Intensive investigations by Kumekucha clearly show that if elections were to be held today, there is no way that Raila Odinga will be able to retain his Langata constituency seat.
What has been quietly going on at the constituency, behind the scenes is a very deliberate effort to ensure that thousands of Kenyans will be unable to vote not to mention the fact that tens of thousands of voters mainly from Central province have been registered in the constituency to vote with the sole objective of ensuring that the ODM presidential candidate never sees the inside of the 10th parliament, let alone the presidency.
Analysts are seeing a wider scheme that will give the numerous ODM supporters a nasty shock when election results are announced. It is also now crystal clear why the president did not renew deputy chairman Gabriel Mukele’s tenure at the commission despite a lot of pressure from the opposition, civil society and even the diplomatic corps. This latest revelation also clearly gives an indication of why there is no way that experienced Samuel Kivuitu’s contract at the helm of the ECK will be renewed. And this is the reason why the sly old man has started playing politics in a high stakes game that he could easily end up winning. With the latest information, it also now makes a lot of sense to elevate newly appointed commissioner Mrs Pamela Tutui to the helm of ECK. She would have no chance in hell of sorting out the mess that will emerge on election day with majority of Kenyans crying foul, many not fully understating what has been done.
But let me start at the beginning.
Impeccable sources have assured this writer that the President’s team has never quite forgiven the resounding defeat they suffered in the hands of Raila Odinga during the infamous referendum over a new constitution of November 2005. The chain of events that followed the referendum clearly show evidence of bitterness and a hurried emotional decision on the part of the president that almost caused his government to come crashing down.
You will remember that the usually laid back-make-no-hurried-or-drastic-decisions president suddenly made the unprecedented move of sacking all cabinet ministers and the country remained without a cabinet for slightly over 2 weeks. The move was an emotional one to show the enemy who was really in charge but it backfired badly when to the utter shock of Kenyans politicians did what they have never done before. We actually saw cabinet appointees rejecting their appointments. In fact there was a time when it looked like nothing would save the Kibaki government until last minute horse trading brought Musikari Kombo and Charity Ngilu back in line.
It is clear that the bitter taste of those events has never left the president’s mouth and it is difficult for him or any of the PNU top brass to make any speech or public utterance without hurling a barb or two in the direction of Raila Odinga and ODM. In fact the president and his insiders blame every failure of this administration on Raila Odinga and they are very determined to teach the Langata MP a lesson he will never forget.
What makes the Kibaki team even more bitter against Raila is the fact that the ODM presidential candidate used open lies to turn many Kenyans against the altered draft constitution that the Kibaki administration was pushing for which would have guaranteed the President a second term or at the very least more than 7 years at the helm (yes, Kenyans are notorious for not reading the small print).
It is now emerging exactly how that lesson was going to be taught. If all had gone well, then unsuspecting voters would have arrived at polling stations on Election Day only to be told that they have double registered and can therefore not vote.
Kenyans would also have been shocked to see one Stanley Livondo duly elected as the next MP for Langata. The revenge of the referendum losers would have been complete when the ODM presidential candidate despite winning majority votes countrywide would have been disqualified from ascending to the presidency because the constitution clearly demands that the president MUST be an elected member of Parliament.
It is certainly not a good thing for any Kenyan whether PNU supporter or ODM diehard, for the battle for the presidency to be such a personal thing.
My advice to you is that if you are a registered voter in Langata constituency, use this link to check your voter status NOW, before you read the next post or do anything else. This is also something vital for any registered voter to do right away, before it is too late.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Kivuitu’s Political Gamble
ECK chair, Samuel Kivuitu is a former MP for Westlands constituency—then called Parklands constituency, so he is not a novice in the game of politics.
It is now emerging that the ECK chairman has taken a huge gamble by sending a circular to all political parties warning them that their nomination papers for candidates may not be accepted if they have not fielded a presidential candidate. The most affected party in this matter is of course the President’s PNU party which is banking on the support of numerous affiliate parties who will not field a presidential candidate. Not everybody supports this interpretation of the law by the ECK chairman but there is no arguing that he is supposed to be the boss (at least until December 2nd this year) when it comes to all matters electoral.
But it would appear that the real objective of the experienced ECK chairman is to put the president in a difficult situation where his failure to renew Kivuitu’s contract will be seen as an attempt to control the electoral process in his favor. It is the kind of gamble that can easily backfire but it is also the kind that can work like a dream. After all Kivuitu has nothing to lose because it is clear that currently the president has no intention of prolonging the ECK chairman’s tour of duty.
So let’s see what happens.
It is now emerging that the ECK chairman has taken a huge gamble by sending a circular to all political parties warning them that their nomination papers for candidates may not be accepted if they have not fielded a presidential candidate. The most affected party in this matter is of course the President’s PNU party which is banking on the support of numerous affiliate parties who will not field a presidential candidate. Not everybody supports this interpretation of the law by the ECK chairman but there is no arguing that he is supposed to be the boss (at least until December 2nd this year) when it comes to all matters electoral.
But it would appear that the real objective of the experienced ECK chairman is to put the president in a difficult situation where his failure to renew Kivuitu’s contract will be seen as an attempt to control the electoral process in his favor. It is the kind of gamble that can easily backfire but it is also the kind that can work like a dream. After all Kivuitu has nothing to lose because it is clear that currently the president has no intention of prolonging the ECK chairman’s tour of duty.
So let’s see what happens.
Why The Text Book Version Of PNU Strategy Does Not Work Practically
A Kumekucha informer has just passed on information about a small campaign speech that PNU die hard Danstone Mungatana gave in his constituency recently.
He told supporters that he does not mind if they do not agree with him over his choice for president, what they need to do is to vote him back to parliament so that he may continue to fight for their interests. There was enthusiastic acceptance of this remark from the people he was addressing.
Most of Coast province is currently ODM territory.
As I predicted earlier, this Mungatana statement is bound to be a very common one indeed countrywide when the elections proper commence. Note that when you stand on a certain party ticket it is virtually mandatory for you to support your presidential candidate and even where you do not, voters will position you against your presidential candidate and make the decision whether or not to vote for you based on your presidential candidate’s reputation and standing with the electorate. Matters get a little confusing when your party has no presidential candidate and is instead supporting one from another political party.
This is the kind of trouble one runs into when they try to re-invent the wheel. Clearly PNU is a sitting duck when it comes to being dumped by supporting affiliate party candidates in the heat of the campaigns.
He told supporters that he does not mind if they do not agree with him over his choice for president, what they need to do is to vote him back to parliament so that he may continue to fight for their interests. There was enthusiastic acceptance of this remark from the people he was addressing.
Most of Coast province is currently ODM territory.
As I predicted earlier, this Mungatana statement is bound to be a very common one indeed countrywide when the elections proper commence. Note that when you stand on a certain party ticket it is virtually mandatory for you to support your presidential candidate and even where you do not, voters will position you against your presidential candidate and make the decision whether or not to vote for you based on your presidential candidate’s reputation and standing with the electorate. Matters get a little confusing when your party has no presidential candidate and is instead supporting one from another political party.
This is the kind of trouble one runs into when they try to re-invent the wheel. Clearly PNU is a sitting duck when it comes to being dumped by supporting affiliate party candidates in the heat of the campaigns.
Love Made In The Slums Of Kenya
When I lived in Kibera, I shared my modest crib with Onyango,Kimani,Kipngeno,Mutisya and Abdi.
Abdi and Kimani shared a bed because Abdi was new to the city. The only thing that seperated our "bedrooms" was a "leso", an old dirty bed sheet and a black polythene sheet that Mutisya had picked on his way from Industrial area.
We shared everything and we showered in shifts and on alternate Sundays. Life was hard but we were happy.
Kimani pushed mkoko at Marigiti and in the evening he will come home with a mixture of almost everything that was sold at the market.From it, we made a stew.
Everyday it tasted distinctly different and authentic even though the ingredients remained the same, the quantity varied. Sometimes the pilipili or dania will be in plenty hence the taste of the day. We listened to Kameme together and KBC salamu za hodi hodi together and shared ushindi bar soap for washing and geisha Kubwa for bathing. Played draughts at weekends.
In short we were more than brothers, and we remained so for 5 years until the elections were called. It was time to part ways. We got new identities jaluo, mkamba, kaleo, sapere,walalo and Banye. Identifying ourselves with the rich politicians we shared a language with was the thing, not the poor we had been with for years.
The wealthy man from my tribe won the election I headed to the same room I had shared for five years with people of my class, albeit with some election posters to deco our crib.
Mheshimiwa headed for Grand Regency to celebrate. That night we slept without food. After a while things came back to normal we were back to sharing everything with Abdi, musyoka Onyango etc. Whenever there was bereavement amongst us, we all attended. Just the poor people.
Mheshimiwa was busy on the beach. But when Mheshimiwa got bereaved I mourned for him for weeks, even though I won't be let to go past his gate. When he engaged in Corruption, I defended him fiercely just because he spoke my Language, to cut short.....I voted for mheshimiwa, he lives big but life for me, Onyango, Kimani, Abdi is still the same.
What if we had voted for one of us regardless of his tribe, could life be different??????? Identify with your own true tribe. RICH or POOR are the real tribes of Kenya . However the latter are the Majority and are ruled by the minority. Poor people rise up and fight for your rights Did you know the only common thing between you and your much cherished Mheshimiwa is the language. Nothing else NOTHING!!!!!!!!!
But the list of common things you share with Musyoka, Onyango,Abdi is endless.
Think and Educate other Kenyans!!!
--
"Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Abdi and Kimani shared a bed because Abdi was new to the city. The only thing that seperated our "bedrooms" was a "leso", an old dirty bed sheet and a black polythene sheet that Mutisya had picked on his way from Industrial area.
We shared everything and we showered in shifts and on alternate Sundays. Life was hard but we were happy.
Kimani pushed mkoko at Marigiti and in the evening he will come home with a mixture of almost everything that was sold at the market.From it, we made a stew.
Everyday it tasted distinctly different and authentic even though the ingredients remained the same, the quantity varied. Sometimes the pilipili or dania will be in plenty hence the taste of the day. We listened to Kameme together and KBC salamu za hodi hodi together and shared ushindi bar soap for washing and geisha Kubwa for bathing. Played draughts at weekends.
In short we were more than brothers, and we remained so for 5 years until the elections were called. It was time to part ways. We got new identities jaluo, mkamba, kaleo, sapere,walalo and Banye. Identifying ourselves with the rich politicians we shared a language with was the thing, not the poor we had been with for years.
The wealthy man from my tribe won the election I headed to the same room I had shared for five years with people of my class, albeit with some election posters to deco our crib.
Mheshimiwa headed for Grand Regency to celebrate. That night we slept without food. After a while things came back to normal we were back to sharing everything with Abdi, musyoka Onyango etc. Whenever there was bereavement amongst us, we all attended. Just the poor people.
Mheshimiwa was busy on the beach. But when Mheshimiwa got bereaved I mourned for him for weeks, even though I won't be let to go past his gate. When he engaged in Corruption, I defended him fiercely just because he spoke my Language, to cut short.....I voted for mheshimiwa, he lives big but life for me, Onyango, Kimani, Abdi is still the same.
What if we had voted for one of us regardless of his tribe, could life be different??????? Identify with your own true tribe. RICH or POOR are the real tribes of Kenya . However the latter are the Majority and are ruled by the minority. Poor people rise up and fight for your rights Did you know the only common thing between you and your much cherished Mheshimiwa is the language. Nothing else NOTHING!!!!!!!!!
But the list of common things you share with Musyoka, Onyango,Abdi is endless.
Think and Educate other Kenyans!!!
--
"Far better to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not victory, nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt
Too Dangerous To Go To Nairobi (Kenya Betrayed)
Sandra and Philipp flew into the Malaga Airport at about eleven. They quickly went to a car rental, swiped Philipp’s Visa Card, then secured a blue Toyota Prado. Within minutes, they settled in it, slammed the accelerator and took off like a jet.
It took them just over half an hour to make it to Marbella.
Leaving the city behind, they reached the golf valley and finally the house where I was living. Having installed surveillance cameras all over the perimeter of my property, I saw the blue Prado the minute it pulled through the gate.
I followed it with my eyes, aware it was a new car at the premises. I saw it park right in front of my home. Unnerved, I stood up and went to the window. Who are these guys?
The answer came when I saw Philipp open the door and stepping out. He walked around and held the passenger door for Sandra.
Seconds later, a knock.
As it was my habit, I peeked into the peephole, and asked, “Who is there?”
I heard Sandra’s giggle, “Mami is so predictable!”
Laughing, I opened the door, embraced them and let them in. Turning to Sandra, I hugged my daughter again, “Couldn’t you call to let me know you were coming?”
“It was his idea,” Sandra said.
Philipp laughed, “You just drop me like that?”
I invited them to sit down. Then I told them about my earlier conversation with Supt. Troon. How I felt he was the toughest detective in the whole world.
“Did he agree to that characterization?” Philipp asked.
I smiled, “He protested it. He thought I was being overly generous with my compliments. That’s how modest he is.”
“The toughest detective?” Philipp pressed.
“Probably the best Scotland Yard ever had.”
“You really mean that?”
I went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of home-made mango juice. I brought three glasses and set them on the coffee table. “You ask why I sat he is the toughest?”
Philipp nodded.
“It’s because he has ….. proved himself to be,” I then said.
Philipp seemed impressed. He said, “He must be a veteran crime fighter.”
“He is.”
“A fearless warrior.”
“That’s him.”
“The more reason you have not to go to Kenya. This is my reasoning - that if a great detective like Troon investigated this case, told the world who killed Dr. Ouko, what is there for anybody to add to his conclusions?” He poured the juice into his glass, “I, for one, think his conclusions should be let to stand. There is absolutely no reason for you to go to Nairobi.”
I had to laugh, “That’s why you came, right?”
He nodded.
Sandra was surprised by how swiftly Philipp and I glided into this topic. To her, the Dr. Ouko case was never going to be resolved. Why were so many people wasting their time trying to solve this murder?
Had not also her mother admitted that too many witnesses had already died? That the Kenyans authorities were not really interested to come to the truth? And that even if the truth would be told, Biwott was too cunning to be prosecuted?
Thinking she could add her voice to Philipp’s qualms, she said, “Mami, Philipp has a point.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you insist on going to Nairobi?”
I pointed at the Summon sitting on the dining table. “I have an obligation to tell the truth.”
“But others have already, Mami.”
“There is something they have never said because they did not know.”
“Back to the Committee thing, “ Philipp said. “This new evidence you want to talk about, what is it?”
“I cannot say.”
“Even not to us?”
I shook my head. I went to the kitchen und started to prepare a plate with seafood and salad. Then I decided to go back and sat next to Philipp, “Look ….”
Right then, there was a sharp nock at the door.
A knock?
Here?
I was the first to recover. I tiptoed to the peephole and took a peek. I saw a middle-aged man. He was in a red T-shirt, a new blue pair of Jeans. He wore really dark shades. Who was he?
Unsure that his mission was, I asked, “Who are you? Are you sure, you are at the right address?”
The man said, “Mrs. Marianne Briner-Mattern? I am from a special courier service - I have a message for you.”
“From where?”
“Please open the door.”
It took them just over half an hour to make it to Marbella.
Leaving the city behind, they reached the golf valley and finally the house where I was living. Having installed surveillance cameras all over the perimeter of my property, I saw the blue Prado the minute it pulled through the gate.
I followed it with my eyes, aware it was a new car at the premises. I saw it park right in front of my home. Unnerved, I stood up and went to the window. Who are these guys?
The answer came when I saw Philipp open the door and stepping out. He walked around and held the passenger door for Sandra.
Seconds later, a knock.
As it was my habit, I peeked into the peephole, and asked, “Who is there?”
I heard Sandra’s giggle, “Mami is so predictable!”
Laughing, I opened the door, embraced them and let them in. Turning to Sandra, I hugged my daughter again, “Couldn’t you call to let me know you were coming?”
“It was his idea,” Sandra said.
Philipp laughed, “You just drop me like that?”
I invited them to sit down. Then I told them about my earlier conversation with Supt. Troon. How I felt he was the toughest detective in the whole world.
“Did he agree to that characterization?” Philipp asked.
I smiled, “He protested it. He thought I was being overly generous with my compliments. That’s how modest he is.”
“The toughest detective?” Philipp pressed.
“Probably the best Scotland Yard ever had.”
“You really mean that?”
I went to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of home-made mango juice. I brought three glasses and set them on the coffee table. “You ask why I sat he is the toughest?”
Philipp nodded.
“It’s because he has ….. proved himself to be,” I then said.
Philipp seemed impressed. He said, “He must be a veteran crime fighter.”
“He is.”
“A fearless warrior.”
“That’s him.”
“The more reason you have not to go to Kenya. This is my reasoning - that if a great detective like Troon investigated this case, told the world who killed Dr. Ouko, what is there for anybody to add to his conclusions?” He poured the juice into his glass, “I, for one, think his conclusions should be let to stand. There is absolutely no reason for you to go to Nairobi.”
I had to laugh, “That’s why you came, right?”
He nodded.
Sandra was surprised by how swiftly Philipp and I glided into this topic. To her, the Dr. Ouko case was never going to be resolved. Why were so many people wasting their time trying to solve this murder?
Had not also her mother admitted that too many witnesses had already died? That the Kenyans authorities were not really interested to come to the truth? And that even if the truth would be told, Biwott was too cunning to be prosecuted?
Thinking she could add her voice to Philipp’s qualms, she said, “Mami, Philipp has a point.”
“I know.”
“Then why do you insist on going to Nairobi?”
I pointed at the Summon sitting on the dining table. “I have an obligation to tell the truth.”
“But others have already, Mami.”
“There is something they have never said because they did not know.”
“Back to the Committee thing, “ Philipp said. “This new evidence you want to talk about, what is it?”
“I cannot say.”
“Even not to us?”
I shook my head. I went to the kitchen und started to prepare a plate with seafood and salad. Then I decided to go back and sat next to Philipp, “Look ….”
Right then, there was a sharp nock at the door.
A knock?
Here?
I was the first to recover. I tiptoed to the peephole and took a peek. I saw a middle-aged man. He was in a red T-shirt, a new blue pair of Jeans. He wore really dark shades. Who was he?
Unsure that his mission was, I asked, “Who are you? Are you sure, you are at the right address?”
The man said, “Mrs. Marianne Briner-Mattern? I am from a special courier service - I have a message for you.”
“From where?”
“Please open the door.”
The 5 Most Popular Articles In Kumekucha Today
5 Most popular articles on Kumekucha Today
1. Biwott's Australian wife (Kenya Betrayed)
2. Amos Kimunya Insults ODM
3. Old mzungu strips for young Kenyan beauty.
4. Most popular 5 articles on Kumeklucha on 17th Oct.
5. ODM woyee and the mystery of the large crowd at Uhuru Park
1. Biwott's Australian wife (Kenya Betrayed)
2. Amos Kimunya Insults ODM
3. Old mzungu strips for young Kenyan beauty.
4. Most popular 5 articles on Kumeklucha on 17th Oct.
5. ODM woyee and the mystery of the large crowd at Uhuru Park
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Amos Kimunya Insults ODM: Could He Be The Mysterious Kioko OF BC?
Kumekucha tech experts checking if IP address leads back to the Treasury
I am in shock.
I have carefully studied the recent utterances of the Finance Minister of the Republic of Kenya to the press and they have left me numb with shock because they bare an uncanny resemblance to the abusive comments a notorious commentator here called Kioko of BC has been leaving in this blog.
Amos Kimunya you know, but for those who have no idea who Kioko of BC is, let me introduce him. For quite a while now we have had one crazy infamous commentator who visits Kumekucha daily without fail, called Kioko of British Columbia, Canada (or so he claims). It is through this man that I first came to hear of a place called Kavirondo Gulf and if you check most of his abusive comments here they are bound to include the word kihii. Several readers suggested that he should go and launch a foreskin blog since that seems to be his pet subject and obsession.
Looking at the utterances of one Amos Kimunya recently they bare an uncanny resemblance to the words of the infamous Kioko here. Could they be the same person? Is the Finance Minister leaving abusive comments here in this blog but not using his real name?
Sample this;
“There is fear amongst investors over these other people taking over government.”
“These people do not understand the stock exchange. This is not a fish market.”
That sounds uncannily like Kioko does it not?
Who was the Finance Minister referring to? We all know that ODM is a national political party that enjoys massive support in at least 6 of the 8 provinces in Kenya (kindly note that this is NOT according to Kumekucha but according to no less than 4 different independent pollsters who have published their findings in the Sunday Nation and other national media). And yet Mr Kimunya managed to reduce his comments to a direct personal attack at the person of Raila Odinga, the duly elected presidential candidate of ODM and the Luo community. For what it is worth I am NOT a Luo myself, just a concerned non-tribal Kenyan.
We know that fish is also found at the Coast and a few other places in this good republic, but Mr Kimunya left no doubt as to who he was referring to.
Let us put aside the fact that the community the Finance Minister attacked in his crude remarks consists of some of the best educated Kenyans and numerous professionals and experts including doctors and lawyers and yes, experts on stock exchanges worldwide. Let us instead focus our attention on the motive of this very personal and very abusive remark.
Regular readers of this blog will remember the story we carried here recently where it has been established that the nickname used on former Ethics PS John Githongo by Angle Leasing suspects when he was still in government was Mujaruo. This gives you a very clear idea of the kind of thinking that is going on at the heart of the Kibaki administration. The administration that is telling Kenyans that the other side is “tribal” and is using “tribal emotions” to drum up support.
In other words the remarks that we see here every day from Kioko of BC as abusive and ridiculous and provoking as they are is the true position of the Kibaki administration concerning ODM and the opposition in Kenya. In fact so accurate are the remarks of Kioko that I can confidently report to all readers of Kumekucha that you can take them as official.
God help this country. God have mercy on Kenya.
P.S. My dear fellow Kenyans, do you not think that an apology from Mr Kimunya (alias Kioko of BC) to ALL Kenyans is in order here?
P.S. I await the official position of the Kibaki administration from Kioko of BC. Your comment will receive high priority in being approved, Kioko (official government spokesman on Kumekucha).
I am in shock.
I have carefully studied the recent utterances of the Finance Minister of the Republic of Kenya to the press and they have left me numb with shock because they bare an uncanny resemblance to the abusive comments a notorious commentator here called Kioko of BC has been leaving in this blog.
Amos Kimunya you know, but for those who have no idea who Kioko of BC is, let me introduce him. For quite a while now we have had one crazy infamous commentator who visits Kumekucha daily without fail, called Kioko of British Columbia, Canada (or so he claims). It is through this man that I first came to hear of a place called Kavirondo Gulf and if you check most of his abusive comments here they are bound to include the word kihii. Several readers suggested that he should go and launch a foreskin blog since that seems to be his pet subject and obsession.
Looking at the utterances of one Amos Kimunya recently they bare an uncanny resemblance to the words of the infamous Kioko here. Could they be the same person? Is the Finance Minister leaving abusive comments here in this blog but not using his real name?
Sample this;
“There is fear amongst investors over these other people taking over government.”
“These people do not understand the stock exchange. This is not a fish market.”
That sounds uncannily like Kioko does it not?
Who was the Finance Minister referring to? We all know that ODM is a national political party that enjoys massive support in at least 6 of the 8 provinces in Kenya (kindly note that this is NOT according to Kumekucha but according to no less than 4 different independent pollsters who have published their findings in the Sunday Nation and other national media). And yet Mr Kimunya managed to reduce his comments to a direct personal attack at the person of Raila Odinga, the duly elected presidential candidate of ODM and the Luo community. For what it is worth I am NOT a Luo myself, just a concerned non-tribal Kenyan.
We know that fish is also found at the Coast and a few other places in this good republic, but Mr Kimunya left no doubt as to who he was referring to.
Let us put aside the fact that the community the Finance Minister attacked in his crude remarks consists of some of the best educated Kenyans and numerous professionals and experts including doctors and lawyers and yes, experts on stock exchanges worldwide. Let us instead focus our attention on the motive of this very personal and very abusive remark.
Regular readers of this blog will remember the story we carried here recently where it has been established that the nickname used on former Ethics PS John Githongo by Angle Leasing suspects when he was still in government was Mujaruo. This gives you a very clear idea of the kind of thinking that is going on at the heart of the Kibaki administration. The administration that is telling Kenyans that the other side is “tribal” and is using “tribal emotions” to drum up support.
In other words the remarks that we see here every day from Kioko of BC as abusive and ridiculous and provoking as they are is the true position of the Kibaki administration concerning ODM and the opposition in Kenya. In fact so accurate are the remarks of Kioko that I can confidently report to all readers of Kumekucha that you can take them as official.
God help this country. God have mercy on Kenya.
P.S. My dear fellow Kenyans, do you not think that an apology from Mr Kimunya (alias Kioko of BC) to ALL Kenyans is in order here?
P.S. I await the official position of the Kibaki administration from Kioko of BC. Your comment will receive high priority in being approved, Kioko (official government spokesman on Kumekucha).
Biwott’s Australian Wife (Kenya Betrayed)
At the breakfast table, Mrs. Troon warned her husband to be extremely careful. “First of all, I am worried about you going back to Kenya. And second, you and other witnesses have the Kenyan Authorities all there was to say. If they wanted to prosecute the murderers, they have all the evidence they need on the table already.”
“No, they don’t,” he said.
Her eyebrows lifted, “What?”
“Marianne has more.”
“More what?”
Taking a sip of fresh orange juice, he looked her in the eye and said, “She has ….. the truth.”
*******************************************
Nicholas Biwott was a man who left nothing to chance.
When he was still in Government handling threatening situations was his forte. He had perfected the art of crisis management and damage control.
But that was then.
Things had since changed.
They changed the day his cousin – Daniel T. arap Moi – had turned over power to the new Head of State, Mwai Kibaki.
As he woke up this morning in his Kileleshwa home, he told his wife that he was going to be out of town.
“I thought you have work in Parliament?” she asked.
She was a slender Jewish woman from Australia. She had blonde curly hair and wore it in a way that made her look like a female rock star. Her clothes were designer ….. most of them shipped in from Italy.
Although he had taken during the last years two other wives - both of them Africans - she still remained the one he trusted most. Their two daughters had married white foreigners who soon started to get involved in his vast business empire in leading positions - but it was still this white wife which kept the control in her hands and he had to admit, very successfully.
“Work? It can wait,” Biwott then said.
“What’s so urgent?”
Biwott went into the bathroom, got into the tub and turned on the water. As he serenaded his body with some herbs, he said, “I have to go to Kabarnet Gardens.”
“To see Mzee?”
He just nodded his head.
Suddenly his wife went quiet. She felt nervous. She was aware that an inexplicable chill had come between her husband and Moi.
Kicking down the comforter, she recalled vividly how close the two used to be. How Nick had controlled the flow of information to Moi. How he had practically run the Government. Why and when had things gone so wrong?
“So what are your plans for today?” he asked her.
She got out of bed, “I’ll drop in and see how the businesses are doing. I also have some meetings scheduled for this afternoon….”
“That’s all right. Hope, you have a good time.”
“I will.” She slipped out of her nightgown and joined him in the bathroom.
She had noticed – since last night – that Nick had not been himself. She had seen him lost in thoughts, talk less. And bark orders at the house-girl. That had warned her that something was wrong. Was it safe to ask?
He stepped out of the tub and looked at her, “You are still as pretty as ever, sweetheart.”
She smiled. For her he was the most sensitive man she had ever met. Why were so many Kenyans so distrustful of him? Why did people blame him for everything that went wrong in this country?
“And you have kept yourself up well,” he added.
He kissed her cheek, “I love you.”
She mouthed, “I love you too.” - And suddenly she worked up the courage to ask that was wrong. She said, “Honey, since last night you have not been yourself. You have been very quiet …. Contemplative ….. and – I dare to add – abnormally harsh with the servants. I want to know what’s going on.”
He looked down, “It’s …… nothing.”
“It’s this new Committee, right?”
He shook his head. “The Committee can sit, do its work. I have no problem with that.”
She squeezed his hand, “Then what is the matter?”
He walked back into the bedroom. As he stepped into the walk-in closet, he said, “The problem is this distance Moi has allowed to come between him and me.”
“I know it bothers you,” she said.
He pulled out a dark suit. It was Hudson’s. He grabbed a Gilbert tie, too. Setting them on the bed, he said, “Sweetheart, you don’t understand. You see, when we were still in Government, when Moi was still the President, I had total control of his agenda ….. all the people around ….. the whole situation. If anything came up, he always turned to me and I quickly handled it.”
She had followed him into the bedroom, “And what has that got to do with your mood since last night?”
He looked at her, “You just mentioned this new Committee …..”
“On Dr. Ouko?”
He nodded, “There is going to be a problem.”
“How? All you will have to do is tell them the same things you have said before….. like this, you have nothing to fear.”
Biwott smiled dryly, “It is not going to be that easy.”
“Why?” She asked, suddenly looking quite concerned.
He walked up to her and took her hand. After giving it a gentle squeeze, he said, “ This is going to be the first Committee investigating Dr. Ouko’s death since Moi turned over power to the current goons. It’s a new field we are playing on,” he explained. “That’s why I am a little uptight.”
“But you had nothing to do with his death,” she then said.
He looked down, “Many people believe the opposite.”
“But it is not true – isn’t it?”
He had not expected that question. He looked at his wife oddly. Offended he then said, “I did not kill Dr. Ouko.”
“So who did? …… Moi?”
***
This morning, the members of the opposition party, the shrunken KANU, came to Parliament earlier than usual.
Their leader – the young son of the founding father – Uhuru Kenyatta, had sent messages via SMS and alerted them to be at a meeting in Parliament by eight.
All had come.
Except Nicholas Biwott.
At the brief meeting, it was quickly agreed that the party members would defend the former Head of State should he come under attack from the new Committee.
As the meeting was about to break up, Moi’s own son, Gideon, now the new member for Baringo, proposed that the Old Man should not even be subjected to the indignity of appearing before the Committee, “It would be unseemly,” he warned.
Others agreed.
Within minutes, it was agreed that members of the oldest party in the country – KANU – the party Moi had chaired for more than to decades, would defend him and fence off any effort to get him to testify not only in the Dr. Ouko investigations but also regarding the Goldenberg case and other similar ones.
TO BE CONTINUED
“No, they don’t,” he said.
Her eyebrows lifted, “What?”
“Marianne has more.”
“More what?”
Taking a sip of fresh orange juice, he looked her in the eye and said, “She has ….. the truth.”
*******************************************
Nicholas Biwott was a man who left nothing to chance.
When he was still in Government handling threatening situations was his forte. He had perfected the art of crisis management and damage control.
But that was then.
Things had since changed.
They changed the day his cousin – Daniel T. arap Moi – had turned over power to the new Head of State, Mwai Kibaki.
As he woke up this morning in his Kileleshwa home, he told his wife that he was going to be out of town.
“I thought you have work in Parliament?” she asked.
She was a slender Jewish woman from Australia. She had blonde curly hair and wore it in a way that made her look like a female rock star. Her clothes were designer ….. most of them shipped in from Italy.
Although he had taken during the last years two other wives - both of them Africans - she still remained the one he trusted most. Their two daughters had married white foreigners who soon started to get involved in his vast business empire in leading positions - but it was still this white wife which kept the control in her hands and he had to admit, very successfully.
“Work? It can wait,” Biwott then said.
“What’s so urgent?”
Biwott went into the bathroom, got into the tub and turned on the water. As he serenaded his body with some herbs, he said, “I have to go to Kabarnet Gardens.”
“To see Mzee?”
He just nodded his head.
Suddenly his wife went quiet. She felt nervous. She was aware that an inexplicable chill had come between her husband and Moi.
Kicking down the comforter, she recalled vividly how close the two used to be. How Nick had controlled the flow of information to Moi. How he had practically run the Government. Why and when had things gone so wrong?
“So what are your plans for today?” he asked her.
She got out of bed, “I’ll drop in and see how the businesses are doing. I also have some meetings scheduled for this afternoon….”
“That’s all right. Hope, you have a good time.”
“I will.” She slipped out of her nightgown and joined him in the bathroom.
She had noticed – since last night – that Nick had not been himself. She had seen him lost in thoughts, talk less. And bark orders at the house-girl. That had warned her that something was wrong. Was it safe to ask?
He stepped out of the tub and looked at her, “You are still as pretty as ever, sweetheart.”
She smiled. For her he was the most sensitive man she had ever met. Why were so many Kenyans so distrustful of him? Why did people blame him for everything that went wrong in this country?
“And you have kept yourself up well,” he added.
He kissed her cheek, “I love you.”
She mouthed, “I love you too.” - And suddenly she worked up the courage to ask that was wrong. She said, “Honey, since last night you have not been yourself. You have been very quiet …. Contemplative ….. and – I dare to add – abnormally harsh with the servants. I want to know what’s going on.”
He looked down, “It’s …… nothing.”
“It’s this new Committee, right?”
He shook his head. “The Committee can sit, do its work. I have no problem with that.”
She squeezed his hand, “Then what is the matter?”
He walked back into the bedroom. As he stepped into the walk-in closet, he said, “The problem is this distance Moi has allowed to come between him and me.”
“I know it bothers you,” she said.
He pulled out a dark suit. It was Hudson’s. He grabbed a Gilbert tie, too. Setting them on the bed, he said, “Sweetheart, you don’t understand. You see, when we were still in Government, when Moi was still the President, I had total control of his agenda ….. all the people around ….. the whole situation. If anything came up, he always turned to me and I quickly handled it.”
She had followed him into the bedroom, “And what has that got to do with your mood since last night?”
He looked at her, “You just mentioned this new Committee …..”
“On Dr. Ouko?”
He nodded, “There is going to be a problem.”
“How? All you will have to do is tell them the same things you have said before….. like this, you have nothing to fear.”
Biwott smiled dryly, “It is not going to be that easy.”
“Why?” She asked, suddenly looking quite concerned.
He walked up to her and took her hand. After giving it a gentle squeeze, he said, “ This is going to be the first Committee investigating Dr. Ouko’s death since Moi turned over power to the current goons. It’s a new field we are playing on,” he explained. “That’s why I am a little uptight.”
“But you had nothing to do with his death,” she then said.
He looked down, “Many people believe the opposite.”
“But it is not true – isn’t it?”
He had not expected that question. He looked at his wife oddly. Offended he then said, “I did not kill Dr. Ouko.”
“So who did? …… Moi?”
***
This morning, the members of the opposition party, the shrunken KANU, came to Parliament earlier than usual.
Their leader – the young son of the founding father – Uhuru Kenyatta, had sent messages via SMS and alerted them to be at a meeting in Parliament by eight.
All had come.
Except Nicholas Biwott.
At the brief meeting, it was quickly agreed that the party members would defend the former Head of State should he come under attack from the new Committee.
As the meeting was about to break up, Moi’s own son, Gideon, now the new member for Baringo, proposed that the Old Man should not even be subjected to the indignity of appearing before the Committee, “It would be unseemly,” he warned.
Others agreed.
Within minutes, it was agreed that members of the oldest party in the country – KANU – the party Moi had chaired for more than to decades, would defend him and fence off any effort to get him to testify not only in the Dr. Ouko investigations but also regarding the Goldenberg case and other similar ones.
TO BE CONTINUED
Most Popular Kumekucha Articles 17th October '07
Most popular Kumekucha articles today by 4 PM Kenyan time
1. Why Pamela Tutui Must resign from the ECK Vice Chair
2. Is Langata voter's register genuine?
3. Why PNU is working itself into a tight corner.
4. Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee As Mystery Of Huge Crowd At Uhuru Park Lingers.
5. Old mzungu strips in public for young Kenyan beauty
1. Why Pamela Tutui Must resign from the ECK Vice Chair
2. Is Langata voter's register genuine?
3. Why PNU is working itself into a tight corner.
4. Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee As Mystery Of Huge Crowd At Uhuru Park Lingers.
5. Old mzungu strips in public for young Kenyan beauty
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Why Pamela Tutui Must Resign From The ECK Immediately
Brand New ECK Vice Chair Loses Her Temper During Her First Contact With The Press
Pamela Mwikali Tutui today demonstrated on national TV precisely why she is NOT qualified to be the vice chair of the Electoral Commission of Kenya. To avoid a disaster that is just waiting to happen Ms Tuitui should resign and head back to the sleepy city of Mombassa where most things happen in slow motion.
Journalists were shocked when Ms Tuitui appeared to lose her temper over a question posed by one journalist shortly after she was sworn in this morning at Chief Justice Gicheru’s chambers. One wonders what will happen when the election campaigns start (let alone the elections proper) when there will be plenty for the good lady to lose her temper over.
It is clear that Ms Tuitui thinks that her new appointment is not any different from her private practice in Mombasa. She seems totally unaware that hers is a public office and she should be ready at any time to answer questions from the press without taking things personally because the people of Kenya want to know.
Kenyans should now ask why would the government want to appoint a short-tempered inexperienced lady to the vice chair of the ECK just a few weeks before the most complex general elections in the history of Kenya?
Actually it has not become crystal clear that the Kibaki administration has no intention of running a free and fair election. The signs are all there for even the blind to read. Watch the next clincher when the experienced chairman will be replaced two or three weeks before the elections when his tenure runs out.
Just yesterday a man appeared before a Kibera court after being found with about 70 elector’s card in his brief case at Yaya Centra in Nairobi. Now why would somebody carry such a large number of elector’s cards in their briefcase?
Then there is the character by the name of Stanley Livondo who is going round the country carrying a firearm and recently somebody was shot in circumstances that are not very clear, by one of his bodyguards.
There are actually many way to rig an elections and one does not need to steal votes only. Sample this incident from the 1997 general elections;
Fred Gumo was present when the returning officer for the Westlands Constituency announced the election results in favor of Gumo’s rival Betty Tett. Gumo walked up to her and slapped her hard across the face. Moments later she announced different election results with Gumo declared the winner of those stormy elections.
These are some of the finer details that only experienced electoral commissioners can look into. You do not send a lady to be presiding officer in a constituency where there is a violent contestant who is known to have no respect for women.
Don’t get me wrong here. I have the deepest respect for women and I am a staunch supporter of affirmative action to give women equal opportunities. But I am also realistic, that is why when I hear a noise at night, I do not take turns with my wife to go out and check what it is. Security is my responsibility in the home.
If Ms Tuitui is smart, she will see the difficult position that she has been put into an resign immediately before it is too late. She surely does not want a black mark on her excellent CV and mark my words this job at the Electoral Commission is bound to produce just that for her. She needs to seek advice from close friends as well who if they love her will tell her that this appointment is not about qualifications but more about temperament and it is the kind of assignment where one needs many months of preparation at the very least to handle what is coming later this year. Instead the poor lady has been put in suicidal position to say the least. And to make matters worse, the outburst this afternoon demonstrated clearly that the good lady is far from being prepared to handle the mother of all general elections.
Tutui, 49, is a Managing Partner with Cootow and Associates Advocates and Head of Conveyance, Corporate Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Division. She attended the University of Nairobi between 1979-1982, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree. Between 1982 and 1983, Tutui was at the Kenya School of Law where she obtained a postgraduate diploma in Legal Education Service. She was admitted to the roll of Advocates in 1983 and as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London in 2005.
Pamela Mwikali Tutui today demonstrated on national TV precisely why she is NOT qualified to be the vice chair of the Electoral Commission of Kenya. To avoid a disaster that is just waiting to happen Ms Tuitui should resign and head back to the sleepy city of Mombassa where most things happen in slow motion.
Journalists were shocked when Ms Tuitui appeared to lose her temper over a question posed by one journalist shortly after she was sworn in this morning at Chief Justice Gicheru’s chambers. One wonders what will happen when the election campaigns start (let alone the elections proper) when there will be plenty for the good lady to lose her temper over.
It is clear that Ms Tuitui thinks that her new appointment is not any different from her private practice in Mombasa. She seems totally unaware that hers is a public office and she should be ready at any time to answer questions from the press without taking things personally because the people of Kenya want to know.
Kenyans should now ask why would the government want to appoint a short-tempered inexperienced lady to the vice chair of the ECK just a few weeks before the most complex general elections in the history of Kenya?
Actually it has not become crystal clear that the Kibaki administration has no intention of running a free and fair election. The signs are all there for even the blind to read. Watch the next clincher when the experienced chairman will be replaced two or three weeks before the elections when his tenure runs out.
Just yesterday a man appeared before a Kibera court after being found with about 70 elector’s card in his brief case at Yaya Centra in Nairobi. Now why would somebody carry such a large number of elector’s cards in their briefcase?
Then there is the character by the name of Stanley Livondo who is going round the country carrying a firearm and recently somebody was shot in circumstances that are not very clear, by one of his bodyguards.
There are actually many way to rig an elections and one does not need to steal votes only. Sample this incident from the 1997 general elections;
Fred Gumo was present when the returning officer for the Westlands Constituency announced the election results in favor of Gumo’s rival Betty Tett. Gumo walked up to her and slapped her hard across the face. Moments later she announced different election results with Gumo declared the winner of those stormy elections.
These are some of the finer details that only experienced electoral commissioners can look into. You do not send a lady to be presiding officer in a constituency where there is a violent contestant who is known to have no respect for women.
Don’t get me wrong here. I have the deepest respect for women and I am a staunch supporter of affirmative action to give women equal opportunities. But I am also realistic, that is why when I hear a noise at night, I do not take turns with my wife to go out and check what it is. Security is my responsibility in the home.
If Ms Tuitui is smart, she will see the difficult position that she has been put into an resign immediately before it is too late. She surely does not want a black mark on her excellent CV and mark my words this job at the Electoral Commission is bound to produce just that for her. She needs to seek advice from close friends as well who if they love her will tell her that this appointment is not about qualifications but more about temperament and it is the kind of assignment where one needs many months of preparation at the very least to handle what is coming later this year. Instead the poor lady has been put in suicidal position to say the least. And to make matters worse, the outburst this afternoon demonstrated clearly that the good lady is far from being prepared to handle the mother of all general elections.
Tutui, 49, is a Managing Partner with Cootow and Associates Advocates and Head of Conveyance, Corporate Law, and Alternative Dispute Resolution Division. She attended the University of Nairobi between 1979-1982, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Law degree. Between 1982 and 1983, Tutui was at the Kenya School of Law where she obtained a postgraduate diploma in Legal Education Service. She was admitted to the roll of Advocates in 1983 and as a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London in 2005.
John Troon (Kenya Betrayed)
To Philipp – Sandra’s husband – the idea of just calling his mother-in-law to talk her out of going to Kenya did not cut it.
He had to go Spain - right down to Marbella. He had to fly there to give her the facts and tell her in no uncertain terms why she could not go to Nairobi.
“So you are also coming?” he asked Sandra just as she was waking up.
“It’s a waste of time. She won’t listen to us,” she shot back.
“But she may die out there. Remember what happened last time she was in Nairobi.”
Sandra remembered that day like it was only yesterday. How she had been sitting by the phone the whole morning ….. the whole day …. and half the night.
She remembered that when her call finally came through, her mother had told her that she had just escaped an assassination attempt.
Two weeks later, John Kazzora had come to Zurich and had confirmed it.
And now her mother wanted to go back to that? No way, Philipp was going to let that happen.
“So, are you coming?” he asked Sandra again.
His wife slapped away the comforter, came up on her elbow and looked at her husband, “You really mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“That you are going to Spain?”
He nodded, “I have to protect my mother-in-law from doing something really stupid.”
“Protect her?” She smiled. Did he really know her mother ?
Walking toward the bathroom, he said, “I’m not going to work today. I want to fly to Malaga by about eleven and be back here by five o’clock.”
Sandra shrugged, “So let’s try it.”
On that note, they went to the bathroom, stripped and stepped into the big bathtub together.
Later, Philipp asked again why Marianne felt so committed to Kenya ….. why she still felt so attached, “Will she ever let go?”
Sandra – tears forming – shook her head. She knew her mother would never let go. She loved Kenya from the first moment she had set foot there. She loved the people.
Loved the nature. She had nursed big ambitions for Kenya. - And she had deeply fallen in love there. Had loved two very controversial men. Maybe still loved one of them. – So how could Philipp expect her mother to fust forget?
And then Sandra started to ask herself the same question – could she forget her life in Kenya – Nairobi and Mombasa? The way she had been spoilt as a young girl, how these two men had competed for her affection because of their love for her mother ?
“I take your silence as a no,” Greg said. “But I am still going to try. The only way to make your mother forget about Dr. Ouko and this testimony is to make her forget Kenya. She has to let Kenya go once and for all.”
Sandra scrubbed his back, “I doubt, she ever will.”
“But at least we can try.”
Sandra smiled. Good luck !
***********************************************
In London, Supt. Troon pulled out another file.
He had gone through all the others and was satisfied that if he had another chance to investigate this case, he would do it exactly the same way. He trusted the conclusions he had reached at that time.
But unhappy with himself for not having revealed how vicious the schemes against me in Nairobi were, he decided to call me.
When my phone rang, I practically ran to it, picked up and then blurted, “This is Marianne Briner-Mattern.”
I then I heard Troon laughing, “It’s not that official.”
“Thank God, it’s you. Anyway, what is going on?”
“I was just going through a couple of files –“ He put his finger on the paragraph he had called about, “I have found something that will interest you.”
“What is it?”
“Listen to this line: In my interview with Hezekiah Oyugi and the Head of State who denied me a chance to interview Mr. Nicholas Biwott, I determined that there was a vicious campaign to discredit Mrs. Marianne Briner and to damage her credibility completely. In the long run, I had to come to the conclusion that the three top guns were scathing because they wanted to get me off their backs.”
“You wrote that?” I asked.
“Yes. I also wrote that because of their behavior – and because of other uncovered facts – I had to conclude that they killed Dr. Ouko.”
“If you knew that, Supt. Troon, why did you not say it more categorically?”
“I already told you why.”
“You were worried?”
“It was tough. I guess, I was a little bit worried - yes.”
“About your security?”
“They tried to kill me ….. poison me.”
“So you buckled?”
He had to laugh. He knew that I was only kidding. Over the years we had become friends. I was seeking advise from him whenever anything related to Dr. Ouko and Kenya came up. And he had come to like my sense of humor.
Smiling, he said, “You are tough with me, Marianne.”
“It’s not about being tough. It’s about doing the right thing. It’s my view that by being scared, by being more concerned with our security, we have failed to mention all the reasons why Dr. Ouko was killed and by whom.”
“You really think so?”
“What I am saying is that we have now a last chance to correct things, make them right. I have already received my Summon and I intend to travel to Nairobi. This time I will say everything. Every damn shit ….”
“You know you are risking big. I want you to understand that …. But you have my full support. And let me just say this - I am proud of you, proud to be your friend.”
“Thank you – that means a lot coming from you. But one more question. What will you do should you be summoned?” I then asked.
Hearing this question, Troon shrugged. Summoned? Of course, I have been summoned. But why should Moi and Biwott let me return? Had I not practically accused them both of murder?
Convinced the two would not let him return – and aware of the fact that they still called the shots in Kenya – he said, “Actually, the Committee has summoned me already. But I doubt Moi and Biwott will allow me back into Kenya.”
“What if they do?” I pressed.
He kept quiet. Was that really possible?
Before he could answer, his wife knocked and came in the study. She mouthed, Breakfast is ready.
“If I get back to Nairobi, I will talk…… given how things have played out in the last decade and half, I have no other choice. I can’t let these guys get away with murder.”
“I like that.”
He sighed and then said, “Marianne, we owe it to Bob to talk. We have to help him to finally rest in peace.”
****
At the breakfast table, Mrs. Troon warned her husband to be extremely careful. “First of all, I am worried about you going back to Kenya. And second, you and other witnesses have the Kenyan Authorities all there was to say. If they wanted to prosecute the murderers, they have all the evidence they need on the table already.”
“No, they don’t,” he said.
Her eyebrows lifted, “What?”
“Marianne has more.”
“More what?”
To Be Continued Tomorrow
He had to go Spain - right down to Marbella. He had to fly there to give her the facts and tell her in no uncertain terms why she could not go to Nairobi.
“So you are also coming?” he asked Sandra just as she was waking up.
“It’s a waste of time. She won’t listen to us,” she shot back.
“But she may die out there. Remember what happened last time she was in Nairobi.”
Sandra remembered that day like it was only yesterday. How she had been sitting by the phone the whole morning ….. the whole day …. and half the night.
She remembered that when her call finally came through, her mother had told her that she had just escaped an assassination attempt.
Two weeks later, John Kazzora had come to Zurich and had confirmed it.
And now her mother wanted to go back to that? No way, Philipp was going to let that happen.
“So, are you coming?” he asked Sandra again.
His wife slapped away the comforter, came up on her elbow and looked at her husband, “You really mean it?”
“Mean what?”
“That you are going to Spain?”
He nodded, “I have to protect my mother-in-law from doing something really stupid.”
“Protect her?” She smiled. Did he really know her mother ?
Walking toward the bathroom, he said, “I’m not going to work today. I want to fly to Malaga by about eleven and be back here by five o’clock.”
Sandra shrugged, “So let’s try it.”
On that note, they went to the bathroom, stripped and stepped into the big bathtub together.
Later, Philipp asked again why Marianne felt so committed to Kenya ….. why she still felt so attached, “Will she ever let go?”
Sandra – tears forming – shook her head. She knew her mother would never let go. She loved Kenya from the first moment she had set foot there. She loved the people.
Loved the nature. She had nursed big ambitions for Kenya. - And she had deeply fallen in love there. Had loved two very controversial men. Maybe still loved one of them. – So how could Philipp expect her mother to fust forget?
And then Sandra started to ask herself the same question – could she forget her life in Kenya – Nairobi and Mombasa? The way she had been spoilt as a young girl, how these two men had competed for her affection because of their love for her mother ?
“I take your silence as a no,” Greg said. “But I am still going to try. The only way to make your mother forget about Dr. Ouko and this testimony is to make her forget Kenya. She has to let Kenya go once and for all.”
Sandra scrubbed his back, “I doubt, she ever will.”
“But at least we can try.”
Sandra smiled. Good luck !
***********************************************
In London, Supt. Troon pulled out another file.
He had gone through all the others and was satisfied that if he had another chance to investigate this case, he would do it exactly the same way. He trusted the conclusions he had reached at that time.
But unhappy with himself for not having revealed how vicious the schemes against me in Nairobi were, he decided to call me.
When my phone rang, I practically ran to it, picked up and then blurted, “This is Marianne Briner-Mattern.”
I then I heard Troon laughing, “It’s not that official.”
“Thank God, it’s you. Anyway, what is going on?”
“I was just going through a couple of files –“ He put his finger on the paragraph he had called about, “I have found something that will interest you.”
“What is it?”
“Listen to this line: In my interview with Hezekiah Oyugi and the Head of State who denied me a chance to interview Mr. Nicholas Biwott, I determined that there was a vicious campaign to discredit Mrs. Marianne Briner and to damage her credibility completely. In the long run, I had to come to the conclusion that the three top guns were scathing because they wanted to get me off their backs.”
“You wrote that?” I asked.
“Yes. I also wrote that because of their behavior – and because of other uncovered facts – I had to conclude that they killed Dr. Ouko.”
“If you knew that, Supt. Troon, why did you not say it more categorically?”
“I already told you why.”
“You were worried?”
“It was tough. I guess, I was a little bit worried - yes.”
“About your security?”
“They tried to kill me ….. poison me.”
“So you buckled?”
He had to laugh. He knew that I was only kidding. Over the years we had become friends. I was seeking advise from him whenever anything related to Dr. Ouko and Kenya came up. And he had come to like my sense of humor.
Smiling, he said, “You are tough with me, Marianne.”
“It’s not about being tough. It’s about doing the right thing. It’s my view that by being scared, by being more concerned with our security, we have failed to mention all the reasons why Dr. Ouko was killed and by whom.”
“You really think so?”
“What I am saying is that we have now a last chance to correct things, make them right. I have already received my Summon and I intend to travel to Nairobi. This time I will say everything. Every damn shit ….”
“You know you are risking big. I want you to understand that …. But you have my full support. And let me just say this - I am proud of you, proud to be your friend.”
“Thank you – that means a lot coming from you. But one more question. What will you do should you be summoned?” I then asked.
Hearing this question, Troon shrugged. Summoned? Of course, I have been summoned. But why should Moi and Biwott let me return? Had I not practically accused them both of murder?
Convinced the two would not let him return – and aware of the fact that they still called the shots in Kenya – he said, “Actually, the Committee has summoned me already. But I doubt Moi and Biwott will allow me back into Kenya.”
“What if they do?” I pressed.
He kept quiet. Was that really possible?
Before he could answer, his wife knocked and came in the study. She mouthed, Breakfast is ready.
“If I get back to Nairobi, I will talk…… given how things have played out in the last decade and half, I have no other choice. I can’t let these guys get away with murder.”
“I like that.”
He sighed and then said, “Marianne, we owe it to Bob to talk. We have to help him to finally rest in peace.”
****
At the breakfast table, Mrs. Troon warned her husband to be extremely careful. “First of all, I am worried about you going back to Kenya. And second, you and other witnesses have the Kenyan Authorities all there was to say. If they wanted to prosecute the murderers, they have all the evidence they need on the table already.”
“No, they don’t,” he said.
Her eyebrows lifted, “What?”
“Marianne has more.”
“More what?”
To Be Continued Tomorrow
5 Most Popular Articles In Kumekucha 16th Oct
The 5 most popular articles today traffic monitored between 1:30pm and 2:30 pm
1. Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee As Mystery of Large Crowd Lingers
2. Why PNU Is Working Itself Into A Tight Corner
3. 5 Most Popular Kumekucha Articles on 15th Oct
4. Kisumu Town East Seat (Kenya Betrayed)
5. Old Mzungu strips in public for young Kenyan beauty
1. Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee As Mystery of Large Crowd Lingers
2. Why PNU Is Working Itself Into A Tight Corner
3. 5 Most Popular Kumekucha Articles on 15th Oct
4. Kisumu Town East Seat (Kenya Betrayed)
5. Old Mzungu strips in public for young Kenyan beauty
Monday, October 15, 2007
Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee As Mystery Of The Mammoth Crowd Persists
It is a fact that PNU struggled to fill the 40,000 capacity Nyayo Stadium during President Kibaki’s presidential campaign launch just over 2 weeks ago. Some of the gymnastics that the party had to go through included helping to finance national delegates conferences for affiliate parties which were organized at about the same time so as to avoid at all costs the Stadium being embarrassingly empty.
So the big mystery that almost every Kenyan on the street is talking about is how the 8% party managed to attract such a mammoth crowd to Uhuru Park.
All sorts of rumours are flying;
One rumour cl;aims that Machakos is very close to Nairobi and so every Mkamba to the last man was transported to Uhuru Park for the rally. The guys spreading this rumour claiom that the faces seen at Uhuru Park on Sunday all looked like they were from one community. And most were saying “Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee!”
Yet another rumour says that Sunday was chosen specifically so that church congregations could be commandeered to turn up at Uhuru Park.”
When all is said and done, it is not very easy to fool this political analyst with large crowds. I remember vividly the crowd that escorted Charity Ngilu to hand over her nomination papers to the electoral commission of Kenya in 1997. Just looking at it you would have quickly declared that Mrs Ngilu had already won. A sharp contrast to candidate Mwai Kibaki who handed over his papers and left quietly with a an aide or two. Ion fact on his way out he bumped into another candidate, no less than the incumbent President Moi himself who had also been on a similar mission to county hall. The two men unaccompanied by supporters greeted each other and parted ways. Well, those were the two guys who came first and second in those elections.
So the crowd at Uhuru park was above everything else a political gimmick. One thing about Hoo Ndii Emm is that fact that they are the most organized of the three political parties. Just carefully look at how they do their things. Somebody suggested to me that if PNU contionue campaigning the way they are, they could easily find their presidential candidate coming in third behind Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. This may be a far-fetched dream but I can’t help but consider it when the PNU continues to campaign as if the people who are going to vote are retarded idiots.
So the big mystery that almost every Kenyan on the street is talking about is how the 8% party managed to attract such a mammoth crowd to Uhuru Park.
All sorts of rumours are flying;
One rumour cl;aims that Machakos is very close to Nairobi and so every Mkamba to the last man was transported to Uhuru Park for the rally. The guys spreading this rumour claiom that the faces seen at Uhuru Park on Sunday all looked like they were from one community. And most were saying “Hoo Ndii Emm Woyee!”
Yet another rumour says that Sunday was chosen specifically so that church congregations could be commandeered to turn up at Uhuru Park.”
When all is said and done, it is not very easy to fool this political analyst with large crowds. I remember vividly the crowd that escorted Charity Ngilu to hand over her nomination papers to the electoral commission of Kenya in 1997. Just looking at it you would have quickly declared that Mrs Ngilu had already won. A sharp contrast to candidate Mwai Kibaki who handed over his papers and left quietly with a an aide or two. Ion fact on his way out he bumped into another candidate, no less than the incumbent President Moi himself who had also been on a similar mission to county hall. The two men unaccompanied by supporters greeted each other and parted ways. Well, those were the two guys who came first and second in those elections.
So the crowd at Uhuru park was above everything else a political gimmick. One thing about Hoo Ndii Emm is that fact that they are the most organized of the three political parties. Just carefully look at how they do their things. Somebody suggested to me that if PNU contionue campaigning the way they are, they could easily find their presidential candidate coming in third behind Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka. This may be a far-fetched dream but I can’t help but consider it when the PNU continues to campaign as if the people who are going to vote are retarded idiots.
Why PNU Is Working Itself Into A Tight Corner
Both Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign and that of Kalonzo Musyoka are working hard to steer this campaign in the direction of issues. PNU on the other hand are determined to reduce this campaign into a tribal insult-hurling contest.
After Finance Minister Amos Kimunya told Kenyans that the stock exchange has lost a staggering 200 billion because of fear amongst investors that Raila may end up being president, the ODM candidate made a surprise appearance at the Nairobi Stock Exchange this morning and reassured Kenyans that his government would embrace the NSE and its objectives as a way to empower more Kenyans to participate in the economy of the country.
Meanwhile the PNU crowd have not responded to claims from both Raila and Kalonzo that they are preparing to rig the forthcoming polls. Nobody has moved to reassure Kenyans even after the appointment of a brand new inexperienced Vice Chair to the electoral commission. Something rather strange to do when we know that the chairman’s Samuel Kuvuitu’s tenure is bound to expire before the polls. So why would the government want inexperienced commissioners handling the most complex election in the history of Kenya? This is something that rattles investors much more than the face of one Agwambo, that you can be sure about.
So as Raila and kalonzo continue to raise issues and avoid insults, the PNU train is bound to run out of steam pretty quickly. This kind of thing needs a response to remain oiled and to run properly and so far the opposition have denied the government that.
It really is fascinating watching a government that ran out of ideas a long time ago, also run out of ideas fro its’ campaign. In my view this thing of the president’s daughter running his foundation and his political campaign is a terrible idea. It gives the public the impression that this thing is a family issue and so maybe voters should just send off this wonderful family back to Othaya to rest.
I am still desperately waiting to see something, anything that looks like a serious election campaign from the PNU crowd. Why am I desperate? Because like the mainstream press, there is nothing to report about PNU and so it makes us all vulnerable top accusations of favoring ODM. You see what Kenyans do not want to understand is that thepress cannot create news, it only covers it and a lot of what PNU guys see at their meetings is not worth reporting. In the event that the opposition wins, we will have the worst opposition in Kenyan parliamentary history. Can you imagine listening to all that hogwash for the next 5 years?
Again this is the sort of issue that will scare smart investors. We need a strong opposition to check government excesses.
After Finance Minister Amos Kimunya told Kenyans that the stock exchange has lost a staggering 200 billion because of fear amongst investors that Raila may end up being president, the ODM candidate made a surprise appearance at the Nairobi Stock Exchange this morning and reassured Kenyans that his government would embrace the NSE and its objectives as a way to empower more Kenyans to participate in the economy of the country.
Meanwhile the PNU crowd have not responded to claims from both Raila and Kalonzo that they are preparing to rig the forthcoming polls. Nobody has moved to reassure Kenyans even after the appointment of a brand new inexperienced Vice Chair to the electoral commission. Something rather strange to do when we know that the chairman’s Samuel Kuvuitu’s tenure is bound to expire before the polls. So why would the government want inexperienced commissioners handling the most complex election in the history of Kenya? This is something that rattles investors much more than the face of one Agwambo, that you can be sure about.
So as Raila and kalonzo continue to raise issues and avoid insults, the PNU train is bound to run out of steam pretty quickly. This kind of thing needs a response to remain oiled and to run properly and so far the opposition have denied the government that.
It really is fascinating watching a government that ran out of ideas a long time ago, also run out of ideas fro its’ campaign. In my view this thing of the president’s daughter running his foundation and his political campaign is a terrible idea. It gives the public the impression that this thing is a family issue and so maybe voters should just send off this wonderful family back to Othaya to rest.
I am still desperately waiting to see something, anything that looks like a serious election campaign from the PNU crowd. Why am I desperate? Because like the mainstream press, there is nothing to report about PNU and so it makes us all vulnerable top accusations of favoring ODM. You see what Kenyans do not want to understand is that thepress cannot create news, it only covers it and a lot of what PNU guys see at their meetings is not worth reporting. In the event that the opposition wins, we will have the worst opposition in Kenyan parliamentary history. Can you imagine listening to all that hogwash for the next 5 years?
Again this is the sort of issue that will scare smart investors. We need a strong opposition to check government excesses.
Kisumu Town East Parliamentary Seat (Kenya Betrayed)
The man was the Member of Parliament for Kisumu Town East - the same constituency which also Dr. Ouko had represented before he got killed. His name was Gor Sunguh.
By a quorum vote, the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya had voted him Chairman of a Committee charged with the responsibility of finding out who killed Dr. Ouko ……. And why.
After talking to the former Head of State, he sat down. He was still in his office at the Parliament Buildings when that call came in via his cell phone.
Amazed by how swiftly news of what went on in Parliament still reached Moi, he looked at his phone oddly, slammed it, then pondered the meanting of that call.
Could it be that the former Head of State had just threatened him?
There is one witness I don’t want your Committee to summon.
Who are we talking about ?
Mrs. Marianne Briner-Mattern.
Marianne ….
Was that a threat ?
Fearing it was, he grabbed the phone again, his hands shaking. Then he dialed Raila Odinga.
Raila Odinga, having dinner at the Safari Park Hotel, reached for his cell phone, looked at the caller ID and then flipped on a third ring, “Raila.”
“Raila weche richo,” Sunguh blurted.
“What does that mean?”
“I have just received a unique call.”
“By whom?” Raila asked.
“Moi.”
“What did he want?”
The Kisumu Town East MP was suddenly in a fix. He was smart enough to know that the Molasses Plant in Kisumu was among the reasons why Dr. Ouko had been killed. Two previous investigations had revealed that. He also understood that Raila was now a key player in the Molasses Project. In fact, he knew that accusations had surfaced to the effect that Raila and his family had used the money collected by the Luo-Community to revive the plant.
But of all the things that suddenly worried him most was the fact that his political party of which Raila was a crucial player had worked closely with men around the former Head of State, including his statuesque son, Gideon. That was not something he could overlook.
“What does he want?” Raila repeated his question.
Hesitantly, Sunguh said, “ He has warned me not to summon once certain witness.”
“Himself?”
No.”
“Nicholas Biwott?”
No.”
“Then who?”
“Marianne Briner-Mattern.”
*****************************************
Before Raila Odinga could recover from this information, his phone rang again. He answered without looking at the caller ID, “Hello?”
Cough, “It’s me.”
Raila stood up and walked to a corner and looking first around making sure that there was nobody near, he said, “What’s going on, Mzee?”
Moi cut the chase, “Tell Chairman Sunguh to be careful”
“About what?”
“The witnesses he summons.”
Pretending he did not know what Moi was talking about, Raila asked, “Is there a special witness you do not want the Committee to summon?”
Cough, “Just ask Sunguh – I already told him”.
Click……
By a quorum vote, the Parliament of the Republic of Kenya had voted him Chairman of a Committee charged with the responsibility of finding out who killed Dr. Ouko ……. And why.
After talking to the former Head of State, he sat down. He was still in his office at the Parliament Buildings when that call came in via his cell phone.
Amazed by how swiftly news of what went on in Parliament still reached Moi, he looked at his phone oddly, slammed it, then pondered the meanting of that call.
Could it be that the former Head of State had just threatened him?
There is one witness I don’t want your Committee to summon.
Who are we talking about ?
Mrs. Marianne Briner-Mattern.
Marianne ….
Was that a threat ?
Fearing it was, he grabbed the phone again, his hands shaking. Then he dialed Raila Odinga.
Raila Odinga, having dinner at the Safari Park Hotel, reached for his cell phone, looked at the caller ID and then flipped on a third ring, “Raila.”
“Raila weche richo,” Sunguh blurted.
“What does that mean?”
“I have just received a unique call.”
“By whom?” Raila asked.
“Moi.”
“What did he want?”
The Kisumu Town East MP was suddenly in a fix. He was smart enough to know that the Molasses Plant in Kisumu was among the reasons why Dr. Ouko had been killed. Two previous investigations had revealed that. He also understood that Raila was now a key player in the Molasses Project. In fact, he knew that accusations had surfaced to the effect that Raila and his family had used the money collected by the Luo-Community to revive the plant.
But of all the things that suddenly worried him most was the fact that his political party of which Raila was a crucial player had worked closely with men around the former Head of State, including his statuesque son, Gideon. That was not something he could overlook.
“What does he want?” Raila repeated his question.
Hesitantly, Sunguh said, “ He has warned me not to summon once certain witness.”
“Himself?”
No.”
“Nicholas Biwott?”
No.”
“Then who?”
“Marianne Briner-Mattern.”
*****************************************
Before Raila Odinga could recover from this information, his phone rang again. He answered without looking at the caller ID, “Hello?”
Cough, “It’s me.”
Raila stood up and walked to a corner and looking first around making sure that there was nobody near, he said, “What’s going on, Mzee?”
Moi cut the chase, “Tell Chairman Sunguh to be careful”
“About what?”
“The witnesses he summons.”
Pretending he did not know what Moi was talking about, Raila asked, “Is there a special witness you do not want the Committee to summon?”
Cough, “Just ask Sunguh – I already told him”.
Click……
Top 5 Most Popular Kumekucha Articles 15th Oct 2007
We launch a new daily feature on the top 5 most popular Kumekucha pages in terms of traffic. Today’s figures represent traffic captured between 7 and 8 pm Kenyan time.
The popularity of the old Alnoor Kassam story we did here is probably due to the ongoing electionerring in Calgary, Canada where Kenyan-born Alnoor Kassam (now a Canadian national is a candidate for Mayor of Calgary).
1) Alnoor Kassam and the Trade Bank Story
2) Alnoor Kassam speaks to Kumekucha
3) Is Mukhisa Kituyi about to defect to ODM?
4) My son take it slow, Aids is rapacious
5) 53% Odinga Hugs 8% Kalonzo.
The popularity of the old Alnoor Kassam story we did here is probably due to the ongoing electionerring in Calgary, Canada where Kenyan-born Alnoor Kassam (now a Canadian national is a candidate for Mayor of Calgary).
1) Alnoor Kassam and the Trade Bank Story
2) Alnoor Kassam speaks to Kumekucha
3) Is Mukhisa Kituyi about to defect to ODM?
4) My son take it slow, Aids is rapacious
5) 53% Odinga Hugs 8% Kalonzo.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Is Mukhisa Kituyi About To Defect To ODM?
What would you think if you were told that a certain politicians’ allies (virtually the whole lot) have already defected to a certain party but that the senior politician in question (no less than a cabinet minister) in fact seems to be hesitant and undecided.
Seasoned analysts would tell you that it is only a matter of time before that politician joins his allies at the said political party.
Dr Mukisa Kituyi and his wife Ling Kituyi.
Seasoned analysts would tell you that it is only a matter of time before that politician joins his allies at the said political party.
Dr Mukisa Kituyi and his wife Ling Kituyi.
Trade and Industry Minister Mukhisa Kituyi who is also the member of parliament for Kimilili constituency in Bungoma district has watched as his close allies have all trooped into ODM. Meanwhile Kituyi (who was just the other day, the powerful chairman of Narc Kenya, defected to Soita Shitanda’s New Ford Kenya. Could this be a strategic move and a stepping stone to joining ODM? For weeks there have been whispers in the expansive Bukusuland that Hon Shitanda was headed for ODM with his entire splinter political party. But so far they have remained just rumours.
If this is true then it will complete an astounding and fascinating comedy of errors, Kenya style that has seen a leading politician dance his way round political parties right from President Kibaki’s government and sponsored Narc Kenya right into the heart of the opposition, joining former colleagues in the cabinet, John Koech and Charity Ngilu.
If this defection takes place, it will also be the biggest catch yet for ODM.
A close analysis of Bukusu politics on the ground in recent weeks clearly points to Hon Kituyi ending up in ODM. The Bukusu are one of the largest Luhya sub-tribes and boast of over 300,000 votes. Since the death of the community’s own former Ford Kenya chairman and immediate former Vice President of Kenya, Wamalwa Kijana, no politician has held complete sway over the Bukusu. This has been the reason behind the various controversies that saw the formation of a splinter New Ford Kenya party chaired by Housing Minister Soita Shitanda. But what is really fascinating is how this Luhya sub-tribe has so quickly rallied behind Raila Odinga’s presidential bid and ODM.
Other presidential candidates who have gone to the area to campaign in recent months like Kalonzo Musyoka and even President Kibaki have been met with chants of ODM or placards with the name of the party written boldly and clearly from a people who are clearly not prepared to listen from any other script.
Some political analysts say that one of the reasons why the Bukusu have been so totally seduced into ODM has been due to the strategy the party has used of cashing in on the infamous Elijah Masinde prophecy. The founder of Dini Ya Musambwa which was a thorn in the flesh of the colonial government issued a prophesy in the 60s that the leadership of the country would come to the Bukusu through Nyanza. This prophecy has been modified by ODM supporters and the word “Bukusu” has been convineintly replaced with the word “Luhya.” This is so as to accommodate Musalia Mudavadi, who is Raila’s running mate into the scheme of things.
Still there are those who point to the fact that the Bukusu have consistently voted for the opposition anyway and have in fact been anti-establishment since the colonial days.
But if truth be told, this reaction of the Bukusu has taken everybody, including the community itself by surprise. PNU strategists were heavily counting on the Bukusu to rally strongly behind President Kibaki’s re-election bid and it was not lost on observers that the president made two trips to Western Kenya is a very short space of time, apparently to consolidate his support there. It was not to be and as you read this, even die hard supporters of Ford Kenya’s Musikari Kombo are fidgeting and feeling very much out of place supporting PNU when everybody else in the district is solidly behind ODM.
Mukhisa Kituyi is a smart politician and above everything else, he wants to make into the 10th parliament. So chances are that he will choose the strongest and most effective “vehicle” to get him there. In Bungoma district there is no argument as to which vehicle that is. It is ODM.
53% Odinga Hugs 8% Kalonzo
Amazingly there has been plenty of excitement caused by Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka hugging yesterday at Wundanyi as they met at the requiem mass of former MP of the area Dairus Mbela.
The two politicians only weeks ago fought bitterly over the leadership of the so-called ODM family with Kalonzo taking control of ODM Kenya before Raila went off and bought the original ODM and consolidated his position.
What supporters expected was a cold hand shake with the usual plastic smiles. Instead the two warmly hugged each other. Both men said they were still friends and that was why they had hugged.
Kalnzo even went beyond that and thanked the area MP Boniface Mganga for defecting from PNU to Raila Odinga’s ODM.
Wonders never cease. Is there a possibility that we will see a metrger of the two Orange families soon? Who knows? More so, now that we have entered into the season of surprises galore.
The two politicians only weeks ago fought bitterly over the leadership of the so-called ODM family with Kalonzo taking control of ODM Kenya before Raila went off and bought the original ODM and consolidated his position.
What supporters expected was a cold hand shake with the usual plastic smiles. Instead the two warmly hugged each other. Both men said they were still friends and that was why they had hugged.
Kalnzo even went beyond that and thanked the area MP Boniface Mganga for defecting from PNU to Raila Odinga’s ODM.
Wonders never cease. Is there a possibility that we will see a metrger of the two Orange families soon? Who knows? More so, now that we have entered into the season of surprises galore.
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?”
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
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 ….
“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 ….
Friday, October 12, 2007
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.
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.
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 …….”
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 …….”
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
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.
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 ………”
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 ………”
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
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.
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.
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.
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