The ongoing battle within ODM that has pitted agriculture minister William Ruto against Prime Minister Raila Odinga is unprecedented. Little wonder that obituaries are already being written about the once very popular political party called ODM.
I believe that this development is serious enough for me to abandon the ongoing debate on the draft constitution at least momentarily to discuss it.
Is this the end of ODM as we once knew it?
Just examine the history of political parties since the resumption of multi-party politics in Kenya. Remember the mighty united original Ford? What about NARC? What happened to those political parties? What happened to them is exactly what will happen to ODM. As much as many of the regular readers to this blog would hate to hear such a suggestion, that is the truth, and you hardly need to be a prophet to predict it. You simply need the patience to read a few paragraphs of history and the intellect to make simple comparisons.
The nature of political parties in Kenya is that they usually self-destruct the minute they complete the journey of getting their main passenger to the seat of power. The political parties that survive are those that are unsuccessful in this mission, they remain alive to fulfill their mission in time. In other words if ODM survives intact to field a major presidential candidate in 2012, then it will be the exception and history will have been made.
Many analysts who are unaware of what is going on behind the scenes are puzzled that Ruto should vote for the Mau evictions only to turn round a few weeks later to strongly oppose the same Mau evictions. The answer to that puzzle is not too difficult to decipher. In simple language William Ruto is fighting for political survival and has chosen to use the Mau has his trump card. What has happened is that Ruto has made too many enemies with his arrogant lone-ranger ways and some of these enemies have ganged up together to fight him as their common enemy. This would not have been too big a problem except that some of those enemies are powerful “monied” and experienced enough to be a great cause for concern for the Ruto camp. Retired President Moi and Raila Odinga are now on the same side in a bid to see this “upstart”-young-man-who-is-in-a-terrible-hurry, completely defeated. Granted Moi is using old political tactics that are definitely on their last legs. Like the creation of the Kalenjin Council of elders. Gideon Moi has also been in campaign mode for a long time and if you followed him and did not read any other news on Kenya you would be sure that the general elections are going to be held next month. The strategist and brains behind his every move is of course his father. Granted, Moi senior is still smarting from the resounding defeat he suffered in the hands of Raila in 2002. But he is even more upset about the more recent defeat in the hands of this young man called William “who does he think he is?” Ruto.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga has been convinced that the best he can do for himself is to deal with William Ruto before 2012. And he has been told that he can still get a sizeable amount of Kalenjin votes without Ruto’s help. Not the same overwhelming support of 2007 but at least 50 per cent of it. In other words some people are saying that the Kalenjin vote in the next general elections will be sharply divided.
Actually the game plan is to destroy Ruto politically before Ocampo gets to him so that there will be absolutely no fall out when he departs.
Handlers in both the Ruto and Raila camps have been behaving very strangely in recent times and this has led me to the conclusion that the whispers about Ruto defending himself at the Hague by incriminating Raila in the post election skirmishes may not be so far fetched after all. The truth is that the Kalenjin community had prepared months in advance for the violence. However Ruto handlers have plenty of evidence to suggest that the order to kill Kikuyus in the Rift Valley came from the highest authority in the ODM hierarchy. Remember the slogan; “No Raila no peace”? This fear amongst the prime Minister’s handlers is what led to Raila’s strong insistence that the perpetrators of the post-election violence be tried locally (including the king pins).
What are Raila’s chances of political survival assuming that he can clean house and deal with Ruto? Regular readers of this blog will know my view on that. While it is true that Raila Odinga can never be underestimated (you have to respect a man who came back from the gallows at Kamiti), my view is that Raila will never again wield the power and influence he wielded in the run up to the 2007 general elections which he actually won as every intelligent non-partisan Kenyan knows.
All in all this Raila/Ruto battle is not a small thing and neither is it a passing cloud. It is something that will be prominent in Kenya’s political landscape for as long as both men remain standing. Indeed it is the kind of battle that could create room for the emergence of a new third political force on the scene. But there is a big “if” there. And that is IF this war does not degenerate into chaos.
Chris you have diverted us from the real issue of constitution debate. You have talked about chaos who will be fighting in this case and who will be the victim since you have mentioned that Kalenjins are divided
ReplyDeleteChris is indeed back all guns blazing and he's not taking any hostages. Actually to be frank, kumekucha smells better when it's confrontational and fearless.
ReplyDeleteNow, on this kid called Ruto, can the great minds of Kumekucha explain to me why he's behaving as if he's not the number one suspect on Waki List?
I just don't get it. This kid even has the audacity to declare his presidential ambition for 2012 as if he will not be cooling his heels inside a lonely cell at The Hague.
After his chest thumping and bravado purporting to be the king of the Rift Valley, his fall will be as spectacular as a house of cards when his lengendary deceit is arrested.
I don't buy the notion that he will implicate Raila when his time is up. Raila was too smart and there's not a shred of evidence against him when it comes to crimes against humanity. Ruto will have to carry his own cross and rightly so!
The next phase of Ruto/Raila will be when Raila orders the arrest and extradition of Ruto away from this great land.
Mpesa
Nbi Kenya.
Chris:
ReplyDeleteThere is a saying that when you go hunting elephants, you do not waste your arrows on monkeys.
Can you really worship someone that much... from the article, the titile should be "Will RAILA survive this one, What about ODM"
ReplyDeleteRuto has nothing to loose, if you see what I am seeing... and BTW, Ask Kibaki who held several well attended rallies in South Rift before 2007 how he though he was gonna get the votes... So when the Kalenjin attend Raila rallies, it is out of courtesy and having nothing else to do as the crops grow.. They will Never vote him - forget the 50/50 split nonsense. Henry Kosgey saw this and he could not be taken down with Raila. Only Mr Nomitated MP will be trolling around with him because - well because he needs the nomination.
The mere fact that you have chosen ODM as subject of your post shows how important the party is to the politics of this country. ODM is a party that will probably form the next government not to mention one of its patrons ending up as president. It is the party that will change KENYA as can be evidenced by its small participation in on going reforms.
ReplyDeleteIt is not for any reason that over the last one and a half years numerous political parties in Africa and beyond have been sending delegations to Orange/Chungwa House to interact with their Kenya colleagues and learn more about coalition building and party politics from the masters themselves. No less a party than the UK's Liberal Democratic Party, the ANC of South Africa, DP of Uganda, CCM of Tanzania including the Communist Party of China and the Democrats of the USA have established a working partnership with ODM, a party than is less than three years old, but with plenty to offer in terms of progressive and reformist politics.
I will take it further and tell you, if RAO were to defect to PNU, Sisi Kwa Sisi or even Chama Cha Wazalendo, any of those parties would see their ratings instantly sky rocket to unbelievable heights.Those are the facts Chris, and if we stopped reporting anything on ODM/RAO in this blog, the web hits would similarly fall dramatically.
Fact of the matter is RAO has been the most popular politician (going by opinion polls) since mid 2007 when the ODM primaries were conducted. Currently ODM remains the most popular party among Kenyans. Another fact of the matter is William Ruto was comprehensively beaten, first by RAO and secondly by Musalia Mudavadi for the ODM ticket. It was quite embarassing to see a man who had hitherto been tipped to give candidates a run for their money about 200 votes. FYI RAO beat Ruto even within Rift Valley province - known to be home to all other Kenyan communities besides the Rutos of this world.
Without hesitation, I want to inform Kumekucha readership, ODM, like any other mass movement, is expected to have all kinds of characters from amongst its membership. We encourage internal democracy and welcome the candidature of both Ruto and Mudavadi into the presidential race.
We all know MAU reclamation is touching on the very sensitive nerves of LAND BARONS in Kenya. This list includes Kenyatta, Moi, Nyachae, Ruto, Karume, Bett and all those characters who have the darkest backgrounds in this country. These are the same people who own upwards of 80% of this country, controlling nearly all the spheres of the economy. And that includes the fibre optic cable, mobile phone companies, media houses, manufacturing, banking, tourism, agricultural, education and even transport sectors. I tell you this people even rival the government in provision of social services!!!!
Back to ODM, Ruto knows that if he defects now, he may just force a by-election in his Eldoret N0rth constituency. This is not a prospect he is willing to bet on.....even in his own backyard. People like RAO set the example more than 10 years ago when they defected from FORD-K to unknown NDP to claim his Langata seat. Matiba did the same in 1990, but KANU would not let him form his own party. If Ruto is man enough, surely in this era of multi-party, pray, what the hell is he waiting for????
ReplyDeleteOutside cabinet and outside parliament, Ruto becomes terribly exposed and and extremely vulnerable. He would not last a couple of days or weeks a free man. Remembr Karua Martha talking of not needing excess baggage in NARC-K???
One advantage Ruto has is his seemingly bottomless pockets. He has been able to fund countrywide rallies financing the attendance of close to 30 MPs and civic leaders since the beginning of the year. During this time he has attended a major harambee every other week and overshadowing the PM and the president in some of them as top contributor.
Once upon a time, Ruto was a mere KANU secretary general, running errands for Uhuru Kenyatta and Daniel Arap Moi. At that time, Chris, you used to say it will be impossible for RAO to wrest the RVP vote from the grip of Nyayo. That was, until ODM invaded Rift Valley following the referendum campaigns and the residents there compelled politicians to toe the ODM line or forget ever seeing bunge again. In other words Ruto was forced into the ODM where he found the RVP vote already sitting pretty. The rest is history.
You must also remember Mwai Kibaki was elected president in 2002 without the Kalenjin vote and with only 50% of the Kikuyu vote. And his victory had a huge margin.
Ruto is a creature created by the rudderless press in Kenya. When it is time to walk the talk, we shall see just how many of the MPs currently coalescing around William Ruto see the inside of parliament again.
Do you honestly believe Ruto can beat Mudavadi (let alone RAO) in any national political contest?
And again Chris, can we now talk about PNU, the President's party? Or ODM-K, your backyard party? What I am saying, is there any party in Kenya today that can stand and claim to be heads and shoulders above ODM? Is PNU affiliated with any international political party? Do they even have a national office / branch offices?
This is the only way Ruto can climb politically, though it has it's own risks.
ReplyDeleteIf Ruto remains in ODM what is likely to happen is that the highest office he can get is Vice Presidency.
However I'm seeing the risks of Ruto's move getting bigger since they are two people, Kalonzo and Uhuru, who are also not ready to take vice presidency.
Ruto feels, like Uhuru Muigai, that his time to lead Kenya has arrived. It is for this reason that I'm doubtful if KKK alliance will bear fruit. I see it can only lead to one thing, either Ruto or Kalonzo stepping down. Uhuru knows the Kikuyu block behind him is huge and if Ruto, Kalonzo and Raila are devided then he'll easily sail through, and so I don't think he'll accept to take a second position, live alone third - he also knows very well that things haven't changed so much in central and if he accepts the second or third position then he's likely to be overtaken by another Kikuyu presidential candidate.
Ruto may have numbers but you never know what will happen if Gideon also declares his intentions. Infact it's even possible for Gideon to coalesce with Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalonzo and Baba Gideon supporting them, unless Baba Gideon forgives Ruto over what happened to his properties during PEV.
I see the failure of Ruto is believing his numbers are so big so that either Uhuru or Kalonzo should come begging for him instead of him begging for them. It is easier to fall into this trap especially if you believe the whole of Rift Valley belongs to you without realizing that Rift Valley also has Kikuyus, Kisiis, Maasai and Luhyas.
Due to Kikuyu's hatred of Ruto over what happened during PEV I see the coalition that is likely to succeed is that of Kalonzo and Uhuru. The population of Kambas and Kalenjins are close to each other and so it will be better for Uhuru to go with Kalonzo since if he goes with Ruto then he's likely to loose a substantial amount of Kikuyu votes over the hatred of Kikuyus towards Ruto (please note that if Kalonzo and Uhuru form a coalition they'll easily succeed, unless you don't know the numbers in 2007 election).
The only way for KKK alliance to succeeed is by Ruto accepting third position in the coalition - but will he?
Kalonzo will also never accept the third position - infact he's the last to accept. He knows very well that if he misses the first and second position then he's likely to form a coalition with Mijikendas and either Luos or Luhyas, and few Kikuyu politicians, who will take advantage of Kikuyus hatred for Ruto and pull some Kikuyu votes to Kalonzo.
In other words there are higher chances for coalition of Uhuru and Kalonzo winning 2012 election than for coalition of Uhuru and Ruto doing so. Ruto can only succeed if he prays so hard for Uhuru and Kalonzo to break up, which can happen due to huge egocentrism of Kalonzo, and for Kalonzo not to form a coalition with Coast politicians and Western and Nyanza province politicians (I'm seeing some central MPs believe this can happen and are seeing it can be easier to pull Ruto since Ruto knows, or he will know later that he can't be voted to the highest office by the people of Kenya and so it'll be easier for him to accept second position).
The game is very unpredictable and that's why those who are experienced are quiet, including Baba Gideon and his junior.
I'm eagerly waiting to see the moves that Raila, Mudavadi, Balala, Gideon, Karua etc will make.
The truth is that the Kalenjin community had prepared months in advance for the violence.
ReplyDeleteAre we finally admitting what has been known all along now that the noose is tightening? Has Raila gotten the memo yet? Remember the whole deal about the violence being spontaneous and the youths being "freedom fighters?"
@ anon 7:27
ReplyDeleteYou should know that there are high chances that Ruto will still be safely here in Kenya come 2012, unless he starts getting popular. Let nobody also lie to you that ICC has enough evidence to prosecute Ruto. The evidence they have is similar to the evidence we all had against Biwott concerning the death of Robert Ouko. The same applies to Uhuru Kenyatta.
I agree with you that Ruto is likely to fall, Baba Gideon, Gideon, Biwott and Kiprito Arap Kirwa will tell you better. One of them will likely want to take back the mantle come 2012. If Ruto doesn't play his cards well then he's likely to be toppled.
As I've said in my previous comments - the reality in Kenya is that all ethnic want a leader from their tribe to push their always wrongly perceived agenda ahead. Moi, Biwott and Arap Kirwa failed and Kalenjins jumped to Ruto.
It just needs pushing Ocampo to stress Ruto, while at the same time a famous Kalenjin politician to stand up and to tell them he's their Moses who will lead them to the promise land, and I can assure you that Ruto will fall terribly to a hard rock, and may never recover like Shikuku. It is for this reason that Ruto needs to be watchful of Gideon and Biwott. Gideon also went to Mau and he tried to remove Raila from blame - really I don't know what cooking.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteI have said before and I will say it again: Come 2012, ODM will be a Luo 'thingamajigg.' In 2007, ODM was a coalition of tribal warlords glue together by hatred of Kikuyus. The main warlords (Raila and Ruto) had wanted different things from the Kikuyus. Raila (Luos) wanted power from the Kikuyus and Ruto (Kalenjins) wanted 'their' RV land from the Kikuyus. None of these agendas happened and the 'mad dogs' of negative ethnicity are at each other's throats.
When Ocampo finally comes with handcuffs, at least he will get two people, Bett (a Kipsigsi) and Ruto (a Nandi) and the arrests will be blamed on Raila. So with Kipsigsi and Nandi gone, I don't see where Raila is getting 50% of Kalenjin vote from.
While in The Hague, Ruto will damage Raila's name sufficiently for majority of Kenyans to feel uncomfortable electing. Ruto will again and again remind Kenyans of the money Raila gave for the worriors in the thick of PEV to teach Kikuyus a 'lesson' in the RV. So whether from Kenya or from The Hague, Ruto will be a major obstacle to Raila and ODM's political future. In the end, Raila, like his father, will go to his grave a tragic figure.
Those who say that Kikuyus don't like Ruto are right, but they are wrong when they say that Kikuyus can't work with him. Kikuyus are very pragmatic fellas and will work with Ruto if they can be assured that Kikuyus in RV will continue to live and thrive in peace. Currently they are very bitter that Ruto (Kalenjins) tried ethnic cleansing of the Kikuyus from the RV. But given the land pressure in Central, they are ready to reconcile with the Kalenjins just to have an opportunity to buy an extra acre in the RV. What many people don't know is that there were huge migrations of Kikuyus into RV in the late 1980s and early 1990s even as Moi was hostile to Kikuyu interests - today, some estimates put Kikuyus as 20% of RV population. So when it comes to coalitions, Kikuyus have more to gain by seeking out Kalenjins than Luos. The only Kalenjin politician who understands these desires of kikuyus is Moi and he is likely to exploit them.
ReplyDeleteKikuyus are not going to support Uhuru blindly. As of today, Kikuyus don't have a preferred presidential candidate they support. Initially, they were supporting Kalonzo mainly because he joined Kibaki during the PEV and out of kinship with the Kambas. But lately they have developed cold feet toward him for two reasons: first, he took the support for granted ( more as a rigt) and infuriated the people, and secondly, ODM propaganda (that Kalonzo can easily betray others) is getting through. I was recently surprised when I visited Kangema and talked politics with a shopkeeper. The shopkeeper told me that Kalonzo looks too good to be true. When I said that that is who he is, a christian, the man laughed and told me to ask Ojiambo or Raila. In summary, the shopkeeper and the other wazees in the group told me that they are not going to vote a person (Uhuru or Kalonzo) if doing so doesn't secure Kikuyu interests. It was apparent that Uhuru was less favored than Kalonzo by the group. But Kalonzo needs to do a lot of trust building.
ReplyDeleteConfessions of the Killers and their elders: <"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG4rDSXr3us"
ReplyDeleteAnon 9:48
ReplyDeleteKibor would have been charged by now it was him... Kibor is an educated man, former MP and no doubt would not need a translator to respond to english questions...
Pure propaganda... if you think it is useful, submit it to NSIS and police and see how this will chase you from hte cop station like a thief... you may be arrested yourself
Chris,
ReplyDeleteThanx for letting these guys pour their emotions about ODM. And let their hallucinations continue.
Every party that Raila Odinga joins, has trouble. Not FORD. Not FORD-K. Not NARC. Not ODM-K. Not ODM now. In all these examples there has been an element of dictatorship that will always betrays the ideals of democracy. Sorry, I was forgetting KANU.
That Raila will split the Rift Valley vote with Ruto is wishful thinking. Now, the attention has shifted from those minnows being put across to Ruto and they shall fall.
First it was Wangari Karua and it died. John Harun Mwau could not withstand the heat. Now Peter Kenneth, he never got off the starting blocks. Musa Sirma does not count.
On the other side the newspapers have tried all but failed in their futile bids. Not Kalonzo as the punching bag not Uhuru Kenyatta as the target and many of them have fallen victim of the ODM propaganda and media machinery. They have come in the shape of Kimunya, Uhuru, Ruto and others. We keep watching the moves.
ODM, as it is is suffering from its nationalistic identity and the euphoric appeal they had in 2007. Chris, just let them accept that they lost it in 2007.
If you can remember, I wrote that the best thing they could have done was to bring in the Meru. That one could not happen and I was wrong. The Meru were lacerated by the fact that they were among the Kamba and Kikuyu cousins and it could not work out. If 'muta lia' comes to mind they will think twice.
Still, the Ruto thing is one among many that ODM will have to contend with. There is Omingo Magara on the way, there is Najib Balala lurking in the background and also, the Nyagah factor still to be fought.
In a poor piece of advice, Raila used the dad's tactics on Paul Mboya and Okiki Amayo on Isaac Ruto and it has failed. But I wonder what Raila did to Moi in 2002. Moi held on to Rift Valley and lost with his Kanu, of which Ruto was elected in the same constituency he is serving today. I think the bloke had been in parliament in a Raila party or out of it. So, Ruto is a product of Moi and not what many people want us to beleive.
As a matter of fact, the whole thing has sent a chill down the spine of ODM that facing the real concern is a matter that is pushed to the hack burner any time it arises.
Finally, I was cagey about the Kalonzo (at one time, he was held with the lowest esteem in the Rift Valley), Ruto (they will die with and for their man) and Uhuru (they have been planning a duet without Kalonzo for a long time)
Unfortunately to his credit, Raila has shown the rest of the people that all you need is a tribe to bargain for a position. In his scheme of schemes, he has USED his Luo tribe to bargain anywhere and the fact that a paperweight like Kalonzo, using his tribe could lock out PNU and ODM from his backyard, proved to the rest of the country that all you need is a tribe and you are home and dry and that is what these gents are going to do. They will do UNTO THE MASTER WHAT HE DOES BEST!
I spoke to some buddies the other day in South London and as the night wore off, Raila's figures were rising to 7 million and one million by the hour.
It went..."We have 1.5m Luo, 2m Luhyas, at least (sic) 1m Kalenjins, 4m Kikuyus (not forgetting that Mungiki are supporting Raila). We can forget the Kambas..." and the story went on and on and on
At the moment, think about the party and not the persons involved.
Still too early, but prepare for a heartache should Kalonzo stand straight between the two youngsters. They have already pushed the constitution debate to the brink of tribal polarisation and it might remain so for a long time. Prepare for a long haul if they find their way. Still early though, but if it holds until June, then prepare for the worst in ODM.
-Derek-
Thank you Derek...
ReplyDeleteThat is the best analysis I have seen in a while. Everyone else just dreams up scenarious
LOL, ati "Will Ruto survive this one?" Chris you are writing like Miguna Miguna. You should see things beyond Raila's periscope. It would be less naive to ask, "Who will survive this one - Raila or Ruto?", but with all due respect this topic should be, "Will Raila Survive this one?"
ReplyDeleteSegments from Phil's long narrative that clearly exposes his King aka Raila that he purports to defend;
ReplyDelete1) First we start off with this bragging one typical of his luo kin;
It is not for any reason that over the last one and a half years numerous political parties in Africa and beyond ......nyef nyef...No less a party than the UK's Liberal Democratic Party, the ANC of South Africa, DP of Uganda, CCM of Tanzania including the Communist Party of China and the Democrats of the USA have established a working partnership with ODM, a party than is less than three years old, but with plenty to offer in terms of progressive and reformist politics.
To set the record straight, none of the so called delegates has ever visited the Orange house. The last time a delegation visited that haunted house was to tell the thugs masquareding as leaders to call off genocide.
As for the closing remark, to phil, it appears democracy is synonymous to the party that Raila decides to 'head'now that he has never accepted subordination only under Moi.
2)Then came this one,
We all know MAU reclamation is touching on the very sensitive nerves of LAND BARONS in Kenya. This list includes Kenyatta, Moi, Nyachae, Ruto, Karume, Bett and all those characters who have the darkest backgrounds in this country......bla bla bla...
Phil failed to mention that those characters who have the darkest backgrounds wine and dine with Raila as long as they deliver votes to him. Heck, he even appoints them to sensitive public offices as ministers.
Phil also failed to mention that Raila is a beneficiary of grabbed land meant for the poor in Malindi, Karua Forest, Molasses plant and unknown to many in Mara reserves.
3) And finally, he goes for the jugular
Outside cabinet and outside parliament, Ruto becomes terribly exposed and and extremely vulnerable. He would not last a couple of days or weeks a free man. Remember Karua Martha talking of not needing excess baggage in NARC-K???
Well, seems Karua has more dignity than Raila. By this statement, you have accepted that Raila will sleep with anyone regardless of the excess baggage as long as they deliver power that he so hungers for just like a hyena following the scent of a carcass
there is so much blubber that we wish to stop there.
As for the main post, Ruto will survivr this one since unlike Raila who inheritted Luo block votes from his dead father, Ruto has had to struggle from poverty to stardom.
Chris,
ReplyDeleteHave you started deleting comments again???
In under 2 years as the PM, Raila has achieved the following after Haki Yetu crusade;
ReplyDeleteOburu Odinga- Raila's big bro is Assistant minister for finance, Mrs Beryl Achieng' Oginga, Raila's sister is the Pension Scheme Board director, sister Wenwa Akinyi Odinga is the Consulate General in Kenyan mission in Los Angeles, US., Prof. Jacquiline Oduol the Permanent Secretary for Gender, is married to Raila's uncle, and Elkana Odembo (Aoko Midiwo who is Raila's first cousin) is Ambassador to France..."
We have not even mentioned that his wife and son Fidel were involved in the maize scandal leading to starvation of poor Kenyans.
odm, the "order of destructive minds" is already rearing its ugly political heads as well as deep seated "tribal" heads.
ReplyDeleteas for odm's survival, some political parties have withstood the test of time, while many others lay in ruins of political wastelands.
odm's fate will be no different from that of ford, ford-k, ford-a, narc, dp, pnu, or any other political outfit that was crafted for the express purpose of seeking shor term political goals.
the current egocentric skirmishes between ruto and raila will end up with major political casualities and unimagined collateral damage than meets the naked eye.
the real pending battle within the odm party will effectively bring an end to the "tribal" coalition.
concerned people are hoping and looking forward to the day when the hague will take care of some sordid characters who are well connected but unwanted by many around the country.
"ruto is a flip flopper, a reckless egomaniac, great curse to his own people and the beautiful landsacpe of the mighty rift valley, from him will come deadly strife, grieving, troubles and countless pains for his community as well as other neighbouring communities.
he has gambled with the mau issue and it may end up being his 18 june 1815 as long as the real duke of wellington (whoever it maybe) shows up in the hour of need.
ruto's days are numbered due to the fact that he is not a legendary devine leader of all kalejin people (communities) that he thinks he is.
what are the bad boys going to do when the hague comes for them?
For the first time ever, an ODM insider has hinted that Raila is actually contemplating ditching ODM and buying off another party as his political vehicle for 2012!
ReplyDeletePhil wrote
will take it further and tell you, if RAO were to defect to PNU, Sisi Kwa Sisi or even Chama Cha Wazalendo, any of those parties would see their ratings instantly sky rocket to unbelievable heights..
An otherwise sober and balanced analysis by the writer is given short shrift by a bunch of small minded imbeciles incapable of analyzing well thought out issues without succumbing to the usual Kenyan game best played by her miseducated citizens many of whom have a penchant for banality. Deroo quickly comes to mind, amongst many others.
ReplyDeleteA perusal and quick reading of many of the comments here leaves one concluding that it might be true in fact that dumb minds do think alike.
Derek,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about raila's tactics being copied. First consolidate luo, then NARC and then Pentagon. What amazes me is that people like phil can be so deluded that they cannot see that there is national politician in kenya. Raila helped to cement this. Remember at the final odm rally at Nyayo stadium he ordered the pentagon to talk to "their people" in their languages. When "kenyans" vote they dont vote kibaki (2002) or raila (2007). They vote because they see their tribal chief will have a prominent role at the Court. This is reality and it is always wise to stop and face reality.
meant "no national politician in kenya"
ReplyDeleteBefore the rest of the people know it, all reading this post by Chris will notice something that the rest of the media analysts have not picked up.
ReplyDeleteIn the two years that this government has been in power, William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta have been permanent entities in the minds of Kenyans.
This is the same kind of publicity that Raila Odinga has had in the past, a fact that has made him a permanent item in the minds of the Kenyan population.
By design or default, Ruto has been around for various reasons, being in cabinet as the holder of the one of the country's most important cabinet dockets, fighting the unending ODM wars, in the Hague rumours, and now in the Mau humanitarian appeal.
If anything, these activities and the fact that he has unfettered access to state transport and resources have kept him permanent in the mind of every Kenyan.
And, further on, being an item of press bashing by the Raila media has made him be seen most as a saint that the devil me and any other person know him for. In actual fact, he has a way of wriggling out of his genuine woes by saying "...they were politically inspired..."
So has been Kenyatta problems, bounding from one problem to another, keeping him permanently in the public eye.
While Kalonzo has suffered from his own self-made problems emanating from his party and outside (namely ODM) he has managed to be there all the time.
In all these, people has read MEDIA BASHING.
However, to the credit of these men, save for Kalonzo, the tune has changed in the media due to their perceived tribal connections and the clout they have.
Uhuru made a hat-trick of acquisitions, taking in Kameme FM, K24TV and The People Daily (how he convinced the Matiba family to sell it, nobody knows. Add that to a fact that the country's media is KABILA ADUI run.
Ruto, even boasts of close connections with moribund Kenya Times, though his main asset at disposal is the Kalenjin/Pokot/Masai KASS FM. He might use it at his disposal as they have done it in the recent past to whip the jingoistic guff about the Mau issue in the last three weeks. Not forgetting though, KISS FM is run by another YK92 operative Kiprono Kittony, a man whose legal probelms shifts him from one courtroom to another every day.
If many have noticed of late, Standard tune has changed slightly and may completely towards their main topic of the day, (read Raila), if the Moi family decide to go the jugular. People there are still feeling the effects of 2007 and the changes that ensued.
By the sad thing for me and others is the most expansive Luo only media, Ramogi FM is run by a Kabila Adui, a fact that can see 'technical difficulties' inflict suffering on the man's publicity, while at the same entity, Uhuru Kenyatta, using family connections can attack in vernacular to get the reach he needs.
Whats more?
I understand yesterday's fund-raiser was broadcast live in the Kalenjin inhabited regions and the diaspora. and what, Raila Odinga was beaten to a 'pulp'! Bad news
ReplyDeleteBlogger deroo said...
ReplyDeleteBefore the rest of the people know it, all reading this post by Chris will notice something that the rest of the media analysts have not picked up.
In the two years that this government has been in power, William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta have been permanent entities in the minds of Kenyans.
I love the way this thread has been converted into a RAO bashing forum instead of the subject it was in the first place.
Ruto and Uhuru are permanently in the news and not in our minds.It's become very expensive for them as they have to rent MPs, rent squatters, buy journalists, and even go as far as renting public rally hecklers! They are in the news frustrating formation of a local tribunal, and trying to waterdown the Waki report. They are in the news because they are warlords waiting for Ocampo to decide their fate.
Another thing you should know is RAO actually has an apartment that he lives in at the Panafric. Those waiters you saw serving water, some of whom are my neighbours in Kibera, have reported everything that was said at the function. Even so, some of those characters you saw at the so called fundraiser were actually RAOs own moles.
talking about the fundraiser, you ought to know that if the common man in RVP was against the relocations (not evictions as is being constantly misreported) then RAO would not have had a successful rally in the MAU vicinity last week. MAU restoration IS a government project. It is not a political contest in ODM.
It is amateurish, idiotic and in poor taste to personalise the restoration of MAU. It should be remembered that during the 2007, PNU turned its rallies into Raila bashing fests. It did not change the perception which voters had for the man. If anything, it made him more popular.
Uhuru Kenyatta, the MAU land owner and number one logger in MAU through TIMSALES TIMBER FACTORY, had failed to organise a fundraiser for IDPs living in squalid conditions around Rift Valley following the PEV in 2008. Those IDPs were supposedly HIS supporters. What hypocrisy is this?
Uhuru also happens to be the man in charge of treasury and the one you would expect ready to source funds to finance the relocation of these poor peasants. Instead, it is RAO who is engaging with international donors to help fund buying of LAND for Kenya's poor squatters, while UHURU plays backward politics with their livelihoods. If I was Uhuru, I would first donate some of the thousands of hactares my family grabbed when my father was president without paying a single cent.
This is the time for reforming this country. When the time comes for hitting the campaign trail, you will be amazed at how times will have changed for those LAND BARONS we saw at Panafric last night. Those itching for campaign politics will soon regret why it came so soon.
Phil,
ReplyDeleteYou are deluded. As pointed out above raila was "popular" in 2007 because of pentagon (meaning tribal chiefs). What is so difficult to understand about this. His opponents have noted his tactics, which they will use to beat him.
I imagine that Ruto has forgotten that he is responsible for holding Kenya at ransom by not allowing IDPs who were removed forcibly post election bak to their lands which they had bought.
ReplyDeleteHow does it feel when the shoe is on the other side recalling that these mau evictees are being removed from lad they had been allowed to use.
You must watch this
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-CCzerh39g
The Standard had an interesting story on the front page today about kalonzo not attending the kaleo fundraiser. I understand from other networks that he actually attended. The story further says uhuru defied kibs and attended. Now we all know Standard editors work for rao. I wonder what they were trying to spin. To me it looks like rao really fears "kalooser". Remember a few weeks ago Standard had an an article every day mocking "kalooser". rao believes rv can easily elect kalonzo but not uhuru. rao wants to face uhuru in the next election. However I dont think this will work because if ruto stands he will get the kaleo votes and uhuru will win the election.
ReplyDeleteI said earlier that it will be easier for Uhuru to be fought if he joins hands with Ruto and I reiterate again.
ReplyDeleteAs I'm typing this the fight has already started, and it seems it may be uglier than what I expected.
Uhuru is being proven to be selfish. Questions are being asked why Uhuru never raised a dime for his tribesmen during PEV, why he didn't raise a dime for people who legally owned their land and whose majority came from his tribe, yet he's now "running amok" raising funds for Kalenjins. Why he's so ready to donate money yet is not ready to donate even a piece of an acre for the GDPs.
Ruto at the same time is being questioned why he didn't fight for the rights of IDPs? During the time they were suffering. Why even upto now when some IDPs fear to go back to their land Ruto cannot come with a solution.
Maybe both will wiggle out of this political bushfire they have started, but all I know now is that if they can't come up with a good strategy they might all loose and the fight can be left to Kalonzo and Raila(by the way "Kalooser", as we call him, should not be underestimated).
But as I also said if Uhuru and Kalonzo coalition succeed then most likely they'll be assured of winning.
ReplyDeletePhilip,
ReplyDeleteI assume you work at Standard or some other rao news outlet. It's clear you are personally involved in the fight you speak of.
All in all, I know the reality of Kenya, that though the number of people who will vote for a leader based on merit and not tribe will increase this coming 2012 election, majority of them will still vote based on tribe.
ReplyDeleteI would wish that we here at Kumekucha should vote for a leader based on merit. We should come out of this tribal cocoon and feel the good breeze that is brought by such attitude.
We should further educate other people and I would wish Phil and Derek should join me on this by first of all starting making objective arguements rather than arguement driven by excess love or dislike for a personality or party. I would wish that Phil tells us objective reasons why he likes ODM and what the rest lacks that he can't support them, and also for Derek to tell us objectively why he loathes Raila to the core.
Thank you all.
Anon at 5.41.
ReplyDeleteIf you read my comments in other posts you'll notice that I'm so much against the current leadership. To be sincere I've always been wishing that a good leader will rise from out and not from within the current leadership.
I like going to the reality of things.
Let me tell you now that I don't support any leader and if they start fighting each other now, as long as it won't affect common wananchis, I don't care, infact I'll watch it with glee as if I'm watching one of my favourite films - have I even started watching this movie with glee? I think so.
Maybe I should stop mentioning Kalonzo, Ruto and Uhuru for you to appreciate what I'm talking about, and start mentioning Raila.
Do you know that economy of Kenya has improved, unfortunately only few are benefiting. Many poor people will tell you that they have had a pay increase of like 3% at an economy of over 18% inflation - of what benefit is it to them.
I'll tell you that I'm among the extremely annoyed Kenyans when it comes to current leadership. My brothers and sisters are directly being affected by poverty that is striking people and some of them have been caused by the same people we are worshipping here.
Sometimes I think deeply and see that we can live a better life as Kenyans without the current leadership. At least yesterday I was happy to hear the MPs want control of prices of basic commodities put in place. My indian friend once told me that in India rice for poor people goes for Kshs 4/Kg!
You only need to go to such countries and others to know the potential that Kenya possess, which, unfortunately our leaders, to some extend, don't want us to tap, because they fear they'll loose.
So I'll tell you that as long as this fights wont affect common wananchis, I'll enjoy it.
Do you know that economy of Kenya has improved, unfortunately only few are benefiting. Many poor people will tell you that they have had a pay increase of like 3% at an economy of over 18% inflation - of what benefit is it to them.
ReplyDeleteAt least yesterday I was happy to hear the MPs want control of prices of basic commodities put in place.
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Well, the bad news is that, controlling prices will not work. The problem is loss of value of the currency and no one dare talk about it.
Also, the fact that the poor are not getting a fair share of the economic "growth" is not surprising. However, they get their full share in paying so called "public debt." Oh! the poor have no friend.
It is so because, the "higher prices" for basics and exclusion of the majority poor from the economic "growth" but full inclusion in paying debts is the normal outcome of the system we have. And nothing we do, apart from changing the system will change these outcomes.
There are simple truths that humanity will have to accept very soon:
- money cannot meet modern needs by descending to the people, it MUST rise from them.
- There cannot be full distribution of wealth without full distribution of money power.
Finally, even as we debate sijui Ruto, UK, sijui nani, remember this:
- The SOURCE and FLOW of money determines social, economic and political outcome.
From this view, the politics we have is and will be determined by the monetary system we have.
Logically, it would be more useful to focus on this key determinant of our fate.
Also, perhaps very few have noted the "concern" expressed by mps about the consequence of falling dollar and the reserve question.
Well, this is the ugly truth. When we sell coffee etc after slaving for it, we get dollars which we store as "reserves."
Now, when the dollar goes south, it means that we slaved and then gave away our wealth in exchange for a worthless paper.
Surely, why are people so blind to this modern slavery with all the education we have these days?
a nyoni 11/26/09 1:45 am
ReplyDeletelol! your superior comments here leaves one wondering whether you are more enlightened than the "dumb minds" that "do think alike" at kumekucha village.
if i may ask, are you not one of the many maladjusted kenyan citizens or the so called "former kenyan citizens" who once benefited from kenya's miseducation ministry of higher learning in the last five decades.
i do agree with you that some of us at kumekucha maybe certified "bunch of small minded imbeciles incapable of analyzing well thought out issues" of the day.
and that's why i will be one of the first kumekuchas to admit that you are one individual who is going to be our next dambisa moyo due to your great mind and extraordinary talent.
i can't wait to purchase your finished body of works and re-educate my mind.
in the meantime, i am left wondering whether you still going to issue a sober, balanced, rational and educated response to "small minded imbeciles" and "miseducated citizens"?
Chris is such a good writer... unlike Taabu!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your post, and it make a hell far more sense than those from Taabu.
mwarang'the,
ReplyDeletethe more things change ...?
two legs bad ...?
history does...?
a generation that forgets ...?
a country divided ...?
we are our own ...?
what goes around ...?
i hate to be the dark-horse-man as in the bearer of bad news. 2012 will not change the asigned lot nor even lighted the olready heavy burden of the struggle people of kenya.
it will be business as usual with subtle changes here and there in terms of local elected officials.
no more no less.
and that's why i will be one of the first kumekuchas to admit that you are one individual who is going to be our next dambisa moyo due to your great mind and extraordinary talent.
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Bad news. When you see a person being featured by Economist and CNN types, be afraid for that person in most cases is not part of solution.
The so called free trade and bond markets/capital markets she is advocating is a trap that will crush Africa.
Why didn't East German go to capital markets? Why didn't Spain, Portugal and Greece, just a few years back go this route? Cos, it is a dead end.
However, when you advocate these views, you become a darling of Economist and such mouth pieces of imperialists.
More on Moyo. From her website:
ReplyDelete"She worked at Goldman Sachs for 8 years in the debt capital markets, hedge fund coverage and in global macroeconomics teams. Previously she worked at the World Bank in Washington D.C.. Dambisa is a member of the Boards of Lundin Petroleum and SAB Miller."
"
Dambisa has also been offered a contract for another book, entitled How the West Was Lost,..This book examines the policy errors made in the US and other Western economies which culminated in the 2008 financial crisis. And discusses why financial and economic experts missed the signs of the credit crunch. It also explores the policy decisions that have placed the emerging world- China, Russia and the Middle East, in pole position to become the dominant economic players in the 21st century."
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She is from debt background. Now, she now advocates Africa to try capital market debts. Good luck Africa.
Now, she has a contract to write how the "experts" missed the current crisis.
This "crisis" was extremely well documented over 10 years ago by many people. And, even better, the solutions are already documented. However, the official "experts" would listen to no one. Even now, they are still in denial.
Talk of trojan horse and the saying, timeo danaos et dona ferentes.
Phil, you amaze. I have lived in this world and interacted with people from many walks of life, but you are exceptional. I dont think i will come across another one. Not soon though. Are you so blinded that you dont see through the glass.
ReplyDeleteNo Phil, please change tact abit. The energy you spend on a man when it is very clear is too much for nothing. You even know that Raila has an apartment in Panafric? Wonders.
If you dont know something, Pokot are Kalenjins. I dont think they can go against the grain. Read you history of Kenya people. There is no way any tribe close to the larger Kalenjin will betray them.
If Ruto and Uhuru gang up. Please, forget it. Simple as that. They will not fight and the common enemy will be known to them all. Imagine, Rift Valley going to an election without clashes. How sweet?
One thing Kenyans forget is how much the common man has changed,they have become more analytical, intelligent and more demanding in terms of services.
ReplyDeleteI have for the last year travelled around differnt areas in Kenya, i can say for a fact that the political landscape has changed. Kenyans want Justice and the promises that they were given implemented. One common thing they said and that touched me, is that we guys in the slum were either killed by police or by ourselves while the middleclass/businessmen watched us on TV. 2012 might be bad but the violence will focus on the middleclass and above. The changes we so badly need will have to come from everyone irrespective positions, so guys and Kilimani etc join the badwagon for change.
The day Ruto leaves ODM we will know for sure this is not a Raila trick or game.
How come we only hear The Politicians in RVP making noise about Mau and not the people? like i said people are more aware these days.
Anon, does it mean that the people living in the fringes of the Mau are happy with the conditions? Now, what change are you spearheading? Do not be blinded by the pack propaganda that your tribe thrives on. There is a problem in ODM and it will not be the same. Things are not what they were last year. Have you read the comments that came out of the fund-raiser? Tell us what they have done if not de-linking the people from the party. If someone will have them move on like that, then ODM is as good as dead.
ReplyDeletestop being apologetic. Many saw it coming. Was there no Luo MP there? Was there no Musalia? its bad
Have you people seen how the Deya thing has played out? What a bad time for it to emerge. someone who says that the PM is a relation.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that anti-Raila strategies are being tabled at this stage. The KKK alliance may be one of their best shots so far, but it will come to pass. Coming this early, Raila's political spin doctors have time to device mechanisms to manage these schemes. The alliance is composed of very ambitious leaders and when the time for reckoning comes, it will be difficult for them on who becomes the President, VP, PM and DPMs. That is the time that their selfishness will arise, that is the time it will sambaratika.
ReplyDeleteIt is evident that the Mau issue is just a smokescreen in all these debate and political grandstanding. What is not on the surface is the impending arrests and prosecution of suspected PEV masterminds. It could be that some leaders are raising emotions and passions of their communities so that when the time comes for their arrests, their supporters and communities will protest and cause chaos. If that is part of the design, then it is a sorry state for 'leaders' who claim that they wish to lead Kenya.
Raila should least be bothered by what is going on. If I was to be his spin doctor, I will tell him not to even bother responding to the RV leaders. He has proved to be a nationalist and he should move on with his agenda of protecting the Mau. Afterall when Ocampo's time to strike comes, the entire political landscape in Kenya will change, forever, indeed for the better.
What is good is that we stop hearing from Phil now that his man is suffering. This is the most bogus analysis and any Raila supporter can give you this spill.
ReplyDeleteODM is now the Luo tribal party and can you see how Uhuru, Jirongo and Kiraitu (helping Raila to fry himself) are happy that someone tamed the fool. I love Kiraitu.. .Praises him a day before he goes for the Jugular...
Dambisa Moyo has exposed her position to the whole world. And defended it. You, to the contrary, are only comfortable cutting and pasting other people's ideas on this sleazy, insignificant blog. Man up, Mwarang'ethe!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that all this "men" are after RAO makes me believe he the man to watch. And as well he would rather miss the presidency and but conserve the mau for our future.
ReplyDeleteAfter Raila is done with Kalenjins, he will go after the Kisii (for always spoiling a clean sweep in Nyanza), Merus (he propmised them that they would cry if he became president)Luhya (being undependable and unpredictable despite the shared cultural identity with Luos) Kikuyus ( too many battles to pick) Kambas (Kalonzo Msaliti. This guy is on a revenge mission.
ReplyDeleteAm sorry to say this, but those who thrive in politics of exclusion like the advocates of KKK belong to history. If you exclude another tribe, (40 in this case)you will exclude another clan, and even one of your own brothers. No wonder you fight for everything, killing each other for 1/4 acres of land!!! tribalists!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe fight is still going on. KKK is now stronger than before. The question is, will it survive? With all its leaders wanting power? Only a miracle will make it survive unless you've forgotten about Rainbow Alliance (not ODM).
ReplyDeleteThe fundraising was a success, bringing together several MPs and Ministers from both PNU and ODM. If they continue that way, I can ensure victory is on their way, that is if........
The other side are also not sleeping, now more claims are that three Kanu stalwarts are coming together all with history of fighting against reform (Uhuru, Kalonzo, Ruto and Biwott). And I'm being asked, I'm I ready to bring back Kanu in another name? A party that I hated back in 2002 for the suffering it brought to us?
Let me sit back and watch.
Why are ODMers panicking. If I were to advise Raira, there is no new enemy on the 'Mau' fundraiser. Ruto has never been in raira's team - except that probably the perception otherwise, may tilt his RV votes. In all that crowd, the only new added enemy of ODM is Balala and (Joe Nyaga - who did not add any value, read votes)during the 2007 elections.
ReplyDeleteAs for intelligent Kenyans, one of the first question to ask is - why did the kingpins Uhuru, Kalonzo (through proxy) not invite all Kaleo MPs to fundraise for IDPs for the PEV in the RV? Are we not suppose to be fighting this animal called tribalism? I know someone thinks that Kenya can only go through tribal groupings, why not the KKK - add onto their equation, KKKLLKMTS etc up to 42 tribes into their equation.
And please, leave this Railaphobia and Railamania thing out of this. He is not God. ODM have people, look at all them, Mudavadi, Charity Ngilu, Anyang' Nyong'o, etc, are they not qualified to be presidential candidates?
What makes Ruto, Uhuru and Kalonzo imagine that they can stand only when Raila falls? Are they not their own men? C'mon guys. Stand and be counted. Raila does not have to fail or fall for Ruto, Kalonzo or Uhuru to stand.
That is my 20cents take.
Why are ODMers panicking. If I were to advise Raira, there is no new enemy on the 'Mau' fundraiser. Ruto has never been in raira's team - except that probably the perception otherwise, may tilt his RV votes. In all that crowd, the only new added enemy of ODM is Balala and (Joe Nyaga - who did not add any value, read votes)during the 2007 elections.
ReplyDeleteAs for intelligent Kenyans, one of the first question to ask is - why did the kingpins Uhuru, Kalonzo (through proxy) not invite all Kaleo MPs to fundraise for IDPs for the PEV in the RV? Are we not suppose to be fighting this animal called tribalism? I know someone thinks that Kenya can only go through tribal groupings, why not the KKK - add onto their equation, KKKLLKMTS etc up to 42 tribes into their equation.
And please, leave this Railaphobia and Railamania thing out of this. He is not God. ODM have people, look at all them, Mudavadi, Charity Ngilu, Anyang' Nyong'o, etc, are they not qualified to be presidential candidates?
What makes Ruto, Uhuru and Kalonzo imagine that they can stand only when Raila falls? Are they not their own men? C'mon guys. Stand and be counted. Raila does not have to fail or fall for Ruto, Kalonzo or Uhuru to stand.
That is my 20cents take.
I like Kumekucha but one point u failed to notice is something very simple.All Kenyans who watched the grand harambee for MAU missed the point. These politicians who attended are all the ones mentioned in the Post Election Violence. UHURU, RUTO, FRANKLIN, BALALA, ISACC RUTO etc... they are all against Raila coz they think that Raila has sold them out in the closed door meeting with Ocampo. who gave the ultimatum for the people to leave mau in 14days, it was Wekesa. the people started leaving by choice. these politicians found their time to strike Raila of which will not succeed because this time, we are rallied behind Raila.!!!
ReplyDeleteMwarengethe,
ReplyDeleteLet me address your concern for the poor fom high level. During my light reading time, I have come to know that for all the current inhabitants of the world to enjoy western style lives you need at least 5 earths to supply the resources. Planet earth's resources are being consumed at a far greater rate than the earth can regenerate and replenish. For the West (and some Asians) to continue enjoying their rich lives it is necessary for the rest of the world to remain poor. The West creates an elite class in the third world that enjoys western style lives and ensures (on behalf of the west) that the rest of the population remains poor.
All your "solutions" about how the poor can be helped will go nowhere unless you absorb the above reality. Europeans engaged in global exploration and discovery of new lands primarily because their small continent could not feed their people. They found that the rest of the globe contained savages who they could dominate. Evrything europeans have done in other continents is purely for the benefit of europeeans. The theories you hear about certain diseases being introduced to contain populations are probably true. Untill we find other planets that can sustain life, westerners will never allow the rest of the worl to be "rich". I understand the moon is too small, and currently only Mars may be made to take people.
Mwarengethe I hope I have "opened" your mind to the REALITY of the world as you cram political and economic theories. Regards.
Anonymous @11/27/09 12:20 AM
ReplyDeleteAll your "solutions" about how the poor can be helped will go nowhere unless you absorb the above reality.
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All u say about earth limit is true. After all, was a book called Limit To Growth published in 1972? Thus, Mwarang'ethe is very informed on this issue, and here we are not quarrelling at all.
At the same time, the solutions Mwarang'ethe advocates, will help preserve ecology and not destroy it. For instance, debts and their interest/usury are one major cause of ecological destruction. Thats why, we have proposed change in the monetary system so as to bring a monetary system that is earth friendly.
If you have read our comments, u must have seen us asking for POLLUTION and WASTE tax. Surely, that should tell u where we stand.
Raila must be systematically isolated and driven out of govt the way his father was pushed out by Tom Mboya back in 1966. He owes his current PM position to the innocent blood shed in the PEV. In the last presidential campaigns he preached the "kabila adui" politics of hatred. As a result, innocent civilians were killed because they did not vote for him. He is a beneficiary of power derived from arson, rape, and murder.
ReplyDeleteSome of Raila's previously loyal followers have finally come out to admit that Raila knew that he had lost the elections but claimed the election was stolen just to precipitate a crissis and sneak into power. To sacrifice innocent Kenyan life to acquire political power illegally is unacceptable in civilised society. It is time to face Raila and tell him that his style of politics of dictatorship, demonisation of others, revenge and violence have no place in the Kenya we seek to build. From the coup attempt of 1982 to PEV of last year, Raila has come to epitomize what is wrong with the bloodthirstiness of African politics. The time for Kenya to cut Raila loose and turn a new page is today; othewise, as a nation, we will never reach the Promised Land with him in public office.
The time for Kenya to cut Raila loose and turn a new page is today; othewise, as a nation, we will never reach the Promised Land with him in public office.
ReplyDelete11/27/09 1:59 AM
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So, what prevented Kenyans from reaching the "promised land" before and RO was not in the govt?
It is time that Kikuyus and Kalenjins realised that their economic and political future wellbeing is intertwined. They must bury the hatchet and come together. They must never again allow the power maniac from the lake to divide them for his selfish ends.
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe,
ReplyDeleteEven Balala, a once blind follower of Raila, has come to realise that the future of Kenya is without Raila. As a man of letters, you should be in the forefronts with those who want to eradicate politics of violence as practiced by Raila Odinga. Sir, it is never late to do the right thing. Please, join those who struggle for the peaceful co-existence of all communities in Kenya.
@8:07 AM, am glad that you responded as you precisely illustrate what I was referring to.
ReplyDeleteYou and others of your ilk manifest what McKellar referred to as pathological thinking. You have absolutely no qualm supporting two known mass murderers in Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto who come 2010 will be ensconced in a jail cell at The Hague. Then what?
I know. When Uhuru and Ruto are safely ensconced at The Hague, you will eagerly search for another pawn(s) as you and your type(s) resort to your patented next knight's move thinking.
This so called unity of the Kaleos and the Kyuks(MP's) will not work because it is not genuine.
ReplyDeleteIt's foundation is PUMBAVU. It is based on a very foolish and irrational fear and hatred of Raila - a very weak foundation I must say.
Again, there are still deep seated huge suspicions and mistrust between these two communities that will eventually ensure that this so called unity FLOPS in a big way.
Kalenjin and Kyuk MP's "uniting"? PUMBAFF! It will never work
Sir, it is never late to do the right thing. Please, join those who struggle for the peaceful co-existence of all communities in Kenya.
ReplyDelete11/27/09 2:22 AM
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The problem with your argument and so many others is that you only look at the effect, but, you ignore the real cause or causes.
It is very difficult to understand, but, at one time, this simple truths will dawn.
Under the current land/natural resources system, we can never have peace in Africa. Thus, your efforts should be directed at the real cause of violence and not the effects.
From where we stand, the cause of bloodshed in Africa in Kenya, Sudan, Congo, Ivory Coast etc, is the fight to appropriate rent by the rentier class.
Just watch and study what is happening at Isiolo right now in anticipation of railway from Lamu. Many Kenyans will only wake up to massacres in this part of Kenya, but, for those who are alert, we can see the violence build up.
Remove this rent, there will be nothing to fight for and we shall be able to build peaceful societies.
For those who are calling for extradition of Ruto to Hague, get
ReplyDeleteit and very clear and straight: Ocampo has said he will not use Waki's List as the basis of his prosecution but he will conduct fresh investigations. Halleluya. Thats very good news. We will really get to know the other side of the story, that has never been told. Remember Kalenjins and Kikuyus died in equal measure. Its on record that Ruto himself was a victim of the violence. Do you remember when Nyachae was commanding and instructing his militia to kill Ruto. These are the kind of evidence that Ocampo will realy on, not hearsay.Am not defending Ruto in anyway,if you have any evidence against him present and defend it to Ocampo. He merely asking for concrete evidence.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah!
ReplyDeleteSome very great minds from the old country never miss the opportunity to engage in the REGURGITATION of old news reports 24/7.
"A Man's Mind, Once Stretched By A New Idea, Never Regains Its Original Dimensions." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Best of luck.
Mwarengethe,
ReplyDeleteYou need to read my post on the earth and its resources again. The wars you refer to in africa are all sanctioned by the west. The local "rentier" class works for the west. You will never remove that class. You can remove an individual (like mobutu) but not the class. In the movie Blood Diamond they say whenever something of value is discovered in africa a lot of people die. The suggestion is that africans are to blame. But it is the west that decides the thing is of value and westerners must have it. In the 1980s BBC tv series "yes, prime minister", the cabinet secretary says they (Brits) should have divided a certain country the way they divided india. It keeps them fighting, and who benefits? Yes, you are right: the west. Dont conclude that i dont value some of the things the west brought us. I like their education based on reason and science. One of the ways we can compete with them is to get rid of superstitions, including religions. Only a very small percentage of africans appreciate reason and science.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMwarengethe,
You need to read my post on the earth and its resources again. The wars you refer to in africa are all sanctioned by the west. The local "rentier" class works for the west. You will never remove that class. You can remove an individual (like mobutu) but not the class.
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You are right, this class is sanctioned by the West. No doubt about that.
What we think you go wrong is claiming that class cannot be removed.
We think it can. However,it will require massive re-education of the masses. The question is, are they teacheable? Not very hopeful when you read here about Kalenjin this, Kikuyu this, Kuo this etc.
I agree with mwarangethe when he says" Well, the bad news is that, controlling prices will not work. The problem is loss of value of the currency and no one dare talk about it."
ReplyDeleteThis is the conspiracy of the rich as outlined by Robert Kiyosaki.The poor will continue to wallow in ignorance while the rich strategise on how to get richer
Kenya should move away from using the dollar as reserve currency.The dollar is collapsing.India,Iran have already realised this and are planning ahead.India recently purchased gold from IMF,Iran has been pushing for Opaque to start trading in oil using the euro instead of the dollar.
ReplyDeleteKenya should convert part of the cash reserves into gold.
What we need are social movements to dissipate the power held by vested interests (the concept of class escapes me, agency is vested in individuals)-- just look at Latin America. But maybe this will happen when inequalities in Africa shoot up to the same level as in LA. As Margaret Thatcher once said: I am very patient.
ReplyDeleteshaka said...
ReplyDeleteKenya should move away from using the dollar as reserve currency.The dollar is collapsing.India,Iran have already realised this and are planning ahead.India recently purchased gold from IMF,Iran has been pushing for Opaque to start trading in oil using the euro instead of the dollar.
Kenya should convert part of the cash reserves into gold.
11/27/09 4:59 AM
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Well, many like Dr. Ron Paul are pushing for gold. However, gold is not money, it is a commodity just like a oil or wheat.
Why dig something 2km down the earth and then bury it again under ground. It look silly.
Worse, gold is another monopoly money. It amounts to declaring rocks found in X's land to be money. Why exchange one monopoly for another? It makes no sense.
We need to get to basics which Babylonians and other ancient civilizations, the founder of money knew so well that they did not have inflation. It is astonishing that such old civilisations could run money better than we do in the 21st Century.
Money is CREDIT and EVERY currency is a credit instrument. Once this simple truth is grasped, the money "problem" is solved.
A few days ago, we suggested, why not print currency backed by land value tax?
This would give us the most stable currency in the world and every investor would want it.
Also, Africa can very easily construct a stable currency backed by the abundant commodities it has.
Why not think boldly at least for once? Lets think outside old boxes of gold, dollar and such jazz.
(The Hague) 26 November 2009 -- The request today by the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor to the court's judges to open a Kenya investigation is a decisive step toward justice for the country's 2007 post-election violence, Human Rights Watch said. The move comes after more than a year of inaction by Kenya's authorities on national prosecutions.
ReplyDeleteThe violence that followed Kenya's flawed 2007 general election left 1,200 people dead, caused 600,000 to flee their homes, and brought Kenya to the brink of civil war. Kenyan authorities agreed in December 2008 to bring those responsible to account in national trials. In July 2009, they again agreed to do so or to refer investigation of the violence to the ICC prosecutor. But no action has been taken. During a visit to Nairobi on November 5, 2009, the ICC prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, said that he would seek permission to proceed with an investigation...
Kenya's justice system has substantial deficiencies, including a lack of independence. Several efforts to establish a special tribunal for Kenya have failed to garner sufficient support in parliament.
Given these problems, further efforts to create a national special tribunal with international judges and prosecutors to provide accountability to mid- and lower-level perpetrators are essential, Human Rights Watch said.
"The promise to prosecute those responsible for last year's violence was central to the reform and accountability agenda agreed upon by the coalition government," Gagnon said. "Kenya's leaders still have a chance to make good on that promise by ensuring that any ICC investigation is complemented by credible national trials."
In determining whether to authorize the prosecutor to investigate, the three judges of the pre-trial chamber - relying on the materials submitted today by the ICC prosecutor - will consider whether there is a "reasonable basis" to proceed. Victims are also entitled to make their views known to the pre-trial chamber.
Human Rights Watch urged the ICC and its prosecutor to apply lessons learned from its current investigations if it proceeds with a Kenya investigation. Human Rights Watch pointed in particular to the need to investigate all sides to the violence. Given the high levels of interest and public support for an ICC investigation in Kenya, Human Rights Watch also urged the court to create extensive outreach programs to provide objective information about the court's activities as soon as possible.
Background
Following the violence set off by the controversial 2007 presidential elections, leaders of both parties agreed to set up the Commission to Investigate the Post-Election Violence (the Waki commission), an independent review committee to look at the flaws in the election (the Kriegler committee), and a truth, justice and reconciliation commission to help heal historical grievances dating from before the 2007 general elections.
The Waki commission recommended wide-ranging reforms of the police as well as the creation of a special tribunal for Kenya, independent of the judiciary, anchored in a constitutional amendment and staffed by both Kenyan and international judges and prosecutors. In the event no special tribunal was established, the Waki commission recommended that former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who was chair of the panel of eminent Africans who negotiated the National Accord that led to the coalition government following the divisive election, hand over a sealed envelope prepared by the commission and containing the names of suspects to the ICC. Annan handed over the envelope and other materials from the Waki commission to the ICC prosecutor in July...
Human Rights Watch Press release
I cant help but dissolve into fits of laughter when Mwarang'ethe (the resident "intellectual") speaks.
ReplyDeleteConsider the glaring inconsistency between the first and the 2nd and 3rd statements below:
"However, gold is not money, it is a commodity just like a oil or wheat." "It amounts to declaring rocks found in X's land to be money."
"Also, Africa can very easily construct a stable currency backed by the abundant commodities it has."
"A few days ago, we suggested, why not print currency backed by land value tax?." "This would give us the most stable currency in the world and every investor would want it."
!!!!!
Which are these abundant COMMODITIES that Africa has that are different from gold (a land-based commodity)?
Moreover what makes "land" a more 'stable' store of value than gold? What makes it less susceptible to monopolization relative to gold?
Note that deriving a tax from the value of land makes land a COMMODITY (like gold).
RAO 10
ReplyDeleteKKK 0
By Kilemi Mwiria
Most Kenyans agree that evacuation from the Mau should be done humanely. The solution will, however, not come from politically charged harambee drives which are more about political alignments for 2012 than they are about struggling squatters. Note that the big Harambee raised a mere five million shillings. Could the nine Cabinet ministers not raise this amount and even more from the Government if they were that serious? The Special Programmes ministry alone is spending many times that amount, not to mention well-wishers such as the Red Cross.
And why did the objecting politicians not take similar stands on other water tower related evictions or the murderous deportation of some communities from the Rift Valley in 1992, 1997 and 2008? Why did those who are now revealing to us that Raila did not win in 2007 not intervene against revenge murders of innocent Kenyans?
By painting him as the bad guy, Raila’s opponents have only made him stronger. Many Kenyans now know that you can count on him to take a decision that could derail his political ambitions for the sake of country. This side of his character is not new. When he was Roads minister he ruffled the rich who had grabbed road reserves by demolishing their big bungalows. By now one hopes that Kenyans can no longer be easily swayed by political fence-sitters and extremists. They will no longer just follow what politicians tell them blindly; not after a chain of poor advice.
Raila’s political history has clearly demonstrated that among his competitors he has been the most consistent and has paid the highest price for his beliefs. I doubt that anyone of them has done more to liberate Kenya from an oppressive state. In addition to years of detention, Raila was a key member of the team that stuck their necks out for change in 1991. His "Kibaki Tosha" declaration at Uhuru Park in 2002 was crucial in sending Kanu packing. Just think of what would have been left of this country if Kanu continued its reign or if some of these Kanu characters bounce back to the top job.
Unlike Raila, his opponents and the fence-sitters have demonstrated a different kind of consistency; the kind that almost led this country to the dogs in an undemocratic Kanu regime they served rather faithfully. Some of them made a kill from the excesses of the time through corrupt business and land deals. If some had their way, they would have preferred continuation of that plundering regime.
There are those who have argued that virtually all our top leaders, Raila included, have at one time or the other been Kanu strongmen. I however believe that Raila joined Kanu out of frustration with an opposition too divided along ethnic lines and a section that sold the propaganda to the effect that a Luo was unfit for the presidency. Changing a system from within is an acceptable political strategy; Raila used insider privilege to destroy Kanu for the national good. In fact, most of those who dumped Kanu in 2001 would not have done so were it not for the power and organisational ability of Raila after Moi overlooked them for the top seat.
The Mau has presented us with an ideal opportunity to separate the wheat from the chaff as we head to 2012. We should ask some simple questions: Who among the presidential aspirants has a demonstrated history of fearlessly standing up for what is right irrespective of the possible negative consequences for self and family? Who has been the more national in outlook?
It is time we ashamed agents of tribal politics aware that tribal alignments can only lead us back to the Banana and Orange fights of 2005 and 2007. Let’s be mindful of political rolling stones who detest permanent homes because they are a real danger to national stability.
The writer is an Assistant Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology and MP for Tigania West.
kilemimwiria@gmail.com
www.twitter.com/kilemi
Allow me to throw accolades toward this man called Raila, even after numerous criticism of him.
ReplyDeleteI have liked his consistency over the Mau issue and I believe what he has written in the newspaper today, and further what has been written in the newspaper to be true.
My lack of foresight could not discern clearly what was happening at the fundraising. It never occured to me that apart from building a political empire to fight Raila come 2012, majority of the Rift Valley fundraisers were beneficiaries of illigal allocation of Mau forest. It never occured to me that the whole purpose of the fundraising was not only about political ambitions and survival of the politicians who were there, but also fear of loss that some of them might incur by the government retrieving of Mau land from "squatters".
Living politics aside I would like all of us to support the man to reclaim this land, for it will affect only ten of thousands of people though if it can't be reclaimed it was going to affect millions of people. If it requires politics to reclaim this land, which I highly doubt at this time, will it be better to support the guy? I live up-to you.
The action of some of this politicians betrayed their ability to help a common mwananchi. Any intellect not blinded by tribalism could have seen clearly the display of political greed more than sympathy towards GDPs.
Only 5 million was raised, as I came to learn, which is appaling compared to what the government has used, yet the same are parroting everywhere telling every Tom, Dick and Harry how sympathetic they are towards the GDPs of Mau forest, and how the government is inhuman towards them.
If Uhuru is sincerely sympathetic to the GDPs, why could he donate like 100 acres of land to the GDPs?
It's time that we as people of Kenya should open our eyes and start shortlisting the candidates for presidency for 2012.
Which are these abundant COMMODITIES that Africa has that are different from gold (a land-based commodity)?
ReplyDeleteMoreover what makes "land" a more 'stable' store of value than gold? What makes it less susceptible to monopolization relative to gold?
Note that deriving a tax from the value of land makes land a COMMODITY (like gold).
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We can see thru your sheer ignorance. The illiterate person today is not one who cannot read and write. It is the person who has not learned how to learn. By this definition, you are illiterate.
For instance, about land, if you cared to use your little brain, we said a few days, the amount of money shall be backed by IRREVOCABLE LAND VALUE TAX assessment. And, b4 we said this, what did we say about land ownership? What do you understand by this you fool?
The fact that we have mentioned land, it does not follow that this is the only way of organising a stable currency. However, since we have mentioned land, your illiterancy tells you thats all.
As concerns commodities, u are so mesmerised by gold. After all, thats all they teach u and therefore since u are illiterate, u know nothing else.
What would prevent the use of a basket of 30 commodities by Africa to produce one stable currency? U need to know how foolish you look when u talk about things you have not cared to learn about.
We have examples for all these we are talking about. However, since you are illiterate, we leave u alone.
NB: We challenged you a few days on issue we should discuss. We are yet to hear from you apart from foolish comments we have seen today. Take up the challenge.
Kilemi Mwiria is an exception to the rule as far as Kenyan politicians are concerned.
ReplyDeleteKudos Mwiria.
Kilemi Mwiria is looking for a full cabinet position from Raila after failing to secure it from Kibaki. Mwiria would like to replace Sally at Education. He expects to get it when Raila sucks the Kalenjin ministers and gives the ministries to other communities as part of his 2012 election strategies which includes the Meru vote. Raila has tried to capture the Meru vote by promising Kiraitu the position of Deputy PM after 2012 but Kiraitu has kept him guessing. Raila has also tried to sneak into Meru through the Meru Elders and the inconsequential Imanyara, but his schemes have been exposed every time. Now, he is trying again through Mwiria. We will see how it goes. Incidentally, I think Mwiria is very qualified to handle the Ministry of Education. He is a PhD holder from Stanford Univ. Dept of Education (currently the leading Dept of Education around the the globe). He has been a senior Research Fellow in Kenyatta Univ. and Univ. of Wits in S. African. He was also one of the leading voices of UASU during their fight with Moi. So Mwiria has the requisite experience, but as we all know something happens to people when they enter politics. However, I doubt he is the best trojan horse Raila could use in the Meru politics; he is the intellectual type who loaths political dirt.
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe
ReplyDeleteResorting to insults is surely a fool's paradise. Just answer the question: what would make these unnamed (cept for land)commodities more stable than gold? Or is that another mystery to be accepted as the virgin birth. The problem with your cutted and pasted regurgitations is that you can barely defend them. Those are luxuries we afford only the dull and the ignorant in our midst.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe
Resorting to insults is surely a fool's paradise. Just answer the question: what would make these unnamed (cept for land)commodities more stable than gold?
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What makes a currency stable?
And, for instance, when we say the AMOUNT printed by the state shall be absolutely limited to IRREVOCABLE Land Vale Tax, what do you understand by this statement?
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The problem with your cutted and pasted regurgitations is that you can barely defend them. Those are luxuries we afford only the dull and the ignorant in our midst.
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Haya, answer the above and prove you are not dull and ignorant.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMwarang'ethe
Resorting to insults is surely a fool's paradise. Just answer the question: what would make these unnamed (cept for land)commodities more stable than gold?
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Something we have missed.
Contrary to your implied assertion in the above question, that other commodities are in a position to provide more stable currency, we have not said so.
What we object is the idea of only gold backed money. This is for simple reason. It will still be a monopoly money and it will be no different from the current monopoly via fiat money. It is for this reason, we advocate a basket of about 30 commodities. That way, no one, or a single nation will have the monopoly. Our battle is with monopolies for they are incompatible with free market system.
In other words, if you declared gold as money today, the current owners of gold, mined and unmined will just hoard it and drive its price up. Effectively, they would need very little gold and no labour to claim all your wealth.
However, we may even state, if we allow private sector money, we do not even need commodity backed currency, for their wealth would be the backer of their currencies.
However, this will require an appreciation of money as credit which seems to elude mankind for so long, but, was known by Babylonians very well.
Jimmy Kibaki syas against mau eviction??????????
ReplyDeleteNTV- daily nation Video
Kenya hii iko mambo.
na baba yake ako what side?
Mwarangethe,
ReplyDeleteAm on this blog on and off and never quite follow what you advocate. Could you cogently itemize your points as regards money backed by a basket of 30 commodities, and also money backed by the value of private sector goods? What about services, can we have money backed by services? Is the money backed by 30 things meant to replace the dollar or gold as a reserve? Thirdly, what about land value tax or something to that effect that you mentioned? Will it also be a form of money?
Lastly, what makes you think the west will see this development happening and sit back without messing it. As is this will disturb the financial markets as we know them. Also, how does your proposals fit into the way of life as we know it i.e. banking system, stock markets, etc?
"And, for instance, when we say the AMOUNT printed by the state shall be absolutely limited to IRREVOCABLE Land Vale Tax, what do you understand by this statement?"
ReplyDeleteFair enough.
cont't from Anon 9.43
ReplyDeleteCheck this out Mwarangethe
"According to some accounts, Iraq's decision to price its oil in euros rather than dollars precipitated the U.S. overthrow of Saddam Hussein, and Iran's threats to move away from the dollar is the real reason the U.S. government is raising the alarm over the country's nuclear program."
And Africa is in a weaker position than Middle East so your proposals are bound to hit a snag as they might go against the grain. These nations can easily nuke the whole continent without even blinking an eye.
Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteMwarangethe,
Could you cogently itemize your points as regards money backed by a basket of 30 commodities, ... money backed by the value of private sector goods? ... can we have money backed by services?
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Africa is poor cos of wealth appropration via unequal currencies. Consequently, an African reserve currency backed by its commodities is a good idea.
u can see that with dollar reserves. U sell coffee, tea to an American after much toil in Nyeri.
The next day, the dollar goes south. In such a case, u have effectively slaved to get a useless paper while the American is sipping your coffee. While at it, he will deny u a visa cos ua bank account is not healthy. How can it be healthy when he has just robbed you of your wealth?
About money backed by services. YES. Kenya railway will back its money via its transport services. KR need not "borrow" money to pay its employees etc.
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Thirdly, what about land value tax or something to that effect that you mentioned? Will it also be a form of money?
Response.
Simple. Yes.
Instead of "borrowing" money to pay its employees, suppliers, the Kenyan Govt. would print its money, but, backed by land value tax.
Since the govt. will take it on face value for tax payment, all others will do that. This way, we need not "borrow" and slave to pay usury to a few monopolists.
To ensure no inflation occurs, the printed money must not exceed the tax to be collected via land tax.
And, remove the legal tender laws so that if the government tries to play games, Kenyans will reject its note.
NB: Tender laws are a blatant interference with private contracts. Since contracts are property, it is therefore, an interference with one of the natural rights of man which governments are formed to protect. On that score alone, tender laws do not have any validity. However, the modern lawyer is a trained positivist so, he is unable to construct an argument to remove such laws.
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Lastly, what makes you think the west will see this development happening and sit back without messing it. ... how does your proposals fit into the way of life as we know it i.e. banking system, stock markets, etc?
Response:
Well, this is the crux of the matter. We have stated before that, whoever will have liberate Africa must be Castro, Che and Sankara combined. Doesn't that ring a bell?
As concerns "your way of life" of modern banking and stocks, we would say, it is a foolish way of life.
U need to appreciate that, we have industrial capitalism and financial capitalism.
In financial capitalism, u make money out of money. But, money is not wealth. Yes, u make a lot of money, but, since money is a claim on real wealth, and the wealth is not increasing cos we invest in stocks, land speculation etc, instead of irrigation in North Eastern, the society is getting poorer and not forgetting starving.
Unfortunately, just like a ponzi scheme, it can only go far. Just look at the world economy today. UK, USA are reduced to printing money, which unfortunately, is not wealth.
Alternatively, they have to beg/borrow from the Chinese while telling about so called human rights. However, when they appropriate your wealth as described above, no lawyer has been trained to see that as a HR issue.
We are caught up in a dilemma that will end very badly.
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And Africa is in a weaker position than Middle East so your proposals are bound to hit a snag as they might go against the grain. These nations can easily nuke the whole continent without even blinking an eye.
11/28/09 10:23 AM
Response:
Let us move boldly. Let God take care of the rest.
There is nothing admirable about fear and timidity in man.
After all, what do Africans have to lose apart from chains they have dragged for 500 years?
RUTO VERSUS RAILA (HUMMER versus PLIERS)
ReplyDeleteIn all the encounters between the combatants the Hummer has lost to the Pliers.
At this rate Raila risks being castrated by Ruto. What is worse is that their fight is spreading to their tribal followers. For the first time in four years, a Kalenjin friend of mine referred to Luos as uncircumcised boys. I was shocked and dismayed when I remembered that this same character danced with a beer in his hands in Jan 2008 shouting: No Raila No Peace. The fella also atgues thatte PM position belongs to Ruto as per pre-election MOU by ODM members.
What a sudden turn of events. What next? Luos versus Kalenjins? I hope not.
Are you going to get it in or what?
ReplyDeleteAfrica is for sale and Kenya is no exception!
ReplyDeleteTribalism is not everything, it is the only thing the western corporations know how to employ well in order to get what they want. Africans will be killing Africans while the looting goes on without impediment! The tactic of making one African a warlord for the purpose of butchering another African has been used over and over again. Charles Taylor of Liberia was used in both Liberia and Sierra Leone to wreak havoc in the lives of Africans there. The western corporations who supplied Charles Taylor with the arms while they were looting the resources are nowhere near the Hague!
The price tag for the current squable in Kenya and the desire to break ODM is the acquisition of pieces of REAL ESTATE in both RIFT VALLEY and Western Provinces. The multinational corporations and WallStreet investors will do anything to get their hands in most of it.
There is no reason why threats of being taken to the Hague must be used in forcing a unity government in Kenya. It does not make sense that the elites being accused of causing 2007-2007 election turmoil in Kenya are only guilty if they refuse to comply with certain orders from foreign governments; otherswise they are okay! Come!
Land and natural resources grabs are at the center of what is happening in Kenya. Kenyan elites are either willing to protect and defend Kenya's land or they have already given it out! Meaning, majority of poor Kenyans are doomed and will be contained in some slums or UN feeding camps somewhere!
http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/60526
Scam all the way from UK
ReplyDeleteThe African Salihiya Cargo & Clearing Company trades as KESOM in UK.
Arrest tax cheats stealing from Kenyans
For years Kenyans have suspected something was amiss at the Mombasa port. That the port was haemorrhaging revenue has never been in doubt, despite efforts by the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the Government to plug the nets through which public funds were stolen.
This has been the leif motif of last week’s investigative series, ‘The Port of Impunity’, on our sister premier TV station, the KTN.
Leeches and parasites
The series revealed the extent of the web of corruption at the port, and documents how conniving officials in cahoots with unscrupulous importers evade tax by presenting fake manifests for clearance.
Whereas Kenyans expect more from KRA and KPA, the programme exposes a series of serious copious shortcomings.
Granted, KRA has done a marvellous job and enhanced efficiency particularly considering the failures of previous bodies charged with tax collection.
However, the gains are being eroded, and rubbished by the reflexes of corrupt individuals who have either discovered new loopholes, or are using their connections to exploit the tax system.
The investigations by reporters John Allan Namu and Mohammed Ali show that there are still parasitic leeches within KRA feeding off the hard work of the majority Kenyans who religiously pay taxes.
All this apparently happens as some officials sleep on the job, or turn a blind eye on the illicit activities of individuals intent on profiting from the shaky and porous system.
We laud the KRA boss, Mr Michael Waweru, for taking the bold step yesterday and admiting that some rogue employees were undermining the war against corruption. Such positiveness and readiness to improve efficiency shows that at least there is one senior official the public can count on to protect our taxes.
Impunity fights back
The irony is that although the investigation raises serious issues, and demonstrates the importance of the Press and investigative journalism, the alleged culprits have now attempted to use the courts to stop the broadcasts.
Whereas the company at the centre of the alleged scam, The African Salihiya Cargo & Clearing Company, was unsuccessful in its attempt to stop the investigative series, other individuals have succeeded in gagging the media from publishing information related to their actions and, indeed, inactions.
The number of orders issued against the media to stop publication of stories has alarmingly increased. While we cannot tell the Judiciary how to execute its mandate, it has become increasingly difficult for the media to execute its mandate as the public watchdog. Gags are issued for frivolous reasons or because the ‘gagsters’ have enough clout and resources to seek them.
In other words, journalism and its impact and role as conveyors of information and watchdog will be eroded unless the courts consider the public interest criteria of some issues and reports.
Freedom and excellence
The revelations demonstrate what serious investigative journalism can do: unearth whatever people are trying to keep secret. And this is precisely why the Standard Group gives journalists such autonomy for investigative reporting. Such Press freedom is important to any system interested in transparent, accountable and good fiscal and political governance.
Meanwhile, as KRA rues missed opportunities, and deferred promises to enhance efficiency, it is imperative that the culprits and those sleeping on the job be held accountable for the losses incurred by the Exchequer.
And this does not mean the small fish. The big fish must be netted too. And more importantly, the public should be assured that the loopholes that allowed such tax losses have been sealed to prevent further loss of public resources.
Atten:
ReplyDelete'Wannabe resident economists aka financial analysts cum advisors at Kumekucha Village.'
The topic (question) was and still is: "Will Ruto survive this one? What about ODM?"
Mmmmmmmmh! If I may ask, will "DIVERSIONS be promptly deleted"?
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Hon. Ruto will survive this one and go on to survive the PEV inquiry in the same way Hon. Kibaki, Hon. Raila, Hon. Uhuru and other major tribal war mongering politicians (lords) will survive by not being shipped out to the Hague or dealt with by the local (toothless) tribunals.
Most of the above mentioned politicians will go about their business as usual and even celebrate the end year holidays with their families and supporters in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, unless the (cruel/[un]timely/natural) hand of Messers Death by Appointment comes calling before then.
Hon. Ruto will survive and reinvent himself once the dust has settled and the MAU issue is no longer a valuable ethnic cash flow goose as well as a politcal-capital gains vehicle for 2012.
While the party that is soon going to be(formerly known as ODM will have make their postmorten request of figuring out why humpty dumpty always falls off the temporary walls of Kenya's short sighted electioneering.
Your bluntant hate for FELLOW Kenyans (Luos) Chris is just disgusting to say the least. Instead of discussing issues we are discussing which tribe is heading for a downfal. If we are future of Kenya then i pity this country since we are heading for a major downfal.
ReplyDeleteYou can delete my post but you know am right. And by the way Raila aint going no where you can mark my words on that. This daughter of ukambani dares to say so. he has my vote.
Mwikali
Why is Ruto in pics of Kanu website?
ReplyDelete