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Tuesday, December 27, 2005

"He Could Not make Desisions"

It seems that when Kenyans elected President Kibaki in 2002, nobody bothered to study the man and understand him. It seems the President has never changed.

Former Kibwezi MP Agnes Ndetei who ran away to the US in 1999 when things got both politicially and personally (family scandals) hot, recently sneaked back into the country. In an interview with a local daily, she revealed a fascinating aspect of the President's character that is now common knowledge. Excerpt from The Daily Nation 26th December 2005.

Q -You were once President Kibaki's deputy in the Democratic Party before defecting to Kanu. Had you stuck with him, perhaps today you would be in Parliament and in his government. Any regrets?

Agnes Ndetei: I don't live a life of regrets. What I did in 1995 (defecting to Kanu) was the right thing. I wanted to build the DP to greater heights, alongside Mr Kibaki. But we had a problem. He could not make decisions. He didn't seem to respond to our proposals on recruitment. I was accused of having ambitions to topple him and so I was frustrated.
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Saturday, December 17, 2005

It Isn’t Over Until The Fat Lady Sings, Raila Tells Kibaki

When former Roads Minister Raila Odinga speaks, Kenyans listen.

He now says that Kenyans should enjopy their Christmas and then prepare for two things early in the new year;

1) A major political announcement
2) Early General Elections, sometimes next year

What must be worrying President Kibaki’s handlers is that this battle-hardened warrior who cut his teeth fighting the solid, unshakeable Kanu regime of Moi in the one-party days when it was illegal to do so, should really have no major problem with the blundering Kibaki government now full of inexperienced cabinet ministers.

So what is Raila up to?

It becomes even more difficult to figure out what the (Orange Democratic Movement’s) ODM’s are really upto because as Raila was speaking in Nyanza this week, his LDP secretary Genral was reading from a different script in Nairobi. Joseph Kamotho said that they would fight the government through parliament and if that failed they would wait for 2007.

Raila and former planning Minister Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o on the other hand said that although the law allowed for a vote of no confidence in parliament, ODM had not discussed that strategy.

Does this mean that the ODM has an inner circle that Kamotho is not a member of? This is quite likely.

So if they are not using parliament what is the other option? Most probably it could be civil unrest and generally making Kenya ungovernable. This can be quite effective at the moment with so many Kenyans jobless and frustrated.

Still with the vast Presidential powers still intact, chances are that the Kibaki administration will somehow limp along until 2007. However, gains made will be hard to sell to the electorate when the elections finally come in 2007 mainly because the administration is bound to be busy putting out bush fires for the rest of their term. Which is exactly what the Raila camp wants to happen.

The truth is that the economy has rebounded dramatically and a number of good things like the free primary education have happened. The political reality is that the Kibaki administration is growing more unpopular by the day with advisors who are too old and still living in the old political realities of the 70s. Worst of all the Muthaiga Club golf-playing close confidants of the President hardly have the market-selling skills required to sell the Kibaki administration’s achievements to the people.
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Thursday, December 15, 2005

Is Kibaki Normal?

Newspaper headlines are an excellent way to read the public mood.

A tabloid-like weekly newspaper, The Weekly Citizen” splashed an interesting headline this week that is selling like hot cakes.

The headline;

"Is Kibaki Normal?"

Just goes to show you what’s on the minds of the wananchi.

Today’s email comment from our Nairobi political correspondent;


“According to Billow Kerrow (KANU shadow finance minister) the government will need 5 billion to cater for the new ministries created to appease Ngilu & Kombo.

I now agree with the Weekly Citizen headline: Is Kibaki normal?

Vendors are telling me:"… imeuza sana!"
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Saturday, December 10, 2005

Has Mutahi Kagwe Replaced Murungaru As The Man Closest To The President’s Ear?

The relatively inexperienced MP has achieved that enviable task of never serving as an assistant minister before being elevated to a full cabinet minister. (see earlier posts in this blog predicting his rise to the cabinet)

It is obvious that the President is making an effort to distance himself from his older “wazee” advisors who seem to have completely lost touch with the new realities of Kenyan politics. Kagwe found himself at the right place at the right time.

It was not lost on observers that after the swearing in ceremony at State House this week, the quotes that made the press were those of Chirau Mwakwere and Mutahi Kagwe who said the refusal to join the Cabinet by some MPs would not affect the Government.

Kagwe is quite intelligent and it must help that he is the son-in-law to powerful minister Michuki, but the crisis facing the Kibaki administration will be quite a challenge for him and the new cabinet his inexperience not withstanding.

Who Will Be The Next President Of Kenya?

…will it be the next “…. Tosha” from Raila?

They say that every President in the world passes through a major crisis after which history decides how his legacy will be judged. For the youthful John F. Kennedy it was the Cuban missile crisis.

But for President Kibaki, what will they say the crisis was about?

Referendum crisis, or perhaps Ministers-refusing-appointments crisis.

As the Kibaki crisis unfolds the thoughts on many Kenyan minds is who the next occupant of State House will be. A little pre-mature perhaps, but apparently according to ODM insiders, the ODM is an unstoppable express train. Destination, State House.

More details to follow in this blog.

The Untouchables of Kenya

...So That’s What Raila Meant By Political Tsunami

Kenya has a new breed of hero politicians who can do no wrong in the eyes of the public. No writer who wants Kenyan readers can dare say something evil about this new breed of untouchables. Never mind that just a few short months some of the characters now in the political grouping of the hour -- ODM (Orange Democratic Movement) were on the top of the public hate-list serving the last hours of Moi’s Kanu government. How political fortunes change. Who would have ever imagined that William Ruto and Gideon Moi would be the darling of the people barely 3 years into the Narc administration? Had those two gentlemen marched into Uhuru Park during President’s Kibaki’s wearing in ceremony as President, they would not have come out alive. Now at the same venue where his father was abused, booed, hurled mud at, the people cannot hear enough of what Gideon Moi has to say. “Na Mkai hivyo, hivyo.” Remain like that, Gideon quipped echoing his father’s favourite phrase and the crowd went wild with laughter and joy.

So Raila has proved yet again that he is a kingmaker. He always seems to be one step ahead of the banana team now scrambling about in State House begging people to accept cabinet positions. (What a laugh).

And this is what Raila meant when he said a couple of months ago that there was a political Tsunami coming to Kenya. Close aides of the President dismissed his remarks. Now I wonder what they have to say for themselves.

I am told that I am wrong. I am told that this Tsunami will lead to a snap poll, early next year and that the ODM will come to power.

Oh and about the Presidential candidate for ODM, I am told they already have a line-up. Details will follow.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Can the Kibaki Administration Survive Until 2007?

Most Nairobians Don't Think So

Listening to Kenyans talking it would seem that the end of the Kibaki administration has come...

What Nairobians are Saying;

Comments received via email (excerpts) …..

"Kibaki has goofed yet again. He announces his cabinet at 8pm and by 10pm 8 asst. ministers have rejected the appointments. Of course Orange has been shut out as expected. Let us see if the Banana govt. will deliver."


"As for the cabinet, I pity Mwai. Anyone in Orange who joins the govt. should know they have dug their political grave. It is as simple as that. People are tired brother -- they know Kibaki is the last person who can lead us to the Promised Land.
We are now waiting to send Kibaki back home now. As predicted earlier, he will not make it to 2007. We are in a whole mess."

Can the Kibaki administration survive?

With the current constitution we see no reason why it should not.

The 3 cabinet ministers will be replaced and life will continue. Things may be a little difficult in parliament but mastering the numbers required for a vote of no-confidence is highly unlikely at this time. Those who will accept appointments will be enough to help defeat any such intentions (we seem to be back to the Moi tactics of survival). Then there is the long period between now and the time parliament meets again – probably in early March. Emotions will have cooled by then and reality will have set in. MPs have not paid off their loans and frankly nobody wants an election now.

But assuming that the Orange team were so eager to get Kibaki out of State House and that they managed to get a vote of no confidence passed in parliament. Immediately after there would be a huge problem in the Orange camp because of a simple question; Who would be the ODM's presidential candidate? Uhuru Kenyatta? Kalonzo Musyoka? Raila Odinga? Musalia Mudavadi? etc. etc.

Still it looks like it’s going to be a very difficult two years for the Kibaki administration until the next general elections slated for 2007.

3 Cabinet Ministers, 17 Assistant Ministers, Decline Appointments

So far 3 Cabinet Ministers and 17 Assistant Ministers Have declined to take up their appointments

The ministers are Charity Ngilu (Health), Musikari Kombo (Local Government) and Orwa Ojodeh (Environment and Natural Resources).

Assistant Ministers
Joseph Nkaissery, Samuel Moroto, David Sudi, Peter Odoyo, William Boit, David Were, Mwangi Kiunjuri, Paul Sang, Zaddock Syongo, Soita Shitanda, Paul Sang, Noah Wekesa, John Munyes, Moses Wetangula, Joseph Nyaga, Stephen Ole Ntutu and Kivutha Kibwana.

Mutahi Kagwe Joins Cabinet As Smoke Bellows From State House

As earlier predicted in this blog, Mutahi Kagwe joins the cabinet as Minister for Communications. Even as tensions mount with at least 3 ministers and 11 assistant ministers rejecting their appointments as per our last count. (details will be contained in a later post).

It will be interesting to see how the inexperienced ministers cut their teeth at a time when the President needs all the experience he can muster at cabinet level to weather political storms from the Orange Movement.

Some Kenyans on the ground are now saying that a snap election is surely unavoidable bearing in mind the latest developments.

Kibaki’s new cabinet

Moody Awori — Vice-President
Born in 1927 and first elected MP in 1983.

Kiraitu Murungi — Energy

Morris Dzoro — Tourism

Mukhisa Kituyi – Trade

John Michuki — Minister of State - Provincial Administration & National Security

Chirau Ali Mwakwere – Transport

Charity Ngilu – Health

Joseph Munyao – Livestock

Raphael Tuju – Foreign Affairs

Kipruto Kirwa – Agriculture

David Mwiraria — Finance

Martha Karua – Justice & Constitutional Affairs

George Saitoti – Education

Njenga Karume – Minister of State Special Projects

Amos Kimunya – Lands

Njeru Ndwiga – Co-operatives

Moses Akaranga – Public Service

Maina Kamanda – Sports & Gender

Mutua Katuku – Water

Mutahi Kagwe – Communications

Henry Obwocha – Planning

Dr Mohammed Kuti – Minister of State, Youth Affairs

Amos Wako – Attorney General

Newton Kulundu – Labour

John Kipsang Koech – East African Community

Orwa Ojodeh – Environment

Simeon Nyachae – Roads

Mohamud Abdi – Regional Development

Musikari Kombo – Local Government

Gideon Konchellah – Immigration

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Who Is Mutahi Kagwe? Will He Join The Cabinet?

Former newspaper marketing executive turned-entrepreneur, Mutahi Kagwe has been very busy over the last fortnight running errands for President Kibaki. Mostly sensitive negotiation tasks. Kagwe is the NAK MP for Mukurweini (neighboring President’s Kibaki Othaya constituency).

Look out for that name. Chances are high it will be one of the new ones in the new cabinet (most probably to replace Chris Murungaru).

Kagwe’s most interesting meeting was with opposition leader Uhuru Kenyatta at a Nairobi hotel. The meeting lasted almost 5 hours and ended shortly before midnight on Monday. It is unlikely that Kagwe was asking Kenyatta to join the Kibaki cabinet. Most probably the Kibaki team are interested in one of the KANU MPs from Rift Valley joining the cabinet. Most likely somebody like William Ruto.

The next few days should be fascinating…

Kibaki Cabinet Announcement Delayed As MP Rejects Cabinet Post

President Kibaki has missed the deadline he set for himself in announcing the new cabinet. It is widely believed that a cabinet minister from Kanu whom former President Moi himself had promised to deliver to Kibaki has rejected his appointment to the cabinet. That MP is believed to be the Kanu MP for Tinderet Henry Kosgey.

The new cabinet is expected to be announced in the next few hours.

This is further evidence that MPs are already thinking very hard about 2007 and their re-election bids then. And not Kenyans welfare and problems at the moment.

Kosgey seems to have bowed to the mounting pressure from Rift Valley against the Kibaki government.

MPs seem to have forgotten that a day is a long time in politics and 2007 is a long, long, long way off.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

The Terrible Truth About The Referendum

Now that the so-called referendum is over and temperatures have died down an anlaysis of the real situation – what everybody missed is in order.

Some spectacular sums of money were spent by both sides on the referendum. Where did the money come from? Nobody seems to be asking and yet this is so important that it is even more important than the referendum itself.

Why? Because sources of money reveal a lot and the source of huge sums of money that went to fund these campaigns will shock Kenyans.

The truth is that we Kenyans were used as mere pawns by politicians who had their own agenda. Mostly they were all thinking about 2007.

The reason why the orange campaign was so well funded was because of the following;

The proposed constitution was going to force investigations into past human rights abuses and political assassinations. In short all that grabbed land that has made some well know families so rich and all those people who died when they dared to try and say anything.

Have you asked yourself why the Orange team had such strong Kanu backing. Really, don’t buy what politicians say. Just ask yourself that question.

Again ask yourself the question who really rules Kenya? Why did Kibaki meet Moi. Forget the official reasons given.

Keep monitoring this blog over the next few days as we reveal to you the terrible truth. The truth which many Kenyans cannot handle.

Saturday, December 03, 2005

Kibaki's New Cabinet?

This email has been circulating over the last couple of days amongst Kenyans worldwide and it is claimed that it is a leaked cabinet line-up. List looks very convincing, but let's wait and see shall we?



Kibaki's Cabinet: Full List
>


> 1-Ministers Of State
>
> Minister of State for Public Service- Hon. Joseph Nkaisserry
>
> · Assistant Minister-Hon. Robinson Githae
>
>
>
> 2-Minister of State for Provincial Administration and National
> Security - Hon. Dr. Newton Kulundu
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Peter Keneth
>
>
>
> 3-Minister of State for Immigration and Registration of Persons - Hon.
> Eric Nyamunga
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Gideon Konchella
>
>
>
> 4-Office of the Vice President and Ministry of Home Affairs Vice
> President
> - Hon. Moody Awori
>
> · Assistant Minister - Hon. Mirugi Kariuki
>
>
>
> 5-Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Development - Hon.
> Kipruto Kirwa
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Soita Shitanda
>
>
>
> 6-Ministry of East African and Regional Cooperation - Hon. Morris
> Dzoro
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Moses Akaranga
>
>
>
> 7-Ministry of Education, Science and Technology - Hon. Prof. George
> Saitoti
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Beth Mugo
>
>
>
> 8-Ministry of Energy - Hon. Joseph Munyao
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Annaniah Mwaboza
>
>
>
> 9-Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources - Hon. Wangari Maathai
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Joseph Kingi
>
>
>
> 10-Ministry of Finance, Planning and National Development - Hon.
> Simeon Nyachae
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Kilemi Mwiria
>
>
>
> 11-Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Hon. Raphael Tuju
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Henry Obwocha
>
>
>
> 12-Ministry of Sports, Culture and Social Services - Hon John Munyes
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Mwangi Kiunjuri
>
>
>
> 13-Ministry of Health - Hon. Dr.Wilfred Machage
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Ahmed Khalif,
>
>
>
> 14-Ministry of Information and Communication - Hon. Kipkorir Sang
>
> · Assistant Minister-Hon. Suleiman Shakombo
>
>
>
> 15-Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs - Hon. Martha Karua
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Moses Wetangula
>
>
>
> 16-Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development - Hon. Musikari
> Kombo
>
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Dr. Mohammed Kuti
>
>
>
> 17-Ministry of Lands and Housing - Hon. Prof. Kivutha Kibwana
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Kirugi M'Mukindia
>
>
>
> 18-Ministry of Co-operative Development and Marketing - Hon. Peter
> Odoyo
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Stephen Tarus
>
>
>
> 19-Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development Authorities -
> Hon. Danson Mungatana
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. George Khaniri
>
>
>
> 20-Ministry of Roads and Public Works - Hon. Charity Ngilu
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Petkay Miriti
>
>
>
> 21-Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife - Hon. Chirau Mwakwere
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Asman Kamama
>
>
>
> 22-Ministry of Trade and Industry - Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi,
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Zadock Syongo
>
>
>
> 23-Ministry of Transport - Hon. John Michuki
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. John Katuku
>
>
>
> 24-Ministry of Water - Hon. Joshua Toro
>
> · Assistant Minister- Hon. Andrew Ligale
>
>
> MISSING IN ACTION

LDP / ODM LUMINARIES

Raila Amollo Odinga
Najib Balala
Achillo Ayacko
Lina Jebii Kilimo
William Ole Ntimama
Prof. Anyang Nyong'o
Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka


BANANA CAMP LUMINARIES

Kiraitu Murungi
Dr. Chris Ndarathi Murungaru
John Koech
Amos Kimunya
Njeru Ndwiga