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By Leo Odera Omolo in Kericho Town.

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Such is a reflection of many countries in the world. Mothers serving long sentences and living with their babies in prison. A very sad affair. Should presidential pardon be applied in some cases? Yes we think so. And yet we also know that a crime has been committed and someone must answer for it. We praise the changes that were initiated by former Kenyan vice President Moody Awuor that has made life for the mothers in prison bearable. API

Pain of parenting from behind bars

Achieng, 32, who hails from Ng�iya in Siaya, separated from her husband due to domestic problems.

“My husband, a driver, chased me away in 2005 since he had plans to marry another woman,” she says.

But the worst was yet to come, since Achieng was arrested on suspicion of robbery.

“Nilikuwa nimerudi kwa bwana yangu kuchukua vitu zangu lakini nikashikwa baada ya siku tatu kwa madai ya wizi (I had gone back to my marital home to pick my belongings, but I was arrested three days later, on allegations of robbery,” she claims.

Eunice Atieno and her daughter. Atieno has been sentenced to six months at the Kodiaga Women�s Prison, in Kisumu.���

She adds: “I was arrested while in the second month of my pregnancy. I do not know how my three children have been surviving.”

Achieng, who now lives in jail with her last born, says her loneliness is exacerbated by the limited time she spends with the child.

“I work for about eight hours a day. A babysitter, who is a fellow inmate picked by prison authorities, minds our children,” she says.

Achieng says she plans to explain to her son how she ended up in prison once he is old enough. Margaret Adhiambo, who is serving a three-month sentence for selling illicit brew, is the current baby-sitter at the prison. She takes care of nine children.

She says she is happy with the job.

“I wash, dress and feed the children. They are handed to their mothers at designated times,” Adhiambo says.

Convicts with young children or those who deliver in prison have to struggle to take care of their children, on top of their daily chores.

But the greatest pain comes when they have to be separated from their young ones once they reach four years. The officer in-charge of the women�s section at Kodiaga, Ms Beatrice Were, says the children are usually taken home.

“The regulations do not allow mothers to continue living with their children in prison at this age. The children are supposed to be taken back home,” says Were.

The officer says if a mother is against such an arrangement, her child is taken to a children�s home.

The nine inmates currently living with their children at Kodiaga prison say they do not want to come to terms with separation from their children once they reach four.

Most of them say they lack support from their families and fear that their children might be rejected once they go home. Gladys Adhiambo Ooko, 30, delivered at Kakamega Prison three years ago.

Her daughter was full of excitement as The Saturday Standard spoke to her mother, oblivious of that her mother would spend seven years behind bars for handling stolen property.

Adhiambo�s husband died in 2006 at the Kodiaga main prison after falling ill.

He was convicted of robbery in the same case, and was to serve a 14-year term.

Adhiambo has served one year, and spent two others in remand.

“I do not know the whereabouts of my other three children. The pain of not knowing about their welfare is devastating,” she says.

Adhiambo is also in a dilemma as to who will take care of her youngest child once they are separated next year.

“I am an orphan. I have two elder sisters but since they have their own children, they may not manage another burden. They used to visit me when I was in remand,” she says.

Adhiambo, commonly referred to as Mama Melo at the prison, had wanted to sit last year�s Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination at the facility.

But she was not adequately prepared due to commitment to her daughter and constant worry about her other children. Eunice Atieno, 22, is serving six months for selling chang�aa.

The mother of a six-month-old child has served one month.

“I was a hairdresser before I began selling chang�aa. My husband was arrested on the day I delivered,” she says.

The inmate mothers face other challenges like lack of money to buy clothes for their children, and a father figure for the young ones.

“Since my sisters visited me last in remand, there is no one to buy clothes for my daughter. I wish I could provide for her,” laments Adhiambo.

The Government has tried to ease the plight of the mothers.

The prison is supposed to liaise with the children�s department to take custody of such children.

Were says in most cases, the children are taken to their mothers� homes or close relatives.

The officer, however, says the mothers are sometimes reluctant to release the children.

“We make them understand that the law does not allow the children to continue staying in prison,” she says.

Were says the prison feeds the children with nutritional food.

“Their diet consists of milk, fruits, meat and vegetables,” she says.

The mothers and children sleep in a different area from the other convicts.

The officer says when the children reach three-and-a-half years, they are enrolled at Kodiaga Prison Nursery, which also caters for warders� children.

“Adhiambo�s daughter is at the nursery school,” she says.

The officer adds that the women and their children are also provided with medical care at Kodiaga Prison Health Centre.

“The antenatal and postnatal care is up to standard. The children are also constantly examined to ensure they are in good health,” she says.

There are many problems in prison, especially crowding.

But reforms implemented over the last four years have made the lives of inmates bearable, and changed the image of the rehabilitation centres. For instance, they now have buses and access to television and computers, which has made them more enlightened.

At Kodiaga, a Sh1 million water project was completed last year, providing the over 3,000 inmates with clean drinking water.

Last year, former Vice-President, Mr Moody Awori, launched the Kenya Prisons Service Charter and Strategic Plan for 2005-2009. The Charter sets out a five-year plan that will change the face of prisons. This ambitious reform plan will cost Sh70 billion.

Prisons have also started partnering with the private sector in commercial ventures.

Awori said the move would generate additional funds and enhance skills and training for inmates.

Kenchic Limited launched a pilot chicken-rearing project at Kodiaga, with free technical assistance. The project has now been extended to Kamiti and Thika prisons. Kenchic aims to help inmates acquire skills that can enable them start economic activities once they are free.

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From right to left: Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, President Mwai Kibaki, Retired former President Daniel Arap Moi and Prime Minister Raila Odinga walking in unity to the burial of former Minister Jeremiah Nyagah (at Kamutungi Farm, Gachoka Constituency, Mbeere District )

Raila, Kibaki preach unity to Kenyans

Patrick Mathangani and Munene Kamau

The new dawn beckoned as President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga ventured out for a public engagement a day after the Grand Coalition Cabinet took office.

They had similar messages: the burning urge to unite the country; the strong will to make the coalition work; and the irrepressible will to ensure Kenya will not return where it was in the season of post-election violence where ethnic passions ran high. Both summed the new era in two words � a “New Beginning”.

President Kibaki, former retired President Moi, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka joined family and friends at the burial of former Cabinet minister Jeremiah Nyagah in Mbeere District on Friday.�

Kibaki and Raila kicked off the day with separate meetings with the Commonwealth Secretary General Mr Kamalesh Sharma. Raila told the visiting dignitary he was determined to see Kenya become the model of coalition government in Africa. Raila also met senior members of Zimbabwe�s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) who believe their party beat Mr Robert Mugabe in the elections whose results have not been announced three weeks later today. He promised them he would raise the issue of the Zimbabwean crisis in the Cabinet. MDC secretary general Mr Tendai Biti led them.

At the burial there however were confusing signals on hierarchy in the new dispensation as Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka sat right next to the President at the podium. In the first public appearance, at the burial of veteran politician Mr Jeremiah Nyagah, it was Raila who welcomed the Head of State to speak.

It was a sad day as Kenyans and its leaders, including former President Moi who sat next to Kibaki, bade farewell to one of the last of Independence heroes.

But it was also symbolic as it brought Kenya�s past and present under one banner, even as newly sworn-in ministers, drawn from rival parties, adjusted to sharing power, as well as the attention of cameras in the VIP pavilion.

And so was Mzee Nyagah buried, ringed by the two classes of Kenya�s politics � the older generation that took over after Independence represented by Mzee Moi and President Kibaki.

There was also the younger crop waiting on the wings � discernible from the faces of the younger politicians such as Raila and Kalonzo, as well as the two deputy premiers � Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Mr Uhuru Kenyatta.

The night before, after being sworn-in, Raila hosted dinner for members of the new Cabinet, members of the diplomatic corp and the top cream of Government and the mandarins of industry.

As the guests who included chief mediator Dr Kofi Annan and other foreign dignitaries were treated to sumptuous meals in the Premier�s honour, Raila again pledged the Grand Coalition Government would last five years.

“Let us use the five years and give Kenyans a new constitution � Let us chew the gum and scale the stairs at the same time,” he urged.

“Unless we embrace the spirit of brotherhood and sisterhood the Grand Coalition Government will not work � Kenya is back on its feet. We have to make this Grand coalition work,” said Kalonzo at the dinner.

The President, PM and VP, each arrived with his military chopper, and in the same style they left. Kalonzo rode in one with Mudavadi while Raila took along Tourism minister and ODM Pentagon member Mr Najib Balala.

In the company of ten ministers Kibaki and Raila asked Kenyans to forget the past and forge ahead.

Raila seemed to remind Kenyans that they had fought and killed each other largely over land matters and now he would move deliberately and initiate land reforms that would allow Kenyans to own land wherever they wished.

“God has shown us the way and made us to come together. Now, we are united and will sure work together,” said President Kibaki in Mbeere.

He expressed optimism Kenyans would not allow anything to distract them, saying they must now concentrate on nation building. “I�d like to ask everyone to forget what has happened and move ahead,” said an enthusiastic Kibaki.

The President, appearing confident the Cabinet would hold, said nothing at all would return the country back to a crisis.

Raila said land was an important issue since it was the main reason Kenyans fought for independence. He appeared to reach out to the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru communities, which he said spearheaded the struggle for independence driven by the need to reclaim their land.

The Government, he said, would launch reforms to ensure justice and that everyone was allowed to live wherever they wished.

“Nobody should be thrown out of where he lives. Kenya is big enough; everyone can get a place to live,” said the PM in an apparent reference to evictions of thousands of people from their land during the post-election violence.

“We want to see a united Kenya. Let us stop fighting and killing each other,” he said. Raila recalled that during the struggle for independence when he was a boy, the radio would always announce that the Kikuyu, Embu and Meru were �dangerous�.

“We used to wonder what kind of people these are,” he said amid laughter.

Nyagah who speakers described as a patriot and nationalist served in President Kenyatta and Moi�s governments. He died at the Aga Khan Hospital last week while undergoing treatment. He was buried at his Kamutungi Farm in Gachoka.

“He was a political icon, a true patriot and a founding father,” said the VP. Nyagah was the chief commissioner of scouts from 1988 to 2003. The VP today holds the position.

Moi said some leaders, who he did not name, were tribalists and not patriots. He said such people were always grumbling and complaining, but asked Kenyans to support Kibaki.

Moi, who supported Kibaki against Raila in the presidential race, said running the Government was no easy task for the President.

“If you were in Kibaki�s shoes, you would be quite enthusiastic, but you would soon burn out and even run away,” said Moi. “Let us not be driven by hate, which is destroying Africa today,” he advised.

He said Nyagah was a great patriot who served with him in the Legco and fought for the country�s freedom from the British.

“He was a great friend and we worked together for a very long time,” said Moi.

Kibaki asked Kenyans to dedicate their lives to serving the nation, just like Nyagah did.

Former Attorney General Mr Charles Njonjo, who was Nyagah�s schoolmate, said unlike many African leaders who never quit, Nyagah knew when to do so.

“It is sometimes good that people in Kenya should know when to retire,” said the former AG, who supported Raila in the presidential campaign, last year.

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Politicians like Mwau should get top positions because they know how to use it for the benefit of the constituents. Many others should emulate him. The people of Ukambani should let him serve them in the capacity that will benefit them. We applaud his appointment to the post. He should, however, be elevated soon to a full cabinet minister because of his charismatic personality. Kenya needs men of his character who will uplift development and electrify the areas for the good of the people. API

Return of Mwau the PICK Boss

Published on April 19, 2008, 12:00 am

Mr John Harun Mwau recites the Oath of Office during the swearing in ceremony of the Prime Minister, Ministers and their assistant at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday.��

The burly former police sharp shooter, the piercing eyes as usual lurking behind dark glasses, last month walked into Kenya Power and Lighting Corporation offices and deposited the last tranche of Sh100 million. That was just part of his contribution to single-handedly have homesteads, churches and public utilities in the poverty infested rural setting, electrified.

The businessman-cum-politician further told The Saturday Standard in an interview that he is paying fees for 263 college students in his constituency. “I have major plans for the constituency, which I will deliver,” he says.

Mwau plans to run his constituency with the traditions of the corporate world, and has employed two people per location to supervise and implement Kilome development projects.

He has also donated 300 motorcycle taxis to youths to enable them do transport business. He says they cost him Sh27 million.

To execute the tasks under the rallying call Osa Vinya Mukamba (The Kamba, take power), Mwau has employed two people per constituency.

The source of the astounding amount of cash lining his pockets could be the result of abdurate steel work of the Atlas Shrugged-type of Rand characters, but not what it is doing for his constituents.

Already, he is on record as the only MP in the Tenth Parliament whose entire salary goes into the constituency development kitty.

But Mwau, like his means, is not new to controversy. As the bad wind swirled around Nakumatt Supermarket chain over the Charterhouse Bank connection, Mwau�s name featured either as an interested party or big time depositor. His range of businesses include electronic wholesaling, warehousing and inland container depots. The motto of his political outfit, Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya, is Think, Work, and Grow Rich.

The Boss always leaves a big impression wherever he visits. But in his wake, the political arena sways. For, in his searchlight, he just does not have local politics in his mind. What is coming up is a titanic battle with Vice-President, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka � the icon of the Ukambani political bloc.

“The Boss”, as he called himself in 1992 when he contested and lost the Presidency and Westlands seat, this week added another feather to his cap. Courtesy of Prime Minister Mr Raila Odinga, he was named Assistant Minister for Transport. The man, with his trademark long grey beard, did not vie on an ODM ticket but worked with the party Kalonzo fought hard to lock out of Ukambani.

Flamboyant and a mystique figure of sorts, the former head of the defunct Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority campaigned in the style of America�s perennial presidential race loser, Mr Ross Perrot.

The MP, who conducted his campaigns on helicopters and breathtaking four-wheelers, made his political debut in 1992. Apart from the presidency, he vied for the Westlands parliamentary seat in Nairobi and lost.

Undaunted, Mwau filed a curious petition against retired President Moi�s victory. Mwau argued that he should be made President on the grounds that all the other candidates had used paper other than foolscap to present their nominations. Election laws require presidential candidates to present 40 serially numbered standard sheets of foolscap paper each signed by 25 voters on the nomination day.

“I wanted to show Kenyans that the law had been flouted,” says Mwau in retrospect.

The case, the only presidential election petition to be heard in full, was dismissed, but the court lavished Mwau with praise for his tenacity, resilience and stickler for detail.

Unknown to many, Mwau�s hobbies include law, politics and guns. He represented himself when his tenure at former Kaca became controversial. He defended himself before a judge Bench, confirming his legal side.

Mwau, too, is a remarkable and accomplished sharp shooter, of Olympic esteem. A former senior police officer in the Criminal Investigations Department, Mwau is carving out a niche for himself in Kamba politics, as a springboard for a national role.

“You can no longer ignore the man. He will certainly be a force to reckon with in the region,” says Mr Davies Musau, chairman of the Ukambani Leaders Forum.

Mwau won the Kilome seat last year after failing to clinch it in 2002, when Mr Mutinda Mutiso beat him to it.

He turned the tables against Mutiso, who was vying on an ODM-Kenya ticket, the party of choice in Ukambani.

But Mwau�s weight and might was felt in a by-election occasioned by the brutal murder of the then maverick area MP, Tony Ndilinge, in November 2001.

In this by-election, Mwau�s party put in place a well-oiled campaign team that even eclipsed that of its main competitor, Kanu.

So elaborate was the campaign that he set up a high-tech satellite communication system to monitor the by-election across the vast constituency. His agents used satellite phones to co-ordinate the polls from all centres and had a command post at the Salama, on the Nairobi � Mombasa Highway. But the Communications Commission of Kenya officials later dismantled the communications gizmos saying they were unlicensed.

“They feared I had an edge over Kanu and tried every means to derail my campaign,” claims Mwau.

The aggressive Pick campaign was highly mobile and funded to a level that worried the ruling party. Kanu responded by bringing out its heavy political artillery and finances to stem the Mwau wave. By the final lap, it had become evident that the by-election had been reduced to a two-horse race between Kanu and Pick.

The effect of Mwau�s resources was underlined when Moi led Kanu�s top brigade in a campaign blitz two days to the polls.

“Mwau was a threat to us and we had to go an extra mile to stem his tide. He is a tough man who fought and also wins,” says former Masinga MP, Mr Ronald Kiluta.

The former assistant minister concedes that Mwau�s entry into active politics will change the political balance in Ukambani and possibly Eastern Province.

“The man has clout and style. He will certainly cause some politicians in the region sleepless nights,” adds the former military officer.

During the by-election, the Pick candidate, Mr Kioko Mulandi, came an impressive second behind Mutiso.

“I did not contest but all our opponents ended up focusing on me. It was a battle I was sure of winning,” says Mwau.

�The people of Kilome will not at any time regret electing me as their MP. I will work for them�

But now with his win in Kilome and subsequent appointment as an assistant minister, Mwau is on the same mode � to catch attention, command power and astound his opponents, even hypnotize them with his presence.

Top among his projects is the provision of clean drinking water to the locals, grading of roads and improvement of learning facilities.

He blames underdevelopment in Ukambani on poor leadership over the years. “Our leaders have spent many years practicing sycophantic politics and undermining each other, at the expense of development,” says Mwau, who does not mince words.

Mwau, Water and Irrigation minister Mrs Charity Ngilu, rebel ODM-Kenya MPs Mr Charles Kilonzo (Yatta) and Mr Kiema Kilonzo (Mutito) are said to be teaming up to checkmate Kalonzo in Ukambani.

�Mwau has the resources to mobilise any kind of support he needs in the region. He is no joke�

“Mwau and Kalonzo are not the best of friends and their rivalry is certain to go to new levels,” says a local ODM-Kenya MP.

Mwau displayed his wealth in 1997 when he turned up at a fundraising for the National Youth Development Fund, presided over by Moi.

Queuing behind Kanu supporters to make his contribution, he drew the attention of hawk-eyed security detail with the bulging A4 khaki envelope he carried.

Moi�s security guards drew him aside and checked the contents.

They found Sh2.5 million in cash, earning the politician praise from no lesser person than Moi himself.

In November 1997, Mwau declared he was no longer interested in politics. Under just a month later, Moi appointed him as the head of the then newly created Kenya Anti-Corruption Authority.

But he was removed from office following recommendations by a tribunal formed to investigate his conduct.

But Mwau was back in active politics in 2001. He held a series of meetings at a city hotel with civic leaders, teachers, touts, barmaids and taxi drivers to chart the way forward for Ukambani politics.

“The man has a vast network which works for him. He knows when to activate it for his good,” says former Kibwezi MP, Mr Onesmus Mboko.

A merger between the then Raila Odinga-led National Development Party and Kanu in March 2002 saw Mwau�s Pick join in. He was elected one of the four regional Kanu Vice-Chairmen in October.

In the run-up to the 2002 General Election, Mwau crisscrossed Kilome making generous contributions and constructing dams, bridges and roads. The electorate however rejected him. Mwau withdrew from the scene only to emerge last year, winning against the ODM-Kenya wave.

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Raila to raise Zimbabwe crisis in Cabinet

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By Maseme Machuka

Prime Minister Raila Odinga will take up the Zimbabwe crisis to the Cabinet and the African Union.

Raila, who met with senior officials of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) at his Treasury offices on Friday, said he would intervene by raising the matter with the Cabinet.

Raila wants Kenya to make its official position on the Zimbabwean crisis known.

Speaking to The Saturday Standard after the meeting, MDC Secretary General, Mr Tendai Biti, said they came to seek Kenya�s intervention over their electoral crisis because Kenya had gone through a similar conflict.

“We have come to Kenya because of its uniqueness and its basic resemblance with our crisis. Kenyan people feel the pains their counterparts in Zimbabwe were experiencing,” Biti said.

He said the Prime Minister guaranteed them his commitment to address the concerns they raised with the relevant authorities.

“He assured us of his intervention through the AU Chairman President Jakaya Kikwete to raise the issue with him,” he said.

Biti cautioned that if Africa does not rise to the occasion and assist one of its own, Zimbabwe, then the crisis will degenerate into war.

“Mugabe is busy re-arming militias and organising them. This raises a lot of anxiety and the patience of the people of Zimbabwe is running out,” he added.

Flanked by Deputy Secretary, Mr Isaac Mwaboza, he said the delay in announcing the presidential poll results was raising deep concern on the people of Zimbabwe.

He said the world should come to the rescue of Zimbabweans many of who are dying due to starvation.

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MDC has decided that Kenya and Raila can help them get rid of Robert Mugabe. Should Raila make a move to take sides, that will anger the Zimbabwean leader who has a good allie in the South African president Thabo Mbeki. Kenya should concentrate on her own problems of nation building instead of jumping into Zimbabwean situation. The fact that things went fine in Kenya does not mean the same for a country like Zimbabwe.

MDC worships the west and so does ODM but now that ODM is in the government, priorities must change from that of worship and be directed to nation building.API

MDC seeks Kenya’s intervention

Written By:Sophie Mwangi�

Caption: Tsvangirai’ has relocated to Botswana with his family for fear of his life.

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The findings of investigations into the circumstances of the Kenya Ariways Boeing 737 5 May crash are soon to be published, Cameroonian Civil Aviation Authority (AAC) director Ignatus Sama Juma revealed Friday.

The statement was made here Friday on the sidelines of the 3rd meeting of the steering committee on aviation security in Central Africa, held under the aegis of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“It is my pleasure to tell you that we have completed the collection phase. We will submit the collected information for the first to mark the anniversary of the crash on 5 May next year, and move to the analysis phase so we can begin to write the report,” Juma said.

The AAC director said the publication of the findings should evolve the investigation as the victims� families are still on the lookout for compensations.

The Kenya Airways Boeing 737-800 crashed into the mangroves near the town of Douala about 5 minutes after takeoff in a downpour, killing all its 114 occupants.

ICAO experts said aviation safety in Africa remains a concern – “while the average global crash rate stands at 1.03 for a million departures, the average is 9.7 in Africa.”

The two latest examples are this week�s crashes in DR Congo and Equatorial Guinea, leaving about forty and a dozen victims, respectively.

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Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe, who has threatened to shut down factories ignoring his directive to reduce prices of their products, on Friday accused foreign-owned companies of working with the opposition to topple his regime.

Addressing thousands of Zimbabweans gathered to commemorate the country�s 28th independence anniversary at a Harare stadium, Mugabe threatened tough action against the business sector whom he accused of reneging on pricing agreements.

“I want to warn that anyone who breaks our pricing agreements that we will not hesitate to take over their companies and factories,” Mugabe said.

Zimbabwe is in the middle of an eight-year economic crisis highlighted by runaway prices and shortages of basic commodities.

He accused business of acting as willing partners in the fight by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change to gain power from him.

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