I intend to start giving free publicity in this blog to the sort of candidates that I believe Kenya needs right now. Dancan Muhindi is an excellent example. In fact I strongly feel that he should be convinced to throw in his hat for MP. Read on and decide for yourself.
Dancan Muhindi: Declaration 2007
Email Announcement
Dear friends,
I hope this finds you well.
I'll not pretend as many aspiring politicians often do, that they've suddenly heard "the call of the people" to be their elected leader. We all know many of them who have "succumbed" to these "appeals" and gone into elective politics for their own ends. I'll not attempt to use those lines.
I'm just a guy who is tired of complaining and whining that things are not working, that the systems in our country are messed up and we need radical change. I'm a guy who has decided not to engage any more in verbal debates and arguments on why we need "new blood" and "new faces", in Kenya's leadership.
I'm tired of listening to lots of people complain and say, "What we need in Kenya is fresh, young and talented leadership." To be honest, I'm actually one of those people who have been talking like that for years!
The funny thing is, none of us complainers and whiners have been willing to be those "young, fresh and talented leaders" we all yearn for. We would rather watch from the comfort of the sidelines and not "dirty our hands."
Meanwhile, the same names we've had since 1963 keep popping up during elections, laughing all the way to power. Without any questions, we humbly accept their advice that we are the "leaders of tomorrow."
Well, am just tired of it all. I've decided to put my money where my mouth is and not wait for this elusive "tomorrow." I'm therefore going to present myself humbly to the good people of Kileleshwa ward as a candidate for Councillor during this-years' general elections in December.
The first time I told a few people about my intentions of becoming a Nairobi Councillor, I was not surprised when they burst out laughing. Their reaction was a
serious confirmation of just how low, these elected local government representatives are regarded by the majority of Nairobians, and indeed many Kenyans.
The focus in every Election has always been on Presidential and Parliamentary candidates. This has helped many council candidates with dubious credentials to evade serious scrutiny by the voters. More often than not, they get elected through the now famous "3-piece suit" system, with disastrous consequences on the management of our local authorities.
A simple survey I carried out amongst my friends and relatives showed that none of them could name their local Councillor! Despite the fact that Nairobi City Council is composed of 55 elected and 20 nominated Councillors, none of my buddies could name more than five.
This is a reflection of the general apathy by Kenyan urban voters towards these representatives, yet they are at the grass roots of our governance systems that we keep complaining about.
Some friends initially asked me, between hysterical bursts of laughter, why of all things, I would want to be a Councillor. "Member of Parliament, yes, makes sense, but aspiring to be a mere councillor, whats up dude?"
I understand where they are coming from. After all, am a well-educated ICT professional working for an International NGO with good career prospects, and currently studying for an M.A. at the University of Nairobi. Seriously speaking, the radical job switch actually entails a drastic income reduction for myself!
I plan to set up an interactive blogspot this July, to answer these questions and engage Kileleshwa voters on various issues in the lead up to the elections in December 2007. The blog will also aim to provide compelling reasons why we Nairobians, especially the professionals in various sectors, should rethink our complacency when it comes to the workings of civic authorities.
I believe that by setting up this blog and running for the position of Nairobi Councillor, I'll have contributed in a small way, to focusing my fellow citizens
on the calibre of leaders running our local authorities. This is much better than just complaining and waiting for the emergence of "young, fresh and talented leadership" to reform our country.
For the young and the not-so young reformers in Kenya aspiring for leadership positions, this blog will offer a slightly different view on why the best way to reform our country should start at our County, Municipal and City councils, rather than in Parliament.
Please join me in this blog discussion once it is set up. I would like to hear your comments and suggestions regarding the proposed way into public office for "the leaders of tomorrow." I welcome your valuable contributions to these thoughts and aspirations. In the meantime, you can also email me with your comments and ideas.
I realise that the journey ahead is not going to be easy. I've already started the ground work and I believe the challenges can be overcome with concerted effort. I would like to appeal to all of you, as my friends (and potential voters!) :o) to join my campaign and help get me elected into the Nairobi city council.
The easiest and first step is to register as a voter, or transfer your vote to Kileleshwa ward, Westlands constituency, at the following polling stations:
1. Kileleshwa Primary School.
2. St. Mary's School.
3. Salvation Army Children's Home (Off Musa Gitau Rd, Waiyaki Way - Waruku).
4. Westlands C.T.R (Rhapta Road)
The ECK started voter registration from 1st to 31st March 2007. These polling stations are already operational. Please feel free to bring along your family and as many friends or acquaintances as you can.
Thanking you in advance, I look forward to your support this year! :o)
Regards,
Dancan Muhindi
Please reply to dmuhindi@gmail.com
A Little creativity made Kenyan man $1,000 in daily profits
This woman has never heard sex, the reason will shock you.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Mere Coincidence Or Careful Deliberate Tribal Appointments By Kibaki?
For months now Kenyans have been complaining that the Kibaki administration has been making deliberate tribal appointments. But nobody really cared to look too closely into these claims that were mainly attributed to ODM supporters criticizing for the sake of it.
=============================
Other stories published today;
Tribal appointments email that has been widely circulated
More Evidence Of Kibaki's Appointments Strategy?
Was this fair to KTN?
Mayor may now have to be a university graduate.
Daily nominations for the best comment
=============================
So most people dismissed and ignored the claims. Even a post in this blog a few weeks ago was received with a lot of skepticism. Part of the reason is that although Kenyans were prepared to criticize Kibaki for many things, nobody wanted to believe that he had also become a tribalist. This is not the official leader of the opposition that Kenyans once thought they knew, admired and respected.
However everything suddenly changed with the appointment of the new Central Bank governor. Kenyans suddenly started paying attention and scrutinizing government appointments. What they have found has shocked many. In fact there is an email that has been widely circulated that contains a long list of Kibaki appointments with most being from the Kikuyu tribe and the rest from the expansive Mount Kenya region that has been the President's stronghold for years. (see email in this post).
What is really worrying is the fact that the Kibaki appointments strategy seems to mostly focus on key areas of government. One such area is the media. The media is critical in an election year such as the one we are in. Keen media analysts have been warning for weeks now that key media is firmly in the hands of the President's handlers. In effect, going into the elections the President will be much more effective than Moi was in his hey days with full control of KBC and censorship through threats of other important privately owned media.
The result is that the opposition will be caught flat-footed and in effect the outcome of the general elections has already been decided by a pro-Kibaki media.
Just check this out. This list includes both direct appointments and appointments that many believe have been influenced in one way or another by State House. The corridors of power have also encouraged certain appointments that were made prior to 2003 but which favored them to be upheld and maintained at all costs;
Ministry of Information
Minister - Mutahi Kagwe (Kibaki's home boy)
Nation Media Group
Recently appointed CEO- Linus Wang'ombe Gitahi (Nyeri Kibaki's home boy). There are those who have insisted that this was one appointment that was pushed through by State House for purposes of the coming general elections. Already we have seen this giant media house flexing its' muscles. The result was that the arrest and harassment of one of the best crime writers Kenya has ever produced and a former Nation crime editor, Stephen Muiruri was given an effective media blackout. What else is in the forthcoming long list of items to receive a news blackout going into the general elections?
Group Editorial Director (this post is crucial being the heart of all content that is published and aired by all NMG outlets) - Wangethi Mwangi (Murang'a)
Daily Nation's Managing Editor - Bernard Nderitu (Kiambu - where Njenga Karume comes from)
Sunday Nation's Managing Editor - Mutuma Mathiu (Mt. Kenya, Meru - backyard of Kibaki's men Kiraitu, Mwiraria etc)
The new Business Daily's Managing Editor - Nick Wachira (Nyeri)
The Standard Group
CEO – Paul Wanyaga (Karatina - Kibaki's home boy)
Ownership of Standard group - Retired President Moi - a key ally of Kibaki
KBC (Kenya Broadcast Corporation)
MD - David Waweru (Nyeri)
Editor in Chief (A VERY POWERFUL POST) - Waithaka Waihenya (Kiambu - Njenga Karume's home boy).
Capital FM
Owner - Chris Kirubi (Kibaki's man)
KissFM
Owner – The Kittony family close relatives of retired President Moi, a key Kibaki ally.
KamemeFM
Owner - Rose Kimotho (From Nyeri and a close ally of Linus Gitahi). She gets good contracts from Government and has been instrumental in doing damage control for the Kibaki regime to ensure Kibaki Abaki (returns) so that she continues getting rich at the rapid current rate.
Royal Media
Owner - Macharia
This media house had better just change its' name to Royal Kibaki Media Services.
All senior positions in this company are filled by people from Mt Kenya
All royal media outlets (countless FM radio stations, TV station, newspaper and an unknown number of used airwaves) were so openly biased during last General Elections, the referendum and in all their news bulletins that it was embarrassing just to watch and listen.
As you can see from the pattern, all the key and influential media houses are owned and the key positions in the same media houses are held by people from Mt Kenya. They are all either close to Kibaki or to his friend and ally of many years, Njenga Karume.
A Little creativity made Kenyan man $1,000 in daily profits
This woman has never heard sex, the reason will shock you.
=============================
Other stories published today;
Tribal appointments email that has been widely circulated
More Evidence Of Kibaki's Appointments Strategy?
Was this fair to KTN?
Mayor may now have to be a university graduate.
Daily nominations for the best comment
=============================
So most people dismissed and ignored the claims. Even a post in this blog a few weeks ago was received with a lot of skepticism. Part of the reason is that although Kenyans were prepared to criticize Kibaki for many things, nobody wanted to believe that he had also become a tribalist. This is not the official leader of the opposition that Kenyans once thought they knew, admired and respected.
However everything suddenly changed with the appointment of the new Central Bank governor. Kenyans suddenly started paying attention and scrutinizing government appointments. What they have found has shocked many. In fact there is an email that has been widely circulated that contains a long list of Kibaki appointments with most being from the Kikuyu tribe and the rest from the expansive Mount Kenya region that has been the President's stronghold for years. (see email in this post).
What is really worrying is the fact that the Kibaki appointments strategy seems to mostly focus on key areas of government. One such area is the media. The media is critical in an election year such as the one we are in. Keen media analysts have been warning for weeks now that key media is firmly in the hands of the President's handlers. In effect, going into the elections the President will be much more effective than Moi was in his hey days with full control of KBC and censorship through threats of other important privately owned media.
The result is that the opposition will be caught flat-footed and in effect the outcome of the general elections has already been decided by a pro-Kibaki media.
Just check this out. This list includes both direct appointments and appointments that many believe have been influenced in one way or another by State House. The corridors of power have also encouraged certain appointments that were made prior to 2003 but which favored them to be upheld and maintained at all costs;
Ministry of Information
Minister - Mutahi Kagwe (Kibaki's home boy)
Nation Media Group
Recently appointed CEO- Linus Wang'ombe Gitahi (Nyeri Kibaki's home boy). There are those who have insisted that this was one appointment that was pushed through by State House for purposes of the coming general elections. Already we have seen this giant media house flexing its' muscles. The result was that the arrest and harassment of one of the best crime writers Kenya has ever produced and a former Nation crime editor, Stephen Muiruri was given an effective media blackout. What else is in the forthcoming long list of items to receive a news blackout going into the general elections?
Group Editorial Director (this post is crucial being the heart of all content that is published and aired by all NMG outlets) - Wangethi Mwangi (Murang'a)
Daily Nation's Managing Editor - Bernard Nderitu (Kiambu - where Njenga Karume comes from)
Sunday Nation's Managing Editor - Mutuma Mathiu (Mt. Kenya, Meru - backyard of Kibaki's men Kiraitu, Mwiraria etc)
The new Business Daily's Managing Editor - Nick Wachira (Nyeri)
The Standard Group
CEO – Paul Wanyaga (Karatina - Kibaki's home boy)
Ownership of Standard group - Retired President Moi - a key ally of Kibaki
KBC (Kenya Broadcast Corporation)
MD - David Waweru (Nyeri)
Editor in Chief (A VERY POWERFUL POST) - Waithaka Waihenya (Kiambu - Njenga Karume's home boy).
Capital FM
Owner - Chris Kirubi (Kibaki's man)
KissFM
Owner – The Kittony family close relatives of retired President Moi, a key Kibaki ally.
KamemeFM
Owner - Rose Kimotho (From Nyeri and a close ally of Linus Gitahi). She gets good contracts from Government and has been instrumental in doing damage control for the Kibaki regime to ensure Kibaki Abaki (returns) so that she continues getting rich at the rapid current rate.
Royal Media
Owner - Macharia
This media house had better just change its' name to Royal Kibaki Media Services.
All senior positions in this company are filled by people from Mt Kenya
All royal media outlets (countless FM radio stations, TV station, newspaper and an unknown number of used airwaves) were so openly biased during last General Elections, the referendum and in all their news bulletins that it was embarrassing just to watch and listen.
As you can see from the pattern, all the key and influential media houses are owned and the key positions in the same media houses are held by people from Mt Kenya. They are all either close to Kibaki or to his friend and ally of many years, Njenga Karume.
A Little creativity made Kenyan man $1,000 in daily profits
This woman has never heard sex, the reason will shock you.
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