Press Statement: By the Professionals and Business Forum for Peace

Video footage of policeman shooting and killing unarmed protestor in Kisumu.

18th January
Statement by the Professionals and Business Forum for Peace on the ongoing violence

“NO to deaths and destruction of property”

Who we are?
Ladies and gentlemen, we members of the Professionals and Business Forum for Peace (PBFP) would like to call for an immediate end to the current killings, destruction of property and disruption of business in the country. PBFP is a non partisan body bringing together business and professional organizations in the country to press for a solution to the current national crisis.

Background: What is happening?
The past few weeks have witnessed loss of lives, property and injuries at unprecedented levels. We would like to categorically say a resounding “NO” to these criminal acts.

The business community and professionals have suffered immensely following the eruption of post election violence in the country. The losses accruing have affected the entire country and resulted in job losses.

The economy stands to lose even more if this violence continues and peace is not restored in the country soon. It is unfortunate that what the country took decades to build is being destroyed within a few weeks.


What we Propose?

Dialogue: We would like to call upon the protagonists across the political divide, Hon. Raila Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki to engage in immediate dialogue.

Stop Mass Action: We realize that meaningful dialogue can only happen in a peaceful atmosphere. While mass action is not necessarily bad, what we are witnessing is the creation of an opportunity for lawlessness.

Stop Killings: The Kenya Professional and Business Forum would like to urge leaders from both sides of the political divide to take charge of their followers and actively urge them to stop the killings we are currently witnessing. The police should also exercise restrain as they try to contain the violence.

Non Partisanship: We call on all parties concerned or interested in the ongoing crisis to maintain a non partisan position. Kenyan remains a sovereign state and international organizations should not make statements that fan the violence.

We therefore categorically state that we want to see peace and order restored in the country as soon as possible to allow for dialogue and the underlying issues that have led to the current crisis to be addressed.

KPBF Organizations:

The associations in this forum include:

Kenya Medical Association
Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya
Kenya Pharmaceuticals Distributors Association
Kenya Psychiatrists Association
National Nurses Association of Kenya
Marketing Society of Kenya
Public Relations Society of Kenya
Kenya ICT Action Network
Kenya ICT Federation
Eldoret Business Council
Friends of Eldoret (Residents Association)
Nakuru Business Association
Nairobi Central Business District Association
Youth Science and Technology Development Network
AIESEC (Kenya Chapter of International Association for Students interested in Economics and Management)
Kenya Health Federation
Central Organisation of Trade Unions
Association of Practitioners in Advertising
Kenya Private Sector Alliance
Institute of Engineers of Kenya
Save the Children Fund
Kenya Tourism Federation
Kenya Union of Journalists

Mbeki Handed Defeat as Reward for Success

Voters have no respect for global images politicians curve for themselves while ignoring local issues. By ousting Thambo Mbeki and elevating Jacob Zuma (aka JZ) as the new ANC leader, South Africans have sent a clear message of who is boss.

To see the face of Africa's 'superpower' so forlorn in defeat smacks of both betrayal and steadfastness. And give it to JZ. He may not be that sophisticated and no great thinker but he has the pulse of the masses at his fingertips.

Mbeki fired him in 2005 and he knew what do: go back to the masses and root for them by reminding them that they are the majority and the so-called growing middle class is a dream they cannot afford without sleeping. And what a sweep revenge to see Mbeki embracing JZ as the winner yesterday. So what do we learn from down south as Kenyans?

Well the lessons can be as numerous as the shades unity and oranges. But one thing is for sure: voters don't give a hoot about a leader's personal profile when their immediate needs are not factored in. They are ready to sup with the devil who identifies with their course no matter the cost.

Moral compass dismissed
Even the misgivings on JZ from South Africa's moral voice Desmond Tutu went unheeded. Cosatu guys told him to take leave and provide his moral campus to barbers navigating the sand dunes in Sahara. Africa's present day saint Madiba must be justifiably a disappointed man to see his ship leaking like a sieve in his lifetime.

Mbeki may have tried to find establishing his own credibility in stepping into Mandela's oversize shoes. But he also ended up addressing the big picture oblivious of the important trees making the forest. Now Sa have two centres of power: the presidency under Mbeki and the ruling party ANC with JZ. More frustration in governance as politicians position themselves for the next political dispensation.

So who will shepherd the Nepad ship with the captain drowning? Africa renaissance may have just been a painless still birth. Comrade JZ ('where is my machine gun' is his rallying call) obviously has no time for such high-sounding political theatrics. And the political domino effects enters Africa via the cape from Australia. Who is next?