Tuesday, January 23, 2007

No Reforms No Elections: What Year Are We In? 1997 Or 2007?

History seems to be repeating itself in Kenya as opposition leaders once again sing in unison that they will not go to the polls until the government initiates some minimum reforms to level 'the playing field' ahead of the December elections.

In the frontline for the reforms are non other than erstwhile presidential aspirants Raila Odinga and Uhuru Kenyatta who have called on Kenyans to go to the streets if the government refuses to carry out crucial reforms ahead of the polls.

The signs are already there that Kibaki's men have panicked as a result of the enormous support enjoyed by ODM-Kenya and if the past events are anything to go by, Kibaki might go down in the history books as the first Kenyan president to serve only one term.

It is a bit too far fetched to expect Kibaki's administration to initiate any meaningful reforms considering that the promise of delivering a new constitution within 100 days in power has never been achieved even 1,460 days down the line.

Though the justice and constitution minister Martha Karua seems to have softened her hardline stand towards the issue of the constitution, it is evident that this is only part of an elaborate political game, since the time left before the elections is too little to initiate any changes which is an advantage to the ruling elite.

President Kibaki will play the double role of being a competitor as well as the referee in a game that the opposition is poised for a smooth victory as long as they remain united against Kibaki's tribalistic government that has disillusioned millions of unemployed youth who constitute majority of the voters. A government that has lost the goodwill of the people virtually overnight.

The recent move by the president to go ahead and appoint electoral commissioners without consulting the other political parties speaks volumes on how the incumbent will use the powers vested upon him in the constitution to ensure he wins the elections at all costs.

However, former president Moi tried to do the same with Uhuru Kenyatta by giving him an upper hand by instructing the provincial administration and civil service to campaign for him but the forces against Kanu were so overwhelming that those entrusted to campaign for the ruling party were sucked in by the opposition wave.

Majority of Kenyans only know too well that even if Kibaki refuses to level the playing field by allowing for minimal reforms, this will not only make him lose a substantial amount of votes, but will also ensure that his defeat will be resounding.

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How To Make A Quick Tax-Free Million In 2007: Brief Case Political Party Business Idea

No Kenyan had ever heard of a party known as RAP-K (Republican Alliance Party of Kenya) before the controversy that followed the announcement of Pastor Pius Muiru's political ambitions.

Party officials have since said that the famous evangelist is not the party's presidential candidate and neither have they reached a decision on who their presidential candidate will be in the forthcoming general elections.

One of the top RAP-K is very well known to this writer as an ambitious small business entrepreneur. Knowing him the way I do, it is clear that the pastor's announcement is very premature and too early in the game to meet the objectives of RAP-K or any other brief case political parties.

Indeed there are numerous brief case political parties out there and more are being registered every week. Yet for many of these parties, political office is not the main objective. The whole idea is to make some quick tax-free funds.

With this in mind, it does not make sense to announce the party's presidential candidate this early in the game. That would be absolutely ridiculous when this is potentially the biggest cash generator on the shelves. Brief case parties usually cash in most during party nominations but even more after party nominations of major political parties. Aggrieved parties who will have lost those elections will usually go out hunting for another party und which to stand for elections. Quite often a brief case party will have more than one person interested in the party nomination and I therefore becomes a question of willing buyer, willing seller.

You can guess the kind of money we are talking about for a desperate presidential hopeful who has missed the boat with their first choice party, but still want to go ahead and stand for president. They can pay anything, even millions of shillings.

In the event that this business idea is new to you, remember it is not too late to get a political party registered.

One word of caution though. Part of the reforms that the opposition are pushing to be passed before the elections is an amendment allowing for independent candidates. If they succeed against this rather stubborn administration and that becomes law before the next general elections, then this lucrative business idea will disintegrate overnight.

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Why John Githongo Must Stand For President

One of the things that Kenyans should look for in their next president is a man who can selflessly fight corruption with a vengeance, even at the risk of losing their own lives. Yep, this corruption thing is just not going to be uprooted so easily. Yet getting rid of corruption, or reducing it, is a topmost priority for the nation at the moment.

One Kenyan who has already displayed this quality and shows no signs of letting up any time soon is former ethics PS John Githongo.

Once again we appeal to him (we know he reads this blog regularly) to consider standing for the highest office in the land. Thee are those analysts who would be quick to point out that he is the wrong tribe. But that would be beside the point. By declaring his interest in the highest office in the land, Githongo can attract a lot of international attention to the Kenyan elections, which would be invaluable considering the games we are already seeing being put into motion.

Kenya needs you to stand for President, John.

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