Breaking: IIEC Final Referendum Tally Announced

The official IIEC final tally has just been announced:

YES: 6,092,583 (67%)
NO: 2,795,059 (30%)

This includes the constituencies which were not included in yesterday's announcement at Bomas of Kenya.

Breaking News: Finance Minister Amos Kimunya Resigns

Finance minister Amos Kimunya has officially resigned.

Kimunya is still addressing the press conference in his Treasury Office whereby he announced his resignation.

He said he had held consultations with the President, his family and constituents before deciding to resign although his conscious is clear.

Update 13h30 Local Time

In tendering his resignation, Kimunya has indicated that he is stepping aside to pave way for investigations into the controversial Grand Regency Hotel saga.

Just two days ago, Kimunya was quoted at a public rally saying "he would rather die than resign". Even as late as Monday evening, Kimunya was bold enough to repeat that he would not resign as he was being interviewed by Jeff Koinange on the K24 TV channel.

Today's press conference is therefore a significant departure from his stand just two days ago.

Tsvangirai Seeks Refuge in Dutch embassy

If Morgan Tsvangirai believed he was saving people’s lives by withdrawing from the coming FRAUDULENT polls he didn’t factor in his own safety. Now he has sought refuge in the Dutch Embassy (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080623/ap_on_re_af/zimbabwe) in Harare after police raided this MDC headquarters and carting away supporters who had themselves sought refuge there from murderous ZANU-PF gangs.

Mugabe in on the war path and is not leaving anything to chance. He has nothing to lose and not listening to anybody except himself. Leaves one praying why God whom Mugabe taunted recently doesn't do Zimbabweans divine favour by calling his bluff. Meanwhile confronted with challenges posed by MAD MUGABE and his ilk we still shamelessly fall for the cheap excuses of external interference. Well, that must be civilization at its purest as practiced in Mars.

Thambo thumbed
Besides the police force officially doing Mugabe's hatchet job of hounding the opposition at every corner he has the roped in the so-called war veterans MANY of whom were born after Zimbabwe's independence in 1980. And Bob has no apologies in extending the terror to the election observers. Again it is difficult to conclude whether Zimbabwean are reaping the fruits of cowardice or civilization. While cowards die severally before their real death, being civilized by religiously providing your back for eternal piggy ride is definitely not worth the sacrifice.

With the hitherto blue-eyed boys of FAKE new generation African leaders turned despots graying, who will save Africa? One may be tempted to excuse bigotic and sweeping statements from western academic that Africans are genetically programmed to primitively. With Thambo's nose thumbed, no African leader dares hold a candle to Mugabe lest he reminds them that he is only accelerating to catch up with these fellow DINOSAURS. After suffocating intimidation Bob will soon graduate to TOP-UPS.

Updates (2200 hrs local time)
Meanwhile following opposition withdrawal from the polls and the attendant violence, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has urged that Zimbabwe's presidential elections be postponed. The security council is meeting in an emergency session but whether this will culminate into any decisive action only time will tell. UN is on the spot and the echoes from its inaction during the 1994 Rwanda genocide are ringing even louder.

Breaking News: Felicien Kabuga Arrested in Nairobi

Kabuga's FBI Most Wanted poster

Hardly a month after this blog exclusively revealed the revocation of the Kenyan diplomatic passport(s) of one of the world’s top 10 most hunted criminals by immigration minister Otieno Kajwang, FELICIEN KABUGA, arguably Africa most wanted fugitive, has been reported arrested in Nairobi and is currently being held at the Gigiri Police Station.

Kabuga was arrrested at undisclosed location in Nairobi yesterday (Friday) afternoon. Kenya Police investigators say that they have a positive ID on the elderly Rwandese fugitive and forensic tests are underway to determine the true identity of the man.

Last month, this blog reported how Kenya’s new immigration minister had cancelled Kabuga’s Kenyan diplomatic passport(s) and accordingly informed Interpol of the same.

During the same month, the editor of Norwegian-based African Press International (API) told a Kenyan newspaper that he had interviewed Kabuga in an Oslo hotel room. Editor Sammy Kipterer Korir told newspaper Sunday Nation that he'd been invited to the hotel room by a friend from Sudan. At that time, Kabuga was reported to be seeking to negotiate amnesty with the Rwandese government.

The Kenyan government have in the past been accused to be a stumbling block to FBI investigations efforts to apprehend Kabuga, as he has strong links to ex MP Gideon Moi, the son of ex President Daniel arap Moi. The fugitive had a whopping US$5million bounty on his head.

Kabuga most recent image

If the reported arrested is confirmed to be correct, then the two month old Grand Coalition Government will have done what eluded successive Kenyan regimes for nearly a decade and a half.

Felicien Kabuga was an influential businessman who used his wealth to outfit the Interahamwe, a violent Hutu militia, who massacred thousands of innocent Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Few militia gangs in history have banded together to act with such swift brutality. In only 100 days Interahamwe contributed significantly to the death toll of over 800,000 Rwandans. Kabuga purchased vast amounts of machetes, hoes and other agricultural tools for the Interahamwe, fully aware that they would be used to hack men, women and children to death. For these and other cold-blooded calculations, he has been indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) for genocide, crimes against humanity and violations of the Geneva convention.

Update: 21.30 hrs Kenya Time

We are under estimating the power Kabuga and his Kenyan friends wield.

News reaching this blogger indicate that the person arrested by police is now being touted as "a case of mistaken identity and is afterall NOT Felicien Kabuga".

Kenyan police intelligence is known to be thorough and capable of cracking just about any crime without external help. There is NO WAY police could have arrested a stranger and run DNA and fingerprint tests on the suspect if they were not sure they had their man.

IT IS OBVIOUS SOMEONE HAS PRESSED THE RIGHT BUTTON(S) AND ONCE AGAIN KABUGA IS ABOUT TO BE SET FREE.

Updates to follow

Breaking News: Two ODM Ministers Die in Air Crash

Unconfirmed news just in indicate that Minister for Roads Kipkalya Kones and Assistant Minister in Office of the Vice President Lorna Laboso both of the Orange Democratic Movement are reportedly feared dead in an air crash together with pilot in the Narok area.

More information to be published as police releases more details.

Update 17h45 Kenya Time:

Kenya TV news channels flashing breaking news.

Kones and Laboso, together with their pilot are feared dead. Light aircraft went down in Enoosupukia 100km from Narok Town. The duo were in the area to campaign for ODM candidates in tomorrow's by-elections in Kilgoris and Ainamoi.

Update 18h00 Kenya Time

Kipkalya Kones and Lorna Laboso have NOW BEEN CONFIRMED DEAD.

Kenya Police also confirm that plane went down at 14h00 local time.

It is still unknown how many passengers were on the aircraft.

Salim Lone confirms that the plane left Wilson Airport for Kericho campaigns.

The incident is has thrown ODM into a spin and Lone has described it as a devastating blow to the party and too bad to be true.

Update: 18h14

Police are at the scene of the air crash. There are no survivors. There has been bad weather in the lower Rift Valley area and the aircraft is reported to have crashed on a hillside.

ODM Captain, Prime Minister Raila Odinga is reportedly at a unknown location and said 'to be badly shaken' and cannot be raised on his cellphone.

Update: 18h25

Narok Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Patrick Wambani confirms from the scene of the crash that there were three passengers of African descent plus one white Caucasian. The fourth African passenger is being assumed to be Kones' bodyguard.

Country in shock as police confirm deaths. Police suspect bad weather or mechanical fault as cause of plane crash. Raila and his wife Ida are said to be badly shaken by the news.

There has not been official government statement as at the time of going to press.


Update by Chris

What Is Going On?

The first question Kenyans must ask themselves is why two cabinet ministers were riding in the same plane. Basic common sense tells you that you never do that.

Somebody needs to answer that question before we discuss anything else about the death of the two ministers earlier today.

Still what has happened has happened and cannot be reversed. The right approach now is to remain calm as we await answers.

My hope is that the ministers did not die in vain and that Kenyans will now wake up to the full implications of the Kibaki succession and what it entails, knowing our politicians and those who make money from politics.

Update: 20h05 Kenya Time

Raila has read condolences on behalf of the ODM. Raila was flanked by the ODM top brass including, Ruto, Ntimama, Mudavadi and others.

ODM is urging it supporters to remain calm.

The party is also saying the by-elections scheduled for tomorrow should not be postponed and that wananchi should come out it large numbers to vote for ODM candidates.

Update: 20h30 Kenya Time

ODM top brass, reeling from the shocking tragedy, are reported to be locked in closed-door meeting. A statement is expected later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Some party officials have been dispatched to go and console the families of the deceased ministers.

The ODM statement is expected to shed more light about the ministers' ill fated trip and also about the condition of the aircraft which this blogger has been informed has been previously chartered for campaign purposes by ODM officials, actually as recently as this past weekend.

Update: 21h00

Bodies of the deceased are still lying at the crash site nearly eight hours after the crash. A parliamentary committee led by Hon. William Ruto has been set up by government and are expected to accompany a high powered government security team that is expected to travel to Narok early tomorrow morning to commence investigations and retrieve the bodies of the ministers.

Breaking News: Raila Heads To Germany for Laser Eye Surgery

Prime Minister Raila Odinga left the country earlier today (Sunday) to undergo laser eye surgery in Germany.

ODM Spokesman Salim Lone is quoted as saying: "Prime Minister Raila Odinga was traveling with his wife and will be back in Nairobi on Friday." Lone explained that the procedure was "minor laser eye surgery."

Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki recently struck a power-sharing agreement after both men claimed to have won the Dec. 27 presidential election in a dispute that unleashed weeks of ethnically tinged violence. More than 1,200 people died and 300,000 were displaced.

On Saturday, Odinga and Kibaki finished a three-day "peace tour" of areas hardest-hit by the postelection violence.

Raila has been seen on many occasions dabbing his eye with a handkerchief. He attributes the "tears" to bad lighting in jail cells during his long nine-year stint in detention-without-trial, five years of which was in solitary confinement and incommunicado at the Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in Nairobi. His only reading material during the detention was the Bible and Quran.

Resources:

• Mediplus Laser Eye Surgery
  
• Wikipedia LASIK

Breaking News: ODM Suspends Talks With PNU

As Violence Breaks Out in Kibera Slums

Tension is steadily building around the country following the collapse of talks between PNU and ODM towards the formation of a grand coalition cabinet. The PNU have outrightly rejected ODM's demands for certain cabinet portfolios while the ODM had announced a few moments ago that it is suspending any further discussions with PNU until the current cabinet is dissolved.

The calmness that has been prevailing in most parts of the country following the signing of the peace agreement on 28th February 2008 was this morning shattered following ODM's announcement that they had with immediate effect suspended any form of discussions with PNU until the current cabinet is dissolved. That announcement immediately triggered violent demonstrations in Kibera with mobs barricading roads and lighting fires. Police have already been dispatched to Kibera but reports reaching Nairobi say that tension is building Kisumu, Naivasha, Nakuru and Eldoret. These are the towns that witnessed the worst form of violence and destruction of property following the post election skirmishes earlier this year.

At the time of posting this, the ODM Member of Parliament for Mt. Elgon Fred Kapondi was also reportedly being detained by police on unspecified charges.

Update by Chris at 16:11 PM
All indications so far are that Internal security Minister George Saitoti and his team have been on red alert since last night. There are reports coming in that there was also a little trouble in Kipkelion in the Rift Valley earlier today but it was swiftly contained. Reports also indicate that the troubles in Kibera have also been quickly snuffed out.

There is a possibility that we will witness numerous arrests over the next few days as a way to pre-empt violence. Fascinatingly the thinking has not changed since last December. After the elections the game plan was to shoot to kill to scare. That one failed big time. This time it is arrest to scare. It is anybody's guess how effective this will be. However the fact remains that there are too many hungry jobless Kenyans out there for comfort.

Update by Chris at 21:00 PM Kenyan Time
Violence reported in Kisumu. I will give more details as I get them.

Breaking News: Raila Announces Cabinet Agreement Breakthrough

ODM Leader Raila Odinga has announced that his party has finally reached an agreement with President Kibaki's PNU on the formation of (can you believe this!) 40 ministry grand coalition cabinet.

Raila confirmed that the grand coalition cabinet will be named on 6th April 2008 which will be a Sunday and be formally sworn in a week after on 12th April 2008. Surprisingly, both days will fall on Sunday!

The news has been already been published by the respected International Herald Tribune. You can read the story here. It has also been locally reported exclusively by the new K24 TV news channel.

The announcement comes soon after a terse statement by Chief mediator Kofi Annan in which he said: “The situation of the country dictates a coalition government in which the two parties, Government/PNU and ODM, will be equal partners.The Cabinet will be shared equally with appropriate portfolio balance, thus enabling each party to see itself as playing an equal role with the other partner."

More updates later

Related:

Reuters: Kenya power-sharing cabinet to be named Sunday -Odinga

Mugabe to Step Down, Mbeki Saves Zimbabwe

Following defeat in last weekend’s general election, President Mugabe is set to step down before the MDC opposition chief Morgan Tsvangirai is formally declared winner by Zimbabwe’s electoral commission (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/ 7325286.stm). Predictably Mugabe is playing tough and using cronies to deny any deal and whether he will accept defeat is anybody's guess.

After playing delaying tactics in which he ordered ZEC to announce piecemeal neck-to-neck presidential votes’ results to stem celebrations and conflicts, President Mbeki has finally convinced Mugabe to step aside after the electoral humiliation. Mbeki’s prompt action in chairing a meeting with Mugabe’s advisers, military chiefs and the opposition leaders has saved Zimbabwe from going the Kenyan way.

Political dinosaurs
And that marks the political demise of another dinosaur. It only a matter of time before Africa gets rid of all despots who rape their countries I the misplaced belief that they fought for independence and ruling is a right by any means. Poor Tsvangirai has eventually realized his long fought dream. But the basket case country he inherits will challenge his capabilities to the hilt.

Poor Mugabe! The old man should have seen it coming were it not for his selfish cronies and so-called veterans who blinded him from reality. He didn’t have to wait for such an unceremonious exit. But again that is the language dictators know best. Following the collapse of the Berlin wall 20 years ago, Africa is on a swing to rid herself this decade of all despots.

Update 1:
Meanwhile minister for information has denied existence of any deal. Similarly the MDC has refuted reports of entering in any deal before ZEC announces official results. Exuding confidence demands to know from who has won. Well, the denial ritual sounds so familiar. All the speculation indicates something is cooking. It won't be long though before the truth comes out.

Meanwhile releasing results showing close contest sounds so Kenyaish. Birds of a feather or age mates sharing inverted wisdom?

Zimbabwe Opposition Claim Early Win, Will Mugabe Do a Kibaki?

Reuters (http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL30571558) has reported Zimbabwe opposition claiming victory following early elections results. That announcement is like Kenyan record being played in Harare. Zimbabwean opposition must have learned first hand from Kenya the FALLACY of waiting for official results.

The Kenyan script has been shipped to Zimbabwe and the actors are similar yet different. Police chief in Zimbabwe had acquired his briefing from our own Major Ali by banning any celebrations and protests. Even Zimbabwe government mouthpiece The Sunday Mail has outdone itself by insinuating that MDC's victory claim is akin to Tsvangirai declaring himself president which is a coup d'etat warranting the ultimate punishment.

Predictably Mugabe will do a Kibaki on Zimbabweans by claiming a landslide victory and speedy SUNSET swearing thereafter. The infant Kenyan history made less than 100 days ago is repeating itself in Harare at lightening speed. The hitherto bread basket on southern Africa is spiralling into a desperate bread case. One thing is for sure: MUGABE IS IN GOOD COMPANY. And as per the script comrade Bob is not leaving anything to chance. He has plenty of fellow dinosaur peers to consult and emulate. The days ahead are interesting for Zimbabwe, Africa and world at large.


UPDATE 1:
24 hours after the polls closed no result has been announced and observers warn of unrest arising from the ensuing anxiety. Meanwhile neighbouring countries including South Africa, Mozambique and Zambia are closing their borders and Zimbabwe citizens have started stocking foodstuffs while hundreds are deserting cities to SAFER AREAS. All these developments sound so near and with us at home yet so far. Even the Zimbabwean clone of Kivuitu has said the results may take SOME DAYS to be released.

UPDATE 2
Fearing unrest, Mugabe's government has deployed riot police and other security forces in Harare which is traditionally an opposition base. In previous election, results were announced after tallying at the districts but not any more this year. This has sparked founded speculations from opposition supporters that mischief (read TOP-UP) is afoot.

Breaking News: Kenya Government 'Clarifies' Peace Accord

The following is a statement read by Francis Muthaura (Head of Civil Service and Secretary to the Cabinet) a few moments ago. ODM are said to be in a crisis meeting and are expect to respond shortly.

"There have been various media reports that have created concern as to the roles of the position of the Prime Minister, Government appointments and structure of the Government following the national Accord. In that regard the Government wishes to clarify as follows:

• The President remains the Head of State and Head of Government.

• The Vice-President is the Principal Assistant or the President and the Leader of Government Business in Parliament.

• The Prime Minister will coordinate and supervise the Government functions under the authority of the President.

• The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Ministers will also have ministerial portfolios.

• The President will appoint the Vice-President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and all Ministers subject to the terms of the Accord. The Vice-President, Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and all Ministers are directly responsible to the President. The President will continue to Chair the Cabinet.

• The Accord does not include sharing of jobs in the Public Service.

• Therefore, it should be clear that appointments in the Public Service are governed by the Constitution or Acts of Parliament.

To this end:

• Holders of Constitutional offices, Permanent Secretaries, Ambassadors, Judges of the High Court, Chairpersons of boards and a few chief Executives of Parastatals are appointed by the President.

• All other civil servants in Central Government and Local Authorities are appointed by the Public Service Commission or through its delegated authority.

• Judicial Officers including Magistrates, etc are appointed by the Judicial Service Commission.

• Teachers are appointed by the Teachers Service Commission.

• Almost all Members of the Boards of Parastatals, Except the Chairmen, are appointed by their respective Ministers.

• Chief Executives of Parastatals are appointed by the ministers on recommendation of the respective Boards.

• Other staff or Parastatals are appointed by their respective boards.

I wish to assure public servants that there is nothing to worry about the safety of their jobs or the politicization of the Public Service. I urge public servants to embrace the implementation of the Accord. It is extremely important that professionalism in the Public Service is maintained and free from partisan politics."

AMB: FRANCIS K. MUTHAURA, EGH
PERMANENT SECRETARY SECRETARY TO THE CABINET AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

10 March 2008

Breaking News: 'Breakthrough' in Kenya Peace Talks

Former South Africa first lady Graca Machel, President Kibaki, former UN chief Kofi Annan, ODM leader Raila Odinga and former Tanzania President Benjamin Mkapa when they met at Harambee House, Nairobi. (Source NMG)

BBC website is reporting 'Breaking News' with opposition spokesman William Ruto 'saying the rival parties had reached a deal on an interim joint government.'

ODM captain Raila Odinga and his PNU counterpart President Mwai Kibaki are said to be about to emerge from a meeting with Kofi Annan to announce the deal to an anxious nation.

If what Ruto is quoted to be saying is true, then it will be a major coup for Raila and ODM who have all along been insisting on a transitional government as one of the ways of coming out of the crisis.

Related Kumekucha Stories: Kenya Headed to a Grand Political Coalition

More as the story develops.

Breaking News: Kuffuor Led Crisis Talks 'Breaks Down'

According to information posted on the BBC website a few moments ago, the crisis talks led by Ghanaian President John Kuffuor have broken down.

For this to have happened even before Mwai Kibaki and Raila Odinga met face to face is bad enough and spells doom for the future of this country. This is also extremely terrible new for all Kenyans who cherish peace and justice and whose hopes were all on the success of Kuffuor as AU Chairman.

Both President Kuffuor and US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms Jendayi Frazer, were yesterday forced to extend their visits by a day after initially having failed to reach an agreement with the two Kenyan political parties. Both of them had been locked in lengthy meetings attended by a hoard of diplomats plus about four former African Heads of State and these meetings were still on going at the time of posting this.

Since yesterday, Kuffuor and his team had been shuttling between the Pentagon House (Upper Hill) and State House Nairobi talking closed door meetings with the ODM and PNU teams. Yesterday's sessions went into late night and begun again early morning today.

Press reports from Kampala had initially indicated that Government side (PNU) and the ODM had "agreed on a power sharing deal and the possibility of creating the post of prime minister. They had, however, differed on whether the holder should be given executive or ceremonial roles."

Interestingly, yesterday the US Department of State sent a protest note to the Government for the naming of half of the cabinet before talks with the Orange side could commence. All those appointed to cabinet were sworn-in at state house this morning. At the same time, the former African Heads of State, led by Joachim Chissano of Mozambique, have termed recent events "an injustice on the people of Kenya". It is not clear what is the status of the initiatives of another peacemaker - Archibishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa who has also met both parties.

PS: It looks like President Kuffuor is leaving the country (the government has announced) but Kuffuor has also indicated that a group of eminent persons (sounds familiar) lead by former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan (also a Ghanaian) will be taking up from where he left. Kuffuor says both parties are willing to talk.

The Calm Before The Storm

Ladies and Gentlemen,
........................................the calm before the (political) storm in Kenya
Happy New Year!

Herdsman Kills Lion, Killed by Hyenas

That a Samburu herdsman has been killed by a pack of predating hyenas just after killing a lion with bear hands reflects the contradictory phenomenon of life. 35 year old Moses Lekalau fought off an attacking lion for 30 minutes and succeeded in killing the beast only to be attacked by cowardly hyenas who must have sensed the vulnerability of exhausted Lekalau.


Despite a motorist rescuing Lekalau from the jaws of the death (hyenas), the poor chap died after 7 hours on the operating table in Nairobi where he was transferred from excessive loss of blood.

That is just one life too many. If only we would value human life like the money tourists bring. But that is asking for too much because there are Kenyans and others. Life can be be so CRUEL sometimes.

What a strange twist and paradox life is. You fight gallantly for 30 minutes spearing and bludgeoning a lion to death. only to lose the very life you were saving to lesser selfish predators. Lekalau's death is akin to stopping a bullet dead on its track only to succumb to a scratch from a needle.

Clinton's Spin Doctor Jets in for Raila

That this years elections will be the most competitive in our national history is not debatable. Now it has been pushed a notch higher by ODM securing the services of former US president Bill Clinton's legendary political consultant, Dick Morris.

Morris is a master of catchy sound bites who is credited with masterminding the 1996 US election triumph. On arrival in Nairobi, Mr Morris compared both Clinton and Raila by calling both "people's candidate". According to him they both focus on the needs of the average person.

Image is everything
Remember Madam President Johnson of Liberia beating popular George Weah hands down? Kenyan politics has surely gone global in terms of branding. The Sprite advert couldn't have been more apt: Image is everything. Forget about the head burdening the shoulders it is a race to win the heart. May the best candidate win.

December 27 the D-Day

The ECK has declared December 27 as the date for this year's general elections. With that announcement it is all systems go in Kenya's predicted political dynamics of defection and counter defections.

Wapi huyo Steadman?
Meanwhile the latest Steadman's polls shows Raila, Kibaki and Kalonzo's popularity standing at 50%, 39% and 8% respectively. A reflection of reality, euphoria or signs of things to come? Well, only time will tell. The whistle has been blown and the players only have themselves to score winning or own goals. May the best candidate win. God bless Kenya.