Would She Join Long List Of Ouko Witnesses Who Died? (Kenya Betrayed)

Plus How I Met And Fell In Love With Moi

And then he had added that he would do everything in his power that I was not joining the list of so many other (Dr, Robert Ouko murder investigation) witnesses who had lost their lives during the last years. It was estimated that their number had in the meantime reached more than 100 …..

I felt that also he still continued being worried, so I risked a small smile, “I trust you and I trust your personnel – so let’s all hope that nothing happens.”
Before he could reply, a blue Volvo appeared at the first Security Gate and as soon as the guard opened the second gate, the Volvo roared past it and then came to a screeching halt next to the armored vehicle.

A lean sportive man appeared accompanied by three other plain-cloth sharpshooters together with a slim, blonde woman.

We shook hands and he introduced himself at Lt. Wolfgang. I recognized in him the Official who had picked me up the day before at the residence of my friends in Karen where I stayed during the last three weeks.

Lt. Wolfgang rushed me onto the back seat where I was swiftly sandwiched between the four Embassy Officials.

And suddenly the race was on.

Lt. Wolfgang sped through the streets of Nairobi, turning abruptly into unintended streets and alleys whenever he noticed a suspicious car behind him.

At a roundabout near the imposing Nyayo Stadium, we came up on a massive police checkpoint. There were three uniformed officers inspecting cars. Officially, they said a bank on Tom Mboya Street had just been robbed.

But Lt. Wolfgang had already warned via the internal radio-call between him and the Embassy and knew that this was plain crap.

When we approached the checkpoint, he therefore drew down the window, put his head out and said, “This is the official car of the German Ambassador, Sir. May we proceed?”

The Officer, unsure what to do, shouted something into his walkie-talkie. He took a couple of seconds listening to instructions from the other end.

Finally, he turned and said, “You may proceed, Sir. Tell the Ambassador we’re sorry he got caught up in this.”

After that incident, Lt. Wolfgang got to the Uhuru Highway and floored the accelerator. If he was not stopped again, he expected to be at the JKIA within the next twenty minutes.

H expected more problems and he was right. As soon as we got to the airport gate, we came up on another checkpoint. This time mounted by the dreaded General Service Unit equipped with automatic machine-pistols.

They searched all cars. And this time even ours – in spite of having the No. 1-CD-plate – an indication that it was a diplomatic ride.

That was a clear breach of the usual diplomatic etiquette.

From the back of the tinted-windows where I was sandwiched, I could see the frustration on the cops’ faces. They seemed not to know what to do when they saw two blonde women inside the car.

Which one was the right one?

They knew that making a mistake could lead to big diplomatic problems with the German Government who was one of the most powerful donor countries – and the German Ambassador was even acting at the moment as the official Speaker of the European Union.

Taking advantage of their obvious confusion, Lt. Wolfgang approached the Officer who seemed to be the leader of the pack. He said, “Sir, if you don’t mind, but if we don’t reach the plane in latest fifteen minutes, the Ambassador may miss his flight.”
Both looked at each other for a short while – and to our great relief, the Officer nodded and then gave some instructions to the others to get out of our way.

Lt. Wolfgang then drove straight to the Swissair Terminal, brought the vehicle to a screeching halt, then jumped out and took position at the back door ….. slowly opening it.

As I stepped out, he placed his hand on the 13-round Heckler-Koch USP 40 strapped to his belt, then together with his support staff, they shielded me and led me straight into the waiting Swissair Jet.

By this time all the other passengers were already seated, buckled up and ready to go. The Pilot had already been instructed by the Nairobi Flight Control to roll off the second the bearer of this name got in: Marianne Briner-Mattern.

As soon as I was in, the door swiftly shut behind me. The jet immediately left the terminal ….. taxied the runway ….. then kissed off the ground.

And with that, I was on my way back to Switzerland.

The Hon. Nicholas Biwott’s schemes – targeting my life – had failed once again.

How I Met Njoroge Mungai And Daniel Moi
Everybody knew about my relationship with Dr. Magana Njoroge Mungai (Kenya’s first minister for foreign affairs) since it had become a common sight to see us together not only in Nairobi but upon my insistence also in Mombasa.

Still it was a big surprise and even shock for me when he proposed a ‘tribal marriage’ and gave me some documents which I should sign. I knew that he was married and had children. I even met his wife once when she had dinner with some business people and I had dinner with him at the same restaurant.

Since I had no idea what a ‘tribal marriage’ meant, I went to the Swiss Embassy for more information. When the Legal Counsel saw the documents and especially the name, he immediately called the Ambassador.

Together they then went through the papers: I would have gotten a big farm in Thika, a house in Nairobi and Mombasa – further some financial settlement in and outside Kenya.

All looked perfect also from the legal point of view.

But then I was told in very clear words by the Swiss Officials that I should not accept since “here you are dealing with a family which will never allow you to live in Kenya if something happens to Dr. Mungai – the only thing we could then do for you - if you want to survive – is to put you on the next plane home ………..”

I got scared and told Dr. Mungai that I would prefer to continue with our relationship – but without having to sign those legal documents.

Much to my surprise, he reacted quite offended especially since I did not give him any further explanation (I had promised to the Swiss Ambassador not to disclose that it was them who gave me that advise since they feared his reaction ……… ‘he is a very valuable man not only for Kenya but also in regard with his business connections in Switzerland’ – and I had understood what it really meant …….. ‘business comes first’).

I then realized during the next weeks that he started to take distances from me and instead was going out with other ‘white’ women and even making sure that I got to know about it. This was his way of ‘paying back’……

Although I did not admit it, but it was hurting me and I started to think about how I could make him jealous instead.

There was only one I could think of: No. 1 – the President - Daniel Toroitich arap Moi ……..

I knew if I would have ‘chosen’ somebody ‘below’ him , Dr. Mungai would not have taken me seriously ……..

Therefore, President Daniel arap Moi it had to be …………
I had already been told that President Moi had seen me at some functions with Dr. Mungai and had started asking about me. He was obviously interested. Mainly because there was a certain competition between the two men as I was told, not only with regard to politics but mainly for some ‘private’ matters ……….

I was therefore sure that Moi was the perfect ‘match’ for my purpose ……… I only had to think about the right ‘entry’ ………

This occasion came very soon and turned out to be the perfect ‘entry’:
I had a friend in Switzerland who owned a chain of Language-Schools. I found this system perfect for Kenya: People interested to learn a language could enter anytime and stay as long as they could every day, working with tape-records and special books and were then getting in regular intervals private lessons with a teacher.
I knew already that many people wanted not only to improve their English, but also study other languages like German and French which was necessary to get jobs in the Tourist Industry.

I had already contacted several Kenyan business people for this (I spoke a.o. with Evelyn Mungai who owned the Secretarial College and also with James Muigai, Kenyatta’s brother) since my idea was to get a local partner for this important venture ………..

Then one day a certain Jesse Opembe was introduced to me. He had an office at Kenwood House and was willing to give me his premises for the school and also expressed an interest to enter as my partner.

It was then actually his idea to get into contact with President Moi since he was convinced that he would like our idea and this would facilitate getting the licence……

Opembe was friends with Prof. Sam Ongeri and both had direct access to the Private Secretary of the President and asked me to write a letter addressed to President Moi which he would then deliver personally (this was the Secretary before Abraham Kiptanui).

At that time I was already living in a compound mainly occupied by Foreign Diplomats at State House Avenue – where I received one day in early 1980 a phone call asking me to come to State House to meet H.E.

We met and I gave him the information about the Language School and how it worked. He was impressed and promised to give every assistance possible. He then even proposed that I should also get into contact with the United Nations Office since he was sure that some foreigners there would be interested especially since we needed in my proposed system teachers for the private lessons.

I have to admit that the beginning of our conversation was a bit difficult: I was excited and spoke too fast – and he had problems to follow my English…….. so he called a Secretary to help translating………

But he never gave me the impression that I was meeting ‘ the President ‘ - I felt that he enjoyed listening to me …….. and I started to like him……….. I almost forgot my initial goal and why I had wanted to meet him originally …………..

Soon after this f¡rst encounter with President Moi, I also met Abraham Kiptanui for the first time. At that time, he was still the Director of the Nairobi International Airport --------- but as he told me, he had already started to see the President in the evening introduced by his old friends Nicholas Biwott and Hezekiah Oyugi who were making sure that he would become the new Private Secretary and State House Comptroller as soon as the present one either left or died (I did not understand at that time what this could mean for somebody, i.e. his actual death sentence………..).
‘Kip’ – as I started to call him – told me to keep contacts with him regarding the President from now onwards ……. under one condition: to cut any contacts with Dr. Mungai ………

I was at that time already attending parties at Embassies, sometimes also Government Functions at the Bomas of Kenya – I remember also having been introduced to Pamela Mboya when she became Kenya’s Ambassador to the UN.

And then there were more and more occasions where I also met President Moi …………….. Dr. Robert Ouko was at that time also Minister for Foreign Affairs and it was via his Office that I got some of these invitations, i.e. he had been instructed to issue them and I was picking them up at the desk of the ‘European Officer’ ………

I did not talk much to Dr. Ouko at that time, only some ‘small talk’ on a social level. Normally it was his Assistant Minister, a certain Mr. Munji, who had to accompany me. I think, because Munji was not married at that time and therefore no wife could ‘complain’ …….

There was anyway the obstacle of the fact that President Moi had no official wife (he had divorced his wife Lena some years before) – and therefore the social life was quite restricted.

According to diplomatic rules since the President was not accompanied by his wife, also his Ministers could not bring their wives to certain official functions …… (I am giving you an example to explain this: when President Nelson Mandela separated from his wife Winnie, he had to ask his daughter to ‘fill in’ until he then got married some years later to his present wife ……….).

So I think that all these wives were quite frustrated ….. even more since they saw me attending all these functions (since as you know, the Television was reporting every movement the President was making ….).

And then there was the famous flight from Zurich to Nairobi which brought everything to the open.

I had originally booked another date and as usual with Swissair. I then received a phone call by Jesse Opembe who had been asked to instruct me to change my plans, i.e. coming one week later and with Kenya Airways.

When I came to the check-in accompanied by my daughter at Zurich-Kloten-Airport, we were asked to pass the special gate which at that time was normally only used by El-Al-Passengers (after some terrorist attacks against the Israeli-Airline also in Zurich).

Already this I found strange, but even more so when I found out that we were the only passengers at the gate. I started to think “no wonder, they want me to fly with Kenya Airways – because they need more passengers …….”

My doubts even increased when we were brought to the plane with a small bus driving a long way out. I started to think “They must not have paid the Landing Fees to get a decent place ------“

It was dark, late in the evening, and also the plane was dark – there was no light and only one staircase leading to the First-Class Section….. and I felt like asking the Swiss Airport Driver to bring us back to the Terminal ……..
But all of the sudden, all the lights inside the airplane went on ……… a familiar and smiling face appeared at the door.

It was President Daniel arap Moi: “Welcome - I hope, I surprised you ……..”.
When we crossed the Somali Border, two Fighter Jets of the Kenyan Air Force came to accompany the plane to welcome their President and Commander in Chief………………..
That was also the first time he met my daughter and the way it happened – he gave her the impression that these fighter-jets had come just to welcome her to Kenya – left a deep mark on her - and also on me.

Kiraitu Murungi Warns That Kibaki May Lose: Is PNU Running Scared?

The first signs of the effects of the mammoth crowd that stifled Uhuru Park last Saturday emerged yesterday when during a church service in Meru energy minister Kiraitu Murungi told the congregation that unless the Mount Kenya region voted as a block, they might as well forget about State House for another 5 years.

This coupled with the other accusations about ODM being heavily funded from abroad are sending a very clear message to all those who are observant. It is finally dawning on the President’s team and his allies that they are staring defeat straight in the face.

Personally I do not see how the president’s campaign can be saved. It is rare that I make sweeping statements here in Kumekucha but the truth is that Mwai Kibaki is finished. I say this is anger and sadness because the truth is that the president does not have a message to sell. His campaign team has no idea what they are doing. That is the truth. Even the team he sent to London basically repeated the same old mantra, that ODM will bring chaos to Kenya. And while it is normal and acceptable in politics to attack the other side and point out their weaknesses, you don’t do so before you have sold yourself first.

So what does second Kibaki term have to offer. Somebody please tell me, I may have missed the message. By the way the definition of selling a message to the people is not reading some carefully prepared boring speech. It is telling us in a language we understand and with examples exactly what you are planning to do.

The president’s team is telling Kenyans that this administration should continue. What exactly does that mean because we have seen many things in the Kibaki administration that we do NOT like. So should we vote in the president to continue with them? For example there has been a very focused and determined effort to gag the media. Of course the word being used is “control.” So the next question is who needs “control” more? The media that broke the Anglo Leasing scam to Kenyans when the opposition in parliament were fast asleep. Or is it parliamentary excesses that need control? Like that totally unacceptable remuneration they continue to draw at the expense of the tax payer and starving Kenyans?

So what are we saying when we shout; Kibaki abaki na aendelee (Kibaki should remain and continue). Continue with attempts at controlling the media, continue with ignoring the masses and showing no interest whatsoever with tackling graft? Continue with being hands off, see no evil, hear no evil president?

Countrywide Kenyans are not buying that one. So what we should now concentrate on is enhancing national unity and holding Raila Odinga and his ODM team accountable to the promises that they have made to the people because the guy is as good as elected. Not so much because of his ability as a politician but more so because he does not seem to have a serious opponent. Sad but true.

Dangerous Trip (Kenya Betrayed)

PROLOGUE

Nairobi - early December 2004 ………

“Frau Briner, we are now facing the most dangerous part of your visit to Kenya.”
Those words, dropping off the lips of the German Ambassador, sent shockwaves down my spine. I knew that I was up against an old enemy. A ruthless, proven killer.
But as the events of the last couple of hours had demonstrated, there was an even more dangerous enemy in the mix now. A man who wanted to conceal certain details of his private life forever. Secrets which I knew and could therefore talk about and with this could eventually endanger his up to now peaceful retirement.

“So ….. how do we handle this?” I therefore asked, as I was watching how an employee of the Embassy was depositing my luggage into the trunk of this armored vehicle which the German Ambassador had put at my disposal.

The Ambassador looked down. “I have arranged with my personal Military Escort at the Embassy to accompany you to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. And because it’s a good forty-five kilometers drive from here, I would not be surprised if the marauding murderers come after you, even may try to blow up this car as you cruise down Uhuru Highway. To be on the safe side, we have also decided that another member of my Security Personnel will accompany you. It is a woman and she is blonde like you. This will put some doubts since like that there will be two blonde women in the car and it will be difficult to find out which is the right one …..

But in any case, it is very important that you remain calm. Whatever happens, keep your practiced Swiss poise. ”

He then looked her straight in the eye, “Listen, Mrs. Briner. I shouldn’t tell you this, but because I understand how frightful this whole situation is for you, I will.” He looked around, “Look careful at this car – it’s equipped with the latest German-built explosives. They have a five-kilometer range and they have heat sensors. When they are fired, they follow the heat emission of the object they are intended to hit and blow it up upon contact. They have a proven enviable track record.”

When I nodded grimly, he continued, “What I am saying, Mrs. Briner, is that the goons have no chance against us. You will get to the airport …… just make sure you follow the advice of the Military Escort carefully.”

I still had some doubts if we would really make it. He had only minutes ago given me the copy of a letter in which Nicholas Biwott’s lawyers had asked the Committee and the Police to prohibit me to leave the country and if possible even to arrest me. It verbally said: ‘She has to be punished’ and further: ‘We are already in the process to prepare a case against her for lying under oath’ – meaning my evidence in front of the Parliamentary Select Committee set up to investigate the circumstances which led to the murder of Dr. Robert Ouko in 1990.

And knowing Biwott the way I did, I knew he would do everything possible to make this threat come true – and I was not alone with this judgment about him.
Also the German Ambassador felt that I was in danger and had contacted his Superiors in Berlin to get the permission to protect me and to make sure that I could leave the country unharmed.

And then he had added that he would do everything in his power that I was not joining the list of so many other witnesses who had lost their lives during the last years. It was estimated that their number had in the meantime reached more than 100 …..

I felt that also he still continued being worried, so I risked a small smile, “I trust you and I trust your personnel – so let’s all hope that nothing happens.”
Before he could reply, a blue Volvo appeared at the first Security Gate and as soon as the guard opened the second gate, the Volvo roared past it and then came to a screeching halt next to the armored vehicle.

To be continued tomorrow

When Will PNU Wake Up And Get A Serious Campaign Going?

If it is true that ODM is a Luo political party then Nairobi has just too many Luos. In fact the census figures for Luos should be revised as clearly they now have a larger population than the Kikuyus and Luhyas put together.

The writing must be on the wall now for President Kibaki and his campaign team, which appears to be an extension of his administration—ruled by decision makers who are stuck in a time warp of the swinging but slow 60s.

The Kenyans who formed the crowds at Uhuru park yesterday represent the masses of Kenya, hungry for change. The president is not selling change but retention of the status quo. In fact looking at his team of old men one cannot help but stifle a yawn before the old man stands up to give those monotonous repetitive speeches of his. So what do you expect from the electorate?

In short, as predicted here earlier, the President’s campaign has started off on the wrong foot and it is doubtful if they will be able to come anywhere near ODM in the catch up game. Those are the facts on the ground.

Meanwhile we are experiencing mass hysteria from some people who do not want to believe that it is feasible for the country to be led by a Kenyan from Luo Nyanza and it will not be the end of the world. You will see some of them hurling insults here in this blog and saying all sorts of things with desperation written all over their words.

Yet, I dare say Mwai Kibaki and his inner circle are the ones who created this monster called ODM and a Raila Odinga presidency (if it is true that the two are indeed monsters). They did this when they went and changed their own job descriptions from what was handed over to them by their employer (The Kenyan people) in December 2002. The people sent them to State House to create jobs as a priority and to eliminate corruption and bring the perpetrators to book. Instead Mr Kibaki went and grew the economy (for the benefit of only a few) and instead of ending corruption embraced the biggest perpetrators of that corruption—the Mois and the Kenyattas.

The masses of Kenya may not be all that well educated but did the President really expect to get away with that?

Further signs that we have a blundering directionless team leading the president’s campaign is in the sacking of Kenya’s most successful health minister in history. Mama Rainbow herself. The sacking of Charity Ngilu was a terrible political move executed with even more terrible timing.

Again the masses may not be very bright but what do you think they read in the sacking of Ngilu shortly after she attended the ODM rally in Uhuru Park? They read fear. To them it clearly showed that the president and his men are frightened of this so-called Luo-dominated political party.

PNU should be grateful that the elections are not being held tomorrow because they would have lost by a landslide. But there is an even bigger fear looming large in the horizon. If the campaign team handling the president’s campaign continue the way they are, then I am afraid the president will have difficulties securing a number two slot in the elections and chances are that even Kalonzo son of Musyoka of Hoo Ndii Emm will beat him to the runner’s up position.

I am not saying this because I support ODM, rather I am saying this because it annoys me that the president’s campaign team is in such a mess and that instead of having a close race we will end up with a whitewashing. It is like going to watch Arsenal play Manchester United only for one of the teams to win 8-0. If you paid good money to watch the game live you will live The Emirates grounds or Old Trafford feeling very cheated because there was no suspense and drama which is what you paid to watch.

The truth with the campaign so far is that the folks at PNU have not raised any issues other than warn Kenyans of dire consequences if the government is taken over by a Mujaruo. The funny thing about that strategy is that the masses of Kenya who hold most of the votes are so frustrated that the prospect of chaos is rather attractive to most. At least they will stop seeing so much affluence flashing past them as they starve.

Now the really worrying thing here that I beg my dear PNU supporters who read this blog to see is that the president’s team do not seem to have a clue about that last point. How tragic, how fatal.

I hereby invite insults and accusations of being an ODM supporter as well as the few but rapidly increasing very well thought out analysis on the issues I have raised in this post.

For the love of the motherland.

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

The Most Important Newspaper Article This Year

Many thanks to Pure Kikuyu Woman for drawing our attention to this fascinating article in today's East African Standard.

Leaving the professional nest for political train
By Saturday Standard Team

Until early this year, Mr Edwin Mwangi Macharia led a quiet life as an executive with the Bill Clinton Foundation.

His latest posting was as a director of the Rural Initiative for the Clinton HIV/Aids Initiative (Chai). The initiative was to develop and enable the replication of care and treatment services in rural areas.

He had served as the deputy country director for the same foundation in Tanzania where he helped develop a national care and treatment plan.

Macharia was also a member of the team that developed a similar treatment and care plan for South Africa. This is a major feat for a man who turns 30, later this year.

Macharia has now plunged into politics and faces a gigantic task as he seeks to unseat Dr Chris Murungaru as MP for Kieni constituency.

He is among a stream of young or middle-aged, highly educated and well-trained professionals leaving their careers to join politics.

At the United States International University, Prof Jacqueline Oduol has left the blackboard and hit the campaign trail.

She is challenging tradition and money, the two factors that reign in Alego-Usonga, which she wants to represent in the Tenth Parliament.

She is pitted against close relatives, nominated MP, Mr Oloo Aringo, who is her father-in-law and the incumbent, Mr Sammy Weya, her son-in-law.

"There are people who cannot address any forum. But they have invaded the constituency with money. I tell my people we are looking for someone who can lead. We are not looking for who has more money," Oduol says.

"I keep reminding them that in Parliament, no MP speaks for another. Each MP speaks for himself or herself. And parliamentary business is not transacted in cash. It is done by debate. So, the person they elect must know how to speak and have the language, not the money," she adds.

Knowing the two factors would bog her down in Alego-Usonga Oduol first got involved with a political party. She is the head of the Orange Women’s League in ODM. She is also setting up a gender desk at Orange House.

"I think I have cracked Alego-Usonga. I had to contain the moneybags in the constituency," she says.

For years, Oduol had lobbied for women, where she has also been a consultant with the Government and organisations like World Bank and UNDP on gender and governance.

Now she feels she has pushed enough from outside, and wants to do it from the floor of the House.

Her education, she says, would not guarantee victory, but she thinks it is a plus.

"To represent people, you need an advanced ability to understand issues. Education exposes people to available options. You then go to your people with the options, put them on the table, and ask them to make informed choices. To be a leader, you need to know what options are available out there for your people," she says.


Mr Otiende Amolo will be going for the Rarieda seat.

Another professional, Mr Otiende Amolo, after serving as a council member and chairman for eight years of the International Commission of Jurists, as secretary general of the East Africa Law Society and as council member of the LSK, he is also joining politics.

He is eyeing the Rarieda seat Mr Raphael Tuju represents.

"I have realised that while civil society and professional organisations can bring pressure to bear, real and meaningful change is influenced more by politics and politicians. Ultimately, politicians not only direct reform or status quo, they also determine whether a country has good or bad policies; good or bad laws. I want to be an active part of that reform agenda, not a mere commentator," Amolo says.

In the House, he would push for law reforms and would also support a clause that allows recall of MPs who fail to perform.

With a Masters degree in Law, Amolo believes education and age counts in leadership.

"Anyone above 18 years and below the stage of senility can lead if they possess the qualities. I believe in the current world of technological advancement and global interaction, a leader must be sufficiently educated even to share and communicate ideas," Amolo says.

"I believe the greater the number of professionals joining politics the higher the level of political engagement. I believe, ultimately, politics will be seen much less as a dirty game," he adds.

Until last July, Dr Mark Ogutu chaired the PhD Committee of Kenyatta University’s Business Administration Department.

He taught entrepreneurship to students of Masters in Business Administration (MBA), a course that has become increasingly popular.

Ogutu, 42, also trained institutions on strategic planning and management skills.

Ogutu is also taking to politics and is keen to unseat Mr Ochola Ogur from the Nyatike parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket.

Dr Marion Mutugi, a PhD holder in genetics, has left her job as director of the Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases at the JKUAT to go for the Ndia parliamentary seat.

Mutugi is known for developing a high yielding, quick maturing and pest resistant banana breed, which has earned her the name ‘Wamarigu’ in Ndia.

"There is a disconnect between the people who make discoveries, and those we expect to implement them. Our people do not benefit from the research we do because the politicians we expect to take them up in Parliament hardly understand the issues. We need to be in the House to prioritise these things," Mutugi says.

The aspirant is concerned that the opening up of democratic space has not led to quality representation.

"Every Tom, Dick and Harry wants to be an MP. In Ndia, there are over 20 aspirants. If you were to sit with all of them, you would not get a clear understanding of the issues on the ground and the solutions. People just want to be MPs," she says.

"There are primary school dropouts running for MP. I agree some people may not have had the opportunity to go to high school. Some never had fees. But do such people have the capacity to represent a constituency in Parliament. Will they understand the issues?" she asks.

The Tenth Parliament, the lecturer predicts, is likely to go the Rwanda way.

"You get into the House and you are given a laptop. Will you manage if you are illiterate? Over Sh100 million is going to be put in your hands as MP to manage for your constituents, can you handle it if you have not managed anything?"

In Ndia, she says, there is a category of aspirants who arrive and tell people to line up for money.

"They never articulate any issues. They just distribute money. How will such people conduct business in Parliament?" she asks.

At 30, Mr Jonathan Mweke, is also trying to go to Parliament. With a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) in Information Technology, Mweke wants to join Parliament and push the case for ICT in development.

He has been IT manager with FiServ Inc, a financial service firm based in Michigan, US and project manager for Plant Technologies and Support at DaimlerChrysler Corporation also in the US.

He also worked with the Supermarket chain, the K-Mart Corporation in the US as systems developer in charge of Enterprise Messaging.

Lately, he has traversed Westlands constituency, seeking to replace Mr Fred Gumo.

In August, Martin Oloo, 43, left his job at the Department for International Development (DFiD), the development wing of the British Government and dabbled in politics.

A holder of a Masters degree in Law from the University of Nairobi, Oloo was a senior governance adviser for DFiD.

He had also worked with the Aga Khan Foundation and Action Aid. He wants to be MP for Mumias.

Last month, Mr Chaacha Mwita left the Standard Group to run for Kuria parliamentary seat.

Before, he had been the corporate communications manager at Strathmore University.

Kabando wa Kabando, 39, gave up his post as chairman of the Nairobi Water Company in March, to launch his third "and most serious bid" for the Mukuruwe-ini parliamentary seat. He seeks to unseat the current MP, Mr Mutahi Kagwe.

With a Masters degree in Public Policy from State University of New York, Kabando believes he can influence policy in the right direction.

He believes the level of education, professionalism and the age of MPs matter.

"Offering the potent skills at the right age is very important. Investment in best of times, when energy and potential are prime, matters. Having the intellectual capital and the willingness to use it for the benefit of positive growth is crucial," he says.

Mwita is challenging for the Kuria seat on an ODM ticket because he is angry.

"I am angry at the way our country has been run, especially after 2002. Like other Kenyans, I expected better management," he says.

"But look, tribalism became worse, corruption persisted, political arrogance and insensitivity reached a new high and Press freedom was trampled on," he adds.

He believes the Government cheated his people and the current MP Dr Wilfred Machage has not stood up to protest.

"When President Kibaki says women no longer carry water from the river, he must be talking about Central Province. Where I come from, women do not just carry water from the river, the water sources are further away from where they were years ago as I grew up. Dysentery and other water-borne diseases are rife in Kuria. Yet, our MP brags about being a medical doctor and Health Assistant minister," Mwita says.

He has also taken to politics to show politics is not just for old retirees and the super-rich.

"Those who do not participate in politics, risk being ruled by their inferiors. Politics is not mere entertainment," he says.

Many of the young aspirants, plunging into politics talk of being frustrated with Kenya’s leadership.

"Like many, I have grown increasingly frustrated with our current political leadership, so I want to play a role in changing it," Macharia says.

Macharia sees himself as a Kenyan of the future: Young, educated, widely travelled, connected, confident and ready to take risks.

"Great ideas could lie dormant if there is no political push for them. Similarly bad ideas could gain life simply because they were pushed politically," he says.

Macharia also believes a generational shift in leadership" is emerging.

But he believes that "a generational shift for its sake" will not mean much "unless the bar is raised for future leaders."

"This is exactly why we need to get a solid crop of new, capable leaders of our generation in this election cycle so they can be the benchmark for what a good leader is for 2012. If this does not happen, it will mean we will have the same type of leaders, just different faces," Macharia says.

Education, Macharia says, makes a difference in politics.

"Education, and more so the ability to think critically is lacking in many of our current leaders. Critical thinking and management skills are typically developed and honed in a professional setting, so having politicians who have that experience is critical," he says.

In many constituencies, campaigns will be a mix of some polished men and women against accomplished clowns. Some of the aspirants already see hardships.

In Westlands, Mweke says, a reliable way to reach voters is via the media. But the media is only interested in the MP he is trying to beat.

"I watched Mr Barrack Obama’s campaign and saw the attention the media paid to him. I guess if Obama was running in Kenya, the media would have told him they do not cover aspirants, while they focus on people who make our country look backward," Mweke complains.

He worries that powerful, policy driven speeches account for nothing "if you don’t top up."

Topping up means giving handouts.

"People come and tell you they are the ones who single-handedly put so and so in Parliament. But I insist on working with groups, not individuals," he says.

Years of running programmes on governance and strengthening of parliamentary committees taught Oloo, a lesson.

"I realised it was not going to be enough to advise. I decided to take a plunge and provide leadership on what I had been advising on. The country is looking for leaders who stand for something; whose integrity is above reproach. I encourage my lot to come out and let us save the country," he says.

Oloo is particularly concerned about the "blame game" Kenyans are stuck in.

"We need to go beyond finger pointing and take responsibility for what is wrong and right. Responsibility must begin with the individual," he says.

Kenya, Oloo says, is "frozen in time" and it is hard to tell where it is coming from or going.


Mr Jonathan Mweke seeks to unseat Mr Fred Gumo in Westlands.

"You spend time advising the Government on governance issues. Then the same Government comes with a draft constitution full of mischief and tries to force it on Kenyans. Before a new trust is built, the Justice minister comes with another constitutional amendment Bill that is not acceptable. These ambushes are governance challenges that we need to rise above," he says.

Ogutu, on the other hand, says he is running for "the very simple reason" that Nyatike constituency has stalled.

"People are losing faith in themselves and in representative democracy. Since the constituency was created in 1988, it has had one weak MP after another. The people are beginning to feel the world has conspired against them. I want to come to the aid of our people," he says.

Uninspiring leadership, Ogutu says, has killed the aspirations of the residents.

"No MP from this constituency has ever tabled a Bill in Parliament. No Motion has ever come to the House from a Nyatike MP. No MP from this constituency has ever vied for a position in a political party. To make matters worse, as we are talking, the Nyatike CDF account is frozen. Poverty is high. These are things that kill people’s morale. I have offered to uplift my people even if only psychologically," he says.

"A constituency needs to be run like a good business, with proper projections and forecasting. An MP must give a clear vision of where he wants to take his people. I have a business plan for the constituency," he adds.

Mweke says he has a dream for Westlands.

"I studied the link between technology and development. The Asian Tigers overtook using ICT. I want to exploit my connection with the Fortune 500 companies and have them create call centres in Nairobi as they have done in India and Thailand," he says.

But he is feeling the pressure from the culture of handouts whose seeds the past politicians sowed.

The tragedy is, those willing to spend money many a times have nothing to offer in vision. Some have money, but not the language to speak in Parliament," Mweke says.

Oloo, running in Mumias, is convinced he can help change the mindset of leaders from Parliament.

"Our institutions need to project servant leadership. We have leaders not keen to remember that authority comes from the people. It is common to see a minister saying, ‘we are the Government,’ yet the reverse is the case. The people are the government," Oloo says.

In Kabete, Mr Anthony Kimani Ichung’wah, 30, is taking on long time MP, Mr Paul Muite.

A graduate of Economics from the University of Nairobi and a Certified Public Accountant trained at Strathmore University, he is a senior accountant in Nairobi.

Ichung’wah is going for Kikuyu parliamentary seat on "one of the PNU affiliates," driven by a strong desire to see generational change in leadership.

"For a long time, leadership was left to an older generation. It is time to change this. Professionals tend to be guided by certain minimal ethical standards that they must adhere to. I want to believe what this nation requires today are professionals who will manage public affairs in an ethical and professional manner," he says.

"I would rather we correct our politics first and by going into political leadership, I will be seeking to do just that," he adds.

Courtesy of the East African Standard;

Raila Odinga secretly met John Githongo in London last month

Guess what John Githongo's nickname was when he worked at State House

Raila's Meeting With John Githongo

Sources close to former Ethics PS confirm that the meeting took place recently

As the country hurtles towards the general elections in a couple of weeks, Kumekucha can now authoritatively report that high drama has been unfolding behind the scenes.

My trail of this amazing story started with a hot tip from a trusted source in London that ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga had a meeting with former ethics PS John Githongo in that British capital very recently. Impeccable sources close to Githongo not only confirmed that such a meeting actually took place, but they added a number of sizzling riders;

- That the former ethics PS is intrigued by the seven point governance agenda Raila announced at the airport on his return to the country on Saturday 22nd September. Especially the part that touched on restitution fo the nation's missing billions.

- That Raila Odinga discreetly approached John Githongo as early as March 2006 to discuss the issue of coming up with a just system for recovery of assets looted by past and present administrations and closing these past corruptions through restitution. Their meetings and contacts have been ongoing.

But what has been even more fascinating has been the reaction all round to Raila's blistering statement on corruption released at the airport on his return. Contrary to what the president's campaign team must have been hoping for, this issue of corruption and especially the Anglo Leasing scandal will just not go away and is shaping up to be a major campaign issue, in a country where previous general elections have hardly addressed issues.

This issue of restitution and the returning of vast amounts of wealth looted from the people of Kenya has provoked statements from heavyweights like President Kibaki himself, former president Moi and his son Gideon amongst others. There is no doubt that Raila's speech more than ruffled a few feathers.

However the whole issue of Kenya's looted billions is a very complex issue indeed. Analysts are asking searching questions as to how possible it will be for the ODM presidential candidate to keep his promise on corruption, if he is elected. Can he really turn the stones that have always proved to be too heavy to budge (let alone turn)? This point was illustrated by a recent Gado cartoon in the September 29 th issue of the Saturday Nation.

What has caused even more doubts is the fact that some of the people involved are powerful office bearers within ODM.

On the other hand the Hoo Ndii Emm presidential candidate has clearly stated his stand on this issue which is that the country should forget the past and move forward. In other words, Kenyans should let the looters off scot-free so that they and their future generations can enjoy their ill gotten wealth in peace, even as most Kenyans struggle to put food on the table. Hardly surprising coming from a candidate whose previous campaigns in the Rift Valley have included assurances to the Kalenjin that looters from the community would be protected under his administration.

Clearly the kind of excess baggage being carried by the country cannot allow for Mr Musyoka's policy to be feasible. For instance in 2002 the Kenyan people elected a new administration in the belief that corruption was a thing of the past. What followed was that the new administration used the model from looting that had been used by previous governments the fleece the exchequer of well over Kshs 50 billion in a series of about 18 fraudulent contracts, most of them to non-existent companies. It is that administration that is now appealing to Kenyans to re-elect it for another 5 year term. And their slogan is rather ironic; na Kazi iendelee (roughly translated to mean; and let the work continue). This obviously implies good work.

President Kibaki's campaign so far does not dare address corruption except to make carefully worded meaningless declarations. Sadly many of his supporters have not pushed their candidate for a stronger and more decisive stand on this very critical issue but have instead fully subscribed to, na Kazi iendelee which would seem to imply and let the work (which includes corruption) continue.

Why Did Kibaki Government Officials Nickname Githongo, Mujaruo?

Another piece of interesting information that emerged in the course of research for my other post, from my impeccable sources close to former ethics PS John Githongo is the nickname that he earned from colleagues deep in the Kibaki administration from April 2004.

They called him Mujaruo which is an obnoxious reference terming him a member of the Luo tribe. Githongo is actually a pure Kikuyu but it is clear what irritated and provoked his colleagues to give him such a nickname was the fact that he was more Kenyan than Kikuyu at heart. In other words instead of "eating" with his fellow tribesmate and enriching himself, Githongo chose to question and probe and generally do his job as a true Kenya patriot. In this case this appears to have been seen as extreme betrayal by his fellow tribesmen hence the sarcastic nickname; Mujaruo.

It is instructive that this blogger has been called exactly the same name by many commentators of this blog here because of my views on the past injustices committed to the Luo community for political reasons. My constant clarifications that neither my Kamba father or Luhya mother have any Luo blood in them has fallen on deaf ears. After this recent Githongo revelation it has become very clear to me what has been meant by these seemingly deaf commentators.

In fact it is safe to assume that the exact nickname will be used across the country in the run to the elections to refer to many supporters or even mere sympathizers of ODM presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his political party.

Many Kenyans would prefer to bury their head in the sand over this sensitive Kikuyu issue in Kenya. Yet it continues to raise tensions in the country at an alarming rate more so that for the first time in the history of the country we have two major presidential candidates from Kenya's two most visible tribes facing each other in a winner takes all race for State House. Older Kenyans can imagine how volatile elections would have been in 1969 with the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga opposing Jomo Kenyatta in a direct presidential election.

But clearly the biggest hurdle for the Gikuyu community is for them to accept that it is possible for the country to be ruled by a non-Kikuyu and in particular a Luo and it will NOT be the end of the world. Already we have had declarations in this blog that if Raila odinga were to win the presidency some Kenyans from the house of Mumbi would go into a self-imposed exile and renounce their Kenyan citizenship.

Nicholas Biwott (Kenya Betrayed)

Chapter 1 - Part 5 - Nicholas Biwott enters



So for me this subject was finished………. especially since soon after this I met Dr. Njoroge Mungai and with him started to feel ‘safe’.

But I should have been warned that a man like Kivuvani and with him also Nicholas Biwott, did not give up that easily - and definitely would not forget.

I should have taken into consideration their strong relationship especially since they had gone together into a very profitable ‘venture’, i.e. organizing the trafficking of Ugandan prostitutes to fulfill the ‘needs’ of the American Navy Personnel coming by the thousands to Kenya to spend some days or even weeks off from their duty in the Gulf Region. They had even forced the hotel managements to accept that these girls could enter the premises since especially the Officers used to stay in Hotels (until then this had been strictly forbidden). They also gave the gambling license to certain hotels (of course against a nice amount of money and shares also in this business.

___________
(* see details of all this in my London Declaration given by
me to the Sunguh-Committee in February 2005).
--------

My problems started after I had rented a house on a permanent basis in Mombasa which belonged to Mrs. Joan Canham. She was quite old and had some financial problems. Since I only used to stay there occasionally mainly during the summer holidays when my daughter used to join me, I had allowed Joan to continue living there using her bedroom-suite upstairs.

The house was directly next to the Nyali-Beach Hotel with a beautiful kept garden on a 3-acre-plot. Our neighbour on the other side was Duncan Ndegwa (Chairman Commercial Bank of Kenya).

The lawyer George Waruhiu and also Arthur Magugu (Minister for Health at that time) together with their wives were amongst the people who visited me there. They all liked the house and especially George was interested to buy it, should Mrs. Canham decide to sell it.

So it came as a big shock for me when I came back from a short trip to Switzerland and Mrs. Canham informed me that Mr. Kivuvani had approached her in the name of his Nairobi-friend Nicholas Biwott.

Biwott had some Italian business friends who wanted to buy the house for themselves.

The lawyer of these people (Brolio Steel Manufacturers) had forced her to accept a cheque for a 10 % deposit payment and so sign a Sales Contract threatening her that otherwise she would have to leave the country and would lose the house without seeing any money at all.

She showed me the document and when I saw the price, I told her that this was much too low and that George Waruhiu had offered a much higher price.

I was sure (at least thinking about the legal situation in such cases in Switzerland ….) that the whole matter could be revoked since she did not cash the cheque yet. So she should be able to step out of this mess.

Since I could not reach George Waruhiu, I called James Karugu and asked him for advise. He confirmed that the sale could be revoked and then passed to me the name of a lawyer, a friend of his, in Mombasa.

Together with Mrs. Canham I went to see him. He promised to solve the matter and got into contact with Kivuvani and Biwott.

But soon after Mrs. Canham was told that there was nothing to do since Biwott had insisted in the name of his Italian friends that the sale had to go through.

And on top of this, also James Karugu got himself into troubles because he interfered against Biwott’s interests ………. he soon after lost his job – of course some other more serious reasons were then given officially but he and I knew what really happened ‘never mess up with a man like Biwott’ …………….. I should have better kept this in my mind too ……..

Mrs. Canham had to move out of the house immediately. As a ‘punishment’, she only got half of the agreed money at the end – the other half was then ‘covered’ by putting at her disposal a run-down small apartment in a low-class area of Mombasa.

It took me some months to find out where she was living since she had no telephone connection in her new place. I visited her and was shocked about the conditions she was living in. Luckily, her old servant who had been working for her for almost 40 years, had agreed to still look after her although she could not pay him anymore the former salary.

When I came back to Mombasa a few weeks later, her neighbours informed me that she had died in the meantime …………

***************

Another incident happened about the same time which involved Biwott directly:

I had been introduced by the Swiss Manager of the Hotel Intercontinental in Nairobi to a German businessman from Hamburg, Dieter Neumann, who was planning to build an Apartment-Hotel at the Coast.

Some Kenyan business circles had introduced him to Nicholas Biwott, Minister of State – Office of the President. And Biwott had put him into contact with his lawyer in Mombasa, Prem Prinja, who then proposed a site for the hotel.

Prinja had also told Mr. Neumann that Biwott had to be given 15 % participation in the Hotel (10 % for President Moi and 5 % for himself – following into the footsteps of the Kenyattas who had ‘introduced’ this successfully in the 60s and 70s as the “normal” procedure for any company which wanted to do business in Kenya – as Mr. Biwott explained).

I personally saw some correspondence in which Mr. Neumann was confirming this arrangement to Biwott addressed to his official address at State House.

After having spoken with Mr. Neumann and having heard about this ‘funny’ conditions, I introduced him to Dr. Mungai who then proposed another plot which the German Group liked much more (as far as I remember it was a plot owned in a joint-venture by Mama Ngina, Ngethe Njoroge (Mungai’s brother) and Gechaga and situated on the other side of the creek facing the old town of Mombasa.

Mr. Neumann then made the mistake to tell Prinja that he had found another plot and therefore the business with him and Biwott could not go through and also the 15 % Agreement had to be revoked.

And that was the end for Mr. Neumann in Kenya: When he came back together with his German partner and their families to spend some weeks at the Reef Hotel, Biwott got into contact with Kivuvani.

First the Hotel Management of the Reef was instructed not to accept their Credit Cards (although they had golden Visa Cards). They were asked to arrange for cash payment. Since they had already been in the hotel for more than 3 weeks – two families together with 5 children occupying a suite with 2 bedrooms each – this was a big amount. But after some days (knowing the Kenyan Banks at that time, you will realize that this task was not easy), they got the money and not only covered their bills but also left a nice deposit for the rest of their stay.

Thinking that with this, their problems were settled, Mr. Neumann went to Nairobi to continue his discussions with Dr. Mungai and also to meet Zakhem Engineering (they had been introduced by Dr,. Mungai and had shown an interest to enter as Partners and had already secured that the Intercontinental-Group was taking over the Management of the Hotel later).

When he came back from one of these meetings, two Special-Branch Officers were waiting for him. They searched his briefcase and also confiscated his German Passport.

Mr. Neuman later realized that the only documents missing was the correspondence between him and Biwott regarding the 15 % arrangements.

So the force behind Special Branch involvement was confirmed: Nicholas Biwott……………

Luckily I was also in Nairobi at that time and immediately tried to Intervene and spoke with Dr. Mungai.

Mr. Neumann was then allowed to return to Mombasa – and after having settled their bills, he and his partners also left Kenya ………….. forever .

But because of my renewed involvement or as he called it ‘interference in his personal matters’ , Nicholas Biwott had already ‘collected’ another file about me – as I was to learn very soon ………..


See Marianne Briner's other fascinating blog on the Kenyan presidency.

Elections 2007: The Kind Of Elections You Should Expect

As promised yesterday, I have agonized all night putting myself in the shoes of the incumbent and imagining that I was him seeing State House literally slip through my incumbent fingers before my very eyes as I watch.

By the way this is a very important exercise as it will give us all some very useful insights on what we should expect over the next few weeks leading up to the general elections.

The only thing that would have an outside chance of working would be to clandestinely look for a candidate to sponsor to erode the popularity of Raila and to take away as much votes as possible from the opposition side. This candidate would have to be chosen carefully because it is vital that they do not take any votes from the incumbent. This should not sound so far-fetched because there is nothing that a sizeable media and advertising budget cannot do to get just the right candidate very popular overnight. It would be preferable for that candidate to be young, the kind that would excite the millions of younger voters now firmly in the ODM ship. But of course chances of such a candidate winning would be nil, but remember that the objective would be to put a credible spoiler. This candidate should be seen to be an enemy of the Kibaki camp and will even take a few well aimed barbs in his direction. However their campaign strategy will be to tell Kenyans that both Raila and Kibaki are the same and only the young generation can save Kenya. Such a message has the potential now of catching fire like an uncontrollable bush fire in a dry savannah landscape.

Another useful thing to do would be pull out all the files from the intelligence service on characters like Kalonzo Musyoka and Mutula Kilonzo and to even start the process of preparing prosecutions. Believe me there is plenty of dirt on the files on these two characters. The whole objective would be to get Kalonzo Musyoka and the entire Hoo Ndii Emm to back President Kibaki’s re-election bid.

The next part of the strategy would be to unleash plenty of violence and terror to cause chaos and confusion (especially in opposition strongholds) while keeping real issues out of the campaign process. This would then all be blamed on ODM and that man with a violent history called Raila Odinga. This is not very difficult to do as “moneybags Livondo” proved to all of us last weekend.

Fellow Kenyans, in short I have come to the horrifying conclusion that there is no way the Kibaki handlers and camp will push for a peaceful elections because doing so is not in their best interests. That is a terrible thing to say but it is the truth. Of course as all this will be happening, the Kibaki camp will do its’ best to project an image of respectability and a team very keen on peaceful elections. But let us remember that we are dealing with politicians here. So don’t focus on what they say, instead focus on what they do and read between the lines rather than the actual sugar-coated sentences.

As you read this there are tens of thousands of Kenyan who are refugees in their own country in the Mount Elgon area. The government has been “unable” to quell the violence in that area. Also note that whatever has happened, Simon Nyachae has still NOT been charged for his actions at Kisii (captured on national television).

To complete the whole “horror movie” that is elections 2007, former president Moi is a major decision maker on President Kibaki’s campaign team. Here is the man who invented ethnic cleansing for election purposes in Kenya. And he must be more that a little upset at the way he has been received in many areas of Kalenjin Rift Valley in recent times. He will want to teach the wananchi a lesson or two—please don’t ask me how he will do this. But here is a hint shortly after multi-partyism was reintroduced in the country. He told delighted and cheering Kenyans; “Hii multiparty itachoma nyinyi.” (this multiparty will burn you). How prophetic his words proved to be… and to this day.

Those of you who know how to pray for divine intervention, now is a very good time to get into some very serious prayers for the beloved motherland.

Kenya Betrayed - William Kivuvani

Chapter 1 - Part 3 - William Kivuvani (Special Branch)

These rumors about me reached such a level that the Special Branch had to intervene and I was asked to come to their office in Mombasa.

Here I met then William Kivuvani for the first time. He was at that time the Chief of Special Branch, Mombasa.. He was also related to Mary and Simon.

We agreed that I should not attend the functions at the Navy Base anymore since he was sure that then all these funny rumors would stop. I understood and accepted.

So Mary started instead to invite some of the American Commanders who had in the meantime also become friends on a private basis. I remember, we once even made a ‘picnic’ party at a drive-in cinema together with Mary’s children…..

During our meeting at his office, Kivuvani had also asked me about my personal background. I told him that I had dual Citizenship (Swiss and German). He was very interested to learn that I spoke besides German and English also French and Italian.

I regarded this ‘interrogation’ as part of his job and did not think much about it especially since I knew that he was not only a relative but also a trusted friend of Mary and Simon.

Kivuvani told me that he had been in charge on behalf of Special Branch to organize the transport of the body of the late President Kenyatta when he died on August 22, 1978, in Mombasa to be brought to Nairobi before his death was officially announced.

But the car broke down in the middle of the road and he had to call the Kenya Navy to send one of their ambulances. Here Simon Mbilu comes in: he was on duty that night and called by Kivuvani (his cousin).

So the body of Kenyatta was changed in the dark at the roadside from car to another and then flown to State House, Nairobi, and in the following morning his death was officially announced to the people of Kenya.

The reason for this delay was the fact that a certain group wanted to use this time to get hold of the Vice-President Daniel arap Moi before he could reach State House where – according to the Constitution – he would have automatically become the new President.

But the problem was that Moi was that night at his Kabarak-Farm near Nakuru and had to be brought to Nairobi since only at the State House he would have been ‘safe’. To prohibit him to reach State House, road-blocks were set up and the police instructed to search for Moi’s car.

But Kivuvani had known about these ‘plans’ and together with friends from the coast (amongst which also the PC, Eluid Mahihu), had passed the warning to Hezekiah Oyugi who in turn got together with his friends, Nicholas Biwott and Abraham Kiptanui (by the way, that was the first time that I heard the infamous Nicholas Biwott ever mentioned).

Kivuvani, Oyugi and also Kiptanui knew each other since a long time: all three had originally started as Prison Wardens before joining the Secret Service.

So Moi was picked up at his Kabarak Farm and first brought to a nearby place before they organized a small van and hidden under some blankets and using some small side-roads driven to State House.

And here Moi was finally safe – The Attorney-General Charles Njonjo also had been contacted the same night at his residence in London. He came back immediately and then proclaimed Moi the legal successor of Kenyatta. The rest is history.

And Moi did not forget to whom he owed his Presidency:

Charles Njonjo became soon after a nominated Member of Parliament and then Minister for Constitutional and Home Affairs.

Nicholas Biwott became a nominated Member of Parliament and Minister of State, Office of the President (until he changed to the more lucrative Ministry for Energy a few years later).

Hezekiah Oyugi was appointed Head of Internal Security (and as that he later got involved in the killing of Dr. Robert Ouko and then 2 years after he was killed by poisoning at a London Hospital to stop him from talking.)

Abraham Kiptanui was appointed Director of the Nairobi Airport and a few years later Moi’s Private Secretary and State House Comptroller.

William Kivuvani (whose part in all this Moi did not know immediately) was later promoted to head Special Branch Nairobi and at the end even became Director of the CID. -

And to complete his ‘picture’: he had been summoned by the Sunguh-led Committee to give evidence, but he refused to give any information and was proclaimed a ‘hostile witness’.


Who Is This Marianne Briner?

Many of you 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. My parents always insisted that also as a girl you have to be independent and have a good education to become independent in your future life.

So I had a very happy childhood with a lot of privileges as I have realized only later since at that time it was all ‘normal’ for me.

I went to a very selective Maedchen-Gymnasium (similar to a Girl’s High School) – and the biggest attraction was our Music Teacher – Otto Daube. He was a friend of the Wagner-Family and well-connected in the international classic music world.

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

But it did not stop at that: Each year he invited some of us to come with him to the Wagner-Festivals in Bayreuth ….. and I was one of them.

For those who do not know what this means: the Wagner-Festival is upto to today one of the most exclusive international venues – with a waiting list to get tickets – not only for one season but for upto 10 years …………

But we did not stop with being interested in classical music ‘only’ ……………

Just to give you an example: Together with some friends (amongst them the Heir of the famous Krupp (Steel) Dynasty, Arndt von Bohlen, we set up a Jazz-Club in an old (war) bunker which very soon became the center of social life in our area.

We even had the honor that people like Louis Armstrong, Chris Barber, Dizzie Gillespie and Duke Ellington came to give private (free) concerts in our place.

Some of my old friends of that time (like Stockhausen and Doldinger) even became very famous Musicians and another friend out of that time is one of the most known German TV-Actresses, Marie-Luise Marjan.

But 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) which later became the famous brand ‘Chiquita. His brother was the Financial Adviser of the Dutch Queen (first Wilhelmina and then also Juliana – the mother of the present Queen Beatrix). And it was Beatrix and her sister Irene with whom I then met since I started to spend most of my summer holidays in the Netherlands. We became very close friends ………

My aunt had been a driving force behind rescuing Dutch Jews from the Holocaust during the 2nd World War – protecting them and 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 the title of ‘a Dame of the Court’ – given to her by Queen Beatrix.

Her life and courage would be worth another book – and maybe I will write it soon…………

And here life and its amazing stories crops in: Beatrix’ husband was Claus von Amsberg and he is directly related to my daughter’s husband’s family – actually Crown-Prince Willem Alexander is a first Cousin ……..and I think that was one of the reasons why Jeff Koinange was so interested in her ……calling her ‘royal’…….

My first ‘boyfriend’ was Klaus Westphal – the son of a famous Atomic-Power Physician – his Klaus’ godfather was Albert Einstein ........ just to 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 Berlin. When my parents had some objections (don’t forget, things were different at that time from now), 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 he also met his present wife Margrit …. it was an innocent friendship started as teenagers and stayed like that ………

Klaus is living since many years in the United States 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 fathers name was Wilhelm F. Westphal – for the ones who really want to know more …….

Other people who had a strong influence on my life were:

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 house and we kept contact for some years after.

Donald Kursch – I met him when he was American Vice Consul in Zurich – he later became Special Ambassador of the United States for the Kosovo …..

There are many more …… so you see, my life did not start in Africa …… it started long before that ……..

Maybe one day I will write about all this – as my daughter is pleading with me since years - but for now I am still too occupied with Kenyan Politics –


Chapter 1 - Part 4 - James Karugu / Ben Gethi


After Kivuvani had assured me that I would not have to face any more problems, I moved from Mary’s farm back to the Ocean View Hotel.

Here I always had the same table reserved for me. A few days after having spoken to Kivuvani last (he had confiscated my Swiss Passport and gave it only back to me after I had been found ‘clean’), I found a man sitting at ‘my’ table when I came down for breakfast.

He must have seen the light anger in my face and that I already started to call the waiter to show me another table. So he got up and explained that he had been waiting for me because he wanted to talk with me.

He introduced himself as James Karugu and told me that he was the Chief Prosecutor (soon after be became Attorney General succeeding Charles Njonyo).

A few minutes later a second man came to our table and Karugu introduced him as Ben Gethi (Commander of the GSU).

No further explanation was given and we continued with our breakfast when they asked me to accept their invitation for Lunch at a nearby French Restaurant. I understood that they did not want to talk in front of the Ocean View personnel.

They also had booked a room at the Ocean View although Karugu told me that he also owed a house next to the Bamburi State House (he later even showed it to me) but it was rented to some Foreigners at the moment.

We then had Lunch together at a Restaurant at the creek near Kilifi. And here they told me then that Kivuvani had told them about me and they had come to get to know me personally since Kivuvani had the idea that I could work for the Kenyan Secret Service.

They explained that I would receive invitations to attend official and private Functions mainly in Nairobi. Since I spoke several languages, it should be easy for me to understand what is discussed in foreign diplomatic circles. I should try to find out about the opinion of certain countries and their Ambassadors have about Kenya and then report to the Special Branch. My contact person would always be William Kivuvani.

They also told me that already some other foreigners living and working in Kenya had been ‘asked’ and had finally accepted. I understood very well that also these people must have been put under pressure ‘either you accept or you have to leave…..’ and I may have to face the same ‘solution’ one day…….

Karugu – joined by Gethi – assured me that with my looks and the way I was dressed, I could move easily amongst these diplomatic and business circles and could soon become ‘a part’ of it.

It seemed here Simon Mbilu had given some favourable reports how the American Commanders had reacted to me and how easy it was for me to make contacts.

We then drove back to the Ocean View since they told me that they had a meeting scheduled with Kivuvani at his office later. Before, they made sure that I would accept their invitation for Dinner and informed me that also Mary Bryant and Simon Mbilu would then join us.

Before leaving for Nairobi the following morning, Karugu and Gethi told me to think about their proposal and let them know my decision as soon as possible. They would already start looking for a house for me in Nairobi since I would then also have to ‘entertain’ people and therefore a safe and even luxury place and servants were essential.

But I started feeling ‘unsafe’ – almost threatened – so I decided to go back to Switzerland for some weeks enabling me to think about all this in a more neutral and peaceful surrounding.

When I came back after about 3 months, I called Karugu’s office and was informed that he had been appointed Attorney General in the meantime. I then met him at his new Office and informed him that I had decided not to accept their proposal and asked him to also inform Kivuvani and Gethi which he promised to do saying that he would make sure that I had no further problems………

We then spoke about some private matters and I gave him a present I had brought for him from Switzerland: When we had Lunch at that French Restaurant near Kilifi, he had told me that he loved a special Swiss Liquor called ‘Williamsbirne’ and was quite disappointed that they did not keep it at that place since it was perfect together with the coffee after meals.

Thinking about this, I had bought for him a bottle of this Liquor hoping that this would help getting him on my side when telling him about my refusal – and it seemed to work - at least for a while.

Tomorrow: Enter Nicholas Kipyator Biwott

Why Are The Diplomatic Corps So Worried About Election Violence?

Diplomacy is the art of lying creatively while maintaining a straight face.

Today all the major western power’s representative talked to the press about the looming mother of all general elections emphasizing that they were not backing any “horse”. Actually the diplomats addressed a number of issues, but the purpose of this post is to try and see through their diplomatic pronouncements to their real concerns and objectives on the ground.

Firstly all western powers share one deep concern—to ensure that Kenya remains peaceful. If anything were to happen to disturb the peace in Kenya a lot of their operations would be badly disrupted. For example did you know that Nairobi has an enviable reputation with donor organizations as one city in black Africa where you will find anything you need. This is in sharp contrast to many other African capitals where certain vital supplies have to be imported and this makes operations very difficult when moving relief food and other supplies to war torn or disaster areas on the continent.

But let’s get back to today’s press conference.

I predicted here over a year ago that this year’s general elections would be the most violent in history. My conclusions were based on what is at stake this time round when compared to past elections.

Fascinatingly the diplomats dwelt on that point at great length this morning. They said that the elections were going to be very closely fought because the opinion polls have so far been swinging from one candidate to another. They also said that a lot was at stake and therefore electoral violence was a major concern to them. They emphasized that although they were neutral, they would not remain silent if election malpractices occurred (and election violence is clearly one way of denying Kenyans a free and fair election).

I expect that the Kibaki side which is said to be trailing Raila will face a lot of animosity as they hit the campaign trail and indeed many of them have already started to sense that all is not well. So the million shilling question is how they will react to this? If the action of Mr Moneybags Livondo yesterday is anything to go by, then we expect that the president’s foot soldiers will favor violence as the most effective counter-strategy, even as they find ways and means to blame it all on ODM supporters.

Moi has secretly told those close to him that the reason he is campaigning against Raila is to avert bloodshed because those close to the Kibaki administration have assured him that they will NOT hand over power to Raila Odinga. Let anybody else win the elections BUT NOT Raila Odinga, Moi says that they have told him.

It seems that the diplomatic corps’ own intelligence services have informed them to be on the look our for some serious violence in these elections. Naturally they have also given them a pretty good idea of who is bound to win and what it means for western interests like the war on terrorism which is very high on the crowded American agenda in this part of the world.

The way the diplomats emphasized on this election violence thing today has gotten me very suspicious and more nervous that before. They seem to have some information which the rest of us clearly do not have. Although there is really nothing surprising here because we all know how former president Moi and many other powerful persons in the Kibaki re-election team play this game.

And as we have said here many times before which the diplomats repeated this morning;

The stakes are dangerously high this time round.

Secretly Investigate Unfaithful cheating spouse in Kenya

Why married women cheat

Book Special: Kenya Betrayed

Kumekucha Exclusive

In the true Kumekucha tradition we begin today to publish information that has never been published anywhere before.

Marianne Briner’s raw no-holds-barred tale of her encounter with Kenya and her people from all walks of life including the high and mighty. Visit Kumekucha daily and read this amazing tale for yourself. If you have read a Shinning Star In Darkness, you will still find a lot of information that you never saw in that earlier watered down version of this amazing tale.

ENJOY.


M A R I A N N E B R I N E R
---------------------------------
In Memory of Dr. Robert Ouko - Minister for Foreign Affairs And International Co-operation.

Brutally killed on February 13, 1990
________________________________

Although part of the story is based on the Book A Shining Star in Darkness – co-authored by Sam Okello – this book is a totally new approach – not only because I am using the real names, but mainly because I am telling the ‘whole’ story – something neither the American Publisher nor Sam Okello had allowed me to do since I feared legal consequences…….

But I have decided that the times where I or anybody else should feel afraid, are over. It is time to tell the whole truth. Dr. Ouko and all the others who have died for a similar cause, deserve this. Only then will they finally be able to rest in peace.


- All rights reserved –
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system – without permission in writing from the copyright owner and the above Publisher of this book.

Spain, August 31, 2007


In Tune ……..

I don’t remember when I first began
To call you ‘ friend ‘ . One day, I only know,
The vague companionship that I’d seen grow
So imperceptibly, turned gold, and ran
In tune with all I’d thought, or dared to plan.

Since then, you had been to me like music low,
Yet clear. A fire that throws its warm, bright glow
On me as on each woman, child and man,
And common thing that lies within its rays.

You’ve been like wholesome food that stays the cry
Of hungry, groping minds; and like a star -
A self-sufficient star - you made be raise
My utmost being to a higher sky.
In tune, like you, with earth - yet wide and far.

***************************


Prologue


“Please fasten your seat-belts, we are approaching Nairobi Airport and will be landing in about. 30 minutes,”

The voice of the Swiss Pilot clings in my ears - it is November 19, 2004.

I had received a Summon by the Kenyan Government to give evidence in front of a Parliamentary Committee which had been set up to investigate the killing of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Dr. Robert Ouko.

I recall the anxious eyes of my daughter at the Airport in Zurich and her pleading voice before I passed the Check-in, “Please, Mami, don’t go.”

But then appears in front of me the sincere and smiling face of another person:

Dr. Robert Ouko - brutally killed on February 13, 1990 - unforgotten not only by his immediate family and me but also by so many who had put their hope in him that he could change their lives, erase the corruption and lead Kenya into a better future.

Then I know that it had been right to take the risk and that I owed this not only to Dr. Ouko and his family but also to myself.

I then wonder if I will also see the former President Daniel arap Moi. I am sure he knows about my arrival since it had been announced in the Media already since weeks.

There are so many questions to answer - so many gaps to close - so many doubts to erase which only he would be able to do.

One of the Swiss Pilot comes and tells me that I will have to stay in the plane until all the other passengers have left. He had been informed by the Nairobi-Flight-Control that a Kenyan Delegation and some Security People will come directly to the plane to receive me.

Finally the plane is landing and I realize that this may be the last time that I will ever be allowed to enter Kenya.

I close my eyes and my thoughts go back in time.

I am trying to remember when and how it all started.


***************************


Chapter 1

……HOW IT ALL BEGAN ……

Chapter 1 - Part 1 - The early years -

I came to Kenya for the first time in 1967 when I was working as Air Hostess for a German Airline.

At that time we had 7 days stopover and my flight schedule included this destination once per month during the following two years.

This gave me time to get to know the country and its people and to visit also the beautiful National Parks. Together with the rest of the Crew I used to rent a private plane and could explore also parts which were otherwise difficult to reach like Samburu and the Lake Victoria-Region.

Although the Airline paid our hotel in Nairobi (we usually stayed at the Westwood Country Club), we normally preferred to go to Mombasa. East African Airways gave us free tickets and some hotels like the Nyali Beach Hotel or the Two Fishes offered us reduced rates.

Kenya was just beginning to build up the Tourist Industry and it was our Airline which brought the first German visitors on a regular basis.

Nairobi was still a quiet city, no high-rising buildings like today. But the social life was already very active. We therefore received via our local Representative sometimes invitations to attend also diplomatic functions and private parties.

Here I then also met for the first time President Jomo Kenyatta and his beautiful young wife, Mama Ngina.

At that time I was already engaged to Dr. Frederik Briner, a well-known Swiss Psychologist and a Member not only of the Swiss but also of the German Psychological Association and teaching in both countries at various Universities.

He also entered Swiss politics following the footsteps of his grandparents - his grandfather was one of the founders of the Swiss Labor Party SP and his grandmother was behind the first Cooperative Movements.

After we got married in 1969, we received an invitation to spend our Honeymoon in Kenya and stayed for two months in a private house near Malindi.

Since my husband had some close contacts with the German Automobile Association, he had then the idea to get into contact also with the the Kenyan AA. He had started in Germany and Switzerland to help to develop some machines which were testing the eye-sight and another one the reaction of the drivers.

The Kenyan AA was very interested and in 1970 we went back to Kenya during the Summer Holidays and he started to make some tests introducing these machines also to the Kenyan Officials. They then proposed to start testing as a first trial some school-bus- and truck-drivers since the amount of accidents had increased significantly.

He was then also interviewed at the Kenyan Television and we also met President Kenyatta.

But the whole exercise turned out to be a disaster: not only did almost nobody pass the Reaction-Test, but he even encountered many drivers who not only did not see well which could have been rectified by wearing glasses, but some were even blind on one eye.

He had to report them and these people lost their jobs. He was then threatened. Their families even came to our house (we stayed in Karen in a private house). Since I was normally alone during the day, my husband felt that I might be in danger - so he decided to stop and we went back to Switzerland earlier than scheduled.

Before leaving he instructed some Kenyans from AA how to use these machines and left them with them.

Our daughter was then born in November 1971 and we continued spending holidays in Kenya at least once per year and therefore kept the ties with the people we had met before and some have remained our friends up to today.

After our divorce some years later, I started to go to Kenya on a more regular basis, always accompanied by my daughter and also her father used to join us sometimes. We are still very close friends and always kept contact.

Watching the beautiful landscape and the animals has contributed to my daughter’s later decision to become a Veterinary doctor (as she said during her first years in Kenya: ‘one day I will lie in the grass and count the lions....’).

By the way, my daughter’s name is Alexandra Malaika and to get the second name registered in Switzerland took us three days since the Swiss did not accept it first because they believed it being just a fantasy name.

Chapter 1 - Part 2 -
Mary Bryant and Simon Mbilu (Commander Kenya Navy)

Although I normally used to rent a house when my daughter was staying with me during her summer holidays, I preferred to stay in a hotel when I was alone. One of my favourite places was the Ocean View Hotel just next to the Bamburi State House.

To be continued tomorrow.


Secretly Investigate Unfaithful cheating spouse in Kenya

Why married women cheat

Kibaki’s Surprise Appearance At The Ford People’s Delegates Conference

All indications are pointing at Kenyans going to the polls earlier than our countdown by as much as a whole month (30 days). However we will stick to our latest possible date countdown and will only change when the election date is formerly announced.

One of the clear indicators of this is the president’s increased activity. Yesterday he turned up unexpectedly at the Ford People’s delegates’ conference. Terrible PR if you ask me because the implication was that the president is fully behind his cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae. Somebody that he should have fired from his cabinet over the political violence incident in Kisii recently where William Ruto and Omingo Magara were chased by armed youths and got slight injuries as a result. But the issue was not the so much the severity of the injuries as the ugly head of political violence rearing its’ head.

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Just as I was making this post, I received word that President Kibaki has also turned up at the Kanu National Delegates Conference today where he again addressed the Kanu delegates and appealed for their votes. I will analyze this in more detail tomorrow.
------------------------------------

Addressing the delegates the president appealed for votes because his government “imefanya kazi” (has worked hard for the people).

Just before the president arrived, Nyachae was stressing the independence of the party where he said they should build their strength in parliament and will be fielding candidates where they felt they were strong, meaning in Gusiiland (irrespective of what the PNU high command decided.)

Interestingly Nyachae told the press this week that the devil moves in them, even though it was clear who was under the influence of the devil from the naked threats and warlike activities of Simoen Nyachae last week in Kisii.

In a way it is sad that a political party founded by such a principled politician and a man who was before his time, Kimani Wanyoike would end up in the hands of such a violent tribal chief as Simeon Nyachae, a man who milks ethnicity for all that it is worth.

Is The Steadman Poll Accurate Only When Your Preferred Presidential Candidate Is Winning?

Kalonzo Musyoka of Hoo Ndii Emm says that the Steadman poll is flawed.

This is really interesting because when he was doing well in the same poll, last year, he often praised it as being very accurate and representative of the people’s views. It is now clear that since he is lagging behind, the poll is suddenly flawed.

Kumekucha has been consistently critical of the Steadman polls. My view is that the people conducting them concentrate most of their efforts on Kenyans in a certain class. The pollsters are quite often young girls in mini skirts and smartly dressed graduates who have never used a pit latrine in their lifetime and are frightened to go into places like the Kibera or Mathare slums—two places that will decide the presidential vote in Nairobi.

When these areas omitted by Steadman are factored in, the implication here is that Raila odinga has a landslide victory if the elections were to be held today.

The other thing is that if president Kibaki loses this election Steadman will be to blame just as their polls are to blame for causing Kalonzo Musyoka’s head to swell so much so that he told President Kibaki; "I believe I am your most serious challenger." The same poll gave many of the president’s advisors the mistaken fatal attitude that the president was invincible.

One of the reasons why I think a Kalonzo presidency would be disaster in this country is because, in sharp contrast to Raila Odionga, Kalonzo believes that nothing should be done about the looters of the past and the country should only set its’ eyes on the future. Very wishful thinking this and just the recipe to encourage even more corruption if Kenyans allow for a Kalonzo Musyoka tenure in State House.