Continued from yesterday
What exactly is Kalonzo Musyoka up against in John Harun Mwau?
To answer that question, a close analysis of the man is necessary.
John Harun Mwau is probably the most high profile and controversial figure in Kenya today, who remains shadowy with very little known about his background and how he rose from humble beginnings to become one of the richest men in a country where more than half of its citizenry live below the poverty line.
Those who have attempted to investigate the billionaires' past have been met with threats from himself and aides who swiftly inform the inquisitive minds that his past is not important and they should dwell on the present and the future, or else…
According to scanty details which his insiders reveal is that Mwau was born about fifty years ago in Ruiru to a single Kikuyu woman who was so poor that she shared her humble one roomed tin shark with two goats and the young John Harun.
In his formative years, Mwau is said to have been aggressive and was always picking fights with his peers who made fun of him since he came from a single parent home and did not know who is father was.
This is said to have affected the young John so much that he swore he would one day leave the life of poverty and squalor and join the big league of the rich and famous.
It was also during this time that he realized that he had marksmanship skills as he felled several birds with a catapult, which had become his constant companion.
In his mid-20s, Mwau joined the police force as a constable and rose through the ranks swiftly mainly because of his shooting skills and was among the first Africans to participate in the commonwealth shooting competition.
It was also during this period that he traveled widely representing the country in numerous competitions abroad and managed to make several business contacts while others say he also got an opportunity to make acquaintances with underworld figures.
He managed to rise to the rank of chief inspector prior to being sacked from the police force for what was termed as gross insubordination as a result for refusing to shave his beard citing the flimsy reason that he had a skin condition that worsened with shaving.
It is said he then went low profile for about two years before he emerged as a major importer of electronics from the middle east and Europe and was also in the process of starting his own bank and other businesses which many believe are just fronts for his drug operation which is said to extend to Europe and Asia.
Today, Mwau is among the wealthiest Kenyans to the extent that he sometimes spends more than 10 million shillings in a day as he contributes to development projects of his choice, mainly in Ukambani.
A case in point was in 2002 when he attempted to contest the Kilome parliamentary seat in Ukambani where he spent millions daily for about a month of campaigns but due to his arrogant nature, lost by nearly 10,000 votes to Mutinda Mutiso who managed over 12,000 votes while Mwau settled for about 2,000.
It was the first time in Kenyas electioneering history where a candidate used satellite phones to communicate while helicopters hovered all over in a bid to impress the voters but the poverty stricken people of Kilome rejected the boss as he is popularly known as this days. Thanks mainly to the campaign activities of one Kalonzo Musyoka.
This incident proved that Kalonzo has clout in Ukambani constituencies that are miles away from his Mwingi home.
To Be Continued Tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Home Page Kumekucha Daily; January 9th 2007
Kumekucha Today
1. The Latest Kibaki Administration Crisis Caused By A Shoot From The Hip Directive.
1. The Latest Kibaki Administration Crisis Caused By A Shoot From The Hip Directive.
2. Who Will Be President Kibaki's Running Mate?
3. The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know And His Big Obstacle In His Own Back Yard.
4. Kumekucha Goes Daily.
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I hope you like the new format of this blog. I just decided that I should return with a new look.
Other Hot Stories;
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What A Peasant Farmer Thinks Of ODM, Raila And Elections 2007
Kalonzo Musyoka: What Does He Stand For? Who Is He Really?
Medical Emergencies And Visa Hitches For Old And New Corrupt Money
Ex-Mungiki, Ndura Waruinge: What You Don't Know About Election Violence In Kenya.
This Blog is dedicated to the memory of this man...
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Interview With Raila Odinga
The Four Most Important Provinces For A Winning Presidential Candidate
The Most Hotly Discussed Topic In This Blog: Kikwete Behaves Like The Kenyan Ambassador
Why The Daily Nation Is Such A Potent Political Weapon And The Mistake Kanu Made In 2002
Great Business Stories: Mandatally Manji's Business Secrets
Obama: A True Kenyan This Guy
Open Letter To America Voters Over Senator Obama
7 Things That Will Happen To Kenya If Kibaki Is Re-elected
So You Think You Need Money To Stand For MP: Poor Penniless Kenyans Who Won Elections
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More On Ben Gethi
What Was Jomo Kenyatta Really Like?
Witchcraft In Kenyan President's Office: Kalonzo Musyoka Named
The Amazing Kenyan Political Prophecy
The Day That Internal Minister Caused A Bank Crisis In Kenya: After first Kenyan woman police officer to die in the line of duty Elburgon saga
John Michuki directive triggers crisis
It all started with a daring ambush robbery of cash being transported to a bank somewhere in Elburgon last week that claimed the life of the first Kenyan woman police officer to die in the line of duty, as well as two male colleagues. Suddenly the good minister remembered that there were certain regulations in the transportation of money that have not been followed for a long time. His directives to the police concerning the transportation of cash has quickly culminated in a serious crisis.
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Michuki directed that all police officers escorting cash must henceforth wear bullet-proof vests. They must also travel in a separate car from the one transporting the cash. At first these appear to be reasonable requests. After all even as you read this, there are 3 grieving families making arrangements to bury their dead. But was this the right way to handle this situation? Apparently not, because the government does not have bullet proof vests in the necessary quantities to fulfill the wishes of the minister. So that cost as well as the cost f the extra chase cars falls back on the clients transporting the cash, which is in this case banks.
The aftermath is that virtually all armed escorts of cash in the country has ground to a halt. That means that there is a serious accumulation of cash at most banks, which in itself is a serious security risk that puts even more Kenyan lives in danger. Yesterday and this morning, top government officials were locked in meetings trying to resolve the self-created crisis.
Here is how an efficient modern government would have handled the situation. The minister should have quietly called a meeting with stakeholders and discussed how best to reduce the risks of transporting cash. Whatever directives would have been issued after that should have been implemented quietly with absolutely no press coverage. This has the huge advantage of taking any would-be highway robbers by surprise. Surprise is one of the most valuable and effective security weapons that anybody can have on their side.
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Michuki directed that all police officers escorting cash must henceforth wear bullet-proof vests. They must also travel in a separate car from the one transporting the cash. At first these appear to be reasonable requests. After all even as you read this, there are 3 grieving families making arrangements to bury their dead. But was this the right way to handle this situation? Apparently not, because the government does not have bullet proof vests in the necessary quantities to fulfill the wishes of the minister. So that cost as well as the cost f the extra chase cars falls back on the clients transporting the cash, which is in this case banks.
The aftermath is that virtually all armed escorts of cash in the country has ground to a halt. That means that there is a serious accumulation of cash at most banks, which in itself is a serious security risk that puts even more Kenyan lives in danger. Yesterday and this morning, top government officials were locked in meetings trying to resolve the self-created crisis.
Here is how an efficient modern government would have handled the situation. The minister should have quietly called a meeting with stakeholders and discussed how best to reduce the risks of transporting cash. Whatever directives would have been issued after that should have been implemented quietly with absolutely no press coverage. This has the huge advantage of taking any would-be highway robbers by surprise. Surprise is one of the most valuable and effective security weapons that anybody can have on their side.
----
----
As it is now, every thug and would-be thug is receiving all the information they need for future operations first-hand and easily through the media.
The whole saga has made the internal security ministry and this government a laughing stock in security circles. By the way although bulletproof vests save lives in this case the impact would be minimal because most robberies put the thugs at close range with the guards and police escorts, which means that they can easily aim their guns at the heads of the security personnel. So apart from vests, the minister should also think of providing the officers with bulletproof helmets. And while we are at it, we might just as well supply bulletproof vests to all motorists, especially those driving in Nairobi on Fridays (the day reputed to have the highest carjackings).
Despite the good intentions, the handling of this situation has proved beyond any doubt that we have an internal security minister who does not have a full grasp of the issues let alone how security matters should be handled. Why did he just not delegate things to police commissioner Brigadier Ali?
Oh, I forgot. The last time I checked, the minister was calling a press conference to prove to the press that they are on talking terms with the police commissioner. Nobody swallowed that one.
This crisis should be solved easily in the next day or so, but what about the inevitable ones that will follow in the next 11 months?
How Kibaki and Michuki planned and executed the Standard raid at State House (Kumekucha Exclusive)
Michuki's lethal shots wraps Kibaki in fraud
Dark faces behind secret No campaign by Yes camp
More about John Michuki's death
As it is now, every thug and would-be thug is receiving all the information they need for future operations first-hand and easily through the media.
The whole saga has made the internal security ministry and this government a laughing stock in security circles. By the way although bulletproof vests save lives in this case the impact would be minimal because most robberies put the thugs at close range with the guards and police escorts, which means that they can easily aim their guns at the heads of the security personnel. So apart from vests, the minister should also think of providing the officers with bulletproof helmets. And while we are at it, we might just as well supply bulletproof vests to all motorists, especially those driving in Nairobi on Fridays (the day reputed to have the highest carjackings).
Despite the good intentions, the handling of this situation has proved beyond any doubt that we have an internal security minister who does not have a full grasp of the issues let alone how security matters should be handled. Why did he just not delegate things to police commissioner Brigadier Ali?
Oh, I forgot. The last time I checked, the minister was calling a press conference to prove to the press that they are on talking terms with the police commissioner. Nobody swallowed that one.
This crisis should be solved easily in the next day or so, but what about the inevitable ones that will follow in the next 11 months?
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Most controversial past articles on John Michuki published in Kumekucha blog;
How Kibaki and Michuki planned and executed the Standard raid at State House (Kumekucha Exclusive)
Michuki's lethal shots wraps Kibaki in fraud
Dark faces behind secret No campaign by Yes camp
More about John Michuki's death
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