How I Will Vote And Why

Plus Bizarre Incident of APs Found With Marked Kibaki Ballot Papers

In a few hours time, Kenyans go to the polls in what I have called the mother of all general elections.

If I get to the polling booth here’s what I will do and why.

My choice for councilor and MP will not make much sense to most of you but I can assure you that neither will go to ODM or PNU.

I have thought long and hard about my presidential vote. Those who have been here for a long time know that my preferred presidential candidate is not running. If John Githngo had run I woild have trooped over to the polling station where I am registered and I would have cast my vote for him even if I was sure I was the only Kenyan voting for him. You see contrary to what most Kenyans think a vote is NEVER lost or wasted. This thing is about your conscience. The big question you should always ask yourself is if you will live with our choice for the next 5 years.

Luckily my conscience still works (You can easily numb this critical faculty you know).

Despite the fact that I love my in-laws very much and despite the fact that I always seem to have a crash on Kikuyu ladies (like Mrs Kumekucha—even after all those years, PKW—many months ago, my good friend Sayra—the latest flame whom I feel so close to, my younger brother’s wife who is also Kikuyu accused me a few minutes ago of wanting to seat next to her—she was joking of course, etc.) I am not voting PNU. I woud never be able to live with myself if I did because a vote for PNU is a vote for Moi and Anglo Leasing and most of all it would be vote against John Githongo, a man who has risked his life and done Kenya proud.

Stevo comes from my tribe. But my vote for Ngilu in 1997 was the last time I will ever vote for tribal reasons. A man who hides in the toilet to avoid an important vote in parliament is not my idea of the courageous president we need to carry Kenya forward.

Personally I don’t like Raila and I have never liked him. I don’t want to go into details because there are a lot of things I know about his true character (e.g. the Shem Ochudho-Kenya-Pipeline-appointment saga). But like an unmarried woman running into her late 40s and with no other suitor in site except this man whose breath smells but has the money and loves me enough, I will vote Raila with all my heart and with a clean conscience. Out of all the terrible choices, he is clearly the best suited to take Kenya to the next level. In fact my prayer is that ODM fulfill only one election pledge and Kenya will be well on its’ way to being a super power in Africa. I am of course referring to the devolution agenda as per the Bomas draft.

Besides, if Raila turns out to be a disappointment, we will vote him out in 2012 (the year I expect that we will have a Kumekucha candidate for president.). Wembe ni ule ule.

Another reason why I am voting the previously “unelectable” presidential candidate is to help get it into the heads of Kenyans that anybody can be president. And besides it is not a bad strategy to change presidents every 5 years until we get the right candidate.

P.S. This business of Administration policemen being found with marked ballot papers in favor of the incumbent is really bizzare. It reminds me of the prophecy by somebody I don’t know to the effect that a lot will be exposed in these 2007 elections and also that one of the presidential candidates secretly plans to “spill blood” but will fail miserably.

This is high drama, especially the part where security personnel chased the KTN journalists with the AP rigging story and then when they lost them, they laid an ambush at I&M Building. Luckily the brave journalists gained access into the building through a back entrance and managed to file their story which was aired on KTN last night. I spoke to my Dad briefly about the incident and he seems to believe that this is ODM propaganda (he is voting Kibaki and nothing will change him). But we’re still great friends.

Elections 2007: What Consequences?

As we head to the elections after Boxing day, I find that I have less and less to say to you my dear readers and more worrying to do.

If Raila wins, what will the consequences be? Will the Kibaki administration hand over power peacefully? Will they accept defeat?

If Kibaki wins what will happen to Kenya? Will Kenyans in 6 provinces accept the results? Will the multitudes of Kenyans desperate for change—any change accept such a result?

How long will it take to heal the wounds that started with the terribly expensive referendum of 2005 which cost Kenyans much more than just a lot of money?

What if the elections produce a constitutional crisis that the current constitution can never handle?

And most of all my eyes are firmly focused on the Langata constituency where nobody quite knows what is going to happen.

Enough has been said and now is the time to sit back and see what happens. Now is the time to let the people of Kenya speak. My prayer is that they will speak so loudly and clearly that there will be no constitutional crisis. My prayer is that precious lives will be spared. The truth is that no politician is worth dieing for let alone our current crop of selfish, self-seeking ….. (I restrain myself from using abusive language).

The truth is that even as Kenyans shout themselves hoarse in support of their preferred candidate, this is a very dangerous and unpredictable time for Kenya.

I take this opportunity to wish you all my dear friends, a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year, 2008. Thank you for your support and most of all thank you for your patience as I have rumbled on and on throughout the year coming up with views that have been very different from the ones you hold dear. Nothing personal though, I just love my country too much and I am sure the same is true with you and that is why you have chosen to spend valuable time here with all the characters that have made “kumekucha” their home.

Please don’t run away in shame if the election results don’r go the way you want. Let’s keep talking here and learning from each other so that we quickly get to understand why the election results go they way they will.

Let’s continue to love our country, irrespective of our poliyical leanings. After all Kenya is bigger than out preferred candidate, bigger than our issues and feelings.

God bless Kenya. God bless us all.

Vindication Is At Hand

Guest post by Sam Okello

Fellow Kenyans,

In just three days, the journey the Hon. Raila Amollo Odinga started in the eighties will enter a new phase. With his election to the presidency, a matter approved from on high, the nation will embark on the final leg of a chapter that should have closed in the sixties, immediately after independence, but never did. I'm talking about national reconciliation and the creation of a nation that works for everyone.

What we've witnessed in the years since President Jomo Kenyatta took oath to lead the nation to prosperity has been the unequal distribution of national resources and the selective development of pockets of the nation. The result is that vast areas of Kenya remain sinfully underdeveloped, while others wallow in wealth and boast some of the richest Kenyans.

But what is more disturbing is the increasing tribalization of the nation. The shameless manner in which President Kibaki constituted his Cabinet and other key appointments is a case in point. He was obviously acting in the same way Presidents Kenyatta and Moi acted when it was their turn. The sad thing is, with President Kibaki, a man Kenyans voted for in droves, suffering wananchi finally decided that unrepresentative governments should not lead Kenya. He betrayed the trust, just like Moi and kenyatta before him. And so in three days Kenyans will vote to right the wrongs that have been allowed to go on for forty years.

When that happens, there's only one word that can and will describe the change that will have taken place. VINDICATION. It will be a vindication of the ideals our freedom fighters fought for. A vindication of the Kenya Waruru Kanja thought was possible when he called on us to end the politics of elimination. A vindication of the ideals Bishop Muge tirelessly advocated before his life was painfully snapped out. A vindication of the ideals Tom Mboya and Robert Ouko and JM and Masinde Muliro were killed trying to help take root in Kenya. Indeed, it will be a vindication of the one thing Kenyans have known all along...that when all is said and done, deep down we all long to live in peace and harmony one with another.

That's why about three weeks ago I dared to say that the Hon. Raila Odinga was God's choice to lead Kenya. Because at a time when the nation is standing on the threshold of taking its place among the the greatest and modern democracies of the world, when human rights and the celebration of humility are viewed by Kenyans as the next great thing, the Lord in His wisdom has seen it fit to call His servant, the Hon. Odinga, to lead His people to that place. And thankfully, the Hon. Odinga has said, "Here am I, Lord, send me."

The Lord sends the Hon. Odinga in three days. At that point we all start a journey to Kenyanize Kenya. A journey to true brotherhood. Let there be nobody in five years who'll say they feel left behind, unwanted. Because more than anything else, that is how we'll all know that for the first time since independence, the Lord has blest Kenya with a government for the people. And as I pen off, I hope that in five years, the Hon. odinga will still be able to go around the nation and meet millions of Kenyans who adoringly call him...Agwambo...Tinga...Nyundo!

I don't think he wants us to call him His Excellency, does he?

Mupende Musipende, Kamlesh (Paul) Pattni Is Already In The 10th Parliament

…And He Could Be The Next Official Leader Of The Opposition

Kamlesh Pattni, now known s brother Paul Pattni is believed to have been the main architect behind the multi-billon shilling Goldenbeg scam. Other tycoons who committed lesser evils like Ketan Somaia are now behind bars but Pattni continues to defy all odds and is now set to be a member of the 10th parliament.

Part of the reason why the man is not behind bars is because he is extremely intelligent and appears to have too much on former President Moi and his hand in Goldenberg.

So how is Pattni going to find his way into parliament even if he does not win a parliamentary seat? Actually Kenda is set to win a number of parliamentary seats countrywide and Pattni will have an opportunity to nominate not only himself but quite a number of other characters into the August house. It all depends on the number of seats that he will win and all signs are that his extremely well financed KENDA political party is going to win quite a number of seats. Those seats will be used to support Moi and his former henchmen who stole billions from the Kenyan people and are looking like they will get away with it.

Kenyans in every constituency need to be very careful about electing anybody from KENDA into parliament. A vote for KENDA is a vote for corruption and Moi.

Pattni’s chances for the Westlands seat don’t appear to be too bad after all. The way incumbent Fred Gumo is behaving (accompanying Raila to campaign meetings countrywide) suggest that he has already given up on being re-elected and is now looking for a nomination to parliament from ODM. The Asian influence in Westlands and Pattni’s almost bottomless pockets put him as a firm favorite for the seat and probably the next official leader of the opposition.

There have been reports that each KENDA parliamentary candidate has received Kshs 10 million for their campaign and when you consider the fact that it is only ODM that has fielded more candidates than KENDA, then Pattni and KENDA are the party to watch.

Kumekucha Poll
Much has been said and asked about my controversial poll. I will say no more. I only ask Kenyans that they judge me and the poll against the real results which will start trickling in on the 28th of December and which we will closely monitor and report about here.

Is Gallup’s Shocker About A Kibaki Lead True?

One can do all sorts of surveys and polls these days. In fact there is one you can do without leaving your desk—everything is done online. Let me take this opportunity to emphasize to Kumekuchans that the survey I published recently was NOT done in this way. In fact a lot of the data collection I did on my own. Actually I have been traveling a lot over the last few weeks and that is why my posts were so few and irregular then.

This I can tell you with all certainty the Gallup poll is pure rubbish. The problem with the other polls is that they concentrate too much in towns and major trading centres which I noted on my trip this time is heavily populated by people from all corners of the republic and not just the people in the area.

Something else I cam assure you is that Kenyan voters are in a very bad mood indeed and the results on 27th will be very difficult to swallow for many seasoned politicians. The message I got on the ground was very clear. It was;

“You guys somehow fixed the nominations, lets see you fix the elextions on the 27th.”

What pollsters need to tell Kenyans is what has caused the electorate to change their minds so many times as we head to the elections. Then they need to explain how a candidate can lead in six provinces and stil be in a neck to neck battle with his opponent who leads in only one province and has a slight lead in another. It just does not make any sense.

The position with Gallup is that Steadmann claimed the local affiliation which Gallup disputed and so the polls have all along been Steadmann polls. But it seems that Steadmann finally met the stringent requirements of Gallup who have a name to protect and are now the local reps. I’d like to tell the Gallup folks that their name is about to receive a major dent come the 27th of this month.

Still as far as Kenyan voters are concerned Steadmann is a better known name. Gallup means absolutely nothing to most Kenyans.

But what has been worrying opposition ranks the most is the recent utterances by PNU people to the effect that the opposition should e ready to accept the results. Meaning that the election results are already known to some PNU insiders and they show Mwai Kibaki victorious.

Judging from my extensive travels countrywide and my own survey, this is impossibility. It would be easier to tame a full grown crocodile on the Tana River and leave it with your toddler after only a day or two and expect to find her safe and alive than it would be for Kibaki to lead any electon poll in Kenya now or in the near future.

I am not favoring anybody. I am simply stating the cold facts on the ground as they are.

Political Parties And The 10th Parliament

The political temperatures are very high in Kenya. So high that for sometime I feared to publish the results of a countrywide poll I carried out. Well, I finally published it and got exactly what I had expected. Insults and folks saying that this is an ODM blog.

By publishing the provincial breakdown, I will only attract more insults, so I will not publish any more details about my poll. People will not believe the kind of support the candidate previously known as “the unelectable” enjoys in Simoen Nyachae’s Kisii or in most of Nairobi for that matter. Thank you PKW for reserving your comments for the 28th.

I did not publish the polls to upset anybody, I simply documented what the people on the ground are saying.

With this kind of obsession with the presidential elections, very little attention is being paid to the parliamentary elections. And yet whoever is elected president, their success or failure will hinge very heavily on how much support and goodwill they will enjoy from the 10th parliament.

Going by the mathematical law of probabilities, Kamlesh (or is it Paul?) Pattni’s KENDA party will be an extremely influential political party in the 10th parliament as will ODM-K. But it seems that the most powerful bloc of all will be the collection of numerous little known parties who collectively should end up with the second or third highest number of seats in parliament. This is significant and means that any presidential candidate who hopes to win the forthcoming polls should already be talking to and warming up to these minnows because they will make all the difference in the 10th parliament.

One of the reasons for this fascinating trend will be the fiasco of the party nominations where many popular candidates who had won their party nominations were locked out. They were left with no alternative but to find a way into the ballot paper for the constituency by joining one of the numerous (over 250) political parties. Most of these fringe political parties, Kenyans have never heard of.

Yep. It’s going to be a very fascinating general election.

Kumekucha Poll Survey: Bizarre Results in Kisii

Anytime now, I will be releasing the results of a countrywide survey that I have carried out with the help of our numerous countrywide sources of information.

The different thing about this survey is that it was done amongst the ordinary folks of Kenya as well as the down and out struggling to put food on the table who make up the vast majority of voters.

To be absolutely honest I believe that I have always had my hand very close to the pulse of the nation, but I was still quite surprised by some of the findings that came through.

Today I will share about one of the areas of the country where our findings really surprised me.

I know the Kisii people fairly well and I have assumed all along that considering the strong influence Hon Simeon Nyachae has on the people in this area, ODM was unlikely to get anything better than lukewarm support from the Abagusii community.

My recent survey has proved just how wrong I was. A large chunk of the Kisii vote is set to go in the direction of ODM and the party’s presidential candidate Raila Odinga. In fact sources on the ground indicate that Hon Nyachae has in recent weeks greatly softened his previously highly combative attitude against ODM and Raila Odinga that culminated in the ugly incident of violence against ODM’s Ruto and Magara a few weeks ago. Insiders insist that the Roads Minister and chief PNU campaigner in the area has sent feelers to the people and to the ODM high command that he has nothing personal against the party or Raila Odinga. That is quite a telling gesture coming from an old hand experienced politician like Nyachae.

This is certainly not good news for PNU strategists who have all along counted Kisii as being more or less in the bag for the president, especially due to repeated assurances by Nyachae who has taken charge of the Kisii campaign and has told the president that he needn’t bother himself with trips to Kisii because the entire community is already in the bag for him.

I have been concurring with this sentiment knowing how deep and passionate the Abagusii are when it comes to cultural matters, most of all issues like circumcision where the Luo have different cultural practices for initiation that are mostly ridiculed in Kisii. In fact most women in Kisii are still circumcised and campaigns against this brutal FMG practice by numerous well-funded NGOs in the area have had very little impact. So it seemed that defeating Raila and ODM in Kisii was very simple. All that was required was for politicians like Nyacahe to take to the dias and lead the crowd in Kisii circumcision songs. No speeches would be necessary.

Now surprisingly it seems that an entire community has had its’ thinking transformed overnight. I will not for a minute pretend to know why and how this has happened.

But what is crystal clear are the percentage figures for thise area of Nyanza province. Kisii, is clearly ODM country and who can forget the chilling remark from one respondent who told our source in Kiswahili.

“Ikifika saa kumi na mbilli jioni tarehe 27th Dec, Wakenya watakua wamemalizana na Kibaki. Mimi sidaganyi wewe.” Roughly translated into English: “When the clock strikes 6 pm on 27th December, Kenyans will have sealed the fate of Mwai Kibaki. I am NOT lying to you.

The 5 Most Popular Stories in Kumekucha today-10th Nov

1. What this election is really all about

2. Who is this woman called Marianne Briner?

3. Mystery behind Raila's sudden popularity

4. What our Luo brothers need to know

5. Sahel CEO says that Raila is God's choice

The Worrying Thing About Raila’s Financial Backers

Guest post by a former insider

One clarification first: I do not hold the key to a solution, but I may be able to explain where and how things went wrong .... the solution lies in the hands of each and everybody of you when you go to vote on December 27th .....

Things went wrong a long time ago but as long as a totally corrupt and surpressing Government (speak Moi) did not allow free expression of mind and controlled the press totally, many things were not known and could not be known. And if anybody dared to talk, he (she) disappeared out of public (political) life and sometimes even got killed (and I do not only talk about Dr. Ouko .....).

But now you have the possibility to know and to talk - and still, the same people who held you for ransom for so long, continue controlling your life - and that is unexcusable .... do not allow this to happen.

Although I do not see that things will change in the next 10 or so years ... Moi, Biwott and also Kibaki are too clever .... whenever it suits them they fall back on the tradition that elders have to be respected ...... they manipulate a whole country ..... and even these tribal slogans creating hate and fear amongst Kenyans - Kenyans who have learned to live, laugh (and love) together in normal times.

But with Elections, all of the sudden this subject is coming in. Do you not ask yourself 'why?' - 'why all of the sudden'?

The answer is very simple: Because it fits into the pattern of certain people and they know very well how to organize and use this. This is not new, it was done all the time. Just remember the so-called 'ethnic' cleansing in 1992 where thousands have been killed and more lost their homes.

So the Mt. Elgon situation of today already existed before and was used to create fear amongst the people ..... 'be careful, see what happens if you don't elect me (at that time Moi who was in danger after Ouko got killed and he had to succumb to the call for a multi-party-system)' and now the same with Kibaki 'if you do not re-elect me, things will go out of control ......' - we are your saviours, and nobody else ....

I do not say that Raila is the perfect man ..... there are too many open questions also regarding him. He has some business contacts which I do not trust a bit (South African Whites with a very shady past) ... he owes them a lot of money and they are interested that he becomes President so they get back their money .... they are mainly interested in the oil-deals but also in road-construction and other profitable business like railways, refinery, ports etc. ..... why do you think Raila has started to talk about building a new port in the north, a railway-connection to the Sudan, etc. etc. - but his partners are criminals, internationally known crooks ..... and that's scary ....

And then there is still Biwott .... I do not want to go into details regarding him .... but it is more than worrisome (and here I quote Mutula Kilonzo who once wrote to me regarding Biwott: that a man like him can influence the outcome of elections and even decide on who becomes the next President, is the most disturbing thing and says a lot about Kenya...) ... and reading that one of his wives - Prof. Kamar - (besides her he has two more: one jewish white and a Tanzanian) - is running for Parliament on an ODM-ticket and besides her also her brother ..... gives me more than a chill ....besides the fact that already one of his daughters - Esther Koimet - is holding a very crucial position in the financial government sector.

And now I better stop .... although I did not answer your initial question: how did I come into all this ????? That's a very long story ..... but piece by piece I will give you the answer ..... just be a little bit patient.

Regards,
Marianne Briner

The 5 Most Popular Stories in Kumekucha today-10th Nov

1. What this election is really all about

2. Who is this woman called Marianne Briner?

3. Mystery behind Raila's sudden popularity

4. What our Luo brothers need to know

5. Sahel CEO says that Raila is God's choice

What This Election Is Really All About

In a few days time (how time flies) Kenyans will go to the polls to make perhaps the most important decision humans on these shores have ever had to make in East African history.

The saddest thing of all as that day rapidly approaches is the fact that the real issues in these elections have deliberately been crowded out by non-issues. Contrary to what many folks think, Elections 2007 is not about tribalism. Actually it is about money and corruption.

Let me explain.

There is plenty of evidence that the Kibaki administration started out very serious about fighting corruption. In recent times it has often been suggested that they never intended to do anything about it. That IS NOT TRUE.

To bring into perspective the decision you and I have to make seated/standing inside some polling booth it is important that we understand where and why that fight against corruption ended.

Actually all was going well until sometime in mid 2004. Just before things went terribly wrong, impeccable sources have it that a deal had been struck (with some of the thieves of public funds) to have quite a hefty sum of money returned into the country. For a moment it looked like Kenya was about to make a dramatic turn in the right direction.

Reports on exactly what triggered the derailment of the fight against corruption at this stage are varied. Some sources say that insiders convinced the president that his administration was doomed without a “reliable source of funding.” Others say that intelligence reports showed evidence of destabilization of the Kibaki administration by some very rich individuals in the former Kanu government using their ill-gotten wealth. The truth will probably never be known.

What happened next was that some very prominent personalities in Kibaki’s inner circle made “private deals” that effectively killed all the good progress that had been made. One of those characters (a cabinet minister) was suddenly flash with cash and bought shares in Lewa Downs even as he undertook expensive private construction programmes in Meru and Karen in Nairobi, all at the same time. His cabinet colleague who had been dodging auctioneers in the run-up to the 2002 general elections suddenly paid off all his hefty debts and also got involved in major private construction projects in Nyeri.

But what many people who were aware of what was happening did not realize at the time was that the president’s re-election team for 2007 was effectively coming together at that particular juncture.

Those “private deals” are the real reason why retired President Moi and the Kenyatta family have solidly thrown everything behind the Kibaki re-election campaign. These are all individuals, so where does tribalism come in? How is it that these elections have become so charged with ethnicity?

The answer is very simple. A large percentage of Kenyans have been “cheated” in much the same way that the masses of Kenya have always been fooled. We have been hoodwinked into defending thieves and corrupt individuals using the old time-worn but very effective strategy of politicians in these shores of saying that the entire tribe/community is under siege. The right Kenyan term is; “our tribe is being finished.”

Interestingly the Kalenjin community, whom other Kenyans have always assumed (very wrongly) are not intelligent, have NOT fallen for that old trick this time. However the house of Mumbi whom Kenyans have always held in high esteem assuming that they are extremely intelligent have swallowed the bait hook line and sinker. The message to the Kikuyu has been simple and effective. It is; “if Kibaki is not re-elected, the Kikuyu will be finished.” This is the kind of rubbish that even a crocodile on the Tana River with its’ powerful jaws wide open cannot swallow. Yet it is the feeling amongst most of our Kikuyu brothers and sisters.

The true position is that the Kenyatta family and the Kibaki family stand to lose a lot of money if President Kibaki is not re-elected. Of course both families had no intention whatsoever of sharing that loot with the community or putting it into any community-based projects for that matter.

My humble message to my Kikuyu brothers and sisters (and indeed my in-laws) is very simple. Whatever voting decision you make on 27th is your democratic right. But just remember that you and your children’s children will have to live with the consequences of your decision for years to come. If I were you and still felt that warm fuzzy filling towards my tribes mate that is unshakeable, I would rather look at the other candidates from the community like Kenneth Matiba and Pastor Pius Muiru. A vote for these two will be much easier on your conscience for years to come. The harsh reality of this matter is that a vote for Kibaki is a vote for Moi and the billions he and his family have stashed away abroad. It is a vote saying that the status quo should be maintained at all costs (kazi inendelee).

If you feel very strongly about voting for a candidate who has no chance of winning then why not throw your weight around Kalonzo Musyoka of ODM-K (I dare not mention Raila because that name provokes the kind of emotions we all know amongst the House of Mumbi). A solid Kikuyu vote for Kalonzo is enough to get him into State House. In my view he is the least qualified of the 3 major candidates, but conscience is everything and such a decision would also rest well in the conscience of my Kikuyu brothers.

It is instructive that PNU is the only political party amongst the big 3 that has not dared mention the issue of fighting corruption in its’ agenda. That is commendable. They are sincere.

P.S. If this post means that Kumekucha has broken the rule of being neutral, so be it. However in my view, being neutral does not mean throwing the truth out of the window. Here’s some more “neutral truth” for you. Many individuals in ODM are corrupt and have helped in fleecing public coffers. That one is also a fact and Kenyan voters will need to consider this very carefully as they cast their votes for their MPs. My advice; vote individuals and ignore party affiliation, because political parties in Kenya are not worth the paper on which their registration certificates are typed on.

WHO IS THIS WOMAN CALLED MARIANNE BRINER?

Many people - even in some roundtable-discussions in the American TV - have asked the question 'who is this woman called Marianne Briner and what is her background?'


So I have decided to give some answers.....


I grew up in Germany in a very social and open environment - although being born in 1941 in the middle of World War II this was sometimes not easy. My father was not serving as a soldier but was belonging to a Medical Team in charge of wounded soldiers and also prisoners of war. He was a very courageous man and I admired him a lot.


Just to give you an example: As I said before, he was also in charge to control the health of some high-ranked prisoners, amongst whom were even some Russian Generals ...... my father made sure that they were not only getting medical attention, but also decent food and could send some letters to their families at home (actually this was strictly forbidden, so my father had to smuggle these messages out and then mail them under his own name) ..... as I said before, he was a very courageous man.


Some of these Russians became his friends and he even managed to get them out of their prison-cells to attend the Christmas celebrations at our house...... I was only 3 or 4 years old, but I remember very well how I was sitting on their labs and they were hugging me with tears in their eyes thinking about their own children...... and singing old Russian Christmas songs with beautiful voices ...... and my mother - who had a beautiful voice herself - joining them - and then we were all attending the church-service at 5 a.m. - making sure that they reached their prison camp before anybody could realize that they had spent this very special night outside.......


When it was clear that the war was finishing, many of these prisoners in other camps got killed (shot) by the German Authorities but my father managed to set 'his' prisoners free - i.e. letting them 'escape' .........


He later got a medal for this by the Russian Government and some of these Russian Officers came even personally a few years later to thank him personally.


So I had inspite of the fact that we were living during the World-War-II-aftermaths a very happy childhood with a lot of privileges as I have realized only later since at that time it was all 'natural' for me.


My parents always insisted that also as a girl (I had a brother who was one year younger) you have to have a good education enabling you to become independent in your future life.


This seems to be normal today. But at that time it was not ...... girls were 'allowed' to be intelligent ....... but - please - not too much - since their utmost 'goal' was to 'catch' a good man, settle down and become a good wife and mother ...... and that was it........


As a result I attended a very selective Gymnasium for Girls (similar to a Girl's High School). The biggest attraction there was our Music-Teacher - Otto Daube. He was a friend of the Wagner-Family and well-connected in the international music world.


So we had the privilege that the most famous international musicians and singers of that time came to our school to give free concerts for us.


And each year he invited some of us to accompany him to attend the Wagner-Festival in Bayreuth ..... and for two years I was one of this 'selective' group.


For those who do not know what this means: The Wagner-Festival is upto today the most exclusive and prestigeous international venue - with a waiting list to get tickets - not only for one season but for upto 10 years .....


Besides this classical event, we were also interested in Jazz - attending (again with the help of our famous music teacher) concerts of Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Dizzie Gillespie, Chris Barber, Miles Davies etc. -


And this leads me to the best of all:


Since we (and I talk about a group of friends and myself) were not satisfied with 'only' attending these concerts, but wanted to do something ourselves, we got the permission to convert an old war-bunker in my hometown Hattingen into a 'jazz-bunker' ......... o.k. I admit, it helped that the father of one of us was the Mayor and another one was the Administration-Director and both of them liked our idea .......


But it was us who worked in it day and night - cleaning, painting etc. - and finally we got the permission to use it and then the best thing of all: people like Louis Armstrong etc. came and gave private concerts - and not only that, they loved it and told friends about it and it soon became a very famous venue ....... and best of all: it was free of charge since none of these famous people ever charged us for their appearances ......


Maybe it helped that amongst us was the son and heir of the famous Krupp (Steel) Dynasty - Arndt von Bohlen - I don't know .... but it was fun ...... and some of my old friends of that time (like von Stockhausen and Klaus Doldinger) even became very famous musicians and another friend is now one of the most famous German TV-Actresses ..... Marie-Luise Marjan .....


Besides my father, the biggest 'impact' on my life had the sister of my mother.


She was married in the Netherlands and her husband was the Director of the West-Indian-Banana-Company (WIBIC) with the brand-name 'Fyffes' which later became the famous 'Chiquita'.....


His brother was the Financial Adviser of the Dutch Queen (first Wilhelmina and then Juliana - grandmother and mother of the present Queen Beatrix).


Since I used to spend all my summer-holidays in the Netherlands, it was Beatrix and her younger sister Irene with whom I spent most of my time .... and we became very close friends.


I soon learned that my aunt (my mother's sister) had been a driving force behind rescuing Dutch Jews from the Holocaust during the War - first hiding them and finally arranging for their departure mainly to the United States - risking her own life in doing this.


She also set up a Charity Organization for mistreated girls and women at a time when nobody even believed that these horrible things existed. This earned her later the title 'Dame of the Court' - given to her by Queen Beatrix.


And here life and its amazing stories crops in:


the present Queen is Beatrix - the same with whom I once went bicycling during my childhood - and her husband was Claus von Amsberg ......... and he was directly related to my daughter's husband ......... actually Crown-Prince Willem Alexander is a first cousin of my daughter's husband ..... and he is also related to the Spanish Royal House (my daughter calls this 'the Spanish branch of the family tree...' - and this was one of the reasons why Jeff Koinange was so interested in her - calling her 'royal' ..............


As I said before, my childhood was not very 'normal' and this applies to the rest of my life - I think .....................


My first 'boyfriend' was Klaus Westphal - the son of one of the most famous German Atomic-Power-Physician - his 'Godfather' was Albert Einstein ..... and this should give you an idea ..............


Get me right - at that time things were very innocent and not like it is today - we met during a school trip - he was two years older than me..... we started writing to each other and then he invited me to come to visit him in Berlin. When my parents had some objections (don't forget, things were different at that time) ..... his mother wrote a very nice letter to my mother assuring her that everything was fine ..............


So I got the permission by my parents to visit him ..... and from then on we kept contacts ....... even after I met my future husband and then Klaus also met his present wife Margrit ...... it was an innocent friendship which started when we were both just teenagers ....... and it always stayed like that.


Klaus is living since many years in the US and has become very famous ..... he was one of the driving forces behind the Jurassic Park movies ...... for all those who are interested to know more about him: google 'Klaus Westphal' ...... and you will know what I am talking about .... his father's name was Wilhelm F. Westphal - for the ones who really want to know more .....


Other people who had a strong influence on my life:


Ivo Andric - Literature Nobel Price winner - I met him and his wife in Yugoslavia when I was only 20 years old ..... they invited me to their home and we kept contact for some years after. The way I met him is a story in itself: I was on holidays and while we had a beach party, one of our local friends pointed to a house on a hill informing us that it is the holiday residence of Ivo Andric who had been awarded the Nobel Price for Literature. To be honest, we had already a little bit (too much) red wine - and I challenged them 'Shall we bet that latest in two days from now I will be invited by Ivo Andric???? ...... My friends started laughing and told me to 'sober up' ..... and stop dreaming !!!!!!! But when I went back to my hotel, I started to write a letter in which I congratulated him and told him that I would like to meet him ...... I dropped the letter the following morning in the mail-box at the entrance gate of his house ...... and waited.


And already the same day, I found a message in my hotel inviting me for lunch the following day......... He was a very nice, very polite man. Also his wife was present (she worked as a Doctor at a Belgrade Hospital) ..... and both of them spoke fluently German........ I stayed until Dinner since he wanted to know so many things about Germany, the young Generation, politics etc. At that time, the communist regime did not allow him to travel freely and the only contacts he had were with people from the then German Democratic Republic .....


I saw him twice after this ..... and then he also wrote for some time ...... we lost contact when I started to work as Air Hostess and moved to Frankfurt.


Another 'famous' old friend of mine is Donald Kursch - I met him when he was American Vice-Counsel in Zurich - he later became Special Ambassador of the US in the Kosovo ...... he introduced me to some friends in New York who then invited me to some High Society Functions. One was the wedding of the Heir of Wrigley Chewinggum .... which took place at the Jade Room of the Waldorff-Astoria Hotel ....


At another occasion I also met Ted Kennedy and later also Robert and Ethel Kennedy .... and I was in Los Angeles when Bob Kennedy was shot and a few days later again in New York where I had the possibility to see the coffin and attend the church service at the St. Patrick Cathedral ....


There are many more who crossed 'my path's ..............


So you see, my life did not start in Kenya .............. it 'started' long before that ..............................maybe one day I will also write about this as my daughter is pleading with me since years .........

Danger Ahead: The Next Move Could Leave Kenyans Numb With Shock

For one magical moment in the recent post where I reproduced the hate literature being distributed in the Rift Valley, all major Kumekucha contributors for once seemed to find a common ground. Everybody agreed that this was something that Kenya does NOT need.

It is my sincere hope that what I am about to say will be received in the same spirit because it is bigger than petty partisan politics. It is more important than PNU and more important than ODM, ODM-Kenya and any other political party for that matter.

Let me also emphasize that it has nothing to do with tribalism. The truth is that greedy politicians have always managed to rally their tribesmen around themselves in their grand mission to enrich themselves and to destroy any obstacle standing in their way. This appeal to the tribe has always worked like magic. For instance nobody talks about Anglo Leasing any more because the widely held view by those supporting PNU is that there is a bigger enemy that has to be dealt with first. Little do they know that this election is all about retaining power so as to continue with the plan of personal enrichment and more Anglo Leasing by certain individuals in the current government. It has nothing to do with our poor Kikuyu brothers, some of whom have suffered more than other communities in Kenya, losing scores of relatives who basically died for nothing.

In the same way, Tom Mboya was NOT assassinated by the Kikuyus and neither was Robert Ouko bumped off by the Kalenjins. NO!!! This dirty work was carried out by individuals who fell back on their tribes for support after their evil mission was accomplished.

For some time now, there have been rumours (mainly brushed aside by most wise know-all analysts) about an impending political assassination. Interestingly this rumour has been strongest amongst security personnel (which should tell you a lot.)

The reason why many people do not take such rumours seriously is because they assume that it is all Domo and ODM propaganda. My enquiries have revealed a totally different chilling picture.

For starters, to date nobody has been able to explain the mystery of the Artur brothers and their real mission in the country. Impeccable sources recently revealed that they were brought in to “clean up” and that their mission was to assassinate a certain list of prominent Kenyans. The identity of the two well known personalities who brought them into the country left me thunderstruck and even I am frightened to name them here.

These same individuals have not abandoned their “cleaning up ideas.” In recent times some Israelis have been recruited to explore the same option amongst other options. Some of these “other options” being explored will make any right thinking Kenyan sick to the pit of their stomach. But admittedly it is a strategy that many politicians have pulled off very successfully in the past both locally and elsewhere. The option is to assassinate a senior person within PNU and then blame it on the ODM crowd.

My prayer is that the individuals involved in this evil should abandon their plans, no matter how desperate they may be.

What should really worry Kenyans is the fact that powerful forces behind the scenes have not been happy with recent political developments and their plans to influence the forthcoming polls seem to have been frustrated with everything going wrong. That fact should make every sensitive, intelligent Kenyan very worried indeed because the most likely thing that would happen is for these guys to pull off some desperate measure that will leave Kenya in chaos.

Mercifully experts in this macabre business believe that most of the individuals currently involved are incapable of pulling off such an act successfully. This coupled with the fact that the intelligence system in Kenya currently is “leaking very badly” makes it highly unlikely that such an evil plan would succeed.

Naturally very few people will take such claims seriously. Not when everybody is now very emotionally involved in supporting their preferred presidential candidates and every bit of information is analyzed in terms of which side it is hurting and whose propaganda it is.

The truth about the information I have just revealed from highly impeccable sources, is that the biggest loser in it all will be Kenya and the ordinary folk in Kenya. NOT ODM or PNU or ODM-K which by the way are all the same thing.

Let me repeat that I have often said here that unless we can face the past and deal with the ghosts of that past, we will always leave ourselves vulnerable to history repeating itself in a most undesirable manner. We cannot ignore the past and expect the future to be bright. Political assassinations of the past MUST be addressed and resolved.

The PNU MOU That Nobody Is Talking About

Guest column by Kijana M. Kibisu

One question that has refused to go away is why the leader of the official opposition party would abandon his constitutional role to support the re-election of a sitting head of state. Historians tell us that this unprecedented action has already Uhuru a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

What historians forget to add is that Uhuru's move took months of negotiations with the current regime. In a series of meetings brokered by Central Province old guard, John Michuki, Njenga Karume and Kibaki's Muthaiga golf club friends, Uhuru was prevailed upon not only to abandon his plans of running for the top post in 2007 but also to reunite KANU by making peace with Nicholas Biwott's New KANU. Further, he was asked to keep a decent distance from Raila's Odinga's ODM. These discussions culminated in the signing of a secret MoU between Kibaki and Uhuru. So what was Uhuru promised in return?

By agreeing to support Kibaki's PNU, KANU was allowed the privilege of preserving its identity within the umbrella party. While other parties were being pressurized to accept joint nomination under PNU, KANU was exempted. The second part of the MoU dealt with campaign funds.

The president agreed to underwrite KANU's campaign costs in this year's elections (the party received 50m shillings just to participate in PNU's launch). The third and most important aspect of the MoU dealt with Kibaki succession plan. In this regard, Kibaki promised to use all state resources at his disposal to ensure Uhuru's victory in 2012 elections. For a while, Central Province leaders and strategists have focused their attention on a succession plan that would ensure retention of power in the region.

Although names like George Saitoti, Martha Karua, and Kiraitu Murungi have been bandied on and off, Uhuru is increasingly seen as the region's crème de la crème. Not only is he young, savvy and untainted by pervasive corruption, Uhuru comes from the well known Kenyatta family that has immense wealth. Kibaki's current and rather spirited campaign is therefore more than a just fight for a second five-year term. It is a battle to ensure that power is retained in Central Province until 2022, at least! This was, in essence, the MoU between Uhuru and Kibaki. Indeed, Uhuru has publicly admitted this strategy (without divulging its essential details) when he met with angry KANU supporters to try and assuage their anger over his unilateral decision to offer KANU's support to Kibaki.

In the meantime and even as Kenyans sing and dance their hearts out in support of their favourite political parties, Kibaki and his Central Province friends are busy selling off public assets to themselves at throw away prices. Hiding behind persistent calls for privatization by Bretton Woods's institutions, they are wasting no time at all in disposing of ALL public assets. By the time power passes into the hands of others in 2022 (but preferably later), nothing but 'bare bones' will be left. This is why the thought of this well thought out plan being disrupted by Raila and his ODM party evokes so much anger and panic in Central Kenya. The 'good work' that Kibaki started in 2002 is not done yet, you know. Another 5 (but preferably 15) years are needed to complete the work! What you may not know is that this good work is consolidation of both political and economic power in one region.

The concept of devolution of political and economic power away from the Centre (another name for Central Province), is clearly inimical to the grand plan referred to above. The idea is that once the plan is implemented, everybody else (mainly from Western, Coast, Rift Valley and NE provinces) could only be employees (not owners) of former public (but now private) companies owned by the new super rich elite. Millions of others would be tenants in Nairobi offices and houses owned by the same group. However, this plan would come a cropper if new economic centers (in Kakamega, Kwale, Busia, Garissa or Narok) were to spring up through the devolution or ugatuzi arrangement. Suddenly, property value in Nairobi might come tumbling down. Cheap labour, mainly from Western Kenya and parts of Eastern that keeps Nairobi's economy running would vanish overnight.

Why would someone from Sabatia take up an askari job and live in a mabati shack in Nairobi for just 200 shillings a day? It is also easy to imagine what might happen if devolved regional administrations decided to build or upgrade airports in Kisumu, Busia or build cold storage centers in North Eastern. Suddenly, horticultural and livestock produce from these regions would find their way into the same external markets that are currently dominated by Central Kenya farmers. To these folks, ugatuzi is clearly an idea whose time has not come.

This year's election is perhaps the most important election in Kenya's history. The outcome will determine whether or not the Grand Power Plan outlined above succeeds. By re-electing Kibaki, Kenyans can forget about any meaningful change for another 15-20 years.

Kijana M. Kibisu works for an international think tank in Nairobi.

Two APs Caught Red-Handed Distributing Anti-Raila Hate Posters

With just 28 days to go to the mother of all Kenyan general elections, a dramatic and mind-numbing new twist made its’ grand entry into the unfolding drama.

A number of people including two Administration Policemen were caught red handed in Rift Valley distributing anti-Raila hate propaganda posters. And even as this bizarre incident unfolded police headquarters was busy denying that any such posters existed and said that they were unaware of any such distribution, hitting out at Prof Anyang Nyong’o for “spreading self-seeking damage control propaganda”. The folks at police headquarters have now become experts on party propaganda and publicity-seeking tactics and every single statement of denial now includes that pet subject of the police commissioner and his lieutenants at Vigilance House. It will be interesting to hear what they say in reaction to the latest arrests.

Oddly enough the APs confessed to interrogators that they had received their orders to distribute the posters from a superior, actually some SSP (senior Superintend of police) whom they even named.

Even more interesting is the fact that an anonymous reader tipped off Kenyans right here in Kumekucha about the said posters even as they were leaving Nairobi for distribution in Rift Valley.

It would appear that there is a very loud message coming from the people of Kenya. It seems that they are saying they want a clean break with the past where such dirty missions were kept secret as those involved looked the other way. The fact that the 2 APS were arrested clearly implies that a number of Kenyans refused to look the other way and pushed for action to be taken. It is highly likely that all those involved in exposing the heinous actions of today are civil servants.

Earlier today a Kumekucha source who rode on a Matatu today said that he was taken aback and very surprised at what he describes as the anti-government venom they witnessed in a Matatu that included at least 20 per cent of persons who appeared to government sympathizers.

Here’s how he describes the incident in his own words;

Everything was quite in this matatu until somebody turned to a colleague and loudly started proclaiming the main PNU slogan. The first to react was an elderly woman in her 70s.

“What are you saying about kazi iendelee young man, when Kenyans are suffering so much?”

That provoked a heated one-sided debate as the man who had originally set the ball rolling kept silent with a slight smile on his face.

The tout complained how they worked so hard these days and had nothing to show for it and how Moi was a much better president because the common man was able to easily earn an honest living during his tenure.

The heated monologue was still going on when I reached my destination and alighted from the Matatu.

What struck me in that vehicle Chris, was the deep anger and frustration expressed by ordinary folks and it all seemed to be directed at the current government. For the sake of those who will read this if you publish it in Kumekucha. Let me honestly say that there was no single Luo in that matatu. But you could tell who the PNU sympathizers were. Apart from the person who spoke, there were two other gentlemen who kept silent as virtually everybody else let their frustrations out.

This kind of thing personally makes me very nervous. This “anger” said to be in the hearts of some Kenyans against the current government is not a good thing. How would they react if for example PNU won the elections?

There are those who believe that this “anger” has been fanned and incited by ODM leaders as part of their strategy in campaigning. In fact this anger was first seen during the referendum of 2005 when ODM leaders went round the country telling the people all sorts of lies about the proposed new constitution.

ODM sympathizers would be the first to vehemently deny this and will point to the fact that PNU leaders have been the ones who have provoked ordinary folk by painting a rosy picture of the country and President Kibaki’s achievements when most Kenyans are struggling very badly.

To me the argument of where the anger came from is of little significance when you compare this to the possible damage that could be done prior to and after the December 27th polls. Every peace loving Kenyan has reason to be extremely worried.

Sahel CEO Says That Raila Is God's Choice

As I publish the views of this Kenyan CEO of Sahel books, let me emphasize that I will also publish any similar sentiments from PNU, ODM-K etc. This blog is not an ODM blog as some of our detractors would gleefully like to proclaim at the slightest excuse. -Kumekucha-

Ladies and gentlemen, the Hon. Odinga is God's choice to lead Kenya.

A race that started in the eighties is set to end on the 27th. The Hon. Odinga has given it all he had...and then more. If you took time to look at the way this race has been run, you'll recall the moments when it looked tough. When it was downright dishertening. When giving up seemed like the easier, sensible thing to do. But the Hon. Odinga shouldered on. His love for the nation supereceded the pull of comfort and bliss. And so as we get ready for the elections, you need to have a rationale for doing so. Here is why you'll vote for the Hon. Odinga.

1. First and foremost, the Hon. Odinga loves Kenya. Ladies and gentlemen, we're talking about a man who is an accomplished businessman, a wealthy individual who could afford to sit quietly in his Karen home and watch Kenya dwindle into total chaos. But he won't. Instead, he's been out there, through the Moi dictatorship and the Kibaki treachery, keeping Kenyans hoping for a better day. He led us to Kamukunji, to defeat the Uhuru Project, to defeat te referendum and brought us the concept of primaries. At last, that day is about to dawn on the land we all love.

2. The Hon. Odinga is a man of the people. I've personally watched how Kenyans in the diaspora, even those who disagree with him, react after interacting with him. He won't dazzle you with the oratorical skills of Dr. Martin Luther King or President bill Clinton, but he'll leave you with the sense of a man who has a vision and a place he wants to take Kenya. For the Hon. Odinga, Kenya is not where she needs to be until our children won't go to bed hungry, our workers will be employed gainfully and our communities will live in harmony one with another. The andearing names...Agwambo, Tinga, Hummer...din't fall from te sky. They are people's way of saying, "He's our man." So when someone asks why you'll vote for this man, tell him/her that it's because he cares about the people. Yes, he gives a damn.

3. The Hon. Odinga is incorruptible. You've all heard about Anglo-Leasing, Goldenberg and all the other corrupt dealings invloving people we've entusted with leadership. Needless to say, in the nearly three decades we've been blest to have the Hon. Odinga around, his name has never come up in any provable corruption. There have been attempts to smear him, but you and I know where that came from. So when you get into that booth to vote, remember that you're voting for an untainted man.

4. The Hon. Odinga is an internationalist. You've repeatedly heard insular leaders preach the virtues of keeping Kenya tied up within her borders. That's a recipe for being left behind in a world that's getting smaller and more interconnected. The Hon. Odinga has cultivated and nurtured working relations with leaders all over the world. Should any eventuality arise that requires sister nations around the globe to be with kenya in her time of need, these nations will act faster and with open arms because of Hon. Odinga's friendship.

5. The Hon. Odinga is trustworthy. Unlike his opponent, President Kibaki, the Hon. Odinga is a man of his word. The PNU has worked hard to give the MOUs a bad name. And why not? Wasn't it President Kibaki who signed the original MOU and gladly walked away from it? And wasn't it him who wanted to sign one with vijana and buckled at the last minute? Is this a man to trust? Here's what I know. That when the Hon. Odinga gives you his word, you can take it to the bank. His memory is good. And his intentions are noble. He'll deliver.

6. The Hon. Odinga is a family man. You ask yourself why that matters? Here's why. Did you know that President Moi had a wife? His children didn't come from Nakumatt. They were born. But did we have a first lady? No. Because we were led by a broken family. Then came President Kibaki. The man has Lucy. And the man has Mary. The two women have put us through the kind of drama that I won't talk about here. The point is, a man who can't run a family can't run a nation. So when the time comes to vote, vote for a man who has given us the graceful, the dignified, the motherly and the respectable Ida. With her watching over the big house everything will be just fine. So if you want Kenyans to eat well cooked Ugali, give the oludhkuon to Mama Ida.

Fellow Kenyans, when you walk into that booth on the 27th, keep in mind these six points as you vote for the Hon. Odinga. We want you to feel good and proud about your vote. And remember, bring along everybody you know who has registered to vote to the booth. Let's all participate in wrestling Kenya from the men who have presided over gloom and defeat.

Kindest regards,

Sam Okello
President & CEO
Sahel Books Inc.
P.o. Box 6451
South Bend IN, 46660-6451
USA
Phone: Toll Free: 1.877.297.2435
samokello@sahelpublishing.net
www.sahelpublishing.net

What Our Luo Brothers Need To Know

I have just completed weeks of a most fascinating research I have been undertaking. It has involved consultations with many of my contacts in the Luo community as well as research on the web.

My personal belief is that what I have unearthed is extremely fascinating and could hold the key to Kenyans understanding what is one of the most misunderstood communities in the country today.

However in making the series of posts that you are about to read I am not naïve and am well aware of the fact that many of our readers are not interested in spiritual matters and have very little knowledge of it and yet whether we are ignorant of it or not, it usually affects our lives in such a devastating and permanent way.

My strong advice is that those of our readers who will not dare delve as deep as we are about to do here should just ignore these posts and move on. There is plenty of other political news and information in the rest of this blog to keep you occupied, entertained and intrigued.

So that you may all understand my reason for undertaking this strange piece if research in the first place, let me start by pointing out that there are those who are convinced (including this blogger) that there has been divine intervention at a very high level every time a change of leadership has been about to take place in Kenya.)

When President Kenyatta died in Mombasa in August 22nd 1978 there was a wide belief that the front runners to take over the presidency were his close confidante Mbiyu Koinange or his trusted nephew Dr. Njoroge Mungai. Indeed such trusted foreign media house like Time magazine said as much.

Prior to the change of leadership in 1978 several oaths had been taken blocking the presidency from ever crossing the Chania river, meaning that Kenya would always be ruled by a dynasty of Kiambu Kikuyus who had been close to President Kenyatta. After all these were the most experienced in steering the ship called Kenya having seen first hand how “mzee” had done it.

But those who had administered the oath forgot to administer another one blocking the presidency from moving to other tribes, other than the house of Mumbi. And that is exactly what ended up happening. A power struggle between two powerful cliques within the inner Kenyatta circle, one led by Njoroge Mungai and another by Charles Njonjo forced the compromise candidature of Daniel arap Moi to stand. Both sides were comfortable because they did not see Moi as a threat or capable of holding onto the office for long. But alas, God had different plans.

When it came to time for Moi to leave office, there was a very big problem. The main opposition presidential candidate was from the other side of the Chania river. Mwai Kibai was from Nyeri and the oath had effectively blocked the presidency from crossing the Chania River into Nyeri. Oaths, and especially the blood oaths that were being undertaken during the Kenyatta days are terrible things that have far-reaching long term effects. If aothas meant nothing then it would not be a criminal offence to administer them.

And that is why President Kibaki almost died in a very serious road accident that still affects his life to this day. There was divine intervention to preserve his life and to over-rule the oath that had been taken by Kenyatta people. If the Kibaki camp had realized this in 2002 and acknowledged the big miracle that took place, his presidency would have been very different.

President Kibaki’s tenure, whatever anybody says about it has been a tenure of unfulfilled potential. Those who know Kibaki well like this blogger are confident that he would have achieved much more than what he has done. One of the major obstacles spiritually has of course been the terrible oath working against his presidency.

Now there is a possibility that there will be a leadership change after December 27th and once again there is a major problem with the main opposition presidential candidate. This time the problem is not an oath. It is something very different. I speak about this in the next post.


Read Part 2

The Mystery Behind Raila’s Sudden Popularity

Our past affects us in a very big way. What your father, grandfather and great grandfather (whom you never met) did, affects you directly today and will affect your children too. The good book talks about a curse being visited unto a third and fourth generation. Many of us see familiar bad habits in our children which we have been struggling with ourselves for years and wonder how they picked them up.

By extension your community’s past cannot be ignored either. No matter how well educated and sophisticated you become, your roots will always shape you and who you become.

For example the Akamba people from where my father originates suffer from a very strong spirit of mockery. That is why despite their resources and so many things they have going for them, it is always the Kamba being mocked for eating dead dogs and starvation is rampant despite their best efforts in their shambas (but that is a story for another day).

Let me tell you a very simple true story to illustrate my point here.

There was this guy I was told about once who used to work for a certain government department. He was a very qualified chap but a bizarre trend had emerged in his life. He would go for a job interview and emerge the top candidate and would verbally be informed to report to work the next day. However the minute he turned up complications would start developing. He would be told to wait and one thing led to another and he would never actually take up his appointment. After he had been rejected for reasons that were never clear, somebody else would take up the appointment. This happened several times.

Then every woman he fell in love with would end up abandoning him. Many times it happened in a very hurtful way where once or twice his wife then, would end up in bed with one of his best friends and that is how the marriage would end.

It was clear that there was a certain powerful jinx over this guy’s life but nobody seemed to know what it was or where it had come from.

To cut a long story short the man is a classic example of a person suffering from rejection. You may already know of people who suffer from rejection. Maybe somebody in the office that people just don’t like for no particular good reason. Or it could be you. Maybe you have been wondering why you cannot seem to get a life partner.

Now I need to dive a little deeper so that you understand this more clearly. It is very important that you understand this basic fact so that my point about the forthcoming presidential elections is clear in your mind.

There are many ways in which rejection enters a person’s life. For example many people who suffer rejection are first-borns in their family. Their mother got pregnant with them when the status with the father-to-be was still not clear. Meaning that the mother was angry, frightened and confused when she discovered she was pregnant. She may even have attempted to carry out an abortion. When that child is born he will be carrying rejection planted in them by their mother through thoughts utterances and emotions expressed when they were still in the womb. This will affect him/her for the rest of their life unless they come to the knowledge of what has happened and do something about it or by some miracle of divine intervention the manufacturer himself (God) rescues them from it.

So what was affecting this very frustrated man over 40 years after he was born could have been “planted” before he was even born.

Rejection is the most devastating thing anybody can suffer and often leads to suicide. Women carrying rejection will sometimes get engaged to be married and then at the 11th hour the man will break the engagement without a valid explanation. Other times despite their beauty, they will be completely unable to attract a spouse. In some cases such women will indulge heavily in sex and take refuge in being needed and wanted during sex with men, but it always ends up in terrible disaster because the men they have sex with will always use them and dump them and no matter how good they are none will ever marry them.

My sincere apologies because this post is not about marriage and relationships so let’s get back on topic.

Let me conclude this post by saying that there are a number of other characteristics that commonly accompany rejection. They are bitterness, self-pity and sometimes jealousy and envy even for each other. There are also a number of defensive mechanisms people suffering from rejection usually employ. Sometimes they will seem to be very proud and conceited, other times they will end up being very violent people in society. Just take a close look at African-Americans and you will begin to understand what I am saying here. These Black Americans carry rejection which dates back to the days of slavery.

The other point I want to emphasize is that when a person suffers rejection the people to blame are not those rejecting them and doing bad things to them. Rather the problem is within them.

I talk about rejection here because my dear brothers the Luo community suffer from it. My research of many weeks has been to try and find out where it came from in the first place, which I talk about in my next post.

But for now let me conclude by saying this is the reason behind the statements we were hearing about early this year about certain characters being “Unelectable.” The good news for Raila supporters is that something that I do not quite understand yet has happened to this candidate who most people (including this blogger) used to believe was unelectable. I suspect it may be divine intervention but I cannot say for sure until after December 27th.

Read Final Part

Little Known Facts From The History Of The Luos That Explains The Mystery

As I have said here many times before, as Kenya approached independence, the two front runners for the top office were both from the Luo community, namely Tom Mboya and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga (Raila’s father). The older Odinga sensing defeat in the hands of the young Mboya couldn’t take it and decided to play a political trump card to completely wipe out his opponent and bitter political rival. He led a campaign insisting that Jomo Kenyatta (then incarcerated) be released from detention and that Kenyans would not accept independence without Kenyatta’s release.

So rather than see the leadership of Kenya go to one of his own, Jaramogi was prepared to sacrifice the presidency and hand it over to another community.

This is one of the characteristics people suffering from rejection usually have. They are sometimes deeply envious and jealous of those close to them and will do anything to stop them.

There are many characteristics in our beloved Luo community that speak of rejection. The reason for most Kenyans not accepting them is NOT because of circumcision. It is something much deeper than that.

I found it in a little know part of the community’s history after much digging.

It is widely known that the Luo migrated into East Africa from a place in Sudan called Bahr-el-Ghazal. But few talk of where they arrived from when they settled in Bahr-el-Ghazal. My research shows that they actually originated from far in the Western part of Africa in present day Nigeria. My sources indicate that the reason the early Luos left Nigeria was because of a very serious quarrel between two brothers, Uthieno and Gillo. Gillo was killed in the ensuing fight between the brothers. It is said that Uthieno killed him in a jealous rage. Uthieno is the father of modern day Luos.

This web site seems to confirm some of these facts although the version here is a little different at one point 3 brothers are mentioned. The general facts are however similar in many ways.

The really fascinating thing here is that there has been talk (half jokingly) about the Luos seceding from Kenya if they continue to be treated as second class citizens. This is just a replay of what the community has suffered during the constant movement first from the West (Nigeria) and then from Sudan. I have tried unsuccessfully to determine the real reason why the Luo moved from Bahr-el-Ghazal, but understanding their history it is not too difficult to guess why.

That is the sad story of the Luo community. My best friends and some of the most talented and highly educated Kenyans. The community whose main capital is where I happened to have been born and the same city where I met my wife two decades or so later.

The objective of my research is NOT to give silly PNU propagandists ammunition for a new email spam campaign. Rather it is to reveal the truth so that a process of healing may begin for these brothers whom I hold very dearly and so close to my heart that I have often been accused here of being an ODM sympathizer.

As the good book says; you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

The Creative Arithmetic of The Steadmann Polls

I badly need some further education in mathematics to understand something that really puzzles me.

I wasn’t really all the bad in maths and I scored a decent credit in my O-levels, however my limited knowledge is obviously not enough to enable me fully grasp the latest Steadmann poll.

Here’s my simple question.

How is it possible for a presidential candidate to lead convincingly in 6 provinces but end up tying with his opponent who has a strong showing in only two provinces?

Don’t get me wrong. I am genuinely looking for answers here because I believe there is a logical explanation to this. One of the possibilities of course could be the fact that the single community, from which the latter presidential candidate is receiving most of his support from, outnumbers several other top communities in Kenya put together.

Having said that, let me add that the Steadmann folks are way too sensitive to effectively handle the very public and very political tool that they are dealing with here. Right from the word go senior executives have been leaving comments in this blog whose main aim is to ridicule rather than “educate” us so that we understand this polls thing better.

A recent comment by A Steadmann executive has even taken a cheap shot at this blogger. The comment appears below THIS RECENT POST which was written by Phil (and not by me as our Steadmann executive seems to believe).

At one point the obviously uninformed Steadmann sympathizer says of this blog and blogger;

So if you ask me all this is just propaganda to ensure Kumekucha gets more hits, have you people ever asked yourselves how much money this guy gets from this blog? did you maybe think that he cleverly makes up this stories to ensure you all get fired up and keep posting comments not mentioning visiting this blog every other day.

This cheap attempt to incite readers against this blog is uncalled for and it is clear that the Steadmann folks understand very little about blogging and this blog in particular. (Admittedly as little as we understand about their sensational and erratic polls).

For the record, a decision was taken a few weeks ago to allow top commentators to make uncensored posts in this blog. The idea was to ensure a balance and for this reason we now have top authors in this blog from across the political divide and beyond. For instance, there are those who are die hard ODM supporters (and have no qualms letting everybody know about it) and we also have fanatical PNU and ODM-K supporters. And finally we have the horseless or neutral guys. Incidentally the post that so irked the Steadman executive so much so that he felt obligated to take his cheap shot, was penned by Phil aka “rabidly ODM”.

My advice to Steadmann is not to waste energy targeting the messenger but rather to address themselves to the message. It is no secret that in most Kenyan’s eyes, Steadmann has lost all credibility, indeed many readers (from right across the political divide) have said so here. That is not Kumekucha’s fault.

Their energies badly need to be directed towards repairing their public image and in “educating” Kenyans more so that we can understand their polls better and thus say the more flattering things about them that they so badly crave.

P.S. I dare these so-called anonymous Steadmann symptahizers leaving comments here to use their real names and job titles and quit hiding behind the anonymous tag.

Election Violence Weapons Found In Assistant Minister’s Car

Kenyans voters are still numb with shock even as they seek answers from a very bizarre incident that took place late last night.

Acting on a tip off police did what they would usually not do. They stopped an Assistant Minister’s official GK vehicle and searched it. It is what they found inside that has shocked the nation. There was an assortment of crude weapons including Pangas, whips and arrows. Dozens of them. Eye witnesses say that there were slightly over 200 whips!!

Reports indicate that suspicious Nakumatt Supermarket staff (where some of the crude weapons were purchased) were suspicious and quickly tipped off the police who swung into action.

The vehicle and assorted crude weapons are detained at a Nakuru police station. The government (GK number plates) vehicle was headed for Western Kenya at the time the police made their shocking discovery. The vehicle belongs to assistant minister for Water Raphael Wanjala of the PNU party. Mr Wanjala is the immediate former MP for the floods prone Bundalangi constituency.

There are numerous questions that beg for answers. Who financed the purchase of the weapons and what was the real objective of the election violence which the weapons were aimed at perpetrating?

For a long time now many analysts have insisted that election violence, like the so called land clashes that flare up only when an election is around the corner, are usually sponsored by prominent politicians. Now clear evidence to support this suspicion has been unearthed. More so in an election that is proving to be the most violent ever.

January 2008 Assuming That PNU Win The Elections…

It is January 2008 and President Kibaki having just won a very closely contested general elections, disappears back into the inner rooms of State House where he was hidden prior to the hectic campaigns of late last year.

President Kibaki is of course the first president of Kenya to live in State House, Nairobi as well as work from there. The last ruler of the land to do so was in fact the last representative of the Queen shortly before Kenya gained her independence in 1963, governor Malom McDonald. Kenyatta preferred his Gatundu home and important cabinet meetings were even held there. Like the crisis meeting that planned Tom Mboya’s funeral shortly after his assassination in July 1969.

President Moi would also always retire to Kabarnet gardens off Ngong road at the end of hard day of work at State House Nairobi.

So as he starts his second and final term, it is work as usual for the aging president whose slogan Kazi inedelee lifted him to victory. And even at this early juncture of the second Kibaki administration, it is not too difficult to guess what should be expected.

More of the same really. Apart from a laid back president, the same economic policy that benefits only Kenyans who work hard (or is it only certain businessmen, especially those whose businesses heavily rely on imports because they have never passed on the benefits of cheaper imports to the public and have instead pocketed windfall profits). POnly that during this second term things are bound to be a little more difficult for them because disposable incomes are continuing to rapidly shrink under the Mwai Kibaki economic [policies which worked like a dream in the late 60s and 70s but are now a tad too old to tackle the many emerging problems the nation faces.

He Kibaki administration will of course take full advantage of the mandate given to them by the people of Kenya who in their vote clearly said that they do not want too much change and would like President Kibaki to continue where he left off.

Retired President Moi is expected to hold a major celebaration and thanksgiving celebration party in honor of the PNU election victory that he worked so hard to help achieve. Secretly it also means that his family fortunes are secure as they look to 2012 to influence the elections in Kenya again. Clearly the political ruling class of Kenya are firmlyin control and will remain in control for many years to come.

Influential cabinet Minister, Kiraitu Murungi wastes no time in releasing a barrage of statements to the press to gloat over the sweet PNU election victory. Naturally he builds on his pet phrase and this time says; “The PNU win proves that the so called Anglo Leasing scandal is indeed the scandal that never happened because as I have always said, the money was returned.”

PNU, as the President has always insisted did not want to make promises that they couldn’t keep. And that is why the issue of corruption did not feature anywhere in their manifesto. No point in lying to the people about zero tolerance to corruption when everybody knows that the nation has moved to 100% tolerance of corruption sustained by cosmetic moves like a KACA that specializes in prosecuting traffic policemen caught taking 50 bob bribes from motorists.

Nominated MP Chris Murungaru also releases a statement that leads to a screaming headline in the local newspapers; ODM RIGGED ME OUT AT KIENI.

The arrogance of other key cabinet ministers like Amos Kimunya (now nominated) and Martha Karua completes the picture. The wazee wa kazi trio of Njenga Karume and John Michuki are also very much around.

Oh.. but wait a minute. The country at least has a new slightly younger Vice President. According to the deal made with Kanu who were instrumental in the president’s victory, the VP had to come from KANU and the president chose well to ensure that his second administration does not go through the shaky beginning it witnessed in 2003.

Vice President Nicholas Biwott wastes no time in addressing the press to reassure Kenyans that all election pledges of PNU will be honored; “The devolution we promised Kenyans is in the CDF (Constituency Development Fund) which will now be increased by a whooping half a percentage.

Na Kazi inedelee.

Please wake up. You have been having a pleasant dream or a nightmare, depending on which side of the political divide you belong to and also depending on which tribe you belong. There are of course only two real tribes in Kenya and all others are fake tribes. The tribes are namely the “Haves” and the “Have Nothing.” The Haves will naturally celebrate for another 5 years.

Tomorrow: January 2008: Assuming That ODM Win The Elections

Statement From Marianne Briner Concerning Kenya Betrayed Controversy

I am writing today to XLibris and inform them about the fact that I never agreed that the contract with them was cancelled - and I will also tell them that Sam has cheated me for the royalties ......I will also ask them to give me the exact numbers of copies they have delivered - including the socalled author's copies which Sam has then sold directly.

I told you yesterday that he is now throwing the Shining Star into the market for $ 5.99 via Amazon etc. - taking into consideration that companies like Amazon are getting between 50 - 60 % commission - this reduces the price for which Sahel Publishers are giving the book to them to $ 2.50 - 3,00 - deducting the printing costs, there is not much left ....... so Sam would not have to pay me - even if he would still make 1 $ per book he would have to pay me 50 cents ....... or nothing ..........

Some people may call this clever - I simply call it criminal cheating - because he is offering his other books for 21.00 $ - books which are just simple cheap love stories without any impact .........

If Sahel Books claims now to have the copyright on the Shining Star - this is not correct: the Copyright is registered separate in my name and in Sam's name - this makes us both independent owners - the agreement I had signed says that we decide 'mutually and also share the royalties' ....... this agreement is not valid anymore since they have cancelled it when they unilateral took the book away from XLibris and started selling it under their own name without my approval ...... besides the fact that they kept all the royalties from day one ...... so if they reserve the right to continue publishing the Shining Star, I can also publish Kenya Betrayed which as you rightly stated, is my own story told in my own words in an uncensored way contrary to the Shining Star which was - on Sam's insistence - as a fiction using false names and also changing details and leaving out information which could 'endanger' his return to Kenya .....

Actually, I had revised their 'final' script and made it clear that I did not approve - but they had already given it to the Publisher and Printer - and then 'disappeared' for some weeks ....... details of which I am outlining below ...... so looking back now, the cheating started right from the beginning since it also came then out that they did not pass to the Publisher the mutually signed Contract between Sam and me - but Sahel Books passed to them only their own Agreement giving them the right to receive all the royalties....... this I only found out some months later when I wrote to XLibris ........

This is a strong point also in your defense and you should publish this .......including the information on the price which shows their real intentions—cheating ......

Regarding the problems I had spoken about yesterday: the Okellos had according to their own words (in writing, so don't worry in case they say that this is not true....) problems to stay in the States - I guess that they had financial problems since Sam had no other income than his books and had only published until then these love stories. The only serious one was 'The Night Bob died' which also talks about Dr. Ouko.......

So he took the opportunity at the moment the Shining Star got published to ask for political asylum - which was refused and according to him the Police asked him to leave the States in two weeks ...... at that time he had already gone 'underground' .... left the apartment in South Bend etc. - I got worried since also people from Kenya and friends of his in the States contacted me asking if I knew anything about him ...... and even at one stage called the South-Bend-Police if there had been an accident or something else ..... after some pressure, the police went to their apartment and then told me that their neighbours had informed them that these people had moved out ...... but no incident or similar was registered ......

Then all of the sudden, Sam contacted me and begged me to help them ...... either in arranging for them to come to Spain or preferably to find out how to get asylum in Switzerland.

As I told you, I tried to help - sending him an invitation for Spain including offering him to give him a partnership in my Real-Estate Company which would have made it very easy for him to get residence - he went to the Spanish Embassy in Washington and told me that he got all the necessary documents by them to come to Spain. Hellen then also inquired on the schools for their boys - I sent them all the documentation and details .....

They then continued to inquire about Switzerland. I told them that this was a bit difficult since the Swiss law requires that you have to come into the country directly via your home-country - i.e. they would have to go back to Kenya and then apply preferably at the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi.

They knew from the documents I had sent to them for the Shining Star that I had good contacts in the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi and asked me if I could inform the Legal Counsel - Mr. Mattli - about their problems - which I did. Sam then also wrote directly to Mattli and Mattli replied to them sending me a copy. Mattli had proposed that they should make contacts with the Swiss Consulate in Chicago which was the nearest place to South Bend, Indiana, where they live. According to Sam, he went there and spoke with some Officials.......

Since I knew that Father d'Ag was in Washington and also my former lawyer, Ababu Nawamba, was there attending the Washington University on a one-year-scholarship basis which Father d'Ag had arranged for him (Ababu is one of the Trustees of Nyumbani), I also told them about Sam's problems - and they got in contact with him ......

After this, all of the sudden, the Okellos informed me that their problems were solved - and that they could stay ........ they moved to another apartment - but declined to give me their new address (only now on connection with the Distant Lover which they wanted to publish, Hellen finally gave me their details - before always saying that I do not need to know their address) .....

They also promised to settle the royalties for the Shining Star - but of course the condition was that I would give the Distant Lover to them ...... and when I told them that they have to settle this matter before I make any decision ...... they became hostile again - and mainly Hellen very offensive ......

It is also not true that Sam declined getting involved in the Distant-Lover: on the contrary - it was his idea that I should publish the whole story 'the world has to know about this - you have a legitimate story - you have just wetted my appetite ....... this is big etc. etc. ......' he then also offered to act as a ghost-writer but contrary to the Shining Star this new book should come out only under my name making it much stronger etc. etc. - all in writing, so I can prove this any time ..... they even got already the ISBN-No. for it ......and sent to me a proposal for the final script ...........

Funny though, that all of the sudden they have started to defend Jeff Koinange - even writing to him assuring him their loyalty - etc. and praising themselves for having been able to shut down my blogs - also in Jeff's interest ......... but as you rightly say in your article, there is much more at stake here. Sam wants to come back to Kenya in 'big style' - and enter politics in 2012 - the same as Jeff .....

This smells .........

Was That Really Raila Odinga On NTV Spotlight?

Supporters of ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga are still in shock after watching a man who appeared to be the candidate being interviewed on the popular NTV “On The Spot” TV show yesterday.

The man stammered, looked tired and almost withdrawn and was a far cry from the usual Raila Odinga that Kenyans have gotten used to.

Further enquiries by this blogger revealed that the NTV performance was not the only time that supporters of the man have gotten worried. In an address to ODM supporters in South Africa a few weeks ago, a source tells me that those who attended the meeting were surprised and disappointed that the man just repeated himself and did not say anything new or relevant to the particular function.

Clearly all is not well with the ODM presidential candidate.

One theory puts it down to the extreme pressure the presidential candidate has been putting himself under in recent times. Kenyans have seen Raila arrive from an overseas trip during the day, only to realize during the 9 pm TV new bulletin that he also made it to a political rally in some far flung area of the country. It seems that this kind of pressure is finally taking its’ toll on the presidential candidate. Experts advice that he should be careful to take enough rest and to limit his public engagements from now on.

Interestingly the Nation On the Spot series to discuss the various party manifestos are being held in the residence of the candidates and the previous day, show presenter Judy Gichuru visited Hoo Ndii Emm candidate Kalonzo Musyoka’s home. If points were to be awarded for performance of candidates, then there would be no doubt that Musyoka performed much better than his ODM counterpart.

But governance and corruption lobby personalities are even more brutal with their criticism of Raila. Many of them who have so far considered this candidate the most attractive in terms of addressing governance issues are now disappointed that he seems to have considerably toned down his stance towards fighting corruption. Interestingly PNU did not bother to address corruption in its’ manifesto and the fear is that what happened to President Kibaki is now happening to Raila even before he gets to State House.

My worries over the issue of our presidential candidates goes even deeper. It is now clear that the scenes playing before our eyes are beginning to bear an uncanny resemblance to the events of 2002 shortly before the National Rainbow Coalition shot into power. Top on my list of concerns is the fact that no presidential candidate is addressing the issue of how they are going to finance their various grand schemes. When asked that question by Judy Gichuru last night, Raila gave the exact answer I heard Mwai Kibaki give in 2002. He said that there was a lot of money going to waste via corruption and that by stopping corruption the cash will be diverted to foot the rather hefty bills related to the promises given so far. We have not even heard a single convincing explanation on how corruption is going to be dealt with by either ODM or ODM-K which would make PNU the most sincere political party when it comes to this issue since they have chosen not even to talk about it.

Kenyan Couple Trying To Shut Down Kumekucha

It seems that the enemies of Kumekucha will not rest and now, if a Kenyan couple living in United States have their way, Kumekucha your beloved blog could soon be no more.

Sam Okello and his wife, Hellen have already successfully shut down 3 blogs belonging to Marianne Briner. Now they have filed a serious legal complaint against Kumekucha whom they accuse of carrying copyrighted material in the Kenya Betrayed serialization that we have been posting here. The couple is claiming that the Kenya Betrayed script was penned by them and has filed a complaint under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, leaving Google with no alternative but to disable the affected pages. If the complaints from the Okellos persist, there is a high chance that Kumekucha could be shut down for good.

The motive of the couple and especially Hellen Okello who makes all the major decisions in the couple’s publishing venture Sahel publishing, is not clear. To start with Kenya Betrayed is clearly written in the English with strong German connotation that quite obviously belongs to Marianne Briner (as anybody can tell from her numerous writings online). Briner is the same copyright owner of another similar work called A Shining Star In Darkness. She simply hired Sam Okello as her ghost writer for the earlier book detailing her experiences with the high and mighty in Kenya. Obviously the Okellos have no chance of winning this case in any court on earth because of a number of very obvious reasons including the fact that even if there was a dispute over A Shining Star In Darkness Kenya Betrayed is a totally new work penned by Brinner herself, using real names and including totally new sizzling material which Sam Okello was too frightened to use in his earlier ghost-written version of the events that used fictional names, A Shining Star In Darkness.

Still one does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out where the Okello’s real power and motivation could be coming from. Most of those mentioned in Kenya Betrayed are very powerful politicians in Kenya and are extremely upset that a lot of the information in the book is now in the public domain. More so when the person telling the story is extremely credible based on her past involvement with the characters. And to make matters worse, all this is happening during an election year when these people have such a huge stake pegged on the outcome. The characters in question featured prominently in the infamous Kroll report and have huge sums of stolen public money stashed away in Swiss accounts and elsewhere and obviously have no qualms spending some of it in legal circuses that could drag on for years to come while Kenyans are kept in the dark about the true character of those who have led them in the past as well as injustices that have taken place in Kenya.

Sam Okello has repeatedly indicated interest in returning to Kenya to stand for the presidency in the near future. He has been hoping that the popularity of his books will push him into public prominence to enable him launch his political career. Now it seems that he may also have figured out a way to raise funds for his future political campaigns at the expense of the same Kenyan people he hopes will elect him to State House one day.

Further investigations by this blogger has revealed other bizarre activities the Okellos have been involved in while in the United States which make fascinating reading and give a glimpse into the kind of characters we are dealing with here. I am in the process of verifying and getting further concrete and water tight proof of this and when I do I will publish all the juicy details here in the days to come.

Let me say at this juncture that I did not start Kumekucha with my personal needs in mind, rather this blog is a labour of love for the millions of voiceless downtrodden Kenyans who continue to be short-changed by the political class. I continue to make great sacrifices (financial and even on my personal security) to keep this blog going. If it was for personal gain then I would have already been a very wealthy man. Hundreds of thousands of Kenyans scattered all over the world have sensed this motivation in the posts they read here and it is the reason why they have given this infant blog so much support, so suddenly.

And that’s why I will fight this latest threat with everything that I have.

I beg for your support.

5 Most Popular Stories in Kumekucha today- Nov 21st

1. Why Kumekucha is glad to belong to the lower class

2. Big fat Kenyan politicians: They just don't get it, do they?

3. Herdsman kills lion but dies in the hands of hyenas

4. Missed opportunity by PNU to bury ODM

5. ODM ad that no Kenyan media house will touch