The Soaring Heat in Premier League

As the English Premier Leagues takes a two-week break for international fixtures a reflection of the action so far reveals mixed fortunes for both clubs and teams. The biggest absentee in during this break is of course ‘the special one, Jose Mourinho.

Like him hate him Jose brought a unique character to the game of football. His catchy quips always whetted the appetite of the English press. The impact of Jose’s absence at the Stamford Bridge is loud and the lack of spark and thrill is all traceable to this. Chelsea nose-diving performance has opened wide the doors to the mythical top four in the table standings. Terry’s cheek fracture only helped compound a bad situation.

Arsenal is the new kids on the block. The Gunners are surely harvesting the positive effects from selling their domineering ex-captain Thiery Henry. You cannot take away the fact that Henry was a refined striker. But the fallacy that a club perishes with one player starts from that disillusion. The demise of Henry’s shadow has let Fabregas and Van Persie to showcase brilliant football that has anchored Arsenal at the top of the table, a feat they have not achieved in a couple of years.

But the Gunners must count of luck and smile form their gods for a relatively ‘easy’ start to the season. Starting next month the young side will either prove pundits wrong or will simply sink when they meet Manchester United and Liverpool in successive weeks. With the defending champions breathing fire immediately behind them with a two points’ difference they Arsene Wenger’s lads have all the reasons to worry.

Over to Anfield, the honeymoon seems to disappear as fast as the vows were pronounced. The brilliant start of the season for Rafa’s men appears to desert them so fast. Is the ‘magical’ Torres perishable? The Reds need time to gel and Rafa’s limitless tinkering with his first XI under the facade of optimal rotation may be his undoing.

Resumption of action next weekend promises some thrillers as the league enter a defining moment. By December the surprise package in Manchester City lying in position three shall have stamped their presence and authority or dissipated as fast as Sven arrived in the North West.

In the meantime, whether Jose weaved himself into Chelsea’s middle name only time will tell. Roman Abrahamovich may be paying the piper but must he call the unpleasant tune? You cannot buy a legacy or history, or can you?

The top 5 most popular articles on Kumekucha between 7 and 8 pm today (Kenyan time).

Kalonzo Paints Nairobi Orange

Grass in the historic Uhuru Park will need a long spell of irrigation to recuperate from the stampede it has suffered the last two weekends. Kalonzo's of his presidential bid saw a mammoth that appear to have even surprised him and his confidants thus his divine intonation.

The 'clean' speeches at Kalonzo's rally leaves PNU with both eggs and tomatoes gracing eggs of its leaders. A part from 'civilized' jibes at his opponents brother Musyoka kept fidelity with the narrow and discussed policies with scanty concentration on personalities. And that is the way to go in nurturing an infant democracy like ours.

But the bonanza was not devoid of sparks. It saw nominated MP Esther Keino making her 'debut' speech in five years. The weight in her 90 seconds speech lies in its symbolism rather than substance. At least she had the forum to claim a stake in Belgut seat. One is left wondering whether she has finally unzipped her upper lips as a prerequisite for politicking. We can only wish her all the best.

Flora Tera also caused her verbal terror in declaring herself the acting MP for Imenti North. And with that she added the gender feather and flare to symbolism. Regardless of the magnitude of these two catches for Kalonzo, they are pricey all the same.

The huge attendance at Kalonzo's launch may be considered a harbinger of good luck. It may be the icing on the political competition cake Kenyans have been yearning for. I have no evidence that the number in attendance were manipulated but if the crowd were to translate into proportionate votes then you only ignore the MP for Mwingi North at your own political peril.

Bahari MP Joe Hamisi was so carried away to an extent of claiming that a million Kenyans were in attendance. Not to be left behind in the excitement was Mutula Kilonzo who chided Steadman to come and count so as to disabuse itself of the 8% ranking on their boss.

Generally yesterday's rally was a great success that may be a pointer of the gruelling battle for State House. None of the candidates is leaving anything to chance lest they slip irreparably. Even if that means temporarily transforming a rally into a religious crusade. The art of spicing speeches with religious overtones can actually work political 'miracles'. Steve knows his strength and why not particularly on a Sunday? And the race begin in earnest.

May the best candidate win devoid of cheating and God bless Kenya

Dealing with problems: where do you fall?

Different people have different ways of dealing with problems and difficulties. Some of the means and ways are politic and advisable while others are no-brainers.

Check what you would do…

a). Are you one who would opt to fill the cracks instead of finding out why there are cracks (to avert something even more sinister from seeing the light of day)?

b). Are you one who would paint the cracks to make them 'invisible'?

c). Are you one who would dig up the sides of the foundation to find out why the building is shaky?

d). Are you one who would literally demolish the building, the cost of the building notwithstanding, to build a more stable one in its place?

e). Are you one who would run after lizards that crawl out of the cracks, instead of paying attention to many a cranny threatening the stability of your building?

f). Are you one who would sit by, arms folded and watch as the building crumbles in one big heap?

g). Are you one who would exhibit the ostrich syndrome. That is, hide your head in the sand and think that because you cannot see the enemy (read problem) then he is non-existent?
Talk of denying and circumventing nitty-gritty!

Mon Fils, Prend-Le Doucement: (Le SIDA Est Un Rodeur Rapace)

This is the French version of my poem: My Son, Take it Slow: Aids is a Rapacious Prowler.
A certain lady in Ivory Coast, Betty Mande, after reading it, and having been touched to the core by the advice that the old lady in the poem gives to her grandson, decided to contact me. She asked for permission to translate it to French so that French speaking peoples in Africa (and the world over) could be reached by the “urgent” message (as she put it). I readily agreed.
Read the English Version Here.

Mon fils, je suis maintenant une vieille femme,
Je sens mes ancêtres me faire signe,
Mon coeur est penché et peureux !
Mon corps : vieux et fragile.

Dans les années, j’ai été au tour,
J’ai beaucoup appris concernant le monde,
Je sens le temps est prêt,
Pour partager avec vous mon arsenal.

Dans les mois recents, j’ étais entrain de vous regarder,
Vous regardant ardemment, regardant avec des yeux de tristesse,
Mes yeux n’avaient pas sommeillé dans ma veille,
Ma garde n’avait pas fondu en sentinelle.

Mon fils, j’ai peur de ce que je vois,
J’ai peur de ce que je rêve,
J’ai peur de ce que je vois dans tes yeux,
J’ai peur de ton ardeur et de ton courage.

Mon fils, j’ai peur,
Le plus je pense à ce que tu fais,
Le plus, je suis vieux que mon âge,
Le plus, le peuple commente sur ma vieillesse.

Ceux-ci sont les jours noirs, mon fils,
Jours où ton grand-pére et moi n’avaient jamais rêvé,
Jours comblés par l’obscurité,
Jours dont constament j’essaie de souhaiter loin.

Mon fils, ne t’ ennuie pas, tiens bon,
Je ne suis pas arrogant, sois-en sûr,
Ecoute-moi cette fois,
Ecoute l’ hésitation dans ma voix.

Ceci est le troisième mois depuis que j’ ai commencé ma vigile,
Mon fils, je vois les differentes dames à tes côtés chapue jour passant,
Les dames fabuleusement batues,
Dames au monde renversé te tiennent compagnie.

On t’appelle, ‘Monsieur Boss, l’ homme en mouvement’,
Merci aux énumerables partenaires sexuels que tu detiens,
Ceci est foux, mon fils,
Ça s’appelle sale injustice et malgloire.

Mon fils, veuxe-tu me voir aller à la tombe précossement ?
Veux-tu me laisser parler moi-même jusqu’ à la voix rauque ?
Veux-tu me laisser mouiller mon oreiller de larmes pendant des heures ?
Veux-tu que je te voies tomber comme de pierres à la carrière ?

Quand le SID A te souris, mon fils,
Il n’ y aura pas un retour en arrière,
Ça te mangera et te rongera jusqu’ à la moelle,
Ça te tournera de l’ exterieur – s’il te plait, épargne-moi de douleurs !

Je ne veux pas imaginer (mais c’est une part de maux nocturnes que je ne peux éviter),
Le plus élancé, beau garçon que je connais,
Reduisant à une regretable sculpture,
Une sculpture aux plaies, furoncles et cheveux tombant...

Mon fils, le SIDA est réel,
Ça rode le voisinage avec vengeance,
De grâce, assieds-toi et repense à ta conduite,
Une HIV libre génération commence par toi, mon fils

ODM Lineup Made on Earth or Hell?

Fact or fiction? Old or new? Are these signs of things to come? Product of fear or reflection of reality?

Finance Minister Kimunya Threatens Kenyan Voters

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya dropped a bombshell at the JKIA airport yesterday on his return from London.

He says that the Nairobi stock exchange has had a major downturn just at the prospect of an ODM government and that all gains made so far will be lost if Kenyans dare to vote in an ODM government.

He implied that businessmen are generally piing on themselves imagining Raila Odinga as President.

He went on to add that if ODM came to power the effect on the public would be massive unemployment as major investors are bound to pull out en masse.

Wiow!!!

Where does this guy live? The unemployment situation in Kenya can not get any worse than it is now, so what massive unemployment is the Minister (who known for his shifty eyes) talking about?

Now this was a very serious statement coming from a whole Finance Minister in the government of the republic of Kenya.

To start with the Mr Kimunya is trying to make a propaganda attack that is carefully aimed “under the belt” at the PNU’s main challenger look like an official statement. Never mind that numerous entrepreneurs can’t wait to see the end of the Kibaki administration.

The Electoral Commission should prevail on Bwana Kimunya to apologize to ODM for such a lousy remark.

But the funniest side of it all is that the statement will have virtually zero effect on most of the electorate. The people of Kenya are fed up and want change and many of them as so down and out that they do not feel at all threatened by Mr Kimunya’s threats.


Is Mukhisa Kituyi about to defect to ODM?

Perfect Image: Ignore the Head, Address the Heart

What a dramatic turn to Kenyan politics? President Kibaki has finally rediscovered the REAL politician in him and become hands on leader. Gone are the days of being aloof and mouthing platitudes that only address the head as his opponent appeals to the heart.

Who would have imagined that Kibaki would take the populist approach of spotting a white kanzu and vez to boot in celebrating Idd-Ul Fitr? Kibaki has surprised many with his new vibrant campaign style. Sample this: Emilio takes lengthy walks when he campaigned in Mombasa, Eldoret and lately in Kajiado. More surprise when the President even joined women dancers in Ngong for a jig last Thursday. Reminds me of them Moi's days of Tawala Kenya Tawala and Mongare's imitation of Baba Giddi.

Well, the battle for State House has taken a colourful shape and nothing is left to chance. Now the media has become everybody's punching bag. Poor Kenyan press! The opinion polls that were previously scientific have all over a sudden become fabrications. Trust scoundrels to manufacture excuses and even create enemies in an exclusive zone patronized by saints. One thing is for sure: the 2007 elections promises to be an action-packed season albeit premised on the wrong pillars and bereft of policies.

Most Vulnerable when Invincible
No incumbent wants to share in the ignominy of being unceremoniously booted out of office. Emilio will not take the present political development lying low. He will definitely go down fighting as evident in mama Lucy learning political ropes fast in old age. She must be envious of one Mary Wambui Wa Mwai.

Kenya's 2007 polls may be ODM's to lose and that may be a cheaper feat to realize than winning. All odds are heavily stack against them and a single slip would see them kissing the proverbial political dust. One would only hope that they remain alive to the fact that the vultures and undecided voters are anxiously waiting for that fall to accelerate it. The adage that you are most vulnerable when you fell invincible couldn't be more apt.

Numbers don't lie and to blame the press for falling political rating is akin to shadow boxing. Address the message instead of wasting time in baying for the messenger's blood. Steadman's unpalatable findings have been confirmed buy other credible polls with the difference being the error of margin.

Fighting science is to engage in self-deception as your ship sinks and instead of mending holes you let your opponent sail a shore without sweat. Even Sunday Nation had to reluctantly confirm Steadman's findings even if mutely. Nonetheless the race is gaining momentum and the faint hearted will definitely give up midstream. Na bado.

Is The Sunday Nation Brave Enough?

Late Extra/Breaking News

Just as I was making my posts for today, word reached me that the PNU crowd have rubbished the latest Steadmann polls and labeled them a fabrication.

Impeccable sources tell me that the Nation polls from no less than 3 independent pollsters generally agree with the Steadman figures.

Now because of the mounting pressure from the government on this rather sensitive issue, one of 3 things could happen when you pick up your Sunday newspaper tomorrow morning.

1) The figures will be published as they were (when my source saw them)
2) Somebody may choose to alter (doctor) the figures to throw cold water on the Steadmann survey
3) The polls could fail to be published altogether

Gentlemen this late in the game the stakes are extremely high and anything can happen.

So let’s see what happens.

Is Mukhisa Kituyi About To Defect To ODM?

What would you think if you were told that a certain politicians’ allies (virtually the whole lot) have already defected to a certain party but that the senior politician in question (no less than a cabinet minister) in fact seems to be hesitant and undecided.

Seasoned analysts would tell you that it is only a matter of time before that politician joins his allies at the said political party.



Dr Mukisa Kituyi and his wife Ling Kituyi.

Trade and Industry Minister Mukhisa Kituyi who is also the member of parliament for Kimilili constituency in Bungoma district has watched as his close allies have all trooped into ODM. Meanwhile Kituyi (who was just the other day, the powerful chairman of Narc Kenya, defected to Soita Shitanda’s New Ford Kenya. Could this be a strategic move and a stepping stone to joining ODM? For weeks there have been whispers in the expansive Bukusuland that Hon Shitanda was headed for ODM with his entire splinter political party. But so far they have remained just rumours.

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53% Odinga Hugs 8% Kalonzo

Amazingly there has been plenty of excitement caused by Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka hugging yesterday at Wundanyi as they met at the requiem mass of former MP of the area Dairus Mbela.

The two politicians only weeks ago fought bitterly over the leadership of the so-called ODM family with Kalonzo taking control of ODM Kenya before Raila went off and bought the original ODM and consolidated his position.

What supporters expected was a cold hand shake with the usual plastic smiles. Instead the two warmly hugged each other. Both men said they were still friends and that was why they had hugged.

Kalnzo even went beyond that and thanked the area MP Boniface Mganga for defecting from PNU to Raila Odinga’s ODM.

Wonders never cease. Is there a possibility that we will see a metrger of the two Orange families soon? Who knows? More so, now that we have entered into the season of surprises galore.

Cyber Shocker As Old Mzungu Strips In Public For Young Kenyan Beauty

I move around a lot and one of the advantages of web technology is that it does not matter whether I am in Madrid or Kitale, I am still able to make my posts in Kumekucha.

So recently I was in this cyber café in a certain major town in Kenya where I had just arrived and I happen to sit next to this very attractive young lady with long hair. It was the most beautiful hair I had seen in a long time (lakini my thoughts remained pure because I am happily married to my Kikuyu beauty and besides this lady looked younger than my daughter). I was busy and did not pay much attention to her except that I happen to notice that she was doing what most young ladies do in cyber cafes these days. She was chatting to a mzungu boyfriend. The middle aged man’s live webcam image filled the computer screen right next to hers making it easy to draw the contrast in age.

I was lost in the world of Kumekucha until some commotion somewhere behind me attracted my attention. For some time I had heard the girl giggling and I assumed that the old man was really funny. But now looking at the screen, I understood why. The mzee had stripped naked and...

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The Dangers Of An ODM Landslide Victory

One thing I am very proud of about Kumekucha are the great brains that have been attracted to this blog. Folks who are much smarter than yours truly and who help us keep this blog on the cutting edge and right at the top as a leading source of political information on Kenya.

Some of these guys have expressed concern in recent times over an ODM landslide victory in the parliamentary elections leaving the 10th parliament with a very weak, almost non-existent opposition. This is certainly food for thought as the latest poll put ODM’s Raila Odinga further ahead of the president at 53% with President Kibaki trialing at 37%. If past experience is anything to go by, the side that loses the general elections usually takes a long time to settle and re-unite to speak as one voice of the opposition. Already there are accusations flying all over the place on the PNU side and chances are that an election loss will cause chaos and disarray that will take a long time to sort out, if ever. For starters constituents of Othaya will have to head back to the polls to elect a new Member of parliament as it is unlikely that President Kibaki will take his seat in the back benches of parliament in 2008, should he lose the elections.

And it seems that this reality on the ground is slowly beginning to sink into the minds of the presidential campaign team. Information that reached me a few minutes ago from Mombasa indicates that President Kibaki’s motorcade was seen in the town earlier today at about 2:15 pm and curious wananchi who...

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Vernacular Lingua Franca?

The aim of this article is not in any way to fan the smoldering embers of tribalism to a roaring fire nor to stoke the hearth of tribal prejudice. Far from that.

There are some of us who are so much in ‘love’ with our tribal languages that we feel inclined to use them to communicate even in public places and offices – oblivious of the fact that it doesn’t rest very well in the ears of the people who can not help but hear what you are talking with your mate.

(Come to Nairobi and you’ll think you’re at the centre of a Kikuyu colony. Virtually every two other people you meet with conversing will be “Aterere-ing!” You catch the drift.)

Some of the proponents of this ‘system’ find it very easy to gossip about people in and around the office by using their vernacular other than the standard Kiswahili or English that is normally supposed to be used (to communicate in offices and public places).

It incredibly irks me when I hear people talking in their mother tongue in an office oblivious of who is around them and what discomfort they leave in their wake.

But the results of using the mother tongue in public places do sometimes turn out to be amusing and embarrassing all in one pot.

This reminds me of a certain incident which took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania some years back. Two Kenyan ladies (from the same tribe) had boarded a bus to town one Saturday morning. As they were settling in the vehicle (Daladala), a burly man got into the vehicle and sat close to them.

One look at the man and one of the ladies almost instantly started telling her friend, in mother tongue, what she thought of the man: a big, good-for-nothing man. In the same vein and tongue, the other lady, tongue-in-cheek, said that she wouldn’t date a guy his size. And she also thought that he wore smelly socks.

And the undue criticism of the man went on and on.

The man got off the vehicle first. As he was alighting, he turned to the two ladies with a sly smile playing on his lips, and, in their mother tongue (the girls’), wished them a good day. This struck the ladies and they realized that what they had all along said about the man had been understood by him. With egg on their faces, they just looked down and felt immensely foolish.
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Tribalism: Kenya’s blood-sucking vampire

There've been heated debates on the tribalism issue, mooted and dissected on a motley of forums. The internet(blogs & sites), newspapers, magazines, tabloids and pamphlets have helped potray the dynamics of this 'touchy' issue.

I've been following the goings-on with bated breath and each time I read or hear about tribalistic issues, this question always screams for an answer: when are we going to open our eyes and see that tribalism (tribalistic mindsets) 'helps' to sever the cords of national unity and harmony?

Having lived outside Kenya for sometime, I've seen Kenyans of different tribal origins working together as brothers and sisters, their tribalistic mindsets notwithstanding. I've seen, for instance, Kikuyus and Luos working in harmony and calling each other 'bro' or 'sis'. I've seen them doing things together, things they would not have attempted or a brotherliness that would never have materialised were it in Kenya.

This is a sorry state of affairs. Must we go out of the country to realise that tribalism should never be an issue and that we can work as brothers and sisters (AS KENYANS) even at home.

If we can live and work as brothers outside Kenya, then, how much more feasible it should be in our homeland!!

Outside Kenya we call ourselves Kenyans; in Kenya we call ourselves 'Luos', 'Kikuyus', 'Kambas', Kalenjins'... the list is endless. What does someone in his right senses make of this?
"HYPOCRISY!" You scream, and I pat you on the back and, smilingly, tell you, "You've hit the nail on the head."

We are hypocrites, God forgive us. We always want to be molly coddled and told that we are on the right path. But in this matter, we are wide of the mark.

Hello Kenyans. We are Kenyans whether Luo, Kikuyu, Nandi, Luhya, name it. We'll always be Kenyans. Let's behave, eat and live as Kenyans should. Let the strength of brotherhood be our bastion.

Let's elect people, not because they are Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba or any other tribe, but because they can steer us to the acme we aspire. The decisions we make today will go a long way in defining our lives and nationhood, whether rash or well-thought out!

Did I hear you smack your lips in dissatisfaction?

My plea: Let's treat each other as Kenyans. Treat fellow Kenyans as you would your beloved brother, sister, son or daughter: with love, respect and sincerity.

You can contact me at this Email Address.

My Son, Take it Slow: Aids is a Rapacious Prowler

Behaviour change should be accentuated and re-emphasized in the fight against Aids. This is simply because, without behaviour change we are almost hitting a brick wall with bare fists in fighting this debilitating scourge.

Below, is the advice of a grandmother to her hot-blooded, carefree grandson.

My son, I am now an old woman,
I feel the ancestors beckoning to me,
My heart is punctured and frayed,
My body: old and frail.

In the years I have been around,
I've learnt so much 'bout the world,
I feel the time is ripe,
To share with you my arsenal.

In recent months, I've been watching you,
Watching you keenly; watching with eyes of steel,
My eyes have not slumbered in my watch,
My guard has not dropped in my sentry.

My son, I am afraid of what I see;
I am afraid of what I dream;
I am afraid of what I see in your eyes;
I am afraid of your zest and vim.

My son, I am afraid,
The more I think of what you are doing,
The more I age past my age,
The more people comment on how old I look.

These are dark days, my son,
Days your grandpa and I never dreamt of,
Days graced by pitch darkness,
Days I constantly try to wish away.

My son, don't get bored; keep still,
I am not vacillating, be sure of that,
Listen to me this once,
Listen to the drawl and drag in my voice.

This is the third month since I started my 'vigil',
My son, I see different ladies at your side every passing day:
Ladies fabulously endowed with 'well-rounded bums';
Ladies with earth-shattering smiles keep you company.

They call you 'Mr. Chics – the guy with the move',
Thanx to the innumerable sexual partners you keep,
This is sickening, my son:
Downright filthy and inglorious is what I call it.

My son, do you want to see me going to an early grave?
Do you want me to talk myself hoarse – and go insane in the process?
Do you want me to wet my pillow with tears into the wee hours?
Do you want me to see you crumbling like a fallen block of granite?

When Aids smiles at you, my son,
There'll be no turning back,
It will eat and gnaw at your every marrow,
It will turn you inside out – Please spare me the pain!

I don't want to imagine (but it's part of the nightmare I can't ward off),
The tall, handsome son I know,
Being reduced to an emaciated sculpture,
A sculpture with sores, boils and falling hair.

My son, Aids is for real,
It's prowling the neighbourhood with a vengeance,
Please sit down and rethink your behaviour,
An HIV free generation starts with you, my son.

You can contact me at this Email Address.

Nobel Prize for Humility, Anyone?

It is another season galore of dishing out Nobel prices to world’s top achievers.
The Nobel Prize arguably remains the best known global award. The prize has a way of bringing an issue into the public spotlight or making a household name of a scientist working in a seemingly esoteric field.

However, a striking observation in this year's bonanza is the advanced ages of the recipients is their advanced ages. This may prompt the question ‘does the Norwegian Nobel committee honour only academic fossil?’ Or closer home, we could ask are they borrowing from our politics where age is elevated to an asset status even in the absence of any dividend to show for it.

Lest this observation be denigrated as trivializing phenomenal achievement from the world’s finest brains, it is imperative to record that only 2007 the Nobel Prize co-winner for Peace, Albert (Al) Arnold Gore is the youngest at the age of 59. Next youngest is UK’s co-winner in medicine, Sir Martin Evans at 66. The latter’s country lady Doris Lessing had to wait for 88 years to win the Literature prize with 25 books under her belt. The other winners were all born in the 1930s.

True, the Nobel Prizes’ committee may mean well in awarding only acknowledged, tested and proven brains. But it may equally not be mischievous to imagine that they prefer awarding people nearing their graves, figuratively that is. Or do they fear fame going into the heads of Laureates? Both ways the Nobel Prize has stood the test of time and it would only be enticing to spice youth with age to motivate burgeoning scholars. Meanwhile congratulations to all the winners for exploiting their upper faculties to fame.

Cabinet Minister John Koech’s Defection To ODM: What Impact?

The most significant thing about the defection yesterday of Regional Co-operation Cabinet Minister John Koech is that he does not speak DhoLuo and neither does he hail from the Luo community.

The reason why this is important is because it could finally jolt President Mwai Kibaki awake to the very real danger of suffering a landslide defeat in the forthcoming general elections to a man whom many of his aides (still living in the 60s had declared unelectable). There was a time that even Kumekucha himself had many doubts as to how viable a Raila candidature for the presidency would be. The supposedly rabidly tribal Kenyan electorate has surprised as all.

Many of the same Kibaki aides have clung to the view that ODM yawa is a political party that has support only from Luo Nyanza. John Koech’s sudden and decisive move yesterday tells a different story and confirms a lot of what we have been saying here in advice in recent days to the president’s campaign team.

It has not helped matters that President Kibaki’s campaign has stubbornly stuck to a course that is clearly doomed to failure. The idea has been to spread fear in the electorate over the fact that a Raila Odinga presidency is too unpredictable to call and could easily plunge the nation into chaos and stone-throwing. That is a line the electorate have refused to buy and is increasingly sounding more and more ridiculous by the day.

The move also confirms what our information...

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Raila Campaign Team Moves To The Next Level

Thousands of Kenyan were bitterly disappointed last night when Raila Odinga failed to show up for a live NTV On the Spot show with Julie Gichuru. Instead he sent Gachoka legislator Joe Nyagah with some lame excuse.

What many did not realize was the fact that this was a strategic move on the side of the now highly alert team of advisors handling Raila Odinga’s campaign. And these gentlemen (and possibly ladies) do not miss a trick.

It appears that Raila Odinga’s bid for State House has now moved to another level. And this is where the candidate has to look as presidential as possible. President Kibaki does not appear on these shows and my bet is that Raila will now only appear on a show where President Kibaki also shows up (a presidential debate would be great, but that’s impossible because Kibaki can’t handle such an event after his stroke in 2003). Incidentally the President has always shunned TV interviews even in the days when he was as fit as a fiddle complete with a razor sharp mind.

Any keen observer will notice that Raila’s interviews on TV have changed a great deal and so have his statements.

Defection Watch: Johnny Never Comes Lately

Another day of high political drama saw a second sitting cabinet Minister decamp from the Government in one week. While Emilio has rolled his sleeves and showing Kenyans that he is also hands on, EA minister John Koech decided to shade himself under Orange tree leaving PNU after enjoying honey derived from Kanu's nectar.

Trust politicians to lie through the teeth with a straight face. After defending Mama na Baba for years and flying ministerial flag courtesy of Kibaki, he has the temerity to claim that the Government he has been serving is a fraud. His reason? The President has defected and Kenyans doesn't know to which party. And after initially rubbishing ODM, he turns around to proclaim that only Raila could bring meaningful changes.

Hear the baptized and now cryptic Koech: "There are more reasons to work with Raila and there are even more reasons to leave PNU. President Kibaki has people around him who do not listen." He leaves you asking who is fooling who here and whom was he serving all those years as cabinet minister. In my book his epitomizes the height of being an unparalleled scoundrel.

Granted, defection of a cabinet minister to an opposition party is no mean feat. The symbolic coup is massive. Now that the Makerere Alumni has deserted his comrade, whether his defection would add any value in a crowded field in Chepalungu chocking with close to 20 aspirants, only time will tell.

Also joining the Orange crowd from the Rift Valley vote basket were Former Cabinet Minister Andrew Kiptoon and ex-Prisons commander Abraham Kamakil. The two defection of these two underscores the Titanic battle ahead for ODM during nominations. They leave Benjamin Sogomo (former TSC boss) and Moroto looking over their shoulders for Baringo North and Kapenguria seats respectively.

Reversed Roles
Over in Sabatia, former Posta boss, Francis Chahonyo, has ditched Kanu for Hooh Ndhi Emmh. Sabatia is again promising to witness a battle of titans. What with UASU boss Edebe, MYWO boss and now Chahonyo challenging ODM deputy captain Mudavadi?

What baffles in all the above developments is the observation that roles appear reversed. Kenyans are used to seeing politicians quitting opposition parties to the government. Not this time round. While the President appear contended with receiving defecting councillors, the opposition is netting heavy weights.

Are these indications of changed times, things to come or merely a game political musical chairs that all amount to opportunism per excellence? I personally have no idea but time never lies and it will surely tell. I have the luxury of patience and watching keenly with both eyes open. Na bado.

Why Kibaki Must Win

First things first and you don’t have to be superstitious nor religious to see the jinx. Kibaki has a strange jinx in ten years going for him in his political career. He was a Finance Minister for ten years, VP for ten years and in the opposition for ten years too. And why would one imagine that he won’t keep that tradition going by serving as President for ten years?

Despite REAL threat to his Presidency, a defeat for Emilio spells doom and death to Kenya’s infant democracy. Come to think of it soberly please before you throw any e-stones at me. If Kibaki loses, can he afford to go to Parliament as the leader of the opposition? Ask Paul Martin, the immediate ex-PM of Canada. The humiliation is immeasurable and the guy relinquished any trace of responsibility on losing last year’s elections to the Conservative candidate Stephen Harper.

In retrospect a Kibaki win would be a blessing in disguise for the wider good. Counterfactually, his loss would dramatically change Kenya’s political landscape like never seen before. Everybody hanging on his coattails have their eyes singularly trained on 2012.

Kibaki is the honeycomb attracting all the political bees to PNU. He loses, the honey dissipates and the opportunists disintegrate into all the four corners of the world. A Kibaki loss would throw the already highly volatile succession issue for 2012 into total disarray.

The calculus won’t gel; neither differentiate nor integrate. The turbulent political currents running under the unity smokescreen in PNU would bust its banks. Saitoti and Uhuru are not fools to board and fund a marine vehicle destined to the wrong coast. It doesn’t need the cognitive skills of nuclear physics to foresee a disintegrating and disastrous opposition in the event of Kibaki losing.

The ensuring political fluidity would make chaos of 2003-5 look like a political honeymoon. The scoundrels that are our MPs all unfortunately believe their selfish interests can only be generously served while in Government. They won’t bat an eyelid in shamelessly crossing over to the side wielding the yam and the knife.

The end result will be a rebirth of another GNU of loose and boundless dimensions bereft of teeth to sink into any substantive agenda. With no formidable opposition to sustain objectivity, such an eventuality with be tantamount to engraving Kenya’s parliament’s epitaph in golden letters. Are we ready or inadvertently propping that ugly scenario? I don’t know and may be you good people out there can shed some light in that gloomy predicament, far-fetched but possible.

No, Kwani what did you tell them?

All I did was tell them, "PNU” is going to win the elections"!

The 4th Presidential candidate

People have decided to ignore this Presidential candidate, apparently I had also forgot about him until I saw him on KTN yesterday night, where he confirmed that he is still in the race. He has also complained to the media of not giving him enough coverage like others. I am referring to Pastor Pius Muiru of Kuna Nuru Gizani which means there is light in darkness (I wonder how that is possible!).

Presidential candidates in the race in this elections are said to be riding on two types of animals depending on their strengths. ODM’s Raila Odinga and PNU’s Mwai Kibaki are said to be on horses. ODM-K Kalonzo Musyoka is on a donkey, Puis Muiru is definitely not on a horse, I will put him in category of his brother in Christ Kalonzo Musyoka riding on a donkey. I know many will tell me off for comparing Kalonzo with Muiru, but I will explain why this candidate should not be taken for granted.

He has a big following from dealing with the public on a daily basis compared to other politicians. From what I hear he holds services at Odeon Cinema at least two times a day and holds rallies country wide quite frequently. His rallies normally have a big gathering of people thirsty for the word and maximum miracles (like his slogan).

From my days in school I know he has faithful followers like guys of CU/SU (Christian/Scripture union). Who would not hear anything negative about their pastors or bishops and would follow their advice and teaching seriously. He also has a group of young singers Maximum Melodies (Kora award winners in 2005 for the best spiritual group in Africa). So we should not take this candidate lightly and expect maximum miracles in these elections.

What do you think about Pius Muiru’s presidential candidature in the coming elections?

Ngilu Has The Option Of Going For A City Parliamentary Seat

Kalonzo Musyoka talked to the press at length recently about the “huge mistake” Charity Ngilu has made in joining ODM instead of sticking with the strongest party in Ukambani, namely his very own Hoo Ndii Emm.

At one point Mr Musyoka said; “I can almost guarantee her that she will lose her parliamentary seat.”

It is indeed true that Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM Kenya (Hoo Ndii Emm, we call it in this blog because that is the way my cousins back home in Ukambani pronounce it.) is very strong in Ukambani. Mr Musyoka has spent a lot of time campaigning within his stronghold to ensure that he is the tribal supremo. The folks in Ukambani do not want to hear about any other presidential candidate. PNU officials recently plastered the whole of Machakos town with president Kibaki posters. The activity was done secretly in the cover of darkness and town residents woke up in the morning to find a Kibaki blitz. Two short hours later, almost every poster had either been defaced or torn down.

Amazingly there is also a feeling amongst the Akamba people that Mr Musyoka has got a fighting chance of winning the presidency. Many of them are convinced that...

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Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

Surely Raila Odinga Can NOT Be That Popular!

Exeunt Kibaki, Enter Raila (but…)

(Exeunt...!)

(Enter...!)


I received this short message on my phone today:

“For Jaramogi hated Kenyans, that he gave his son Raila Amollo Odinga that whosoever believes in him shall live in eternal slavery, hunger, diseases and die in pain.”

Whoever is circulating this sms must be a sick fellow. That’s all I can say.

Dr. Taitta Towett, a Library Burnt Down

The tragic death of Dr. Taita Kipyegion Towett brings down the curtain of one of Kenya’s pioneer scholars. Withe a life often shrouded in controversy, the late Dr. Towett surely lived ahead of his time.

Born in 1926, the accomplished linguist disabuses all the old guards who prided themselves with Diploma as the ‘highest’ qualification achievable then. This was one brainy chap who had the foresight to enrol for a degree course in SA by correspondence in the 1940s. His MA and PhD from UoN caps it all.

But the enigma that was Towett had him ride in his car facing the rear. His reasoning then was that most people are so linear in their thinking you waste time looking at them directly in the eye. No wonder all his cars had only the driver’s seat and the passenger’s seat facing backwards. Hi justification was that he was not in taxi business.

Dr. Towett never suffered fools lightly. His convictions often earned him the tag of being intellectually arrogant. No wonder he only embraced settlement of immigrants (?) in Rift Valley after support came for Moi to succeed Jomo from the same quotas through Emilio. In essence Dr. Towett was many things to many people. Depending on the political horse you ride, he is a pre-independence tribalist or defender.

When independent Kenya’s history is written, Dr Towett, Jean Marie Seroney and the Nandi declaration must be mentioned on the same chapter. Cruel hands of death has not only denied him full enjoyment of his sunset days, but razed a human library down. Fare thee well Daktari.

Kalembe Ndile Reveals The Main Problem With The Kibaki Campaign

You can tell that the Kenyan media is under a lot of pressure from politicians who mostly know nothing about media coverage.

Journalists do not create news, they report it and if at the moment there is a lot happening in ODM and not much happening in PNU what are they expected to do? Answer: Come up with ridiculous front page headlines like “PNU campaign Picks Up Momentum.”

Now here is some news that may not get the prominence it deserves in the newspapers tomorrow morning. Kalembe Ndile, MP for Kibwezi and a tourism assistant minister held a press conference earlier today.

Kalembe Ndile is not a polished man. The chap cannot even speak good English and prefers Kiswahili. But one thing about him, he is sincere. Probably too sincere to be a politician in Kenya. Remember the uproar he caused when he said that Assistant ministers were idle in Kenya and consuming the tax payer’s funds for doing nothing?

In Kalembe Ndile’s press conference he spoke a lot about the powerful ministers surrounding president Kibaki who are going to cause his downfall. He especially singled out 3, whom he did not mention by name. But he said; Hata nyinyi watu wa magazeti munawajua na munawataja kila wakati. (Even you newspaper guys know them and you mention them in your stories all the time).

Ndile says that these powerful (and polished characters) block...

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Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

Surely Raila Odinga Can’t Be That Popular!

Since the first day I launched this blog I have never feared to speak my mind or the truth as I saw it. One well know political personality made a comment recently in my hearing; “the amazing thing about that Kumekucha guy is that most of his predictions seem to come true.”

Kumekucha does NOT support Raila, but I am obligated to report the truth and to investigate the mood on the ground and get back to my readers without fear or favor. So even when I’m trying my best to do that many desperate Kenyans bluntly scream; “Kumekucha is an ODM blog.”

I’ll tell you one thing—it will take much more than that to stop me.

The situation on the ground is that Raila Odinga and ODM are leading in ALL provinces except Central where one poll has given Raila 15%. This is according to no less than 5 different independent polls—3 of them were commissioned by the Sunday Nation and published last weekend, one was commissioned by the Standard and the other was the usual Steadmann poll.

I never like to brag but do you remember the results of my own survey in this blog where I said that Raila will receive 15 per cent of the vote from central province? Do you remember how most readers reacted? Even the Raila’s own supporters doubted my figures. Of course Kibaki supporters mocked that post. Well, I have news for you. I was wrong and the other pollster who seems to confirm what I said here weeks ago is also wrong. The very latest...

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Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

Would She Join Long List Of Ouko Witnesses Who Died? (Kenya Betrayed)

Plus How I Met And Fell In Love With Moi
And then he had added that he would do everything in his power that I was not joining the list of so many other (Dr, Robert Ouko murder investigation) witnesses who had lost their lives during the last years. It was estimated that their number had in the meantime reached more than 100 …..

I felt that also he still continued being worried, so I risked a small smile, “I trust you and I trust your personnel – so let’s all hope that nothing happens.”
Before he could reply, a blue Volvo appeared at the first Security Gate and as soon as the guard opened the second gate, the Volvo roared past it and then came to a screeching halt next to the armored vehicle.

A lean sportive man appeared accompanied by three other plain-cloth sharpshooters together with a slim, blonde woman.

We shook hands and he introduced himself at Lt. Wolfgang. I recognized in him the Official who had picked me up the day before at the residence of my friends in Karen where I stayed during the last three weeks.

Lt. Wolfgang rushed me onto the back seat where I was swiftly sandwiched between the four Embassy Officials.

And suddenly the race was on.

Lt. Wolfgang sped through the streets of Nairobi, turning abruptly into unintended streets and alleys whenever he noticed a suspicious car behind him.
At a roundabout near the imposing Nyayo Stadium, we came up on a massive police checkpoint. There were three uniformed officers inspecting cars. Officially, they said a bank on Tom Mboya Street had just been robbed.

But Lt. Wolfgang had already warned via the internal radio-call between him and the Embassy and knew that this plain crap.

When we approached the checkpoint, he therefore drew down the window, put his head out and said, “This is the official car of the German Ambassador, Sir. May we proceed?”

The Officer, unsure what to do, shouted something into his walkie-talkie. He took a couple of seconds listening to instructions from the other end.
Finally, he turned...

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Deceitful Kenyans: Memories from 2002

Date: December 2002
Place: Kenya
What: General Elections

The above image IS KENYA A MONARCHY OR A REPUBLIC? was published in the third quarter of 2002 when KANU was still in power. In Kibaki's 5^th year as Head of State, it has surprised many that the individuals who supported Kibaki and helped build a strong coalition to uproot KANU’s 40-year-vice-like-grip on power are now out of government while the Uhuru Kenyatta, Daniel Arap Moi and Nicholas Biwott plus Nyachae, Karume and others are firmly in Kibaki’s camp. Oh yes, we ask again; Is Kenya a monarchy or a republic?

After Moi’s reign, we were promised; Comes security, comes prosperity, comes time to give back, comes health, comes jobs, jobs, jobs. YOTE YA WEZEKANA BILA MOI so the song went. But hey, hold on a minute! Moi is not only Kibaki’s lead campaigner, but we also ask; Are those people who have live in terror country in areas like Mau Forest, Mt. Elgon and West Pokot really citizens of Kenya? How about Kisii where opposition leaders escaped death with severe injuries at the hands of a private army whose general is a cabinet minister in Kibaki’s government? Or Sondu were villagers cannot sleep in their houses anymore for fear of attacks by armed raiders merely because they support opposition side. How can we ever forget the numerous Mungiki beheadings including that of a one year old boy who belonged to Kihii community and that we have not seen or heard of any convictions in court many months since the crimes were committed. Instead of being housed in maximum security prison, the same Mungiki leaders are now being given nomination tickets and funds to contest against opposition figures. That is Kenya for you.

NO CONTEST they said. Now the President attends National Delegates Congress of KANU to pledge loyalty to an opposition party, while pledging support and co-operation with the same individual who was once Untried, Untested, Unelected, Inexperienced. The same one who has completely let down the opposition and has absolutely NO idea what it means to be Leader of Official Opposition. Meanwhile, the incumbent has been tried, tested, elected and experienced. That bitter pill shall not be swallowed again.

The above image WHO’S FOOLING WHO? could well be in reference to the NARC and not KANU regime. One of the biggest corruption scandals that engulfed Kenya during President Kibaki’s reign is the so-called Anglo-Leasing Scandal. This 'deal' shocked Kenyans and the international community that senior Ministers in Government and top civil servants could conspire in such schemes that were designed to pay huge sums of public money to non-existent international companies under the pretext of procurement of security equipment and materials. This is the mega corruption that almost literally brought Kenya to an economic standstill in 2005.

We remember all that. More will come soon.

How convenient, KAZI IENDELEEE.............

It's Time To Employ Our Employees

There is a famous well known quote that is quite often repeated at convenient times for the sake of politcal expediency "ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country". Samplers of this quote are also quite often subscribers to another quite famous school of political thought which implies that as voters we are the government and ultimately the rulers of our own democracy. In Kenya nothing could be further from the truth.

Ever since independence the corportate entity commonly known by the name K E N Y A has always had its own secret "mobitelea" shareholders whose membership has been a closed invitation open only to an elite priviledged few. The mwananchi voter has perenially found him/herself wearing the wrong shoe on the wrong foot without so much as a chance to reprise the reversal of roles. He/she belongs to a unique class of beggars who are only rich in growing numbers, owning neither wealth nor property. Kenya's lifeline known to all as the economy if used as the barometer to measure how well we've been governed the past 5 years remains the pride of a past memory circa 1970(hat-tip Mwalimu). Determined to recover from past and on-going lethal bouts with "non-existent" corruption, our lifeline still remains weak and able to sustain only a handful of outpatients, leaving the majority poverty-sick invalids ailing and resorting to either crime or a vote for change as their way out of a poverty the likes of which(as Chris reminds us) few here in Kumekucha are familiar with

As we hurtle dangerously towards the December 2007 general elections violently rocked by "bado mapambano days of thunder" and "banjuka kazi iendelee" campaign rallies, its the predator that lies within that still remains the greater threat compared to the political sharks circling the murky waters of our beautiful landscape seeking capsized voters who, barely able to swim struggle to keep their heads above the tide of what is shaping up to be a purely propaganda based election campaign devoid of focus on issues of substance

Steady now. voters card at the ready. voter apathy(if you had so recklessly dared to indulge yourself) keep at bay. charged emotions leave at the door. Remember it will be yet another 5 years before you get a chance to bury mother tongue and tribe in the grave marked ballot box. You owe it to yourself at least once in your lifetime to get the leadership you deserve. Will you choose to make your vote work for you or are we going to meet here again October 2012 for another showdown tastelessly punctuated with insults from Thiko and stupid pulse(excuse me, i meant Kioko and Steel Pulse) after what (i have no doubt )will be another colourless lacklustre 5 years regardless of this December's outcome

PANU or ODM-the limited choice is yours. Its time to employ OUR employees.

Defection Watch: Kamotho, Kilimo Decamps

That JJ Kamotho eventually defected to DP succinctly proves the adage that in politics there are no permanent enemies only interests. Joining him in Emilio’s party (he is still the chair) are Jebii Kilimo and Cecily Mbarire.

Like him hate him JJ is one Kenyan politician you cannot ignore. He is voluble, opinionated and above all else intelligent. Now that he has joined the father of his son’s namesake JJ has once more either boarded the winning bus as in 1992/7/2002 or lost it all together. The jury is still out and I dare not swear not sweat lest I invite eggs and tomatoes on my face when the scoundrels leave their foot soldiers holding the baby immersed in murky bath tub.

As for Kilimo, she is her retracing her political steps. But I fear she is trying to re-invent the wheel too late in the day. Marakwet used to be referred to as Othaya ndogo during DP’s formative days. But whether the good lady from knows a thing we don’t only time will tell.

Poor Cecily Mbarire! After being the handbag girl for Charity she has been left abroad and dripping wet. The poor girl finds herself sandwiched between the hard rock and political blue sea. With no constituency of her one, the coat (skirt to be sure) tail has vanished. She is no Njoki with an urbane mien and given the cultural stereotype in her Meru birthplace, her political goose is as good as cooked and digested.

Trust politicians to prioritize serving their selfish interests at whatever cost. Principles and high-sounding declarations are babies foot soldiers are shamelessly left to hold onto when they have bolted to safer grounds. Na bado as the political heat soars and time ticks to December.

Right of Reply: Of Course Kiraitu is Frightened!

This post is in response to that by Chris: Is Kiraitu Murungi Running Scared?

Who is Kiraitu Murungi in the first place as far as Kenya politics is concerned? Nobody.

Who is Kiraitu Murungi in the second place as far as Kenya corruption is concerned? Somebody!

I certainly have no regrets in accusing Kiraitu, Murungaru and Mwiraria as among the infamous "6 M's" who were at the forefront in betraying the NARC dream and in the process costing President Kibaki a second term in office. The six M's will certainly go down in history as the most arrogant ministers in Kenya's independence history.

Kiraitu is one individual who is solely responsible for the failure of NARC's pre-election pledge for a new devolved constitution. His slave driver behavior during the Bomas conference is well recognised. His assertion that government should walk out of the conference, when the conference was composed of independent delegates only, was the straw that broke the camels back.

Kiraitu is the man who presided over a very selective surgery of the judiciary in 2003 where innocent judges were set-up and accused of being corrupt while the real corrupt ones given promotions to the court of appeal and others landed appointments in well paying state offices.

Chris, please do not forget that the Kroll Report, Goldenberg Commission as well as the Ndungu Land Commission enquiries were directly under the constitutional affairs ministry that Kiraitu headed - and that all these enquiries resulted in absolutely NO benefit to the Kenyan tax payer despite the hundreds millions of shillings spent in these investigations.

These three individuals are the people who Githongo recorded on tape defending Anglo-Leasing and they are known to be shareholders with the Kamani Brothers of the ANGLO-LEASING Ghost companies that refunded billions of shillings to the treasury incognito or so it seems after Githongo exposed them. The same Kibaki ministers who went to bed with corruption networks of the Moi era and who, for instance, were named in the Kroll Report as having bought substantial shares from Equatorial Bank that is adversely mentioned in the same Kroll Report as one of the banks that were used to channel billions of shillings to off-shore accounts for the Mois, Biwotts and Kuleis. From playing hide and seek with auctioneers to dollar multi-millionaires within 24 months of taking power. We can forgive Chris, we cannot forget.

We remember that chilling story when fifteen 20ft containers of high quality cocaine went through Kenya to european markets shockingly 'without the knowledge' of port police, KRA customs or our famous NSIS. It emerged later the 6 M's were said to be in the payroll of drug lords at the Kenyan coast and that they used their powerful offices to protect illegal activities while earning millions of dollars in drug money. During that time, only one container was intercepted after the other 14 transitted at Kilindini Port with cocaine value of billions of shillings - and so far the single container remains largest cocaine consignment ever to have been intercepted in the continent of Africa. Murungaru, who is still smarting from a blanket visa ban to EU and US, was Internal Security Minister then. Several innocent suspects were arrested, tried and freed by the High Court for lack of evidence while the real culprits can now purport to be at the fore front of the Kibaki Tena campaign. It is difficult to tell whether the president himself was party to this deal. Kenyans will have their suspicions because it seems his ministers were the managers of grand economic and criminal injustices against the Kenyan people!

The six M's have put this country in reverse gear back to at least two decades in terms of poverty alleviation and development because they are more inclined to defend and engage in corruption using their powerful offices, and according to Githongo, with the full knowledge or blessings of the head of state.

To answer your question Chris; Kiraitu, Murungaru and Mwiraria have every reason to run scared of the prospects of an ODM government!!!

Painless Demise of Africa’s Independence Parties

From Egypt to Zambia, Africa’s independence parties’ graveyards are full to the brim. Kenya’s KANU is apparently threatening to fill the only vacancy in that crowded cemetery. But what plausible reason can be ascribed to these parties that ruled the newly-minted states and lorded over its populace like kings?

Those positing that that majority of African countries got independence when they were ill prepared cannot be dismissed with a wave of hands. The truth is that most ‘founding fathers’ of new African countries were opportunists who rode on the shoulders of their peasant and real freed fighters to secure personal aggrandisement at the expense of their country people. The gulf and tension between our local home guards and freedom fighters aptly drives this point home.

KANU, UNIP (Zambia) and all their derivatives may have been formed on firm foundation but suffered the curse of big brother syndrome. The Kenyattas and Kaundas of these continent were simply silent admirers of the imperialist whose lifestyles they cut-and-copied word for deeds. Their disdain for challengers remains unparalleled. But that is not the problem neither the excuse for failure of these parties. The people who inherited them took over and perfected the game with all their respective warts and thus the speedy roll to oblivion.

African countries are smarting from the collective failures of their independence parties because even the ‘cleverly’ crafted alternatives are nothing but dysfunctional mutants of these failed edifices. And the electorate have not done themselves any favour to demand accountability and issue-based politics. Instead we have been roped into these politicians’ selfish schemes by offering them our back to ride on for political office. The busk stops with us and until we stop and re-evaluate the future of our politics, Kanu and its present OWNERS will replicate the demise of civilized politics in our continent in general and country in particular. But do we care? You guess is as good as mine.

Is Kiraitu Murungi Running Scared?

The first signs of the effects of the mammoth crowd that stifled Uhuru Park last Saturday emerged yesterday when during a church service in Meru energy minister Kiraitu Murungi told the congregation that unless the Mount Kenya region voted as a block, they might as well forget about State House for another 5 years.

This coupled with the other accusations about ODM being heavily funded from abroad are sending a very clear message to all those who are observant. It is finally dawning on the President’s team and his allies that they are staring defeat straight in the face.

Personally I do not see how the president’s campaign can be saved. It is rare that I make sweeping statements here in Kumekucha but the truth is that Mwai Kibaki is finished. I say this is anger and sadness because the truth is that the president does not have a message to sell. His campaign team has no idea what they are doing. That is the truth. Even the team he sent to London basically repeated the same old mantra, that ODM will bring chaos to Kenya. And while it is normal and acceptable in politics to attack the other side and point out their weaknesses, you don’t do so before you have sold yourself first.

So what does a second Kibaki term have to offer? Somebody please tell me, I may have missed the message. By the way the definition of selling a message to the people is not reading some carefully prepared boring speech. It is telling us in a language we understand and with examples exactly what you are planning to do.

The president’s team is telling Kenyans that this administration should continue. What exactly does that mean because we have seen many things in the Kibaki administration that we do NOT like. So should we vote in the president to continue with them? For example there has been a very focused and determined effort to gag the media. Of course the word being used is “control.” So the next question is who needs “control” more? The media that broke the Anglo Leasing scam to Kenyans when the opposition in parliament were fast asleep.

Read more

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

Email Political Campaign Gets Vicious

Here is a sample of emails all received today as Kenyans get completely immersed in their unique brand of politics in readiness for the 2007 general elections. ENJOY

He is bold for nothing important,
He is a team player but always ends up messing the team,
He is a liberator but he believes in doing it using stones,
He is a pan-Africanist in his dreams
A Democrat in causing chaos
A Nationalist with no national constituency
and
He has what it takes to destroy Kenyans to the Congo or Rwanda like country
Join other Kenyan's in rejecting this great destructive man.

forward this to 1000000 people

Latest: Tafsiri ya chama (PNU)

1. Poromoka Na Uhuru

2. Potea Na Uhuru

3. Porojo Na Ukabila

4. Pora Na Utoroke

5. Payuka Na Unyanyuke

6. Payuka Na Uanguke

7. Panga Na Ushindwe

8. Panda Na Ushuke

9. Pumbavu Na Ukabila

10. Potea Na Upumbavu

11. Party of No Understanding

12. Party of Nyayo and Uhuru

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

Exporting Political Trivia Abroad

Listening to President Kibaki’s daughter Judy, Nairobi Stock Exchange chairman Jimnah Mbaru and Equity Bank chairman Peter Munga during the launch of Diaspora for Kibaki (D4K) lobby in London leaves one with the gut feeling that our political bad manners are genetic.

Instead of extolling the development record and virtues of their candidate, the trio wasted a golden opportunity and instead turned Cumberland Hotel in central London into another Uhuru Park Raila-bashing. Speak of old habits dieing hard or failing to learn from previous goofs.

The rainbow face of Mr. Alfred Ndemo, the D4K organizer, told it all. The chap could be seen squirming in his seat anytime the troika opened their mouth to spew arrays of trivia. And boy, one would be forgiven for imagining that tribalism never boards planes to London. Sitting incognito, I enjoyed myself to the full from a rich menu of exported hate speeches delivered in first language.

Surely the road to political self-destruction must be immaculately paved with tempting parking lots which Emilio’s campaigners cannot resist populating.

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

Memorable events this weekend, ODM's Thunder & Nairobi Show

This weekend was full of activities as it has been lately being an election year, however the notable event was that of ODM Presidential candidate Mr. Raila Odinga’s launch at Uhuru park dubbed the THUNDER. The Presidents PNU party also had a rally the same day at Afraha stadium in Nakuru. ODM-K of Kalonzo Musyoka also had activities. Gospel Musician Angela Chibalonza Muliri's body was flown from Kenya to be buried in Congo on Saturday, rest in peace Angie.


I met this group of ODM supporters walking to Uhuru Park from Panafric Hotel.

The THUNDER rally out shined all the weekend’s activities with their spectacular event attended by a crowd of over 400,000 at Uhuru park. It was a true picture of what majority Kenyans want CHANGE. ODM Pentagon has promised the change that Kenyans are yearning for. We have been promised this in the past but majority of Kenyans have not seen or felt the economic growth. The economic growth means nothing to the common mwananchi (citizens) if Ugali (maize meal) costs more, if prices for bread, milk, sugar and other essential commodities go up. Some becoming a luxury for poor families. So I believe the common mwananchi will vote for a coalition that has a new change to offer not the change for the worst they have experienced.

I couldn't attend ODM rally at Uhuru park because I had some errands to do in the morning and had to take my kids to the Nairobi show, they told me you will see ODM everyday but show is only once a year. So I had to obey these young Kenyans who also have their rights.

I have attended the Nairobi Agricultural show, which is now known as Nairobi International Trade fair since I was young and got used to the long queues at the gates. We walked to the gate on Kibera side and expected a long queue like it has always been but was shocked that there was no queue, only a few people and kids standing outside the gates (many may have opted to attended ODM rally at Uhuru park). When I went to pay I came to realize that those people with kids outside couldn’t enter because of the charges. Adults were paying Kshs. 200/- and children Kshs.150/-, one man came with nearly 5 kids who were so eager to enter the show, he enquired about the charges, after being told he said sita weza kulipa hiyo (I cannot afford that). The father walked away with very annoyed kids.


Kids entertainment facilities at the show, charges range from Kshs.50 - 100

I can imagine that this man was from the slums, his kids insisted on daddy to take them to the show like other kids. This man and many other parents of kids from the slums could not afford to pay the gate charges. Most people in the slums are casual laborers who earn as little as 200/day. This is the money they use to pay rent and to put a meal on the table for their families. So one cannot take their weeks salary of Kshs. 1000 – 1200 to go to such a show. On the other hand the show cannot be free but I feel the organizers should have set a date for kids to be charged less if not free, to give Kenyans of all walks of lives an opportunity to see what our country has to offer. I only concluded that this was not a poor man’s show.

-Jamii ya Kenya-

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

Kenyans now start ‘spewing’ excuses?

On Tuesday, September 11th, 2007, Habari Leo newspaper (a Tanzanian daily) carried a story titled “Wakenya waanza visingizio” (Kenyans now start spewing excuses) on its front page.

The article started by saying that Kenyans were complaining that they were finding it increasingly hard to cross the border into Tanzania as they were being mistreated by immigration officers at the borders.

For instance, at the Isebania border post, there is a heavy presence of immigration officers hell bent on checking the ‘insalubrious’ influx of Kenyans into Tanzania. Kenyans found without the requisite travel documents have had to go through harrowing experiences.

This has left a bad taste in the mouths of Kenyans as they rightly ask why they are being mistreated while the Tanzanians crossing the border do so without a fuss being raised.

In the past, Kenyan businessmen were crossing the border on their way to Tarime (which is 25 kilometres from the Isebania border post) without any problem whatsoever. But now, according to these businessmen, things have changed.

There are many Kenyans working in Tanzania, the newspaper continues, and hundreds of Tanzanians working in Kenya as small scale business people, bartenders and sellers of second hand clothes (Mitumba in East Africa speak). This is slowly becoming a thing of the past as mistrust stealthily creeps between peoples of the two countries.

This mistrust has further been amplified by the recent armed robberies on Tanzanian soil thanks to robbers of Kenyan descent. This state of affairs has received the full vent of Tanzanian President Mr. Kikwete and the Minister for Internal Security Mr. Bakari Mwapachu.

The good intention of the East Africa Community, where it behooves us to live as brothers and sisters, is being sacrificed at the altar of bureaucracy and misconstruction. In fact, things are being taken for what they are not – literally speaking.

That’s my take. What’s yours?

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

The killing of 14 Kenyans: Something just does not jell

It has been reported in the Tanzanian media that:
• Plans to execute them had long been planned
• Tanzanian police pretended to be robbers


The newspaper Sauti ya Watu Tanzania Daima (a Tanzanian daily) on Monday September 17th, 2007 carried a very controversial version of the story about the killing of 14 suspected robbers of Kenyan origin in Moshi a few days earlier.

According to the newspaper, the killing of the Kenyans was something that had been planned and staged. It is said that some Tanzanian police travelled to Kenya and posed as accomplices in criminal activities and succeeded in luring these people to Tanzanian soil

According to a source who divulged information about the whole plan, the ground where the police executed their heinous act was a clear ground with no obstructions. So the question is: If there was a shootout between the police and the robbers, why were there no police casualties?

It is alleged that these ‘robbers’ were taken to their supposed hideout in police cars that did not have number plates of the police force. Here the police sprayed their car and that of the ‘robbers’ with bullets in a bid to ‘hide’ the truth of what actually happened.

Just to show that the whole event was like a drama of sorts, a police car (registration number T 168 AEA Hiace GLX) was sprayed with bullets on the top of the body. Its windscreen was, incidentally, not broken. This is something that is very unlikely in the event of a shootout.

Questions arise here:

• If there really was a shoot out, why was there no glass that was broken in the vehicle of the police?
• In the alleged shoot out, why were there no casualties on the side of the police?
• If it really was a planned event, what was its aim?
• Was the aim of the ‘event’ intertwined with the supposed Tanzanian police’ heartfelt desire to show their president that they are working?
• Under whose direction was it?
• Is theTanzania Daima account a true representation of what happened on the ground? If it is true, what are its dynamics?

Can the Tanzanian police force come clean of these serious allegations? Kenya does not need nor does it deserve the heartrending bashing that it has been receiving from some quarters of Tanzania of late…

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

When will PNU wake up and get a serious campaign going?

When Will PNU Wake Up And Get A Serious Campaign Going?

If it is true that ODM is a Luo political party then Nairobi has just too many Luos. In fact the census figures for Luos should be revised as clearly they now have a larger population than the Kikuyus and Luhyas put together.

The writing must be on the wall by now for President Kibaki and his campaign team, which appears to be an extension of his administration—ruled by decision makers who are stuck in a time warp of the swinging but slow 60s.

The Kenyans who formed the crowds at Uhuru park yesterday represent the masses of Kenya, hungry for change. The president is not selling change but retention of the status quo. In fact looking at his team of old men one cannot help but stifle a yawn before the old man stands up to give those monotonous repetitive speeches of his. So what do you expect from the electorate?

In short, as predicted here earlier, the President’s campaign has started off on the wrong foot and it is doubtful if they will be able to come anywhere near ODM in the catch up game. Those are the facts on the ground.

Meanwhile we are experiencing mass hysteria from some people who do not want to believe that it is feasible for the country to be led by a Kenyan from Luo Nyanza and it will not be the end of the world. You will see some of them hurling insults here in this blog and saying all sorts of things with desperation written all over their words.

Yet, I dare say Mwai Kibaki and his inner circle are the ones who created this monster called ODM and a Raila Odinga presidency (if it is true that the two are indeed monsters). They did this when they went and changed their own job descriptions from what was handed over to them by their employer (The Kenyan people) in December 2002. The people sent them to State House to create jobs as a priority and to eliminate corruption and bring the perpetrators to book. Instead Mr Kibaki went and grew the economy (for the benefit of only a few) and instead of ending corruption embraced the biggest perpetrators of that corruption—the Mois and the Kenyattas.

The masses of Kenya may not be all that well educated but did the President really expect to get away with that?

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Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House