And their public announcement of her comeback was loaded with political symbolism, as it was done in Uasin Gishu County, the political stronghold of Raila’s rival, William Ruto, the MP for Eldoret North.
Raila toured Uasin Gishu County yesterday where he said Kosgei’s "comeback" was the beginning of better things for ODM that has been perceived as a divided party.
The frosty relationship between the Prime Minister and Dr Kosgei heightened after Raila opened the controversial Butali Sugar factory in Kakamega, which she skipped.
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| Mzee David Cheluget acknowledges greetings from Agriculture Minister Dr Sally Kosgei, as Prime Minister Raila Odinga looks on. The PM attended a meeting at Cheluget’s farm at Tuiyo in Eldoret South constituency, Friday. PHOTO: PETER OCHIENG’/STANDARD |
Although at the time Kosgei was guarded in her words she left no doubt where her heart was. She even asked the PM to sack her, as a minister.
"I don’t need this flag, after all we sometimes use it only to evade traffic jams," she said, during a rally in her Aldai constituency, which Ruto attended.
Kosgei was quoted saying, "Kenyan politics lack ideology and is highly regionalised ... so if my people go up the hill, I also go up with them. Who am I to act in isolation?"
Local farmer
Kosgei abandoned Raila last year in unclear circumstances to join the Ruto camp. Ruto is one of the party’s two deputy leaders.
The other is Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government, Musalia Mudavadi.
The shifting of allegiance by Kosgei to Ruto came three months before Ruto made an initial appearance before the International Criminal Court, alongside five other suspects over the 2007 post-election violence.
Pressure had been mounting on ODM MPs in the Rift Valley allied to Raila prior to The Hague date.
Apart from Ruto, former Industrialisation Minister Henry Kosgey and Kass FM presenter Joshua Sang – suspects in The Hague case – are from the Rift Valley.
The other suspects are Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Head of the Civil Service Francis Muthaura and Postmaster General Hussein Ali.
Yesterday, Kosgei did not want to talk about her differences with Raila, as she addressed the meeting. A local farmer, Mzee David Kiptoo Cheluget, hosted the meeting at his Tuiyo Farm in Eldoret South constituency.
Area MP Peris Simam did not attend.
Kosgei, an experienced public servant – having served in senior positions in the Kanu regime, including as Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet – is known to weigh her words carefully.
"I don’t want to say much but when you see me here with Raila, you know what it means. I am a leader who does not believe in lying," said the Aldai MP.
Cabinet minister Franklin Bett (Roads), James Orengo (Lands), Assistant Ministers Ayiecho Olweny, Alfred Khangati and Oburu Odinga, and MPs Wilson Litole, Julius Murgor and Musa Sirma accompanied the Prime Minister.
Raila also met Kalenjin elders led by Said Kaittany and their Luo counterparts, under Ker Opiyo Otondi at Cheluget’s home. They discussed progress on reconciliation efforts with rebel MPs.
Rescind decision
Raila later addressed wananchi at the home when they learnt of his visit. He explained to them the cause of his differences with Ruto.
"I am being accused of taking Ruto’s name to The Hague, failing to assist youth arrested over post-election violence, and evicting the Kalenjin community from the Mau Forest. Those accusing me got their facts wrong and are spreading propaganda for their selfish political interests," said Raila.
He said that he was in the forefront of pushing for a local tribunal to try post-election violence suspects. The PM said he intervened to stop Environment Minister John Michuki from using General Service Unit personnel to evict people who had settled in the Mau Forest.
"When some people in the Government realised that I would gain political mileage by peacefully removing forest invaders, they have decided to sit on the money allocated for resettlement of the evictees so as to make them IDPs and point an accusing finger at Raila," he said.
Bett said Kosgei’s decision to mend fences with Raila would strengthen ODM in the Rift Valley and enhance Raila’s chances of winning the presidency.
"I support Kosgei’s decision to bury her differences with Raila. ODM leaders should be ready to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation like Kosgei. They should focus on ensuring that the party produces a president in the 2012 General Election," he said.
Raila told residents who were thinking of abandoning him because of the propaganda by his destructors to rescind their decision, saying he meant well for the community and all Kenyans.
"I will not forget the support you gave me during the 2007 General Election," the PM said.
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Good luck PM
ReplyDeleteUhuru, Ruto maintain their alliance is strong
ReplyDeleteWritten By:Rufus Hunja, Posted: Sat, Jun 18, 2011
Ikolomani MP Bonnie Khalwale won the recent by-election after losing his seat through an election petition
Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Eldoret North MP William Ruto Saturday led an entourage of prominent politicians to Ikolomani MP Bonnie Khalwale's home coming celebrations.
In a show of political might, Uhuru and Ruto tore at their opponents for spreading propaganda that their unity was in turmoil, warning them to brace for battle royale come 2012.
The tour was of significance to the duo whose unity many have doubted since their return from The Hague.
And to bolster their unity they took to the platform promising to work together to slain ODM from ascending to power.
Uhuru praised the people of Ikolomani for re-electing Bonnie Khalwale, urging them to be wary of divisive politics.
Khalwale hit out at Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi who hails from the region, saying he is a self centered leader.
Ruto claimed he has been labeled a rebel in ODM by his rivals in the movement's camp due his principles.
The homing of Khalwalwe is perhaps a new frontier in political realignment as Uhuru-Ruto and Eugene try to reassert their presence in the political arena ahead of the 2012 general elections.
Raila condoles Zambians over Chiluba's loss
ReplyDeleteWritten By:Glena Nyamwaya/BBC, Posted: Sat, Jun 18, 2011
Frederick Chiluba was the second President of the Republic of Zambia
Frederick Chiluba, Zambia's first democratically elected president, has died at home at the age of 68.
Mr Chiluba was hailed as Zambia's "liberator" by his supporters when he came to office in 1991 after 27 years of single party Socialist rule.
He won praise for his economic and political reforms but was later accused of embezzlement and turning a blind eye to corruption.
The cause of his death is not known but he was known to have heart problems.
Under Mr Chiluba, Zambia was considered to be a model of African democracy and his presidency was welcomed in the West.
The former trade union leader and son of a copper miner introduced many reforms which dismantled the restrictive policies of former President Kenneth Kaunda.
But he was dogged by corruption allegations and was accused of taking an authoritarian approach to his political opponents, firing critical colleagues and jailing outspoken journalists.
He attempted to alter the constitution to allow him to run for a third term in office in 2001, but stood down after huge public protests.
Mr Chiluba was prosecuted for alleged embezzlement in 2002 but acquitted after a six-year trial.
In 2007, he was convicted of fraud by a London court and ordered to repay $58m in embezzled funds, but the ruling was never carried out by Zambia.
He spent his final years at his resident in Lusaka, confined by ill health and the confiscation of his passport by the authorities.
PM's condolence message
In a statement Prime Minister Raila Odinga said he learnt of the death of retired President Fredrick Chiluba and wished to convey deep condolences to the family, friends and the people of Zambia.
"For those of us then involved in the struggle for the re-introduction of multi party politics in Kenya, Mr Chiluba's victory in Zambia in November 1991 served as a significant morale booster," read the statement.
Raila further said that Chiluba's election was the clearest signal to Kenya that we were not fighting a lone or losing battle, but that Africa was in the mood for another sweeping political change and that it was possible for independence parties that had run our countries to ruin since independence, to be defeated.
The Premier described Chiluba ss a ruler who may have strayed from his promises, but his initial expansion of civil and political rights made Zambia get seen as a model of democracy on a troubled continent.
"It is unfortunate that he eventually slipped into Kaunda's own methods of suppressing opposition and was dogged by corruption allegations into his retirement. Such are the perils of leadership without adequate constitutional checks, balances and guarantees," Raila said.
Women caucus uphold Supreme Court ruling
ReplyDeleteWritten By:Lillian Mwendo, Posted: Sat, Jun 18, 2011
Former nominated MP Njoki Ndung'u has put off celebrating her victory as the only woman to make the Supreme Court cut as the High Court haults the swearing in process
The women political caucus Saturday hailed the blocking of the swearing in of five Supreme Court judges by the High Court until gender parity is achieved as dictated by the constitution.
The caucus is urging those involved in the nominations to move with speed and correct the anomaly and give women their right.
They women were gathered to celebrate one of their own having qualified as the second most senior officer in the country's judiciary, Nancy Baraza, the Deputy Chief Justice designate.
But on the other hand the political women caucus group is disappointed with the gender imbalance in the Supreme Court judges nominations that has seen the high court halt the swearing in scheduled to take place on Monday.
They are calling upon all the stakeholders involved in the nominations exercise to go back to the drawing board and correct the omission to give what is right for the women as provided in the new constitution.
Judge Jean Gacheche Friday ruled in favor of the women and temporarily stopped the swearing in of the five Supreme Court judges recommended by the judicial service commission, appointed and their names gazetted by the President.
The five who include Court of appeal judges Justice Phillip Tunoi, Justice Ibrahim Mohammed, Justice Jackton Ojwang, former Kenya Anti-Corruption Deputy Director Smokin Wanjala and former nominated MP Njoki Ndung'u, were supposed to be sworn in on Monday until the court orders altered the plan.
UK rules out FPE support to government
ReplyDeleteWritten By:Graham Kirwa/Glena Nyamwaya, Posted: Sat, Jun 18, 2011
UK envoy to Kenya Rob Macaire insist the UK will only fund FPE through non-governmental organizations
The UK government Saturday ruled out any support of Free Primary Education (FPE) through the Kenya government until all 4.2 billion shillings lost through a scam is returned.
In a statement the UK says the position will remain so until all the funds stolen are refunded.
In seeking accountability for the use of its tax payer's money, the UK government says there will be no further disbursement of funds meant to support the free primary education through the government system.
It however say it will now channel funds directly to beneficiary institutions and that 1.08 billion shillings has been earmarked for the Kenya school support programme this year.
The statements comes as Education permanent secretary James Ole Kiyapi maintains he is clean and was not involved in any way in the scandal
He remains optimist that investigations underway in the 4.2 billion shillings scandal will reveal the real crocks who stole from the poor Kenyan children.
Amid all this however, the Kenya Association of Publishers wants an independent forensic audit outside government to be undertaken.
The association's chairman Lawrence Njagi says the affected schools should be investigated to ascertain if head teachers in such schools colluded with the ministry officials to defraud the government
The UK's demands
The UK is asking for the return of all stolen money. The UK is not asking for a return of correctly-spent money that has been invested in educating Kenyan children.
The money refunded by the Government of Kenya will be re-invested in DFID's Kenya programme.
DFID expects to spend £9 million, almost the same as our annual contributions to KESSP.
DFID is determined to ensure that Kenyan children do not suffer as a result of corruption amongst Government officials.
No further UK funding will go through Government of Kenya systems until there is convincing evidence of substantial improvements in integrity and financial management.
Exodus of young professionals irks KACC boss
ReplyDeleteBY LORDRICK MAYABI
Updated : 7 hours and 3 minutes ago
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NAIROBI, Kenya Jun 18 - Kenya Anti corruption Commission {KACC} Director PLO Lumumba has challenged the youth in Africa to explore the vast natural resources in the continent to their advantage and that of their countries.
Dr Lumumba who was the chief guest at the 33rd graduation ceremony of the Daystar University at their Athi River campus, noted that many youth graduating from local universities still flock the international market for jobs instead of using their expertise in their mother countries.
"Only Africans haven't realized the potential of their continent, I still see our young men and women seeking the mighty Green card, some swimming and drowning across the Mediterranean while everybody is falling over themselves coming to Africa," he observed.
"This is a moment when we must liberate the continent from the chains of doing nothing and lamentation without action."
He said that this has made other countries to benefit at the expense African countries in the guise of helping them grow and develop.
"If you go to any African country the Chinese know that this is a land of gold and are there doing things, the Europeans also know that, but there is a sense in which we Africans do not know that," he added.
Over 900 graduands from 13 African countries and one from the United States of America were conferred with diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate certificates at the ceremony as well as the first group of postgraduate students from the Daystar University Mombasa Campus.
The graduation which was held under the theme, "Enhancing Peace: Realizing our African Dream" captured the direct relationship between peace and development and was driven by the post-election violence of 2007 and upcoming national elections in 2012.
The students selected the theme to challenge the nation to continue in the fight for peace and the hope of a cohesive Africa recognized as a business partner and not the world's poorest and most underdeveloped continent.
Dr Lumumba also challenged the youth to be agents of peace and change. He told the graduates to be bold and in the forefront demanding for better governance and keeping their governments in check.
He cited inspiration from Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26 year old vegetable cart vendor who burnt himself to death expressing frustration at the failure of the regime of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in creating employment for the youth despite their high academic credentials.
The resultant revolution in Tunisia then spread to other Arab countries experiencing similar problems under long time dictatorial regimes.
"You must go out and rebuild the 'walls of Jerusalem'; we must be brave like Biblical Daniel, go into the fire of unemployment, the fire of ethnicity and the fire of corruption," he challenged exhibiting his oratory prowess.
He said that the continent looks upon its majority population of the youth to solve internal problems.
"Africa is calling upon its young people to interrogate themselves to ask why it bleeds at its horn in Somalia, why it bleeds at its heart in Abyei in Sudan, in Tripoli and Benghazi. Go out to the world not to amuse the world, there are too many clowns already, go out and amaze the world in the name of God." He told the graduates.
OK
ReplyDeleteR. Odinga has been able to fool so many people for so long, it's unbelievable.He is truelly the "Master of Deceit" But my question is how on earth can anybody from Ukambani support this " Devil" who has has demonized and mistreated Kalonzo so much
ReplyDeleteHow?
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