Monday, September 27, 2010
Fresh row over PNU job as House reopens
By PETER LEFTIE pmutibo@ke.nationmedia.com AND EMEKA-MAYAKA GEKARA gmayaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, September 26 2010 at 22:00
In Summary
Politicians feud over post of joint government whip and membership to vital parliamentary law team
Ties between PNU alliance partners Kanu and ODM Kenya are set to be tested when Kenya's Parliament reopens on Tuesday.
A tussle is expected between the parties, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka centred around the replacement of former Juja MP George Thuo as joint Government Chief Whip.
Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama of ODM-K has been acting after Mr Thuo, a close ally of Mr Kenyatta, lost his seat in an election petition. Mr Thuo has since been defeated and the question now is whether Mr Muthama, who is close to Mr Musyoka, will be confirmed to the position.
There are some in ODM-K who would wish for Mr Muthama to be confirmed but Mr Kenyatta’s allies on Sunday said the position should remain in Kanu.
The contest is likely to test the political friendship between Mr Musyoka and Mr Kenyatta.
PNU’s government coalition partner and Orange Democratic Movement is also grappling with internal debates over appointments to a committee that will oversee the implementation of the new Constitution.
Already, there is disquiet that the instability in parties could affect the heavy legislative agenda ahead where MPs are expected to keep to a tight schedule in passing laws to bring the new Constitution into force.
After losing two by-elections last week, PNU’s leadership wrangles intensified with chairman George Saitoti and secretary general Kiraitu Murungi coming under pressure to resign.
ODM, which has had better internal discipline, is also experiencing internal frictions over alleged attempts to replace secretary general Anyang’ Nyong’o and executive director Janet Ong’era.
In the PNU’s Chief Whip debate, some politicians are lobbying for Ndaragua MP Jeremiah Kioni, another of Mr Kenyatta’s allies, to take over.
Assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri and MPs John Mututho (Naivasha) and Mithika Linturi ( Igembe South) acknowledged that there were contests about the position.
Said Mr Kiunjuri, the Water assistant minister: “There is a raging war over the position. We had reserved the seat for Mr Thuo but he did not make it back to Parliament. Now the decision on who should take the position must discussed by everybody.”
Mr Murungi clarified that Mr Muthama was appointed in an acting capacity and that PNU will meet to agree on Mr Thuo’s replacement.
“The PNU parliamentary group will meet and elect another whip. Anybody interested can contest,” he said.
Mr Linturi, a Kanu MP, said the post should remain within the former ruling party.
“If the agreement that the PNU coalition was founded upon is to be honoured, the seat should go to Kanu, that is why Thuo was appointed. Uhuru should stand firm and lay claim to the position,” he argued.
Both ODM and PNU are only now beginning to grapple with the nomination of members to the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on implementation of the new Constitution.
There are fears that disagreements within the parties over the committee’s membership could spill to the floor of the House, delaying the passage of crucial Bills.
Within PNU, there is no broadly accepted criteria for nominating representatives to the committee.
In ODM, a faction led by Higher Education minister William Ruto is likely to clash with supporters of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Joint Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo, an ODM member and an ally of Mr Odinga, warned yesterday in Gem that MPs who opposed the new Constitution during the referendum campaigns would be locked out of the committee in what is seen as a veiled reference to the Ruto camp.
Mr Murungi said MPs had started jostling for membership to the committee. “That is expected because this is a political process but there will be consultations.”
MPs from small parties are also seeking to join the committee.
“The process must be consultative and all-inclusive,” said Mr Manson Nyamweya of Ford People.
A joint ODM/PNU parliamentary group meeting chaired by President Kibaki and Mr Odinga last month unanimously picked Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohammed and his Budalang’i counterpart Ababu Namwamba as chair and vice-chair respectively. Political parties were left to nominate their own members.
Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo has published three Bills to implement the new Constitution and expects to table them in Parliament for debate as early as this week.
The three Bills are the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution Bill, 2010, the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill, 2010, and the Judicial Service Commission Bill 2010.
Various government ministries are also consulting on three other Bills required to implement the new laws before they are taken to the Cabinet for approval.
They are the National Police Service Bill, 2010, the Independent Police Oversight Authority Bill and the National Police Service Commission Bill, 2010.
Mr Kilonzo said last week that the Bills will play a crucial role in reforming the various government institutions.
Tone down hopes on law: VP
VPPS | DAILY NATION Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta at a service to mark 25 years since the death of former attorney-general Kitili Mwendwa in Matinyani, Kitui West on Sunday. In the centre is Mrs Nyiva Mwendwa, Mr Mwendwa’s widow.
By Kitavi Mutua kmutua@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, September 26 2010 at 22:00
In Summary
Kalonzo and Uhuru say the new laws are not a remedy for all the problems facing Kenya
Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday urged Kenyans to tone down expectations on the new Constitution.
The two said the new laws were not the ultimate remedy for all the country’s problems and a lot needed to be done to get them working.
“The new Constitution is not a panacea for all our problems. As Kenyans we need to moderate on our expectations since it will take time for the new set of laws to fully address all the problems that face us,” Mr Musyoka said.
The VP and Mr Kenyatta spoke during the 25th anniversary of the death of the first African Chief Justice Kitili Mwendwa at his Matinyani rural home in Kitui West constituency.
Mr Kenyatta criticised politicians who had already declared their interest in county leadership positions saying such leaders were angling to mishandle the proposed devolved funds.
“Instead of people engaging in early campaigns, they should first worry about how their counties will sustain themselves” he said.
He noted that the country faced serious financial and logistical challenges in implementing the Constitution but was optimistic that structures would be put in place to ensure smooth transition.
The VP remembered the former chief justice as a man of strong virtues and principles who was committed to justice delivery.
He described Mr Mwendwa as one of the most brilliant sons of this country.
The VP said that successful implementation of the Constitution would be the best way to honour Mr Mwendwa who stood for justice.
“Kitili was a man who was committed to his cause as the first African Chief Justice.
“As a close friend of the family I wonder what he would be today had he lived long,” said the Vice-President.
Mr Kenyatta assured the local community that the Government had signed an MoU with the Chinese Government for the building of the Kibwezi-Kitui-Mwingi-Usueni road that would open up the area economically.
Present were Heritage minister William ole Ntimama, Defence assistant minister David Musila, Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, former minister Joseph Munyao and Mrs Miriam Obote, the widow of former Ugandan president Dr Milton Obote.
Mrs Obote broke down in tears as she recounted how she fled her country after the Idi Amin coup and was later hosted by the Mwendwas in Nairobi.
“I consider myself as a member of the Mwendwa family, when we had no roof over our heads, Kitili and his family gave us shelter and we never lacked in anything,” said Mrs Obote.
Congo’s gift to Kenyan football
Bob Mugalia of Sofapaka in control against Gor Mahia during their Kenyan Premier League match. DR Congo-born Mugalia wants to play for Kenya. PHOTO / CORRESPONDENT
By Odindo Ayieko oayieko@yahoo.co.uk
Posted Sunday, September 26 2010 at 16:19
In Summary
Mugalia ready to cash in on dual citizenship and turn out for Harambee Stars
‘DRC are free to call me, but I will not be in a dilemma on whom to play for. Kenya is my first choice. I want to play with Oliech in the Kenya attack. I believe he is one of the best forwards in Africa’
His journey to Kenya was not an easy ride: he was not coming to play football but fleeing his war-ravaged homeland. He would today be among the hundreds of thousands of refugees at the Kakuma camp.
Thanks to the new Constitution, Bob Mugalia is on the verge of becoming a local hero if he sends Kenya to the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations final donning the Harambee Stars jersey.
The national coach, Jacob “Ghost” Mulee, has invited the Congolese refugee to join the team but he only lacks the required papers to do so.
“I have accepted the call. I am ready to play for Kenya. This is my home and I love this country,” the Sofapaka forward told Monday Sport.
“Once I get the papers, I will go straight to camp because I have already got the invitation,” he added.
Even if he got a call-up to the Democratic Republic of Congo team, Mugalia says his mind is made up about partnering Dennis Oliech for Kenya.
“Yes, they are free to call me, but I will not be in a dilemma on whom to play for. Kenya is my first choice. I want to play with Oliech in the Kenya attack. I believe he is one of the best forwards in Africa,” said Mugalia.
Mugalia says his decision to accept to play for Kenya is because the country gave him a home when he was in need of one.
“My country was at war; I had to save my life. People were slaying each other. I pleaded with a truck driver to take me out of DRC and he dropped me in Kenya, on Mombasa Road,” he recounts. He did not know anyone in Kenya.
“I was ready to live on the streets of Nairobi. I was better off scavenging here than back home where there was war,” he said.
“I was told about going to the United Nations Centre for Refugees (UNHCR) where I would be taken to a refugee camp but I shuddered to think of myself at a refugee camp, with all its hardships.”
Football was the last thing on Mugalia’s mind then. He just wanted a safe haven. He just wanted somewhere he could find food and shelter.
His Congolese accent did not help much: some people would not believe his story, thinking he was just another con artist.
“But one woman took time to listen to me. I was in the city centre, hungry and tired. She directed me to where I could meet Congolese and told me of a church frequented by Congolese.”
That is the information that was to change Mugalia’s life. Since then, he has never looked back.
At the Maos Church in Ngara where he ended up, Mugalia found a home – and a fulltime job at Sofapaka.
Mugalia will not be available for the game against Uganda on October 9 but his boss and father figure at Sofapaka, Elly Kalekwa, says he is ready to help him achieve his dream.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Narc-K party to seek presidency on its own
Posted Sunday, September 26 2010 at 16:37
Narc Kenya party will seek to capture the presidency on its own in the next General Election.
Chairperson Martha Karua said the party does not need a coalition partner to take over the government in 2012.
Ms Karua said the party’s victory in the Juja and Makadara parliamentary by-elections had demonstrated that Narc-K’s popularity was on the rise.
She was speaking on Sunday at Kirinyaga County offices in Kerugoya town, central Kenya, at a meeting convened to celebrate the passing of the new Constitution and to discuss development issues.
Declaring that she will be vying for the presidency when President Kibaki retires, Ms Karua exuded confidence that she will triumph.
“God willing I will sail through,” she told the gathering.
She questioned the methodology used in opinion polls to determine who will be elected to lead the country.
She dismissed opinion polls by as misguiding saying they were designed to campaign for a certain politician.
According to the latest poll by Synovate, Prime Minister Raila Odinga tops the list of preferred presidential candidates with 47 per cent, 37 points clear of his closest rival, Mr Kenyatta.
President Kibaki is preferred by 12 per cent of Kenyans, though he is not eligible to vie for the top seat in the next election.
Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka is preferred by eight per cent of voters, Higher Education Minister William Ruto (six per cent), Narc-Kenya chairperson Martha Karua (five per cent), Eugene Wamalwa (one per cent) and others (11 per cent).
On Sunday, Ms Karua told the audience in Kerugoya to ignore such polls saying the ballot will speak when time comes.
“I will defeat all those touted as frontrunner,” she said adding that she will go round the country asking for support from Kenyans.
Ms Karua, who is also the Gichugu Member of Parliament said she will not be discouraged by the polls which indicated that only five per cent of the voters would vote for her if elections were held.
Accompanied by former MPs, James Kibicho, Daniel Karaba and Alfred Nderitu, the party boss underscored the need to unite to create wealth in the county.
She advised civic leaders present to be wary of politicians whom she claimed were grooming professionals from Nairobi to share seats created by the new Constitution.
Ms Karua said as a leader she would not allow the seats to be shared in board room meetings by few people.
“Those interested in political positions should campaign like any other person at the right time instead of waiting to be given in a silver platter,” he said.
During the meeting, Mr Kibicho, who is a lawyer, announced that he would vie for the Governor post in the county.
Parliamentary caucus to present bills for implementation of new law
The Parliamentary Caucus for Reforms meeting in Naivasha has resolved to work together regardless of party affiliations to ensure that the implementation of the new Constitution is not hampered by a delay in bringing urgent Bills to the Parliament.
In a press release after a two day meeting in Naivasha, the chairman of the Caucus, Danson Mungatana said since there was need to bring to the house private members' bills to avoid delaying the implementation of the Constitution.
He said members of the Caucus working across all parties would bring one or two private members' bills to parliament when it reconvenes next week.
Mungatana said this was meant to expedite the implementation process and ensure parliament fulfills its rightful mandate in implementing the new constitution.
"We urge the House Business Committee to table the names of the members of the Oversight Committee on Implementation of the Constitution as soon as possible so that work on the implementation of the new Constitution can begin. We expect the names as early as next week," Mungatana said.
The Caucus is also working with the youth as a key stakeholder in developing private members' bills that would help realize the aspirations of Article 55 of the Constitution to the letter and spirit.
The Workshop which is meant to discuss the implementation of the new Constitution ends on Monday.
In a press release after a two day meeting in Naivasha, the chairman of the Caucus, Danson Mungatana said since there was need to bring to the house private members' bills to avoid delaying the implementation of the Constitution.
He said members of the Caucus working across all parties would bring one or two private members' bills to parliament when it reconvenes next week.
Mungatana said this was meant to expedite the implementation process and ensure parliament fulfills its rightful mandate in implementing the new constitution.
"We urge the House Business Committee to table the names of the members of the Oversight Committee on Implementation of the Constitution as soon as possible so that work on the implementation of the new Constitution can begin. We expect the names as early as next week," Mungatana said.
The Caucus is also working with the youth as a key stakeholder in developing private members' bills that would help realize the aspirations of Article 55 of the Constitution to the letter and spirit.
The Workshop which is meant to discuss the implementation of the new Constitution ends on Monday.
Makau wins Berlin Marathon
The adverse weather meant Makau, who has the season's world leading time over the 42km race (2:04.48), was never in a position to launch an assault on Haile Gebrselassie's world record of 2:03.59 set on the same course in 2008.
Nevertheless, Makau's time was the third fastest of the year in a field that did not feature Gebrselassie, who competed in last weekend's Great North Run in preparation for the New York Marathon on November 17.
The women's race was won by Ethiopian Aberu Kebede in 2:23.58 ahead of compatriot Bezunesh Bekele and Japan's Tomo Morimoto.
The 25-year-old Makau's world record charge petered out relatively early in the race.
After 20km, the bunch of favourites were already 20sec off Gebrselassie's time and Makau clocked 1:02.36 at the halfway point, 30sec adrift.
The second half of the race saw Makau, who won the Rotterdam marathon in April, focusing on ensuring the victory in a city where he had previously won two 25km races and two half-marathons.
"Berlin is my city," Makau said. "Each time I come here, I win. However, the weather conditions were really too tough to go for the record."
Results
Men
1. Patrick Makau (KEN) 2hr 05min 08sec, 2. Geoffrey Mutai (KEN) at 0.02sec, 3. Bazu Worku (ETH) 0.17, 4. Yemane Tsegay (KEN) 2.44, 5. Eliud Kiptanui (ETH) 2:57, 6. Bernard Kipyego (KEN) 3.42, 7. Tadese Abraham (ERI) 4.16, 8. Gilbert Yegon (KEN) 5.26, 9. Masakazu Fujiwara (JPN) 6.52, 10. Ser-Od bat-Otchir (MGL) 7.34
Women
1. Aberu Kebede (ETH) 2:23.58, 2. Bezunesh Bekele (ETH) at 1.00, 3. Tomo Morimoto (JPN) 2.12, 4. Sabrina Mockenhaupt (GER) 2.23, 5. Olena Burkovska (UKR) 4.33
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