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Sunday, August 31, 2008

The Stolen Elections That Never Was

Judge Kriegler has given his verdict: last years elections were not stolen, period. The good retired South African Judge couldn’t wait to have his report. He has tagged the stolen elections claim as a mischievous creation of the civil society. Those hailing Kriegler even add the fact that he is WHITE for good measure of assurance while those vilifying him have fallen to the time-tested Kenyan political parlance of money has been poured for a predicted report.

And with that singular sharp verdict from Kriegler, Kenyans have been found guilty of living a collective political lie in the last eight months. By extension Judge Kriegler is calling Koffi Annan who gave him the job bluff. Poor Annan is therefore guilty as charged for presiding over a dispute that never was. Know what? Kriegler has earned his money and must move on to other more important phases of his twilight life.

While Kriegler and his team traces the genesis of the flawed polls to INCOMPETENT ECK spiced with an uneven political playing field, the honourable Judge conveniently fails to see the CAUSE-EFFECT phenomenon staring him in the face begging to be busted. But again you need to be a lawyer schooled in clever antic of subjectivity and obtuse magnification of smokescreens at the expense of the wider picture to decipher the ‘seasoned’ legal mind of one ex-appellate Judge Kriegler.

In one sweeping conclusion, Kriegler blames partisanship orchestrated by incumbency and its surrogates and with the same wave of the hand he closes his eyes at the correlation. Well, association may not necessarily be causation, but once you remove the bias and confounders then all you have relating the response with the underlying factors is CAUSE unless you are playing statistics with chance. Poor witness testing before Kriegler become cannon fodder for vilification and not even polite, respectful reminders from

Effect no cause
The law must surely be an ass. Consequently practitioners of the legal profession must be ass riders. While governance by law is what distinguishes human beings from beasts of the wild, ones ears are often assaulted by lawyers presentations that is mostly trivia clothed as technicalities. Most cases are dismissed off hand on the same technicalities oblivious of their weights, beneficial or catastrophic. No wonder the legal cartel fashions itself as the exclusive club of LEARNED FRIENDS.

Please don’t bore me with the pedagogical origins which only succeeds in inflating personal egos. The woods are too thick and finding our way out won’t be an easy task. We are back at the beginning where we started it all. Can some smart Kenyan please propose the next catchy/appropriate commission before Cockar returns the known verdict ACTED WITHIN HIS POWERS?. No probe fatigue please!

Does Barack Obama’s Skin Colour Matter, Really?

My answer to the above question is that it really does. Well, this is so if the reactions and comments of an American citizen on BBC, sometime this week, are anything to go by.

He said that Americans are not foolish and are, therefore, not going to elect a black man as their president. “Etiquette alone dictates that we don’t allow a black man to move into a house which is itself called the White House,” He said, quite forcefully.

He distastefully went on to say: “If Barack Obama had a White wife, Americans would have tolerated him. But there is no way Americans will have a black woman masquerading in their White House!

If this one American (white American, I presume) voices the prejudices of millions others out there, then Barack should brace himself for “an extremely tight and asphyxiating” fight for the White House.

But Barack sounded his answer to anyone who might try to use such tactics (such as using his “skin colour” to sway the voters) when he made his exemplary speech during the Democratic National Convention.

He said:

“If you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.”

My two cents: Please guys, look not at the colour of the skin but at the content of character (among so many other things – competence, effective promise-delivering strategies etc).

Check out some Snapshots of Michelle Obama’s Speech this Week.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Something is Bugging Me Big Time

There is something that is really bugging me and I am afraid I cannot keep quiet any more. I just have to speak it out. Dear friends and countrymen kindly bear with me because I will explode if I don’t speak out my heart now.

In the last general elections I had the privilege of casting my vote and I am proud to say that I did not make any of my mistakes of the past of voting along tribal lines. We had “one of our own” (Kalonzo Musyoka) standing and I simply ignored him and voted for the candidate that I thought was best suited for the job at the time. And he was certainly NOT from my tribe. I proudly voted Raila Odinga for president. When it came to MP I had no problem either. I will admit here and now that I am gender biased, given the choice of a man or woman, I tend always to lean on the side of the woman. And with good reason from my own life experiences. When it comes to entrusting responsibility on somebody whom I need to trust, I have hardly ever been let down by women. In my humble view women are the real unsung heroines of the resilient Kenyan economy. So for MP I proudly voted a woman called Wavinya Ndeti and everybody I met I convinced to vote in the same way. Well she won and I know our constituency shall never be the same again.

Now that was 2007. We all know that every election is different. From my many years analyzing politics one thing I can tell you with certainty is that the elections in 2012 will be very different with very different faces.

But “my beef” is with my good friends in ODM. It is widely believed that ODM is the most democratic party in the country. Really? I am sorry but I am really beginning to doubt that.

If ODMers were truly democratic, then why is it that my good friends who support the party get very annoyed, nay extremely upset every time somebody dares to float another name as a possible presidential candidate other than the name of the son of Jaramogi Odinga?

In my humble view where the country has reached now, we need a clean fresh start from a new generation of Kenyan leaders preferably somebody who is NOT in the political class this minute.

Don’t get me wrong. I am convinced beyond any doubt that Raila Odinga won the last presidential elections but to be honest despite the good work he has done thus far, I would advice him not to present himself as a candidate for the presidency in 2012. There are many reasons for this but top on the list is for the sake of national healing and reconciliation. Secondly a man who appoints the likes of William Ole Ntimama into his cabinet is surely a presidential candidate whose time is now past.

But of course I realize it is the captain’s democratic right to decide if he is going to stand or not. But surely can his supporters please give us a break while we discuss the future of the country? Can they bear to think of a future that does not have Raila Odinga in State House? Or is the new slogan now: No Raila, no discussion of any other presidential candidate?

Let the barbs come flying now but remember that I too have a democratic right to my own personal view and opinion.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Beware Of The Clear Thinking Kenyan Voter

Ouma (real name with-held) would never have imagined in his worst nightmare what was about to happen as he happily collected his Kikuyu wife from maternity and took her and their bouncing new baby boy home to Kibera. This was at about the time that post-election troubles broke out for the first time.

On their way home, Ouma and his wife met a rowdy group of Luos who proceeded to cut his wife and baby into pieces in front of his very eyes. The response came hours later from the Akorino in the area who cut down dozens of Luos in search of Ouma whom they wanted so as to settle scores. Ironically the man who hid Ouma and thus saved his life was a Kikuyu man. He risked his own life terribly to save the life of Ouma.

The informant who passed on this heart-rending tale to me says they have not been sleeping too well since they learnt about it.

Sadly there are many stories from the worst chapter of Kenya’s history that will probably never be told. The wounds inflicted are much deeper than many people think. However what is surprising is the resilience of the Kenyan people and their eargerness to put the past behind them as they keep their eyes focused on the desired goals. What has become clear to this blogger is the sharp contrast between the ordinary folk of Kenya, down there struggling to survive and the rest of Kenyans sitting in comfortable air-conditioned rooms making hate comments in a blog like this one.

That is the good news.

Reading this blog, one would be forgiven for thinking that the country is about to break into a vicious civil war. Fortunately there is much less tribalism down there in the grassroots than most people will ever realize. Ordinary folk don’t really care about tribalism. Indeed important lessons have been learnt from the troubles of this last January that will help fight the cancer of tribalism pretty effectively in the years to come.

But what has amazed me most of all from my latest of the frequent research I do, to keep my feet on the ground, is how clear in their thinking the masses in Kenya are right now. This is in sharp contrast to all the confusion and uncertainty we see in the media these days concerning our politics. Basically the people want nothing to do with corruption and they want a new beginning, and they want it yesterday. Real change for a better tomorrow. Amazingly many care less what tribe that “Moses” who will lead Kenyans to a new promised land happens to come from. As long as they can be trusted.

Methinks the people who are in for a serious shock are the political class. Despite what people think, the next presidential race will have some very strange names running right at the forefront. And that is coming from a man who told you here that Senator Obama would be the next president of the United States when most people were still asking; Barack who?


P.S. History continues to be made in the American presidential race as McCain picks little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate. This means whoever wins history will be made because even if we do not have a black man in the White House, we will have a woman Vice President for the first time ever.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Why Githongo Does Not Matter Anymore

Kibaki was right to snub John Githongo.

I'll be the first to categorically say that John was a patriot when he took on the Kibaki administration for its corrupt ways. Indeed, we must all hope that there will be many more Kenyans who are not afraid to blow the whistle on the corrupt tendencies they see in their offices. That said, I have to question why John felt the need to go to London to tell us about the rot in our own backyard. And after he did it, why did he come back home and frantically try to have an audience with President Kibaki? I don't like the way President Kibaki has run Kenya, but I agree with him that for the sake of our nation's integrity and his office, he couldn't agree to meet a man who soiled the image of Kenya abroad.

After three years of trying to save Kenya by telling the Brits and the rest of the West about our sleazy leaders, what can he tell us is the practical impact of his actions? Can he look Kenyans in the eye and point to what has changed because of his sit-down with the BBC and all the other Western networks that gave him audience?

Folks, here is where I come down on such matters. We can't allow ourselves to run with our problems to the West every time we have them. The announcement we make by doing things like that is this: We can't handle our affairs. Please, help us.

I'm aware John left because he had reason to worry about his security. I don't begrudge him that. But I detest whenever any patriotic Kenyan, and any self-respecting African, goes out there and slams the motherland. We all know how highly esteemed we are before the world community. Why continue to feed the negative stereotypes by running out there and screaming to the world to see just how incapable we are...many years after independence?

To the extent that John successfully brought this matter to the attention of Kenyans, his work is done. If he can come back to help sort out the mess, kudos to him. If he wants to keep yapping about how ugly the motherland is, I must say that he has ceased to be helpful or relevant. We have mechanisms in Kenya to deal with corrupt entities...and if those who are tasked to deal with corruption can't handle it, then there are mechanisms in place to deal with that too. That's how it's supposed to work. We can handle it. We must handle it. And we must demonstrate our maturity and the strength of our institutions by taking this matter on.

Let's not continue to be the white man's burden.

It shames us!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Kalonzo Moment, Welcome Aboard MV Miracle

Kenya’s present Vice President Kalonzo Musykoa is one politician that is often underrated owing to his unique way of conducting himself. The humble man of God from Tseikuru has been called many names but he continues with the resolve only known for those with unadulterated ambition couched with a vision. Political pundits have even gone as low as associating Dr. Steve with voodoo.

In his characteristic style, the Miracle man continues to attract allies with eyes singularly trained for the ultimate price come 2012. Kalonzo’s smart moves have ruffled very powerful feathers the wrong way and now they have reverted to DIRTY political tricks of yore. The second longest serving MP in 10th parliament is the man to watch as Kenya’s fourth president. And what a gift from God it would be for Kenya to have a saved leader leading from the front and by example.

The good old adage wouldn't have been more apt. Well, good and well-nurtured people like Kalonzo are magnets to evil designs selfishly crafted to pull them down - pepo mbaya ishindwe. After shaming the devils in last year’s general election, the schemes to derail Kalonzo’s oiled political juggernaut is working overdrive.

When ex-cop and PICK boss Mwau is not stealthily plotting to undermine the VP in his own backyard by renting ODM-K councilors, Water minister Ngilu is busy planting spies fully armed with the longest pins ready inside Steve’s inflated balloon. Speak of a prophet being handed a noose by his own people who unwittingly remain oblivious of the messiah they just about to murder.

Political noose
All the nasty schemes won’t see the light of the day and the miracle will soon acquire an unstoppable wave that will only recede when HE Steve has safely and soundly landed at the coast of State House. Make no mistake in numbers. The massive GEMA votes are secure in Steve’s bag since has shown the capacity to PLAY ball. Add that to the Kamba Block and with pockets of token votes from here and there thanks to Steve’s national political network, all visionary politicians roads will soon lead to Tseikuru.

Woe unto the poor Kiemas and Kilonzos of this world who have allowed themselves to be FOOLISHLY roped into devilish schemes to politically butcher one of their own. The political noose is tightening around their necks as we draw towards 2012. Meanwhile Kenya is head to the stars aboard the MIRACLE train. Forget pies in the illusive sky about corruption czars, better the angel we know who is tried and tested. Welcome aboard MV MIRACLE.

John Githongo: "We Have No Time To Lose"

Press statement for immediate release - 27 August 2008

John Githongo has arrived back in Europe after returning to Kenya for the first time in over three years. He has returned to Europe as planned to undertake activities relating to his current commitments outside the country. He is due back in Kenya in September.

Over the course of his week-long trip, John Githongo met the Prime Minister, Vice President and senior political figures, and held meetings with a wide range of business and civil society representatives.

Speaking immediately on return to Europe, John Githongo says:

"This has been an important and formative week for me personally. I have had the opportunity to meet and talk with those who some people call 'ordinary Kenyans', but who are in fact the real heroes of the last few months.

"I have been struck particularly by the impact of external factors such as food and fuel costs on the day-to-day life of Kenyans. The impact on the poor – those that make up over half Kenya's population – is profound. These pressures drive home the need to support national efforts to address these challenges.

"Radical changes need to take place in Kenya, and I believe passionately that the resilience, the drive and the skills of Kenyans will ensure that our country emerges stronger from this process. Most critically of all: we have no time to lose.

"I have put myself at the disposal of the people; I will promote Kenya, and I will continue to champion the beliefs and principles that I and all Kenyans share."

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Can We Have A National Day Of Forgiveness?

  • I want to invite each of you to take a harrowing walk with me.
Our walk must start in Eldoret, only because when I was a student at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, I loved going to that town. It was there that, like I revealed here once, I met the late Bishop Alexander Kipsang Arap Muge. He left a permanent impression in my life. Every day of my life I wake up and hope that I can have the courage and dignity that he projected. Even these many years later, I still miss him.
  • But that's not gonna be the focus of our conversation as we walk.
We are taking this walk because I want to demonstrate the power of forgiveness. Let's start our walk right in the town center. As we walk, you and I know that an army of seething men is ahead of us with arrows and spears. They've painted their faces black and are carrying twigs. You and I have been warned that these furious warriors have been tasked to drive out of their land anybody from the Mt. Kenya Region that they encounter. Whoever refuses to leave must be killed.
  • As we follow these warriors, we see them approach a church where we know that women and children have sought shelter. You and I hold our breath, wondering what's gonna happen. We freeze when we see one of the warriors hurl a can of paraffin at the church. We didn't even know they had paraffin. Now we do. Then we watch in horror as another warrior tosses a red-hot object at the church and it explodes in gigantic flames.
The church is burning.
People are burning.
Your nose catches the smell of raw flesh burning.
You hear children crying.
Women wailing.
  • And within minutes, there is quiet. The church crumbles. And we stand there wondering whether this is a dream or reality. But we don't have to wonder long because the warriors start to move on, sounding off war cries. They are ready to drive out all the Kikuyu!
I turn to you and say, "I can't handle this. We have to go back to town."
  • We go back.
Two days later we take a walk in Naivasha. This time we follow another group of warriors who seek out the Luo and the Luhya and the Kalenjin. This group slashes and burns people. They destroy homes and property. But when they approach a home and we see them slash a man and his wife, then set their home on fire and the couple burns to shells, you and I decide we can't take any more walks. We are traumatized by what we've seen.
  • A week later we are strong enough to ask what happened in Eldoret and Naivasha. We are told that in Eldoret and in Naivashsa people died cursing those who killed them. We don't hear a single story of anybody who died with these words on their lips: I forgive you!
Being human, as you and I are, we know that it's never easy to forgive those who do us wrong. Yet there is nothing that feels as good as taking the moral high ground, forgiving those who don't deserve forgiveness from us. Take Nelson Mandela for example, how would South Africa have turned out if he'd come out of prison seething and intent on exacting revenge?
  • Wretched things have happened in Kenya. There have been assassinations. Deceit. Corruption. Name it. But I also know that we all retain the capacity to look deep inside ourselves and make amends where we went wrong. It's in this vein that I call for a national day of forgiveness. Kenya desperately needs to start afresh. We all need to hear the agonizing cry of those kids in that Eldoret church and seek each other's hand in forgiveness and a pledge to never let anything so despicable happen in Kenya again.
In like manner, I hope that our brothers and sisters held in prisons across the nation because of the post-election clashes can be released. I'm not calling for amnesty here. I'm saying they should be forgiven. Yes, let Kenya forgive them so we can all move forward as brothers and sisters bound by a common destiny.
  • I'm waiting for the day when President Mwai Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka will invite Kenyans to Uhuru Park and lead the nation to a place of heartfelt healing on that national day of forgiveness.
Let the blood of our brothers and sisters bind us together in love and unity.

Perils of Living Expensive, Painful Political Lie

The burden of living an electoral lie continues to pile on our back. The shouts to move on may casually appears objective but the startling revelations and confessions from last year’s poll officials is like a screw riveting into a healing wound. So are we living a political lie in the hope that time as the good old adage puts it is a healer?

Judge Kriegler's electoral postmortem probe team is resuscitating the dead and the pain is unbearable. The Changamwe Constituency’s returning officer must have considered it extremely humorous admitting that he erroneously gave Kibaki 9,366 votes while Emilio actually garnered 15,151 votes. To rub it on the RO shamelessly concedes that he mistakenly recorded 17,706 votes for Raila’s instead of the correct tally of 29,648. Leaves you wondering which base he was using in his arithmetic.

It would have be forgivable if the electoral FRAUD was limited to isolated cases and committed by junior staff. Well, hold your breathe for the bombshell revelation that the ECK boss Samuel Kivuitu himself announced the presidential results before results from 31 constituencies were officially verified. That is almost 15% of Kenyan’s 210 electoral constituencies locked out or discarded while declaring Kenya’s president for the next 60 months.

Numbers don't lie
In Changamwe return officer’s mind it must have been an act of unrivalled honesty to simply explain his criminal act as a mere mistake reminding Judge Kriegler for good measure that to error is human. Smart rigging takes place many months ahead of the polls itself. Mr Sheikh Aman was handed his RO job without any interview in present day Kenya and he had to deliver. You can bet your next lunch that he was not the only Aman in the whole scheme.

ECK’s IT team ordered laptops and trained ROs six months before the poll only to advice on the reliability of manual tallying. That is enterprising Kenyans killing numerous birds with no stone. You see the taxpayers purchase the computers which are not used, trainers pocket the allowance for doing nothing and more importantly you create the impression of work done and meet the ultimate objective THEFT.

So what is the price of stealing an election? Simple answer UNQUANTIFIABLE. Our future generation will continue to pay the steep price. Leaves you wondering who is fooling who in this whole fiasco. If only we were honest and took the singular bold step to correct the bleeding wrong by conducting FRESH and FAIR elections. Well, dream on. That is a risky gamble no enterprising Kenya will engage in given its guaranteed gloomy returns.

Insulting democracy
That two wrongs never made a right has been more true. Justifying the bungled elections with the hollow argument that both sides stole except the better thief won is flawed logic at best and an insult to democracy at worst. Unless we shun our DECEPTIVE ways and confront the truth head on, the charade will continue cascading and mutating into ugly monster waiting to collectively gobble the last Kenyan left standing.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Allowance: Pay as you Sleep Romance

As the debate rages on the proposed allowances for the wives of the PM and VP, other Kenyans are taking the quest for material wealth to another level. A kilifi man has been denied his conjugal rights by his legally married wife because he cannot make enough money from his job of extracting coral blocks from the floor of the Indian Ocean at Bofa.

To spite her husband even more, the unhappy lady had the audacity to bring in her civil servant lover to pose as a cousin in counseling the STARVING husband who had threatened to commit suicide if access to the goods were denied. What is more, the lover even had a sumptuous lunch made the very lady who is the item of both lust and tension. So what does this sorry story tells about the Kenyan society in general?

What happens in our homes and houses is a reflection of the wider national philosophy distilled to its indivisible parts. The quest for material wealth overrides any virtues we stand for a society. The worst bid lies in the fact that DISHONESTY has become the defining trait for most Kenyans. We live our lives for others and SUCCESS is measured in the obtuse magnitude of opulence no matter how the resources were acquired.

Peddling fleshy goods
While products and beneficiaries of fraud will readily dismiss such concerns as thinly-veiled jealousy/envy, its remains an unsustainable lifestyle that only succeeds in massaging you ego to the detriment of your integrity. You don’t have to be a preacher to leave within your means and peddling what lies at the junction of your lower limbs in the height of self low esteem.

Trust typical Kenyans to stop at nothing in their quest to join the SUCCESSFUL club. No wonder one commentator here tongue-in-cheek offered to marry any aspiring PM or VP without any conditions provided she was guaranteed the legal spot to earn the proposed allowance. You see, no price is too steep to pay as the end apparently justifies the means.

Predictably, we will be shamelessly atop hills condemning the Kilifi woman in public but the truth is that our own lives are but variations of the same selfishness. Surely DECEPTION and FRAUD remain our collective forte as a nation.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Muthaura’s Grand Scheme to Reward Mrs. VIPs

As a nation we never cease to amaze in coming up with brilliant ideas designed to please the political class at the expense of the national good. Now the fossil head of public service Francis Muthaura is at it again proposing KES 400,000 allowance per month for the wives of PM and VP. The most ridiculous thing about this is the fact that the constitution doesn’t have provision for these offices in the first place.

But again what the heck if cow Kenya can be milked some more before she drops dead. Here we are busy proposing new offices complete with allowances while the FIRST LADY office which is constitutionally recognized continues to suck public money with no face to match the bill. Enquiring on the whereabouts of Mama Lucy will predictably elicit ethnic vitriol cleverly clothed to question lack of humanity in such queries. It is more than three months since Kenyans saw Lucy.

Well, maybe the law has changed and we can now pay people from public coffers to run personal errands or enjoy MEDICAL holiday/quarantine. Or better still maybe Lucy has borrowed a leaf from within by being the laid-back boss. After all economic growth remain the harbinger to our nirvana and all else are mere appendages.

Disguised impunity
Muthaura’s proposal is another insult into our national conscience. The old guy is contemptuous of what Kenyan feel and only concerned with pleasing politicians at our collective expense. At this rate I fear the Grand Coalition will soon transform itself into a GRAND MONSTER to rape Kenya of all her resources. All these insensitive moves leave you wondering whether the proponents of grand opposition would be handy with their noise if only they were not sulking from missing out in the eating table.

This GCG must be the most expensive edifice in political history. And with the OLD and tired civil servants’ boss like Muthaura whose realm of operations revolve around archaic ideas while superlatively allergic to new ideas, we haven’t seen the last selfish move to milk Kenya dry. At this rate you can be forgiven for being mad at the bill to the Kenyan taxpayer were the PM and VIP to be polygamous. That will definitely ignite the debate in last parliament about MPs and their wives/mistresses.

The wives of the PM and VP must learn to live within the budgets of their spouses. These mothers must not assume imagined status which they never applied for from the Kenyan people. And Muthaura must not continue his insensitive gimmicks as if Kenya is a bottomless pit of gold. Mzee Muthaura's antics is nothing but disguised IMPUNITY.

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Why A Handful Of Kenyans Are Not Having A Good Weekend | Chris Murungaru

Shortly before the 2002 general elections if you were a frequent person along Moi Avenue in Mombasa or Digo Road you would not have failed to observe a rather fascinating but obviously very determined man going about his business in the sweltering heat.

He was burly and very tall and therefore difficult to miss. He could be seen heavily laden with pharmaceutical supplied moving from one chemist shop to another hawking his wares. Obviously he was not accustomed to the humidity and heat of the coastal city because he could be frequently seen wiping sweat from his face, quiet often removing his spectacles to do so.

Dr Chris Murungaru

Many of the pharmacists who out of sympathy gave him a few orders here and there were shocked when just a few months later that same man was named to one of the most powerful cabinet dockets in the brand new National Rainbow Coalition government of President Mwai Kibaki. The “hawker” became the minister in-charge of Internal security and was even captured in the media inspecting a guard of honor at one time.

That man’s name is of course Chris Murungaru. A man who will go down in the history of Kenya for the sheer speed at which he moved from pauper to multi billionaire. It is no secret that just a few weeks to the general elections Murungaru was playing hide and seek with auctioneers.

Now that man who is no longer the legislator representing the good people of Kieni burst into the news again this week. Apparently he is trying to serve summons to former ethics PS John Githongo in a 2006 defamation suit that has never gotten off the ground because efforts to serve Githongo have always failed. On 22 January, John Githongo named Murungaru as one of three top politicians involved in scams worth $600M in what is referred to now as the Anglo Leasing scum. The other two Githingo named were Kiraitu Murungi, former justice minister and present energy minister; and former finance minister (now out of parliament) David Mwiraria.

But to observers the really fascinating thing about Dr Chris Murungaru’s latest antics this past week is the boldness with which he has attracted attention to himself. Those who know him well say that the pharmacist has always been a gambler in life. But even so this latest gamble must surely beat all the previous ones. To start with the man has failed to read the mood in the country at the moment. Then he has drawn battle lines even before anybody has mentioned his name, meaning that he has forced the hand of those who must have some very damaging evidence against him. More than anything else Murungaru’s latest move illustrates just how high the stakes must be.

Admittedly Murungaru is a survivor and is obviously prepared for a long drawn out battle here. Many wrote him off when on February 17, 2006, the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACA) took Dr. Murungaru to a Nairobi court charging him with failing to declare and account for his wealth. The Commission’s view was that Dr. Murungaru became too waealthy too quickly and had been investigating the source of his wealth, especially in relation to the Anglo Leasing Scandal. He denied refusing to declare his wealth, and was released on a bond of Kshs 200,000 after an embarrassing wait right next to the stinking police cells at the Nairobi courts. On December 1st 2006, the High Court determined that KACA's notice to Murungaru was not carried out according the laid down law that subsequently led to the High Court quashing KACA's case against Murungaru.

Let us for a moment put ourselves in the shoes of the good doctor. What would you do if you knew that your time for being exposed was nigh? Would you just sit quietly and wait for what was coming to you? That is quite unlikely and not Murungaru at all.

Most probably you would come out both guns drawn and firing. That may mean that Murungaru is going to use the information he has to cause “leaks” of various scandals involving numerous characters right across the political divide. This is what is causing so much fear amongst the political elite. It is the inevitable chain reaction from all this.

Indeed the minute Githongo landed at JKIA, it is like somebody dropped some highly volatile compound into some simmering acid.

Some of the “leaks” that we should expect will involve top notch personalities within ODM. All in all I can authoritatively tell you that quite a number of Kenyans are not having a good weekend at all.


Read also;

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Beijing we Came and Conquered, London Next

Sammy Kamau Wanjiru did Kenya and Kenyans proud by winning the Beijing Olympic Marathon. Wa Ciru's winning was not only phenomenal because of the Gold medal but his fast pace in the first and last 500m in sweltering Garissa-like heat of 30 degrees Celsius was breathtaking to say the least. You can imagine running the 42+ km as sprinting from Nairobi to Thika in that Sahara-like temperatures in a time of just over 2 hours (Sammy took 2.06.32 to be precise).

And that makes us the track KINGS of Africa. At position 15 overall, we stand head over shoulders among the sporting power houses. The superlative performance leaves wondering if only we had our national priorities right and diversified what a haul of medals we would bag! But let us savour the pride and sweetness for now. The veteran Catherine Ndereba started it all with her silver medal and now Tokyo-based Sammy brought down the curtain down in style. In between we spiced it with medals from the Nandi and Eldoret Expresses.

Just as death is the universal equalizer sports remain our UNIVERSAL and national unifier. The last two weeks of sporting extravaganza from Beijing has galvanized Kenyans into they should have been always by melting our unproductive political and ethnic tension. If only we had leaders to seize on such unique opportunities to help build on the unity for our national cohesion and unity. Well, you guess and the opportunities don’t come flooding our shores very often.

Inverted priorities
Next in four years is London Olympics. Let us hope our sports administrators and leaders will have their priorities right then by putting our money where our TRUE pride resides. In the meantime let us savour the joy and pride brought to us by our gallant sons and daughters. Congratulations to them for the endurance and resultant national glory. Hongera our heroes.

Nigerian Man to kick “82 of his women” out in the Cold

Catch these articles published earlier today: Kenya wins 2 more gold medals
Who is afraid of John Githongo?

I was amused the other day when I heard the story of an 84 year old Nigerian man who has 86 women for wives. This is just a staggering number! Wait, that’s not all. The story went on to say that he has at least 170 children!!

Phew!

It occurred to me that for an 84-year-old man to keep such a vast number of women together and close to him then he must have loads of “strength”. Loads of that very vital energy that most men would give their eye teeth to have half of! (Kwani ni uongo!)

When asked to comment about his “strength”, the man, Mohamed Bello Abubakar, said: “A man with ten wives would collapse and die but my own power comes from Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them.”

Fathering 170 plus children is no mean feat. The energy and expenses involved are overly enormous, to say the least. It is said that they take 36 kilos of rice in a single meal. This, quite apparently, costs a lot of money (and quite a fortune to this man who has no job to rely on).

But Mohamed faces death as per Sharia Law for having wives that are more than four. {According to the Muslim faith, men are allowed to have up to four wives and not more than that.}

Despite imminent death due to his “offence”, Mohamed feels it up to him to challenge the Sharia Law. He says that Prophet Muhammad made the retribution for sins such as adultery and fornication clear but he did not say what punishment a man who has more than four wives should go through. So, this 84-year-old man does not see anything wrong with having as many wives as he has (though he discourages other men not to go his way and have as many wives as he has).

The good thing is that he has a choice. He can divorce a whopping 82 “wives” and remain with only 4.

My heart goes out to this man who is faced with a very tough decision. This is a perfect example of a dilemma (one that literature teachers can cite in their explanation of this stylistic device!)

I wonder what criteria he’ll use to drive 82 women out of his life (that’s if he still wants to live and not be on Sharia “Death Row”). Will the children go with the women too? I reckon there are so many questions going through his mind. His 84-year-old brain is having its fair share of trouble!

So many people have reacted to this story in different kinds of ways. I like the comment of one man on BBC yesterday. He said: “Where was the Sharia Law when this man was accumulating his women? Why didn’t the custodians of Sharia not move swiftly when he (Mohamed) crossed the 4 wives mark?”

Food for thought, this.

Other articles elsewhere:
Have a Strangle-hold on your Vision

Be as Wary as an Eagle

Kenyan Gold Rush in Beijing!

Kenyan runners have won two more gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in the mens 800 meters and women's 1500 meters.

It all started with Wilfred Bungei winning the men's 800 meters in a race in which Sudan's Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan came second followed by Alfred Yego of Kenya who got the bronze.

A few minutes later Nancy Jebet Langat of Kenya won the women's 1500 meters in what is being reported as an upset.

More later. Enjoy the photos

Wilfred Bungei of Kenya (2246) crosses the finish line first to win the men's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008. The other competitors are Nabil Madi of Algeria (1007), Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya (2251), who finished third, Gary Reed of Canada (1295), Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan (2914), who finished second, Yeimer Lopez of Cuba (partially obscured), Nadjim Manseur of Algeria (1008) and Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain.

Gold medallist Wilfred Bungei of Kenya and bronze medallist Alfred Kirwa Yego of Kenya celebrate after competing in the men's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.

Men's 800m winner Wilfred Bungei of Kenya (L) celebrates with compatriot Alfred Kirwa Yego, classified in second position, after the final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 23, 2008.

Kenya's Nancy Jebel Langat crosses the finish line to win the gold in the women's 1500-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.


Kenya's Nancy Jebel Langat, right, crosses the finish line to win the gold in the women's 1500-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008.

Read BBC Reports Here:

Bungei battles hard to 800m glory

Langat takes 1500m gold for Kenya

UPDATE FROM BEIJING

Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has survived a strong Kenyan challenge to win gold in the men's 5000 meters where Kenyan's Eliud Kipchoge and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi won the silver and bronze respectively.

This is now shaping up to be the best performance by Kenya at any Olympic games where the country is presently ranked at position 16 overall with a total of 13 medals; 4 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze.

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Who Is Afraid Of John Githongo?

Former ethics PS jetted into the country just last Tuesday night. And yet just too much has happened behind the scenes and in the open since then to suggest that as predicted various characters right across the political divide are extremely jittery.

The latest move is that disgraced former powerful internal security minister Chris Murungaru has desperately been trying to serve Githongo court summons for defamation through his lawyers. This is an old suit first filed in 2006 which failed to go anywhere because all attempts to serve Githongo have always failed.

But what is the fuss all about? After all if the massive anti-Githongo campaign that is going on all over the web right now (that is keeping some people extremely busy) were to be believed then Githongo is a non-entity who should not attract the kind of attention that he has attracted so far. And as we have been reminded countless times, he was not even the real whistle blower of the Anglo Leasing scandal and such credit has to go elsewhere. Maoka Maere, is the one who credit must go to for that, some people are saying.

So why should John Githongo ruffle so many feathers right across the political divide? Why is it that some individuals are burning the midnight oil to get as much so-called Githongo dirt onto the web and mainstream media as possible? Why is it that the 2012 presidential campaign which had swung into full gear has suddenly gone quiet? Why is it that even those within ODM are uncomfortable? What is the problem?

The crux of the problem is that although Mr Githongo has not made any indication that he is interested in politics and participating in the 2012 general elections in any way, all in the political class view him as a serious threat to their political ambitions. You see as much as Kenyans dislike the political class for what they are, one thing they are not is stupid. They have correctly read the mood of the electorate. Kenyans are sick and tired of corruption and they are determined to elect a clean government and clearly that is topmost on their minds and will be the undisputed number one agenda in the forthcoming general elections.

Now whatever anybody says about John Githongo, he is the only Kenyan (and I am deeply ashamed as a Kenyan to say this) who has said no to tempting corruption money at the highest level. I would like to believe that there are others who have done the same, but Githongo’s case stands out. A friend reminded me two days ago about what Kiraitu Murungi represented in the 1990s. The lawyer was a firebrand second liberation campaigner. However when he got close to the cookie jar we all know what happened. Martha Karua also has admirable credentials in the fight for the second liberation however we all know the key role she played in the presidential elections mess of last year. My friend emphasized that they have given up on Kenya and that ushering in a new generation of younger leaders will not make any difference.

There is no doubt that many long suffering Kenyans feel exactly the same and they are probably right in throwing in the towel.

However Githongo represents the only exception thus far and is surely a ray of hope. His name has come to mean integrity tried and tested. And those who have been out to tarnish his name have clearly been grasping at straws digging back to his schooldays and planting all sorts of nonsense and untruths amongst the facts (the classic method of spreading propaganda). The bare facts are simple. Githongo was there and he had a chance to simply look the other way and he would never have had to worry about money again in his life. But he chose to say NO. No other Kenyan has those credentials to date, at least not at the national level.

This blog has earned a reputation for being a great Githongo admirer and indeed this writer may look like a seer seeing many years ahead. However I have no time to gloat. I love my country and we must change direction and change direction now. The change we seek is bigger than Githongo or any other individual. However fate and destiny have thrust this Kenyan in a position where he must help to take the lead to a new Kenya. I am persuaded that he is up to it.

Expect high drama like never before over the next few days.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Kenyatta’s Legacy Examined 30 Years After

Kenyans have just marked 30 years since the death of our nation’s founding president Jomo Kenyatta. With a whole generation gone by since his death, what can be branded as the legacy of Uhuru’s dad? Well, Kenyatta’s legacy (or lack thereof) will be obviously viewed with the present partisan lenses.

To his admirers he founded a nation and premised her prosperity on fighting poverty disease and ignorance. Whether he made efforts to deliver on these pillars is a different matter subject to personal judgement. Some of Jomo’s disciples even go further to see a re-incarnation of his ‘prosperous’ reign in the present regime.

Enter Johnstone Kamau’s detractors and all they see in the late president is the planter of the seed of IMPUNITY and FRAUD whose long term effects continue to tear the Kenyan fabric apart. Such people will readily blame Kenyatta for the present land mess owing to his failure to comprehensively address the emotive and cultural issue which was the cause of struggle for independence in the first place. While at it they will bandy criminal statistics that the Kenyatta family own land equivalent to a province thanks to Jomo’s insatiable appetite to grab what he used to fondly refer to as SHAMBA YENYE ROTUBA NYINGI.

So what is the true legacy of Kenya’s founding president who many adore and idolize with his body interred at the heart of the city while others see as synonymous with DECEPTION and FRAUD. Well, there may be no one single answer to that same question as raises more questions than answers. But one thing can be said for certain: Kenyatta RULED and reigned in his twilight years that may have denied Kenya the benefit of a dynamic leader capable of formulating a roadmap to found a nation.

Deceptive legacy
Bishop David Kamau’s sermon commemorating Kenyatta’s death leaves one wondering aloud to whom his message was directed. Urging our politicians to unite Kenyans may be akin to playing a sonorous tune to a goat who cannot appreciate the same. Trust fractious Kenya to subjectively interpret the message of carrying on the dreams of the founding father of the nation by ensuring all Kenyans were served equally.

Bishop Kamau reminded the congregation of Kenyatta’s vision for a united Kenya, free from poverty, tribalism and discrimination. He added that we should make a new commitment that we will lead a country free of corruption, poverty, hunger and favouritism. Well, maybe the late Jomo stood for all these grandiose values or the good man of God was just being good to the dead as is the African/human tradition and trend. At the risk of being seen to be flogging the dead, the jury is still out and only time will tell.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Kibaki is not Mugabe, So Tsvangirai Move on

Zimbabwe’s opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai may have meant well calling on Kenya to seek first hand experience in Grand Coalition Government negotiations and formation. However, the MDC leader would be better advised that the dynamics in the two countries are very different. The similarities and differences almost balance each other albeit on grand different premises.

For starters, Tsvangirai must accept the fact that Mugabe exhibited utmost civility in ALLOWING win the first round of Zimbabwe election in March. But he must not have been naive to imagine that Bob would just sit back and wish him well like that with so much at stake. Mugabe only did the most logical thing in bettering Kibaki’s script by mating MAXIMUM and unrestrained IMPUNITY that automatically pushed poor out of the run off in June.

You see Kibaki is not Mugabe. Here in Kenya we tally votes in advance and swear in pronto unlike coward Bob who made history with his patience by counting votes for a whole month. Poor Tsvangirai also appears ignorant to the fact that Mbeki is not Annan save for the striking physical resemblance. He lost the plot by playing by the rules which allowed Mugabe to assume the reigns of power and hence negotiate from unequal premise. But again may be MDC would have better imported ODM gang if only for Zanu-PF’s bludgeoning.

Grand impunity perfected
That said, similarities galore between the Zimbabwe and Kenya political predicaments. Already Mugabe is destined to convene parliament in breach of SADC’s MOU. That must make our rush to name half the cabinet familiar. Add that to the fact that Arthur Mutambara of the breakaway MDC is waiting on the wings salivating to fill the void should Morgan continue to play hard ball. And for the records Simba Makoni is still around for Bob's attention.

Poor Tsvangirai is in very unenviable position. He is sandwiched between the political hell and the dark blue sea. He must be alive to the fact that the executive power he is demanding remains a very emotive and hot issue even in our six-month old GCG. Meanwhile Bob must be laughing all the way to Grace’s belly secure in the knowledge that he is in good company within our continent. Surely we are mere tenants on these geographical entities we can our countries. Our countries have their owners lest we forget.

PNU Now Walking Same Doomed Path KANU Walked in 2002

Uhuru handed PNU ticket as Kalonzo retreats to ODM-K!

In 2002 KANU was a powerful political machine but the disgraceful management of the Moi succession ended its 40 year grip on power. We are now in 2008, KANU is virtually dead and signs are that we shall be going to an all important constitutional referendum in 2009 and possibly a general election shortly thereafter followed by Kibaki’s retirement.

Recent reports indicate that the PNU succession structure has been finalized and not so surprisingly, the so called president’s principal assistant, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka has been upstaged by KANU Chairman Uhuru Kenyatta as the preferred torch bearer of post Kibaki PNU. Not totally unexpected, but ever since Kalonzo was persuaded to pressure the ECK into announcing controversial presidential results on the premise that he would be given the Vice President’s docket plus several cabinet positions for his party ODM-K, he has fallen over himself wooing the GEMA voters. He has visited Central and Upper Eastern provinces at any given opportunity in the mistaken belief that the rich GEMA vote basket would be his for the taking following Kibaki’s retirement. It brings back memories of 2007 when Kalonzo persistently and unsuccessfully attempt to court the Rift Valley vote through the AIC church.

The last time I checked, Kalonzo was playing amateurish politics assembling Dubai bound councillors and telling that he had no qualms with them undertaking the Harun Mwau sponsored trip as if he has any powers to stop them in the first place. Kalonzo further assured councillors that ODM-K would sponsor a motion in parliament proposing a salary raise for civic leaders, forgetting that only a few months ago, millions of Kenyan workers were denied their annual salary increase during Labour Day celebrations by none other than President Kibaki! Many political observers believe Kalonzo and Uhuru’s moves to dissolve ODM-K and KANU is being driven the fear that these two parties cannot pass the acid test that is the Political Parties Act 2007 The two politicians have been singing the unity song since the formation of the grand coalition.

Now it emerges that the blessed PNU succession line-up features Uhuru as 1st Vice Chairman (read presidential torch bearer), a very reluctant Moses Wetangula as 2nd Vice Chairman (read running mate – words that have no meaning in Kenya’s volatile politics), Mutula Kilonzo as Secretary General and George Nyamweya as Organizing Secretary. The Treasurers position is being reserved for rebels and all of the top PNU positions are to have two deputies.

With a retirement bound Kibaki being given the Chairman’s post, Kalonzo’s name had initially been proposed for the high sounding Deputy Party Leader post, but events on the ground became too hot forcing PNU to abandon the Party Leader post and in the process left Kalonzo without any significant party position. Clearly, the PNU structure has been crafted with Kibaki succession / general elections in mind and with the political parties act hovering above their heads, there is no other option but to call for the dreaded grassroot elections.

Interestingly, the PNU top line-up does not feature FORD-K, FORD-P, SHIRIKISHO, SAFINA or any of the other numerous parties that supported Kibaki’s bid for the presidency in 2007.

To complicate the PNU succession equation even further, KANU ‘owners’ led by ex-President Moi have disowned Uhuru’s move to dissolve the independence party by flatly refusing to join the PNU bandwagon.

Even more significantly, Mzee Moi is said to have finally accepted that Agriculture minister and ODM pentagon member William Ruto is now politically superior to himself and his favourite son Gideon Moi in so far as Rift Valley is concerned. In other words, Moi is using the elders to send an olive branch to the ODM, especially Raila Odinga who many observers opine will be the man to beat in the next general elections.

Mzee Moi is keen on rehabilitating his son Gideon back into the national political platform through KANU, a party that has been lying on its death bed since the December 2007 general elections. Given Moi’s strong emotional attachment to KANU, rather than have the independence party dissolved like Chairman Uhuru Kenyatta appears to have decided, the senior Moi recently invited Kalenjin elders to his palatial Kabarak home to apologise for his mistakes in 2002 (read backing Uhuru) and 2007 (read backing Kibaki).

In the meantime, George Saitoti and Martha Karua are watching events in PNU with a keen eye. Saitoti is planning to use his massive wealth to sponsor candidates in the PNU grassroots polls so as to have an upper hand when the PNU National Delegates Congress is called to choose national officials and the party torch bearer. Saitoti is banking on Kibaki to endorse him as successor due to their closeness and also by virtue of being the senior most of all PNU presidential contenders.

Martha Karua, whose popularity in Central Province is worrying Uhuru Kenyatta, has declared that her interest for the presidency is real and that NARC-K will not be dissolved for the sake of PNU unity. Karua’s chances of mounting a serious presidential bid is largely influenced by her long time association with the civil society and if James Orengo’s experience is anything to go by, then Karua will be in for the shock of her life when election results are announced. As it is, she lacks the prerequisite resources in terms of finance and the vital grassroot representation at the district and locational levels. Her defence of ECK and PNU earlier in the year makes her an instant enemy in most parts of Kenya and she would require to shelter under the massive political umbrella of Raila Odinga’s ODM to be gradually accepted nationally.

The game is on, will PNU survive or will it go the KANU way?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Unmasking Githongo's Blunt Warning on Growth Weaned on Corruption

Judging from the confidence and the salvos he fired during his first press conference, John Githongo appears to be privy to some form of protection we don’t know. Given the fact that the powerful political elite he brought down as still alive and with their connections intact, the former PS cannot afford the luxury of being naive to expose himself to these sharks who will not waste a second to wring his neck literally.

Granted, Githongo is many things to many people. To many he epitomizes selflessness judging from his readiness to bell the marauding big wild cats roaming our political lives. The guy is no typical Kenyan will readily turn the other way provided his comfort is guaranteed and the pocket taken care of. And to his detractors he is just but a simple headline seeker blowing his trumpet from the hilltops. Whatever you take, give it to the chap for the extraordinary courage to look at scoundrels right into the eye and calling their bluff. Kenya’s political landscape is still reverberating from his actions to stand for the truth more than 1000 days ago.

Without mincing words, Githongo has busted the myth that corruption does not really matter so long as the economy was growing. With DECEPTION and FRAUD as unique factors defining our political leadership, Githongo’s twinning of corruption and poor governance is going to generate predictable political heat. The script is so predictable so much so that in a matter of days the heat will be chocking the GCG. And there lies the political catch too.

Hunting dragon corruption
In his press release last week, Githongo initially indicated he was on a brief visit home as a KNHRC guest speaker. Now that has changed and JG has hinted he is here to stay for the long haul to continue doing what he knows best from within-hunting the corruption DRAGON. Come to think of it. The advertisements of senior positions at the PM’s office a few weeks back may not be mere coincidence.

It demands no fertile imagination to picture the political fireworks ahead were the present developments to prove more than a coincidence. Only time will tell but one thing is for sure; the political landscape is destined for vigorous tremors. What next then? Your guess is as good as mine on political grand scheming. Something is definitely cooking and soon the guns will be out blazing. Keep your eyes WIDE open.

8 Million Dollar Corrupt China Guns Deal

It appears that our extremely expensive grand coalition government is shaping up to also be a government of grand corruption even as we witness a 10th parliament that is proving to be the most effective watch dog the country has ever had in its’ parliamentary history.


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See also: Ingenious way to sell that lifted small business to big success

Relationships: Romance without finance?

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Kumekucha has unearthed a fascinating deal that seems to be unfolding at the moment involving the department of defense.

The government of Kenya needs to import 10,000 rifles for the department of defense. The US government has offered the required rifles for free but in circumstances still shrouded by mystery the government seems to be already taking steps to purchase the said rifles from China at a cost $800 per unit. Incidentally the rifles being purchased are relatively new in the market. This is in sharp contrast to the American rifles which are not only being offered for free, but we are talking about the tried and tested M16 assault weapon which was severely tested in the jungles of Vietnam against the renowned AK-47s that were being used against them in that horrible war. The M16 has over the years been modified and improved to the standard where it can measure up against the very best. Little wonder that the military chiefs have advised that they prefer this particular weapon and have said that this is what should be purchased. It seems that they are unaware of the free offer.

The Chinese Norinco QBZ

However the government seems to have turned down the free offer and has instead opted to purchase those 10,000 rifles from China at a cost of $800 per unit. The rifles from China are the Norinco QBZ-97. This the export version of the brand new Chinese QBZ-95 regulation rifle. Which means that it is yet to be tried and tested.

However the news gets worse. The real cost for each rifle is $500. But the Kenya government is paying $800 per rifle.

One loophole that has consistently been used to fleece money off the public over the years is this excuse about defense and security related purchases being too sensitive for any close scrutiny. Accordingly the names that end up being involved with such deals are always extremely high profile. The names behind this China rifle deal are no exception.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Kenya Wins Two Olympic Gold Medals

Kenya’s athletes have this afternoon set the Olympic athletic stadium in Beijing alight by winning two gold medals, one silver and one bronze.

First it was Brimin Kiprop Kipruto who won the men’s 3000 meters steeple-chase event while Richard Mateelong of Kenya grabbed the bronze after failing to catch-up with Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad who won the silver.

Olympic champion in Athens four years ago Ezekiel Kemboi faded to finish in seventh place.

A few moments later, the ‘Nandi Express’ Pamela Jelimo led her compatriot ‘Eldoret Express’ Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei in a one-two finish of the women’s 800 meters final winning the gold and silver medals respectively.

Kenya has won seven straight medals in the men's 3,000-meters steeple chase since the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, while this is the first time Kenyans are participating in the women’s 800 metres event final.

The win catapults Kenya to the highest ranking African nation position 17th on the medals standings with a total of seven medals two gold, three silver and two bronze.

Kenya's Brimin Kiprop Kipruto celebrates after winning the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Kenya's gold medalist Brimin Kiprop Kipruto, left, silver medal winner Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong, right, and Ezekiel Kemboi run with Kenya's national flag after the men's 3000-meter steeplechase final in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008

Kenya's Pamela Jelimo celebrates winning the gold in the women's 800-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Second-placed Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei (L) of Kenya celebrates with team-mate and winner Pamela Jelimo after their women's 800m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008.

To Cut Or Not To Cut, That Is The Question

AIDS. AIDS. AIDS.


We don't think about this scourge very much anymore because it's been with us for years, right? But for nearly thirty years the world's leading scientists have struggled to come up with a cure or a form of antidote that would slow down its devastating symptoms. The good news is, there has been a measure of success on the latter front. In most developed nations, AIDS is no longer an automatic kiss of death. In swaths of Africa, however, the march has been slower.


Yesterday I watched as Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, called upon the nation to embrace the cut. I have to assume his comments were directed at a certain group of people from the Lake Victoria region who still flee when they are confronted with the possibility of a knife kissing the tip of their.......fill in the blank. What was striking about his comments was the fact that he called for an act that was a radical departure from years of cultural practice. Was the Prime Minister saying that the scourge has been so devastating that a fundamental rethink of culture is called for? Was he bravely stating that radically new approaches needed to be part of the overall effort to combat the continuing scorched-earth effects of AIDS?


I come to this matter with the humility of a man who realizes that thousands of Kenyans have lost their lives, and many others, like me, have lost relatives and friends to this debilitating disease. Because of the horrendous effects of AIDS, and the impact it has on the nation's vibrancy, I agree with the Prime Minister that whatever can be done must be done to slow down this disease. We must also thank the hundreds of NGOs, churches, government entities and private citizens who have worked tirelessly to slow down the determined encroachment of this scourge.


But you'll have noticed that the Prime Minister went out in broad strokes. He said let's do the cut. I agree with him. But who should do the cut? The kids in standard one? Form One? College freshmen? Should a husband do it? How about a priest?


And by the way, do all Kenyan communities do the cut except those people from the lake who run away at the sight of a knife? In case you didn't know it, the Luos had their own form of a cut, only it took the six lower teeth of our forefathers. It was a measure put in place to fight what was called lockjaw disease. The premise was simple. If one was inflicted with the disease and their jaws locked, they could still be fed through that hole created by pulling down the six teeth. Wasn't that smart? That was Luo ingenuity.


So why did certain communities cut the foreskin?


Fellow countrymen, what the Prime Minister called on Kenyans to do must be seen in the context of his willingness to be pragmatic about the issues facing Kenya. New approaches must be embraced in order to fight diseases and other ills. Where tradition and culture stands in the way of saving lives and moving the nation forward, those traditions must be discarded for the good of everyone.


Lastly, I hope we are all smart enough today to ask the person we plan to marry to take a test. Don't walk that man or woman down the aisle until he/she slaps a medical record on the table that clears him/her of the disease. And for those who are in relationships, there is only one sure way to keep safe...integrity. Respect yourself enough to wait until you are married to take that beautiful woman/handsome man to bed. Is that easy to do? No, but you have years of togetherness after getting married, what would a little wait hurt?


So my friends who run away at the sight of a knife, take courage, look the knife in the eye and tell it you are ready to tango. Once that piece is sliced off, run with it to the lake and watch as the waves sail away with it. Or you may ask our friends from Sotik and Bungoma and Voi and Nyeri and Kangundo what they did with theirs.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Why Kibaki Is The Best President Kenya Never Had

There is mounting evidence that had President’s Kibaki’s health been better, then the tragedy of post election violence would probably never have happened.

It is a fact that those who know the president well will tell you that right from the referendum of 2005 the decisions made by the Kibaki they have known for years is just not him. In a long career in public service, this is a man who has always come across as a very sober political player with a sharp mind and sharp wit to go with it. Hardly the president who blundered his way through his first term so much so that there was a time most Kenyans did not believe that he would complete his first term. He actually limped along and even had to ask for the help of retired president Moi to steady things along.

And this is one of the reasons why when well known political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi predicted as early as 2003 that there was no way that Kibaki would have over power peacefully if he were defeated, he caused an uproar and even many die hard ODM supporters at the time found this assertion ridiculous.

Kibaki admirers insist that all this is clear evidence that he never really recovered from that horrible accident of late 2002 that almost took his life. There are those who strongly believe that that road accident denied Kenya an excellent president who would have had a very different term of office indeed and Kenya would have been a different country.

Instead, president Kibaki will not only go down in history as the president who has overseen the most massive tribalization of the Kenyan people in the history of the country, but he will also be remembered as the president who insisted on going for a second term when clearly he had not even been physically fit to handle his stormy first term.

His two terms will also be viewed as a stormy period in the history of the country when may things went wrong because there was no clear leadership at a time when the country needed it badly.

Sadly there are many politicians and Kenyans who think that the office of the president is one comfortable office of honour and glory. They refuse to see the pressures of the office that made Moi age so fast in the years after the re-introduction of multi-partyism. The same office has taken it’s toll on president Kibaki who was already weak and on a wheel chair.

In conclusion it is rather obvious that the president is not healthy or fit enough to handle the demanding pressures so rather than continue to tarnish his image built of many years, the most honorable things and continue to carry out OR gimmicks to hoodwink Kenyans, the most honorable thing for his to do would be to resign now. He would be able to prove his critics wrong, who aver that he has never done a single courageous thing in his long political career.


In my latest Kumekucha Confidential issue I give a sneak preview of some of the detailed inside information on the man who could easily rise to the presidency as per the constitution if president Kibaki was declared unfit to handle the office. Most of this information will leave you numb with shock and it is free. Subscribe now by Sending me a blank Email right away

Catherine 'The Great' Ndereba Wins Kenya's First Medal

August 17, 2008

38- Year old Romanian mother - Constantina Tomescu-Dita - has a few moments ago won the Olympics women's marathon gold medal in 2 hours 26 minutes 44 seconds, 22 seconds ahead of silver medalist, world champion, Catherine ' The Great' Ndereba of Kenya.

Ndereba outsprinted China's Zhou Chunxiu at the end even as the crowd stood and chanted Zhou's name. It chanted again when bronze medalist Zhou grabbed a Chinese flag and held it for her countrywoman, fourth-place finisher Zhu Xiaolin.....

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (front) gestures as she crosses the finish line ahead of Zhou Chunxiu of China in the women's marathon of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (R) approaches the finish line ahead of Zhou Chunxiu of China during the women's marathon of the athletics competition of the Beijing 2008 Olmypic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya (R) runs ahead of Zhou Chunxiu of China during the women's marathon of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya gestures after the women's marathon of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in the National Stadium August 17, 2008.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya crosses the finish line in the women's marathon at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008. At left is third placed Zhou Chunxiu of China.

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya celebrates after winning the silver medal in the women's marathon at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2008.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

My Evasive Nyama Choma

Published earlier today: Kumekucha weekend special, secrets about Kibaki's health

News that at least four abattoirs had been closed down in Nairobi sometime this week hit me hard. In fact it was a slap across my broad face. Nyama choma (roasted meat) and my mouth are sworn blood brothers. Yeah, and literally so.

So, news that some principal slaughter houses in Nairobi had been closed down really jolted me. I started asking myself how I would get by the week with the thought that come weekend there might not be enough meat to serve the city thus I would end up not tasting my delicacy.

My employer might have noticed my disenchantment with life itself for he called me the other day asking what was “eating” me. He also pointed out that my work output was lackluster (to use his word). He said this was unlike me.

If only he knew what was bugging me, he might have sent me packing. Thank God he couldn’t read the thoughts that were doing their rounds in my head!

The authorities say that these abattoirs are in a sorry state sanitation-wise. They are very dirty and pose health risks to the “nyama choma” patrons (like yours truly).

But, seriously speaking, I thought fire can kill all manner of germs, worms and other such health risks that can “append their poison” in the meat I love so much. Roasted meat goes through fire, doesn’t it?

Can someone please, puliiiiz, do something about this state of affairs. I, like so many other Nairobians, need to get back to work with all the energy I can and could muster. This is energy that I can only get from my favourite delicacy “Nyam Chom”.

You slaughter house guys, clean up your act and make sure there is enough Nyama Choma to drown the city the moment I step out of the house this weekend. Somebody reading this?

Kumekucha Weekend Special: Secrets About Kibaki’s Health

Based on the information that I have received, it is now clear that the country has entered a very dangerous phase indeed.

President Kibaki in recent times has displayed behaviour even in public which most Kenyans have missed. Few have been aware that they were witnessing subtle clues that clearly tell us that the country is in very dangerous waters indeed. However any trained medical eye will tell you a lot of things, mostly things no Kenyan would like to hear. Least of all now, when the country is desperately trying to recover from the mishaps of last December and January.

But in private within the precincts of State House Nairobi, which the president has made his home, things are even more worrying.

The president has problems waking up in the morning. No big deal about that, you may think. But when you compare him to former president Moi, you begin to understand the possible repercussions. Moi was always up at 4 am in the morning and would start by going through all the newspapers of the day. By 5 am when those Kenyans going to work early are beginning to stir, he would have already made lots of notes to act upon. This was around the time Moi would usually have his breakfast, if he did not have a breakfast meeting later that morning. On most mornings what would follow would be a briefing from the intelligence. Little wonder that as corrupt as he was, he always seemed to be on top of things.

Several sources have also told this blogger that the president has serious problems these days remembering stuff. On several occasions he has even forgotten the names of his own children during introductions. Now, pray tell me, how does a person govern when they cannot remember things. How on earth do they even make decisions, let alone quality decisions?

Another even more worrying symptom is the fact that the president repeats himself a lot when talking. Incidentally this has also come out in the public most notably when he addressed parliament during the historic debate on the Anan-peace bills that created the current grand coalition government power sharing deal.

In private he mutters things to himself a lot as he hobbles around State House. Interestingly this habit emerged in public shortly before last years’ general elections in a most fascinating incident. A BBC journalist asked the then incumbent presidential candidate about his options should he lose the elections. Kibaki muttered almost under his breath in Kiswahili something to the effect that he wondered whether the journalist had a brain. Several journalists present heard and understood what the president had muttered almost to himself. None dared report it. Only the Standard carried a description of the incident tacked away in a small paragraph deep inside the newspaper. In the excitement of the general elections then many missed it.

So what do the doctors say about the president’s condition? Indeed because of the lack of information, all sorts of rumours have been flying all over the place. Still one doctor told this blogger that the symptoms described are what one would expect as the aftermath of a stroke. The doctors confirms that in that kind of condition one is clearly not capable of executing the duties of a president let alone handle the pressures of the office.

Analysts paint a very grim picture of the possible repercussions and they do so by taking us back to the events of last December. Decisions were made then that led to the blood bath we saw in January this year. Even when the crisis began there are many decisions that were not made which would have saved numerous Kenyan lives.

You see under the current constitution the presidency in Kenya is all powerful and whatever decisions are made or not made at State House, they impact on almost every Kenyan irrespective of their political affiliation.

The president’s handlers knowing very well what is happening have instead chosen to carry out several PR antics to fool Kenyans about the president’s true health status. One such gimmick is the recent decision to have the president honour many of engagements at his Harambee house office. Another one is the purported inside story leaked to a daily newspaper that suggested the president is very good friends with the PM Raila Odinga and is voluntarily ceding and delegating a lot of things to him. The truth is that increasingly the president is not fit to govern and is only too happy to get all the help he can from the energetic Raila Odinga.

However this has led to what is shaping up to be a fierce power struggle within the top echelons of Kenyan leadership where VP Kalonzo Musyoka is now fighting with everything he has to hold onto the presidency even as a looming cabinet re-shuffle places his fate on the balance. The truth is that Kalonzo’s political usefulness to Kibaki and PNU ended with the formation of the grand coalition government and now more pressing political considerations, like the Kibaki succession have made their way to the top of the agenda, leaving the VP very exposed indeed. We will discuss that in more detail in my explosive post tomorrow.

In my latest Kumekucha Confidential issue I give a sneak preview of some of the detailed inside information on the man who could easily rise to the presidency as per the constitution id president Kibaki was declared unfit to handle the office. Most of this information will leave you numb with shock and it is free. Subscribe now by Sending me a blank Email right away