Monday, March 31, 2014
MIGUNA: A foundation complex or a lavish Nkandla? Lifting the veil over Raila Odinga's monstrous Kisumu jewel.
ZUMA'S CASTLE IN NKANDLA: Madonseli rebuked Zuma for having unduly and disproportionately benefitted from upgrades at his private residence that she estimated at about Sh30.8 million (R246M). Consequently, she has ordered, among other far-reaching remedial measures, that Zuma must refund ?the illegal benefits? to the state.
MAGNIFICENT OR GROTESQUE?: The big house on the hill. ?Where did the Sh1 billion Mr. Raila Odinga has used for the opulent private complex in Kanyakwar in Kisumu come from? If the lavish 74-room complex is not Mr. Odinga?s private residence and is only intended as foundations for charities and environmental entities as he belatedly claimed,how were the funds for its construction and future operations sourced??
On Wednesday, March 19th, 2014, the South African Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela (the equivalent to our Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission) released an earth-shuttering 447-page report on President Jacob Zuma’s unauthorised and unlawful use of R246 million (equivalent to $23 million) to upgrade his private family complex in KwaZulu Natal Province, otherwise known as Nkandla.
The investigations were ordered by Ms. Madonsela after she read an article by a member of the public in the Mail and Guardian newspaper of November 11th, 2011. Under the heading, “Bunker, bunker time: Zuma’s lavish Nkandla upgrade,” the writer expressed concern over the upgrades and requested investigation to verify allegations of impropriety relating to them. More complaints were published in the South African media between December 2011 and 2012.
Madonsela, a very courageous lady, acted with alacrity and informed the Presidency of the request for an investigation. On January 12, 2012, she met with the Director of the Presidency and set in motion a framework for a thorough, objective and credible investigation on the allegations she had received from the published newspaper articles and letters to the editor. She did this less than one month after the first ‘complaint’ was published.
She did not wait for or demand “sworn written complaints.” She did not second guess the motives of the complainants. She did not entertain any diversionary tactics or strategies. She wasn’t intimidated by power or wealth.
And in a ground-breaking and stinging report titled, “SECURE IN COMFORT: Report on an investigation into the allegations of impropriety and unethical conduct relating to the installation and implementation of security measures by the Department of Public Works at and in respect of the private residence of President Jacob Zuma at Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal Province,” Ms. Madonsela all but calls Zuma a thief and a perjurer.
On Zuma’s claim that the state had not built any parts of Nkandla for him and his family, Ms. Madonsela states that, “This was not true. It was common cause that in the name of security, government built for the president and his family a cattle kraal, chicken run, a clinic, culverts, a visitors’ centre and an amphitheatre and the relocation of neighbours’ houses.”
The report concludes that Zuma had lied to Parliament when he had denied knowledge of the visitors’ centre and amphitheatre.
Madonsela rebuked Zuma for having unduly and disproportionately benefitted from upgrades at his private residence. Consequently, she has ordered, among other far-reaching remedial measures, that Zuma must refund “the illegal benefits” to the state.
“The amount in question should be based on the cost of the installation of some or all the items that can’t be conscionably accepted as security measures. These included the cattle kraal, chicken run, swimming pools, visitors’ centre and amphitheatre…The President and his legal advisers did not dispute this during the investigation,” she stated.
At least a significant number of South Africans have liberated themselves from some of the most archaic and annoying colonial hangovers that still bedevil Kenya’s justice system. If it was in Kenya, a mere article by a member of the public – a ‘nobody’ so to speak - would never have precipitated a serious investigation from the country’s top anti-corruption agency, leave alone against a sitting head of state, head of government and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Anyone who dares to imagine or demand such investigations in Kenya – forget about Modensela’s bold findings – would not only be called a heretic, a madman or whatever even by our hypocritical and self-righteous media that wouldn’t have the Cajuns to publish the article calling into question any powerful and wealthy individual’s conduct; anti-corruption crusaders in Kenya are routinely stigmatised, alienated and even murdered.
In one of the complaints quoted in the “Secure in Comfort Report,” a taxpayer wrote: “Like all South Africans, I have recently read in the media the appalling story of the sums of taxpayers’ money being spent on the private residence of President Jacob Zuma. This is opulence on a grand scale and as an honest, loyal taxpaying South African; I need to understand how this is allowed to happen. Strangely, civil society is quiet. This is wrong and highlights the complete disregard which this government has for the citizens of this country. Where is the money coming from and how has it been approved?”
These pertinent questions bring me to the mother of all issues this past week in Kenya: Where did the Sh1 billion Mr. Raila Odinga has used for the opulent private complex in Kanyakwar in Kisumu come from?
If the lavish 74-room complex is not Mr. Odinga’s private residence and is only intended as foundations for charities and environmental entities as he belatedly claimed, how were the funds for its construction and future operations sourced?
Does anyone need a 74-room house on Riat Hills in Kisumu?
Who is overseeing the expenditure of such publicly-sourced amounts? If the monument is purely a private fair, like I have heard it is, why has Mr. Odinga implied that it is not?
But even more fundamentally, does it matter whether Mr. Odinga calls his Nkandla a private residence or a complex for (private) foundations?
Don’t get me wrong. I love big houses. I enjoy space whether it is the fresh smell and aroma of a nice, spacious park, or that of a private garden. I also love huge, nicely stocked libraries. I’ve spent most of my life ruminating inside libraries.
However, I also care very much how the libraries and private gardens were built, or acquired. I’ve spent my entire life avoiding private and public spaces that are known either to be owned or frequented by drug dealers, organised criminals and/or looters. That’s also why I studiously avoid private clubs belonging to cults or secret monasteries.
When an active public figure or politician anywhere in the so-called free world constructs an opulent complex that is estimated at Sh1 billion, any sensible and ethical person must immediately be shocked. We must ask how the person got the money. Thirdly, we must – naturally – demand to know the sources of such funds.
I consider these basic civic duties for law-abiding citizens! The amounts involved are too staggering to be ignored.
It is egregiously immoral for anyone to spend Sh1 billion whose sources remain shrouded in mystery in a private house - whether it is called a complex for foundations or not is pure nomenclature – in or around Kisumu where the average monthly income for the citizens is less than Sh2,500.
It is unconscionable for any public figure –and Mr. Odinga remains a leading public figure - to spend such colossal sums of money in such opulence barely one year after serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya during which period unresolved corruption cases ensnared his office.
It’s repulsive and should offend our sense of decency for a leader of an official opposition coalition whose employees have been demonstrating for the past three months because of alleged poor terms of service and six-months of unpaid wages to suddenly be exposed as obscenely wealthy.
Why hasn’t he used the billions of shillings he has to address the economic problems facing his constituents in Luo Nyanza and in Africa’s largest slum – Kibera? Wouldn’t it have been nice to hear that Mr. Odinga has used the Sh1 billion to construct health and educational institutions in Nyanza? Wouldn’t it have been refreshing for Mr. Odinga to surprise Kenyans with an Agricultural Marshall Plan for Turkana and other pastoralist communities?
Sh1 billion is about US$12 million, depending on the time of conversion. That’s a tidy sum for a presumably former revolutionary and ‘People’s President.’ It shouldn’t just be wasted on primitive opulence.
In 1989, Houphouët-Boigny used USD 300 million to construct his obscene Yamoussoukro Basilica. Many would say that no matter how grotesque Houphouët-Boigny’s wastage was; he had constructed a house of worship; not a private residence. But Mr. Odinga’s Nkandla is gaudy.
Bill Gates used USD $63.2 to build his mansion on the Medina Hill overlooking Lake Washington, in the USA. But Gates isn’t just the wealthiest man who has ever lived; he is the world’s greatest innovator, inventor and entrepreneur! Hallo?
But I’ve read Mr. Odinga’s expected protestations hardly a day after the Kenyan media published stupendous photographs of the lavish 74-room private complex. Significantly, he has admitted that the land on which the lavish complex stands and the Nkandla itself, are his private property. Although he has clumsily quibbled with the Nkandla’s intended purpose; he has nonetheless, indicated that he plans to do business there: renting out its 74-plus rooms for conferences, events and for running a variety of other businesses.
Make no mistake: Raila’s Nkandla is not a public foundation. It is not like the Clinton Foundation, for example. Mr. Odinga’s so-called ‘foundations’ are unknown and don’t have a charter. We are not aware of their boards. We have not seen any charitable functions they have organised.
As far as we are aware, the Kisumu Nkandla’s foundation stone was laid by Mr. Odinga in a private ceremony. The foundations he claims will operate from there are certainly not public entities.
I heard as far back as 2011 that Mr. Odinga was building a palatial home on Riat Hills complete with a helicopter landing pad, ‘in preparation for when he would be president.’ According to information I obtained from reliable insiders, the original plan was that ‘with his sister Ruth Adhiambo as Kisumu Governor and his elder brother Oburu Oginga as Siaya Governor, Raila would arrive in Kisumu aboard Air Force One helicopter, be met at the Kisumu International Airport by the Governor and together, they would leisurely fly to his Hill-top Palace, before taking off from the private helicopter pad to Siaya where Oburu would be waiting for them at the Siaya Airstrip before they retire at the Opoda Farm!’
Even in the United States where Presidential Libraries are routinely built by the National Archives and Records Administration as repositories for processing and making available papers, records, collections and other historical materials of every American president since Herbert Hoover (31st President, 1929-1933), funding for such projects don’t cost $12 million of shadily procured funds. More significantly, their constructions aren’t shrouded in secrecy; their accounts are transparently released for both public and legislative scrutiny.
But I end with Madonsela’s conclusion in the “Secure in Comfort” report. Quoting the former South African President Nelson Mandela, she wrote: “Let it never be said by the future generations that indifference, cynicism, or selfishness made us fail to live up to the ideals of humanism which the Nobel Peace Prize encapsulates.”
And I ask: What happened to the Civil Society, the Auditor General, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the Media?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Mr. Miguna Miguna is a lawyer and author of Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya and Kidneys for the King: Deforming the Status Quo in Kenya. Migunagowok@gmail.com
Kenya ‘Joyrider’ Delegates in New York May Have Caused Kenya Great Embarrassment
The conduct of a government delegation at a high profile meeting in the US may have caused Kenya great embarrassment.
Sources have told The Nairobian that some members of the Kenyan delegation to the United Nations headquarters in New York drunk themselves dumb and turned rowdy to the shock of their hosts.
These ‘joyriders’, about 60, were not part of the main government delegation of the government led by Cabinet secretary for devolution and planning Anne Waiguru.
Waiguru had led a team of Kenyan leaders to the 58th Session on the Commission on Status of Women that was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Waiguru’s team had a lean delegation of 10 people, among them six MPs and three senators.
But during the time Kenyan delegates were reported to have misbehaved, the 10 key officials and lawmakers representing the Jubilee government including Waiguru, Naomi Shaban and Linah Jebii Kilimo were not in the vicinity.
Sources said the other group of Kenyan delegates included several directors and commissioners in government.
The source, who was at the session from March 10-21, said many people were avoiding the company of some of the commissioners who were exhibiting ‘funny behaviour’.
“There was a time we were at the lounge at the UN building and a commissioner (name withheld) removed his shoes and placed his feet on the coffee table. Interestingly, a few other commissioners thought that was the right thing to do so they also removed their shoes and placed their legs on the coffee table,” the source said.
Orderlies at the UN building had to come and whisper to them to get their feet off the table.
The drama did not end there.
After a session, just before dinner, part of the Kenyan team (not in CS Waiguru’s entourage) decided to go for a drink. A few women got drunk and started singing, ‘Budalangi ni serikali, na Ababu ni SG (referring to Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba).
After dinner, they took to the dance floor and the group of Kenyans raised eyebrows when their drunk colleagues asked the American DJ to play Ken Wa Maria’s song ‘Fundamendos’.
The DJ did not oblige and soon the Kenyan delegation were shouting, ‘DJ must go, DJ must go’, much to the amusement of other guests.
- The Nairobian
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Friday, March 28, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Panic in State House As Ruto Indicates He is No Longer Content With Kshs.3.5 Billion That He Received And Wants More
Panic in State House As Ruto Indicates He is No Longer Content With Kshs.3.5 Billion That He Received And Wants More
We can now confirm that panic is again reigning in State House following Ruto’s declaration through intermediaries that he will run for presidency in 2017. Lots of hints have been given about his future running as Ruto has been traversing the country looking for running mates.
Our mole at State House has confirmed that trouble began brewing in the Kenyan duo’s pot when Ruto finally ran out of money after paying a lot of legal expenses which were supposed to be paid by the government but on which the government which is currently suffering liquidity issues has reneged. Following the go-slow by the government on paying the legal bills, Ruto was forced to dip into his pocket to pay his lawyers who were threatening to stop representing him.
When he went back to Uhuru to remind him of the promise to pay legal fees, it is said that Ruto was calmly reminded of the Kshs.3.5 billion cheque that he received from Mama Ngina during the period before elections, which said cheque bought his cooperation and his promise not to run for presidency for 10 years.
However, with the money now all sunk in legal fees, Ruto is reneging on his promise. Which has of course sent shivers down Uhuru’s spine.
Last week we reported the plans by William Samoei Ruto to run for the presidency in 2017, and how he is looking for running mate in Nyanza and Western. He responded by sending his MPs to deny the allegation.
URP publicity affairs assistant Erick Sitonik has also spent a lot of time denying the rumours and trying to appease TNA hawks, on the future plans by Ruto.
Today, we have also gathered that Ruto is strategically using Rachel, using her table banking platform, to create a network across the Kenyan women. More details how this is done will come later.
Our files on the DPs office has reliably informed us that URP might want to flex its muscles in Meru politics by sponsoring their own candidate in Meru gubernatorial race following the nullification of Gov. Peter Munya elections by either supporting Munya against the TNA candidate Kilemi Mwira or alternatively sponsoring a candidate. For that reason, the cunning DP has lined up meeting in Meru for four days beginning tomorrow to test the waters and celebrate the confusion in the area.
Possible running mates being discussed so far include Kithiki Kindire who is Senate Majority Leader and Senator for Tharaka Nithi, and Budalangi MP Hon. Ababu Namwamba. In the alternate, Ruto is also considering running with the Senator of Meru County Hon. Kiraitu Murungi. So far, Dr. Mutua has not stated his stand and is keeping it closely guarded.
Since Kenya’s political landscape changes daily, we cannot predict what will happen next week on this issue. But, we can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Will Ruto be given another instalment of Kshs.3.5 billion to silence him?
UHURU AND RUTO HAVE NOT TAKEN PAY CUTS
STILL WAITING: SRC chairperson Sarah Serem addresses the media on the wage bill during a press conference in Nairobi on February 14.
THE Salaries and Remuneration Commission has said that it is not aware of the decision by President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto to cut their salaries by 20 percent.
By law the two leaders are required to notify the SRC in writing of their decision at the Nanyuki retreat on March 7. SRC chairperson Sarah Serem yesterday said that she had not yet received any official communication concerning the President and his Deputy, or the Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries who promised to take a 10 percent pay cut.
“So far we have not received any written communications from the Executive or the MPs asking us to reduce their salaries by a certain percentage," said Serem. The salaries of the leaders therefore remain unchanged.
Serem said she will communicate with the Treasury and payroll officers to implement the pay cuts as soon as she receives the official communication.
"The SRC does not need to gazette the salary reduction of the president because it is not changing to a new salary structure. It is just his own donation," Serem said.
Once the SRC receives the written communication, it will advise the payroll officers that the pay cut be implement and that the balance be remitted to the Treasury as a 'donation'.
The President has complained that the public service wage bill is unsustainable at over Sh400 billion a year and it. Uhuru also wants parastatal chiefs to take 20 percent pay cuts.
The SRC is currently collecting views countrywide on how to reduce the wage bill. Some Jubilee MPs have indicated that they are willing to give up 10 percent of their salaries but none of them has officially informed the SRC.
Kimani Ichung'wah (Kikuyu), Kanini Keega (Kieni), Thuo Gethinji (Tetu), Esther Murugi (Nyeri), Peter Weru (Mathira) and Kabando Kabando (Mukurweini) have said they would take pay cuts.
Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki and Meru senatorKiraitu Murungi have also said they will accept pay cuts. Yesterday National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said he had not received a letter from any MP directing that their salary be slashed, and nor had the Clerk of the National Assembly.
"Even if they wrote to us, we do not have the power to change any figure in their salaries. They should write to the SRC," said Muturi. “It was a political directive which has no legal backing. SRC cannot take such directive withiout official communication as it will be unconstitutional,” said Ashford Muriuki, president of the East African Law Society.
Suna MP Junet Mohamed said Jubilee was just playing politics over salaries instead of reducing the cost of living. The President’s starting salary is presently Sh1,237,500, rising to Sh1, 650,000 in the fifth year in office. The Deputy President’s starting salary is Sh1,051,875 a month, rising to Sh1,402,500 in his last year in office.
Raila, Lupita, Adongo to lead Boston marathon fete
Diaspora Messenger | March 25, 2014 |
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to lead Kenyans in this year’s marathon celebrations in Boston.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is set to lead Kenyans in this year’s marathon celebrations in Boston.
The former PM said he was also invited to a dinner hosted by the Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick in honour of Kenyan athletes who have won the Boston marathon over the years.
Mr Odinga also revealed that an invitation had been sent to Lupita Nyong’o, the first Kenyan to win an Oscar.
“We have sent an invitation to Lupita to come and join us and I hope I will see many of you there,” he told a church service at St Stephens church in Lowell, Massachusetts on Sunday.
Kenyan star, Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan footballer to be signed up for the National Football League (NFL), is also expected to join Kenyans in Boston for the celebrations.
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Daniel Adongo, (right #46) with teammates during practice at the NFL team’s football training camp in Anderson, Indiana, on July 29, 2013.
HONOUR KENYAN ATHLETES
The former PM said Kenyan athletes have continued to excel and “they are our best ambassadors and we thank and congratulate them”.
Rev Samuel Kimohu, senior pastor at St Stephens church, also urged Kenyans in the New England area to show up in large numbers at the celebrations to honour the Kenyan athletes.
“As hosts, we the people of New England area must first make sure we turn up to show a good example,” he said.
The Boston Marathon weekend is the second biggest annual event that brings together more than one thousand Kenyans living in the US and Canada.
This year’s Boston Marathon, set for April 21, will mark the first anniversary since the terrorist attacks last year.
The highlights of the weekend long events will be the traditional ‘Dinner with Champions’ that will take place on April 19, 2014 at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston, Massachusetts.
TALENT SEARCH
The event is organized by Run With Kenyans, an organisation that supports Kenyan athletes.
”Everything is going on according to plan and we hope to have a very successful event this year. We could not celebrate Kenya’s win last year because of the chaos that arose from the attacks,” said Wilson Wahome, Director of Run with Kenyans.
There will also be the Boston Kenyan Festival organised by New England Kenyan Welfare Association (Nekwa).
The festival to be held at the Westin Copley Place between on April 19-21, 2014 will feature live bands, cultural dances, food and prayers for the victims of last year’s terrorist attacks.
The climax of the weekend long events will be the official launch of the Diaspora Notebook and the Diaspora 254 Star Talent Search that will take place on the afternoon of April 20, 2014 at 65 Village St Lowell, Massachusetts. -nation.co.ke
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Youth Storm ODM Offices Over Mathare Seat Direct Nomination
Diaspora Messenger | March 24, 2014 |
Irate youth stormed the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) headquarters on Monday demanding nominations be held for the Mathare constituency.
The youth, who stormed the Orange House claimed that one of those contesting for the seat that fell vacant after a petition will get direct nomination.
They claimed that a statement from the ODM interim team stated that Mr Steve Kariuki would receive a direct nomination from ODM.
The Mathare Constituency seat fell vacant after Mr Kariuki successful petitioned against Mr George Wanjohi’s election last year.
The youth led by Anthony Oluoch singled out Mr Ababu Namwamba and senior members of the transitional team for appearing on television and lending credence to the reports that the party intends to give a direct nomination.
On Sunday, the ODM interim team gathered at Bishop Margaret Wanjiru’s Jesus is Alive Ministry where they showed support for Mr Kariuki.
“I have been alarmed by information being peddled by one of the candidates that he will be given a direct nomination by the party with blessings from our party leader, Mr Raila Odinga, it is my view that the party seeks the views of the constituents of Mathare before making that decision,” he said.
Mr Oluoch claimed that the party leadership had failed to allay his fears and had ignored his letters seeking clarification on the party position.
“I wrote to the Interim team on Wednesday last week seeking clarification on whether the party organs have met to deliberate on this issue but have not gotten an answer,” he pointed out.
“I wrote to the Interim team on Wednesday last week seeking clarification on whether the party organs have met to deliberate on this issue but have not gotten an answer,” he pointed out.
Mr Oluoch is now challenging Mr Namwamba whom he accuses of doublespeak, to walk the talk on democracy during nominations.
He underlined that the Interim ODM team ran on a platform of change and should not perpetuate boardroom deals to institute leaders on the electorate.
While the ODM offices remained closed to the rowdy youth, the party’s Deputy Director of Communication Maseme Machuka sought to clarify that no candidate had been given a direct nominations yet.
“As far as ODM is concerned, the Mathare seat has not yet been declared vacant and we are waiting for any developments before taking any action,” he told the Nation via telephone.
Mr Oluoch has however indicated that he will support Mr Kariuki if he beats him in the nominations.-nation.co.ke
Funny:Lupita Nyong’o Makes Surprise Appearance at Eric Omondi’s Show
Diaspora Messenger | March 24, 2014 |
looks like her… a doppelganger of some sort.
Eric Omondi held a stand up show at Carnivore on Saturday night, dubbed Eric Omondi untamed. Of course he had to bring on stage the hottest person right now… Lupita Nyong’o.
She even came wearing her half a million shillings Ralph Lauren red gown.
Here are some pics.
Jay Z gives a shout out to Lupita
Jay Z gives a shout out to Lupita in the latest track #WeMadeIt on which he collaborated with Jay Electronica.
"I’m on my Lupita Nyong’o/
Stuntin’ on stage after 12 Years a Slave/
This Ace of Spades look like an Oscar." ...
See MoreStuntin’ on stage after 12 Years a Slave/
This Ace of Spades look like an Oscar." ...
teven Kariuki has my support -KIDERO
CORD has only one candidate in the Mathare parliamentary seat by-election. Steven Kariuki has my support together with the entire CORD fraternity.
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