In his last visit to the county, while doing voter registration mobilization, the Deputy President issued a directive for the armament of locals following heightened insecurity. At least 1500 guns are to be distributed to locals under National Police Reserve arrangement. However, this method has not gone well with a majority who’re now pointing at a possible ulterior motive in this last-minute measure in the wake up to the elections.
Turkana Professionals Association Is particularly alarmed by the process of identifying the recipients of the guns. Security is the responsibility of the National Government through the Security Agencies like National Police Service (NPS). The National Police Reservists (NPR) program was intended to enhance security which is every citizen constitutional right to protection for Kenyans resident in Turkana.
Unlike the success in Mandera, the lack of commitment to roll out the NPR program in consultation with the County Government, principal NPS offices in Turkana have failed the people of Turkana North, Turkana West, Turkana South Kibish and Turkana East, Lomello killings still fresh in our minds NPS failed in their duty.
And Turkana County Govt had a budget approved to support NG in paying the stipend for NPRs. As always, area MPs stopped IG from granting approval to the program. Reason? Governor Nanok will take all the political credit. The political rivalry is coming avoidable consequences.
A few weeks ago when Elgeyo Marakwet and East Pokot’s peace meeting led by Senator Murkomen, the IG called the County Commander instructing him to commence recruitment for NPR.
Considering the Security situation in Turkana and the rising number of arms in illegal hands, this situation is increasingly becoming a time bomb; it is critical at this point that this NPR process is implemented accordingly.
When a senior politician ignores the rule of law on security management and goes ahead to distribute guns in the pretext of the NPR program without the proper officers, will the said guns indeed be used to protect the Turkana people or serve the politician’s interest? Isn’t such a politician setting conditions for unnecessary violence in the electoral period as it happened in Kalokol?
What concerns most is the fact that we are already in a political mood, and must actively oppose the Turkana South MP James Lemonen approach that is obviously destructive whatever the interests he is pursuing. Not forgetting the number of political incidences involving guns by our politicians a case in point is Kalokol by- elections. It is more suspicious that the MP is doing this without the County Commissioner’s knowledge.
This situation can’t be condoned to continue while events are unfolding each day. The insecurity experienced in Turkana is both internal and external. This is unfortunate, and we condemn it in the strongest terms possible. The path of violence isn’t positive for any leadership, and such politician should desist from such barbaric means.
Hopefully, all County Security Agencies will adopt this and action taken expeditiously.
Meanwhile, Governor Nanok needs to update on the status of this NPR program. Perhaps our Committee on Security can interrogate further this new phenomenon, we might be focusing our efforts on the Pokot neighbors, and yet the issue we are dealing with is right here.
Turkana is a predominant opposition region under Nanok this has elicited theories that Jubilee are sensing defeat and are arming people.
Interestingly, it’s baffling that IG Boinett is sitting on TCG’s request to recruit and place NPRs on the county payroll. Turkana County Gov’t has, for 2 FYs, allocated funds for NPRs salaries. NG won’t explain this for implementation as it will score the governor political mileage.
It’s questioned as to why IG has refused to allow TCG to proceed with this yet they allowed Mandera. Sabotage. Insecurity is high such that a police post in Turkana has barely three officers. With the mandate on his head, it is feared that the Turkana South M.P is allocating guns to his cronies, thereby capable of leading a rebellion against the popular county gov’t led by Nanok. Ideally, elders ought to be involved in selecting the persons to be given guns, but the area M.P hears none of it
Naturally, Turkana South Police Boss who now feigns ignorance over this plan should be held responsible should anything go wrong during elections in Turkana South because he’s abetting a crime by allowing the area M.P to single-handedly select beneficiaries of guns
Instead of getting Turkana South to the grid, FastTrack tarmacking of Kitale-Lodwar road & water projects, all he could ask for is guns. Apparently, the idea sells in the constituency coz it borders West Pokot. But elites are opposed to his continued arming of people. They want development. The idea is OK except that the process of identifying gun holders is suspect. Being under his command, there is a risk of the MP using them to sponsor election violence against his opponents
Mwangi has been away from Kenya close to a month staying in the US with less known of his stay. The defiant activist has now come out admitting he has been on exile following credible death threats on his life and family. Below is his own narration.
DEATH THREATS. I rarely let people into my emotions and fears. My wife can count the number of times she has seen me cry. In late November 2016, I broke down on national television, NTV’s show, The Trend. (Here is the clip https://www.facebook.com/NTVKenya/videos/10153591660834058/) The host, Larry Madowo, and I have been good friends for nearly 10 years. Although he knows some of my personal struggles, he has only seen me cry at our friend, Quest’s funeral. But there comes a time when things can no longer be contained inside. Today is such a time. I have decided to bare some of it by writing this. To share the hidden war in my life.
My life has been haunted by all kinds of threats. Some close friends know about the intimidations that I receive, but I have always been reluctant to go public about them. I did not want to ever be the boy who cried wolf.
In the past five years, I have publicly been accused of many things. In 2013, for example, during the Love Protest on Feb 13, l was accused of trying to overthrow the government with the backing of the US government. I was neither investigated nor arrested for this alleged treason even after the National Security Advisory Committee made these serious and outlandish allegations. These were blatant lies and cheap attempts at discrediting my patriotism.
In 2014, l received credible death threats that led me to write to the president. Upon delivery of the letter, the threats promptly disappeared. In November 2015, I took part in a protest against insecurity and there were thugs hired to stab me during the peaceful protest in the streets of Nairobi. I reported the matter to the police with images of the goons and video footage of the confessions, but no investigation was ever carried out.
My close family and friends are in constant fear for my life. My mother-in-law even has a permanent prayer chain of friends who pray for me daily. Do I fear for my life? It’s the question on everyone’s mind and it comes up at every interview or talk I give. Like most humans, I am afraid of death, but often my convictions for a better Kenya have overcome this real and palpable fear. It is a great sacrifice to die for Kenya, but an even better one to live for her.
Since l became an activist, my life has changed significantly. I can’t be out alone late at night. A veteran politician once cautioned me that evil loves the dark. I am constantly looking over my shoulder. When working late or hanging out with friends, l must ensure I am with trusted company. I cannot speak freely on my phone. I have had to adjust my life drastically as I cannot afford to take these threats lightly. Routinely, supportive friends with access to info will send me information shared by people who have been paid to spy on me. In spite of these chilling reports, I refuse to be intimidated into silence. I refuse to be paralyzed by fear.
Late last year, l was sued by the Deputy President, Ruto, and my response brought many death threats in its wake. Although it is the Deputy President who is suing me, the irony is that threats are coming my way.
I am anguished because the threats are now taking a more dangerous tone. For the first time since I began engaging in activism, my wife and children have been included as targets. The source of the threats claims that because I have refused to be bought and won’t compromise, I have put my family in danger.
I shared these threats with fellow Human Rights defenders who convinced me to have my family leave the country late last year. I remained behind all the while being followed and monitored by people who were looking for an opportunity to do me harm. I left Kenya for South Africa and when l came back l was still been followed. I was then advised by fellow human rights defenders to leave the country for awhile. I left and took the opportunity to promote my book in the US. In the past month I have managed to conduct a successful book tour with the support of good friends in the Diaspora.
While the book tour experience has been amazing, deep down I am emotionally drained. I want to come back home.
We were meant to travel back last week, but then I received a frightening warning message: “DO NOT COME HOME: THEY WILL KILL YOU.” To prove the message’s authenticity, my source shared specific details of how they intend to hurt me and my family. It has broken my heart to see my wife cry, almost everyday. In her tears she keeps saying, “You fight for Kenyans everyday, but who will fight for me and for our children?”
Sadly, Kenya will never be safe until every one of us is safe. There has been constant intimidation of activists and journalists in the past few years. Their survival tactic has been to leave the country, let things cool down and then return. After their return, they chose silence to be their language. Their stories are never made public, but the very real threats are whispered in the activism community.
I was born in this beautiful country and for the last three decades I have loved her. But like many of you, she has not always loved me back. We can easily blame her but then we have to stop and ask ourselves, who is Kenya? We were entrusted with this great nation but instead of sowing love, peace, equal co-existence we have harbored tribalism, hate and fear. This is what feeds the corrupt mafia. The intention of the Kenyan mafia is to plant seeds of discord and bully us into submission.
As I write this, I am on my way back home. I intend to make a statement of the current threats to the police. They may not do much about it, but I will have done my part in reporting. My family will follow once I have shared all the information I have with the police.
It is only cowards who kill women and children. It is cowards who praise the people who illegally acquired wealth and are continuing to impoverish our nation. I chose not to be a coward. I shall also expect a response from the state. A state loses its legitimacy if it cannot protect the lives of its citizens and their property.
Some speak of my methods as wrong and disrespectful, what I ask is when were we ever shown respect? The tribal kingpins and looters keep taking and taking. The people who want me dead are part of the looters, like the cowards they are, they can smell defeat.
Victory for ordinary Kenyans will come eventually. This 2017 elections is the last election that will be determined by tribal formations. The big tribal kingpins political careers are ending in the 2017 elections and if we are not careful the successors will be criminals – drug dealers and people who have stolen money from Kenyans. Remember Kamlesh Pattni was cleared to run in the 2013 elections. Expect NYS thieves and fellow tenderpreneurs to be on the ballot. We are witnessing the rise of candidates with unexplained wealth, whose ideology is to flash money and buy votes. As a generation, we must shun and reject them.
All the public action I have been involved in has contributed positively in making Kenya better. They may silence my voice but to all those who have heard it, read it and benefited from it –Stand up. Speak up. Time ya story imeisha. Support me now, while I am still breathing, speak for me and my family. If you disagree with me and my methods, but do agree that we need to reclaim our country, use your vote and choose Kenya’s next leadership wisely. I am not alone in the fight for a better Kenya, there are those whom we share similar aspirations for our country. In the coming days there will be men and women of integrity and with a vision for a better Kenya, who will be seeking elective office. Support them. Campaign for them. Vote for them.
To those who have supported me and my family through this hellish period, THANK YOU! This is not just my family’s fight, it is your fight too.
To those on the receiving end of death threats, abuse and attack for demanding a better Kenya, be encouraged. Roho Juu! This struggle is not in vain. Hate, abuse, threats won’t stop this righteous fight to reclaim Kenya. Many of you will like and share this post, and whether we know each other in person or not is immaterial. What you need to understand is things are not as they should be. We must fight to reclaim Kenya for our future and for those who will come after us.
When the mafia fights back, and try to single us out, let the echoes of history remind us of the young people who fought for our freedom and defeated the colonialists. They overcame colonial firepower and liberated Kenya. We too shall overcome the corrupt and reclaim back Kenya.
The Votes are out and the winner of Africa Union Commission Chairperson announced. Chad’s Mahamat, becomes the new chair after a tight contest with Amina. He takes it from South Africa’s Dlamini-Zuma. Chad won with 28 against Kenya 25.
The loss is a huge blow to Uhuru’s government that spent close to an estimated Sh1B in lobbying which saw the Deputy President Ruto travel across the continent in chartered private jet and diplomatic delegation spread allover doing the same.
Africa heads of state are currently in Addis Ababa Ethiopia discussing numerous topics across from geopolitics to security and electing new leaders. Already Guinean President has been elected AU Chair replacing the incumbent who was the Chad’s President.
The focus that has Kenyans full attention is the Africa Union Commission that CS Amina is going for. The chair of the AU Commission has a lot of weight in setting the global agenda, including trade, good governance, institutionalizing democracy, intra-African trade, peace, and security.
Other candidates in the race include Senegal’s Abdoulaye Batily, the choice of the 14-member Ecowas bloc, Chad’s Mousssa Faki Mahamat and Equatorial Guinea’s Agapito Mba Mokuy for Central Africa, and Botswana’s Pelomi Venson-Moitoi for Southern African Development Community.
A winner, according to the rules, should garner at least two-thirds of the votes by the 53 members, excluding Morocco, which is expected to make a return to the African Union after a 36-year ‘self-exile” from the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in protest over the body’s support for the Polisario Front and its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as an independent state.
The election which is a closed door affair is kept away from the media lenses, and Kenya Insights sources reveal that Amina’s fate and the results to be made announced by 7 pm local time. Voting currently underway.
The Somalia militant group once again has attacked a KDF’s military camp killing several soldiers. The attack took place on Thursday early hours in Kulbiyow town according to Reuters.
The attack has coincidentally happened in the same style as El Adde that also left over 150 KDF soldiers murdered. Today’s deadly attack involved two bomb trucks targeting the camp before the militants laid violent fire ambush. Some sources within Somalia are describing the exchange between Kenyan soldiers and the militants as dead battle hinting at a possibility that the soldiers were caught unawares. The entire scenario reflects the El Adde.
The number of casualties is still unclear with Al Shabaab taking advantage of Government of Kenya’s silent to sell their propaganda of having killed 57 Soldiers. KDF officials have however in early reports denied having suffered casualties despite several sources indicating otherwise.
“We are pursuing the Kenyan soldiers who ran away into the woods,” Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operation spokesman, told Reuters about Friday’s attack.
“Two mujahideen (fighters) rammed suicide car bombs into the base in Kulbiyow town before storming it,” he said, adding that alongside counting 57 Kenyan bodies the group seized vehicles and weapons. “We have taken over the base.”
Locals tell the media that militants walked away with the cache of firearms from the deadly attack that has left several KDF bodies littered along the streets. KDF has deployed a backup team to launch rebuttal attacks. El Adde attack coincidentally happened in January with no Official truth forthcoming to date. We will update as the need develops.
The push to have maximum voters registration is in full gears across the country with politicians burning the night oil and traversing the country with the key priority of mobilizing their supporters to register ahead of August polls.
IEBC has a target of registering 6M voters in the final drive. Politicians are using numerous alternatives some even bizarre in consolidating and mobilizing voter registration, especially in their home turf. In Muranga, Kirinyaga bars holding ID cards left as leverage die unpaid alcohol debts has been ordered to release them while owners warned against serving drinks to anyone without voters cards. Women are also using sex boycott to coerce their husbands into registration.
Methods applied range with counties with governors headlining the push. In Kisumu like all counties, the governor, Ranguma is exploiting all loopholes together with allied politicians in ensuring nothing short of maximum voters registration.
Kisumu’s votes rich estates Nyalenda, Nyamasaria, Railway, Kondele, Manyatta, and Obunga have been marked and registration drive on a devil’s speed.
Governor Jack Ranguma has made a promise to reward wards that will meet the set targets with Sh1 million. Kisumu County aims to register 183,000 new voters in the ongoing exercise. Kisumu closed the latest IEBC tally of top 10 counties with 21,254 new registrations. Ranguma is also using the boda-boda riders in pushing the agenda. Word is no passenger is allowed to board any matatu and boda-boda without voters card. Other politicians are also offering free tokens to those who register as a luring tactic.
President Uhuru inspects one of the IEBC registration desks in Kitui as he embarks on countrywide tour for mobilization
Kenya Insights has learned that the Kisumu Commercial Sex Workers union have also thrown in their support in the most conventional way to push the men in the city to register. Jane Atieno, the 36-year-old veteran in the industry and union’s spokesperson based in ‘Stage’ lane is echoing a unanimous decision by members to use their tools of the trade in pushing voters registration. The exotic workers have decided not to offer their services to those without the card as a way to coerce them into registration. “We’re also tired of omawa omawa (we’ve been rigged) after every election, everyone and their grandmother must have electors card and vote. We will not sleep with any man without a voters card, and that’s the stand we’ve taken.” Said Atieno.
They don’t stop at giving ultimatums but goes further to make it enticing by offering free services to all those with voters card, “we will offer free services every Wednesday until IEBC winds up registration. Free for those who’ve registered as voters.” Reads one of the directives from Jane in their union’s chat group seen by Kenya Insights. It’s however with a time that will tell if the resolution will take charge and eventually meet the intended results of maximum voters registration. Voter apathy is a serious issue in Kisumu that has alarmed local leaders. With many intrigues surrounding IEBC registration, one can only pray for things to get better.
Talking of IEBC and discrepancies, A dangerous loophole has been unearthed: Out of the 128,926 records of shared IDs, 107,777 show the same ID number but different names. A further analysis showed 53,671 of the IDs were shared more than once. The remaining 21,149 are for persons who attempted to register more than once at different polling stations.
The analysis further indicates the shared ID numbers could be the result of data entry errors at the time of registration, possible use of one ID to register more than once, attempted registration of more than one person using same ID or shared national ID numbers.
Following days of standoff and unprecedented tension, the former Gambian President and senseless ruler Jammeh who led the country for the past 22 years with iron fist finally bolted out ending the month long siege he made by ceding and rejecting December polls that saw Barrow win the presidency.
Jammeh had vowed to stay in power by all means before ECOWAS swang into action threatening to intervene with military force should he refuse to relinquish power. Barrow had to be sworn in as President in Senegal in desperate move.
Even after Barrow’s inauguration, Jammeh refused to stand down and it took personal intervention from Mauritanian and Mali presidents to persuade the long-time ruler to leave power and organise for his asylum.
Saturday might, Jammeh hid his disappointments in cosmetic smile aboard the jet to Conakry with his wife. It’s unknown where he heads and will be spending his asylum, however, what’s known is his 22 long reign is over and the Gambia can pick up the pieces to build new future with President Barrow.
#Jammeh just boarded plane with his wife and #Guinea president – flying to #Conakry, it seems. #Gambia 22 years, The End.
Here’s the joint declaration made by ECOWAS, AU and the U.N. for Jammeh’s power relinquishing:
1. Following the Decision of the Summit of the ECOWAS Authority taken on 17th December 2016 in Abuja, Nigeria, Mediation efforts, including visits to Banjul, were undertaken by the Chair of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, HE President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Mediator, HE President Muhammadu Buhari and Co-Mediator on The Gambia, HE former President John Dramani Mahama, along with HE President Ernest Bai Koroma to mediate on the political impasse with Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh.
2. Following further mediation efforts by HE President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and HE President Alpha Conde of the Republic of Guinea Conakry with HE Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, the former President of the Republic of The Gambia, and in consultation with the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the Chairperson of the African Union and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, this declaration is made with the purpose of reaching a peaceful resolution to the political situation in The Gambia.
3. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commend the goodwill and statesmanship of His Excellency former President Jammeh, who with the greater interest of the Gambian people in mind, and in order to preserve the peace, stability and security of The Gambia and maintain its sovereignty, territorial integrity and the dignity of the Gambian people, has decided to facilitate an immediate peaceful and orderly transition process and transfer of power to President Adama Barrow in accordance with the Gambian constitution.
4.In furtherance of this, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it assures and ensures the dignity, respect, security and rights of HE former President Jammeh, as a citizen, a party leader and a former Head of State as provided for and guaranteed by the 1997 Gambian Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
5.Further, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it fully guarantees, assures and ensures the dignity, security, safety and rights of former President Jammeh’s immediate family, cabinet members, government officials, Security Officials and party supporters and loyalists.
6. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that no legislative measures are taken by it that would be inconsistent with the previous two paragraphs.
7.ECOWAS, the AU and the UN urge the Government of The Gambia to take all necessary measures to assure and ensure that there is no intimidation, harassment and/or witch-hunting of former regime members and supporters, in conformity with the Constitution and other laws of The Gambia.
8. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to prevent the seizure of assets and properties lawfully belonging to former President Jammeh or his family and those of his Cabinet members, government officials and Party supporters, as guaranteed under the Constitution and other Laws of The Gambia.
9. In order to avoid any recriminations, ECOWAS, the AU and the UN commit to work with the Government of The Gambia on national reconciliation to cement social, cultural and national cohesion.
10. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN underscore strongly the important role of the Gambian Defence and Security Forces in the maintenance of peace and stability of The Gambia and commit to work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that it takes all appropriate measures to support the maintenance of the integrity of the [Defence and] Security Forces and guard against all measures that can create division and a breakdown of order.
11. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work to ensure that host countries that offer “African hospitality” to former President Jammeh and his family do not become undue targets of harassment, intimidation and all other pressures and sanctions.
12. In order to assist a peaceful and orderly transition and transfer of power and the establishment of a new government, HE former President Jammeh will temporarily leave The Gambia on 21 January 2017, without any prejudice to his rights as a citizen, a former President and a Political Party Leader.
13. ECOWAS, the AU and the UN will work with the Government of The Gambia to ensure that former President Jammeh is at liberty to return to The Gambia at any time of his choosing in accordance with international human rights law and his rights as a citizen of the Gambia and a former head of state.
14. Pursuant to this declaration, ECOWAS will halt any military operations in The Gambia and will continue to pursue peaceful and political resolution of the crisis.
Donald Trump sworn in as 45th president
Below is the full text of President Trump’s inaugural speech:
Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you.
We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people.
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.
We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.
Today’s ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one Administration to another, or from one party to another – but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost.
Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country.
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.
It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.
This is your day. This is your celebration.
And this, the United States of America, is your country.
What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people.
January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.
The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
Everyone is listening to you now.
You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before.
At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.
Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves.
These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.
But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.
We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.
The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.
For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry;
Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military;
We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own;
And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.
We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.
The disgraced and psychopath former Gambian President Jammeh has not only held the little country hostage but the entire world for the past hours following his hard card in power transition. Jammeh a former soldier who vowed to rule the country for a billion years couldn’t come to terms that after 22 years it was a wrap did him. He surprised everyone when he ceded defeat to an opposition in the December polls only to take a short time and refused elections polls he had previously endorsed.
The West Africa countries were not buying into his murky business and plot to cling to power, and they went on shuttle diplomacy in a bid to convince the tyrant to vacate office and avoid peace disruption but as you’d expect of a ruthless behaviour not blessed with wisdom, He turned down the pleas and offered including asylum. This led to ECOWAS mobilizing their troops to aid forceful power transition to the opposition leader.
Jammeh was given an ultimatum of midnight on Wednesday or face military invasion. The time lapsed and despite Mauritanian President, Mohamed Aziz’ s last minute intervention to secure his safe exit, Jammeh on his unwarranted stubbornness, refused to vacate office. As of press time, Jammeh has ceased being recognized as the legitimate President with Barrow now recognized as the President of Gambia.
Jammeh’s lawyer who fled the country pens him a letter urging for smooth relegation
Sources are indicating that Jammeh and Aziz struck a deal where the former Gambian President agreed to step down under unsaid conditions and have demands for his exit. Aziz them few to Senegal where he met the President of the country in Dakar together with President Barrow for debriefing and organize for his exit plan.
ECOWAS and Barrow team have insisted his inauguration must happen today even though there are uncertainties clouding the events as to where it would be held. According to several reports, It would occur at Gambian Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria. However, different reports say the Barrow transition team have insisted the swearing in must happen on Gambian soil.
Jammeh has been left on his own with nearly everyone from the Vice President to ministers abandoned him. The army is greatly divided regarding loyalty, and with a small size of 2500 soldiers, The lunatic has least strength to counter an ECOWAS attack with their large contingency. Jammeh is being guarded by foreign mercenaries he has flown in. The Gambia Army general announced that they were not going to engage in armed resistance to the ECOWAS troops instead they were joining them in the plot to remove the disgraced dictator from any string of power.
Jammeh’s spokesman announcement:
The story is still building and will be updated as it goes, as of now, Jammeh is still in the country even though his family left ages ago to Morocco. Time will tell his end game.
The government has been on a stretch devising all witchhunt and blackmailing tactics as their negotiation language to arm-twist the striking doctors back to work. The malignant psychological campaign has been consistent with a script of portraying them as selfish for demanding implementation of CBA. It’s unsurprising that the government has deliberately ignored other components of the 2013 agreement and chose to major in on salary increment which is a fraction of the document that was drafted to solve the deplorable state of the public healthcare.
The Government has baited the KMPDU officials with jail threats hanging over their head, leverage that was planted in their heads through executive court orders. But the house seems to be crumbling on the government which has least prioritized healthcare with the strike stretching to 45 days and going, the latest project by the state through their 36 online mercenaries was met with blacking out punches from Kenyans and doctors.
KMPDU statement detailing the truth on CBA away from GoK’sGoK’s propaganda
#MyBadDoctorsExperiences was crafted by the government with the aim of showing how selfish doctors are in public perceptions setting agenda. What they didn’t know they served a blessing in disguise to the defiant and tired doctors a blessing in disguise. They raided and ran down the hashtag by highlighting their experiences giving the public a rare view of the horrible and deplorable conditions the doctors are forced to go through in the public hospital. What was meant to shame doctors turned out to shame the government for not prioritizing better public healthcare. While CS Mailu is issuing wet dream directives as importing foreign doctors and using missionary hospitals to square health standoff, The stories shared by doctors will leave your jaws on the floor. The Nairobi Hospital former CEO was a BAD mistake being elevated to MoH CS, and combination with PS Muraguri is a lethal concoction to public health.
The doctor’s experiences. If the government can’t see the need to improve healthcare with all these them, the public can help them by relieving them of duty.
#MyBadDoctorExperience watching a child turn blue and slowly and painfully die due to lack of a nebulizer in a level 4 hospital.
Mombasa Governor and his counterpart Mvita MP are currently being held at Urban Station by police in Mombasa. This follows week-long dramas surrounding the governor who has his security details withdrawn following the incident where he told the President in his face development projects in Mombasa.
The government has since rejected guards sent to him by the state and even vacated his home to undisclosed New home. For a good part of Friday, police officers raided and ransacked several homes belonging to Joho and his relatives looking for him supposedly. His close friends now allege the officers have been fighting to frame the governor and that the raids we saw as last options to plant incriminating material on him.
John has particularly been in wrong books and bad blood with the colonial administrator Marwa who has consistently vowed to make his life hell as long as he maintains being disrespectful to the President through constant attacks.
Kenya Insights gathers that two persons close to the Governor had earlier on been arrested for unspecified crimes. The Governor and his Mvita counterpart visited urban police station to enquire about the arrest of their allies around midday. It’s during the exchange at the police station that the Governor and his colleague were detained for obstructing arrest.
However, We learn calls were made from above before making the decision to detain the Governor and the MP. The intention was to hold the two through the weekend. It was a case of wrong time at the wrong place but a blessing to the state to instill some fear on the Governor who has supposedly become a thorn in the flesh with harsh criticism on the Jubilee government.
The news soon hit the internet and instantly pumped tension not only on social media but Joho’s supporters had started matching to the police station where the Governor was being held. Through the PCIO, Police IG moved quickly to intervene and order for their release.
Joho has ultimately rejected new security guards allocated to him by the state and opted for his private security. However, there is the plot hatched by Marwa according to Joho’s confidants to disarm his arm licensed friends whom he always surrounds himself with a desperate bid to leave the Governor exposed and unarmed.
The rivalry between Joho and Unity is beyond politics and it’s only a matter of time before the stories will be told. As of the time this article was going live, Joho has been released from police custody. The arrest had created animosity amongst CORD supporters who believe the moves are meant to intimidate Joho.
Eyebrows have been raised over the potential that Kenya would shut down the internet in what has become the norm in Africa’s elections in the recent past. The Communication Authority has given probably the first hint on a high probability to shut down the internet.
Social Media has become popular and taking over traditional media as fast food new stop for many Kenyans. Estimated 10M Kenyans are said to be active on Facebook with around 3M on Twitter. SM has notably remained took of preference by human rights defenders and government critics to smoke out scandals and air their plight.
The widespread reach of social media worries the government who believe the platform would be used to turn hate and inciting information to fuel a repeat of 2007/08 PEV and they believe shutting down the internet while in logical reasoning this is far from the truth but that’s a story for another day.
CA has sounded an early warning to politicians and social media users to refrain from using language that would ignite ethnic animosity. Prosecution of hate speech amongst venomous leaders has been so sided that no one takes NCIC seriously given their double speak and open inclination to the ruling political divide. The parameters to decide on what crosses the threshold of hate speech is as of your political bent. The bias in the run makes policies put stay as sterile.
The Government has revealed to have spent more than Sh2 billion to acquire surveillance systems to monitor online and off-line communication networks during this year’s election, a move likely to stoke concerns over privacy violations among Kenyans. “We have also spent around Sh600 million on a social media monitoring system and Sh400 million on a device management system that will help us closely monitor mobile phones and the activities around them,” said Wangusi, CA’s DG.
Communication Authority insists however that shutting down the internet would be the last option to be deployed in what they say ‘worst case scenario’ again who and what dictates a worse case scenario remains with the government. This statement if we’re to read from neighboring countries then Kenyans can as well prepare themselves for a dark space on the internet.
President Barack Obama delivered a historic, emotional farewell speech Tuesday night in Chicago. Here’s the text version of the speech:
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It’s good to be home. My fellow Americans, Michelle and I have been so touched by all the well-wishes we’ve received over the past few weeks. But tonight it’s my turn to say thanks. Whether we’ve seen eye-to-eye or rarely agreed at all, my conversations with you, the American people – in living rooms and schools; at farms and on factory floors; at diners and on distant outposts – are what have kept me honest, kept me inspired, and kept me going. Every day, I learned from you. You made me a better President, and you made me a better man.
I first came to Chicago when I was in my early twenties, still trying to figure out who I was; still searching for a purpose to my life. It was in neighborhoods not far from here where I began working with church groups in the shadows of closed steel mills. It was on these streets where I witnessed the power of faith, and the quiet dignity of working people in the face of struggle and loss. This is where I learned that change only happens when ordinary people get involved, get engaged, and come together to demand it.
After eight years as your President, I still believe that. And it’s not just my belief. It’s the beating heart of our American idea – our bold experiment in self-government.
It’s the conviction that we are all created equal, endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
It’s the insistence that these rights, while self-evident, have never been self-executing; that We, the People, through the instrument of our democracy, can form a more perfect union.
This is the great gift our Founders gave us. The freedom to chase our individual dreams through our sweat, toil, and imagination – and the imperative to strive together as well, to achieve a greater good.
For 240 years, our nation’s call to citizenship has given work and purpose to each new generation. It’s what led patriots to choose republic over tyranny, pioneers to trek west, slaves to brave that makeshift railroad to freedom. It’s what pulled immigrants and refugees across oceans and the Rio Grande, pushed women to reach for the ballot, powered workers to organize. It’s why GIs gave their lives at Omaha Beach and Iwo Jima; Iraq and Afghanistan – and why men and women from Selma to Stonewall were prepared to give theirs as well.
So that’s what we mean when we say America is exceptional. Not that our nation has been flawless from the start, but that we have shown the capacity to change, and make life better for those who follow.
Yes, our progress has been uneven. The work of democracy has always been hard, contentious and sometimes bloody. For every two steps forward, it often feels we take one step back. But the long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, a constant widening of our founding creed to embrace all, and not just some.
If I had told you eight years ago that America would reverse a great recession, reboot our auto industry, and unleash the longest stretch of job creation in our history . if I had told you that we would open up a new chapter with the Cuban people, shut down Iran’s nuclear weapons program without firing a shot, and take out the mastermind of 9/11 . if I had told you that we would win marriage equality, and secure the right to health insurance for another 20 million of our fellow citizens – you might have said our sights were set a little too high.
But that’s what we did. That’s what you did. You were the change. You answered people’s hopes, and because of you, by almost every measure, America is a better, stronger place than it was when we started.
In ten days, the world will witness a hallmark of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power from one freely-elected president to the next. I committed to President-Elect Trump that my administration would ensure the smoothest possible transition, just as President Bush did for me. Because it’s up to all of us to make sure our government can help us meet the many challenges we still face.
We have what we need to do so. After all, we remain the wealthiest, most powerful, and most respected nation on Earth. Our youth and drive, our diversity and openness, our boundless capacity for risk and reinvention mean that the future should be ours.
But that potential will be realized only if our democracy works. Only if our politics reflects the decency of the people. Only if all of us, regardless of our party affiliation or particular interest, help restore the sense of common purpose that we so badly need right now.
Obama making his farewell address in Chicago
That’s what I want to focus on tonight – the state of our democracy.
Understand, democracy does not require uniformity. Our founders quarreled and compromised, and expected us to do the same. But they knew that democracy does require a basic sense of solidarity – the idea that for all our outward differences, we are all in this together; that we rise or fall as one.
There have been moments throughout our history that threatened to rupture that solidarity. The beginning of this century has been one of those times. A shrinking world, growing inequality; demographic change and the specter of terrorism – these forces haven’t just tested our security and prosperity, but our democracy as well. And how we meet these challenges to our democracy will determine our ability to educate our kids, and create good jobs, and protect our homeland.
In other words, it will determine our future.
Our democracy won’t work without a sense that everyone has economic opportunity. Today, the economy is growing again; wages, incomes, home values, and retirement accounts are rising again; poverty is falling again. The wealthy are paying a fairer share of taxes even as the stock market shatters records. The unemployment rate is near a ten-year low. The uninsured rate has never, ever been lower. Health care costs are rising at the slowest rate in fifty years. And if anyone can put together a plan that is demonstrably better than the improvements we’ve made to our health care system – that covers as many people at less cost – I will publicly support it.
That, after all, is why we serve – to make people’s lives better, not worse.
But for all the real progress we’ve made, we know it’s not enough. Our economy doesn’t work as well or grow as fast when a few prosper at the expense of a growing middle class. But stark inequality is also corrosive to our democratic principles. While the top one percent has amassed a bigger share of wealth and income, too many families, in inner cities and rural counties, have been left behind – the laid-off factory worker; the waitress and health care worker who struggle to pay the bills – convinced that the game is fixed against them, that their government only serves the interests of the powerful – a recipe for more cynicism and polarization in our politics.
There are no quick fixes to this long-term trend. I agree that our trade should be fair and not just free. But the next wave of economic dislocation won’t come from overseas. It will come from the relentless pace of automation that makes many good, middle-class jobs obsolete.
And so we must forge a new social compact – to guarantee all our kids the education they need; to give workers the power to unionize for better wages; to update the social safety net to reflect the way we live now and make more reforms to the tax code so corporations and individuals who reap the most from the new economy don’t avoid their obligations to the country that’s made their success possible. We can argue about how to best achieve these goals. But we can’t be complacent about the goals themselves. For if we don’t create opportunity for all people, the disaffection and division that has stalled our progress will only sharpen in years to come.
There’s a second threat to our democracy – one as old as our nation itself. After my election, there was talk of a post-racial America. Such a vision, however well-intended, was never realistic. For race remains a potent and often divisive force in our society. I’ve lived long enough to know that race relations are better than they were ten, or twenty, or thirty years ago – you can see it not just in statistics, but in the attitudes of young Americans across the political spectrum.
But we’re not where we need to be. All of us have more work to do. After all, if every economic issue is framed as a struggle between a hardworking white middle class and undeserving minorities, then workers of all shades will be left fighting for scraps while the wealthy withdraw further into their private enclaves. If we decline to invest in the children of immigrants, just because they don’t look like us, we diminish the prospects of our own children – because those brown kids will represent a larger share of America’s workforce. And our economy doesn’t have to be a zero-sum game. Last year, incomes rose for all races, all age groups, for men and for women.
Going forward, we must uphold laws against discrimination – in hiring, in housing, in education and the criminal justice system. That’s what our Constitution and highest ideals require. But laws alone won’t be enough. Hearts must change. If our democracy is to work in this increasingly diverse nation, each one of us must try to heed the advice of one of the great characters in American fiction, Atticus Finch, who said “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view.until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
For blacks and other minorities, it means tying our own struggles for justice to the challenges that a lot of people in this country face – the refugee, the immigrant, the rural poor, the transgender American, and also the middle-aged white man who from the outside may seem like he’s got all the advantages, but who’s seen his world upended by economic, cultural, and technological change.
For white Americans, it means acknowledging that the effects of slavery and Jim Crow didn’t suddenly vanish in the ’60s; that when minority groups voice discontent, they’re not just engaging in reverse racism or practicing political correctness; that when they wage peaceful protest, they’re not demanding special treatment, but the equal treatment our Founders promised.
For native-born Americans, it means reminding ourselves that the stereotypes about immigrants today were said, almost word for word, about the Irish, Italians, and Poles. America wasn’t weakened by the presence of these newcomers; they embraced this nation’s creed, and it was strengthened.
So regardless of the station we occupy; we have to try harder; to start with the premise that each of our fellow citizens loves this country just as much as we do; that they value hard work and family like we do; that their children are just as curious and hopeful and worthy of love as our own.
None of this is easy. For too many of us, it’s become safer to retreat into our own bubbles, whether in our neighborhoods or college campuses or places of worship or our social media feeds, surrounded by people who look like us and share the same political outlook and never challenge our assumptions. The rise of naked partisanship, increasing economic and regional stratification, the splintering of our media into a channel for every taste – all this makes this great sorting seem natural, even inevitable. And increasingly, we become so secure in our bubbles that we accept only information, whether true or not, that fits our opinions, instead of basing our opinions on the evidence that’s out there.
This trend represents a third threat to our democracy. Politics is a battle of ideas; in the course of a healthy debate, we’ll prioritize different goals, and the different means of reaching them. But without some common baseline of facts; without a willingness to admit new information, and concede that your opponent is making a fair point, and that science and reason matter, we’ll keep talking past each other, making common ground and compromise impossible.
Isn’t that part of what makes politics so dispiriting? How can elected officials rage about deficits when we propose to spend money on preschool for kids, but not when we’re cutting taxes for corporations? How do we excuse ethical lapses in our own party, but pounce when the other party does the same thing? It’s not just dishonest, this selective sorting of the facts; it’s self-defeating. Because as my mother used to tell me, reality has a way of catching up with you.
Take the challenge of climate change. In just eight years, we’ve halved our dependence on foreign oil, doubled our renewable energy, and led the world to an agreement that has the promise to save this planet. But without bolder action, our children won’t have time to debate the existence of climate change; they’ll be busy dealing with its effects: environmental disasters, economic disruptions, and waves of climate refugees seeking sanctuary.
Now, we can and should argue about the best approach to the problem. But to simply deny the problem not only betrays future generations; it betrays the essential spirit of innovation and practical problem-solving that guided our Founders.
It’s that spirit, born of the Enlightenment, that made us an economic powerhouse – the spirit that took flight at Kitty Hawk and Cape Canaveral; the spirit that that cures disease and put a computer in every pocket.
It’s that spirit – a faith in reason, and enterprise, and the primacy of right over might, that allowed us to resist the lure of fascism and tyranny during the Great Depression, and build a post-World War II order with other democracies, an order based not just on military power or national affiliations but on principles – the rule of law, human rights, freedoms of religion, speech, assembly, and an independent press.
That order is now being challenged – first by violent fanatics who claim to speak for Islam; more recently by autocrats in foreign capitals who see free markets, open democracies, and civil society itself as a threat to their power. The peril each poses to our democracy is more far-reaching than a car bomb or a missile. It represents the fear of change; the fear of people who look or speak or pray differently; a contempt for the rule of law that holds leaders accountable; an intolerance of dissent and free thought; a belief that the sword or the gun or the bomb or propaganda machine is the ultimate arbiter of what’s true and what’s right.
Because of the extraordinary courage of our men and women in uniform, and the intelligence officers, law enforcement, and diplomats who support them, no foreign terrorist organization has successfully planned and executed an attack on our homeland these past eight years; and although Boston and Orlando remind us of how dangerous radicalization can be, our law enforcement agencies are more effective and vigilant than ever. We’ve taken out tens of thousands of terrorists – including Osama bin Laden. The global coalition we’re leading against ISIL has taken out their leaders, and taken away about half their territory. ISIL will be destroyed, and no one who threatens America will ever be safe. To all who serve, it has been the honor of my lifetime to be your Commander-in-Chief.
But protecting our way of life requires more than our military. Democracy can buckle when we give in to fear. So just as we, as citizens, must remain vigilant against external aggression, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are. That’s why, for the past eight years, I’ve worked to put the fight against terrorism on a firm legal footing. That’s why we’ve ended torture, worked to close Gitmo, and reform our laws governing surveillance to protect privacy and civil liberties. That’s why I reject discrimination against Muslim Americans. That’s why we cannot withdraw from global fights – to expand democracy, and human rights, women’s rights, and LGBT rights – no matter how imperfect our efforts, no matter how expedient ignoring such values may seem. For the fight against extremism and intolerance and sectarianism are of a piece with the fight against authoritarianism and nationalist aggression. If the scope of freedom and respect for the rule of law shrinks around the world, the likelihood of war within and between nations increases, and our own freedoms will eventually be threatened.
So let’s be vigilant, but not afraid. ISIL will try to kill innocent people. But they cannot defeat America unless we betray our Constitution and our principles in the fight. Rivals like Russia or China cannot match our influence around the world – unless we give up what we stand for, and turn ourselves into just another big country that bullies smaller neighbors.
Which brings me to my final point – our democracy is threatened whenever we take it for granted. All of us, regardless of party, should throw ourselves into the task of rebuilding our democratic institutions. When voting rates are some of the lowest among advanced democracies, we should make it easier, not harder, to vote. When trust in our institutions is low, we should reduce the corrosive influence of money in our politics, and insist on the principles of transparency and ethics in public service. When Congress is dysfunctional, we should draw our districts to encourage politicians to cater to common sense and not rigid extremes.
And all of this depends on our participation; on each of us accepting the responsibility of citizenship, regardless of which way the pendulum of power swings.
Our Constitution is a remarkable, beautiful gift. But it’s really just a piece of parchment. It has no power on its own. We, the people, give it power – with our participation, and the choices we make. Whether or not we stand up for our freedoms. Whether or not we respect and enforce the rule of law. America is no fragile thing. But the gains of our long journey to freedom are not assured.
In his own farewell address, George Washington wrote that self-government is the underpinning of our safety, prosperity, and liberty, but “from different causes and from different quarters much pains will be taken.to weaken in your minds the conviction of this truth;” that we should preserve it with “jealous anxiety;” that we should reject “the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest or to enfeeble the sacred ties” that make us one.
We weaken those ties when we allow our political dialogue to become so corrosive that people of good character are turned off from public service; so coarse with rancor that Americans with whom we disagree are not just misguided, but somehow malevolent. We weaken those ties when we define some of us as more American than others; when we write off the whole system as inevitably corrupt, and blame the leaders we elect without examining our own role in electing them.
It falls to each of us to be those anxious, jealous guardians of our democracy; to embrace the joyous task we’ve been given to continually try to improve this great nation of ours. Because for all our outward differences, we all share the same proud title: Citizen.
Ultimately, that’s what our democracy demands. It needs you. Not just when there’s an election, not just when your own narrow interest is at stake, but over the full span of a lifetime. If you’re tired of arguing with strangers on the internet, try to talk with one in real life. If something needs fixing, lace up your shoes and do some organizing. If you’re disappointed by your elected officials, grab a clipboard, get some signatures, and run for office yourself. Show up. Dive in. Persevere. Sometimes you’ll win. Sometimes you’ll lose. Presuming a reservoir of goodness in others can be a risk, and there will be times when the process disappoints you. But for those of us fortunate enough to have been a part of this work, to see it up close, let me tell you, it can energize and inspire. And more often than not, your faith in America – and in Americans – will be confirmed.
Mine sure has been. Over the course of these eight years, I’ve seen the hopeful faces of young graduates and our newest military officers. I’ve mourned with grieving families searching for answers, and found grace in Charleston church. I’ve seen our scientists help a paralyzed man regain his sense of touch, and our wounded warriors walk again. I’ve seen our doctors and volunteers rebuild after earthquakes and stop pandemics in their tracks. I’ve seen the youngest of children remind us of our obligations to care for refugees, to work in peace, and above all to look out for each other.
That faith I placed all those years ago, not far from here, in the power of ordinary Americans to bring about change – that faith has been rewarded in ways I couldn’t possibly have imagined. I hope yours has, too. Some of you here tonight or watching at home were there with us in 2004, in 2008, in 2012 – and maybe you still can’t believe we pulled this whole thing off.
You’re not the only ones. Michelle – for the past twenty-five years, you’ve been not only my wife and mother of my children, but my best friend. You took on a role you didn’t ask for and made it your own with grace and grit and style and good humor. You made the White House a place that belongs to everybody. And a new generation sets its sights higher because it has you as a role model. You’ve made me proud. You’ve made the country proud.
Malia and Sasha, under the strangest of circumstances, you have become two amazing young women, smart and beautiful, but more importantly, kind and thoughtful and full of passion. You wore the burden of years in the spotlight so easily. Of all that I’ve done in my life, I’m most proud to be your dad.
To Joe Biden, the scrappy kid from Scranton who became Delaware’s favorite son: you were the first choice I made as a nominee, and the best. Not just because you have been a great Vice President, but because in the bargain, I gained a brother. We love you and Jill like family, and your friendship has been one of the great joys of our life.
To my remarkable staff: For eight years – and for some of you, a whole lot more – I’ve drawn from your energy, and tried to reflect back what you displayed every day: heart, and character, and idealism. I’ve watched you grow up, get married, have kids, and start incredible new journeys of your own. Even when times got tough and frustrating, you never let Washington get the better of you. The only thing that makes me prouder than all the good we’ve done is the thought of all the remarkable things you’ll achieve from here.
And to all of you out there – every organizer who moved to an unfamiliar town and kind family who welcomed them in, every volunteer who knocked on doors, every young person who cast a ballot for the first time, every American who lived and breathed the hard work of change – you are the best supporters and organizers anyone could hope for, and I will forever be grateful. Because yes, you changed the world.
That’s why I leave this stage tonight even more optimistic about this country than I was when we started. Because I know our work has not only helped so many Americans; it has inspired so many Americans – especially so many young people out there – to believe you can make a difference; to hitch your wagon to something bigger than yourselves. This generation coming up – unselfish, altruistic, creative, patriotic – I’ve seen you in every corner of the country. You believe in a fair, just, inclusive America; you know that constant change has been America’s hallmark, something not to fear but to embrace, and you are willing to carry this hard work of democracy forward. You’ll soon outnumber any of us, and I believe as a result that the future is in good hands.
My fellow Americans, it has been the honor of my life to serve you. I won’t stop; in fact, I will be right there with you, as a citizen, for all my days that remain. For now, whether you’re young or young at heart, I do have one final ask of you as your President – the same thing I asked when you took a chance on me eight years ago.
I am asking you to believe. Not in my ability to bring about change – but in yours.
I am asking you to hold fast to that faith written into our founding documents; that idea whispered by slaves and abolitionists; that spirit sung by immigrants and homesteaders and those who marched for justice; that creed reaffirmed by those who planted flags from foreign battlefields to the surface of the moon; a creed at the core of every American whose story is not yet written:
Yes We Can.
Yes We Did.
Yes We Can.
Thank you. God bless you. And may God continue to bless the United States of America.
The Governor of Bomet in the company of 30 goons have stormed a doctors meeting at The Fair Hills, Bomet. The Governor and his goons has slapped the Chairman, other Branch officials and kicked and tore clothes of lady doctors.
The Governor initially had removed his gun pointing at the Doctors to scare and disperse the meeting.
The Governor has resorted to violence on his own doctors after his media propaganda fell flat on the the public.
KMPDU officials have now vowed to take very strong action to have the Governor account for his intolerance and violence.
Intimidation will not implement the CBA. But no amount of intimidation will stop doctors from having the CBA implemented.
The governor had earlier paraded 3 doctors and signed a deal with them against the rest of the 50 doctors in Bomet who have since continued the strike since they are not party to any deals with the county government and want the CBA implemented in full.
It’s unfortunate and stupid move coming from one of the presumed sober governors and headliners of devolution empowerment. Instead of using legal channels to address the health crisis, Rutto who shamelessly flew to South Africa to treat a mere bruise to his cheek is busy using unorthodox and violent means to talk down doctors from strikes. Such acts of buffoonery must not only be tolerated but punished. Shame on you Rutto and like that you’re the donkey of the day.
The Trend’s Larry Madowo is a man living in panic following court verdict that could see him sent behind bars after the 16th Dec hearing or hefty fine on a defamation case lodged against himby blogger Cyprian Nyakundi.
The fierce battle between the two started way back last year when in his blog, Madowo accused Nyakundi of having attempted to extort 50M from Bidco, a company the blogger had extensively exposed it’s atrocities especially in Uganda where palm tree farmers were displaced under land grabbing circumstances by the Vimal Shah’s owned company.
What started as tweet battle has escalated into a huge trouble for the journalist who has not only and desperately failed to ascertain the claims he made against Nyakundi on the blog but the company he was defending in his article has since been red flagged by UNDP following investigation results that showed Bidco was extensively involved in serious industrial and human rights violations in Uganda . The same issues that the blogger wrote about have been affirmed by UNDP investigations going further step to discredit Madowo’s ink while the blogger walks exonerated.
A court in Nairobi has passed a judgment that Madowo faced civil jail or fine in a ruling that is due later this month on the 16th. Knowing the seriousness it comes with, Madowo has rushed to the court to appeal the decision made that has thrown him out of frying pan all the way deep into the fire bed.
Madowo’s predicaments are self made and a result of hear say journalism that has engulfed the journalism field in Kenya . With a big platform as NMG, it’s only professional and responsible for journalists to do proper background on stories before they write to avoid such avoidable law suits . Behind keyboard journalism is costly and had seen the rise of fake news by barely baked journalists churning gibberish news to the consumers. As a whip on yellow journalism and journalists for hire , the courts should deal a major blow to the journalist hopefully .
The stalemate between the government and the striking doctors seem to move from bad to worse as details emerges that the Doctors council are facing serious threats on their lives from state officials as a tactic to coerce them into calling off the strike that is on its third day consecutive with cosmetic negotiations put up by the government.
Information gathered by Kenya Insights from key players in the negotiations process point at an ugly and uncouth crisis management . KMPDU council are facing threats of physical violence. To the point that they fear for their lives should they fail to call off the strike by the end of the day. Kenya Insights gathers that the officials are being followed around town by cops in private vehicles, and also getting phone calls from Joseph Kinyua. The inclusion of Eric Kiraithe in the negotiations between KMPDU and Afya house is part of the larger threatening tactic.
Statement from Kiraithe calling for back to work without any clear way from negotiations
So far it is Afya House that has been avoiding negotiations, postponing meetings while claiming the doctors don’t want to negotiate, they even don’t turn up at all. Yesterday they pushed the meetings till afternoon and even after that they were unwilling to negotiate. Today the KMPDU council has been told by Kinyua that he expects the issues to be resolved.
But at the same time Muraguri the health PS is making threats and claiming he can support the KMPDU’s chairman bid for Senate seat which can easily be read as a bribery motive. Yesterday, the Secretary General was followed around town for hours soon after his interview on Citizen.
The pressure to end the strike is from highest echelons including Joseph Kinyua of statehouse but Afya House is refusing to accept CBA and is also sabotaging their own negotiation talks while making overt threats and physically following the doctors around.
Yet another coercion mails sent to the striking doctors from state officials.
Muraguri who now exhibits toxic psychotic behaviour of issuing threats around is worrying for a state official and should be kept at the furthest distance from any public office. Barely weeks have passed since Muraguri was in the headlines for making threats to a Daily Nation journalist who was following up on a graft story at the Afya House where 5B had questions raised on.
President Kenyatta needs to fire the PS for lacking the ethics of a public servant and being a key factor behind the Strike stalemate as well as being responsible for the lack of accountability in the missing 5bn of ministry funds.
With escapism taking center stage , distorted facts have been doing rounds on the stalemate . Here are some of the points to note down:
1) 2011 December, the doctors’ union (KMPDU) called for a strike citing various challenges in the health sector including but not limited to the working conditions of doctors.
2) 2011 December a committee was formed chaired by the then Minister for Finance (now our president Uhuru Kenyatta). It was agreed that their grievances were valid. Some concessions were given in the Return to Work Formula with the promise that further discussions between various sectors (Ministry of Health, Public Service Commission, Salary review commission and the union) would work out a longer term plan that will address human resource issues in the health sector particularly touching on doctors.
3) After long drawn out discussions in 2013 June, a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was signed by the then PS for Health (Mr Mark Bor) and the union that discussed amongst others, how doctors were graded in the public service scheme, promotions, training, disciplinary actions, grievances, transfers between counties and central government, research fund for enhancing medicine, postgraduate training, internship postings, working hours for doctors etc. It actions nelson provided a scheme of service that was a revision of the current one that dates 1994!
4) Under the labour laws, it is the responsibility of the employer (in this case the Ministry of Health) to file the CBA with the Industrial court for implementation.
5) Since 2013, the union has been given the run around by the Ministry of Health regarding them implementation of the legally binding document. The SRC was mandated to advise the Ministry of Health on the proposed salaries from the union. They have never done so. The union also wrote to the Labour Ministry citing the above matters but no response was received.
The Public Service Commission in May 2016 also approved the much needed Scheme of Service for doctors. The Ministry of health to date has never gazetted it.
6) After much frustration, the union went to court in 2015. One year later October 2016, the court issued a ruling upholding the legality of the CBA. Apparently, the Ministry of health were denying that they were party to it. The court ordered the concerned parties to iron out the contentious issues within 30 days. After the days elapsed without any progress, the SRC requested for an additional 15 days which were granted. The discussions were not held.
7) In November 2016, the union, under the protection of the constitution (which is above all laws) filed a 21 day notice for a countrywide strike. The notice ended on 4th December 2016. The strike commenced on 5th December 2016 affecting all public health institutions and supported by all doctors irrespective of their work stations.
The CoG went went to court to render the strike illegal. The ruling of this second court bears no weight as the constitution of Kenya protects and gives the right to go on strike once due process process is followed.
8. The Union will take NOTHING less than the CBA and the Salaries in the CBA MUST be implemented and Backdated from 1/7/2013. And any talks can only be on how to adjust the Figures for INFLATION and LOSS OF TIME.
As ancient tactics of back to work checks in, Muraguri and his counterparts need to know Kenyans cannot be threatened into working for this government and the doctors should consider mass resignation. They are not SLAVES.
In what started as a normal tweet several months ago with Blogger Cyprian Nyakundi asking for an apology and withdrawal of statement from TV Presenter Larry Madowo following a publication on his Daily Nation column and blog post linking him to an extortion racket, things have grown to nearly unmanageable heights.
Madowo had tainted Nyakundi’s image as an extortionist following an audio clip that was floated around by blogs. In the audio that has since been cannibalized by the truth, Nyakundi was approached by Bidco with a bribery motive to keep silence on exposing dirty dealings within the Vimal Sha’s owned empire.
Larry ran with the story only for the truth to come months later in yet another exposing audio clip where the PR Head for Vimal is heard apologizing to the contact blogger and Xtiandela for having manipulated the audio leaked previously knowing the initial intent. But that’s beside the story.
Nyakundi as sued Madowo for defamation, and he had the bulk of task to prove that Nyakundi had attempted to extort Bidco and heavier that his accusations on Bidco’s malpractices in Uganda were wrong. Luckily for Madowo he scooped a corporate and high riding lawyer Donald Kipkorir while all indications were he was being sponsored by Bidco. Don’t get me wrong but facts will remain facts, Madowo with his NTV money can’t afford DBK lest he turns to the streets begging, but that’s just a punchline, truth, though.
Madowo had been unable to prove the allegations and had continuously disobeyed court orders against speaking on the matter outside court. Madowo has openly talked about the issue on his social media pages forcing the blogger to push for a contempt of court file against him.
The High Court has today ruled for Nyakundi with Madowo slapped with a possible jail term and heavy fine as compensation to Nyakundi who claim Madowo has severely damaged his good reputation that he’s built over a long time. In the initial stages when Nyakundi threatened to sue Madowo he laughed it off telling the blogger to take a loan for the bruising legal battle ahead. Now that that tables have flipped, Madowo could be on his way to Faulu Bank to beg for a loan.
Bidco has been disowned by UNDP after investigations on their operations in Uganda.UNDP found the company to have engaged in gross environmental damages, abuse of human rights and by associating they’d put their reputation in a line leading to the sidelining. Coincidentally, it’s over the same issues that Madowo has to prove Nyakundi lied about, talk about ramming into the wall.
Madowo is expected to personally appear before the courts on 16th Dec where the judge will make the definitive ruling on the civil jail and fine.
Jeff Koinange remains one of the most famous and iconic journalists not only in Kenya with Africa. He has several journalistic achievements that saw him grace CNN screens years back and also he hasn’t been taint free from a staged story in Nigeria that saw him fired by the CNN president himself and a sexual assault case with a white lady, a ghost that has refused to disappear.
JKL, a show that grew from the bench which originally aired on K24 and gave it the brand that it has now, remains one of the most watched t.v. Shows in the country. According to estimates, JKL has a 10M viewership on every episode that airs twice weekly.
With the high rankings, JKL has been the one stop show for all dignitaries visiting the country and the delicious dish every politician salivating for an appearance given its reach. Initially, we must agree the show was objective and helpful; it gave voice and space to discuss various issues affecting the country.
It goes without mention that Koinange has used the show to push different agendas in subliminal gestures. A good example is the ICC matter where he recycled same guests who had the same message and agenda of swaying public perceptions. The classic example is fugitive David Matsanga who was mentioned as being a key role player in tampering with OPP witnesses. Matsanga turned JKL into his market where he could come as frequent to shout his lungs out.
Over the time, JKL transformed into a corruption laundry stop; it’s yet to leave many minds that Jeff was one of the few journalists who gave Ben Gethii the NYS theft centerman, a stage to defend himself days after the scandal exploded. The charlatan took the opportunity to spew lies and sanitize himself only for the truth to come out months later. Critics have said, the show has turned into a propaganda platform, and anyone tainted in corruption springs faster than Bolt to the live show to sway the public. Jeff has also been accused of being partisan by leaning to his cousin’s Jubilee.
JKL has in the recent months been faced with harsh criticisms from agendas and choices of guests. Recent dramas included Boniface Mwangi walking away from the show when Jeff conspired with Moses Kuria to storm the show which was plotted to be Mwangi’s alone. As if the blunder wasn’t enough, heated debate between Miguna and Passaris would live to be the last mistake and nail on the coffin.
A show that was meant to discuss Nairobi Gubernatorial race turned into an ugly misogyny, insulting, and a degrading show. The egocentric and loose canon Miguna didn’t mince his words attacking Passaris going as far as making rape jokes. Jeff’s primary sin was letting the exchange go on live t.v. Without moderating leading to the escalation.
The ugly show would see Koinange slapped with suits and petitions from various bodies next day and a murderous social media rage. This, not the worst that has happened to Jeff from his show, he was at one time forced to spend a night in the cold cells following debate he had with Tony Gachoka and touched on a case before the courts against the businessman, Jimmy Wanjigi. He had to part with 1M penalty to be set free leaving Tony’s ass to stay in the cold for days sourcing for the bail cash. Gachoka would later get banned from the show.
High probabilities that JKL would be moving back to its mother station K24 where it’s assured it won’t face political interference since for obvious reasons it will share the similar political lane. Insiders tell Kenya Insights, owners of KTN couldn’t bag anymore the political alignment the show took and the complaints kept on coming from the audience. The reputation of the company was at stake, and it has to let it go.
As Jeff moves to the next station, it will be the same monkey just a different forest; nothing much should be expected to change unless he turns to Willis Raburu to bury his serious career and start hosting celebrities and dabbing with college kids on live t.v. However, he has time to soul-search and look back at the mistakes he made and make adjustments but until then, good riddance by KTN.
Koinange was losing his relevance at a disturbing rate. The brake is a blessing in disguise giving him the chance to take a deep breath and to redeem his image .
The report acknowledges that a partnership with Bidco “could adversely damage UNDP’s reputation and the communities it seeks to help”
Embattled Ugandan farmers fighting threats and land grabbing by Bidco have praised a draft report by U.N. investigators that calls into question the company’s business practices.
The report is the result of a complaint by the Bugala Farmers Association to the U.N.’s Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU).
In the complaint, the farmers stated that the United Nations had not performed sufficient due diligence on Bidco before inviting it to join Business Call to Action, which is part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The farmers provided evidence that Bidco has engaged in human rights, labour and environmental violations in the Kalangala District of Bugala Island, Lake Victoria, Uganda, where Bidco has grabbed land from smallholder farmers and cut down over 18,000 acres of rainforest to make way for a large-scale palm oil business.
The U.N. investigators found fault with the decision to invite Bidco into partnership with UNDP: “After the fieldwork and additional research, SECU concluded that the processes employed by UNDP for admission of Bidco were not consistent with UNDP policies.”
The report acknowledges that a partnership with Bidco “could adversely damage UNDP’s reputation and the communities it seeks to help”, and Bidco’s activities “may be considered risky”.
Kenya-based Bidco has tried to distance itself from the allegations of land grabbing and environmental destruction in Uganda, but the UNDP investigators found there is a clear link between the company’s corporate structure, overseen by CEO Vimal Shah, and operations in Uganda.
The investigators also determined that Bidco’s claim of not being involved in land acquisition in Uganda is not accurate. Bidco “knew of, relied on, and encouraged the purchase (of land) by the government.” Bidco Uganda also was “engaged in decisions and discussions related to the purchase,” the report says.
John Muyisa, a representative of the Bugala Farmers Association, commended the work of the U.N. investigators, who visited remote Kalangala District as part of their research.
“We are very pleased that the United Nations has performed an objective evaluation of its internal processes and determined that it is risky to partner with Bidco. The United Nations is a globally admired organisation, and it is absolutely correct that, as the report says, ‘Communities should be empowered’ and not be trodden upon by predator corporations like Bidco.”
In light of the report’s findings, the Bugala Farmers Association has called on the United Nations to terminate its partnership with Bidco.
Family Bank has been under pressure in the past week following malicious message that went viral online alleging that the bank was being out under receivership and incited the public to withdraw all their money last risk losing all on the bank getting frozen.
The woman identified as Christine Gachiko Njeri, 35 and who is a businesswoman in Nairobi was arrested Friday evening from her house by detectives from Banking Fraud Investigation Unit. Unit boss Ngatia Iregi said they had been investigating the matter since Wednesday when the message started to spread on social media.
Family Bank becomes the second to be hit with such a similar rumors after Prime Bank which was feted for a collapse. There’s a crisis in the banking system following the revelation that more than 10B of NYS money was siphoned through commercial banks which are now under investigations throwing into panic consumers that they risked losing their money on eminent closure.
Social media was highly blamed for the collapse of Chase Bank. It’s irresponsible to use social media to disseminate false messages like that on Family Bank. Practicing responsible blogging and only sending verified information should be prioritized.
The family had to fight off bulk withdrawals sparked by the panic messages doing rounds on Social Media. It’s unfortunate that evil minds are taking advantage of the distrust and lack of confidence In the banking system to pounce on their competitors.
The bank management has given securities and assurance that the bank is in its stable state. If the trend of malicious messages is allowed to continue, the banking system will remain unstable and with mounting trust issues. Consumer confidence should be at an all time leveled.
The bank said it was in a strong financial position and well within the statutory requirements as governed by Central Bank of Kenya, “a fact that is easily confirmed through the return that we make as required by law.”
“We thank our customers who have stood by us despite the negative messages going round and urge them to continue supporting the bank,” a statement published in media said.
PAC investigations has unearthed that upto 28 banks were involved in the NYS scandal which forms the bulk of the basis of the malicious message against Family Bank.It raises eyebrows why of all the banks involved , Family Bank has become the isolated target.
It’s worthy noting that as banks come under attack on the NYS scam , the silent perpetrator remains CBK who as the regulator gave the transactions a clean bill of health before proceeding. So by doing the transactions on NYS on CBK nod, Faniky Bank was simply charging its fiduciary obligation. Unlike Chase and Imperial Bank whose grounds of malicious mesages touched on corporate governance issues , Family Bank matter is far fetched and different as it only circles around NYS scandal . sources of such alarming issues should factor in that empires take time to build and killing a home grown companies over unfounded grounds need to be ashamed . Authorities should clump on such dishonest characters and evil players in the banking industry .
