Thousands at Kalonzo�s party

Story by KITAVI MUTUA

Thousands of people on Saturday thronged the Musila Gardens in Mwingi town when Vice- President Kalonzo Musyoka held a prayer service to celebrate his being appointed VP.

Excitement was high as Mr Musyoka made a triumphant entry into Mwingi town escorted by jubilant supporters.

The visit, which saw the VP hold a joint� party with his Mwingi South counterpart David Musila, is the first since he was appointed the country�s 10th Vice- President six months ago.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta led cabinet ministers, 40 members of parliament and hundreds of other dignitaries from across the country in escorting Mr Musyoka to his political home.

The ceremony was quickly turned into a forum to endorse Mr Musyoka for the presidency in the next General Election as speaker after speaker said the VP was their preferred candidate.

MPs from Rift Valley and Central provinces allied to President Kibaki�s Party of National Unity said they had attended the fete to show solidarity with Mr Musyoka for agreeing to form a coalition with their party early this year.

Molo MP Joseph Kiuna echoed sentiments from local MPs that the PNU alliance should rally behind the VP in 2012 in reciprocating the ODM Kenya gesture to stand with President Kibaki after last year�s disputed presidential election results.

�We want to assure ODM Kenya that the PNU coalition will support Mr Musyoka in the 2012 General Election,� Mr Kiuna said.

The prayer service-cum-public rally kicked off a series of three-day events to celebrate Mr Musyoka�s election as the area MP for the sixth consecutive term beside his appointment as VP.

The VP is scheduled to address rallies in Mwingi town, Kyuso and Tseikuru markets among other centres as he meets his constituents.

Mr Musyoka�s tour, which had been postponed following the plane crash that killed Minister Kipkalya Kones and assistant minister Lorna Laboso, comes in the wake of growing discontent within his ODM Kenya party over the way he handled appointments to government jobs.

Some ODM Kenya MPs recently criticised the VP for allegedly failing to fight for the interests of the Kamba community, claiming that the region was short-changed in both ministerial and senior public service jobs.

However, MPs Isaac Muoki (Kitui South) and Wavinya Ndeti (Kathiani), among those who had criticised the VP, attended the party and vowed to support the VP. The MPs had skipped the VP�s thanksgiving ceremony held in Machakos town two months ago.

�

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API/Nation.ke

Grand Regency: What does Kibaki know?

By Sunday Standard TeamPresident Kibaki is in the eye of the storm stirred by the controversial sale of Grand Regency Hotel to the Libyan Government.

The question is, “What did the President know?” And he is not alone; the winds of accusations are also swirling around Finance Minister Amos Kimunya and Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula.

Calls for Kimunya�s resignation rose on Saturday as the nation began confronting the latest storm to jolt the Kibaki�s administration in the second and last term.

Cabinet ministers Martha Karua and Charity Ngilu said the way the sale was executed was suspect and those involved should disclose what they know.

Cabinet Ministers William Ruto and Najib Balala also spoke out against the sale, saying collective Cabinet responsibility did not mean “sitting down and working with crooks��.

Kimunya did not produce copies of the sale agreement and valuation reports, amid claims by a parliamentary committee the hotel is worth more than the Sh2.9 billion the minister said the Libyans paid. This has also opened up the President and his subordinates, to claims there is more than meets the eye.

They will all be hard put, especially the President, because of his oversight and Executive powers, to allay fears even within the Cabinet that the Libyans could have paid more, which was not factored in the Government records.

Even if he was not briefed, and since the Cabinet was not involved, the President and his ministers may also have to field questions, including whether businessman Kamlesh Pattni, who put up the hotel on public funds, was paid US$18 million (around Sh1 billion) in two instalments to play ball.

Questions

But the trickiest claim doing the rounds in Government and legal circles is that the Libyans could have paid, and which Kimunya has denied, Sh7.5 billion. With this comes the question, if it is true: Where did the Sh4.6 billion go?

Kimunya, under whom the vendor, Central Bank falls, and who shrugged off the hotel was sold to a single-sourced merchant, has a date with the relevant committee of the House.

There will also be questions on reported sale of a plot lying between the hotel and Kenyatta Avenue, which is also said to have been sold by the National Social Security Fund, for Sh1.6 billion, to Libyans. If it were true, again the question why there was no bidding, as well as publicised independent valuation, would be asked.

On Saturday, Kibaki met Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Harambee House office, but though their discussions were not made public, the coincidence of it coming hot on the heels of the latest controversy in which Kimunya said he was personally involved, fuelled speculation it could have been the agenda.

Wetangula, because of his docket in the Cabinet, is also believed to be familiar with the process it took the Government to hand over the hotel to the Libyans following the deal between Presidents Kibaki and Muammar Gaddaffi.

There were also reports a law firm with which he is associated, undertook professional work of conveyance, for which is earned millions of Shillings.

The latest controversy rekindles memories of the Sh7 billion Anglo Leasing scandal in Kibaki�s first term, which were vehemently dismissed as “scandals that never were” by ministers, until the denials could no longer hold, given the evidence that kept popping up locally and internationally.

Ngilu, who unlike Karua comes from the Orange Democratic Movement wing of the ruling Coalition, said the deal was shady, should be investigated and those involved dealt with.

Karua joined Lands Minister James Orengo who lifted the lid on the sale denied as non-existent by Kimunya until Friday.

AG in the dark

Attorney General Amos Wako has also said he was not part of the amnesty deal that saw businessman Kamlesh Pattni reciprocate by surrendering the hotel to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and Central Bank.

The probing eyes are also riveted on the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Justice Aaron Ringera. He entered into a barter trade with Pattni, who built the hotel he has been fighting to keep for 15 years, on skimmed public funds.

In return for dropping cases KACC lined up against the architect of Goldenberg scandal, Pattni signed away the hotel to the Central Bank.

Also on the crosshairs in so far as the hard questions are concerned is CBK Governor Prof Njuguna Ndungu whose institution, which falls under the Treasury, was the theatre of the shady transaction.

The flurry of questions revolve around how much they knew, their contributions to the deal now threatening to split the Grand Coalition, and the reason it was executed stealthily, with some key offices being by-passed.

Even if the sale was by Treaty, the AG ought to have known. The AG also needed to have approved the amnesty deal with Pattni as the Government�s chief legal adviser.

The Grand Regency scam is a test for the Kibaki presidency that said on May 9 that, any minister, assistant minister and permanent secretary cited adversely in corruption would have to step aside to allow for investigation.

Grand Regency: What does Kibaki know?

Published on June 29, 2008, 12:00 am

By Sunday Standard Team

President Kibaki is in the eye of the storm stirred by the controversial sale of Grand Regency Hotel to the Libyan Government.

The question is, “What did the President know?” And he is not alone; the winds of accusations are also swirling around Finance Minister Amos Kimunya and Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetangula.

Calls for Kimunya�s resignation rose on Saturday as the nation began confronting the latest storm to jolt the Kibaki�s administration in the second and last term.

Cabinet ministers Martha Karua and Charity Ngilu said the way the sale was executed was suspect and those involved should disclose what they know.

Cabinet Ministers William Ruto and Najib Balala also spoke out against the sale, saying collective Cabinet responsibility did not mean “sitting down and working with crooks��.

Kimunya did not produce copies of the sale agreement and valuation reports, amid claims by a parliamentary committee the hotel is worth more than the Sh2.9 billion the minister said the Libyans paid. This has also opened up the President and his subordinates, to claims there is more than meets the eye.

They will all be hard put, especially the President, because of his oversight and Executive powers, to allay fears even within the Cabinet that the Libyans could have paid more, which was not factored in the Government records.

Even if he was not briefed, and since the Cabinet was not involved, the President and his ministers may also have to field questions, including whether businessman Kamlesh Pattni, who put up the hotel on public funds, was paid US$18 million (around Sh1 billion) in two instalments to play ball.

Questions

But the trickiest claim doing the rounds in Government and legal circles is that the Libyans could have paid, and which Kimunya has denied, Sh7.5 billion. With this comes the question, if it is true: Where did the Sh4.6 billion go?

Kimunya, under whom the vendor, Central Bank falls, and who shrugged off the hotel was sold to a single-sourced merchant, has a date with the relevant committee of the House.

There will also be questions on reported sale of a plot lying between the hotel and Kenyatta Avenue, which is also said to have been sold by the National Social Security Fund, for Sh1.6 billion, to Libyans. If it were true, again the question why there was no bidding, as well as publicised independent valuation, would be asked.

On Saturday, Kibaki met Prime Minister Raila Odinga at his Harambee House office, but though their discussions were not made public, the coincidence of it coming hot on the heels of the latest controversy in which Kimunya said he was personally involved, fuelled speculation it could have been the agenda.

Wetangula, because of his docket in the Cabinet, is also believed to be familiar with the process it took the Government to hand over the hotel to the Libyans following the deal between Presidents Kibaki and Muammar Gaddaffi.

There were also reports a law firm with which he is associated, undertook professional work of conveyance, for which is earned millions of Shillings.

The latest controversy rekindles memories of the Sh7 billion Anglo Leasing scandal in Kibaki�s first term, which were vehemently dismissed as “scandals that never were” by ministers, until the denials could no longer hold, given the evidence that kept popping up locally and internationally.

Ngilu, who unlike Karua comes from the Orange Democratic Movement wing of the ruling Coalition, said the deal was shady, should be investigated and those involved dealt with.

Karua joined Lands Minister James Orengo who lifted the lid on the sale denied as non-existent by Kimunya until Friday.

AG in the dark

Attorney General Amos Wako has also said he was not part of the amnesty deal that saw businessman Kamlesh Pattni reciprocate by surrendering the hotel to the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission and Central Bank.

The probing eyes are also riveted on the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission director Justice Aaron Ringera. He entered into a barter trade with Pattni, who built the hotel he has been fighting to keep for 15 years, on skimmed public funds.

In return for dropping cases KACC lined up against the architect of Goldenberg scandal, Pattni signed away the hotel to the Central Bank.

Also on the crosshairs in so far as the hard questions are concerned is CBK Governor Prof Njuguna Ndungu whose institution, which falls under the Treasury, was the theatre of the shady transaction.

The flurry of questions revolve around how much they knew, their contributions to the deal now threatening to split the Grand Coalition, and the reason it was executed stealthily, with some key offices being by-passed.

Even if the sale was by Treaty, the AG ought to have known. The AG also needed to have approved the amnesty deal with Pattni as the Government�s chief legal adviser.

The Grand Regency scam is a test for the Kibaki presidency that said on May 9 that, any minister, assistant minister and permanent secretary cited adversely in corruption would have to step aside to allow for investigation.

—————-

API/Standard.ke

�

By Scott A Morgan

�

�

In Recent Weeks there has been some focus on events in the Horn of Africa. A Border Clash between Djibouti and Eritrea appears to have stablized and intervention by France and the United States is not expected at this time. However this is not the only area where the US should be concerned about.

�

Also during this time period there has been ample criticism of the US Relations with Ethiopia. Ethiopian Forces are currently in neighboring Somalia propping up a weak Western Backed Regime. There are two main issues that the Zenawi regime has to deal with. First there are persistent reports of Famine in the Country and there is an insurgency currently active in the Ogaden.

�

In a recent report Human Rights Watch was very critical of the close relations between the Ethiopians and the US and British Governments. The Group feels that the support of London and Washington gives the Zenawi Regime Carte Blanche to deal with its Adversaries within the Country and in its neighbors.

�

There has been an effort within the US Congress to have both Transparency and Accountability in dealing with the Ethiopian Government. The Ethiopian Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007 passed the US House of Representatives.It is currently dormant in the US Senate. The Legislation was first introduced in response to the Highly Controversial Elections in 2005 and their violent aftermath.

�

Key Elements of this Legislation include a suspenstion of US Military Assistance and other sanctions until the Zenawi Government follows specific steps outlined by the US Government. Exemptions will be allowed for Peacekeeping and Counter-Terrrorism Operations. Any Government Official that is found to have used Lethal Force against peaceful demonstrators would be prevented from entering the United States.��������������

�

The Ethiopian Regime has spent over a Million Dollars in attempting to defeat this legislation. It has recruited Prior Members of Congress such as former House Majority Leader Dick Armey of Texas to defeat this Bill. One tactic that is being used is that this Bill will be Detrimental to the National Security Interests of the United States.

�

The announcement of the timing of the Bill being stalled in the Senate coming on the Heels of the Criticism of turning a Blind Eye towards Ethiopian Human Rights Violations will have Conspiriacy Theorists going crazy with Glee. After All there was a concerted effort by members of the Ethiopian Diaspora in the USA to support this Bill. This could be the time when American Human Rights Defenders to contact their Senators to Bring this Bill to a Vote.

�

The Author publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet (morganrights.tripod.com) and comments on US Policy towards Africa

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API

Everyone is said to be entitled to his or her opinion. This means I am also entitled to have mine. Obama fever will kill the world. The world may be forced to deal with third world war situation. USA is not ready to have a black man as their president. What we see is pretence. There is someone somewhere planning on how to stop Obama from ruling the most powerfull nation in the world.

My reaction is not because people say Barack Obama is a muslim. Hussein Obama has the right to choose his religion if at all he is a muslim and he must be respected for that. Muslims are as good as christians. There is one thing that is very important. Obama, if he gets to the top will eliminate the Palestinians in favour of Israel and yet he tries to emphasise on solving problems diplomatically now while campaigning.

If Obama is murdered before he becomes the US president, he will have made history anyhow by being a daring black man having challenged many forces of darkness including the KU KLAX KLAN.

Assassinating Obama will kill Oprah Winfrey’s dreams to put a black man in the white house. She has used her daily show and the large number of women followers in her TV show to campaign for Obama.

The problem with politics of colour is a situation that is created to reflect blind mad support in the order of – our own colour must win! The behaviour of this kind makes people fear to speak out in support of a different colour than their own because then they are branded colour unconscious.

I have a problem to support Obama. Many who support Obama now are simply blinded and do not know that there is the unknown  side of him and because they want to join in chorus singing without knowing that the chorus song is a simple Obamarising method creating a popular mood that will die slowly when real politics come to bear.

Should I support him because he is a black man? The question is not difficult to answer. The answer is No.

President George Bush has not been kind to the Muslims. People will get a shock if Obama wins. He may even become more cruel to the Muslim world than the White Bush. It is better the enemy you know than one you do not know. But since everyone is entitled to choices, let us make individual choices and live with them when the real politics meet us early next year.

Korir, Chief Editor, African Press International – API

�

By Leo Odera Omolo

�

The threat to close down the popular Kass FM� by Kenya�s Ministry of information for allegedly airing and broadcasting subversive materials which are prejudicial to law and order, peace, reconciliation and cohesiveness has taken a new political dimension.

�

Many leaders in western Kenya have read a hidden malice attitude on the part of the grand coalition government.

�

Group members of the Luo Council of Elders who met in Kisumu condemned the government. They told the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information Dr. Bitanger Ndemo that the country�s airwaves was liberalized during the reign of President Moi�s KANU�and therefore there is no way of allowing the country to plunge back to the old draconian days.

�

The group challenged the government to come out with specific� materials allegedly aired by KASS FM which are likely to cause despondency and undermine the good governance. In the absence of such materials, the group cannot accept to see the government frustrating and persecuting the Kass FM simply because of the earsay related issues.

�

The Luo Council of elders meeting was held under the chairmanship of Ker Meshack Riaga Ogalo..

�

The Luo Elders also pleaded with the Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga to abandon the idea of going to Nyeri for the planned installation of him as a �Kikuyu elder�, arguing that the already controversial ceremony would not add any value to Raila�s political and social standing within the society.

�

They said Raila�s leadership role has already been recognized internationally therefore bending and stooping low to some tribal installation was uncalled for.

�

Ker Riaga, however, made it clear that their opposition to the planned ceremony was not motivated by any ill-feeling against the Kikuyu community as such.

�

�We Luos once installed the late president Jomo Kenyatta as a Luo elder immediately he was released from prison and detention. But then there was no much hue and cry surrounding it. The. community had used the occasion to unanimously recognize the leadership quality of Kenyatta on political implications it has had on Kenyans.

�

The planned installation of Mr. Odinga as a Kikuyu elder in Nyeri, the backyard of President Mwai Kibaki. Has generated a lot of heat and speculation on its political implications.

�

In Kericho and its environs, the alleged threat by the government to shut-down Kass FM radio station has become the popular talk of the town. Civic leaders, teachers, opinion leaders and local branch officials of both ODM and KANU were united in vehemently opposing the threat of closing the station.

�

A prominent Kericho and London based businessman-cum-politician Mr. Joel Kirui made a long phone call all the way from London to this correspondent and told the information ministry to leave Kass FM station alone

�

Mr Kirui who contested the Kipkelion parliamentary seat during the last general election on an ODM ticket, but who is also believed within the locality to have won the party�s primary nomination, but was robbed of the victory through political intrigues said Kass FM was doing a good job in sensitizing members of the larger Kalenjin ethnic group. He pleaded with the retired president Daniel Arap Moi to stop vilifying the vernacular station for personal reasons.

�

It could be true that the Kass FM might have offended the former president in one way or the other through its bold and well presented programmes, but that does not imply that the station is prejudicial to good governance in the country.

�

Mr. Kirui who runs chains of businesses both in London and Kericho lost the ODM ticket to Hon Lang�at Magerer who is a close political associate of the Prime Minister Raila Odinga..He said despite having lost the election in a much flawed ODM nomination exercises, he was still a very loyal member of the party. He wanted the retired president Daniel Arap Moi to stand tall and not stooping too low �on petty matters concerning a local vernacular radion� station.

�

The airwaves was liberalized during Moi’s reign, and�was unable to stop its waves, therefore it is now too late to try to take the Kalenjin back to the old days of dictatorship and police state. �let Moi establish another Kalenjin speaking radio�station and compete honourably with Kass FM, because business competition is very much allowed in country.� But he should not try to gag the station using the government facilities, said Kirui.

�

In Kericho, the chairman of the Small Scale Tea Owners Association in the region Mr. Joel Chepkwony �Bwana Maendeleo� defended the Kass FM saying he has been a keen listener of the station ever since its inception, but has never heard it broadcasting any sedition materials, which could lead Kenyans to hating one another.

�

Mr. Chepkwony a staunch supporter of the grand coalition government said the Kass FM was a good station because it has been highlighting good programmes for the farming fratenity. Anyone having a grudge with the station should seek dialogue and have the matter sorted out peacefully and amicably.

�

Last week the PS for information Dr, Ndemo had given Kass FM� a seventy two hours altimatum to state why its station should not be shut down for broadcasting materials which could jeopardize the existing peace and tranquility in the country.

�

But yesterday twelve MPs came to the defence of the station saying it has done nothing wrong to warrant such a harsh action. The MPs who addressed the poress and spoke in favour of the station were Zakayo K. Cheruiyot {Kuresoi}Dr. Julius Kones {Konoin} Franklin Bett {Buret} Joshua Kutuny{Cheranganyi} Fred Kapondi {Mt. Elgon} Jakoyo Midiwo{Gem} Peris Chepchumba, Kiema Kilonzo, Musa Lesonet and Lukas Kigen of Rongai.

�

The MPs said the position the government had taken amounted to raw threats and offended the bill of rights which guarantees the right to secure protection of law and the freedom of the press.

�

Hundreds of Kass FM fans in Kapsabet, Kericho, Sotik, Litein have been gluing themselves to radio stations fearing that the worse could befall the popular Kass FM at anytime of the expiry of the 72 hour deadline given last week by the PS.

�

In some places, the youth have threatened to �take to the street should the popular Radio station be taken out of the air by the government. �We shall demonstrate in the streets against the government if it dares to close the KASS fm, �Retorted a KANU youth in Kericho.

�

Another politician who highly praised the Kass FM is the Lt. Gen{rtd}John Koech, the former Deputy CGS who is now a politician. Koech said he was fond of the station because it promotes Kalenjin cultural value and educating the youth on the value of their mother�s tongue.

�

Ends

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com

�

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API

�With the revelations that the Director General of Kenya Anti Corruption Commission Mr Aaron Ringera, the Governor of Central Bank Mr Njuguna Ndungu and the Finance Minister Mr Amos Kimunya have conspired to sell Grand Regency Hotel to the Libyan Government, all that Kenyans can do is to immediately boycott doing business with Grand Regency Hotel immediately.

This is what all those who do not believe in corruption must do.

It is very sad that the person we are paying so much to fight graft has become an agent of corrupt mandarins. By the way, Ringera was a thank you token to the lords of graft for having purged from the Judiciary people who could stand firm against the corrupt tendencies of that government that was incoming.

Things get a little bit tricky when the Governor of Central Bank and our Finance Minister decide to become less truthful about the whole saga. The question is, if this guys can be this bold to sell Grand Regency Hotel like they have done, then what can’t they do?

The trio were summoned by Hon Okemo to shed some light to the parliamentary committee and they played games, all the times saying that nothing was amiss. Now that all has been amiss, can we continue to trust these people with those sensitive dockets?

The answer is no. These are thieves, pure and simple.

Kenyans must demand the return of Grand Regency Hotel to the Kenyan Government. And if the Hotel must be sold, then the law must be followed. Not a deal. It was sad watching Kimunya explaining that it was such a sweet deal they could not leave it.

No. It must be the law, not the deal.

If the Hotel is to be auctioned, then it must be so advertised in at least 2 major mass circulation dailies. If it must be sold otherwise, the government must still invite bids from interested parties, and still place the invitation for bids in at least 2 major mass circulation papers.

But if we have to cut deals as a government, then we are surely headed in the wrong direction. Government building will be sold to the best deal cutter, because the deal will be too tempting to be refused, according to Kimunya.

In the whole, this thing stinks, and Kimunya, Ringera and Ndungu have all fallen short of the glory of Kenyans. They must be sacked, arrested and charged accordingly.

Odhiambo T Oketch
Komarocks Nairobi

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API

Tsvangirai is now a man not easy to understand. He hides in the Dutch embassy as if he is really a target for death. Recently, he came out of the embassy and nothing happened to him. Now he is back to the embassy again.

What is he doing there when his supporters are left alone. If his life is in danger, what about the lives of his supporters: Does it mean his life is more valuable than that of his supporters? Many leaders tend to fool their supporters to go wild and riot and yet they are not willing to be caught in the crossfire themselves.

This is wrong. President Mugabe is now the elected president after�the coward Tsvangirai chickened out.

The same thing happened in Kenya. When Kibaki was sworn in, Raila called on� his supporters to riot. They were killed. Was Raila hurt at all?

Why are these leaders fooling their supporters and yet they are not ready to die for the course they claim to champion?

It is time those who are interested in politics woke up and refuse to be misused by leaders who are only thinking of themselves and their own families.

Many young people supporting MDC and Tsvangirai are dying fighting because he tells them to fight the government. Recently, Tsvangirai’s daughter was interviewed by the media. She lives abroad safely while the young people are dying for his father. How right is that? Why is Tsvangirai not putting his own children in the front line like he does with the youths – sons and daughters of other Zimbabweans?:

Looking at Kenya for instance. Have we heard of anyone from the Odinga family getting hurt while�fighting for equal rights? It is sons and daughters of others being used to fight and the Odingas�get ready made cake later.

By Korir, Chief Editor, API

Transport Minister shifts gears on ‘vanity’ plates

Norway’s Transport Minister has gone into reverse after crashing into criticism over her decision to halt a project aimed at introducing personalized license plates in Norway. Now she’s backing away from her stand that such plates are just so vain.

Liv Signe Navarsete, photographed Thursday atop Oslo’s new Opera House with other transport officials from the EU, admits the jewelry she wears can also be considered vain. PHOTO: JON-ARE BERG-JACOBSEN

Related stories:

No ‘vanity’ plates in Norway – 25.06.2008

Labour boss gets a scolding – 26.06.2008

Labour Party boss charged with ‘bullying’ – 25.06.2008

She probably thinks opinion is against her.

You could almost hear Transport Minister Liv Signe Navarsete humming the old pop song “You’re so vain” in the background, when news broke this week that she had halted a project that would have allowed motorists in Norway to purchase personalized license plates. The project could have been a new source of funding for state transport projects, and simply fun for those buying the plates and others who spot them.

Navarsete didn’t like the idea, and still maintains that she thinks personalized plates “are a bit vain, and un-Norwegian.” But she admitted to newspaper Dagens N�ringsliv, after earlier being unavailable for comment, that “I’m wearing this jewelry, and that can also be vain.”

She claimed she didn’t, “in principle,” oppose a project that would allow motorists to buy special plates, and even thinks such plates can be a “good idea” if they’ll raise money for traffic safety. The state highway department already had planned to propose earmarking revenues from personalized plate sales to safety programs.

Her new comments come after Navarsete was summoned by the opposition parties in parliament to explain why she earlier did not want drivers in Norway to be able to buy special plates. She now claims she never went so far as to send a letter to transport authorities ordering them to stop the program.

“We’ll now clarify for the highway department anything that’s not clear,” she said.

Plates may not be popular after all
It remains to be seen whether personalized plates will catch on in a country where flaunting wealth is often frowned upon. Rally car racer Petter Solberg told Dagens N�ringsliv that while cars have a lot to do with their owners’ personalities, and special plates can be prestigious, he didn’t want one himself. If he did, though, he’d choose “IM FAST.”

Affluent real estate broker Petter Andreas Poppe claimed he wasn’t “snobbish” enough to buy such a license plate.

Investor Ola M�le, who’s been in the news lately after being harshly criticized by a top Labour Party official for being part of a new “vulgar overclass” in Norway, rejected the idea of getting a personalized plate. “It’s stupid,” he said. “If you get caught driving too fast, everyone will know who you are.”

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API/Aftenposeneng