by history over any eventuality which might befall our nation. They should own up and say that they failed in lodging complaint with ECK as it is stipulated within our electoral rules. ODM has shown and proved that they have no respect for the rule of law. In our constitution, it’s clear that the winner takes it all. ODM should first and foremost recognise the president and things move from there.

The US and its allies have a different agenda in our country and if we are not careful, the so called super powers may cause more division in the country than the already existing ones. We witnessed the disintegration of the Soviet Union, former Yugoslavia, invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, creation of an independent Kosovo from Serbia and in Palestine, Fatah controls West bank while Hamas have been confined in Gaza.

Now it’s up to president Kibaki and Hon. Raila Odinga to demonstrate their statesmanship and save our country from sinking further to the unknown. It will not be surprising to hear talks of cession in our country over the current political stalemate. The solution for our country should only come from Kenyans alone since western countries are only pushing for their own benefits and not for the welfare of the Kenyan people.

Slave trade still continues.

Githuku Wa Muirani.

‘Secret Army’ Preparing For War In Kenya

There has been reports of young Kikuyus training in Rift Valley forests. Following these and after talking to Kenyans at home, the reports are nothing but unfounded propaganda aimed at distracting Kenyans from the truth and masking reality of the matter.

Yes, it is confirmed as true that there are secret armies training in the Rift Valley, but they are not Kikuyus as rumuored but tribal militias training for the soul purpose of continuing with the ethnic cleansing agaist the Gikuyu.

The displaced Kikuyus have not returned to their homes despite government calls on them to do so out of fear that the government would not react in time to ward off the would be attackers. It is not save for them to return. That the “armies” and their supporters are not hiding the fact that they pose eminent danger to the kikuyu should now serve as a warning to the Kikuyu that the concept of the “enemy” still exists hiden in the form of the words “democracy” and “justice”.

Below is a report directly from the ground. My Expression will continue giving the “Truth, The Other Side Of The Story”

Njoro.

‘Secret Army’ Preparing For War In Kenya

By Robert Oluoch and Mike Pflanz in Iten

An army of young warriors is being secretly armed and reinforced in remote areas of Kenya’s Rift Valley, preparing for war if the country’s knife-edge peace talks fail.

Elders have organised thousands of men from the pro-opposition Kalenjin tribe into militia units, each split into marksmen, foot- soldiers, armourers, drivers and cooks.

Hidden arsenals are filled with bows and arrows, many of them dipped in deadly poison, as efforts are made to buy guns smuggled from northern Uganda or Sudan.

“If the peace talks collapse, there will be war,” said David Cheserek, 46, an elected opposition councillor in Kamogich, 240 miles northwest of Nairobi.

During January’s first wave of post-election violence, Mr Cheserek commanded a company of 60 Kalenjin fighters as they swept through the nearby town of Eldoret, burning homes owned by the rival Kikuyu tribe.

Accusations that President Mwai Kibaki, a Kikuyu, rigged election results triggered the fighting, but it also tapped into a frustration long held by the Kalenjin that the Kikuyus had cheated their way to owning the best land in the Rift Valley.

“We are waiting the results of Mr Annan’s talks, but if they do not go well, we will make sure there is not one Kikuyu left in the Rift Valley,” said Mr Cheserek.

As the country continues to divide along tribal lines, this week is perhaps the most crucial for Kenya’s peaceful future since independence from Britain 44 years ago.

Across the country, all eyes are on talks mediated by Kofi Annan, focused on the make-or-break issue of power sharing between the election rivals.

Compromises have been mooted by each side to end the fighting which has so far killed 1,000 people and forced 300,000 from their homes.

But at a recent rally, opposition leader Raila Odinga told a crowd of thousands that the only solution he would accept is the resignation of Mr Kibaki and fresh elections.

The President has ruled out both of these paths.

“If Mr Kofi Annan cannot bring us an acceptable solution, men will fight and there will be shedding of blood,” said ‘Andrew’, 29, a Kalenjin militiaman who spoke anonymously to The Daily Telegraph in Iten, 30 miles north of Eldoret.

“That solution cannot include Mr Kibaki as president.”

He described how the tribe’s elders gathered hundreds of men at a time in clearings deep in the arid, unpoliced Kerio Valley below Iten, preaching hate against Kikuyus.

Such gatherings, common among the Kalenjin, have in the past only been called to organise defence against cattle rustlers.

Now they have an alarming new function, linking the Kalenjin’s 11 sub- clans to plan a united offensive to purge the Kikuyu from their lands.

Elders have given each man a role — some are ’sharpshooters’ because of their skills with a bow and arrow. Some, like Andrew, are drivers.

“I went from village to village collecting weapons, arrows, bows and spears, which I took to the frontline,” he said, describing his involvement in January’s fighting in Eldoret.

“Others took lorries filled with fighters. Others carried food cooked by our women to keep the fighters strong.”
‘William’, 24, a teacher, said his job was to hammer house nails into arrow heads, many of which are dipped in poison concocted from roots and leaves.

“There were three in my team and we were making 1,200 arrows a day,” he said.

Since peace talks started two weeks ago, the Kalenjin war machine has slowed and fighters have been told to wait for orders.

“We are ready if they call us again, we are adding more arrows,” said ‘Peter’, a village butcher.

“We tried to have our voice heard at the ballot box, but they ignored us. We tried to protest peacefully, but the police shot us and tear- gassed us.

“It is very dangerous for people not to listen to us. Now we are ready to fight to the end.”

Source, Telegraph.co.uk

Power Sharing A Step Forward But……………..

On Jan. 4th, I wrote an article about forming a grand coalition as the most viable option at the moment to the current political impasse in Kenya. In Germany, there is a grand coalition between the biggest political parties-Christian democrats and social democrats and that’s why Dr. Kofi Annan had invited an expert from Germany so as to enlighten both PNU and ODM on how such coalitions works.

In 2000 US elections, George Bush was defeated by over one million votes by former vice president and democratic party nominee, Al Gore but in US its electoral colleges that functions and that’s why George Bush took Florida despite some irregularities.

There was no violence and the rule of law was upheld since the matter went all the way to the Supreme Court.

In Kenya, ODM went into the elections with the attitude that there won’t be fair elections because even one year prior to elections, Hon. Raila Odinga is on record having said that Hon. John Michuki has hatched a plan to rig him out in Langata constituency.

Despite all these claims, ODM went ahead and participated in an election thus recognising the current constitution and rule of law. If they had any credible evidence that elections won’t be free and fair, they had the option of boycotting the elections but they never even threatened to do so. Hon. Odinga is on record also having said that the courts are full of Kibaki cronies yet they ate the same courts they have filed parliamentary petitions.

In other words, ODM was not ready to accept any election results apart from them being declared the winners. Now the problem with the grand coalition could be, does ODM believe in the rule of law? If they do, why didn’t they file a petition with the ECK soon after the announcement as it is stipulated in the elections law?

Going by the figures which were released by ECK, none emerged as the winner and so statesmanship could have prevailed instead of violence and destruction of property.

Due to the mistrust between PNU and ODM, it will be very difficult for the grand coalition to function since they may start undoing one another and this can lead even to more split in the country and possibility of civil war when both have access to instruments of power.

One possible option for the grand coalition to work is for the parliament to make some amendments in our constitution whereby non parliamentarians are to be appointed into the cabinet. Both parties can propose the names of their preferred candidates and parliament to vet them and have the power to fire them.

Another possible option is to make the speaker of the parliament, Mr Kenneth Marende as the head of government for a period of two years in order for the reconciliation and constitutional amendments paving way for another general election with new laws in place.

The problem with the so called western democracy is that it is the dictatorship of the majority over the minority and the case in question is what happened in US 2000 elections and now that’s what has happened in Kenya. PNU feels they won fairly and ODM feels elections were stolen and they were the real winners.

Please Hon. Kibaki and Hon. Odinga, Kenya is greater than both of you. Put the interests of Kenya and its people first and history will judge you fairly.

By Githuku Wa Muirani

Ban On Politicians Much Welcome

The announcement by US and Canada that they may put a travel ban to politicians and businessmen associated with the on-going violence in Kenya is a step forward towards the right direction. The European Union may follow the suit and this shows how serious things are in Kenya since the disputed elections were held on 27th December last year.

Tribal violence in Kenya during elections time was introduced during the reign of President Daniel Arap Moi in 1992. When the multi party debate was at its peak in 1990-91, and with the formation of Forum for the restoration of democracy-FORD, President Moi had panicked because the Church was at arms against his authoritarian rule, Jaramogi Odinga, Kenneth Matiba, Charles Rubia, Martin Shikuku, Masinde Muliro and other political heavy weights were all at arms against the KANU one party rule.

When Moi under heavy pressure was forced to repeal section 2a of the Kenyan constitution to allow more than one party, he “prophesied” that multi party will bring tribalism and regionalism, and to make sure that his “prophesy” comes true, Luos and Kikuyus who were seen in the fore front in championing pluralism were targeted in Rift Valley and Coast province in what was baptised “tribal clashes”. Many lives were lost and properties were destroyed and Moi rigged himself back into power, but no violence was witnessed like the one we are seeing now and if not contained we may head like what happened in Rwanda or civil war.

Today, the Kenyan people have realised that the so called leaders are in fact tribal warlords because what has happened since the beginning of this year has proved that there is need for new leaders to emerge because the ones we are having now do not have our country and its people at heart.

During last year campaign period, President Kibaki, Hon. Odinga and Hon. Musyoka were very busy visiting all the regions in Kenya soliciting votes for their respective parties. They were using choppers and at times they were addressing more than four meetings in a day.

Now the question is, what happened when trouble started looming during the tallying of votes? Why didn’t you rise above petty politics and put the interests of Kenya and its people first? What happened to the zeal you had when soliciting for votes which you could have used it in quelling violence? Are the choppers which you used to campaign not functional to fly and address peace rallies now?

While supporting the international community to bar those who are involved or inciting violence together with their families with a travel ban, the UN must also investigate whether genocide has been committed and those who will be implicated should be brought to the Hague and face trial.

The Kennedy Kiliku parliamentary report on tribal clashes should also be used as a guide into the ethnic cleansing in Rift valley province because some of those who were adversely mentioned in that report are still fanning genocide in Rift Valley.

While the international community would be dealing with those who have committed crimes against humanity, the Kenyan people should realise that we do not have statesmen/women in the so called leaders of today because if we had them our country wouldn’t be where we are now.

The Kenyan people should pass a vote of no confidence against the current breed of leaders we have, and start looking for pro-Kenyan peoples ones.

Gthuku Wa Muirani

“Nothing Personal”

Hard Talk

Mr Raila Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader claimed that there is nothing personal between him and president Kibaki. Asked why there was no communication between him and Kibaki when they met in parliament, he said Mr Kibaki refused to greet him when he passed by. Worth to note, Mr Odinga did not stand when the president elect entered the parliament. Nothing personal indeed.

Asked if he supported the slogans used by his supporters e.g. Kibaki in a coffin with the inscriptions RIP, No Raila No Peace, No Raila No Kenya, he tried to interpret that as a message that Kibaki’s time as the president was over. Pushed further, he seemed to lack words and says then that they had no control of what messages people choose to put forward. Nothing personal.

Then came the question every one wants answered. ODM supporters burned a church full of women and children. His explanation? The attackers were chasing some people who ran into the church to seek refuge; they did not know that there were women and children in the church when they set it on fire. (We have all heard of the kid who ran out of the church only to be thrown back into the burning church). He means, burning of the church with a few people seeking refuge, or with the unfortunate occurrence of women and children being in the church is acceptable. Did the people in the church just by accident happen to be of Kibaki’s tribe? He did not at all seem to regret the burning. Nothing personal.

Doesn’t mass demonstrations in Kenya at this fragile stage mean more blood and more destruction? answer “no ours is a peaceful demonstration” Why would anyone carry stones, block roads and burn tires to say the least in a peaceful demonstration? Nothing personal.

Asked if he was prepared to talk with president Kibaki WITHOUT prior conditions ahead of the talks, he starts with giving his CONDITIONS as an answer. Is there anything that he and the members of the pentagon can do to stop the violence and ensure peace? No we have done everything we can. He then calls to his supporters to shun violence but he is not the least convincing, not even to the reporter. Nothing personal.

Asked if he supported the threat of sanctions by the EU while millions of Kenyans still live under extreme poverty, he said yes Kibaki has to be put under as much pressure as possible. He wants the presidency that was stolen from him and it does not matter who will pay in the course. Nothing personal.

It was proved that there were irregularities from both sides? Answer, no not from his side. That the chairman of the electoral commission was put under pressure by both sides? Answer, no not from his side. Nothing personal.

Raila got his chance to prove to the world what a statesman he is and he blew it. This is the one time he could have ended the violence by calling off his mob but the only message that he brought forward is that Kenya will suffer until he gets his presidency. He is bitter that the police are opening fire against the violent hooligans and would rather see the ethnic cleansing continue. He wants his presidency, nothing personal.

Njoro.