Folks,
With all the insecurities happening in Kenya today, these are signs that things are not well in Kenya. People are living on a timed-bomb just about to explode and which is about to destroy the poor and the disadvantaged innocent people. We have many cases that are pending or stage-managed to be dodged or prolonged, that are left hanging without answers, yet there are good evidence with proof enough to disqualify the Coalition Government Leadership and install a strategic Transitional Caretaker Committee which can be trusted to move Kenya to where Kenya people want to go. Kenyans want a Progressive and sustainable Development Agenda fair and shared by all; away from backwardness, careless killings, living under political threats scare tactics and intimidation, poverty, draught, environmental pollution, pain and sufferings. It is for this we cannot fail not to ask a few questions so we together with the world may look at all angles and take urgent action in fairness to save the majority poor who are targeted for extinction, assassination and or those who survive will be taken for slavery practices. We must Ponder the following questions:
1) Will Kenyans join with the world to question the Coalition Government Leadership, the real reason why there is insecurity in Kenya?
2) Who is the architect or the emissary in a mission to destroy Kenya on behalf of the International unscrupulous Corporate Special Business Interest Community who are in the scramble to Africa's Wealth and Resources; with intention to own public valuables for free without proper legislative policy protection for Bills of Rights meant to provide a balance on fair shared deal to benefit both Stakeholders and beneficiaries where; everybody gets opportunity to benefit within the public resource, finances, facilities and utilities?
3) After taking Public Wealth and Resources of Kenya for free and instead plan to wipe out disadvantaged communities who are seen to be occupying targeted land for the illegal thievers, what becomes of the Democratic Constitutional Governance, Human Rights against Crime, Violation and Abuse?
4) We are worried the Coalition Government leadership of Kibaki and Raila have failed Kenyans miserably. They are up to no good with matters pertaining to security, livelihood and survival of Kenyans. For this reason, we cannot continue to gamble with public lives and action must be taken instantly to save a situation. It is clear they have decided, if they cannot get it, then Kenya must go on fire. The community on target are those whose lands had already been sold and it is why the explosives have been imported to be used by terrorist illegal groups allowed to enter the country illegally to wipe the community out by stage-managing Civil War in the country with other uncalled for conflicts.
5) The West scrambling for Africans' Land, Wealth and Resources at no costs, had proof in the eating of the pudding. The greediness of the African Political leadership was easy to bribe. With a little money, they were all ready to join in the conspiracy to kill and destroy their own to pave ways for Special Interest. This is a serious crime that is unacceptable and must not be taken lightly by all good people of the world. This is the time to take the Bull by the horn. They both have demonstrated that the Coalition Government leadership is using Kenya/Africa as their personal property "cash cow" which is disposed off at will. The Leadership of Coalition Government with its agents must be taken to task through legal justice because, they did not honor or take their oath agreement seriously to protect and preserve public interest and wealth according to public mandate.
6) Because of bad leadership and slackness, agents of the two Principals are seen engaging in networking of shoddy illegal and irregular deals where Prime Minister Raila equally found himself getting involved into dangerous Memorandum of Undertaking which later are seen to backfired. The Unscrupulous International Corporate Business Community of Special Interest are seen having a fields day in scrambling to such like Oil, Titanium, Gold, Diamond, Coal, Lake and Sea Water Basins; and generally, the potential land for Agriculture; without public engagement, mandate or consent.
7) These are some of the reasons why the Explosives entering Kenya are being imported by those criminal terrorists they allow to enter with intention they destroy in a hurry, livelihood and survival for poor disadvantaged Kenyans occupying targeted lands.
8) Will people just sit and watched their owns being butchered under their watch without making noise? We are all worried Kenya is being made a battleground for the 3rd World War and Raila and Kibaki with cronies will take a plane out of the country while Kenya is left to be burning. We must stop Kibaki and Raila now and throw them into jail before the whole nation is put on fire.
9) Public interest in the Naional Reform Accord Agenda is therefore presently thrown into the dustbin. Through the MoUs Raila signed business interest without public mandate and without proper trading policy under which Public legislative Bills of Rights are not protected or recognized. For this reason, Raila is not a reformist nor should he claim he has public interest at heart. This is proof that PM Raila's interest are those of Special Interests.
10) After Mutilating the Constitution, where and how will the Public Mandate be delivered fitting in the current political environment with expected economic stability for progressive Kenyans be in a fair playing field by the people of Kenya???
11) We must ask ourselves, why has Civic Education to empower the public not been done as required and according to the Reform Agenda?
12) In the present case-scenario, will the Mutilation of the Constitution provide fairplay to the County Governance of Majimbo/Federalism, land, Finances and Police security Legislative Bill of Rights fitting with the current state-of-affair……..???
13) With all these questions hanging around non-suitability of PM Raila's integrity to perform and deliver as per the two Principals' Oath of Allegiance, can Raila be trusted with Leadership to Kenya's Democratic and Constitutional leadership demanded at the Referendum???
14) With the kinds of fronting for conspiracy to hijack Public Wealth and Resources by force through terrorism act, is Raila and Kibaki with their political affiliates and agents not preparing Kenya to Civil War..???
15) Before we are thrown into Civil War and confusion, will Kenyans not Unite and decide that Kibaki and Raila's Coalition Government has failed to move Kenyans forward as per their signed Reform Accord Agreement, and that, both are of no Good but must face the law while the New Constitution must be re-done by a Transitional Caretaker Committee for the sake of Peace, Unity and livelihood and survival.???
In the meantime, Raila and Kibaki must face charges in the Court of Law over such Goldenburg and Anglo-Leasing scandal, Grand Regency, Kazi kwa Vijana Youth Project Fund, scandal at the Kenya Port Authority, illegal and irregular sale of Kenya Railway, Maize candal, Triton, Titanium in Kwale, Ramisi Scheme for sugar belt, Offshore oil, Gold in Makalda mine and around the environment, Oil in Turkana, Oromo Dam in Turkana, Lamu Port in Mombasa, Oil in Nyakach, Oil in Migingo, Osienala, Kit Mikai with Oluch Kimira and others that are not all listed here.
These were the causes and reason for Conflicts where election went wrong in 2007/8 and must not be left to be repeated.
A) With the US American Embassy in Nairobi providing security alert over fresh advisory security danger, why did Kenyan leadership take it lightly only to find Iranians crooks were behind it networking with the Al-shabaab and Mungiki....who was wrong here, Kenya Government or the US Ambassador Mr. Scott……???
B) Was Vision 2030 really of the Human Face? Who was in control of the channeling of its funding? If so, why did the Coalition Government Leadership and Party affiliates refuse to act on Public Interest and Mandate but instead damaged and mutilated the Constitution to fit in the desires of Special Interest? Is it hard to identify those emissaries who were coming to Washington DC with those linkages connected to Boston and Massachussets including Ambassador Odembo.
C) Do you now know why Diaspora issues in Prime Minister's Office is heavy duty and have suddenly become Ambassador Odembo's special preserve with Headquarter at Boston's Massachussets with conflicts of special interest for Diaspora's in the USA..???
D) Do you have reason to put to task and question Jackoyo Midiwos and Uhuru's networking interest about Boston's/Massachussets and why PM Raila is a faithfull servant to the same???
Good people, who is fooling who? Shall we not wake up and act by submitting to court to act??? Will each and everyone act to save a situation???
Without proper trading policies put on Legislative Bills of Rights, and without public protecting Public Wealth and Resources, National Reform Accord is useless, security at election will not be water tight and election will remain Null and Void.
We cannot afford to be thrown into an abysmal doomed created by the corrupt Coalition Government of the leadership of the two Principals. All their signed faked MoUs of the Vision 2030 is Null and Void, but if we are able to marshall the dissolution of the Coalition Government through legal justice and proceedings at Supreme Court and at the ICC Hague, we are able to save a situation where many lives are about to perish.
All preparations for the next election must be treated as Null and Void until and unless we all put our best foot forward and fight for a Transitional Caretaker Committee to be formed so we are able to put things right before the election can be called, we will have done ourselves no good by wasting time sharing.
By this, I begin to call good Leaders of the world who care for human rights to see Kenya as a serious case trapped in a burning bush-fire and must come to join with Kenyans to save a situation. This cannot be left to continue this way for any more time.
Thank you all for sharing........ Judy Miriga Diaspora Spokesperson Executive Director Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com Michela Wrong on Kenya's corruption scandals Published on Apr 15, 2012 by SmartMonkeyTV Author of It's Our Turn To Eat Michela wrong on: the huge Kenyan US$1 billion Anglo-Leasing curruption scandal; the key figures in the case and those who are still in Kenyan politics today; the Goldenberg corruption scandal and its impact on Kenya's economy; the system that allows different tribal politicians to loot Government coffers; and more everyday examples of corruption in Kenya. Goldenberg Case Starts Afresh Published on Apr 16, 2012 by kenyacitizentv The hearing of the multi billion shillings Goldenberg scandal started afresh after six years of dragging in courts. There were shocking revelations of how the government instructed the Kenya Commercial Bank to transfer 5.8 billion shillings to 4 different commercial banks. A former funds manager at KCB Stephen Ng'ethe told a Nairobi court how he questioned the crediting of the accounts of the commercial banks from the KCB account instead of the central bank of Kenya. Andrew Ochieng reports. Kenyan Elders Crown Gaddafi 'King of Africa' Njenga-Pattni duo Uploaded by NTVKenya on Oct 8, 2010 http://www.ntv.co.ke AG's bid to bring back Kenya's stolen billions Published on Jul 3, 2012 by NTVKenya http://www.ntv.co.ke Attorney General Githu Migai now says plans to repatriate billions of shillings stashed In foreign accounts brought back to the country are in top gear. Kenya has sought mutual legal assistance in six countries to start the process of bringing back the billions and as NTV's Sheila Sendeyo reports, this latest attempt by the government could also lead to the revival of investigations into past scandals such as Anglo-Leasing and Goldenberg. Food for the starving sold in Nairobi shops Published on Jul 3, 2012 by NTVKenya http://www.ntv.co.ke Raila urges S Korea to support Somalia peace efforts Prime Minister Raila Odinga (right) confers with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hwang Sik in Nairobi July 9, 2012. Mr Oding urged South Korea to support the ongoing efforts to restore peace in Somalia and the two Sudan nations. PMPS By PMPS Posted Tuesday, July 10 2012 at 09:59 Prime Minister Raila Odinga has urged South Korea to support the ongoing efforts to restore peace in Somalia and the two Sudan nations. Mr Odinga asked the visiting South Korean Prime Minister Kim Hwang to help in the establishment of a legitimate state in war ravaged Somalia to contain the insecurity menace posed by terrorist cells and pirates in the Horn of Africa. "We call upon South Korea to be steadfast in support for the reconstruction in Somalia and demanding stability and peace in the Sudans," the PM said. He stressed the need for Kenya and South Korea to strengthen their ties on security issues to detect and deter any threats posed by terrorist groups and piracy. Mr Odinga, who hosted a dinner party for Mr Hwang, said cooperation between the two nations was of mutual benefit to both parties and said Kenyans had a lot to share and learn from the "economic miracle" that transformed Korea into an industrialised nation. "Korea is well known for transforming the lives of its people through very revolutionary rural sector agrarian policies that put the country on the path to self sufficiency in food and other areas," he said. The PM said Kenya will increase exports of agricultural products to S Korea as it continues to buy manufactured products from the latter. "We will be able to buy more of your Hyundais and KIAs and Samsung while you buy our tea , beef and coffee" he said. Mr Odinga, who was accompanied by his wife Ida Odinga, said the country was looking forward to S Korea investments in flagship projects under the Vision 2030 programme. "We want the Koreans investment in flagship projects under the Vision 2030 like the LAPSSET, development of three berths and associated infrastructure for the Lamu Port at Manda Bay," Mr Odinga said. Shocking details of RAILA and Goldenberg thief KULEIThe Kenyan DAILY POST Politics 04:20 Tuesday July 10, 2012 - In what may appear to be another revelation of Goldenberg scandal architects, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's coalition adviser Miguna Miguna has narrated how the Premier sent his spokesman Carol Omondi to Goldenberg chief architect Joshua Kulei demanding Sh 54 million in cash to cover up his Goldenberg cases if he became the president in year 2007. In some excerpts from his book Peeling Back the Mask: A Quest for Justice in Kenya, Miguna narrates on how he met Prime Minister Raila Odinga's spokesman Caroli Omondi carrying Sh 54 million in a petrol station. Here is the story…. One Saturday, I met Caroli at Oil Libya Petrol Station in Westlands near The Mall Shopping Complex ferrying piles of cash in his vehicle, stashed in plastic bags. He told me that it was just Sh54 million he had collected from former Goldenberg architect Joshua Kulei. Apparently Raila had sought help from Kulei in order to pay ODM presidential agents, a job which he had then tasked Caroli with. I shook my head and walked away. Raila probably knew that someone like veteran journalist and former UN functionary Salim Lone (who served as his spokesman during the 2007 campaigns and for one year after he became prime minister), former political prisoner Prof Edward Oyugi, Sarah Elderkin or myself couldn't and wouldn't carry Sh 54million in plastic bags, leave alone collect it from Kulei and around town with it in broad day light. This is a deeply entrenched working political culture of Kenya. Raila, like Moi before him, was just perpetuating it. I have never been a follower. Iconoclast? May be on reflection, I should have left Raila's campaign that afternoon. Had I done that, I would have saved myself some of the moral dilemmas and angst I later faced working for Raila as a Prime Minister. But hindsight is of course a wonderful thing and if wishes are horses beggars would be riding them.Well, as I should have known and appreciated, once you start sliding down that moral and legal slippery rope, you can't apply any brakes until you reach the bottom. More to follow…… The Kenyan DAILY POST Report: Iranian agents in Kenya planned attacks on US, Israeli targetsTwo Iranian agents arrested in Kenya were planning attacks on American, Israeli, British or Saudi Arabian targets in the African country, the Associated Press reported on Monday, citing unnamed Kenyan officials. According to the AP report, Kenyan security forces arrested the Iranians last month. The agents led security officials to 33 pounds of RDX, a powerful explosive, in the coastal city of Mombasa near where several Israeli-owned hotels are located. The officials told the AP that the plot appeared to fit into a pattern by Iranian agents to target foreign interests. The Iranians are members of the secretive and elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps Quds Force, one official told the AP. More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News: US embassy issues fresh Kenya advisory Posted by BERNARD MOMANYI on July 9, 2012 NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 9 – The US Embassy in Nairobi has now issued yet another travel advisory to its citizens, warning them to be cautious when in Kenya due to heightened terror threats. This time round, the advisory is not specific of any particular town in the country, instead warning Americans considering traveling to Kenya to beware of the risks involved. The alert sent to Americans directly urges them to evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing and recently heightened threats from terrorists and the high rate of violent crime in some areas. "The U.S. government continues to receive information about potential terrorist threats aimed at U.S., Western, and Kenyan interests in Kenya. Terrorist acts can include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, attacks on civil aviation, and attacks on maritime vessels in or near Kenyan ports," the alert sent to citizens enrolled in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) states. As a result, it said, the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi has limited official U.S. government travel to Kenya until the security situation improves and will continue to monitor the security situation and provide updates. "Although these restrictions do not apply to travelers not associated with the U.S. government, U.S. citizens already in Kenya should take these restrictions into account when planning travel," it said, adding "The Embassy regularly reviews the security of these areas for possible modification." The alert comes barely a week after outgoing US Ambassador to Kenya Scott Gration lifted an earlier one imposed on Mombasa and which was largely criticized by the Kenyan government. In this latest advisory, the US embassy makes reference to a number of recent terror attacks including the twin church blasts in the Northern Kenyan town of Garissa where 17 people were killed a week ago. "Although the pursuit of those responsible for previous terrorist activities continues, many of those involved remain at large and still operate in the region," it said and warned travelers "to consult the Worldwide Caution for further information and details." The US embassy here seeks to remind its citizens of at least 17 attacks involving grenades or explosive devices which have occurred in Kenya in the past year, in which at least 48 people died. Some 200 others or more were wounded. Nine of these attacks occurred in North Eastern Province, including locations in Dadaab, Wajir, and Garissa while four occurred in Nairobi, and four in Mombasa. Targets included police stations and police vehicles, nightclubs and bars, churches, a religious gathering, a downtown building of small shops, and a bus station, the alert states. "U.S. citizens should use common-sense precautions, such as avoiding crowded bus stops or stations, visiting only legitimate businesses and tourist areas during daylight hours, using well-marked taxis, locking vehicle and lodging doors, carrying small amounts of cash and credit cards, wearing small amounts of jewelry, knowing emergency phone numbers, and being aware of your surroundings. These measures can help ensure your travel to Kenya is safe and enjoyable," it said. Kenya cancels oil deal with Iran after warnings, Associated Press JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press, TOM ODULA, Associated PressUpdated 09:07 a.m., Wednesday, July 4, 2012NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya on Wednesday cancelled a deal to import Iranian oil hours after the U.S. warned the country that it risked being penalized if it sees through the deal which would breach U.S. and European union sanctions, a government official said. The sanctions are meant to deprive funding for the Iranian government and what is believed to be an effort by Iran to build nuclear weapons. Kenya's Energy Permanent Secretary Patrick Nyoike said Kenya had not signed an agreement but had a memorandum of understanding with Iran to import its oil and was complying with international sanctions on Iran. "There is an embargo on Iranian oil and on that note it has been decided that the M.O.U. will be terminated," Nyoike said. Kenya cancels oil deal with Iran after warnings, Associated Press JASON STRAZIUSO, Associated Press, TOM ODULA, Associated PressUpdated 09:07 a.m., Wednesday, July 4, 2012NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya on Wednesday cancelled a deal to import Iranian oil hours after the U.S. warned the country that it risked being penalized if it sees through the deal which would breach U.S. and European union sanctions, a government official said. The sanctions are meant to deprive funding for the Iranian government and what is believed to be an effort by Iran to build nuclear weapons. Kenya's Energy Permanent Secretary Patrick Nyoike said Kenya had not signed an agreement but had a memorandum of understanding with Iran to import its oil and was complying with international sanctions on Iran. "There is an embargo on Iranian oil and on that note it has been decided that the M.O.U. will be terminated," Nyoike said. News: World Kenya police: Iranians shipped 100kg of explosivesNAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A Kenyan police officer has told a court that two Iranians accused of planning attacks on Western targets in Kenya had shipped more than 100 kilograms (221 pounds) of a powerful explosive. Iranian nationals Ahmad Abolfathi Mohammad and Sayed Mansour Mousavi are charged with preparing to commit acts intended to cause grievous harm after they were arrested and allegedly led officials to a 15-kilogram (33-pound) stash of the explosive RDX. Police Sgt. Erick Opagal asked the court Tuesday in an affidavit to deny the two suspects bail because more than 85 kilograms (187 pounds) of the explosive authorities say was shipped to Kenya has not been found. Iranian agents are suspected in several successful or thwarted attacks — especially against Israeli interests — around the globe over the last year. Capital FM (Nairobi) Kenya: Briton Among 133 Nabbed in Terror SwoopBy Bernard Momanyi, 9 July 2012 Nairobi — A Briton and two Pakistanis are among 133 foreigners arrested in Nairobi on Sunday night, for allegedly being in the country illegally, police said. Others are 81 Somalis, 47 Ethiopians and two Sudanese nationals who were picked up from various estates in a security operation mainly targeting foreigners staying in the country illegally. "The suspects will be arraigned in court later today (Monday)," Police chief for Nairobi Antony Kibuchi said. Kibuchi said they have launched a security operation code-named "Operation Fagia Wageni" (Operation sweep foreigners) targeting those who do not have valid papers. He said the operation is part of the security measures the government has put in place to suppress terror threats the country is facing. Most of the suspects were arrested in Eastleigh, South C, Pangani and estates in Eastlands, police said. In the latest weeks, Kenya has been hit by a series of terror attacks blamed on the notorious Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab which has set base in neighbouring lawless country Somalia. The latest attack occurred a week ago on Sunday when attackers linked to the terror group opened fire and hurled hand grenades in two churches in Garissa, killing 17 people -including 2 police officers. The officers were the first to be killed and guns snatched from them as they guarded one of the churches, before the attackers stormed in the churches and killed worshippers. Most of those who survived are alive today because they managed to dash out using a back door. Police have since intensified security measures on al churched particularly in the border towns of North Eastern Province which appear to be key targets for the militant gangs. Last week, a major security shake up was made in the region, in what Defense Minister Yusuf Haji said are measures aimed at restoring security there. Capital FM (Nairobi)Kenya Investigating Suspects On U.S. Terror ListBy Bernard Momanyi, 6 July 2012 Nairobi — Kenya said Friday it was compiling evidence against three nationals slapped with US sanctions over alleged terrorism links, with intention of charging them in court. Defence Minister who is also acting in the Internal Security docket Yussuf Haji said the three, particularly Aboud Rogo Mohammed were on a terror watch-list, and have been "wanting to see me dead." "As you know I am one of the victims of those people, there is this (Rogo) clergy in Mombasa who has been telling people that I am kafir (non-believer) and I should be killed simply because I am doing my job," the Minister told journalists when asked to comment about the sanctions on the three suspected terrorists. "God is great, before they catch me, they are going to be dealt with by the UN as reported. So it is true (sanctions have been placed) and we are very happy that they are going to be dealt with accordingly," he added. Haji could not state how soon the government intended to act on them, only saying: "Details will come later, as you know cases have to be built until there is enough evidence and action will be taken accordingly." The United States placed sanctions Thursday on Rogo, Abubaker Sharif Ahmed and Omar Awadh Omar for allegedly aiding Al-Shabaab. Other backers of Al-Qaeda-linked Shabaab rebels in Somalia also consist of two Eritrean government officials and a Sudanese national. Rogo Mohammed, an Islamic cleric; Omar and Ahmed are named as important facilitators and recruiters for Shabaab. capital fmOmar is jailed in Uganda awaiting trial for his alleged role in the attack on World Cup fans watching a match in Kampala on July 11, 2010. Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack, which left 74 dead. The US Treasury said the sanctions, freezing any US-located assets of the six and forbidding any US business or individual from having dealings with them, were aimed at helping halt the conflict in Somalia and efforts to dismantle Al Shabaab. "The United States is determined to target those who are responsible for the ongoing bloodshed and instability in Somalia," said Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The Treasury also named Eritrean colonel Tewolde Habte Negash as an intelligence officer who "funnels money to" groups opposed to Somalia's struggling transitional federal government. "Col. Negash was the principal architect of the government of Eritrea's relationship with al-Shabaab in Mogadishu in 2006, and he has been the principal coordinator of financial and logistical support to a number of armed groups, including al-Shabaab, since 2004." The other Eritrean is Col. Taeme Abraham Goitom, named as a key player in the Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia, which is also fighting the transitional federal government. A third figure is Suhayl Salim Abd-El-Rahman, also called Abu Faris, whom the Treasury said was a "Somalia-based Sudanese extremist" who aids foreign fighters that want to join up with the Shabaab. Kenya: Fast Forward - Social Change With a Flash BulbBy Maike Winters, 9 July 2012 Photographer and social activist Boniface Mwangi may only be 28, but the photos he took during Kenya's 2007 post-election violence have made a name for himself. That name is transcending his country's borders and spilling into other forms of art and activity. In between yawns, smiles and breaks to play with his children, he recently spoke with RNW. At his home in a western suburb of Nairobi, Mwangi is sitting on the couch. He looks tired. His three little kids run around while his wife makes tea in the kitchen. He himself comes from a "broken home", as he describes it, having grown up in a slum with six siblings from six different fathers. He says his Christian beliefs saved him from getting into crime. The passion for photography was sparked by photographer Mohamed Amin's work on the Ethiopian famine in 1984 and its impact worldwide. But it was Mwangi's photos of Kenya's post-election violence that pushed him into a spotlight of his own. Can you say where this desire to create social change came from? I became traumatized after the post-election violence because of what happened and because my work was not published as much in Kenya. It was just published outside the country. I became bitter and frustrated. And after the violence ended, we forgot about the victims. But for me, the victims were alive, because I could see the pictures and had flashbacks of what I had seen. I decided to quit my job as a photographer for a newspaper and to do something about it. You decided to use your work to make people reflect on what happened. You founded Picha Mtaani and travelled around the country with the photos you took of the post-election violence. How do you think an art exhibition can elicit change in people? The purpose of the Picha Mtaani exhibitions was healing the nation. We had hundreds of thousands of people coming to the exhibitions. Through looking at the pictures, they were able to open up and talk. We had the exhibition, we had tents where guys could have conversations and we had counselling for victims and perpetrators. We made people sign a peace pledge, committing themselves to non-violence. So it was very important for the country. And it helped me dealing with my own traumas. A few years later you started Pawa254. The non-profit organization was behind graffiti that has been showing up in Nairobi lately, portraying politicians as vultures and asking for fair elections. Last month it organized the Love Protest. What is the latest campaign? We just started The Ballot Revolution. Through a T-shirt campaign, we want people to understand the power of the vote. If you don't like somebody, you don't have to hurt him, you just vote him out. If you vote for the right person, you vote for a good future. The difficulty is of course that there are no good candidates, so we are now talking with good people to make them run for office. But the problem with our politics is money. People who have solutions for this country have no money to campaign. Guys with lots of money bribe you, but they have no solutions. [Kenya's] politics is just dirty. How can you engage people to make a change? The people themselves can change the system, people have to realize that they have power with their vote. And you need to give them a selfish reason, only then they are willing to change things. For me, I am doing this for the future of my kids. After all the work you have done, trying to heal the nation through your campaigns, how would you feel if violence resumed after next year's election? I have been giving that some thought. I'm afraid of being heartbroken again. What worries me is that we have so many victims who haven't found justice yet. There is no justice out here, so people are bound to revenge. They have a lot of bitterness built up; it's like a time bomb. If not addressed, it's a serious danger for this country. What is your dream for the future of Kenya? I want Kenya to be safe. I wish [that] nobody fears getting raped or mugged. The insecurity in this country shows that our systems don't work. And as long as people are hungry, poor and treated unjustly, criminality won't stop. This is the first article in a weekly series of interviews with young Kenyans who are helping to develop their nation from within. Nairobi, February 03, 2006 President receives Goldenberg report  President Mwai Kibaki chats with the Goldenberg Commission Chairman , Justice Samuel Bosire and Justice Peter Le Pelley and the KACC Director Justice Aaron Ringera after receiving the Goldernberg Report at State House Nairobi. President Mwai Kibaki today at State House Nairobi received the report of the inquiry on the Goldenberg scandal. The report was handed to him by the chairman of the commission of inquiry into the scandal, appellate Judge Samuel Bosire who was flanked by the vice chairman Nzamba Kitonga and commissioner Peter Le Pelley. Receiving the report President Kibaki said the government would take action on the report after thoroughly studying it. The President said," I'm very grateful for your efforts and I'm sure we shall take the action recommended in this report. We shall read the report and see what you say should be done and I know it will be done." President Kibaki assured the public that the government shall act on the recommendations of the commission and would not hesitate to contact the commission should the need arise. The President thanked the commission for a job well done, and asked Kenyans to be patient while the government studies the report. Said the President," I ask fellow Kenyans to be patient and give us a week to read through the report and ask any questions we want to ask. I can't really comment on it because we haven't read it." Noting that the government was resolute on fighting graft in the country, President Kibaki said though it had taken three years for the commission to come up with the report its importance had not waned. "Though the inquiry has taken you three years, you have done well and we needed this kind of report in order to deal with this very serious matter," The President added. Presenting the report Justice Bosire confirmed that Goldenberg was a scam in which the country lost billions of shillings. He said, "The country lost 1.4 billion shillings in export compensation, shs. 3 billion under the pre-export finance scheme upon the collapse of Trade Bank limited and billions of other monies were siphoned out of the county under the rention scheme." Justice Bosire went on to say that under the bearer convertible foreign exchange, bearer certificates were used to circumvent the provision of the then exchange control act. He noted that under the exchange rate gains, different premium rates for buying and selling forex were allowed illegally earning Kamlesh Pattni, the principal player in the scam, 5.8 billion shillings. Another fraudulent scheme, the Judge added, involved cheque kiting that was entered into largely to allow Kamlesh Patni to cover borrowed money he had taken from the Central Bank and yet the scheme was using non existent money. He said, "More than 100 million was made by Patni and should be recovered." In the dollar sale contracts, Justice Bosire noted that 210 million dollars within dollar sale contracts were entered under which no dollars were to pass, yet Kamlesh Pattni got an equivalent from the Central Bank which is yet to be recovered. Justice Bosire further said there was a payment of 5.86 billion shillings from the treasury to Pattni on the excuse that he was owed money for export compensation. On Pan African Bank, Justice Bosire said it was 'bought' out of the money obtained from earlier fraudulent schemes. "No money was paid by Pattni and his friends, the main object was to get hold of the title deeds of Grant Regency Hotel, the only substantial asset that could not be sneaked out of the country. As a result, there was massive inflation and loss of foreign exchange from the country," the judge added. The commission of inquiry recommended that a proceed of crime act be passed urgently to deal with culprits involved in similar scams in future, the deposit protection fund vote should be independent, the licensing of banks be given to the Central Bank of Kenya and the oversight functions of the controller and auditor general should extend to the central bank of Kenya. "Presently the controller and auditor general can only audit the bank at the request of the Minister for Finance," he noted. The commission further recommended that ex gratia allowance paid by the government on compassionate grounds be abolished and that there should be protection for whistle blowers. Present were the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Martha Karua, the Attorney General Amos Wako, the Minister of State for Internal Security and Provincial Administration John Michuki, the Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet Amb. Francis Muthaura, the Director of the Kenya Anti-corruption Commission Justice Aaron Ringera and the Commissioner of Police Maj. Gen Hussein Ali. KENYAREPUBLIC OF KENYA Head of state and government: Mwai Kibaki BackgroundThe government of Mwai Kibaki faced widespread criticism over the involvement of several senior ministers in two corruption scandals. The Vice-President and two cabinet members were among 30 people summoned by the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission (KACC) in connection with the Anglo Leasing scandal, in which large sums of government money were paid for equipment that was never provided. However, the Attorney General, Amos Wako, decided not to prosecute the 15 suspects indicted by the KACC. The report of an inquiry into the Goldenberg scandal, which involved the loss of $1 billion in false gold and diamond exports in the 1990s, was published in February. It recommended corruption charges against businessman Kamlesh Patni, education minister George Saitoti, former President Daniel Arap Moi and several others. In March five people, including Kamlesh Patni, were charged. In August a panel of three High Court judges ruled that George Saitoti, who had resigned, had no case to answer. Attacks on media freedomThere was increased intimidation and harassment of media workers and journalists by the authorities. • In March, armed police, acting on government orders, raided the offices and presses of the Standard group, a leading media company, and the studios of KTN television. They set fire to the 2 March edition of the Standard, damaged equipment at both sites and confiscated computers. The raid provoked widespread protests both nationally and internationally. Three Standard journalists had been arrested before the raid and charged with producing "alarming" articles for reporting that the President had held secret talks with a political opponent. The Standard group filed a complaint against the Internal Security Minister and the Police Commissioner in connection with the raid, and a Parliamentary Committee held hearings to investigate it. In September the charges against the three journalists were dropped. • Clifford Derrick Otieno, who filed a private prosecution alleging assault by First Lady Lucy Kibaki, the wife of President Kibaki, in May 2005, was repeatedly threatened and harassed. He was forced to leave the country in January, but his family continued to be threatened. His case against Lucy Kibaki was terminated by the Chief Magistrate. In November, following repeated postponements, the Constitutional Court dismissed his appeal challenging the termination. • In May, two journalists working for the Citizen television channel were reportedly assaulted by police after they had attempted to photograph officers allegedly trying to extract bribes. A draft bill - the Media Council of Kenya Bill 2006 - proposed a statutory media council in place of the existing voluntary council. The bill was criticized on the grounds that it proposed imposing restrictions on the work of journalists through an annual licensing system, allowed for political interference through the composition of its appointments board, and limited the right of appeal against the proposed council's decisions. By the end of 2006 the bill had not been passed by parliament. Harassment of human rights defendersThe government sought to undermine and obstruct the work of human rights defenders. Non-governmental organizations accused the government of using the KACC and the Kenya Revenue Authority to intimidate its critics. • In September, the Chairman of the Kenya National Commission of Human Rights, Maina Kiai, was summoned by the KACC for an investigation into allegations of abuse of office. The allegations against Maina Kiai, an outspoken critic of the government, included issues related to his relocation allowance and the manner in which auditors were selected. Forty civil society organizations came to his defence, stating that the investigation was politically motivated and part of a wider plan by the government to harass and intimidate human rights defenders. ImpunityThe authorities failed to investigate allegations of human rights violations by police, including reports of torture and unlawful killings. Provincial Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan reportedly issued "shoot-to-kill" orders to police in Nakuru district in October, following a spate of ethnic clashes. • Despite a request for information by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Human Rights Defenders, there was no news of an investigation into allegations of ill-treatment made by Ojiayo Samson and Mithika Mwenda, both human rights activists. The two men were beaten by police officers in July 2005 after being arrested during a demonstration and continued to face criminal charges. • There was still no investigation into the deaths of Paul Limera, aged 14, Hillary Ochieng, aged 17, Vincent Otieno, aged 15, George Ogada and Paul Mwela, who were shot by police officers during a demonstration in 2005. In October the Justice Minister, Martha Karua, announced the creation of a new body to receive public complaints about police excesses and hold the police accountable. • A group of former Mau Mau insurgents launched a suit against the UK government in October, seeking compensation for human rights abuses including rape, beatings and other torture committed during the rebellion for independence in the 1950s. According to the Kenya Human Rights Commission, tens of thousands of people were tortured by the British authorities at the time. Violence against women and girlsWomen continued to face widespread violence, and violence against girls reportedly increased. Most sexual violence against girls was reportedly committed by family members or close family friends. • In March, 10 schoolgirls were raped during a demonstration in the town of Nyeri. Five local boys were later arrested, but no prosecution was reported. The government passed the Sexual Offences Act 2006 in May. The new act imposed minimum sentences for different crimes; defined rape, defilement and other sexual offences; and proscribed the use of previous sexual experience or conduct as evidence against the victim. However, the act did not recognize marital rape, provided a restrictive definition of rape and did not criminalize forced female genital mutilation. Forced evictionsTens of thousands of residents were forcibly evicted from forest areas and informal settlements. Evictions were characterized by violence, the destruction of houses and property, and inadequate resettlement and compensation provisions. Notice was sometimes, but not always, given. The government pledged to develop national guidelines on evictions, and in May set up an inter-ministerial task force to finalize them, but no draft had been issued by the end of the year. • In March, 3,000 families were evicted from Kipkurere Forest in the Rift Valley. Settlements were burned, and property and food stocks destroyed. • In June, 8,000 people were evicted from Emborut Forest, in the Rift Valley. Houses, schools and churches were burned down. • More than 600 families were left without shelter after Komora slum in Nairobi was destroyed in September to make way for a private development. Residents complained that they had nowhere to go, that they had been given only 10 minutes to clear their homes, and that the iron sheets they had used for their dwellings were destroyed. Protection of refugees and asylum-seekersTens of thousands of new Somali refugees crossed the border into Kenya, joining the 160,000 refugees - mostly from Somalia - already living in camps around the town of Dadaab in the east of the country. By late October, an estimated 34,000 had arrived, fleeing increased violence in southern and central Somalia. At Kakuma camp, near the Sudanese border, there were reports of rising tensions between refugees and members of the local Turkana ethnic group. Four people were killed in clashes and attacks on the camp in August. Refugees who had been repatriated to southern Sudan returned to Kakuma camp in May, reportedly because of insecurity in southern Sudan. Kenya, Rwanda and UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, signed an agreement in March on the voluntary return of about 3,000 Rwandan refugees. Death penaltyDespite the government's commitment to abolishing the death penalty, expressed to the UN Commission on Human Rights in March 2005, there were no significant movements in that direction in 2006. Death sentences continued to be imposed; however, no executions have been carried out since 1986.
Goldenberg scandalFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Goldenberg scandal was an alleged political scandal where the Kenyan government was found to have allegedly subsidised exports of gold far beyond standard arrangements during the 1990s, by paying the company Goldenberg International 35% more (in Kenyan shillings) than their foreign currency earnings. Although it notionally appears that the scheme was intended to earn hard currency for the country, it is estimated to have cost Kenya the equivalent of more than 10% of the country's annual Gross Domestic Product,[1] and it is possible that no or minimal amounts of gold were actually exported. The scandal appears to have involved political corruption at the highest levels of the government of Daniel Arap Moi. Officials in the current government of Mwai Kibaki have also been implicated. Background Similar to most countries, Kenya encourages international trade by granting tax-free status to commercial enterprises involved in the export of goods and sometimes subsidizes these exports. The Goldenberg scandal was based on the fact that exporters who deposited U.S. dollar earnings with the Kenya central bank received in exchange the equivalent in Kenyan shillings plus 20 percent. However, gold mining represented a tiny portion of Kenya's GDP, with only one operational gold mine (at Kakamega). Goldenberg International therefore developed a scheme of smuggling gold into Kenya from Congo, so that it could legally export it more than the export price from the government. [edit] DetailsThe chief architect beyond the scheme was a relative of the Kenyan businessman Kamlesh Pattni. However, it was Pattni who established Goldenberg International to implement the scheme.[2] The very large sums involved (600 million dollars) indicate that the senior government officials were at least complicit. Almost all the politicians in the Moi government and a considerable percentage of the current Kibaki government have been accused. The judicial system also appears to have been deeply involved, with twenty three of Kenya's senior judges resigning after evidence indicated their involvement.[3] The scheme began in 1991, almost immediately after the Kenya government, following directions from the IMF, introduced measures to reform the economy and increase international trade and investment, and seems to have stopped in 1993 when it was exposed by a whistleblower, David Munyakei. As a result of this, Munyakei was fired from his position at the Central Bank of Kenya, and spent the next decade of his life poor and largely unemployed. He died in August 2006, leaving three daughters and his wife.[4] There have been two investigations on the scam, one under the Moi government and the other under the current government. The gold was likely imported from Democratic Republic of the Congo; and therefore probably helped finance the war that raged (1997–2002) in that country, and neighbouring Tanzania where illegal gold mining was then booming. [edit] Bosire reportOn February 3, 2006 A report by Mr Justice Bosire [5] recommended that the Education Minister at that time, Prof. George Saitoti should face criminal charges for his actions and that former President Daniel arap Moi should be further investigated. Saitoti was both vice president and finance minister under Moi in the early 1990s. On 13 February Saitoti's resignation was announced by President Kibaki in a television address.[6] The report said that records presented at the inquiry showed that Lima Ltd, which is associated with Mr Gideon Moi, Mr Nicholas Biwott, and two other people received Sh6.3 million from Goldenberg. However, the Commission concluded that in respect of Nicholas Biwott, who had not been in government at the time, "no moneys of Goldenberg were involved", the matter was outside the terms of reference and the commission could enquire into it.[7] The report also said Sh158.3 billion of Goldenberg money was transacted with 487 companies and individuals. A list of exhibits compiled by the commission puts Goldenberg International Ltd at the top of the primary recipients of the money, at Sh35.3 billion. The directors of Goldenberg were named as Mr Pattni and Mr Kanyotu. Although Mr Kanyotu was the director of the Special Branch and a director of First American Bank, he described himself as a farmer in Goldenberg documents. President Moi was named by Mr Pattni as having been a shareholder of GIL by nominee. |
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