Is Raila Regrouping For A Big Come Back?

In my column today in the Star Is Raila Regrouping For A Big Come Back? I pose and this question in the affirmative much to too many an upset stomach for those who have been hoping the man was finally dealt a blow by the yet again rigged elections according to him and many other Kenyans.

Exerpt:

A majority of the nearly half of those who went to the polls on March 4, 2013 and voted for now President Uhuru Kenyatta did so not because they love Uhuru but simply because they hate Raila.

They just couldn’t stand the thought of having Raila in office as president they were perfectly okay and quite happy voting for someone who remains charged with serious crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Can Raila turn-around some of these voters as he contemplates reinventing himself and going for it again? Even more broadly, does the man have the energy, goodwill and stamina left in him to hit the campaign trail again one more time and cross his fingers that he won’t win for the third time and still be rigged out?

There are several reasons, some historical, that point to the answer in the affirmative on both questions.

First, Raila is now at 68, which is the new 48 for those with good, healthy eating habits and exercise regularly as Raila does. He will be 72 when sworn in as our next president, if he wins again as he and many believe he can.

This is two years younger in real time than Mandela was when sworn in as South Africa’s president and more than 22 years younger going by the indisputable formula above about changing demographics and life expectancy.

Second, love him or hate him, Raila still remains the most popular politician in the country and no presidential candidate has a shot against the Jubilee machinery than he alone.

Third, those who keep railing and are now plotting to punish or somehow “tame” Raila if he doesn’t retire do so strictly for narrow, partisan and even personal reasons that have no bearing on the man’s ability to lead.

No one but Uhuru should welcome Raila’s continued participation in politics for much as many believe he’s an illegitimate president, he should welcome Raila to the ring and if he gives him a KO or merely wins by rounds in an open, fair and transparent elections, he would go far in establishing legitimacy as our president and shall go on to rule a second time as if it were his first.

A majority of the nearly half of those who went to the polls on March 4, 2013 and voted for now President Uhuru Kenyatta did so not because they love Uhuru but simply because they hate Raila.

They just couldn’t stand the thought of having Raila in office as president they were perfectly okay and quite happy voting for someone who remains charged with serious crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Can Raila turn-around some of these voters as he contemplates reinventing himself and going for it again? Even more broadly, does the man have the energy, goodwill and stamina left in him to hit the campaign trail again one more time and cross his fingers that he won’t win for the third time and still be rigged out?

There are several reasons, some historical, that point to the answer in the affirmative on both questions.

First, Raila is now at 68, which is the new 48 for those with good, healthy eating habits and exercise regularly as Raila does. He will be 72 when sworn in as our next president, if he wins again as he and many believe he can.

This is two years younger in real time than Mandela was when sworn in as South Africa’s president and more than 22 years younger going by the indisputable formula above about changing demographics and life expectancy.

Second, love him or hate him, Raila still remains the most popular politician in the country and no presidential candidate has a shot against the Jubilee machinery than he alone.

Third, those who keep railing and are now plotting to punish or somehow “tame” Raila if he doesn’t retire do so strictly for narrow, partisan and even personal reasons that have no bearing on the man’s ability to lead.

No one but Uhuru should welcome Raila’s continued participation in politics for much as many believe he’s an illegitimate president, he should welcome Raila to the ring and if he gives him a KO or merely wins by rounds in an open, fair and transparent elections, he would go far in establishing legitimacy as our president and shall go on to rule a second time as if it were his first.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126152/raila-regrouping-biggest-comeback#sthash.lqM9HwOk.dpuf

A majority of the nearly half of those who went to the polls on March 4, 2013 and voted for now President Uhuru Kenyatta did so not because they love Uhuru but simply because they hate Raila.

They just couldn’t stand the thought of having Raila in office as president they were perfectly okay and quite happy voting for someone who remains charged with serious crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Can Raila turn-around some of these voters as he contemplates reinventing himself and going for it again? Even more broadly, does the man have the energy, goodwill and stamina left in him to hit the campaign trail again one more time and cross his fingers that he won’t win for the third time and still be rigged out?

There are several reasons, some historical, that point to the answer in the affirmative on both questions.

First, Raila is now at 68, which is the new 48 for those with good, healthy eating habits and exercise regularly as Raila does. He will be 72 when sworn in as our next president, if he wins again as he and many believe he can.

This is two years younger in real time than Mandela was when sworn in as South Africa’s president and more than 22 years younger going by the indisputable formula above about changing demographics and life expectancy.

Second, love him or hate him, Raila still remains the most popular politician in the country and no presidential candidate has a shot against the Jubilee machinery than he alone.

Third, those who keep railing and are now plotting to punish or somehow “tame” Raila if he doesn’t retire do so strictly for narrow, partisan and even personal reasons that have no bearing on the man’s ability to lead.

No one but Uhuru should welcome Raila’s continued participation in politics for much as many believe he’s an illegitimate president, he should welcome Raila to the ring and if he gives him a KO or merely wins by rounds in an open, fair and transparent elections, he would go far in establishing legitimacy as our president and shall go on to rule a second time as if it were his first.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126152/raila-regrouping-biggest-comeback#sthash.lqM9HwOk.dpuf

A majority of the nearly half of those who went to the polls on March 4, 2013 and voted for now President Uhuru Kenyatta did so not because they love Uhuru but simply because they hate Raila.

They just couldn’t stand the thought of having Raila in office as president they were perfectly okay and quite happy voting for someone who remains charged with serious crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Can Raila turn-around some of these voters as he contemplates reinventing himself and going for it again? Even more broadly, does the man have the energy, goodwill and stamina left in him to hit the campaign trail again one more time and cross his fingers that he won’t win for the third time and still be rigged out?

There are several reasons, some historical, that point to the answer in the affirmative on both questions.

First, Raila is now at 68, which is the new 48 for those with good, healthy eating habits and exercise regularly as Raila does. He will be 72 when sworn in as our next president, if he wins again as he and many believe he can.

This is two years younger in real time than Mandela was when sworn in as South Africa’s president and more than 22 years younger going by the indisputable formula above about changing demographics and life expectancy.

Second, love him or hate him, Raila still remains the most popular politician in the country and no presidential candidate has a shot against the Jubilee machinery than he alone.

Third, those who keep railing and are now plotting to punish or somehow “tame” Raila if he doesn’t retire do so strictly for narrow, partisan and even personal reasons that have no bearing on the man’s ability to lead.

No one but Uhuru should welcome Raila’s continued participation in politics for much as many believe he’s an illegitimate president, he should welcome Raila to the ring and if he gives him a KO or merely wins by rounds in an open, fair and transparent elections, he would go far in establishing legitimacy as our president and shall go on to rule a second time as if it were his first.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126152/raila-regrouping-biggest-comeback#sthash.lqM9HwOk.dpuf

A majority of the nearly half of those who went to the polls on March 4, 2013 and voted for now President Uhuru Kenyatta did so not because they love Uhuru but simply because they hate Raila.

They just couldn’t stand the thought of having Raila in office as president they were perfectly okay and quite happy voting for someone who remains charged with serious crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Can Raila turn-around some of these voters as he contemplates reinventing himself and going for it again? Even more broadly, does the man have the energy, goodwill and stamina left in him to hit the campaign trail again one more time and cross his fingers that he won’t win for the third time and still be rigged out?

There are several reasons, some historical, that point to the answer in the affirmative on both questions.

First, Raila is now at 68, which is the new 48 for those with good, healthy eating habits and exercise regularly as Raila does. He will be 72 when sworn in as our next president, if he wins again as he and many believe he can.

This is two years younger in real time than Mandela was when sworn in as South Africa’s president and more than 22 years younger going by the indisputable formula above about changing demographics and life expectancy.

Second, love him or hate him, Raila still remains the most popular politician in the country and no presidential candidate has a shot against the Jubilee machinery than he alone.

Third, those who keep railing and are now plotting to punish or somehow “tame” Raila if he doesn’t retire do so strictly for narrow, partisan and even personal reasons that have no bearing on the man’s ability to lead.

No one but Uhuru should welcome Raila’s continued participation in politics for much as many believe he’s an illegitimate president, he should welcome Raila to the ring and if he gives him a KO or merely wins by rounds in an open, fair and transparent elections, he would go far in establishing legitimacy as our president and shall go on to rule a second time as if it were his first.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126152/raila-regrouping-biggest-comeback#sthash.lqM9HwOk.dpuf

A majority of the nearly half of those who went to the polls on March 4, 2013 and voted for now President Uhuru Kenyatta did so not because they love Uhuru but simply because they hate Raila.

They just couldn’t stand the thought of having Raila in office as president they were perfectly okay and quite happy voting for someone who remains charged with serious crimes against humanity at The Hague.

Can Raila turn-around some of these voters as he contemplates reinventing himself and going for it again? Even more broadly, does the man have the energy, goodwill and stamina left in him to hit the campaign trail again one more time and cross his fingers that he won’t win for the third time and still be rigged out?

There are several reasons, some historical, that point to the answer in the affirmative on both questions.

First, Raila is now at 68, which is the new 48 for those with good, healthy eating habits and exercise regularly as Raila does. He will be 72 when sworn in as our next president, if he wins again as he and many believe he can.

This is two years younger in real time than Mandela was when sworn in as South Africa’s president and more than 22 years younger going by the indisputable formula above about changing demographics and life expectancy.

Second, love him or hate him, Raila still remains the most popular politician in the country and no presidential candidate has a shot against the Jubilee machinery than he alone.

Third, those who keep railing and are now plotting to punish or somehow “tame” Raila if he doesn’t retire do so strictly for narrow, partisan and even personal reasons that have no bearing on the man’s ability to lead.

No one but Uhuru should welcome Raila’s continued participation in politics for much as many believe he’s an illegitimate president, he should welcome Raila to the ring and if he gives him a KO or merely wins by rounds in an open, fair and transparent elections, he would go far in establishing legitimacy as our president and shall go on to rule a second time as if it were his first.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-126152/raila-regrouping-biggest-comeback#sthash.lqM9HwOk.dpuf

 

The Making of A Leader: The Journey Begins for Kethi Kilonzo Who Topples Charity Ngilu

Charity Ngilu was once a rising political star which has since faded away from the political scene and now some political reincarnation of her former self is masquerading as a cabinet minister as a reward for dissing Raila.

While Ukambani politics is in good hands of Cord led by former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka who’s also national Cord deputy leader alongside Wetangula, it’s refreshing to see a young, intelligent and soon to be savvy politician Kethi Kilonzo not only rise up to take the mantle of leadership from her late father, but to also to be a permanent reminder of how analog Ngilu now is.

I wish her well, meaning Kethi as she embarks on this journey that has nothing but promise ahead for her, Ukambani politics, womanhood and our beloved country.

Cord Leaders Unveil Kethi in Makueni Senate Race

Makueni, Kenya: CORD leaders Monday trooped to Makueni County where they unveiled the late Senator Mutula Kilonzo’s daughter Kethi to succeed her father.

Activities in Wote town came to a near standstill as the CORD entourage snaked through the streets shortly after 4pm.

Top leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula led a host of leaders in endorsing Kethi to carry the party’s flag in the July 22 by-election.

Senators Johnstone Muthama, David Musila, James Orengo and a host of several Wiper party legislators and women representatives accompanied the CORD luminaries.

They asked the people of Makueni to come out in large numbers and write history by electing Kethi as the first elected woman Senator.

Kethi was wildly cheered when she was escorted to the podium to declare her candidature at a huge rally held at Unoa Primary School grounds in Wote town.

“I have now come to you. I decided not to announce my candidature in Nairobi and decided to come and do it at home. Will you vote for me,” asked Kethi as the crowd roared back with a resounding yes.

She thanked the Makueni County electorate for voting for CORD and her late father and assured them that she is ready to fit in his shoes.

Saying: “Akili ni mali”(brain is wealth), Kethi said she has the necessary brains to represent the residents in the Senate just like her father wished to do. “When you see me, you should see brains, and if you vote for me, you get wealth,” she added.

Kethi said she is ready to work with all elected leaders in the county, including Makueni Governor Prof Kivutha Kibwana who was her lecturer at the University of Nairobi.

Raila said they had come to Makueni to present Kethi to the electorate to contest the seat left vacant after her father’s death.

“We have come to bring Kethi to you. Will you vote for her,” posed Raila to which the crowd responded in the affirmative.

Raila said Kethi was suitable for the seat, adding she demonstrated her abilities during the Supreme Court case.

“Kethi made a name at the Supreme Court where she battled it out with renown lawyers,” added Raila.

He dismissed those saying he and Kalonzo should retire from active politics, saying they will continue fighting for the voiceless.

Kalonzo said the people of Makueni have made their choice to have Kethi as their senator and those hoping to contest it should just step aside because they have no chance.

 

IEBC Has No Credibility To Conduct Fair, Open and Transparent Elections In Kenya

In my today’s column in the Star IEBC Has No Credibility To Conduct Fair, Open and Transparent Elections I pen the first of many columns highlighting what’s wrong with our electoral system and what should be done to fix it once for all. I do so knowing there are partisans who see no evil, hear no evil or say no evil about that which they know benefits them or is at least favorable to their wishes and interests, whether rightly or wrongly and therein lies our problem No. 1 but I am confident we can overcome it.

 

He’s Back! Enigma Raila Gives Statesman Speech To Packed Audience In Washington, DC

Raila Speech at Woodrow Wilson Center, Washington, DC

In vintage Raila mode, our former prime minister Raila Odinga gave a statesman speech cum lecture at the Woodrow Wilson Center earlier today, giving his vision for Africa next 50 years while touching on hot topics in both his supporters’ and enemies’ minds and that’s the elections many believe he won but was yet again the victim of electoral theft.

In his view, Raila said he knows he won but has had to accept the Supreme Court’s verdict to the contrary for the sake of peace for our country and that’s the mark of a statesman.

Listen for yourself what the man had to say and you’ll agree with me why it’s apt to say what I have in the title of this blog.

Or take an Alka Seltzer in the event you’re having an upset stomach over this man’s unparalleled enigmatic ability in the whole of Africa save for a few others like him he shall share the stature for life.

I am here talking about the likes of Nelson Mandela, Kwame Nkrumah, Patrick Lumumba and others who put dealing with the needs and suffering of their people ahead of everything else as proven by their individual and painful sacrifices.

 

The President’s Men, Arrogance and Abuse of Power In Jubilee Regime in Kenya

In my today’s column in the Star the President’s Men, Arrogance and Abuse of Power In Jubilee Regime, I make the case it’s often not the president himself who abuses power but those around him.

Excerpt:

Watching a documentary about our first president simply entitled “Meet Jomo Kenyatta,” one could not but come away with the impression that many a thing were connived and carried out by the president’s henchmen without his approval.

The same thing could be said about retired president Daniel arap Moi. Moi was certainly more hands on and therefore knew and approved a lot of what he’s remembered or blamed for than his predecessor, if anything because that was a natural progression from how he came to power.

That the forces that be even as far back as independence did not want anyone but their own to succeed Kenyatta was not secret. By the time then Vice President Moi came to power, clearly against their wishes, he had to constantly look behind his shoulder while learning as quickly as possible how to consolidate power in the minutes he had, if he were to survive, let alone succeed as president.

When now retired President Mwai Kibaki succeeded Moi as our third president in the euphoric elections of 2002, Kibaki quickly ripped to pieces his MOU with then Liberal Democratic Party leader and now former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kibaki then immediately had a fight on his hands he had to personally get involved in if he was to neutralise or even altogether eliminate (though not physically) Raila.

Game set, the duo went after each other with Raila winning most of the price fights, including shaming Kibaki and Co in defeating the passage of the ill-advised draft constitution Kibaki and his henchmen preferred in 2005.

The defeat stung. Kibaki and his people must have resolved they would not take another defeat from Raila and what close or worse defeat could there have been but the presidency itself?

Is there any doubt therefore why Raila won the popular vote but was not sworn in as president in 2007? The powers that be were simply not going to suffer another defeat in the hands of Raila. If that meant rigging elections, then so be it and it was.

Read more here,

Watching a documentary about our first president simply entitled “Meet Jomo Kenyatta,” one could not but come away with the impression that many a thing were connived and carried out by the president’s henchmen without his approval.

The same thing could be said about retired president Daniel arap Moi. Moi was certainly more hands on and therefore knew and approved a lot of what he’s remembered or blamed for than his predecessor, if anything because that was a natural progression from how he came to power.

That the forces that be even as far back as independence did not want anyone but their own to succeed Kenyatta was not secret. By the time then Vice President Moi came to power, clearly against their wishes, he had to constantly look behind his shoulder while learning as quickly as possible how to consolidate power in the minutes he had, if he were to survive, let alone succeed as president.

When now retired President Mwai Kibaki succeeded Moi as our third president in the euphoric elections of 2002, Kibaki quickly ripped to pieces his MOU with then Liberal Democratic Party leader and now former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kibaki then immediately had a fight on his hands he had to personally get involved in if he was to neutralise or even altogether eliminate (though not physically) Raila.

Game set, the duo went after each other with Raila winning most of the price fights, including shaming Kibaki and Co in defeating the passage of the ill-advised draft constitution Kibaki and his henchmen preferred in 2005.

The defeat stung. Kibaki and his people must have resolved they would not take another defeat from Raila and what close or worse defeat could there have been but the presidency itself?

Is there any doubt therefore why Raila won the popular vote but was not sworn in as president in 2007? The powers that be were simply not going to suffer another defeat in the hands of Raila. If that meant rigging elections, then so be it and it was.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124427/presidents-men-arrogance-and-abuse-power-jubilee-regime#sthash.XrArwKTO.dpuf

Watching a documentary about our first president simply entitled “Meet Jomo Kenyatta,” one could not but come away with the impression that many a thing were connived and carried out by the president’s henchmen without his approval.

The same thing could be said about retired president Daniel arap Moi. Moi was certainly more hands on and therefore knew and approved a lot of what he’s remembered or blamed for than his predecessor, if anything because that was a natural progression from how he came to power.

That the forces that be even as far back as independence did not want anyone but their own to succeed Kenyatta was not secret. By the time then Vice President Moi came to power, clearly against their wishes, he had to constantly look behind his shoulder while learning as quickly as possible how to consolidate power in the minutes he had, if he were to survive, let alone succeed as president.

When now retired President Mwai Kibaki succeeded Moi as our third president in the euphoric elections of 2002, Kibaki quickly ripped to pieces his MOU with then Liberal Democratic Party leader and now former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kibaki then immediately had a fight on his hands he had to personally get involved in if he was to neutralise or even altogether eliminate (though not physically) Raila.

Game set, the duo went after each other with Raila winning most of the price fights, including shaming Kibaki and Co in defeating the passage of the ill-advised draft constitution Kibaki and his henchmen preferred in 2005.

The defeat stung. Kibaki and his people must have resolved they would not take another defeat from Raila and what close or worse defeat could there have been but the presidency itself?

Is there any doubt therefore why Raila won the popular vote but was not sworn in as president in 2007? The powers that be were simply not going to suffer another defeat in the hands of Raila. If that meant rigging elections, then so be it and it was.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124427/presidents-men-arrogance-and-abuse-power-jubilee-regime#sthash.XrArwKTO.dpuf

Watching a documentary about our first president simply entitled “Meet Jomo Kenyatta,” one could not but come away with the impression that many a thing were connived and carried out by the president’s henchmen without his approval.

The same thing could be said about retired president Daniel arap Moi. Moi was certainly more hands on and therefore knew and approved a lot of what he’s remembered or blamed for than his predecessor, if anything because that was a natural progression from how he came to power.

That the forces that be even as far back as independence did not want anyone but their own to succeed Kenyatta was not secret. By the time then Vice President Moi came to power, clearly against their wishes, he had to constantly look behind his shoulder while learning as quickly as possible how to consolidate power in the minutes he had, if he were to survive, let alone succeed as president.

When now retired President Mwai Kibaki succeeded Moi as our third president in the euphoric elections of 2002, Kibaki quickly ripped to pieces his MOU with then Liberal Democratic Party leader and now former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kibaki then immediately had a fight on his hands he had to personally get involved in if he was to neutralise or even altogether eliminate (though not physically) Raila.

Game set, the duo went after each other with Raila winning most of the price fights, including shaming Kibaki and Co in defeating the passage of the ill-advised draft constitution Kibaki and his henchmen preferred in 2005.

The defeat stung. Kibaki and his people must have resolved they would not take another defeat from Raila and what close or worse defeat could there have been but the presidency itself?

Is there any doubt therefore why Raila won the popular vote but was not sworn in as president in 2007? The powers that be were simply not going to suffer another defeat in the hands of Raila. If that meant rigging elections, then so be it and it was.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124427/presidents-men-arrogance-and-abuse-power-jubilee-regime#sthash.XrArwKTO.dpuf

Watching a documentary about our first president simply entitled “Meet Jomo Kenyatta,” one could not but come away with the impression that many a thing were connived and carried out by the president’s henchmen without his approval.

The same thing could be said about retired president Daniel arap Moi. Moi was certainly more hands on and therefore knew and approved a lot of what he’s remembered or blamed for than his predecessor, if anything because that was a natural progression from how he came to power.

That the forces that be even as far back as independence did not want anyone but their own to succeed Kenyatta was not secret. By the time then Vice President Moi came to power, clearly against their wishes, he had to constantly look behind his shoulder while learning as quickly as possible how to consolidate power in the minutes he had, if he were to survive, let alone succeed as president.

When now retired President Mwai Kibaki succeeded Moi as our third president in the euphoric elections of 2002, Kibaki quickly ripped to pieces his MOU with then Liberal Democratic Party leader and now former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Kibaki then immediately had a fight on his hands he had to personally get involved in if he was to neutralise or even altogether eliminate (though not physically) Raila.

Game set, the duo went after each other with Raila winning most of the price fights, including shaming Kibaki and Co in defeating the passage of the ill-advised draft constitution Kibaki and his henchmen preferred in 2005.

The defeat stung. Kibaki and his people must have resolved they would not take another defeat from Raila and what close or worse defeat could there have been but the presidency itself?

Is there any doubt therefore why Raila won the popular vote but was not sworn in as president in 2007? The powers that be were simply not going to suffer another defeat in the hands of Raila. If that meant rigging elections, then so be it and it was.

– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-124427/presidents-men-arrogance-and-abuse-power-jubilee-regime#sthash.XrArwKTO.dpuf

 

Likely Scenarios In Case of Uhuru, Ruto Conviction

In Likely Scenarios In Case of Uhuru, Ruto Conviction published in the Star today, I examine the question of what will happen were either or both Uhuru and Ruto were to be convicted at the Hague where they face the very serious crimes against humanity.

Excerpt:

This, then, would be the scenario in which the duo is convicted, a petition is filed challenging their holding office under such circumstances and the Supreme Court renders a decision with a view of redeeming itself from the intellectually shallow and embarrassing decision in the Raila and AfriCog decisions.

Were the circumstances to be the same but the Supreme Court wished not to redeem itself but to dig itself deeper into where it finds itself today, the court will simply hold that such a challenge is premature as those convicted would appeal.

The court would cite the constitution itself which provides that the integrity provisions do not come into play until one has exhausted all appeals.

Their decision will be arguably in sound legal footing except it would infuriate even more and create more tensions. There would be no telling what the outcome would be short of violence, not the least being a thirst to “throw out the bums” as the Americans would say. Interesting days lie ahead, indeed.

 

IEBC In Washington To Tell Lies About Elections

The person who is supposed to head the oxymoronically named “Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission” (IEBC) is on a propaganda mission to Washington, DC where he’s expected to tell lies about the March elections in Kenya.

This person is the guest of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), an NGO that claims on its website it works to advance good governance and democratic rights globally.

That’s all well and good but, when this organization claims on its website and invite info for the IEBC event that Kenya’s elections were “widely regarded as credible” it goes to tell those with even a bare knowledge of what happened that they don’t know what they’re talking about or do and are on a mission to pacify the US and other countries that have grave reservations about the suffocation to near death of democracy in Kenya and other countries.

The organization goes on to say that “while the election was widely considered to be free and fair, there were a number of challenges that the IEBC encountered, including problems with the introduction of new election technology.”

This is the understatement of a century.

What happened in the 2013 elections much as it happened in 2007 were not not “challenges” and “computer malfunctions” in the case of 2013 but a deliberate, carefully planned and executed in your face rigging.

That’s a fact known by none other than Jubilee itself and its leaders starting from the top.

The organization says on its website that the “IEBC is now undertaking a thorough lessons learned process with the help of IFES, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other election stakeholders.”

Nonsense.

How does one undertake to learn lessons learned from things they planned and meticulously executed to perfection?

“As the IEBC begins this period of reflection on what went right, what went wrong and how this knowledge can strengthen the management of future elections,” says the organization, “please join us for an interactive discussion on this topic.”

We know what went wrong and if this organization wanted to know what went wrong, if they don’t know already, which is doubtful, the person to ask is not this one they have invited to represent the obviously compromised and incompetent IEBC.

Those who are in the Washington, DC area or can travel from nearby states should plan and attend this event if anything to tell the organizers and participants the truth besides asking questions they’re likely to receive nothing but lies for answers from those representing the aforementioned body representative from Keny

To attend, one must RSVP here

 

Kenyan Somali Elite Have Squandered Their Goodwill

In Kenyan Somali Elite Have Squandered Their Goodwill published in the Star today, I point out this obvious development thanks to the likes of Isaac Hassan, namely that contrary to the bill of goods we were sold and not without some good faith and or justification by some of those who helped in the sale the now bogus notion that the Somali elite were different and could be trusted to manage our elections with neutrality and adherence to the constitution and law.

Hassan has no doubt proven proven Kenyan Somali elite are no different from those from other communities when it comes to incompetence, corruptibility and absence of neutrality, transparency and fairness in voting and ditto for everything else for that matter.

Excerpt:

Hassan in conducting an election that was a photocopy of the bungled 2007 elections has removed any lingering doubt that the Kenyan Somali community is different from any other when it comes to matters tribal.

The notion that picking someone from that community would bring neutrality and fairness in the electoral process was therefore, in hindsight, a sham. A very good one for that matter.

No sooner had Hassan been appointed than the wheels of injustice started rolling and along with that disappeared any chance that we could have credible elections.

The tell-tale signs were there and many, including this writer, warned that the IEBC was compromised but we were assured by none other than Raila himself that all was well and that IBEC will follow through with good elections.

It’s one assurance one can be sure Raila would like to take back.