Sunday 26 May 2013

[wanabidii] Africa Union out to push for return of International Criminal Court Cases back home



Good People !


 

It is the people's will to demand and put pressure on the implementation of the TJRC Report, starting from you and me and everybody-else........The Constitution is a Representative Supreme Law For the Government of the People, By the people and of the People........which establishes basic principles of fundamental rights for all people who must comply under Bills of Rights......where everyone must follow the Rule of Law according to peoples mandate and demands.......and as well, the Government must channel, live up-to and follow the Rule of Law......and that No One is above the Law......that, the Rule of Law makes sure that all Arm of Government system are in compliance; where the Government facilitates and delivers public demands according to peoples mandates.......and so, it is therefore the people who must make sure they do not rest until the TJRC Report is implemented.......So, the people must get down to work........We are together in this.........Let's stay on course people and live too much of side-shows......

 

Open public discussions and debate on public matters are important for democracy to work. They are in the Freedom of Expression and Association in the Declaration of Independence to protect Life, Liberty and unalienable Pursuit of Happiness.

 

In establishing basic principles for people's "Bills of Rights", people must dialogue and find ways and means to fix problems. But when the going gets touch, we take refuge from the Supreme Court which rules on significant cases of social and public policy issues that affect peoples lives and livelihood. It is peoples committment to instil relevant values for law to take effect that will bring the desired governance to an orderly manner and the system is made to follow path of regulatory discipline.

 

People these are brief summary of the basic principles we must stick with.

 

African Union too have a duty to comply and respect the Law of Land. Peoples demands and mandate is the law.........It is the way to go people........

 

 

Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
 
 
 
Opiyo Bilongo - Bi om pii dalawa.wmv
Uploaded on Jan 24, 2012

Opiyo Bilongo of Bilongo Golden Stars with Bi iom pii dalawa here. Here is a real Osito disciple pairing up with the likes of Ericko Chogo. Other songs in this Album of Nyako we Sanda include; Margaret Gati, and Nyako we Sanda itself.
Tobias Opiyo janyakach kadiang'a, formerly a solo guitarist in Nabi Kings of Osito Kale started his own band in the early 2000 and had been doing well through out. Bilongo also did songs like Ywak Debe Sauti Moja and Ang'o ma Ji Dwaro. He left Kenya for the USA after the death of John Otieno Ogile - Jakolando Wuod min Abonga. Teaming up with Ian nyathi otenga & the others, they did songs like Obama and others. Later, he came back to Kenya and has been teaming with Odhiambo Tusker in his hit songs, Florry Nyabondo, Cynthia, and Judy Atwech- Jirani.

 
 
 
Offside Trick - Aambiwe (Babu Jinga) (Official Video)
Leyla Rashid - Sina Muda Huo
Published on Jan 9, 2013

Taarab sounds, "Sina Muda Huo" by Leyla Rashid

 
 
 
Diamond - Kesho Official Video [BongoUnlock]
Published on Dec 19, 2012

Official Blog: http://www.bongounlock.blogspot.com
Like Us On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BongoUnlock

Diamond - Kesho [BongoUnlock]

 
 
 
MASHUJAA BAND TANZANIA - RISASI KIDOLE
Published on Jul 27, 2012

NEW RELEASED SONG IN JULY 2012

 
 
 
 
Mwana Bongo Flava Diamond na Kundi lake watumbuiza Dodoma (Michuzi Blog
Published on Aug 23, 2012

Mwana Bongo Flava Diamond na Kundi lake watumbuiza Dodoma wakati wa uzinduzi wa awamu ya Tatu ya TASAF

 
 
 
 
Offside Trick Feat. Baby J - Usinipe
Published on Feb 20, 2013

Mduara sounds, "Usinipe" by Offside Trick featuring Baby J

 
 
 
 
TJRC: Land at the heart of most conflicts
Published on May 21, 2013

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The Truth Justice And Reconciliation Commission - TJRC finally released its report and symbolically handing President Uhuru Kenyatta a copy of the report. The report is a damning account of many things that have historically gone wrong in the country; and probably to the surprise of many Kenyans, the TJRC boldly called out issues and names on a number of areas. Land is one such issue the TJRC report dwells on, hipping blame on founding president Jomo Kenyatta for the illegal allocation of thousands of acres of land including prime agricultural lands and beach plots to himself, family, friends and associates. And as NTV's Sheila Sendeyo reports, the chapter on land reads like a depressing litany of Kenya's historical injustices.

Uhuru Refused n Ignored the Constitutional Mandated Report Purely due to Him being complicit like his Dad Jomo in Land Grabbing.His all Wealth is derived from Stolen Kenyan People Property. Jomo Kenyatta legacy of Few in the Old Boy Club benefited frm the Stolen Loot such his family members,Betty Mugo,etc.Rest Kenyans including Poor Kikuyus never benefited frm Dis Devil called Jomo Kenyatta.He is burning in Hell.Too Bad he didnt take all that Land w/him to his Grave. Uhuru, No justice, No peace.
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They should return the land to the Coastal people, also they must return all the money they made on those land(s) to the owners of the land. Thieves educated their families with the loot, while the opposite had no land, therefore no money to educate theirs. Jomo "the devil" had guts to include a mzungu in the loot, but to exclude the Afrikans (Tavetans). HE MUST BE IN HELL BURNING.
TJRC still remains the most corrupt commission, this is jst a formality to restore our beliefs which was lost in them
oh, another conspiracy against the spoiled prince Uhuru Kenyatta!
he needs to do the right thing and return the land back to the rightful owners.
in reply to joseph opiyo
I am so glad Jomo Kenyatta died in office. It was a gift from from heaven...now, if we can just have Moi pay for his sins...that will be heaven,
 
 
 
 
Africa Union out to push for return of International Criminal Court cases back home
Updated Saturday, May 25th 2013 at 08:59 GMT +3
By Martin Mutua
NAIROBI, KENYA: African Union leaders will today rally behind Kenya's push to stop two cases at the International Criminal Court, just a day after Western nations opposed it.
They plan to pass a resolution backing a request to have ICC charges facing President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto referred back to a local court. The gesture of political support comes at a gathering in Ethiopia at which Uhuru comes face to face with the United States top diplomat, Secretary of State John Kerry, for the first time since his election. Before Uhuru's victory at the ballot box on March 4, a senior US diplomat threatened unspecified consequences if he and his running mate William Ruto won the election.
Uhuru and Ruto separately face trial at the ICC, accused of masterminding ethnic bloodshed in post-election violence five years ago.
Both deny the charges.
Their effort to secure the United Nations Security Council's support in having the ICC cases referred back to Kenya hit a snag on Friday with the US and European Union rejecting a request to urge the ICC to terminate the cases. There was a very firm response from ICC Member States and the US that they must take their case to (The Hague-based) court, said one Western diplomat, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity.
The matter takes centre stage today when most of the 54 Heads of State and Government from the continent converge for a general assembly of the Africa Union in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. The assembly will be followed by celebrations to mark 50 years since the formation of the union, previously known as the Organisation of African Unity (O AU).
Deliberation
The leaders are set to deliberate on the cases at ICC and pass a resolution that sets a major precedent in international justice. Africa and the West appear to be on a political collision course over the way the court works.
The draft reads: (The Assembly) supports and endorses the Eastern Africa region's request for a referral of the ICC investigations and prosecutions.
On Friday, Foreign Affairs ministers form the AU's Council of Ministers met well into the evening to draft the agenda and resolutions to be adopted by the Heads of State when the assembly meets today. Foreign Secretary Amina Mohammed represented Kenya at the session. The ministers are reportedly agreed on a resolution to have the Kenya cases at the ICC referred back to a local mechanism in the country. A nine-point draft decision seen by The Standard On Saturday shows African Governments are unhappy that decisions to defer Uhuru and Ruto's cases, as well as those facing Sudan President Hassan Omar Al Bashir, had not been acted upon by the UN Security Council.
The resolutions further affirm the AU decisions previously undertaken in 2009, 2011 and last year expressing strong conviction that justice should be pursued in a way that does not impede or jeopardise efforts at promoting lasting peace.
The leaders also reiterate the AU's concern about the misuse of indictments against African leaders by prosecutors at the ICC.
In earlier meetings, there were calls for limits to powers wielded by the court's prosecutors, with criticism targeted primarily at the first Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo. The resolutions, which are said to have the support of all African countries except one, state that the Kenya cases are a threat to peace and security in Africa.
The Heads of State will back a national mechanism (read court) to undertake investigations and prosecutions of the cases under a reformed judiciary as provided in the new constitution. This, the foreign ministers draft says, will be the only way to prevent a resumption of conflict and violence in the country.
They will also mandate the AU, in collaboration with the African Court of Human and People's Rights and the AU Commission on International Law, to organize a discussion on international criminal justice system, peace and reconciliation as well as the impact/actions of the ICC in Africa.
This, they argue, will not only inform the ICC process but also seek ways of strengthening African mechanisms to deal with African challenges and problems.
President Uhuru has already travelled to Addis Ababa to attend the AU fete, having left the country on Thursday afternoon.
US representative to attend
President Barack Obama's top representative, Secretary of State John Kerry, was scheduled to arrive in the Ethiopian capital last evening.
Diplomatic sources say the diplomat has a message from Obama for the continent and is likely to hold informal sessions with several African Heads of State on the sidelines.
It is not clear whether he has scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Uhuru. The President was recently invited to London for a conference on Somalia and met British PM David Cameron privately. It is also not clear whether Kerry will address the AU position on the ICC.
Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission outlines Coast marginalisation issues
Updated Friday, May 24th 2013 at 20:09 GMT +3
By Patrick Beja
The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission ( TJRC) has outlined issues that it says have led to deep feelings of marginalisation of indigenous Coast residents.
Land issues, war on terror, poor education levels and lack of infrastructure have fuelled feelings that successive governments ignored the region. One of the critical issues, described by some as a ticking bomb is the seemingly intractable land question. More recently, other factors including perceived mistreatment of residents at the hands of police in the context of Kenya's efforts in the American-led "war on terror", poor education levels and lack of infrastructure have all served to fuel feelings that successive governments do not care about the region, says the report.
In the report presented to President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Bethuel Kiplagat-led team observed that that the idea that successive governments have marginalised Coast economically was a central feature of the historical narrative in the context of politics, development and gross human rights violations. The single most conflictive issue in the Coast region is land or rather the loss or lack of access to it faced by many communities and individuals, says the report.
TJRC notes that the problem of marginalisation in the education sector at the Coast has historical roots in the colonial and pre-colonial era as it was segregated along racial lines with separate systems for European, Asian and African pupils.
From a national perspective, the Coast region is among the most under developed areas of Kenya in the provision of education, it says.

Five people killed in fresh Mandera County attacks
Updated Saturday, May 25th 2013 at 18:58 GMT +3
By Cyrus Ombati
NAIROBI, KENYA: Five people were killed, three others injured and several camels killed in fresh inter-clan fighting in Banisa District- Mandera County.
The victims were attacked by a militia that is said to have crossed from Ethiopia on a revenge mission on Saturday morning.
Police said the gang later vanished into Ethiopia, which is few kilometers away.
The deceased and injured are said to be from both Garreh and Degodia sub clans.
North Eastern police boss Charlton Murithi said the injured are admitted at the local District Hospital in a stable condition with bullet wounds.
We suspect the attack was in an apparent retaliation to the ongoing clashes that have occurred in the past weeks. It happened deep in the villages and the attackers targeted herders, said Murithi.
The attack happened days after the military moved to the area to stem a pending attack following intelligence that showed so.
Murithi said they have deployed enough personnel in the area to contain more attacks. But the attackers have been targeting people in villages where there are no security agencies.
Officials said tension was high along the Kenya- Ethiopia border after the retaliations which have now claimed five people in two days.
Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission says Kimemia not fit for public office
Updated Friday, May 24th 2013 at 21:34 GMT +3
By Abdikadir Sugow
NAIROBI, KENYA: The fate of Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia in President Uhuru Kenyatta's government hangs in the balance following serious integrity questions that threaten his nomination to serve as Secretary to the Cabinet.
The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission ( EACC) has written to the parliamentary vetting committee, informing the members that Kimemia is under investigation allegedly over questionable activities that could disqualify him from serving in any public or State office.
Eight other individuals out of the 66 who have been shortlisted for the position of Principal Secretary are also under investigation by the anti-corruption agency.
The EACC says it is probing mega-corruption deals implicating or associated with the office of Permanent Secretary in the powerful Civil Service docket, but has not specified to the committee the magnitude of the corruption cases for fear of prejudice.
The candidate (Kimemia) is under investigations for mega corruption cases, says the official letter addressed to the parliamentary vetting committee from the EACC headquartres at the Integrity Centre.
The anti-corruption agency says it will not divulge any further information in regard to the candidate as all matters in which the officer (Kimemia) is implicated are being investigated, the letter read in part.
The letter from the anti-graft body was forwarded to the Clerk of the National Assembly, who certified it to confirm receipt.
On Friday, the National Assembly Clerk Justin Bundi confirmed receipt of the letter.
Bundi later forwarded the same to the Director of Committees Florence Abonyo, who in turn transmitted the same to the Parliamentary Committee on Administration and National Security.
Kimemia appeared before the committee yesterday. All the other shortlisted candidates for Principal Secretary and the remaining Cabinet Secretary nominees are set to appear before the committee.
President Uhuru on Thursday appointed former Assistant minister Kazungu Kambi as Labour Cabinet Secretary and hotelier Joseph ole Lenku as Cabinet Secretary for the Interior and Co-ordination of National Government, completing his Cabinet line-up of 18.
Impeccable sources within the anti-corruption commission revealed that Kimemia is being investigated in relation to some five cases, including a multi-billion development project at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi and allegedly obstructing justice by protecting senior government officers implicated in various corruption scandals.
The sources pointed out that any State or public service officer involved or mentioned in any corruption must step aside and should not hold any office, until the probe into the matter for which they have been accused is concluded and clearance provided by the EACC.
President Kenyatta nominated Kimemia as Secretary to the Cabinet after the Constitution abolished the Head of Public Service position

African Union Must Do More for Peace

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Saturday, May 25, 2013 - 08:51Inter Press Service
NAIROBI, May 25 (IPS) - "My husband and older son, unable to cope with the war, became mentally ill. Two of my sons became child soldiers and an eight-year-old daughter was abducted – they were never to be seen again," Mariamu Dong says, referring to the 21-year civil war between north and south Sudan, which are now separate countries.
Her seven children grew up during those years of bloodshed, but only one made it through.
"I move around like one whose limbs have been cut off, having lost my husband and children to the war. Only my last child was able to survive and now lives in Kenya. All this time, the world watched from a distance," she says.
The south became an independent nation on Jul. 9, 2011 and Dong lives in what is now South Sudan, in Torit, Eastern Equatoria state. But every day she is reminded of the war that the world and the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which is now the African Union (AU), left to continue unabated.[pullquote]3[/pullquote]
It was the regional body, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), that finally brokered the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement and the government of Sudan. It eventually led to the end of the civil war and paved the way for South Sudan's independence. The IGAD currently consists of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda.
But experts on conflict say that as the continent celebrates Africa Day on May 25, along with the 50th anniversary since the formation of the OAU, which became the AU in 2001, the implementation of non-violent approaches to conflict needs to become a priority.
"The AU, and the OAU before that, slept through a substantive part of the conflict in Africa. The millions of lives lost across the continent are testament to the fact that the OAU/AU has failed Africans," Lionel Ibaka, a Congolese expert on peace and security, tells IPS.
Ibaka says one such example is the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) conflict that the United Nations estimates claimed about five million lives since it began in 1998.
In March, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution that called for the deployment of an intervention brigade in the central African nation to neutralise rebel forces in eastern DRC.
But the intervention may have come a little too late.
"The bloodshed and terror in DRC has been hailed as the deadliest and most destructive since World War II," Ibaka says.
According to a 2010 report by the U.N. Refugee Agency titled: "DRC: Mapping human rights violations 1993-2003", violence in the DRC has been "accompanied by the apparent systematic use of rape and sexual assault allegedly by all combatant forces."
The report also states that 30,000 children were used as child soldiers and experienced "indescribable violence".
Nisa Luambo, 27, from South Kivu province, eastern DRC, lived through this. And while she is alive, the violence she endured has killed a part of her. She was only 12 years old when the war broke out in 1998 and she became separated from her family.
"I have been sexually abused by both soldiers and civilians. I have had four miscarriages during this time, (and I had) no medical attention and little food," she tells IPS.
"People ask me about what I want for my future and I give them silence.
"Where were they when we got raped and beaten to near death – if we were lucky – because many people died," she says adding, that the country is still unstable and that there is no end in sight to the conflict.
"I feel no joy when I think about tomorrow. I know that there is no tomorrow for people living in conflict.''
Vincent Kimosop, chief executive officer of the International Institute for Legislative Affairs, an NGO that offers technical support to government departments, members of parliament and other stakeholders in the legislative process, says that poor governance is at the heart of conflict in Africa.
"The AU needs to do more when it comes to supporting the development of governance institutions on the continent since state institutions provide the bedrock for a country to function," he tells IPS.
Javas Bigambo, an expert on governance, human rights and development in Africa, concurs.
"The AU must refuse to be blind to atrocities and ills committed by African presidents. Regrettably, the AU has rarely ever found any fault with an African leader, or even come up with remedies to Africa's governance and economic challenges."
Bigambo says that the continent's history of violent conflict "points to Africa's tattered social and political fabric…Africa is perpetually in turmoil."
Bigambo says the Rwandan genocide, a mass slaughter that claimed an estimated 800,000 lives according to the U.N., and Kenya's 2007 to 2008 post-election violence in which 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 internally displaced, are all part of the African narrative.
But Julius Mucunguzi, a Ugandan scholar of conflict reporting, tells IPS that things are improving.
"Africa is on a path of renewal. It is getting better. While the OAU was established 50 years ago, the AU is only slightly over a decade old and is already putting good structures in place to enhance peace and security in Africa.
"But, AU institutions such as its Peace and Security Council must invest in early-warning mechanisms to ensure that signs of possible conflict are picked up and actual conflict is averted," he says.
 
 
 
 
From: Lister Joseph Nyaringo <notification+zrdol=op6foz@facebookmail.com>
Subject: [TJRC : Why was TJRC Formed and where are we!] The African Union- AU is roasting our President...
To: "TJRC : Why was TJRC Formed and where are we!" <523845151010454@groups.facebook.com>
Date: Sunday, May 26, 2013, 9:50 AM

The African Union- AU is roasting our...
Lister Joseph Nyaringo 8:50am May 26
The African Union- AU is roasting our President Uhuru Kenyatta on the ICC case. Their pronouncements in Ethiopia to withdraw from the Court is a disaster waiting to happen for the President. Withdrawal or no withdrawal, will not stop the case. In fact, the chances of Uhuru being detained in Europe if he attends the case in July has heightened due to the irresponsible utterances in the Adisababa meeting.
--- On Fri, 5/24/13, otieno sungu <sunoti@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: otieno sungu <sunoti@yahoo.com>
Subject: [uchunguzionline] LEADERSHIP, LEGACY AND TYRANNY OF NUMBERS.
To: "VuguVuguMashinani@yahoogroups.com" <VuguVuguMashinani@yahoogroups.com>, "progressivekenyans@googlegroups.com" <progressivekenyans@googlegroups.com>, "youngprofessionals_ke@googlegroups.coms" <youngprofessionals_ke@googlegroups.coms>, "kol" <kenyaonline@yahoogroups.com>, "Oped Africa" <oped@yahoogroups.com>, "uchunguzi online" <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>, "Kiswahili" <Kiswahili@yahoogroups.com>, "Kenya Community" <kca_main@yahoogroups.com>, "mwanyagetinge@yahoogroups.com" <mwanyagetinge@yahoogroups.com>, "ramogi luo" <ramogi@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Friday, May 24, 2013, 8:06 AM



2013 marked the 3rd time Raila Odinga ran for the presidency of Kenya and failed to clinch the seat. The issue of why he failed notwithstanding, it is time the former Prime Minister made decisions that will not only secure his legacy but also continue nurturing democracy in Kenya.

In my humble opinion (and as many of similar/divergent opinion are welcome to agree or disagree with me), the next frontier of leadership will be fought in the counties. In fact, the next president of Kenya is likely to be one among the governors or senators. Kenya is going the American way where brilliant governors, senators and occasionally congressmen make the presidency. The cauldron in which our future President will be brewed is in the 2 fronts. The MPs are already considered too greedy for their own good let alone anyone else's and given perceptions stick around longer, not any MP can make Kenya's president in the next several years! A close look at governorship will give you the hint, already, the race has begun and a god number of governors are setting pace, Alfred Mutua of Machakos, Evans Kidero of Nairobi, Mutahi Kagwe of Nyeri are among some who have started off the blocks in a dash, 5 years is long and if they maintain the dash to the finish will be seen at the end of that period.

Why do I say so regarding Raila? First and foremost, his supporters are already fatigued not only with perennial losing, claiming stolen elections (real or imagined) and keeping the hope. From my recent interactions with some of his die hard supporters, they have become disillusioned and many may not even vote come 2017. This is dangerous for a democracy; we need every citizen to express his/her voting rights.

Back to the gist of my article, why should Raila call it quits? First and foremost, his legacy is much better now after the loss to Uhuru, it would be in tatters if he lost again in 2017! It would even be worst if he lost to a Mutua or Kidero or anyone else! For this reason, I suppose he ought to give his legacy strength by spending the next 5 years grooming a credible strong and politically lethal candidate to face the incumbents. It is not far fetched to imagine that both Uhuru and Ruto will be on the ballot. As he does this, he should cut an international figure sorting out issues beyond Kenya's borders rather than being lured by MPs who wish to cling to his coat tails for selfish political gains against opponents in 2017, he ought not to accept to squat in Parliament! If he did so, even Otieno Sungu would beat him for County Rep anywhere anytime!

In the game of political intrigues, it is not far fetched also to imagine that Uhuru is already aware of a potential Ruto run in 2017 and in order to make a second successful run, he needs to bring close at least two huge voting blocks that did not give him votes this year. His best bet would be Western Kenya, Nyanza or Eastern in order to neutralize the tyranny of the Rift Valley vote. This is where Raila can play king maker to a new entrant. If he threw his weight behind one such candidate who has performed exceptionally well as governor, and with devolution taking centre stage, and with Ruto running against Uhuru, it would be a very interesting race. The incumbents will have to convince the country beyond doubt that they deserve a second chance. An astute governor or senator stands a better chance since the intricacies of running national government are far much greater and challenging, chances of failure for incumbents in most of their pledges are far greater than for a governor whose jurisdiction is smaller. Thus a smart governor does not need to try to satisfy all aspects of county development, he/she only needs to narrow down of 3 key areas and show a clean break and results. These could be on infrastructure, health and education.

In the meantime, the incumbents will be struggling to satisfy regional demands, equity in national development, resource allocation, appointments, etc and inability to satisfy these, coupled with demands for rewards from voting blocs will overwhelm them. Thus their best bet for a second term is to stick together with the current formula, a long short considering coalitions are tricky to run, promises and MOUs difficult to fulfill to the letter. Any split between the two may likely mean each running against the other.

Since the tyranny of numbers will still play a key role in coming elections, it would be a great idea for Raila and his side to seek to ensure voting carters for marginal and small tribes in terms of their votes being aggregated to have an impact on who becomes president. This means, counties need to be awarded Electoral College votes so that any presidential candidate must seek even the smallest of communities. Suppose the Ogieks had 10 electoral votes where 150 electoral votes are required to reach the threshold, no presidential candidate would ignore them. The time to start that agitation is now.

As it is today, 1, 2 or 3 tribes can cluster and cling onto the presidency even on a rotational basis for years to the chagrin of others. In fact, of all former and current Kenyan Presidents, Vice Presidents, Prime Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, all have come from the big 5 tribes, the Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luhya, Luo and Kamba. These are (Presidents)-Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, (Vice Presidents)-Oginga Odinga, Joseph Murumbi, Daniel Moi, Josephat Karanja, Mwai Kibaki, George Saitoti, Musalia Mudavadi, Moody Awori, Kalonzo Musyoka, William Ruto, (Prime Ministers)- Jommo Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, Deputy Prime Ministers( Uhuru Kenyatta, Musalia Mudavadi).

The issue of the tyranny of numbers thus runs beyond the last elections where it was construed to mean Kikuyus and Kalenjins, in fact, it is a tyranny of 5 tribes against the 37 tribes!
This situation is replicate in the civil service, universities, foreign missions, private sector etc. I doubt even the Electoral College votes would cure much of it because the same 5 tribes are all over the country; spread across for economic reasons, resettlement, deployment as civil servants, displacements etc that they may still upset and influence the Electoral College votes.

This is the kind of situation that causes despair among residents of places like the Coast where MRC has emerged as a strong proponent for secession. These secessionists' clamors may continue rising if successive governments continue playing the same games of filling crucial government positions with folks from particular tribes. Secession is not alien to Africa. Eretria held a successful referendum and broke away from Ethiopia for similar grievances of dominance. The same happened recently in Sudan where the South also broke away through a referendum process. Our constitution allows for referendums, I would not be surprised if the 37 communities begun clamoring to secede from the tyranny currently being visited upon them by only 5 communities. It only requires a firebrand leaders and a revolution may not be easy to stem.

The way forward, those demagogues at central government trying to scuttle devolution should be aware this is the last card small communities hold against tyranny of numbers, if it fails, more MRCs will emerge everywhere and before long, we will be like Nigeria, a country at war with itself.

For leaders like Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, there is a whole wide leadership arena to channel their energies; there is a more vibrant role to play in ensuring such candid discussions on equity, inclusion, cohesion and integration are opened instead of making more attempts at the Presidency in their sunset years.

Their legacies would be much secure if they achieved what Nyerere achieved in Tanzania; lasting, true and genuine peace, not the restless and precarious delusion we call peace.

A good place to start from is the TJRC report.

Otieno Sungu.

The writer is a commentator on topical and contemporary issues.
 
 


 
 

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