----------------------Forwarded ------------------------- Judy Miriga Diaspora Spokesperson Executive Director Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc., USA http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com Cord leaders in Naivasha to craft opposition strategy Published on Apr 14, 2013 http://www.ntv.co.ke Ongera, Ongoro fight at Cord meeting Published on Apr 15, 2013 http://www.ntv.co.ke Raila Odinga rules out return-to-House bid PHOTO | MACHARIA MWANGI Cord leader Raila Odinga arrives for the alliance's retreat at the Great Rift Valley Lodge in Naivasha on April 14, 2013. The coalition leaders are meeting to lay the groundwork for exercising their oversight duties in the opposition. NATION MEDIA GROUP By DAVE OPIYO dopiyo@ke.nationmedia.com AND MAURICE KALUOCH newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.com Posted Sunday, April 14 2013 at 23:30 Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on Sunday declined offers by some MPs and senators to step down for him. Instead, Mr Odinga vowed to fight for democracy and implementation of the Constitution from outside Parliament. The former Lang'ata MP said he had competent, experienced and youthful legislators who were capable of keeping the Jubilee Government on its toes. "I do not have to be in Parliament to fight for democratisation because the Coalition of Reforms and Democracy has competent legislators," he said on Sunday at Kakiimba Village in Mfangano Island, Homa Bay County, during the burial of Mzee Sila Ogweno Ooro, the father of his personal assistant Silas Jakakiimba. He spoke as more details of his meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto came to the fore. Mr Odinga's close aide, who refused to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, revealed that some allies of the former PM and his presidential election running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, could actually make their way into the Jubilee government. According to the aide, President Kenyatta had offered Mr Odinga some Cabinet and Principal Secretaries slots as a way of promoting national unity. He said President Kenyatta started looking for the former PM a day before the March 4 presidential election results were announced. "He managed to reach him through a mutual friend but they never discussed much because results had not been declared," he said. "When the Supreme Court made their judgment, he started looking for Raila again. This time Ruto came on board. That is how Raila came to meet Uhuru face to face for the first time." The source said Mr Odinga was not keen on the meeting but only agreed because the mutual friend insisted. He said the Saturday meeting at State House between Jubilee and Cord leaders did not discuss the offer in detail, but only emphasised the new government's resolve to bring everyone on board. However, President Kenyatta reportedly stated his wish that Mr Odinga plays a role on the international stage. While in Khwisero on Saturday, Mr Odinga appeared to spurn an offer to serve as an envoy for the Jubilee Government. "My in-tray is already full and I'm prepared to settle down to keep the new government in check." He said that he had asked Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto not to entice members of his coalition to weaken the role of the opposition checking the government. Mr Odinga, who was speaking during the burial of Khwisero MP Benjamin Andola's mother, said the country needed a strong opposition and he was ready to continue fighting for reforms and strengthen Cord as well as his ODM party. He said the victory by the Jubilee in the March 4 General Election should not be seen as a blow to his campaign to nurture democracy in the country. "I want to tell my supporters the time has come for us to move on despite the loss in the last General Election," he said. He went on: "I do not need any sympathy because I am not dead. I'm still around and will continue the fight for Kenyans' rights." Additional reporting by Benson Amadala How Rev Jesse Jackson sealedRaila meeting with UhuruPosted by admin on Sunday, April 14, 2013 · Leave a Comment Nairobi, Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta's Saturday's meeting with Mr Raila Odinga at State House was the culmination of two hush-hush meetings, both in homes of influential personalities close to the two leaders. The Saturday meeting was the second directly between the two fiercest rivals in the March 4 elections, and also the first to be acknowledged by the two sides, complete with television footage. But inquiries within the President's and Raila's side revealed that the influential force bringing the two hitherto bitter rivals together was America's civil rights and towering religious figure, the Reverend Jesse Jackson. April 1 was characterized by two key events; it was Easter Monday as well as April Fools Day, when people the World over get half-a-day to pull pranks on each other. In Kenya, it was no different as families got out to enjoy the fun-day together, either in church, friend's homes or even entertainment joints. But behind the scenes, something else was taking off, and as it turned out, it wasn't a prank at all. That Easter Monday ended with Uhuru, whose victory the Supreme Court upheld the previous Saturday (March 30), sharing a dinner table with Raila at the home of a mutual friend. This first meeting took place at the home of the youthful wealthy businessman in the Muthaiga Estate. Second meeting The businessman, whose name we withhold for legal reasons because he usually doesn't brook any linkage to politics, was close to the late Prof George Saitoti, and when the former Internal Security minister died in a chopper crash, he shifted camp to Uhuru. Both Uhuru and the businessman had been close and the youthful billionaire's business and political ties to Saitoti had not strained this relationship. The second meeting wasn't Uhuru's, but was a shared dinner table between Raila and Jackson at the home of Dr Evans Kidero, the new Nairobi Governor, and close ally of the former PM. Again as with the first meeting between the leader of Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) and Uhuru, this too was in Muthaiga where Kidero lives. It took place the day following Uhuru's inauguration on April 9, and confidants of the former PM told The Standard that Raila headed straight to Kidero's home on arrival from South Africa that Wednesday. Raila had gone to South Africa for 'holidaying' with his running mate in the March 4 race — former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka — and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula. It is believed that Jackson sought out Raila after meeting Uhuru on the day of his inauguration with the message that it was in his (Uhuru's), Raila's and Kenya's interest for them to build a rapport and demonstrate mutual respect for each other. Civil rights Jackson, thought not a member of President Barack Obama's administration, was the most familiar American public figure at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, when Uhuru was sworn-in. It was not clear if at all he could have had a message from Obama to Uhuru and Raila, even though it is not very much unlike American tradition for a private message of their leader to be delivered by a senior and respected citizen. But even without Obama's prodding, Jackson's role as a civil rights activist has given him immense contacts and good rapport with many African leaders, and he could have put these at play. Having been close to the presidency, polling 5.3 million against Uhuru's 6.1 million, the American cleric exhorted Uhuru to appreciate the fact that he needed to send out a message of goodwill and reconciliation to the considerably big constituency that did not vote for him. Raila's aides, on condition of confidentiality so as not to be seen to be spilling the beans on secret talks between their boss and the new President, said of the ex-PM's meeting with Jackson: "He went there (Kidero's home) alone and expressed his willingness to work with Uhuru for the good of the country." The sources explained that after the Supreme Court ruling, the youthful businessman, who is also a son of a former influential minister in retired President Daniel Arap Moi's Cabinet, tried reaching out to Raila using one of his long-serving personal assistants. It wasn't clear at this stage whether he is the one who initiated the meeting, or was acting on Uhuru's behalf. However, the businessman also happens to be close to Uhuru's deputy, Mr William Ruto, who would later tell the country after assuming office, that he had had lengthy meetings with Raila. "This was the first attempt towards arranging for a meeting between Uhuru and Raila. The meeting took place on April 1at the businessman's residence in Muthaiga,'' confirmed the PM's aide. Another of the PM's advisors also confirmed both meetings that the former PM attended in the two Muthaiga homes. "Mr Odinga denied the first meeting took place and that is his position. But the truth is that the meeting did take place at the home of the businessman,'' he said. In a Facebook posting earlier in the day another of Raila's advisors had revealed to his string of online friends that Reverend Jackson, who like the late Martin Luther King is a renown black American civil rights activist and Baptist minister, was the key player in the Uhuru-Raila talks. The advisor played down media reports that the Uhuru-Raila meeting, where both Kalonzo and Ruto featured, discussed the number of security guards the CORD leaders should be left with and the amount the State would pay them as retirement benefits. Real issues "…You can safely laugh at reports in sections of our media that Raila went see (sic) Uhuru about security detail and chase cars and retirement benefits,'' Raila's advisor who is also former top UN media personality, Mr Salim Lone. Lone then threw in the revelation: "The meeting was actually negotiated by the Rev Jesse Jackson and focused on real issues facing Kenya." He then referred his friends to the Sunday Standard story yesterday quoting Raila saying he had turned down the offer of a UN envoy role because his "plate was full''. Speaking in Khwisero constituency on Saturday after meeting with Uhuru, Raila explained his focus would be to strengthen CORD and urged those still sympathising with him for losing the presidency to stop because it was unnecessary. Tell me sorry "Do not tell me sorry for what happened. I do not wish to hear this. When a cooking stick breaks, do you stop preparing your meal? Certainly not! And that is why we want to state that we have enough work to do," said Raila. "Raila when invited for dinner by the businessman, sought to know what it was all about. He was assured there was nothing underhand, and all the cards would be on the table. Because he was also keen to be part of healing the country (after the divisive elections), he accepted the invitation,'' said another of Odinga's aides. When Lone was contacted, he confirmed Jackson did meet Raila at Kidero's home. "I can only confirm the meeting took place between Raila and Reverend Jackson at Kidero's home and that they discussed a possible meeting between him and the President (Uhuru)'' was Lone's response to our questions. Source:standardmedia.co.ke James Gomez Director for International Affairs Rainbow/PUSH Coalition 727 15th Street, NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: (202) 393-7874 Fax: (202) 393-1495 Email: jgomez@rainbowpush.org butch wing rainbow push coalition Kidero bribe was too little, too earlySHARE THIS STORYUpdated Monday, April 15 2013 at 00:00 GMT+3 By Standard Reporter These unnamed 'Nairobi businessmen' clearly don't know people. Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero has spent a fortune running for, and winning, his position as the boss of our capital city. The statisticians among us keep repeating that Nairobi generates 60 per cent of Kenya's GDP, which essentially means that Nairobi is Kenya. And so it came as a bit of a disrespectful surprise that these measly Nairobi businessmen not only summoned the governor to a meeting — the cheek! Who do they think they are? — but also slapped on the table not just a bribe, but also a tiny one at that. A Toyota Landcruiser and Sh10 million in cash. Only. This is a favourite mode of operation for these people. In 2003, the late Karisa Maitha, then Minister for Local Government, under whose docket Nairobi fell, found a briefcase stuffed with Sh5 million in his office. Our Nairobi businessmen need to calm down. Not everyone is impressed with a little cash thrown their way — as Dr Kidero has shown. It is impossible to bribe a person who is already immensely wealthy. It is also rather suspicious, when such a bribe comes so soon after the governor comes to office. It smacks of a cabal that is scared that their corrupt so-called 'business interests' are in real threat of being curtailed by a no-nonsense incorruptible governor. Good. The positive is that this should provide a blueprint for governors across the country, a warning to them that nefarious interests will try to first bribe and then blackmail them into corrupt deals at county level. What is worrying is that, inevitably, some of these governors will fall prey to these temptations. It is the villager's dream that this does not happen and that these bribers get caught and locked up. But that's just a dream. Kenyan oil well releases 281 barrels per day in test drill Visitors tour the site of the Ngamia-1 well in Turkana county. Photo/FILE Nation Media Group By EMMANUEL ONYANGO Posted Monday, April 15 2013 at 09:20 One of Kenya's six oil wells has been releasing 281 barrels of oil a day (bopd) in a drill test conducted by British explorer Tullow Oil. In a statement released on its Twitter handle, the oil company said the drill test at Ngamia-1 well in Block 10BB proved the commercial potential of oil reserves in the northern part of the country. "At the Ngamia-1 well in Block 10BB in Kenya, the first of six drill stem tests has now been completed. The test was carried out in the Lower Lokhone formation. The well flowed 281 barrels of 30 degree API oil per day using a Progressive Cavity Pump," the statement said. "The results from the first flow test at Ngamia are also very encouraging and prove the first potentially commercial flow from the Lower Lokhone reservoir section. The remaining tests in the Auwerwer reservoir units will give us a fuller indication of Ngamia's production potential, " said Angus McCoss, Exploration Director of Tullow Oil plc. In February the British explorer announced it had completed a testing program for the Twiga South-1 well with results showing that the well has a cumulative flow rate of 2,812 barrels of oil per day (bopd) It said that the well holds a potential of producing up to 5,200 barrels of oil per day if pumped using high efficiency equipment. (READ: Twiga South-1 well flows 2,800 bopd) World Bank to Strengthen Focus on Land Rightshttp://www.ipsnews.net/2013/04/world-bank-to-strengthen-focus-on-land-rights/
 Women farmers in Bangladesh are opting for climate-proof crop varieties. Credit: Naimul Haq/IPS - The World Bank will be placing stronger emphasis on issues of land tenure and socially and environmentally sustainable agricultural investing, it announced Monday. The bank, one of the world's largest development lenders, also formally reiterated its concern over the large-scale corporate "land grabbing" that has affected vast swathes of Africa in recent years. Without these guidelines, we'd be left with anarchy. "The World Bank Group shares these concerns about the risks associated with large-scale land acquisitions," World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said in a statement from the bank's Washington headquarters Monday. "Securing access to land is critical for millions of poor people. Modern, efficient, and transparent policies on land rights are vital to reducing poverty and promoting growth, agriculture production, better nutrition and sustainable development." Following on decades in which agricultural sectors were almost completely bypassed by international investors – including bilateral donors and multilateral lenders such as the World Bank – recent years have seen a surge of interest across all types of investors and development institutions. Related IPS ArticlesOn Monday, Kim noted that the World Bank, too, had stepped up its agriculture-related investments, but warned that "additional efforts must be made to build capacity and safeguards related to land rights – and to empower civil society to hold governments accountable." Ahead of a four-day annual World Bank conference on land and poverty here this week, the institution stated that it expected the global population to grow by two billion by 2050, requiring an expansion of global agricultural production of 70 percent. While the institution is reiterating longstanding calls for significant new public and private investment in both small-scale and large agricultural operations, it has warned that "investment alone will not be enough" to attain these levels. Rather, citing spiking food and fuel prices coupled with the looming uncertainties of climate change, the bank is urging the adoption of stronger national and international standards on investments and land rights as a way of helping farmers across the globe raise yields. "Usable land is in short supply, and there are too many instances of speculators and unscrupulous investors exploiting smallholder farmers, herders and others who lack the power to stand up for their rights," the bank notes. "This is particularly true in countries with weak land governance systems." As such, the bank will now be strengthening efforts aimed at improving land governance, protecting the rights of landowners, and promoting policies "that recognise all forms of land tenure and help women achieve equal treatment in obtaining land rights". Growing global discussion Particularly following the rise in both global food-price volatility and demand for biofuels over the past half-decade, agricultural land has become a lucrative commodity for international investors, who have focused particularly on Africa. According to 2011 research by the bank, some 60 million hectares of land in developing countries were purchased or leased by private sector investors in 2009 alone, a process that has continued. In many cases, local civil society organisations have warned that these transactions are being carried out with government complicity and without following international standards on stakeholder inclusion. "There's been a tendency recently towards governments giving large plots of land to international investors for free or at concessional rates, thinking that doing so will fast-track development," Nicholas Minot, a senior research fellow with the International Food Policy Research Institute, a Washington-based think tank, told IPS recently. "To some degree there's logic to that, but there is a huge question as to whether that land was owned by the government or whether it was previously occupied by small-scale farmers without titles. Establishing secure land rights for people in rural areas is a massive but critical issue." Organisers say that this week's World Bank conference on land and poverty – the 14th – is the largest they've ever put on, and includes participation by government officials from several countries. Bank officials also say that the conference's focus, titled "Moving towards transparent land governance", is indicative of a new global discussion on the issue. "This year we have dozens of sessions on issues of land governance, transparency and implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines, which wouldn't have been as prominent four years ago," Jorge Munoz, a land tenure adviser for the World Bank, told IPS. "This is not a new subject for the bank, but it has become much more prominent globally – though clearly some countries are much more interested in increasing transparency for improving land governance than others." As part of the bank's scaling-up on the issue, Munoz points to the institution's rollout of a new tool with which governments are able to get a snapshot analysis of their current land tenure and related laws. Called the Land Governance Assessment Framework, Munoz says 33 countries have now started to use it. In addition, the bank is now assisting in implementing new international guidance, approved in May under the auspices of the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), called the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. According to USAID, the Untied States' central foreign assistance agency, at least 22 countries have now requested technical assistance on implementing the Voluntary Guidelines. Although the project is still in a pilot phase, a "zero draft" of the guidelines is to be released within the coming month. "Voluntary regulations don't always work, of course, but in this case these guidelines may be the only way to solve the problem of ensuring that small-scale farmers don't get abused and are able to access lands they may have used for generations," Danielle Nierenberg, co-founder of Food Tank, a Washington think tank, told IPS. "Without these guidelines, we'd be left with anarchy. Still, governments and consumers now need to take the initiative to push corporations to take this seriously." The bank is also involved with another FAO process to develop an international set of Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment, aimed at offering global guidelines on socially and environmentally sustainable investments in agriculture. In recent years, some civil society groups have questioned the bank's own part in facilitating large-scale land acquisitions (including here and here), particularly that of its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Yet Munoz says much of this criticism has overstated the institution's role, which he suggests has focused less on financing than on offering technical assistance on reforms. "There is a major global problem with land-grabbing," says Munoz. "The bank's role is, essentially, to be leaders in assisting countries in improving land governance and improving the behaviour of private investors." |
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