Followers

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Blogger Says He Suspects Intelligence People Hacked Into His Site

First my sincere apologies to fellow blogger Bankelele. He was the one who originally blew the whistle on the Michuki Sunday Standard ad and should therefore get full credit for it. Please visit his blog and see the post here. There are some really interesting And instructive) comments on the page. One blogger reveals that he has already been targeted before and somebody even hacked into his site.

Kudos bankelele, you miss nothing and it is a pleasure to have you around.

Senator Obama: Why The Kenyan Government Will Never Figure Out What Hit Them

As I write this post government insiders are still trying to control the fall out and do the best they can at damage control, but it is clear the damage will be hard to control.

Senator Barack Obama seems to have been too “hot” even for the opposition ODM to handle, stealing the headlines and limelight. Not to mention getting the sort of rousing reception that probably no other Kenyan politician can manage at the moment right across the nation.

The visit to the country where his father was born and bred must have been a rather emotional experience for one of the most popular politicians in the American democratic party at the moment. A man whose name will just not go away in discussions about the 2008 presidential polls in that nation.

A point everybody seems to ignore is that whatever you want to call him, Obama has Kenyan blood flowing through his veins. And the Kenyan public seems to have sensed quite rightly that this is their son for whom they have a lot to be proud about. He holds the distinction of being the first American of African descent to win any election in the US. He is only the fifth African American to serve in Congress and the only one in Congress currently.

But what seems to have endeared this liberal politician most to ordinary Kenyans is his kind of politics, last seen on these shores practiced by another son of Kenya from Luo Nyanza, one Thomas Joseph Mboya. A man who never relied on Luo votes to win a single election (ironically most of the folks who voted for him were Kikuyu). The sort of populist politics that has also been seen in the likes of JM Kariuki. Something the country is badly crying out for.

Yesterday I published a tongue-in-the-cheek open letter to the American electrorate in this blog asking the American people to release the man to run for President of Kenya incase they do not consider him suitable for office in the US. On a more serious note, the political reaility is that if push came to shove, the Americans would never accept to do that and in all likelihood and despite several public denials, chances are very high that Senator Obama’s name will ultimately appear in the list of democratic presidential hopefuls for 2008.
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Kenyan Gives Deadly Gift To Lover.

Political Assassinations in Kenya Solved

Intelligence (NSIS) Investigating Kenyan Bloggers

Kenyan Government Attacks Senator Obama: Obama And The Kenyan Government Who Is The Immature One?

Predictably the Kenyan government hit back at Senator Obama.

Let the world know that the Kenyan people are not behind President Kibaki's government and the Senator is right on target and actually speaking the mind of the Kenyan people.

The senator rode a Matatu with ordinary Kenyans as recently as 1987 during a month's visit to the country. When was the last time most of the cabinet rode in a matatu with ordinary wananchi? When is the last time President Kibaki visited Kibera slums?

I felt that this comment in another blog accurately portays the exact situation here. You can read it in detail for yourself at the Booker Rising blog.

"My response: Sen. Obama is correct. But of course, African officials will remain willfully negligent of the obvious: corruption grips the continent, including in Kenya. Notice that Mutua went the ad hominem attack route, instead of addressing the substance of Sen. Obama's accusation. Perhaps Mutua should look at the bribes that foreign media had to pay to even get out of the airport in the country during Sen. Obama's visit (which the senator unsuccessfully tried to get refunded to the journalists). Or the months - even years - that it takes to even set up a business in Kenya, with bribes as a requirement. Such government irresponsibility is a key barrier to African advancement.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

US Senator BARACK OBAMA: A True Kenyan, This Guy

US Senator Barack Obama has turned out to be a true Kenyan. You should hear the guy speak.

This is not some American ignorant of the way of life in Kenya. This is a guy who traveled by train and the notorious matatus during an earlier visit in1987 that took a whole month. The senator slept on the couch at his sister’s house in some seedy Nairobi estate.

This guy can identify with Kenyans more than most, if not all of the greedy 222 hyenas seated in the August house.

And it would seem that the guy reads this blog religiously. He’s singled out corruption and tribalism as the two main enemies of the Kenyan people. Let me just stop my accolades there,somebody might start a rumor that I am getting paid…

Senator Barack Obama’s meeting with the president was cordial but you could sense the sparks flying.

The aging President (have you noticed how old the President looks these days? The pressures of the office seem to have taken their toll) spoke to Obama encouraging Americans to invest in the country. Senator Obama dwelt a lot on corruption and how big a hindrance it can be to any foreign investment. He even mentioned the fact that a camera crew accompanying him had been forced to pay a bribe to some customs officials to get their equipment through.

One thing that most of the Kenyan media has missed is the fact that the senator is a politician in office with a re-election bid at the very least or a possible stab at the American presidency in the horizon. Therefore he has to play to the gallery (meaning the American electorate). The senator’s African tour is being followed closely back in the States especially via the news crew following him around.

It is now very clear that American’s confidence in the Kibaki administration has fallen to an all-time low.

(See open letter from the Kenyan people to the American electorate.)

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Kenyan Man Gives Deadly Gift To Lover.

Understanding Political Assassinations in Kenya

Why Is The Kenyan Intelligence Investigating Kenyan Bloggers?

Open Letter To The American Electorate On The Presidential Race ‘08

This is a brief note to you guys who usually refuse us visas to come see your Osama-Bin-Laden-threatened country, especially when we want to visit our Obama.

You guys have something that belongs to us. It is called Senator Barack Obama. In African custom, a child belongs to the father.

We do not mind lending him to you, we have plenty where he came from. The only problem is that currently a few old and very corrupt hyenas have blocked the road to true reform and changes in our nation that will bring out the true Kenyans in us. Our Barack is a good sample. I can assure you guys it gets better.

The reason for writing this letter to you is to tell you guys to hurry up and make up your minds whether you want our Obama for your State House (opps White House) or not. We have heard that you guys can get pretty racist sometimes, worse than our tribalism here which we are fighting very hard (as soon as we send the old guys home, we will win this war easily) and Obama may not be suitable for you (although according to us he would make the best President since Abraham Lincoln.

Please inform us early so that we put him in our own State House, if possible in 2007. The guy has proved to many of us that he deserves to be our President.
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Kenyan Man Gives Deadly Gift To Lover.

Understanding Political Assassinations in Kenya

Did Somebody Register The Orange Democratic Movement For Financial Gain?

The ODM (a popular movement that emerged out of the November referendum on a new constitution) is being transformed into a political party, but there’s a snag. Somebody or some people rushed to the registrar of societies and quickly registered the name.

Their intentions seem to be clear now because ODM leading lights have announced that they are ready to enter into negotiations for the name. This comes shortly after the registered ODM warned that the unregistered ODM are not allowed to use oranges as their symbol.

It seems that some smart Kenyans saw a business opportunity and made and investment that is about to pay off big. My guess is that they must have heard about those guys who have been making a fortune online by registering domain names in anticipation of future demand and just transferred the idea offline.

This blogger however holds a different view about all this trouble Opposition politicians are going into to stick to the ODM name. This movement was linked to the referendum, which has nothing to do with the upcoming general elections. Surely politicians of all people should know that politics is a very fluid science where a week can be a long time, let alone a couple of months. It seems that the Orange guys have taken some advice from some hot shot marketing person that is best suited for a product. Using the same advice for a political party is very dodgy and I have a feeling that the ODM officials will one day regret taking the advice. For example what happens to the people who voted against the new constitution but will vote for President Kibaki (oranges who will vote banana). Or the huge number of banana supporters who voted for the new constitution because they had taken time to read it but will not vote for the Kibaki administration?

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Kenyan Man Gives Deadly Gift To Lover.

Understanding Political Assassinations in Kenya

Youngster Killed By Roadside While Seeking Cash To Help Feed Family

One of the sad things that has happened in Kenya over the years is that the prosperous middle class has virtually disappeared and today we have a totally different set up. We now have 3 classes, namely those who have absolutely nothing, those who have enough to get in debt and the filthy rich (with a big emphasis on the “filthy” because of the way they earned their money).

What is really dangerous is that the two more privileged classes of Kenyans know very little about how the lowest class of Kenyans live and have little interest in finding out. The less privileged Kenyans naturally make up for the vast majority.

There are a number of slums that have sprung up adjacent to Nairobi’s Industrial area the most prominent being the Mukuru series (Kwa Njenga and Kwa Nganga).

The way of life for these struggling Kenyans was highlighted last week when a standard four pupil, the son of a Ms Ann Kiboi met a horrific death from a freak accident that saw a heavy trailer tip over and crush him to death. At the time of the accident, the trailer, which was carrying Mineral water was turning into Enterprise Road. What irony because this is one product that the Kiboi family can never ever dream of affording. Yet clean drinking water is a very serious problem in the Mukuru slums.

The boy was out selling groundnuts and at the time of the accident was stationed at the junction of Enterprise Road and Mombasa Road.

Yet another young Kenyan life snuffed out. A young Standard four pupil has no reason being out there hustling for cash. But then the grim reality of life in the slums leaves them with few options. The sad truth is that the youngster is probably better off dead than alive. In his brief life, he lived with no running water or proper toilet facilities. No electricity for him to do his homework at the end of a long tiring day of going to school and then making his usual rounds selling groundnuts. Chances are that he felt hungry most of the times. The sort of dreary life that is extremely difficult to escape. Cynics and pessimists would argue that the youngster would have grown up to be an illicit brews addict or some criminal to be gunned down by police one typical Nairobi night. Mercifully, they would say, he died more honorably than he would have had he lived longer. A very cruel thing to say but you can see where they are coming from.

But then this blogger is optimistic that Kenyan voters will make a statement for a new beginning and change the direction of this country in 2007. So if you look at the whole thing more positively, it is sad that the youngster did not live long enough to at least have a fighting chance.

Poverty eradication is a commonly used word in policy statements by the government but very little is being done to address this issue. If anything more concerted efforts are being made to ensure that poverty increases for years to come. When a government promotes mega financial scandals like Anglo-leasing and Goldenberg, the massive amounts of cash involved that are released into the economy without any justification fan inflation. Guess who gets hurt the most.

In the early 1990s we saw poor Kenyans who had been saving for years having their savings wiped out virtually overnight when the Goldenberg cash flooded the market. All of a sudden Kshs 50,000 could no longer buy that posho mill that this poor Kenyan had been saving for years to purchase.

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Kenyan Man Gives Deadly Gift To Lover.

Understanding Political Assassinations in Kenya

Monday, August 28, 2006

NSIS Investigating Bloggers As Michuki Issues Warning To “Internet Blogger Forums”

Is The Snake About To Rattle Again? This Time Online?

This blogger has been suspecting it for months, but recent events have proved it beyond any doubt that the Kibaki government considers bloggers as a threat to the security of the state.

Strange calls on my mobile phone and long visits from “strange” Kenyan IP addresses are clear evidence that this blogger and probably many others are under the close watchful eye of the government and in particular the NSIS (National Security Intelligence Service).

There is really nothing new about this. There is a blogger in Iran whom the government of that country has been trying to shut down for months. But then that is one of the huge advantages of blogging and the information age. It is much more difficult to shut down dissenting voices.(Although China have has been partially successful; blocking certain sites and intimidating mighty Google.)

But it is clear that the warning given by Internal Security Minister of State John “Standard Raid” Michuki has shaken quite a number of bloggers. The Minister booked a full page advertisement in the East African Standard to warn all those who are reporting “sensationally and arrogantly on the country and the government to tone down.” Among the groups John "rattlesnake" Michuki singled out were bloggers (whom he referred to as "Internet Blogger Forums") who he said are carrying out hate campaigns against the current administration.

And you can’t really blame bloggers for being jittery. A man who sanctioned and supervised a raid on a major Kenyan newspaper using foreigners can not be taken lightly. This blogger is not ashamed to say that he has taken a number of security precautions.

This is a reality check for all those bloggers who have been writing politics for fun. The reality is that the Kibaki administration is no different from previous regimes in many ways. The issue of security of the state (over which so many Kenyans’ blood has been spilt at the whim of some power-drunk beauracrats and in the name of state security – see my detailed article on political assassinations in Kenya) is still very much with us and the machinary used is still very much intact. The President gets a regular briefing about the threats to his presidency (both real and imagined). Some bloggers appear to be quite frightened (see the comments at this post that blew the whistle).

In my opinion one does not write politics for fun in a young democracy like Kenya. I believe that you only write politics with a deep desire to bring about positive change. That desire should be so deep that you are prepared to pay the price. Obviously this is not the sort of profile that fits many of our honourable bloggers seated in safety behind PCs across the United States.

My dear officers from the NSIS I will endeavor to save you a lot of time and trouble and also to save tax payers money that is going into the elaborate high tech efforts being carried out to keep tabs on me. I will do that by answering some of the main questions your investigation on me is seeking to find out.

Q-Which foreign government is financing you?
A-Before I answer your questions, let me stress that I do not and can not tell a lie. As you may already be aware I am a very serious born again Christian and have been for the last 14 years. So every answer I give here is nothing but the truth and the almighty bears me witness.

In answer to your question, there is no foreign government supporting me and neither am I interested in any such support.

Q-How do you make a living?
A-I am an entrepreneur. I earn a living doing honest legal business.

Q-What are your intentions against the Kibaki government?
A-My intentions are not targetted at the Kibaki administration but are for the good of the Kenyan people. To help bring about genuine change in Kenya. Kenya belongs to me just as it belongs to you and millions of others who have lost all hope of ever making anything out of this life. Many of those Kenyans, like me voted for change in 2002 only to discover that we had been conned and the very same people whom we thought we had voted out are still in power today.

I intend to do everything in my power to ensure that I encourage and urge Kenyans to vote out the entire current MPs and bring in fresh faces for a new beginning. I also intend to support a serious somebody whom the Kenyan people can truly trust for the highest office in the land. Failing to get a suitable candidate, I am very serious about standing for that highest office in the land with a clear vision and agenda. I have no intention of enriching myself. I am comfortable with what I have and even if my circumstances were to change I would much rather live in a coruption-free country where it is easier to work my way out of any financial crisis using my God-given talents.

Q-You are a day-dreamer. If what you say about foreign support is true then you do not have any money or any hope of making any impact.
A-Money is precisely one of the main points I want to address and talk to Kenyans about. Anglo-leasing happened because the current administration needed “financing” to remain in power. By the way, how is Narc-Kenya fianancing its’ current activities sir?

All we see from leading Presidential candidates at the moment is a concerted effort to raise funds from abroad for their presidential bids. Meaning that if any of them were to be elected, we would be in a situation of waiting for another Anglo-leasing to happen because once in power, they will need more funds to stay there.

The Kenyan public is fed up and ready to join hands with persons who can promise genuine change. It is important that we as a nation realize that if we do not urgently implement changes in our country then it is inevitable that things will sooner or later get out of hand. There are too many hungry desperate Kenyans with little or no hope and therefore with nothing to lose.

Many Kenyans sense that 2007 will be the last chance. Electing Narc Kenya or ODM Kenya will just not cut it. We need a fresh start and there are milions of Kenyans eager for that genuine fresh start.

God bless the ordinary people of Kenya, God do the impossible (which is your trade mark) and bring about genuine change in Kenya, if not for our sakes then for the sakes of our children and grand children.

Why Tribalism Is So Ridiculous

The cost of DNA testing is falling and experts warn that the world may not be prepared for the consequences. A recent survey showed that a significant percentage of human beings walking this earth was not sired by the person they think they were.

Imagine the shock and trauma when you wake up one morning to discover that the sperm that created you did not come from the man you have always known as your father? DNA testing is conclusive and does not lie. Experts warn that some secrets are best left alone and un-pursued and what you do not know in many cases will not harm you.

However DNA testing may help bring many to their senses about an issue that is mostly ignored by many but just won't go away.

Picture this situation where this young Kikuyu lady grows up to be influenced negatively towards fellow Kenyans from the DhoLuo community. Unknown to her, her beloved mother had this wild fling one night with some smartly dressed, eloquent gentleman from the lake.

"These Luos are very stupid," she is fond of saying. Unknowingly she's actually insulting herself having been sired by a person from that community.

The terrible truth is that even your own respectable, trusted, perfect mother may not be entirely sure as to who your father is. So it is extremely dangerous to be abusive towards any other Kenyan community because chances are high that you could be insulting your own parentage and by extension yourself.

That is how ridiculous this tribalism thing is.

Why is it that when we meet out there in some Western capital far away from home, tunajivunia kuwa WaKenya (we are proud of being Kenyan). But the minute we are back home, the nagging question is always; what tribe are you?

If only DNA tests were advanced enough to show tribe and it was possible to do lots of DNA testing countrywide, I'd love to be the one to announce the results to some proud tribalists...

Meru: The DNA tests conclusively shows that you're from that clan you hate so much.

Luo; You're actually a typical Kikuyu from Kiambu

Kikuyu: Pole sana kijana, this DNA results conclusively prove that you are from the heart of Homa Bay. Your dad and Senator Barack Obama's dad are from the same tribe.

Kisii: You are actually a typical Kamba my ndear

Luhya: Luhya my foot, you Pokomo from Coast province.

I believe a few suicides later, Kenyans might just come to their senses.

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Where Tom Mboya's Assasination Was Planned.

Friday, August 25, 2006

The 'toilet paper syndrome' rears its' ugly head yet again

Any keen observer keeping a close eye on the current reform talks by political parties will not fail to observe one thing. It has nothing to do with the ordinary people of Kenya. It has everything to do with politicians greedy for power for power's sake.

You can see the guys licking their lips and suddenly uniting amid intense horse-trading, so that they remove Mwai Kibaki from power. The sad thing is that when they increased their own salaries, no single MP refused to collect their remuneration in protest. Meaning that that is one bill that got 100 per cent support. Nobody said they would carry out country-wide rallies to drum up support for the new salaries to be revoked.

But now that they want power, they are going back to the people.

At the very least, I hope that in their reforms they consider the issue of independent candidates for any elective post in the country, from councilor to MP and the Presidency. Many good candidates have been locked out of the race previously just because they were unable to find a political party to support them.

So why have all these guys suddenly ganged up together? What has made fence-sitting President Kibaki change his mind so many times over the issue of reforms?

It is really simple. The facts are that Raila Odinga was going to take the issue of reforms and turn it into am anti-government campaign platform, which would have portrayed the current government and the president for what they are - anti-reform conservatives interested only in power.

It seems that the president is now listening to his advisors and those guys (like Mutahi Ngunyi, don't miss a trick. By accepting the reform talks, The president has literally pulled the rag from under the feet of Raila Odinga. Now it seems that even the opposition do not agree on whether there should be major reforms or minimal ones.

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Reader comments at this post were outstanding (both negative and positive). Read them for yourself.

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Why It Is Important To Register As A Voter! What Narc Kenya Don't Want You To Know

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Do something in 2007

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Want to know Where Tom Mboya's Assasination Was Planned?

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A True Kenyan Story: A Maid's Terrible Revenge?

Disaster Waiting To Happen: Young Kenyans Do Not Trust Their Age-mates For Political Office

Fellow Kenyans, I am in shock. At a time when our motherland is crying out for a new generation of younger leaders, the young people of Kenya have serious issues amongst themselves.

Careful research by this blogger (who is 19 days younger than the nation of Kenya) have revealed that the biggest problem is that young Kenyans do not trust each other. Personally I would have no problem taking my chances in being ruled by a 30 year old (7 years my junior) president. It has happened elsewhere, most notably the Congo and the results have proved to be much better when compared to the rule of older presidents. If I had a choice between the 80-year old grandfathers now poised for re-election and a total stranger I knew nothing about but who was 30 years old (or even younger), I would take my chances with the youngster without even thinking about it (and irrespective of their tribe).

The reasons should be obvious. We badly need some new ideas in Kenya. We urgently need to get out of the 1960s-way-of-doing things and embrace technology and a new way of doing things. We urgently need at the helm Kenyans of a generation that are not intimidated by the mere site of a computer and who are comfortable with "menus" in every electronic device from DVD players to microwaves and not just computer desktops. Have you noticed how older folk just can't seem to figure out these gadgets?

One reader pointed out recently that many dictators of the world, Fidel Castro etc took over power when they were young. This is true, and so did most of the jokers now hanging on to power in our country at great cost to the majority of Kenyans. If it was not for intense pressure, President Moi would still be the President today. I say we take our chances with a fresh generation of youngsters. Times have changed a great deal since young Castro came to power in Cuba. The world is now a tiny village where a war criminal in one country is now being tried in a country thousands of miles away.

But having said all that, I am a realist. It is clear to me that most young people in Kenya would rather vote for a 45 year old than a person closer to their own age. So be it. This blogger has now adjusted campaign 2007 slightly to focus more on issues and solutions rather than just the age factor, which has bored many of our readers to tears.

This blogger now resumes his campaign with new energy and new vigour. I m still very open to new ideas and it is my aim to unite the young people of Kenya as much as possible. In fact I will have no problem stepping down for somebody at a later time, but for now the campaign has to be carried forward (time is rapidly running out).

I can now confirm to regular readers of this column that I am definitely in the race for the Presidency of Kenya in 2007. I appeal for support from all Kenyans who would like to see a better, more united and less tribal nation.

This will not affect the news quality of this blog, because my campaign issues will be kept to our sister blog, Kumekucha1. Please keep reading and get to understand Kenyan politics for what it is so that you will know exactly what to do on polling day. It is also important that you spread the word to as many other Kenyans out there as possible.

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Reader comments at this post were outstanding (both negative and positive). Read them for yourself.

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Why It Is Important That You Encourage Everybody You Know To Register As A Voter!

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Do something to change things in Kenya in 2007

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Do You Want to know In Which Nairobi Building The Tom Mboya Assasination Was Planned?

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A True Kenyan Story: A Maid's Terrible Revenge On A Man And His Two Sons?

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Russian Envoy Stabbed In Kenya: Why The Government Is Ignoring Rising Crime And Insecurity in Kenya

The Russian ambassador to Kenya Valeri Yegoshkin was recently attacked and stabbed by two gangsters after he stopped his vehicle briefly along the Muranga-Nairobi highway to attend to a sick child inside his vehicle. The attack on an envoy of a major world power made very big news.

Elsewhere in the city a 10-man gang burst into the Nairobi residence of an ordinary Kenyan, stole various household goods and raped the man's wife repeatedly before fleeing into the night. The incident never even made it to any newspaper. Meaning that it was either too common to be considered news. Or the police, under pressure from the political establishment to sell the idea to the public that crime is on a rapid decline, kept it from the media.
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Why It Is Critical That You Encourage Everybody You Know To Register As A Voter!
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Early this month Gunmen burst into the house of Alego Usonga MP Sammy Weya's home in Nairobi and robbed him of a pistol, money and other household goods. The incident naturally was big news.

Elsewhere in the country a motorist was carjacked and held hostage as a gang of youngsters went on to carjack a matatu as he watched and asked the passengers (men and women) to strip naked. They then robbed them of mobile phones and cash. Mercifully there was no rape or killing (despite heated conversation between the thugs over whether to kill the hostages or not). The matatu was abandoned near a bar, where the frightened hostages were rescued. On a lighter note, the biggest problem my informer (who was a victim) had on that fateful night had nothing to do with the thugs. It was explaining to his wife why he turned up at the front door in the wee hours of the morning in the company of some naked men and women clad only in lessos and bed sheets and he with his trousers missing. This incident again, never made it to any media house bulletin or news pages.

Last month Trade Minister Mukhisa Kituyi together with his armed bodyguard were carjacked by two gunmen at Brookside Drive in Nairobi's upmarket Westlands suburb. The cabinet minister was robbed of cash and valuables. The media only got wind of the incident when it was discussed in parliament by Speaker Francis Ole Kaparo.

One thing is crystal clear, if you are relying on the media to judge whether crime is on the increase or declining in Kenya, then chances are that your verdict will be wide off the mark.

More so because we are rapidly heading towards the general elections, the government will naturally be very determined to downplay any shortcomings of this administration, even if it is at the risk of human life.

Only this week official leader of the opposition, Uhuru Kenyatta said that the Kibaki administration has fallen back into the old ways of wanting to retain power at all costs (does Hon Kenyatta read this blog? That's exactly what I have been saying for a long time now.)

In other words, the fact that people are losing their lives to criminals is not as important as winning the next general elections for this government.

We have all seen in this blog people who fully support the current government and feel that they have done a good job and deserve to be re-elected. That is their democratic right to have such an opinion but their judgement is based on either serious amnesia or they have totally ignored the facts… Or their judgement has been clouded by (God forbid), tribalism.

One of the first things President Kibaki did in January 2003 was to call a meeting of all security chiefs in the country. He received a detailed report, which the presidential service reported that he was studying. What followed was a rise in the recruitment of policemen and an increased police presence in Nairobi, especially in the central business district. Kenyans were relieved that at least something was being done. Few realized that the measures being taken were addressing only the symptoms and there was no long-term effort to reduce or even cure the "disease" itself.

The next time President Kibaki talked about crime, was to threaten criminals in a public meeting that their days were numbered. That worked once in the 1970s when the then CID boss, Ignatius Nderi, threatened thugs over the increased spate of bank robberies and many of them surrendered their weapons. But we are not in the 70s. In our day and age, it is only a message to criminals that they have an upper hand and are winning.

This government which Kenyans may just re-elect in 2007 on the basis of deep-seated tribal sentiments has completely run out of ideas on what to do. The writing is clearly on the wall when even dignitaries and persons in society privileged enough to have armed bodyguards, are falling victim to armed criminals.

Too many Kenyans are unemployed and worse still, at the point of hopelessness. Crime will continue to rise rapidly if this is not addressed. Secondly the war on crime must go hi-tech immediately.

This administration has neither the will nor the creativity to do anything about crime. What do you expect from persons rapidly approaching 80 years of age and in the twilight of their years? My advice to Kenyans is that if you plan to re-elect this government then prepare to relocate somewhere else for the next 5 years.

Personally my plan is to ask for assylum not on political grounds but based on the insecurity in my own country. Think the Brits will buy that with all the illegal immigrants (mostly from Africa) virtually knocking their doors down to get in? But maybe Rwanda or Uganda will be a little more sympathetic I hope. Or Zamibia, or Malawi.

Or maybe I should just raise funds from sympathetic readers of this blog to go for further studies (that will never end) in Australia or the United States (with my wife and entire family). By the way that's how some wealthy 70-year old Kenyans have successfully gained residence status in Western countries to escape dangerous Kenya in recent times.

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Please do something to change things in Kenya in 2007

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Do You Want To Know Who Killed Tom Mboya?

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A True Kenyan Story: Thika Father And Two Sons Seduce Same Maid

Defections Are Back: All The Fuss Is About Cash

Kenyans were naturally very excited in 1991 when the notorious section 2 (a) in the constitution was abolished returning Kenya into the fold of multi-party democracies of the world.

Sadly we all underestimated President Moi's determination and street-wise cunning to ensure that his will and old ways prevailed despite the changes.

One of the ways in which Moi achieved his objectives was through "buying" MPs and causing them to defect. They shamelessly paraded themselves and gave eloquent speeches that fooled nobody. They knew we knew and we of course knew that some dramatic changes had taken place in their bank accounts for them to abandon the popular opposition to re-join the then ruling party, KANU.

The latest from the Kenyan political front is that defections are back with a vengeance. During his current tour of the Coast province many Coast politicians have been warming up to the president and at least 6 have crossed over (defected) to the new Narc Kenya party. More are to follow. Those who have defected so far are Ali Wario, Boniface Mganga, Fahim Twaha Abdalla Ngozi and Abu Chiaba.

But probably the biggest catch will be the LDP vice chairman Mr Joe Khamisi who has admitted that he is under "intense pressure" to join Narc Kenya. He has already resigned his position in LDP. He has even been quoted as saying that he was consulting with his constituents as to the next course of action. In the old Kanu days when a politician uttered similar words we all knew that what they really meant was that they were consulting with their bank managers to confirm the arrival of the promised funds in their accounts so as to formally announce their defection.

In the Moi days, one politician (I forget his name) made the mistake of announcing their defection before confirming with their bank manager. They were still chasing their money when elections came and angry constituents voted them out.

My take is that cash defections will work even better this time round. We are living in very hard times and the lucrative salary and benefits that MPs currently receive only whets their appetite for more and many of those who will be defeated in the forthcoming elections will never recover financially in their lifetimes. When you earn more, the tendency is to spend more (especially when you have little or nothing to do with your time, since you don't attend parliament, or you make only technical appearances). The high-spending habits are impossible to break even when that income is suddenly taken away from you.

Spending habits also mean that many parliamentarians have not been able to set aside a "war chest" for the elections. We have seen how leading presidential candidates have been running around in Western capitals seeking to raise cash for their presidential bids.

Had they set aside only half their salaries during their 5 year terms, they would have been able to go into the campaigns with a staggering Kshs 15.3 million. This I have calculated with a 10 per cent interest per annum (treasury bills offer a much higher yield) and I stopped at the end of year 4 assuming a snap election or assuming that income during the one year going into the polls would be under intense pressure. I assumed that the MP would set aside a mere Kshs 250,000 from their salary every month.

So most MPs at the moment need hefty amounts of cash, and they need it badly. This is a very sensitive point and nobody has dared suggest so far that the defecting MPs are receiving cash. And neither is there any evidence that they are. But as an intelligent Kenyan I urge you to figure out for yourself why an MP would opt to join the most blundering crisis-ridden administration we have ever had in Kenya's history. I will make it even easier by offering the multiple choices below.

a) Patriotic need to help unite Kenyans in a political party founded by non-tribalists with impeccable no-corruption and selfless record on the desire to fight tribalism in Kenya.

b) Because the current administration has achieved an unprecedented economic miracle in Kenya creating 1 million jobs every month.

c) Out of pity for the wazees approaching their 80s who should be given a chance to rule for 5 more years before they go to the grave. Needs of Kenyans can wait another 5 years.

d) Badly needed cash incentives that come in many ways, including cash and promise of positions of influence that will help generate those funds in a very short space of time.

I chose "c".

Just Kidding, folks.

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YOU can change things in Kenya in 2007. Here's how.

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These are the people who killed Tom Mboya and JM?

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A True Kenyan Story: Father And Two Sons Seduced By Maid?

Who Is Mwai Kibaki?

Focus On The Kibaki Leadership Style: Why Fence Sitting Is Dangerous

It is said that the late Tom Mboya drove all the way to Makerere University in the early 60s to fetch a brilliant economics lecturer there that they wanted to be the Kanu executive officer. His name was Emilio Mwai Kibaki.

Many Kenyans will now be wishing that Mr Mboya had not done what he did. Mboya himself must be turning in his grave with regret, if for nothing else then simply because that man he fetched said nothing when somebody violently took away his (Mboya's) life. And to date he has said nothing.

But then that is classic Mwai Kibaki. Admittedly all politicians of his generation behave the same. That is why all the current presidential front-runners, save one, were all in Kanu during the dark years and said nothing about the government's excesses then.

But let us limit this post to the President for the moment.

Who is Mwai Kibaki and what does he stand for? We know who Moi was and is and what he stands for. We know his views on most issues. With Kibaki, all we know is that he is a hands-off leader and fence-sitter on most issues. He gives power to his ministers… and all that rhetoric we have been hearing.

Sample the following;

a)

As Vice President in Moi's government, he was the main sponsor of the bill that made Kenya a de jure one party state after many years of being a de facto one party dictatorship in denial. His remarks were memorable (and confusing) in moving the bill. He said; You cannot cut a Mugumo tree with a razor blade. What did he mean? That the government was too strong to fight and that's why he had opted to sponsor the bill? Or that those fighting the government were foolish because they had "razor blades" and the government was a Mugumo tree? Honestly I don't know.

But what I know is that the same man resigned from government in 1991, not to join the opposition, but to form his own personal political party to stand for President. But his first presidential campaign proved to be a Mugumo tree (big challenge he could not match up to) and he was beaten to a distant third by one of his former junior officers in government, Kenneth Matiba. Moi won those contested elections whom many believe were won by Kenneth Matiba.

b)

During his current tour of Coast province, the President has been busy dishing out title deeds (about 30,000 of them) to the land-less at the Coast. Yet as a member of the Kenyatta cabinet, he silently looked the other way as the most massive land-grabbing in the long history of the Coastal strip took place, leaving some of his colleagues then with land that was larger than some entire provinces in the country.

c)

He told us that his government would have zero tolerance for corruption and yet he appointed Prof George Saitoti (a Goldenberg suspect at the very least) to his cabinet. Was it because the generous professor was one of the major financiers of the Narc campaign?

d)

He appointed an anti-corruption czar, John Githongo, only to frustrate and hound him out of office when the young principled man did not conform.

e)

Currently his government's position on minimal reforms before elections has changed so many times that I get dizzy just thinking about it. Here is the list of positions leading upto the current one announced by the president himself;

1) Out of question (Justice Minister Martha Karua)
2) Can work if all parties agree (same cabinet minsiter)
3) Out of question because opposition rejected the constitution last November (another cabinet Minister)
4) There is no time (another cabinet minister)
5) The President says he supports reforms but ruled out power-sharing.
(Are you feeling dizzy?)


f)

Has favored a laid back style where he does not attack his opponents. Recently his handlers have had him change to taking on his opponent's head on. Recently he has accused certain politicians (presidential candidates) of spreading lies abroad while on their funds-seeking campaigns. Then before analysts would recover from this strange, uncharacteristic behavior of the President, he followed it by stating his stand on the controversial minimum reforms before the elections.

So who is the real Mwai Kibaki? A chameleon who changes with the environment. When campaigning for the Presidency we saw a different person. When elected, he locked himself in State House and left everything to his ministers (or so we were told). The next thing we hear is the opposition making noise that there is corruption on a massive scale going on. Personally I did not believe them myself. (Remember when Uhuru Kenyatta was saying that what Kanu had stolen over many years was stolen in a few months by Narc? I remember I laughed in utter disbelief). Then the Anglo-leasing scandal broke. Soon after that, the Kibaki administration was clearly in trouble. The President called in former president Moi and we saw a government of national unity soon after that and tactics very similar to those of the former president. Now we are seeing a president out on the campaign trail more than a year to the general elections.

Will the real Mwai Kibaki please stand up?

My take is that this brilliant economics lecturer should have stayed at Makerere and out of politics.

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What you can do to change things in Kenya in 2007

======================
Do You Want To Know The Identity Of Those Who Killed Tom Mboya?

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A True Kenyan Story: Father And Two Sons Seduced By Death

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE DESTINY OF KENYA

Have reproduced here this useful and very imporant note that I received via email the other day.

WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE DESTINY OF THIS COUNTRY THROUGH VOTING. DURING THE NEXT ONE MONTH TRY AND GET A LEAST ONE PERSON TO REGISTER AS A VOTER. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

TALK TO MANY FRIENDS ABOUT THIS EXERCISE.

MAKE A TRIP UPCOUNTRY AND DRIVE THE POINT HOME.

ADVICE THAT THE VOTER SHOULD CHOOSE A MOST CONVENIENT POLLING STATION TO AVOID MISSING THE D-DAY

MASIVE VOTER REGISTRATION WILL DISCOURAGE VOTE BUYING; NEUTRALISE THE EFFECT OF VOTER BRIBERY

LASTLY - FOR THOSE WITH VOTERS CARD, ASK YOURSELF TWO QUESTIONS : HAS YOUR VOTE BEEN EFFECTIVE? HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO VOTE FROM YOUR CURRENT POLLING STATION? IF NOT PLEASE CHANGE.

THIS COUNTRY BELONGS TO ALL. AND ALL [eligible] SHOULD VOTE [in the] NEXT ELECTION

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Nairobi Motorist Fights Back And Kills Carjackers

Incidences of violent carjackings are no longer news in Nairobi. They are just too common and many times these incidences end up in killings or rape.

That is why is why an incident reported by the police that happened on Monday this week (August 14th 2006) makes for such interesting reading.

Narobians living near Cemetery Road (off Ngong Road) reported hearing gun shots to the police. Interestingly this is the road leading to the war memorial cemetery and is surrounded by a thick forest. It is popular with gangsters wanting to dump bodies of motorists they have killed (or live ones) and has also been the scene of many shootouts between gangsters and the police.

When the police got to the scene, they did not find the usual. Instead they found two dead carjackers and a motorist with a smoking gun. Police obviously did not want to give more details for security reasons but this was clearly a case where carjackers had commandered a vehicle without searching their victim who waited for the opportune moment to draw his gun and open fire.

Experts will know that he must have caught the carjackers completely by surprise because gangsters usually carry automatic weapons which are no match for the pistols that are usually licensed. Police confirmed that the motorist had been licensed to carry the gun he had. Police also said that three accomplices of the dead man escaped, one with bullet wounds.

The other thing that would seem apparent is that this motorist must have had some military training of sorts.

One of the things that has become crystal clear in Kenya is that the government has run out of ideas of dealing with the carjacking menace. Barely a month ago a full cabinet minister, Mukhisa Kituyi was carjacked together with his armed bodyguard, robbed and then dumped on the road somewhere.

The assumption of the Kibaki administration was that simply increasing police presence would reduce crime. This has not happened despite massive recruitment. Even worse is the fact that government prosecutors are unable to prove their cases in courts even after making arrests.

A new younger administration would be in a better position to fight crime in Kenya on two fronts. Firstly by having a priority of job creation and secondly by going high tech with evidence gathering and analysis by introducing the latest DNA equipment used to fight crime in Western countries. As it is, this government is still trying to do things the way they were done ion the sixties. That is why Kenyans will be making a very big mistake re-electing anybody who is currently in the August house.

======================
What you can do to change things in Kenya in 2007

======================
Do You Want To Know The Identity Of Those Who Killed Tom Mboya?

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A True Kenyan Story: Father And Two Sons Seduced By Death

Tuesday, August 15, 2006

7 Things That Will Happen To Kenya If Kibaki Is Re-elected

Most Kenyans are like the proverbial Ostrich that when faced with a rapidly approaching forest fire, prefers to bury its' head in the sand and hope that the fire will just go away.

The rapidly approaching "fire" is the re-election of President Mwai Kibaki for a second term. Kenyans are well able to stop this happening, especially the young people of Kenya who just need to unite and speak in one voice.

There are even those Kenyans who feel that a Kibaki re-election may not be such a bad thing after all. The feel that the economy has recovered and is growing at unprecedented levels and Kanu is out of power.

The facts on the ground are a little different. One thing in particular that Kenyans have failed to see to see, or feel the effects of, is the so-called economic growth. I tend to agree with the economist's view that I feel is very close to the truth that points in a different direction for the answers to the current so-called strength of the Kenyan economy. It is believed that Kenyans who are now scattered all over the world have been sending money back home for investment and upkeep at unprecedented levels which has kept the Kenyan shilling very strong and cushioned the economy against current adverse effects like that of rising world oil prices. Apart from that the economic miracle of the Kibaki government is a mirage at best and a bad tasteless joke at worse.

Whatever your opinion may be, here is what Kenyans should expect from a Mwai Kibaki Re-election victory in 2007;

i) Disaster And Civil Unrest On A Massive Scale: Continuation of the current policies that ignore the plight of the majority of ordinary Kenyans especially in the area of job creation (the position of the Kibaki administration: Interest rates are low and banks are now eager to lend, why don't the penniless get working, go to the nearest bank and borrow money to start a business?). This administration believes that the Constituency Development Fund is enough to cater for the millions of Kenyans now living below the poverty line. This is a terrible mistake because this is a time bomb that will surely go off. We have already seen some tiny explosions in terms of rising levels of crime that are overwhelming the better equipped and much larger police force we have today. This big time bomb is bound to go off within a year of President Kibaki's re-election. Only a brand new administration headed by a new younger generation of Kenyans, preferably non-golf playing individuals, have any hope of seeing and addressing this priority with the urgency it deserves. It would also help if at least a few influential faces in such a new administration have used a pit latrine recently.

ii) More Commissions Of Inquiry: If you thought Moi had overused commissions of inquiry, then President Kibaki has taken them to new heights. He is now spending taxpayers money to constitute commissions of inquiry to probe members of his own immediate family. Something that can be sorted out in a 10-minute family meeting one lazy Sunday afternoon long before even the public gets wind of it, now takes up public funds and the valuable time of public officers. How else would one view the Artur's saga?

For the uninformed, commissions of inquiry are never meant to get to the bottom of anything. The idea is to be seen to be doing something while time passes so that people forget about the thorny issue at hand. Name one commission of inquiry in Kenya that has produced results to date.

Expect many more commissions of inquiry in a second Kibaki administration and no real solid action.

iii) Dozing off during cabinet meetings. The President will be 76 next year. By the time he completes his second term he will be 81 years old. Surely, let reason prevail as you answer this question. Is this the right age to deal with the problems facing the world today, let alone the problems facing most Kenyans that need radical new ideas to tackle?

The Vice President is the President's age-mate and then there is defense minister Njenga Karume. Those who are familiar with folks this age, please answer the following question; What are the odds of this cabinet staying awake and alert through a 30 minute cabinet meeting (no cabinet meeting is that short)?

iv) More Youth Funds Special funds are usually set up to help people who can otherwise not help themselves. Refugees, widows orphans etc. When a fund is set up to help the people who should be the most active in the economy of a country, then you know that there is something very wrong. In a second Kibaki administration expect the same policies that make Kenyans refugees and less fortunate in their own country so that more youth funds will be constituted to be administered by the same politicians who are experienced in handling funds like in the Goldenberg saga and Anglo Leasing affair.

v) Meanwhile Current Crop of youth leaders are growing old By the time the next elections come in 2012, Kenyans born at independence in 1963 will be approaching 50, 5 years away from the usual retirement age of 55. Is that the right time to hand over leadership to them? Mwai Kibaki joined the cabinet when he was 28 years old. He wants to leave when he is 81. Somebody help me make sense out of this.

vi) More Anglo Leasings And More Goldenbergs The financial scandals never end. There are those Kenyans who believe that because they are being exposed, somehow they will stop. Did you hear about the recent scandal where Cabinet Minister Njenga Karume sold land that he could not previously sell to the government. This administration says there is nothing wrong and everything was above board. Expect many more deals between senior influential cabinet ministers and the government that are "transparent and above board".

vii) We Will always do things the way they were done in the 60s So you are excited about the information age and what modern technology is capable of? And maybe you see it being put to good use to improve the lot of Kenyans? Forget it. Have you tried to talk to a person over 60 years of age recently? They see things very differently, the way they have always been since the swinging 60s. But Osama Bin Laden didn't exist then and neither were automatic weapons so easy to acquire for use in a crime. A second Kibaki term will be quite similar to this first one, a field day for wazee hukumbuka buffs, disaster for the nation.

If you are reading this and you still intend to play Ostrich or believe that there is nothing wrong with a second Kibaki term, then I have only one last thing left to say to you…

Will the last person leaving Kenya remember to switch off the lights…

======================
Find out what you can do to change things in Kenya in 2007

======================
Do You Want To Know The Identity Of The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki?

53 Kenyan Businessmen Caned And Then Deported

Other African countries are beginning to feel the entrepreneurial power of Kenyans.

A recent report indicates that 53 Kenyans most of them dealing in second hand clothes and food stuffs, were caned and then deported in Southern Sudan. They were accused of working in Sudan without work permits. The incident came shortly after Sudanese businessmen started complaining of unfair competition from Kenyan entrepreneurs.

There are widespread reports of similar incidences from as far off as Johannesburg, South Africa where locals are feeling the heat of Kenyans in the commercial sector and are deeply resentful of them.

The funny thing is that there are scores of Sudanese and Somali businessmen doing business in Kenya without being harassed.

Here is one more reason why we need a new government that cares for it's citizens. The time has come to start defending our own wherever in the world they may be from injustices and bad treatment. Why should Kenyans be caned (even if they don't have work permits?) and nobody wants to say anything about it? Least of all our wazee hukumbuka government now desperate to cling to power.

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Find out what you can do to change things in Kenya in 2007.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Penniless Kenyans Who Won Elections

Many Kenyans swear that it is not possible to win a political campaign without lots of cash. But there are many Kenyans who have made it to parliament without money. Read this newspaper writer’s excellent piece on this burning issue and you’ll declare your candidature tomorrow, cash or no cash.

It should even be easier in 2007 because Kenyans are fed up with bad governance.

Poor Penniless Kenyans Who Won Elections.

Minimum Reforms Campaign Linked To Snap Polls Plan?

It seems that the campaign for minimum reforms before the elections has picked up with a vengeance.

What leading opposition politician Raila Odinga is saying now, in almost as many words is "No reforms no elections." This will sound disturbingly familiar to most Kenyans as these were the exact tactics used against former President Moi. Especially in the run up to the 1997 elections (we are now heading towards the 2007 elections. Another similarity is that both election years end with the number "7")

The government has responded swiftly saying there will be no reforms before the elecetions and that the issue should be taken to the people to decide. Strange how this talk of the people deciding has come in only when we are on the verge of the general elections. Why were the people not allowed to decide on other contentious isssues during the Narc reign?

But we know both sides are playing politics. The opposition is using the refoms platform to scuttle the chances of the president calling for snap polls. The government side wants snap polls to gurantee victory and catch the opposition unawares.
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Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki

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Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

How Nation Columnist Gitau Warigi Describes You

…"As anybody who surfs the Internet knows, Kenyans in the diaspora are a noisy and opinionated lot. But politically they are of no use to the presidential aspirants…"

That was the verdict that Sunday Nation columnist passed on you yesterday in his Sunday View column. I have my own opinion about journalists and Sunday Nation columnists in particular, but I was just wondering what you guys think of this verdict on you.

It is another way of saying that we are all wasting our time on the web (making noise actually) remember what we used to do as kids in the class in primary school when the teacher stepped out for a few minutes?

Over to you Kenyans in "the diaspora."
======================
Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki

======================
Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

How The Net Can Win Elections For The Youth Of Kenya In 2007

The 2004 American Presidential elections established the power of blogs as political tools in America. In France today it is said that nobody can win the presidency without a blog. France is the number one blogging nation in the world.

So how does this apply to a struggling country doing poorly like Kenya? Am I suggesting that elections can be won on the Internet? More so after the sentiments of a Nation columnist just yesterday?

My answer will shock you but please hear me out.

My answer is "YES."

I recently did a small survey amongst young Kenyans (below 45 years of age) based all over the country, some of them in very remote rural areas. Over 70 % of them have an email address (mostly Yahoo, but Hotmail and many others as well.) There are at least 1 million young Kenyans on email who check their mail t least once a month.

The figures of those with cell phones are even more impressive.

Meaning that by simply combining these two tools of modern technology, it is possible to influence a large section of the electorate. And it is my bet that many of them are opinion leaders who can influence the opinion of others.

There is one more reason that makes this particular tool so appropriate for our times. In Kenya the older folk fear computers so much that most of them do not own email addresses let alone understand how to use sms effectively to stay in touch and pass on messages.

This blogger intends to use mainly email and mobile phones to get the youth of Kenya to speak in one voice in 2007. This blogger has also today shelved his presidential campaign to concentrate fully on uniting all the youth of Kenya under one umbrella to speak with one voice in 2007.

If you support a younger generation taking over power in Kenya in 2007, you can play your role by registering your email address now at YoungKenyan4President07-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Just send a blank email to YoungKenyan4President07-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

We are asking you to do so little that can have such a huge impact in 2007. Send what I assure you will turn out to be the most important email you ever send, now.

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Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki

======================
Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Several Million Dollars Later, Tanzanians Show Their True Colors

Barely a week after my post here about the hypocrisy of Tanzanians in matters of integration, that strange nation has dropped a bombshell and the truth has finally emerged (these Tanzania government guys probably read this blog).

In the latest issue of the authoritative EastAfrican, Tanzanian Minister for East African Co-operation Andrew Chenge puts into words what many keen observers (including this blogger) have known all along. Namely that at the moment Tanzanians are not interested in integration. Maybe to use kinder words, they are terrified of integration.

It is clear that the country is back-tracking on the commitment made only in April this year when the 3 heads of state met and agreed that the negotiations on the common market would commence from July 1st 2006.

Maybe the most important aspect I should point out here which Kenyans should take careful note of is that I am reliably informed that the general view amongst Tanzanians is that Kenyans are desperate for the common market and free movement of labor and assets. It is felt that Kenyans have much more to gain from integration than Tanzanians do. You do not need to be an expert to know immediately that there is no way this can be true. The weaker economies always benefit much more from integration anywhere in the world. Look at what is happening at the EC at the moment where people from former Eastern European countries in the EC are flocking into larger economies like Britain? Contrast this to the situation where despite being hit by massive unemployment, Germans are refusing to move to where the jobs are (In Britain for example).

While it is true that there are many Kenyans in Tanzania at the moment, free movement in all 3 countries as well as Rwanda and Burundi (who are to be admitted into the East African Federation), would have brought some semblance of balance very quickly. Not to mention the fact that the Tanzanian economy is showing signs of rapid deterioration (and the sad thing is that it is not as resilient as the Kenyan or Ugandan economies to be able to weather the coming storms).

But by far the most annoying thing here (as this blogger has long pointed out) is that Tanzania has been wasting the time of the other East African partner states. Most of all the tax payers cash is being wasted at Arusha.

This blog repeats the call to the Kenyan government to quickly withdraw from this ship that is headed nowhere. Or alternatively sit down with Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda to get on with the integration process minus Tanzania.

Investors Take Note: Tanzanian has a long history of going back on its' word and even on agreements and contracts with investors. President Nyerere broke so many contracts with foreign investors that most people lost count. Then came the "icing on the cake" namely the nationalization of assets of foreign companies in 1967 in the failed Ujamaa (socialism) experiment in that country. So there is really nothing new that we are seeing here. And that includes all the illegal charges at the border that the Tanzanians have been periodically imposing on other East Africans. Not forgetting that Kenyan exports to Tanzania are taxed while Tanzanian imports to Kenya come in tax-free.

Kumekucha Abandons Presidential Campaign To Fight For Youth Unity in 2007

The big news is that I have withdrawn from all my personal political campaigns at the moment to concentrate on the greater cause – bringing together the young people of Kenya under one umbrella body irrespective of their party affiliations. It was clear that any political campaign on my side immediately looked self-serving. I will now use the blog to promote the campaign of other young candidates. We will also use it to encourage as many young persons as possible to stand for elections in 2007.

What constituency do you come from? Can you stand for MP? No, this is not a far-fetched dream. In 2002 the wind of change swept many MPs who stood on a Narc ticket into parliament. In 1992 the same thing happened for many who stood on Kenneth Matiba's then popular Ford Asili ticket, until it caused Joesph Kamotho to quip that even of a dog had stood on the Ford Asili ticket in certain constituencies, it could have gotten elected.

Do not put your lack of finances ahead of everything. One of the aims of this umbrella organization that we are initially launching online is to get all the young people of Kenya together so that we can campaign together and one of the issues we will address is the finances required.

Let me tell you at this early hour that the wave that will sweep many into parliament in 2007 will be this initiative for the young people of Kenya that you are part and parcel of at its' infancy stages. What a story you will have to tell your grand children one day!

If you have no interest in any political seat, do you know somebody who is? Can you get them to join this email list (link to the last item on this page for the email address). If you know their email address, you do not need to delay any further send them an email message now (You can cut and paste or forward this message as part of your email to them) or just send an sms to their phone.

Just to summarize the important tasks for you today.

- Think of standing for political office
- Contact other persons whom you know have political ambitions who are below the age of 45.

Thank you for reading and be encouraged always because Pamoja Tutakomboa Nchi yetu.

Have a wonderful week and Kwaheri for now.

======================
Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki

======================
Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Friday, August 11, 2006

Presidential Candidates Fundraising Tour Gets Complicated

Raila Remains Cool, But Eyewitnesses Report That Kalonzo Musyoka Started Stammering

I have just received the following report from one of my most trusted informants on the recent fundraising tour by Presidetial candidates. It makes for fascinating reading. Have published the report here word for word...

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Am reliably informed that Raila & Kalonzo got a real bashing from Kenyans in the diaspora during their fund raising tour. Details will follow.

The NSIS send an advance team with info that was damaging. Raila is good at damage control but Kalonzo started stammering.

Sample this from one session:

We are ready to finance your presidential campaign - but kindly answer the following:

If you lose the LDP nomination,what assurances do we have that you will back the winner and not jump ship?

Who are the directors of Kalonzo Foundation? And we thought the ideals are linked to poverty alleviation and not presidential ambitions?

The media recently talked of Luo MP's bribing their way to parliament and then abandoning the eloctorate - how much of this money have you used to develop your home turf?

On what platform are you campaigning or rather what is your blueprint?Political /Economic reforms,etc.

Is the money required for civic education or bribing voters?

======================
Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki

======================
Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Author of 'Young Kenyans Arise' Being Looked For

This blogger urgently seeks to get in touch with the genius who came up with the analysis below that has been widely distributed via email. (I would still advice readers of this blog to cut it now, paste it in their email and send it to all Kenyans they know).

The reason why I want this nice man or lady to get in touch with me is because their services are urgently required for the good of their motherland.

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Young Kenyans Arise!

Are you below the age of 45 years? .Then you are young!

Do you love your country Kenya? Do you think you have a stake in the happenings in the country Kenya? Does the future of our beloved country mean anything to you?
Think for a moment: if you are 45 and below – to reach Mwai’s age you have at least 30 more years to live! Do you want the group that calls itself leaders in this country to chart your future for you? Or do you want to be part of the change that is necessary to build this country?

Let us sample a few : this is not about tribal chiefs and their kingdoms – for our progressive future requires that we grow up and shed the tribal and regional glasses and think as a nation and tap on our potential- while appreciating our diversity which must be celebrated as opposed to being use to divide us.

Kalonzo Musyoka: a member of Moi government as cabinet Minister for over 20 years! The Nyayo torture chambers were run - we all knew about them -while he was a senior member of the government that was torturing its own people. We never had his voice! What makes him a spokesman of the down trodden?? Under NARC he oversaw the plunder in funds misuse at the Ministries for 3 years- see local dailies for details. He quit the government in June 2002 since he knew there was no way KANU was going to win the election- a selfish move. He was a Part of the ODM last year – if he is Mr. clean where did he and his colleagues get the money for the NO campaign? Ono of the directors of Kalonzo foundation is Renzo Barnade who is a partner with Lee Nyachae at Kenya Bunduki- the Nyachae’s are known to work closely with Aura Pereira- the NARC regime Kamlesh Patni- Young Kenyan the conclusion is yours.


William Ruto: A senior member of the amorphous group called Youth for KANU 92. It is common knowledge the plunder this group of young thugs did to our Country Kenya during the early 90’s- being young does not mean the same thing as integrity! It made him an overnight millionaire!!! Could he say what honest job he did, where and when to amass the wealth he has? Do we want a leader who have grabbed properties to leads us to destruction? He was a member of the MOI repressive regime until the end. IF he is Mr. clean shouldn’t he answer three simple questions – who funded the YK92-where are the audited accounts, who funded the referendum campaign, what made him a savior after being part of regime that tortured Kenyans who spoke their minds?


Uhuru Kenyatta: Young Kenyan with a bright future . His family owns 250,000 acres of land in Kenya – this is equivalent to the area covered by Nyanza province. In free market economy this could be acceptable save for the fact that we all know that this was stolen from the Kenyan people by his father! In a country where 60% live below the poverty line a dollar a day – he should be ashamed when he stands before us and tells us about prosperity of our Nation and Our rights! 80% of Taveta residents are squatters in his family land = 40,000 acres. SHAME ON YOU UHURU FOR ATTEMPTING TO HOODWINK US AND GRAB more!


Otieno Kajwang: he has been struck from the role of Advocates in Kenya for stealing client’s money- how can he possibly talk to us about good governance and ethics while he is a thief himself? Case of log in your eye……………………..


Raila Odinga: 7 political parties in a period of less than 10 years means the man believes in nothing. It was all about what is in this for me- Kibaki Tosha call was an own stomach call since he knew the history of the man- he was in the government that detained him for 12 years. Before my Luo brothers lynch me I would like them to consider this issues seriously for the first time – what benefit does a man derive by following another blindly to a non defined destination? Would it not be more profitable, if we were all to take responsibility for our lives? The future is in our hands! Luo thrift, Kisumu Molasses Plant, Supply of Butimen to the GOK, highest spending Ministry on luxury Cars was his, did all Luo Nyanza MPs bribe their way to parliament?


Mwai Kibaki: a member of the government for 40 years – see no evil hear no evil let no evil enter into your mind! Until an opportunity occurs for you to ascend to the top seat for the sole purpose of sitting on that seat! Kenyans were fools to imagine that a man who had been in the system for 40 years could cause any change- he knows no difference.


Mwiraria/ Murungi: the arrogance of power and the ANGLO FLEECING SAGA whether real or imagined speaks for itself. A LAST Deal might have been done on Tuesday 31st February to supply Radio communication equipment by the famous Kamani Group- worth 2.6 billion!


Mukisa Kituyi: there is a rumour that the man owns a helicopter after only 3 years of being a minister. Period to the run up to the 2002 election, it is rumoured that he owned very little!


Ole Ntimama: the tribal chief- remember the “lie low like an envelope” remark that caused death of several Kenyans in what was called tribal clashes- turned spokesman of the people! HOW?


………………… THE LIST GOES ON AND ON ………………………
I do not need to go further in analyzing them. It points to a need to completely change our political clothing for this country to change the direction we are taking. There is nothing special about all this characters and we need to send them packing whenever the elections are called. Let us spread word that there is need for complete overhaul of the elected leaders.

LET US VOTE OUT ALL THE 220 MPs currently in the August house! Let us refuse the bribery during the campaign period – we are 73% of the population and must answer to our Children what we did to make their lives better!!

IF YOU LOVE YOUR COUNTRY SEND THIS MAIL TO ATLEAST 7 YOUNG KENYANS! AND TELL THEM TO ACT WHEN CALLED UPON!

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Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki
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Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?


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Why Raila And Ruto Must Have Suspected Kibaki’s Snap Poll Plan

President Kibaki’s suspected plan to hold snap polls and catch the opposition unawares seems to have been detected fairly early by leading ODM officials like Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto and company.

This is the reason behind the sudden campaign for minimum reforms before the polls. You see if the opposition opposed snap polls they would look weak in the eyes of the public. Like they were running scared over the general elections.

So the next best thing was to use other tactics, like demand for minimum reforms.

The fact that leading Presidential candidates for 2007 have brought forward their fundraising plans clearly shows that many are expecting a snap poll or at least are making the smart move of being prepared for the possibility of one.

According to media reports Raila Odinga has been in Australia for some time now, on what is clearly a fundraising mission for his presidential bid. Even William Ruto, another Presidential hopeful has been in the United States, on the same mission.

It seems that the newspapers and the public were the only people caught by surprise by the news that there is a possibility that elections could be called earlier.

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Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Mboya And JM Murders Solved At Kumekucha

In a few days time, 15th August, admirers, supporters and political analysts will be marking Tom Mboya’s birthday. Had Kenya’s brightest ever, young politician lived, he would have been 76 this August. Just a year older than President Kibaki.

It gives this blogger great pleasure to know for sure that the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle have finally fallen into place and as we approach 15th August, this blog has details that put those pieces of the puzzle together and answer the big question of who ordered Mboya killed and why. Incase you missed it, you can catch it now using the link below;

Mystery Solved: The People Who Killed Mboya and JM Kariuki

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Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Snap Polls Now Predicted in Kenya By Newspaper After Kumekucha Raised The Issue Last Month

I am not one to brag, because there is little to brag about in our limping country at the moment. But I have made this post to put a smile on the face of our regular faithful readers.

A leading Kenyan newspaper has quoted one of the close advisors to the president hinting that there may be a snap poll in Kenya.

Read the story here.

In a July 29th Post we suggested exactly the same thing.

Read it here.

It is advisable for anybody intending to participate in the next general elections to start making their preparations now while assuming that the polls could be called at any time. Young people of Kenya, you have to make that move NOW.

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Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Calling all Kenyan bloggers, your country needs you.

Njenga Karume Uses His Ministerial Position To Finance His Private Business Empire

These Old Folks Will Never Get It, Will They?

A senior Kenya government minister tries in vain to sell off large tracts of land in Elburgon, Nakuru. He is desperate for the cash to help him run his crumbling cash-starved empire. He never finds any buyers.

Then he has an idea. The government is trying to re-settle victims of the land clashes of the late 80s. So using his position in government he convinces the government to purchase his land. The money is not paid directly to him but to a company called Karume Investments. It is Kshs 169 million in total.

The press discovers the deal, but the government says that there is nothing wrong with the deal. That everything was done in a transparent manner. My foot! Will these guys ever learn?

The Minister was previously not able to find buyers for his land. So what did he do? He used his good offices. If this is not a classic case of conflict of interests, I don't know what is.

Let us not forget that in the run up to the 2002 General Elections, Njenga Karume's business empire was in desperate need of cash. I am infomred that they are not out of the woods yet. This was one of the reasons why he ditched a party which he had helped found and had funded to the tune of millions of shillings for "the project". In a move that left the opposition so shell shocked that they were speechless, Mzee Karume returned to Kanu, very sure that it was going to form the next government. It was never to be and a coalition involving the very party he had ditched ended up winning the elections. Somehow Karume went back hat in hand to his former partner and DP co-founder, now President, Mwai Kibaki. Before long Karume had found his way into government, courtesy of a so-called government of national unity.

It is clear that Karume's business empire cannot run smoothly without a little help from the government. In other words his businesses can hardly stay afloat without the sort of fundraising activities such as the controversial land deal that everybody in government says was above aboard.

For those who study big business, Njenga Karume's business problems started when he ditched a major cash cow of many years for what he thought would be a better deal.

A brief lesson in big business financing is in order. When you are running a number of companies, or one very large company, the key issue is always finance. And more importantly cash flow. Cash flow is the "blood" that circulates through the "veins" of a business. You can be a very healthy person, but if for some reason blood is unable to flow in and out of your heart, you'll die. The case is exactly the same with big business, irrespective of the sort of assets we are talking about.

It is now clear that what kept the Karume empire healthy and in fact helped it grow tremendously over the years was a valuable cash cow beer distribution business that collected and banked huge sums of cash daily.

Technically, Karume didn't really ditch his lucrative Kenya Breweries beer distribution business that covered colossal tracts of Central province and beyond. What happened was that he took on beer distribution for the whole country for a new brewer in the market then, a company called Castle Brewing of South Africa. Few competitors will be comfortable with one distributor distributing both their products. Especially when a new entrant comes in and wants to take advantage of a distribution network that the company helped Karume build over many years. KBL ditched Karume, Karume went to court and the rest as they say is history.

Karume won round one and was awarded hundreds of millions in damages. Kenya Breweries appealed and the award was revoked. They were the clear winners of round 2. And the battle rages, even as the legal costs continue to mount.

The good news for the Defense minister is that now it seems the Karume empire has secured another better cash cow for his business empire. Namely the government of Kenya.

In Kenyan Politics Delaying Tactics Usually Work Miracles

When Kenyans voted in the current Narc government, they were voting for major reforms. They were especially voting for a new constitution, which they were assured would be concluded within 100 days.

What they got was a government interested only in self-serving piece-meal reforms that were directly beneficial to them and not to the people of Kenya. Everything else was not rejected but was instead put neatly in the "pending" tray. The clever guys who did this were well aware of the fact that the clock was ticking away.

Electoral Commission Of Kenya boss this week made it clear that it is too late now for most of the major planned reforms to be implemented before the next General Elections. That includes a proposal to split constituencies and create a further 60 seats in parliament.

Even the reforms being suggested by ODM heavyweights like Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka "to level the playing field" are looking increasingly unlikely with less than 16 months to go before the polls.
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Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Calling all Kenyan bloggers, your country needs you.

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Why Kenya Should Quit The East African Customs Union

For a number of years now, valuable Kenyan taxpayers' money has been going to an organization that is yet to yield any tangible benefits for Kenyans. In fact insiders point to several problems that suggest that the much hyped-about East African Community is a non-starter and is unlikely to yield anything but unnecessary headaches for Kenyans.

The major problem is one partner state in the union. Namely, Tanzania.

Tanzanians are not interested in regional integration. And even where they may be paying lip service to it, their eyes are sharply focused on their own self-interest first, which is hardly the sort of spirit that augurs well for any union. Try going into a marriage where your partner is after their own interests only.

Major reforms have been going on in that country since the retirement of founding father Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. These reforms have opened up the economy to foreign investors who have been pouring into the country in large numbers.

Ironically Kenya is by far the largest African investor in Tanzania and is in the "big two" with Britain when you consider all countries of the world. Over 200 Kenyan companies have invested in the country with a total investment well in excess of US$ 350 million. The investments have created about 40,000 jobs. There is no difference between the way an investor from America or Britain is treated and the way a Kenyan investor is handled. If anything the American is more favored. So there is really no benefit of Kenya being part of the East African Customs Union.

Unfortunately the local Tanzanian labor force is not capable of sustaining this growth that has been triggered mainly by foreign investments. The country's human resources lack skills, experience and even the right attitude to work. The result is that many Kenyans lacking opportunities back home have poured into the country in search of employment where they are deeply resented and regularly harassed by immigration officials who routinely throw them into jail "for being in the country illegally."

This is one of the reasons why Tanzanians are terrified about the proposal by the Customs Union for free movement of labour. Even if Arusha manages to pass it, this is one thing Tanzanians will resist with all they have, right to the end.

Meanwhile Kenyan goods entering Tanzania are taxed, despite the fact that Tnzanian exports to Kenya are not. Then there are regular taxes and new so-called "work permit" fees that are routinely introduced at the borders which mainly target Kenyans.

You may be reading this and getting puzzled because Tanzanians are known to be very polite people and many of them have been singing the praises of the Customs union and the coming political federation. Welcome to the Tanzanian art of deception and hypocrisy where you say one thing but mean the exact opposite.

Besides Tanzanians have too many problems of their own at the moment to be serious partners in any integration efforts.

The best thing the Kenyan government should do now is to withdraw from the Customs Union, citing massive breach of contract. Let us start charging duty again on Tanzanian imports, and let any Kenyans who want to venture into that country do so with the clear understanding that they are going into a very "foreign" country at their own risk, without having the illusion of a non-existent Union or East African Community.

Let us give Tanzanians time to sort out their very long list of issues. Including the fact that they don't like to work, they prefer to sit around complaining about foreigners. Then they invite South Africans to rob them blind in industries like mining but look at their neighbors, Kenya (many of whom have married their sons and daughter) suspiciously (or is it with envy?).

Maybe in the future after another 20 to 30 years of dilly-dallying and "jogging round in circles on the same spot", like they have been doing all along, Tanzanians may finally see the benefits of integration. But for now Kenyans will be much better off spending their hard-earned resources elsewhere. There is really no point in flogging a dead horse, is there?

Here is a perfect example of how Tanzanians speak eloquently in support of the EAC at Arusha and then do something very different on the ground. Read this story from the latest issue of the respected EastAfrican for yourself.

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Another blogger complains about Tanzania.

Do you want to get the Younger Generation in Kenya into power in 2007?

Calling all Kenyan bloggers, your country needs you.

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Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Calling All Kenyan Bloggers: Your Country Needs YOU!

I usually read most Kenyan blogs that touch on politics and they are clearly written by people with the interest of our beloved nation at heart.

I appeal to you to help us promote a new initiative to get young people together for the bruising 2007 campaign ahead of us. Let us frustrate all the selfish politicians who have hijacked our country and bring in a new younger generation of leaders to power in Kenya.

How can you help?

You can comment on the movement in your blog. You can also help us recruit Kenyans to the movement (registration is currently via email only, people join a mailing list of like-minded Kenyans united in one purpose.) We will promote all Kenyan blogs in the list so please join us.

Pamoja tunaweza

Visit link below for details;

Fellow Blogger Please visit and register to make a difference in Kenya.

New Group To Fight For Young Kenyan President In 2007 Formed

There is gloom and desperation in many Kenyans as they see the country inevitably heading in the direction of an election win for Narc Kenya. More so as various parties announce that they seek to go it alone.

That is why the news just in that a dynamic new initiative to unique all young people of Kenya to get one of their own into State House in 2007 has been formed.

I appeal to all Kenyans everyhwere, let us join and help form the agenda that WE want for our currently disillusioned people.

Read the details for yourself HERE.