Story by BERNARD NAMUNANE
Publication Date: 11/18/2007�

Cabinet Minister Morris Dzoro, four assistant ministers and 37 outgoing MPs were among prominent politicians defeated in chaotic party nominations.

Tourism minister Morris Dzoro (left) and his Transport counterpart at a press conference in Mombasa. Photo/ Antony Omuya

But the primaries were mainly an exercise in futility as losers cried foul and promptly defected and obtained nomination from smaller parties. The parties had up to midnight last night to complete the nominations according to Electoral Commission of Kenya rules but, by time of going to press, there was still confusion and unresolved results.�

Assistant Ministers Kembi Gitura, Muchiri Gachara, Mrs Alicen Chelaite, former Government Chief Whip Norman Nyagah and outgoing MPs Chris Murungaru, Prof Wangari Maathai and Joseph Kamotho were among those who lost in the nominations.�

There were scenes of conflicting emotions at ODM and PNU headquarters � tears and celebrations � as the winners happily sought their nomination certificates while the losers lodged complaints that must be sorted out by Wednesday next week.�

Both parties have set up appeals committees to deal with the cases.

The nominations, which started on Friday and were still going on in some areas yesterday, were marred by violence in which several people were injured. There were claims of rigging,� lack of voting material and disorganisation in most of the parts of the country.�

Admitted to hospital

Yesterday Mr Laban Shitekha, the ODM returning officer in Ikolomani constituency, was admitted to hospital after he was beaten up during the nominations.

The high electoral mortality among outgoing MPs is probably a mark of the distrust that voters had for the Ninth Parliament.

Voters in Nyanza were the most ruthless, voting out 10 of the outgoing MPs. Among those felled in the ODM nominations were Mr Adhu Awiti (Karachuonyo), Ken Nyagudi (Kisumu Town West), Mr Gor Sunguh (Kisumu Town East), Mr Owino Likowa (Migori), Mr Ochillo Ayacko (Rongo), Mr Odhiambo Omamba (Uriri), and Mr Paddy Ahenda (Kasipul Kabondo).�

Others were Mr Ochola Ogur (Nyatike), Mr Eric Nyamunga (Nyando) and Mr Sammy Weya (Alego Usonga).

Mudavadi allies

In Western, outgoing MPs Andrew Ligale (Vihiga) and George Khaniri (Hamisi), both close allies of ODM presidential running mate Musalia Mudavadi, failed to secure party tickets. Others who also lost were Mr Wycliffe Osundwa (Mumias), Mr Julius Arunga (Khwisero) and Dr Christine Mango (Butula).

In Rift Valley, ODM members rejected outgoing MPs Musa Sirma (Eldama Ravine), Noah arap Too (Ainamoi), John Koech (Chepalungu),� David Koros (Eldoret South) and Samuel Moroto (Kapenguria). In Nairobi�s Kasarani, they voted out outgoing MP William Omondi.�

PNU members gave the thumbs down to the architect of the� Constituency Development Fund (CDF), Mr Karue Muriuki (Ol Kalou).�

Other outgoing MPs denied tickets are Mr Waithaka Mwangi (Kinangop), Mr Alfred Nderitu (Mwea), Mr Davies Nakitare (Saboti), Mr Maoka Maore (Ntonyiri), Mr Kariuki Mirugi (Nakuru Town), Mr William Kabogo (Juja), Mr Francis Kagwima (Tharaka) and Mr P.G. Mureithi (Nyeri Town).

ODM-K members voted out three outgoing MPs — Mr Patrice Ivuti (Kitui South), Mr Daudi Mwanzia (Machakos) and Mr Moffat Maitha — while Kanu members in Sotik voted out Mr Anthony Kimetto.

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<By Harrison� Mwirigi� Ikunda,
API/APN in Nairobi, Kenya.

The 2007 general election in Kenya is expected to be the most post independence hotly contested poll so far. And going by the nomination exercises carried, this would be the most explosive and fiercely contested poll witnessed in Kenya so far. It is the fist election to be contested in post KANU (party) era.

Five things quickly suffice and merit mention. The incumbent president is the first to get into office for the first time in post pluralism era to face an election. Secondly the earnings and benefits enjoyed especially by the members of the parliament and the other attractive trappings would have obviously attracted a huge number of contestants.
Thirdly, fringe parties are enjoying a field day with numerous
applicants. Fourthly, immediate members of parliament and cabinet ministers have infiltrated the nominations such that most have an upper hand. Fifth is that going by popular opinion most immediate Members of Parliament will loose out in the proper poll.

And it goes on to prove that Kenyan politics is as usual very murky. A day in it and in many or most parts of the world can be a very long time. Kenneth Matiba a former main contender of the presidential poll has interestingly and curiously contested a parliamentary as well as the presidential post. This time unlike in 1992, when he ran for the presidency for the first time , the Saba Saba Asili candidate is running as an underdog though not to be underrated for the nuisance value, destructive value, strategic value, historical value as� well as his value to prove an important point.

The parliamentary nomination will necessarily herald a match to hate, scheming, and mudslinging as well as to one of the most unpredictable poll in Kenya history. As much as the main parties have a head start the fringe parties cannot be ignored for their propensity to pull surprises as well as their usefulness in coalition formation after the poll.

The Kenyan voter is as usual very gullible but needless to say, the dynamics are changing quite fast. The increasing awareness, the youthfulness factor and assertiveness of the female gender will have a lot of impact in the coming poll. However the biggest nightmare will be brought by the usual political violence, tribalism and the effectiveness of the propaganda machines.

But whichever way the poll goes Kenya is in a major political paradigm shift least to say. The multifarious of contested interests in the coming poll will necessarily yield or take Kenya to new political dispensation.

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Nairobi, Kenya) Kenyan president, Mwai Kibaki (right photo) on Saturday called for the quick implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) as a basis of resolving the sticky issues between the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the government of Sudan.

Speaking at State House in Nairobi where he held talks with the first Vice President of Sudan and the President of government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kirr Mayardit (left photo), Kibaki said that Kenya will remain engaged in the Sudan peace process.

Kibaki noted that he had already contacted President Omar El Bashir on the latest crisis on the implementation of the CPA that occasioned the suspension by the SPLM of its participation in the Government of National Unity.

President Kibaki welcomed the ongoing peace initiatives on the Sudan, saying there was need to re-energize international support especially from those who signed the CPA.

Mr. Salva Kirr, who was on his way home from the United States, briefed President Kibaki on the progress made in the implementation of the CPA.

He expressed gratitude over Kenya�s efforts in resolving the South Sudan problem, saying Kenya played a pivotal role as Vice Chair of the Assessment and Evaluation Commission, which oversees the implementation of the CPA.

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Goma – (DR Congo) Two soldiers suspected of belonging to the National Congress for People�s Defence (CNDP) of dissident Congolese General Laurent Nkunda who had been accused of taking part in the recent attack against the Mugunga I displaced people�s camp and the Lushebere village (in the north-west of Goma) were shown to the media on Friday by the staff of the eighth military region of the DR Congo�s Armed Forces (FARDC).

FARDC military regional Commander, Brigadier General Mayala Kyama noted that the arrest of the two soldiers seeks to prove that the attacks on the Mungunga I displaced people�s camp and on the Lushebere village was ��planned and carried out” by the CNDP.

The captured soldiers are second Lieutenant Vugimana and Sergeant Fran�ois Saidi Mushore, both from Gisenyi in Rwanda, the deputy commander of the operations, Col. Kahimbi Delphin, said.

Second lieutenant Vugimana led the battalion of CNDP Major Sadam who died last Tuesday during the attack against the Mugunga I camp. Vugimana was arrested over two weeks ago in Sake, Rumangabo while carrying out a mission of espionage on the FARDC positions, according to the same source.

Second lieutenant Fran�ois Saidi Mushore for his part was injured and captured last Wednesday during FARDC patrol operations in the Virunga Park after the attacks against the Mugunga I displaced people�s camp.

Second lieutenant Mushore admitted taking part in the attacks against the Lushebere village in Masisi which left 6 people dead and 4 others seriously wounded, the FARDC commander said.

He also alleged that 700 demobilised soldiers of the Rwandan army were stationed in Gisenyi, a neighbouring province in the city of Goma to set up a joint assault on the Goma airport with the Rwandan forces.

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Abidjan (C�te d�Ivoire) Ivorian Prime Minister Guillaume Soro is due on Sunday in Ouagadougou where he will take part in the meeting of the Assessment and Support Committee from the Ouagadougou political accord, the prime minister�s press department told APA on Saturday.

Soro�s spokesman M�it� Sindou told APA that the Committee would rule on and sign the Additional Accord on the appointment of the technical operator charged with the conduct of the general identification of the population.

In its meeting last Friday in Ouagadougou, the Committee named the French group SAGEM as the technical operator in charge of making the Ivorian national identity cards as well as the voters� cards ahead of the next elections.

The Sunday meeting will then submit a document to be signed by the two parties who are signatories of the Ouagadougou accord on the choice of this operator.

The populations� identification operation is another important step on the implementation of the Ouagadougou Accord signed on 4 March 2007.

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Bamako (Mali) More than 5, 700 Malians will perform the pilgrimage to Mecca this year, a slightly higher quota against some 5, 600 pilgrims last year, an official source�told APA.

The Malian pilgrims for this year�s Hajj can choose from 29 private agencies operating in the sector or the government channels whose quota for this year has been set at 1, 000 pilgrims, Malian national Interior head, Boubacar Sow, told APA.

This dispatch was made at the end of a meeting of the state and private operators on the “Framework for consultation” which every year takes stock of the past season before setting the new quota of pilgrims to be ferried by each of the two channels, the government and the private sector.

For the government channel, intended pilgrims should pay this year 1, 700, 000 CFA francs, including various provisions mainly the stay in Saudi Arabia for 729, 680 CFA francs and air transport for 860, 020 CFA francs.

Without a “political intervention”, the transport fees should have cost 957, 780 CFA francs and the pilgrimage 1, 797, 740 CFA francs instead of the current 1, 700, 000 CFA francs, Sow noted.

Mainly comprising people performing the Hajj for the first time, the Malian would-be pilgrims are following “an education and awareness” session to inform them on the meaning of the Muslim pilgrimage ritual.

About 40 people, including 15 health officers will supervise the 1, 000 Malian intended pilgrims from the government channels to the holy places of Mecca and Medina.

The first flight from Bamako operated by Tunisian private airline “Nouvel Air” is scheduled to leave 26 November while the return flights are planned from 23 December.

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Kampala (Uganda) A comprehensive peace agreement between rebel movement Lord?s Resistance Army (LRA) and Uganda government could be signed by February next year, said James Obita, the LRA peace team technical advisor.

During the first LRA peace team public consultation at Ngai Sub-county on Thursday night in northern Uganda, he said that all indications of the peace process so far point to the possibility of a truce early next year.

He described as ?baseless? fears by some people that LRA commander Joseph Kony seems not committed to a comprehensive peace deal.

He said the LRA peace team is ready to convince Kony to end the war.

Obita warned that the LRA peace group will not hesitate to abandon Kony if he opts to fail the talks and resume war.

Beatrice Okello, the Ngai Sub-county local council chairperson, told the LRA peace team that although 96 percent of the more than 30,000 people in the area had returned to their homes, an air of uncertainty still hangs over the progress of the peace process.

Okello said the locals have forgiven the rebels if only that could deliver long lasting peace.

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