Friday, December 31, 2010

The cutting edge


By THE WATCHMAN Posted Thursday, December 30 2010 at 19:45

FORGETFUL IDPs. As ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo pursues the six high-profile suspects he has fingered over the post-2007 mayhem, Maxwell Ongeta is amused to note that some of the victims, still living in squalid camps, are supporting some of those named. “What has happened to these people who have suffered so much? Shouldn’t they be thanking Ocampo for his relentless pursuit of the suspects? How fast they have forgotten their own suffering!”
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ARREST THE MIX! Following the MPs’ passing on December 22 of the motion calling for Kenya’s withdrawal from the ICC, prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo should now issue arrest warrants for the suspects to show these people who the boss is, says Moses Njuguna. “That was, indeed, a sad day for Kenya. But the cheeky motion by Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto has also shown to what extent these MPs will go to protect their own. For her lone dissenting voice, legislator Martha Karua has secured my vote when she runs for presidency.”
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HELP THIS LADY. A Kajiado resident who hopes to do some good business with Safaricom starting early in the new year would like to know from the company just how long it takes for one to apply and become an M-Pesa agent. She says she has done a survey in her neighbourhood and is satisfied there’s a great need for this vital money transfer service. However, she has tried unsuccessfully to get registered, as the company’s regional representative has not been of much help. Her contact is Tel 0727564719.
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I NEED MY MONEY! Despite Pensions Department public relations officer Michael J. Obonyo’s firm assurance last September that his dues were being processed and would be paid within three weeks, nothing has happened, says retiree John Ochola Mollo of P.O. Box 970, Siaya. With schools reopening in January, John, who has no other source of income, is worried that he will be unable to pay fees and his children will have to stay home while their colleagues are learning. “What do I do?” he poses.
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...AND SO DO I. Could the National Social Security Fund urgently look into the plight of wheelchair-ridden Amos Njenga Kamau, who lodged his claim at their Naivasha office about two years ago and has received nothing to date? “I’ve been confined to the wheelchair due to a back problem, but I’ve been forced to make numerous visits to both the Naivasha office and the NSSF headquarters in Nairobi. However, my efforts have not yielded anything. I am desperately in need of this money.” His membership number is 221220410.
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ROAD ABHORRENT. The dilapidated Flyover-Njabini road has become an impediment to public transport and also to the growth of rural business, says Paul Gachomba writing from South Kinangop. He says the coalition government, which has done a pretty good job of work of rehabilitating old roads and building new ones in various parts of the country, should go to the rescue of the South Kinangop farmers “whose perishable goods can’t reach the market in time” due to the deplorable state of the 25-kilometre stretch.
Have a smooth day, won’t you!
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Bruno paws Mariga to Serie A

By GILBERT WANDERA
Malindi Academy's Charles Bruno is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Kenyan international and Inter-Milan mid-fielder Macdonald Mariga by landing a club in the Italian Serie ‘A’.
Bruno 19, one of the youngsters called up by coach Zedekiah Otieno for next week’s Nile Basin tournament in Egypt believes he is not far off from joining Mariga in Italy.
Already the player has attended trials with two of Italy’s top clubs Genoa and AC Milan and he hopes to be drafted in the latter’s junior Academy from where he can fight for a place in the main team. "I feel like one door is already open and I’m waiting for a second one to open as well," he said.
Bruno trained with both clubs during one week trials he attended this year and he says Milan were really impressed with him and is awaiting to clear with documentation before he joins their Academy.
MARIGA INSPIRATION
"I was inspired by Mariga. His success in Italy has opened the doors for many Kenyan players because the clubs in Serie ‘A’ can take note when we tell them our nationality," he said.
Mariga became the first Kenyan to play in the Serie ‘A’ when he joined Parma four years ago. He made a major move joining Inter-Milan this year as the club went on to win the European Champions league trophy.
PROVE MYSELF
Bruno is delighted to have been called up to the national team and promised to fight for a place in the starting line-up during the Nile Basin tournament, which kicks off next week in Cairo.
"I’m very delighted that I have been given this chance and now it is up to me to prove myself. It is a good year for me because I also had a chance to play in the youth team," he said.
Bruno has praise for Malindi Academy and his Italian coach Riccardo Botta whom he says did everything to prepare him for the high profile trials.
"By the time I went to Italy I was ready and prepared. It was not difficult to give my best and I’m glad that something positive will come out of it," he said. Bruno is a former student at Thurgem Seconday School. He was previously with Liberty Academy and Homeboyz Olympic.
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Raila cannot be a neutral mediator

The appointment of Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a mediator in the Ivory Coast crisis is a wrong choice by the African Union.
This is because there will be no neutrality in the mediation process since Raila has publicly declared that incumbent President Laurent Gbagbo should be forcefully removed from office, even if it is through military force.
{Geoffrey Kangogo, Eldoret}
Kudos to Raila on his appointment as mediator to resolve the standoff between Mr Gbagbo and the man widely acknowledged to have won the Ivory Coast election, Alassane Ouattara.
However, last week, Raila said that Gbagbo should be forced out of office. He said Africa should not look at power sharing as a solution to electoral woes because this would only lead to incumbents clinging to power even after being defeated.
We agree with Raila but he, too, is a recipient of power sharing and we wonder how he will convince Gbagbo to step down. Can he walk the talk and ensure that Gbagbo hands over power?
{David Motari, Nairobi}
The decision by the AU to declare Raila Odinga as its chief mediator in Cote d’Ivoire is misinformed.
Since the PM is on record advocating for the use of force as one way of ousting the incumbent from power, how can he now talk about peace? Raila has also gone further and accepted Mr Ouattara as the winner of the contested election results. There are several other reasons why Raila is unfit to be a mediator in such crisis.
First, he has no track record of advocating for peaceful, amicable reconciliation. Everyone knows the role he played after the 2007 General Election. His party called for mass action, which led to a lot of deaths and displacement of people culminating into today’s IDPs.
Second, in 2002, Raila then a key luminary in the National Rainbow Coalition threatened civil disobedience if former President Moi showed signs of not vacating State House.
Raila has little traces of diplomacy in his talk and political manoeuvres; he is a politician who is focused more on the end than the means to achieving that end.
{Innocent Kimanthi, Masii}
I heard that our Right Honourable Prime Minister has been selected as a mediator in the Ivory Coast crisis.
How on earth can he be a mediator in a matter where he has already reached a verdict that Gbagbo lost the election and should be forcefully removed from office?
I hope that AU Commission Chief Jean Ping meant that Raila had been selected to go and do what he likes doing best, that is, to monitor, oversee and co-ordinate efforts to restore peace to the Cote d’Ivoire.
{Justin Osey, Mombasa}
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PM must stand up for IvoriansKudos to Raila for his appointment to spearhead efforts towards a peaceful resolution of the Cote d’Ivoire presidential stalemate.
This added responsibility symbolises the respect Raila and Kenya have earned over the years. However, it will be incumbent upon the PM to keep his eye on the ball and stand up for the popular will of the people of Ivory Coast as democracy demands.
{Timothy Bolo, Nairobi}
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Gema MPs guilty of abandoning their ownJohn Trapp must have had in mind central Kenya MPs when he said that unity without verity is no better than conspiracy.
Nothing illustrates this better than their inaction to the perpetual violence that occurred every five years in the Rift Valley from 1992.
During these politically-charged campaign periods, many Kenyans lost their livelihood while others were killed in tribal cleansing, the epitome of which was in 2007.
To present, thousands of IDPs have not found balance in their lives and continue to live in horrid conditions in camps.
As campaigns for political seats heat up, especially the presidential race, politicians from Mt Kenya region prevail upon their kin outside the province to vote for them.
This is one source of conflict between those in the Diaspora and the indigenous communities in their areas of migration. But after the elections, central Kenya politicians normally forget about these peasants who undergo humiliation and untold suffering.
Hypocritical
Thus, it is hypocritical for these leaders to insinuate that the community will raise funds for one of their own who has been named by the ICC, as this individual is not poor by any means.
These politicians have not in the past considered to rally their community to raise funds for tribesmen who are uprooted from their homes or those that are killed every election year.
Those leading calls for a "community fundraising" have never contributed food to internally displaced Kenyans stuck in camps. Some have large tracts of land, which they could donate to the displaced individuals but they have never seen the need.
A good starting point for such a fundraiser should be by donating land for the resettlement of IDPs because this is not only a priority, but a human rights issue.
As Aesops said, let the rallying call for the community not be during critical moments when the powerful need the weakest, but all the time. United we stand, divided we fall.
{Charles Waigwa, Nairobi}
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No funding for Ocampo SixIt is irresponsible for MPs to ask Kenyans to contribute towards the legal fees for suspects of post-election violence.
One wishes leaders would channel such energies in supporting the less fortunate or even IDPs, who have suffered immensely.
{Christopher Khamasi, Eldoret}
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Racial prejudice at a Malindi hotelIt is disgusting and disheartening that even after celebrating 47 years of Independence barely two weeks ago, some hotels at the Coast still practice racial discrimination.
I had only read about prejudice based on one’s colour in history books before coming face to face with it on Boxing Day when my friends and I visited a leading beach hotel in Malindi.
I don’t know whether it was because of the hordes of tourists present but the waiters were extremely rude to us to the extent of refusing to take our orders.
It was appalling to see the same waiters falling over themselves to serve the wazungus who were walking into the hotel. To the hotel staff — their supervisor included — we were nothing more than paupers.
{Daniel Psirmoi, via e-mail}
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Feedback
Armed youth keep vigil to prevent resettlement of IDPsA hitherto peaceful country is now resettling its people using force. IDPs who were violently ejected from their homes will now be resettled forcefully. Why?
{Hezbon Odiero}
It is sad that some communities have been led to believe that they have more rights to land than others. And with the new Constitution, who are these ‘outsiders’?
{William Gitonga}
All this time why had they not attacked the previous landowners to reclaim ‘their land’?
{Eric}
It is time the Government took action against leaders inciting the youth otherwise there will never be peace.
{Patrick}
What youth? Those are old men inciting young men to cause trouble.
{Ken Kabau}
What happened to the land where our unfortunate brothers and sisters came from? Or were they landless before being uprooted? So, is this exercise a resettlement or relocation?
{Mugah George}
When will the youth refuse to be used to incite violence? When will they change and end the impunity?
{Mwendwa Chelsea}
This matter should be taken seriously. The Government should look for alternative land and help save lives and livelihoods. At the moment, there is no consensus and the locals view the IDPs as invaders.
{Kipchumba Thomas}
Why settle IDPs on a piece of land that is bound to bring conflict rather than peace?
{David Gichana}
We have two issues here. First, what is causing the standoff and second, what happened to the land the IDPs occupied before 2008?
{Maurice Muendo}
The Government should flex its muscles and do what it takes to resettle those IDPs. After all, they are not Ugandans.
{James Mwaura}
The Government should not use force. It is best to solve the matter amicably.
{Salome Mueni}
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Palaver: 30/12/10

Published on 29/12/2010
Dear Mediator Raila Odinga, now that you have donned a Kofi Annan hat and packed your bags for Didier Drogba’s village in Abidjan, can you make a quick detour of Jos, a city between Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north and largely Christian south. There have been deadly clashes between Muslim and Christian youths in 2001, 2008 and last week, leaving scores dead and hundreds injured. A joint news conference of Muslim and Christian leaders accuses politicians of fanning the chaos by using religion to whip up trouble in Jos. Please bring the politicians there to speed on Kenya’s experience. And if need be, threaten to deposit a sealed envelope with Luis Moreno-Ocampo. Bon voyage.
　
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So, crooning Sir Elton John, 62, the pianist and his civil partner David Furnish, 48, became parents to baby Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John on Christmas Day? The Press Association says John and David are "overwhelmed with happiness and joy". Now, US VP Joe Biden mumbled something last week to the effect that same-sex marriages are ‘inevitable’, Palaver reader James K suggests that it is, perhaps, time Kenya ended her "special relationship" with the US and blame it on the WikiLeaks cables and Ambassador Michael Ranneberger’s undiplomatic conduct.
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Americans and Europeans are so furious for having listened to former veep Al Gore when he promised them a brave new world without winter. How then can thousands of travellers be stranded, airports snowed-in, roads frozen stiff, torrential rain washing Los Angeles and Kenyan flowers cannot get to European markets? Where is that global warming he promised and even got a Nobel Prize for the trouble? We, the citizens of the world, tunaomba serikali to charge him with committing the crime of lying against humanity.
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And finally...
This is your column and needs faces of movers, shakers and shapers of society for sustenance. So, it is with great concern that Palaver asks for the whereabouts of: Cyrus Jirongo of the elusive Luhya fame, former joint Government Chief Whip George Thuo, former Public Works Assistant minister Dick Wathika, former Starehe MP of the famous ‘Merabon’ athletics Maina Kamanda, our very own Ambassador Number One Moses Wetang’ula, and latter-day King Solomon Samuel Kivuitu. Say something folks.
Palaver@standardmedia co.ke
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Raila, Kalonzo send condolences to Kirima family

By Mutinda mwanzia
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka have sent condolence messages to the family of the late prominent businessman and former assistant minister Gerishon Kirima.
Kirima, 88, died while undergoing treatment at a South African hospital on Tuesday.
Said Raila: "Mr Kirima was an astute politician and businessman. For long, he was the face of Nairobi politics. He manoeuvred both politics and business at a time when the going was tough and the rules unclear on both the business and political fronts."
Raila said he remembered Kirima as a man who loved people. "He loved his family. He loved Starehe and our country. Today, our city bears a lot of his marks, a testimony to the work he did for Starehe Constituents."
"I wish the family peace and solidarity at this moment of grief and blessings in the New Year. I also wish to assure the family that I share their grief and I stand in solidarity with them," he said.
Kalonzo, who is on official visit in Egypt, said he was deeply saddened by the death of Kirima.
Businessman
He said Kirima would be remembered as an astute pioneer businessman in real estate business at a time when few Africans were keen on the sector, thus contributing immensely to its growth and the general economic development of the country.
"He was also a gifted leader whose down-to-earth demeanour saw him succeed in the country’s politics, to rise from a councillor to a deputy mayor of Nairobi city, MP and an assistant minister," said Kalonzo.
He described the late Kirima as a God-fearing leader, who supported and participated in church activities particularly in the Ziwani African Inland Church, Nairobi, where he served for long as a church elder.
"Those of us who worked with him closely during the erstwhile Kanu days will miss his infectious political wisdom and sense of patriotism where he always stood firmly for the unity, prosperity and stability of his motherland," he added.
Naivasha MP John Mututho also condoled the family of Kirima, whom he described as an industrious and humble leader.
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Sang’ threatened me over his woes, activist claims

By VINCENT BARTOO
A human rights activist has recorded a statement with the police, claiming a post-election violence suspect threatened him.
Ken Wafula of the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy claimed Kass FM’s Joshua Sang’ blamed him for his naming by the International Criminal Court as a suspect.
Speaking to journalists at the Eldoret Police Station, Wafula said Sang’ threatened him on Tuesday.
Unspecified action
"We bumped into each other at Oginga Odinga Street (Eldoret) and he accused me of being behind his woes," he said. Wafula claimed the presenter warned him of unspecified action.
"He told me I would not step on this soil once he returns from The Hague," he said.
Yesterday, the activist was to record another statement with the Criminal Investigation Department.
But Sang’ denied the claims and told The Standard Wafula had provoked him.
"I was minding my business when he walked to me and asked lene emet? (Kalenjin for what is the world saying?), which showed he was provoking me," he said.
Lene emet is the name of Sang’s morning show on Kass FM.
ICC Prosecutor Louis Moreno-Ocampo has accused Sang’ of using radio to fan violence.
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Raila will remain axle of political wheel

KIPKOECH TANUI
Tonight we jump over to 2011, the penultimate year to 2012 when history will hand us the burden of picking our Fourth President.
Like you, I am also wondering who shall take over from President Kibaki. But because of a set of factors, and given the transient and volatile nature of politics and the predictable disorder of alliance building, it may be too early to gauge whom it may be.
There is of course the inconvenience Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo has caused to two leaders aspiring to put on Mr Kibaki’s shoes: Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, the driver of the old vehicle Kibaki and his father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta first rode on into politics.
The other is Eldoret North MP William Samoei Ruto, who is also on Ocampo’s list, and feeds perception he is in the race primarily to teach his friend-turned-foe, Mr Raila Odinga, a lesson.
He also needs to avoid looking like his will be a ‘grudge Presidency’, first against the Kibaki system, which has ‘loaded’ him with many court cases, and primarily, the Raila political machine, which he seems to fear, could have consigned him to obscurity in ODM.
In all likelihood his 2012 rally car will be Registration No. UDM from where he will be the only bull in the kraal.
Word has it Uhuru got his name from Kibaki and even though the younger man ran against his father’s friend in 2002 and lost, in 2007, he was wide-eyed enough to realise his vehicle was too old and rickety to finish the race, and so, he switched over to the bandwagon with a new engine called Party of National Unity.
By walking the Independence party into the ruling coalition, in itself is an act of political incest, because Leaders of Official Opposition have a sacred duty of keeping the incumbent on his toes, Uhuru was rewarded handsomely after the elections, ending up in Cabinet with additional feather of Deputy Prime Minister.
Uhuru and Ruto represent the confluence of four common denominators. First, they are Ocampo’s ‘clients’ and could end up with indictments or emerge political martyrs. Second, despite a history of pushing for older politicians, today they represent the face of a ‘youth revolution’.
Queen’s English
On the crest of age they plan to land at State House. It is left to the imagination who would subordinate his ambitions and political interest to the other.
Thirdly, they are confident they have a command of their populous ethnic groups, which incidentally have been political rivals for ages.
Finally, they see Raila as a rival to crush with the shoe heel.
Uhuru was first to jump over the Orange fence into the PNU belly in 2007, and Ruto is merely in it as a technicality, not to lose his parliamentary seat and to get ODM’s share of Cabinet portfolios if and when his suspension is lifted. I do not know about Uhuru, but Ruto and his team believe Raila had a hand in crafting the Ocampo List.
There is also another lurking in their shadows — Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa. Apart from tender age (40-plus!) the other only card he seems to carry is his bloodline with former VP Wamalwa Kijana.
He, too, has a ‘grudge’ against Raila, who he sees as having frustrated the MoU between Kijana and Kibaki that would have seen the rotund commander of Queen’s English take over after 2002.
He looks like he is in politics, not just to claim his late brother’s shoe in Parliament, but also to continue the wars Kijana was fighting. In his skewed thinking, he believes Kibaki should actually hand over State House to him tomorrow because of who he is.
The other notable in the race is former Justice Minister Martha Karua, who probably as a PNU insider in 2007 knows a thing or two about how Kibaki stuffed the Electoral Commission with his political altar boys and flower girls to snatch a second term, and has decided to go for the prize herself.
She radiates the picture of an apprentice at a shop, who having understudied the dukawallah, grumbles about poor pay and working conditions, and moves across the street to open her own business.
The problem, however, is Karua was not quite kind in word to customers when she was at the dukawallah’s shop and they see her as haughty and arrogant.
She also has two known political enemies — Ruto and Raila. She probably is in the race for among other reasons to block them from ever ruling her.
What if?
There is also Mr Kalonzo Musyoka who when Raila gets an inch, believes he is entitled to two, because he is the saint of Kenya’s politics and innocent lamb circled by many political hyenas. Disregarding the conspiracy and opportunism that handed him Vice Presidency, he seemingly could toast to the high heavens, not so much if he wins, but if Raila loses!
Then finally, there is Raila, out to claim what he believes Kibaki cunningly and thievishly yanked from his mouth just when the party was about to start.
In 2012 just like in 2002 and 2007 he is going to be the axle on which Kenya’s rickety and noisy political wheel will keep turning. What is baffling is what object of hate and love shall Kenya be left with if he chooses not to or is unable to run in 2012.
I left out Prof George Saitoti because he does not look like he has convinced himself he can run, and Mr Musalia Mudavadi who first needs to consult Raila.
Regardless of who takes the cake, Happy New Year to all my readers.
The writer is the Managing Editor, Daily Editions, at The Standard. The opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of The Standard.
ktanui@standardmedia.co.ke
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Ruto: Don't write me off just yet

By VITALIS KIMUTAI
ODM Deputy Party Leader William Ruto has claimed some people in ODM party celebrated after International Criminal Court Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo named him and five others as suspected perpetrators of post-election violence.
The Eldoret North MP alleged his rivals had schemed to block him from the 2012 presidential race, but expressed confidence he would have his name cleared, as he was innocent.
"Some people are celebrating for the falsehood they gave to Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) and the Waki Commission linking me and others to post-poll violence. But they should be told that their celebrations will be short-lived," Ruto said.
Ruto further said: "Their schemes, falsehood and propaganda to fix me for mistakes I did not commit will fail as the truth will prevail at the end of the day."
Speaking during a meeting with 1,200 officials from 460 women groups in his constituency, Ruto said he was confident that he would be around in 2012 to contest the presidency.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Raila Odinga told a gathering of Kalenjin leaders who visited him in Kisumu that he could not betray the community after they voted for him in the last General Election.
"I am not a mad man or a donkey where people vote for me and then I kick them away," Raila said.
The PM claimed propaganda had been used in the Rift Valley against him and promised to tour the region to consolidate his support from early next year.
Favoured community
He said he favoured the Kalenjin in many ways, citing Cabinet appointments and creation of the position of deputy party leader for one of their own. He told the community not to fall into the traps of his enemies, who were now claiming he gave to the ICC the names of suspected masterminds of post-election violence.
Raila caused laughter when he said: "The Hague is not your mother’s house where you go in and walk out at will."
He added that cases already presented at the International Criminal Court could not be withdrawn.
But Ruto urged his supporters not to be distraught, saying the truth would prevail. "We are telling those who are celebrating that we will meet at the ballot box," said Ruto.
Eldoret South MP Peris Simam, Keiyo County Council Chairman Simon Chepseba and ODM North Rift co-ordinator Isaac Maiyo attended the function.
The former minister called for financial empowerment of women at the grassroots level.
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ICC DEBATE



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2011


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