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At an unguarded moment recently Justice Minister Martha Karua let it slip that new constituencies "are a must". The clear implication was unlike the minimum reforms being pushed for by the opposition, the Kibaki administration is keen, nay desperate to have the number of MPs increased.
And true to her word, that bill has already been published and is now awaiting debate.
The big question is why is the Kibaki administration so keen on new constituencies just now and why is it so urgent?
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Ours superlativey epitomizes the paradigm of inverted priorities. Susing the wrong parameters to address critical issues. The bottom line, EXPEDIENCY, period.
ReplyDeleteKumekucha,
ReplyDeleteAs i read your postings am getting convinced by the day that we are losing focus. I thought this blog was about how to bring change in our country. We critisize, then give practical alternatives.
First - from comments here and elsewhere the contributors have maintained one thread...the dye is cast about the coming elections, the president would either be MK or RO or KM.
I think it is about time each one of us lifted their veil of pretending to provide objective analysis while in fact trying to deflect opinion in a predetermined direction.
For those in opposition or ODM, everything the government does will remain suspect! For those supporting gava, ODM or other opposition will have nothing (new) to offer! Our tribe has been this, why can't others be, and other sickening etc, etc. I then get lost when somebody tries to justify their candidate by projecting others negatively (mine is better coz your is bad)!
BUT one thing is certain, and each one of us knows this. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE WHOEVER (OF THE ABOVE)WINS!!! And since, my friends, we have failed to come up with an alternative (we should be "real") why don't we concentrate on campaigning for our preferred candidates rather than doing "analysis"? Come December 30 then we can start comparing notes on how to bring 'real' change in 2012. When 2012 comes, we will be thinking about 2017, etc, etc. (Will this bog(ger) survive?) As for me, for now, better the devil i know....
Secondly... about these porn posts. I think you should deal with these side issues without involving us. When you started this blog you knew the kind of risks you were taking. You must have set up systems to address them as they arise, like any other organisation. We are wasting precious time reading/writing "she did/he did" comments. Deal with the issue, then report results i.e. how you dealt with it (if we have to know).
Campaign, folks, Campaign.
JEFF
How are the proposed new seats going to ensure a easier re election for Mwai Kibaki? We are not talking about new registered voters but new constituencies, how is that gonna ensure Kibaki's re election?
ReplyDeleteAbout Mwai Kibaki's government getting an unwarranted majority in parliament, who said that? I heard some opposition politicians peddling this argument over the weekend and I asked myself how? Ukambani and Luo Nyanza are proposed to have not less than four additional seats each, are these some of the areas u would want to call government friendly? Even today the government of Mwai Kibaki has a very comfortable majority in government, they certainly do not need additional seats to achieve that.
When one questions the essence of these new constituencies, I question the fear they are triggering. Since Zaccheaus Chesoni's era we have all along known that we would be reviewing our electoral boundaries every ten years. The last time that was done was in 1997, a couple months before the elections. What has changed now? Kibaki was not president in 1997. If we make by laws, we should be ready to abide by them. As far as I am concerned the only illegitimacy the government wants to carry out is increasing the number of the constituencies through an ordinary bill. It should be done through a constitutional ammendment. Amos Wako has seen the sense in obeying the laws of the land and is now talking about bringing the same to the floor of the house and if it passes, Kivuitu should engage high gear to harmonise voter registers and communicate the changes to the voters. I really do no see any cause of alarm here. All we are enganging in is taking the cue from the politicians and endorsing their unsubstantiatable claims that the government is being clever with them. It's called fear of the unknown.
I support Kibaki and Karua on many things, and will vote Kibaki come december, but this idea of additional MPs makes me mad. Another thing I don't like is the guaranteed MP seats for women. Women are the majority voters in Kenya, and if they want more women MPs, women should vote more women. Kenya should have maximum of 150 MPs.
ReplyDeleteI'm not for the idea of new constituencies but this jumped out at me;
ReplyDelete"...50 new seats for nominated women who will specifically be women....." Did you expect there would be 50 new seats for nominated women who will specifically be men?
Vikii- what about the cost? Is this anywhere close to prudent economics? From your own astute observation, has our population grown to extends that merit such an increase in the number of million shilling paychecks?
ReplyDeleteGerrymandering is a tool that has been used since the days of Caesar. What we are simply doing is calling it out. If you can, without fine print disclosures, prove that the economy has grown to afford the additional MPs, then I must add that your prescription of Prozac has run out.
If you cannot see politics in it, then you’ve been blinded and bamboozled. I’m no David Awuor but believe me, what is going on (including trans..obaks company) is evidence of bad things to come. What we are undeniably witnessing is the amassing of wealth by certain Kibaki cronies. It is such activity that should be coined an “economic coup”.
I don’t support idea of more constituencies because its costly, unless MPs hefty pay is reduced by half. I also believe 50 new seat for nominated women is a campaign gimmick, trying to out do the opposition who are promising 50:50 equal representation in parliament and appointments in public offices.
ReplyDeleteHence I concur with David Mwangi when he says women should vote more women. We are the majority anyway.
Kalamari this post is not about whether I support the creation of new constituencies. It is about the government's passion in getting them created. You can decide to be a little bit cheeky about it but the truth of the matter is that as of now u dont know my take on the whole debate. I will shed some light.
ReplyDeleteCreation of new constituencies is a waste of resources, nobody doesnt know that. My point was that we are attacking the wrong target. If I am wrong please tell me why those leading the anti campaign were the loudest in support for the same ten years ago. I can prove to you that the population has grown at a bigger rate in these last ten years than it had in the ten years precceding the '97 elections.
We dont need them and we should say just as much, but the agenda raised here is neither the cost implications nor the viability of these new outfits. What's been raised here is the motive and the political implications. I dont buy that line of thinking but if it comes down to whether I support them I will tell u NO. If anything they should be reduced.
Having said that, if I was asked to choose between additional 50 elective seats or additional 50 free seats for women I will surely go for the former. It is utter nonsense our understanding of affirmative action. Why cant these women vie for parliamentary seats? We should create asome seats for the people with disabilities and on this one I must acknowledge Richard Leakey for getting it right when choosing the parliamentary nominee for Safina after the elections of '97. When someone claims women are the majority and so they deserve parliamentary seets on a silver platter I laugh because this is another opening being created for cronysm and corruption. Political party leaders will be forwarding the names of their fly girlfriends and the whole thing will be a circus. Let's go back to the basics here: What's the role of a nominated member of parliament?
Some people will shout uneven playing field and then I ask them how other women have made it. Mrs. Nyiva Mwendwa ,Charity Ngilu and Agnes Ndetei are a proof that the kamba for example dont discriminate against women candidates. Grace Ogot and Phoebe Asiyo prove the same for Nyanza. MArtha Karua and Prof Maaathai prove that for central. Christine Mango and Julia Ojiambo for western and many more examples abound. It is time women sought elective posts and stopped this cry-baby attitude.
Poor guy has resulted to sarcasm and turned to 'guest writers' in an attempt to alienate himself from the Raila camp, but hey dude, time is running out, speak now or forever hold your peace.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone noticed that everything ODM does could never be better political strategy to ensure they win and magically 'save' Kenya in five years, and whatever the government does even if it is the exact replica of the ODM's 'strategy' is malicious? Take this:ODM is a party of parties, which is key to winning. Kibaki's government of national unity is a return to one party dictatorship of a worse kind than Moi's. Never mind how many parties are included, and the fact that we now have like 250 REGISTERED political parties, probably the most of any single country in the world. ODM is the darling of everyone for suggesting 50;50 women to men representation at parliament, but when govt comes up with something similar (or copies ODM), that is exactly what they are supposed to be NOT doing now. There are more important issues, like women are not important.......Guess what, politricks (yes, these are political tricks to ensure 'its our turn to eat') are here to stay.
I therefore challenge us all to come up with ways we can 'save' Kenya with minimal input from government. Sababu even that Raila of ours is human, has a tribe, and will be disappointing because he can't deliver your dreams and you will have to work on them yourselves. Unless, of course, there is a secret deal and you are appointed to some post after he wins.You are welcome to poke fun at that, too.
How come no one is ever suggesting what they can do for Kenya, just what the government should have done since 44 years ago? In my opinion, government creates the atmosphere for the economy to grow by ensuring that the country is peaceful, stable, human rights are respected, and so forth. Its the investors who create jobs.Its the people's taxes from these jobs that do ensure we can have free primary and possibly now, secondary education, and that women can give birth without paying a cent. Its not even the Kibaki or Moi government that created that chain of hair salons in Kibera.
Another thing, why does everyone seem so ignorant of the fact that the world economy is becoming increasingly global? Tutashinda tu hapa na masiasa duni, wenzetu waendelea.
So Chris and Company, save face one more time:do another post another to 'show' you have already made a difference and are not just a bunch of whiners. Only don't tell me government should do this, that and that. Better still, what have YOU done as individual, besides blogging? The least you can do is blog.
PKW,
ReplyDeleteWhen you achieve a landslide win in a general election (after two previous failed attempts on a tribal party) with votes from all over the country on the basis of a strong coalition built (while you are admitted to hospital) on a promise of anti-corruption and constitutional reforms and you have an MOU with coalition partners; and when you gain power you begin by trashing the MOU, turning a blind eye to corruption; experiencing a major referendum defeat, appointing ministers from official opposition party while sacking your coalition partners, making a high percentage of public appointments from a favoured region, adopting and implementing governance ideas from the visions launched by your competitors a few months before a general election! Give me a break.
That doesnt sound to me like honesty or integrity. It is clear case of fraud and a very amateurish mode of management of public affairs. What a shame!
Thats my sister PKW for a superb lecture albeit so familiar. It was a masterpiece except my only fear is how many people will enroll to attend your class. How I will I would implore everyone here to see the light (oncoming train) at the end of the tunnel your way. But lo, they will be missing such an eloquently crafted speech by one and only one PKW. In the meantime good luck sis.
ReplyDeleteHonesty is one virtue preached in almost every post here especially the dearth of it among our politicians. But an honest reflection reveals that we may be no better except clothing our dishonesty in schooled arguments. You don't have to be psychic to fail to see the disconnect between our fingers typing and the poorly-disguised biases. If only we preached what we practiced? Well I must be from Mars to demand that of Kenyans. Let us perfect the trade we are all known for, good luck good people.
As Taabu has pointed out, i for one am all for giving people rope to strangle themselves, but with caution not to do it in the name of another-taking a bullet for "captain" (whoever that maybe) while said captain would never reciprocate is not patriotism-maybe misconstrued allegiance but definitely not nationalism
ReplyDeleteWhile calling a spade a spade maybe unpopular-especially in politics- it is the only way to win trust, prove honesty and model my oh so famous "integrity" mantra for Wanjiku and Onyango jr.
We all know what a lie sounds like
Chris and Co. (Attn:Phil),
ReplyDeleteIs your attack on me, my opinion or on the 'govt of national unity'? Please take your time and re-read all my previous comments. Too bad I was previously anonymous, but Chris can help spot me from 10 kilometers away in the sea of anonymity. Once you've done that, tell me if you get any form of praise for the Kibaki govt from ME?
My point is, this: all these guys are looking out just for their own self interests, whatever that means to Kenyans. Thats why there was the MOU in the first place, to ensure that after 'you guys eat for a term', its then 'our turn to eat'.Or better still, lets have all these positions that ensure we can both eat at the same time. Never mind how much money will be spent on then at the expense of the Kenyan tax-payers. And yes, its a shame that all this was trashed, but what did I lose? Not a thing. What was in the MOU for the ordinary mwananchi, not the ordinary mwenye nchi?
Which is why I think this: the previous, current and even the future govt all suck. Very pessimistic to you but equally optimistic from my point of view, but I don't expect them to create me a job, but give me the right environment to create some.
Sit there for five more years and then come show me the jobs that your government or my government will have created. I will probably show you a couple hundred that ordinary Kenyans like you and me have, whether they are Kikuyu or not (eg the Kibera salons), and hopefully thousands more by the private sector and foreign investors.
I know that Ubako's management sucks (does not mean this: therefore Raila is great.He's been at it as long as I can remember).I suggest we narrow down the discussion to what YOU and I should or must do, not what THEY should, could, would have done. Shoulda could woulda....Any takers?
PKW, My response post was based on your insinuation that Kumekucha is 'alienating' himself from Raila camp. Thats not true. Raila is just but one of the people challenging the incumbent and to the best of my knowledge, has never been in Raila's camp. Kibaki's election was supposed to be a new chapter for this country - and I agree with you in prevailing circumstances - nobody can do much unless they have the will to turn around matters at the risk of being victims themselves.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I (and I mean I):
- have been a sugarcane farmer, unfortunately government taxes are too numerous. The rains were good, but government taxes my farm produce just as the local municipality, but they overlook other farmers' eg. tobacco, miraa, etc which are both very lucrative farm products but my religious beliefs doesnt allow me to deviate. In addition, private businessmen who support the so-called GNU, have been allowed to import large quantities (ie beyond local needs) of sugar illegally sugar imports means locally produced sugar cannot be sold because they are much cheaper than say Mumias Sugar.
- Two of my kids gave up sugar farming (they didnt have patience to wait for return payment for 3 years). They travelled to the city to seek business opportunities in hawking and (you guessed it) open a salon in Kibera slums. The city council is not kind to hawkers, and I had to sell one cow to come and bail out one of them who was found roasting maize and selling mandazi 'without a valid hawkers licence and health certificate' along Landhies Road next to Machakos Airport. City askaris were very violent when he refused to pay an instant 'fine'. The other had to close salon shop because her shop, together with all equipment, was razed to the ground when a mysterious fire broke out 2 months after she opened the business. Now she is back in my house together with a 'fatherless' child.
- I really want to vote for a government that will push policies that think of sugar farmers and remove licencing requirement for hawkers after identifying a site for them. Unfortunately, our constitution does not create a level playing field, because we could easily vote in fellow farmers who understand our problems as MPs.
Then what do I do? another MOU? Another coup attempt? Burn my voters card (I mean its doesnt seem to help me much)
- We have children who have to no longer go to school for lack of food, uniform or books, and we must also feed ourselves. I am informed government cannot build classrooms or stock the library in the local school partly because there's too many assistant ministers who are idle but very expensive to maintain. Why cant they be sacked if they are idle? Am told not if this thing called ODM is still around.
- My wife tried to get a loan from the Women's fund, but she turned down for failing to meet 'criteria' for applicants. I tend to think it is because of our ethnic origin.
- What do I do? Kerosene now costs double what I used to buy it when we had a KANU MP. Am a sugar farmer, but I cant afford to buy sugar, the price tripled in 2006 from 40/- per kg to 120/- per KG. Am told its because government is unable to control something called 'inflation', but they keep talking about a 6% economic growth. I think my experience in the last 5 years makes me 50% poorer. Lunch and dinner is luxury, we have to survive on breakfast alone. Sugarless Uji and casava and that doesnt come daily....
Poor Phil. My half brother who is a little wealthier than me, was arrested in Mombasa for suspicion of having terrosits links - he had a couple of Arab looking friends. He had to close his C&F business and now is reliant on me.
I think if you were start from scratch in this country, you will die scratching. I dont know what 'YOU and I should or must do'.
Sigh
My dear Phil we are like twins from different tribes.Except obviously you are a very lucky sugar-cane farmer to have internet access any time of day when you your kids don't go to school for lack of clothes? Its my mother who is a farmer, but everything else is bizarrely similar.
ReplyDeleteWe need to talk: proudkikuyuwoman at gmail dot com. Not for every Marianne, Kamau, Otieno and Wafula to flood my mailbox with nonsense.
Noted and thanks PKW. I will certainly be in touch. Chris, would you kindly delete the above post before akina Vikii and Taabu get wind of this?
ReplyDeleteIf only Kenya's politicians would emulate my fellow brother Phil and sister PKW to lay aside personalities and work together for the sake of common good, what a place Kenya would be, eh?
ReplyDeleteEverybody, all together now....HARAMBEE!NYAYO (or should i say HARAMBEE!GDP!)
Kwenda huko Phil. Hatuwezi kuwachia catch peke yako jo. Lazima pia sisi tulete bidii. Let the best candidate win this one. I know you already have a head start but I promise to catch up.
ReplyDeleteAnd did I tell u u lied to us Phil? There is no way anybody would call a young dude like u grandpa Phil. That was a good one though.
Kwani this Phil/PKW thing is the blog version of Malooned?
ReplyDeleteGreat movie..you all must watch.