It is said that in Kenya, money can buy you anything. That is why the people in Kenyan jails are mostly the innocent, fools and those who were a little short of cash to buy their freedom.
The situation in Nairobi's Eastleigh estate seems to confirm this popular belief. For all intents and purposes the sprawling estate, not far from Nairobi City Centre is a part of Somalia on Kenyan soil. To start with a vast number of the Somalian nationals living there are in the country illegally. Yet they engage in business (mostly the matatu business and trading in smuggled clothes and electronics) and enjoy the privileges that any Kenyan national would enjoy.
You can purchase an automatic weapon easily here and even obtain an American or British passport that will get you through most immigration departments in the world. It is instructive that policemen fear to tread in Eastleigh and when they have to will usually turn up in large groups and while very heavily armed (even when they are in plain clothes.)
Eastleigh-Somalia, as I would call it, happened because the Somalians have cash and they simply bribed their way into the heart of Kenya. There are those who argue that Somalians have greatly benefited the Kenyan economy. I disagree. They have actually caused more harm than good. To start with they do not pay taxes, not even VAT. Then they have caused serious new problems. For instance Eastleigh alone has cost Telekom Kenya huge losses over the years. A couple of years back, a popular business carried out by Somalians in Eastliegh was to apply for numerous Telkom land lines. The usual deposits would be paid and immediately the line was installed, it would get terribly busy making international calls worldwide. Owners of the lines would charge their clients a fraction of what Telkom Kenya charges. So how would they make a profit, I hear you ask? Simple. They would abandon the line with its' colossal pending bill the minute it was disconnected and apply for fresh new lines under different names. Naturally palms at Telkom would remain "well oiled" so that by the time the scum came into light the local telephone company had lost millions of shillings. That is just one example.
Because the Moi administration was not able to deal with the problem as it commenced, today, "cleaning up" Eastleigh would be a mammoth operation that is probably no longer viable. So Kenyans are forced to learn to live with this deadly menace. Guns from Eastliegh continue to claim Kenyan lives and maim others for life every day and now with the worsening crisis in Somalia we are actually sitting on a time bomb right in our own backyard. The recent case where policemen were stopped from entering a hotel in Eastliegh to carry out a search is a case in point and very worrying indeed.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
The Kalonzo Musyoka You Don't Know Part II
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.
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.
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.
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Kalonzo Musyoka: What Does He Stand For? Who Is He Really?
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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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The Four Most Important Provinces For A Winning Presidential Candidate
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Obama: A True Kenyan This Guy
Open Letter To America Voters Over Senator Obama
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Famous Books By Famous Kenyans
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