Cyber Shocker As Old Mzungu Strips In Public For Young Kenyan Beauty

I move around a lot and one of the advantages of web technology is that it does not matter whether I am in Madrid or Kitale, I am still able to make my posts in Kumekucha.

So recently I was in this cyber café in a certain major town in Kenya where I had just arrived and I happen to sit next to this very attractive young lady with long hair. It was the most beautiful hair I had seen in a long time (lakini my thoughts remained pure because I am happily married to my Kikuyu beauty and besides this lady looked younger than my daughter). I was busy and did not pay much attention to her except that I happen to notice that she was doing what most young ladies do in cyber cafes these days. She was chatting to a mzungu boyfriend. The middle aged man’s live webcam image filled the computer screen right next to hers making it easy to draw the contrast in age.

I was lost in the world of Kumekucha until some commotion somewhere behind me attracted my attention. For some time I had heard the girl giggling and I assumed that the old man was really funny. But now looking at the screen, I understood why. The mzee had stripped naked and shifted the web cam to point directly at his manhood which appeared to be partially erect.

The lady seated somewhere behind us, whom I assumed was the owner of café was on the scene in a flash.

“We do not allow that kind of behavior here. Please tell him you are in a cyber café and not in the privacy of your bedroom.” She said with anger and what to me sounded like glee at being able to tell off the young attractive lady (but I could be wrong). The young supu seated next to me at the cyber promptly shut the window displaying her Mzee’s goods. And to my surprise she was not offended, and continued with her chat for another 30 minutes or so before leaving the cyber as if nothing had happened.

Then I went and made the mistake I always make of sharing everything with Mrs Kumekucha and I did it by showing her this post shortly before posting.

“That’s really funny,” she said without even smiling. “Just how beautiful was she?”

The Dangers Of An ODM Landslide Victory

One thing I am very proud of about Kumekucha are the great brains that have been attracted to this blog. Folks who are much smarter than yours truly and who help us keep this blog on the cutting edge and right at the top as a leading source of political information on Kenya.

Some of these guys have expressed concern in recent times over an ODM landslide victory in the parliamentary elections leaving the 10th parliament with a very weak, almost non-existent opposition. This is certainly food for thought as the latest poll put ODM’s Raila Odinga further ahead of the president at 53% with President Kibaki trialing at 37%. If past experience is anything to go by, the side that loses the general elections usually takes a long time to settle and re-unite to speak as one voice of the opposition. Already there are accusations flying all over the place on the PNU side and chances are that an election loss will cause chaos and disarray that will take a long time to sort out, if ever. For starters constituents of Othaya will have to head back to the polls to elect a new Member of parliament as it is unlikely that President Kibaki will take his seat in the back benches of parliament in 2008, should he lose the elections.

And it seems that this reality on the ground is slowly beginning to sink into the minds of the presidential campaign team. Information that reached me a few minutes ago from Mombasa indicates that President Kibaki’s motorcade was seen in the town earlier today at about 2:15 pm and curious wananchi who wanted to catch a glimpse of him were disappointed when for the first time this year, the motorcade went through the city at high speed without the president “greeting’ and waving at the people. Mombasa residents were heard making snide remarks and one who was standing close to our source said; “Mumekataa, kwa hivyo musisubiri salamu.” (You have rejected him so do not wait for greetings).

To which a bald headed middle aged man replied; “Wacha aendee nyumbani apumzike.” (Let him return home to rest). Some of those in the vicinity burst into laughter.

Both Steadman and other pollster’s findings as well as Kumekucha’s information from impeccable sources show that Coast Province is a solid Raila Odinga and ODM region.

Still, this is NOT an ODM blog and now would be as good a time as any to start asking questions about the possible new ODM government and testing how such an administration will handle constructive criticism. We are actually doing here what the PNU (Pitiful National Alliance, according to one of our readers) should be doing. Unfortunately this political grouping has been blundering at every step and have chosen instead to spend most of their quality campaign time on non-issues and hurling personal abuses at Hon Raila Odinga. So somebody might as well start doing their job for them.

Last time I checked, Raila Odinga was not an angel; and neither are the people running this party that has taken the country by storm. Kenyans need assurances that we will not see tribal appointments from the new administration. Critics have been quick to point to the composition of employees at the Odinga family business, East African Spectre, as an indication of things to come. Of course this is grossly unfair because the company in question is a private business and not a national parastatal and therefore one is free to do what they want to do with their private business.

However for those interested the following is a full list of employees at East African Spectre and the tribes they belong to;

Member’s Of Staff In East African Spectre International

JUNIOR STAFF MEMBERS BREAKDOWN
Luo - 126
Luhya - 1
Kikuyu - 2
Coast - 1
Muslim - 1
Kamba - 0
Meru - 0
Embu - 0
Nubians- 1

MANAGEMENT STAFF MEMBERS
Luo - 7
Foreign - 7
Kikuyu - 1

Note: The CEO is Mr Israel O. Agina, a first cousin to Hon Raila Odinga.
JUNIOR STAFF MEMBERS

1. Aloo Hezekiah Odeny
2. Ogam James Okello
3. Anguko John Kweya
4. Nyambundi Solomon Aguga
5. Ochieng Duncan
6. Ouko Jacob Otieno
7. Musilwa Benson Omondi
8. Guma George Odhiambo
9. Nyabego Julius Odhiambo
10. Ondu Joseph Awuor
11. Achieng Elly Bai
12. Okello Gilbert Ondu
13. Nyambondo Harris Omuga
14. Orioki Leonard
15. Musonye Alex Stanley
16. Ogola William Akungu
17. Oremo Thaddeus
18. Nyamunga Bernard Omollo
19. Opot Jackson Akonde
20. Oyugi Philip Onyango
21. Odhiambo Felix Ben
22. Kinuthia Mariam
23. Odede Geofrey Oduor
24. Ouko Benard Oyoo
25. Achieng Simon Minoh
26. Okang’a Tobias Abidha
27. Okatch Moses Ochieng
28. Keya Benson Otieno
29. Okwirri Mathew C. Ouma
30. Otwele Henry Olindo
31. Badia Emily Rebecca
32. Nyongesa James
33. Opiyo Peter Oketch
34. Abuor Philip Otieno
35. Wafula Ronald Wambaya
36. Onwonga Nancy Mogusero
37. Okwako Arthur Otieno
38. Omune Erick Onyango
39. Chari Joyce Mwangunga
40. Gila George Ochieng
41. Masoro George Omollo
42. Owuory Renee A.
43. Khisa Maurice Wabwire
44. Omondi Philip Odongo
45. Bett Japheth. K.
46. Onditi Charles Nicholas
47. Obonyo Wycliff Owino
48. Ayieyo Walter Osir
49. Olwa Elizabeth A.
50. Ogutu Lindah
51. Scovia Lilian
52. Opata Eunice A.
53. Malo Shadrack
54. Abondo George
55. Oloo George Juma
56. Mondoh John O.
57. Ajuma Jerry Olan’go
58. Odek Patrick Lumumba
59. Oyucho Francis
60. Ndalo Wisdom
61. Owiro Mohamed
62. Oburu Elijah
63. Orwa charles
64. Opondo Tom Joseph
65. Maguti Justus
66. Geyo Jacob Otieno
67. Omolo Edward Omolo
68. Oloo Francis Owino
69. Oruko Solomon Gogo
70. Omondi Patrick
71. Oyoo Joseph Otieno
72. Anditi Jacob
73. Oyuyo Fredrick
74. Akinyi Judith Jecinter
75. Sironey ****ens L.
76. Kisombe Stephen M.
77. Onguru Yohana A. O.
78. Akach Paul Odhiambo
79. Oluoch Michael Esborgs
80. Odingo Abner Ochieng’
81. Odhiambo Martin Tom
82. Odando Peter Onyango
83. Ototo Japhet K.
84. Odhiambo Maurice
85. Odayo Sylanus Ogutu
86. Opiyo Domnic Agolla
87. Odhiambo Jared Owiti
88. Omollo Dan
89. Okebe Norman Ooko
90. Odero Lamek Omollo
91. Oyombe Cyrus Juma
92. Miguna Meshack Omondi
93. Okoth Felix Ouma
94. Onege Anne Awiti
95. Owino Samuel Muga
96. Otieno Gladys Awuor
97. Apiyo Everlyne Akinyi
98. Otieno George Aoko
99. Gwara Nelson Owino
100. Muthoni Evelyn
101. Osii Brenda Alouch
102. Oguttu Fred Onyago
103. Owaka Hezron Okulo
104. Mahero Paul Oluoch
105. Agengo George Otieno
106. Guda Robert Ouko
107. Nyaguti Joseph Odhiambo
108. Odero Alfred Okoth
109. Odida Daniel Onyango
110. Onyango Martin Omollo
111. Aloka Moses Omollo
112. Masudi Tom Mboya
113. Ochieng Austin Otieno
114. Amoni Adam Amemu
115. Owuor Fredrick Ouma
116. Ochieng Peter Odhiambo
117. Ndhawa Joseph Odira
118. Olwa Samuel Onyango
119. Maleya Levi Oriedo
120. Odanda Joshua Arodi
121. Muga Shellemia Awino
122. Oloo John Onyango
123. Ogola John Omondi
124. Alori Wilson Odhiambo
125. Abuto Joseph Agwenge
126. Odhiambo Joab Oroge
127. Odhiambo Colloins
128. Otieno David Fanuel
129. Neondo Joseph Olachi
130. Nyakoe Peter Ondieki
131. Rado Brian



MANAGEMENT STAFF MEMBERS

1. Israel O. Agina
2. Mario D. Teixeria
3. Holmes Bruce Wayne
4. Kamau M. Florence
5. Oyamo Dan Omondi
6. Bakker Jacob Gerrit
7. Tonder Anton Van
8. Oyuyo Fredrick O.
9. Busia Ruth A.
10. Mathew John Edward
11. Heubsch Nicholas J.
12. Odhiambo Judith A.
13. Onbinju George Stev
14. Zanot Adriaan Van Der
15. Tambo Erick

“Do I Still Love Her?” (Kenya Betrayed)

When he was sure Moi was listening, he whispered, “Look, I don’t mean to disrupt your evening, but I hope you know what that authority really means.”

“I still don’t understand what this is all about – so what do you mean with ‘authority’ ?”

“The authority to summon any witness.”

“And …?”

Biwott finally dropped the bomb, “ Marianne could also be summoned …….. she could come back to Nairobi …….”

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

Marianne …….

How he had dreaded to hear that name again. He realized how mixed his feelings for her still were and also how strong. Do I still love her or should a rather hate her now?

But the moment Biwott had mentioned her, Moi knew something had to be done.
First of all, he had to ensure that she was not allowed back into Kenya.

So far, she had managed to keep her public comments about Dr. Ouko to the business and official matters related to his death. That been wise. What worried Moi now was that she could finally decide to drop the ball also on the private matters.

In the two previous investigations, witnesses had studiously limited their testimony to the politics of Dr. Ouko’s death. They had tried hard to paint his death as a tragedy that stemmed only from the corruption surrounding the Molasses Plant in Kisumu.

But Marianne knew better and this was the reason why he had never allowed that she was called to testify during these previous investigations.

Marianne knew every aspect of this case and also the more crucial factor in this so-called mystery. And she knew it as the eventual disclosure of the one factor that scared him most.

Could it really be that Marianne finally had decided to talk?
Moi feared she had.

And because of this he had to keep her out of Kenya.

He left his guests at the tent – the one he always used to host visitors – and hurried to the house.

Marianne …….

The name spoilt the mood – it always spoilt his mood. That’s why Biwott had tried to kill her – finish her back then. But that was a lot of water under the bridge. If there was the slightest possibility that she might be summoned to testify, Moi needed to stop it now.

Marianne cannot come here !

With resolve, he picked up the phone and dialed a number in Nairobi. It rang twice. Then a man answered, “Hello?”

Cough, “It’s me, Moi.”

The man’s eyebrows went up. He was baffled. A call from Moi? Not to sound freaked, he said, “How are you, Mzee?”

“First of all, congratulations on being named Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee. I wish you luck.”

“Thank you, “the man replied.

“Now, there is just one thing I need to tell you,” Moi coughed again, “There is one witness I do not want your Committee to summon.”

“Mzee, with all due respect, by a majority-vote in Parliament, my Committee has been empowered to summon anybody it deems necessary to get to the bottom of this case. We will therefore summon whoever we feel has relevant information ….. even if it is you, Your Excellency.”

Moi was amused. He obviously does not know that nobody will ever dare to summon me …… He then said, “ You can summon me.”

Confused, the man said, “Then who can’t we summon, Sir?”

Moi laughed dryly, “I know, Nicholas Biwott will also get in touch with you about this witness – but because of how weighty the situation is, I felt compelled to call you first.”

“So who are we talking about, “ the man asked.

Clearing his throat, Moi said, “Mrs. Marianne Briner-Mattern.”

Click ….

Cabinet Minister John Koech’s Defection To ODM: What Impact?

The most significant thing about the defection yesterday of Regional Co-operation Cabinet Minister John Koech is that he does not speak DhoLuo and neither does he hail from the Luo community.

The reason why this is important is because it could finally jolt President Mwai Kibaki awake to the very real danger of suffering a landslide defeat in the forthcoming general elections to a man whom many of his aides (still living in the 60s had declared unelectable). There was a time that even Kumekucha himself had many doubts as to how viable a Raila candidature for the presidency would be. The supposedly rabidly tribal Kenyan electorate has surprised as all.

Many of the same Kibaki aides have clung to the view that ODM yawa is a political party that has support only from Luo Nyanza. John Koech’s sudden and decisive move yesterday tells a different story and confirms a lot of what we have been saying here in advice in recent days to the president’s campaign team.

It has not helped matters that President Kibaki’s campaign has stubbornly stuck to a course that is clearly doomed to failure. The idea has been to spread fear in the electorate over the fact that a Raila Odinga presidency is too unpredictable to call and could easily plunge the nation into chaos and stone-throwing. That is a line the electorate have refused to buy and is increasingly sounding more and more ridiculous by the day.

The move also confirms what our information fro the ground has been telling us a for some time now—that Rift Valley is ODM country—and so are all the provinces save Central and Eastern. Never mind that Moi himself is being greeted with chants of ODM wherever in kalenjin Rift Valley that he chooses to go. So much so that in recent days he seems to have abandoned his meet the people campaign tours. At a function to donate food stuffs to some orphanages in Nairobi on Wednesday, the old man looked more tired and exhausted than ever.

But back to the latest defection, Koech obviously has no love lost for Raila but what he has clearly done is read the signs on the ground and as a result has opted for the most convenient “vehicle” to get him back into parliament. That vehicle is ODM.

There are things that are usually discussed at cabinet level. In recent meetings Raila and ODm must have been discussed in great detail and the president’s re-election strategy unveiled. Those are the intimate and juicy secrets that Hon Charity Ngilu and John Koech have now carried to Orange House. Little wonder that the president was so upset over Ngilu’s defection that he uncharacteristically sacked her hours after she had attended the big ODM rally at Uhuru park. Kenyans who have observed the president’s management style know that he takes ages to act on anything. That has always been his style.

Raila Campaign Team Moves To The Next Level

Thousands of Kenyan were bitterly disappointed last night when Raila Odinga failed to show up for a live NTV On the Spot show with Julie Gichuru. Instead he sent Gachoka legislator Joe Nyagah with some lame excuse.

What many did not realize was the fact that this was a strategic move on the side of the now highly alert team of advisors handling Raila Odinga’s campaign. And these gentlemen (and possibly ladies) do not miss a trick.

It appears that Raila Odinga’s bid for State House has now moved to another level. And this is where the candidate has to look as presidential as possible. President Kibaki does not appear on these shows and my bet is that Raila will now only appear on a show where President Kibaki also shows up (a presidential debate would be great, but that’s impossible because Kibaki can’t handle such an event after his stroke in 2003). Incidentally the President has always shunned TV interviews even in the days when he was as fit as a fiddle complete with a razor sharp mind.

Any keen observer will notice that Raila’s interviews on TV have changed a great deal and so have his statements.

Dr. Robert John Ouko (Kenya Betrayed)

Dr. Robert Ouko was one of the most brilliant technocrats on the whole African continent. He was intelligent - a borne diplomat – and he was dedicated to serve his country.

In a nation rife with corruption – right from the top echelons of power all the way to the bottom, he was the only one to mean what he said and to say what he meant.
After having finished his secondary education, he attended Siriba Teachers Training College and graduated with a Teachers Degree. As a teacher he taught at different Primary Schools in his home region.

He continued to study privately through correspondence for the Cambridge School Certificate and passed with a Division Two Certificate.

Consequently, the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia awarded him a scholarship for an under-graduate program. He graduated from university with a degree in political science, public administration and economics in 1962.

He returned to Kenya and joined the then colonial civil service as an Assistant Secretary in the office of the British Governor.

As a civil servant he proceeded to Makerere University, Kampala (Uganda) for a successful post-graduate study in Diplomacy.

After Kenya attained independence in 1963, he held different administrative positions, until President Kenyatta nominated him to the then East African Legislative Assembly. This organization brought together the three East African countries namely Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as a kind of common market.

He first served as a Community Minister for Finance and Administration and then in 1970 he was appointed the Minister for Common Market and Economic Affairs – remaining in this post until the Community collapsed in 1977.

President Kenyatta then nominated him as a Member of the Kenyan Parliament and appointed him the Minister for Economic Affairs in his Government.

During the General Elections in 1979, he successfully contested the Kisumu Rural Constituency, thereby completing the transition from a bureaucrat to an elected politician.

He then became Minister for Foreign Affairs and here he could show his real capacities: making contacts and friends in the highest diplomatic circles always with the aim to improve the image of his country also abroad.

And because of his unrivalled dedication, President Daniel arap Moi while constituting a new Cabinet, had appointed him at the middle of 1987 Minister of Industry.

In another major reshuffle – only one year later - President Moi had called him over the phone and told him that he was moving him from Industry again to Foreign Affairs. “I have full confidence in your abilities. And besides, the Foreign Officials think very highly of you. They see in you the future of Africa – the promise of a better tomorrow. So congratulations, Dr. Ouko. The one o’clock bulletin will carry the news of your appointment.”

And Dr. Ouko – happy to serve this President and his emerging country – had promptly replied, “Thank you, Your Excellency.”

“Don’t let us down,” His Excellency had soberly added, “The image and reputation of my Government is now again in your hands.”

I remembered that story vividly.

Dr. Ouko had told me about it the evening I visited him and his family at their Nairobi home.

At that time, Bob’s focused desire to revive the stalled project of a Molasses Plant in Kisumu was going full-speed ahead and I had assisted him in introducing a big international Group and also arranged the financing.

Bob wanted the plant put up swiftly because the next General Elections were only a year away – and he had learnt that Nicholas Biwott together with other national haters – had sponsored another candidate to run against him.

I remember having asked him, “Are you really worried about them?”

“If the plant goes up fast enough, or if it is a point of near-completion by the time of the Elections, I will not have to worry about them.”

“And what if not?”

“Then there is a good chance I will be defeated. Biwott and his men are determined to take me down. They have brought in millions of shillings ….. and they are willing to spend millions more.”

He had then looked at me, “That’s what I am up against.”

I could not believe this, “But you have done a lot for your people. You have sent children to school. You have paid hospital bills out of your own pockets, helped secure employment for many. Why then would they want to ditch you?”

Bob’s brow had furrowed. How was he going to explain how politics worked in Kenya?

There was no easy way to explain how the triple-mix of hunger, illiteracy and depraved politics affected the discourse in his constituency - and throughout Kenya. One had to be born and raised here to understand it …..

I did not accept his silence, so I continued, “ You really think, they will be dumb enough to ditch you?”

Bob had sighed, “I am certain.”

I am certain ………

This evening – so many years later – these words rang in my mind, ate away at my conscience as I looked at the Summon another time.

I am certain ……

I picked up the phone and dialed again Sandra’s number, “I have made a decision - I am going to Nairobi.”

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

At his home in Kabernet Gardens, the former Head of State was having dinner with guests from Baringo when his phone rang. Excusing himself, he answered it on a second ring, “Hello?”

“It’s Nick.”

Cough, “What’s going on?”

Biwott said, “You know that Parliament had passed a Bill creating a new Committee on the Dr. Ouko murder mystrery.”

“I have heard about it.”

“So what do we do?”

The former Head of State had kept himself pretty busy during the last few years. Ever since relinquishing power, he had taken to visiting his grandchildren, touring his extensive farms, attending church-services, funerals, and counseling young couples at wedding ceremonies.

In every sense of the word, he had become an Elder Statesman …. And because of the incredible incompetence of the new ‘boys’ at State House, his wise counsel was sought constantly.

Besides, a strong coalition of his supporters had taken shape in Nairobi, with many former adversaries to his defense whenever his name came up adversely in any forum.

He felt totally safe. Hakuna matata …..

“Mzee, what do we do?” Biwott repeated, irritated by his silence.

Moi cleared his throat – his eyes flashed, “Let them continue doing their work.”

Biwott caught his lip between his teeth. He was furious. “Do their work?” He brought the phone to his mouth, “I guess whoever briefed you failed to tell you that composition of the Committee.”

“I was told.”

“Did they tell you who is leading it?”

“Yes.”

“How about the fact that the Committee has been authorized to summon anybody it thinks can shed light on what happened?”

“I was told that, too.”

That was Biwott’s cue. He wanted to drive his point home with ferocity. It was the only way to get Moi’s attention. The only way to make him sense the danger this Committee paused.

When he was sure Moi was listening, he whispered, “Look, I don’t mean to disrupt your evening, but I hope you know what that authority really means.”

“I still don’t understand what this is all about – so what do you mean with ‘authority’ ?”

“The authority to summon any witness.”

“And …?”

Biwott finally dropped the bomb, “ Marianne could also be summoned …….. she could come back to Nairobi …….”

Ngilu Has The Option Of Going For A City Parliamentary Seat

Kalonzo Musyoka talked to the press at length recently about the “huge mistake” Charity Ngilu has made in joining ODM instead of sticking with the strongest party in Ukambani, namely his very own Hoo Ndii Emm.

At one point Mr Musyoka said; “I can almost guarantee her that she will lose her parliamentary seat.”

It is indeed true that Kalonzo Musyoka’s ODM Kenya (Hoo Ndii Emm, we call it in this blog because that is the way my cousins back home in Ukambani pronounce it.) is very strong in Ukambani. Mr Musyoka has spent a lot of time campaigning within his stronghold to ensure that he is the tribal supremo. The folks in Ukambani do not want to hear about any other presidential candidate. PNU officials recently plastered the whole of Machakos town with president Kibaki posters. The activity was done secretly in the cover of darkness and town residents woke up in the morning to find a Kibaki blitz. Two short hours later, almost every poster had either been defaced or torn down.

Amazingly there is also a feeling amongst the Akamba people that Mr Musyoka has got a fighting chance of winning the presidency. Many of them are convinced that Raila Odinga will slip up somewhere along the way and then the only alternative will be their very own Kalonzo son of Musyoka. Is this wishful thinking at its’ extreme or is it just strong unwavering faith in a witchdoctor’s prophecy?

Whatever it may be, it is a shame if the people of Kitui Central can abandon their daughter at this eleventh hour in favor of their tribal instincts. Still Mrs Ngilu who was widowed earlier this year, has proved that she is a national leader and my view is that she should think of relocating to a Nairobi city parliamentary constituency, where the ODM wave should easily carry her through.

One thing you have to say about Ngilu is that she has always been extremely courageous (the very opposite of Kalonzo Musyoka) and is extremely likeable if the tears that flowed at Afya house as she packed and left ion Monday are anything to go by. Incidentally she promised the staff that she would be back very soon. Whatever happens, chances are extremely high that Mrs Ngilu will see the inside of the 10th parliament even if it is as a nominated member of parliament. It is also almost a foregone conclusion that should ODM win the December polls, she will be re-appointed health minister, hence her confident remark that she would soon return. There is little doubt on any right thinking Kenyan’s mind that Mrs Ngilu has been the most successful Health minister in the history of the country.

However those who know Mrs Ngilu well are sure that rather than cow from the challenge of defending her Kitui Central seat, she will fight it out tooth and nail to retain it.

Incidentally the most memorable battle Ngilu has had for her parliamentary seat was in 1997 when she became the first woman in Kenya to offer her candidature for the highest office in the land. The Kanu strateists then decided to teach her a lesson by ensuring that she failed to recapture her parliamentary seat and invaded Kitui Central with every dirty trick in the book. Mrs Ngilu had no option but to abandon her presidential campaign in the last few days and camped in her constituency and that was the only way she managed to edge her way back into parliament. Interestingly one man called Stanley “money bags” Livondo seems to have a similar mission to ensure that ODM presidential candidate has a very difficult time retaining his Langata parliamentary seat this time round. However his strategy of achieving this seems to be to cause a lot of violence in the city constituency.

Chilly Memories Of Nairobi (Kenya Betrayed)

Spain - some weeks before...

Sitting on my terrace and watching the beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean Sea, I recalled how I had gone to Kenya in the late Seventies - convinced to do the right thing for the best of country.

I had used the connections my ex-husband had established for me within the political and financial circles not only in Switzerland but also in Germany and Italy which allowed me to register my own Consultancy Company.

I soon got involved in several projects arranging also the financing on ‘Soft-Loan’ and even ‘Grant’ basis offering the country therefore the best possible conditions.
Everything seemed to be going well since I also had been able to raise the interest of some leading industrial groups which were even willing to enter as partners and invest their own money in Kenya.

But most of my efforts got derailed by the cynical cousin of the New Head of State, Daniel T. arap Moi, succeeding the first President, Jomo Kenyatta, who had died in August 1978.

The Hon. Nicholas K.A. Biwott ………

Biwott was a very short, militarily clean-shaven punk. He wore nothing but designer outfits. His pricey suits were imported from Rome or Paris. His elegant shoes were always handmade – mostly in England.

His eyes – like a vivious cobra’s – were small. They were set deep in their sockets, causing him to squint whenever he looked at something. His wiggly ears were like two disappearing blobs on both sides of his head. They were tiny and made him look more comical than he dared to admit.

He cherished power – worshipped money.

And because he had both, he had developed into one of the most ruthless powerbrokers Kenya had ever known.

Add to that the fact that he was a master-manipulator of the Head of State – and you get a scary monster. An intensely evil creature.

Nothing and nobody stood in his way.

Anything he schemed had to happen and whoever blocked it, was promptly bumped off.
With impunity.

And like a wilderness ogre, he left a trail of stench wherever he passed. His filthy fingerprints were on every scandalous deal entered into by the State.

In fact, the way things had evolved in the Second Republic, he had practically become the State. He made it to be known that he was the Total Man. The Head of State’s eyes and ears.

He destroyed political opponents with a simple phone call. He appointed friends and cronies in every significant position in the Government.

And whenever anybody threatened his influence and power – or his wealth and prestige – he immediately hired hit-men to kill that person.

That was his MO.

But fifteen years ago, he killed a special man - one of my dearest friends: the Hon. Dr. Robert Ouko, EGH, MP - Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Because of the brutal nature of his murder and because I had promised him that I would name his killers should he die, I had made it my personal mission to one day tell the world who killed him and why …..

That one day was now only a week away.

A Parliamentary Select Committee was sitting in Nairobi, the Kenyan Capital. It was instituted by an Act of Parliament which gave its 12-members-team, led by the dramatic member from Kisumu Town-East, the power to investigate Dr. Ouko’s murder …… and to figure out what his killer/s expected to accomplish by it.

In fact, just within the last couple of hours, I had received an official Summon via the Kenyan Embassy in Paris to appear before the Committee.

So as I sat on my terrace, my body numb, I looked at the Summon again. Nairobi ? Parliament Building? How safe was it to got to that place? Was the fact be reassuring that the regime had changed and Biwott was not as powerful as he once had been ?

Knowing Biwott, I doubted that this was the case …….

But then I also thought about Bob - the Hon. Dr. Robert Ouko. My dearest and most trusted friend. A devoted husband and father. A morally upright man. A true Statesman …..

Was I finally be able to keep my word to name his killer/s ? Say why he was killed ? Or was I going to be too scared to go ?

**********

Sandra was now grown and married. She was not only my daughter, but had become over the last years also a true friend.

As I sat on my terrace sipping a cold drink, still holding the Committee’s Summon in my hand, my mind went back to the time Sandra was born.

At that time everything in my life was so simple. I had married Frederik, a well-known Psychologist, whose grandfather was one of the founders of the Swiss Labour Part. Also Frederik had then entered politics. We lived in a spacious house and led an active social life. Everybody envied me.

Since we still used to spend most of our holidays in Kenya, Sandra had been conceived while being in Malindi – so we decided to also give her a Kiswahili-name – so her full name was then Sandra Malaika.

All of the sudden my phone rang. “Hello?”

“It’s me, Mami.”

“Sandra?”

Sandra must have detected fear in my voice because she immediately asked, “What’s wrong, Mami ?”

I hesitated. There was a lot wrong. In fact, everything was wrong. But deciding that I had to calm my nerves before talking to my daughter, I said, “Look, Sandra, I’ll call you right back.”

At her home in Switzerland, Sandra knew immediately that something was gravely wrong. Her mother’s tone did not sound right. What was going on?

She had to find out. She did not want to wait, so she immediately dialed my number again, “Mami, tell me what is going on….”

Hearing my daughter’s pleading voice, I decided to come straight to the point, “The problem is that I have been summoned to testify before the Parliamentary Select Committee.”

“What does this mean?”

“Remember, I told you about a Committee the Kenyan Parliament voted into existence more than one year ago. The new Government had promised this new investigation into the death of Dr. Robert Ouko to the Kenyan People before the last General Elections. And they want me to appear before it …..”

“Where – again in London?”

“No – this time they want me to come to Nairobi – and that’s the problem…..”

Sandra’s body stiffened. “Nairobi?” All the memories of how things had gone wrong in Nairobi came rushing back to her:

She remembered how twice her mother had escaped death in that city. How some crazed goon called Nicholas Biwott had threatened her, insulted her, sneered at her, and even thrown her business associates out of the country.
Why was Mami even thinking of going back there?

Reading Sandra’s mind, I said, “Sweetheart, I know Nairobi is dangerous. I know Biwott will come after me …… but I have to go.”

“I am sorry, Mami, I cannot agree. Those fools have blocked your appearance at any previous investigative body. Besides, you have provided Supt. Troon a lot of information and he has used it to point them right into the direction of Dr. Ouko’s killers. He practically told them who did it and how…. How stupid are they ? Can’t they still not figure it out themselves?”

“You are upset and I understand,” I told my daughter, “ but there is something that has never been said at any previous investigation.”

Sandra’s jaw dropped. “What?”

“Nobody has ever said the real reasons why Dr. Ouko was killed. And who gave the final instructions….”

“Then what have they been doing all this time?”

When I did not reply to this question, my daughter continued, “Mami, I know there has been a former Inquiry and another Commission. If all those witnesses did not talk fearing they could join the list of others who have died because they knew too much, what on earth makes you think you will be able to tell this new Committee anything - and then come out alive ? And especially in Nairobi of all places ?”
I exhaled sharply – I knew, Sandra was right. It was extremely dangerous to go back to Nairobi.

Besides, I knew that this Summon had only been issued after a lot of pressure by my former Kenyan lawyer who was now the Vice-Chairman of this Committee.

He had informed that certain political powerful forces had opposed my appearance and it had been expressly stipulated that I could not disclose anything private. So Sandra may be right - what was the point of going there?

“Mami, tell me you won’t go,” Sandra pleaded, “You are my best friend, the only person I can turn to whenever there is a crisis in my life ….. or I need counseling ….. or I want a shoulder to cry on. If anything happens to you ….”

Hearing her sorrow and fear, I told her, “ Nothing will happen - I will be fine and I promise to take good care of myself.”

“But why, Mami, why are you so settled to go?”

I took a deep breath and bringing resolve to my voice, I quietly said, “ Because I made a promise a long time ago – a promise which I have to fulfill – a promise to Dr. Ouko ………”

Kalembe Ndile Reveals The Main Problem With The Kibaki Campaign

You can tell that the Kenyan media is under a lot of pressure from politicians who mostly know nothing about media coverage.

Journalists do not create news, they report it and if at the moment there is a lot happening in ODM and not much happening in PNU what are they expected to do? Answer: Come up with ridiculous front page headlines like “PNU campaign Picks Up Momentum.”

Now here is some news that may not get the prominence it deserves in the newspapers tomorrow morning. Kalembe Ndile, MP for Kibwezi and a tourism assistant minister held a press conference earlier today.

Kalembe Ndile is not a polished man. The chap cannot even speak good English and prefers Kiswahili. But one thing about him, he is sincere. Probably too sincere to be a politician in Kenya. Remember the uproar he caused when he said that Assistant ministers were idle in Kenya and consuming the tax payer’s funds for doing nothing?

In Kalembe Ndile’s press conference he spoke a lot about the powerful ministers surrounding president Kibaki who are going to cause his downfall. He especially singled out 3, whom he did not mention by name. But he said; Hata nyinyi watu wa magazeti munawajua na munawataja kila wakati. (Even you newspaper guys know them and you mention them in your stories all the time).

Ndile says that these powerful (and polished characters) block access to the president and he is thus unable to know exactly what is going on on the ground and what the common man is really thinking. The result is that the current CEO of the Kenyan nation has to find out the truth from very embarrassing situations. Like attending a political rally in Western Kenya where most of the people in the crowd are carrying ODM placards.

One thing about president Moi (despite his many faults) is that he loved to get quality time with many unpolished characters (e.g Mulu Mutisya, Barengtuny—I can’t even spell his name—and others) and even frequently interacted with common folk. The result was that he was always very much aware of the pulse of the nation. The current president likes to deal with either Makerere alumni or at the very least Ivy league university material. And if you are not PhD material, then he feels he’s really just wasting his time. Sadly it is now very clear to anybody who has eyes that President Kibaki and his team are badly out of touch with the aspirations of most Kenyans on the ground.

I spent a fascinating afternoon today with a diehard PNU supporter. He usually gives me long lectures on how qualified and smart President Kibaki is and how he emerges victorious from every crisis that ever comes his way. His examples sometimes go back to the 50s. He always wins, the guy has been telling me, even if he initially looks lost and defeated. But today the guy’s tune had changed. NO he is never going to vote for ODM but he told me that he now sees a Kibaki defeat unless some miracle happens. Coming from him, I was more than a little shocked.

He gave me an example of the recent Nakuru meeting where a Shirikisho party official Chirau Makwere told the crowd that his party supports Majimbo and at the same time supports President Kibaki’s re-election bid. Now it is widely known that this Majimbo thing is the agenda that ODM is pushing for and President Kibaki and his team are strongly against it (and for what it’s worth even Kumekucha is against it). So imagine the confusion being caused.

It struck me how right my Kikuyu friend was. In fact with that single example he brought out one of the things that is very wrong about the whole PNU campaign strategy and this is something that is going to cause a lot of confusion when the campaigns proper start. Seasoned political campaigners will tell you that confusion is something you want to cause in the opponent’s camp and it should NEVER be found anywhere near your own.

I found it quite fascinating and ominous as well that both ODM die hard supporters and PNU die hard supporters can agree on what is wrong with the multi-billion shilling Kibaki campaign machine.

Very ill-omened indeed, my dear brothers and sisters and you can take that as a prediction on the forthcoming mother of all general elections in Kenya.

Surely Raila Odinga Can’t Be That Popular

Since the first day I launched this blog I have never feared to speak my mind or the truth as I saw it. One well know political personality made a comment recently in my hearing; “the amazing thing about that Kumekucha guy is that most of his predictions seem to come true.”

Kumekucha does NOT support Raila, but I am obligated to report the truth and to investigate the mood on the ground and get back to my readers without fear or favor. So even when I’m trying my best to do that many desperate Kenyans bluntly scream; “Kumekucha is an ODM blog.”

I’ll tell you one thing—it will take much more than that to stop me.

The situation on the ground is that Raila Odinga and ODM are leading in ALL provinces except Central where one poll has given Raila 15%. This is according to no less than 5 different independent polls—3 of them were commissioned by the Sunday Nation and published last weekend, one was commissioned by the Standard and the other was the usual Steadmann poll.

I never like to brag but do you remember the results of my own survey in this blog where I said that Raila will receive 15 per cent of the vote from central province? Do you remember how most readers reacted? Even the Raila’s own supporters doubted my figures. Of course Kibaki supporters mocked that post. Well, I have news for you. I was wrong and the other pollster who seems to confirm what I said here weeks ago is also wrong. The very latest word on the ground from the heart of Central province is that the man from Luo Nyanza will get a much higher percentage than that.

So what has happened countrywide? What is really going on? Why this sudden Raila euphoria?

Actually it really isn’t sudden. The support the ODM crowd has enjoyed in the grassroots has been extremely high, right from the days of the referendum on the new constitution. But then how could Kenyans see it? Especially those of us who read newspapers every day. And even more so, those of us seated in air-conditioned luxury apartments surfing the web and leaving sworn and abusive comments in this blog about what you know about Kenyan politics and how sure you are that you are correct in your analysis.

Ladies and gentlemen, that is in fact the crux of the sharp differences that I have had with many of my dear “knowledgeable” readers here. The truth is that they can hardly understand the majority voter (the common man on the ground). The difference between me and many mainstream media journalists is that when I want to find out the mood on the ground I go right down to the grass roots and my rule is to never trust what politicians say. I only listen to them when they seem to confirm what I have already heard on the ground. There you are—the secret of Kumekucha’s success is now out. Yep. The secret formula that has lifted this blog from oblivion to the most read political blog in the history of Kenyan politics.

Let me put it in another way so that it is clearer. The difference between me and you and the majority of the guys who are going to vote in less than 78 days from today is this. You and me are very fortunate and we do not miss meals. Some of my readers here are so wealthy that it will make you dizzy. Now, the guys who are going to vote skip most meals (NOT voluntarily to cut their weight). They are also very frustrated and they tend to get upset when you tell them as a government that you have done a good job and grown the economy and that they should give you another 5 years and a chance to finish the job you started. The way they see it is that judging by what has happened to them in the last 5 years, by the time you “finish” your intended job, they will also be “finished” and dead from starvation.

Raila Odinga and the ODM crowd are not poor. Some of them are very wealthy. But they have taken the trouble to find out what is really going on down there. The result is that whenever they open their mouths, as hypocritical as some of them are, they strike a chord with the common man. So what do you expect?

The truth is that if elections were to be held today ODM would have a landslide victory. That is the truth and I don’t create the news and neither did I create that situation. Mine is only to observe and report it without fear or favor.

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.