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Jerry Okungu's Articles

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Yes, Kenya's Muslim Leaders are Right To Disown Al Amin Kimanthi's Violent Antics
Sheikh Muhdhar Shariff Khitamy and Sheikh Abu Hamza of Mombasa must be commended as true Muslims and real patriots of this country. They have talked as true spiritual leaders that this country can depend on in times of crisis. They have taken the courage to stand up and be counted among the voices of reason at a time when some misguided zealots in the name of Islam have attempted to drive this country on the brink of civil strife.
With a bit more ruthlessness, Gaddafi may be just what the AU, NEPAD and the APRM have been missing
Africa is in dire need of a benevolent dictator. Democracy as we know it cannot take us anywhere. When hunger strikes, we cannot feed our people on democracy alone. Good governance means that there are laws that every citizen including the head of state must obey. When you have uncontrolled democracy such as ours in Kenya where every law is either disobeyed or ignored, anarchy creeps in.
William Ruto and the Hague: Is this fear of the unknown or an obsession?
I have written about this subject before. I have no problem having a go at it again. I probably will do so again in the near future until Kofi Annan becomes decisive enough to do the only sensible thing; hand over the envelop containing suspects of the 2008 massacres to the Hague.
Will the Mau forest and Ringera bring down the coalition government?
We are on a roller coaster heading to the Indian Ocean. Politicians have set us in motion. Our destination is down hill and there is no stopping unless they hold the breaks which are in their possession.
Why was Daniel arap Moi allowed to hold a Mungiki rally in Nakuru?
The Mungiki sect is outlawed in Kenya. It is an underground organization that operates in this country as a terrorist organization. It specializes in killing innocent Kenyans- more particularly the Kikuyu community in Central and Rift Valley provinces.
Why I must share in Moody Awori's sins and disgrace!
I have a special stake in Uncle Moody Awori's present political quagmire. I do so because I am partly responsible for his being where he is to day by default. I never knew it would come to this when it all started innocently one afternoon in October 2002.
Why can't the world see the obvious -- That Abdullahi Yusuf cannot manage Somalia?
Any attempts to force Yusuf on Somalis will be a sure catalyst for a bloodbath of unimaginable proportions. Africa certainly does not need another Iraq or Afghanistan on its soil.
Why are we doing these terrible things to Kenya?
For those of us whose only country in Kenya, our hearts bleed. We bleed because we cannot believe, let alone comprehend what is happening to us. It would appear like we have just had a bad dream; a nightmare we would rather believe was never real. Yet, as the day goes by, as sunrise and sunset come and go, we are confronted by the reality of the nightmare that never goes away.
Why are Kenyans so keen on Raila's meal with Obama?
It is only in politics where a dignitary can be invited for a meal and then be "disinvited" then re-invited within hours. This is the story of President Obama and Prime Minister Raila Odinga that kept tongues wagging for the better part of the long weekend Idd holidays. It is the stuff that makes headlines even in some of the most respected media in Kenya.
Who will tell the world that Burundi is now a peaceful country?
This was the plea of the Burundian Minister for Planning in her closing remarks at the end of a four day UNECA Regional Consultative Conference on trade, food security, regional integration and infrastructure development.
Where did tiny Gambia get the cash to host the most lavish AU summit?
There is a serious contradiction in the Gambia. Its wealth and vast resources are not visible on its website. Its GDP, population and standard of living all agree that it is one of the poorest countries in Africa and the Third World. Yet, on arriving at the Banjul International Airport, one suddenly meets with astounding surprise and confusion.
Where are our leaders when Kenyans are hacked to death in our slums & villages?
What is happening in Kenya today is not only shameful to our country but painful too. While I condemn the silence of our elected leaders, I get this impression that the Mungiki army has grown in leaps and bounds only compared to the Islamic Courts in Somalia. The kind of arrogance and daring with which they extort cash from residents of Mathare with impunity indicates that they have formed a parallel government to that of President Kibaki complete with their own taxation system.
What's next fo Uhuru Kenyatta after ditching ODM?
The charismatic Uhuru Kenyatta is at it again. Once a free bird on Nairobi's entertainment spots, the young Kenyatta now finds himself confronted by the ever unending twists and turns of Kenyan politics. Thanks to Daniel Arap Moi and Mama Ngina Kenyatta who convinced the reluctant emperor that the throne was his for the taking.
What it means for a public officer to receive a protest note from members of the public
The plot thickens for Justice Aaron Ringera, Kenya's Anti-Corruption Chief. Dark clouds and forces of evil have conspired to end his career at Integrity House before his first tenure is over. The Kenyan public is baying for his blood. While they choke under the weight of grand official corruption, Aaron Ringera is smiling all the way to the bank, thanks to their endless taxes that must sustain his opulent life. Yes, Kenyans must continue experimenting with political leadership until cows come ho
What is it that excites Mutula Kilonzo?
A verse in the book of Proverbs says that "When the righteous are in authority, people rejoice. However, when the wicked are on the throne, people mourn."
This verse came to my mind when I watched President Jacob Zuma on television show the other day. The dancing South African president was as impressive as he could be. His happy-go-gigging public perception was in the back banners. He was talking tough to the continent about the ills that have consumed our region for decades.
We are in this hole together, for better or for worse!
We Kenyans are in deep shit and the shit has hit the fan. We are choking with stench and sooner rather than later, we will not hold our breath any longer. The stage is set for real drama, the theatre of war like we have never known since the Mau Mau war.
Waruinge, Pattni & other criminals are creations of Kenya's dysfunctional judicial system
In the present Kenya, the police can shoot an innocent person, call him the "most wanted criminal," and the matter ends there; no inquest, no investigations; case closed. Only in Kenya can one murder a prominent politician and get away with with it as long as one is on the right side of the political power of the day. Only in Kenya can one loot the treasury dry and then reward himself with the chairmanship of a political party!
Very soon, Martha Karua and Amos Kimunya will be our heroes!
As ordinary Kenyan workers continued to carry the burden of taxation to pay for this class's luxuries, our masters in the same vein continued to enjoy endless tax holidays. Now Kimunya plans to raise close to Ksh. 1 billion annually from this group. That kind of cash can do wonders for development in rural areas. It is time fat cats shed off some fat for public good.
Uhuru Kenyatta has scored highly with his political budget
Give it to him; Uhuru Kenyatta had his moment of glory in Parliament. He presented a unique budget that was as different as no other since independence. More importantly, he confounded both foe and friend with the kind of budget that caught many speculators with their pants down. To tell you how effective Uhuru was in Parliament, there were very few snoring honorable waheshimiwas in the august house; if any he gave Speaker Kenneth Marende a hectic time trying to minimize ....
Ugandans be warned; The Artur Brothers are on their way to Kampala!
Since their deportation from Kenya after their stage-managed airport debacle, a lot of rumour has been doing the rounds concerning the Artur brothers. One such rumour was that they had accompanied President Kibaki to the Kampala feat which the Nairobi State House has swiftly rubbished as a figment of political imagination.
To: Jo-Kano in the Diaspora
Whether we come from Ayweyo, Kakola, Kabonyo, Kamagaga, Kakmiye, Kamsua, Kanyipola, Kobura, Kochogo, Kimira, Kolwa, Wawidhi, Wang'aya, Watombori, Sidho, Koguta or Olasi, we are the same family. Therefore the welfare of Kano clans back in Nyanza should be our main concern whether we live in Kenya or not.
The state of the East African Nation
As I write this article, apart from dealing with earth breaking political upheavals like the stand-off between President Kibaki and Parliament over the Anti Corruption Commission appointments, leading Kenyan politicians are likely to be arrested any time now for crimes against humanity and hauled into The Hague for their roles in the 2007 post election violence that claimed 1500 lives and left thousands homeless.
The saga of having a new Constitution in Kenya, in an election year
The amazing thing about Kenyans is that they are very poor students of history; even history that is as recent as two or three years. Sometimes our optimism goes beyond natural expectations; making us repeat the most obvious silly mistakes in our life time.
The Ringera public outrage -- unfortunately both Kibaki and his critics are right
Aaron Ringera's second term as KACC chief executive has raised a wild storm. Almost every imaginable activist, ranging from the cabinet to the church has blasted Kibaki for renewing Ringera's contract. Some of us, who have been watching on the sidelines, have been wondering what the noise has been all about.
The Republic of Kenya national opinion poll was quite telling in more ways than one
At last, another pollster released its national results early this week. This was fresh air, coming as it was with the latest soap opera, the Artur saga engulfing the nation one more time in as many months.
The politics of water and Kazi Kwa Vijana funds
Having lived in rural Kenya in my early childhood, with my roots still deeply embedded in my village, I understand it well when the government announces that water dams will be built in arid regions as it allocates Ks 4 billion in its budget for the Kazi Kwa Vijana initiative.
The politics of Barack Obama vs Kenyan politics of psychophants and turncoats!
I may be wrong but all those thousands of all Kenyans from all walks of life that thronged Senator Obama's functions in Nairobi, Kisumu and Siaya; could they all have been wrong? Why did he appeal to so many Kenyans? Was there something good that Obama brought to Kenya?
The Ocampo factor in Kenya's justice system must be faced with sobriety
We Kenyans must appreciate that the world has never been the same since Hitler ordered the slaughter of 6 million Jews on account of race alone. That crime was a wake up call to the entire human race. Because the perpetrators of the Jewish genocide are still being hunted up to today, we have to accept the reality that latter day perpetrators of similar crimes in Rwanda, Liberia, Serra Leone, Bosnia, Sudan and Kenya will never rest in peace. The world will not allow it much as we would not like their intervention.
The Matatu Lawlessness Must Be Punished According To The Law
As the year began this week, the matatu madness ushered us in to the New Year with the first of our many challenges. The fact that the first strike ever for Kenya by the matatu operators was planned to occur on the first day of work and opening of schools was telling in more ways than one
The Ksh 10 billion error that never goes away: Uhuru is no crook; he just doesn't get it
Uhuru Kenyatta must be a very unlucky politician. He came into politics at a very bad time when Kenya's freedom of speech and scrutiny of public affairs had been entrenched. If that were not so, he would be president of Kenya today, not scratching his head over small little numbers at the Treasury that are never the work of respectable heads of state
The Kigali Africa Governance Forum brought African leaders closer to their people
Perhaps the biggest resolution to come out of the forum was the reaffirmation that despite sceptics and pessimists disparaging and predicting the failure of the two initiatives to deliver Africa out of its present morass, African governments had committed themselves to the goals and ideals of NEPAD and APRM and there was no going back.
The Gambia, the smiling coast that never stops to sweat!
Take your pick, morning, day or night, one thing that the Smiling Coast that is the Gambia will guarantee any visitor, especially from the chilly Eastern Africa is plenty of flowing sweat!
The East African Political Federation: This is the time!
Past experiments with colonial East African Common Services and the post colonial East African Community nurtured more brotherliness than it caused friction amongst us. What destroyed us was petty political ideologies that emanated from outside. These ideologies forced our political leaders to drift apart at our own expense.
The East African economic integration, important for me, my country and region
As we move to the implementation of the East African Common Market, there is already progress on talks regarding the adoption of a Common Currency for the region that is expected to be implemented by 2012. If this happens, East Africans will for the first time have a Common Central Bank with one Governor in 42 years, a milestone that will change the way we do business in this part of Africa.
The changing face of the East African Community
Now that the celebrations are over after admitting the latest additions to the East African Community, serious reflections, soul searching and head scratching must follow to make the expanded community work. Along with the benefits of an expanded market and promising social and economic activity, will come serious challenges that must be tackled urgently by the region's present governors and policy makers if the community has to work.
The Beauty and Shame of Kenya's Constituency Development Fund - CDF
Perhaps the beauty of the CDF has been lost in the shameless management structure that the Act put in place at its inception. The Act was ill- conceived when it gave sitting MPs the power and glory to mismanage it. Gory tales coming out of nearly 70% of all constituencies attest to gross mismanagement, theft, fraud and sheer shameless misuse and misappropriation of this public fund.
The AU has a duty to protect her citizens from racist murders & lynchings in communist Russia
The killing of African students in Russia brought back my memories of yester years when a young British tourist called Julie Ward died in one of the game parks in Kenya. The trauma and intimidation the Kenya government went through at the hands of the British government was impossible to imagine. We were called all sorts of names and accused of all manner of evil. Kenyan political leadership was put on the spot for nearly a decade. Yet, when an African dies, brutally murdered in Russia, Britain
The aftermath of the Artur brothers
A lot has been said about the Artur brothers since the invasion of the Standard and KTN premises three months ago. Yet, there is one ominous thing that seems to have not come out in the press. I have decided to make this missing point the subject of this article.
Tanzanians - Brutally honest about their feelings toward the East African Federation
Some Tanzanians claim that the idea of fast-tracking the political federation may itself have negative impact on Tanzanians because it is likely to water down the Community spirit in some parts of East Africa particularly in their country.
Stephanie McCrummen and The Washington Post Must Avoid Reporting Falsehoods on Kenyan Politics
This article corrects the falsehoods that the Western Press is fond of visiting on Kenya and Africa in general. There is more to Kenya's problems than the gossips and rumors in Nairobi's pubs.
South-South Talks: Come on African Leaders, Get Serious!
I have followed the contributions of African leaders at the just concluded UN General Assembly in New York and a follow up meeting in Venezuela at which the South-South talks centered on Africa's close cooperation with South America.
Sound management of our resources must start with proper management of our politics
Let us look at templates from mature democracies like the United States, Canada and India to learn from their experiences because a fool who recognizes his foolishness is wiser than he who thinks he knows everything.
Should the East African Federation be fast-tracked or allowed to go stage by stage?
Fast tracking the East African Federation may take two scenarios concurrently. One is to carry on with the three processes of the Customs Union, the Common Market and the Monetary Union concurrently rather than step by step. This way the time to complete the processes may considerably be shortened to bring forward the fourth stage which is the political federation. The other scenario is where all those three stages are running concurrently.
Shirikisho La Africa Ya Mashariki .....
Shirikisho La Africa Ya Mashariki ...Where shall we find great men & women of East Africa to lead us to the promised land?
Salim Amin's A24 TV channel must succeed because there is no other choice
As much as the Americans and the British feel obliged to influence world opinion through their own media, the Arabs, united under Islam and threatened by the invasion of Western culture, military power and the imposition of Western brand of democracy on their soil; they have reason enough to establish on an ideological basis, their equivalent of BBC World and CNN because as Muslims and Arabs, they are at war with the Western Alliance.
Reckless Political Activists Wrecking The Coalition Government
As it is, Kenyans have enough problems to deal with. The last thing they may want to entertain at this point in time is cheap theatric coming out of street comedians masquerading as advisors and spokesmen of political leaders and political parties.
Rebels Without a Cause, The Shame of Nairobi
No, those were not Muslims that rioted in Nairobi for eight good hours last Friday. They were not even Kenyan Somalis that went to Jamia Mosque armed with dangerous weapons and Al Shabab flags to taunt Kenyans. Those were foreign radicals, rebels without a cause that came to Kenya to spread the culture of violence that they have perfected in that lawless Mogadishu.
Real peace and healing must be founded on truth and justice
Kenya is a land full of hypocrites, liars and opportunists. We love to exploit even some of the most bizarre situations. We never stop to seize any opportunity to make an extra coin from the donor community or add extra media visibility to our moribund humanitarian organizations. An unjust society where we thrive on lies and hypocrisy has landed us in unprecedented turmoil.
President Kibaki of Kenya must not let East Africa down
Judging by the mood and excitement at the new Federation Anthem, it is possible that East Africans are finally coming to terms with the real possibility of one East African nation. The lyrics of the national anthem told it all.
President Abdoulaye Wade's constant bashing of NEPAD
President Wade of Senegal has been complaining about NEPAD's ineffectiveness for the last two years. Now, if one has no background information why Wade talks like that at every opportunity about NEPAD, one can make many grave mistakes in a public debate.
Politics took center stage in the AGOA forum
Fire and brimstone anticipated at the AGOA opening ceremony when Hillary Clinton and Mwai Kibaki met did not take place. Hard hitting statements against graft and bad governance were missing. Even Raila Odinga, who the day before had taken on Western countries to stop lecturing Africa on good governance sounded more reconciliatory.
Ordinary East Africans Must Safeguard The Gains of The East African Community
If this Migingo thing is not sorted out fast and amicably, East Africa will witness the worst humanitarian catastrophe never witnessed before in the last 40 years, because, unlike in the past when Kenya was the last refuge for fleeing victims of war in the region; it will this time be consumed by the same civil strife. If this happens, business will completely grind to a halt in Kenya right from the port of Mombasa and spread all the way to Kinshasa, Mwanza, Bujumbura, ...
Of the us envoy, youth revolution and young turks in Kenya's 10th parliament
The silence is deafening. The guns have gone silent. The American Ambassador to Kenya seems to have either run out of steam, funds for the youth revolution or both. Or may be the State Department has asked him to slow down on Kenyan politics. May be he has been told to do what diplomats are supposed to do in the first place; use quiet diplomacy to achieve better results.
Of the American Ambassador, our politics and Kenya's bloated cabinet
The beauty of a working democracy saw Indian Prime Minister name a cabinet of 19 ministers from outside parliament; one cabinet post per 100 million people! Here in Kenya, for a mere 35 million people with an economy that grows at 1.7% we load ourselves with a cabinet of 90 politicians that cannot even prepare a supplementary budget let alone scrutinize it!
Of Raila Odinga, Mercenaries and the Kenya Government
There are two ways of looking at this intricate situation. Either Raila is a chronic liar that this government can no longer take seriously or, the CID Director is a pathetic and incompetent public servant that has no business being trusted with the security of this country.
Of Nile waters, Mau forest politics and Egyptian arrogance
Egypt and Sudan are clinging to the River Nile treaties of 1929 and 1959 as if the documents were the Ten Commandments handed over to the biblical Moses by the God of Israel. In that treaty, Egypt and Sudan have exclusive rights to 70% and 30% of Nile waters respectively, irrespective of countries that occupy the sources of River Nile.
Of national prayers and Kenyans' self inflicted sufferings
Yes, the week before it was one of wailing, mourning and burials; and costly burials at that. The amount of public funds used on burying the fourteen gallant Kenyans who perished in a plane crash in Marsabit a few days earlier demonstrated that this country has endless resources to alleviate poverty and lawlessness if only there was the will to do so from our governors.
ODM manifesto and Raila have great potential
The best party to bank on is Raila Odinga’s ODM. I want Raila to win because even though he is originally from Nyanza, his roots are in Nairobi where he has been elected three times in Lang’ata constituency. All other presidential candidates do not understand the complex nature of urban politics. Having represented Lang’ata, I believe Kenyan communities trust him.
Obama and Kenya: Are Our Leaders Living in Fools' Paradise?
Barack Obama knows how to exert pain where it hurts most. The American President is livid with Kenyan political leadership. This is in spite of the fact that his late father worked with President Kibaki at the Treasury in the 1960s and '70s. Never mind that he is a distant relative of Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Nyanza politicians must learn to see beyond self interest
When we elect our Members of Parliament to represent us in the National Assembly, we expect them to have risen in vision beyond clan and village politics. We expect their voices of reason to be heard at the national level on national issues. We expect them to think Kenyan.
Mutula Kilonzo is no match for Annan or Ocampo
President Kibaki must be regretting having appointed Mutula Kilonzo as Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs. Every morning the President wakes up, he finds Mutula has shot himself on the foot claiming imaginary powers to direct Kenya's cause of events at The Hague.
Mugabe is an embarrassment to AU and UN
This despot must be removed by force if necessary to stop him from further annihilating his country, his record as a freedom fighter notwithstanding. Zimbabweans did not fight for freedom only to be massacred by one of their own! Because of the shame of what is going in Zimbabwe, the AU and the UN stand condemned in the court of world public opinion.
Mo Ibrahim award, a slap on the face for good governance pretenders
It is now official. This time round, no former Head of State was good enough to earn Mo Ibrahim's annual prize bounty of US $ 5 million plus a lifetime cheque of another $ 200,000 per year for life. To tell you the truth, this is the most attractive prize anyone can earn in today's world where the buzz word these days is economic crunch.
Media Bias Towards Sensationalism and Sideshows May Derail The Constitution Again
I cannot be persuaded that the only important constitutional issue in Kenya is the executive powers of the president or the prime minister. In the same vein, nobody can convince me that a duly elected popular leader must be the one to wield executive power just because Kenyans elected him. If that were the cause, Hitler's popular vote did not prevent him from carrying out genocide in his own country.
Mau forest occupation, a clear case of arrogant impunity
It is time this government called Ruto's bluff and dealt with Mau Forest firmly. If he and his followers want to return to KANU, so be it. After all that is the place they truly belong because it was during their time in KANU that Mau Forest was grabbed.
Like in 2005 through to 2006, Kalonzo Musyoka is ahead of the pack in polls
South Consultants are the new kids on the block in Kenya politics. After all, they are the eyes and ears of the African Eminent team detailing with precision the direction Kenyan reforms are taking.
Let us not rush to judge fundamental flaws in Uhuru's budget
As Uhuru took away fuel guzzlers from ministers, permanent secretaries and other constitutional office holders to save rare cash from a non performing economy, it looked like he was out to punish the few privileged honorable members. Yet, as this luxurious status symbol was being removed, he made sure that every constituency had its share of more than any MP would have bargained for. Further more; he refrained from venturing into Amos Kimunya's landmine- taxation for the honorable members of our society.
Let us lower our political temperatures this Christmas season
As we move to the Christmas season and New Year celebrations, it is about time we gave politics a break and focused on the little things that matter to us most; love for one another.
Kudos to the East African Community
There are a million reasons why the people of East Africa should celebrate the entry of Rwanda and Burundi into the East African Community. Some of these reasons are definitely economic while others are political and cultural. All of these reasons are pretty important for the economic, social and political survival of the region in an era where mergers in the corporate world and integration among nations are the order of the day.
Kibaki, Kikwete and Museveni spelt it out for the rest of Africa
They may not be the best that the African continent has today in terms of leadership, but they are certainly the most acceptable in terms of nurturing regional cooperation. This is the single most plausible reason we will have to listen to them no matter how much we disagree with them on a lot of domestic issues back in our home countries.
Kenya: A Classic Case of a Nation Stuck in The Mud!
This week's fresh encounter with the State Police in the era of President Kibaki was a stark reminder that we are not yet out of the woods. Our past sad history of police brutality, state terror and human rights violations have come back to haunt us. If we didn't have these scenes as frequently in the last four years, it was a lull before a storm.
Kenya's presidential elections have set new standards for Africa
With the stakes pretty high, the three main contenders are leaving nothing to chance. Though still in the race and looking pretty determined to go to the finishing line, all indications are that this is a two horse race with Kalonzo Musyoka coming a distant third when all the votes are counted.
Kenya's image is messed here at home not in American capitals
The only price the Kenya Government will pay in order for President Obama to agree to work for Kenya is for the coalition government to get its act together, tackle graft and implement the Kofi Annan recommended reforms. Yes, all that Kibaki and Raila need to do is to prosecute Golden Berg, Anglo Leasing, Triton, Grand Regency, KTD, Maize and Treasury scoundrels and everything will be on course.
Kenya's 2009 Census Management Challenge: How Well Planned Was It?
What exactly went wrong with the Kenyan census of 2009? Was it the math that wasn't right or was it the process that wasn't making sense? How come Kenyans earned a free holiday when there were no enumerators in sight in most of the neighborhoods in the first 72 hours? Where is the proof that every Kenyan including those in Migingo Island was counted? Was this a census for Kenya citizens or was it inclusive of foreigners living within our borders?
Kenya urgently needs a tough sexual offences law
Let our MPs accept one fact; we cannot kill this Bill because of our past cultural practices which we ourselves have discarded. The truth is we have a serious problem in society. Young lives are being destroyed for lack of an appropriate law to deal with the problem. We have no reason to justify the death of a Bill that seeks to protect infants, children and the aged from barbaric sexual attacks. In this society the strong must provide security for the weak if we have to remain civilized.
Kenya Politics in Turmoil
The year 2006 will go down in Kenya's political history as the year that Kenya killed democracy. It will also be remembered as the year of shame when political thuggery, treachery, deceit and con-manship held sway! For how else can anybody explain the shameful act that embarrassed the whole nation at the East African Community?
Kenya on the international spotlight
Perhaps one of the biggest tests of democratic practice is for political leaders to be ready to practice competitive politics by selling their ideologies and their leadership beliefs to their electorate, and expect to be voted into office on the basis of the popularity of their ideas and visions.
Kenya on The Brink of Turmoil
The plot to rig elections started almost two years ago when Kibaki's government lost the referendum in November 2007. It was elaborately planned to take place at every stage of the process. The only mistake the regime made was to have had loose tongues in its midst that let the cat out of the bag. Again, it also included known criminals in its midst to stop one candidate in his tracks. That candidate was Raila Odinga who posed the greatest challenge to the Kibaki.
Kenya Needs The Services of a Corporate Manager
Right now as a country, Kenya needs a corporate manager with the management skills of Ekirapas and Gechagas of yester years. Just as it was impossible to entertain gossips, backbiting and insubordination in the corporate world when order and discipline were the catch phrases in management, Kenya badly needs that era gone by.
Kenya in need a powerful 'Propaganda Machine' to fight tattered image
Propaganda as a tool has been used over the years in the last century whenever a country is in a state of war or is undergoing credibility crisis as we do now.
Kenya Government Caught With Pants Down!
What does it feel like to be the President of Kenya during the Kibaki regime? How painful it must be to wake up every morning only to be met by screaming unfriendly newspaper headlines, hostile talk-show programmes on every FM station, not to mention equalling devastating television headlines the night before about this scandal, that scam and this sleaze allegedly committed by your various cadre of generals and your extended family members! It must be a painful period for Kenya's third pr
Kenya - At what point is the president expected to use his executive powers?
As things stand, the Annan team is becoming irrelevant by the day. It is getting sucked into the orgy of violence at the expense of its original mission. The people we need to come out now and address joint rallies for the sake of Kenya are Kibaki and Raila in Central Province, Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza. They must sort out the mess and spare Kenyans senseless deaths.
John Garang: A Year Later
Most Sudanese I talked to, even expatriates who have lived in Juba for the last year and more seemed to share her view; that the mystery of Garang's death; his behaviour in the last few days before he met his death beg more questions than answers.
It is in trying moments like the Mau Evictions when all leaders must speak with one voice
Our leaders must learn the meaning of sacrifice. If you differ with the government, you must be ready to do away with its trappings of power. Jaramogi, Oneko and Murumbi did it in 1966 under Jomo Kenyatta. Kenyans still respect them up to today. Kenneth Matiba did just that in 1988 under Moi and Kenyans still adore him for that to this day. We expect cabinet ministers who are in this government no matter who they are or where they come from to spare us the embarrassment from time to time and ...
Issues the forthcoming EAC summit should deal with expeditiously
Another East African Community Summit is here with us. Once more all roads will be leading to the Arusha International Conference Centre in Tanzania with pomp and glory. As expected, large motorcades preceded by technical committees and the Council of Ministers, will spell out the direction the Community will take in the next few years.
Is the Obama administration bullying or accelerating Kenya's reform process?
The Cold War era blinded Americans and the rest of the Western world to the cruelties of African dictators such as Jomo Kenyatta, Mobutu Sese seko, Kamuzu Banda, apartheid South Africa and numerous generals in Africa as long as they could support America and the West in the fight against Communism. This talk of democracy and good governance we hear about just started the other day when the Soviet Union and Berlin Wall collapsed in 1989.
Is the madness of Kenya's political squables spreading into the East African Community
What started as the usual domestic political wrangling among political parties has now taken new and damaging dimensions that will leave all parties bruised and looking silly in the eyes of East Africans. Kenyans have finally imported their most unwanted product in to the region; political wrangling.
Is press freedom under threat in Kenya?
The unprecedented press freedom which has been hailed as an example to the whole of Africa if not the entire world is definitely under threat if the events of the last two months are anything to go by. This time round, it would look like not only are nosy reporters under threat. The very media houses that employ hundreds of journalists along with a couple of thousands of correspondents, newspaper vendors, distributors and advertising agencies are under siege too.
Is ODM-KENYA capable of causing an Orange Revolution in Kenya?
If President Kibaki and is keen on running for a second term, he should defect to ODM Kenya today, not tomorrow!
Is Kenya Sailing in Troubled Waters With The Obama administration?
Recent reports that Obama was not happy with the slow pace of reforms and his subsequent snub of Kenya have not gone down well with the Kibaki administration, least of all with many ordinary Kenyans who have a soft spot for the American President. The fact that Obama has decided to make Ghana and Egypt his first destinations of choice has fundamentally embarrassed Kenya in more ways than one. And as if to add insult to injury, Obama's sudden invitation of Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania to ......
Interesting comparative CDF figures in Nyando District
Modern communication facilities especially the internet has made it impossible to horde information; at least not to everybody. This is what I learnt from a little known website I came across just the other week. Kanoassociation.com led me to several GK sites that tell how CDF funds have been allocated and spent per province and constituency.
In modern day geopolitical power play, small and powerless nations are on their own
A few years ago, Kenya led the IGAD to find an African solution to an African problem in Somalia and Sudan. She did it with relative success. Although the Somalia peace accord is faltering, there is urgent need for Africa to keep trying. Being on a permanent war mode with one another will never help any of them. The world has become a global village and mutual coexistence is the order of the day.
In all these anti-corruption merry-go-rounds the only losers are the Kenyan Taxpayers
The roots of official corruption in Kenya are deeper than we think. The struggle against official corruption has become a class struggle. The higher you are in the echelons of power whether past or present, the better the chances you have of getting away with corruption- officially in a court of law!
If MPs tamper with the draft constitution, Kenyans will reject it like they did in 2005
As the public debate on the draft constitution draws to a close, there are fears that ODM and PNU are ganging up to have a common stand on what the new constitution should contain and discard. One of the clauses they are conspiring to expunge is the recall clause that threatens to cut short the life of non-performing MPs rather than wait for five years before sending such no-performers packing. The other one targeted for expunging is the clause that compels all Kenyans including .....
If I Were Raila Odinga.....
If I were Raila Odinga, I would have second thoughts about the political situation in Kenya. I would rethink being the president of this country at this point in time. Hard as it may be, I would ask myself whether it is really worth the trouble to continue contesting the presidency.
How secure are we Kenyans within our borders and from external enemies?
I saw that poor widow in Busia talking at her husband's funeral. She was daring enough to point an accusing finger at Vice President Moody Awori along with other government officials seated at a VIP tent. Her anger was not misplaced and neither was she alone. Fourteen other families were going through the same motions, wondering aloud why their loved ones and bread winners had to die such senseless deaths.
How popular is Daniel Arap Moi in Kenya today?
Daniel Arap Moi is causing problems for the ODM-Kenya because he loves Kanu more. He loves Kanu more because Kanu helped him rule this country with an iron-fist, and plunder the resources of this country to its bones for his personal gain.
Hillary Clinton's speech, a disappontment to pro-reform activists
Now I know why Hillary Clinton lost the elections to Barack Obama. She is such a conformist, such a systems good guy that no reforms can ever come under her stewardship.
Has the Media in Kenya lost direction and sense of responsibility?
The media may not think so much about this headline but Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, the Minister for Information and Communication, and many more Kenyans like him think so. Those many Kenyans can count me among them. I am one of those people in this country who, for the past two weeks have been wondering aloud whether these accusations leveled against the media may as well have some grain of truth in them.
Has Kenya specialized in creating scandals and fiascos at the expense of solving them
Is the Justice Department up to the task or are we manufacturing punishable crimes at a faster rate?

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