Article 1: YOU ARE SO WRONG OKOTH OSEWE

Posted by Njoro on November 15, 2007

I can�t say that I enjoy writing these to reply to what Osewe published in his �war blog� (ksb). Recently Osewe made us understand that he respects the freedom of the press, which includes speaking our mind, but once again he is demonstrating the usual fact that he can�t swallow his dosage of the truth.

Kenyans too, not just him, have a right to say what they think and show where they stand. We can not all side with Osewe and support Raila just to be �good Kenyans�. That is not democracy. This blog (My Expression) has made it clear that we support Emilio and not Amollo for president. We will keep saying it until elections are over; Raila cannot be trusted with our country and our nation, Kenya. No matter how hard that is for some people to swallow!

The article that ended up �offending� Osewe was well documented and free of any tribal malice, but yet again, as usual, Osewe only saw �kikuyu chauvinists�. I don�t know how many times he has used that word on kikuyus who support Kibaki but no matter how many times or how long he will use that word; we will not be stopped from exercising our democratic right!

The fact that Osewe gets all tribal about the issue is a common trend among Raila�s supporters, they never remain objectively sober in their defence of their favourable candidate. Who�s getting panicky here? Raila does not scare us in any way, and like I have said before if Kenyans decide it�s him through the ballot box then that too is alright! But till then we will sing the Emilio Mwai Kibaki song and we will say down with Raila!

While we write what we write we do not refer to any tribes. We respect all the over 40 tribes that make up our nation and we do not feel superior or like the more �rightful owners� of Kenya. We do not advocate tribalism, and we will not fuel it like Osewe does. But we will still say: anybody but not Raila, and in this case Kibaki just happens to be that somebody.

The main point that I wanna put forward here is that we have nothing against our brothers the Luos like Osewe wants to portray. We do not believe that only the Kikuyus must rule Kenya. Kenya is for all of us. We are all for Kenya, and out of our love for our nation we want what is best for her!!

Why someone wants to take it personal? I have no idea.

One Love, One Kenya.

Na Kazi Inaendelea!

By Njoro.

Kibaki Tena Scandinavia.

_______________

Article 2: Raila Odinga Cannot Be Trusted.

Posted by� Njoro on November 14, 2007

ODM presidential candidate, Raila Amolo Odinga cannot be trusted with power due to his inconsistency in political and leadership matters.

History has proved that, Raila as a person only likes to be at the helm and he believes that only he can lead. When he was in Ford-Kenya, he tried to wrestle power from the late Wamalwa Kijana after the demise of his father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga the doyen of opposition. After failing to dislodge Wamalwa, Raila went ahead and �bought� NDP from one, Mr.Oludhe.

In his quest for power, Raila entered into co-operation with the then president Moi in hope that Moi would entrust him to head Kanu since he was in his last term as president. When Raila was made to realize that �Kanu ina wenyewe� by Moi, by choosing Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila decamped from kanu and joined LDP.

After joining LDP, Raila realized that he was heading into political wilderness and he entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ford-People�s boss, Mr. Simeon Nyachae and in less than 48 hours he had already entered another MOU with Kibaki, Wamalwa and Ngilu and later at Uhuru Park, he declared Kibaki tosha.

This year, after realizing that Kalonzo Musyoka was more powerful and popular within ODM-K, Raila once again defected and �bought� ODM from lawyer, Mugambi Imanyara.

Today, Raila has entered another undisclosed MOU with the Muslims. First and foremost, this is a very dangerous move because if he captures the seat of the president, it means more problems between Muslims and non Muslims around the country. Kenya is a secular state where all religious grouping are respected by the constitution, but now Raila in his populism politics wants to divide Kenya along religious lines.

We have seen religious violence in the Israel-Palestine conflicts, Philippines, Northern Ireland and even in Nigeria. Raila is setting a bad precedent and this undisclosed MOU with the Muslims, could be the beginning of religious violence in future. Kenyans have all the rights to know what kind of MOU Raila has entered with the Muslims.

During a campaign rally in Nakuru last week, Raila denied that there is any MOU with the Muslims, but while campaigning in North eastern province which is Muslim dominated, he accepted that such an MOU really exists. Isn�t this political hypocrisy? Isn�t Raila deceiving the Muslim community to vote for him, only to ignore them once he ascends into power? Why enter into an MOU with only one religious grouping? Won�t he be the president of all Kenyans regardless of religion if he wins?

History has proved Raila as a person who cannot be trusted due to his inconsistency and
unpredictability. When he was in the current government, he started rocking it from within in the name of another undisclosed MOU. Just as Moi was dubbed as the �president of commission of inquiries�, Raila can qualify the title of the �president of undisclosed MOUs�.

During the Njonjo (a person now in Raila�s camp) commission of inquiry in 1983, Raila then in detention after participating in the failed coup in 1982 claimed before the commission that he was organizing a coup because Kikuyus were organizing one. This depicts clearly that, Raila is a person who can pit one community against the other(s) and thats why is his crusade for majimbo, he is advancing his ideology of dividing the country from its unitary form
to small tribal units.

Kenyans have been tolerating one another since independence and they should not be divided along religious or tribal lines now or ever again. Kenyans should reject Raila Odinga because he can run our country into anarchy due to his hunger for power while hiding behind the name reformist.

By Githuku Wa Muirani,

Kibaki Tena Scandinavia.

_____________________

Article 3: Democracy is The Theme

Posted by Njoro on November 8, 2007

Judging by happenings around the globe, in particular the world political arena, Kenyans everywhere should realise that we are actual not that bad off. If you are used to reading, listening to, or watching Kenya news, you could easily be enticed to feel hopeless about our nation especially if you don�t catch up with world news. And it is very easy to get sucked into what the opposition thinks of our president, Kibaki.

But in reality, we have gone far in those four years that the Kibaki administration has meant serious business. Of course I don�t mean to shut an eye on his failures but then, he has admitted that he is not a miracle president.

Dealing with corruption and fighting crime have not been some of his triumph cards but I don�t believe that anyone can be a perfect Kenyan president in a period of four years in our time. I mean four years because the first one was wasted in internal fights before the big split.

The most important success any government on earth should strive for is in promoting democracy. By making sure that democracy prevails, a firm foundation is laid which ensures that other vices can be dealt with in a sensibly fair atmosphere. It�s just a matter of time before we start reaping from the foundation that Kibaki has laid.

The advantage in Kibaki�s re-election is that, he, unlike the other candidates does not necessarily need to make deals or sign M.o.Us because he has already started off. But the other two candidates Raila and Kalonzo are still �beginners� and signing deals and M.o.Us is inevitable for them to get the support they need.

For Raila and Kalonzo, granting favours as payback for the support they will have been given will be their first order of their first days if they step into state house. These will, whether they like it or not, slow down whatever ambitions they have for Kenya and it means that they will have to shut an eye here, turn away an ear there, and keep a tight lip here and there, unlike Kibaki (who has already gone through that) who if give another term can use it to make changes where he went wrong, if any of these two wins, it will be starting all over again and ending right where we are today.

But to whoever wins, I pray that they will embrace, strengthen and respect the revival of democracy and give it the backup it will need. This is the only way Kenya and Kenyans can move ahead.

Last month we witnessed the massacre of monks by the Chinese colonialists in Tibet. The monks, who were forced to come out of their monasteries and join the people in demanding democracy, justice and the respect of the human rights, are the most peace loving people in the world. To kill such a people is to scorn peace and spit into the face of love. Democracy can never be attained in such conditions.

Last weekend Pakistan�s �democratic dictator� president Musharaf declared a state of emergency in that country out of fear that his leadership could be seeing it�s last days. Last Monday, lawyers took to the streets of Pakistan to protest against the withdrawal of the constitution and disregard of the Law. These peaceful demonstrations were brutally broken by the police who have now taken the place of that countries� Law while Musharaf acts as the constitution. Musharaf, thought to be the most promising democratic leader in the region threw away all that to achieve his own personal ambitions. Again democracy choked to death.

In Africa, Zimbabwe�s inflation rate is getting worse by the day, the economy collapsing fast, country wide poverty spreading, and everybody who protests is thrown in dungeons with inhuman brutality by the police. Mugabe, the shame of Africa, still clings on to power and would rather go down with his country than let democracy breath a day. Wailing children and weeping mothers cannot move him. Democracy is extinct in that African country.

We should not forget to give thanks for what we have today even while, well, for those of us who want Kibaki out, continue campaigning to oust him. The �devil� should be given the credit he deserves, after all, Kenya is enjoying the best taste of democracy so far.

By Njoro.

————————–

Lifted and published by African Press International (API)/ African Press in Norway(APN) africanpress@chello.no

Violence mars Kenya primaries�

Fourteen�million�Kenyans�are eligible to vote
in the December 27 elections [AFP]Chaotic scenes at many of the stations on Friday meant they were closed late, with some constituencies failing to declare a candidate.

The violence is an inauspicious start to the buildup of what are expected to be tightly contested presidential and legislative elections on December 27.

In the capital Nairobi’s volatile Westlands constituency, gunshots were fired into the air to scare rival supporters, vehicles smashed and an election official briefly kidnapped.

“The situation is very tense,” the official said after he was released.

In western Kenya, police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators disputing the way some candidates had been nominated.

Officers arrested one man who was wielding a machete.

Elsewhere, armed members of tribal groups demanding an end to a land distribution scheme in the Mount Elgon region, near the border with Uganda area, opened fire on a vehicle that was carrying ballot boxes.ConfusionWitnesses said an election official and four policemen were injured.

A�man was shot on the head at another polling station in the western region, police officials said.

Police said several people had been arrested as security forces moved to clamp down on the unrest that has become a feature of the pre-election period.

“There has been confusion all over between supporters of rival candidates, but we have not received any reports of fatalities,” Eric Kiraithe, a police spokesman, said.

Local television stations also reported delays, cancellations, boycotts, demonstrations, missing or stolen polling papers and brawls in many of the country’s 210 constituencies.

About 14 million Kenyans are eligible to cast ballots in the polls to be monitored by the European Commission, the African Union, the Commonwealth and local civil groups.

Lifted and published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.ketimes.aljezeera

President Mwai Kibaki is due to present his on Thursday.

President Mwai Kibaki is running for a second five-year term, having won an election in 2002 to replace former long-time leader Daniel arap Moi.

Latest opinion polls show President Kibaki is trailing his main challenger, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga, while Mr Musyoka is third.

Tensions high – The fight is on!

Mr Odinga pledges to devolve the government structures and introduce a new constitution if elected.

President Kibaki, who is running on the newly formed Party of National Unity (PNU) ticket, is banking on a strong economic growth record for his re-election bid.

But diplomats and political observers criticise his administration for paying lip service to the fight against rampant corruption, despite his pledge to fight the vice when he was elected in 2002.

Although Mr Musyoka is placed a distant third at the polls, observers argue that his popularity in eastern Kenya may give him parliamentary strength after the elections.

Tension runs high within all the three main political parties ahead of the nomination exercise for civic and parliamentary candidates on Friday.

Major fallouts are predicted if they are viewed to be unfair.

Lifted and published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no.�source.kenyatimes.bbc

Goma – (DR Congo) Two soldiers suspected of belonging to the National Congress for People�s Defence (CNDP) of dissident Congolese General Laurent Nkunda (Left photo) 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.

Published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.apa

Lome (Togo) The European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, on Saturday evening hailed Togolese leader, Faure Gnassingb� for the smooth legislative polls held in Togo on 14 October and confirmed de facto, the lifting of EU sanctions against Togo.

Speaking to reporters at the end of an audience with President Gnassingbe, Mr. Michel hailed the political process that led to a �legitimately elected parliament� on 14 October 2007 and confirmed that the EU had lifted all sanctions imposed on Togo over 15 years ago. European sources confirmed that from Saturday onwards, Togo could consider those sanctions as having been de facto lifted for good, since the deadline for their renewal had expired on Friday.

Mr. Michel also revealed that the EU would issue an official statement ushering in the restoration of normal cooperation with Togo before the end of 2007.

However, he felt that Togo would need further assistance to strengthen its capacity in the areas of justice administration, health, education and the fight against corruption, the same source said.

Through the resumption of cooperation ties between the EU and Togo, Lome will receive between 75 and 120 million Euros as part of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) over the period 2008-2016.

The European Union, in 1993 severed cooperation with Togo for its �lack of democracy�, insisting that it would not resume those ties, unless credible, fair, free, and democratic elections are held in the country.

According to international observers sent to Lome to monitor the 14 October legislative elections, Togo had largely met those conditions.

Published by Korir, API/APN africanpress@chello.no source.apa