Category: Opinion

By Paul Otieno, IMC       

In the sentence CSJN 2/03/2011, the Argentinian Supreme Court of the Nation equivalent to Kenya’s Supreme Court, in the case of “Editorial Perfil S.A. versus the National Government” where the former is alleging a State discrimination in the distribution the media house when it comes to the distribution of the Government publicity tenders. In the mentioned case, the Supreme Court ordered the Head of the Cabinet equivalent to Kenya’s Chief of staff and Head of public service, to elaborate an official guideline (legal document) giving clear indications on the principles and rules to be followed on the distribution of Government publicity policy contracts.

It is a known fact that media industry in many developing countries like Kenya have as their main source of income the money that comes from the adverts, with the bigger part of it coming from the Government. In the same manner, Governments like ours knows this fact quite well and will always use it to check on the media coverage by influencing the editorial line of given media houses in search of a favourable coverage. In such a scenario, the independence of the media is put into question which automatically leads to issues related to the freedom of the press and the right to equal access to contracts and business.

When one hears that the UhuRuto Government has all over sudden realised that they are spending a lot of money in adverts in the main stream private media houses, hence the urgent need to control this spending. On February 8, the Jubilee Government which of late is having a lot communicational blenders which in turn has affected the public opinion towards the government, have through memo directed to all the Government departments and agencies to stop advertising with private media hence forth and in place of the private media, the UhuRuto Government has created My Gov which is a publication for ‘free’ distribution to the Kenyans.

Let facts be said once and for all that this kind of actions which are more politically influenced and not for the general good of the country, only serves as stimulant to our already tribalistic and discriminative State, where a small click eat the meat while the majority only have got their nose to get the smell. UhuRuto and their political advisers must be told that this kind of arbitrary and discriminative distribution of the Government adverts using the Kenyan people taxes, is simply another mechanism to indirectly censure the media at a time the Jubilee and their presidential candidate pair are having serious backlash on public confidence.

When the Government like ours, uses the State adverts as carrots to the media in order to force them to give a ‘good’ coverage to the State, which in Kenya means the media must stop investigating corrupt deals within the government, then at the end of the road, it is Kenyans who will be suffering with the a clear violation of our fundamental right to information being infringed on. The Government of Jubilee should not be allowed to go away with this undemocratic and unjust decision. The State’s adverts cannot be distributed under the principle of ‘trophy o punishment’ with the objective of conditioning the editorial line of a given media house as per the wishes and tastes of the ruling elite.

The mechanism of indirect censure like the one given by Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service Joseph Kinyua through the Government internal memo is always hidden behind an apparent exercise of legitimate faculties or cause, like the need to control the Government expenditure. This kind of ascenario presents serious legal problems given that it is not very easy to distinguish with exactitude the separating line between a legitimate exercise of ones functions and the illegitimate restriction of other’s basic constitutional given rights.

From this perspective and without being a lawyer nor a law student, I believe that UhuRuto Government media advert ban can easily be considered as violating the Kenyans’ right to freedom of expression and access to information. At the same time, the Government of Jubilee, is discriminating other private media houses while favouring some. Either the policy applies to all in equal terms/effect or it will simply be considered as retaliation and discriminative act. The government publication MY Gov though is freely circulated to the Kenyans, its circulation is done through The Star and the People Daily newspapers, which themselves are privately owned media houses. So why this discriminative action from UhuRuto administration? What did the other privately owned media houses do to warrant this punishment?

Under these circumstances, one has no option but to conclude that:

1. This UhuRuto media advert ban memo is clearly motivated by the need to control and influence the editorial position of the media houses.
2. The UhuRuto memo therefore is infringing on the Kenyans’ rights on freedoms of expression, access to public information and freedom of the press.
3. The UhuRuto memo passes as a clear tactic of the Jubilee Government notorious desire to indirectly censure the Fourth Estate.
4. The UhuRuto memo is clearly discriminatory against some of the private media houses, hence giving preferential treatment to others.
5. The UhuRuto memo clearly is unconstitutional given that it goes against some of the current laws like The Procurement Act 2015 which requires that Government agencies and Department to advertise in some national circulating newspapers.
6. This preferential treatment of the UhuRuto Government towards The Star and The People Daily newspapers, puts into question the editorial independence of these two beneficiaries of this illegitimate directive.

I think that with this kind of political and election oriented decisions and policy, there is need for a serious discussion on two important aspects with the view of strengthening our democracy.

1. The need for legal regulations touching on the issue of distribution and access of media houses to Government advertising tenders. Many countries in developed democracy consider the media as an agent of development and not a competitor against the State, hence have legally regulated the adverts done by the Government.
2. It is time the media houses should think outside the box of ‘Government money’ for he who pays the piper calls the tune. This over dependence on the money from the Government adverts makes them vulnerable in their sacrosanct service to Kenyans and their democratic journey. There are so many areas that media houses can exploit to boost their financial books without compromising on the quality of their product and the Kenyans right to access a prompt and accurate information.

Please Kenyans, media and UhuRuto Government, I invite you that together we reflect on the words of the Former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff when she said “I prefer the noise of a FREE MEDIA to the silence of the dictator.”

Twitter: @jakadawa

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

BY Edward Genesis
Tweets @EKmwanzo

DETERMINING THE NAIROBI FACTOR. It’s now very clear that Nairobi County is the breeding ground for our future leaders. The gubernatorial race is well choreographed and supper planned to future benefits. With the bucket of whopping 2.30 million registered voters, as per now, the KENYAN capital is a green bag. The political equations being solved day in day out. Political orphanage being formed. And the city life still continues. Lots of are to determine, I will highlight quite many of them. But will focus on the bigger equations.

The Nairobi gubernatorial race is becoming, if it hasn’t already, a battle royal. The characters like Peter Kenneth of PK and now Miguna. It is not funny but will highlight that later. Nairobi is a hot cake when it comes to votes. The political hungry folks are full of political salivae.

EVANS KIDERO:
He’s assumed to be the bigwig in the Nairobi life. Kidero has a lot of L; he ought to remove or has had to shed. The mumias thing that a prominent Luhya nation leader is benefitting from. Lemme talk straight to the numbers. Kidero popular known as EK by his friends. Kidero will enjoy his native and western vote. If at all EK will vie again, he will have better exhibitions. The luos and Luhya will vote for EK. The Kisii and few of folks are still meditating about such. This will be an upper hand for Kidero. The business class will vote for Kidero. Big financiers are behind his back, for mutual or personal interests. If, ODM takes Kidero as their choice for the city’s top seat, will be, might be, re-elected as early as anyone.

PETER KENNETH.
The man popular was known for his PK things. The son of Gatanga who happens to have his roots in a foreign paternal background. The man who has mastered his Fathers language, English, very well. This is assumed to be the JUBILEEs favorite pick to ouster Kidero. Well qualified and mature politically. Insiders anticipating a rebellion from the inner circle of the JPs number one candidate, Uhuru- currently the President of Kenya. If P.K is picked as JPs choice for City’s top seat, he will enjoy massive vote from the GEMA. The Gikuyu, Embu, Meru and Akamba- GEMA, combined has almost, if not, the half of the city’s registered voters. This is why the Queen of ATHAMAKI- Mama Ngina is believed to be the power behind P.K s candidature. Needs a clear analysis to know her, game plan, if at all its true that she’s up to something…

MIKE MBUVI- SONKO
The now Senator who was voted in by 800 thousand voters, enjoys his popularity on the ground. He just graduated from KENYA INSTUTE OF MANAGEMENT- KIM. This no matter how suspicious, makes him qualified for the seat, academically. The flamboyant city senator is well loved by folks on the ground. He will win by a landslide if folks go to popularity polls. Well known. Well-loved. But he is not JPs choice, simply because he has no support for them. This is assumed from his 800 thousand plus votes, who voted for him but voted otherwise for the presidential seat. This has earned him an L from the inner circle. Sources anticipating that he will deflect to Kalonzos side, Wiper party. He will be given the white flag to the Gubernatorial race.

ESTHER PASSARIS.
Not too popular on the ground. Not too into politics. But a choice and favorite amongst city women’s. The brain-mind behind Adopt A Light that was later financed by Equity Bank saw the city have street lights. She will use this to trap votes on her side. Sources allied to her, tell me that we have a lot of Whats App groups of Youths and Women campaigning for her. This is called silence popularity. They are aiming to reach to so many youths who have smartphones and use that too, tell a friend to tell a friend and so on and so forth. Well, excellent initiative if at all will work for her. The Harambee party she’s struggling to register, with decline letters from the registrar of political parties might soon be off her shoulders. If her movement is not registered to a party, sources tell me she will pack her thing to a new home.

UKWELI PARTY is rumored to be her New home. The Boniface Mwangi, an activist, and politician, party. Its believed that the two are mutual friends and she will make the party a bit popular with her gubernatorial ticket. This is anticipations, time will tell the truth.

MIGUNA MIGUNA;
This is the only Candidate. The man with the same name twice, a solicitor and barrister in Canada, is back in town. Back in the City’s top seat. Well schooled, well qualified and well planned. I have read his manifesto, 24 slides. It is perfect and too beautiful for Nairobi. But Miguna is a man who compares everyone to his/her knowledge. If you have weak papers than his, you’re stupid. He argues from his intellectual view, lives in his world. He is arrogant and too dismissive. His broad exposure makes him the too egotist. His knowledge makes him too arrogant. Best mind for the city. But Miguna will have to work on this, his arrogance. People hate to fear a leader. If he needs to get the Nairobian votes, he ought to make them his friends.

Knowledge, once he makes folks too stupid to him, that makes him lose the votes. People have different academicals history and background, comparing theirs to yours is too terrible for an elective aspirant.

Popularity, Miguna is not too popular on the ground. He is well known to folks who knows what he does. Business folks tend to avoid his approach. Free advice to Miguna, Nairobians will love you if you lower your bride to theirs. Make them understand your vision. Let them see you as their savior and not just another leader. You’re already famous, work on your ground for popularity.

Determinations ;
If at all Sonko will deflect to Wiper, they, Sonko and Peter Kenneth will share the GEMA votes. If Kidero is chosen to for a re-election, he will rip big from the Luo, Luhya votes. Having Mueke as his deputy adds the portion of the Akamba votes, who will vote for their son. Miguna has the intellectual votes. The “super bright” folks, according to his nature will vote for him- their numbers are low. He is nonpartisan, meaning no presidential endorsement needed, hence, votes from all corners. He will also have most of the votes from social media and mainstream folks. This takes a little bit of the Luo, Luhya votes.

Passaris has lots to work on her bid. Her votes will be mostly women and youths. Not all, though, but her focus is basically slum oriented, a big advantage if she manages to take that to her bucket. Peter Kenneth will have the majority of the GEMA. This is a challenge for Kidero. Sources are linking P.K to a future deputy. Here is the plan, if P.K wins the Nairobi s top seat, he will use that to popularize himself further. The introduction of Gideon Moi to Jubilee without dissolving KANU, and having the two, paired politically, will see a significant change in 2022.

Close friends allied to Ruto currently Deputy President, have been marked politically. One of them being Sen Murkomen. And also the Uasin Gishu governor- Mandago. The game plan is if JUBILEE wins 2017, this will see KANU back to life, that is the intention. Then if P.K wins the Nairobi’s governorship, the two- Gideon and Kenneth will come together as a movement for Kenya’s top seat. Baringo will be deputized by Gatanga. Bomet is being lured to be into this mainly to convince the upper rift. This is between the moi-Kenyatta family. A large political orphanage is under construction. And Nairobi is the main contractor. And if Kidero wins the re-election, he will deputize Joho in 2022. This is believed to be the biggest rebellion ever. Politics is all about anticipation. It’s never real till it happens- good luck.

Family and friends in Nairobi, make a wise choice. Five years of the better Nairobi as the city will make a big change for our countries future. One county, one country, one love, the future is coming and politics will never and can never change that.
*the names of the clans are mentioned to give the clear picture, which does not necessarily hold the assumption that voting will be along ethical lines.

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]

When the news first surfaced the whole world gave her an ear, it was horrific, how could a man be so cruel to cause life-threatening injuries to a fellow human being he once called a wife, act was unforgivable. The world didn’t stop for a moment to lend an ear to the accused husband. It’s was instant justice and the media, NGOs took her side of the story as the gospel truth and ran with it, raw.

While the villagers and neighbors told a different story, the world bought into Mwende’s version, she won the public pity, and things went her way. According to the victimized lady, the husband was solely responsible for the attack that left her with both hands chopped off and severe head wounds. Mwende attributed the attack on her husband whom she said accused her of barrenness. A childless marriage is often filled with similar grievances. This made her version easily consumable. From her storyline, she was attacked for being unable to bear her husband a child.

However, the neighbors and family gave an entirely different story. Mwenda was apparently a serial cheater who had several men lined her way. Neighbors said on several occasions; she brought different men home to their matrimonial bed at a time when the husband had moved out. Again, this version of the story was ignored perhaps for reasons it was gonna spoil the broth. The villagers trusted the husband describing him as a real person who couldn’t afford to reign such heinous crime. On the vengeful day , he was not in the area as confessed. While the world without a blink lynched the husband, villagers were talking a different story; they even raised 200K for his bond.

The case opened floodgates of cash flow to the many NGOs that came sprinting and also to Mwende. From reconstructive surgery in South Korea sponsored by LG to lifetime funding by Machakos County Government to being built a four bedrooms house and a hyper shop stocked to the told, the tragedy opened a new phase of life for Mwende filled with blessings after the other.

The neighbors insisted she was exchanging men like clothes and attributed the attack on her lovers fighting over her grapes. No one was asking the hard questions, the NGOs minted money out of her case and couldn’t allow any contrary version to switch off the money flow. Media either didn’t ask the hard questions. Instant justice had the husband lynched.

Months later when her life has turned for the better, Mwende resurfaces with a story she hadn’t revealed and kept secret from the onset. She was engaging in infidelity and gives it again, a soft landing excuse that she was doing it to save the marriage. This affirms the neighbor’s version that she was a cheater in the relationship a matter primarily attributed to the husband dumping her at their matrimonial home.

There’s no justification for cheating, and Mwende deserves public lynching as well, but the intellect terrorists dressed as feminists would jump to her rescue and excuse her action as justifiable. If having a child was the issue, the most mature thing would be contacting a gynecologist to ascertain the matter and give a feasible solution. Cheating doesn’t save relationships, it breaks. This again should be an eye opener to men out there that there are high possibilities you could be raising a child out of illicit arrangements such as Mwende’s.

We need to have serious bodies advocating for the rights of men and defending them against sexist terror. Where has Maendeleo ya Wanaume been when you most need it. The latest development should send investigators back to the ground and pursue the angles given by the neighbor. It is not justifiable for whoever reigned terror on Mwende, violence on anyone is inexcusable.

Mwende’s case is a reminder that we shouldn’t rush to judge before listening to both sides of the story. The society has judgment bias a dangerous trend. People will easily buy into a woman’s version of events without a second thought, and in most cases, men are considered guilty until proven innocent. In cases, your innocence could be proven while in the graveyard. Not to exonerate Mwende’s husband but the biased judgment in domestic violence cases brings me to a serious question, how many more innocent men are out there languishing in prisons from false accusations.

The trigger happy feminists taking nothing short of a shot need to be put on a leash, hurried judgment is poisonous, let’s pause for a minute before lighting up the tire. Time to have a firmly grounded body to protect the defenseless men. As for Mwende you can only hope this was the last of secrets she kept from the public and that more surprises shouldn’t be coming this way. Violence at the end of the day is and will never be a solution but a recipe for disaster.

By Nicholas Olambo
Statistics indicate that 65% of the African population is below the age of 35% years making African the most youthful continent in the world. The youth and women are still poorly represented in the elective positions, but it is not just the system to blame, most influential young people who should champion the youth agenda have allowed themselves to be bought and pocketed by the old and traditional politicians.
Kenya is headed for elections in six months, the second under the new constitution that was promulgated in 2010. The new constitution has a place for the youth, women and the disabled. With all these provisions, Kenya is still deliberately struggling to achieve gender parity, and decisively have a place for the youth and the disabled.

This will not be achieved if the youth still choose to remain ignorant of the provisions of the constitution and remain vanguards and political cards for the old and monied political players. Only Boniface Mwangi, a multi-award winning photojournalist and a renowned human rights activist is voicing the youth agenda to a scale that can be heard by all.
Mr. Mwangi is now eying the Starehe constituency seat as an independent candidate in his new push to speak for the youth in the August house. The Starehe seat has also attracted other young aspirants, ODM’s Steve Mbogo and musician Charles Njagua aka Jaguar. Jaguar is rumored to be eying the same seat through a Jubilee Party ticket, but a million questions surround his level of education. Its doubted if the Kigeu geu hitmaker has a College/University degree as required by the law to run for a parliamentary seat but he is a darling to the ruling regime.

Other than corruption and development, there is no major political party or coalition with a clear positive argument on youth and women agenda towards the coming polls in August. Jaguar rose to fame through his Kigeu geu hit which talked about bad governance, he was later pocketed by politicians and later appointed to the NACADA Board amid rumors that the flashy musician was a drug peddler.

Traditional players still run the show and call shots in Kenyan politics. The would be Third Force Alliance led by city lawyer Ekuro Okot went to sleep soon after it’s birth, any possibly rising young champion is ‘bought’ by the traditional politician or frustrated by numerous arrests, death threats or court cases only Mwangi has survived.

No woman is at the frontline fighting for their colleagues, women like Charity Ngilu who had made a name as top female politicians soaked their resumes. Ngilu was the first woman to run for the presidency, challenging Daniel Moi in 1997. Her stature as a national politician is now all turned after her short stint in the Jubilee administration was brought down by corruption allegations.

The other national female politician would be Martha Karua, but she has since gone back tribal backyard in a simple arithmetic to secure a political future at least. She is eying Kirinyaga gubernatorial seat. When officially launching her quest last year, Karua endorsed President Uhuru for a second term. The same person she challenged in 2013 and continuously accused of running the most corrupt administration since independence.

When it can be argued that women have no equal chances of running for elective positions as men, the ground is not only tilted in terms political capital. The new constitution created seats reserved only for women (Women Representatives) in parliament from all the 47 counties. Nearly all the women elected to these positions forgot their roles and became sycophants to party chiefs. With this continuing trend, gender parity and proper representation of the youth will not be realized with the persisting ignorance and sycophancy by both women and the youth.

A state of oblivion has reigned in the past days given the strange disappearance of omnipresent DP from the public eye. Ruto, the versatile politician, is not known to go off the public radar making speculations fill the air. The absence has sparked even death rumors.

Perhaps the most story hitting the mill speculates that the Deputy President is in Turkey for specialized treatment. While there’s no clear indication to ascertain This, it can easily be bought given a past incident where it was rumored that he was ill and his team denied. He would later resurface for a function with the President in the North Eastern town. A video emerged showing a weakly walking DP to affirm the sickness rumors.

Being human it is not unusual for him to get sick. If its true that he’s getting treatment abroad it then should be another awakening call to the country. The ruling class won’t prioritize public healthcare as long as they have high medical cover and use taxpayers money to fly out for specialized treatment. Kenya hospitals have remained without doctors for now over 70 days and still counting. The elite are unbothered as they can afford foreign treatment leaving the poor at God’s mercy.

Ruto might also be reading from the laws of power that in absence one gains power and honor. His social media pages have gone blind as well. He’s totally out of radar. Curiously, Ruto’s disappearance came at a time when President Uhuru held a meeting with Moi in what many read as a political brokerage in Rift Valley politics. Could it be that Ruto is staging a cold rebellion on sensing monkey business between the Moi and Uhuru family?

The larger belief that Uhuru reached out to Moi to convince Gideon to remain within jubilee and not join NASA in which his re-election chances would me minimized. Uhuru’s visit came weeks after his mother Ngina Kenyatta flew to meet Moi in what is believed to be for the same purpose of having Gideon to support Uhuru’s second presidential bid.

There has been political supremacy battle in the Rift Valley between DP Ruto and Gideon Moi. It is not a secret that Moi and Ruto are not the best of political friends. Already speculations in the political corridors of power are rife that Kenyattas have brokered a deal with Mois that Gideon supports Uhuru for re-election then he will pass the mantle to him in the 2022 elections. In this case, the die is cast for Ruto who is also looking into being the President taking over from Uhuru Unity in 2022.

Ruto is fighting for relevance as it stands. Projections indicate that Rift Valley will not support Jubilee with the same magnitude as they did with Ruto as soul kingpin in the 2013 election. A Recent study was also showing a relative decline in Ruto’s influence in the Rift Valley. The stamp of KANU politics in the region poses a serious political threat as witnessed in the Kericho senatorial election in which Jubilee won with a micro chance against KANU. Double that with rebellion from Governor Rutto with his Mashinani party and that’s double trouble.

Ruto is a man fighting for his life in the political field. He has Rift Valley and the Kalenjin nation as his leverage, and as it stands, The opportunities are getting slimmer. Gideon is having bigger dreams and Moi being who he has been must be working extra hard to have his son inherit power. Moi made Unity and naturally entitled to return the favor by passing the power mantle to Gideon. The biggest headache being how to kill Ruto politically. With a heap of corruption allegations on his head, I think the hustle is cut for the Moi and Kenyatta. Perfect timing to hammer Ruto with the scandals, drug him through the mud to extinction. It’s unfortunate that Kenya being ruled and decisions made over mursik.

The Deputy President William Ruto is probably silence scheming on how to fight Moi factor. As one noted, Uhuru and Moi are a family while Uhuru and Ruto are just friends. Someone somehow will be betrayed at one point. It’s nothing serious just business. With Gideon gaining relevance in the Rift Valley politics by the day, it’s obvious the Deputy President is fighting for his life. Without a strong strategy, the hustler could be staring at an inevitable political death.

All in all, Kenyans deserve to know the truth and whereabouts of the Deputy President being a person of public interest. If he’s unwell, it’s only right for the public to be notified. A simple communication would put to rest the unending speculations

A drowning man will try holding onto air as he takes his last breath before going to the river bed. After touching all vital parts to a positive outcome, the government, at last, decided to jail doctors officials following the beam of unsuccessful and dishonest negotiations to end the doctors that have now extended to 72 days.

It is preposterous that the government termed the CBA as unrealistic deliberately forgetting that this was a negotiated pact that the government assigned to in 2013. In a wrap, CBA sought to overhaul the ailing public health care in Kenya totally.

The falsehoods that have been floated around by the state as part of larger conspiracy to demonize doctors including quoting a ridiculous 300% pay increase by doctors a demand that was cooked by a disillusioned mind yet not captured in the CBA. We’ve been treated to chained propaganda towards doctors during the strike period.

As it became clearer later, the negotiations lacked honesty and commitment to anything the government negotiators that is Mailu and Muraguri were preoccupied with internal rivalry and other unofficial duties. While doctors showed up to empty boardrooms to negotiate, the PS and CS were missing, and on a good day, they’d delegate oblivious junior staff to talk with doctors. Muraguri was preoccupied with the construction of his Sh200M mansion keeping in mind he was primarily mentioned in the 5B MoH looting. Mailu, on the other hand, was traversing the country joining political bandwagon pushing for voters registration.

The laxity in solving the doctors strike became evident by the day. Threats and intimidation, as well as bribery, occupied the bigger space in the negotiating table. Even the use of courts and consequently suspended jail term that was later to be effected was part of the coercion tactics. Instead of settling for a fair deal, state as a partner in the crisis walked in with iron fist.

Kenyans have not only been denied right to healthcare which is why governments are elected but also quality healthcare. It is for this reason that the doctors pushed for its realization. The doctors will go down history records as one of the well organised and honest of all times that draconian and uncouth Moi era tactics implemented couldn’t break. The doctors strike been metamorphic to a never imagined movement.

The strike has opened many eyes, and in line, the doctors have exposed the government’s unwillingness to restructure the public healthcare. Treasury CS, Rich is on record saying the CBA can’t be implemented as it would kill the private investors. Any rational system will prioritize the public interests first. In a nutshell, the private sector (most hospitals owned directly or proxies by politicians) is running the script and blocking all advances made towards breaking this standoff.

The strike has woken up the sleeping middle-class and got it talking. A good number of online sentiments pointing fingers at the government asking the vital and rightful questions. It has sparked a revolution that is so much needed a revolution of citizenry involvement in scrutinizing policies.

The ugly scenes witnessed at Railways where rioting police officers armed to the teeth with best of the armoury, stormed and disrupted a meeting convened by the doctors after their colleagues were jailed. The incident again is a blessing as it exposed the government’s police intimidation to the world, it broadcasted apparent oppression to the world. Moving to disrupt a harmless and unarmed doctors gathering was a new low to the Jubilee administration.

It exposed much the lack of touch with the ground and blindness to the moods. While the country was raging with fire over locking up of doctors they went ahead rubbing salt on the wound with the storming of doctors gathering. A clear manifest of insensitivity and muscle flexing broadcasted.

The jailing of doctors has exposed the double standards and inequality in the justice system. While doctors were jailed for court contempt, PS Kibicho is a free man despite being sentenced to a three-month civil jail over the same sin as doctors. This is just an example of many. The statement no one is above the law has been disapproved. We can clearly see segmental justice system where the big men are allowed to flaw laws while the small people are dealt with mercilessly.

The jailing of doctors is a big stride towards realizing standard public healthcare system. The officials refused to be boxed to accepting personalized deals. Accepting the jail fete, they made a resolution that pursuit of CBA full implementation is unstoppable. After completion of jail term, the government will have lost a negotiation leverage which is jail threats; talks will back to square one. They’ll come out psychologically healthy and pumped up the ever. A fair deal will be struck.

The jailing of doctors pushing for better healthcare while those who loot from public coffers are left free has also exposed the nature of the government and its levels of honesty in fighting societal menaces. The attitude shown is excellent in influencing voters decision as August polls fast approaches. Jubilee will be remembered for long in history as the government that jailed innocent doctors who armed no one but fought for the better health state.

Jailing Doctors has sparked consequential political conversations apparently not massaging to the government. You’ll see more defiant strikes coming in the next days. Doctors have set a precedence. Tactical strikes management. Traditional coercion tactics will never see the day. The government unsuccessfully tried to control the narrative by buying out the mainstream media and using their internet mercenaries to push their agenda. Everything blew off and CBA resolve sparked a moving conversation and swaying allegiances.

The year 2016 saw fundamental tectonic shifts in the political landscape in Europe and America. First was the UK vote on the EU membership. It will be remembered that during his campaigns in January 2013, David Cameron had pledged in his manifesto that if the Conservatives were to win the then elections, he would hold a referendum on the EU membership. He said “the British people must “have their say” on Europe in/out referendum.”

Upon winning the elections, he said “It is time for the British people to have their say, It is time to settle this European question in British politics. I say to the British people- this will be your decision.”
David Cameron might have been on a fishing expedition, but what he did not know was that eurosceptic within the rank and file of the United Kingdom had risen phenomenally. The European Union membership referendum was consequently held on Thursday, June 23rd, 2016, and the result is what became to be known as Brexit. As we speak today, UK is no longer a member of the 28 member country union, on account of a referendum result of 52% for ‘out.’ Britons voted to stay out of the EU despite the risk of facing isolation in trade, immigration, diplomacy and probably geo- politics.

The referendum produced instant political rock stars like Nigel Farage of the Independence party, who was a lead trumpeter in the left campaign. What followed was an abrupt end of David Cameron’s political career, resigning as Prime Minister, Leader of the Conservative Party, and Member of Parliament in Oxfordshire. He poignantly said, “The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered.”
Cameron had embarked on a calculated gamble aimed at silencing eurosceptics in his party, but it turned out to be his Waterloo. Theresa May is now steering the wheels of steel as Prime Minister, trying to actualize the will of the British people.

As all this hullaballoo was happening in the UK, another superpower on the West side of the Atlantic was about to rewrite its history. The US was embroiled in aggressive presidential campaigns at the dawn of Obama’s eight-year presidency. November 8th, 2016 was the d-day, and everybody in the world believed that Hillary Clinton was going to beat Donald Trump. So fierce were the campaigns that President Obama once referred to Trump as ‘’a home-grown demagogue”, jesting that “America was already great” (About Trump’s slogan of “Make America great again”)

What the world failed to capture were the voices of “Rural America’ and the aspirations of the “Silent Majority.” Donald Trump and his supporters prevailed in the November poll, despite at one point being described as “a basket of deplorable comprising of Racists, sexists, homophobic, xenophobics, and Islamophobes.”

The two events in UK and US brought to the fore an emerging global trend of territorialism and politics of self-preservation. Global superpowers are slowly crawling back to isolationism. They have thrown all caution to the wind and decided to listen to their citizens who want more to do with themselves and less to do with the world. Most think market liberalization, open borders, etc., are more of a curse than a blessing. Trump has said its time to hire American and buy American. The UK has shown it’s more comfortable by itself than the company of EU. The first world has become self-absorbed.

Africa must consequently follow suit. She must take some time off the world stage to do some basic housekeeping and ruminate on its posterity.
Stagnated industrial development, sluggish economic growth, debilitating levels of poverty, high-level corruption, the challenge of epidemics and pestilences, a feeble global trade agenda, an ever elusive unity of purpose are just but a brief mention of the challenges awaiting Africa to resolve.

All these challenges come against a backdrop of a continent that is second largest and second most populous. Africa boasts of having the youngest population at a median of 20 years, against a world average of 30.

Africa has not been able to forge an identity or a reputation. The white colonialist may have left our farms, but he never left our minds. Africa must act selfishly for once, look inwards, sort out its challenges, before presenting a new look to the world

By Nicholas Olambo

What was meant to be a cool President stunt turned into the worst nightmare for the Statehouse operatives? Uhuru posted photos of him pulling the infamous dab dancing style. In the past, the internet would go aww with praises on how cool he was but not this time. While the stunt was innocent, Uhuru and Statehouse operatives forgot to read the mood of the country. Kenya is, and a hungry and angry state anything quickly provokes them. Only a few days back First Lady was forced to call off Beyond Zero Marathon following a similar backlash.

Using #DabOfShame Kenyans laid open their frustrations taking advantage of The miscalculationsby the Statehouse to tell the world on their dissatisfaction on the Jubilee administration. The pictures drew all memes and painted reality pictures.

Once you make it top leadership, it takes a lot to stay there and remain relevant. Jubilee won the 2013 poll beating the opposition Cord through a twisted ICC narrative around ‘tyranny of numbers’ myth. The president and his deputy William Ruto were facing charges over 2007/8 post poll chaos.

They got to the office distracted by several court appearances abroad, but later they walked out free in mysterious ways. Other than the projects that were initiated by the previous grand coalition government, Jubilee has had nothing of substance to write home other than lame and helpless PR stunts.

With the elections fast approaching the government is now on ‘a launch everything spree’ from foot bridge, village path to any public toilet. That is not enough, the ongoing mass voter registration that has been turned into an unofficial campaign by players from both political divides has its share too. The government having the upper hand and power is doing the worst stunts within the window just to woo Kenyans from their strongholds or tribal linings to register and vote.

Right now half of Kenyan counties are facing a severe drought. The government is doing nothing substantial to help the affected families. Instead, they are focussing on small time campaigns. Kenyans facing starvation and dying in northern Kenya can just die if anything they won’t be there to vote for the government in August polls. Not that the government wasn’t aware of the times ahead.

Findings of the 2015 Long Rains Assessment (LRA) revealed that nearly 1.1 million people were acutely food insecure and could not meet their basic dietary needs. They required assistance for at least six months. September 2015 to February 2016, and late last year, government findings indicated that food insecurity had more than doubled from 600,000 (Aug 2015 – March 2016) to 1.25 million (August 2016 – February 2017).

Now when it’s common knowledge that short rained began late and performed way below par, the government is doing nothing serious to help families in affected areas. It’s politics 24/7, and any slight break is turned into a PR exercise. The president was busy ‘dabbing’ while encouraging the youths to vote; some public money would be wasted to buy out the entertainers who were present at the state house.

People are only viewed as votes, less fortunate matter the least because the situations they are facing may result in their demise before 2017 polls. Wastage in government has become the norm. If the same energy and resources being used to rally Kenyans to register as voters would be utilized in fighting corruption or creating employment Kenya would be a better place.
If the same energy and over a billion shillings that were used to campaign for Foreign Affairs Amina for top AU leadership were used to feed families facing drought, many lives would have saved.

The amount being wasted on 36 insignificant bloggers who do nothing but retweet or like any post by Denis Itumbi or respond to the opposition can be used on life changing projects. Instead, a selected few are chosen to enjoy the national cake, eat meat while others die to struggle to even catch the ‘scent.’ Uhuru may be a cool president but for what use if he does not the real job done?

SOMALIA DECIDES the uncertainty the world didn’t Anticipate:

When one eye closes get shades for the remaining one, the Somalian way MOHAMED ABDULLAHI, alias FARMAAJO has been elected the 9th Somalia President. This is after the second round of the election. President Mohamed alias FARMAAJO is a clean light towards Somalia’s rebirth. @farmaajo2017 as he’s known on twitter, the former premier has once again triumphed. This is historic to Somalia but so sudden to the war mongers in the Somali nation.

The son of an activist, FARMAAJO grew up politically. Has his veins filled by activists blood. The true son of Mogadishu. The real man of the South of Somali. His father, believed to be amongst co founders of SOMALI YOUTH LEAGUE, the nations oldest political party, was an active member. FARMAAJO grew up behind his fathers feet’s and sweet. He understood what the old man hard to go through to bring them food. What the old man had to shed to stabilize the nation. Despite sabotage, he triumphed.

President Mohamed Abdullahi started HISTORY. He’s a historian who indeed understands the history of the war toned nation. Being a US citizen, is an added advantage to his Education. That was before the USA showed the world that its selfish with selfless laws and leadership. He, has a clear political picture of the U.S. he’s the one who need to turn, his now, people mindset from the west and particularly U.S to building their own. Despites so may issues, FARMAAJO needs to avoid the West. There will be so many issues arising from such, but he need to borrow a leaf from RWANDA. They depend less and far lesser to the U.S despite the world bank sitting of its currency. Back to the real matter, @Farmaajo2017 need to up his belt and shut the mess up.

FARMAAJO as so many of his friends call him. Indeed he has a lot, to earn a universal alias. President Mohamed Abdullahi need to work on the Somalia’s ECONOMY. The key pillar to his now, nation. There is no enough flow of cash in the state. No businesses no business peoples, at least legal ones. The markets is run by cartels and international scammers who ruin the economy with fake goods. Illegal import to the country by illegal merchandise folks. Stabilizing the country is by marking its economy strong. The people are the economy. You bring them together and have a national cohesion, the nation will stabilize in the lightening speed.

The CURRENCY

The Somalia nation operates majority in $. This is so damn bad for the nation. The Somalian shilling is so deplorable in comparison to the 4 dollar. The $ is so volatile to the Somalian shilling. The president need to start printing the Somalian shilling and flow it throughout the nation. Somali’s need to get used to transacting in their own currency. No one will come in to stabilize their shilling, they ought to be so patriotic to their shilling and presidency. All business should be prioritized to the use of shilling. This will take time to stabilize but that’s the way to go. It has taken so long to have a shred of peace too.

REFUGEES

Its high time sons and daughters of Somalia unity, work and reconcile together. For the sake of their own nation and their newly elected president @farmaajo2017. The Somalis have been dispersed to the world for over a decade. Some been born in the foreign nations and some have grew up knowing no nation other than that they’ve been refuges in. The world can hold more of her people, but the nation of Somalia is too big for her over 3million believed refugees. Kenya hold the majority of the recently affected ones. This is by the in fused communal conflicts back then. President Mohamed needs to make his nation safe for all. Work on mechanism to repatriated the refugees. This will be done on their wishes. So many recorded refugees are believed to be illegal immigrants. Having so many dispersed people with either fake or no papers at all, is so disastrous for the nation. Once @sFarmaajo2017 creates a safe and peaceful nation, that’ll be his genesis of prosperity. Somalia can be such a strong nation in Africa and even the world. Somalia needs peace and peace needs Somalis. It’s a saw heads, peace will cut from both ends.

NEIGHBOURHOOD

Somalia has one of, if not the most insincere neighbours you’ll ever have. Un trusted. Unbelievable. No co operating. Somalia’s neighbours have their forces inside AMISOM. The aim is to defend the country but so many allegations have been brought up by now. From both sponsoring to harboring the war masterminds. Recently the KDF forces were attacked in their temporary base. Scores died which KENYA denied and painted it as propaganda. Sources on the ground now calling KENYA DEFENSE FORCES an alias name of Kenya Defeated Fronts. Uganda has hand in sabotage and Ethiopia laughs with no one. Djibouti is allegedly believed to be the one importing in the arms. Kenya is harboring suicide killers and masterminds of war.
The victory of president Mohamed Abdullahi has ignites the big fire of Eastleigh , Nairobi, Kenya. Scores are out chanting victory songs. Polices deployed in estates and as predicted, power being switched off intentionally. Today lots of just happy Somalis will be arrested from the normal police discriminations. Having no papers is the biggest problem. South C is having black-outs in intervals. The Somalia elections should be a clear challenge to its neighbours.

Hundreds of People celebrate in Eastleigh Nairobi as Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo is declared President of Somalia. #SomaliaDecides #Doorashada pic.twitter.com/OtnVvQCUfp

— Ahmed Mohamed ((ASMALi)) (@Asmali77) February 8, 2017

WAR

fake infested war in Somalia. Its about time the president elect Mohamed Abdullahi should have his think tanks ready. Source out all the sympathizers and donors. The war in Somalia is set to make it unstable forever. The U.S always has the benefit in this war. U.K is being painted as the main enemy, but you cant choose your neighbor. Non is safe with this war. Radicalized idiots whore working for theirs gods and goddesses should be done away to maximum prisons or hung. Somalia can be a super power in Africa. Has the best businessman. Has brilliant beaches. Has the awesome population for higher niche. They can work smart and overtake its neighbor who exaggerate the valuation of each of their projects. This is a fake war by so called super nations to siphon out the Somalia pride.
Please Mr. president Mohamed Abdullahi, there is no war in Somalia. The sarcasms in your country is created and sponsored by superpowers to benefit from your country. This is planned to stop after they’ve siphoned out all of Somalia pride and belongings. They’ll leave your country poor. They have your country on their knees, so that Somalia will surviving only by their mercy. Its about time to work smart to root out all this foreign chaos mongers and have a working nation that is independent. Thanks.

My view my opinion
Edward Mwanzo
Tweets @EKmwanzo

By Paddy Onyango

In the first installment of these postings, I examined the ‘Tyranny of Numbers’ myth. The reverse logic is that what Mutahi Ngunyi foresees as being perpetrated by Raila is exactly what he, Mutahi, and his clients have planned to execute, not Raila. Once you have this reverse logic then it follows that measures must be put in place to ensure that the foreseen circumstance materializes and therefore self-fulfilling.

Mutahi Ngunyi is therefore preparing us for “A state of unrest, bordering on war” which “must be precipitated” and where “Hostilities must be manufactured and escalated to a boiling point.” In the current Kenyan context, the only entity capable of prosecuting such a doomsday scenario is the state. It would appear then, that we are being primed for some form of state-inspired and/or abetted violence before, during or after the 2017 General Elections.

This is expressed as “Something more dramatic must propel him (Raila) into this position (‘forced’ Prime Minister”). Why the ‘forced’ Prime Minister” narrative? Kenyans are emotively alive and easily relate to the circumstances leading to the National Accord which established the Grand Coalition Government following the 2007/2008 Post Election Violence. In that arrangement Raila was a Co-Principal and Prime Minister. So according to Mutahi’s narrative, Raila is using a repeat strategy to become ‘forced’ Prime Minister’ again. I know Raila he is not the type who uses the same strategy twice. He always has a surprise element in his strategems. One does not have to be a diviner to locate the source of the “state of unrest, bordering on war” We are still alive to Moses Kuria’s ‘TURIHAMWE’ call on the use of machetes to defend corruption. At the time of uttering these sentiments, the NYS scandal had just broken out, and then CS for Devolution and Planning was on the spot.

The call to use of machetes was in the defense of the former CS. During the 1994 Rwanda Genocide machetes were the preferred weapon of choice by the ‘INTARAHAMWE’. In the 2007/2008 temporary insanity, machetes were used. In the course of the Waki Commission hearing, it emerged that prior to the PEV, bulk purchases of machetes were made from a leading supermarket chain along Ngong Road. Recently, we had the Leader of Majority in the National Assembly issue oblique ‘fatwa’ against members of the Kamba community in Garissa. There is also the widely publicized statement by Shabbal in the presence of Hon. Duale and DP Ruto. According to Shabbal, Jubilee must win the 2017 election at all cost including through bribery and violence. I use the terms ‘Self-fulfilling Prophecy’ and ‘State-inspired violence’ out of practical experience.

As a strategy to counter the heightened demand for multiparty politics in Kenya, the MOI-KANU regime constantly warned that introduction of pluralism would bring about ethnic violence because Kenya was not yet cohesive and mature enough. True enough from February to August 1992, ‘Land Clashes’ erupted in Rift Valley. I was secretary to the Symposium Task Force which investigated the ‘Land Clashes’. There was evidence that the Government facilitated the so called ‘Kalenjin Warriors’ who were at the centre of the violence. Later it emerged from the Akiwumi Commission on Land Clashes that some of the ‘Kalenjin Warriors’ were actually members of security forces on off-duty. It will also be recalled that in the 1992 elections, the KANU government supplied the mungiki with military equipments including land rovers and powerful communication equipments.

This evidence was adduced before the Njonjo Commission of Inquiry into the ‘Msaliti’. Mutahi Ngunyi is therefore preparing us for a state of instability perpetrated by militarized civilians then blaming it on the person of Raila. The Bill on self-defense by Moses Kuria provides a facilitative legal framework for this anticipated violence. Sadly innocent blood will be lost and Kenya taken back 50 years into the Dark Ages. This is the essence of Mutahi Ngunyi’s power game narrative in which we are mere pawns if not collateral damage. So we all have a civic duty to ensure that this doomsday scenario does not materialize.

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]

After announcing this year’s Beyond Zero Marathon, the first lady Margaret Kenyatta was eventually forced to call off the event following a preventable backlash from the social media insurgents. The project that has been in play for the past four years met an impassable block. The project from inception earned fierce criticism especially from Jubilee’s opponents who viewed it as a mere PR campaign since it was supplementing services that naturally the government of the day should be providing.

However, Beyond Zero campaign earned Maggy international recognition and awards for her effort towards minimizing maternal healthcare given high indexes of deaths in the region. The core blow that would see the campaign crumble was accountability.

https://twitter.com/Omoshke/status/828270266912485376

#BeyondZero
Implement the 2013 CBA, the CBA alone is enough to reduce maternal mortality rate. #BoycottBeyondZero #DoctorsStrike

— Ephantus Mwangi (@Ephantus52) February 4, 2017

Without doctors and a public health system in total collapse, the silence of the First Lady, who legend claims is a champion for maternal…

— D I K E M B E (@Disembe) January 28, 2017

The middle-class in Kenya seem to be waking up from deep slumber and comfort zones that they’ve been in to take charge of the country. The first and most crucial is tasking and holding the system accountable for every cent they use from the taxpayers. Corruption is said to cost Kenyans close to Sh800B annually a disconcerting figure given the poor economy state in the country.

In her statement, the first lady attributed the cancellation as a judicious measure to isolate the campaign from political viewing. When the event was announced, the news was met with fierce criticism with a good number of remarks downplaying the role of BZ in solving the health-care problem on a long-term basis. According to analogies, Beyond Zero campaign is viewed as a knee-jerk measure to aa problem that needs a lasting solution.

https://twitter.com/ItsSigar/status/825267892983836672

Dear First Lady our doctors are hungry, people are sick, some have died.
The next #BeyondZero only you and your husband will participate!

— Knight 🇰🇪 (@Knight0nyash) January 28, 2017

#BeyondZero launching their 2017 marathon on the day #CBA7 were about to go to jail must be the biggest PR goof this year #LipaKamaTender

— #LandIsNotProperty Mwalimu Wandia (@wmnjoya) January 28, 2017

Beyond Zero announcements came at the wrong time when the doctors are on strike fighting for the exact issues of better maternal healthcare for all. The strike diluted the campaign and gave the resistance an open ground to grind into powder the first lady’s course. Accountability questions also came with insurgents asking the financial records of the project since inception. Even though no rule requires so, a good number of comments drove towards the direction asking for checks and balances.

The communication strategists for the first lady did not only deliver a cheapjack job but committed professional sacrilege allowing the campaign activation to go live at a time the country was grappling with the health standoff. She has poor strategists to blame. The project has suffered untimely death it will take a cat eating a killed mouse to bring it back to life.

I couldn't have said it better.
👏 👏👏@marcusolang #BeyondZero #BeyondNiWewe #LipaKamaTender pic.twitter.com/HBbfjwzX4F

— Naomi Mutua 🐾❤️ (@AKenyanGirl) February 4, 2017

When the con woman says she doesn't want the Beyond Zero to be politicized; yet spent FOUR years POLITICIZING the same. @Asamoh_ pic.twitter.com/I1wJuGI1aK

— D I K E M B E (@Disembe) February 4, 2017

Red Cross has also bit the dust or scuffling with the reality of the day. They’ve not been spared either with the insurgents online despite being a humanitarian body. Their drought mitigation campaign dubbed We Are All Kenyans has been treated to a hypothermic reception from the usual suspects. The announcement by the Red Cross to crowd fund for Sh1B in helping families affected by the drought came after the government announced a Sh9.2B mitigation plan. The clash also added to the fire on RC.

The accountability wrath, dealt a significant blow to the humanitarian as insurgents questioned their previous crowd funding campaign the scale of current which was dubbed ‘Kenyans for Kenyans’ in 2011 as a response to hunger that hit parts of Rift Valley and Turkana community particularly. It is estimated that $10M was raised in the campaign that brought Kenyans together. While the law doesn’t require Red Cross to make public checks and balances for such, many feel entitled to have access. The secrecy fueled the insurgency , drawing more questions than answers. This development has created a fence of distrust deflating the drought mitigation campaign by Red Cross.

https://twitter.com/maithakahaso/status/825198255197786112

The more accountability questions fly by even if there’s no misappropriation; curiosity will demand a pause for a moment. This has derailed the campaign which is running on both ends of the media. The drive on social media has been deflated with insurgents not relenting. One such famous question is as to why Kenyans should contribute to a course that the government is already funding. Red Cross has been of help in various calamities that has hit Kenya including terror attacks, but this hasn’t spared them from the insurgent’s missiles and microscope.

The developing culture of holding accountable public institutions and any other establishment is setting a good precedence and opening new hard banging headache to such institutions on how to escape the net. The pause for a moment phenomenon that is being built by The insurgents will go a long way in shaping how systems are run and make accountability a top priority. Social media sets the agenda and jumping this critical battalion is not going to be a sail in the sand. Apart from the cited incidences, the government has been the biggest casualty of this uncompromising, unrelenting accountability army. In the streets language, they’re the ultimate pain in the a**.

Kenya It Is Time To Run Away From First Lady’s #BeyondZero Campaign And To Never Look Back – https://t.co/yH86wJHt7y

— Kenya West (@KinyanBoy) January 27, 2017

Oya @FirstLadyKenya organize a #BeyondZero from State House into Kenyatta family compound and arrest thieves of our taxes. Wacha mchezo!

— Rein (@Asamoh_) January 26, 2017

The influence of this movement is disturbing to any establishment, as Kenya moves to the general elections and government rejecting civic education plans, the insurgents will once again play the critical role of checks and balancing on political leaders. Who’re Kenya’s top most feared rebels? Keep it Kenya Insights as we will make public the list in due course. Meanwhile, the game has been changed and mediomediocrity however packaged is going to have hard time leaving the shelves with potential buyers getting smarter by the click.

By Nicholas Olambo
Former PM and Cord leader Raila Odinga has had three unsuccessful stabs at the presidency; his 2007 campaigns were the most intensified and vigorous. He did outsmart the incumbent Mwai Kibaki who controversially won the elections. Right now Raila has not been declared the opposition flag bearer to challenge the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, but chances are extremely high.

He is the strongest of all the opposition candidates uniting to challenge Kenyatta through Nasa coalition. Though he has been traversing the country in what would be his final attempt to clinch the presidency, the former premier has not intensified his campaigns enough.

The incumbent has already thrown in the towel on the war on corruption; the devil that has crippled many development projects leaving many Kenyan families languishing in abject poverty. Looters of public funds like former Devolution CS are walking free and lining up to vie for the gubernatorial post through the President’s party.

The president has kicked out NGOs he is accusing of financing the opposition to influence the outcome of August polls; his party has passed draconian election laws in chaotic parliamentary sessions to allow the use of manual voter register back up. A questionable move that if used will allow many ‘ghost voters’ to participate in the polls.

Raila’s has not intensified his campaigns on issues despite the incumbent appearing defenseless in a combative ring. Other than poking corruption holes in Jubilee administration, Hon. Odinga has only made rigging baby cries, but still, he cannot tell the public how he was rigged in 2013 through Safaricom. He should substantiate and expose the opponent’s dirty tricks.

Odinga should quit crying all the time; he will only succeed if he focuses on issues which matter deeply to Kenyans. Right now pundits can pronounce his candidature dead even before arrival. Yes, he has exposed corruption in government and what he is reading about rigging schemes. Still, his supporters are expecting a political earth quake but Agwambo is not bringing that, he is not intensifying his campaigns based on issues when his opponents’ weaknesses are all exposed.

As the alternative government people expect him to pile pressure on the president to address the doctors’ strike that has been on for two months now. The president is busy campaigning and issuing identity cards at the coast ignoring the strike. Health problems are very sensitive to be left governors and a helpless health CS like Mailu.

Demoralized Kenyan troops are on a mission in Somalia fighting an endless war instead of being withdrawn. Kenya is losing young people in the war; our camps are being overrun by the militants in the same style repeatedly. Even America that has probably the best military hardware and personnel withdrew from Somalia and left the war tone nation alone.

Wastage in government is at its all-time high; the government wasted hundreds of millions campaigning for Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohamed for a top AU post. Amina is a decorated diplomat who stained her reputation by how she handled ICC matters. Championing Kenya’s withdrawal from the Rome Statue painted her more like a president’s flower girl.

All these are issues that Odinga’s campaign team are blind to. Dp Ruto is on record promising residents of Turkana that the government will construct roads, where has the government been? On the contrary, the people in Turkana and Baringo are facing severe starvation. They don’t need roads; they need food.
These are the things Odinga’s loud mouth boys and girls should challenge. Unfortunately, all the mouth pieces have shut, Millie Odhiambo, Jakoyo Midiwo, Junet Mohamed and the likes. Challenge the government based on issues, stop crying day and night. Even Jubilee mocks Odinga of his excess baby cry.

The long winding road to state house will soon be here, Odinga’s campaign team is celebrating what has not materialized… in fact, they are sleeping. Die hard sycophants and the ‘Mr. Know it alls’ as James Orengo, and Anyang’ Nyong’o are all silent and lost in the air. Only Mombasa governor Hassan Joho speaks the naked truth in the face of the president.

The president is already in panic mode and shivering from a possible united opposition front; he is grabbing every leaf to cling on. Raila has the 2017 presidency to lose. He is not playing smart enough; he must make moves beyond rigging baby cries.

By Nicholas Olambo
Foreign Affairs CS Amina Mohamed lost her bid for AU top post to Chad’s Moussa Mahamat after heads of states voted in the seventh round. Moussa takes over from Dlamini-Zuma whose term ended in June but was extended by six months to give candidates time to canvas for votes.

Kenya spent hundreds of taxpayers’ money sending the DP William Ruto on ‘a shuttle diplomacy mission’ to campaign for Amina in over 50 AU member states across the continent. Another seven-member team headed by CS Fred Matiang’i was also set to carry out campaigns for Amina.

The loss is a big blow to President Uhuru Kenyatta, DP William Ruto and Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka who had anticipated a win. Amina win would create a vacancy at the foreign affairs ministry, and wiper leader had been promised the job by the ruling Jubilee. He had served in the same docket under President Moi and President Kibaki so one would argue that he is experienced.

His experience was not the key point, we are in election nearing period and Kalonzo being one of those who has declared their interests to challenge President Kenyatta was being thrown in a trick bag to crash his presidential daydream. Kalonzo also by nickname ‘Watermelon’ is a bonafide snitch who would easily be targeted by Jubilee to destabilize opposition in the quest for Kamba.

Watermelon is a self-professed ‘king of sacrifice’ who came out loud last week that his colleagues in Cord should support his candidature and let him be the coalition’s flag bearer. He claims that he had sacrificed his ambitions before and supported Hon. Raila Odinga in 2013. He was speaking while on a campaign trail in his Eastern backyard, but he had secretly made a deal with Jubilee to take up a CS job should Amina win AU top post.

Musyoka is known for making deals in nocturnal meetings, in two 2007 while he maintained that he would ‘pass in the middle’ to top leadership. It was during the same time that he was rumored to be going to the state house in a dress at night. The deal he made with Ex-President Mwai Kibaki saw him betray Kenyans when he supported Kibaki’s controversial win. Kalonzo who came to a distance third in that year’s presidential race would later be appointed the Vice President.

Unserious presidential candidates who sit on their lazy dreams campaigning only in their backyards and expect to be endorsed are diluting political soup. Now, where does Amina loss leave him? He was just about to sacrifice and betray his coalition colleagues in Cord/ Nasa. Anyway, there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, in times like this when realignments make the order of the day; his colleagues should be able to put up with his strange ways.

Amina was mostly fronted and seen as the next in line to take over the African Union Commission Chair from South Africa’s Dr. Dlamini-Zuma given charm offensive lobbying that the Kenyan government embarked on across the continent. Led by the deputy president Ruto, who secured a private jet for this purpose traversing the continent, diplomats and ministers lobbied for the election of Amina.

The results of the elections held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the AU summit caught many with surprises. First, Amina and Senegalese Mr. Abdoulaye Bathily, a Former UN special envoy to Central African Republic and Senegalese environment minister were fronted as biggest contenders only for Chad’s Mahamat to pull a surprise by winning with 38 votes in the 8th round to make him the new chair in a surprise win that greatly disappointed the Kenya’s delegation that fronted for Amina. Kenya through Manoah Esipisu ceded defeat.

Back to the drawing board as to the loopholes that might have cost Amina the seat. It’s important to say this course came with substantial cash spending with different sources floating various figures. It’s rumored the shuttle diplomacy and lobbying would’ve cost between Sh1B-45B. It’s, therefore, an expensive loss to the people of Kenya who naturally foots the bills.

Several reasons could be attributed to the loss including new awakening and strengthening of ECOWAS that ensured power transition of power in Zambia by tactfully dislodging Jammeh from power and reinstating Barrow as the president. This stamped the organization’s authority in the region and restoring democracy. They deflated EAC who have been doing nothing or less to stop the massacres in Burundi to Sudan and taking fence position while tyrants as Museveni clamps on the opposition and minimizing democratic space. Amina was coming from the EAC, widely seen as impunity tolerant. EAC is viewed by the West and Central as a visionary leadership deficient.

The defeat would also serve as a sobering dose of regional politics at the AUC polls. Traditionally, the AUC chair post has always rotated between Anglophone and Francophone countries. It is noteworthy that the outgoing head Dr. Dlamini-Zuma is an Anglophone from South Africa, and her predecessor was a Francophone Mr. Jean Ping from Gabon. So it is widely expected that within the AU circles that the French speaking candidates have a head-start on this factor. The other significant factor against Ms. Amina is the fact that French-speaking nations are very many compared to English speaking countries and this factor is further complicated by a well-known fact that they always vote uniformly and in solidarity. Rarely do the francophone fragment in their voting.

The defeat can also be seen as an indictment of top Kenyan political leadership. Uhuru took the face of the campaign, Amina was considered to be his project given charm offensive approach. It’s reported that neighbors as Uganda And Tanzania kept off the ballot despite giving support assurance to Amina’s candidacy. According to diplomacy gossips, Kenya has been a notorious bully since 2013 in the foreign affairs space, and the abandonment of Amina would’ve been a diplomatic protest and a humbling message to Kenya.

Sex and religion also played a part in her impediments. The seat was previously held by a woman, Dr.Dlamini, being a lucrative administrative lost, men would lobby for a balance to have a male contender take over. Amina coming from a Muslim community became an instant victim of chauvinism even if it wasn’t amplified. That majority of delegation come from French-speaking and dominant Islamic states where most men are derisive to ambitious women seeking power and influence. The egocentric spirit probably played a role.

The communication strategists for Amina ignored the most significant voting bloc, and that is Kenya. While they focused on selling her outside, back home, anti-Amina campaigns were running all over the social media spaces in a sustained pattern but the issues raised were dismissed by the strategists as harmless. Social media has reduced the world into a small village that words travel faster than light. While Ruto and team flew around, Africa was following keenly on the issues raised on Amina. The campaign told the stories that diplomats didn’t say, and this played the significant role in influencing decisions by delegates, a source confides to Kenya Insights.

The Kenyan audience was so ignored with zero civic education a factor that became eminent during the election day. Many confused and couldn’t tell the difference between AU and AUC. It’s not on a typical day that a country would ‘betray and disown’ their own. The world had curiosity and listened to the unusual dissenting voices in Amina’s candidacy. Communication team is to blame for ignoring this important audience that at the end influenced the outcome.

Most importantly, Amina was seen not as a career diplomat and herself as an individual but as a decoy and project of President Uhuru. Sources intimated to Kenya Insights that the general feel was Uhuru wanted to use Amina in pushing for his agendas mainly mass ICC walk out and the establishment of African courts. They voted against her with the mind of blocking Uhuru’s takeover of the AU.

Diplomats talking to Al Jazeera raised concerns over Amina’s independence and doubted if she could stand up to her frontier Uhuru should need be. The general view in this aspect was that she is a flower girl and a puppet of Uhuru Kenyatta and that he’d take advantage of her office to advance his own personal agendas a worry that denied her votes.

Last year, Amina Mohammed signed the Malabo Protocol, which grants criminal jurisdiction to the African Court of Justice and Human Rights. The intent to leave ICC and create an African version of the International Criminal Court an idea fronted by Amina seemingly proved costly eventually. Amina is believed to have brokered the dismissal of ICC cases against the Jubilee principals. Local politics also had its ways into the Addis Ababa secret ballots. That Amina’s position as CS was to be used in attracting new entrant from opposition to the government and possibly voted against to spoil the party. While Amina was against the ICC and called for made walkout, a good number of nation are against her stand and have maintained to remain within the Rome statute.

All is not lost as this gives her a second chance to continue her services as Kenya’s foreign affairs minister. Being a valued diplomat its an opportunity to learn from human and diplomatic  mistakes she has made in her tenure and use lessons in redeeming herself for a lengthy legacy. And you never know with her expertise and experience she might as well go for bigger positions as WTO and U.N. all doors aren’t shut.

Before things get nasty here in microseconds, lemme say Beyond Zero was a well-thought initiative with good public face intentions but dark intent by pioneers. The movement worked in the favor that its a constant reminder to Margaret’s husband of the poor public health-care system and how her father-in-law failed to secure better health system.

Beyond Zero was started by the First Lady to supplement services that the husband was elected to do. Ladies and gentlemen, It’s every government’s duty to ensure a secure, healthy environment for its citizens but here was the First Lady supplementing the work at the same time exposing the failures in hubby’s government. If resources were to be well-utilized meaning zero tolerance to corruption, You can bet all the marathon energy would be directed elsewhere since hospitals would be well equipped and sufficient doctors distributed.

It would be selfish not to mention positive impacts that the campaign has made. These clinics have made it possible to take maternal healthcare closer to the people as they can go to the most remote parts to offer services to women and children to tackle the mother and infant mortality rates. Indiscriminate distribution of the clinics throughout the Counties in a country evident with favouritism, I must recommend her for the kind gesture.

The primary focus of the Beyond Zero Campaign is to reduce to zero preventable maternal and child mortality in Kenya. This is achieved by the campaign’s role to raise awareness and galvanize support toward combating maternal and infant mortality.

While it has served its purpose, It has again opened a Pandora box, understaffed hospitals. A good number of the distributed clinics have been reported having stalled as soon as they were delivered. Common problems being the lack of staff and equipment. It’s the same public hospital practitioners charged with the duty of running the mobile clinics which then brings me to the next point. The initiative wasn’t well conceptualized on the long-term and sustainability concept rather majored in the face value for the cameras and hype and for winning Awards.

It’s not unusual to be labeled enemy of progress whenever you question projects like Beyond Zero since people are blinded to chew on anything without looking a second time. Sustainable solutions never miss achieving significantly, showbiz solutions last as long as the camera’s batteries have power. Earlier last year, Statehouse with little details revealed that the First Lady was initiating construction of a Beyond Zero state of the art referral hospital to concentrate on mothers and children healthcare at the cost of 2 2B the project is yet to start.

While this sounds orgasmic to systems supporters and blind followers, It adds to the heap of miscalculations, with a face value that would snatch a Noble Price from Obama, this project is a catastrophe if we’re to pick lessons from the past. First of all its purely self-seeking project, for the simple reason that it will add to the tally of other failed referral hospitals. Why would Kenya again spend 2.2B constructing a referral hospital yet that money can be used to upgraded the deplorable KNH? Look at Pumwani, Mbagathi, Mama Lucy both conceptualized with Beyond Zero state of mind. Years later they’re stuck and in horrible conditions.Why pump billions in a project destined to squat while you can use the amount to improve existing hospitals across the country. That’s how you get to everyone not just a cut class.

The country is currently in a healthcare tie down with a total freeze in public hospitals the solution cannot be another marathon run. It’s high time we start thinking long-term and sustainability solutions and move away from selfie campaigns that fade away with filters. We need sufficient; motivated and well paid doctors in our hospitals which should stay fully equipped.

It came as an insult that same day Doctors were facing jail time pushing for refined healthcare, first lady and her events PR turn IMG made professional sacrilege launching the marathon. Now to quick schooling, CBA that the doctors are pushing for adoption has everything that beyond zero is running for covered, and that’s a well funded and equipped health-care.

In fact, It would have been pointing scoring since that’s the whole motive to have Beyond Zero throw support behind doctors to have CBA implemented. But you know why they won’t? Beyond Zero will ONLY remain relevant as long as the state of public healthcare stays in the current despair. Which again goes to question the credibility and honesty in the beyond zero movements, is it genuinely committed in securing healthy state for all mothers and children? Where was first lady’s voice when hundreds of millions allocated to free maternity and children was stolen in the Afya House 5B scandal? Her silence was enough to answer to all doubts.

Kenya Insights has learned that Nyokabi Muthama, President’s sister who recently made headlines over her involvement in the 5B Afya House scandal, through Sundales Int Ltd received 270M from Ministry of Health in incredible deals, happens to be the Director Beyond Zero Trust.

Little is known of financial records and no financial reports issued to the public despite its magnitude. This has raised eyebrows and many questioned accountability. Beyond Zero remains one if the heavily corporate funded events in Kenya with thousands of donors. You can estimate the campaign rakes in hundreds of millions. You’ll be lucky to escape red protruding eyes coming your way if you go deeper in questioning the financial surrounding of this project.

If Margaret Kenyatta and Beyond Zero is genuinely committed to bringing to an end mortality rates, then they should join CBA campaign as this is the ONLY and most efficient, sustainable way to achieve zero deaths the rest is futile. She can organize a marathon advocating for full implementation of CBA and I bet she’ll get beyond infinity (if such exists) people running behind her. Simple message, let’s run away from face value and short time solutions as Beyond Zero and opt for long-time as CBA to solidify a better healthcare system for beyond zero deaths on preventable situations

The Government has displayed open dishonesty in solving the health standoff that is on its 51st day running and instead opted for blackmail tactics through sustained propaganda in doctors painting them as selfish and unpatriotic. There has been a maintained script demonizing doctors throughout the strike period on various media platforms with Twitter taking the lead with paid pro-government ‘bloggers’ pushing government rhetoric on doctors say in.

Doctors, however, have shown extraordinary resilience and focus through this course that now leaves them at a stage of serving a month jail term over contempt of court that demanded them to call off the strike. It’s important to note at this point that this is a traditional arm-twisting move using the judiciary to intimidate and coerce officials heading industrial standards to submission. KMPDU officials are a rare breed that studied the game well before the coaches.

In their propaganda, the government has deliberately ignored the elements of CBA that were engineered to overhaul the pathetic state of public healthcare that has been on its deathbed for over 50 years. Instead, they’ve focused on the salary component which is just but a leaf from the pages. This is a psychological warfare to incite the public against doctors. Luckily enough and thanks to social media since mainstream is under anesthesia, doctors took to social media giving their personal experiences working in public hospitals, deplorable. CBA in entirety seeks to make the working environment the doctors better, and public get quality healthcare that has now become the reserve of private institutions.

With Thursday deadline given by magistrate Lucy to call off the strike collapsing in few hours, KMPDU officials have resolved to serve the one-month jail term with a no deal smoke coming from failed talks with government staff members who’re unsurprisingly pointing fingers at the doctors union. The jailing of the officials is set to open a new layer of flame with things going from bad to horrible. Jailing the officials for a month would mean the strike not being called off for that period and no surety that it would end with their release at the end of the term.

The Government is charged with ensuring health security to its citizens and its a shame the country has moved 50+ days without doctors in hospitals and yet the President and his deputy shamelessly still have the audacity to put the sick society through massive voters drive and giving zero hoots on their health state. In fact, the President recently made it clear that voters registration is the top priority giving the doctors standoff a horse kick. Here you’re on your own as a voter who elevated them to power. When ruling class get sick with minor bruises they’ll fly abroad as for You; you’ll walk into an empty hospital and die.

https://twitter.com/UKenyatta/status/822779716901961729

With hours fast dropping, will the State go ahead with their plot to jail doctors as one of their best bargaining tools or rise above ego and dick measuring to put interest of the public that they’re mandated to serve and give a treasury go ahead to implement CBA and have a healthy nation or choke with a hot potato to death with public healthcare? Kenya watches Milimani Courts intrigues and outcome in a few hours.