Why Kibaki Is The Main Target in Ocampo's List of 6

Kenya comes full circle from the Kapenguria Six to the Ocampo six

Nobody would have guessed it but the Kenyatta name entered into the history books of Kenya leadership politics when he was charged with six others in Kapenguria for being not only a member but the leader of an illegal murderous gang called the Mau mau. Almost 60 years later the Kenyatta name is set to exit leadership politics in Kenya with another Kenyatta being charged with directing a murderous gang called the Mungiki.

His excellency President Mwai Kibaki's behaviour in recent months explained.

Admittedly the situation is very different this time round but the similarities are uncanny and more numerous than one would think at first glance. Both trials involved six persons, the earlier case was the Kapenguria six, this time round it is the Ocampo six. Both controversial court cases were a very major turning point in the history of Kenya and destined to lead to the liberation of the Kenyan people with this second one leading to the major liberation of ending impunity in these shores.

And the end of impunity is the underlying messages that many analysts have aptly captured as special ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo released his list of six suspects. For the first time the legal strategy of Ocampo can be clearly analyzed. The direction it is leading is shocking and unexpected for many because it is the road to justice and it sticks like a leach to his promises of dealing with those who were most responsible for the violence. The list reveals just how sharp a legal mind the Argentine lawyer is and is a warning volley to the lawyers for the six of what they will be up against in the months to come. But what I personally found even more revealing was that the list subtly and very clearly on my mind explains plenty of political mysteries that have plagued Kenya in recent times.

Let me start with the political mystery explained. In recent months those who have known President Kibaki have been shocked at how the president metamorphosed before their very eyes from a well know permanent caterpillar to the beautiful butterfly that delivered a new constitution that is bound to have far reaching grave consequences on the political class (in fact we have already seen evidence of the fallout starting to happen even before the constitution has been fully implemented).

Could it be that the president was preparing very early for a strong defense at the ICC based on an image of being the number one reformer having personally pushed for and succeeded in getting a new constitution implemented? I mean the guy was fightoing for a new constitution like his life depended on it. Could it be the reason why the president went to such great lengths and expense to invite the most famous fugitive from the ICC, President Al Bashir of Sudan to discredit and reduce the political impact of the ICC court and make a strong case for African cases to be left to the AU to resolve?

When you think about it, it all neatly fits into place like some jigsaw puzzle and makes sense. Especially when you consider that amongst the six on Ocampo’s list are head of Public service Francis Muthaura (a name that shocked many Kenyans and was totally unexpected in the list) and that of the notorious immediate former commissioner of Police Maj Gen Hussein Ali. Both these public servants were at the heart of what triggered the unprecedented killings in Kenya in January 2008. In giving their evidence everything will point straight at where they were taking orders from and that is the head of state. Indeed it will be a repeat of exactly what happened in the case of Sudan where President Al Bashir’s name emerged later as the evidence unfolded in proceedings. His indictment actually happened long after the Sudan trials had commenced.

Impeccable sources have proved to this blogger that the case against the two gentlemen (Ali and Muthaura) will be the easiest to prove, with water tight evidence. An aside here is that many Kenyans (and not just politicians, we see the same disease in the comments in this blog every day) are too fond of opening their mouths too quickly and making comments that display their ignorance and lack of knowledge on many issues. For instance in this case what many forget is that the ICC is not a court designed to prosecute chicken thieves. The guiding principal here is crimes against humanity. What happened in Kenya in January 2008 was so horrifying that any maker of the most scary horror movies in Hollywood will be quickly challenged and their work made to look like fairy tales for toddlers in comparison to what happened within the shores of our beloved country. I tried my best to capture some of that horror when the clamour for blanket amnesty for perpetrators of the post election violence started, led by some very wicked MPs. Regular readers of this blog will remember the statement we published here from a woman who watched her husband being killed and was then gang raped. But barely had a rape started when her attackers felt that the place where they were plunging their male tools in brutal rape was too small and actually proceeded to “widen it” with a panga and then continued to rape amid the blood spurting out in torrents. By some miracle of God that woman survived to tell her story. See her story here.

The legal strategy of using people who were taking orders to lead to the source of the orders is a smart one both legally and politically and for all intents and purposes is bound to work like a charm.

Now we understand why there has been so much panic amongst the political class in recent days and even talk of withdrawing Kenya from the Rome statute which is the most stupid idea I have heard in a long time because notice has to be given of 12 months and withdrawal will not affect ongoing cases in any way.

The old powerful Mafia don that has dominated Kenya for so long like a dark colossus and is called impunity is definitely going down. He is of course going down fighting, but down he is going.

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Ruto and Uhuru Tops The Hague's Gang of Six

Updates
Ocampo has miserably failed the REGIONAL BALANCING test, LOL. And President Kibaki has subsequently called Kenyans' bluff that Uhuru and Muthaura are innocent till proved guilty, so no RESIGNATION, period. These two are special breed and we must not use same political lens applied to Ruto and Wetangula. This is Kenya, MTADO?

Luis Moreno Ocampo has lived to his promise and he has delivered emphatically. The Hague's gang of six have been named as William Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, Francis Muthaura, Gen (Rtd) Hussein Ali, Henry Kosgey and one radio executive Joshua Arap Sang.

PS Muthaura MUST be the most surprised, but is he? Well, when you coordinate government operations like a governor, the buck stops with you, PERIOD. Ex-police boss Ali couldn't escape either given the number of people shot from behind.

As for Ruto, he saw it coming and has been working himself into lather to remain afloat. Not even a winter visit to The Hague could save the warrior. There is no love lost between Bill and Moreno. Jomo Jnr. meanwhile chose to take it cool but set his foot soldiers on the war path to no success. Henry Koskey and radio journalist completes the infamous list of cargo destined to The Hague.

The die is cast and Kenyan politics WILL NEVER be the same again. The faithful Diaspora can wax patriotic extolling their village virtues but that won't wash. The Hague Express has completed her first trip and let the political temperature sour.

Meanwhile the named suspects finds themselves in very strange territories. Ocampo has outlined very stringent conditions and they dare break them at their own peril. No more empty threats, LET JUSTICE PREVAIL.

Chris is preparing a major analysis on this major event which will appear here later today. See his brief initial comment on this.

Day of Reckoning is Here, Hague Express Docks

The die is cast and the kings of impunity have their backs firmly against a mighty reinforced wall. They were so sure they shouted that The Hague process will take 90 years to start. On the contrary the ICC engine started, gathered steam and is today docking at the station to claim her six scalps. The suspects have no more places to hide. No amount of bravado or tribal obstacles will stop Moreno's juggernaut from shipping its cargo to where they belong. Time truly flies and 2090 must have arrived way too fast. Let the trials begin and let Ocampo met justice on behalf of the dead and IDPs.

Supping with the devil is not a crime and politicians are doing just what they are known best for, protecting their turf at all costs. Forget the voters who perished for them, Kibaki succession is a priority any other politics and activity is secondary.

Early this year they all chanted, DON'T BE VAGUE, LET US GO TO THE HAGUE. The bravado was amplified even a notch higher deriding ICC process to begin in 2090. Well, Ocampo has called their bluff and the masterminds are running short of holes to run to. The last few weeks has seen suspects firing from all cylinders principally to sabotage the ICC process. Will they succeed?

You do not need to be a neurologist to imagine what the charade would have if we were to have local trials. The so-called constitutional reference would keep the cases in their infancy forever. Even the tribal demonstrations planned for tomorrow will not deter ICC from slaying the kings of impunity.

There are no more places to hide. Even if a section of the government tries all the rules in the book to halt ICC. No leader wants to rule a pariah state even if it means visiting China only. The stakes are high and damn the IDPs, the two ministers and their Hague-bound colleagues are too important to be left at the mercy of Ocampo's jaws.

Hague 2090 is here and now, tic toc counting to the smouldering hellhole.

Six on Ocampo's List

William Ruto
Henry Kosgey
Hussein Ali
Joshua Arap Sang
Franscis Muthaura
Uhuru Kenyatta

These are the six individuals named for indictment in the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague by special prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo earlier today. I am preparing a more comprehesive post to appear shortly on the unprecedetented turn of events. The big surprises on the list are Francis Muthaura and Joshua arap Sang who is a presenter with KASS FM.

Why Kibaki is the main target in Ocampo List of 6
Kenya comes full circle from the Kapenguria Six to the Ocampo six

Open Jamhuri letter to fallen Kenyan heroes

State of the nation of Kenya

Dear Pinto, Mboya, JM Ouko and other fallen Kenyan heroes and heroines,

I bring you Jamhuri day greetings from the motherland that you loved so much that you ended up losing your lives for.
Ex-colonial detainees, Left to Right: J. D. Kali, Kungu Karumba, Pio Gama Pinto, Paul Ngei and Muinga Chokwe.

I could not resist writing to you at this moment in the history of our beloved country because so much has changed and more changes are happening so rapidly that it is impossible to analyze what is likely to happen next. I am sure some of the changes will bring wide grins to your faces gentlemen. I sense you could do with some cheering up about the grim republic you left behind called Kenya.

You will all remember the impunity that led to your respective assassinations and left your killers to roam scot free and to continue enriching themselves at the expense of the Kenyan people without fear of ever being arrested. The impunity that was launched by characters like Mbiyu Koinange and Njoroge Mungai, the two fellows who just couldn’t stand you, Tom. After your assassinations especially after your killing, Tom, the masters of impunity would pose the question; “we killed Tom Mboya and nothing happened, who is this cockroach?” Gentlemen I am happy to report that that old man impunity has received some serious body blows in recent times which I am certain he will never recover from. Ever.

Apart from the new constitution which gives the people legal ground to fight impunity even before it is fully implemented, a number of circumstances have worked together to douse the fire of this evil giant that felled you and many others apart from being a stumbling block to Kenyans ever getting anything done.

Fascinatingly just like Africans fighting in the world wars in distant lands came back more aware of their rights and helped speed the clamour for independence, Kenyans in the diaspora have been a major force in demanding for change back home. Technology like cell phones and the World Wide Web (which did not exist during your time) have resulted in shrinking the world into a small village where you cannot get into too much mischief without your neighbors knowing exactly what you are up to. The result, our fallen heroes, is some extremely unlikely headlines you will not believe even from the grave. Like a minister stepping aside for investigation to be carried out (is now a very normal occurrence). Ministers in Africa have not yet started resigning, but we are getting there. These days people discuss the president and his failings openly. And sometimes screaming headlines talk about it. You gentlemen may be quick to point out that it is because the Mwai Kibaki (you worked very closely with him, Tom) was always a weak leader. But I believe it has more to do with the exciting times we are privileged to be living in.

Robert you will be happy to know that a report detailing the way you were murdered at State house, Nakuru has been made public after being tabled in parliament. It looks like your killers will be the first to be brought to book. That will give me a lot of personal satisfaction because out of all assassinations in Kenya yours was the most unnecessary display of impunity gone mad. But we shall have to wait and see what happens.

But the most sensational news that I have for you guys is that the masters of impunity and big names behind the post election violence of 2008 are about to be charged in the International Criminal Court (ICC) at the Hague. You will have heard about the skirmishes from the numerous Kenyans who joined you in the grave at around that time. And surely you will not have failed to notice the high number of pregnant women and innocent children who joined you for no fault of their own during that time. You guys know the setup in Kenya well and are well aware that there is no way that they would have been charged and tried in Kenya. Well the ICC got them. Hahahahahahaha. I can’t help but laugh. This is just too funny.

In fact one of the suspects is running so scared that he has been vomiting all kinds of statements and ordering his lawyers to institute all and any kind of stay of execution to delay things. But luckily this is not the Kenyan courts we are talking about here and so as the man panics like a trapped deer Kenyans are taking in the drama in glee wonder and amazement to see if it is really possible for the high and mighty to fall because it has never before been witnessed in Kenya.

As you gentlemen know it is the minnows who usually take the blame for the mysterious big men real perpetuators of the act. Like Nahashon Njenga was charged with your murder Tom and that innocent Kamba man for yours Pinto and Jonah Anguka stood trial for your murder Robert (although he was acquitted). These nobodies took the fall in place of the Mbiyu Koinanges. Njoroge Mingais and Nicholas Biwotts. That is the usual way of doing things here. That is why it is so amazing that this time round the real culprits will be called to answer for their deeds.

Then there is this amazing Wikileaks leaks that have expose the inner secrets of mighty governments of the world like the American government. I can hear you chuckle Tom because you of all people know very well how the Americans operate, always looking to cover their own a**** at all costs while hypocritically pretending to be everybody’s best friend.

Gentlemen I can say with confidence that amid all the daily chaos and confusing headlines Kenya is on track for full liberation. You guys did not die in vain after all.

Happy Jamuhuri day guys.

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Peculiar Kenyans to Blame for Hague Debacle

Thank God the winds are fully blowing out of the sails of the ICC process. Hague prosecutor Ocampo's clearance visa must now be downgraded to tourist entry level only. Kenyans of untrained legal minds thought this was an open and shut case. But the splitting political headaches are just beginning in trying to divorce the sterile ICC process from becoming a debacle of ethnicised brinkmanship by adult babies in political clothing

Justice Kriegler must be laughing bitterly at the irony of forewarning us the dangers of plastering septic sores by shipping 6 hallowed names to the Hague without treating the infection of responsibility for mismanaged elections. Kenyans have only themselves to blame for allowing one of the darkest moments of our nation's history to be portrayed as nothing more than a thinly veiled political witch hunt.

Smart wikileaks founder Julian Assange made his name from our peculiarity by correctly sensing our penchant for talking out of both sides of our mouth when he boasted of changing the outcome of our elections. Why not when neither the opposition nor the ruling party planned to conceed defeat yet falsely cried for peace while simultaneously planning civil service line ups and plotting to discredit one another's reputation in the eyes of international community as revealed by diplomatic cables!Talk about mass action premeditated on the go

Even here on this blog after all this time simply asking who won in 2007 elections leads to bloggers belabored breathing while foaming at the mouth typing hyperresponsive remarks in the comments section. How much more then Waki and KNHCR,full of Kenyans with peculiar habits, who succeded in putting together a collection of uninvestigated disproven accusations which do not meet the threshold of ICC's crimes against humanity?

This does not mean they were insincere, however Waki and KNHCR reports are akin to chinese whispers where errors typically accumulate in what the last person repeats as the original whispered sentence. It only takes one person to repeat a lie twice and it sounds like the truth to those who hear it.

Our beleagured politcal class are swearing under their breath wondering do Kenyans really know what they really want out of life-if its impossible to know who won or stole, and the violence was never about elections but about injustices that have been meted against people in this country why are we unfairly targeting Waki's 6 as if they landed from Mars yet we are a sample of what they are?

All Waki and KNHCR succeded in putting together were simply a collection of accussations. Why jeopardise the implementation of a new constitution by robbing us of potential governors and presidential/vice presidential tag teams when they know who their real enemy is? In any case at one point or another local based envoys, the President and the prime minister himself have changed their position several times on this matter at one time preferring the local tribunal and now in semi-favour of the Hague.Without proving, investigating and substantiating the accusations of those reports Moreno Ocampo is better advised to confirm whether he has any real witnesses before announcing his hitlist

Wheels Slowly Coming off The Hague Express

Thank God for auto mouths like Agriculture Assistant Minister Kareke Mbiuki who does not sugar coat what others refer to in relative terms. MP Mbiuki laid it bare that the ICC process is a weapon to eliminate William Ruto and Uhuru Kenyatta before 2012, PERIOD. And there is no guessing who scheming to benefit from such devious machinations.

Well, not so fast as evident from judicious suspects who are burning the midnight candle formulating ways to scuttle this ICC animal. The security chiefs are not fools to incriminate themselves with statement to Lady Justice Rawal. Ocampo is better advised to spare his chest the self-thumbing. He has not seen the last of Kenya's octane tribal politics at play.

The security chiefs were only doing what people employed in the disciplined forces do, follow and obey orders. And shooting only 500 Kenyans from their backs is a small price to pay to stem mayhem. Asking the PPOs the source of their shoot-to-kill orders amounts to raping our national sovereignty.

Meanwhile our smart legal minds are smiling all the way to the bank. The Hague and Ocampo better prepare themselves for a battle royale. Ruto is a real warrior never intimidated even with Europe's biting winter. Add shrewd and moneyed Uhuru to the mix and Ocampo has a handful of political heavyweights with a Diaspora ready to parade their village loyalty at any time of need.

Make no mistake, the bolts are slowly but surely coming off the hitherto Hague Express. In no time, the juggernaut will ground to a halt once the Ruto/UK axis starves its steam engine of oxygen. NA BADO.

Kalonzo, Ruto Unite in Mission to Expose Raila

The Hague is vague, the problem is Raila, PERIOD. We have this confirmation from none other than the VP himself. And the God-fearing cannot lie in church when he declares that he knows Kibaki bears no grudges even after after teaming with Raila to abuse the President.

Teaming with the straight-talking, brave and dare-devil Ruto, Kalonzo is showing Kenyans the way to go and that is to TAME RAILA. You see, only fools do not change their minds and the VP is not a political fool. He has grown and outlived cheap talk and activism to real governance now that is he is constitutionally just a heart beat away from the throne.

Raila's half-hearted quest for a local tribunal to try PEV perpetrators has been summarily busted. Poor son of Jaramogi has enough political foes with the furious Ruto the latest to join Uhuru and Kalonzo who both blame Raila for deflating their political balloons in 2002 and 2007 respectively. The PM is a marked man with enmity and venom oozing from every political orifice, damned either way he acts or speaks.

But we must not lose sight of the trophy. To their collective rescue, Kenyans are better advised to listen to the two voices of God through Kalonzo and Ruto and consign the PM to political dustbin lest they fall to his machinations to eliminate opponents prior to 2012 polls.

Prof Luis Moreno-Ocampo himself epitomizes bad omen and death. The last time he was here coincided with the cold murder the late Mungiki spokesman Njuguna Gitau Njuguna. What is more, Moreno's presence last week was accompanied with the death of three policemen who succumbed to grenade attacks.

Make no mistake, the ICC is Raila's project through the US with Ocampo being just a handle under manipulation. Removing UK and Gen Ruto from the Kenyans political landscape will not be an easy task. Their respective communities knows what true power is than the other 40+ Kenyan tribes. They will fight to the last blood buoyed by the exported Diaspora who have their ears and village loyalty on the ground.

So there we have Kenya's vision clearly spelt out for us by the VP. We must join Kalonzo's prayer to have Ruto's ICC case expedited to pave way his return to the cabinet even if it means take shade under ODM-K umbrella. But above all else Kalonzo needs Ruto on his side to formulate agenda for a brighter Kenya come 2012. Woe unto masters of mass action.

As a footnote to the doubting Thomases, Kenya remains a continental trailblazer in exporting fraud. And if in doubt just ask one Laurent Gbabgo of Ivory Coast. Pretender Quattrra is better advised to accept Thambo Mbeki's predictable proposal to serve as PM in a coalison government. NANI KAMA SISI? Hakuna. We lead, others follow.

Wako to Ocampo, The Hague Process Starts 2090

It's about time Kenya's longest serving AG waded into the facade about naming and prosecuting the so called "perpetrators" and "masterminds" of the post election violence;

New constitution or not Kenya still needs and has its chief legal custodian. And the lawyer knows what he's talking about-his office has successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases over the past decade as mandated by the constitution. The American-visa banned double draft constitution producing accused AG has never had any reason to resign or be fired from his job. He has firmly stood on his principles and convictions doing his job and days like today prove just why

WHERE ARE THE FACTS?

In politics, perception is everything and ICC and Waki are in danger of playing politics with this country's future. Unless they are ready to present and debate facts then they are guilty of irresponsible behaviour by believing distorted facts and lies told using credible witnesses like Rono and Wekesa who were manipulated as sources to bandy around names of so called masterminds and perpetrators of post election violence.

The truth is Kenyans love rumours akin to chinese whispers where errors typically accumulate in what the last person repeats as the original whispered sentence. repeat a lie often enough and it sounds like the truth!Was every effort really made to ensure that the information supporting the adverse mentions by both the Waki report and KNHRC report fully investigated to ensure they were not rumours conjectures and hearsay? If the ICC cannot be sure that the evidence they gathered via part of the Waki report was enough to name any witnesses for prosecution then let them save Kenyans from a lot of grief.

Too often Kenyans are wrongly accused by armchair commentators as being weak and unable to stand up and fight for their rights. Nothing could be further from the truth. Kenyans are simply choking from the swamp of corruption. Its not true that the middle class are too busy filling their bellies with Nyama Choma and alcohol to stand up and take back your country. Many are devout and religious and pray thrice weekly including conducting prayers on this very blog for Chris (see here)

Therefore the government has a right to protect its citizens against allegations such as those about to be put forth about high ranking individuals inside it masterminding bloodbaths of its own citizens. PEV is not a simple open and shut case and its prosecution will be confusing to the legally untrained mind!

The AG is therefore right in reminding ICC that even Waki said its possible his report may fall short of the proof required to meet the threshold of international crimes against humanity. All the KNHRC and Waki report have done is provide a basis and a good starting point for further investigations. Let the ICC prosecutor tread on legal matters slowly while enjoying our game parks and adopting more Cheetahs

US Plots to Topple Kibaki: Tell it to the Birds

So the might US of A has degenerated so low to an extent of financing Kenyan youth to topple their government? Well, one must expose his post molars at that laughable jibe of yore. And while at it forget the present hot potato from the cyber fascists called Wikileaks who gives priority to the facial beauty of our president as if governance is a catwalk. They can rant and rave all they care but we remain SOVERRIGN so much so that only we have the patent for such gems as Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing, Triton and Grand Regency. But that is a story for another day.

For now the big boys are in town wielding the bid stick. Koffi Annan has never tired of babysitting toddler Kenya. And for good measure this time he is accompanied by the holder of that scary ICC office, one Luis Moreno Ocampo. Which leaves you wondering why the later did not save Ruto money by asking him to wait in Nairobi instead of suffering The Hague winter. Again a story for another day.

Kenya is choking with imperialists demanding every pound of her flesh. If it is not the US envoy Renneberger hogging the local political scene with his diplomatic incitement of Kenyan youth against their own government, we collectively get painted with that broad brush as a stinking SWAMP of FLOURISHING CORRUPTION. Well, if that is the accolades from a friendly country I guess we need not search for true enemies.

Forget that fat lie that the international community saved us from ourselves. We have always butchered each other in five-year periodic cycles since 1992. Annan is better advised that his determination to remain relevant and in employment since leaving the UN is selfish at best and overbearing at worst.

Reign of shameless imperialists
The ex-UN boss must leave Kenyans to run their own affairs in ways they know best. Now Kofi is in town breathing fire on our necks threatening brimstone if we derail implementation of the new constitution which has proved to be the elephant ready to evict us from our own house.

The stakes are too high to leave this hydra-headed monster set of new laws to grow legs of its own lest we all get consumed by it. Kenya is the largest economy if both East and Central Africa and the REAL ENTREPRENEURS who make us tick must not be harassed with fictitious.

The Charterhouse bank operated on Kenyan money and was run by Kenyans for Kenyans. The phantom drug lords are mere shadows. For the records Taib is a lawyer and must know better when it comes to matters that appertains to law. Loud-mouthed Renneberger must stop being jealous of SELF-MADE MPs Kabogo and Joho and smart ex-sharp shooter Mwau.

We must unite as a country to collectively stop the so-called international community from conspiring to bring Kenya down to her knees by targeting our industrious leaders.

The truth be told, Annan and Ocampo are poorly disguising their escape from Europe's biting winter, WASHINDWE.

This man Andrew Ligale

In another life, I was a useful rugby player although I retired too early even before my full potential could be realized. But I did try to stage a comeback once or twice. On one of those come back attempts I met a sensationally explosive and very talented young winger. We played for the same club. His second name was Ligale and in one drunken moment of weakness after the game he blurted out that when he was through with school (he was still a schoolboy then but playing club rugby nevertheless) he would love more than anything else to be a PS in government, just like dad had been for many years.

Andrew Ligale: Missed the opportunity for a solid legacy despite his dark past.

His words haunted me for years after that. Indeed they came back vividly recently when it was reveled that the immediate former Vihiga legislator Andrew Ligale would chair the highly sensitive but crucial Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission. (IIBRC). I immediately knew that there was trouble ahead. ASnd indeed trouble came.

Back in the old days when I myself was still a schoolboy and my dad worked for the government we lived in Kileleshwa. In those days there were still plenty of houses for government employees in this leafy suburb and many of them that were built in the colonial days and were becoming an eyesore as “private developers” put up lavish houses right next to them after purchasing some of the old houses from the government. The “developers” would promptly demolish the old houses and put up apartments or classy massionettes. It was in this kind of unfolding scenario that we lived right opposite the “stinking wealthy” Ligale family. At that time the rugby star was too young and the only person I remember well was his dazzling much older sister whom I made a spirited bid for but failed in what is obviously not a tale for this political blog.

So how did Mr Ligale make his money? The man is extremely wealthy too wealthy to have made it all from investing his salary whilst working for government.

Of course the official story is that he worked hard in the civil service, climbed up the ranks and made the right investments. His CV reveals something else. Ligale joined the Ministry of Lands and Settlement in 1966 in a junior position and climbed through the ranks until he became director of Physical planning. For those unfamiliar with the territory under discussion, when you mention the word “land” in Kenya you awaken terrible murderous basic instincts in many Kenyans. They stem for a desire to own large tracts of dirt at all costs. They will bribe, kill, maim and generally do anything they have to do to get land for themselves. Many Kenyan families have made fortunes from the land racket in Kenya and Andrew Ligale’s name can not be left out of that list.

Playing the land game and yet being from the wrong tribe (that is not a Kikuyu during the Kenyatta era) there is no doubt that the man was forced to develop survival skills to implement exactly the right kind of politics to ensure that he not only amassed cash and property but was also able to fully protect his wealth. The kind of wealth that made such an impression on his young son that he was able to blurt out in a drunken moment of weakness that he wanted above all to be a PS in the Kenya government.

Unfortunately it is politics from that era that Mr Ligale decided to play as chair of the IIBRC. A lot has been said in support of the Ligale commission and against it but how do you explain the fact that his very own Vihiga constituency was split into two? Ligale was MP for the area for two terms from 1992 to 1997 and from 2002 to 2007. He was defeated in the ODM nominations in 2007 but retained very close contact with the ODM high command which is what bagged him the IIBRC job.

Ligale is a smart man but even smart people get overtaken by events when changes are happening as fast as they are in Kenya. The impunity was obvious in Ligale’s tone of voice when he arrogantly told members of the press that those who were not happy with the work of his commission were welcome to go to court.

I have a feeling that history will not be so kind to Andrew Ligale. It will be recorded that he had his opportunity to make his contribution to the new Kenya but squandered it on the altar of political gain. A man with a long history of using his public appointments for personal gain.

Ligale CV

Employment History
1966-1978: Ministry of Land& Settlement
(rose to become Director, of Physical Planning)
1979-1991: P.S. Various Ministries
1997-2002: Chairman Consolidated Bank of Kenya

Education
1952: Chanzeywe Primary School
1953-1956: Chavavo Intermediate School
1957-1960: Friends School Kamusinga
1961-1962: Alliance High School
1963-1966: Makerere University, Uganda (B.A. Hons. Degree)
1966-1968 Nottingham University (M.A. Degree)

Period Served in Parliament
1992-1997 , Re-elected 27th December 2002

See older Kumekucha article: The Andrew Ligale Gideon Moi cash distributing link.

Reforms in Kenya: Is it time to negotiate with murderers and masters of impunity?

With recent political happenings in mind, many leading political analysts believe that there is now the very real danger of reforms in Kenya being derailed and the beautiful new Kenyan constitution ending up still-born after all. This is a view that yours truly also holds. Alert Kenyans are wary of reforms being choked even at this eleventh hour by the political class and those who stand to lose the most with a new order of things. Our local press has captured the mood perfectly by creating screaming headlines and alarmed TV news reports every time there is a tiny little obstacle to progress in the implementation of the new constitution within the set timetable.
Precedents are not the preserve of lawyers and courtrooms only and so I went out and looked for the most similar recent situation to that of Kenya and the one that is naturally nearest home. I quickly zeroed in on South Africa and how the evil apartheid system was finally defeated. Many of the phenomenal changes that have taken place in that country are today taken for granted. Little regard is given to the insurmountable hurdles that had to be scaled before a new South Africa could be born. But what surprised me even more were the secret talks that took place behind the scenes initiated by some far-sighted white folks from the business community who could clearly see that the country was disintegrating rapidly. Read details about that HERE.

In this case I was lucky enough to come across a movie detailing the whole secret talks and the key role they played in the whole process, called Endgame. See details about the movie here
The thing about watching a movie about a research subject is that you get drawn into all the very real emotions of the situation and this brings about a much deeper understanding than relying only on reading material.

For instance radicals on both sides of the divide went to great lengths to frustrate and even sabotage the peace talks. These extremists on both sides felt terribly betrayed that there should be any talks at all.

Can Kenyans learn something from Nelson Mandela’s South Africa? Can the masses negotiate with the evil political class who must survive the reforms that we have already instigated at all costs? Will this save lives and help Kenya get to where she is going much quicker?

As far fetched as this may seem at first sight let us dare to delve deeper and start throwing in some names of the kind of people who should have representation on the table for such negotiations. Mwai Kibaki and family, The Moi family, Nicholas Biwott, The Kenyatta family, Njoroge Mungai (former powerful cabinet minister and aide of President Kenyatta credited with being behind the most major political assassinations executed during Kenyatta’s watch), surviving members of the Kiambu Mafia that surrounded President Kenyatta. Perhaps we should also add families of those who were so brutally assassinated mostly under the guise of national security? Families of dead Kenyans like Tom Mboya. JM Kariuki, Pio Gama Pinto, Robert Ouko etc.

When you really think about it, we are worse off than the South Africans were because at some point we will need to get tribal representatives and dive into some serious tribal talks. The idea will be to reach that place where we can start forgiving each other for past sins whilst speaking out openly about the things that antagonize us most about some of our Kenyan communities. For instance the sheer arrogance of members of the house of Mumbi in the Kikuyunization of everything wherever in the world they settle. And worse still, the habit of speaking their vernacular in the presence of others who do not understand the language. Interestingly we will need to tell our Luo brothers that they too have the habit of speaking Dholuo in public in the presence of other precious Kenyans who do not understand their dialect. This is provocative in a unified multi-tribal nation like Kenya. We will also tell them that we do not appreciate their carrying stones inside briefcases to soccer matches and political meetings. WE will also not fail to have a word with our Kalenjin brethren to protest their ruthlessness in their violent ways and their love for war mongering against the rest of us who are their very brothers and sisters and fellow Kenyans at that.

And after the heated exchanges and “short-circuits” that are to be expected as folks lose their tempers at this initial session, we shall take a lunch break for everybody to enjoy the wide array of delicious traditional foods and then return to a session where participants will list the things they appreciate most about each other. I would start with the industrious almost natural entrepreneurial ability of our Kikuyu brothers and sisters which has helped Kenya make great strides in commerce and trade. We will then wholeheartedly thank out Luo brethren for endowing the motherland with some of the best medical doctors on the continent (I know at least one world-class one who is a world authority in his field based in the US, but I am sure there are many other world class doctors who hail from this Kenyan community). With tears of patriotic joy in our eyes we shall thank our Kalenjin comrades for bringing such glory to Kenya for long and middle distance races to the extent where there is now talk that the Kenyan race (3,000 metres steeplechase) soon being discontinued because there is little point in holding an international competition where the contest for the top honours is exclusively between compatriots of a single country with the rest of the competitors being reduced to mere spectators. There is of course a lot more to appreciate fro many other Kenyan communities.

During the secret talks that led to the defeat of apartheid, the Afrikaans (who invented apartheid in the first place) were utterly taken aback by the reconciliatory nature of the long suffering ANC even with all the injustices committed against them over the years. The ANC were also shocked that the Afrikaans had through the long years braced themselves for the day of retribution from those they killed and maimed for so many years. They saw this as inevitable and did not expect mercy when that day came. In the same way when we Kenyans sit down with each other for some serious talk, we will be amazed at how easy it will be to be endeared to tribes that we may think very negatively of at the moment.

I dare add that we cannot fail to find lovable things about the murderers and selfish land grabbers who are stinking rich today and have the blood of many Kenyans on their hands.

Kenya belongs to all of us and even as we burn with anger and thirst for revenge for past evils committed, it may be more realistic to negotiate with the very evil forces fighting against change. We need to understand the position of these thieves and murderers better so that we can fully ensure that what happened will never happen again.

This may be a very bitter pill to swallow but what if it is the only way Kenya can be saved?

See older explosive Kumekucha post: Political assassinations in Kenya TJ

Amazing natural cure for erectile dysfunction, diabetes, joint pain...

Open Letter to the Blindly Ambitious KACC

Dear KACC,

I have watched with growing alarm and utter dismay as you ruthlessly pursue government officials at all levels accussed of all manner of corruption whether past or present, petty or grand and i have decided enough is enough! its time to send you this valuable piece of advice through this suitable public forum to prevent you from dancing yourself lame before the music ends

Maybe you are not aware of this fact but your predecessor very much believed that this is Kenya-meaning sacred cows are still very much alive and well in this country and its your job to tip toe on egg shells around them especially since many of them are still in power today despite being in public office ever since this country first gained independence 46 years ago. You see this is Kenya and petty offenders are the ones used to quacking in their boots and facing justice quickly not the "untouchables", not the ruling political elite.

My question to you is why are you so intent on upsetting the apple cart? who are you trying to impress by arresting for example senior government officials like MP for Makadara Mike Sonko based on crimes he allegedly commiited 4 years ago?this move smacks of age discrimination which just like gender discrimination is illegal and has every right of earning you a nolle prosequi from the sitting Attorney General under this new constitution

By throwing Mr. Sonko in jail you are telling us that had he been older and more highly connected not to mention deeper pockets he would have at least been spared the embarrassment of spending 3 nights in jail.Just like his youth supporters who rioted outside the courts today I urge you to stop these double standards because all your tough talk and brandishing of Charterhouse dossiers in public from that American ambassador fellow is beginning to make Kenyans believe in themselves again. Stop lying to us that the light at the end of the tunnel can be something else other than a train.Don't fool yourself the public are cynical no one believes that anything good is coming out of this country before 2012. can't you see the dark cloud of ICC hovering around like an evil spirit?how do you think that is going to end?Its no wonder many local insurance companies introduced a policy to cover political stability

Kenyans are no longer gullible anymore, we know that the big fish can never be caught because there will never be sufficient evidence to prosecute their arrest-with or without a new CJ or AG. Go back to chasing policemen who ask for Ksh 50/= bribe, at least they make our lives miserable on a daily basis therefore we feel vindicated when we see the long arm of the law catch up with them. Forget about and leave those "untouchables" up there alone! Have you ever asked yourself KACC how they got to those public positions? We put them there stupid and we are happiest when cheering them on as footsoldiers. God knows no one from my tribe could ever be corrupt or incomptent! That generation were all number 1 in class and flew abroad to study.

Mursik is not only for the Hague warrior there are other warriors like Mr.Rono and Mr.Wakessa who can't afford plane tickets but still loyal to their masters and waiting in the shadows. Bottom line KACC?

Kenyans want you to stop raising their hopes falsely. We have seen this all before there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Unless you are going to arrest the whole government settle down and wait patiently for 2012 like the rest of us. cheers

Poor Governor-Elect Sonko Selectively Arrested

The rich also cry. Poor Sonko is cooling his heels in the cells. It appears some people have never forgiven Makadara MP for showing his bling-bling all the way to parliament and leaving hitherto seasoned politicians sprawled on the ground in shame. And the Kenyan media must be exposing their post-molars in joy after hounding and convicting Hon Mbuvi without the benefit of plea.

Typical Kenyan voters will start parroting in favour and against Sonko's incarceration while conveniently ignoring that the MP is a mirror of themselves. We get the leaders we deserve and Sonko is just one among the many robbers and murderers we elect after every five years. Soon fingers will be pointing in every direction accusing perceived political opponents. This perfect and apt drama to take over from where Ruto left with his Hague antics.

The political Kenyan will jump to innuendos without asking the basic questions like why the the same CID who cleared Sonko to vie as MP are now hounding him. A civilized society would have witnessed heads rolling yesterday. But sorry this is Kenya which is almost exclusively defined by double speak.

If Ruto is preparing to demand a full refund from his advisers for dangling him in front of the ICC sharp fangs, then Sonko's advisers must be hanged for exposing their client to the valgaries of political office given his heavily packed cupboard of skeleton.

Sonko should have known that one must be very afraid when flaunting wealth whose source is as dark as his/her past. Consorting with Maina Njenga and Kamlesh Pattni rightly paints you with the huge brush of guilt. Poor brother bling bling Mike Sonko! Next stop Shimo-La-Tewa.

What you will never know about some Kenyan pilots

If you are about to fly off somewhere I strictly recommend that you do not read this post until you get back from your trip.

I want to discuss Kenyan pilots. There is no better time to discuss them than now. It is certainly better than trying to discuss them after a major air disaster.
Kenya Airways’ Captain Irene Koki Mutungi the first woman captain of a passenger jet aircraft in Africa (flies the Boeing 737-300 for KQ) is a trail blazer in many ways. I dare say that women have proved time and again to be more trustworthy when given grave responsibilities like regularly “holding the lives of passengers in their hands.” Read more about this amazing Kenyan woman.

I must admit that aviation is a subject that really fascinates me. Right from the amazing humble beginnings to the latest developments, I always love anything I can get my hands on that talks about the aviation industry then and now. Then there are countless episodes of Air crash investigations and Seconds from disaster that I have taken in on DSTV and elsewhere. And so as I have been digging around for information on Kenyan pilots, I am not totally ignorant of the subject.

But let’s start this post with a bizarre conclusion from a court of Inquiry probe into the Air India Express plane crash in May this year. The inquiry concluded that the disaster was caused by a “sleepy pilot” who had in fact been asleep for most of the flight from Dubai to the city of Mangalore. He was therefore disoriented as he approached the runaway at the wrong angle and even ignored several warning signs. The plane carrying low cadre Indian immigrant workers coming back home to for their annual holidays overshot the runway, plunging into a gorge and burst into flames. Eight people survived the inferno. Close to 350 people died in the crash. Experts at the inquiry said that because the pilot of the Indian aircraft was suffering "sleep inertia" he made the fatal mistake of trying to take off again when applying emergency brakes would have comfortably saved the situation. Read more about the accident report HERE.

Apparently the Air India Express pilot was a Serbian and everybody knows that pilots from that side of the world (mostly any country that was part of the former unified USSR) have a reputation for being reckless. But let us turn our attention to Kenyan pilots which is what this post is supposed to be about.

I was pleasantly surprised to be informed that Kenyan pilots are considered to be amongst the best in the world. How can I forget what this veteran pilot told me;

“I know a couple of Kenyan pilots who are way too comfortable landing a jet aircraft in freezing conditions where ice can be treacherous. It is as if they were born in those kinds of conditions. Splendid pilots I tell you.”

I have heard many other words of praise for particular Kenyan pilots from many quarters.

However digging deeper, there are some horrifying tales of what really goes on behind the scenes. It is one tyhing to be a talented pilot and quite another to be a disciplned one. Admittedly discipline in a pilot is a very personal thing and trying to supervise it in pilots can even be harder. The truth is that despite the clear rules many of our pilots take to the air when they are drunk or have not had enough sleep.

These days flying a modern jet aircraft is very much an automated kind of thing. So a pilot mostly plays a supervisory role. We have the autopilot mode and fly-by-wire technology that introduces computer precision that no human can match to functions like descending gradually for a landing. At first glance this may appear to be a good thing and it is. But the downside is that a pilot literally “goes to sleep” and staying alert becomes very difficult. So in many ways the old days of manual flying were better because they kept a pilot alert during the entire duration of the flight.

The thing about the sophisticated computers that are today’s jet aircrafts is that if anything goes wrong it will need a very quick-witted alert pilot to quickly take in and understand the situation and make a decision, sometimes with a deadline of split seconds or just a few minutes, which could make the difference between life and death. You don’t want a pilot who is drunk or sleepy in that kind of situation. Or one who is less than fully alert because they were having a good time with some young lasses in some exotic world capital night club most of the previous night.

What makes matters worse is that pilots get away with this kind of thing all the time. One could even be lucky enough to complete their entire career sleeping most of the time without any mishap or unfortunate incidents like the Air India Express crash happening. But what happens the day something goes wrong?

Could disaster have been averted and lives saved when things went wrong in the Kenya Airways aircraft in Abidjan in 2000 (mystery of cause still to be solved) and in Cameroon in 2007 (What the crash investigations report said about pilot error)

See also: Ugly wars in the sky between Kenya Airways and the South Africans

Join the raging Kumekucha debate about drug barons in government.

Visa Ban And Drug Barons in Government

Kenyans are a very disgusting lot. They really don’t care about the most important question one needs to urgently ask whenever they come across somebody who seems to have cash literally coming out of their ears. And that critical question is; where did the money come from?
Just show Kenyans the cash and you are a hero, no questions asked. But personally I would go as far as questioning even cash that floods in for so-called good causes. Charity Kaluki Ngilu announced her bid for the presidency in 1997 looking “all money” complete with a brand new seductive dress that was a tad too short but must have cost a bomb. It was all for a good cause. After years of the Moi regime we wanted to get rid of him pronto and for a brief moment it looked like maybe a woman could break the tribal barriers and unite enough opposition votes to remove Moi and KANU from power. What followed was one of the best financed presidential campaigns ever seen in Kenya. Very few stopped to ask the crucial question, where did all that money come from? Had Ngilu won those rigged presidential elections, this question would have become even more critical and so in many ways it is just as well that she did not win and the only thing she emerged with was the distinction of being the first woman in Kenya to run for the presidency. In retrospect this was hardly surprising coming from a tribe that has had a long history of being led by women (but then that is a post for another day.)

As a matter of interest that Ngilu cash came from some very deep pockets in the United States of America with an agenda in Kenya. The same gentlemen that former Kanu secretary general Joseph Kamotho bluntly addressed in the press and told; this is NOT the Philippines. Many puzzled Kenyans were wondering what the hell the balding guy was talking about. I am told that once upon a time the CIA helped install a woman president in the Philippines and one of the key tools that helped them change the course of the political river that led to the win of Corazon Aquino was wads of cash. Yet another fascinating story for another day.

But I digress too much because today I address the issue of drug barons in Kenyan politics. This is probably one of the most dangerous subjects to write about in Kenya. I know because I have had my life threatened and have even had to run. Make no mistake about it, these drug folks are well organized and their cash opens all doors for them. There is hardly a place to hide when they have identified you as “a problem”. Even an anonymous blogger like myself can suddenly find that they are pretty exposed (as I found out the hard way).

In naming one of the drug barons I know in government let me tell you a short story. In the run up to the 2007 general elections I was fully behind ODM and its’ presidential candidate Raila Odinga. I am NOT a Luo but like many Kenyans I was seduced by the ODM rhetoric and I was yearning for change. Cynical and hard to convince as I am, I found myself in the place where I was sure that ODM would bring about the desired change we vadly needed in Kenya. And that is the reason why I was deeply shocked and hurt when I later heard that the ODM presidential candidate had offered Mr John Harun Mwau a full cabinet seat in his half of the coalition government. Mwau, the story goes, turned it down because of his frequent Business trips out of the country and accepted the less busy docket of an assistant minister. Knowing the character of the man I cringed at this news. Imagine a drug baron as a full cabinet minister carrying a diplomatic passport and all? I was later told by some ODM die-hard that “the captain” did not have a choice because the man gave ODM a lot of cash for the presidential campaign. That did not wash with me. So what if he financed the ODM presidential campaign? Why was he allowed to in the first place by a candidate looking for change in Kenya?

I have written several posts in this blog about this man (you can read this one) and so I don’t want to repeat myself. The bottom line is that Mwau was a sharpshooter working with the Kenya police and climbed up to the rank of acting Inspector of police. And he was not one of the more disciplined officers because he insisted on keeping his beard and had to get a letter from some doctor proving that shaving his beard would be a risk to his health. When Mr Mwau left the police force in some very controversial circumstances he suddenly became a very rich man. Journalists have often asked him how he made his money and he has always waived his hand and said it was from business and quickly hurried on to the next point. One journalist pressed the question and asked what business exactly he was doing. Mwau replied that he was importing electronics. Mwau in a thinly veiled threat told journalists to be careful with him. Apart from being a scary character to journalists seeking information, Mwau has always been pretty generous with reporters. Let me just leave it at that. And so journalists have learnt not to ask Mr Mwau certain questions and even more important not to dig too deeply into how he acquired his stupendous wealth.

All over the world former policemen are rarely considered to be overly intelligent, if anything many jokes are traded about the lack of intelligence of policemen. However in Mr Mwau’s case there is evidence to prove that he is an extremely intelligent man. In a land mark case challenging the election of Moi as President in 1992 (in an election where Mwau also stood for president), he opted to represent himself and ended up impressing many lawyers and even judges (although he did not win the case). Many thought his performance was better than what many trained lawyers would have achieved. When this kind of man is let loose in a country like Kenya for so many years unchecked the result is that he becomes part of the very fabric of the nation so that touching him may have a major impact right across the entire economy of the nation.

For instance there are allegations supported by enough documentation and evidence that the well-respected Nakumatt chain of supermarkets had its’ early days financed by money launderers. Money laundering and the drug business are inseparable twins joined at the hip and the heart. Read this Kumekucha story for details.

(To be continued)

See also the earlier Kumekucha article: Is it okay for a drug baron to be in government?

Late Extra...

Judging from some of the comments this post has provoked I felt that a comment made by a reader from one of my earlier articles in Kumekucha about the drugs trade would be appropriate to put things in perspective. I reproduce it below;

Anonymous said...

I got a Kenyan boyfriend the other day and I have been trying to familliarize myself with his home country. Having come across this blog I can't help but wonder about how simple life is in that part of the world. As a police officer in Miami I have to say that narcotic drugs activites are no joke, I can tell you stories that would make it difficult for you to sleep at night. It seems like you guys want to destroy your country by creating the impression that narcotic drugs are a business that can create abundant wealth.

5/27/07 11:47 PM

Why some voters in Kenya are more equal than others

What is the boundaries commission controversy all about?

Let us imagine for a minute that you come from one of the really moneyed families of Kenya (who have mostly made their money from graft) and you were at the dinner table as a family deciding where you would go for your Christmas holidays this year. The way it is done in most families is that the older and bigger folks usually have a bigger say than the younger and less experienced. There really is no democracy because if mum decides that it has to be London to impress her friends, then that vote carries much more weight than Junior’s vote to see Brazil where all the soccer magicians are born. Of course mzee wa nyumba can over-rule everybody and use his veto power to ensure that the family goes to Dubai because he has some personal business there he would like to tie up while the family is on holiday.

The most powerful voter in Kenya today.

In other words there is no true democracy in most Kenyan homes and with good reason because experience counts for a lot. But what about our electoral system and the nagging question that continues to hound us about constituencies and especially how many we should have and where they should be? Currently there is a controversy surrounding the new constituencies created by the Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission. Granted, boundaries and commissions to review them can be pretty boring stuff and that is why most of the ordinary folks I interviewed for this article had no idea what is going on and are not really interested in knowing. Most of the folks I talked to didn’t have a clue what all the hullabaloo about new constituencies was about and were not interested. Mostly they wanted to talk about Ruto and his woes. But trust me, this thing is very important.

At the centre of all the arguments and threats to go to court is a simple question. Should a constituency be based on the number of people in it or the geographical size? At independence it was mostly based on population. However when Daniel arap Moi came along as Kenya’s second president, his advisors came up with a brilliant way of diluting and limiting the influence of the populous Kikuyu tribe. It is interesting how Moi is very quick these days to deny any historical suggestions that he was scared and yet that is the naked truth. For younger generation Kenyans it is hard to believe but Moi really had to be coaxed into being president. “Hawa kikuyu watamaliza mimi,” (These Kikuyus will finish me) are words that came out of Moi’s lips quite often, shortly after Kenyatta’s death. Read excerpts from my revealing book, Dark secrets of the Kenyan presidency. Now Moi’s idea of dealing with his perceived enemies was to increase the number of constituencies in areas where he had support and then limit the number of constituencies in Kikuyuland. It worked like a charm because even when the opposition got huge number of votes from central province, when the sums were done in parliament, the Rift valley had more MPs and would therefore always have an advantage in parliament. They still do. It also made rigging presidential elections very easy for Moi. Now that the Moi era is over the Kikuyu community are eager that this injustice is corrected, however Kalenjin MPs are determined that we continue with the evil that Moi put in place by basing constituencies on geographical area covered. If these fellows are to be taken seriously then we shall end up with constituencies in the North Eastern province with 500 registered voters or less. Meaning a legislator elected to the house by his extended family and clan will sit right next to a colleague who landed in parliament with 500,000 votes. Is this fair?

Now in concluding this post, I need somebody to explain something to me. The Interim Independent Boundaries Review Commission based the new constituencies on the requirements of the new constitution. They also say that they came up with a number, 133,000 which they consider to be the ideal number for any constituency. How come then Mandera in the sparsely populated North Eastern province got 2 new constituencies?

In my view balancing things will not work. We need to bite the bullet and do this thing democratically. In my view democracy means one man one vote having the maximum impact in our politics. As it is now those who come from low populated areas have a clear advantage when
it comes to voting. It is really as simple as that.

Are you in the diaspora and planning to come to Kenya on holiday?

Boundaries commission defends itself

Paradox of devolution and nationalism

Rattled William (Ratko) Ruto Reigns on ROW

Ruto is not going down to The Hague without a bruising fight. The battle-ready, warrior and messiah has his eyes and jabs singularly trained on the trio ROW - Raila (as standard), Omar and Waki.

The drama has been unparallelled the whole week. The coincidence in HEROIC homecoming from The Hague and guns blazing with bullets aimed at the head of one Hassan Omar was textbook Kanu parading evidence to advance a mission. Add that to both Rono and Wekesa disowning KNHRC and spitting in the face of perjury charges and you get an original script from an incompetent spin doctor willfully leading her client to the slaughter by the leash.

Ratko Ruto did a splendid job and saved ICC plenty of resources by presenting himself to be ICC officials for a close and candid study, dissecting his personal demeanour, credibility, language and guilt. The TRIBAL siege mentality Ratko is working overdrive to craft with a hope of making his indictment politically untenable is no brainier for ICC. Hon Ratko is better advised to stick to Raila and forget blaming small fish like Omar

The phrase dancing yourself lame before the real music starts must have been coined with Hon William Ruto in mind. Thanks to Ruto, Kenyans are reliving the Kanu theatrics of yore. And just how much ground of deceit can one cover in a week of political polemics? Well, we haven't seen the last act from the MP for Eldoret North.

Kenyans are better advised to brace themselves for more Ronos and Wekesas who have come out to disown dream lives of luxury without telling us the BUYING PRICE. You just don't trash freebies of KES 60,00 a month and a fully furnished three bed roomed accommodation in leafy suburbs for press headlines, or do you? Only in Kenya do we fall for such gimmicks.

Ruto did not need the trip to The Hague to reinvent himself. His spin doctors must be working overdrive to keep the cheques coming and remain relevant before the owl is unmasked revealing the feathers that he is presently disguising as horns. A lie repeated in total brinkmanship and bravado never mutates into truth, or does it?

Porous shield
For starters, ICC will do their own investigations and all the present heat on KNHRC is a charade at beast and a decoy meant to divert at attention at worst. Rono and Wekesa appear to be blinded with the present money taps so much so that they have become oblivious if the legal chopping block they are inadvertently placing their dead necks on. The cause of the present fallout has been reduced to typical Kenyan unmet promise of land, money and scholarships. Well, ICC is not our local courts and that is why many Kenyans preferred it from the word go.

Behind Ruto's hyperactivity lies the big nasty political plot that will hit Kenyans like a thunderbolt. The real owners of Kenya have had a glimpse of ICC fangs and claws and tehy are running really scared. Ruto is not alone and is merely testing waters for the real shakers who don't have the guts to face their demons. Make no mistake, 2012 is only 13 months away and the suspects are ganging behind their tribal walls to scare and frustrate justice. Well, they are swimming in uncharted waters and time is not on their side.

The tribal warlords are all out to sabotage ICC but tough luck. We are in a new Kenya and their expertise of trying to fit old wine in new wine skins will backfire big time. Individuals committed crimes and not communities and ICC knows it better. The later may only provide porous shields until Ocampo's spear comes for the hearts of the former.

Orgasmic Statehouse Calculations

Kenyans have a problem with arithmetic or math as the Americans call it. And they have had this problem from as far back as anybody can remember.

There was a time a long time ago that they did a switch locally from old mathematics to new or metric mathematics. The new mathematics offered hope for some poor folks who thought that it would be magically easier and that they would stop seeing stars in the classroom. Of course that was a pipe dream.
We are going through a similar phase in Kenyan politics. We are moving towards what I would like to call metric politics for the purposes of this post. The sad thing is that many older folks are still using the same old calculations to analyze the current political scene. I listened to some mostly sickening political calculations in recent days. Most of them made me want to throw up and so I will share the nausea with you today.

Calculation 1:-
Ruto is too smart for these people and so he will go for governor and then Uhuru will be president with Jirongo his vice president. This combination is unbeatable.

Calculation2:-
Since Ocampo will deal with all the big names e.g. Ruto, Raila and Uhuru the field will be left open for Kalonzo Musyoka who will not have any competition from anybody. He is surely the next president of Kenya.

Calculation 3:-
Because Uhuru Kenyatta will be out of the way the house of Mumbi will have no other option but to put their weight behind Martha Karua for president who will easily win.

Calculation 4:-
This is the turn of the Luhyas. Since Ocampo will wipe the whole field clean of the big names Jirongo will have little or no competition in winning the presidency. His main support will come from Rift valley where Ruto will have left his blessings before departing to the Hague to begin serving his jail term.

I will not bother to answer to any of the above analysis. They are hardly worth the effort. What saddens me is that mostly older Kenyans cannot seem to get away from the old thinking that having one of their own in State house will feel so good that it will be orgasmic for them. Very, very, sad.

Why tribalism is so ridiculous and how science can help rid Kenya of it

Mombasa car dealers to help you get a car at a crazily low price.

Breaking News
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In May 2008 a Reuters photojournalist, Trent Keegan was killed in Nairobi. His killers took away his laptop and mobile phone and left his wallet, cash, credit cards etc intact. And yet the Kenya police have been insisting right from day one that this was an ordinary mugging gone wrong. I always get very suspicious when the police start to give theories before investigations have even commenced. More so when Mr Keegan had indicated that he feared for his life.

Initial reports this blogger received from reliable sources was that shortly before his death Mr Keegan was in touch with contacts giving him some sensitive information for some very big stories on Kenya (see my post in 2008 about this also read this Kumekucha exclusive). Strangely the story that stuck was an investigative piece he was doing in Tanzania.

Now the latest is that a glue-sniffing youth who is being charged with the high-profile killing of the Kenya Airways pilot last year has also now been charged with the murder of the Kiwi journalist. Read story HERE.

This is a major cover up that is pretty unconvincing. Indications are that behind this mystery is a very big story which yours truly is pursuing as I have been since May 2008.

More Heads Roll: is Charity Ngilu's Neck Next?

Ruto has exhausted all his ammunition and running really scared groping in the dark holding onto any straw to keep politically afloat. His latest object of tirade Hassan Omar will remain long after Ruto is shipped to The Hague.


Now we've heard it come straight from the horses mouth itself.Suspended Higher Education Minister William Samoei Ruto did not meet with ICC chief prosecutor Louis Moreno Ocampo in his recent trip to the Hague in Netherlands.

It turns out that the Eldoret North MP really did go to Hague to drink tea with his agemate and friend unfortunately his companion was not in his office as he had other more important matters to attend to in England. But why all the smoke screens?more on that in a minute

But first of all it seems more heads are set to roll in whats turning out to be an ugly mud slinging contest between water minister Charit Ngilu and her former assistant minister Mwangi Kiunjuri.

The Kitui Central MP is well known for speaking the truth even to the extent of putting to shame the devil himself and in the court of public opinion the jury have already reached their verdict. It is more likely that her word is believed over the assistant minister for public works

Its interesting to note that the current circus going on speaks volumes about what type of power struggles have secretly been taking place behind closed doors of various 40 odd ministries. The idea behind the coalition government was to have the 2 main parties shadow each other in the various dockets of government apportioned as stipulated in the power sharing agreement. Its no secret that ODM a favourite of voters at the time of the signing of the peace accord set out to establish a reputation for performing well in whatever line ministries it was handed. The party's philosophy was to in theory improve service delivery of ministries under its umbrella despite what they expected would be frustration from the ministries that fell under PNU's skirts. In this way they would build momentum for endearing themselves to the public throughout what then was looking to be a most difficult 5 years for the nation

This "government within a governmet" sounded good in theory but practically...well all you have to do is look at whats being exposed in Ngilu's docket.As the minister in charge she was in bed with the opposition who was meant to be her assistant! Meantime of course both continued to enjoy their time in government as ministry was divided in itself and delivering less than half of the services to its people

Will Ngilu's head roll in joining the long list of ministers and public officials who have stepped aside since the new constitution was promulgated?The Prime Minister has thrown his hat into the ring in throwing his political weight behind the Water minister and this could be seen as a sign that she has the right political backing not to lose her Water services portfolio. Honourable Ngilu does have alot of immense political capital and it remains to be seen whether she will graciously bow out of the ring or stay put for another round.

Back to William Ruto. It seems this man flew out of JKIA on a political mission to re-invent himself upon return and as he has said he is soon launching his political party. In all likelihood its possible he already knew he would not be meeting Moreno Ocampo as ICC prosecutor is not a man to waste anybody's time. It is therefore not surprising that since his return he has chosen to hit out at the government at every opportunity as he gets as a way of trying to endear himself to the public so as to be perceived as a man of justice who took shots at his employers and party boss in a bid to shake up the building from the foundations up hoping when the dust settles he will be more than just a governor in some county somewhere in the Rift valley

Drowning Ruto Opts for the Samson Option

Update: Empty political showboating
Ruto's spin doctors have defrauded him big time and he must demand a full refund. The political showboating that was cleverly crafted to deflect public attention has succeeded in doing the exact opposite. First Ruto did not meet ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo who was in London when Ruto visited The Hague and his evasive and contemptuous answer to the press (Taxi operator reference) was proof enough.

The Eldoret North MP would have saved his money by meeting the ICC team already in Kenya. The propaganda coup has backfired and Ruto has lent more credence to his impeding indictment after unwittingly showing his hand out of naivety and self-guilt.He derided ICC to be toothless until 2090 and his outburst on Waki Commission's report and KNHRC is the sturdy rope his neck desperately needed.
There is nothing more powerful than the voices of the dead crying to the almighty from the ground. Remember the Cane and Abel saga in the good book? The truth of the matter in Kenya is that there are tons of Kenyans crying for justice. The post election troubles of 2008 claimed close to 5000 souls (Kumekucha figures) although official figures claim slightly above 600. The vast majority of these souls were innocent. And that is not counting all the innocent Kenyans before that who were sent to an early grave courtesy of one Jomo Kenyatta and Daniel arap Moi. Or the ones who were denied being brought up by a father.

God also says in his good book that vengeance is his. Not that the down-trodden of Kenya would have any means of exacting their own revenge.
This is the only way I can begin to understand what seems to be unfolding before our very eyes on the Kenyan political scene. It is all too shocking to fanthom. And yet it is happening.

Firstly the political class in broad daylight enthusiastically passed a constitution that would put them in serious trouble (as is already beginning to happen). It is important to note that those in our political class are many things BUT they are NOT fools. Indeed some of the most intelligent, smart and best educated Kenyans are in politics today. It still beats me how nobody in this bunch of smarts saw that passing the new constitution would come back to haunt them big time. I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes when the likes of George Saitoti so enthusiastically drummed up support for the new katiba. Just watch what happens next to the good old professor. HINT:- plenty of skeletons will emerge from the man’s closet.

Political showboating
Now even before we can analyze all the drama unfolding in Kenya at the moment with big shots falling like dominoes as their colleagues shake uncontrollably in their boots wondering where the axe is going to fall next, a totally unexpected twist has been thrown into the mix. Eldoret North legislator who was right inside the engine room of trouble when the post election violence of early 2008 broke, has chosen to bare all to the ICC. Effectively Ruto (with the help of his lawyers) spent the marathon sessions recently with the chief prosecutor Luiz Moreno Ocampo delivering damning evidence against the two principals. In effect Ruto’s defense is that he was only reluctantly following instructions from his superiors who are guiltier than he is.

If you are sitting there thinking that the two principals will sit and let events take their own course then you have another think coming. One of the very valuable pieces of evidence in the possession of one of the principals are recordings of cell phone conversations Ruto made with others on the ground during the violence. These kind of recordings are not admissible in a court of law in Kenya, however the ICC is something else and these are the kind of recordings that Ocampo would love to get his hands on.

Then there are the court cases now rapidly catching up with Ruto. Indeed the way things are going Ruto could be behind bars long before we hear from the ICC. Which would imply that Ruto knowing that he was going down opted not to go down alone but bring down everybody else with him, especially the high and mighty (namely the two principals who seem to have given instructions that his court cases now proceed with speed).

Fascinating stuff guys. Terribly fascinating stuff.

Ruto lawyer details planned defence at the Hague that is based on prosecuting the two principals first

When Ruto started running out of options

Leading car dealers Mombasa

Kwaheri Bwana Ruto

Why is it that cases against suspended higher education minister William Ruto have been held at bay for such a long time and yet suddenly all of them have emerged out of the woodwork and have come back to haunt him big time? Was somebody holding the dogs off all this time and has now gotten out of the way? As it is Ruto is going to be very busy in court cases over the next couple of months (he has at least two major ones locally).
These are just some of the many questions Kenyans are now asking themselves as the Hague finally begins to catch up with some pretty big fish in Kenya (as has been predicted in this blog amid jeering, for a very long time now).

But for my post today I will focus on the lessons those who come after Ruto must take from from the story of this man. Ili iwe funzo kwa wengine. Ruto’s big mistake is that he got way too cocky after killing one giant too many. The first giant who fell to his knees in front of Ruto was one retired President Daniel arap Moi. The Kalenjins take their leaders very seriously and for many years the word of Moi was law in the community. Ruto dared to challenge that and won. His stunning victory for Raila and ODM in the 2007 general elections in Rift Valley will be analyzed for many years to come.

Next he challenged his own ally the mighty leader of ODM Raila Odinga and not only became a thorn in the flesh to Odinga for a long time, but to the surprise of some who worship Raila and believe he is nor ordinary mortal, Ruto did not suddenly fall dead and die (although he has lost a lot of weight since he went against Raila. In the end it was all too much, for the man whose quick road to glory started at the jobless corner near Hilton hotel, and it went into his head. Ruto decided to challenge for the ultimate price, the presidency of the republic of Kenya. According to his calculations he had a good chance to fell the constitution during the recent referendum and that would have uplifted his image tremendously. There was one big problem with the decision. It went against his biggest most powerful and yet secret allies, those close to President Kibaki. That is where the man’s real protection from prosecution had been coming from all along. And shortly thereafter the deal was off. And so it was just a matter of time before things started catching up with the Eldoret North legislator. It was as simple as that.

I am not sure if Ruto also saw the fact that the new constitution if passed was going to dramatically change the politics in Rift valley. The sum effect is that Ruto as self-proclaimed king of the Kalenjin would suddenly lose a lot of his clout. Let me explain. Before the current constitution Kenyan politics was based on constituencies. Boundaries for these were greatly fiddled with by former President Moi. Just to give a single example. Eldoret is divided in such a way as to make sure that all the three constituencies hive off a part of Eldoret town. The motive was to ensure that Eldoret Town was never allowed to be a constituency on its’ own because there has always been enough influence and numbers there to ensure a Kikuyu legislator elected. Now with the counties, although the boundaries are yet to be finalized, you can be sure that there will be plenty of counties within the Rift valley that will be headed by Kikuyu governors. Counties will influence constituency politics and not the other way round. In any event counties will take the focus away from tribes to where it should be, to development efforts and plans within specific counties. In other words the need for a tribal chief like Ruto to “fight for the rights of the community” have been dramatically diminished. Hopefully forever.

Much has been said about the new constitution and many skeptics told us here that it would hardly change anything. I was ridiculed for my child-like enthusiasm during the promulgation of the new constitution. A few weeks later the writing is on the wall. Big fish are facing trial in our courts, as you read this a man is in trouble for holding a woman’s backside without her permission and faces some serious charges (na mambo bado). Let me just say one thing. The written law of the land is a very powerful thing. You can fight for your rights until the cows come home but when there is no written law to back you, chances are you will not have much success. Now everything has changed. The new constitution by itself is a juggernaut trudging forward at increasing speed and it cannot be stopped. Be careful folks even as you enjoy the discomfort of the big fish because even small fish with bad manners like treating women like trash are on very thin ice now.

But then this post is about Ruto so I don’t want to go too far off from the man.

To his credit Ruto has seen trouble coming when it is still very far in the horizon. The main aim of his current expensive trip to the Hague was to give his lawyers an opportunity to feel around and see what kind of evidence Ocampo has against him. He wants to prepare his defense early. And contrary to what some Kenyans are speculating, the International courts at the Hague do not have plea bargain options where you plead guilty to a lesser offence or give the prosecution valuable evidence in return for a lighter sentence.

How close is Ruto to the famous song bird Emily Kosgey? If they are as close as the rumours have it, then he will need plenty of music (like King Saul) to sooth his troubled soul over the next few months or so.

Kwaheri bwana Ruto.

P.S. I predicted in this blog some time back that Ruto would finish Raila politically before his own demise. Well, it seems I was wrong about that one. But then who would have predicted the amazingly unexpected turn of events over the last few months. Who would have predicted that kenyans would have a new constitution long before Christmas 2010? Still my apologies. I was wrong. Umesikia Bwana Phil?

What you and other Kenyans never knew about the Kalenjins

Ruto winds up talks with Ocampo

Kumekucha extra:

1. Sticker being prepared for the exit of Mwai Kibaki reads; End of the 2nd error

2. Only in Kenya......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.

Brave Ruto Panics, Calls The Hague Bluff

Naive or brave? Well call is courage, panic or whatever you fancy but Hon William Samoei arap Ruto has rattled both Kenya and the The Hague. After deriding ICC as irrelevant and snail-paced to act (remember 100 years?), Ruto has taken the battle right to Ocampo's doorstep and in its wake left all the PEV's suspects shaking in their boots like leaves at the mercy of ferocious desert gales.

That Ruto caught all and sundry by surprise is not debatable. And he could not have struck at a better time in his political life when he has no CABINET BAGGAGE which would have demanded clearance before booking a date with Moreno and his sleuths in The Netherlands.

Either Ruto is trailblazing in tilting/setting Kenya's political agenda or being plainly naive by attempting to preempt the inevitable. True to the adage either the guilty are very afraid or the brave chat their won paths. Take you pick. Either way Bill has left the other suspects with little room to wiggle. They must come out of the closet and publicly declare their stand, no two ways about it.

You can only imagine the impending political inferno if Ruto chooses to go SUICIDAL (security in numbers) with some PENTAGON minutes, either real or not. Spice that up with the unsettling fact that senior security officers have written to Ocampo vowing never to take responsibility for orders that came from the GOVERNMENT.

The recipe you get is a mix that leaves every politician sneezing and the stomach rubbling. Meanwhile they are left groping in the dark with Ocampo's sledgehammer lurking in the shadows. The Hague Express has gathered full steam and there is no disembarking. Nobody is safe. And what was that gimmick about AU resolution not to submit to the ICC again? NA BADO!!