I am a student of Kenyan history and also a keen student of world politics.
One of the most fascinating presidential elections ever was the 2004 American presidential race between incumbent George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry. No other presidential election has been so fiercely contested right down to door-to-door campaigns. If there ever was a candidate who had been handed over the American presidency on a silver platter, then it was John Kerry. But he blew it… he actually managed to lose.
Why?
I'm sure you've read about many reasons why George W. is still in the White House today, but one writer hit the nail on the head when he said the main reason was that the American public had their doubts about Kerry. They didn't trust him because they didn't quite know who he was. What did he really stand for? He had shifted his position on various major issues so many times that he had left Americans dizzy. In sharp contrast George Bush junior was no fence seater. He had very clear views and positions on every issue. Like him or hate him, he courageously stood for what he believed. And that is the main reason why he is in State House today.
One Kenyan presidential candidate by the name of Kalonzo Musyoka should take very careful note of this fact.
For somebody who has been in politics for so long, he should be keenly aware of the fact that winning the presidency is not about a clever campaign (like promising Kenyans free secondary school education, knowing that this was the one thing that would positively touch virtually every single Kenyan voter, especially because so many have failed to go to secondary school for lack of fees). Neither is it about cutting a new image (joining a street demonstration for the first time ever in his political career. Kalonzo has always avoided confrontation of any kind at all costs).
But what does a Kalonzo presidency have to offer to Kenyans… seriously?
It was reported in the Sunday Nation earlier this year that Hon Musyoka has been doing some very serious but quiet-behind-the-scenes campaigning in Rift Valley. His message? He promised to protect the Kalenjin community, if they supported him for the presidency. From what, they asked him? He probably meant sins of the past. But here he misjudged something. The "sins" he was referring to were committed by individuals. He also failed to realize that within the Kalenjin community, there are many who were very dissatisfied with Moi's tenure and felt that they did not benefit from it at all, but actually suffered greatly because of it.
Kalonzo also remains very close to former president Daniel arap Moi who has refused to let go of politics for obvious reasons.
My honest conclusion? In a Kalonzo presidency we can only expect more of the same. Where president Kibaki has been a fence-seater, President Kalonzo will be even more so.
Right now we need the opposite of Musyoka to sort out our problems. We need a president who can confront major issues without fear. A decisive decision-maker. We need new ideas, not old Kanu re-cycled tired strategy, which is the only thing we can expect from Musyoka.
But what would be even more frightening to Kenyans about a Kalonzo presidency would be the unknown component. Somewhere along the way his true colors would have to emerge. Personally I would rather have a candidate like Nicholas Biwott for the presidency because we would know exactly what to expect (i.e. I would head for the nearest border immediately his victory was announced).
Several polls by Steadmann (until recently) named Musyoka as the most popular opposition candidate and the man with the biggest chance of unseating President Kibaki. It is still a mystery to this blogger how this can be so when some simple tribal arithmetic will tell you different (as I pointed out in an earlier post some weeks back).
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Medical Emergencies And Visa Hitches For Old And New Corrupt Money
Nicholas Biwott, Chris Murungaru and all the other people who have been banned from entering Britain and the United States because of how they have acquired their vast wealth have been trying to pretend that it is no big deal. But last week Kenyans were able to see how big a deal it can actually be. Especially in a medical emergency.
Former President Daniel Arap Moi needed surgery and wanted to travel to Britain to have it done by a leading world expert. His travel plans ran into a hitch because he could not get a visa for his personal assistant for many years, Joshua Kulei, to travel with him. A visa for his favorite son, Gideon (MP for Baringo Central) also proved to be very dodgy (to use a little British English). The former President was forced to have his operation in Germany instead. His London based doctor was forced to travel to Germany to attend to his patient (the invoice must have been horrific to say the least).
Now supposing some medical emergency crops up involving one Chris Murungaru or Nicholas Biwott for that matter? It became clear this week that even if certain individuals were on the verge of death, getting even an airline ticket to fly into Britain or the United States would be impossible.
This should be good news for the long-suffering Kenyan public. It means that despite everything, the noose is tightening slowly but surely around the chubby necks of those who chose to rob Kenya blind, and one day soon the old English saying will be proved accurate yet again; what goes round comes around.
Former President Daniel Arap Moi needed surgery and wanted to travel to Britain to have it done by a leading world expert. His travel plans ran into a hitch because he could not get a visa for his personal assistant for many years, Joshua Kulei, to travel with him. A visa for his favorite son, Gideon (MP for Baringo Central) also proved to be very dodgy (to use a little British English). The former President was forced to have his operation in Germany instead. His London based doctor was forced to travel to Germany to attend to his patient (the invoice must have been horrific to say the least).
Now supposing some medical emergency crops up involving one Chris Murungaru or Nicholas Biwott for that matter? It became clear this week that even if certain individuals were on the verge of death, getting even an airline ticket to fly into Britain or the United States would be impossible.
This should be good news for the long-suffering Kenyan public. It means that despite everything, the noose is tightening slowly but surely around the chubby necks of those who chose to rob Kenya blind, and one day soon the old English saying will be proved accurate yet again; what goes round comes around.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
What Moi’s Lawyer Said About Sensational Ouko Statehouse Sex Scandal Book
One thing about Marianne Briner’s book, which I am currently serializing to my email list (subscribe now by sending a blank email to KUMEKUCHA-SUBSCRIBE@YAHOOGROUPS.COM) is that it does not pull any punches and the author even goes on to describe her love relationship with Moi in great detail. This did not amuse former President Moi’s lawyers. Below we reproduce the correspondence between Moi’s lawyers and Marianne.
Marianne poses the question, If Mutula Kilonzo is still the former President’s lawyer, what is he doing in ODM? Is he a mole?
Good question, maybe some readers of this blog may want to volunteer an answer.
Marianne says;
Attached is the letter which Mutula Kilonzo has first written to me and then also attached to an email sent to my co-author Sam Okello. You can publish it. Sam had already given it also to Mambogani for publication which they did.
I would put the question if he is still Moi's lawyer now that he has joined ODM - if yes, then he is a mole in the whole movement. That's my opinion, of course.
Regards,
Marianne
Mr. Sam Okello
Dear Sir
RE: A SHINING STAR IN DARKNESS
Refer your e-mail of 11th May 2006. Neither my client nor ourselves as a law firm have any problem with fiction. However, the material contained in the purported manuscript is not only defamatory, it is defamation itself relative to our client. A copy of our e-mail to Marianne Briner of 12th April 2006 is attached* herewith for ease of reference. If you attempt to formally publish the said purported manuscript in any way in the present form be prepared to face the consequences of a law suit of monumental proportions wherever you publish it, sell it, distribute it, wherever you live, wherever you work, wheresoever.
We have no instructions to engage in any further correspondence over the matter and any further communication from you or Briner will be ignored until or unless the purported manuscript takes another form. For the time being and on the basis of the contents of the e-mail from Briner and yourself publication has already taken place, of which you take equal responsibility with her all rights of our client fully reserved in every respect.
Yours faithfully
For: KILONZO & COMPANY
MUTULA KILONZO EBS,SC
Cc: Client
/sm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12th April 2006
Ms. Marianne Briner
By E-mail
Dear Madam
RE: A SHINING STAR IN DARKNESS : A NOVEL BASED ON TRUE-LIFE STORY: BY MARIANNE BRINER – SAM OKELLO
Having received a copy of the above publication (for purposes of the law on libel, publication has already taken place), we are instructed to state to you as hereunder: -
1. The fact that the material is defamatory is self evident.
2. It is easy for any Kenyan or international reader to identify “Mzee” in the publication with our client. As such the publication passes the identity hurdle of libel law.
3. That the allegations regarding our client in the publication are malicious is hardly an issue for debate.
4. The contradictions between the story you told the world during the Parliamentary Select Committee on the late Minister Ouko’s death and the story told by Mari in this malicious publication require no repetition. As author you bear responsibility in every regard.
5. The contradictory and malicious conclusions Mari makes in the publication regarding the purported reason for the killing of the late Minister Ouko and your testimony in the said Committee require no great elaboration.
6. I am sure that even a person like you can see the smelly and defamatory difference between the “corruption” forming the foundation of your testimony before the said Committee and the alleged “Ugandan girls” at page 353 (headed “Epilogue”) of the publication.
7. The attempt by Mari to malign not only our client but also his entire family in the publication is false, malicious and despicable.
Please take notice that if you dare to formally publish this purported novel anywhere in the world, even in the moon, you will attract a law suit of Tsunami proportions. You will be sued (not only in Kenya but also in the country you live and/or publish the purported novel) together with “Sam Okello”, the publisher, the printer, the seller and anyone else involved in the defamation. You will incur legal expenses of astronomical proportions after which the damages payable to our client will require your settlement.
In view of your tendency to twist words to suit your scheming please note that the above is both a law suit threat and also a statement of fact.
For the avoidance of doubt we will not engage in further correspondence with you except to file suit when you make your move.
Yours faithfully
For: KILONZO & COMPANY
MUTULA KILONZO EBS,SC
/sm
Kumekucha's Exclusive Interview With Marianne Briner
Marianne poses the question, If Mutula Kilonzo is still the former President’s lawyer, what is he doing in ODM? Is he a mole?
Good question, maybe some readers of this blog may want to volunteer an answer.
Marianne says;
Attached is the letter which Mutula Kilonzo has first written to me and then also attached to an email sent to my co-author Sam Okello. You can publish it. Sam had already given it also to Mambogani for publication which they did.
I would put the question if he is still Moi's lawyer now that he has joined ODM - if yes, then he is a mole in the whole movement. That's my opinion, of course.
Regards,
Marianne
Mr. Sam Okello
Dear Sir
RE: A SHINING STAR IN DARKNESS
Refer your e-mail of 11th May 2006. Neither my client nor ourselves as a law firm have any problem with fiction. However, the material contained in the purported manuscript is not only defamatory, it is defamation itself relative to our client. A copy of our e-mail to Marianne Briner of 12th April 2006 is attached* herewith for ease of reference. If you attempt to formally publish the said purported manuscript in any way in the present form be prepared to face the consequences of a law suit of monumental proportions wherever you publish it, sell it, distribute it, wherever you live, wherever you work, wheresoever.
We have no instructions to engage in any further correspondence over the matter and any further communication from you or Briner will be ignored until or unless the purported manuscript takes another form. For the time being and on the basis of the contents of the e-mail from Briner and yourself publication has already taken place, of which you take equal responsibility with her all rights of our client fully reserved in every respect.
Yours faithfully
For: KILONZO & COMPANY
MUTULA KILONZO EBS,SC
Cc: Client
/sm
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12th April 2006
Ms. Marianne Briner
By E-mail
Dear Madam
RE: A SHINING STAR IN DARKNESS : A NOVEL BASED ON TRUE-LIFE STORY: BY MARIANNE BRINER – SAM OKELLO
Having received a copy of the above publication (for purposes of the law on libel, publication has already taken place), we are instructed to state to you as hereunder: -
1. The fact that the material is defamatory is self evident.
2. It is easy for any Kenyan or international reader to identify “Mzee” in the publication with our client. As such the publication passes the identity hurdle of libel law.
3. That the allegations regarding our client in the publication are malicious is hardly an issue for debate.
4. The contradictions between the story you told the world during the Parliamentary Select Committee on the late Minister Ouko’s death and the story told by Mari in this malicious publication require no repetition. As author you bear responsibility in every regard.
5. The contradictory and malicious conclusions Mari makes in the publication regarding the purported reason for the killing of the late Minister Ouko and your testimony in the said Committee require no great elaboration.
6. I am sure that even a person like you can see the smelly and defamatory difference between the “corruption” forming the foundation of your testimony before the said Committee and the alleged “Ugandan girls” at page 353 (headed “Epilogue”) of the publication.
7. The attempt by Mari to malign not only our client but also his entire family in the publication is false, malicious and despicable.
Please take notice that if you dare to formally publish this purported novel anywhere in the world, even in the moon, you will attract a law suit of Tsunami proportions. You will be sued (not only in Kenya but also in the country you live and/or publish the purported novel) together with “Sam Okello”, the publisher, the printer, the seller and anyone else involved in the defamation. You will incur legal expenses of astronomical proportions after which the damages payable to our client will require your settlement.
In view of your tendency to twist words to suit your scheming please note that the above is both a law suit threat and also a statement of fact.
For the avoidance of doubt we will not engage in further correspondence with you except to file suit when you make your move.
Yours faithfully
For: KILONZO & COMPANY
MUTULA KILONZO EBS,SC
/sm
Kumekucha's Exclusive Interview With Marianne Briner
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