Now, even as you read this Citizen TV has attracted scores of other big names like Alex Chamadwa also formerly of KTN.
But the rising popularity of Citizen cannot be attributed to presenters alone indeed a lot of credit has to go the management team led by one Wachira Waruru (formerly of KTN and KBC). Waruru has an amazing knack for finding the right people to do the right jobs and the results speak for themselves. For example everybody these days is talking about the high quality drama shows produced on Citizen including Tahidi High and comedies like Inspector Mwala and Papa Shirandula have taken Kenyans by storm. Waruru is the man who came up with the brilliant idea of financing comedians by advertising shows in various popular restuants countrywide, for them on KBC TV in a highly creative barter deal that has seen artists receive the kind of money that just a few months ago they could only dream about.
Of course politics has a different story to tell about why Citizen TV is suddenly the TV station to watch. Everybody knows that the owner is well connected with the corridors of power and is said to be a close ally of the president. About two years ago, Citizen harassed another popular local radio station, Kiss FM by literally hijacking their frequencies and playing havoc. This is of course a very serious thing, but Citizen got away with it without even as much as a slap on the wrist.
It has not escaped the attention of analysts that building up the popularity of Citizen media products is creating a powerful broadcast tool that will come in very handy in 2012.
Incidentally this is the same TV channel that recently featured a captivating series titled
Politics not withstanding, credit has to be given where it is due and there is little doubt that Citizen is the TV channel to watch in the coming months.
P.S. Meanwhile changes going on behind the scenes at the Standard media group are worth noting. As has been reported in my raw notes, after a meeting in former president Moi’s Kabarak home some time back, a decision was made for former aide Joshua Kulei to transfer back all commercial interests that he was holding on behalf of the family. One of thos interests is of course the Standard which is now formly in the hands of Gideon Moi who is known to be a Kanu man who fully backs the current PNU administration. It will therefore be fascinating to see what happens at both the Standard newspaper and KTN in the next few weeks and months. For those who do not know, Kulei is a well known supporter of Raila Odinga’s ODM
The Kumekucha Weekend Special series resumes next weekend.
…And after that get 1,000,000 more hits for FREE
Citizen TV sucks. It will take a lot of effort for them to convince me they are worth watching.
ReplyDeleteAbout the Standard Media group, Chris I have a very innocent question for you; With or without Kulei, do you think this media house has been objective in their coverage of Raila Odinga's politics? Put differently, do you think they have demonstrated reasonable fairness in their coverage of kenyan politics? Do you honestly think they have been factual in their reporting? As far as you are concerned,what really constitutes tabloid trash?
Note that I did not pass judgement on anybody. I am just seeking opinions.
Just like the most popular political party in Kenya, Orange Democratic Movement, Royal Media Services has been smart and developed products that are very very close to the heart of the common man on the ground. And that common man is not wasting time watching satellite TV along the numerous bars along Kimathi street in Nairobi or at Bob's in Mombasa or Monami is Kisumu...that common man is deep in the rural areas with a transistor radio that he carries with him as he goes about his daily business. And that man, knows about ODM agenda and happens to represent the majority folk in this country!
ReplyDeleteRoyal Media Services has apparently taken full advantage of the failure of KBC to perform its role as a national broadcaster and is now the defacto national broadcaster. Similarly ODM wing of government are clearly overshadowing their PNU counterparts in service delivery to the people and it can be seen that the latter got elected to cut mega deals whereas the former rightfully went into government to implement its manifesto. Citizen is doing its work of informing, entertaining and educating the public while Nation and KTN are spinning propaganda!
On the media front for instance, while it is difficult for some media houses to obtain licences to air the popular English premier league matches LIVE on TV, Citizen have been quick to relay these matches live on their numerous FM stations and in the language that the common mwananchi understands! Meanwhile Nation/KTN are bringing to us skewed politics, recycled mexican soaps and shallow analytical pieces in current affairs!
It is no surprise that journalists are defecting to RMS in large numbers. The renumeration RMS pay is far above the market rates. RMS also happens to be controlling a large percentage of the country's multi-billion shilling advertising industry. The signal of the radio station is known to reach deep into Tanzania and cover most of Uganda. Even the the remotest parts of Kenya in vast NEP, where newspapers reach more than 4 days after they were published, do receive both the radio and TV signals of Citizen, something that KTN and NTV can only dream about. You visit these areas and the residents ask you "How is Kenya?"....
The highest spending advertisers in recent times, Zain (formerly Celtel) and Safaricom mobile service providers have taken their market wars within the studios of Citizen TV and Radio. They know who is listening to Citizen.
I do not see any media company coming close to RMS although plans are said to be at an advanced stage for NMG to open a Citizen clone FM station that will broadcast purely in swahili.
They have obviously put behind them the cock-up where management was forced to back the BANANA camp in the referendum campaigns and are now the fairest of all the private media houses when it comes to reporting political issues.
By the way JEFF.... havent seen in you in KK24 lately, holiday ama??
ReplyDeleteWhat are you guys doing about catching up with Citizen?
HI Phil,
ReplyDeleteCan u please get in touch at this email: mwarangethe@gmail.com
Mwaran'gethe will do.
ReplyDeleteChris welcome back! We actually thought something bad happened to you until someone said you found a new love in America and she was busy pampering you.
ReplyDeleteAll the same good to see back.
About Citizen TV, do you have a dream of Kumekucha TV?
Chris are you aware of this;
ReplyDeleteWe Kenyan in Diaspora rescued the falling shilling. Between January -June 08, Kenyans living abroad sent back home Sh22 billion in the first half of 2008, as remittances from the diaspora blunted the effects of falling foreign exchange inflows from tourism and horticulture exports. Central Bank of Kenya data shows that inflows from Kenyans living abroad increased by 28 per cent to $329 million up to June this year, compared to the same period last year.
Kenya now ranks as the second biggest destination for remittances in Africa behind Nigeria, which attracts Sh205 billion ($3.3 billion) from its citizens working abroad and ahead of Sudan ($1.2 billion), Senegal and Uganda ($0.9 million each) and South Africa ($0.7 million).
I didn't know Kenya Television can get a license to air Live English Premiership Football. Kenya is not that bad after all, even better than England where football is played. To watch live premiership football in England or UK as whole, you can only watch it on BskyB, sky sport but only on selected games which does not come cheap. Only BBC has the right to show the highlights of all matches on a programme called match of the day. Kenya media must be loaded to be able to get that coveted licence.
ReplyDeletePhil, I know you don’t like me that much but seriously I admire you piece of journalism, in spite of it being one-sided. I know someone who is always looking for writers in Africa to contribute to his weekly newsletter (Trumpet, an African-European magazine) and I think you can be a good contributor, just write to the publisher at;
Trumpet ventures
44A Selby Road
Leytonstone
London E11 3LT
UK
Info@the-trumpet.com
And you don't have to leave the comfort of your home or Kumekucha but you will still be able to earn the hard currency.
Good luck!
CHRIS:)
ReplyDeleteNow your kikuyu/kamba bloodline is coming out strong!!
Some of us also have powerful connections in the political corridors and I can assure you Standard Newspaper will remain the same and nothing of the sort was discuss between Moi family and Joshua Kulei and Chris
You forget one thing! and let me put it to you bluntly(he who keeps your secrets is more dangerous than the secret itself- you never know when they will unleash it.
Moi cannot order or control Joshua Kulei at this point in time- The guy is Loaded with Moi's secrets up his sleeves- do you sincerely think that is the man Moi wants to rattle today????
I doubt
go tell your informers to stop passing substandard material to post here- Chris you can do better than that.......
and as for Citizen T.V I think you forget that kenyans are intelligent enough to know who owns the Citizen T.V and the agenda behind it.....
Stop tresting kenyans like clueless citizens -
just because they watch comedy shows e.t.c on Citizen you sincerly think kenyans are damb enough to listen to news reported by the citizen T.V (kikuyu owned station connected to yours truly Emilio Mwai Kibaki??
wacha wewe "get real" kenyans ain't stupid or foolish like you seem to think Chris maybe you were referring to central province worshiping the Citizen T.V
and all those news presenters like Catherine Kasavuli were poached by $ not that citizen is a better T.V station....we all know that - Money was a factor and being Macharia kibaki's close friend (looted cash) was doing the rounds,
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletegiven the important economic role played by Kenyans in the diaspora, I fail to understand why the government does not absolutely nothing in helping young jobless Kenyans move abroad. Everybody knows what is needed: bank statements, tuition deposit payments etc... would it not be in the country's interest to loan aspiring immigrants the required fees? Not that many will will pay back the loans, but they will pay back in kind in the fight against poverty.
ReplyDeletehakujakucha
ReplyDeleteinteresting point. almost a catch 22. how can a govt pro-actively support brain drain as well as labor depletion? and yet since govt is unable to create opportunity fast enough, thats likely an alternative (easy way out i.e govt absconds its duty to provide gainful employment to the citizens). but its certainly food for thought.
Hakujakucha, I disagree. Are you suggesting all skilled Kenyans should move abroad?? Do you mean all the good teachers, doctors, nurses, lectures, house-girls, lawyers, prostitutes, matatu touts should move abroad in order to strengthen the shilling? Do you know the implication of that to the Kenyan society? There will be no good doctors to treat the patients, there will be no good teaschers etc etc. Have you heard of what happened to Philippines? There are more than 11 million overseas Filipinos worldwide, the largest diaspora network in the world, about 11% of the total population of the Philippines. Although there has being positive impact on Philippine's economy, it has a negative concatenation to it, one being shortage of skilled labour in Philippines.
ReplyDeleteHave you also heard of a country called Pitcairn, an Island in Pacific? It is the least populated country in the world with a population of only 50 people. (you can google that country for more information)
The population started to plummet since 1950s as many people begun to migrate to New-Zealand for better lives. Today even though Pitcairn Island was discovered in seventeen hundred, they don’t even have an airport, seaport or railway and economy relies on fishing and subsistence farming.
Is this what you what for Kenya?
UrXlnc and Kwale,
ReplyDeleteRead my comment again. The case for brain drain does not arise. My take is that the government should support 'young jobless Kenyans move abroad'
Hope it is clear now.
No, I actually think Hakujakucha has a reasonable suggestion.
ReplyDeleteWhat the government should start exploring is the possibility of creating a government scholarship for the top 1% performers in national exams. These folks can be admitted in Western Universities of their choice and have their Tuition and upkeep expenses paid for by the government. This opens up another 1% places in our local universities for those who have always been locked out due to competition for limited places. At the end of the day, we will be having more people gaining access to college education, the scholarship program will definitely pull in interested donors, and with time, just like the CDF or the youth Enterprise Fund, the fund will grow and start funding a larger number of folks.
The point that both Urxlnc and kwale raise makes a lot of sense. It is an indirect way of supporting Brain drain. But, guys, dont we already have a lot of brain drain? Why do we need razor sharp minds in kenya when we cannot absorb them? And again, the government should not be seeking to export professionals to the West, it should be seeking to send students to the West for training. Half of these will gain employment and invest their money in Kenya, half will not even think about kenya. But the aggregate result will definitely be a gain.
Instead of having the likes of Mr. kimunya telling people to send money to Kenya, govt should be creating opportunities for people to access some of these priviledges. Nobody considered the jaramogi, Mungai/Mboya scholarships as brain drains as such. They definitely left a positive mark, didnt they?
Good point Vikki, but how many of those student studying in the west actually finishes university/college? You have to understand there are many temptations in the west, most of them motivated by money. You also have to understand when you are studying abroad you don't have your family there to help you both financial and emotionally so many of those "students" resort in dropping from college in order to have their ends meet. Take an example of London, London is one of the most expensive cities in the world and if you are an international student life can be very difficult given if you are an international student you are only allowed to work 20 hrs per week. Whatever you earn in those 20hrs goes to pay your travel expenses and other personal expenses.
ReplyDeleteAll this when you compare London Buses are always looking for drivers to drive their buses on 24 hrs shift which pays handsomely very well, about £500 per week on average (70,000 ksh per week). So you can imagine most foreign students would be tempted to drop out of college in order to work fulltime. (anyway most London Bus drivers are Somalis). I still don't think that would be a great idea to send good students abroad as there is a big chance they will not finish their studies.
On another different note, last year the British media carried an intensive coverage of an ex-slum dweller called Sammy Giatu who had no formal education but he managed to graduate at University in Manchester with a master degree.
You can read his amazing story on this BBC website and see him on this Utube link;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnGgNa5mP-I
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7141804.stm
HEY HEY!! WACHATU:) WHEN DID STANLEY LIVONDO(DRUG TRAFFICKER) LEARN HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH OR WRITE -OR HE IS BEEN SPOON FED AS USUAL!!! SHENZI SANA IKI KAMUTU!!
ReplyDeleteNational News
PNU activist dismisses Karua presidential bid
Updated on: Monday, August 11, 2008
Story by: Dennis Lumiti
....................................................................................................................................................................................
PNU activist Stanley Livondo has lashed out at Justice minister Martha Karua for declaring her candidature for the Presidency in 2012, terming the move as mischievous. Livondo said it was “too early” for Karua to declare her interest in the Presidency before the healing and re-unification of the country following the post-election violence. He said being a member of President Kibaki’s community, Karua should be the last person to show interest in the top seat “because they already have it”.
“Karua’s early declaration that she wants to vie for the Presidency is like somebody who has a piece of meat in his or her mouth and even before swallowing it, he starts fighting for another. It is like a story of a dog and a bone,” said Livondo. Livondo was speaking in Kakamega town yesterday where he held a meeting with youth and women groups from Ikolomani, Shinyalu, Lurambi and Malava constituencies who were seeking funding for their projects.
The activist, who is also a Nairobi-based businessman, said many Kenyans are still in IDP camps and leaders in the Grand Coalition Government should seek for their resettlement and unity of the nation before seeking high office in the next elections. “In our traditional African societies, it is wrong to start eying your father’s wealth when he is still alive. The likes of Karua have been given jobs by the President and they have to perform,” Livondo said.
Kwale, but you have to admit that the temptation to drop school is aggravated by the need to pay one's bills, top among them tuition. Most of the students that drop out of school are not on any kind of scholarship. So that doesnt invalidate the need for government scholarships at all.
ReplyDeleteI spoke of the top-creme students because these are the least likely to drop out. Chances are they are born scholars or are more foccused than everyone else.
I think with a little help they would rather finish school than drive buses.
Vikii, I concur.
ReplyDeleteBy the way what do you think about that story of Sammy Gitau?
Yeah, this guy is bad-ass. Someone, I think it was Taabu, did a whole post here on him. I remember, while contributing to that post I said something on how Kenyans should draw as much inspiration from him as they do from Obama. It is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteThis is what folks said about his story:
ReplyDeletehttp://kumekucha.blogspot.com/2007/12/from-mathere-to-manchester-and-masters.html
Thanks Vikii, I wasn't around last year but I can see jealousy has been eating some people here for a very long time. His story is an inspiration. I even heard they are trying to make a film about him. The man has become one of the best known and loved Kenyans in UK.
ReplyDeleteVikii and Kwale,
ReplyDeleteYou two seem to have a lot to say to each other. Given the limitations of blogging, don't you think a phone conversation would be better?
Grand match to grad theft. Kazi iendelee, mta-do?
ReplyDeleteState officials named in RVR ownership
Published on 11/08/2008
By Ben Agina
Top Government officials and individuals are directors of a company that has substantial share holding in the troubled Rift Valley Railways, we can reveal.
Documents tabled in Parliament last week show that Solicitor-General Wanjuki Muchemi is among the 28 directors of Trans-Century, a firm that holds part of the RVR.
Also on the list as at May 28 are KenGen Managing Director Edward Njoroge, former Nairobi Stock Exchange Chairman Jimnah Mbaru, former Finance Secretary Njeru Kirira and immediate former Kemsa Chairman Peter Tirus Kanyago.
The estate of the former Commissioner of Customs Services, the late Francis Muriuki Thuranira, has also been listed.
Although Kirira is no longer the Finance Secretary, his address in the Trans-Century documents is still listed as that of Treasury.
Njoroge, the KenGen boss, confirmed his membership of the Trans-Century.
"I was one of the founder members in 1997 long before Kibaki government was in place," said Njoroge.
The State Law Office under Muchemi is charged with drafting all Government contracts.
Last week, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba told Parliament that the RVR, which is a concessionaire in the 25-year deal, was a "phoney and phantom company" and that one of its founders was a top-level Government official working in the State Law Office.
Others mentioned included Michael Gitau Waweru, Joseph Kamau, Joseph Magari and James G Kahiu.
dubious process
He tabled documents before the floor of the House containing particulars on the alleged dubious process leading to the formation of the company and those involved.
Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, drew outrage from members from Central Kenya when he alleged that most of the directors of RVR were from "a certain community".
As we celebrate the generosity of the diasporeans and their capacity to salvage a declining economy, it would be helpful if the Kenya government could provide a sense of what remittances are used for. and, if used beneficially, how that can be improved/strengthened. Conversely, of remittances are harmful, what can be done to reduce that. I have this terrible feeling there might be a 'dark' side to remittances.
ReplyDeleteIn the end, given the economic significance of this sector we do need to have a comprehensive system for monitoring its impacts and offering guidance to prevent against wastage, if not to add value.
Chris , now that you are the mutua of citizen tv can we watch it online like the other main channels kbc &ktn?
ReplyDeleteStrange mission at Wilson Airport
ReplyDeletePublished on 11/08/2008
By Cyrus Ombati And Brian Adero
Strange and unscheduled military planes from the US have in the last two months been making secretive night landings in Kenya, in what are feared as missions to move terror suspects from the country.
The night landings of US planes at Nairobi’s Wilson Airport, carrying American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officials have raised suspicion and controversy not only among local security agents, but also players in aviation.
Planes at Wilson Airport. Questions have been raised over US aircraft operating from the airport. PHOTO: CORRESPONDENT/
The Prescott Support Group, which has been accused in other parts of the world of being involved in renditioning terror suspects, was allowed to operate in Kenya two months ago.
Documents in our possession show that the company was allowed to fly in and out in a Gazette notice dated June 20 for two years.
Prescott Support Group, which according to the American media, has links with the CIA, applied for renewal of their licence in May, even after the Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO) questioned their licence and mission.
Despite the concerns, the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) went ahead and granted the two-year licence although ordinarily they should have sought clearance from the Department of Defence (DOD) because of their military aircraft.
According to the Gazette notice, Prescott Group was given the secret landing licence through the US Embassy in Nairobi, whose officials we could not get a comment from on Sunday.
KCAA Director-General Chris Kuto on Sunday confirmed the operations of the planes, saying they were involved in "Turkana for mapping purposes".
Kuto said the planes carry only American soldiers and their equipment and not passengers, contrary to information from sources at Wilson Airport who had indicated that some passengers did not look like US military officers who are normally in uniform.
Kuto added that the company applied to for aerial mapping operations in Turkana.
"We gave them the licence based on that information. We did not see anything wrong or any reason to deny them the licence," he said.
The presence of the planes comes at a time when security personnel have launched a search for wanted terror suspect Fazul Abdullah Mohamed.
With growing fears of terrorism in the region, there was speculation that the CIA could be behind night flights to arrest and rendition suspects from Kenya.
On Thursday, Kenya marked the 10th anniversary since the terrorist attack on the US embassy in Nairobi on August 7, 1998. The terrorism remained real after the mastermind, Fazul, sneaked into the country but beat a police dragnet for the fourth time.
Since Fazul was seen in Malindi two weeks ago, local and international security agents have been on high alert and arrested several suspects who had interacted with him.
Fazul’s August 7, 1998 explosive arsenal in Nairobi left more than 200 people dead and another 5,000 others seriously injured.
Anti-terrorist police arrested a suspect on Sunday believed to be a close associate of Fazul, even as suspicion emerged in the police force that some security officers could be on the payroll of the international terrorist.
The Prescott Group was allowed to make non-scheduled air service for passengers and freight in and out of Kenya.
The group was also allowed to operate from Africa and beyond using aircraft CN235, l382, BE200 based in the US, Wilson Airport and Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The operators had applied for the services early this year. It was not clear the kind of passengers and cargo they would carry even though officials said it was only military.
Non-scheduled flights mean they can fly into the country and take off from remote, unimproved locations not served by traditional air carriers within their area of operations.
The Standard established that a Bich 200 aircraft, belonging to the US, was undergoing maintenance and TCAS installation at the Wilson Airport.
"The crew of the aircraft, both Americans, had said they would be around for 10 days, but they are still around. I don’t know where they came from and what their mission is all about," an engineer at the hangar, who sought anonymity, said.
Extraordinary rendition refers to the controversial American procedure in which suspects are apprehended, sometimes secretly, and sent for interrogation in countries where torture is used as a routine form of interrogation.
Leaked CIA reports cite suspects being arrested, shackled, blindfolded and sedated, after which they are transported, usually by private jet, to other countries.
Although the practice has been in use since the 1990s, its scope has widened immensely since the September 11, 2001 attacks in US.
In Kenya, US flights operate using Air Operating certificate (AOC) belonging to East African company based at Wilson Airport.
In their licence application last year, they wanted a domestic and international operation licence through the US Embassy, but were denied the domestic one.
According to licensing rules, international airlines cannot be granted a domestic licence in a foreign country.
But after failing to get the domestic licence, officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were said to have intervened and asked for the airline’s exemption to operate domestic flights.
Police Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said he was not aware of the planes’ operations. He said the planes were licensed by KCAA to carry out freight services.
"That is a civil aviation issue and does not concern the police. They were licensed by KCAA so we do not come in," he said.
We could not reach the US embassy and military spokesman for comment. Their mobile phones were switched off.
During the May 12 licensing meeting, local air operators demanded to know the type of operations the Prescott Group would engage in and why they applied for a civilian licence while they were supposed to apply to the military given their operations were military, not civilian.
But a representative of the Prescott Group, Captain (Rtd) Jorim Kagua, told the meeting that they were not in a position to divulge information about the airline’s operations.
However, he said they would perform military operations.
A KCAA official told The Standard yesterday that an agreement was signed between Kenya and the US government to perform undisclosed military operations.
Besides the agreement, Kenya and the US recently signed a bilateral agreement for direct commercial flights.
Kenya has previously handed over more than 15 terror suspects to the US and Ethiopian authorities in an exercise that angered many Muslim leaders.
WHAT THE HELL IS ALL THIS BULL SHIATE AGAIN?? WHEN WILL THE LOOOTING AND CORRUPTION STOP IN KENYA- SHAME SHAME ON THIS THIEVING GOONS- THEY SHOULD TELL KENYANS HOW THE HELL THEY COME TO OWN HUGE AMOUNTS OF SHARE IN RIFT VALLEY RAILWAY LINE?? WHAT WAS THE CORRUPT DEAL??
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS WAS THAN ANGLO LEASING AND GOLDENBERG.........
HOW DARE PM RAILA MEET WITH THEM LAST WEEK AND GAVE THEM A NOD TO CONTINUE LOOTING - RAILA SHOULD STEP DOWN!!
State officials named in RVR ownership
Published on 11/08/2008
By Ben Agina
Top Government officials and individuals are directors of a company that has substantial share holding in the troubled Rift Valley Railways, we can reveal.
Documents tabled in Parliament last week show that Solicitor-General Wanjuki Muchemi is among the 28 directors of Trans-Century, a firm that holds part of the RVR.
Also on the list as at May 28 are KenGen Managing Director Edward Njoroge, former Nairobi Stock Exchange Chairman Jimnah Mbaru, former Finance Secretary Njeru Kirira and immediate former Kemsa Chairman Peter Tirus Kanyago.
The estate of the former Commissioner of Customs Services, the late Francis Muriuki Thuranira, has also been listed.
Although Kirira is no longer the Finance Secretary, his address in the Trans-Century documents is still listed as that of Treasury.
Njoroge, the KenGen boss, confirmed his membership of the Trans-Century.
"I was one of the founder members in 1997 long before Kibaki government was in place," said Njoroge.
The State Law Office under Muchemi is charged with drafting all Government contracts.
Last week, Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba told Parliament that the RVR, which is a concessionaire in the 25-year deal, was a "phoney and phantom company" and that one of its founders was a top-level Government official working in the State Law Office.
Others mentioned included Michael Gitau Waweru, Joseph Kamau, Joseph Magari and James G Kahiu.
dubious process
He tabled documents before the floor of the House containing particulars on the alleged dubious process leading to the formation of the company and those involved.
Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo, drew outrage from members from Central Kenya when he alleged that most of the directors of RVR were from "a certain community".
ANON8:33 PM
ReplyDeletei TOTALLY SUPPORT YOU ON THAT!!RAILA MET WITH THE DIRECTORS OF RIFT VALLEY RAILWAYS ALL FROM CENTRAL PROVINCE AND TOLD THEM TO CARRY ON
"CONTINUE THE CORRUPTION"
RAILA HAS TO ANSWER TO KENYANS FOR ENCOURAGING CORRUPTION "RIFT VALLEY RAILWAY LINE ---WHEN HE KNOWS FACTS ARE THAT IT WAS A CORRUPT TENDER AWARDED TO THE CENTRAL PROVINCE MAFIA AND SOME CROOKED PARTNERS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AND UGANDA???
YES !!RAILA MUST ANSWER FOR ENCOURAGING CORRUPTION IMMEDIATELY...
KENYANS?? HOW MANY TIMES DID WE SHOUT TO WARN YOU THAT THE MILITARY IN MT. ELGON WAS TUTORING AND MURDERING INNOCENT KENYANS??? FROM ONE CLAN??
ReplyDeleteNOW THE MILITARY IS DIVIDED- SAYING EACH OFFICER RO CARRY THEIR OWN CROSS AND GUESS WHAT- SOMEONE CHECKED ON THE LIST OF MILITARY OFFICERS POSTED IN MT. ELGON NEW FIELD "NYATI TOTURE CHAMBERS"
THEY WERE BEING HANDLED BY ONLY ONE TRIBE!! FROM CENTRAL PROVINCE
I SWEAR THIS ARMY OFFICERS MUST BE COURT MARSHALLED AND JAILED JUST LIKE THOSE WHO KILLED INNOCENT PEOPLE DURING 1982 COUP!!
KIBAKI HAS A CASE TO ANSWER FOR THE DEATHS OF ALL THIS INNOCENT KENYANS WHO THE ARMY & police HAVE BEEN CLAIMING WERE IN JAIL AND NOW WE DISCOVER BODY PARTS AND SKULLS
KENYANS HOW DARE YOU LET KIBAKI AND HIS PNU KILL OUT CHILDREN??? HOW DARE RAILA SEATS BACK AND ACCEPTS THE LIES TOLD BY THE ARMY?? THEN BOTH HIM AND KIBAKI ARE NOT FIT TO LEAD KENYA
1. KIBAKI COMMANDER IN CHIEF WHO GAVE THE POLICE AND THE ARMY SHOOT TORTURE AND KILL ORDERS OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS
2. RAILA FOR LETTING KIBAKI GET AWAY WITH MURDERING INNOCENT KENYANS
HOW DARE FOR THEM TO THINK AFTER ALL SAID AND DONE THERE WILL BE PEACE IN KENYA! IN THEIR DREAMS I GUESS...... KENYA IS GOING TO BLOW AND THE INNOCENT DEATHS WILL BE AVENGED.....
WHO LOSES A FAMILY MEMBER AT THE HANDS OF MURDERERS THAT YOU KNOW AND YOU GO HIDE OT KEEP QUIET?? IT TAKES TIME BUT PAY BACK TIME WILL COME...
Military returns to operation base, but questions arise over their mission
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One of the skulls found at Kamarang’ Hill Forest in Mt Elgon District. Photo/KEN OPALA
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Posted Sunday, August 10 2008 at 19:21
In Summary
* Villagers fear the soldiers are back in the Mt Elgon area to cover up evidence of killings.
* Security sources said accusations should be levelled at individuals.
* On this July 31, herders stumbled on decomposing body parts, including five skulls.
* Area provincial administration said it was unaware of the bodies but suspect they were dumped there by the SLDF.
Security personnel have returned to an area in Mt Elgon littered with bodies of people thought to have been arrested in the military operation against the murderous Sabaot Land Defense Force (SLDF).
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* Village mourns residents
* Mt Elgon: Facts and figures
The military left Kamarang’ Hill Forest in the heart of Mt Elgon on July 30, 2008, a day before herders stumbled on decomposing body parts, including five skulls.
The open field was used by the soldiers as a launch-pad against the SLDF.
Residents at Kapkota, the main base for the joint military-police Operation Okoa Maisha said the soldiers returned to Kamarang’ last Thursday ostensibly to mop up any evidence that could link them to the deaths of suspects arrested during the operation.
When contacted, the operation’s command promised to carry out inquests into the deaths if families and relatives make formal complaints to police.
“If the allegations are true, we will open inquest files,” said media liaison officer, Charles Owino Wahong’o. “Let’s handle this maturely without causing any unnecessary conflict.”
But security sources said accusations should be levelled at individuals.
“The days for blanket condemnation against the police and defence are gone. Action will be taken against anybody who committed an offence.”
The discovery is likely to add a new dimension to an operation largely seen as effective in uprooting a militia whose brutality claimed 700 lives and displaced half the district’s 160,000 people in just 18 months since August 2006.
Mt Elgon is more secure, residents agree. But human rights groups, among them the state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, say security has come at a huge cost. They accuse the military of arbitrarily killing suspects during interrogation, claims police dismiss.
The military returned to the area on Thursday, an hour after this writer contacted Police Headquarters in Nairobi and the area Provincial Administration.
This writer had visited the area last week and seen decomposing bodies, some concealed by residents who feared security personnel could destroy them to cover up evidence.
Julie Gichuru is the new kid on the Citizen TV block. Catherine Kasavuli confirmed this in the latest issue of Drum Magazine. Julie is yet to appear on screen though...
ReplyDeleteThere were rumors that Julie had left NTV in a huff, together with Sophie Ikenye and Tom Mboya. No word yet on where Sophie and Tom are headed to next...
Chris
ReplyDeleteI have better things to do rather than sit down and watch Papa and inspekta (it is just vitimbi the only difference is that it is being aired on Citizen).What i mean is that i will be caught dead watching citizen.....Unless they show all the MAN U matches live. I detest that channel the same way i do KBC.
Standard knows where it is buttered. It doesn't matter who owns it, the fact remain is that they are in business and they know who reads their papers, so do you think they will sink the boat just because Gideon Moi is behind the wheel.
They were able to convince the westerners that they were better than Nation.And when you speak of presenters as a blogger has said it is about how much money i will take home at the end of the day and who is it that will pay more. Our presenters no longer have core values nor principles that will inspire or even motivate them to work in one media station and leave out the other and that is why they have become nomads you see Tom Mboya here abd before you blink an eye he is already in the other TV station.
I think our media houses have just become a travesty (yeah Malcolm in the middle made in kenya)if they are not busting men and women, they are talking stuff which should have been censored by now which makes me wonder who is supposed to be kenya's watchdog?
Anon 11:29, yeah i heard that too Julie is incharge of the digital thing on citizen.
ReplyDeleteBut rumours are that Ikenye and Mboya were sacked for insubordination, but do you think Mboya will go back to citizen, considering that he left citizen to go NMG...Time will tell
PNU's Mbugua takes Kamukunji constituency.
ReplyDeleteivy,
ReplyDeleteCan you clear the air - someone has been 'dreaming ivy and knoppix' the whole weekend.
Anon 5:08,
ReplyDeleteHardly surprising - Does that excite you? Hope the added numbers brings some order to the PNU camp
Anon you have already said it, that someone was dreaming, i bet he has woken up by now.
ReplyDeletePhil,
ReplyDeleteYou asked:
"By the way JEFF.... havent seen in you in KK24 lately, holiday ama??"
Just to clarify, mimi si huyo jamaa wa K24, sawa?
JEFF
hello,am one of the passions fun we are dearly missing the soap opera plz is it over or wat.last time u repeated the episode twice wats going on?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the link, but unfortunately it seems to be offline... Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please answer to my post if you do!
ReplyDeleteI would appreciate if a staff member here at kumekucha.blogspot.com could post it.
Thanks,
Charlie
Thanks for sharing the link, but unfortunately it seems to be down... Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please answer to my post if you do!
ReplyDeleteI would appreciate if a staff member here at kumekucha.blogspot.com could post it.
Thanks,
Peter
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThis is a question for the webmaster/admin here at kumekucha.blogspot.com.
Can I use some of the information from your post above if I give a backlink back to this site?
Thanks,
William
Hey,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this link - but unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anybody here at kumekucha.blogspot.com have a mirror or another source?
Cheers,
Charlie