“COMMENTARY ”

In Luoland we have Raila Mania. The man has managed to utilise this fanatical following to make sure that anyone who even seems a distance threat to his hold on the Luos never sits in parliament. Is this really a man who is a democrat.
Today a professor of mine who used to lecture us about integrity has become Railas court poet. Is this what we should expect if a miracle happens and the man lands in State House.

Raila should be satisfied with his role as the kingmaker. Let him say Kilonzo Tosha or Mudavadi Tosha and at least spend the next five years thumping his chest in funerals telling everyone how because of him so and so is eating in Statehouse

His fanatical followers gives him power that no other politician can claim. But on the other hand its this following that scares the rest of kenyans. Who wants to be led by a man that has an ethnical following that obeys whatever he says like he is some kind of a God?

Remember during the referendum when Raila said that he had read the Wako whatever and found it defective? Does anyone remember what he told his supporters? May be many of you have forgotten. His followers did not have to since he had gone through and should just follow his conclusions!

We can’t forget that Raila fought hard to end the dictatorial regime of Moi. But then again why did he join the same enemy in the government later on only to leave when he knew that he would not be blessed with the presidency? Was he only thinking of his personal gains or did he work with Moi for the benefit of the common mwananchi as he often stated?

If Raila fails to succeed Kibaki will he still have a fanatical following after five years? I sense that the man is desperate. He knows that this might be the last time he might have this kind of clout. The Luos who are among the most educated people in Kenya might soon wake up from the Odinga induced slumber and decide to look for another prophet.

By Kichwa Mbaya!

A reaction to Mr Onditi’s defence for Raila:

Vincent Onditi defends Raila Odinga!

A Swedish national ate and drunk in a Olso restaurant at Fred Olsens gate recently. His eating and drinking spree landed him in temporary detention by the restaurant employees.

When he realised he was not going to be released from the restaurant, he pleaded with the workers to accept his Swedish thorn passport as payment.

Fearing that the man might turn violent, restaurant employees, after refusing to accept payment in form of a passport, decided to call the police for assistance.

The police agreed to dispatch personnel to the scene of “crime.”

When the man realised the police had been informed of the incident, he decided to be cooperative. He telephoned his girlfriend asking her for rescue.

This must have worried the restaurant personnel who at the time did not know who the man was summoning to his aid. It is possible that the restaurant workers thought the man was calling for back-up in form of muscle-men.

Minutes later, a girl entered the restaurant, looking worried, probably thinking the boyfriend had been beaten up.

She went to the man and discussed for a while. Thereafter, she pulled out her wallet and cleared the bill before the police arrived.

It is one of those things we hear often. A number of people in Oslo walk into eating and drinking places without money to clear their bills. They enter looking executive, talking to the waiters sweetly while ordering the food and drinks.

They later surprise the waiters by telling them that they are unable to foot the bill. Some get away with it, some pretend they are visiting the toilet and they disappear running with the waiters hot on their heels.

Restaurants should introduce pays-as-you-order policy to avoid situations like this one.

When things like this occur, it makes the police misuse resources by dispatching personnel to solve the problem instead of attending to more important issues.

By Korir, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Children have been subjected to rape and prostitution by some United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti and Liberia, a BBC investigation has uncovered.
In a program to be televised, we see yet again the continued misuse of money and resources to undisciplined “soldiers”.

These ” peacekeepers”, even with sufficient medical evidence, and witnesses seem to get away with the crimes.

A senior official with the organization has confirmed the claims.

Telling the BBC, Sarah Martin has said that, the violations are not only committed by military personnel. Civilian humanitarian workers have also been accused for committing violations.

“To prey upon the very populations that you are sent to protect is one of the worst forms of violation and betrayal.”

Under UN regulations, military personnel cannot be prosecuted in the country where they are serving, and it is up to the courts in their home countries to prosecute crimes committed.

Young girls of 11 yrs have confirmed regular meetings with soldiers who ask for sexual favours in exchange for food and water, something that must be condemned because peacekeepers are supposed to be exemplary.

It is reported that an 11 yr old black girl from haiti has told the media of sexual activities near and aroundthe presidential palace in Port-au-Prince.

Another 14 year old, has horrifying story to tell. The abuse she went through took placeinside a marine base 2 years ago.

The culprits must be punished. It seems the international community has turned a blind eye because those being abused are Africans.

It is just like the soldiers who went to liberate the Iraqis but ended up molesting the prisoners and it took time before the international community reacted.

Can you imagine what would happen in this scenario if ”purely African peacekeepers” raped 11 yr old Norwegian girl outside the Kings palace”? Think what reaction and condemnation that would follow.

At present reportedly over 10 000 UN peacekeepers workingin southern Sudan, costing the international community almost one billion dollars. The hope is that they do not do what has happened in Haiti.

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN

africanpress@chello.no

“COMMENTARY”

Norad was not created to help Africans alleviate their unemployment problems. That statement also equates the fact that, if there was no wars, and diseases, such organizations would cease to exist, you know that as well as anybody else. Hey, you know it costs ”monetas” to run a war! How do you explain a young soldier of around thirteen, in tartars, no shoes, very skinny, an AK-47 two magazine belts..and doesn’t look as if this soldier has had a decent meal in months! How do you explain that, when a single bullet in a magazine of, say 90 rounds, each bullet costs, just over a dollar?

Authored By Biloxyman

A reaction to the story on Norad:

NORAD – Is the directorate’s employment policy breeding racistic ideologies?

Sheik Hussein Barre Raage from The Islamic courts is reported to have said that, “our children should go to holy war instead of watching poor football that comes from decendants of old christian cultures,” according to “fotballporten 100% fotball report.

Children down to the age of 10 were put in for the crime. This happened when they were caught watching Manchester United against Chelsea, a very exciting game that ended 1-1.

All those who watch such games will be registered as criminals. While in, they are to use there time learning Islam!

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

 “COMMENTARY”

We all have our heroes! That is nice. What we need are new and trustworthy leaders. We read of our past heroes in our history books. Importantly with the new heroes our history has to be re-written. Do we still need to teach our children in schools about people like Dr. Livingstone as history books state that he is the first white man to discover parts of Africa?

The time has come for us to put aside petty politicians, horny for power and village politics and begin to put our children  and environment in focus. Our economy needs improvement and for this we need leaders whith understanding.
I recall Professor Saitoti once promised to work hard, and in a short time he managed to achieve results as promised.

Putting things in focus and aiming to achieve good results is not a huge problem if leaders place the needs of their people and country at heart.

Saitoti changed a 2 digit inflation to 1 in a short time when he was finance minister.

Raila and others are talking about many things. Yes, we know they undrestand politics. But do they undersand the people and give their needs a priority?

People should impress on merits and not the business of  stealing funds and sending them to foreign countries.

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

A reaction to Mr Onditi’s commentary on Raila stories>

Vincent Onditi defends Raila Odinga!

A judge in South African was not amused when a man appeared in court charged with forging a document to confirm he was pregnant.

He was fined $140 for taking a week off work, after he told his employers that he was pregnant.

Charles Sibindana, 27, had stolen a certificate from a clinic during his pregnant girlfriend’s checkup, a court near Johannesburg was told during the hearing of the case.

After he had stolen the certificate, he simply added his own name and other details, and submitted it to his employers, thereafter he took leave for seven days from work.

Seemingly unaware that only women consult gynaecologists, he failed to scrutinise some of the details on the document.

On noticing that the sick leave document was signed by a gynaecologists, his employers became suspicious and investigated the matter.

On passing sentence Magistrate Bruno Van Eeden warned Mr Sibindana “not to walk around faking sick letters from gynaecologists” as if he was pregnant, the South African Press Association news agency reported.

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Somalia is worst affected by the floods
Dozens of people are reported dead, as floods across East Africa spread to Rwanda and Malawi.

There are also reports of 24 deaths in Somalia – from acute diarrhoea and crocodile attacks, while 24 people have died in Rwanda, according to the latest media reports.

Five people have died in Malawi and four in Kenya, including one killed by a crocodile.

Aid agencies have launched an appeal to assist 1.8 million people following the floods, which have also hit Ethiopia.

The aid effort in Somalia is especially difficult because of the lack of infrastructure following 15 years of conflict and the absence of a central government.

‘Managing’

Aid agencies report that at least 34 people have died from the flooding in Kenya and have urged the government to declare a national emergency.

But the government says the situation is not that serious.

“It is something we are managing. We are not in the habit of declaring anything a national emergency,” said government spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua.

Twenty people have died from diarrhoea in Somalia’s semi-autonomous Puntland province, AFP news agency reports the UN humanitarian affairs agency, Ocha, as saying.

In central Somalia, AFP quotes aid worker Hussein Nur Adan as saying a rickety wooden boat capsized, exposing three people to crocodiles.

“I saw the remains of three people after they were attacked by two crocodiles,” he said.

Some 8,000 people have been left homeless in Malawi after the River Shire burst its banks.

Four women and a child were drowned, the district commissioner said.

Heavy rains also led to 24 deaths in Rwanda’s Northern Province, national radio reports.

The floods in the Horn of Africa follow last year’s droughts in the region.

That left the earth unable to absorb the heavy rains, leading to flash floods in Ethiopia, as well as Somalia and Kenya.

The UN has said the floods could be the worst in the region in 50 years.

The rains are expected to continue for another month.

By Ira Ndunda, African Press in Norway, APN.

africanpress@chello.no

Source: africanmedia.