Kenya Insights

Tag: NASA

  • NASA: ‘City-Killer’ Asteroid Now Has 3.1% Chance of Hitting Earth in 2032

    NASA: ‘City-Killer’ Asteroid Now Has 3.1% Chance of Hitting Earth in 2032

    NASA has updated its assessment of asteroid 2024 YR4, revealing a 3.1% chance of it striking Earth on December 22, 2032. This makes it the most threatening asteroid ever recorded by modern tracking systems.

    Despite the increased probability, experts stress there is no immediate cause for alarm.

    The James Webb Space Telescope will observe the asteroid next month, and additional data is expected to refine its trajectory.

    Historically, similar cases have seen initial probabilities rise before dropping to zero as more precise measurements are gathered.

    Discovered in December 2023, 2024 YR4 is estimated to be between 40 and 90 metres wide. If it were to hit Earth, it could generate an airburst explosion equivalent to eight megatons of TNT—500 times the power of the Hiroshima bomb. While not a global threat, it could cause catastrophic damage to a city.

    Potential impact locations include the eastern Pacific Ocean, northern South America, Africa, and South Asia.

    However, experts highlight that there is ample time for planetary defence measures.

    NASA’s 2022 DART mission successfully altered an asteroid’s course, proving that deflection strategies could be deployed if needed.

    As astronomers continue to track the asteroid, they urge the public to remain calm, noting that the probability of impact is still low and likely to decrease with further observations.

  • How men Raila ditched in NASA returned to scatter the handshake

    How men Raila ditched in NASA returned to scatter the handshake

    The ODM party is bitterly protesting the developments that have seen the men Raila Odinga ditched in NASA now forming a coalition that is preferred by system while isolating their leader from the 2022 succession matrix.

    ANC leader Musalia, Moses Wetang’ula (Ford-K) and Kalonzo Musyoka worked with Raila under the Nasa coalition in 2017, in 2018 Raila abandoned them to strike a handshake deal with President Uhuru but they have regrouped and brought in Baringo Senator Gideon Moi after they accused Raila of political deceit.

    The ‘Sacred Alliance’ of Mudavadi, Kanu’s Gideon Moi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Wetang’ula is pushing ODM leader Raila Odinga to periphery when he thought President Uhuru Kenyatta would endorse his 2022 presidential bid.

    Although continues Raila has refuted claims that he was hoping for a Kenyatta endorsement, the formation of the alliance has seen his handlers accuse the Jubilee of undermining the handshake partnership with threats to abandon the Building Bridges Initiative.

    ODM is now raising the expected concerns that their leader is being used to amend the Constitution through the BBI and then he will be dumped as power brokers converge to chatter a system friendly route for 2022.

    ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi in a rally with members of the Sacred Alliance [p/courtesy]
    The move to form the ‘Sacred Alliance’ is to destabilize Raila’s loyal support bases across in Western and Coast with an aim to render him a weak candidate ahead of 2022 general election. ODM has even accused Jubilee, their handshake partners, of being behind the violence witnessed in Matungu by-election where they lost to ANC.

    Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala who was accompanied by goons on the election day were seen attacking IEBC officials but was not arrested since the system used police deal with ANC opponents but Malala argues that ODM was beaten because the people of Western Kenya meant to send a political message to Raila.

    “We came up with the best strategy and protected our votes from rigging by ODM which should just accept the defeat and move on. Nobody should try to bring propaganda that we were funded by the state. The unity of the Luyha nation defeated Raila,” Malala said.

    But even before the Matungu and Kabuchai by-elections, tension was building after Raila’s men complained that senior civil servants were manipulating the Building Bridges Initiative process.

    The BBI secretariat was co-chaired by Jubilee’s Dennis Waweru and ODM’s Junet Mohamed but its now under the Interior PS Karanja Kibicho in a clever move to deny the ODM leader political mileage and whittle down his influence in the whole BBI process.

     

  • Why We Can’t Eat Out The Locust Menace

    Why We Can’t Eat Out The Locust Menace

    There has been an intriguing talk about how the locust invasion menace, which is in eight counties now and supposedly getting out of hand, that the locusts can be turned into meals.

    But can we really eat out the locust? Can they be trapped, fried and reserved? Who will do that and at what cost—the taxpayers will be facilitating this? Who wants to eat the locust?  Do they really need them?

    According to Dr Stephen Njoka, the Director of Desert Locust Control Organization for Eastern Africa, trapping and frying the insects can’t be a viable and much needed solution to efforts to eradicate the desert locusts.

    “You cannot finish all the locusts by eating them, one swarm may have up to 40 million insects,”  Njoka said.

    “The communities that eat them should be careful not to eat the ones that have been sprayed with the pesticide,” Njoka warned the public.

    Speaking at his first press conference since appointment as Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Peter Munya said the government is in control and the locust problem will soon end.

    “We are adding more resources to contain the problem in key areas of Marsabit, Isiolo and Mandera,” he said adding that the government has hired three more aircraft to be deployed tomorrow (Thursday).

    The locust started crossing the border of Ethiopia and Somalia into Kenya late last month. They have so far invaded eight counties of Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Garissa, Isiolo, Meru, Samburu and Laikipia.

    The government has no actual figures of the amount of destruction coursed by the desert locusts in Kenya so far, but they have destroyed 175,000 acres of farmland in Somalia and Ethiopia according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

    “The swarms of locusts are feeding in a non-discriminatory manner on the green matter. This will bring famine to both humans and animals. Controlling them will be a challenge unless the government increases capitation and tools to control the pests,” said Timothy Munywoki, senior agronomist at Amiran Kenya Limited in charge of crop protection and product development.

    According to NASA’s Earth Observatory, part of an average swarm can eat the same amount of food in one day as about 10 elephants, 25 camels, or 2,500 people.

    Kenya had a locust invasion in 2007 but the situation was contained. The last time the country had a locust invasion that was similarly threatening was in 1961.

    The documents at the Desert Locust Control Organisation for Eastern Africa (DLCO-EA) that was formed in 1962 in response to a locust invasion in 1961 state that the current threat was similar to that of 1961. Kenya had a locust invasion in 2007 too but was contained. DLCO-EA reports indicate that the plague that wrecked Eastern Africa region causing massive hunger and deaths across happened in 1940s.

     

  • Musalia’s ANC Party Suspends Cleophas Malala For Supporting Raila And ODM

    Musalia’s ANC Party Suspends Cleophas Malala For Supporting Raila And ODM

    Amani National Congress Party under the leadership of Musalia Mudavadi has slapped Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala with a Suspension letter after the vocal Senator was seen in a rally supporting Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate—Kibra MP-elect— Imran Okoth.

    Image result for malala cleophas kibra"
    Photo courtesy of Pulse

    Musalia’s Party which had also fielded ex-Raila advisor Eliud Owalo who was the second runners up after Ruto’s candidate McDonald Mariga has released a press statement announcing the suspension.

    The outsmarted ANC founder Musalia Mudavadi, who’s political strategy and agenda remains unknown to even his close allies has been having it rough with the Kakamega Senator and his mate ANC nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi.

    Sometimes back, for starters, I published the tussle between MaDvD, Malala and Osotsi —who alleges that he’s the original founder of ANC party and Musalia Mudavadi is just an incomer after his UDF( United Democratic Front) party terribly flopped— just like his Political agenda.

    Musalia Mudavadi has declared himself the opposition Chief but all that is seen in public from him is KANU era political moves, irrelevant foreign trips that he sneaks outs to hold and baseless TV interviews with the Moi-owned Standard Media group.

    The ANC Chief, who had insisted that NASA—probably one of his biggest political cause that is alleged to have been engineered by Tycoon Jimmy Wanjigi—  was not dead and his still on the steering wheel. But my searches reveal otherwise, from the official NASA Twitter, there is no single tweet or even a retweet that is promoting MaDvD- the self-proclaimed NASA founder.

    Here are the latest tweets from the Coalition NASA verified account.

    Image result for malala cleophas"

    Raila Odinga’s followers have also been rubbishing ANC leaders claims that he runs coalition NASA, according to them, Musalia just like William Ruto, he’s always busy blaming Raila and ODM in not only issues concerning the State but also the in-fights that have mired his Party ANC.

    Image result for malala cleophas kibra"

    So is Musalia Mudavadi and his ANC party serious? Honestly, no one knows—looks like even MaDvD himself doesn’t. The Party has said a couple of times that they have suspended Godfrey Osotsi from the post of Secretary-General then, they go ahead and accuse the same person they have suspended of interfering with Party affairs. Is Malala’s suspension going to stand or it’s just another kick from the already dying horse?

     

     

  • 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?

  • 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!