When the Chairman of the ECK said he was pressured by the PNU and ODM-K to announce the result of the election, many people did not believe him. Kibaki as the leader of PNU became the president while Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of ODM-K became the vice president. This has removed all doubts that that election was rigged. Mr Kivuitu also stated that he saw return from one polling station having a different figure than the one signed at the polling station.
The people of Kenya have been living under various oppressive regimes. This began to change when a coming together of several parties under the rainbow coalition was able to wrest power from Daniel Arap Moi. The first try was defeated because the opposition was so much splintered that they could not obtain a majority against Moi's political machinery. The second time they succeeded when Raila Odinga crafted a cryptic message , "Kibaki Tosha," to unify the opposition.
The NARC coalition broke down when Kibaki did not honor the memorandum of understanding that brought the different parties together. The biggest complaint was that Kibaki had surrounded himself with corrupt people who prevented any meaningful change from occurring. Kenya never got the new constitution as promised. So, when Kibaki announced that election was to take place at the end of 2007, the old coalition, NARC disintegrated and Kibaki was left basically without a party. This is when the opportunists surrounding him seized the time to craft a new political party to enable Kibaki stay in power. They came up with PNU (Party of National Unity). By then the damage was already done. Almost every major party had joined the ODM thereby giving it a national character. Also, there was so much wrangle in the creation and running of the PNU that the only thing that kept it together was not a political idea but protection of vested interest that was being threatened by ascent of ODM to power. It was at this time that Uhuru Kenyatta was frightened out of ODM giving PNU a Gatundu stripe.
The majority of Kenyans are yearning for a change and an improvement in their lives. They pinned their hope on voting out the Kibaki government as was witnessed by the number of minister losing their seats in parliament. During the tallying of the ballots, Raila Odinga was way ahead of Kibaki when things suddenly changed! Results coming into the KICC indicated a higher figures favoring Kibaki on arrival at the center and signatures of party representatives from the polling stations were also missing. Then late on Sunday December 30, 2007 around 5 p.m., the chairman of the ECK went to the state house and announced the result giving victory to Kibaki. Hastily, within one hour and without any member of the diplomatic corps present, Kibaki was sworn in as the president for the second time.
So, when riots broke out, it was because people had lost all hope of a peaceful change and felt betrayed and cheated openly by the people now in government.
To say that the opposition or anybody for that matter, planned the violence is tantamount to ignoring the history of Kenya since independence. Claims of ethnic cleansing or tribal wars are statement from correspondents and people who don't care about the dynamics of the Kenya society. They are too lazy to research the cause of this great misery in a once peaceful nation where every neighboring country sought refuge. In the given situation, if the violence had preceded election it would have been appropriate to call it ethnic or tribal war. But in this case many areas of the country has not received proportional development fund. Corruption is eating up the highest echelon of power and change through the ballot box has been rigged out. Can you also call this ethnic cleansing?
Given that there is a direct correlation between speeches endorsing the election result and violence, would it be better to recruit 30,000 new police or desist from making provocative statements endorsing injustice and unfairness? If one cannot be fare and just in this instance where he is caught red-handed, how can one expect him to be when he can perform his activities out of the public eyes?
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, January 28, 2008
Another Deadline for LRA - Military Option Once Again
Museveni has been forced to accept a negotiated settlement to northern Uganda war because the cost has become very high to the people who finance his expedition in the north. He has been working tirelessly to make sure that a meaningful settlement is not reached. But the real reason is very difficult to see unless one looks more closely at the interest and actions of his lieutenants in the north.
Salim Saleh, Museveni half brother attempted to buy land in Acholi but was repulsed and has not been able to find a better way to acquire that land. Next Museveni has tried to come in through Madhvani sugar works but he is facing stiff opposition. He is attempting to go through the paramount chief of Acholi but the members of parliament are in the way.
Above all, Museven's land grabbing plans has included Baganda land where he is meeting stiff resistance and now the Baganda are in similar danger as the Acholi's and therefore are bound to come together threatening Museveni's reign.
So, what can Museveni do? He can use the army and acquire the land by force. There is only one obstacle - Kony and his LRA. So, before he puts any of his plans into action, Kony and the LRA must first be liquidated. That is why he is trying to convince Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and MONUC to help him fight Kony. Once he torpedoes the Juba peace talks, he can then do as he pleases with the few seasoned military men under LRA. Once the people have no land, then they will become beggars whom Museveni can use to perpetrate his reign far into the future.
Museveni is seeking to control all the arable lands in Uganda and give it to his cronies thereby impoverishing the people. This will pave the way for his dynasty in Uganda. To Museveni, the problem and death in Kenya could not have come at a better time! We the people have accepted Museveni's rule til death do us part.
Salim Saleh, Museveni half brother attempted to buy land in Acholi but was repulsed and has not been able to find a better way to acquire that land. Next Museveni has tried to come in through Madhvani sugar works but he is facing stiff opposition. He is attempting to go through the paramount chief of Acholi but the members of parliament are in the way.
Above all, Museven's land grabbing plans has included Baganda land where he is meeting stiff resistance and now the Baganda are in similar danger as the Acholi's and therefore are bound to come together threatening Museveni's reign.
So, what can Museveni do? He can use the army and acquire the land by force. There is only one obstacle - Kony and his LRA. So, before he puts any of his plans into action, Kony and the LRA must first be liquidated. That is why he is trying to convince Congo, Rwanda, Burundi and MONUC to help him fight Kony. Once he torpedoes the Juba peace talks, he can then do as he pleases with the few seasoned military men under LRA. Once the people have no land, then they will become beggars whom Museveni can use to perpetrate his reign far into the future.
Museveni is seeking to control all the arable lands in Uganda and give it to his cronies thereby impoverishing the people. This will pave the way for his dynasty in Uganda. To Museveni, the problem and death in Kenya could not have come at a better time! We the people have accepted Museveni's rule til death do us part.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Remember Museveni in Congo?
Kibaki was never prepared for a second tern in office. He said that he was only going to run one time. Whether this was a bait so that he could be accepted by NARC group or a genuine interest in only serving one term, we can never know. The PNU (Party of National Unity) is certainly a contraption of an active mind bent on staying in the power house, hurriedly put together to enable Kibaki compete a second time. The most interesting show was that of Uhuru Kenyatta abandoning the opposition in order to join the government side. One can only wonder the appeal! Whenever you make this kind of connection, there is danger that one may not honor the agreement. The national character that was embodied by ODM became so troubling that Uhuru Kenyatta was unceremoniously pulled out of the group by clique close to Kibaki. What better message could it be than party of national unity?
Then there was the slogan that a "Luo could not rule" being floated around. There was no politics to go with it. Instead of explaining what they want to accomplice so that the electorate can give them their votes, they (PNU)squandered their chance. Meanwhile ODM was taking it message to all corners of the country. When Raila reached Kibaki's stronghold he was unceremoniously ejected from a hotel belonging to a Kibaki supporter. This was the first glimpse of what could happen in the election. Nowhere else in Kenya did a thing of such magnitude occur, but there were several instances of intolerance. Generally, Kenyans have been patient and watching the going ons but they committed to change through the ballot box. If Kibaki had won "fair and square" without people actually witnessing an open 'rigging,' no one would have resorted to violence. There are reasons why people resort to violence and this election qualified as one. You can put any label on it but it will not change its intensity. It is generally perceived that Kibaki surrounded himself with hardliners and rich people who were able to isolate him from ordinary Kenyans. Other disputes like the memorandum of understanding before beating the Moi government, also have been simmering but the election provided hope that a new administration would usher in better and fair treatment for all. If it was a purely tribal animosity there would be no need to stop momentarily when fairness and wisdom indicate a change in direction. The arrival of the former secretary general of UN, Mr Kofi Anan gave people hope of a resolution of the problem. But as soon as Kibaki again made provocative statement that he was duly elected, violence flared up again and this time it is getting worse because they see that the government of Kibaki is determined to oppress them again for another five years. Evidently preaching politics in the name of tribes alone does nothing but bring in suffering for any group perceived to be allied to the oppressor. Our actions as leaders have far and profound effect on those we lead. There can never be violence where the people feel that they have been treated fairly. Tanzania is a case in point. but even in Tanzania there is a simmering problem between mainland and Zanzibaris.
The history of Kenya is replete with government sponsored killings of opponents. Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, and J.M. Kariuki were all murdered in the same way by the same group of people in the government. These happened under Kenyatta and also under Moi. Their tribe really did not matter but the fact that they were a threat to the establishment made them all meet the same fate. Tom Mboya was not killed because he was a Luo but because he made a statement in parliament that a clique around Kenyatta was enriching themselves at the expense of ordinary Kenyans. Ouko had easier access to US president than Moi and JM was giving more money at harambee than Kenyatta was doing. People see these actions but have no immediate answer. They absorb it for a long time but never forget it. It gives them clue of the people in power what they can do and how they can be rid off them. That people can so easily label actions in terms of tribes is indicative of a weak system of government prone to corruption.
Now Museveni is angling for a piece of the action in Kenya politic. What better method to assure Kibaki that he would defend him at all cost and that he should not negotiate with 'those killers'? Museveni is also fighting to have Kibaki keep him company of 'democratic dictators.' Museveni also knows that if the people in Kenya succeed in pushing Kibaki out of power, then a similar thing can easily happen in Uganda. That is why he is so far the only leader to congratulate Kibaki on winning the reelection. Then just like in Congo and Sudan, Museveni will send in Uganda troops to 'secure the railway lines.' Just watch and see if Kenya does not resolve the problem through dialogue!
Then there was the slogan that a "Luo could not rule" being floated around. There was no politics to go with it. Instead of explaining what they want to accomplice so that the electorate can give them their votes, they (PNU)squandered their chance. Meanwhile ODM was taking it message to all corners of the country. When Raila reached Kibaki's stronghold he was unceremoniously ejected from a hotel belonging to a Kibaki supporter. This was the first glimpse of what could happen in the election. Nowhere else in Kenya did a thing of such magnitude occur, but there were several instances of intolerance. Generally, Kenyans have been patient and watching the going ons but they committed to change through the ballot box. If Kibaki had won "fair and square" without people actually witnessing an open 'rigging,' no one would have resorted to violence. There are reasons why people resort to violence and this election qualified as one. You can put any label on it but it will not change its intensity. It is generally perceived that Kibaki surrounded himself with hardliners and rich people who were able to isolate him from ordinary Kenyans. Other disputes like the memorandum of understanding before beating the Moi government, also have been simmering but the election provided hope that a new administration would usher in better and fair treatment for all. If it was a purely tribal animosity there would be no need to stop momentarily when fairness and wisdom indicate a change in direction. The arrival of the former secretary general of UN, Mr Kofi Anan gave people hope of a resolution of the problem. But as soon as Kibaki again made provocative statement that he was duly elected, violence flared up again and this time it is getting worse because they see that the government of Kibaki is determined to oppress them again for another five years. Evidently preaching politics in the name of tribes alone does nothing but bring in suffering for any group perceived to be allied to the oppressor. Our actions as leaders have far and profound effect on those we lead. There can never be violence where the people feel that they have been treated fairly. Tanzania is a case in point. but even in Tanzania there is a simmering problem between mainland and Zanzibaris.
The history of Kenya is replete with government sponsored killings of opponents. Tom Mboya, Robert Ouko, and J.M. Kariuki were all murdered in the same way by the same group of people in the government. These happened under Kenyatta and also under Moi. Their tribe really did not matter but the fact that they were a threat to the establishment made them all meet the same fate. Tom Mboya was not killed because he was a Luo but because he made a statement in parliament that a clique around Kenyatta was enriching themselves at the expense of ordinary Kenyans. Ouko had easier access to US president than Moi and JM was giving more money at harambee than Kenyatta was doing. People see these actions but have no immediate answer. They absorb it for a long time but never forget it. It gives them clue of the people in power what they can do and how they can be rid off them. That people can so easily label actions in terms of tribes is indicative of a weak system of government prone to corruption.
Now Museveni is angling for a piece of the action in Kenya politic. What better method to assure Kibaki that he would defend him at all cost and that he should not negotiate with 'those killers'? Museveni is also fighting to have Kibaki keep him company of 'democratic dictators.' Museveni also knows that if the people in Kenya succeed in pushing Kibaki out of power, then a similar thing can easily happen in Uganda. That is why he is so far the only leader to congratulate Kibaki on winning the reelection. Then just like in Congo and Sudan, Museveni will send in Uganda troops to 'secure the railway lines.' Just watch and see if Kenya does not resolve the problem through dialogue!
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