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Election Fever…

…is slowly creeping up on KP will almost certainly be in full swing by December. Here’s a link to an interview I did this week with Joshua Wanyama of African path.

AOB: Former Clinton strategist Dick Morris is now working for ODM. Supposedly pro bono (hhmm). Seeing the words integrity and Dick Morris in one article is very oxymoronish. You can watch the announcement on Youtube.

14 comments to Election Fever…

  • Pro Bono? Africa? Hahaha. Unless he has a change of heart. We are all subject to change, but i read that the state of CT claiming he owes over $300K in taxes. Maybe he’s found a way …

    Anyway…

  • Will Mr. Pro Bono actually have an impact on the elections and their outcome?

  • ochola

    50 QUESTIONS FOR KIBAKI TENA NOISE MAKERS
    1. Who renegotiated and signed the agreement granting a 20 extension for the British military to continue training in Kenya around Laikipa, Nanyuki and Archers post?
    2. Why do we find it necessary to allow foreign troop to bomb the crap out of our landscape, littering it leaving huge amounts of ordinance and making these prime games reserve areas practically inhospitable
    3. Who sold the oil prospecting rights to the entire Kenyan offshore including Lamu (A UN historical site)?
    4. Who further parceled out huge tracts in North Eastern Kenya to the Chinese government for huge amounts of money, none of which the residents of Northern Kenya will ever see?
    5. Was there any competitive bidding for these rights?
    6. How many other companies were willing to pay significantly higher sums for these rights in open bidding?
    7. Why was the Kenya Sugar Board boss fired?
    8. Did you know that by law only the board of directors can do this?
    9. Did you know that he was fired for sticking to procedure and opening tender documents at the pre-assigned time and date?
    10. Did you know he refused to allow a late and low bid by a certain consortium?
    11. Did you know the treasury has no legal mandate to take over the bidding for these sugar companies?
    12. Did you know that for 40 years the GOK has appointed MDs for Miwani, Muhoroni, Chemelil and Sony sugar factories?
    13. Did you know that for those 40 years they deliberately appointed inept managers so long as you were willing to help the rulers siphon out money from these companies and kill these industries?
    14. Did you know that the GOK wrote of billions of shilling in debts owed by coffee farmers?
    15. Did you know that the same was done for Dairy Farmers?
    16. And tea farmers?
    17. BUT not the Sugar Industry?
    18. Do you know why?
    19. Do you know how much money from Western Kenya goes into the government’s budget (consolidated fund)?
    20. Of this do you know how much goes back to the same region in terms of recurrent and development expenditure/
    21. Who owns Mobitelea?
    22. Did you know if the Safaricom IPO goes through, these illegal and corrupt owners who should be in jail in any civilized society stand to get up to Ksh 2 billion in COLD HARD UNEARNED CASH – FROM POOR ORDINARY KEYANS?
    23. Who is trying to sell TELKOM Kenya NOW?
    24. Did it take 5 years to realize you want to privatize this company?
    25. Or did it take five years to line your pockets enough to make an embarrassingly low bid for this dull jewel (never the less a jewel)?
    26. Who said a 50% stake in Telkom Kenya is worth Ksh 2 billion?
    27. Who did that valuation?
    28. Did you know that some of the biggest land owners in Kenya are Kenya Telkom and the now ripped off Kenya Railways?
    29. So you PRIVATISED Kenya Railways to a nobody with ZERO experience in rail management, are the trains moving?
    30. What about the KR land – is it still there?
    31. Did you know we (via our taxes) refurbished Sagana State Lodge for a mesmerizing Ksh 600,000,000?
    32. Did you know that the work is still INCOMPLETE?
    33. Did you know that the Head of State has never spent a night at the SAGANA STATE LODGE?
    34. Did you know that Ksh 600,000,000 could buy and/or build any residential property in Nairobi – Yes including the State House?
    35. Do you know who signed the financing agreement (read loan!) to buy so called frigates for the Kenya Navy?
    36. Did you know that what was purchased were OLD FISHING VESSELS fitted with a few motor and torpedo launches?
    37. Do you feel any safer with these schooners protecting our waters?
    38. Do you remember the unveiling of the UHURU HIGHWAY PROJECT by the PRESIDENT? Have you seen any progress? You may have seen the grading of the road sides? What else?
    39. Do you know that the financing was arranged by the Chinese government?
    40. And you, your children and your grand children will be paying for this non starter of a project?
    41. Did you know that the Goldenberg scandal cost Kenya 90 billion shilling or 20% of our current budget? Yes I thought you would say that – It was Moi! What then is Kibaki doing with this man? Why the sudden legitimacy to a known and acknowledged criminal and fraudster?
    42. DID YOU KNOW that the Kibaki government signed several agreements (Anglo Leasing) for projects to be paid by Internationally Accepted Promissory notes and THESE ARE LEGALLY BINDING?
    43. DID YOU KENYA KNOW THAT THESE WILL BE REDEEMED IRRESPECTIVE OF WHO IS IN THE STATE HOUE?
    44. DID YOU KNOW THE GOVERNMENT HAS MORTGAGED ME AND YOU VIA ANGLO LEASING PROJECTS TO THE TUNE OF KSH 80 BILLION? AND PENDA IT OR NOT IT WILL BE PAID BECAUSE IT IS LEGALLY BINDING. CANCELLING THE PROJECT DOES NOT REMOVE THE OBLIGATION? HERE ME WELL – KIBAKI TENA TEAM – IT IS WORSE THAN GOLDENBERGE!!!
    45. Did you know that no body in this government has balls enough to arrest and prosecute Mr. Pattni? Of course he would finger them all!!
    46. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE ONLY MAN CLEARED BY THE GOLDENBERGE COMMISSION WAS MUSALI MUDAVADI?
    47. DID YOU KNOW THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA can nail Mr. Ruto, but will not because the can prosecute a case and it will inevitably touch their new found buddy Mr. Moi?
    48. Did you know who proposed the amendment to the Kenya Constitution making Kenya a one party state?
    49. Do you know what a crime of omission is? It is sitting and doing nothing when evil is all around you.
    50. Can anybody tell me what role Kibaki played in the second liberation and the fight for freedoms that we now enjoy? I remember Oginga Odinga, Gitobu Immanyara, Charles Rubia, Raila Odinga, Martin Shikuku, Okii Ombaka and Kenneth Matiba. I remember Koigi Wamwere, Kijana Wamalwa and Masinde Muliro. I remember the forgotten ones – Miguna Miguna, Wahome Mutai (Yes cartoons kept us going!), a jungu called Smith Hempstone (I could swear huyu alikuwa Kenya damu!), Prof Oyugi, Ngugi wa Thiongo, Okongo Arara, Adungosi Titus and Shem Ogola. I remember Adam Mathenge, Willy Mutunga, Wachira Kamonji, Maina wa Kinyati, Mukaru Nganga, Anyona George, Khaminwa John, Otieno Mak Onyango, Onyango Paddy, K’Oale Muga, Wahinya Bore, Mutuse Thomas, Mugo Micere, Kimani Gecao, Ngugi wa Mirii, Ngweno Hillary, Mwachofi Mwakudua, P.L.O., Gikenya Waititu, Peter “Young” Kihara, Theuri Mugo, Kathangu Njeeru and Wafula Buke.

    My dear Kenyans, if you can honestly define crimes of omission or commission, then you can understand where Kibaki was and what he was doing. He has stood for nothing but maintaining the status quo and ku fuata nyayo. Kumbuka walala heri na walala hoi ni nani.

    Would these great Kenyans sit in a Kibaki Government?

    ‘We did not attain independence to have a country of ten millionaires and ten million beggars’ – JM Kariuki
    “Whose Kenya is it?” shouted Tom Mboya. “Ours!” shrieked 20,000. Now the mob’s chant was in throbbing rhythm. “Are you tired of asking for freedom?” asked Tom Mboya. “Never!” came the resounding answer. (1960)
    “What all of us wanted was to show people that we were all one family and that there was no difference between all the tribes of Kenya” – Harry Thuku

  • leo

    Instead of crying over spilled milk we should try to fix the problem no matter who wins. That’s why I like the French, they demostrate.
    One example that have worked in Kenya is the hawkers are back on the street to make a killing, although come january they know it is their time limit.
    The point is, politics have no sense. The political motives beat down on policies during high stakes, and propaganda becomes near truth.
    Once the game is over come January every thing will be beurocratic and all promises will be amnesiatic and this is what I wanted to say, French are the best in giving their government prozac.
    So! come January, it does not matter who wins, it matters who follows government accountability. Exampla, organised labour unions, people mover and leaders that check on government.
    I bet these will even finish tribalism.

  • Bemused

    Pro Bono, yeah, right, as in ” I can write this off my taxes”.

    I actually want Raila to win. Here are some of my reasons:

    1. The Kibaki camp will so furious, and will keep watch, and scream when he and/or his team slip ( oh please ukabila is not going to end after Kibaki).

    2. Any pols in the Kibaki team will be humbled, and will pay more attention next time elections come around.

    3. Since money talks, the political system will begin to depend more and more on overseas Kenyans for funding. We overseas Kenyans do not have ancestors who colonized, and therefore the guilt trip is not going to work. Also, we are motivated in supporting better Kenya for the relatives back home.

    4. Maybe Anyongo will come back into govt, and his idelogical views will be thrashed out. I don’t agree with some of his conclusions, but I feel he would elevate the political discourse.

  • Kenya is becoming the Economy giant in Africa and western world is worried of its involvement with China.
    I am suprised the Dollar is at 64 against A Shilling and Kenya has awarded the most potential ecomists.

    Kibaki will be back and things will be even better.

  • Amazing message.
    I guess you will surf on our blog..
    Bye

  • kim

    What’s wrong with Presidential candidate (Raila odinga)? Today he say this ‘tommorow something else without being embarrased.

    Read these two articles andyou will find what kind of leader he is.

    East African Standard (Nairobi)
    By Ngari Gituku
    THE Orange Democratic Movement presidential candidate, Mr Raila Amolo Odinga, has claimed there is a conspiracy to rig the December 27 General Election.
    The claimed plots are so numerous and ODM cry of wolf so repetitive it is surprising anyone pays attention.
    The first claim was that President Kibaki had appointed partisan Electoral Commissioners to aid his re-election campaign.
    These commissioners, he alleged, would appoint a set of equally partisan election officials in Nairobi and at polling stations countrywide to sabotage the voting and results of the General Election.
    Following much rigmarole and finger pointing over the reappointment of Electoral Commission Chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu, whose term was in any case renewed, Raila now claimed a conspiracy to alter voter registers and to do away with the “black book” to rig out Orange Democratic Movement voters. Perhaps the most dramatic was the claim of a government ploy to print parallel ballot papers in Belgium.
    The allegations of rigging were addressed by Electoral Commission of Kenya and Steve Ouzman Ltd, the British ballot printers and allegedly found to be without factual foundations. Or is there more underfoot? Is Raila a man who will accept election results in the spirit of asiekubali kushindwa si mshindani?
    There are several indicators that he shall not.
    The most evident indicator that Raila may be preparing Kenyans for a post-election protest is his militant stance, evident in language and attitude.
    His words during the launch of his development plans are telling. “We shall attack the enemy from every direction. We shall launch a simultaneous attack from the land, the air and sea, until we secure victory.”
    When former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill expressed these sentiments, he was speaking in the context of the Second World War.
    The introduction of Dick Morris, architect of the Ukraine Orange Revolution into the Orange Democratic Movement campaign, is another less than subtle indication of militant intent.
    Morris’ strategy in the Ukraine was to flood the streets with flag-carrying protesters after the election. Raila’s “rigging” chorus is a reflection of a student who has learned his lessons.
    Though a peoples’ revolution may in theory have a sexy ring to it and may sound noble as rhetoric before an excited crowd of supporters, many know only too well the price of impatience.
    Over the years, Kenya’s democracy has been inconsistent.
    In the past five years that we have made great gains in the expansion of democracy. It would be a great shame to lose the ground Kenya has gained in the name of change.
    It is only fair that Raila should give democracy a chance and accept the results of the General Election, whichever way it goes, for the sake of the Kenyan people. It is the democratic and patriotic thing for all the presidential
    This is the second article

    East African Standard (Nairobi)

    13 November 2007
    Posted to the web 12 November 2007

    Nairobi

    Polls boss Mr Samuel Kivuitu reacted strangely to his re-appointment, which was welcomed by a guarded and skeptical Opposition that called for renewed vigilance.

    “I am happy but I would not have died. I already had many plans for my retirement. I would have enrolled for theology studies or engaged in writing,” Kivuitu, speaking at his Nairobi office soon after his re-appointment, stated.

    Saying Yes and No to the renewal of his five-year term by President Kibaki yesterday, Kivuitu said yes, he would oversee this year’s election but retire immediately thereafter as the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman.

    This statement left most political observers baffled, considering that he had set his own terms for accepting a renewal of his tenure.

    “Five years or nothing,” Kivuitu famously declared only days ago, as a storm brewed over his future. But last night, he denied having given conditions for his re-appointment saying that he had only stated the law.

    “I was merely stating what is obvious because I realised that some people wanted my term extended to use me for the election only. The law is very clear on the duration and I am not foolish,” Kivuitu said.

    Yesterday, the President put to rest doubts over whether or not Kivuitu would preside over the December 27 General Election with the reappointment, ending weeks of acrimony and brickbats.

    “Kivuitu’s re-appointment is welcome. His profile and credibility will restore legitimacy to the exercise. But the President has retained the referee and replaced all linesmen in the middle of a match,” ODM presidential candidate Mr Raila Odinga said when The Standard reached him Monday night.

    In his typical figurative style, he added: “How do you appoint a Bench of new judges and expect them to start from where the sacked judges left in an old case?”

    Raila said a General Election is a process which begins from registration of voters, inspection of voter registers, boundary demarcation and voter education.

    It also includes recruitment of returning and presiding officers, their training and the supervision of the polls, he added.

    Referring to the 19 new commissioners that he described as greenhorns, Raila likened Kivuitu’s situation to that of “a lame duck surrounded by sharks at sea”.

    At yesterday’s press conference, Kivuitu told reporters that at his age, the most important thing in his life was to get satisfaction that he had done something to build Kenya, Africa or the world.

    He said his main desire was to ensure a smooth election and then call it a day, stating categorically that he had no intention of completing the five-year term.

    “I want to ensure a clean election then I call it a day. I will not wait to complete these five years. The work here is like death. When I came here I had hair on my head but now I do not have,” Kivuitu said, adding that he would retire and pave way for others, some of whom he said were too eager to take his place but had no idea how much work awaited them.

    He said Kenyans know a good election and they want to see a better election than 2002. Kivuitu said Kenyans must continue to demand more from the commissioners, saying they must be vigilant to ensure fairness.

    not re-appoint Kivuitu out of convODM Pentagon member and presidential running mate, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, said the President acted to avert embarrassment and did ction.

    “The action by the President is out of embarrassment rather than conviction,” he said, adding: “President Kibaki realised that the credibility of the ECK had completely diminished”.

    Mudavadi asked ODM supporters to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for any evidence of election malpractice.

    Relevant Links

    East Africa
    Kenya

    In a gazette notice dated November 9, the Head of State gave Kivuitu another term in accordance with his constitutional powers.

    A statement from the Presidential Press Service (PPS) mailed to newsrooms last evening read: “In exercise of powers conferred by Section 41 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya, I Mwai Kibaki, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint Samuel Mutua Kivuitu to be the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya for a period of five years with effect from 3rd December, 2007.”

    And ODM-Kenya presidential

  • kim

    What’s wrong with Presidential candidate (Raila odinga)? Today he say this ‘tommorow something else without being embarrased.

    Read these two articles andyou will find what kind of leader he is.
    it was not posted
    East African Standard (Nairobi)
    By Ngari Gituku
    THE Orange Democratic Movement presidential candidate, Mr Raila Amolo Odinga, has claimed there is a conspiracy to rig the December 27 General Election.
    The claimed plots are so numerous and ODM cry of wolf so repetitive it is surprising anyone pays attention.
    The first claim was that President Kibaki had appointed partisan Electoral Commissioners to aid his re-election campaign.
    These commissioners, he alleged, would appoint a set of equally partisan election officials in Nairobi and at polling stations countrywide to sabotage the voting and results of the General Election.
    Following much rigmarole and finger pointing over the reappointment of Electoral Commission Chairman, Mr Samuel Kivuitu, whose term was in any case renewed, Raila now claimed a conspiracy to alter voter registers and to do away with the “black book” to rig out Orange Democratic Movement voters. Perhaps the most dramatic was the claim of a government ploy to print parallel ballot papers in Belgium.
    The allegations of rigging were addressed by Electoral Commission of Kenya and Steve Ouzman Ltd, the British ballot printers and allegedly found to be without factual foundations. Or is there more underfoot? Is Raila a man who will accept election results in the spirit of asiekubali kushindwa si mshindani?
    There are several indicators that he shall not.
    The most evident indicator that Raila may be preparing Kenyans for a post-election protest is his militant stance, evident in language and attitude.
    His words during the launch of his development plans are telling. “We shall attack the enemy from every direction. We shall launch a simultaneous attack from the land, the air and sea, until we secure victory.”
    When former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill expressed these sentiments, he was speaking in the context of the Second World War.
    The introduction of Dick Morris, architect of the Ukraine Orange Revolution into the Orange Democratic Movement campaign, is another less than subtle indication of militant intent.
    Morris’ strategy in the Ukraine was to flood the streets with flag-carrying protesters after the election. Raila’s “rigging” chorus is a reflection of a student who has learned his lessons.
    Though a peoples’ revolution may in theory have a sexy ring to it and may sound noble as rhetoric before an excited crowd of supporters, many know only too well the price of impatience.
    Over the years, Kenya’s democracy has been inconsistent.
    In the past five years that we have made great gains in the expansion of democracy. It would be a great shame to lose the ground Kenya has gained in the name of change.
    It is only fair that Raila should give democracy a chance and accept the results of the General Election, whichever way it goes, for the sake of the Kenyan people. It is the democratic and patriotic thing for all the presidential
    This is the second article

    East African Standard (Nairobi)

    13 November 2007
    Posted to the web 12 November 2007

    Nairobi

    Polls boss Mr Samuel Kivuitu reacted strangely to his re-appointment, which was welcomed by a guarded and skeptical Opposition that called for renewed vigilance.

    “I am happy but I would not have died. I already had many plans for my retirement. I would have enrolled for theology studies or engaged in writing,” Kivuitu, speaking at his Nairobi office soon after his re-appointment, stated.

    Saying Yes and No to the renewal of his five-year term by President Kibaki yesterday, Kivuitu said yes, he would oversee this year’s election but retire immediately thereafter as the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman.

    This statement left most political observers baffled, considering that he had set his own terms for accepting a renewal of his tenure.

    “Five years or nothing,” Kivuitu famously declared only days ago, as a storm brewed over his future. But last night, he denied having given conditions for his re-appointment saying that he had only stated the law.

    “I was merely stating what is obvious because I realised that some people wanted my term extended to use me for the election only. The law is very clear on the duration and I am not foolish,” Kivuitu said.

    Yesterday, the President put to rest doubts over whether or not Kivuitu would preside over the December 27 General Election with the reappointment, ending weeks of acrimony and brickbats.

    “Kivuitu’s re-appointment is welcome. His profile and credibility will restore legitimacy to the exercise. But the President has retained the referee and replaced all linesmen in the middle of a match,” ODM presidential candidate Mr Raila Odinga said when The Standard reached him Monday night.

    In his typical figurative style, he added: “How do you appoint a Bench of new judges and expect them to start from where the sacked judges left in an old case?”

    Raila said a General Election is a process which begins from registration of voters, inspection of voter registers, boundary demarcation and voter education.

    It also includes recruitment of returning and presiding officers, their training and the supervision of the polls, he added.

    Referring to the 19 new commissioners that he described as greenhorns, Raila likened Kivuitu’s situation to that of “a lame duck surrounded by sharks at sea”.

    At yesterday’s press conference, Kivuitu told reporters that at his age, the most important thing in his life was to get satisfaction that he had done something to build Kenya, Africa or the world.

    He said his main desire was to ensure a smooth election and then call it a day, stating categorically that he had no intention of completing the five-year term.

    “I want to ensure a clean election then I call it a day. I will not wait to complete these five years. The work here is like death. When I came here I had hair on my head but now I do not have,” Kivuitu said, adding that he would retire and pave way for others, some of whom he said were too eager to take his place but had no idea how much work awaited them.

    He said Kenyans know a good election and they want to see a better election than 2002. Kivuitu said Kenyans must continue to demand more from the commissioners, saying they must be vigilant to ensure fairness.

    not re-appoint Kivuitu out of convODM Pentagon member and presidential running mate, Mr Musalia Mudavadi, said the President acted to avert embarrassment and did ction.

    “The action by the President is out of embarrassment rather than conviction,” he said, adding: “President Kibaki realised that the credibility of the ECK had completely diminished”.

    Mudavadi asked ODM supporters to remain vigilant and be on the lookout for any evidence of election malpractice.

    Relevant Links

    East Africa
    Kenya

    In a gazette notice dated November 9, the Head of State gave Kivuitu another term in accordance with his constitutional powers.

    A statement from the Presidential Press Service (PPS) mailed to newsrooms last evening read: “In exercise of powers conferred by Section 41 (1) of the Constitution of Kenya, I Mwai Kibaki, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kenya, appoint Samuel Mutua Kivuitu to be the chairman of the Electoral Commission of Kenya for a period of five years with effect from 3rd December, 2007.”

    And ODM-Kenya presidential

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