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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

The humble beginnings of Bunge la Mwananchi in 2007: BUNGE LA MWANANCHI – FREEDOM FROM HUNGER

Kumekucha supports this initiative by ordinary Kenyans who would otherwise have few options of making their voice heard. We are looking for many others to support by giving free publicity in this high traffic site. Contact the ditor by sending an email to umissedthis at yahoo dot com.

-Kumekucha-


Special message from the people of Kenya

In 1978 when Mzee Kenyatta died, the cost of a 2kg packet of maize flour was Kshs. 2.80. On December 27, 2002 maize flour cost was Kshs 27. During 24 years of Moi's rule, the price of Unga had increased by Kshs 24, an average of 1 shilling per year. In 2003 the cost of Unga increased to Kshs.54; it doubled. In only 1 year the Narc government had increased the price of Unga by Kshs. 27, more than Moi's government had increased in 24 years.

On December 27, 2002, one kilo of sugar cost 27/=, today a kilo of sugar costs 85/=. When Narc assumed office a liter of paraffin cost 22/=, today it costs 60/=. Under the Narc government the cost of transport doubled. In fact, the cost of all basic products has risen by over 100%.

As a result, we the ordinary citizens continue to struggle just to survive from one day to the other. We welcome free primary education; our children are not required to pay school fees. However, with the rising cost of food, children either go to school hungry, or even stay at home. The reason is simple- food is too expensive. In fact, during the Moi era many of us were able to afford both fees and food. Today most of us cannot afford food, even though we are not paying fees.

It is true that the Narc government has made improvements. Farmers are being paid for their produce. Coffee, sugar, tea, milk, maize and many products are better paid today than during the Moi era. Why, then, does the Kenyan farmer continue to struggle? Because the cost of all farm inputs- seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides- have doubled or tripled. The money the farmers are getting is quickly taken back through these exorbitant prices.

Today 3 out of 5 Kenyans are either starving or on the brink of starvation. In a nation of 30 million, that means 18 million Kenyans cannot afford to feed themselves every day. Many of us live on one meal a day, and on some days that meal is not available and our hungry children cry until they sleep.

Is it because we do not work? Ordinary Kenyans work every day. We till the land, work in factories, flower farms and EPZ. We dig ditches, chip and carry stones from quarries, hawk products on the streets, run kiosks. Most of us are casual laborers, cleaning homes for the rich, doing clerical work in their companies, mixing concrete in their construction. The average casual laborer is paid only 100/= per day to do extremely hard work. 100/= is no longer enough to buy food for a family; Unga is 54/=. Paraffin, sukuma-wiki, cooking oil, water and rent are supposed to come from the remaining 46/=. That is why we are sleeping with empty stomachs even after working hard.

Where are our MPs? Since independence Kenya has never missed a scheduled election. Every 5 years ordinary citizens elect MPs. Their only job is to give voice to the people's needs. Why are they so quiet when food prices increase?

During the Kenyatta and Moi era, like ordinary Kenyans, MPs' salary was less than 20,000/=. Some MPs were rich, but many were ordinary citizens who understood the struggles of ordinary citizens. Today an MP earns over Kshs.600,000 every month. Each month an MP can afford to buy over 10,000 packets of Unga, enough to feed his family for 30 years! That is why Mps say nothing about the high cost of food. And, this includes all our MPs, not just government MPs. When it comes to voting for their needs, there is usually no difference between our MPs.

Why are Kenyans unable to afford food?

Every year starving Kenyans are given dry maize because they have no food. The government blames this on lack of rain. It is true that it has not rained in some areas for a long time. But it is also true that year round Kenya exports vegetables like French beans to Europe. Kenya is the top exporter of flowers in the world. If there is enough water to irrigate flowers and French beans for Europeans, why not use the same water to grow food for Kenyans? Because the government does not care whether Kenyans live or die.

Kenyans are paid very little salaries for making products that earn billions for foreigners. The government has poor planning leading to poor policies which have contributed to joblessness; poor remuneration; mismanagement of national resources like water (e.g. a government water project delivers water to a minister's farm in Kajiado, leaving the rest of the district dry); unexploited talent (educated and trained Kenyans are either unemployed or retrenched); high taxation of citizens (foreigners who invest in Kenya don't pay taxes for 10 years while citizens are taxed heavily from the first day); bad politics (If MPs can spend heavily for referendum campaigns why not use the same energy to help starving Kenyans?); improper, imbalanced education due to poor education policy (the rich have well equipped private schools, the poor learn under trees); lack of research on food; etc
The most serious reason, however, is the inequitable distribution of resources.

The gap between the richest and the poorest people in Kenya is the second highest in the world; we are a nation of a few billionaires and 30 million beggars - 75% of our resources, including land, are controlled by foreigners. As a result, we remain essentially enslaved; nearly all of us work for foreign interests. At the same time, 90 % of all income generated in Kenya is owned by only 10%, meaning that 27 million Kenyans have to fight for only 10% of the income. Sadly, there is no truly selfless leader in Kenya. Poor leadership means that people with selfless nationalism like JM Kariuki are quickly killed, leaving us with selfish and corrupt leaders.
Can food be made affordable?

The government can easily ensure that no Kenyan will ever go hungry. First, foreigners can be taxed and a fund created that would provide Kenyan farmers with interest-free loans. Money leaving the country should be limited so that money earned in Kenya develops Kenya. Also, money coming to Kenya should not be scrutinized so that, like Switzerland, Kenya benefits from foreign funds. We can use existing resources like the military and the National Youth Service to drill boreholes, make water furrows, and construct water reservoirs to harvest rainwater, improve roads and distribute food. Drilling boreholes makes more sense than constructing dams, which are dependent on rains. Education can be improved so that Kenyans are given appropriate training (e.g. teach carpentry, brick making, etc to all Kenyans, not just prisoners). Kenyans can be encouraged to grow indigenous crops by having an extra tax imposed on all foreign food imports. Kenyans should be allowed to transport food freely from any part of the country without requiring licenses or paying any fees.

Like other countries, the government must be forced to subsidize the cost of basic food products. If we go by the history of the Moi era, the cost of Unga should increase by 1/= each year. Since in 2002 it was 27/= the cost of Unga should not exceed 30/=. At the same time, the government should subsidize the cost of Kerosene/paraffin which ordinary citizens use.

Bunge la Mwananchi believes that there is enough money for the government of Kenya to subsidize Unga and paraffin. By removing taxes on Unga and paraffin, the prices should drop. Further, the government should find money to subsidize basic food products. Kenyans need affordable food, NOT relief food. Queuing for dry maize with our children undermines our dignity and is not a sustainable solution. If food prices are reduced, no Kenyan will go hungry. We are willing to work for our food, as long as the prices are affordable.

Where will the money come from?

The government has plenty of money but it just misuses it. We demand that the salaries of MPs are reduced to no more than 200,000 per month, and like everyone else, the MPs should pay taxes and contribute to the national pension schemes of NSSF and PAYE. Pension scheme for MPs and health insurance to private hospitals should be scrapped; MPs should have NHIF insurance and go to government hospitals like other Kenyans. The over 1 billion set aside in the budget for renovating MPs offices and enlarging parliament should be used to subsidize food or establish a fund for capital investment in small businesses for Kenyans. That will generate income and provide employment. The 100million budgeted for building the VP’s house and the 400 million for renovating State house should be used for building low cost houses for Kenyans. Like Rwanda, Kenya should sell all expensive government vehicles and replace them with simple vehicles, which should only be used during government business and not for taking Ministers' girlfriends shopping.

The President, if he is serious about reducing expenses in government, should start by firing all cabinet ministers who have refused to give back the extra cars. No public officer should ever have more than one vehicle assigned to him. The money saved can be used to improve transport for ordinary Kenyans. All presidential commissions should be immediately abolished; they consume billions and deliver nothing. Spending 300 million on Mutava Musyimi's commission or paying Ringera 2.5 million per month to fight corruption is, itself, corruption. That money can be used better. Alfred Mutua should be sacked. Kenya has no need for a spokesman telling us about homesick hyenas in Thailand at a cost of 1.5 million per month. Retreats for MPs should be banned; meetings should be in Parliament not in 5-star hotels in Mombasa. Funding for MPs offices in their constituencies should be scrapped; volunteers at no cost can run those offices.

Pension for retired presidents should be no more than 300,000. Imports of locally available products should be heavily taxed. No public funds should ever be used to fund funerals or help individual families unless similar privileges are extended to all Kenyans.

What can we do?

We have started a campaign to force the government to reduce the cost of Unga to 30/=. We demand that MPs move and pass a motion to remove VAT on all basic foodstuffs; it is not too much to ask considering that MPs were able to remove taxes on their salaries and vehicles.

Before coming to us for votes this year we, the people, want to remind our politicians that we will agitate for reforms that suit us, not "minimum reforms" to ensure that they are re-elected. We will also have peaceful protests nationwide.
Support us by giving this message to as many people as possible and joining our organized demonstrations.

PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT
Jeevanjee Gardens, Moi Avenue
Tel: 0733 248 301
Email: info@kenyapeoplesparliament.com

SEE ALSO;

----
Maize crisis and the Ruto question

How Keter pointed to Ruto corruption

State house link to corruption suspect named

Famous old families that got rich on corruption

Ruto regime corruption greed: Evidence rapidly emerging

Likoni tragedy and little known deadly fact about car brakes

Murdered Ivy Mwangi and the man who had a childhood crush

Was man who framed Jomo judged by freak accident decades later?

Reject Ruto gift of car urges Pope's man

A waitress, her dad and the waitress sponsor: murder was the result

Did Mo Dewji (the riches young entrepreneur in Africa) frustrate Magufuli plans with the micro chip implanted in his body?

Kumekuicha Daily Home Page: Wed 28th Feb 2007

Kumekucha Today

Lead Story
Jeff Koinage's Serious Problems


Standard Group's One Million Shilling Investmant Plan: The Inside Story


Mutula Kilonzo The Mediator


Are Their Some Nasty Secrets Between Raila And Mutula Kilonzo?

Yesterday's stories
Angry Remarks From Kalonzo Musyoka's Son... Or Is It Mwau's Son?


Major Business Opportunity That Kenyans Can Make A Killing From


Teachers To Benefit From The Upcoming Polls


President's Kibaki's Sleepy Preferred Advisors


Kenya's Tasteless Sugar Story: Will Cash Go Towards Financing Campaigns?


There is too much hot information in this blog now. To avoid missing anything subscribe to our email newsletter Kumekucha Confidential. If you're not a yet a subscriber, become one today by sending an email to KUMEKUCHA-SUBSCRIBE@YAHOOGROUPS.COM


Hot Stories;
Tom Mboya Murder Mystery Solved


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part 4: How He Grew Up With Witchcraft And Forces Of Darkness


Other All-time most popular stories in this blog

Exclusive Interview: Alnoor Kassam Of TradeBank Fame Speaks to Kumekucha

The Most Hotly Discussed Topic In This Blog: Kikwete Behaves Like The Kenyan Ambassador

Great Business Stories: Mandatally Manji's Business Secrets

See More Stories in the Kumekucha Archive

This Blog is dedicated to the memory of this man...

Jeff Koinange's Mounting Problems

Many Kenyans are not aware of it but CNN anchor and bureau chief in charge of Africa, Jeff Koinange has in recent weeks been going through what is perhaps the greatest crisis of his entire life.

It all started with the Nigerian crisis where the government of that volatile-by-nature African nation recently accused Koinange of paying his news sources to pose for dramatic footage. The complaints reached Atlanta, headquarters of Ted Turner's CNN International news and even involved the company's lawyers. However Jeff seems to have been given the all-clear.

But the whole saga seems to have taken a new twist after a rather bizarre incident happened in Johannesburg, South Africa, last week. Koinange had just jetted back from London, accompanied by his beautiful Arab-Kenyan wife from Mombasa, when the couple was robbed at gunpoint by a gang of at least four. They took everything, including Jeff's credit cards and American passport (surprise, surprise, Jeff Koinange is actually no longer Kenyan).

This kind of crime in the country where carjackings were invented is really nothing out of the ordinary. Incidentally what some people refer to as phone-jackings are also fairly common. This is where you are walking on the streets only to feel the muzzle of a gun poking on your side and a voice telling you to quietly surrender your mobile phone and all other valuables. Passers-by hardly sense what is going on. However in Jeff's case the timing and nature of the whole incident raises lots of eyebrows.

To start with, one or two gunmen usually accomplish this kind of nasty business. However, strangely enough, in Jeff's case there were at least four. Then there is the issue of the timing. Jeff was scheduled to fly back to Nigeria to prepare for the coverage of that country's elections. With the theft of his passport, that trip now looks highly unlikely or at least will have to be delayed for some time. Mere coincidence or is there more than meets the eye to this latest chilling development?

It is said that CNN has now put Mr and Mrs Koinange under special security arrangements, which even raises more suspicions that the armed robbery incident was no ordinary affair.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Standard Newspaper's One Billion Shilling Investment Program

As the smoke continues to go up at Kimathi street, home of the Nation media group, rival Standard group recently announced an ambitious one billion shilling investment program. On the surface there is hardly anything out of the ordinary about this for a company whose flagship product, The East African Standard was launched in 1902 and is by far the oldest newspaper in the region.

After all, only recently shares of the company started trading on the main board after years on the second tier market of the Nairobi Stock Exchange.

Keen observers however did not fail to notice that out of the two banks funding Kshs 600 million of the investment programme (the rest will come from internal sources within the Standard group) one can qualify to be called a Standard group sister company. The Commercial Bank of Africa majority shareholders are the same people who are also the majority shareholders of the Standard group. Namely the Moi family. That is why it was so amusing to hear CEO Isaac Awuondo give the "solid reasons" why his bank had accepted to fund the Standard group expansion programme. The other bank funding the project is CFC bank.

There is little doubt that this latest move will greatly help the Standard group's KTN to fortify its' position as Kenya's leading Television network. Despite stiff competition and the entry of the Nation group into the business, KTN has been unshaken and there is no doubt that no other station in the region understands television like the folks at Nyayo House.

The newspaper is however a different kettle of fish and there are those who would argue against the purchase of the state-of-the-art new printing press just now.

If truth be told, ever since the Daily Nation changed direction from a circulation-oriented daily to a newspaper that relies more heavily on advertising to meet it's quarterly budgets, (in the 90s) The Standard has never really managed to re-position itself effectively. It is as if the newspaper has had two competing minds. The first has made a serious stab at trying to fill the circulation vacuum left by the Daily Nation's change of direction, which has mainly been attempted by sensational headlines with little or no content to back it up. On the other hand, the newspaper has also struggled unsuccessfully to regain its' position as the top ad revenue generating newspaper in the country.

Still it is worth noting that the circulation boosting efforts by Standard newspaper executives seem to have been at least good enough to cause a strange incident last year where some unknown people were going round newspaper vendors in Nairobi paying them not to display the Standard newspaper.

Many feel that it may have been a wiser move to hold off the investment in the new press until the newspaper is surer of the way forward.

However it is also true to point out the fact we are in an election year and by simply playing second fiddle to the Nation, the Standard is bound to break all circulation records filling in where the Nation will have quickly sold out. So the new press is probably justified just for this reason alone.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Mutula Kilonzo The Mediator

Nominated MP Mutula Kilonzo is no ordinary lawyer. Having represented the former president and a number of other platinum clients, the successful city lawyer has now been chosen as the mediator to sort out the bitter differences between presidential aspirants Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga that is threatening to tear apart ODM-Kenya.

Kilonzo who holds the amorphous post of team leader in ODM has been at the forefront in defending the movement at press conferences and has even overshadowed the party's official spokesman, Anyang Nyongo who is the interim party secretary general.

Having known the fabulously rich lawyer since the Moi's days, I was not in the least surprised when Kilonzo won the trust of the big wigs in ODM over a very short period of time not to mention the fact that he is still a Kanu nominated MP… And still former president Moi's lawyer. This last one is all he more fascinating because Moi has on several occasions expressed his disaffection towards ODM.

For one, Kilonzo is a very highly intelligent guy who is very impressive and convincing when it comes to arguing out his case whether in court or in a business deal, but his greatest asset is his ability of maintaining client confidentiality at all costs.

It is as a result of this confidentiality that Mutula happens to still represent Moi and other prominent clients like appellate judge Waki who won his case against corruption allegations and was reinstated.

It is also worth noting that Kilonzo is now representing justice Thomas Mbaluto who is facing corruption allegations. Among his other high profile clients are former Central bank governor Andrew Mullei and embattled Ford Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo (a competitor to ODM-Kenya. Mutula's list of prominent clients who may even be rivals is endless.

Kilonzo once bragged to me once that he has also acted for Kibaki when he was a minister in the Kanu government and he is well known to him in spite of being on opposite sides of the political divide now.

Mutula may not have the experience of mediating but due to the time and effort he has put into ODM so far, not to mention the moral and material support, he is the best placed among ODM ranks to make peace.

Other lawyers in the party like Daniel Maanzo and people like Otieno Kajwang are so partisan and short sighted that the best they can do is to act as alter ego's to the presidential candidates they support.

My bet is that id Narc-Kenya and ODM-Kenya need a mediator in the not too distant future, then that person is most likely going to be… You guessed it, Mutula Kilonzo.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Is There Something Between Mutula Kilonzo and Raila Odinga That Kenyans Don’t Know About?

For Mutula Kilonzo to mediate between Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga it means that the latter has confidence in the city lawyer in spite of him coming from the same community as his rival and sends very strong signals that Mutula and Raila could be coming from a very long way which Kenyans do not know anything about.

Raila is known to be a person who does not take any chances and he is always sure of what he is doing not to mention he also carefully calculates the gravity of every action he takes. With this in mind, it is therefore prudent to assume that the maverick politician either has a hold on Mutula or has a fall back plan incase Kilonzo and Kalonzo betray him.

Mutula's closeness with Kalonzo cannot be over emphasized. The latter has been represented by the former several times including one time where Kalonzo was to be committed to jail for contempt of court in a case where he was ordered to return land documents to a complainant whom he had defrauded but defied the order.

It was the quick action of Mutula that saved Musyoka from going behind bars. At the time, Kalonzo was deputy speaker of the national assembly and his political career was on the rise.

However, what is puzzling political observers is the fact that Kilonzo is still very close to Moi and many think he is the former president's spy in ODM-Kenya yet he has been fully trusted by both Raila and Kalonzo who are said to be the driving force behind the party.

Another school of thought says Kalonzo and Kilonzo are still working closely together and will deliver the fatal political blow to Raila when the time comes and they have the full blessings of Moi who could be just as comfortable with a Kalonzo presidency as he is with a Kibaki one.

Moi will never trust nor forgive Raila for the rebellion he led in Kanu after Uhuru Kenyatta was anointed Moi's heir apparent to the chagrin of Raila, Kalonzo , Saitoti and others who quickly joined Narc.

It is very plausible that a Raila government would take Moi to court and perhaps charge him with economic crimes. He could also be charged with the murder of his foreign affairs minister Robert Ouko in 1990.These are some of the pertinent issues that are giving Moi sleepless nights at the thought of Raila making it to State house.

Raila is known to be a cautious guy and must be watching Kalonzo and Kilonzo very closely and only time will tell whether Mutula Kilonzo is a worthwhile mediator or the perfect spy.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Kumekucha Daily Home Page: Tues 27th Feb 2007

Kumekucha Today

Lead Story
Angry Remarks From Kalonzo Musyoka's Son... Or Is It Mwau's Son?


Major Business Opportunity That Kenyans Can Make A Killing From


Teachers To Benefit From The Upcoming Polls


President's Kibaki's Sleepy Preferred Advisors


Kenya's Tasteless Sugar Story: Will Cash Go Towards Financing Campaigns?

Yesterday's stories
What The Big War At ODM Is All About


The Crazy Twist In ODM Fallout That May Be Coming


Man who predicted Tsunami now says there is a big earthquake coming that will fell buildings in Nairobi


Can the Daily Nation be trusted in the forthcoming elections?


Pastor Pius Muiru Relaunches Presidential bid

There is too much hot information in this blog now. To avoid missing anything subscribe to our email newsletter Kumekucha Confidential. If you're not a yet a subscriber, become one today by sending an email to KUMEKUCHA-SUBSCRIBE@YAHOOGROUPS.COM


Hot Stories;
Tom Mboya Murder Mystery Solved


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part 4: How He Grew Up With Witchcraft And Forces Of Darkness


Other All-time most popular stories in this blog

Exclusive Interview: Alnoor Kassam Of TradeBank Fame Speaks to Kumekucha

The Most Hotly Discussed Topic In This Blog: Kikwete Behaves Like The Kenyan Ambassador

Great Business Stories: Mandatally Manji's Business Secrets

See More Stories in the Kumekucha Archive

This Blog is dedicated to the memory of this man...

Angry Remarks Against This Blogger by Kalonzo Musyoka's Son

...Or is it Harun Mwau's?

It is interesting how only yesterday this blog received a very angry comment from a person who claims to be Kalonzo Musyoka's son. The person wondered how we would dare "manufacture" lies about their father and still manage to sleep at night.

Personally I was always very close to my dear departed mother, but I have often said here that if anything came up today about her, I would NOT hesitate to expose her in this blog. Although understandably there is too much at stake in the forthcoming elections, it is also true that too much has gone wrong in this country for us to continue to fall back blindly on nepotism. We need urgent solutions and where our fathers have been responsible for the current mess, we owe it to our beloved country, ourselves and future generations to expose them. This is the only way that we can guarantee a better tomorrow.

We DO NOT manufacture stories in this blog. If we did, we would not be as popular as we are. The evidence we have against one Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka is overwhelming. If anything, the current problems in ODM-Kenya, are further proof of this man's selfishness and complete lack of selflessness, an attribute that admittedly does not exist amongst any of our current crop of politicians and yet an attribute that the country badly needs in their leaders at the moment.

If it is indeed true that the person who left the angry comment yesterday afternoon is indeed the son of Kalonzo Musyoka, then we humbly request that they get answers to the following 3 simple questions from their father;

i) If indeed he is innocent and has nothing to do with witchcraft, then why did he call a press conference at parliament buildings to defend Kamba MPs against allegations of witchcraft? Why did he tell the press (and by extension Kenyans) lies, to the effect that Kamba MPs are not into witchcraft? And this was only days after a Kamba MP and a woman witchdoctor had drowned in a car where lot of witchcraft paraphernalia including a human skull was later recovered in a bag believed to have belonged to the woman at the scene of the drowning.


ii) Why did former PS in the office of the president and secretary to the cabinet, Prof Philip Mbithi name Kalonzo Musyoka alongside his mentor of many years, the late Mulu Mutisya as the people behind some strange witchcraft attack the professor suffered where he almost died. Mbithi claims that he was attacked by people he could not see, whom he believed were demons snet using witchcraft and powers of darkness. Mbithi narrowly escaped with his life.


iii) Why did Musyoka fraudulently and secretly transfer land that belonged to a client, according to court records? See our detailed story on this saga.


You see, it is time the current crop of politicians realized that the game is up in that Kenyans will want to know a lot about their past and who they really are before they can expect any votes from long suffering Kenyan voters. Nepotism or the manufacture of false stories has nothing to do with this trend. We badly need integrity in our politicians and we need it now.

In the past Hon Kalonzo Musyoka has remained mum on very serious allegations leveled against him in the daily press, based on the court records that show that land was fraudulently transferred using documents that had been placed in his law firm's trust and the land went to a company that Kalonzo is believed to have had some interest and shareholding in. By keeping quiet in the same way that many politicians have done in the past, Kalonzo must have been hoping that people will soon forget about it. Well, they will not, as he will soon find out. He wants to be our president and he wants Kenyans to entrust him with the responsibility of leading them. Is it manufacturing stories and being unfair on the former minister if many Kenyans fear that by putting their trust in Kalonzo chances are that they will suffer a fate similar to the owners of that title deed that was used to transfer land secretly? Are Kenyans unjustified in expecting that Musyoka will defend the guilty at press conferences at the expense of the majority of long suffering Kenyans?

I take this opportunity to thank Kalonzo Musyoka's son for reading this blog and urge him to continue doing so for the sake of our beloved country. And so that he can discover how consistent we are and the fact that there is really nothing personal about the facts published here about any public figure.

P.S. We would hate to think it, but if the reader who left the comment is talking about Mwau (and not Kalonzo) being their dad, then I feel real pity for them. Children normally instinctively know the truth about their parents.

John Harun Mwau makes Kalonzo look like Mother Teresa. My only advice is for this young man or lady to do their own independent resewarch on their dad and then get back to us. If they can prove their father's innocence we will be the first to apologize.

Read the comment for yourelf at the bottom of this page.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Missed Opportunities And The Financial Consequences of The Rift Valley Fever: Hundreds of Butchers Countrywide Close Shop

Business Oppostunity Idea Special

In recent times, Kenyans have been avoiding beef meat in the wake of the rapidly spreading Rift Valley fever. The implications on the business and financial scene have been devastating. Hundreds of butchers countrywide have had to close.

Yet the fascinating thing is that many other butchers have made major windfall profits. What is the difference? Actually those in the business of selling meat that have quickly switched to chicken and fish and adapted to the business environment have greatly benefited.

The rift valley fever is a great tragedy that has happened in Kenya but it has highlighted the importance of a business being able to quickly shift gears and adapt to rapidly changing circumstances in the market place. This is in fact what modern business is all about.

It is clear that many businesses in Kenya are not capable of adjusting, let alone doing it quickly enough to turn catastrophe to advantage and great profit. The result is that many families who have always relied on the earnings of a bread-winning butcher are now going through great suffering and uncertainty.

Many other Kenyan entrepreneurs have also failed to see the great potential in attempting to meet the runaway demand for chicken that has exploded in recent times. Chicken rearing is a highly profitable business to go into right now. Even the price of eggs is set to rise up suddenly in the near future as supply is bound to be affected by the huge demand for chicken which will inevitably also affect layers.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Teachers Demand For The Remaining Two Phases Of Their Pay Package Deal

The timing is perfect. This being an election year and the government finding itself on the defensive amid a popular opposition, there could not be a better time for teachers to demand for the full implementation of their pay package deal.

There are about 250,000 teachers in Kenya who are under the teachers service commission and come in very handy during elections as they are known to influence to voting patterns, especially in the rural areas where the majority of voters are.

It is a well known fact that teachers played an integral role in ensuring that Kanu lost the 2002 elections after they were promised heaven on earth by the Narc 'dream team' which ascended to power only to renege on its promises starting with the highly publicized memorandum of understanding.

Kenya national union of teachers secretary general, Francis Ng'ang'a says he is to meet education minister George Saitoti sometime this week to iron out the final details of the pay deal issue and he is optimistic that the talks will be fruitful.

But again, Saitoti has his hands full as he is yet to finalize the pay increment for university lecturers who are still waiting for their revised package where they have asked for an over 500% increment.

This being an election year, the Kibaki administration does not wish to be in the bad books of anybody and in particularly the voters so it will not be a major surprise if the government yields to the teachers' demands as well as those of the lecturers but will probably spread it over a few years.

The big question is where will the money come from? With the government running a major deficit in its budget and borrowing heavily from the domestic market, this trend is bound to continue with a bad impact on interest rates and in effect raising inflation.

At the moment, the education ministry is still grappling with the free primary education policy, which is guzzling a large chunk of the ministry's budget and increasing both the teachers' and lecturers' salary could be more than a herculian task

But again, the current government was voted in not only on the anti corruption platform but also on the promise that everything was possible without Moi. They have failed on both accounts as corruption continues unabated and president Kibaki has become Moi's bosom friend and advisor. The clincher is that even what was possible under Moi (like Kenyas being able to put bread on the table more easily) has proved to be increasingly impossible under Kibaki for many Kenyans.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

President Kibaki's Advisors: The Old Versus The Young

It has now become evident that president Kibaki is torn between two worlds, that of the young and that of the old with the former proving to be flexible and dynamic while the
old continue to be conservative, obstinate and paranoid.

For instance, majority of Kenyans believe that if Chris Murungaru was still minister for internal security to date, the government would never have raided the Standard newspaper offices last year but it was the elderly and arrogant Michuki who could have the guts to carry out that archaic action that maligned the good name of Kenya.

According to political observers, it is this band of aging advisors that are responsible for most of the bad decisions Kibaki has made over the last four years in power. Worse of all, these elderly advisors know little or nothing about politics but are mostly successful businessmen who also have their selfish side.

Among them are Joe Wanjui, John Michuki, Njenga Karume and George Muhoho among other golfing buddies who form an elitist group with absolutely no touch with the common man and their advice is mainly pegged on the interests of the ruling elite and rich Kenyans.

It is as a result of these group that Kibaki has the impression that his economic record is pleasant and has changed the lives of millions of Kenyans, little does he know that majority of Kenyans are just as poor as they were four years ago while for many others, the situation has in fact gotten worse. However, for the rich, they are now richer and the gap between the haves and have not has increased astronomically. (Is it any wonder that violent crime has gone through the roof?)

Unfortunately, it is these old advisors that Kibaki has his faith in and the 'young turks' could also have unlimited access to state house but will never override the old guards 'advice' on issues of the day.

The teams of young advisors is led by finance minister Amos Kimunya who is struggling to build his team of young advisors ever since Kibaki fired his personal assistant Alfred Gitonga and former internal security minister Chris Murungaru over the Anglo leasing scandal.

It was the wish of Gitonga to have the president surrounded by young intelligent and dynamic advisors and handlers but this was strongly resisted by the old guard who had a hand in the exit of Kitonga from state house.

And again, it is only logical for Kibaki to feel more comfortable with his age mates and there is no way the young lads can convince him to change his mind on a matter that has already been sanctioned by the old guards.

It is because of this that Kibaki stands to be humiliated at the ballot box at the end of this year as the old guards have lost touch with reality and most of their advice to the president is based on selfishness and not selflessness. And again, it is these same old guards who have tribalism deeply entrenched in their souls.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Kenya's Sugar Story Sours In Bitter Row Over Imports

In what has become a circus between the ministry of finance and that of agriculture, the battle over the importation of 200,000 metric tones of sugar is headed for the regional courts.

Already, 10,000 tons of sugar is at the Mombasa port and has been lying there for the past two weeks awaiting clearance while another 20,000 tones is in the high seas and is expected to arrive and get cleared on time for the March 1 deadline when the finance ministry's legal notice barring duty-free sugar from entering Kenya expires.

As from Thursday this week, merchants will be racing for the importation of 89,000 tones of table sugar and 111,000 tones of industrial sugar as duty free sugar will be allowed into the country.

Obstinate finance minister Amos Kimunya has refused to budge and insists that any sugar brought in before March 1, 2007 will attract 100% customs duty insisting there was no crisis in the country as the commodity is readily available in shops and supermarkets not to mention the seven millers in the country.

It is evident that somebody somewhere is lying with the intention of making a 'quick buck' over sugar importation and this will be nothing new in a country where sugar importers made millions in profits during the Moi era. A lot of he money went into financing Kanu politics and the general elections.

During the Kanu days, well connected importers would import large quantities of the commodity and evade paying tax on it prior to dumping it in the local market and making obscene profits which they would then share with crooked government officials who assisted them.

This was a common practice before the general elections and Kanu is known to have financed its campaigns through sugar proceeds and it seems the Narc government is learning fast as they also need lots of cash for Kibaki's re-election campaign in December.

And again, the current agriculture minister, Kipruto arap Kirwa is known to be notoriously corrupt and has been under investigation by the Kenya anti corruption commission but nothing concrete has come up though he is said to have become a multi millionaire over a very short period of time.

Monday, February 26, 2007

Kumekucha Daily Home Page: Mon 26th Feb 2007

Kumekucha Today

Lead Story
What The Big War At ODM Is All About


The Crazy Twist In ODM Fallout That May Be Coming


Man who predicted Tsunami now says there is a big earthquake coming that will fell buildings in Nairobi


Can the Daily Nation be trusted in the forthcoming elections?


Pastor Pius Muiru Relaunches Presidential bid

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Hot Stories;
Tom Mboya Murder Mystery Solved


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part 4: How He Grew Up With Witchcraft And Forces Of Darkness


Other All-time most popular stories in this blog

Exclusive Interview: Alnoor Kassam Of TradeBank Fame Speaks to Kumekucha

The Most Hotly Discussed Topic In This Blog: Kikwete Behaves Like The Kenyan Ambassador

Great Business Stories: Mandatally Manji's Business Secrets

See More Stories in the Kumekucha Archive

This Blog is dedicated to the memory of this man...

Kumekucha Archives

Recent stories

Strange events on the night Matheri died


Simon Matheri: The making of a killer gangster


Is Koigi Wa Wamwere finished, politically?


Assistant minister wants abortion legalized in Kenya



Why Are The Police Telling Lies About The Matheri Shooting?


Vigilanta group chopping off the heads of suspected criminals in Kisii


3 Inmates Die From Cholera Outbreak At Kamiti Maximum Security Prison


Why Nation CEO Made A Big Mistake In Protecting Sex-for-promotion Editors


The Real Strength Of Nation Newspapers And Why Most People Don't Know It


Kenyans Now Want Their Cops To Be Jugdes And Executioners Of Thugs


Why The Gunning Down Of Matheri Will Not Make Kenya Safer


Does This ODM-Kenya Proposal Have Popular Support?


KUJ Demands resignation of sex scandal managers to pave way for investigations


Sex managers wrongly linked Crime Editor, Muiruri to annonymous letters


State house and the sleeping habits of 3 presidents


Why Narc Kenya is it's own worst enemy


Carjacker who shot victims in the head, gunned down at Athi River


There Is Enough Evidence To Convict Ouko Killers, John Troon Tells Kumekucha


Why A Vote for Kibaki Is A Vote Against Bringing Ouko's Killer To Justice


Brand new non-sexual NMG scandal: Which newspaper should Kenyans now trust?


Police commissioner was trained to supress information, but will this strategy work in the war against crime in Kenya?


Woe unto you if you are a Kikuyu and you support calls for minimum reforms


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru joins ODM-Kenya


Why reforms battle may be headed for a bloody conclusion


We warned you: Cash falls from the sky at Western Kenya political meeting


Unpredictable Ngilu sleeps with the enemy yet again


25 suspended from school for NOT being circumcised


Rev. Mutava Musyimi to challenge Nyagah in Gacoka


General Elections Update: Why it is going to start raining cash in Kenya soon


The Biggest Mistake Dr Ouko's Killers Made


The Kenya Shilling In 2007: Are Speculators Right?


New NMG Sex Scandal letter surfaces


Robert Ouko, We Remember...


Is This Woman Finance Minister Kimunya's Girlfriend?


Is John Githongo working with Raila Odinga?


No ID Cards, No Elections: Raila Now Tells Kibaki


The Secret Life Of Two Magistrates


After Nyahah, Amos Kimunya Now Runs Into Trouble With Angry Constituents


Martha Karua Calls Muite A Coward


Province With The Highest Number Of Presidential Candidates Chases Mirage


Secrets of the Masai Kenyans are ignorant of and yet white women tourists know


Tony Gachoka: Gigolo or shrewd operator?


What to do when your neighbour falls in love with your wife


Fight against escalating crime: Why Ali's contract will now be renewed


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru's wedding now stopped by High court


New Travel Advisory tells Americans that violent crime-prone Kenya is unsafe to travel to


Kamukunji MP Norman Nyagah gets the shock of his life when he tries to visit his constituents


Nation staffers tell their bosses: We don't want to report to people who do not have a University degree


Most Evil Daily Crime Goes Unreported In Kenya: WHY?


Why Evil Nicholas Biwott Has Prospered Under The Kibaki Regime


Chief Justice Gicheru Ignores Tribalism As He Prepares Yet Another Radical Surgery Of The Judiciary


Rift Valley Fever Spins Out Of Control As Death Tolls Reaches 139


Raila Swears With The Holy Bible That Kibaki Is Lying


Escalating Crime And Killing In Nairobi: What Truth In Hit Squad Rumour?


Is There A Hit Squad Link In Strange Mombasa Explosion?


Can Kibaki Dare Appoint A Fellow Kikuyu As VP?


Ringera Slaps Kenyans In The Face Yet Again


Raila's Own Broken Promises Even As He Points Finger At Kibaki


101 immigration excuses a Kenyan can use to avoid deportation from the US


Liar Liar, Ngilu Screams At Kibaki


How politicians control the press: The story of Emman Omari and George Saitoti


Kenyan women dishing our sexual favors in the workplace: How serious is it?


Why Nation managers will not be fired.


When a President Tells Lies


...And more Lies From His Finance Minister


Youth Development Fund Fraud


Why Mwalimu Mati was hounded out of TI


Will Senior Nation Editors Be Fired Over Sex Scandal Allegations?


How corruption starts with the people who finance presidential campaign


How did arrogant Michuki make his millions?


Sex Scandal Involving Boss Exposed At Nation Media Group As Letter With Details Is Posted On The Web


Corruption in Narc Started with these people who financed Kibaki's Presidential Bid


Americans Murdered By Kenyan Carjackers


Why Roselyn Nambuye Should Be Appointed Chief Justice


Escalating Crime: Who oredered the hit on a traffic policeman?


Serious problems in cash-strapped ODM-Kenya over unworkable nomination system


Women suspects now being locked up in policemen's bedrooms


Kalonzo And Raila On Yet Another Begging Mission In The USA


Marital Rape in Kenya: Woman Goes to Court To Stop Serial Rapist Husband


Musalia Mudavadi's Unfaithful Wife And His Bid For The Presidency


Police Commissioner's Contract Almost Over As Crime Escalates


VP Awori Announces That he Is Kibaki's Running Mate


Why Kenyans Should Prepare For Mass Action And Mass Violence


Rift valley fever Panic Hits Nairobi


Kalonzo Tells Kibaki: You Are Too Tired To Rule


Anglo Leasing Cover Up Part 2


The sales Lady From Anglo Leasing


Who Is The Dark, Mysterious Anglo Leasing Figure Who Booked Ads In The Local Press Defending The Company?


Githongo: Son of The President's Bossom Buddy Who Dissapointed


Why Would The President's Men Need So Much Cash?


Latest Githingo Tapes On Anglo Leasing: What Impact Will They Have On The Kibaki Government?


BOMBSHELL: Listen To The Latest Githongo Tapes Or Read The Full Transcript Of The Conversation Kenyans Are Talking About


Is President Kibaki In The Githongo Tapes?


7 Signs That The Kibaki Government Is Corrupt


Anglo Leasing And Goldenberg: Can You Spot The Difference?


The Githongo Tapes: Do We Need To Be Careful About The British?


Crime Made In The Uniformed Forces


The Most Harassed And Abused Woman Journalist In East Africa


No Reforms No Elections Hit Of '97 Remixed and Re-Released for 2007


How To Make A Quick Tax Free Million In 2007


Why John Githongo Must Stand For President


Current Crime Wave: Why It Must Be Linked To The Elections


Margaret Wanjiru and Pastor Pius Muiru: The Untold Story


How Two Presidents looted Kenya


Is Samuel Gichuru HIV positive?


African Lion Safari In Kenya: The Day a Lion did the unthinkable


Who will be Raila Odinga's running mate? Surprise, surprise


Puzzling Bank Robbery In Mombasa


Mutula Kilonzo: The Real Man Behind The City Laywer And ODM Activist


Why Has Standard Newspapers Gone Soft Against The Government?


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Controversy


Carjackers with political ambitions


Is Bizarre Rumour About Mutula Kilonzo In ODM True?


The Deepest Analysis Of Raila Odinga The Presidential Candidate


Tribalism At The Daily Nation


Kenya General Elections 2007: The Latest Prediction


Is Kalonzo The Soft Underbelly Of ODM-Kenya Unity?


Citizen Weekly Editors To Vie For Political Office.


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part 4: How He Grew Up With Witchcraft And Forces Of Darkness


Dangers Somalia Poses To Kenya


The Big Moi Blunder On Somali That Is Being Paid For By Kenyan Blood


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know And His Big Obstacle In His Own Back Yard.


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Other Hot Stories;
Tom Mboya Murder Mystery Solved

What A Peasant Farmer Thinks Of ODM, Raila And Elections 2007


Ex-Mungiki, Ndura Waruinge: What You Don't Know About Election Violence In Kenya.

This Blog is dedicated to the memory of this man...



Other Amazing Stories From The Archives;
Biwott: The Man Kenyans Love To Hate

Exclusive Interview: Alnoor Kassam Of TradeBank Fame Speaks to Kumekucha

The Four Most Important Provinces For A Winning Presidential Candidate

The Most Hotly Discussed Topic In This Blog: Kikwete Behaves Like The Kenyan Ambassador

Why The Daily Nation Is Such A Potent Political Weapon And The Mistake Kanu Made In 2002

Great Business Stories: Mandatally Manji's Business Secrets

Rifts In ODM-Kenya As Kalonzo And Raila Camps Go For Each Other's Jugular

What we are now seeing happening within ODM-Kenya has been simmering for a long time.

There are actually two separate but related issues that are causing all the heat, in the party that many Kenyans (this blogger is not one of them) see as the only hope for the country.

There is the man whom many Kenyans have never heard of until now, Daniel Maanzo who is the registered chairman of ODM-Kenya. He says he stepped aside temporarily for defacto chairman Henry Kosgei who has more experience dealing with politicians. However Maanzo now says that he cannot just sit and watch the party being taken over by certain un-named individuals who are "dishing out" party posts to their friends, relatives and even girlfriends. Maanzo makes no secret of which side he falls on and has already said that he will move to court should Kalonzo lose the ODM presidential nominations.

Then there is the issue of hackers who hacked into Kalonzo Musyoka's web site and made some cheeky changes. Any visitors to Kalonzo's site now get automatically re-directed to Raila Odinga's site. And that's not all; visitors to the site are informed that Kalonzo has stepped down for Raila to be the party's presidential candidate. It is worth noting that traffic to Raila's site is over 3 times higher than the traffic Kalonzo usually receives (just check Alexa statistics), so there is really very little damage to Kalonzo from this move. If anything the whole incident paints Raila and his supporters in very bad light. It only helps in confirming the damaging image of hooliganism that many closely identify Raila's radical supporters with. In fact Raila himself seems to be getting impatient with some of his supporters. At a recent meeting he had to rebuke a section of the crowd who were insisting "Raila tosha" and angrily told them that he was not interested in getting the ODM-Kenya nominations through the back door.

There is one angle that the Raila and Kalonzo camps have not considered in this whole hacking saga. And that is the possibility that the whole operation was carried out by a third party, namely ODM-Kenya enemies intent on triggering an all out war between the two major candidates leading to the much-talked about fall out. Everybody knows that tension has been simmering on the surface for months. It needed something so small like this petty web site business, which is really of no consequence to light the fuse and cause the current explosion. In fact a third party is the most likely culprit in this whole web site saga.

Sadly what many Kenyans do no realize is that ODM-Kenya being old Kanu in sheep's clothing, means tactics being used here are old Kanu tricks.

For example, being a lawyer, Kalonzo Musyoka played a major role in the registration of ODM-Kenya and in the process planted as many of his men as possible (for use later). One good example of this is party chairman Daniel Maanzo who has just now started showing his true colours.

On the other hand, Raila is no political novice and in recent times has been busy shoring up support within the party by pushing his people into key strategic positions. This is what Maanzo has been referring to when he says that he cannot just sit and watch the party being taken over by certain un-named individuals who are dishing out party posts to their friends, relatives and girlfriends.

The tensions between the two factions of Raila and Kalonzo within ODM-Kenya have been heightened by the arrogant positions taken by both. Raila supporters are sure that as the founder of the party, Raila should be the automatic ODM-Kenya candidate for the presidency. On the other hand Kalonzo supporters buoyed by Steadmann polls that have consistently placed their candidate second to President Kibaki in popularity are sure that Raila being a Luo is unelectable and only their candidate can deliver victory to ODM-Kenya. No compromise is feasible between these two positions.

Keen political observers are now pointing to the fact that Raila, made a serious miscalculation in forming ODM-Kenya this early in the game. The world over coalitions is usually created after elections. Feelers are usually sent out just before the elections. This idea of forming a coalition under the umbrella of a unified party, over one year before the elections is sheer madness and was bound to fail even before the ink had dried on the registration certificate. These analysts (this blogger included) point to the Narc coalition that won the elections in 2002. Narc was hurriedly put together barely 2 months to the polls. The earlier union of NAK that had brought together Kibaki, Wamalwa and Ngilu was not strong enough to have won the elections.

How does one expect to keep politicians of different pedigree together in the same ship for a year?

Indeed this is exactly the same mistake Narc-Kenya has made. In fact it was Narc-Kenya that started this whole madness.

Former powerful internal security minister, Chris Murungaru seems to be the only politician who has analyzed the whole situation correctly. He is on record as saying last week, that Kenyan politics being coalition politics dictates tactics that are very different from those being employed by Narc-Kenya. Namely forcing a coalition together long before the polls. Little wonder that the tensions within Narc-Kenya are so high.

Actually the ideal situation would have been to let the different constituent parties carry out their own campaigns and maybe come together at the last possible minute.

As it is, this whole crazy scenario seems to have been inspired by President Kibaki's so-called political advisors who simply want to replicate the 2002 success of the National Rainbow Coalition. The interesting thing is that these political advisors, who are all close friends to the president, have no track record of successful political advice. They are in fact the same people who led the President to his resounding referendum defeat.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

The Crazy Twist In A Possible ODM-Kenya Fallout

Raila Odinga is a sitting duck for major catastrophe should Kalonzo Musyoka fail to win the party's nomination. It is now clear that the power of attorney in the party rests with Kalonzo's henchmen, including one Daniel Maanzo whose name appears at the registrar's of societies as the chairman of the party.

So Maanzo and Kalonzo will simply pull the rag from under Raila's feet by "running off with the registration certificate" should Kalonzo not be the one. This will leave Raila and company with no "national vehicle" for which to seek the presidency. They will then be forced to fall back on their political parties most of which are seen as nothing more than tribal organizations with no national outlook.

Because of this, it is advisable that ODM-Kenya goes ahead with the presidential nominations immediately so that if such a scenario plays out, they will have ample time to register and popularize another umbrella political party. On the other hand if they do this, they will have lost their most deadly secret weapon that keeps Kibaki's handlers guessing and anxious because they cannot finalize on a strategy for their candidate when they do not know whom they will face in ODM-Kenya.

This blogger still maintains that former Kibaki kingpin, Dr. Murungaru got it right when he suggested that constituent parties should campaign on their own and coalitions should only be discussed at the 11th hour.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Chilling Prediction: Big Earthquake Hits Nairobi, Brings Down Buildings

The first time Dr Awuor tried to call a press conference in Nairobi, the press were not interested. The few who turned up did not even file a story based on what the self-proclaimed prophet said. It was November 2004 and Awuor was talking about a coming Tsunami that would cause major damage. He did not say exactly when it would happen but he said it would be soon. This event came to pass with chilling accuracy that December.

Now the same man is at it again. He says that a major earthquake is due to hit Nairobi that will cause major devastation and bring down high-rise office buildings. As usual he does not say exactly when this will happen, but he says it is very soon.

What does Kumekucha think?

I will be surprised if this particular prediction does not come to pass. We all know that our all merciful God can turn away disaster even at the last minute if there is enough repentance from the people. However Dr Awuor says that God has "withdrawn him". This is the same thing that happened to Abraham in the Bible, whom God revealed to what he was about to do to Sodom and Gomorrah. Angels were sent to "withdraw" Abraham, his family and Lot's family as well. What this means is that this event is unstoppable and is bound to happen without fail, according to Awuor.

There is no denying the moral decay that is evident in Nairobi. The latest reminder of this is the Nation newspapers sex scandal where we have had many Kenyans commenting in this blog and saying this kind of promiscuous behaviour is "normal" in the corporate world in Nairobi.

If you are reading this post from some high rise building in Nairobi, take heart, there are certain precautions people can take in the event of an earthquake that will increase your chances of survival. (Read them here.)

Let's just wait and see what happens, shall we!

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Can The Daily Nation Be Trusted In Elections 2007?

The latest information reaching this blogger is that a senior Nation newspapers manager has promised the current government favorable coverage in the run up to the elections. I will give more details on this after I have verified certain facts in the report, which I received on Friday from a trusted source.

However, reading through the latest editions of the newspaper which has recently been hit by a major sex-for-promotions scandal, a keen observer can't help but see glaring inconsistencies that do not augur well for free, fair and balanced reporting and analysis in the forthcoming general elections.

For instance, although Kenyans know that there is major infighting within both ODM-Kenya and Narc-Kenya, reading through the Nation, the impression one gets is that the problem in ODM is very serious and the one in Narc is not. This is not true. In fact keen political observers point to the fact that the Narc-Kenya infighting is capable of causing much more damage to the party than the much-predicted split in ODM-Kenya with Kalonzo Musyoka expected to withdraw. Such a move, if it happens, will leave most of ODM-Kenya still intact with only Kalonzo's Kamba community withdrawing from the coalition. Even if Kalonzo leaves with the ODM-Kenya registration certificate, it will be of little consequence as long as the other constituent parties can hold on to their merger. They can always find another umbrella political party.

This is not the only change a keen observer will note in recent editions of the Daily Nation and sister paper, Sunday Nation.

There is also the fact that sensational (gutter-press-like) headlines have crept into the pages of Kenya's most prestigious daily newspaper. Readers are increasingly seeing very sensational headlines that hardly reflect the content. This is a clear sign of a newspaper struggling to boost circulation; only that this is not the way to go about it. Long-term circulation gains come from content and not sensational headlines. Ask the East African Standard and they will verify this after a decade of experimentation with sensational and misleading headlines.

The truth is that for sometime now, the Daily Nation has continuously lost touch with the ordinary Kenyan. Gone are the heady 70s and 80s when senior editors would have a regular drink at some dingy Nairobi bars and mix with "kumbafus" and other ordinary folks. In fact the senior managers enjoy crazily high salaries that put them in a certain class that is a very small minority in Kenya currently. So how would you expect them to produce a newspaper that would appeal to most Kenyans?

What this means is that going into the elections, the views expected from this newspaper will mostly be elitist and will tend to support retention of the status quo. This is exactly what most Kenyan voters (who do not earn a monthly salary of Kshs 400,000 sitting and burping nyama choma fumes all day in some air-condition offices looking for article ideas in the snobbish Times of London while keeping an eye on pretty ankles) want to get away from.

Is this really the sort of newspaper that Kenyans can trust going into the general elections?

Interestingly TV news (especially from KTN) is proving to be much more accurate and unbiased. One of the reasons for this is that there is hardly time to analyze and kill stories and what usually happens is that TV news editors simply air what they have. Kenyans are therefore much more likely to get a clearer picture of what is going on from their prime time TV news.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Pastor Pius Muiru Launches Presidential Bid Again, This Time With KPP

Popular evangelist Pius Muiru was at the Bomas of Kenya on Saturday to re-launch his own party—the Kenya People's Party (KPP) and his bid for the presidency. His earlier effort under RPP had encountered some serious problems with officials of the party denying that Muiru was their presidential candidate.

And again, the evangelist displayed a lot of political naivety and arrogance that will no doubt be a major stumbling block in his bid for political power.

In a speech that he painstakingly read out amid cheers from the crowd, Pastor Muiru took the opportunity to answer back critics saying that it was time for "dirty" Kenyan politics to be "cleaned" by the church. He was of course referring to his candidature. The implication was that there was nothing wrong with his retaining his position as the head of his church organization while at the same time lunging into competitive politics.

The pastor is no doubt used to support at the pulpit from diehard supporters, but politics is a very different ball game. One key skill for any national politician to have is the ability to allow your candidature and ideas to seep in slowly into the minds of the electorate. For this reason is would have been prudent for Muiru's KPP to hold off their announcement of their presidential candidate. Instead they even went a step further and announced Muiru's Vice Presidential running mate. One Eugene Wamalwa, brother to the late Vice President Wamalwa Kijana. The criteria for his selection are not clear, since he is not a known member of Muiru's huge evangelical ministry. But there is no doubt that Muiru handlers are eyeing the huge Luhya vote, which is still undecided amid calls for Luhya unity and for the community to vote as a block.

It is obvious that the church vote in the country is significant, as was proved by the referendum on the proposed new constitution, which received some stiff opposition from mainstream churches. However then, they were united for a common cause against what they saw as a common enemy. This is hardly the situation in competitive politics for the presidency and it will be virtually impossible for one pastor to unite all other churches under himself. This will be the huge challenge that Muiru's bid for the highest office in the land is bound to encounter.

A Kenyan safari of a lifetime at a price you will not believe.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Weekend Special Edition: Why The Presidential Bids Of Pattni, Ruto And Others Makes Me Want To Throw Up

Every Kenyan who qualifies has a right to stand for the highest office in the land. But the candidature of certain characters for the presidency of Kenya makes me want to throw up.


Unless the forthcoming elections go in another direction other than that of Narc Kenya and ODM-Kenya, these poverty-stricken Kenyan children stand no chance. May this image (notice that these kids look hungry and hopeless) and those of other starving Kenyans haunt every voter in Kenya until they do the right thing and resist bribe's and tribal sentiments. These kids are counting on you.

I have been reading all sorts of comments by Kenyans about the politics in Kenya. A huge percentage of these comments display ignorance of the real situation on the ground in Kenya. The truth is that understanding Kenyan politics must start with people understanding the real impact of corruption and mega scums like Goldenberg and Anglo-Leasing in promoting povery in Kenya. Corruption also has a direct link to the escalating levels of violent crime, as a reader of this blog pointed out recently.

Read this simple explanation I wrote a while back on the real impact of corruption on Kenyans and you will never again look at Kenyan politics in quite the same way.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Kumekucha Daily Home Page: Fri 23rd Feb 2007

Kumekucha Today

Lead Story
Strange events on the night Matheri died


Simon Matheri: The making of a killer gangster


Is Koigi Wa Wamwere finished, politically?


Assistant minister wants abortion legalized in Kenya

Recent stories

Why Are The Police Telling Lies About The Matheri Shooting?


Vigilanta group chopping off the heads of suspected criminals in Kisii


3 Inmates Die From Cholera Outbreak At Kamiti Maximum Security Prison


Why Nation CEO Made A Big Mistake In Protecting Sex-for-promotion Editors


The Real Strength Of Nation Newspapers And Why Most People Don't Know It


Kenyans Now Want Their Cops To Be Jugdes And Executioners Of Thugs


Why The Gunning Down Of Matheri Will Not Make Kenya Safer


Does This ODM-Kenya Proposal Have Popular Support?


KUJ Demands resignation of sex scandal managers to pave way for investigations


Sex managers wrongly linked Crime Editor, Muiruri to annonymous letters


State house and the sleeping habits of 3 presidents


Why Narc Kenya is it's own worst enemy


Carjacker who shot victims in the head, gunned down at Athi River


There Is Enough Evidence To Convict Ouko Killers, John Troon Tells Kumekucha


Why A Vote for Kibaki Is A Vote Against Bringing Ouko's Killer To Justice


Brand new non-sexual NMG scandal: Which newspaper should Kenyans now trust?


Police commissioner was trained to supress information, but will this strategy work in the war against crime in Kenya?


Woe unto you if you are a Kikuyu and you support calls for minimum reforms


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru joins ODM-Kenya


Why reforms battle may be headed for a bloody conclusion


We warned you: Cash falls from the sky at Western Kenya political meeting


Unpredictable Ngilu sleeps with the enemy yet again


25 suspended from school for NOT being circumcised


Rev. Mutava Musyimi to challenge Nyagah in Gacoka


General Elections Update: Why it is going to start raining cash in Kenya soon


The Biggest Mistake Dr Ouko's Killers Made


The Kenya Shilling In 2007: Are Speculators Right?


New NMG Sex Scandal letter surfaces


Robert Ouko, We Remember...


Is This Woman Finance Minister Kimunya's Girlfriend?


Is John Githongo working with Raila Odinga?


No ID Cards, No Elections: Raila Now Tells Kibaki


The Secret Life Of Two Magistrates


After Nyahah, Amos Kimunya Now Runs Into Trouble With Angry Constituents


Martha Karua Calls Muite A Coward


Province With The Highest Number Of Presidential Candidates Chases Mirage


Secrets of the Masai Kenyans are ignorant of and yet white women tourists know


Tony Gachoka: Gigolo or shrewd operator?


What to do when your neighbour falls in love with your wife


Fight against escalating crime: Why Ali's contract will now be renewed


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru's wedding now stopped by High court


New Travel Advisory tells Americans that violent crime-prone Kenya is unsafe to travel to


Kamukunji MP Norman Nyagah gets the shock of his life when he tries to visit his constituents


Nation staffers tell their bosses: We don't want to report to people who do not have a University degree


Most Evil Daily Crime Goes Unreported In Kenya: WHY?


Why Evil Nicholas Biwott Has Prospered Under The Kibaki Regime


Chief Justice Gicheru Ignores Tribalism As He Prepares Yet Another Radical Surgery Of The Judiciary


Rift Valley Fever Spins Out Of Control As Death Tolls Reaches 139


Raila Swears With The Holy Bible That Kibaki Is Lying


Escalating Crime And Killing In Nairobi: What Truth In Hit Squad Rumour?


Is There A Hit Squad Link In Strange Mombasa Explosion?


Can Kibaki Dare Appoint A Fellow Kikuyu As VP?


Ringera Slaps Kenyans In The Face Yet Again


Raila's Own Broken Promises Even As He Points Finger At Kibaki


101 immigration excuses a Kenyan can use to avoid deportation from the US


Liar Liar, Ngilu Screams At Kibaki


How politicians control the press: The story of Emman Omari and George Saitoti


Kenyan women dishing our sexual favors in the workplace: How serious is it?


Why Nation managers will not be fired.


When a President Tells Lies


...And more Lies From His Finance Minister


Youth Development Fund Fraud


Why Mwalimu Mati was hounded out of TI


Will Senior Nation Editors Be Fired Over Sex Scandal Allegations?


How corruption starts with the people who finance presidential campaign


How did arrogant Michuki make his millions?


Sex Scandal Involving Boss Exposed At Nation Media Group As Letter With Details Is Posted On The Web


Corruption in Narc Started with these people who financed Kibaki's Presidential Bid


Americans Murdered By Kenyan Carjackers


Why Roselyn Nambuye Should Be Appointed Chief Justice


Escalating Crime: Who oredered the hit on a traffic policeman?


Serious problems in cash-strapped ODM-Kenya over unworkable nomination system


Women suspects now being locked up in policemen's bedrooms


Kalonzo And Raila On Yet Another Begging Mission In The USA


Marital Rape in Kenya: Woman Goes to Court To Stop Serial Rapist Husband


Musalia Mudavadi's Unfaithful Wife And His Bid For The Presidency


Police Commissioner's Contract Almost Over As Crime Escalates


VP Awori Announces That he Is Kibaki's Running Mate


Why Kenyans Should Prepare For Mass Action And Mass Violence


Rift valley fever Panic Hits Nairobi


Kalonzo Tells Kibaki: You Are Too Tired To Rule


Anglo Leasing Cover Up Part 2


The sales Lady From Anglo Leasing


Who Is The Dark, Mysterious Anglo Leasing Figure Who Booked Ads In The Local Press Defending The Company?


Githongo: Son of The President's Bossom Buddy Who Dissapointed


Why Would The President's Men Need So Much Cash?


Latest Githingo Tapes On Anglo Leasing: What Impact Will They Have On The Kibaki Government?


BOMBSHELL: Listen To The Latest Githongo Tapes Or Read The Full Transcript Of The Conversation Kenyans Are Talking About


Is President Kibaki In The Githongo Tapes?


7 Signs That The Kibaki Government Is Corrupt


Anglo Leasing And Goldenberg: Can You Spot The Difference?


The Githongo Tapes: Do We Need To Be Careful About The British?


Crime Made In The Uniformed Forces


The Most Harassed And Abused Woman Journalist In East Africa


No Reforms No Elections Hit Of '97 Remixed and Re-Released for 2007


How To Make A Quick Tax Free Million In 2007


Why John Githongo Must Stand For President


Current Crime Wave: Why It Must Be Linked To The Elections


Margaret Wanjiru and Pastor Pius Muiru: The Untold Story


How Two Presidents looted Kenya


Is Samuel Gichuru HIV positive?


African Lion Safari In Kenya: The Day a Lion did the unthinkable


Who will be Raila Odinga's running mate? Surprise, surprise


Puzzling Bank Robbery In Mombasa


Mutula Kilonzo: The Real Man Behind The City Laywer And ODM Activist


Why Has Standard Newspapers Gone Soft Against The Government?


Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Controversy


Carjackers with political ambitions


Is Bizarre Rumour About Mutula Kilonzo In ODM True?


The Deepest Analysis Of Raila Odinga The Presidential Candidate


Tribalism At The Daily Nation


Kenya General Elections 2007: The Latest Prediction


Is Kalonzo The Soft Underbelly Of ODM-Kenya Unity?


Citizen Weekly Editors To Vie For Political Office.


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part 4: How He Grew Up With Witchcraft And Forces Of Darkness


Dangers Somalia Poses To Kenya


The Big Moi Blunder On Somali That Is Being Paid For By Kenyan Blood


The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know And His Big Obstacle In His Own Back Yard.


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