Reading Kenyans Soon Leading Themselves

Whoever said if you want to hide anything from an African put it in a book has got another thing coming to them. For a long time Kenyans were thought to be afraid of what lies between book covers. However a recent survey published in a local daily reveals we are fearless readers not afraid of consuming but of acquiring knowledge.Kenya National Libraries may do well to increase the number of local libraries but kudos to kenyans for embracing reading culture outside formal education

A person who never went to school has innate natural intelligence and though books can be expensive there's more than one way to skin a cat.Our newspapers are just as good a place to start and widespread distribution of national publications ensures everybody is on the same page. As for our newspapers never mind propaganda wars labelling certain media houses sensationalist and others ethnically biased. The fact is no longer dealing with an illiterate population makes it harder for governments to pull the wool over people's eyes.the level of public awareness is increasing and has never been higher.

The average mwananchi is miles ahead of extinct dinosaurual leadership and this situation is troubling for woolly leadership continuosly incensed by the sharp awakening of a public which no longer accepts to be thought or spoken for.readers are indeed leaders and soon reading Kenyans will be firmly leading this country for themselves the way its supposed to be

US Elections Necessitates High Terror Alert in Kenya

Senator Barack Obama’s grandmother Sarah Hussein Obama during a past interview with the press at her Nyang’oma Kogelo village in Siaya. The press has been barred from the home until Nov 5 to give her a break from constant media engagements.

Latest news in Kenya indicate that the Kogelo based family of US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has halted all media engagements until after the US presidential election on November 4 . According to the reports, the move has been taken to give Obama's paternal step grandmother, Mama Sarah Onyango Obama a break, so says spokesperson thura Said Obama.

However, and contrary to this information, the REAL reason for curtailing press interviews and effectively ring-fencing Mama Obama are far much more serious. Coming soon after a personal and unannounced visit to the homestead by ODM party leader Raila Odinga, whereby closed door meetings were held between Raila and Mama Sarah, it appears the grand coalition government does not want to take any chances. Although the family is promising to open up to the public after the elections, it is highly unlikely the jovial Kogelo villagers will ever again step into the currently-under-tight security-Obama-homestead, let alone see the Obama matriarch at the local market rendezvous, given that Obama has very high chances of emerging the winner against John McCain. (Make that a landslide!).

Information reaching this blogger indicates that Kenyan and regional security forces, working closely with American Secret Service and FBI, have put all exit points out of Kenya on HIGH ALERT following credible intelligence information indicating that the Al-Qaeda terrorist cell in Eastern Africa under the leadership of 10 years-yet- to- be arrested- Harun Fazul is planning a terrorist attack on local vital installations and Western interest in the Eastern Africa region. Mama Sarah is, according to intelligence sources, an obvious and vulnerable target!!!! Infact, the IGAD summit on Somalia taking place in Nairobi today is just but a smokescreen to have the Heads of State/Government confer one-on-one and face-to-face on the serious security threats arising out of the imminent Barrack H. Obama presidency in the U.S.

Interestingly, even the normally vocal and social US Ambassadors in the region (including our very own MR in Kenya) have ‘gone underground’ because the threats of attack are allegedly already in advanced stages and are aimed at petrol stations (forecourts in Western lingo) oil tankers and airports and other strategic interests. The attacks are allegedly planned to coincide with the US Presidential Elections in early November when the global attention will be singularly focused on witnessing the elections of a candidate whom the Al Qaeda are not supporting because his victory will mean end of the war. Not surprisingly, the public concentration in Kenya is expected to reach the same levels or perhaps exceed what was witnessed in December 2007 during the country’s own presidential elections.

As it is, the Al Qaeda group is reportedly already IN-REGION crisscrossing the borders and mingling with common mwananchi with intentions of identifying escape routes and camouflage.

Security has therefore been enhanced to an unprecedented level at all regional seaports, airports and border points while anti-terrorism vigilance is a step or two higher than usual. Accordingly, customs, immigration and security officers are having sleepless nights as we approach the D-day in the US.

It may surprise many that a peasant granny in poverty-stricken, AIDS ravaged Nyanza Province of Kenya is now centre of global attention and supposedly a terrorist target, but this is what being President of the United States of America means.

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Will Grand Coalition Cabinet Reflect The Face of Kenya?

Now that President Kibaki has confirmed that he is about to reshuffle and name the complete grand coalition cabinet, it is only fair that we ask before-hand if this cabinet will reflect the face of Kenya.

Every other cabinet Kibaki has constituted since 2002 has been grossly unfair in terms of regional distribution. However, things are a significantly different this time round because ODM is expected to nominate worthy individuals whom the president will name to the cabinet. ODM will constitute 50% of the cabinet as well as provide the Prime Ministers and one of the two deputies.

This time round, and for the sake of healing this nation, Kibaki must do some sound mathematics.

In my opinion, the top ten cabinet positions - and indeed the entire public service - should be made regionally representative for all the people of Kenya to feel a sense of belonging in this country.

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Related: Democracy Must Work For Every Citizen
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The current top-ten political/cabinet seats as they will be are;

1. PNU: President & Head of State: Mwai Kibaki (Kikuyu – Central Province)
2. ODM-K/PNU: Vice President: Kalonzo Musyoka (Kamba – Eastern Province)
3. ODM: Prime Minister & Head of Government: Raila Odinga (Luo – Nyanza Province)
4. ODM: Deputy Prime Minister: Musalia Mudavadi – (Luhya - Western)
5. PNU: Deputy Prime Minister: (not known) – (not known)
6. PNU: Justice & Constitutional Affairs – Martha Wangari Karua (Kikuyu – Central)
7. PNU: Finance: Amos Kimunya: (Kikuyu – Central)
8. KANU/PNU: Defence: Yusuf Hajji (Somalia) North Eastern
9. FORD-K/PNU: Foreign Affairs: Moses Wetangula (Luhya – Western)
10. PNU: Internal Security: George Saitoti (Maasai/Kikuyu - Rift Valley/Central)
    

It is apparent that the PNU is over-crowding the top ten.

Kivuitu's Blundering Results

To begin with, Western Province, in addition to the National Assembly Speaker and the Attorney General already has more than enough. My take is that top public positions should not be monopolised like the way AG Wako and Head of Civil Service Muthaura have done for more than 10 years now. These two should be sent packing at the same time that the cabinet is being constituted. Perhaps Raila and Kibaki should consider appointing a minority to these two positions. In this case, an Indian or Samburu or even a Borana.

It will be a major cock-up if Kibaki were to fall into the hands of Mt. Kenya mafia and appoint the Deputy PM from the GEMA region. It seems obvious that Coast province has not received its due share of the national cake. Infact it is a raw deal. Women are also conspicuously missing from the top ten power arrangement in Kenya.

During Kibaki’s reign, Eastern province has and continues to be over-fed at cabinet level. My suggestion is for Kibaki to replace Kalonzo as VP and appoint a woman from Coast province to the post. Alternatively, he may consider appointing Martha Karua Deputy PM, but then the Justice ministry should be relinquished to ODM.

Kalonzo would be best suited to lead a coalition of opposition parties and be Leadr of Official Opposition in government. If Kalonzo and his ODM-K brigade must be in government, then out of 40 cabinet portfolios, Kibaki must be able to find one for him. I would suggest Water Development, or if environment and natural resources. We must appreciate the important role of the official opposition and that the opposition leads the PAC and PIC committees in the national assembly.

On the ODM side, we know is that Charity Ngilu and Sally Kosgey are heading to cabinet. They may also throw in Millie Odhiambo, or Sofia Abdi Omar, or gender activist Ms Rachel Shebeshwho were recently nominated to parliament on ODM ticket. Interestingly, Raila is already fulfilling part of his vision by sharing positions on a 50/50 basis between men and women. Apart from Martha Karua, who sadly hails from the same province as the president, I have not seen any other woman occupy a power seat in PNU. Dr. Naomi Shaban (Miji Kenda – Coast) has been given a nondescript portfolio and is yet to cut political teeth.

Stop Press 14h00 Local Time: Parliament is about to commence debate on the two critical bills, ie. Constitution of Kenya Ammendment Bill (2008) and the National Accord and Reconcilliation Bill. The president and prime minister designate are expected to attend this session. It is expected today's session will culminate into the creation of Kenya's historic Grand Coalition Government. Updates to follow.

Who?What?How?

The question that has been keeping me pre-occupied for the past sad event-filled month is; when the time comes, who is going to mourn for the 1000 plus Kenyans who are losing their lives as a result of December's post-election violence? It haunts me to think that out of the many lives lost, more than just a handful were supposed to have played a significant role in my life at some point in time and i in theirs but now this opportunity is lost forever. This is not even considering the feelings of their loved ones left behind struggling to come to terms and make sense of life without their family members. What bitter tragedy
Sometimes i think we make a mockery out of life when we approach the seriousnes it demands without the requisite sincerity to match. In my opinion, the best gift we can give to honour the memory of those already dead (dying a death most foul) is not only political and economic restitution-in any event, these are two important aspects of our nation that we would have had to get right at some point, regardless of whether a thief stole the election or not
In the long-term we may have to agree never again to take one another for granted and stop turning a blind eye to the well-being of the country we love for the sake of traditions. Such long-term thinking will reveal itself from the little things like refusing to litter our streets when with only a little effort your refuse can easily be disposed of in the proper places, to walking in the type of integrity that means swearing to our own hurt and not changing even if we'll be unpopular.
The sacrifice that Kenya demands is not blood through the killing of life but the giving up of close-minded individuality to redefine what our nation means by coming together to paint a rich picture of many tribes, languages, politics, economics and religion with a single common thread-we are Kenyans
Coming soon:- dealing a death blow to tribalism

Kenya Politics Headed to a Grand Coalition

The first day of Koffi Annan led mediation talks indicates that there is light at end of the dark political tunnel, we can authoritatively reveal.

It looks like Kenya is headed for a power sharing deal that may also see the country establish a truth, justice and reconciliation committee. The grand coalition will operate on consensus and will see significant decentralization of executive power by the president.

As a matter of priority, the current Electoral Commission of Kenya will be disbanded and a new representative one constituted to oversee preparation for future (general) elections.

Whereas the ODM was initially pushing for a short term transitional government that would prepare for a re-run of the presidential polls, the party has significantly thawed and is ready to accept a power sharing deal with its bitter rival PNU. On the other hand, the PNU camp feels its candidate won the presidential polls 'fairly' and that a re-run is not an option. The ruling party prefers to incorporate members of the ODM into Kibaki’s vacant cabinet positions as a way of appeasing them and their supporters. The PNU is also open to the coalition idea but are reluctant to see presidential powers devolved.

It would appear that ODM/NARC are seeking permanent and independent share of political power for their parties as opposed to being mere appointees of PNU’s President Kibaki. In other words, ODM/NARC are avoiding the same treatment the LDP received during the initial days of Kibaki’s first term as a NARC president.

It is significant that both Museveni and Annan have adopted a straight shooting one-on-one approach with the key protagonist whom many believed are driven to their hardline positions by allies surrounding them. It is widely feared by the international community that the collapse of Kenya will be catastrophic and have far reaching implications on the entire African continent.

Going by the closely contested results of the presidential and parliamentary polls; political observers foresee the formation of a balanced grand coalition government which will be facilitated by constitutional amendments when parliament reconvenes.

Each of the two major partners will be allocated top positions in government and each will have some degree of executive power which will enable them draw their own line-up of select members of cabinet.

This proposed grand coalition, having a total of 34 members of cabinet, will be structured along this forecast:

Mwai Kibaki (PNU) – President & Head of State
Kalonzo Musyoka (ODM-K) - Vice President & Deputy Head of State
15 Cabinet Positions - PNU/ODM-K/KANU/A.N. OTHER

Raila Odinga – Prime Minister & Leader of Parliamentary Business
Musalia Mudavadi – Deputy Prime Minister
15 Cabinet Positions - ODM/NARC/A.N. OTHER

(Sounds to me like the Bomas Draft)

But then, what does such an arrangement mean for multi-party democracy?

Is this an introduction of a new constitution through the back-door?

This is apparently the cost of achieving lasting peace and moving on after the highly controversial and violent 27 December general elections.

What is your take?

ECK: Presidential Winner Will Be Announced Tomorrow

19h00 Saturday 29th December 2007

The ECK will announce Kenya's new president tomorrow (Sunday 30th December 2007).

This, according to Commissioner Tumwa, is to allow 29/30 December night for the ECK to verify all the 210 constituency files and announce the winner after reviewing all the files and ascertaining that the information therein is correct.

This is the decision of the ECK reached after deep consultation between the 21 commissioners and the Chairman. Each political party/presidential candidate will be allowed to have two agents together with the ECK commissioners during tonight's critical review sojourn.

It is not clear how the Kamukunji and Maragwa constituency files, which were rejected by the ECK earlier, will be reviewed or verified.

There seem to be a lot of animosity beween ODM and PNU although some media houses, like the Nation Media Group, have already started running peace campaigns in the TV stations.

Skirmishes, looting and violence have spread all over the country and unconfirmed reports reaching this blogger indicates several people have been killed while tens more are in hospital nursing injuries. People in Kibera and Mathare slums waved pangas and other crude weapons while others in the Nairobi CBD stoned cars, looted shops, lit huge bonfires and burned down informal settlement homes.

The US Ambassador was interviewed a few minutes ago and appealed to the political class to accept ECK results and reach out to their opponents so as to heal the country.

19h07: ECK press briefing ends with the above agreement. No further election results will be announced until the ECK and political party agents have audited the election results.

Any further developments shall be posted here.

Breaking News: ODM Claims Presidential Victory

ODM Presidential Candidate has won Kenya's presidential election according to a press conference addressed by Musalia Mudavadi.

As Samuel Kivuiti was reading the latest results at KICC earlier in the day, the ODM were addressing a press conference claiming victory.Official figures earlier released by ECK gave Raila
3,726,247 votes against Mwai Kibaki's 3,416,139 and Kalonzo Musyoka's 346,214 votes.

However, at an international press conference addressed by ODM presidential running mate Musalia Mudavida, the ODM said, "In view of the growing anxiety and restlessness in the country over the extended delay... we now call upon the outgoing president to acknowledge and respect the will of the Kenyan people and concede defeat." The press conference indicated that ODM's own independent tallying centres had established that Raila had received 4.2 million votes in his favour in comparison to Kibaki's 3.7million votes.

Further reading:

BBC Breaking News: Kenya Opposition Claims Victory

Tension Builds As ECK Presidential Results Trickle In

29th December 2007: 08h30 local time

With ECK seemingly unable to provide presidential results sub-totals, unmistakable tension and anxiety is building not just at KICC ECK centre but also around the country even as independent media tallying give provisional results as follows:

Raila Odinga: 3.974m
Mwai Kibaki: 3,580m
Kalonzo Musyoka: 535k

Both Raila and President Kibaki have not been seen in public since they voted on 27th December and the ECK has had to postpone announcement of the final presidential results several times - despite the fact that ECK Chairman Samuel Kivuitu has promised to announce final results by this morning 08h00 local time. The ECK press briefing centre is now full of weary and exhausted journalists and party agents, some of whom have been camping there for more than 36 hours. TV footage has caught some international journalist, unfortunate not to have relievers, sprawled across seats in deep sleep.

ECK Commissioners Muturi Kigano and Jack Tumwa were early this morning put to task by ODM representatives at KICC to explain how they are unable to announce results that were released by various polling stations two days ago although they have already released parliamentary and civic results from the same areas. Matters are not helped by the fact that withheld presidential results are from areas perceived to be PNU strongholds and ODM is alluding that some manipulation could be on going.

The PNU on its part is sensing presidential victory and its representatives have had a few hot exchange of words with ODM representatives at KICC. There is a tight security around KICC and the dreaded paramilitary GSU have ring-fenced the venue in anticipation of social unrest.

Unconfirmed reports going round Nairobi indicates that PNU are planning to hijack the ODM and the country with "a George Bush in Florida" or "a Yar Adua in Abuja", but ODM pentagon members are categorical that Kenya is not USA nor Nigeria. According to Musa Sirma, a former MP and member of ODM Presidential Campaign team, "the ECK should accept to take full responsibility of whatever happens as a result of their delay is announcing results that are already in the public domain and that barricading the KICC will not help matters."

ODM insiders have privately informed this blogger that 6 independent tallying centres commissioned by the party show that the ODM Presidential Candidate is enjoying a comfortable and unassailable lead against the incumbent Mwai Kibaki.

Meanwhile, parliamentary seats won by individual parties so far are as follows:

ODM: 91
PNU: 12
ODM-K: 12
KANU: 7
Safina: 3
Ford: 3
Narc: 3

More updates later. Over to you Chris.

Breaking News: Raila Reclaims Langata Seat

ODM's Raila Odinga is the MP-elect for Langata constituency and seemingly headed straight to the presidency of Kenya.

Results just announced at Nyayo Stadium by the Langata ECK Returning Officer shows that Raila garnered 59,416 votes against his closest challenger Mr. Stanley Livondo of PNU who garnered 23,919 votes. Ms Stella Mbai of ODM-K emerged a distant third with 1342 votes. A large crowd of mostly Raila's supporters, including this blogger and some members of the ODM presidential campaign team , have kept vigil at the Nyayo Stadium tallying centre for the last 24 hours. There is a strong contingent of the dreaded paramilitary GSU and regular police providing security for the ECK returning officer and the various party agents.

There was initial speculation locally and internationally that the ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga would lose the parliamentary seat and therefore be lawfully disqualified from assuming the presidency which requires that the president must first be elected as an MP.

Since the vote counting started last night, there has been anxiety considering that Raila is President Kibaki's leading challenger and that there has been allegations of massive voter importation into Langata principally to frustrate his presidential bid.

Presidential results as at 16h45 local time show that Raila is steadily widening the gap as media tallying show Raila at 2.9m against Kibaki's 1.9m, while Kalonzo is trailing a distant third with 279,000 votes.

Most ODM MP elect have already started arriving in Nairobi in readiness of what Pentagon member and Eldoret North MP-elect says is "the inauguration of our candidate as the 4th President of the Republic of Kenya."

This blogger has not yet declared Raila the overall winner of the presidential poll, but all indications are that ODM will not only have a majority in the next parliament, it will most likely also be forming the next government.

Meanwhile disturbing news emanating from Kisii say that former legislator Jimmy Angwenyi has shot dead one person and seriously injured two others in his rural constituency in post election violence. The results or despute, if any, are still unknown. More on this to follow.

Attempted Rigging Reported in Kamukunji and Kajiado North Constituencies

Chaos have erupted in Kamkunji constituency after several ballot boxes were delivered into the tallying centre by police officers. Turn-out was very high in Kamkunji and the race appeared to be between ODM and PNU - with the latter heavily tipped to win. The vote tallying has been suspend as the ECK consults on what to do next.

In Kajiado North, former Education Minister George Saitoti has had to run for dear life after voters stoned him and accused him of delivering "sealed empty ballot boxes" with the intention to swing the vote in his favour. Young Maasai moran have been pictured chanting war-cries and vehemently indicating that they will not accept rigged elections results. Saitoti has had to contend with fierce competition from preacher turned politician Moses Ole Sakuda. Vote counting and tallying has been suspended indefinitely.

Meanwhile other significant loses are: Kibwezi's Kalembe Ndile, Cherangany's Kipruto Arap Kirwa and Kikuyu's Paul Muite. A total of 14 cabinet ministers have suffered heavy loses in the election - dealing President Kibaki's re-election a serious dent. Read more here. ODM is commanding a lead in the parliamentary seats race - more than 40 legislators already confirmed as ODM MPs.