Exciting TV To Address Root Of Kenya's Problems

 A wind of refreshing change is quietly sweeping across the nation with the decision by the local press to air imperialist-style Presidential democratic debates on Kenyan airwaves come November 26th 2012.
                                                    
For the first time in Kenyan history all candidates for StateHouse will be subject to a free truth and reconciliation platform to show the country who will make a better Kenyan president in March 2013

This noble cause is sure to play host to such penetrating questions as:

• When is Artur Margayan's book being released?
• Has Kenyan history circa 1963 been told truthfully?
• Name a famous Kenyan land grabber
• Why were Nyayo torture chambers run while you were a senior member of the government?
• What is the tribe of your spouse?
• Where and when did you amass the wealth you have today?
• Who is behind political assassinations in Kenya and why?
• Who funded the YK92 and where are the audited accounts?
• How do you say StateHouse in your opponents mother-tongue?

The search for a leader out of the numerous names of contenders has begun in earnest as 2013 draws closer. Never before has there been such an opportunity for a new breed of leader born after independence to wrest the political control from hands of the old guard who are scared to stand next to a computer.

Totally new faces, preferably dot-com Kenyans who have not been in politics before and can surf the internet can now clearly demonstrate on Television how the GDP of Kenya can overtake Singapore by 2030

The Kenyan voter gladly welcomes this opportunity to question the string of broken promises which overshadow all the other achievements that have been made by the government since 2002 NA BADO

President Uhuru Sworn-in Abroad at The Hague

It is five months to the mother of all elections. But that does not matter it is six months to the The Hague/ICC noose snapping. And Uhuru is no average Joe, he knows the only way to KILL The Hague monster clinging on his back is to win the presidency.

Forget all the bravado and brinkmanship from the other presidential aspirants. Uhuru has penciled his life on the next polls. In is mind it is a matter of LIFE and DEATH socially, politically and financially.

The forth coming elections is like oxygen to Uhuru. He losses and his goose is hunted, cooked, digested and flushed. The 26th richest African can afford to risk ICC jail which will see over 50 billion shillings of Kenyatta family wealth seized to compensate Post Election Violence victims. Never.

What is more, the new constitution provided immunity to Kenyan presidents from prosecution in any court for any criminal offence. Don't waste your breathe shouting that ICC is not bound by our laws. This is Kenya and impunity is our first, middle and surname.

Article 143 (1) of the new constitution explicitly states that "Criminal proceedings shall not be instituted or continued in any court against the President or a person performing the functions of that office, during the tenure of office."

Yes with ultimate power you can afford to read the same constitution selectively and dismiss the next clause Article 143(4): "The immunity of the president under this Article shall not extend to a crime for which the President may be prosecuted under any treaty to which Kenya is party and which prohibits such immunity". Kwani mta do?

And before you foam at the mouth waxing legalistic you have to know the present substantive appointing authority who is not Kibaki lest you delude yourself. If in doubt just send and email to either Eugene and ole Metito.

So forget about flamboyant old geezers like Bashir or Mugabe shouting themselves hoarse with neocolonialism slogans. Come next year and Kenya will beat them all making history in all fronts.

And that history will begin with the forth president of Kenya being sworn in office in Europe, Netherlands to be precise and at The Hague to be exact.

Already three very creative Kenyans, Messrs Charles Munyui, Kamotho Njenga and Paul Mwangi have taken both AG Muigai and Justice Minister Wamalwa to court so that they can be directed to amend the Assumption of the Office of the President Act, 2012 so as to accommodate swearing-in from without Kenyan borders.

You see last month's by-elections has definitely redefined Kenyan politics. The new party on the political block is ruling the airwaves and Uhuru is leaving nothing to chance. And what a sweet victory, real or perceived, it would be to defeat the very person who engineered his ICC persecutions. Game on.

Embodiment of virtues

The entire Kumekucha bloggers and loyal abiding readership wish to extend heartfelt "Hongera" to Water and Immigration Minister Charity Ngilu on the happy occasion of her successful B.A. L.M. graduation


The single virtue defining us as Kenyans is the power to read letters as exemplified by our own economical African Teacher and the high priced Ivy League Education Graduates.

Critics rhetoric not withstanding, a degree remains a necessary qualification for sufficient leadership of any nation and holding a degree immediately improves the company of ones association as portrayed by the guest list during the Water Minister's celebration party.

Thankfully the power of the new constitution is already at work sweeping away the rot of functionally illiterate leaders who have been laughing all the way to the bank leading an equally functionally illiterate populace NA BADO

Here Comes the Three Presidential Musketeers

Forget the opinion polls. Long dead is G7. The race to become Kenya's forth president has just began in earnest. And what a formidable trinity in Jomo Jnr, the VP Kalonzo and Bill Ruto.

The three may be owners of kingsize egos but they have seen the light. On their own they are toast but together it is no contest.

Son of Jomo has revolutionized Kenyan politics in very few weeks. Even his pun in naming his party Tuko Na Agwambo (TNA) was a clever dig at his opponent which has paid handsomely.

Raila is just propping the presidential league table. And poor Musalia has been left holding the bathtub full of dirty water.

It appears Mudavadi's short-lived political honeymoon is over. No amount of clervely-crafted ICC friendly press statements will save son of Mululu. You don't win votes by condemning the 40m voters for crimes of four people.

Now as political transfer window closes, brace yourselves for the unthinkable. Game on, bring it on. The next mutation of G7 will give forth a political hydra.

Mombasa Tuskys Supermarket Robbery

BREAKING NEWS: One kid has died and several others seriously injured after a grenade detonated in a Sunday School in Pangani.

Now the cowards going by the name of terrorists have turned their evil grenades on kids. Shame on them!!!
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 Spate of Supermarket robberies that are never reported in the media
At least 7 heavily armed thugs broke into the Tuskys Digo Road Mombasa supermarket last night at about 9pm and made off with an unspecified amount of cash.

Sources within the giant supermarket chain have told a Kumekucha informant that the gangsters seemed to have a lot of inside information and even asked for the chief cashier, a Mr Waweru, by name. The timing of the robbery at 9pm shortly before closing time at 10pm at the end of the month and when workers of the supermarket had just been paid also points to the fact that the robbers must have gotten a lot of inside help and knew the best time to hit when they were bound to find the largest amount of cash available.

Conveniently the CCTV cameras at the supermarket were not working at the time of the raid because they had just been disconnected as workers expanded them into the next shop (formerly Little Chef Restaurant) which has recently been purchased by Tuskys in a bid to expand their floor space for the supermarket.

The robbers were so cool and confident that they took time to collect at least four heavy chests of coins and did not just take away the bank notes as is usually the case in most robberies these days.

But even more puzzling is how stories on robberies at the Supermarket are hardly ever reported. Barely a month ago the TMall Tuskys along Langata Road was robbed and gangsters got away with a staggering Kshs 24 million. Sources within the supermarket say that the directors of the retail chain usually go to great lengths to block any publicity on the robberies because they fear that it will scare away night shoppers a category of customers that is giving most supermarkets in Kenya colossal profits at the moment.

Read about the family power struggle to control Tuskys Supermarket

Thug Waititu's Incitement to Earn Murder Charges

He epitomizes superlative aggression, bravado and hands-on politician. He has never lost his City Hall antics and cares less what comes from his mouth. And to please his Embakassi voters he will tell them anything.
Hon Ferdinand Waititu called for expulsion of all Maasais from Kayole oblivious of the fact that he was pitting himself against two Maasais in the Minister for Internal Security Metito and Director of Public Prosecutions Tobiko.
Even his equally combative and theatrical colleague Sonko after spiriting him out of parliament with the help of gullible police would not bail him out his self-inflicted troubles. He simply invited it upon himself. And he wouldn't have let his lips loose at a bad time. Kenyans are too aware of serial violence during election cycles.
Waititu may have gotten away with murder before but this time the odds are mightily stuck against him. Even his political boss has disowned him. While Makwere may be gifted in spitting sweetened poison with his gliding tongue, Waititu never bothers about sch niceties.
Abrasively condemning a whole community infront of the camera is obtuse impunity. While Kenya has changed a great deal, many of its leaders still retain mindsets hard-wired in antics of yore.
AG Muigai has promised Waititu to serve as an example of what hate speech can earn. Let the lwa take its course hoping that Kenyan's landlords will not disregard courts like they did with county commissioners.

Image courtesy of FunKenya.COM

The Best president for Kenya: This man who will solve ALL our political problems

He has fanatical support in Nyanza and equally enthusiastic support right across several province which in one neat move eliminates tribalism from our presidential elections. Sadly candidate Raibaki does not exist.

Still it is not bad to daydream once in a while and fantasize of what can never happen... Not in Kenya. Or can it?

Midiwo's Dishonest Suggestion on More/Less MPs

By KK Blogger

Co-Government chief whip Jakoyo Midiwo is one politician known for his loose talk and character worshipping. But his suggestion against many MPs over the weekend made very interesting argument.

Midiwo knows the next generation of MPs will not be as powerful as the present one give the presence of senators and governors. But only politically selected few can fill these grand posts.

So was Midiwo simply being nostalgic about the impendining loss of political power or he was genuinely engaging in substantive national debate?

Well, there is no price for guessing. Politicians the world over are the most selfish species among us. Midiwo may be right to compare number of representatives in US and the population with ours but he connivently avoided comparing the pay. And there in lies the nauseating dishonesty in his suggestion.

Some would readily say because we are who we are and we have always remained who we were, without any intention of ever changing ourselves, communities and a once beautiful country - Kenya, I suppose - for the better or for the next seven generations.

Think about it for a second; 435 representatives and 100 senators serving (as opposed to being served, honoured, and worshipped by) 311 million people in country - United States of America - with a land mass of 3,718,710 square miles.

Versus the usual revenue guzzling payload of 349 MPigs (potential lords of impunity) and 67 senators [whose only mandate is to demand honour, adoration and daily worship at public rallies], for a population of very unfortunate 38 million impoverished Kenya confined on a land mass of 30.2 million km2 (11.7 million square miles).

And for what? Why the wastage as usual? So that the political elite may continue to eat together for another five to ten years in the ever willing company of political-cum-tribal lords, double-faced aid agencies, and cold hearted foreign economic hitmen and women?

Tana River Clashes Expose Lack of Leadership

By KK Blogger

The silly season is here. Civil servants are leaving their 'plum' jobs to join politics. Well, the move betrays all that is wrong with Kenya. You see everybody wants a piece of the pie without making any effort to bake the same.

So will new and different faces like those of people (soon to be former insiders) like Alfred Mutua and countless others make any real difference in the overall governance of the country as well as in the lives of the Kenyan people after the 2013 general election?

Sadly, the ongoing carnage, and massacre of the Pokomo and Orma people of Kenya is a residual effect that occurs when a so-called dysfunctional democratic government has failed its people, not just once, not twice or even six times, but has failed its citizens over and over and over again in the course of the last five decades in terms of providing basic human rights and basic services such security among others.

Hence one of the many reasons why people in affected communities end up taking matters in their own hands with deadly consequences rather than opting to seek legal solutions from the judicial system that has been nonexistent in so many remote regions of the country such as in the Tana Delta for decades.

Of course there is no justification whatsover for the ongoing violent hostility and revengeful murderous assaults on children, women, the elderly and unarmed men among the two communities that have resided on either side of the Tana River.

However, those charged with the overall adminstration, security, community policing and most of development - which has been 100% nonexistent - in the region are to blame for the frequent outburst violence between the two communities who have been each other's nemesis since the era when the powerful King of Massylii relinquished his rule that had extended all the way up to the Tana Delta.

On the other hand, lest we forget, talking of the rest of us, who live far away removed from some of the remotest areas of Kenya, the ongoing bloodshed in the Tana Delta is neither politically engineered nor ethinically motivated at all.

Basically, it has been about the struggle for survival and scramble (deadly at times) for the control of scarce resources, namely grazing space and fertile farming land along the Tana River.

Cycle of violence

Further, murderous assaults similar to the current one among the Pokomo and Ormo have been allowed to take place in the past within different regions of the country, such as the 2007/8 post-election violence, Likoni (Mombasa), Mt. Elgon, Trans-Mara, Moyale, Marsabit, Isiolo, Mandera, Laikipia, Aldai, Trans-Nzoia, Mathare, and Kibera (third largest slum in the world, - our national pride and world monument of abject poverty - hell's village (inferno) on the African continent).

All carried out in the struggle for the control of scarce basic resources in the afore mentioned regions.

And unfortunately, it will be business as usual for the next president, senators, governors, parliamentarians, women representatives, elected local officials, and new police commissioner (or inspector general).

Including the well connected, the wealthy, elite, so-called civil society, social-cum-political activities, tribal political chiefs, tribal war lords, common ignorant foot soldiers, and above all the sanctimonious religious leaders.

Gov Dr Alfred Mutua Anajivunia Kuwa M'masaku

The first official Governement Spokesman for the Republic of Kenya Dr Alfred Mutua has resigned from his post and plunged headlong into the world of murky politics.

Alfie has been President Kibaki's mouthpiece for the last 8+ years. During that time the patriotic Mutua came with such ingenious slogan like 'Najivunia kuwa Mkenya'. And the enthusiasm radiated in his eyes when handing out stickers to motorists.

Mutua's entry into politics may just usher in a new political era of new faces. To top it up Mutua has promised a blockbuster memoir aptly titled "Shooting the Messenger" where he will bear it all.

He may look a political novice i the face of his potential opponents in the moneyed Muthama and co, but the communications professor is not naive.

Mutua has plenty of fire power under his belt starting from his Friday Daily Nation's column Msafiri more than two decades ago. Stevo has surely secured a huge catch.

He may have goofed in his numerous shameless defense of the indefensible, but Governor Mutua will surely offer Machakos Country a new political face.

Good luck Alfie.

Goodbye Mombasa?

Spare a thought for the families of the policemen who have died in Mombasa in the line of duty protecting Kenyans. RIP brave officers.

I have sources on the ground in troubled Mombasa and the information coming out of Mombasa raha is not good.

The police have called those causing chaos “criminals." Even presidential hopeful Martha Karua has called them criminals. The strange thing is that these “criminals” do not behave like criminals at all they in fact behave more like people who are out to cause chaos. If your objective was just to loot the last thing you would want to do is kill a policeman let alone hurl grenades into vehicles that you think are full of policemen. What is even more telling here is the timing of last night’s grenade attack. Over 3 lorries of GSU personnel had arrived in Mombasa and had spent the better part of the day moving from house to house in the troubled areas of Mombasa city. Actually calm and a semblance of normalcy had been restored and the media reported exactly that. It looked like the worst was behind us. But suddenly… yet another grenade attack that seriously injured 7 policemen. Actually police reports contradict eye witnesses on the ground who say they saw at least 2 dead policemen after the attack.

When you examine these unfolding events next to the assassination of sheikh Aboud Rogo it becomes crystal clear that there is more than meets the eye in the whole saga. For starters it is highly unlikely that the radical sheikh was killed by Kenyan authorities. Actually the possibility that makes the most sense now is that he was gunned down by his own people who already had the grenades and the well laid plans to cause chaos ready and finalized. It is highly unlikely that the grenades and planning all happened hours after the assassination, after all such weaponry is not sukuma wiki (kales, which are a staple of Kenyans) that you just walk to the market and purchase on demand.

Secondly the attacks on churches were clearly designed to provoke some kind of retaliation. Fortunately this seems to have been planned by somebody who does not know Kenyan Christians too well and was operating on assumptions that Kenya is similar to Nigeria. That gives us yet another important clue that may help point to the source of the troubles at the Coast. There are those who have said that since the late Sheikh Rogo’s radical teachings were against churches, it is only natural that his followers would burn churches after his death. A more believable angry retaliation would be against the government rather than churches.

Following this train of thought the next question is who would want to bring trouble to Mombasa? Who would have the most to gain from such troubles? Or who would have a motive?

In previous posts in this blog there have been spirited efforts to defend radical elements of Somali immigrants living in Kenya. According to them the current troubles at the Coast are the work of locals working alone. And yet it is a well known fact that these radical Somali elements support Al Shabab and have been very busy in recent years “educating” Mombasa Muslims on how they can be “better” Muslims. Their message has been rejected by older and wiser Muslims but has been embraced by the young, the jobless and the restless.

P.S. Is it only me who has noticed that no senior Muslim religious leader has appeared in the media to appeal for calm since the Mombasa troubles started. It is only Muslim politicians and ordinary Muslims. What are they fearing?

See earlier post: The truth about the chaos in Mombasa

The truth about the chaos in Mombasa

The Somali youths at the forefront of running battles with police seem determined to escalate the violence and insecurity in Mombasa to the kind of levels they are used to back home in Mogadishu. Muta-do?

Yesterday police commissioner Mathew Iteere lost his cool when he was put on the spot over the security situation in the country. In my view he had every right to lose his temper because the police are NOT to blame for what is going on and if you understand the way Kenya works you will agree with what I am saying.

Mombasa is perfect, most of all because it is a coastal town just like Mogadishu.

My late dad used to complain (until I got sick of hearing it) about how the government had lowered the standards of the police force they inherited from their former colonial masters and continued to do so on a daily basis for political reasons not realizing that the “snake” they were rearing and feeding would one day turn against them and bite so hard that they would never recover. Okay my dad was not that eloquent in portraying his ideas but that was the gist of what he used to say over and over again during his retirement. He would finish off by emphasizing that standards would take years to build but could be destroyed in a flash.

The problem with our police force started when a deliberate effort was made to ensure that the top brass was always “politically correct.” That necessitated favoring the home boys for the top positions and shunning others who came from the wrong part of the country. If you investigate the history of the force properly you will quickly discover that the first commissioner should have been a man who was brushed aside simply because he hailed from Luo Nyanza.

Later on it became purely commercial in the police where the corrupt were quickly promoted to the top while those who blocked the high and mighty from doing their deals and refused to be bribed were forced out of the police force. I actually witnessed a senior police officer who stole cash raised by his juniors get promoted to police commissioner at the expense of other better qualified and principled policemen who refused to accept bribes let alone “steal.”. What would you expect from a force run by such a man?

Over the years the police force was reduced to a private army of the political elite. And so if you were a criminal who happened to be from the ruling tribe and close to State house no policeman would dare dream of arresting you, even if they caught you red handed. Everything had to wait for orders “from above.”

Now let’s get relevant to what is happening in Mombasa. When illegal immigrants started crossing over to Kenya from Somalia in the 1980s the Moi government did not see this as a security risk. They yawned and went to sleep. Security organs who were very aware of what was happening did nothing because they were waiting for orders from above that never came. This security problem that the government ignored spilled over to the United Kingdom where prior to the late 80s Kenyans did not need a visa to travel to the UK. Everything changed when Heathrow started being choked by Somalis with Kenyan passports arriving but hardly leaving. Most of these Somalis were illegal immigrants to Kenya who had easily obtained national identity cards and then Kenyan passports.

Today Somali immigrants are so many in Kenya that they have the kind of numbers that can easily tilt a closely fought presidential elections.

Impeccable sources from Mombasa have confirmed to this blogger that these “foreigners” are the ones causing chaos in Mombasa. Mombasa youths have always been outspoken in many ways but they have never been radicalized and cannot stand violence. The kind of youths throwing grenades at the police in Kenya’s coastal city are battle hardened and you can guess where they got all their experience from.

Word on the street is that the assassinated sheikh was murdered by his own people and judging from the well co-ordinated chaos that have followed in such an intricately choreographed manner that is becoming increasingly believable. The Somali youths at the forefront of running battles with police seem determined to escalate the violence and insecurity in Mombasa to the kind of levels that they are used to back home in Mogadishu. Mta-do?

Folks we are paying the price of decades of laxity in security where the idiots making the decisions spend most of their time barking orders like “kwenda rokoto hio mtu” (go and pick up so and so). And many times this order was given for the flimsiest of reasons like you delaying to pay somebody’s debt of a few hundred Kenya shillings.

And so while the cops were collecting petty debts for individuals and serving only the interests of the elite, security went to the dogs where it is now irretrievable. Yes, it is not Iteere’s fault is it? I would direct most of my security questions at one Daniel Toroitich arap Moi.
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Breaking News: Mombasa erupts yet again;

This evening the uneasy but optimistic calm that had settled into Mombasa was shattered when a grenade was hurled into a police car seriously injuring at least 7 police officers. There were unconfirmed reports of deaths from the incident that took place very close to the Mombasa Pentecostal Church.

It is now clear that there are some elements within the town who are very determined to ensure that peace is not restored in the coastal city any time soon. Attacks of this magnitude against police officers during riots and demonstrations are very rare in the country and yet this is the second such incident in the last 3 days or so.

Can extra-judicial killings be justified?

"Muslims must take the matter into their own hands, stand united against the Kuffar [non-Muslims] and take all necessary measures to protect their religion, their honour, their property and their lives from the enemies of Islam," ...........Al-Shabaab statement 

There was a time in this life that I was pretty naïve. These days I am little less foolish in the ways of the world. Over the years experience and especially the perils of running this political blog have taught me plenty.

The truth of the matter is that the world is not a simple black and white affair like so many seem to think. Most issues are pretty complex and some of the decisions that the chief executive of any nation has to take can be agonizing and very difficult. That is why things get worse when you have a man or woman who hates to make a decision leading a nation. A bad decision is quite often better than a good one that takes too long to make.
 
A terrible thing for a child to see (her father getting killed). 5 year old daughter of Aboud Rogo is consoled by her grand father Rogo's father in-law moments after the shooting.
 

This photo of controversial cleric Aboud Rogo was taken minutes after the shooting. His killing sparked off riots in Mombasa's Majengo and Kingorani areas and beyond. Even this morning the situation is still tense in Kenya's coastal city.

Yesterday a controversial Muslim cleric linked to Somalia's Al-Qaeda-allied Al-Shebab militants was assassinated. Aboud Rogo died in a most horrible way as his wife, child and father in law watched. A car overtook them on the Mombasa/Malindi Road near the famous Pirates night club and the gunman using what must have been an automatic weapon sprayed enough bullets to kill 10 men all directed at the driver’s seat. It is obvious that the job was executed by a trained marksman because there were no other fatalities in the car, only small easily treatable injuries amongst the other occupants of the car.

How many people in the country can execute that kind of shooting? Not many I can assure you and only those who have handled a firearm will understand what I am talking about. Don’t forget that the car was speeding past and slowed only momentarily for the shooting. So you have two moving vehicles and a target.

To cut a long story short the whole thing has extra-judicial assassination executed by the government written all over it.

It would be wrong for us to pass judgment over the Aboud Rogo case without all the facts before us, and especially the kind of details which are never made public for security reasons. And so let us leave Mombasa for now and imagine another typical scenario for a minute shall we.

Our local intelligence services gets wind of a terrorist who has crossed our usually porous borders from Somalia and is headed for Nairobi. It quickly becomes clear that this man is not visiting relatives in Eastliegh but is on a bombing mission to harm Kenyans. What should be done in such a case? If the man is arrested there will be no evidence to convict him successfully and revealing some of the information our security agents have in a court of law would compromise our intelligence gathering and monitoring methods and enable terrorists to evade detection much more easily in future. And so the kind of solution that would save Kenyan lives in such a case would be to execute the terror suspect before he gets to Nairobi. The press and Kumekucha informants witnessing police dragging the man out of a bus and pumping bullets into him on the side of the road would be aghast. But they would not have all the facts would they.

The terrible truth is that extra-judicial killings happen all over the world all the time and not just in Kenya. The nation of Israel for instant is a small nation with a few million Jews surrounded by hundreds of millions of hostile Arab enemies. In such a situation there is very little room for errors and numerous extra-judicial killings over the years have kept Israel safe.

Indeed these kind of killings have been recorded from as early as Biblical times.

But even more interesting is the current plan by the Obama administration to use technology in the form of Drones to execute “lawful” extra-judicial killings internationally and at home. Read about that controversial plan and the legal implications HERE.

All that brings us back to the big question. Are there times when extra-judicial killings can be justified?

How Raila’s Supporters Are Going To Lose Him The Election…

...Miguna Miguna beaten up in Mombasa

On the day of the general elections in 2007 my late dad behaved in a very strange way just before he left to vote. “That’s a Raila man,” he told my younger brother who was driving him to the polling station. His voice and tone were filled with disgust. He made sure that I was out of ear shot. Clearly he was upset because after our long discussions late into the night during those Christmas holidays, he knew which direction I was going to cast my vote. I also knew that he was going to vote Kibaki which he did.

I found this strange because we had had many political discussions and although in most of them we never agreed, he had accommodated my views without any problem. And so that Christmas holiday when I told him the direction the country was headed to in that general election it seems that his anger had been building up.

I found it very strange but 2 years later something else happened that reminded me of that incident. A friend who was doing some serious research on the ground told me how surprised he was that the Kamba people had no time for Raila Odinga the presidential candidate. And it had absolutely nothing to do with Kalonzo Musyoka being his competitor. It had more to do with what appeared to be a deep-seated disdain for the Luo community. Clearly the propaganda campaigns carried out during the Kenyatta administration against the Luo had worked wonders amongst the older generation Kambas and there was no way you were going to change their minds.

Miguna Miguna running for dear life in Mombasa yesterday surrounded by an angry mob. He lost his trademark hat, a shoe and some buttons from his coat and shirt. Reports have insisted that he was attacked by youths. Odd because most of the goons (belonging to the most democratic political party in Kenya) here do not look very young to me. (photo courtesy of the Standard newspaper).

Many patriotic Kenyans (including this blogger) have been working very hard to change the dented image of the Luo community and their politics believing that Raila Odinga is one Kenyan who deserves the presidency. Now all that work has just been flashed down the toilet in the twinkling of an eye. Thanks to the behavior of some hooligans who earlier today roughed up and assaulted Miguna Miguna at the Royal Castle Hotel. According to my sources in Mombasa, Miguna is lucky to be alive because had the police acted a split second later than they did we would now be eulogizing Miguna.

What is this?

Does it mean that if Raila becomes the president of this country and I criticize his policies I will not be able to go round without a police escort? After all the sacrifices made by many Kenyans have we returned our politics to the stone age where we beat up people whom we do not agree with? Are these the supporters of a candidate who claims to be running on a reform agenda? Are these the kind of reforms we spilled Kenyan blood for?

My late dad must be turning in his grave now and chuckling. I can hear him tell me; “I told you so.” And the same is happening with all those Kenyans who were almost convinced that Raila can be president of this country. The primitive view of the Akamba people and many others has been vindicated.

To make matters worse Raila the presidential candidate is silent. His silence is extremely loud and it is speaking to Kenyans in a loud voice. He is telling us that this kind of behavior is okay. And in fact he may be relying on such supporters to help him with his political agenda if and when he becomes president.

Would you vote for such a presidential candidate?

Shikuku: Peoples’ Watchman, Superlative Debater

The peoples' watchman and veteran politian Martin Shikuku is dead. He was 79 years old. The grim ripper has struck again, this time round claiming the superlative parliamentary debater. Shikuku succumbed to cancer while undergoing treatment in Nairobi.

Martin Shikuku was a unique and talented Kenyan politician. He could as well be used as a poster for dynamic and witty politicking. As a master of parliamentary standing orders, he will be remembered for living way ahead of his time.

He spoke the truth as it was as evident when he reminded MPs that there was no need to substantiate the obvious 'Kanu is dead'. Standing up to Jomo then needed real guts and balls of steel and Shikuku had both in abundance and eloquence.

Speaking of being modern and living ahead of his time what of his ready made-to-measure grave and coffin in Bungoma county. You cannot make that up on Shikuku.

Shikuku's preparations for after life has few equal/s. Not least from an African statesman born in a community where death is only spoken of in hushed low tones.

Evidence of Shikuku's superb brain can be found in numerous research papers by Cambridge professors who used him to recollect and record Kenya's history.

Shikuku needed not be a paper professor. His death is like a library burnt down. Fare well son of Oyondi.

...Adds Kumekucha Chris
A political analyst once said that the best person to be president of Kenya in a transition from the old to the new was one Martin Shikuku simply because all that Kenya needed was a true patriot who would have only one agenda; to put an abrupt stop to corruption. New ideas and initiatives would come later because this single mission executed successfully would transform the country immensely.

That spoke volumes about the manner in which Kenyans viewed this courageous politician. Standing up to the murderous government of Jomo Kenyatta was no mean feat and Shikuku is extremely lucky to have escaped with his life. His woes did not end with the death of Kenyatta and he quickly found himself in trouble with Moi too. In a bizarre and strange twist of fate Shikuku died on the exact same date Jomo Kenyatta died in 1978.

Shikuku was there right from the beginning and was in attendance for the famous Lancaster House talks in London that crafted Kenya's first constitution. Virtually everybody else there went on to use their public positions to amass vast fortunes. In his last days Shikuku had to rely on government handouts to pay for his prostate cancer treatment. That tells you a lot about what this man was about and what he stood for.

I was fortunate enough to meet hero Shikuku a few times in his twilight years. A very easy guy to talk to with a great sense of humour. Great intellect too. But what always shone through was his great love for the motherland. If fate were to be fair this man deserved to be president of Kenya much more than some cowardly fence-seaters I know.

Kwaheri bwana Shikuku Kenya owes you much more than will ever be revealed.

Another Update  from Chris
The late Shikuku prepared dug a grave and bought a coffin in preparation for his death over 20 years ago to ease the burden on his family after he was gone. Amazing guy. Read the story HERE

PM Zenawi Dead as Sister Death Visits Ethiopia

By Anonymous KK Blogger

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenewi is dead. After treatment abroad for the last two months, doctors at a Belgian hospital could not keep the benevolent dictator alive.

Zenawi's death leaves Ethiopia in a politically precarious state. A whole generation knew him as the only leader having ruled for more than two decades. To put it in perspective Ethiopia has been synonymous with Zenawi as Somali been to chaos since the ouster of Said Bare in 1991.

Meles' reign also saw secession of Eritria whose strongman Affewoki always spoilt for a fight including over the barren Badme. So another hitherto West's blue eye boy bites the dust. His death leaves Paul and Kaguta breathing from that lot.

Strongman

So there goes annther African president bites the dust on European soil while seeking specialized medical treatment and care in a foreign hospital facility.

The departed Zenawi was a north-eastern African leader who had be granted twenty years to improve the lot of his people, including the basic infrastructure, health facilities throughout the country, the economy for all to benfit, agriculture, security, education, etc.

Yet very little has changed since the year Ironman Mengistu Haile Mariam was forced out of Addis Ababa, taking three plane loads of all the country's gold reserves and foreign currency with him into a a self-style luxurious exile.

One of the very tempting reasons why Comrade Robert Mugabe could not afford to ignore nor refuse to lay out a red acrpet welcome for such a rare quest flying in from north-eastern Africa.

Anyway, what a year 2012 has been in terms of its coperation with Sister Death and at times Mother Nature, in terms removing, withdrawing, or recalling prominent African politicians from office.

The year 2012 is not yet over but the death toll has kept rising all the way from Malawi, Ghana, Ethiopia, and who knows where the next recall will be sanctioned.

Sister death, natural equalizer

Sister Death with the permission of Mother Nature, may head out and pay an overdue late night private visit to Robert Mugabe and one of his very wealthy resident comrade, Mengistu Haile Mariam.

Another quick pit-stop for Sister Death should be palatial residence of a man, Blaise Compaore, who lack's the heart of 'men with integrity', given the fact that he was in one way or another implicated in the death of Thomas Sankara.

By the way, hass anyone out there heard any whispers about the intended timely vists to the Democratic of The Congo, Uganda, Swaziland and South Africa, including our very own backyard where people cling onto power until Sister Death comes calling as the last resort?

May the presidential death toll continue to take its cause in African countries where democracy has become a sham and elections are a scam.

And where the powers that be have created the illusion that "the people" control the government, not the elite, to such a degree that any credible resistance movements and strong political opposition has been neutralized.

Thanks to Sister Death, Mother Nature and her paternal celestial cousin Moirai.

Come Baby Democracy, Come

"...if hypocrisy were a commodity that we could export and earn money from, then Kenya would today be richer than China and the Arab world put together."

The return into the country of the man whose second name is also his first is akin to a bad dream  that has come back to haunt the Raila camp. Yep Miguna Miguna is back.

But let us be brutally honest, something the vast majority of Kenyans just don't like.




Democrat Miguna Miguna whose democratic eyes were opened by a sacking from the most democratic political party in democratic Kenya.
 
The truth is that if hypocrisy were a commodity that we could export and earn money from, then Kenya would today be richer than China and the Arab world put together.

Take this democracy thing as an example. Raila is known to be the leading democrat in the country. In fact he and his supporters are so democratic that they have openly told Miguna Miguna that he is no longer welcome to Luo Nyanza. And those who know the passionately democratic supporters of the PM will know that they are serious, so serious that Miguna would not be safe in Kibera today, let alone far off Luo Nyanza.

Miguna Miguna himself is a leading democrat. He is so democratic that he did not get the idea for Peeling Back The Mask until he was fired by the PM. That firing opened his democratic eyes.

Indeed Kenya is full of die hard democrats starting with the president himself who is so democratic that for the good of the country he could not bear to hand over the presidency to Raila and chose instead to democratically steal the election. President Kibaki's democratic credentials are further confirmed by the fact that no other president in the history of Kenya has introduced so many bills in parliament seeking to control the press. And no other president has raided a daily newspaper and disabled their presses. And don't forget the name of the party that Kibaki founded with the late Njenga Karume is DP (Democratic party of Kenya). In fact if it was up to some of the diehard Kikuyu supremacy democrats within the party the name of the party would have actually been Democratic party of Kenya Democracy.

Kenyans are so lucky because we have had a long string of democratic presidents right from Jomo Kenyatta who was so democratic that he never changed the law about having competing political parties but instead murdered those who even tried to think of doing such an undemocratic thing as starting an opposition party.

Did you know that the "T" in former President Daniel T arap Moi's name stands for tolerance of a true democrat. So tolerant was Baba Moi to those who had opposing views to his that all he did was to have their private parts squeezed by a pair of pliers in the infamous Nyayo torture chambers. He was a true tolerant democrat because unlike Kenyatta before him, he did not murder his opponents (take careful note of the fact that Robert Ouko was not Moi's political opponent).

The vast majority of Kenyan voters are so democratic that they will democratically vote for the most democratic tribe (the one they belong to) before they can begin to vote for any issues or even a member of the other undemocratic tribes.

Have a most democratic weekend will you.

Raila May Well do a Moi During 2013 Elections

By Joseph Lister Nyaringo
Should Raila overcome the present court hurdle by proving the authenticity of his degree from German, he may as well be heading to greater things come the next elections.

In the coming election, the 1992 and 1997 history is likely to repeat itself when a fragmented opposition would not beat former President Moi. This time round, Moi, will be none rather than Prime Minister Raila Odinga. And here is why.

The two leaders in the grand coalition government President Kibaki should hold with esteem are Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, because of their positive role to his 10 years Presidency.

That’s why I think that Raila and Kalonzo are the most betrayed by Kibaki. As he strides towards the end of his political career, he does not appear to favour any of the two to succeed him.

This has sent tongues wagging especially in the Vice President’s camp, which have been holding their breath for payback time from Kibaki. They feel that the President should return the favour which Kalonzo extended to him in 2007 during the disputed Presidential election results.

What shall we conclude about President Kibaki who has been in politics since age 28 and who unsuccessfully vied for the Presidency twice before clinching the seat in 2002?
Shall we conclude that he is a principled leader and not a rewarder of political cronies or an unthankful person who dumps those who helps him to ride to his glory?

The Vice President had every right to turn Kibaki down when he offered him the Vice presidency and join Raila’s protesting camp over the disputed presidential election results. Perhaps we would not have the current coalition government, since it would have changed the political equation in the Country.
It’s also remembered that President Kibaki's victory in 2002 is largely attributed to the role played by Raila. The deputy Premier, just like the Vice President, even if both leaders don’t speak openly, must be feeling that Kibaki owes so much.

I'm 100% sure that the Vice President’s heart bleeds more than Raila’s especially when he sees the succession debate from the President’s community shaping up negatively to his presidential ambitions.
Its true Kalonzo saved Kibaki during the inevitable hour in 2007; a period viewed by many as the most desperate in the President’s political career. It can’t even be compared with 2002 when Raila Odinga, used the phrase “Kibaki tosha” at Uhuru Park.

Several political events have kept the Vice President extremely sceptical. First of all, a party formed by State House insiders- UDF, is spearheading Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi to succeed Kibaki.
It remains to be seen if Kibaki will eventually support Mudavadi and if he does, will he succeed in convincing Uhuru Kenyatta to forego his ambitions to support his fellow deputy PM?

If he doesn’t, Mudavadi should not expect any support from the President’s backyard and his exit from ODM will be seen as the most miscalculated political move in recent history.

Secondly, the pact this week which brought together Uhuru’s (TNA), Kiraitu’s (APK), Kimunya’s (PNU) and Kiunjuri’s (GNU),all from Mount Kenya, has left Kalonzo in tenterhooks.

Kalonzo may look passive and sound calm on State House’s silence over his Presidential quest but he bitterly feels betrayed by a community whose man he stood with and accepted to take the number two slot when the Country was smouldering.

When the campaign hits a crescendo soon, Kenyans will hear alot from the Akamba community who have continued holding their breath; hoping that since their man helped to legitimize Kibaki’s grip on power, Kalonzo would have been his preferred successor.

Watching the vigour with which Uhuru Kenyatta, Peter Kenneth, and Martha Karua are campaigning for the top seat, Kalonzo Musyoka and Musalia Mudavadi should not bank on Kikuyu votes. Even if Kibaki will rally behind one of the two, it’s unlikely that the community will deny their own and vote for an outsider.
The formation of the G7 alliance gave a new lease of life to the Vice president where he thought that the group will automatically endorse him. However, key figures in the alliance are expanding their energy and resources to advance their campaign on the national radar. This is a clear demonstraton that the success of the alliance to rally behind one presidential candidate is elusive.

It’s ironical that UDF, URP and TNA parties led by Mudavadi, Ruto and Uhuru respectively were all born almost at the same time except the Wiper party of Kalonzo and New Ford Kenya of Eugene Wamalwa. If these party leaders believed in a similar ideology and unity of purpose, why can’t they rally behind one candidate?

Rudisha: Poster of Confidence, Maturity, Success

Meanwhile Museveni has rewarded Uganda's first marathon Gold medalist Kiprotich with 6.7m, promoted the prison warder nine ranks higher and undertaken to build his parents a three-bedroomed house

The leadership of Team Kenya did not disappoint. They failed big time and went so low and petty so much so that they hoarded training kits even running shoes. Not to mention NOCK officials shipping their secretaries to London to earn £300 a day per diem.

But thank God we had captain Rudisha to thank for saving Kenya's face. Rudisha's stride and Kemboi's dance to victory and history was a sight to behold. Congratulations to both Rudisha (and Kemboi) for leading from the front and by example.

Heads likes that of Isaiah Kiplagat must roll. The guy has been head of Athletic Kenya since inception. Infact all the athletes competing at London olympics were born when he was the chair of AAK. Keino too may be a polished gentleman but time is up for NOCK to have a real knock on the head.

Athletic Kenya needs fresh blood headed by a new generation of the Tergats. Until that is done we are facing Waterloo in Rio in four years time.

How To Attract A Man

 

Why does a woman need to attract a man? Why should Chris Kumekucha publish such nonsense on his serious blog?

Wake up and smell the coffee. Your parents lived in the sixties and seventies and swear to you that that it is the only way of life to aspire to. But the truth is that we are in the year 2012 where Facebook and technology rule and where women have a right to attract the right kind of men into their lives. Ignore these truths at your own peril because the reality is that OTC and the Kenya Bus Services no longer exist and neither is Daudi Kabaka the latest hit song in town. Wake up!!!

And you do not need to grudgingly read this article either… just get out of here and read something else if you do not believe that this is important.

Attracting guys starts with you understanding men a little better. Guys are creatures of instinct and some of those instincts are pretty primitive and basic. Understand them and take full advantage of them. A lion will see a juicy fat gazelle and will remember that they are hungry and that is food hurtling at high speed across the savannah grass and so they will act. A man is not very different because he is first and foremost a visual creature. If they like what they see they will act. The good news is that as a lady you can manipulate what they see.

Many ladies already know that if you do not have such a nice attractive face then the thing to do is to wear a tight micro mini so that the attention of the man will be on your nice thighs and by the time they get to your face it will not matter too much. If on the other hand you have Kirinyaga Martha-Karua legs and a model’s face then you need to carefully choose the right kind of trousers and then enhance your looks with the right make up that brings out your best facial features. There are plenty of great tips on the World Wide Web that will help you dress to advantage and manipulate the visual effect on a man to your great advantage.

The other thing you need to work on is your scent. Get a sensual scent that will drive him crazy and don’t make any excuses about it. I have sat on the same table at social gatherings with men who did not like what they saw but the minute the woman came closer all was forgotten and forgiven and they were suddenly extremely interested. I kid you not. And so it is worth the trouble testing various scents with your workmates and colleagues until you arrive on the one that will have him following you around like a dog on heat. Stick to that one and watch the effect.

The way to attract a man the first time you meet them is to talk very little. Let that aura of mystery about you and who you really are linger on in his mind. If you are rally excited about him control yourself. When it gets overwhelming excuse yourself and go to the ladies to cool off. You must look cool an unaffected at all times for the best effect.

But you are allowed to smile and laugh a lot. Indeed this is vital in attracting a man. Men hate the sulky brooding type who is much more likely to nag nag when they get to know them a little better. Actually nothing attracts a man more than a fun-loving woman full of laughter and knock-out smiles that make his poor knees feel like jelly.

Never give a man hints because he will never understand them in a thousand years. Especially if he is on that dreadful Tusker thing they call a drink. Show him red and he will immediately think of Arsenal Football Club and not the sensual meaning of the colour that you are trying to get across. Tell him you are feeling tired (hinting that you should get going) and he order some water for you t chase away the sleep. Men #!!@#!

Instead just tell him bluntly what you want. That will get a man really interested and taking action right away. I know a very badly mannered lady who happens to be my marketing advisor who has a habit of walking up to men and telling them the craziest sexiest things. Personally I find it offensive but the truth is that it ALWAYS works. ALWAYS!!

Dating Men over 40

 Experienced women will tell you that there are a lot of very attractive things about older men. They are much more caring and romantic and mostly possess the kind of skills we cannot discuss in too much detail in this family oriented respectable blog. Not to mention that they are usually much more financially stable something that a woman’s basic instincts responds to very swiftly.

But they are difficult to attract. They will mostly be very suspicious of strangers who show any interest in them and could easily mistake you for the wrong kind of lady.

This is why your approach will need to be through his mind. Older men really get turned on by intellectual women. And you do not need a doctorate to provoke the intellect in older men. Thanks to a Mr Google a little research on your web enabled phone in the toilet will impress the hell out of him when you get back and start to discuss his pet subject so knowledgeably. And you do not need to cram a lot of stuff into your tipsy mind because you can simply keep on asking intelligent questions. This will never fail to attract the attention of an older man and you will never again have a problem dating men over 40 when you have mastered this technique.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton Kenya Visit (Speeches)

Remarks at a Meeting With the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and Civil Society Followed by a Press Availability Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Intercontinental Hotel

Nairobi, Kenya

August 4, 2012

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, first of all, let me say how pleased I am to be meeting with representatives of the Kenyan Elections Commission and civil society at such an important time in the history of this great country.

Hilary Rodham Clinton with Nelson Mandela during her recent trip to Africa.

I’ve had the opportunity already today in my meetings with the President and the Prime Minister, with the Chief Justice and the Speaker, to discuss the importance of a credible, transparent, free, and fair election process. The Kenyan people have demonstrated a great commitment to their own democracy, most recently with the successful referendum on the new constitution.

But we know that there are challenges, and this is the opportunity to meet those going forward. Not only is this important for the people of Kenya, but the eyes of the world will be on this election. And I have absolute confidence that Kenya has a chance to be a model for other nations, not just here in Africa but around the world.

On the other hand, the unrest that can result from a disputed election has a terrible cost, both in lives lost and in economic impact. The instability that followed the last election cost the Kenyan economy, by most estimates, more than one billion dollars. So it’s essential for government and civil society to work together. And of course, the Elections Commission has a special responsibility to ensure that the votes and aspirations of the people are reflected accurately and fairly.

And so I’m here today to listen and learn what the United States can do to support these very important efforts. We are committed to our partnership. We are proud to be a partner and a friend of Kenya, and we want to continue doing all we can to help this country continue its path forward.

So with that, I’ll take maybe one or two questions.

MODERATOR: The gentleman over here, by the camera.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes, sir.

QUESTION: Thank you, Madam Secretary. My name is (inaudible). (Inaudible) Chinese influence? And second question is (inaudible) will you come to terms?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Can I come what?

QUESTION: To terms.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Terms. Come to terms. Well, on the first question, the United States has a long history in Africa, working with countries on behalf of democracy and human rights, on behalf of healthcare and education, on economic development. We have signature programs like the African Growth and Opportunity Act, like the PEPFAR program for HIV/AIDS, for the Feed the Future program to improve agricultural output. Our emphasis has always been on supporting the lives of individuals and the democratic aspirations of people. So that is the value of what we try to offer. So what we’re interested in is how to be the best partner and friend. And that’s what I’m doing here in Kenya. We had a series of very comprehensive and constructive meetings today on a full range of issues that are important bilaterally between us, but also regionally and globally.

Of course, what happens in the elections is up to the people of Kenya. They’re the ones who will make the decisions. But we, as a partner and friend, are certainly hoping that this election, which is a complex election – there are many different ballot positions that will all be voted on the same time – goes so smoothly that everyone is so proud the next day because of what has been achieved, and that people who are unsuccessful – remember I’ve been in politics. I have won elections and I have lost elections. And when you lose an election and when your supporters see you lose and election, it’s important that they have to see that the process was fair. And that’s what we hope for here for our friends in Kenya.

MODERATOR: I think Matt had a question.

QUESTION: Yes, I do. Madam Secretary, you know – as you know, the South Sudan and Sudan have come to an agreement on oil (inaudible). I was wondering a) what do you think about? And also B) what would constitute similar success from your visits to Uganda? Would that be – what would that be, (inaudible) in the way of success and also (inaudible) hunt for Joseph Kony? And then again, (inaudible) that kind of success?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, I welcome the agreement on oil reached between the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan. This agreement reflects leadership and a new spirit of compromise on both sides. And I particularly praise the courage of the Republic of South Sudan leadership in taking this decision.

As I said in Juba yesterday, the interests of the people of South Sudan were truly at stake. The oil impasse has lasted more than six months. It was time to bring it to a close for the good of the people of South Sudan and their aspirations for a better future amidst the many challenges they face there, a nation that’s only one year and a few days old. And they have to turn to educating their people, providing healthcare, establishing strong democratic institutions.

And South Sudan’s leaders, led by President Salva Kiir, have really risen to the occasion, for which they deserve a great deal of credit. They tabled a bold, comprehensive proposal in the latest round of talks and an agreement was hammered out with the strong assistance of the African Union. And I think it’s to the great benefit of South Sudan and to Sudan.

Regarding your second and third questions, it is a great privilege and pleasure for me to be traveling as I am this week throughout Africa, meeting with a lot of old friends and meeting new people who are committed to the futures of their countries.

Clearly, we are very focused on the international hunt for Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army that has caused so much terrible damage and violence over so many years, and we had very good discussions with the Uganda People’s Defense Force on that. And we also covered a range of issues in my long conversation with President Museveni that we will be following up on.

And similarly here in Kenya, we’ve had very comprehensive discussions on economics, on humanitarian issues, the refugee issues, the very important contributions that Kenyan forces are making to AMISOM, to the work we’re doing in agriculture and so much else. And now I’m looking forward to hearing from the Elections Commission. Thank you all.

Remarks Following a Meeting With Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Judiciary

Nairobi, Kenya

August 4, 2012

I want to thank the Justice for receiving me today. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to discuss with him the progress of the constitutional reform. When the people of Kenya adopted your new constitution, the judiciary was given significant responsibilities, and I am very pleased to hear the progress that is being made. However, I am well aware that there are many issues yet to be decided and many laws to be passed (inaudible).

I discussed with the Chief Justice the upcoming elections next year, which will be so consequential for Kenya. And the United States has pledged to assist the Government and people of Kenya in ensuring that the upcoming elections are free, fair, and transparent, which is the very gift that the people of Kenya gave themselves by passing that new constitution. And we urge that the nation come together and prepare for elections that will be a real model for the entire world.
And again, I thank the Chief Justice for the important role that you and your team are playing. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Remarks at a Meeting With Staff and Families of Embassy Nairobi

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Nairobi, Kenya

August 4, 2012

AMBASSADOR NOLAN: Good afternoon everyone. For those of you whom I haven’t met in my five days now – (laughter) – here in Kenya, my name is Steve Nolan. I’m the charge d’affaires, thanks to the Secretary.

We are absolutely delighted today to have so many representatives of our mission finally welcoming Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, welcome her back to Kenya. I think everybody returns to Kenya. I have returned a few times. So I would like to say, Madam Secretary, Karibu Kenya. Welcome to Kenya.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you.

AMBASSADOR NOLAN: Madam Secretary, we are delighted that you’ve chosen to come to Kenya at such an important time in this nation’s history, with national elections coming next March and as Kenya continues to implement its new constitution. This mission is critical and involved in that transformation, and the hard work that they have done is helping this country to progress.

We all take great pride in the partnership – the strong partnership – that has gone on for nearly five decades between the United States and Kenya. And these are the people who are responsible for making it stronger. This is one of the best missions in Africa. It is also one of the largest missions in Africa, over 20 agencies, doubled in size since I was last here.

Your personal interest in Kenya and in our efforts, as a close friend and ally of this country, means a great deal to all of us. We look forward to hearing your message to us today. And to paraphrase the words of Isak Dinesen, I’d like to say that here you are, where you want to be. (Laughter.)
And without any further delay, I now present to you our honored guest, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. (Applause.)

SECRETARY CLINTON: Thank you. Well, Ambassador Nolan, thank you very, very much. We’re delighted that you have taken on this responsibility to be the charge. And you bring so much experience as well as a great appreciation for this magnificent country and this incredibly important mission.
I’m also pleased that Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson is here with us, a former ambassador to Kenya. (Applause.) I was kidding him today, he is so popular in Kenya he could run for office – (laughter) – which may turn out to be a good thing. (Laughter.)

Well, I personally am delighted to be back here in Nairobi. As Ambassador Nolan said, for 50 years, we have had a strong partnership between not only our governments but our people. And this large, significant mission is at the center of that partnership and friendship. It’s really the hub of our work in this region. From our efforts to stabilize Somalia to our engagement in the Indian Ocean, it’s a big set of responsibilities, and I am so proud of the way that this mission, with 20 different agencies as part of the United States Government presence here, really steps up time after time.

I can’t come to Nairobi and speak before an Embassy audience without remembering that next week will mark the date that our Embassy here, along with the Embassy in Dar es Salaam were bombed 14 years ago. We have not and will not forget those who were lost and injured that terrible day, and we have not and will not back down from our efforts to combat and defeat violent terrorism and extremism. The response of the Embassy community to that terrible day was extraordinary. We have recovered, rebuilt, and rededicated ourselves and gone on to even more important and lasting work.

I know that for many of you this last year has been a difficult year of transition, but despite the challenges you have continued to work with our partners here to promote democracy and economic growth. We have spent a lot of time today talking about the upcoming elections, the hard work being done to implement the constitution, to reform the courts, reform the police, to really make sure that the promise of the constitution is delivered to the people who overwhelmingly voted for it.

You have supported efforts to fight corruption, preserve the environment, promote trade and tourism. You’re stalwartly in favor of and producing results in the areas of health and education. You’ve helped administer over $350 million in humanitarian assistance, largely food aid, which is part of the nearly $12 billion in humanitarian assistance that the United States has provided the Horn of Africa over the past two years.
Now, to build on that good work and in recognition of the challenges, today I’m announcing an additional $54 million in humanitarian assistance for the Horn. (Applause.) So that will be on top of the 1.2 billion, and that will include 15 million specifically for Kenya. This funding will assist vulnerable populations living in conflict zones or hit by natural disasters, such as flooding or droughts. We’re particularly focused on Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia.

Now, when an Embassy works as well as this one, it’s because you have a such a strong community. And I especially want to thank the family members of all the U.S. Government employees, Foreign Service, and Civil Service. Your work is so important because your support is so critical. And we acknowledge it and thank you for it.

And I also want to say a special word of thanks to our local staff. Will all the Kenyans here raise your hands, all of you who have been here, the backbone? (Applause.) I frequently say that ambassadors and secretaries come and go, but the local staff – you’re here. You’re the memory bank and the nerve center, and every year you help to train up a new set of Americans. But you keep this enduring relationship going and growing, and we could not do our work without you.

So on behalf of President Obama, who has a very special place in his heart for this country, and myself and the entire team in Washington, thank you. And I especially thank you for the work that went into this visit. It was a packed day of many meetings, many consultations, all of which gave Ambassador Nolan and Ambassador Carson and myself greater insight into how the United States can support the upcoming elections.

These will be critical elections. Because of the violence in 2007, Kenya lost more than a billion dollars in investment. The GDP dropped significantly. And when government leaders ask me to help them do more to bring business and investment to this country, my quick response is then you do your part to make sure this election is free, fair, and transparent and that all Kenyans accept the results, and do your part to speak out against divisiveness, against anything that would undermine the unity of this country. Because ultimately these elections are totally within the control of the Kenyans themselves, but the United States, as your friend and your partner, want to do all we can to make sure that they are successful.

So thank you for your service and for representing the United States so well. And now let me come by and meet you and thank you in person. Thank you all. (Applause.)