THE NOMINATION WRANGLE BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT & THE PM THREATENS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CREDIBLE JUSTICE SYSTEM, WHICH IS OUR FIRST LINE OF DEFENCE AGAINST IMPUNITY, & OUR ONLY PROTECTION AGAINST FUTURE ATTEMPTS TO USE VIOLENCE, ESPECIALLY IN ADDRESSING ELECTORAL DISPUTES

Following the disputed presidential elections of 2007, two positions were taken by the two main competing parties:
PNU, the party under which Mwai Kibaki ran for his second term insisted he had won and stated that any election disputes should be taken to the courts. Hon. Mwai Kibaki was then sworn in for his second term as president and proceeded to form the government.
ODM, the party under which Raila Odinga ran for president insisted that they had been deprived of their victory, but declared that the Kenyan judicial systems was politically compromised and justice would only be served through civil disobedience, and they called for mass action.

These two positions and the resultant actions led directly to the deaths of over 1,300 people, the rape of over 3,000 women, the displacement of over 600,000 people, all Kenyans. These terrible crimes have now been sanitized by being referred to as Post Election Violence. However, the truth of the matter is that crimes were committed that will forever be an un-washable blot on our history, locally and internationally.

Following the presentation of 2 cases and 6 names to the ICC on 15th December 2010 by ICC Prosecutor Mr Luis-Moreno Ocampo an aggressive campaign has been run by some members of the government indicating that with a new Constitution, Kenya now has the capacity to institute credible justice systems through which cases against perpetrators of the Post Election Violence can be prosecuted and brought to justice, and therefore the ICC should allow Kenya to try these 2 cases as well. In what can only be related to this position, the President has nominated people to be appointed as Chief Justice, Attorney General and Public Prosecutor.

However, his co-principal and the Prime Minister insists that he was not consulted in the nominations: that these nominations contravene the Constitution of Kenya, and that these nominations are null and void. He also states that these appointments have been made to serve the interests of a few people who include elements within upper echelons of government who have serious credibility and integrity issues, and who constitute the networks of impunity.


This intra-government disagreement on the issue of due process as regards these nominations means that the integrity of the Judiciary, which is our first line of defence when aggrieved, has been compromised, again. It also means that in 2012 the stage has been set such that a loser in any election can mobilize his or her supporters to violence by insisting that the heads of our judicial system were appointed illegally.

The current stalemate must be urgently remedied to avoid the dangerous ramifications that would result from it. We therefore call upon the nullification of these nominations, and the institution of a transparent and all inclusive process that adheres to the constitution requirements, and that also generates confidence from both wings of government as well as all sectors of society. This will ensure that no one will ever be able to question the credibility of our judiciary again, especially as regards electoral competition.

The statement by the Prime Minister about how and why these appointments have been made also casts suggests the possibility that some amongst the current political elite could attempt to compromise any local systems to prosecute perpetrators of the hideous crimes committed during the post election period, especially for those cases against those assumed to bear the highest responsibility. The fact that the two principals cannot agree on such crucial nominations also means that any proposal to defer the ICC cases pending the establishment of credible local judicial processes is not based on substance from within all of government.

We therefore state as follows: That the ICC prosecutions are still Kenya's best chance of knowing the truth about the 2007 PEV
That the truth that will come out of the ICC prosecutions will work against the ever-increasing narratives of inter-ethnic grievance and mistrust that tend to be the basis on which political competition for Kenya’s state power has been conducted since the introduction of multi-party politics. This strategy led to the 1992, 1997 and 2007 PEV, and we cannot afford to go into another election without getting rid of them
That the ICC prosecutions will jumpstart Kenya on the journey of seeking justice for the victims of all Post Election Violence to-date, because it debunks the myth that there exists any Kenyan who is above the law. This is necessary in a democratic state especially if we are ever to locally prosecute other crimes inherent to Post Election Violence, in future.
That our current justice systems are not able, ready and/or willing
That the MPs have always overwhelmingly supported the ICC process, and are the ones who introduced the statement ‘Do Not Be Vague, Go To The Hague’. The recent turnaround is suspicious, and in our opinion it is driven solely by the sudden realization that the 2 cases might adversely affect the political careers of some politicians. We state here that this is self-seeking, and a slap in the face of the millions of Kenyans who are today psychologically and/or physically traumatized by what happened during the 2007 PEV. It is also disrespectful to the memory of the over 1,300 Kenyans who died, and an insult to the over 650,000 Kenyans who were rendered homeless. to prosecute PEV perpetrators, as has clearly been shown by the fact that in three years since the 2007 PEV we have not successfully prosecuted any perpetrators of the violence. In addition the investigative and judicial systems to be established as required under the new constitution, and which could successfully prosecute cases of the magnitude


This is the position of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans who have already signed a declaration confirming that the Kenyan political establishment must allow the 2 cases at the ICC to proceed to their logical conclusion. These Kenyans are part of the ongoing ‘One Million Kenyans Say YES to the ICC’ campaign that will conclude with the presentation of this declaration to the Government and Parliament, accompanied by the signatures of one million Kenyans.

In conclusion we urge all our political leaders to always be guided by what is in the interest of the greatest number of Kenyans. This is especially in regard to the implementation of the new constitution, which process is already behind schedule.

Signed
NGUNJIRI WAMBUGU
Executive Director, Change Associates
(0724958331)

Kelvin Mwangi,
Nairobi.

NAIROBI: Statement by Kenya Ni Yetu, Katiba Yetu, Maisha Yetu campaign

Summary:

This statement:
· Emphasizes the importance of these positions in the scheme of the new Constitution
· Sets out the procedure that ought to be followed in making these appointments, with emphasis on the constitutional necessity of consultation with the Prime Minister (explicitly required in the case of the Chief Justice, and by implication in the case of the other offices, because the Constitution continues the National Accord and Reconciliation Act)
· Insists that consultation must be meaningful – not casual or ritualistic
· Points out the public input is a value enshrined in the new Constitution
· Observes that the failure to appoint any woman to any of these posts is also a violation of the gender equity emphasis of the Constitution
· Observes that it is contrary to the spirit and logic of the Constitution to appoint to judicial office – especially the highest judicial office – a sitting judge who is yet to undergo the vetting process
· Comments it was regrettable that earlier reports suggested that the Principals had agreed to "carve up" the appointment between them
· Regrets – indeed abhors – the reported failure of the President to adhere to the constitutional process, drawing attention to the fact that it is only 5 months since, with apparent pride, he promulgated the Constitution and promised a new dawn
· Suggests that the behaviour of the President unfortunately is consistent with some of his past acts in public office and that on this occasion would provide grounds for his removal from office
· Strongly urges the nominees to act on their consciences and to decline to be appointed by an unconstitutional process, the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution to take note of the unconstitutionality, and the National Assembly to take seriously its role, if and when it is asked "to approve" these appointments, to protect the Constitution (as they swore in their oaths to do) as well as to represent the people of Kenya.The press has reported that the President has appointed the following state officers: a new Chief Justice, a new Attorney General, the first Director of Public Prosecutions and the first Controller of Budget. The Office of the Prime Minister has stated that that there has been no consultation with him over these appointments. If this is indeed true, there have been serious violations of the Constitution on the part of the President. This statement outlines the procedure that ought to have been followed, and indicates why the course of action adopted by the President is so much to be regretted. Our concern is with the process that ought to have been used in identifying the candidates. We are assuming that it is the intention of the President to comply with the constitutional provisions about the next stage – each of these appointments must be approved by Parliament.
Prior to the parliamentary approval stage, the Constitution says the following about these offices:
· the process of appointment of any Chief Justice before the next general election is that the President would propose a name "subject to the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, and after consultation with the Prime Minister" (this is in Schedule 6, the transitional provisions, section 24(2))
· the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Controller of Budget are to be nominated by the President (Articles 156, 157 and 228 of the Constitution).However, the transitional provisions (Schedule 6 para. 3(2)) say that the old constitution’s provisions about the executive, and the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, are to continue to apply. That Act was designed to put into law the grand coalition agreement, and that agreement is part of the Act (it appears as a schedule to the Act). The agreement includes the following important commitment: "… to work together in good faith as true partners, through constant consultation and willingness to compromise."
This suggests that even if the constitutional provisions about appointing the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Controller of Budget say nothing about consultation, there ought to be such consultation. The National Accord and Reconciliation Act was given constitutional status under the old constitution, and it retains that status under the new one.
Consultation is not a matter of a casual conversation. It requires both parties to act in good faith – explicitly required by the National Accord and Reconciliation Act anyway. It requires ample opportunity for the person consulted to put their view forward, and that the person consulting should take that view seriously, though he or she is not bound to accept it. If consultation is required, the power can only be exercised after consultation (Article 259(11)).
We, the signatories to this statement, regretted what we understood from the press to have been an earlier decision of the Principals to "share" the offices of Chief Justice, Attorney General and DPP between them. We took the view, shared by most Kenyans, that these offices, designed by the Constitution to be independent of executive control, should not be appointed through party bargain. We would have preferred the Principals to ask the newly appointed Judicial Services Commission to put forward suggestions, at least for the office of Chief Justice.
We regret just as strongly to what appears to be the unilateral decision of the President to put forward names for these important offices of state on the basis of his sole judgment without the involvement of the Prime Minister. It is less than 6 months since the President, with great fanfare and rhetoric, promulgated that constitutional document which he is now apparently disregarding.
We also regret the apparent lack of any public consultation – despite the emphasis in the Constitution on "participation of the people".
The importance of these particular appointments must not be underplayed. The Controller of Budget has a vital role in strengthening control over public expenditure, part of the fight against corruption. The key role of the judiciary in the implementation and enforcement of the constitution has been stressed by many Kenyans. Yet we are all aware of the problems in the past with corruption within, and incompetence of, the judiciary which so often failed to protect human rights, and promoted impunity.
Because of these considerations, a key aspect of the scheme of the Constitution was laying the foundations of an honest, competent and independent judiciary. This is to be done by vetting of existing judges and appointment of new judges through a competitive and transparent processes (although these are not specifically referred to in sec. 24, the observance of these processes is "in the spirit of the constitution"). By moving to appoint a sitting judge to the office of Chief Justice, before even the Act about vetting has been passed, he is proposing an absurdity: suppose that within a year after appointment, the new Chief Justice should fail to pass the constitutionally required vetting procedure, how would the country and the President look? We are not suggesting that the nominated person would fail the vetting – simply that the test of his continued suitability to serve on the bench is a matter for the vetting process and not for the President.
Moreover the appointment of three men to the key posts in the administration of justice also violates the gender equity emphasis of the Constitution.
Had the President observed these procedures in their full letter and spirit, he would have demonstrated in a practical way his conversion to the principles and values of the constitution. Instead he has shown his contempt for fair and democratic practices. He has ignored the text and spirit of the National Accord which is part of the constitution until the next general elections by his lack of consultation with the PM on the appointment of other officers.
The president has shown himself to be both dishonest and opportunistic. We recall the way he introduced the bill to end democracy in Kenya and make it a one party state; that he was a senior member of the Moi regime when it removed the independence of judges, and other independent officers by constitutional amendments, arguing that leaving dismissal to the president was a greater guarantee of independence than a judicial enquiry. We recall also the way the President made a deal with Raila Odinga before the 2002 elections under which Odinga should have been appointed prime minister, upon which he reneged. We recall also his reneging on his widely published commitment to adopt and implement the CKRC/Bomas draft constitution within a 100 days of his election, and the way he appointed members of the electoral commission from among his cronies in disregard of the IPPG agreement for consultation with political party leaders. We recall also his being sworn in as president when the election results were still disputed, and there were considerable concerns that the results had been doctored to give him victory; and then agreeing to a power sharing agreement which he has repeatedly disregarded – and is disregarding again.
By some of these earlier acts he threw the country into great turmoil and now by totally unconstitutional acts, and at a time when he is desperately trying to save his cabinet colleagues, his chief public servant, and his former head of police, from a fair trial at the Hague, he is again likely to plunge the country in a deep crisis. He has shown either a great misjudgment or recklessness which provides ample reasons for his dismissal. The acts of the President surely amount to a "gross violation" of the Constitution – and would thus be grounds for impeachment. However, since the impeachment provisions are not yet in force, they would be ground for a vote of no confidence (which would lead to his removal). However – we are not so unrealistic as to imagine our members of Parliament will pass such a motion, which would lead to what they would consider the premature end of their terms of office.
If the president does not reconsider his decisions, we would appeal to the Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution, in the fulfillment of its mandate to ensure that the letter and the spirit of the constitution is respected, to draw the attention of the President to the matter and to report to the Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee of Parliament. We appeal equally to the nominees to decline to accept appointment to these constitutional offices in a manner that violates the constitution. Finally we appeal to the National Assembly to take seriously their responsibility in the matter of "approval". They are there to "obey, respect, uphold, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" as they swore in their oaths in August last year, and to represent the people of Kenyan who elected them.
　
This statement was prepared by Yash Pal Ghai at the request of Kenya ni Yetu; Katiba Yetu; Maisha Yetu Campaign

NAIROBI: EXHAUSTIVE CONSULTATIONS WERE MADE BEFORE APPOINTMENT OF JUDICIAL OFFICERS

                                       The Government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua


The Government wishes to clarify on the process for the nominations for the appointments of the new Chief Justice, Attorney General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Director of Budget.

We would like to make it very clear that initial consultations for these positions between H.E. President Mwai Kibaki and Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Raila Odinga started before Christmas, last year.

These consultations were resumed on Thursday, January 27th, 2011 at Harambee House, in the morning and also in the afternoon. The consultations were very intense and were also held in various forms the following day, Friday, January 28th, 2011. The consultations continued until late on Friday before the announcement was made.

The president was very clear that the appointments needed to be made before the Africa Union meeting being held this weekend in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

By Friday morning, all but one of the appointments had been fully agreed upon. Later in the day, President Kibaki came up with a solution that addressed the concerns of the Prime Minister and the final list was ready for announcement.

There are several issues that require special emphasis:
1. The appointments are for vital positions that should NOT be based on political or ethnic affiliations but expertise, unquestionable integrity and efficiency that will give the people of Kenya a renewed sense of hope, fairness and prosperity.

2. As per the requirements of the Constitution, these appointments are considered together with others that are yet to be made to ensure ethnic and gender balance.

3. Consultations do not mean one hundred percent (100%) agreement or one hundred per cent (100%) consensus, otherwise the country would never move forward. Decisions have to be made that are timely and for the benefit of the country.

4. Bearing all this in mind, it is therefore insincere and misleading for any person to say that consultations had not been made before the appointment of the new Judicial Officials. Some of the statements that have been made since the announcement of the new officials have been a surprise and others even shocking because they are contrary to the facts and reality of what has been undertaken.

5. It is important at this time in our Country to work together to ensure there is speedy implementation of various reforms and projects so as to develop the country, reduce poverty, provide employment to the youth and stability and hope to the hard working people of Kenya.



Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, EBS
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY &
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

PRESS STATEMENT: ORANGE DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT – ODM

A group of Members under the banner of KKK Alliance has not once but on numerous occasions made inflammatory statements about ODM and its leaders led by the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Musalia Mudavadi.
ODM is not in the business of reacting to non issues especially those raised by a people who think about themselves and not about the people and the country at large. But we make clarifications to critical issues that are blown out of proportion perhaps to suit some people’s interests.
It is sad that some Hon. Members with very poor memory of their own deeds can come here and make populous statements with the aim of playing to the galleries. When the Chepalungu MP. Hon. Isaac Ruto moved a motion in Parliament late last year urging the State to withdraw from the Rome Statute that creates the ICC, he simply was making a proposal to the government. Members with egocentric ideologies supported it forgetting who took Kenya to The Hague.
The shuttle diplomacy by the Vice President Hon. Kalonzo is his own arrangement, even his Party Secretary General and Minister for Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Mutula Kilonzo can attest to this. For Members of Parliament on a cheap payroll to come out and claim that Parliament passed a motion calling for the deferral of the ICC Case against the Ocampo Six is a fallacy, archaic and quite barbaric. The Motion by Hon. Isaac Ruto was just a wish to the government and not a government resolution.
One cannot accuse the Prime Minister for calling for the matter to be handled at The Hague. It is the same Members of Parliament who have today ganged up to fill their stomachs at the expense of innocent victims of Post Election Violence, who shot down a motion to have the cases handled locally hence taking Kenya to The Hague. The Prime Minister, the President, the then Justice Minister Hon. Martha Karua and Imenti Central MP Hon. Gitobu Imanyara vigorously lobbied for the local tribunal, but the same MPs shouted "Let’s not be Vague, we want The Hague", surely even a fool will remember the words of his mouth, a year later.
It is laughable for Hon. Johnston Muthama to call for the prosecution of the President; his boss at The Hague. How can a whole government Chief Whip call for the arrest of the President and the Prime Minister? Is he confirming to the Nation that the President and Vice President refused to acknowledge and recognize Mr. Raila’s victory in 2007, ganged up and hurriedly forced a government, therefore sparking off the Post Election Violence? Mr. Muthama should tell Kenyans what he knows that everyone else’s outside there doesn’t know. As an insider, he really has a lot to tell the Nation.
We are fully behind the Prime Minister, he is not the ODM Prime Minister but the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kenya and so he should be respected as such. When an Honourable Member claims before the Media and the public that Mr. Odinga should take stock of his numbers in the House and tell Kenyans if he still is the Prime Minister, it portrays not only ignorance but cheap politics that have been passed by time. As far as we are concerned, ODM still holds on its numerical strength in Parliament and in Civic Councils. No Member of Parliament has officially written to the Speaker, resigning from Parliament and quit ODM as his/her party. If these people are men enough and a people of integrity and standard self-esteem, they should quit, go back to seek fresh mandate from the electorate and come back to Parliament on a different party. ODM has 105 elected and nominated MPs and that is a fact. Nothing has changed.
The Prime Minister’s mission to Ivory Coast was not a local arrangement, it was a decision made by the highest level of the African Union. Why then start making a fuss out of this? It is not as local and discreet as the Shuttle Diplomacy that the Hon. Members are trying to defend. Lets call a spade a spade, not a big spoon.
If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything. Our Hon. Members who have made it a habit to always mislead the public should know that, recently and even as late as yesterday, some of them denounced the KKK Alliance. Today as they issued the statement, they confirmed to the Nation that they were members of the KKK Alliance and it is on camera. ODM stands for National Unity and not tribal groupings.
Thank you.

Hon. Hassan Ali Joho
National Organizing Secretary-ODM
Ms. Janet Ong’era
Executive Director – ODM
　

NAIROBI: MEASURES ARE IN PLACE TO MITIGATE FAMINE IN AFFECTED AREAS

                                          The government Spokesman Dr. Aalfred Mutua

The Government is committed to ensuring that no Kenyan dies of hunger. Towards that dedication, the government will avail funds for purchase and distribution of relief food in the affected areas.

Government Spokesperson, Dr. Alfred Mutua said the famine situation is not only facing Kenya but also other African countries. "It is a shame for any Kenyan to die of hunger in this era of 21st century, this situation is worrying and President Mwai Kibaki is concerned," said Dr. Mutua.

The Government Spokesperson has also warned of serious penalties against anyone caught stealing relief food.

Dr. Mutua also said President Kibaki today held a meeting with the Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Liu Guangyuan and congratulated the people of China as they mark the Year of Rabbit.

Dr. Mutua said Kenya enjoys friendly relationship with China and will continue to strengthen that cooperation.

Dr. Mutua spoke during the weekly Government Press Briefing held at his Office.

Office of Public Communication
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Nairobi

NAIROBI : SIMON MBUGUA SENT PARKING

Kamukunji immediate former Member of Parliament Simon Mbugu becomes the latest legislator to lose his seat.

Kamukunji member of Parliament Simon Mbugua has lost his seat after the annullment of his election this afternoon following a petition by 2007 ODM contestor Ibrahim Ahmed.Lady Justice Mary Ang'awa made the judgement saying that the election results were marred by klack of integrity and therefore the MP unfairly elected.
Two judges,Justice Kalpana Rawal and Justice Fred Ochieng' disqualified themselves from the case before Justice Mary Ang'wana took over.mbugua becomes the ninth member of the tenth parliament to lose his seat in an election petition following the contentious 2007 elections.

Kelvin Mwangi,
Nairobi.

OPINION: POLICE TOO ARE HUMANE

Kenya Police Officers during a recent pass-out parade

The condemnation of the police by Human Rights groups and the International community is a little bit misplaced. The police are agents of state and have the monopoly of force hence the killing of persons, who in law are presumed innocent, by the police is a clear contravention of the social contract between the people and the state. The Police Act and the Police Force Standing Orders go to great lengths to detail how lethal force should be applied.
It is easy for a person who has not found themselves in the hands of crooked criminals to say that they are "innocent" and that the police used "excessive" force to tackle the criminals. It is even easier for a diplomat who enjoys diplomatic immunity as well as a good contingent of police officers at his command for his security to claim that criminals possessing illegal firearms are innocent. When police shoot criminals Human Rights groups and activists come up with their guns blazing condemning the act.However,when a police officer is shot, attacked or even humuliated,not even a single one of these activists seem to care much. It is the high time that we all know that police officers are human too, they also have families to cater for and who love them too.
The 'shoot to kill' directive a couple of years back by the then Internal Security Minister, John Michuki had seen a dramatic reduction in crime. Just like the police commissioner says a gun is no spoon, when in the hands of criminals, it will be surely used if you step on their toes. It’s meant to kill. The police should therefore not hesitate to use their arms in handling these criminals or else the next minute an officer or even a member of the public will be lying in their place. The police are trained specifically for this purpose. Though some of these officers are in the spotlight in overusing their privillige, their shooting criminals should not at all times be criticized. This is not to say that the killings by the police is justified or should not be condemned.
The police as state machineries have the entire panoply of state resources at its disposal to be able to protect the human rights of police officers including the use of force. Human Rights organizations on the other hand are organizations of limited remit, created by law and can only deal with matters their constitutive documents or budgets allow. The police commissioner, the minister in-charge of internal security seem to be reading from totally different pages, with the commissioner saying that his 'mboys' (officers) will not relent in using their arms to finish crime as his boss says that the police should not use force while handling criminals. This beats logic, why will an armed officer handle an armed criminal who may splash him with bullets anytime with 'less force'?
To cut a long story short, I fully and strongly condemn the killing of innocent persons by the police and I also condemn killing of police officers by some unruly and crooked criminals.

Kelvin Mwangi
Nairobi.

The opinion above does not necessarily represent the views and opinions of The African Voices.

NAIROBI: PRIME MINISTER PRESS CONFERENCE ON MOMBASA ROAD

                                                        Prime Minister Raila Odinga


The Prime Minister Raila Odinga today addressed the press on the planned road works on Mombasa Road and Waiyaki Way in his office. The Prime Minister stated that there was an extensive consultation that took place between government officials and the private sector.

The Prime Minister added that the government has constituted a commettee that is mandated to come up with recommendations on how to deal with the issue at hand. The commettee was given two weeks to report back to the Prime Minister so that proper announcement is made by the government.

The meeting was attended by the land Minister James Orengo, Road Minister Bet, Assistant Minister for Roads Kinyajui, Permanent Secretary of Roads Kamau and other stake holders including the Standard Group Deputy Chairman and Chief Strategist Paul Melly.

NAIROBI: President Kibaki reaffirms Kenya's commitment to the EAC integration process

 President Mwai Kibaki with members of the EALA after addressing a session at parliament buildings, Nairobi

President Mwai Kibaki today re-affirmed the Government’s commitment to the East African Community (EAC) integration process as an effective tool for the economic development and prosperity of the region.
President Kibaki assured that the Kenya Government, in its operations, will continue to give priority to the Community agenda.
The Head of State made the remarks during an address to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) fourth session sitting at Parliament buildings in Nairobi.
Saying the session comes at a critical moment when the pace of integration has gained momentum with the implementation of both the Customs Union and the Common Market Protocol, President Kibaki commended EALA for the oversight role it played and the legislative achievements the august assembly has made.
"As we embark on the EAC flagship projects and programmes it is my hope that the Assembly will play its rightful role to ensure their timely and effective implementation," observed the President.
The President commended the progress made in the implementation of the Customs Union established in 2005 and the intended positive results generated over the last five years of its operation.
The Head of State stressed that the Common Market launched in July last year has increased interest from both the citizenry in the region and foreign investors who continue to inquire on the available opportunities.
"This is clearly demonstrated by the trend in intra-EAC trade over the period. For example, the value of the total intra-EAC trade rose from 1.8 billion US Dollars in 2004 to 3.5 billion US Dollars in 2009 representing a growth of 94 percent. A closer look at both the exports and imports of each one of the partner states reveals similar upward trends," said the President.
In this regard, President Kibaki emphasized the need to conclude the remaining annexes to the Protocol on the Common Market to enable the Community in the region to benefit from a working single market.
While the business community has continued to play a commendable role of embracing the Customs Union and investing in various parts of the Community, the Head of State stressed the need for improved business environment in the Community.
Towards this end, President Kibaki enumerated a number of areas which need to be addressed, including elimination of the Non-tariff Barriers such as prolonged clearing procedures and regulations that have continued to make doing business in East Africa expensive.
The Head of State encouraged the EALA Honourable Members to pay special attention to this area and develop viable solutions to the problem saying their efforts have continued to play a significant role in deepening and widening the integration process.
For the East African Community to emerge as a competitive trading area, President Kibaki said the state of the region’s infrastructure has to be excellent.
He stressed the need to upgrade and modernize the outdated railways network while at the same time extending it to other parts of the Community.
"I have no doubt that although the amount of money required for this kind of network overhaul is huge, this can be achieved if all stakeholders work together," said the President.
With regard to traders in small and micro-enterprises sector, President Kibaki stressed the need to develop strategies that will support the sector and make the business environment conducive in the regional arena.
On political developments in the Sudan, the Head of State noted that the ongoing implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and specifically the just concluded referendum on the Southern Sudan is encouraging.
President Kibaki, specifically, commended the leadership of both the National Congress Party and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement for supporting the outcomes of this democratic process and expressed optimism that the outcome of the referendum will have positive implications for the East African Community.
As part of the integration process, President Kibaki invited EALA legislators to visit the countryside and sample Kenyans’ hospitality.
The President, at the same time, urged citizens of the EAC partner states to embrace one another as brothers and sisters.
Noting that Kiswahili is a language that is spoken widely in the East African region, President Kibaki encouraged its use by the East African Legislative Assembly.
East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Abdirahim Abdi commended the people of Kenya for conducting a peaceful referendum on the new Constitution.
On his part, National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende called on the East African partner states to increase to a minimum of 10 per cent the budget allocation to the agricultural sector.
Mr. Marende said East Africa needs to address the persistent food shortages so as to attain self sufficiency in food production.
Legislative business before the EALA fourth session sittings in Nairobi includes debate on the EAC Elections Bill – 2nd and 3rd Reading, the EAC Service Commission Bill 2nd Reading, the Lake Victoria Basin Commission Bill and the consideration of various Committee Reports and Motions.
This session takes place at a time when the negotiations on the EAC Monetary Union, being the third step in the four-tire integration process, have commenced.
EALA is of the view that the negotiations on the EAC Monetary Union, needs to be an all inclusive process involving all stakeholders in tandem with the directives of the EAC Summit in 2007 that decided to fast track the achievement of the Monetary Union by 2012.
The Assembly is also marking its decade commemoration in all partner states this year, and will be climaxed with a wide range of envisaged activities to be observed in Arusha, Tanzania on November 29th.
The occasion was also attended by East African Community Minister Prof. Hellen Sambili, EALA members and several senior Government officials among others.

NAIROBI: RAILA-MUSALIA WIND UP NORTHERN KENYA TOUR

                                                       Prime Minister Raila Odinga

Prime Minister Raila Odinga wound up his two-day tour of Northern Kenya today with a mammoth rally at the Garissa stadium attended by over 30 MPs, including cabinet Ministers and assistant ministers.
At different venues, the PM challenged residents of Northern Kenya to be prepared to shape their destiny saying the new constitution the area supported overwhelmingly was transferring power to the people.
He asked fellow politicians to "take time and internalize the changes that have come with the new constitution."
"Kenya has changed tremendously with the coming of the new constitution and it will continue to change. After 2012, this country is not going to be the same again. The structures that have come with the new laws dictate that old approaches will not work. Even communities will not necessarily stick together. Power is going to the people. The people are going to depend on themselves and the leaders they choose. It is no longer going to be about who is president," the PM told a rally in Moyale where he also met community leaders.
The PM led thousands of supporters gathered at the stadium in condemning the KKK group, terming it opportunistic and made up of elements out to sabotage reforms.
Differences in the party saw the residents reject their MP Mr Aden Duale, whom they accused of being part of the team led by Eldoret North MP Mr William Ruto, a key member of the KKK group.
The crowd rejected several attempts by the MP to address them and introduce the leaders accompanying the Prime Minister.
Mr Odinga had to intervene to calm the crowd and introduce members of his delegation. But even after calm was restored, the crowd rose in unanimity against Mr Duale, whom the PM tried to help address the rally.
Three times, the crowd asked the MP to take his seat, saying they no longer recognize him as they believe he had abandoned ODM.
Addressing the crowd, Mr Odinga said the KKK group is made up of people blinded by hate and chauvinism and who had thrown caution to the wind in their search for power.
The PM said ethnic alliances would frustrate attempts to reconcile the country adding they would scare communities that have always felt marginalized since independence.
The PM, who began his tour of the region on Monday, launched the distribution of relief food and inaugurated boreholes in Moyale and Wajir on Tuesday, before heading to Garissa for a meeting with youth leaders ending up with a rally.
He asked the Kenya Meat Commission to begin buying livestock in the region at between Sh10,000 and Sh12,000 to save the pastoralists from losses. He also asked residents with lorries to partner with the government in distributing water to dry areas at a fee.
Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, who was in Mandera today to distribute relief supplies, joined Mr Odinga for the final rally in Garissa.
Mr Odinga asked Kenyans to judge their leaders by the content of their character, their ideas and policies and not age.
He said the world is full of leaders who took charge of their countries at advanced age and did their citizens proud through policies that moved their nations forward. He cited Nelson Mandela as example.
The PM said some of those crusading for a generational change of leadership have nothing to show the country for their years as youth, adding that some have spent their youthful years plundering the country.
He said the new constitution has strict criteria on who can lead Kenya and challenged voters to take a critical look at the past of each of those expressing desire to lead the country.
"Some people want to lead the country when their records clearly show they belong somewhere else, not in leadership positions," the PM said.
Ministers Fred Gumo, Joe Nyagah, Mohamed Elmi, James Orengo and Otieno Kajwang accompanied the PM.
Others were assistant ministers Ferdinand Waititu, Elizabeth Ongoro, Alfred Khangati, Ayiecho Olweny and Mohamud Mohammed.
MPs Justus Kizito, Yusuf Chanzu, Omondi Anyanga, Hassan Joho, Rev Julius Murgor and Mr Litole, among others also accompanied him.

NAIROBI: IS GENERATIONAL CHANGE ABOUT INSULTS?

25/01/11

By. Philip Etale
Thomas Jefferson said in one of his many memorable quotes that "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom". Indeed, this very important virtue is lacking in the quest for generational change by the ‘so called youth’.
Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, a budding politician from Transnzoia, his Eldoret North counterpart William Ruto and the ilk seem be living in denial. What they are doing today is like a chicken trying to fight an eagle when it has already taken off with a chick.
In mid 2010 at the height of referendum campaigns, Mr. Wamalwa vigorously campaigned for the passing of the proposed constitution which later received overwhelming support from the public. It was passed and later on promulgated bringing an end to the old and oppressive constitution which was misused by the "powers that were’.
I was shocked recently when I saw the young Wamalwa who says he ‘wants to claim what his brother (the Late Michael Wamalwa-RIP) never was’, attend a meeting called by Mr. Ruto in Mombasa, to thank those who opposed the new constitution at the referendum. Mr. Wamalwa used the occasion to attack those he perceive to be ‘old guards’. He was indeed representing the ‘youth’ I bet.
In a meet the people tour of upper-western (Bungoma County), Mr. Ruto, mesmerized by the huge turn-out of people became used the occasion to insult at the person of the ODM Party Leader Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga and his Deputy Party Leader Hon. Musalia Mudavadi in the name of pushing for generational change.
Mr. Ruto went ahead to refer to Mr. Mudavadi as "a mad man" and it was widely quoted in both print and electronic media. His reasoning was that for the years Mr. Mudavadi has been a leader, he has not been able to unite the people of Western Province. That is balderdash especially coming from a man who wants to be president.
Mr. Ruto ought to understand that the people of Western Province have never had conflict with each other and it is not today that they need a Saint to come and make them one. The people of ‘Mulembe’ (peace) are never confrontational and will never seek assistance from anybody from outside of the region to claim to be uniting when they want to create animosity and divisions in the region.
If he (Mr. Ruto) claims to be a peace maker and a man who really is for a united Kenya, why hasn’t he been able to unite all the communities living in Rift Valley? Why was the Eldoret meeting last Friday graced by President Kibaki and 60 legislators only meant for two communities? Why didn’t the meeting’s organizers extend invitations to Former President Moi, who hails from the region and who ruled Kenya for 24 years and Prime Minister Mr. Raila Odinga who is the ODM leader and whom the people of Rift Valley overwhelmingly voted for in 2007 General Election?
It is insulting to the country’s youths to see a few individuals coalescing in the name of reformists confine themselves in one corner of the Republic claiming to preaching unity and spearheading a ‘dead generational change’ agenda. It is dead in the sense that the idea itself has been misconstrued and has become a platform for insults and name-calling.
People who are young in age must also be young at heart and in ideas. But the pushers for generational change have not proved to the youth why they should be allowed to become rulers.
One cannot claim to be young and ready for power when his/her intention is use the seat of power to settle personal scores and repeat what he did when he/she was a "real youth’. Kenya will never be the same again, God forbid.
These young men should know that a man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do. Yes, Messrs Wamalwa, Ruto, Uhuru Kenyatta, Kiema Kilonzo, Gidion Mbuvi, Cyrus Jirongo etc want to be the leaders of this country, but do they have wisdom to do so? What have they done for Kenya that is much greater than what they have done to their own stomachs? When Kenyans shed blood and lost lives in the quest for political pluralism in the early 1990s, these so called ‘young leaders’ were busy milking from the successes Kenya had achieved by then. They were busy making money and forming organizations to block change.
The Honourable Members calling themselves ‘the youth of Kenya’ should follow Jesus Christ’s lessons. When Jesus was spreading the word of his Father (God), he reached out to many and never at any single day did he insult people. He went about his duties so diligently, patiently, humbly and obediently with stepping on other people’s toes.
The Holy Bible is very clear, that "He who humbles himself shall be exalted but he who exalts himself shall be humbled". Let the so called youthful leaders understand that even the Bible rejects a people who praise themselves and hurl insults to others.
Kenyans must be prepared to light tomorrow with today. Judge these young leaders with their past, character and association and not by the empty rhetoric, public insults to established leadership and chest thumping. Kenyans ought to be wiser for the wisest men follow their own direction.

The writer is the Director of Communication-ODM

Hague: ICC president expected to visit Kenya

                                                 The International Criminal Court at the Hague

The President of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, Ambassador Christian Wenaweser, will visit Kenya from 27 to 28 January 2011. The two-day visit includes consultations with Government officials, members of Parliament and meetings with civil society and the media on ICC issues.

President Wenaweser will conclude his visit with a press conference on Friday, 28 January 2011, at 16:00 hours at the Hilton Nairobi, Mama Ngina Street, Nairobi.

TheAfricanTeam

Nairobi

NAIROBI: Government set to increase national schools, President Kibaki says

                 His Excellency Mwai Kibaki, President of the Republic of Kenya

The Government has finalized plans to upgrade some provincial schools at the county level to become national schools to cater for more high performers in the country, President Mwai Kibaki said yesterday.
Besides the transformation and support of the selected provincial schools to national level, the President observed, secondary schools of excellence in every constituency are being created under the new economic stimulus package.
President Kibaki made these remarks at Kenyatta International Conference Centre where he officially launched the innovative High School Scholarship and Leadership Development program funded by the Equity Bank Group and the MasterCard Foundation.
The Head of State cited the implementation of the free secondary school tuition programme and development of day schools, the provision of a capital grant of Kshs 10,265 per student per year to public secondary schools and the facilitation of re-entry of girls who drop out of school due to pregnancy and early or forced marriages as some of the notable reforms that have boosted the education sector.
At the national level, President Kibaki said the Government is expanding the capacity of polytechnics and will be creating 13 additional national polytechnics while at the local level there is heavy investment in youth polytechnics through provision of free tuition and recruitment of an additional 2,000 tutors which is currently underway.
Government reforms in the education sector, the President noted, have started paying dividends with the increase in the number of students joining the country’s learning institutions at different levels.
President Kibaki specifically pointed out that due to his Government’s interventions, a record 539,792 students, will be joining form one this year. Majority of these students are among the first batch of those who had enjoyed 8 continuous years of free primary education the Government has been implementing since 2003.
"This is the highest number of students enrolling in form one, in our nation’s history. I wish to thank all those who have made this possible," the President said.
The President said in order to meet the increased demand, enhance access and quality, the education sector in Kenya has undergone several fundamental reforms including the integration of secondary education as part of basic education.
"You are also aware that the Government recently invested 4.2 billion shillings in the National Youth Service. This will greatly enhance the ability of the service, to train our youth while additional construction equipment will enable our youth access firsthand practical and technical experience," the President said.
Saying all these investments are for the benefit of the country’s youth, the President reassured that his Government will continue to give top priority to their needs.
President Kibaki, however, expressed concern that girls, on average, continue to perform poorly in core subjects like mathematics, chemistry, physics and biology which are critical in providing them with access to careers in science and technology.
"As a country we must do more to train our girls to perform better in these subjects. This is in line with our policy framework which focuses on access, equity, quality and relevance," President Kibaki emphasized.
The President also reminded the youth that for them to take their rightful leadership roles in the society, they must remain focused and have a visionary attitude on what they want to achieve in life.
In this regard, President Kibaki said they must avoid vices that negatively impact on their education which include drug and substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, early marriages and child labor.
The Head of State commended Equity Bank Group and the MasterCard Foundation for the high school scholarship and leadership development program which, he said, is in tandem with the Government’s policy of establishing partnerships that help more young people access secondary education.
Said the President: "I am pleased to note, that this programme also targets at raising the next generation of leaders, by empowering the youth through helping them develop leadership skills and robust networks."
The President encouraged recipients of the scholarships to take full advantage of the opportunity that has been offered to them by working hard and ensuring that they excel in all areas of their lives.
Calling on other organizations to support the programme, the Head of State said the sponsorship would go along way in changing the lives of children from less privileged backgrounds.
In his address, Education Minister Prof. Sam Ongeri defended the new form one selection criteria, saying the policy shift ensured social equity by bringing on board poor children from all corners of the country in the national schools.
Prof. Ongeri emphasized that all candidates selected to join national, provincial, district and private secondary schools are expected to report for lessons by 31st of this month.
Stressing that the free primary education programme had enabled many children from poor families enroll to for basic education, the Minister assured of accountability in the use of public funds released by the Government and development partners.
The President and Chief Executive Officer of the MasterCard Foundation, Ms Reeta Roy thanked President Kibaki for his visionary leadership in establishing the free primary school education programme in the country eight years ago.
Through the FPE programme, Ms Roy said, thousands of bright children from poor families accessed basic education and excelled to qualify for sponsorship under the Equity Group and MasterCard Foundations scholarships.
The MasterCard Foundation C.E.O stressed the foundation’s commitment to work with Equity bank and other like minded partners to provide secondary students with comprehensive scholarship support to enable them pursue higher education and transform their lives.
Ms. Roy said the programme also delivers leadership development, career guidance and mentoring to the sponsored students while serving as a model for other potential funders of education scholarships.
During the launch also attended by Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, President Kibaki received a cheque of US$ 50 million programme sponsorship from the Equity Group/The MasterCard Foundations.
Other speakers included the UKaid representative and Head, DFID Kenya and Somalia Mr. Alistair Fernie, The chairman of Equity Bank Peter Munga and his Chief Executive officer who is also the Chairman Equity Group Foundation Dr. James Mwangi.
In attendance were several cabinet ministers, Assistant Ministers, the Governor of Central bank Prof Njuguna Ndung’u and senior government and banking sector officials.
　

NAIROBI: IDPs CASH,ANOTHER SCAM?

A boy plays in front of what he now calls home in an IDP camp in North Rift

As a committee has been formed to spearhead the ressetlement of internally displaced persons in the Rift valley,questions are being raised on the IDP menace which have turned into a money making project for some people.
The committee members who include Margaret Kamar, Nderitu Mureithi, zakayo Cheruiyot, Boaz Kaino, John Mututho, Moses Lessonet, Peris Simam and Fred kapondi was formed days priopr to the president's tour of the North Rift for a peace rally.The president has hence said that the government has set aside 1 Billion for the exercise expected to be completed in the next six months.
Questions are ripe that the governmentr could be spending millions of money to feed and house impostors who have turned IDP camps to cash cow.These impostors have mixed with genuine IDPs and some have even been elected as representatives.
In a perfect and well-planned act of deceit going back three years and supported by some corrupt government officials,the impostors,many of whom were never affected by the 2007/2008 post election violence have turned the IDP resettlement programme into an endless scam to get free land,money and other benefits from the government,sympathetic individuals and donors some of them from overseas who give .some organisations money and support to enable them help the victims of the violence that errupted after a disputed presidential election and that left more than 600,000 homeless.
There has been no proper audit or identification plan to determine who is a genuine IDP,three years down the line.This could be one of the biggest scams in the recent past as the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commision director PLO Lumumba recently confimed his agency was investigatingthe Special Programmes ministry over the IDP issue which will narrow down to misuse of millions of shillings and registration of fake IDPs.
Unsettled IDPs have staged demonstrations to protest alleged failure to resettle them threatening to match to State House next week to meet President Kibaki.
The question still lingers,who are the real IDPs?are they still in camps?how much more money will be lost till the government wakes up and smells the coffee?Are fake IDPs cowing funds from the government and going scto free???


Kelvin Mwangi,
Nairobi.

NAIROBI: POLICE ARE ALSO HUMAN

                                                  Founder: TheAfricanVoices.blogspot.com

In the real sense people need to understand the functions of the police and what exactly they are suppose to do for the citizens of this country to prosper and live in a fearless life.

The Police Act lays down the functions of the police as the maintenance of law and order, the preservation of the police, the protection of life and property, the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of offenders and the enforcement of all laws and regulations with which it is charged. 

Police are also required to regulate traffic, keep public order and "prevent unnecessary obstruction on the occasion of assemblies.
It is suprising when we hear the so called human rights activists criticizing the police for using excessive force in their battle with the robbers. To them, the police should try and arrest the suspected armed robbers instead of shooting to kill them. When these Human right activists were moving from one radio station to the other and condemning the police killings, my arguement is that the police are also human, who have families that depend on them, and therefore they would not allow the armed robbers to shoot at them first, while they are also armed with guns.
Now I am asking these organizations, how do you arrest armed robbers who are ready to kill?
My view is that the police are doing wonderful job and it is their patrol that makes this great country peaceful.
My fellow freinds, do you wonder why Kenyans cheer when policemen are being beaten in public? A crime that is punished for life in the gallows in other countries?
Police are also human and we should treat them as Human. let us not criticize our police force.

^{Abdirahman M. Ali
Founder TheAfricanVoices}

NAIROBI: CONSTITUENCIES TO MISS CDF KITTY

Planning,National Development and Vision 2030 minister Wycliffe Oparanya.He has warned that more than 100 constituencies will miss on CDF cash.

More than one hundred constitruencies are at the risk of missing out on development funds due to failure by Members of Parliament to submit project proposals for their constituencies in due time.Most of these constituencies are said to be from Nairobi,Rift Valley,Nyanza and central regions.
Planning and National Development Minister Wycliffe Oparanya has said that 131 MPs out of the 210 were yet to present their proposals to the Constituency Development Fund Board.Oparanya also sited that 79 constituencies which have submitted their proposals,would receive 50 per cent of the funds which will first benefit from bursaries,2 Milklion shillings to meet the cost of administration and emergency expenses.
Mr.Oparanya revealed that the Treasury had released 3.5 Billion shillings for disbursement but his ministry could not disburse the money until MPs submit their projec proposals.When responding to concerns by CDF committees with the indication that they had not received the cash to cater for education bursaries afeter schools opened earlier this month.
As revealed by the minister,constituencies with unutilized cash would not be allocated more and threatened to make public the list opf constituencies whose Members of Parliament had not submitted their constituencies proposals.
This brings into question the accountability of some members of parliamnet and their commitment to ensuring development in their respective voting regions.

Kelvin Mwangi,
Nairobi.

NAIROBI: PRIMIE MINISTER RAILA TOURS NORTHERN KENYA

                                                     Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga

Northern Tour

Prime Minister Raila Odinga will tomorrow embark on a two-day tour of Northern Kenya in a trip that will take him to Upper Eastern and North Eastern parts of the country to undertake an audit of the drought situation in the regions.

Odinga who is expected to lead a high powered delegation including deputy premier Musalia Mudavadi    is also scheduled to commission several water projects in the arid region, where most water points dried up since the onset of the phenomena late last year.

His itinerary during the two days working tour of the North includes meetings with the local leadership to map ways of improving the living conditions of the pastoral communities.

Among the towns the entourage is enlisted to make stopover for rallies include Garissa, Wajir North, Mandera,  Marsabit, North Horr, sololo, Moyale.

TUNISIA: COMING SOON:

                                                   Tunisian Flag

Coming up Soon on PointView: Tunisia after Ben Ali fallout. Will Tunisia uprising inspire more upsrising in the Region? Keep it Right at http:/theafricanvoices.blogspot.com

TUNIS: TUNISIAN PRIME MINISTER VOWS TO QUIT AFTER POLLS

                                         Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Gannouchi

Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Gannouchi has pledged to leave politics after election is held in the coming months.
In an interview on the Tunisian television on Friday the Prime Minister Gannouchi said that he leave office and quit politics in the shortest possible timeframe.
"My role is to bring my country out of this temporary phase and even if I am nominated I will refuse it and leave politics," Ghannouchi said.
Gannouchi is an ally of the ousted president Ben Ali anda member of his ruling party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD). The month-long protests that led the Tunisian military to push the president from power underscored the political alienation, limited economic opportunity, and corruption rife in Ben Ali's Tunisia.

PRESS RELEASE: Kenya Somali Community of North America

We, members of the Kenya Somali Community of North America take this opportunity to support the Prime Minister of Kenya, Hon. Raila Odinga, the President of Kenya his Excellency Mwai Kibaki, and the government, in their pursuit to implement the New Constitution of Kenya. Also, we take this opportunity to denounce the political opportunists who are attempting to paralyze the government's business by spreading sustained lies against the Prime Minister, and thus forestall the implementation of the New Constitution. The lies pedaled by Mr. Ruto and his compatriots to wit the Prime Minister has influenced the ICC in naming of the six post election violence suspects, is not only false, but also, nonsensical. Neither the Prime Minister nor the President has any power to influence the world's court. Ruto and his cahoots have scuttled the creation of the local tribunal when we had the opportunity to have a motion passed by the parliament. They argued for The Hague instead. Now we say, don't panic, it is The Hague.
The lies they feed with their ill informed tribal loyalists are not only unfortunate but also potential risk to the country's stability. In that regard, we urge the ICC to move swiftly to indict and lock up the six suspects or exonerate them immediately as the law so require. We strongly urge the Prime Minister and the President to stay on course – refuse to give in to the demands of these suspected war criminals. The activities of some of these suspects are dangerous as they are bent to defeating justice by throwing the country into another civil chaos. Kenyans must be vigilant against those who have benefited in the past from nepotism and impunity and are keen on protecting and preserving their privileges at any costs. We also urge the President and the Prime Minister to deny the six suspects and their cahoots to withdraw Kenya from its membership of the world's body – the ICC.
We strongly reject the requirement to compel the taxpayers to pay for the legal fees of these war crime suspects when IDPs are still in languishing in camps and many more Kenyans are facing starvation as a result of perennial droughts that could be easily mitigated with those funds.
For more information Please contact the undersigned for any question pertaining to this press release.

Mohamed A. Doli, Dip., LLB
Co-Chairperson Kenya Somali Community of North America

NAIROBI: PRESS RELEASE: Contract extended for Community Projects in Nyanza

The Government has extended K-Rep Development Agency’s contract by another two years at no extra cost to enable the firm implement its rural financial services for Southern Nyanza Community Development project.
The Southern Nyanza Community Development Project (SNCDP) is a joint venture by the Government of Kenya and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Dr. Edward Sambili, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 said the decision to lengthen the contract was based on K-Rep’s impressive performance since 2007.
He noted that as per the contract of October 2007, the organization had established and institutionalized 15 Community Financial Service Associations (CFSAs) which were now operational at various stages of growth.
"We are confident that you are doing the right thing and trust that given much time you will even do more," said the PS.
Speaking at his office during the signing of contractual documents, Sambili urged K-Rep to invest heavily in training programmes and focus on ownership and sustainability instead of short term goals in undertaking activities.
The PS also emphasized on the need for good leadership in mobilizing communities noting that this would enable a number of people to benefit economically if productive activities are targeted and implemented to increase their shareholding.
K-Rep Development Agency Managing Director Mr. Aleke Dondo pledged to work towards building the capacity of CFSAs board members to enable them provide the much needed stewardship in communities.
"We are also going to train clients for example on simple business management," he said.
On November 23, 2009, K-Rep Development Agency held a meeting with Ministry officials seeking to review their performance in order to achieve expected targets.
Subesequently, the firm did a letter for "No Cost Budget Extension request" on May 26, 2010 detailing the delayed achievement of physical targets and attendant impact on self sufficiency of the new CFSAs.
In total the contract that has led to the establishment of the 15 CFSAs in phases amounts to Sh 24.4 million and the money is used to mobilize, capacity build and establish CFSAs within the project area.
The first phase was in the old (larger) districts of Migori, Suba and Kuria while the second phase covered Nyamira, Homabay and Rachuonyo.
The CFSAs are; Masaba, Mabera and Kehancha in Kuria West District, Ntimaru and Keronga in Kuria East, Sori, Muhuru Bay in Nyatike District, Awendo in Rongo District, Oyeni in Uriri District, Sindo, Magunga and Ogongo in Suba, Ndhiwa in Ndhiwa District, Muungano in Rangwe (Homabay District) and Nyamusi in Nyamira North District.
Through the CFSAs at least 7,200 shareholders have been recruited and have managed to mobilize shares worth Sh 8.94 million, loans disbursed to the tune of Sh 33.7 million with gross savings of Sh 86 million by communities.
According to the signed agreement, K-Rep’s roles are; to assist in sensitizing and mobilizing community members, capacity building of CFSAs shareholders, board members and staff, strengthen the role of the shareholders in governance of the CFSAs, improve the quality of CFSA management and monitor and supervise CFSAs operations.
　

TheAfricanVoice Team

Nairobi

NAIROBI: FIGHT AGAINST GRAFT,I AM NO WITCH-HUNTER SAYS,LUMUMBA

The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Director PLO Lumumba     

The Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Director PLO Lumumba has put politicians complaining over his war against corruption as biased on the task of proving their allegations."I now hear that i am witch-hunting,i am not a witch hunter because there are no witches.I am only doing investigations."said Lumumba who said that there are no small and big fish and that there are only small fish and small sharks which grow to become dangerous..Lumumba was speaking at a public forum organised by tghe Centre for Multi-party Democaracy.Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission Director PLO Lumumba
Some ODM Members of Parliament has accused the KACC boss of targeting its members after he netted down its party chairman Henry Kosgey who stepoped down as Industrialization Minister on more than ten counts of corruption and abuse of office.the party (ODM) has gone a notch higher to threatening to disband the agency.In a sharp rejoinder,Lumumba said he has read the Act that established the Anti-graft body and that no one is exempted from his agency's investigations.
He also urged Kenyans to know what they are and what they believe in besides being educated on governance and corruption.Lumumba also requested foreign governments to join hands with Kenya inorder to recover the money stashed abroad.The forum was also attended by former Transparency International Chairman Peter Elgen who said that impunity and corruption will suffer a deadly blow from the International Crimainal Court.
The forum intended to sensitize the public on governance and corruption.

Kelvin Mwangi,
Nairobi.

NAIROBI: KENYAN PRIME MINISTER RAILA RETURNS TO NAIROBI TODAY

 Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga is the African's Union Special envoy to Ivory Coast          

Prime Minister Raila Odinga returns to the country today, after a week-long mission on Ivory Coast, which saw him visit five other countries in a 24-hour diplomatic blitz that began on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s jet is expected to touch down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 2 PM where he will hold a media briefing. He will proceed to Bondo later in the day for the memorial of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, to be held tomorrow.
Mr Odinga’s African Union mission to find a resolution to the electoral crisis in Cote d"Ivoire got a dramatic boost when three key West African presidents strongly asserted their support for the Ecowas and AU decisions to ensure that Mr. Laurent Gbagbo should relinquish power and hand over to the lawfully elected President, Mr. Alassane Ouattara. All three indicated that they supported the additional steps that were being taken to implement the regional decisions. They also agreed that President Ouattara should be invited to the AU summit in Addis Ababa next week, as the AU no longer recognized Mr. Gbagbo as the country’s leader.
In a 16 hour diplomatic blitz Wednesday that took Mr. Odinga from Cote d"Ivoire to Ghana to Mali and finally Burkina Faso, Presidents John Ata-Mills, Amadou Toumani Toure and Blaise Campaore expressed strong appreciation for Mr. Odinga’s efforts and full backing for the steps he had so far taken to seek Mr. Gbabgo’s peacefully relinquishing power to President Ouattara. Time is of the essence if a greater conflict is to be averted, and the PM has wanted to have wide range of discussions with African leaders before he prepares his report and recommendations on the next steps on Cote d’Ivoire to the AU summit in Addis Ababa next week.
"I am gratified that the three presidents were so supportive of both the AU and Ecowas resolutions and of the steps I have taken to implement them," Mr. Odinga said last night. "A united African stand and continued isolation and strong financial and other sanctions against if Mr. Gbagbo if he refuses to step down is the best way to avoid the use of lawful force that the AU and Ecowas have decreed as a last resort."
All three presidents agreed that Mr. Odinga’s strategy of persuading Mr. Gbagbo to recognize that his stepping down was the only way to prevent his country plunging into further turmoil and severe economic hardships, a step that Mr. Odinga has said would also honour Mr. Gbagbo’s pioneering legacy of fighting for democracy in Cote D’Ivoire.
The first step in Prime Minister Odinga’s itinerary was Ghana, which some media reports had indicated had expressed reservations about the Ecowas position on the use of force as a last resort. President Ata-Mills took the opportunity of the meeting with the Prime Minster in categorically rejecting these media reports.
"Our position has been grossly misrepresented," Mr. Mills told the PM. "We stand by Ecowas and its declarations, including the use of lawful force if all our peaceful overtures fail. It is imperative we speedily resolve the Cote d’Ivoire crisis, which could have regional wider repercussions. We stand behind your mission fully and I myself have urged Mr. Gbagbo to step down."
President Mills said his country, with a long record of service to African and UN peacekeeping, currently had troops serving in Sudan, Liberia, DRC, Lebanon and Cote d’Ivoire, where they are protecting President Ouattara. The armed forces were really overstretched and so the country could not offer any troops for a military intervention in case that becomes necessary. That position was misinterpreted in some quarters and he had just sent a letter to Ecowas member states stressing his solidarity with the organization’s decisions.
The PM’s next stop was in Mali, a key Ecowas country which hosts both the organization’s Monetary Union headquarters and its Central Bank. Mali also hosts the Ecowas military commissions.
Mali President Toure very warmly thanked the PM for travelling to Mali to brief him, indicating that he considered the PM’s approach to resolving the crisis "exactly right." He emphasized the unacceptability of President Ouattara being blockaded and the impossibility of holding negotiations when one party was in virtual prison. "I will support all needed actions that our organizations now propose to resolve the crisis," he said.
The president pointed out that a heads of state summit on financial matters was taking place in Bamako on Saturday, where a ministerial proposal to remove Mr. Gbagbo as the signatory for the release of funds to Cote d’Ivoire and replace it with President Ouattara would be decided on. The President said he would as summit chairman support that proposal. He also said the Ecowas Military Commission had that very day concluded a meeting at which the strategy for any military intervention that might become necessary was drawn up.
In Ouagadougou, President Compaore met Mr. Oodinga right after he landed from a European tour he had undertaken as part of the Ecowas lobbying for international support for ensuring he handing over of power to President Ouattara. Mr. Campaore had met among others French President Nikolas Sarkozy and Deputy PM Nick Clegg of the United Kingdom. They both said their countries stood ready to provide the support the AU and Ecowas requested.
The PM said he had discovered a similar willingness from the ambassadors of key UN Secuity Council members he had briefed in Abidjan on his proposals on Tuesday. He said it was most reassuring that the international community recognized the threat the electoral impasse posed to the region, and was determined to support Africa in its efforts to resolve t speedily.
Burkina Faso is a key country in the extended web of interconnecting regional initiatives in the long search for peace in Cote d’Ivoire. President Campaore chairs the implementation arm of the Ouagadougou Process which defined the entire peace and reconciliation process following the devastating civil war.
Mr. Campaore expressed his appreciation for PM Odinga’s efforts, and for the fact that he had twice now in two weeks travelled all the way from the easternmost edge of the continent to West Africa. He said he was pleased the PM had understood so well the situation and the people in this crisis. He fully supported all the steps proposed so far, but emphasized that force would have to be used if all the PM’s proposals for a peaceful settlement were rebuffed.
"Unless we ourselves manage the installation of Mr. Ouattara as the lawful president, the tensions will boil over in the country and could result in great and potentially uncontrolled violence," Mr. Compaore told the PM. "Please continue spreading the message of unity over the steps needed to restore peace. That is the only way we can minimize the suffering of the people of Cote d’Ivoire.’
Yesterday, the Prime Minster held discussions with President Dos Santos of Angola and wound his trip with a meeting with President Jacob Zuma last night.
AfricanVoices  Team

Nairobi

NAIROBI: UPDATE ON GAZETTE NOTICE FOR ACQUSITOIN OF MOMBASA ROAD

                            

                                    The Government Spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua

The issue of Land Acquisition on Mombasa Road has generated a lot of interest.

The Government wishes to clarify several things:


1.  This is an important issue that has bearing on the acquisition of land for development.

2. The Mombasa Road project as earlier foreseen has changed and therefore, it is vital to pay heed to the existing conditions on the ground.


3. This is a country which requires rapid development and hence the Government requires investors and investments. The Government is not against development.


4. Therefore, serious consultations on the land Acquisition on Mombasa road are going on. The Hon. Minister for Roads has also set up a mechanism to consult key stakeholders. After all these consultations, the public will be informed on the way forward.


Dr. Alfred N. Mutua, EBS
PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS SECRETARY/
GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON

20th January, 2011

ANGOLA: PM SECURES MALI, BURKINA FASO's BACKING

                                                       Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga

Prime Minister Raila Odinga will this afternoon hold talks with President José Eduardo dos Santos of Angola in Luanda, the country’s capital on the developments in Ivory Coast after securing the backing of three West African states whose stand is viewed as critical to the next course of action by the international community on Mr Laurent Gbagbo
Mr Odinga left Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso this morning after talks with President Blaise Compaoré on Ivory Coast. The PM had flown to Burkina Faso last evening from Mali where he is to hold more talks with President Amadou Toumani Touré.
Later this evening, the PM will be in Pretoria, South Africa for discussions with President Jacob Zuma.
Mr Odinga described his meeting with the leaders from the West Africa region very productive.
In meetings held yesterday, the presidents of Burkina Faso and Mali separately endorsed the position taken by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Ivory Coast. They also endorsed the conditions spelt out for Mr Laurent Gbagbo by the AU mediator Mr Odinga.
He said the West African states that operate under the Communauté Financière d'Afrique ("Financial Community of Africa), will be meeting on Saturday to discuss removing Mr Laurent Gbagbo as a signatory to the Central Bank of the member states.
The countries operating within the West African Economic and Monetary Union and the CFA currency do not run individual central banks. Instead, they rely on the Central Bank of the West African States), located in Dakar, Senegal.
Mr Gbagbo’s removal as a signatory with the bank will begin the crippling of his regime, which has been declared illegitimate.
Mr Odinga embarked on a shuttle diplomacy yesterday after failing to secure a deal with Mr Gbagbo. His first stop was Ghana, where he made a significant breakthrough when President John Atta Mills threw his country’s weight behind the efforts by the Africa Union and ECOWAS to resolve the election dispute, including a possible use of force in Ivory Coast.
President John Atta Mills told AU mediator, Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, that Ghana would support the position taken by ECOWAS on the situation in Ivory Coast. He said his government would agree to use of force only as a last resort.
Mr Odinga said his aim is to brief the heads of state on the situation in Ivory Coast and why they need to support the position taken by ECOWAS and the AU.
Ghana had been reported to be opposed to use of force in the Ivory Coast. It had also been reported that the country was not keen to take sides in the standoff in Abidjan.
But at the meeting today, President Mills told Mr Odinga that he would support settlement of the dispute in a peaceful way, with force being the means of last resort.
Mills however said he would not be able to contribute any more troops for Ivory Coast mission should need arise to use force.
Ghana already has troops in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Sudan, DR Congo and Lebanon and feels over stretched.
The PM, who is scheduled to return to Nairobi tomorrow, will be hosted to dinner this evening by President Zuma.

　
TheAfricanVoice Team

  Nairobi