Kenya Insights

Tag: Jubilee

  • Ruto Accuses Raila Of Importing Corruption Cartels Into Jubilee Government

    Ruto Accuses Raila Of Importing Corruption Cartels Into Jubilee Government

    Deputy President William Ruto has hit out at ODM leader Raila Odinga accusing him of derailing government projects.

    The Deputy President claims that the opposition leader used his handshake tricks to infiltrate the government and is currently running a cartel that is busy swindling public resources.

    The Deputy President while attending a church service at the Presbyterian Church in Nairobi’s Umoja 1 estate blasted Raila whom he accused of exporting confusion into government.

    Ruto and Raila have been trading accusations of corruption with the latter declaring in Mombasa where he was attending a function that he will jail all corrupt public officers if he becomes the President.

    Raila slammed the DP over his huge donations saying they were proceeds of corruption.

    In a rejoinder, the DP claimed that the opposition which Raila leads was running a cartel within the government that has led to the loss of taxpayers money.

    According to Ruto, Raila’s handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta has derailed the government’s agenda.

    “It’s only in Kenya where the opposition pretends to run the government, and the opposition runs corruption cartels in government and the same opposition pretends to run lectures on how to fight corruption. Surely what an irony” he posed

    Ruto further claimed the ODM chief was being contemptuous of the poor insisting that the bottom-up economics he propagates is what will bridge the gap between the haves and the have nots.

    “People have a problem with the support given to the church, bodaboda and mama mboga because they have contempt for the weak, the bible tells us to support the weak. These people are contemptuous and it is against the word of God” he added.

    The DP maintains that those harbouring thoughts that the next general election will be postponed are leaving in their dreamland.

  • Wembe Ni Ule Ule: Kenya Has Lost Sh8.8Trillion To Corruption Under Jubilee Reign

    Wembe Ni Ule Ule: Kenya Has Lost Sh8.8Trillion To Corruption Under Jubilee Reign

    While ganja one is busy globe-trotting and number two roaming in the country confused to the toe, a new report released by corruption tracker reveals that Kenya has lost Ksh8.08 Trillion since 2013.

    Here is the full report compelled by the corruption tracker.

    https://trackcorruption.org/total-amount-stolen/

    These are the digital duo y’all believed—funny enough, some still believe— are the next phase of Kenya’s success. Well, the joke remains to us the 47 million fools that keep their baseless,visionless and plain political agendas a float.

     

  • Was Captain Apollo Malowa Drunk In The Skies?

    Was Captain Apollo Malowa Drunk In The Skies?

    They say don’t drink and drive, but have you ever, in a few years that you’ve lived, heard or come across DON’T DRINK AND FLY?

    Yesterday, Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia release a report of the ill-fated helicopter that crashed into Lake Nakuru two years ago while carrying Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika’s communication team.

    According to the report, the late pilot’s toxicology results indicated that he was under the influence of alcohol. In short, he was drunk flying.

    “The report on the crash on October 21, 2017, says the aircraft collided with the water surface due to loss of situation awareness by the pilot, who was under the influence of alcohol as depicted from the toxicology results.” CS Macharia said.

    The report adds that Captain Apollo Malowa failed to recognize the loss of altitude, excessive banking to the left and obstacle proximity from the aircraft. The Flex Air Limited helicopter, type AS 350 B3 and registration 5Y-NMJ, crashed into Lake Nakuru on at 6.37 am on that day killing the pilot and all his four passengers.

    Image result for lake nakuru chopper crash"
    Remains of the chopper that was retrieved from the lake Photo courtesy| RMS
    A look at major plane crashes in Kenya
    It took Navy divers 25 days to retrieve the bodies of Captain Malowa, Ms Veronicah Muthoni, and Mr Anthony Kipyegon. Sad enough, the bodies of Sam Gitau and John Mapozi were never retrieved nor found. The search mission of their bodies was called off three months after the fatal accident.
    “It took more than 25 days to locate and retrieve the wreckage of the helicopter and recover three bodies of persons on board. The search for two other bodies was, however, unsuccessful even after the search was extended for several days later,” the report says.

    During his burial in Lenya village in Bondo sub-county, Malowa’s mother Dorothy Malowa described him as a hardworking, disciplined and honest man who had a promising career and future.

    However, there has been a tittle-tattle that Captain Malowa was tired. Even though this site cannot independently verify the scuttlebutt, the pilot had not rested for over a week. At the time the chopper crashed, it was to ferry a group of journalists to President Uhuru Kenyatta’s campaign rally in Narok County. If indeed this was a scheduled chopper for the task, why did they have only one captain to fly the bird around continuously for days?

    Image result for lake nakuru chopper crash"

    Captain Apollo Malowa was a professional pilot and he has flown very very important senior citizens like the former prime minister and now AU’s special envoy Raila Odinga. The list of dignitaries that he has flown washes off the report which, according to my opinion, is plainly cut from the fact the whole operation and investigations into the crash was to cover the mistakes Jubilee made or even a possible foiled assassination attempt on individuals who, fortunately, were not on board.

  • Boniface Mwangi: Kibra Residents, This Is Mariga For You

    Boniface Mwangi: Kibra Residents, This Is Mariga For You

    Pawa254 Founder and street activist Boniface Mwangi has released what KOT terms as the most factual video about Ruto’s Kibra candidate Mc Donald Mariga.

    Well, as much as Kenyans have allowed themselves to be an audience for imbecility, the result and consequences of this slap in HD or as Aristotle expressed it “Tolerance and apathy are the last virtues of a dying society.”

    In yet another political lunacy on the people of Kibra, majority of whom- according to multiple surveys, are living below the poverty line, Ruto’s Man McDonald Mariga on Sunday, November 3, 2019, promised to follow in the area’s former Member of Parliament(MP) the late Ken Okoth to fight for the legalization of marijuana.

    “Mnataka tuongelee mambo ya Shada. Shada mmeskia inacure cancer. Hio lazima tuipush. Hatutaki mambo ya shada ya kupiga watu. Muniingize bunge tuskume mambo ya shada”

    This is not new to the ears of Kenyans and here is a video of the home and genesis of Mariga’s success and his hard work on ”giving back all to his community”. The video was recorded by Boniface Mwangi and shared on his Twitter account.

    Well, Mariga or as I call him since he joined Jubilee via backdoor MaRIGa, also has his fans who expressed their contrary opinion about this. Here are sample tweets of Ruto’s candidate supporters.

    https://twitter.com/kibuchimzito/status/1191672167131422722?s=19

    https://twitter.com/Turkana_Oil/status/1191679261431750656?s=19

    https://twitter.com/Kenribs/status/1191808385924190214?s=19

    To me, MaRIGa’s fans don’t see the sense in what Boni is saying particularly about Kenyan politics. Every politician uses Kenyans who foolishly give them time and audience to project themselves and their own agenda without, allow me to cuss on my opinion—giving a fuck— about what is happening or happens to the ordinary citizen.

    Republics decline into democracies that later generate despotism, this is the effects of trying to make unequal thing equal my fellow Kenyans.

     

     

  • Joe Mucheru, Jubilee’s ICT CS Reappoints A Dead Man

    Joe Mucheru, Jubilee’s ICT CS Reappoints A Dead Man

    Jubilee is indeed committed to not only break apart this country with foreign public debts but also making sure the youths never gets a chance to get employment leave alone leading.

    From appointing old, inexperienced and uneducated folks to heads parastatals to now appointing old men who, like in this case, died more than a year ago. Ghost administration appointing its spirit to say the least.

    Yesterday, Cabinet Secretary for ICT reappointed The late Robert Kochale to KFCB. According to records, the late Kochale died on 29th May 2018 while undergoing treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital.

    What comes as a surprise, the death of the former KFCB board member was publicly announced and even his burial ceremony attended by senior government officials including those from the ICT ministry. His demise was also gazetted by KFCB.

    The Late KFCB member death announcement on KFCB site.

    CS Joe Mucheru has not responded to this but KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua came to his defence and said it’s not the mistake of the ICT CS solely but a ‘small mistake’ from the appointment board. Here is what Dr. Mutua tweeted as a response to a tweet that a social media user, Dikembe Disembe had posted.

    Here is the proof confirmation of the reappointment of the late Robert Kochella.

    Yesterday, Kenya Insights published that Jubilee civil service workforce has on 17 per cent youths, and this reappointment of not only the late folk but also the aged has since attracted mixed reactions from Kenyans on Twitter.

    Here are sampled tweet reactions from Kenyans concerning the “small issue” so they say.

     

     

  • Jubilee’s Civil Service Has Only 17Percent Youths, PSC Report Reveals

    Jubilee’s Civil Service Has Only 17Percent Youths, PSC Report Reveals

    When Jubilee was campaigning in 2013 and 2017, they bluffed their followers that they will run a government full of the ‘youths’. Right now, millions of young graduates are struggling to find jobs, while the Civil Service is monopolized by an ageing workforce that Jubilee government keep on recycling.

    In a Public Service Commission (PSC) compiled report dubbed Human Resource Planning and Succession Management Strategy for Public Service, PSC reveals that Kenya had 69,445 civil servants by December 2016.
    However, the Payroll data reveals that 35 percent of Jubilee’s National Government employees are aged between 51-60 years. The report also states that 53 per cent of the Civil service workforce are aged between 46-50 years.
    Legally, the retirement age for civil servants is 60 years. However, concerns have been drawn from distressing levels of unemployment among university and college graduates as the
    PSC report further revealed that the majority of employees in management positions are over 46 years.

    What’s more hurting is the fact that Kenyans aged below 40 years essentially make up 75 per cent of the population yet the report indicate that only 17.7 percent of the youths are on civil service payroll with an insignificant 0.03 per cent occupying senior positions.

    Of the 47 per cent of Kenyans with formal training and who are eligible for various jobs, youths aged between 19 and 35 years only hold 20 per cent of national government jobs.

    According to background search of civil servants by age assortment by PSC, 11,879 civil servants were aged between 51 and 60 years.

    Additionally, 12,057 civil servants were aged between 56 and 60 years, while 399 were over the age of 60. Those aged between 46 and 50 were 11,739, implying that some have already bridged over the 50-year mark.

    According to a2014-2015 National and County government human resource audit, the civil service was a face of the old and quick ageing workforce with 31 percent of the staff aged  between50 and 59 years.

    Capacity Assessment and Rationalisation of the Public Service Programme report in the same year revealed that 30 percent of the civil service was in the 40-49 age bracket with Ministries records indicating that 40 percent of their staffs are over 50 years.

    This is a picture of your so called digital government. Youths only get employed on election promises, on the ground things are different.

  • Ruto Allied Jubilee MPs Want IEBC To Disqualify ODM’s Imran Okoth

    Ruto Allied Jubilee MPs Want IEBC To Disqualify ODM’s Imran Okoth

    After ODM accusing DP Ruto of changing his Karen Home to an IEBC headquarter, a section of Jubilee Party legislators have now called on IEBC to disqualify the Orange Democratic Movement candidate Imran Okoth from the November 7 Kibra parliamentary by-election.

    The Ruto alied MPs who had earlier today attended a church service at PCEA Emmanuel Church in Makina on Sunday, criticized the Sartiday’s invasion on Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga as he campaigned in Kibra.

    Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung’wa and his Lang’ata counterpart Nixon Korir accused Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati of inciting youths to stone Mr Mariga’s convoy.

    “Let all candidates and political parties embrace peace and give Kibra people a chance to decide who they want,” said Mr Ichung’wa.

    The DP Ruto sycophants similarly cussed at Kieleweke team led by nominated MP Maina Kamanda for scattering propaganda.

    According to them, which probably is the same thought of their boss William Ruto, Maina Kamanda who is only nominated because of his background was misleading Kenyans that President Uhuru Kenyatta does not support  Rito’s candidate Donald Mariga.

    “Let them (Kieleweke) respect the President and stop lying that they have been sent (to Kibra) by him. It is shameful the youths who attacked Mr Mariga’s convoy yesterday (Saturday) have followed us here and destroyed window panes,” said Mr Korir.

    Nixon Korir, the Lang’ata legislator stated that he’s going to write to the IEBC to disqualify the ODM candidate over the violence.

    “(Mr) Raila Odinga is in the government courtesy of handshake hence we are free to ask for votes anywhere. The handshake did not come to finish democracy,” he said.

    Mariga on his side called out on political leaders to stop manipulating youths to mete out turmoil on their competitors.

    “The youths should not be used to unleash chaos on opponents, violence never pays, I have forgiven those who assaulted us,” said Mr Mariga.

  • Plate Numbers Of Raila’s Range And Other High End Vehicles On KRA, DCI Radar

    Plate Numbers Of Raila’s Range And Other High End Vehicles On KRA, DCI Radar

    AU’s High Representative for Infrastructure and development and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s luxurious Range Rover is among 18, 444 vehicles confiscated by sleuths over fraudulent registration claims.

    Image result for railas range rover

    Raila’s Range plate number KCS 002D has been seized as DCI And KRA Intensifies Hunt On 444 High-End Cars Illegally Registered Or Stolen. 

    According to a search for registration details done by DCI boss George Kinoti-led team at the NTSA offices, the plates of the vehicles did not reveal any results despite known ownership.

    Igembe North MP Maoka Maore is listed as the owner of KBL 088N (Range Rover). Embakasi West controversial legislature George Theuri’s is the owner of Mercedes Benz KCR 565W, and Kuria West MP Mathias Robi owns Toyota KCG 800J.

    Detectives impound Raila's luxury car over fraudulent registration

    Peter Ngirici, the husband to Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirici owns a Range Rover plate number KCC 241P, which,  to NTSA records, is registered as a government vehicle under plate number GKA702.

    Image result for railas range rover

    Steve Mbogo, who lost Starehe parliamentary seat to Jaguar, the crying politician, owns a Range Rover bearing plate number KCL 830A which according to NTSA records they are registered as a Toyota Probox.

    James Gesami, former West Mugirango also a Gubernatorial aspirant who lost in Nyamira has Toyota Premio KBE 365T under his name.

    Former Kasipul MP Oyugi Magwanga, who also unsuccessfully contested the Homa Bay governorship owns Toyota Landcruiser KBZ 333Q.

    Kenya Industrial Research and Development Institute (Kirdi) board member Hussein Abshiro Hussein, who also lost the Mandera North seat owns two cars; Range Rover KBT 505D and a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado KCB 788J.

    Government-owned SONY Sugar Company owns Land Rover KAA 315P that its whereabouts remain unknown.

    Out of the 444 cars that authorities are targeting, 64 are Range Rovers, Mercedes Benz (94) and Toyotas (224). Other flagged makes include 22 Nissan, one Porsche, 26 Subarus, four Volkswagens, and two Volvos whose registration details are suspicious.

    On July 31st this year, the DCI, through the officer in charge of Kenya Revenue Authority, issued a signal to all police stations in the country to impound the cars.

    “A list of the attached vehicles are circulated in order to have them traced and detailed. The motor vehicles are suspected of having been fraudulently registered and they’re therefore unaccustomed since taxes in their regard have not been paid,” Peter Kiboro, the DCI KRA unit said.

    KRA has intensified the crackdown on tax evaders who include businessmen, governors, and firms that were initially considered untouchable.

    Last month, KRA Commissioner General James Mburu vowed to intensify a crackdown on tax cheats saying no one is being targeted as an individual.

    “Kenyans should reject the narrative that KRA is fighting any individual or business. On the contrary, KRA has the additional responsibility of trade facilitation under which we support a business environment that is conducive for the growth of business, which further results in increased taxes. All we desire is that all eligible taxpayers make every effort to pay their rightful share of taxes. We must all contribute in an equitable manner to the development of our country.” KRA Boss Mburu said. 

  • Mariga In Fresh Trouble

    Mariga In Fresh Trouble

    Deputy President William Ruto candidate of Choice for the Kibra by-elections is in trouble yet again after a voter went to court with allegations that pressure from the DP and top Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission officials led to the clearance of football star McDonald Mariga to vie for the Kibra parliamentary seat.

    According to media sources, Kibra Returning Officer Beatrice Muli was right in barring the Jubilee candidate from running because he was ‘not a registered voter’.

    However, Mr Mariga’s woes might not be over, since a voter in Kibra, Mr. Leina Konchellah, who petitioned the IEBC to state its position on the issue of Mr. Mariga’s age, might move to the High Court.

    In the Monday ruling, the electoral commission tribunal largely concentrated on the authenticity of Mr. Mariga’s registration as a voter and not the authenticity of his ID.

    “It is curious to note that the complainant presented a national identity card indicating his date of birth as April 1987, and further presented his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education certificate indicating he sat his Form Four examinations in November/December 2002,” says Mr Konchellah.

    The Petitioner stated that the documents Mariga presented to the commission could be having integrity issues, and thus go against Chapter Six of the Constitution. In its 20-page ruling delivered at its headquarters, the tribunal said that Mariga is duly registered as a voter and that the decision by the Kibra returning officer had been set aside.

    IEBC chair Wafula Chebukati and commissioner Boya Molu, ordered the returning officer to immediately process Mariga’s application for nomination as the Jubilee candidate for the November 7 by-election.

    Mr Chebukati said although Ms Muli told the tribunal that she could not find Mr Mariga’s name in the Kiems Kit at the point of verification, she could not confirm whether the register had been updated to reflect subsequent voter registration.

    “We are of the view that the absence of Mariga’s name on the register that was used by the respondent could not have been taken as conclusive proof of lack of registration, more so given that Mariga had indicated that he was registered in a different constituency. We are aware of the technological challenges which might result in a delay in real-time update of the Kiems kit, especially where the registration is conducted in different areas using BVR machines,” Mr. Chebukati said.

    National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale and his Senate counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen were also present at the function and praised IEBC for doing justice to their candidate.

    Election Act 5 (1) b, of the new constitution, stipulates that voter registration will be carried out at all times, except in the case of a by-election between the date of the declaration of the vacancy of the seat concerned and the date of the by-election. However, the tribunal pointed out that this provision is exclusive to the electoral area, in this case Kibra Constituency, and not Starehe, where Mr Mariga registered.

    “It does not apply to other constituencies where there are no by-elections, and neither does it apply to the registration of candidates. It is limited to the registration of voters. There was, therefore, no impediment to the complainant being registered in any other constituency which was not subject to the by-election,” Mr Chebukati said.

    Mariga is said to have registered in Starehe 12 days after the Kibra seat was declared vacant, a factor the petitioner said was another ground for barring him from contesting. Mariga’s legal team submitted to the tribunal that the definition of a register under the Election Act is not limited to Kiems and that the decision by the Kibra returning officer to disqualify Mariga was ill-conceived, grossly illegal and tantamount to taking away his constitutional right.

  • Choice Of Mariga As Kibra’s Candidate Has Brought More Divisions In Jubilee

    Choice Of Mariga As Kibra’s Candidate Has Brought More Divisions In Jubilee

    Jubilee Party thought fielding footballer McDonald Mariga was a genius move but to their surprise, it is turning out to not only be absurd but also divisive.  Mariga’s choice is facing criticism among the party’s rank and file with the latest prickle coming from Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny.

    Joshua Kutuny Speaking at Parliament buildings said that he expected the party to subject all the 16 candidates through a vigorous democratic process before settling on the best candidate terming the mode used to pick the football star on Monday by the party’s National Elections Board (NEB) as a democracy underminer.

    “Politics doesn’t know a household name, we need to go back to the drawing table and put our house in order,” he said.

    The MP now becomes the third Jubilee lawmaker to oppose the selection of Mr. Mariga to fly Jubilee’s flag in the November 7 by-election. Others that have opposed the election board choice are nominated MP Maina Kamanda and Mr. Moses Kuria (Gatundu South). The two Jubilee lawmakers on Monday said they would back ODM leader Raila Odinga’s candidate in the Kibra by-election.

    Mr. Morris Peter Kinyanjui one of the aspirants has also been opposed nomination of Mariga by the Jubilee NEB. Kinyanjui said he has appealed the decision of the board saying it was done in secrecy and contrary to party rules. In his petition to secretary-general Raphael Tuju, Mr. Kinyanjui accused the NEB of usurping powers it does not have to conduct the aforesaid selection.

    Mr. Kinyanjui, who was among the 16 aspirants interviewed, said Mr. Mariga’s selection was “not only unfair, deceptive and shrouded in secrecy, but also contrary to the provisions of Jubilee Party’s constitution.”

    The election board on Monday settled on Mariga saying he demonstrated passion, zeal, and energy to serve the people of Kibra. NEB chairman Andrew Musangi, while defending its choice, said Mr Mariga has an endearing relationship with the people of Kibra since he was born and bred in the area.

    IEBC on their side said they will only address complaints in Kibra party nominations after they are formally lodged. The electoral commission further noted that disputes relating to or arising from the nominations:

    “shall be determined within 10 days of the lodging of the dispute with the commission.”

    As if this is not an issue, other aspirants also want Jubilee Party to recall and halt gazetting of Mariga’s nomination terming it as fraudulent. Speaking at Miami Global Hotel in Nairobi, the aspirants expressed their disappointment, calling the nomination unconstitutional and a charade.

    Mr Kinyanjui said the nomination procedure should have followed due process, which is either nomination by consensus, secret ballot or any other democratic method agreed upon by members. Kinyanjui said this in the company of other aspirants, including Ibrahim Said, Jack Owino, Ramadhan Daniel Orongo, Hussein, Frank Amollo, Geoffrey Mwangi and Elly Omondi.

    Geoffrey Mwangi said they would not accept a nomination to be forced upon them without due process. The aspirants said they will unanimously submit their grievances to the Party Dispute Tribunal.

    I’m of an opinion that this is yet another move to show the public that DP Ruto is forcing things his way and the Jubilee Party boardroom descion markers have run out of action. It is either Ruto in and his people out or his people in and Ruto out. Nobody in Jubilee clearly knows how to outsmart Ruto. If he’s a pain in the nuts right now, what if they allow him to take the Commander In Chief sword?

  • Donald Kipkorir: Davis Chirchir Dumped By Jubilee Even After Rigging For Them The 2013 Elections

    Donald Kipkorir: Davis Chirchir Dumped By Jubilee Even After Rigging For Them The 2013 Elections

    Controversial city lawyer Donald Kipkorir alias DBK, has taken the plight of Jubilee election rigger Davis Chirchir on twitter streets.

    A screenshot of DBK’s tweet and comments Photo|Twitter

    Chirchir has been abandoned by the ‘digital’ battalion led by Uhuru Kenyatta and the notorious William Ruto.

    Many of you remember Chirchir; if you followed the live coverage of the election tallying and results at Bomas of Kenya on both August 8 and October 26, you will remember Chirchir’s quiet presence at a corner of the tallying centre.

    The man in Ruto’s Jubilee brand cape that had glued firmly on his laptop as the results streamed in.

    The former Energy Cabinet Secretary was Jubilee’s chief agent for the August 8, 2017 General Election and the October 26 repeat presidential poll.

    The fate of Jubilee’s Chief strategist and Agent chirchir remains unknown to everyone even after previous speculation and his own egocentric thoughts that he would land a big role in Jubilee’s government.

    In 2015, the notorious Chirchir was kicked out of Jubilee Cabinet over corruption charges filed against him by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

    EACC accused Chirchir of colluding with a top official at KPLC to embezzle Sh90 Million transferred from the Kenya Pipeline Company to Kenya Power.

    Before Jubilee, Chirchir was in charge of Information Communication Technology at the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC); he later met Uhuru Kenyatta through William Ruto that made him appointed Chief Agent for the Jubilee Party.

    He was later rewarded with his appointment to Energy Ministry after illegally accessing IEBC servers and tampering with the Presidential results that saw Jubilee rig in to Power in 2013 elections.

    In the same 2013, the then Nasa presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, disputed the outcome of the Presidential polls after NASA legal team, led by Siaya Senator James Orengo, found proof that Chirchir had hacked into the IEBC servers in favour of President Kenyatta.

    NASA team also provided evidence to proof right the allegations that Chirchir was involved in inspecting the printing of election material at a go-down along Mombasa Road.

    Sources speaking to this writer says that Chirchir has been roaming in and around State House seeking Uhuru’s help to appoint him as the ceremonial Secretary to the Cabinet.

    A post that has never been filled since Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia quit.

    Jubilee handlers also told this writer that Chirchir was to be appointed the State House Comptroller but the election loss of former Nakuru governor Kinuthia Mbugua robbed him that chance.

    And his unmanageable scandalous behaviors saw him being thrown away from the list of those who were to be appointed as State House Chief of Staff that’s currently under Nzioka Waita.

    Even after going through these and doing all that for Jubilee, President Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto, Chirchir is still an employed man and to make it worse unrecognized by the very government he helped get into Power.

  • Madaraka Day Celebration In Nyeri A National Shame Crafted By Dimwits

    Madaraka Day Celebration In Nyeri A National Shame Crafted By Dimwits

    Hours back, Jubilee was walking shoulders high after launching the biggest infrastructural development since independence, despite integrity questions, SGR is, without a doubt, a major step forward. The launch that dominated the media headlines from Mombasa to Shanghai gave Jubilee a sense of legitimacy with high political scoring it came with.

    As Kenya marked its 54th year since attaining full independence, the government through its policy of holding national holidays across the country as opposed to traditional Nairobi, took it’s way to Nyeri. Lately, national events as Madaraka have been turned into political campaign platforms and I expected nothing different, the same speeches of outlining accomplishments of the government the only difference is the template. For that reason, I didn’t see anything worthy watching the event on TV until online outburst that prompted me to watch it online. Unexpectedly yet unsurprising, opposition leader and NASA Presidential candidate Raila was invited to the function. This here was set to be an interesting day.

    The event started off with a clearly biased and sycophantic prayer from a Catholic bishop who went out of line praising jubilee achievements while at the same time delivering accusatory venom on the opposition. Instead of preaching love and peace he chose to serve his own interest.

    Moments later as the event was building up, the set up was slowly melting from a national event into the local community’s event. From the choice of masters of ceremony to other speakers opting to publicly address in Kikuyu language turned the whole thing ugly. While it is understandable for using local dialect to be in sync with the locals, it was ours out of order. This wasn’t any other event but a national event held in Kikuyu land. It had to happen under elements of national unity and that included usage of Kiswahili and English only. But the organizers had their own interests to serve. Many Kenyans following the event across the country were left out as the event was reduced to a community ritual passage.

    Raila Odinga at the Madaraka day event in Nyeri.

    That wasn’t the end of blunders, the organizers had more botch job to perform. Speakers after the other, deliberately or rather uniformly failed to recognize the presence of Raila Odinga who by stature is a national leader with a tremendous influence. Odinga was denied a chance to address the nation which was in all senses done in bad taste. It doesn’t add up that presidential protocol saw it important inviting Raila to the faction but denying him a chance to speak. This is easily read as a political calculation that was aimed at humiliating Raila and undermining his strength. It is a political season and there’s nothing wrong playing it, however, this was not any other event but a national holiday. The same way people look at Uhuru as their leader is the same as Raila with his massive following. Sidelining of Raila has perfectly boomeranged on the organizers. The event has been left with a hate and tribalistic tag.

    Both the President and his Deputy followed the suit of rest when they took to the podium, completely ignoring to recognize the presence of Raila in the event and even after the end of the function, didn’t bother to shake hands as it has been ritual on such occasions. It was hard listening to the President’s speech emphasizing on peace, love, and unity the greatest pillars of our existence yet in action they were publicly displaying, hatred, discrimination and turned a national event into a community event.

    If the two took the water they were preaching instead of wine, it would have been such a beautiful show of unity in a highly polarized country especially with the elections, to see both the three have cordial engagements even for the camera. The event has done more damage to cohesion than good. It wouldn’t have cost a muscle if Raila was given a second to even cough, it wouldn’t have dethroned the duo of the simply recognized the presence of Raila who represents interests of many Kenyans. But again here we have a government that has perfected the art of ignoring things from corruption to now ignoring people at events. We wouldn’t have a debate of they didn’t invite him. The struggles of freedom fighters to have a united country without hatred and discrimination amongst ourselves has been shitted on by the covfefe boys. While in ordinary cases we would’ve seen a walk out, it is admirable how Raila calmly handled the situation without a drop of drama and allowed the humiliation script to run smoothly. But there’s someone we call karma, she barely forgets.

    Happy Madaraka Day ladies and gentlemen. Let’s hope to have a better one next year because of this, was a hot mess. Too many childish behaviours can somebody grow up please.

  • Integrity: 20 Powerful Politicians In NASA And Jubilee Blacklisted From August Elections

    Integrity: 20 Powerful Politicians In NASA And Jubilee Blacklisted From August Elections

    With 8/8 fast approaching and politicians going on campaign overdrive, the civil society who gives the watchdog value for the community is not sleeping either. A campaign dubbed #RedCardKE is already creating enough havoc, this is a citizen’s driven 90-day campaign created to #RedCard all corrupt and unethical political aspirants, raise voter awareness and empower frontline institutions to hold the promise of Chapter 6 before all candidates.

    According to the campaign, 20 individuals both holding positions in NASA and jubilee have been marked as unfit for public office given integrity issues that they hold and asking the IEBC to bar them from participating in the August poll.

    Here’s the list and the set of accusations labeled against them by the accusing activists:

    1. Mwangi wa Iria – Governor Aspirant Muranga County

    Accused of purchase of 24 acres of land at Kshs. 340 million, a price that is way above the market value of the land.

    2. Kazungu Kambi – Governor Aspirant Kilifi County

    Accused of irregularly approving an exaggerated budget of Kshs. 5.05 billion for the construction of National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Tassia Phase 2 Project, a Kshs. 2 billion variations from the original Kshs. 3.3 billion; Kshs. 2 billion NSSF pensions fund.

    3. Oscar Sudi – MP Aspirant Kapseret Constituency

    The aspirant is accused of forgery of official documents and election into public office on account of falsified documents and intentionally providing false information.

    4. Moses Kuria – MP Aspirant Gatundu South Constituency

    He is subject to several counts of incitement to violence including against leaders, communities and journalists; disobedience of the law and hate speech.

    5. Mike Sonko – Governor Aspirant Nairobi County
    He’s accused of indecent conduct in public including alleged harassment of Mtwapa weighbridge government officers. Mike Sonko is also accused of involvement in a physical fight with Governor Kidero, disruption of proceedings of the Senate public accounts committee and is also subject to the allegation of influencing the award of a Kenya Pipeline Company for a Kshs. 1.35 billion kickback.

    6. Hassan Ali Joho – Governor Aspirant Mombasa County

    He is subject to questionable academic qualifications. Governor Hassan Ali Joho was also listed in United States (US) Embassy list of drug barons.

    7. Gladys Boss Shollei – Women Representative Aspirant Uasin Gishu County

    The aspirant is accused of procurement irregularities including the purchase of the official residence of the Chief Justice at the cost of Kshs. 310 million and authorization of Kshs. 46.4 million to build pre-fabricated courts at Mavoko Law Courts.

    8. Ochilo Ayacko – Governor Aspirant Migori County

    Accused of instigating violence during party nominations in April 2017.

    9. Evans Odhiambo Kidero – Governor Aspirant Nairobi County

    Kidero is accused of procurement irregularities of up to Kshs. 4.6 billion in a plan to launch a metro transportation system. The aspirant is also subject to allegations of bribery and payment of Kshs. 200 million to Justice Tunoi. Governor Kidero is also accused of indecent conduct in public and physical violence against a fellow public official. An IPSOS public perception survey released on September

    An IPSOS public perception survey released on September 8th, 2015 ranked candidate as fourth most corrupt leader after Anne Waiguru, Charity Ngilu and Deputy President William Ruto.

    10. Elizabeth Ongoro – MP Aspirant Ruaraka Constituency

    She’s accused of instigating violence during the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party nominations which led to her being barred by ODM from contesting on the party ticket.

    11. Baba Yao Ferdinand Waititu – Governor Aspirant Kiambu County

    Waititu was already declared unfit to hold public office in 2015 (Benson Riitho Mureithi vs. JW. Wakhungu and 2 others (2014) eKLR); Confesses questionable academic qualifications; Allegations of hate speech and endangering of intercommunal harmony and cohesion.

    12. Alfred Mutua – Governor Aspirant Machakos County

    Procurement irregularities of 16 Subarus worth Kshs. 147.3 million, Ambulances worth Kshs. 145.3 million and in the construction of Kithimani-Makutano road worth Kshs. 568 million.

    13. Asman Kamama  – MP Aspirant Tiaty Constituency

    Involvement in the ongoing clashes and involvement in the assassination of opponents.

    14. Alfred  Keter – MP Aspirant Nandi Hills Constituency

    Allegations of breach of Chapter 6 and provisions of Leadership & Integrity Act; Abuse of office, obstruction, and harassment of legitimate authority at the Gilgil weighbridge on 21 January 2015.

    15. Cyprian Awiti – Governor Aspirant Homa Bay County

    The aspirant is subject to an ongoing investigation by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) into possible misappropriation of Kshs. 200 million meant for the Agro City project.

    16. Ken Lusaka – Governor Aspirant Bungoma County

    Under his leadership as the Governor of Bungoma County, his County Government purchased 10 ‘Special’ Wheelbarrows at the cost of Kshs. 1 million each. Beyond this, there is a case of conflict of interest as the candidate is accused of having links – through proxies – to M’Big Company that has won a bulk of Bungoma County contracts.

    17. Zacharia Okoth Obado – Governor Aspirant Migori County

    Embezzlement and loss of up to Kshs 600 million through procurement irregularities, violation of Section 11 of the Election Offences Act, 2016 including the use of and perpetration of violence during the ODM party nominations in April 2017 leading to destruction of property, loss of lives and intimidation of opponents by issuing threats.

    18. Anne Waiguru – Governor Aspirant Kirinyaga County

    Under investigations for the National Youth Service (NYS) theft in which Up to Kshs. 1.9 billion was lost in the NYS scandal under her watch as Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Devolution. Audit of NYS scandal is still incomplete. Abused, lost or unaccounted for budget includes funds meant for slum upgrading of 3.5 km road in Kibera slum which would have significantly improved physical accessibility and public health and sanitation in one of the biggest slum in Africa with approximately 250,000 dwellers.

    Waiguru gave directives that ensured procurement and payment were centralized at the NYS headquarters, hence overriding and undermining meaningful oversight by other State departments. An IPSOS public perception survey released on September 8th, 2015 ranked the candidate as third most corrupt leader. The candidate was declared unfit to hold public office by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament in May 2017.

    Do you agree with the Red Card movement that those in the list must be barred from seeking election?

  • Jubilee Strategists Overhauls Social Media Team With Traditional 36 Bloggers Sidelined

    Jubilee Strategists Overhauls Social Media Team With Traditional 36 Bloggers Sidelined

    JUBILEE Social Media Machineries And PR Team All At Menopause Stage

    When a Woman reaches menopause stage; she is unable to conceive and lacks sexual drive (libido), gratification, excitement. Mechanisms which have been or rather being applied by Jubilee Party PR team which is led by the low self-esteem Dennis ‘Veronica’Itumbi to counter attack the great NASA plans to renovate the crooked shape of Kenya Nation seems to be running out through metamorphosis.They have instead made a U-turn into Identity Theft which is a Cyber Crime, but it won’t be sorted in Court, it’s just dirty politics which pops in when someone run out of ideas because of the same monkeys in a different forest.

    When we realized Jubilee smart cards which were to be used for Party primaries was a multi-million scam,it was a plus for the 36bloggers on Twitter who used to be paid 527/- to push Jubilee government agenda since they were promised increment of triple the 527/- and were to be paid at end month.Days, weeks and months passed their account remained stagnant, doors locked over rental arrears, their assets auctioned.They vanished from pushing Government agendas through hashtags on Twitter and blogs.They have never been paid!

    Dennis Itumbi led team had to plan a new blueprint strategy to encounter Opposition Online team and instead settled on creating Fake Parody accounts in facebook and twitter where masses are, and fake Websites of NASA tainting its Flagbearer’s image to hoodwink, twist and create tension on Opposition supporters.I understand, and I’ll die to believe these are last kicks of a dying horse and prior signs and symptoms of menopause.

    Dennis Ole Itumbi alias ‘Veronica’s have been a job seeker because of his childishness, low self-esteem and palpitations ever since he was fired and blocked against any force of gravity that might try to siphon him near Statehouse premises as head of Digital Communication Strategy.He is back to his previous position as ‘just’ Certificate holder blogger.Veteran Journalist and mastermind behind KTN Tv program “Chamwada Report” Alex Chamwada took over his position as newly appointed Head Digital Communication Strategy. When Itumbi was fired by President Kenyatta in a crackdown strategy, he refused to handover blueprints and relevant resources which were to be used by the new team.He is still being followed by bulls on heat, being hired for malicious plans.

    Lately, Jubilee has shifted to sponsoring mainstream media houses through the Chamwada-led team.Here are few observations: News hitting hard at Opposition are given more airtime than news hitting Government; In interviews, Opposition affiliated respondents are always asked peeling off the mask queries while Government affiliated are asked kindergarten questions; Jubilee hullabaloo events being aired while Opposition’s events are Censored.

    Infamous Uhuru’s dab

    Back to twitter world which is believed to be the second government.Jubilee did away with 36bloggers and went miles ahead to bribing @twitterke which evidently have been censoring hashtags hitting Government and its agencies from trending topic list.This has led to the laying off of all twitter Kenya operating team,@TwitterKe suspended their account due to this incompetence of its team and management.Are you still asking where the multi-millions from the smart cards are being used?

    The dirty expenditure has just begun!

    Recently, reports of great concern have reached my desk regarding fake parody accounts speculating propaganda by the following Identities:

    1.The Real Raila (Anti Raila)-Sponsored Facebook page with over 80,000-page likes, twitter handle @therealraila and website www.therealraila.com.Note this:1page like cost 1$=100kshs meaning 80k×100=Kshs 8,000,000 and remember this is a government project behind bars.Whose money is being used? Also the website and the twitter handle have all been sponsored and are more expensive compared to Facebook advert policy and payments.

    2.The National Super Alliance (NASA) -which has over 100,000-page likes, do the math and get the cost.Kenya will soon be declared bankrupt.On 5th May, the administrators sponsored blogs with the content of fake reports claiming ditching and resignation of NASA deputy flagbearer Kalonzo Musyoka from the coalition and was to make press statement the day after which never happened.

    Itumbi’s tactics are never dynamic, always the same old tricks to the same old dog: During IEBC-CORD war alias ‘Teargas Monday,’he published a ‘leaked’statement regarding CORD’s strategic plans against the government which included the war on IEBC, sponsoring doctors strike.Identity Theft. Sometimes back he again published his Statements on behalf of an NGO by the name Nothern Advocacy for Sustainable Agriculture (NASA) which was ‘Optimistic’ to halt Opposition’s political alliance National Super Alliance (NASA) to use another name due to confusion, fortunately, failed terribly. Here he again went ahead with the same trick to publish his own ‘leaked’ Kalonzo’s plan on ditching NASA and going for the presidency alone.Am willingly calling upon Itumbi to enroll for my lessons to at least get new tricks.

    Below is the list of the Administrators managing the above parody accounts:
    Dennis Itumbi(Name)-Dennisi(Login)
    James Murithi(Name)-jamesm(Login)
    David Nzioka(Name)-davidn(Login)
    Ali Yassine(Name)-aliy(Login)
    Nyaga Mbitiru(Name)-nyaga-mbitirugmail-com(Login)
    Wambui Gichuru(Name)-wambui-gichurigmail-com(Login)
    Karissahallstrom(Name)-karissahallstrom(Login)
    Kieranw(Name)-kieranw(Login)
    Filip(Name)-itsfilipoficial(Login)
    Jubi(Name)-jubiadmin(Login)

     

    Author-JohnBosco Juma
    Follow-@JohnBosco_Juma

    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]

    Author-JohnBosco Juma
    Follow-@JohnBosco_Juma

  • Raila Loses To Uhuru Even Before The Campaigns Officially Kicks Off

    Raila Loses To Uhuru Even Before The Campaigns Officially Kicks Off

    Politics is science meaning finer details can’t be viewed with naked eyes. It needs deeper analysis to understand the unwritten aspects adequately. Communication is one thing, strategic, effective communication is everything. It is for this simple reason that even African dictators have resorted to services of international communication consultancy firms to help them control masses and eventually retain power. In recent elections where the opposition has been uprooting till death do us apart Presidents, have a strategic communication system to attribute their successes to.

    In politics, perception is critical and how you build that iS entirely up to you, but you must make a narrative to serve your agenda. Psychological manipulation, building perceptions is why explicitly or perceived rogue leaders get overwhelming support, look at Sonko and the support he’s commanding despite negative publicity. Unity and Ruto had serious crimes hanging over their heads but used the loophole of psychological twisting to build a favorable perception that they were innocent and only being sacrificed by Raila to be crucified in public land.

    While the reality and culpability to the alleged crimes remain open book, the duo manipulated facts and changed perceptions that would later cost the favorable Raila a win in the election.
    Propaganda is a traditional take on trade in politics that has worked for systems worldwide. The effectiveness of a well-choreographed propaganda can’t be put any better. Politics is not a game for the Saints, and that’s the unwritten truth, you either get your hands dirty or find yourself in the cold.

    Jubilee unlike 2013 where they ran on a youthful new leadership euphoria and ICC bond, have totally lost leverage and despite the fact that we’re less than 100 days to the general elections are yet to settle on a central campaign platform. Jubilee has tried to use development as their campaign agenda capitalizing especially on infrastructure, going as far as launching a portal to sell their record including massive mainstream media hyping of same records but this has proven to be a task to sell. Cost of living has disturbingly shot up in the last four years that it becomes nearly impossible to convince the poor mwananchi who’s spending more to put enough food on the table that the country has developed.

    Development and improvement of the economy to the normal mwananchi who survive on hand to mouth basis is not the SGR or any other infrastructural development but the table, if they can’t feel it in the household, then everything else is music to a dead ear.

    The effectiveness of building perceptions has seen opposition squarely paint jubilee as a corrupt government given unending scandals; they ensured all fraud schemes were exposed and this is the ugly stain that Jubilee has struggled to remove in vain. Economic ratings rank Kenya as steadily rising with impressive GDP, but the apparatus speaks a different reality. Cost of living in Kenya has shot up to ridiculous levels, companies have either been downsizing or leaving Kenya because of the extreme business environment, the unemployment rate has hit an all-time high of 46%. This is the loophole and advantage that NASA has jumped into promising magic of resetting Kenya to default settings of affordable life.

    President Kenyatta receives Gitobu Imanyara as a Jubilee partner.

    The high cost of living remained NASA’s greatest bargaining power and campaign platform until Jubilee saw a lapse in their communication system and rushed in to spoil the party, convening a special Parliament meeting to discuss how to lower food prices with a supplementary budget to the same. NASA had a golden opportunity to maximize and milk this failure on the government entirely but has failed to capitalize on Jubilee’s failures. It takes prompt and flawless media strategic position to build a narrative around this and change perceptions. This was the opportunity to expose the poor governance in Jubilee which is to blame for the state the country is in. This was the time to task Jubilee to explain to Kenyans why they didn’t put in place effective food security measures.

    It is also the time NASA would be making Jubilee lose weight explaining where the 15B allocated to Galana Kulalu irrigation project that was meant to answer to food shortage go; it failed terribly. It is also the time Jubilee would be tasked to answer as to why drought eradication can’t include water harvesting even as we have heavy rains. Kenya can’t run on 90s management yet we expect change, effective governance would have factored in that by now. Also, an opportune time to ask why to take fertilizer supplied to farmers turned out to be fake and infectious leading to drop on corruption. A subsidy from the government, who supplied farmers with plastic fertilizer.

    The Kibandas don’t serve the extra ugali piece(sosa) anymore, and this is where that juacali artisan is directly affected, maize prices had shot up more than double amount from when Jubilee took power, during campaigns, Ruto is quoted promising for unga prices to go down on taking office, this would’ve have been perfect time to replay him the videos and ask what happened. Prices of domestic goods have altogether shot up, and this is why it was such a great campaign platform that Jubilee couldn’t allow to go, it is felt in all households.

    While Jubilee’s move to help reduce the cost of essential commodities is a great move as regular mwananchi will get a reprieve, It exposes the put out of touch nature of the government, everything happened under their watch, unconcerned until reality hit that it was being used as campaign platform against them. The sudden concern for the affordable cost of living is, therefore, more plastic than silicon on those glands.

    NASA took their time to fully capitalize on this either because they didn’t have in place any plan, nI communication strategy or sheer incompetence by existing team or perhaps somebody thought miracles would happen as in Prophet Owuor crusades. The communication lapse gave Jubilee time to re-strategize in responding the failures. This is the price to pay for poor strategizing.

    Jubilee has an endless list of failures, and this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Kenyans will reject them and that’s why they’re on a positive perception building overdrive How this is done, simple, media takeover. Jubilee is running ads and commanding maximum mainstream media coverage. You control the media you control the masses.

    Jubilee has also revamped their online army even though most are malnourished with pending payments. Latest project ‘The Real Raila’ which is a direct demonizing campaign on Raila, is heavily funded by Google, Twitter, Facebook sponsored posts. The project which has been exposed to have a base in Statehouse under Dennis Itumbi watch is running ads daily spending millions.

    Unlike Jubilee’s 36bloggers who’ve in their ineffective online campaigns have displayed ignorance and out of touch with everything, NASA online soldiers evidently show articulation and grasp with typical issues. A well-managed communication system ought to take advantage of this to run a coordinated, effective online battle without which it is chasing the wind. NASA must keep in mind they’re not dealing with the common political outfit, Jubilee has invested in propaganda arsenal which can only be squashed with timely communication, giving a false narrative to travel won’t take it back if the war is online, counter with a well motivated and competent team same to mainstream. Media create agendas that switch perceptions.

    In 2013 September, five months after Jubilee took over power, effective September 2nd, 2013, among other products the prices of milk, newspapers, textbooks, fertilizers, and mobile phone handsets went up as a result of implementing the new VAT Act 2013.

    The previously VAT exempted commodities were now subjected to 16% VAT. Under that new law by Jubilee, the 12% rate for electricity, as well as the electricity exemption for certain households, was also repealed.

    Also, according to that law, effective 1 September 2016 (last year) certain petroleum products became taxable with 16% VAT. The changes have led to a strong impact on Kenyans increasing the overall costs of living. According to William Ruto (in 2013), the purpose of the drastic VAT change was to generate revenue for the nation’s development agenda.

    The money was scheduled to go into public constructions including road and rail system improvements. It should also help the public hospitals. This was in 2013, fast forward to 2017. Kenyans are feeling the pinch. The cost of essential commodities is beyond the roof, but Jubilee is blaming the cost of living on drought. It is fallacious for Jubilee today, to claim that it is doing all it can to reduce the cost of living.

  • Clean Sweep Of Jubilee Tickets In Nairobi By Kikuyus Prompts Boardroom Deals For Ethnic Balancing

    Clean Sweep Of Jubilee Tickets In Nairobi By Kikuyus Prompts Boardroom Deals For Ethnic Balancing

    Pangani Jubilee’s Headquarters in has been flocking in the past weeks with nomination issues. The bulk of items being handling disputed polls. However, away from the public limelight, Jubilee is struggling with a tribal ogre following the emergence of clean sweep of most seats in the City County by aspirants from the Kikuyu community dealing a significant blow to the inclusiveness feature the party embedded its roots in the ‘Tuko Pamoja’ slogan which meant ti market it as a unifying party other than a tribal outfit.

    The majority of constituencies have been won by members of the Gema community. A case in focus that prompted action from Statehouse being Embakassi East where all aspirants from the MP to the 5 MCAs were all Kikuyus. Kenya Insights has learned that emergency meeting instigated by the President and chaired by DP Ruto was convened with all the aspirants summoned in a bid to broker a deal that would cushion the shame of ethnic imbalance in the constituency.

    From the meeting, Francis Mureithi who won the Jubilee ticket with a clear lead of 6685 votes with his second opponent Steven Waruinge Maina getting 3895 votes, has decided to shell his parliamentary ambitions by giving up the ticket to a candidate from a different tribe. Utawala Ward won by Patrick Karani, Mihango Ward won by Paul Muiruri, Embakassi by Joe Mutugi, Savannah by Charles Kariajahi and lower Savannah by Duncan Chege. The five aspirants now have to sacrifice the at least three positions to accommodate other tribes with strategists in the deal proposing Luo, Luhya, Kisii. This would also expand into the nomination chances during county assembly choices by Jubilee party.

    Aspirants have been holding series of deal brokering meetings through the day to meet deadline put up by the DP Ruto. ODM, on the other hand, is looking into having a favorable candidate that will give jubilee a run for their money with Babu Owino being a favourite. A balanced jubilee line up with ethnic balancing would change voting dynamics as it would bring a sense of inclusion. We learn that the headache of ethnic balancing within Jubilee is affecting many constituencies and aspirants.

  • In Raila Odinga As NASA Flagbearer, Jubilee Hit With Worst Nightmare

    In Raila Odinga As NASA Flagbearer, Jubilee Hit With Worst Nightmare

    Raila cannot win any election, he’s the weakest candidate, he’s unelectable, he’s polarizing, he’s a perennial loser, Raila will never be the President of Kenya. Same song just a different stage, Raila has just been named as the NASA flagbearer, and the familiar demonizing tunes of his name unsurprisingly hit the airwaves.

    Honestly, when the idea of opposition uniting was conceptualized, It was pretty obvious who would take the mantle, to NASA supporters, It was never going to be anyone else but Raila, a reality they carried through despite hiccups. As for Jubilee, Raila was the marked man, but they prayed day and night for things to turn up otherwise until the nightmare became a reality when he was named.

    Only a fool would root for a stronger opponent when entering a boxing ring with a total assurance of blackout in the first few seconds. As an enemy, you try as much not to show your opponent your fears and point out their strengths. Instead, you point out their weaknesses tricking them into being their strengths.

    NASA Pentagon making an entrance into the naming of the flagbearer event at Uhuru Park

    In 2013, ICC gave UhuRuto a huge platform to campaign and mobilize their ethnic blocs to come out in large numbers, and they sure did in a bid to save their sons from mzungu noose instigated by Raila, that was the lying line that sold the stale bread. Fast forward to 2017; Jubilee is yet to settle on a campaign platform even though hanging on their development record. Voters have shifted in mind mindset looking for results-oriented leadership. Under the last four years of jubilee, health, unemployment, the high cost of living amongst other recession factors has hit the country and citizens making informed ballot choices of the nominations are anything to go by.

    Jubilee studied all the NASA candidates, their potentials and the one thing that was clear, only Raila posed the greatest threat to disruption of the system. In a mind game war, ridicule and belittling the idea of Raila candidacy took precedence; the fallacy was pushed and adopted without proper chewing. It is unsurprising you’ll meet intoxicated minds saying Raila is a run over for Jubilee without clear explanation. And if any you’ll be treated to he has lost previous elections, Jubilee knows his game plan he’ll be defeated again.

    Defeating Raila is easier on paper but I’ll tell you why from the outside Jubilee is confident but deeply inside terribly shaken to near wetting their pants. Elections are won on two fronts, voter turnout, and economic mobilization. It’s on these principles that NASA had to crack their brains to settle on a neutral candidate who would strike it in the middle.

    Unveiling of the official NASA logo

    In 2007 elections where the outcome of elections turned violent, Raila believed his victory was stolen, even though Judge Kriegler’s findings didn’t single it out, the study pointed to a bungled victory for Kibaki. In 2013, again Raila claimed he was short changed, and the matter went to the Supreme Court. To read the pattern, Raila’s opponents may have perfected the art of stealing his victory and using the profiling to get away with it. Branding Raila as a perennial and whining loser is a threat to credible elections as players would quickly invest in the demonizing game to get away with the shambolic election.

    August general election comes with crucial electoral reforms that are meant to make elections rigging proof and this should worry Jubilee if they had fraud as part of their winning strategies. Parallel tallying and confirmation by the court that results are legitimized as soon as they’re announced by the returning officers closing the loophole of results manipulation changes the games. The peace of the country as it stands is embedded in the credibility of the polls, for this reason, IEBC must ensure a tamper-proof election.

    It is laughable when veteran Jubilee supporters allude that they’d vote for an alternative NASA candidate other than Raila, this is just hot air, dynamics of voting especially in presidential elections remains the same with tribal card taking a toll. Even if NASA gave a Mudavadi/ Kalonzo ticket, there wouldn’t have been any substantial shift in support, and that’s a simple fact.

    NASA had to go for a candidate with considerate support but most importantly one who would cause serious voter turnout and with guaranteed voting bloc. Kalonzo carries a significant block of Kamba votes, but his ability to fully energize his base seemed shaky, he’s currently facing distinction threats from Chap Chap’s Alfred Mutua. After all, he has been a vice-president, a running mate, and a presidential candidate. Yet he has never fully delivered the Kamba vote.

    When Kalonzo ran on his own, in 2007, he polled 879,903 votes against Raila’s 4,352,993. Of this, only 153,117 votes were from outside Eastern. More interesting, the total vote he got in Eastern — 726,786 — was only 63 percent of the total number of voters in Ukambani. He was unable to convince over 30 per cent of Ukambani.

    Mr. Musalia Mudavadi of ANC, an early favorite, does not hold the Western vote. He also seems to have little support outside western Kenya, despite his name recognition across the country. In 2013, he managed only 353,858 votes in Western, a region with 1,214,285 voter turnout numbers. Outside of his western political base, he got only 130,123 votes. In short, Mr. Raila Odinga of ODM got more than two times what Mr. Mudavadi got in Western.

    People lie, numbers don’t. August general election will only be one based on voters turn out. Raila can guarantee a formidable turnout that would send jubilee into serious strategizing. Nyanza, Western, Eastern, and Coast remains vital vote taps that NASA must get out to guarantee a round one win. Raila is also the only candidate amongst the principals who has the potential to attract support outside his background bloc, and this has been proven. His strengths ran way above any thought of combination, and it is for this reason jubilee would’ve tried all means to see the coalition tear apart or have anyone else being flagbearer being the candidate.

    If indeed Jubilee isn’t scared of Raila and sees him as the weakest candidate and a guaranteed run over then they can as well go for an early celebration, save the energy and money for campaigning instead just sent back home and wait for the next Uhuru’s inauguration but they won’t and this the point where the real threat of a Raila candidacy hits everyone. A united opposition can’t be wished away; it sent away Moi, has been sending away veteran dictators across Africa and Jubilee isn’t immortal. It is games time ladies and gentlemen. El Classico!

  • Controversy Surrounds Gospel Artists Who Performed At Jubilee’s Party Launch

    Controversy Surrounds Gospel Artists Who Performed At Jubilee’s Party Launch

    Rufftone performing at the Jubilee Party Launch
    Rufftone performing at the Jubilee Party Launch

    By Nicholas Olambo
    Jubilee party launch was also the event that saw the top cream in Kenya’s music take on stage to entertain the mammoth crowd and dignitaries. There was nothing different from that list and previous events, industry is run by cartels and their seasoned bootlickers could not miss out. It was the same script as it was during Jubilee coalition campaigns, President Uhuru’s inauguration and as it is on any public holiday.
    Some have become in-house cats without respect nation values. I mean the overdone theatrics by one Kevin Bahati Kioko. How would he sit his small butts on the president’s chair? These chaps who quit school and get into the entertainment industry without proper mentorship are going overboard. We can’t afford to raise a generation that doesn’t respect national symbols like the president’s chair; I have never seen The First Lady sit on it but Bahati did, stretch his legs on the stool then went ahead did the same on the DP’s chair. Gosh!! The boy went overboard.

    Some have become in-house cats without respect nation values. I mean the overdone theatrics by one Kevin Bahati Kioko. How would he sit his small butts on the president’s chair? These chaps who quit school and get into the entertainment industry without proper mentorship are going overboard. We can’t afford to raise a generation that doesn’t respect national symbols like the president’s chair; I have never seen The First Lady sit on it but Bahati did, stretch his legs on the stool then went ahead did the same on the DP’s chair. Gosh!! The boy went overboard.

    Politics aside, any event attended by the president should be treated as a national event. The characters lined to entertain or just address the crowd should inspire and harbor national values but what did I see, Rufftone and Ringtone! Corrupt and controversial in that order. Roy Smith Mwaita or Rufftone as he is popularly known was named in report by the county assembly of Vihiga on a Sh30 million subsidized fertilizer distribution.

    Politics aside, any event attended by the president should be treated as a national event. The characters lined to entertain or just address the crowd should inspire and harbor national values but what did I see, Rufftone and Ringtone! Corrupt and controversial in that order. Roy Smith Mwaita or Rufftone as he is popularly known was named in report by the county assembly of Vihiga on a Sh30 million subsidized fertilizer distribution.

    The 19 paged report by the assembly revealed that the singer received shs 180,000 during the distribution which was between March 3rd and 7th 2015. The Mungu Baba hit maker was identified by his artistic name throughout the report raising more eyebrows on the procurement and distribution. Ruff was sourced to entertain buyers and signed the deal on foolscap for three different amounts with three different signatures.

    Ringtone on the other hand has the biggest share of controversy more than any gospel artiste with Bahati and Willy Paul playing way below his league.

    Just last month the gospel crooner was in court to withdraw a case against a contractor he had accused of stealing from his Karen home. Not just that, the self professed former street kid has endless controversies, from his questionable flashy lifestyle, beef with MCSK to a case where he allegedly got a girl pregnant and asked her to abort. One fails to understand why hypocritical gospel artistes are always favoured, who does Ringtone inspire or what positive thing does he represent?

    There so many mannered and humble gospel and secular artistes out there, who can step on national stage, entertain, educate and inspire the crowds. Eric Wainaina, Suzanna Owiyo, Juacali, Gloria Muliro just to name a few. These are individuals who crafted their art from scratch and mastered it professionally, Suzanna has been on international stage performing before the late Nelson Mandela, Wainaina has been performed in Fifa World cup opening ceremony.

    This country has more to offer but event organizers have chosen to stick on the same script of whack drop outs with beg for mercy stories who can rhyme at end of every sentence, put a beat on it and then lick their boots. Artistes need to at least learn how to approach different crowds, events and know how far they can go. Bahati went too far but it’s that sad the chap does not know how far is too far. May be he can be accused based on ignorance.

  • Now That The Jubilee Party Merger Celebrations Are Over, Reality Checks In

    Now That The Jubilee Party Merger Celebrations Are Over, Reality Checks In

    President Uhuru and DP Ruto when they officially unveiled the new Jubilee Party in Kasarani
    President Uhuru and DP Ruto when they officially unveiled the new Jubilee Party in Kasarani

    The national campaigns for 2017 elections officially kicked off on Saturday when ODM declared Raila as their unanimous Candidate for the presidential race and Jubilee Party killing affiliate parties into one in what was a glamour filled ceremony.

    It was dance and jubilation at the well attended merger ceremony at Kasarani Stadium, more than forty defectors from opposition parties were unveiled and Jubilee aspirants took the platform to strengthen their bid. Billions splashed on the event that has major ssideshow of delegates complaining over unpaid alllowances and it being slashed from the promised Sh20,000 to Sh,3,000 to even worst cases delegates from rural being stranded.

    Now that the party mode is off, time for a reality check. The merger coincided with coming into law legislation that restricts party hoping. Knowing the voting patterns, next elections will still remain a two horse race between now unveiled Jubilee Party and CORD. Candidates who will win the party tickets in respective strongholds during the nominations will have the upperhand in the General elections. The nominations in respective party’s strongholds doubles as the final election, Party advantage is key in the end ballot.

    With affiliate parties now swalloed into one Jubilee Party, the nominations is a do or die for everyone. The Politicians pictured dancing and shouting their lungs out in not during the merger, could go into deep depression any minute. In the previous election where the coalitions left open for affiliate parties to nominate candidates individually, disgruntled aspirants took advantage and jumped into an affiliate party within their coalition after nomination spat out. This time things will be different, in the case of Jubilee, there won’t be any open affiliate party to run into, Party hoping also restricted by law. In street language they say sh*t about to get real.

    Jubilee Party nominations are slotted for next year May,within the next remaining months, major fallouts and realignment should be anticipated. Candidates have to seriously consolidate and not make a guess about everything, this is no gambling, you lose out on the nominations, you wait for another shot in 2022, knowing the huge power appetite for the incumbents and new entrants, Plan Bs should or rather already in place.

    Serious fallout in Jubilee strongholds, inevitable as the nominations will be a do or die foreach candidate. Take for an example Kiambu County where Kingpins Kabogo and Waititu are battling it out,Nairobi we have Sonko,Wanjiru,Sakaja,Waweru and Wamalwa both strong Jubilee aspirants fighting it out for the ticket, not unless a boardroom deal is inked to accommodate everyone, expect sizable noise.

    We’re looking at a wave of independent candidates ahead of 2017 and scheming new parties cashing in on the developing events. In the last elections, Kalembe Ndile’s TIP maximised on the nominations fallout by selling certificates to disgruntled candidates.

    Other possible scenerios ahead; there will be voter apathy in the general election because those defeated in nomination will not care to campaign for anyone hence their supporters will see no reason to go and vote. It will be the end of the road for many politicians especially if you have been a governor and now you lose in nomination. Expect candidates to spend heavily on the nomination. In worst case scenarios, look out for political assassinations as the last resort to remove stumbling blocks. Perhaps it now makes sense why Kabogo is moving around in an armoured car as if he’s in Afghanistan.

    Expect 80% of sitting MPs,Governors to be sent home, this from historical voting patterns. Politicians faced with possible extinction and fallout in Jubilee Party but until then…ile le le yo

  • Jubilee Party Mega Merger : Uniting The Country or Neutralizing Stepping Stones

    Jubilee Party Mega Merger : Uniting The Country or Neutralizing Stepping Stones

    President Uhuru and DP William Ruto at State house after announcing the mega merger.
    President Uhuru and DP William Ruto at State house after announcing the mega merger.

    By Nicholas Olambo
    As the distance to next year’s polls get shorter political realignments characterize every move as a preparation to emerge victorious. If the current showbiz is anything to go by then jubilee beats cord hands down. Cord is a jaundiced version of what Jubilee is now.

    The electorate is being blinded by the flashy style of the ruling coalition but is the move really to unite the country? If you ask me, I will tell you no. The political outfits in this country are tribal just like the voting patterns.

    If ODM for instance is still regarded as a Luo party despite having numerous elected leaders across the country from, Nyanza, Nairobi, North Eastern, Rift Valley and Coast. The mega merger of jubilee coalition’s affiliate parties is nothing different from what it was before; the idea is still based on the ‘tyranny of the numbers’ myth. In fact nothing has changed, and despite the showbiz, status quo will still remain in voting patterns.

    From 2002 parties that win elections in this country don’t reach the next elections before camouflaging into a different thing. Kibaki came into power with NARC ticket but later changed into PNU to defend his seat in 2007 then threw PNU away after ‘winning’the disputed polls. PNU was formed to neutralize NARC which was a coalition of many parties and definitely had many demands, all of which President Kibaki could not meet.

    The likes of Noah Wekesa kept disturbing Kibaki to have their pre-poll promises met but when the party was changed promises were forgotten with the old party.

    The same is the case here; President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto cannot meet all demands by different affiliate parties that made Jubilee coalition. This move therefore is to neutralize coalition partners and their demands. The baggage cannot be carried into the next term or as he leads. It’s a Macheavillian tactic: you must destroy those who helped you get the power. ‘Men should either be generously treated or destroyed, because they revenge for slight injuries – for heavy ones they cannot’.

    Neutralization is the best and silent way of destroying the affiliate parties that helped Kenyatta ascend to power in 2013. Power is not about groups or movements if you ask me, power is about individuals. Kibaki tried it by reducing Raila Odinga to a mere roads minister in 2003 but failed, Odinga became his fierce rival in 2007 polls. The affiliate partners of jubilee also know how they rank in terms of party strength from top to the bottom.

    It’s all rosy, hype and showbiz at the moment but things will unravel in the aftermath of 2017 polls. Severe injuries will be realized, Uhuru may choose to support Ruto or not and party will not be of significance after winning re-election. Kibaki had no use of PNU after his controversial re-election. History repeats itself and its right before the eyes of the electorate.