Author: Kenya West

Throughout history the power of the people has been tested time and again. Kenya’s own struggle for independence has pride of place in the annals of freedom struggles. Our progenitors turned the clock of history when they could no longer bear the yoke of colonial oppression. They gave us the promise of a fresh lease of life in a land splendor where justice would be our shield and defender.
The promise of our national anthem has however been betrayed with impunity. Where the fruit of our labour should fill every heart with thanks giving, our nation has become a looters’ paradise.
In March 2015, President Uhuru Kenyatta restored our hope when he declared “an unwavering war against corruption,” in his second State of the Nation Address. He received a standing ovation from the joint houses of Parliament. The rest of Kenyans beamed with unguarded delight. Yet, does all this seem to have been no more than perfectly choreographed hot air?
As a trusting citizen, I feel cheated. As a nation, our values have not merely been altered, but have actually been destroyed. High level government officers have made runaway graft and corruption the order of the day. They shamelessly exploit the toil of hardworking Kenyans and present carefully constructed defense lies.
The state has been quick to repudiate the vice while laying claim to it. The doublethink trend is agonizing. As it consciously induces unconsciousness, millions of Kenyans can only afford a meal per day. Not by choice, but as a result of economic paralysis triggered by a few upper crusts.
Mr President, enough of the historical decadence and polysyllabic speeches. Kenya is waiting for you to take a stand and emulate one Lee Kuan Yew whom you are on record as stating he is your role model. The founding father of Singapore transformed his country from a mere trading post to the present day Asian metropolis that it is. We are waiting for you to be our Lee Kuan Yew, for the future and unborn generations.
Kenya is smarting under the burden of the Health Sandal, Land grabbing, CCTV installation, NYS non fictional soap opera, Youth Fund, Anglo “fleecing” 3Billion payout reward, irregular tendering, billions that remain unaccounted in government departments, among many more economic crimes by the high and mighty.
Public anger is mounting, as can only be expected. History has taught us that the power inherent in the will of ordinary citizens has birthed new dawns.
At the end of the 17th century, peasants in France redesigned their country’s political landscape to bring a rotten monarchy to its end. Royal coffers had been depleted under King Louis XVI and his predecessors. The people’s plight fell on deaf ears. The old order got its death certificate.
The constitutional power bestowed unto Kenyans demand for accountability and transparency in all state affairs. At no point should favoritism apply to anyone who has consciously defiled our economy. You must take an intrepid stand
Women, the old and the youth are dying daily from treatable conditions. Unemployment is soaring at an all time high. A majority wallow in hopelessness due to the billions lost through scams. Money that could have helped in the alleviation of the basic living standards.
We must reclaim our loving country from tainted leadership.
We the electorate doesn’t want to overthrow the Government as one spin doctor and his handlers put it. We just want to take control of our destiny, that we may be culpable if we mess up. Our hopes, passion and vision for the future are our very own existence.

Written by
Nancy Wambui

Political  Communications Expert based in  South Africa

This article expresses the author’s opinion only. The views and opinions expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Kenya Insights or its Editors. We welcome opinion and views on topical issues. Email: [email protected]

By Nicholas Olambo
The political journey of Raila Odinga should be a series of harsh lessons, but has he learned enough? He has been detained and exiled, but he never gave up, he championed the second liberation force and had given a shot at the presidency three times, losing, being rigged out and losing/ being rigged out.

He still has his eyes set on the prize, but folks have been writing stories describing him as a contender left with ‘one bullet,’ 2017 is his do or die contest, but these are illusions he has refuted. He says he is well prepared with more a single ‘bullet’ should he be nominated to fly the opposition flag. As things stand Raila is the possible opposition candidate with polls rating the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta ahead of him.

Odinga was beaten by President Uhuru in 2013; he challenged the results at the Supreme Court, but the court’s verdict maintained the status quo. He respected the court’s ruling and moved on keeping a keen check on Jubilee administration, revealing all mega corruption scandals that have rocked President Kenyatta’s leadership. It’s now a see through administration poked with corruption holes all over, from the infamous NYS scandal, Eurobond, Youth Fund and 5 billion Afya House scandal among others. It’s said to be the most corrupt in Kenyan history.

Odinga has managed to make corruption his key campaign agenda to discredit the Kenyatta led Jubilee administration, and with 2017 just seven months away, the numbers seem likely to tilt for the opposition but will Kenyatta sit back and go in history as a one-term president? Beating incumbents in Africa are ‘a miracle.’

Political analyst/jubilee strategist Mutahi Ngunyi who was the brainchild of ‘tyranny of numbers myth’ through which Uhuruto twisted the ICC narrative and rallied their large tribes to win 2013 polls is now singing a different song. With the fast shaping NASA, a united front through which opposition leaders may challenge President Kenyatta, Ngunyi says the myth is no longer viable. NASA is more like NARC in 2002, an unbeatable force.

In fact soon after Kenyatta assumed office in 2013, Ngunyi described Mr. Kenyatta as a greenhorn president, but I think Kenyatta is ‘a tactical and smart’ fellow. He his trapping Mr. Odinga in his comfort zone and will ‘beat’ him hands down. The recent chaotic special sittings were deliberate; Uhuru may not even sign the draconian election bill into law. Already there is enough pressure on him from the opposition and religious leaders asking him to rise beyond party interests and reject the controversial draft law.

The cord is already bracing the country for street protests in January should the bill be signed. The opposition has described the laws as a ploy by Jubilee to rig the coming polls. In 2013, Cord claimed that Jubilee stole elections by hacking IEBC systems and altered results for TNA’s Uhuru Kenyatta. Mr. Odinga can’t substantiate this well; their evidence was rejected by the Supreme Court as huge and time bad.

Raila is claiming that they will not allow elections rigged but what will he do if he can’t substantiate how he was ‘beaten’ in 2013? The same technique will be used on him again; I doubt if he’s determined to keep the check on his competitor’s digital rigging tricks. We are in a digital era, and Jubilee is known to be pro digital. Any schemes to revert to a manual system are deliberate moves to trap Odinga to reject the manual backup system, so they all go digital and ‘beat’ him there. If anything Baba is used to being ‘beaten,’ he will accept and move on.

In the last elections, the opposition accused Jubilee of working with hackers and Safaricom who operated the servers to manipulate polls. From them how prepared is CORD to repel and expose such schemes should they arise. Grapevine has it that the State has constituted the group of sharp IT gurus drawn from local universities, Russia, and Chinese computer wizards to do the 2017 dirty jobs.

While these remain mere speculations, we know the miles player at hand can go. CORD must or by now should’ve hit the computer wizardry world to shop for the brightest minds to monitor the system from their center to detect at the slightest chance any mischievous move during polls. Electronic voters identification is a blessing to CORD and a nightmare to Jubilee who are accused to be scheming on using dead voters to push up their numbers given unfavorable current voters register dynamics. All parties must be at alert IEBC must give nothing short of free, fair, credible, verifiable, tamper-proof, healthy elections. End of discussion!

Kenya and the world have been treated to the worst of theatrics in parliament during the past days in exceptional settings set to discuss electoral reforms with Jubilee wing rooting for manual back-up of a voting system and opposition insisting on the digital and the negotiated amendments to be sustained.

The debate as expected was marked with extreme violence with the house turned into a chaotic market with reckless traders. Reports of physical fights between the MPs flew around. And it’s during these sittings that dictatorial smoke signals were sent. The parliament building in a long time since Moi era was completely barricaded and heavy anti-riot police deployed in an apparent intimidation move by the executive who wanted the law passed by all means necessary. Journalists were denied access to Parliament’s media gallery, broadcast signal switched off, internet shut. This a 2017 smoke signal coming at the time when credible suspicions that the government will lock out the internet during next elections, thrives.

The ugly face of August house with primordial debates presided over by House Speaker Justin Muturi. Muturi has brought the insanity in parliament given his partisan stand and blind sycophancy to the executive. Muturi is a tribal chief placed in a high office. The speaker has brought shame and crashed the credibility and integrity of a powerful institution. Unlike his predecessors as Kaparo and Marende both of whom has political affiliations but kept professionalism ahead by remaining neutral, Muturi like swallowing a whole watermelon fruit is finding it hard to hide his allegiance to political lineage.

Parliament is an institution that ought to provide social and political unity. However, blind political loyalty and desperation for correctness politics have caused Parliament to serve primarily as a public forum for the ventilation of grievances rather than a law‐making body and unifying institution. Members should have a difference of policy but not trapping the country in the rut of immature and hollow politics.

Most of his legislative decisions are biased and bring out someone who plays political marionette role. He has significantly eroded the reputation and credibility of the House, lowering the quality of the debate and work of the National Assembly. He poses the threat of returning Parliament to old days of executive control or appendage. Commission on the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) has gone to court seeking a declaration that Honourable Speaker Muturi is unfit to hold public office.

The office of Speaker is one of prestige, splendor, and authority. The office of the Speaker occupies a pivotal position in Constitution and instilling culture of constitutional democracy. While the MPs represent the individual constituencies, the Speaker represents the full authority of the House itself. The Speaker symbolizes the dignity and power of the House over which she/he are presiding. Therefore, it is expected that the holder of this office of high dignity has to be one who can represent the House in all its manifestations.

As long as Muturi retains the seat and Kenya heading to the elections, we’re yet to see the worst as he’ll oversee even the most of crude policies shoved by the executive see the day. Muturi, a once corrupt magistrate, is behaving and talking like someone who didn’t step into a law school. The sooner we get rid of the lunatic, the better Kenya will be placed until then we’re courting disaster.

Talking of disasters another one in parliament is the leader of Majority Aden Duale who has made a brand of a loose canon, Jubilee’s preferred bark dog given his excellent ability to talk without engaging his senses. Duale is the master of moronic, unintelligent utterances. He even shocks himself on whatever he says. Given the much crap, he talks some unnamed parts of his body must be getting jealous of his mouth. Duale is a preprogrammed bot and a slave to the establishment. As much as we castigate him for unbolted lack of sagacity, we must not forget this is a tragic robot with a developer whom should worry us the most. His owner.

In one of the most disastrous events, Duale reigned a moronic attack on Justice Odunga accusing him of being tribal and issuing opposition friendly judgments. The law and politics are as distinct as Duale and wisdom something he needs to know. Duale and his masters want a manipulation-prone judiciary something Kenya has worked hard to ride over. Duale is threatening to discuss Odunga when parliament reconvenes.

This is a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary and the integrity of the distinguished judge and an abuse of parliamentary privilege. It is conducted entirely untenable in any civilized democracy. Justice Odunga holds an important constitutional office as a judge of the superior court and a member of the judiciary whose independence is protected by Article 160(1) of the Constitution. His exercise of judicial authority is undertaken on behalf of the people of the Republic and therefore cannot and should not be subjected to any impediment of any nature.

With these hired guns seated at the helm of a legislature, Kenya Is cooked and fried waiting to go down the digestive tract. Until wisdom pays them a surprise visit, we must water and soap our hair.

The high court has ruled that the Jubilee cabinet is unconstitutional since it doesn’t fully comply with the two third gender rule with under representation of women in The cabinet slots. This is a snippet of the women representation across The board.

The inclusion of women in politics and public institutions is a process that is necessary but with no easy solutions. A silver bullet approach simply does not cut it. Kenya is ranked amongst countries in Africa with least women representation in parliament. A report by The Africa Human Development Report of 2016 indicates that Africa has four countries in the top 10 with high levels of women representation in parliament. These four countries are; Rwanda, Seychelles, Senegal, and South Africa.

In the case of Kenya, there is a story behind the lethargy in implementing the gender bill. It is a complicated story that is characterized by the lack of political goodwill and the endorsement of internally induced patriarchal structures evident in the sexist discourse in political spaces. Male members of parliament have been on record for rejecting the gender bill on the rational that this gives room for “people to nominate their girlfriends.” The bid to push the gender bill was lost an account of male parliamentarians who argued that the bill was retrogressive to democracy, and that, passing it was tantamount to giving women free seats.

The vital role of women as equal contributing partners is downplayed by sexist discourse, and this has very direct implications for the number of women who enter these political spaces.

The fact that Women’s rights to equal representation in the political space and public institutions need to be recognized should not be over emphasized. As it is, Kenya positions itself as a democratic state, yet the truth is that it cannot speak of democracy without having gender democracy. The gender bill needs political goodwill to get through, but more importantly, its enactment and implementation will require male goodwill that reads against the grain of sexist discourse.

It is important to have men stand in support of women to push this bill through. It is essential that men be part of the change narrative that speaks against sexism and includes more women into the political space and public institutions. One helpful way of achieving democracy is through gender democracy.

Women representatives in various seats have been targets of sexual assault and preying by their male counterparts who have superiority complex. Moses Kuria one of Jubilee’s irritant legislators who in a scuffle in parliament last year, attempted to undress Mbita MP Millie Odhiambo is now threatening to do the same this time more bizarre. Shebesh was physically assaulted by Kiderothe governor when she went to seek an audience with him over problem faced by constituents. These are examples of tribulations women in office have to go through in the masculine Kenyan politics.

Kenyan political scene is murky and gets murkier for the women. As Passaris a Nairobi Gubernatorial Candidate said during Silence is a woman forum where she was the kat panelist to discuss various challenges faced by women, it’s never a walk in the park. “Being a woman in politics has been tough. I get judged by my looks. My project got taken away because it’s a ” boys club.” Said Passaris in her contribution. She continued “A woman always finds the strength to come back again. Women can back other women. Society judges women more harshly.”

With the gender rule evidently not going through, women need to take the different approach in the fight including vying for the legislative seats. The big man syndrome is in full play and likely factor to demoralize the women. Attempts by Esther Passaris to register her Harambee Party were shut down with the argument that the name was monumental if Uhuru wanted to register a party by the same name do you think he’d be blocked? These are some of the challenges women in politics face. 2017 women must come out in numbers to battle it out with men in the various political seats. This will put them at a good position to push for progressive social policies.

By Nicholas Olambo

As 2017 fast approaches, tactical political realignments are evident. The reality of a united opposition is taking shape by the day, Nasa (National Super Alliance) has chances of being the umbrella under which the opposition will challenge the Jubilee administration.

Jubilee got into power after twisting the ICC narrative and rallying their huge tribes under what Political Analyst Mutahi Ngunyi described as ‘tyranny of numbers.’ Times seem to have changed, and as the political gurus will tell you, you can not be twice lucky in politics. The tyranny of numbers myth has no place in 2017 politics. A united opposition front that ended Mois’s 24-year rule and defeated President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2002 is causing him sleepless nights.

The president and the entire Jubilee administration is in a panic mode, another term to enjoy eating meat and keep the opposition and Kenyans struggling for the scent is under threat. Loyalists are crossing back into opposition camps, DP William Ruto’s vote-rich backyard is at risk of being sliced by the opposition.
As these realignments and unofficial campaigns take place, every player is struggling to beat their challengers with the best that they have.

The government is pushing for amendments to election laws to allow a use of manual techniques should the digital technique fail. The opposition is against the bill and sees this as the ploy to create chances of rigging the 2017 polls. Jubilee boasts of majority membership in both houses, a card they always pull to their advantage and pass draconian laws.

IEBC on its end has claimed that 10% of the country is not covered by the network, an indication that they may need to manually transmit results from such regions. The manual transmission is liable to ‘cooking’ and alteration of results to favor some candidates. This idea is backed by a fallacy that the internet or social media causes violence. The government has already shown intentions of shutting down the internet on election day; the same has been witnessed in other African states under dictators as Congo, Uganda, and Gambia.

Kenya is sitting on ticking time bomb and a simple mistake to deny the will of the people will blow it. The ruling regimes are kicking out NGOs who are carrying out or financing civic education exercises as being rogue and plotting to finance the opposition and influence the outcome of 2017 polls. Who buys that? So many people in government are splashing out cash from the questionable source to influence the 2017 polls outcome.

DP William Ruto ‘donates’ millions nearly every weekend to ‘buy’ the church, The Waigurus of this world looted hundreds of millions if not billions and are now lining up to buy their way into leadership positions. Before kicking out NGOs who are educating the public on the electoral process, a role that the sleeping and ‘broke’ IEBC should be playing, deal with the corruption face that is within the executive.

Crazy as one activist Boniface Mwangi will tell you ‘ The government wants you to learn about sex but not electoral processes.’ Provision of ARVs are funded by donors; PSIs are donor funded but not questioned. Whoever will win the 2017 polls should do so based on the manifesto, If the status quo remains, it should be based on track record of the Jubilee administration. So far corruption has rocked the current regime than any other in the history of this nation, and the president has nothing more to do. Jubilee came in ‘a digital government,’ what has happened in the short span that the internet now it’s a threat to security? Social media/internet can do more than cheap PR jobs but inform the people.

Campaigns for 2017 General Elections have unofficially been kicked off with political train gaining momentum by the day. Jubilee aŕe on massive development projects launching across the country and with the timing months to the election, they’re capitalizing on this loophole to score political points.

The opposition, on the other hand, is witnessing political realignment with a mission of having a united opposition capable of sending Jubilee home in the same taste that Rainbow Alliance ganged up to end Moi’s 24-year rule.

Jubilee regime has been rocked with significant corruption dealings painting it as one of the most corrupt governments of the four that Kenya has had. Human rights violations as extrajudicial killings that have snatched many lives have also headlined the administration.

Perhaps the most outstanding are the systematic clampdown on freedom of press and expression. In the last years of Jubilee regime, press freedom has been lowered in an index with draconian laws meant to muzzle information flow. The government has been critical of the media alleging they’re misreporting painting it as corrupt which in the real sense is the truth.

A Nation Media Group journalist was in trouble on exposing a scandal in tendering at the Interior Ministry. What followed is evident. They came up with another clamping law that required journalists to give evidence on corruption. The President and deputy are on record calling out the media on several occasions as useless reducing newspapers to mere meat wrappers.

The government hasn’t been soft on investigative journalists and bloggers many of whom have faced their wrath. Recently, a British journalist to The London’s Time was deported under unclear circumstances reports now indicating he was probing the Eurobond case that allegedly cost taxpayers billions spent in nonexistent projects.

The targeting of media by the regime has exposed their dictatorial motives an indirect attack to freedom of speech and press which are vital in a progressive and democratized nation as Kenya.

Under the four years that Jubilee have been in power, we’ve witnessed extreme public funds looting like never before. Some of these people are new to this corrupt money which then directs me to the fears that Jubilee might not let go power that quickly. Four years wouldn’t be enough they’ll probably fight to last blood drop to retain power for another five years to finish up work (read looting) started. I have certain key points that are red flags as we move close to the polls.

ICC

There has been a sustained campaign to pull Kenya out of the Rome Statute. Like many of Africa’s dictatorial regimes have been yapping that the court is a political establishment targeting Africa, but they don’t tell you that it’s Africa’s leaders who reign more terror on their citizens. The fear of ICC contributed mostly in taming possible violence in the last election in Kenya. Imagine a scenario without ICC and no fear over facing international justice. Gambia’s President who’s now refusing to let go power after the huge loss at the same time preparing grounds for the serious clash in the country hurried to pull his country out of ICC months to the election. They only want ICC out if the way to reign terror in citizens without limitations. The cosmetic sovereignty calls are like music to dead ear. Sovereignty while Africa governments run on donor money.

Civil Society

If you’ve been keen, the CSOs have been Jubilee’s top enemies. This is mainly contributed by the active participation of the CSOs on the ICC cases that had President and Deputy dragged to the Hague. It’s their belief that the cases were coined by the Civil Society whom they’ve branded as the evil society despite the fact that most of the CSOs items in ICC were drawn from the State’s intelligence agencies.

On Jamhuri day celebrations, the president gave the biggest hint that the Civil Society is under attack with the possible shutdown of many. The President accused the CSO for working with foreign powers to change the regime. Ironically the president telling off foreign powers from influencing elections yet IEBC conducting the elections is funded by the Western countries don’t even go to the security dockets and all.

The mood in the country and hostility towards Jubilee has been frustrating the son of Jomo now issuing warnings everywhere. It’s also not a coincidence that Civil Society has been removed from devolution to interior ministry under colonialist Nkaissery. This is a strategic plan to control and muzzle the CSO as elections nears. The NGOs play the major role in voters education and empowerment. With a weakened Civil Society, Jubilee will have a field day with atrocities which when you look at how police have handled protests in recent cases should worry you.

Social Media

There are credible fears that Jubilee would shut down the internet in the same style that has been replicating in most African countries. From Uganda to Gambia and now Congo shutting down the internet as Kabila plots to forcefully extend his term and fears of violence eruption.

The fallacy that social media causes violence is not only pathetic and primitive thinking but an insult to civilization. Other day a pseudo-journalist, a self, imposed presidential reporter with the Star opened his mouth ahead of his brains calling for social media shutdown over irresponsible posts. This a journalist mark you who should be advocating for the free press and speech. But let’s spare the man as he comes to terms with the fact that his friends have been helping in taking care of his wife.

Jubilee should have least worry with the internet and work towards giving a credible election that will be the sure way. Kenya is a time bomb waiting for a single wrong movement, and things will go wrong. Shutting down the internet would cause a revolt, it will send out a signal that some fraud scheme is in the oven even if it’s not the case.

Social Media has a therapeutic effect in that people will vent online instead of picking weapons and slashing each other. It’s not an expensive way to deal with the situation. The keyboards will take away the anger. But the most important thing is to have open, credible elections. Don’t disrupt the peace. Whoever is advising Jubilee to shut down the internet should ask themselves if past poll violence happened because of social media. Free advice, focus on the vernacular radio stations which are dangerous tribal fueling agents, a clampdown on loose cannons the bark dogs of politicians the war mongers, fraud electoral officers. Leave social media alone and for the millionth time, conduct credible, open, Free and fair elections and won’t have to worry for a great poll results from reception. The way Jubilee has invested on anti-riot police in recent times is a story for another day.