Why TNA, ODM two horse race will lock out reform in Kenya

By Murimi Mwangi

The two-horse-race cliché has dominated the presidential campaigns. The ODM team has already bestowed the reform tag on their horse and is rubbishing the G7 horse as a wagon of conformists of impunity.

However, this reformism-conformism gimmick is a lyric that the public must ignore since riders of both horses have a history of being merchants of impunity and none of them qualifies the title of a true reformist.    

For starters, Uhuru Kenyatta has over history dirtied himself with the muck of impunity due to his relationship with all the post independent governments. He was a Moi project in 2002, despite being a political naïve then. It is widely believed that Uhuru never joined politics to serve the interest of the wide citizenry but to protect members of the elite class that had illegally amassed wealth during the Kenyatta and Moi regimes.

The unprecedented merger of KANU and other pro-Kibaki parties in 2007 into PNU was a deliberate attempt by Uhuru to remain politically relevant after his untenable loss to Kibaki in 2002. He did this with the hope of in inheriting the kikuyu chiefdom from Kibaki, which he has dully achieved despite having serious crimes against humanity in The Hague!

His rival horse rider, Raila Odinga’s credentials of reformism are pegged on his 7 years detention by president Moi, his vigorous campaign against the insubstantial 2005 constitution and eventually his efforts in acquisition of the new constitution. Ironically, Uhuru also rejected the 2005 draft and campaigned for the 2010 constitution alongside Raila. So why does Raila qualify to be a reformist for the same things that the alleged impunity-conformist also did?

Raila has also been acclaimed for his momentous role in bringing the lakeside nation into the Narc coalition of 2002 that trounced the 24 years of the despotic Kanu regime.

However, Miguna Miguna, in his memoir peeling back the mask claims that prior to Raila’s  historical pronouncement, ‘Kibaki Tosha’, he was just from signing an MOU endorsing Nyachae’s presidential bid. This is a clear indicator of a wavering politician; an allegation that has also been confirmed by his former head of protocol Tony Gachoka.

Raila’s campaign strategy in the 2007 election to date still encapsulates serious suspicion. Muted allegations that he conducted the campaign based on a concealed agenda of 41 tribes against 1 (that fuelled the 2008 chaos), is a serious negatron of his alleged reformism.

Additionally, his occasional doublespeak on national matters also portrays a leader without a clear stand. In parliament he says MRC is a prescribed gang but at the Coast he has the guts to say that the armed hooligans wrecking havoc there can come to a round table with him and discuss peace!

At one time he says that ICC suspects should be locked up in Kamiti Maximum prison, but later on we hear he is in serious coalition talks with Ruto, one of the ICC suspects.

Paradoxically, both Uhuru and Raila claim that they would fast track the full implementation of the constitution upon election.  However, for Uhuru to be given the green light to even contest the presidency a flawed integrity bill mutilating chapter 6 of the constitution has to be effected- that tells a lot about what would be his style of constitution implementation.

Raila’s promise of speedily implementing the constitution also sounds ridiculous. On one hand he wants to forge an alliance with Ruto, yet that can’t happen unless the integrity Bill is blemished to allow Ruto into the arena. Additionally, how will Raila Marshall his government to implement the constitution if he brings aboard Ruto who captained the rejection of the draft by the Kalenjin nation?

A true reformist is an indefatigable leader that not only stands by a single voice but who also walks their talk.

However, none of the two horses prognosticated as key contenders for the presidency pass the test of reformism! Perhaps we should select among the rest who have been discarded as insignificant by the polls.

The writer is a communication and media student at Maseno university wilsonmurimi@yahoo.com 

Why fanatical support for TNA, ODM will lock out key candidates in Kikuyu, Luo area respectively

PM Raila Odinga and DPM Uhuru Kenyatta, both with their ODM and TNA parties are tribal chieftains in Luo and Kikuyu tribes respectively.

By Mwangi Wilson Murimi

I was drinking recently in a bar with a Luhya friend when our discussion took a political detour. Somewhere in the course of our conversation, I heard him mention that Kikuyus and Luos would be to blame in event that Kenya elects an inefficacious president.

I sought to know why my tribe and our lakeside brothers and sisters would carry the blame for such a national disaster. In response he said that the arrogance of the Kikuyu and Luo nations had brought the predicament of hopelessness that now stares the nation in the eye.

He told me that the Agikuyu have two of the best presidential candidates but the larger kikuyu populace has unanimously thrown their weight behind the pinnacle of kikuyu elite impunity by endorsing Uhuru Kenyatta.

According to my Luhya friend, Peter Kenneth and Martha Karua are two of the best presidential candidates for the country but the Kikuyus have refused to elevate either of the two to the Kikuyu Chiefdom, which would have automatically boosted their election to statehouse since they enjoy support across the Kenyan tribal divide.

Back in my home county of Kirinyaga where one of the presidential candidates, Martha Karua hails from, there is a general displeasure among the locals that one of their daughters has sought the presidential vote in clear disregard of the Son of Jomo whom they have already anointed president.

The general feeling there is that Martha Karua would do the country more good if she contested the Gichugu parliamentary seat or the Kirinyaga County senatorship, rather than heralding herself to political oblivion by fighting a losing battle.

The story is the same for Peter Kenneth whom the entire nation acclaims for his track record of development in his Gatanga constituency. Majority of his constituents have already endorsed him as the most preferred candidate for the Murang’a County Governorship, though they have shortsighted his presidential bid.

When Rafael Tuju was the MP for Rarieda he went to the history books of Nyanza as one of the best parliamentarians that Rariedans had ever elected. In just five years his development record was speaking for itself. Tables only turned against him when he vied his reelection on a PNU ticket, something unheard of in Nyanza.

Nothing in the world seems to convince even the Rariedans to even vote him in as MP unless he endorses Raila Odinga for the presidency, let alone his attempt to feature in the presidential ballot paper.

The case was the same with former Tetu MP and Noble Peace winner who lost her seat because she couldn't stand the wave of Kibaki's popularity and her continous call against corruption and nepotism in the government.

As I resumed drinking with another sip of my beer I realized that my Luhya friend actually had a point. If either Martha Karua or Peter Kenneth got the endorsement of the Kikuyus and Tuju got the nod of the Luo and the two candidates went for the presidency and running mate together, Kenya would have a better president than the one we are likely to vote in next year.

But Uhuru, with his rising stakes backed by his theory of the Kikuyu martyr being persecuted at The Hague will never let Kenneth or Karua sit on his Agikuyu throne. Neither will Raila abandon his Jakom’s throne to Tuju or any other Luo.

For Uhuru it is all about protecting himself being the custodian to the loot of his dad and company, and other Kikuyu and Kalenjin elite who illegitimately amassed wealth during the Moi regime.

For Raila, relinquishing the Luo chiefdom to another Luo would take from his hands the golden opportunity he has tasted in barely 5 years of handpicking family members and entrenching them into appointive positions including his own sisters brothers and cousins.

Is there something common between Raila and Uhuru? Yes, they are both merchants of impunity. While Uhuru seeks to become the gatekeeper to ensure that only members of the House of Mumbi loot the nation, Raila will leave no stone unturned to see to it that everybody from his lineage is appointed somewhere.

Now we the Kikuyus and Luos can’t endorse the better candidates for the presidential job. So why can’t Raila and Uhuru run together? They would make a winning combination with other likeminded tribal kingpins anyway.

That way they would have their way and we would resume our complaints of ‘Serikali ifanye kitu’ as we await another election to vote in troublemakers again.

The writer studies communication and media at Maseno University wilsonmurimi@yahoo.com

Annan, Bensouda visits show West is meddling in Kenyan internal affairs

Fatou Bensouda

By Mwangi Wilson Murimi

Recent visits to Kenya by the 2008 post-poll chaos chief mediator Kofi Annan, and the ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda raise eyebrows. The oddity of some of Annan and Bensouda’s remarks during their visits raise even more eyebrows!

When Annan visited the country early this month he made an outburst that Kenya risked suffering a diplomatic entanglement with the West if either Uhuru or Ruto were elected as president.

This was a statemnet ran against the political freedom of the Kenyan people from whom the legitimate authority of choosing their leaders is derived. It was in fact a flagrant infringement into sovereignty of the country.

While he was justified as the chief mediator in the 2008 post-poll chaos to visit the country and assess the progress of the coalition government, it was competently erroneous for him to flagrantly discredit the candidacy of the two.

Additionally during his visit Annan comment on judiciary, one of the most reformed arms of the coalition government. There has been a general feeling that the comments could have been an inducement for the Kenyan courts to give a verdict that suits the stand of the West on the Uhuru-Ruto candidacy.

The comment must not be taken seriously since the same judiciary has goofed in the recent past in what can be termed as judicial activism by removing the ban on Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) which has been discredited with the recent past by chaos.

There is also a general feeling in part of the country that Chief Justice Willy Mutunga sides with some political class under the reform agenda.

This same feeling, which can’t be set ignored even though it’s a long shot claims Annan on his meeting with Prime Minister Raila Odinga behind closed door meeting talked on issues of the forthcoming elections and not about the coalition government.

Now the recent meeting by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to visit 2007/08 PEV hotspots and seek cooperation on evidence in Hague cases from the government though good got muddled by her statement like Annan.

In her press statement she spoke of the politicization of the ICC, and exonerated the court from claims of persecuting Kenya or finishing certain tribes.

Bensouda also became a subject in the mouth of Kenyans after her remarks that the ICC would not adjust its calendar to allow the participation of Ruto and Uhuru in the forthcoming elections scheduled for March year didn’t augur well with some Kenyans .

The international community must respect not only the sovereignty of the Kenya but also the right of the Kenyans to exercise their political freedom in choosing leaders.

Although both Annan and Bensouda may be black they work for West backed institutions like UN and ICC who often intervene when West interest are threatened by developing countries.

Like the current escalating cold war between five permanent members of the Security Council on fundamental issues like nuclear arms race, Arab spring, green energy and the rise of China.

China’s economic reputation with bilateral trade with Africa (including Kenya) has irked the West which is sinking in economic crisis which can be used by UN and ICC to meddle with Kenyan elections to bring in West friendly nations.

This is why allegations that the ICC could be used as a tool to settle political scores between Kenya and the West by entrenching a West-Friendly government should not be ignored..

The writer studies communication and media at Maseno University wilsonmurimi@yahoo.com

The Raila Odinga for President Secretariat statement on GEMA and KAMATUSA Tribal Politics

Raila Odinga,presidential aspirant in the next general elections PHOTO/ Courtesy of Capital FM

THIS IS NOT A TRIBAL MOMENT, IT IS KENYA'S MOMENT

 1. We note with profound concern the return of the politics of hostile ethnic polarisation -through Gema and Kamatusa.

2. We have watched in keen silence as the leaders of these organizations have rapidly and dangerously postured in public for a return to their conceptual and injurious roots of the early 1970s and 1990s.

3. From the start, Gema has always been a hegemony outfit. It has been an exclusivist organization, keen on protecting narrow sectarian interests, disguised as community interests, while marginalizing everybody else.

4. In the 1970s, Gema attempted to enforce loyalty through a narrow, stringently imposed, ethnic agenda. It engaged in coercive and widespread oathing of its members. It planted terror and fear in everybody, both within and outside the'so-called Gema communities. This history is well documented.

5. Kamatusa, for its part, came into existence in 1991 in opposition to the democratization of Kenya. In particular, it was stridently opposed to the removal of Section 2A from the Constitution and the opening up of Kenya to multiparty democracy. It demonized the search for good and accountable governance.

6. Kamatusa is notoriously remembered for the Kapkatet Declaration of 1991. This declaration was an edict to the non-Kamatusa communities to leave parts of Rift Valley Province or be forcefully evicted. This was followed by systematic ethnic cleansing in Rift Valley Province. Kamatusa committed heinous crimes against innocent Kenyans. There has been no restitution to date.

7. Over the years, Kenyans who rightfully own property in Rift Valley Province have been steadily traumatized. They have been disinherited of their property by the architects of Kamatusa. Some of these leaders have not hesitated to "inherit", personally, land belonging to evictees. It is appalling that such unjust leaders nurse ambitions of higher national office, including Office of the President.

8. If leaders can rally tribes under dangerous organizations whose history is well known, how more dangerous could they get, should the country suffer the misfortune of having them as President? How many more people would they dispossess of their property and displace, now they brazenly flaunt potentially violent ethnicity with impunity?

9. Gema and Kamatusa were never about representing the poor. Instead, both have oppressed the poor people from the communities they purport to speak for. Both are regrouping themselves around precisely the wicked old objectives and ways.

They are still protecting narrow sectarian interests. In the case of Kamatusa, the injustice of forced evictions and dispossession is once again on the cards. The big irony is that some of those targeted for the next wave of eviction are from the same communities that Kamatusa leaders fraternize with in daytime. They laugh together and hug each other during the day and plot evictions in the night.

Both Gema and Kamatusa are still attempting to enforce loyalty through a narrow ethnic agenda.They are beginning to look like cults that everybody in the tribe must kneel before.

Those who refuse are demonized and terrorized.

10. It is instructive that both Gema and Kamatusa leaders have threatened to take away the right of the people of Kenya to go to free and fair democratic elections. One speaker after the other at the Gema meeting in Limuru last month stated that there would be no peaceful elections in Kenya if Uhuru Kenyatta's name was not on the presidential ballot paper.

This is overt incitement to violence and a threat to the rest of the country. We call upon the Minister for Internal Security to assure Kenyans that they can continue to feel comfortable, at peace, and safe in the belief that they can approach the forthcoming elections without being afraid.

11. Equally instructive is the threat by Kamatusa leaders to disrupt the election calendar (read the elections). They have promised to engage in dangerous ethnic based mobilization to ensure that there will be no elections. Alternatively, they intend to unleash violence during the elections.

The Minister for Internal Security needs to reassure Kenyans against threats of this kind. We have the history of threats of this kind. It informs us that these are not idle threats. Are we safe?

12. We hail leaders from Central Kenya and the greater Mt. Kenya region, as well as those from the North and South Rift who have distanced themselves from the ruinous intentions of the two sinister organizations. This is Kenya's time. It is not a tribal moment. We cherish the pursuit of the Kenyan dream of one people, one nation, one voice.

13. Finally, the time has come when we must say a firm NO to the shameless and cheap propaganda and hate speech that has been spewed against the Prime Minister. The politics of lies, hostility and threat to violence have no room in the democracy that we crave. Democracy must be digniSed.

We are keeping a keen eye on the captains of violent lies and propaganda. We know their history very well. We know the history of Kenya. From now on, we shall no longer quietly stand by as they spin lies and use them to prepare communities for tribal violence. We shall robustly expose them for what they are.

14. Kenyans have the chance to save this wonderful country that God has given us from slipping into the culture of hate and violence of the kind we saw in 2008. It is a culture that has sunk other countries. We have no need for it. We want our children to grown up in a peaceful society where people respect and love each other.

We must begin by rejecting the captains of hate and injustice. We must reject cheap propaganda and dangerous ethnic mobilization. We must reject thos,e with no respect for citizens' rights to life and property; those who believe you have no right to live in some part of the country. This is not a tribal moment. This is Kenya's moment. Let us not lose the moment to tribal chieftains.

The Raila Odinga for President Secretariat

IEBC: For fair elections Kenya, Africa still has a long way to go

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki votes in a general election

The quest to establish Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which saw the interviewing of 44 and 8 commissioners and chair from 427 and 15 applicants respectively. The process was led by Dr Ekuro Aukot.

The commission will afterwards send for approval the commissioners to parliament and three recommended for the position of chair to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila who will later forward a name to legislature for further approval.

The major task of IEBC will be to run the first national and county elections in Kenya in a simple, secure and transparent manner to avoid a repeat of bloodshed and rigging which engulfed the country in 2007/08 violence.

Sadly although the process is laudable, Kenya and Africa still have a long way to go for fair elections that can promote democracy even after a century since the first country in the continent gained independence. During the process, the same cocktail of events that saw the now defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) led by Samuel Kivuitu putting the country bin chaos is at play again.

Foremost in young democracies like Kenya electoral bodies are weak institutions backed by weak laws and judiciary which makes them prone to interference from politicians. The manner at which election tallying and counting was carried out at KICC and the aftermath avalanche of petitions showed this flaw.

This can be the case if legislations like Political Parties Act still not enacted prior to 2012 which will tie IEBC’s hand in regulating how parties elect candidates and how to settle elections disputes and petitions arising from results.

Equally, vested interests by politicians will risk causing havoc even before the new body is formed. Eldoret North MP William Ruto is leading a section of politicians who vow to vote against the team in parliament. On the other hand the debate of the exact date for next year general election is bound to raise political temperatures further.

Reading danger from these squabbles Koffi Annan, former UN Secretary General, and a member of Eminent Persons that bore the coalition government from 2007/08 violence has warned politicians from interfering with the process.

Lastly tribalism is a thorn to democracy with debate from some quarters observing that even though the gender equality was observed, 50% of some candidates were from one ‘region’ which doesn’t reflect ‘the face’ of Kenya.

These disputes coupled with impunity where violence suspects walk away with prosecution are some of the challenges facing democracy and electoral bodies like IEBC not only in Kenya but also in Africa.