Hallow fellow Kenyans,
Much as I appreciate the need to "uncover" the truth, commissions of
inquiry haven't done Kenyans proud in the past. The ndung'u report on
grabbed land, the Goldenberg report, the Ouko inquiry etc etc continue
to gather dust at statehouse (their contents remain unknown to the
ordinary Kenyan).
How sure can we be that the Krigler & Waki inquiries will have their
recommendations made public, leave alone being implemented?
Serious questions arise, and Krigler's & Waki's is credibility is
based on the answers to the following main questions
• In the event that it emerges that PNU actually won (thanks to one
province). Will Hon.Raila resign as Prime minister and take up the
post of official opposition leader?
• If the elections were actually rigged and that PNU had infact lost,
will Baba Jimmy apologise to Kenyans and then leave for Othaya?
• If indeed it is made clear that the police used excessive force.
Will the Police Commissioner Major Gen.Ali be fired? (especially now
that he says he regrets nothing – not even the Rambo movie part)
• If it emerges that the polls were rigged, will Kivuitu be thrown
behind bars?
If the answer to any of these main questions is NO, then both
commissions are a waste of the public's time & resources.
By the way, most Kenyans will agree that the voting and the counting
went on very well. Trouble only began at the KICC during tallying when
it became clear that PNU was actually on its way out of power.
Why then is Krigler spending so much time & energy going to Nyamira,
Kacheliba, Nyeri, Butula etc etc???
Will he ever question Jack Tumwa, and the other commissioners
Hon.Kibaki appointed unilaterally??
Will he ever ask Kivuitu exactly how it took 3 days "transporting"
bloated results from Kiambaa to KICC (Kiambaa is a mere 30 mins
journey to town).
See why am not so enthusiastic about these money guzzling inquiries???
Yours truly,
Alan E Masakhalia
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Krigler & Waki Commissions – A total waste of time?
Thursday, June 19, 2008
DEAR KENYANS---WHAT DO YOU SAY?
DEAR Prime Minister Odinga,
Please be advised that we take great exception to some of the words you have used in describing our leadership in Zimbabwe, when you know very well that some of those words you use could well be used to describe yourself and your new government.
We shall not repeat everything you have said otherwise we will not be able to make our point clear.
You recently called Zimbabwe Africa’s ‘eyesore’ and an example of ‘how not to do it’. You have also said that ‘disaster is looming in Zimbabwe’.
You made similar statements about Zimbabwe, before the current violence had started around the beginning of April 2008, as if you had some special powers of ‘reading the future’. Everything you predicted has happened in exactly the same way; yet there was no precedent to such election violence in Zimbabwe — at least of that nature.
Today Zimbabwe feels like Kenya in December 2007-January 2008, where bodies, for the first time, are burnt and body parts cut off innocent civilians in the name of politics. We had never seen this kind of violence and level of killing in Zimbabwe and we condemn it unreservedly.
We challenge you to read reports of violence documented on Zimbabwe and you will agree with us that this type of violence is a first in Zimbabwe’s post-independence history.
You have been recently installed as a Prime Minister after almost 2, 500 post-election deaths, violent deaths, in your own country where we saw some of the worst brutality on the African continent in this day and age. Three hundred of your own people died pre-election (before December 2007) — a number that the current violence in Zimbabwe could never match; yet you have the audacity to call Zimbabwe an 'eyesore'.
Mr Odinga, we know that two wrongs don’t make a right, so Zimbabwe is not exonerated from criticism and it should be criticized. But who criticizes Zimbabwe and using what words? The words you have used recently Sir, are not akin to a new leader and whose own country is still reeling from one of the worst violent episodes on the continent.
We are getting increasing concerned and frustrated that you are not using diplomatic channels in criticising Zimbabwe. You will soon be mirroring the utterances of the erstwhile enemies of Zimbabwe, who have closed all diplomatic channels and are now trying to use 'force' to bring change in the couintry. You might as well be representing those countries, and their interests in Zimbabwe, not Kenya.
We do not exactly know what ‘triggered you off’ as a new Prime Minister to dedicate your respectable offices to criticizing Zimbabwe in this manner, when you have the advantage of your 'good offices' to do so. We were hoping that if you had any concerns, as a ‘head of state’ you had the opportunity to visit President Mugabe and speak to him directly. But you chose to use different fora; just like those people who have traditionally been at loggerheads with Zimbabwe.
Cowardly Insults
In this regard, with all due respect, we think this is cowardly. As a ‘head of state’ why you preferred to use the World Economic Forum in Pretoria and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington as platforms for firing ‘insults’ at Zimbabwe, rather than engage the leadership to find common solutions, is not clear. Your silence on Darfur and your own problems at home on these same fora is very concerning.
When you said you are ‘enemy No 1’ in Zimbabwe, you were wrong Mr Odinga. Zimbabwe does not hate you at all. You are not the enemy. Why are you identifying yourself with the enemies of Zimbabwe? Why should Zimbabwe hate you? Or, to rephrase, do you want Zimbabwe to hate you? As a news organsiation, we are concerned by your statements, but hate is a far-fetched word. Afterall, you are an African brother.
We sincerely hope that you do not view your leadership as ‘a way of doing it’ in Africa. Your leadership as Prime Minister is yet to be tested, yet you have the audacity to speak ill about Zimbabwe's leadership.
As we speak ethnic tension in your country is showing no sign of abating and suspicion runs high in your cabinet. We do not know if President Mwai Kibaki shares the same sentiments as you on Zimbabwe. We have only heard your lone voice from your bloated cabinet.
The just-ended by-elections in your country have highlighted continued tensions between the coalition partners and the persistence of ethnic politics.
The coalition that holds your government together is still to be tested. We urge you not to be over-excited by power and start criticizing what you term 'old African leaders'.
We know about the disgruntlement that exists in your party today, and your desire to forgive those who have perpetrated violence in the post-election period which has been criticised by the Roman Catholic prelate Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi.
Many of your allies “have been disheartened by the success of Mr Kibaki’s party – and his Kikuyu ethnic group – in dominating a government conceived as a union of equals,�� according to the Financial Times.
Long-standing ethnic grievances over the unequal distribution of land, wealth and power in Kenya will not be resolved by a GNU, and we hope you know that. This, we know, is what triggered the post-election violence, although others have said it was your desire to attain power.
We hope you will not get so overzealous in your new job as to create new enemies for Kenya from old friends. You still have a long way to go before the next election (in 2012). There is still a lot of work to do on constitutional reform, on truth, justice and reconciliation, and on the ever contentious issue of land. These are very delicate areas and before you start presenting yourself as an effective leader, you have to resolve these problems first.
KENYA, NOT SO LONG AGO
We do not know who you represent in your views Mr Odinga, given that you seem to be distracting world attention from Kenya.
It would suffice to remind people of what happened to kenya in January this year, to contextulise our concern. Some quotations from the media not so long ago would help:
“An estimated 30 Kenyans of the Kikuyu ethnic group – many of them children – were burned alive after taking shelter from a mob in a church in the western town of Eldoret,�� CS Monitor, Jan 3, 2008.
“Ethnic violence continued to spread throughout Kenya on Sunday, with at least 7 people burned to death in their homes in a tourist town and more than 100 people killed in the past four days.�� Associated Press Janury 27, 2008.
In one incident, witnesses said at least 7 people and possibly as many as 14 had been burned to death after they were trapped inside their house. Associated Press January 27, 2008.
“On Saturday, hundreds of men prowled a section of the city with iron bars, poisoned swords, clubs, knives and crude circumcision tools. Boys carried gladiator-style shields and women strutted around with sharpened sticks. The police were nowhere to be found. Even the locals were shocked. ‘I've never seen anything like this,’ said David Macharia, a bus driver.�� Associated Press Janury 27, 2008.
This will suffice for now.
300 people died in pre-election violence in Kenya and 2,500 died post election violence. This number, by any measure, dwarfs the 65-70 deaths recorded by the MDC (Tsvangirai) in unclear circumstances, yet you call Zimbabwe an eyesore, without trying to engage the Zimbabwean government as a PM.
We feel that Mr Odinga you still have to prove yourself as a leader and therefore are unqualified to make informed judgments about other leaders. We do not know what advises your judgment.
We urge you to stop the globe-trotting and focus on troubles in Kenya and engage African (Zimbabwean) leaders. We also urge you to let Mr Kibaki sometimes comment on Zimbabwe. He is the president, afterall. We do not even know if he shares the same sentiments as you over Zimbabwe.
We also urge you to reduce the size of your cabinet. We know that cabinet posts in Kenya attract a monthly salary of nearly (US) $18,000 (£9,000). Assistant ministers earn a bit less - just over $15,000. (BBC)
We also know that there are “40 cabinet ministers and 52 assistant ministers, not far short of half the total number of MPs�� in your country.
“Ministers and their assistants also get allowances - that adds another $210,000 a month to the bill.
“To add insult to injury, the Kenyan exchequer only claws back a little in tax: only around $3,000 of the ministers' income is treated as taxable income.��
So we know that you spend at least US$1.5million a month on salaries alone — the Kenyan taxpayers’ money. What exactly are you managing in that country Mr Odinga? And couldn’t you use that money for land redistribution and dealing with ethnic divisions in your country? Do you think this is sustainable in the long run?
We have problems in Zimbabwe. We have to deal with them; but we do not need insults from you Mr Odinga. We need help. We did not insult your country or your leadership when innocent people died in Kenya in the name of politics.
We expect you, the new generation of leaders, to be exemplary, not derogatory and divisive.
What lessons are you teaching future generations of leaders?
Is this the best you can come up with in your first months of leadership?
Do you have to exploit every forum to chastise those who make mistakes and castigate your own continent?
The US$13m a year you are about top spend on your cabinet, according to the BBC, is enough to build around 50 new schools in Kenya. So is this not an ‘eyesore’ on the continent? Is this a ‘way of doing it’?
Having 40 permanent secretaries and their staff, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars more to the bill, is not a ‘way of doing it’, neither is it exemplary leadership on a continent that is trying to lift itself from years of foreign domination and extraction of resources.
Mr Odinga, we wonder why you have already been allocated 45 security staff and a fleet of cars to travel in, when you say the situation in Kenya is improving.
We also wonder why “cabinet ministers and their deputies get a minimum of five security personnel and a couple of shiny new cars.��
In a country with an annual per capita income of less than US$400, these statistics are shocking. They are irresponsible. They are an antithesis to development and an embarrassment to the continent, and definitely an ‘eyesore’ and a ‘way of not doing it’.
THE ZIMBABWEAN PROBLEM
Sometimes, Mr Odinga, we wonder if you really know the Zimbabwean problem — how it started and how long it took the government to get majority rule. We wonder if you have read the history of our relationship with the ‘wild wild West’. We wonder if you know how many people perished in colonial Rhodesian and how many people sacrificed their lives.
We also wonder if you know how many black Zimbabweans people fought in World War II and were only given 15 Shillings as compensation on return; and how your own people (the Kenyans) contributed to the British Empire in Burma and SE Asia and went back home to fight the same people for freedom. Obviously history is not important to you, Mr Odinga. We believe the world starts in 2008 for you?
We do not say seek retribution; but we say, ‘contextualize problems’ before you are given a ‘High Chair’ at some forum or institute. Have pride in resolving your continent’s problems; not castigating those who came before you. Even Catholicism was proved fallible, remember papal infallibility?
Why can’t Zimbabwe make mistakes without attracting your un-useful comments? Why can’t you take a trip to Zimbabwe and not to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. if you feel Zimbabwe needs urgent attention? Why didn’t you detour to Zimbabwe on your way to, or from Pretoria, where you were attending the World Economic Forum?
Why do you always have to score points by mentioning Zimbabwe — and not providing credible solutions — than by talking about Kenya? Is there not enough trouble in Kenya?
We urge you Mr Odinga, to diplomatically engage the Zimbabwean government.
People are dying in the country and your words are not very helpful to a situation that is out of hand. We all exercised caution when Kenya was burning. It still is burning today, and we are still exercising caution. We are not getting over-excited. That’s what leaders do — find strtategic ways to resolve crises, not attack other leaders.
We do not remember hearing President Mugabe refusing to meet you or criticizing you or Mr Kibaki. We also do not remember you offering to help Zimbabwe. We remember your hugs with opposition leaders soon after your ‘inauguration’ and hugs at the World Economic Forum with Tendai Biti and Jendayi Frazer. Those are more memorable than anything useful you have said or done on ‘really’ resolving the Zimbabwean crisis.
We urge you to clean house before you make any further embarrassing statements about Zimbabwe in your first few months of leadership; and we also urge you to seek diplomatic ways of engaging the Zimbabwean government.
While at it, please also ask the Africa Commission and its splinter organisations and their spokespersons to lead a diplomatic offensive on Zimbabwe rather than speak from London.
Also please ask Mr Tony Blair to encourage the ‘African Elders’ he currently leads, to use the same methods he used in a more difficult situation in Northern Ireland, in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis.
Zimbabweans are dying from violence and soberness and diplomacy by leadership is needed; not these divisive by-partisan statements likely to divide a continent that was moving towards a Pan-African integration.
RSVP.
Wed 18 June 2008
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/AR … 06-18.html
Please be advised that we take great exception to some of the words you have used in describing our leadership in Zimbabwe, when you know very well that some of those words you use could well be used to describe yourself and your new government.
We shall not repeat everything you have said otherwise we will not be able to make our point clear.
You recently called Zimbabwe Africa’s ‘eyesore’ and an example of ‘how not to do it’. You have also said that ‘disaster is looming in Zimbabwe’.
You made similar statements about Zimbabwe, before the current violence had started around the beginning of April 2008, as if you had some special powers of ‘reading the future’. Everything you predicted has happened in exactly the same way; yet there was no precedent to such election violence in Zimbabwe — at least of that nature.
Today Zimbabwe feels like Kenya in December 2007-January 2008, where bodies, for the first time, are burnt and body parts cut off innocent civilians in the name of politics. We had never seen this kind of violence and level of killing in Zimbabwe and we condemn it unreservedly.
We challenge you to read reports of violence documented on Zimbabwe and you will agree with us that this type of violence is a first in Zimbabwe’s post-independence history.
You have been recently installed as a Prime Minister after almost 2, 500 post-election deaths, violent deaths, in your own country where we saw some of the worst brutality on the African continent in this day and age. Three hundred of your own people died pre-election (before December 2007) — a number that the current violence in Zimbabwe could never match; yet you have the audacity to call Zimbabwe an 'eyesore'.
Mr Odinga, we know that two wrongs don’t make a right, so Zimbabwe is not exonerated from criticism and it should be criticized. But who criticizes Zimbabwe and using what words? The words you have used recently Sir, are not akin to a new leader and whose own country is still reeling from one of the worst violent episodes on the continent.
We are getting increasing concerned and frustrated that you are not using diplomatic channels in criticising Zimbabwe. You will soon be mirroring the utterances of the erstwhile enemies of Zimbabwe, who have closed all diplomatic channels and are now trying to use 'force' to bring change in the couintry. You might as well be representing those countries, and their interests in Zimbabwe, not Kenya.
We do not exactly know what ‘triggered you off’ as a new Prime Minister to dedicate your respectable offices to criticizing Zimbabwe in this manner, when you have the advantage of your 'good offices' to do so. We were hoping that if you had any concerns, as a ‘head of state’ you had the opportunity to visit President Mugabe and speak to him directly. But you chose to use different fora; just like those people who have traditionally been at loggerheads with Zimbabwe.
Cowardly Insults
In this regard, with all due respect, we think this is cowardly. As a ‘head of state’ why you preferred to use the World Economic Forum in Pretoria and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington as platforms for firing ‘insults’ at Zimbabwe, rather than engage the leadership to find common solutions, is not clear. Your silence on Darfur and your own problems at home on these same fora is very concerning.
When you said you are ‘enemy No 1’ in Zimbabwe, you were wrong Mr Odinga. Zimbabwe does not hate you at all. You are not the enemy. Why are you identifying yourself with the enemies of Zimbabwe? Why should Zimbabwe hate you? Or, to rephrase, do you want Zimbabwe to hate you? As a news organsiation, we are concerned by your statements, but hate is a far-fetched word. Afterall, you are an African brother.
We sincerely hope that you do not view your leadership as ‘a way of doing it’ in Africa. Your leadership as Prime Minister is yet to be tested, yet you have the audacity to speak ill about Zimbabwe's leadership.
As we speak ethnic tension in your country is showing no sign of abating and suspicion runs high in your cabinet. We do not know if President Mwai Kibaki shares the same sentiments as you on Zimbabwe. We have only heard your lone voice from your bloated cabinet.
The just-ended by-elections in your country have highlighted continued tensions between the coalition partners and the persistence of ethnic politics.
The coalition that holds your government together is still to be tested. We urge you not to be over-excited by power and start criticizing what you term 'old African leaders'.
We know about the disgruntlement that exists in your party today, and your desire to forgive those who have perpetrated violence in the post-election period which has been criticised by the Roman Catholic prelate Cardinal John Njue of Nairobi.
Many of your allies “have been disheartened by the success of Mr Kibaki’s party – and his Kikuyu ethnic group – in dominating a government conceived as a union of equals,�� according to the Financial Times.
Long-standing ethnic grievances over the unequal distribution of land, wealth and power in Kenya will not be resolved by a GNU, and we hope you know that. This, we know, is what triggered the post-election violence, although others have said it was your desire to attain power.
We hope you will not get so overzealous in your new job as to create new enemies for Kenya from old friends. You still have a long way to go before the next election (in 2012). There is still a lot of work to do on constitutional reform, on truth, justice and reconciliation, and on the ever contentious issue of land. These are very delicate areas and before you start presenting yourself as an effective leader, you have to resolve these problems first.
KENYA, NOT SO LONG AGO
We do not know who you represent in your views Mr Odinga, given that you seem to be distracting world attention from Kenya.
It would suffice to remind people of what happened to kenya in January this year, to contextulise our concern. Some quotations from the media not so long ago would help:
“An estimated 30 Kenyans of the Kikuyu ethnic group – many of them children – were burned alive after taking shelter from a mob in a church in the western town of Eldoret,�� CS Monitor, Jan 3, 2008.
“Ethnic violence continued to spread throughout Kenya on Sunday, with at least 7 people burned to death in their homes in a tourist town and more than 100 people killed in the past four days.�� Associated Press Janury 27, 2008.
In one incident, witnesses said at least 7 people and possibly as many as 14 had been burned to death after they were trapped inside their house. Associated Press January 27, 2008.
“On Saturday, hundreds of men prowled a section of the city with iron bars, poisoned swords, clubs, knives and crude circumcision tools. Boys carried gladiator-style shields and women strutted around with sharpened sticks. The police were nowhere to be found. Even the locals were shocked. ‘I've never seen anything like this,’ said David Macharia, a bus driver.�� Associated Press Janury 27, 2008.
This will suffice for now.
300 people died in pre-election violence in Kenya and 2,500 died post election violence. This number, by any measure, dwarfs the 65-70 deaths recorded by the MDC (Tsvangirai) in unclear circumstances, yet you call Zimbabwe an eyesore, without trying to engage the Zimbabwean government as a PM.
We feel that Mr Odinga you still have to prove yourself as a leader and therefore are unqualified to make informed judgments about other leaders. We do not know what advises your judgment.
We urge you to stop the globe-trotting and focus on troubles in Kenya and engage African (Zimbabwean) leaders. We also urge you to let Mr Kibaki sometimes comment on Zimbabwe. He is the president, afterall. We do not even know if he shares the same sentiments as you over Zimbabwe.
We also urge you to reduce the size of your cabinet. We know that cabinet posts in Kenya attract a monthly salary of nearly (US) $18,000 (£9,000). Assistant ministers earn a bit less - just over $15,000. (BBC)
We also know that there are “40 cabinet ministers and 52 assistant ministers, not far short of half the total number of MPs�� in your country.
“Ministers and their assistants also get allowances - that adds another $210,000 a month to the bill.
“To add insult to injury, the Kenyan exchequer only claws back a little in tax: only around $3,000 of the ministers' income is treated as taxable income.��
So we know that you spend at least US$1.5million a month on salaries alone — the Kenyan taxpayers’ money. What exactly are you managing in that country Mr Odinga? And couldn’t you use that money for land redistribution and dealing with ethnic divisions in your country? Do you think this is sustainable in the long run?
We have problems in Zimbabwe. We have to deal with them; but we do not need insults from you Mr Odinga. We need help. We did not insult your country or your leadership when innocent people died in Kenya in the name of politics.
We expect you, the new generation of leaders, to be exemplary, not derogatory and divisive.
What lessons are you teaching future generations of leaders?
Is this the best you can come up with in your first months of leadership?
Do you have to exploit every forum to chastise those who make mistakes and castigate your own continent?
The US$13m a year you are about top spend on your cabinet, according to the BBC, is enough to build around 50 new schools in Kenya. So is this not an ‘eyesore’ on the continent? Is this a ‘way of doing it’?
Having 40 permanent secretaries and their staff, adding hundreds of thousands of dollars more to the bill, is not a ‘way of doing it’, neither is it exemplary leadership on a continent that is trying to lift itself from years of foreign domination and extraction of resources.
Mr Odinga, we wonder why you have already been allocated 45 security staff and a fleet of cars to travel in, when you say the situation in Kenya is improving.
We also wonder why “cabinet ministers and their deputies get a minimum of five security personnel and a couple of shiny new cars.��
In a country with an annual per capita income of less than US$400, these statistics are shocking. They are irresponsible. They are an antithesis to development and an embarrassment to the continent, and definitely an ‘eyesore’ and a ‘way of not doing it’.
THE ZIMBABWEAN PROBLEM
Sometimes, Mr Odinga, we wonder if you really know the Zimbabwean problem — how it started and how long it took the government to get majority rule. We wonder if you have read the history of our relationship with the ‘wild wild West’. We wonder if you know how many people perished in colonial Rhodesian and how many people sacrificed their lives.
We also wonder if you know how many black Zimbabweans people fought in World War II and were only given 15 Shillings as compensation on return; and how your own people (the Kenyans) contributed to the British Empire in Burma and SE Asia and went back home to fight the same people for freedom. Obviously history is not important to you, Mr Odinga. We believe the world starts in 2008 for you?
We do not say seek retribution; but we say, ‘contextualize problems’ before you are given a ‘High Chair’ at some forum or institute. Have pride in resolving your continent’s problems; not castigating those who came before you. Even Catholicism was proved fallible, remember papal infallibility?
Why can’t Zimbabwe make mistakes without attracting your un-useful comments? Why can’t you take a trip to Zimbabwe and not to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington D.C. if you feel Zimbabwe needs urgent attention? Why didn’t you detour to Zimbabwe on your way to, or from Pretoria, where you were attending the World Economic Forum?
Why do you always have to score points by mentioning Zimbabwe — and not providing credible solutions — than by talking about Kenya? Is there not enough trouble in Kenya?
We urge you Mr Odinga, to diplomatically engage the Zimbabwean government.
People are dying in the country and your words are not very helpful to a situation that is out of hand. We all exercised caution when Kenya was burning. It still is burning today, and we are still exercising caution. We are not getting over-excited. That’s what leaders do — find strtategic ways to resolve crises, not attack other leaders.
We do not remember hearing President Mugabe refusing to meet you or criticizing you or Mr Kibaki. We also do not remember you offering to help Zimbabwe. We remember your hugs with opposition leaders soon after your ‘inauguration’ and hugs at the World Economic Forum with Tendai Biti and Jendayi Frazer. Those are more memorable than anything useful you have said or done on ‘really’ resolving the Zimbabwean crisis.
We urge you to clean house before you make any further embarrassing statements about Zimbabwe in your first few months of leadership; and we also urge you to seek diplomatic ways of engaging the Zimbabwean government.
While at it, please also ask the Africa Commission and its splinter organisations and their spokespersons to lead a diplomatic offensive on Zimbabwe rather than speak from London.
Also please ask Mr Tony Blair to encourage the ‘African Elders’ he currently leads, to use the same methods he used in a more difficult situation in Northern Ireland, in resolving the Zimbabwean crisis.
Zimbabweans are dying from violence and soberness and diplomacy by leadership is needed; not these divisive by-partisan statements likely to divide a continent that was moving towards a Pan-African integration.
RSVP.
Wed 18 June 2008
http://www.talkzimbabwe.com/news/117/AR … 06-18.html
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
All Races Are Singing--OBAMA!
http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jun/13/barackobama.johnmccain
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Michigandas-Obama Victory Party!
KDPM is glad to announce that we will have an Obama Victory Party for all Michigandas at the University club, Grand Rapids,MI, tomorrow from 7.00p.m to 12.00 a.m.An official from the National Steering Committee will address the gathering. Indeed this is a historic moment for all of us and we are glad to be part of it.All are welcome.
Gerald Baraza,President, KDPM
Gerald Baraza,President, KDPM
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Clinton set to concede to Obama!
By BETH FOUHY, Associated Press Writer 6 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede Tuesday night that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president.
ADVERTISEMENT
The former first lady will stop short of formally suspending or ending her race in her speech in New York City. She will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, the two senior officials said, the campaign is over.
Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.
The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.
Universal health care, Clinton's signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_el_pr/clinton
WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton will concede Tuesday night that Barack Obama has the delegates to secure the Democratic nomination, campaign officials said, effectively ending her bid to be the nation's first female president.
ADVERTISEMENT
The former first lady will stop short of formally suspending or ending her race in her speech in New York City. She will pledge to continue to speak out on issues like health care. But for all intents and purposes, the two senior officials said, the campaign is over.
Most campaign staff will be let go and will be paid through June 15, said the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge her plans.
The advisers said Clinton has made a strategic decision to not formally end her campaign, giving her leverage to negotiate with Obama on various matters including a possible vice presidential nomination for her. She also wants to press him on issues he should focus on in the fall, such as health care.
Universal health care, Clinton's signature issue as first lady in the 1990s, was a point of dispute between Obama and the New York senator during their epic nomination fight.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_el_pr/clinton
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
EVEN ASTROLOGERS SAY-"OBAMA WILL BE PRESIDENT-BUT...!
Astrologers starry-eyed for Obama
By William Porter
Denver Post Columnist
Article Last Updated: 05/20/2008 11:33:03 PM MDT
In a presidential campaign where we have gauged candidates based on the color of their pantsuits, the health of their skin and the ability to throw a bowling ball, one critical test has been overlooked.
I am, of course, talking about how their astrological charts stack up.
Lucky for us, the United Astrology Conference was in Denver this week, with 1,500 devotees from 44 countries. On Tuesday, seven top forecasters took the stage in the downtown Sheraton and made like television political pundits, minus the screaming.
I'll cut to the chase: Six panelists predicted the election will go to Barack Obama, thanks to a Saturn-Jupiter conjunction spelling change. The seventh, Shelley Ackerman, saw an Obama win, but worried about Neptune doing something funky in January, endangering his chances of actually taking office. Her colleagues agreed the stars did look dicey in this respect.
Panelist Sandra-Leigh Serio ran it down for me.
"Obama's chart and the United States' chart are very much alike," she said. "From an astrological standpoint, he's a man of destiny. (John) McCain also has a strong connection to the U.S. chart."
Hillary Clinton? Eh, not so much, apparently. "There's a little more confusion with her and the U.S. chart," Serio said.
Me, I'm not into astrology. I'll occasionally scan my horoscope, but only if it shows up on the same newspaper page as the crossword puzzle I'm working. The advice is always beyond generic. "Today's a bad day to antagonize your boss/spouse/Doberman."
One breathless woman came up and asked how I felt about Mercury in August. I told her I was generally a Ford man, but given that I was in the market for a new car this fall, would keep an open mind.
So the general star-chart enthusiasm was lost on me.
Still, the panelists were impressive. They sounded like astronomy majors who had paid attention in poli-sci class.
Before announcing their predictions, panelists discussed how they did their charts. There was some distress about the methodology in this election year.
"We don't have a single solid birth chart," panelist Robert Hand told the crowd. "If those dates are wrong, everything I say is garbage."
And Serio said the panel was "doing this in the shadows of Mercury and Neptune — this might not have any validity at all in a few months."
I didn't quite know what that meant, but gave her points for hedging her bets as deftly as any CNN analyst.
Hand ominously noted there would be an eclipse of the sun in August, with Mercury ascending for George W. Bush. The crowd gasped. This seemed to portend election-day shenanigans.
Gloria Star noted that Clinton has looming problems with Neptune. While signs indicate she will be gone from the scene on Election Day, other signs "indicate she's fighting somewhere."
"Probably in her kitchen," a woman behind me said.
Don't tell me astrologers lack a sense of humor.
For the record, McCain is a Virgo, Obama is a Leo and Clinton is a Scorpio.
"Leos and Scorpios are historically at odds," Serio told me. She nodded knowingly. "Bill Clinton's a Leo."
So there it is, courtesy of our top astrologers: Obama wins, probably.
Hey, have we heard anything better from the pundits?
William Porter's column runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 303-954-1977 or wporter@denverpost.com.
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9327085
By William Porter
Denver Post Columnist
Article Last Updated: 05/20/2008 11:33:03 PM MDT
In a presidential campaign where we have gauged candidates based on the color of their pantsuits, the health of their skin and the ability to throw a bowling ball, one critical test has been overlooked.
I am, of course, talking about how their astrological charts stack up.
Lucky for us, the United Astrology Conference was in Denver this week, with 1,500 devotees from 44 countries. On Tuesday, seven top forecasters took the stage in the downtown Sheraton and made like television political pundits, minus the screaming.
I'll cut to the chase: Six panelists predicted the election will go to Barack Obama, thanks to a Saturn-Jupiter conjunction spelling change. The seventh, Shelley Ackerman, saw an Obama win, but worried about Neptune doing something funky in January, endangering his chances of actually taking office. Her colleagues agreed the stars did look dicey in this respect.
Panelist Sandra-Leigh Serio ran it down for me.
"Obama's chart and the United States' chart are very much alike," she said. "From an astrological standpoint, he's a man of destiny. (John) McCain also has a strong connection to the U.S. chart."
Hillary Clinton? Eh, not so much, apparently. "There's a little more confusion with her and the U.S. chart," Serio said.
Me, I'm not into astrology. I'll occasionally scan my horoscope, but only if it shows up on the same newspaper page as the crossword puzzle I'm working. The advice is always beyond generic. "Today's a bad day to antagonize your boss/spouse/Doberman."
One breathless woman came up and asked how I felt about Mercury in August. I told her I was generally a Ford man, but given that I was in the market for a new car this fall, would keep an open mind.
So the general star-chart enthusiasm was lost on me.
Still, the panelists were impressive. They sounded like astronomy majors who had paid attention in poli-sci class.
Before announcing their predictions, panelists discussed how they did their charts. There was some distress about the methodology in this election year.
"We don't have a single solid birth chart," panelist Robert Hand told the crowd. "If those dates are wrong, everything I say is garbage."
And Serio said the panel was "doing this in the shadows of Mercury and Neptune — this might not have any validity at all in a few months."
I didn't quite know what that meant, but gave her points for hedging her bets as deftly as any CNN analyst.
Hand ominously noted there would be an eclipse of the sun in August, with Mercury ascending for George W. Bush. The crowd gasped. This seemed to portend election-day shenanigans.
Gloria Star noted that Clinton has looming problems with Neptune. While signs indicate she will be gone from the scene on Election Day, other signs "indicate she's fighting somewhere."
"Probably in her kitchen," a woman behind me said.
Don't tell me astrologers lack a sense of humor.
For the record, McCain is a Virgo, Obama is a Leo and Clinton is a Scorpio.
"Leos and Scorpios are historically at odds," Serio told me. She nodded knowingly. "Bill Clinton's a Leo."
So there it is, courtesy of our top astrologers: Obama wins, probably.
Hey, have we heard anything better from the pundits?
William Porter's column runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Reach him at 303-954-1977 or wporter@denverpost.com.
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_9327085
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
On Maina Njenga’s Release & Why not sue for defamation?
To say that am surprised will be an understatement.
Calls for Maina Njenga’s release by the so called Central Kenya
Elders are very unfortunate to say the least. Maina Njenga is yet to be charged for his association with the Mungiki. He is behind bars for the simple reason that he was found in possession of a firearm (without a license). So, if he is to be released, then why don’t we release all those
behind bars on similar charges? Maina isn’t special as far
as the law is concerned hence incase he is released then I demand that
we release all those caught with fire arms.
I rest my case.
Yours
Alan E Masakhalia
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Why not sue for defamation?
Our defense minister continues to baffle many with his unwavering
notion that it is the civilians who are torturing their brothers and then
handing them over to the harmless army officers. If this is the case then I would ask that the military shows to the world one of those civilians that has been supplying them with already tortured SLDF suspects.
Alternatively, since more people are blaming the military for their
injuries then I would ask that our good minister Hon. Yusuf Haji takes
legal action against them. Why then is he allowing them to taint the
good name of the armed forces?
Over to you bwana minister.
Yours
Alan E Masakhalia.
Calls for Maina Njenga’s release by the so called Central Kenya
Elders are very unfortunate to say the least. Maina Njenga is yet to be charged for his association with the Mungiki. He is behind bars for the simple reason that he was found in possession of a firearm (without a license). So, if he is to be released, then why don’t we release all those
behind bars on similar charges? Maina isn’t special as far
as the law is concerned hence incase he is released then I demand that
we release all those caught with fire arms.
I rest my case.
Yours
Alan E Masakhalia
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Why not sue for defamation?
Our defense minister continues to baffle many with his unwavering
notion that it is the civilians who are torturing their brothers and then
handing them over to the harmless army officers. If this is the case then I would ask that the military shows to the world one of those civilians that has been supplying them with already tortured SLDF suspects.
Alternatively, since more people are blaming the military for their
injuries then I would ask that our good minister Hon. Yusuf Haji takes
legal action against them. Why then is he allowing them to taint the
good name of the armed forces?
Over to you bwana minister.
Yours
Alan E Masakhalia.
A Ph.D IN MATHEMATICS AT 20 YEARS OLD!
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is proud to announce that 32-year-old Terence Tao, a professor of mathematics at the University of California at Los Angeles, will receive its 2008 Alan T. Waterman Award. Called a "supreme problem-solver," and named one of "the Brilliant 10" scientists by Popular Science (October 2006), Tao's extraordinary work, much of which has been funded by NSF through the years, has had a tremendous impact across several mathematical areas. He will receive the award at a black tie dinner program at the U.S. Department of State on May 6.
The annual Waterman award recognizes an outstanding young researcher in any field of science or engineering supported by NSF. Candidates may not be more than 35 years old, or seven years beyond receiving a doctorate, and must stand out for their individual achievements. In addition to a medal, the awardee receives a grant of $500,000 over a 3-year period for scientific research or advanced study in their field.
Terence Tao was born in Adelaide, Australia, in 1975. His genius at mathematics began early in life. He started to learn calculus when he was 7 years old, at which age he began high school; by the age of 9 he was already very good at university-level calculus. By the age of 11, he was thriving in international mathematics competitions. Tao was 20 when he earned his doctorate from Princeton University, and he joined UCLA's faculty that year. UCLA promoted him to full professor at age 24. Tao now holds UCLA's James and Carol Collins Chair in the College of Letters and Science. He is also a fellow of the Royal Society and the Australian Academy of Sciences (corresponding member).
Nicknamed "the Mozart of Math," Tao's areas of research include partial differential equations (PDE), combinatorics, number theory and harmonic analysis. Harmonic analysis is an advanced form of calculus that uses equations from physics. Some of this work involves, in a colleague's words, "geometrical constructions that almost no one understands." Tao also works in a related field, nonlinear partial differential equations, and in the entirely distinct fields of algebraic geometry, number theory and combinatorics, which involves counting.
In addition to the prestigious Waterman award, Tao has received a number of other awards, including the Salem Prize in 2000; the Bochner Prize in 2002; the Fields Medal, often touted as the "Nobel Prize for Mathematics" and SASTRA Ramanujan Prize in 2006; and the MacArthur Fellowship and Ostrowski Prize in 2007.
Through the years, Tao's research has often been funded by other NSF grants. His current research is funded by NSF Award #0649473, "Global Behaviour of Critical Nonlinear PDE."
http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111401&org=NSF&from=news
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Matatu Operators Suffer Blow As Ruling is Reversed.
LAW REPORT: Matatu operators suffer blow as ruling is reversed
Story by MONICA ACHODE
Publication Date: 5/12/2008
Republic vs Permanent Secretary, ministry of Local Government & Four others ex-parte, Immaculate Transporters Ltd & 17 others [2008] Eklr (www.kenyalaw.org)
High Court At Nairobi
J. G. Nyamu (J)
Matatus at the new Muthurwa Bus terminus. Photo/FILE
Mr Justice John Nyamu on May 5 gave a ruling setting aside an earlier order given on March 31, 2008, by a fellow judge, which had allowed matatu operators to file a substantive application for several reliefs.
The High Court, in the earlier application, had also ordered that the leave granted was to operate as a stay of the decision reached by respondents who were named as the Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Local Government, the Transport Licensing Board, the Attorney-General, the City Council and the Commissioner of Police.
Matatu operators Bernard Goko, Elizaphan Wahome, Duncan Ngugi, Michael Kinyua and Joe Macharia had applied to have their matter certified as urgent and for it to be heard instantly. They also sought leave to apply for a judicial review order to quash the decision of the respondents barring several motor vehicles belonging to the applicant from entering Nairobi central business district and from using Landhies Road. Among the cars barred were motor vehicle registration numbers KAL 560 C, KBA 009 C, KAQ 910 U, KAT 860 U and KAN 514 H.
The applicants further wanted to bar the respondents from continuing to block the said motor vehicles from entering the city centre or using certain routes.
At the same time, the respondents brought an application to set aside the order issued on March 31, 2008.
The respondents put forward several grounds among them that their decision ordering matatus to drop and pick up passengers at Muthurwa market was lawful having been taken through all the statutory requirements prior to being effected.
It was their contention that the decision had been reached through a council resolution. This had been followed by the ministerial approval which was gazetted on March 20, 2008.
The City of Nairobi (Omnibus Stations) Amendment By-Laws 2008 at section 23 clearly designated special parking spaces for all vehicles plying route number 58. This amendment was operationalising earlier City Council of Nairobi (Matatu Termini) By-Laws 2007 section 9 which provided that the council could from time to time declare any area within the city to be a matatu terminus, and that the terminus declared in accordance with these by-laws would indicate the route number of the matatus to use it.
Route 58
Matatu owners through their counsel responded by submitting that section 72A(j) dealt with parking, whereas the issue before the court was where matatus plying route 58 were to end their itinerary.
They also contended that under the Nairobi (Matatu Termini) By-Laws 2007, no parking was allowed and that the vehicles were to be on the move at all times. It was their stand that the Traffic Act regulated parking.
The matatu owners felt it was in the greater public interest to have the stay order continue because the traffic situation would be chaotic if the matatus were not allowed back into the city centre.
It was also their contention that the orders were in the interest of the majority instead of favouring a few.
They claimed the three operators who had been allowed to enter city centre had been favour and this constituted discrimination of the other operators.
Related to this had been the issue of licences issued to the applicants for a period of one year by the Transport Licensing Board on the basis of known routes, a result of which was that their legitimate expectation to so operate throughout the whole year had been thwarted.
Further, the applicant felt that sufficient notice had not been provided, contrary to the rules of natural justice.
On the issue of notice, the High Court felt that in retrospect, it was to be viewed from the standpoint of the due process provisions relating to the passing and making of laws as set out under section 201 of the Local Government Act.
It was the court’s view that attention of the previous court had not been drawn to this section and was instead informed that the respondents had made an oral decision.
On this, the court held the failure to disclose the existence of the by-laws as the real subject matter constituted a serious non-disclosure on the part of the matatu owners which would have affected the grant of orders they had sought.
Mr Justice Nyamu also found on the claim of legitimate expectation that the court had not been adequately briefed on how this had been resolved.
Further, he held there had been no decision under attack at the time of the grant of the order for leave and stay. Instead what had formed the so called decision had been the By-Laws L.N 37/ 08, which were in turn not brought to the attention of the court then.
Mr Justice Nyamu was of the opinion that, had the attention of the court hearing the matter at the time been drawn to the by-laws, the chances of the applicants succeeding on obtaining those orders would have been apparently non-existent.
The court referred to various decided cases in ruling on the issue of material non-disclosure. The cases of Kenya Bus Service versus Republic and Justus Nyangaya versus Republic reiterated the courts stand that leave was only provisional and that it could be set aside for material non-disclosure or if wrongly entered.
Second stage
At the leave stage, the court grants or refuses leave by answering the question whether or not an applicant is likely to succeed at the second stage.
It was his opinion that the leave and stay would not have been granted on the same terms had the by-laws been exhibited.
Concerning the issue of public interest, Mr Justice Nyamu ruled that on a tentative basis, there could not be a greater public interest concerning traffic matters than achieving the smooth flow of traffic, order and discipline on the roads.
It was for these reasons that the High Court set aside that particular part of the order given on March 31, 2008, by the vacation Judge directing that leave operate as stay.
The writer is an advocate of the high court of Kenya
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=123100
Monday, May 12, 2008
Pardon for poll chaos ruled out!
There is a story in the Daily Nation that says; "Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and two Cabinet ministers Sunday said those who committed crimes against humanity during the post-election violence should be punished". Let’s get to the basics. We all need to understand that in criminology, a political crime is one involving overt acts or omissions, which prejudice the interests of the state, its government or the political system. In such circumstances it is to be distinguished from state crime.
In the Kenyan situation, during the course of the counting of the votes in the last General election, it is the state that broke her own constitutional and criminal laws first. Considering what transpired and putting into perspective all what happened and what is being pushed by a certain group of politicians, it looks like those politicians are trying to overlook their own colossal crimes and define as political and criminal crimes any behavior that was carried out by certain people perceived as having been a threat, real or imagined. Common logic dictates that such criminalization and victimization may not lead to a range of human rights, civil rights, and freedoms being curtailed or abused.
Detaching the motive and reasons that triggered what happened in Kenya is in itself a calculated but ill-conceived move that in the short run may be convenient for those who hold power but it will lay a dangerous precedence that will in turn breed acrimony and ethnic tension which may in turn trigger another round of ethnic violence. In fact it goes against the spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation that is being advocated by those who are working hard to resettle the IDPs. Thus, while a number of those who support the current regime may consider criminalization of politically-motivated anti-social behavior while ignoring the fact that majority of the offenders were driven by more extreme political, ideological, religious or other beliefs, there may be a question of the morality of laws or prosecutions which simply criminalize ordinary political dissent.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
It's over: Obama closes the deal in Indiana and North Carolina!
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Sen. Barack Obama has won the Democratic presidential nomination with his convincing win in the North Carolina primary.
The primary election that Sen. Hillary Clinton said would be a "game changer" has become a "game ender."
While Obama hasn't completely put to rest the concerns raised by Clinton about his ability to woo white working-class voters, his strong showing on Tuesday in North Carolina and, to a lesser extent in Indiana, will likely push even more Democratic super delegates into his camp.
Soon, in a few weeks or early next month, Obama will have the endorsements of a majority of Democrats to the Denver convention. And then it will be time for Clinton to step aside and step behind the man who has beat her under every conceivable standard: most delegates, most votes and most states.
It's no secret that Obama has had a very tough couple of weeks, as he's been dogged by intemperate statements made by the candidate and by his former pastor.
But his victory in North Carolina shows that he's survived the worst, perhaps, that can be thrown at him. If she is a fighter, then what is he?
A respected member of his own party has essentially campaigned against him as a Republican would -- questioning his patriotism, his aloofness, his manhood, and his judgment - and has failed in a key, big, swing state.
North Carolina proves that Obama isn't a loser, that he can still connect with a majority of Democrats, and that he can win a big state.
Clinton campaigned as the economic populist, but Obama won a majority of the votes in North Carolina cast by those most concerned about the economy, according to exit polls for the networks. He won a majority of voters with less than a high school education, and won among all white voters under 65.
The economy is becoming a bigger issue as winter turns to spring. At the beginning of the race in January and February, Obama scored big wins by appealing to voters who believed ending the war was the biggest issue. Clinton came back by emphasizing the economy as the calendar turned to Ohio and Pennsylvania.
But North Carolina also shows that Obama can appeal on pocketbook issues too. Those voters who see the economy as the biggest issue - two-thirds in North Carolina -- are highly likely to stick with the Democrat in November in the race that matters against McCain.
Clinton, of the hundred-million-dollar income and the Ivy League education, put on a corn-pone accent and accused Obama of being one of the "elite." But strong majorities in both North Carolina and Indiana said they believed Obama reflected their values and cared for them.
In his victory speech, Obama directly addressed the fire that nearly engulfed him, saying that ending the old politics of exploiting fears and the fake controversies was the very reason he was running.
"The other side can label and name-call all they want, but I trust the American people," Obama said.
And for their part, the Tuesday vote show that enough Democrats trust Obama to beat McCain in the fall.
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/its-over-obama-closes-deal/story.aspx?guid=%7B901FF1FB-3849-4D86-8922-1CE7F4BCBDCE%7D&dist=msr_1
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
WHY KENYA NEEDS HON.ABABU NAMWAMBA AND THE GRAND OPPOSITION!
There is a big misconception in Kenya that the Opposition’s role is only to oppose, oppose, and oppose! This often means opposing what the government does. It always means questioning what the government is doing. This is childish ignorance to say the least. Kenyans need to grow to a level where they think of the role of the Opposition more constructively as holding the government to account. The Opposition’s main role is to question the government of the day and hold it accountable to the public. If we all support Hon. Ababu Namwamba and his fellow proponents of the “Grand Opposition”, we will go about our politics in a positive way and we will cause the government to adopt positive proposals.
We all need to understand that the Opposition has the additional job of working to present an alternative government. This may involve bringing together smaller political parties or enticing potentially government parties. This is part of the role of the Opposition in working to present an alternative government so that in case the government fails the citizens have an alternative that they can turn to.
The other major role of the Opposition is proposing alternatives to what the government is doing so the public gets the benefit of political debate between different directions. At one end of the spectrum there are occasions on which oppositions agree with the Government. These tend to be where it is simply in the wider public interest that a problem is fixed. It is where the solution the government is proposing has wide support, and it is hard to disagree with it.
The leader of the Opposition is responsible for representing the Opposition at state functions, meetings with dignitaries and other important events. The way opposition parties work together can influence the outcomes - if they succeed in working together and in building the political numbers they increase their chances of forming the next government.
Any Government has to remain answerable to the public at all times, and a good Opposition can put the spotlight on serious issues and have them resolved quickly. We also have to realize that the Opposition parties do not have the same resources as the Government and the Executive, so they have to work twice as hard to get the same results. The Government has access to government departments and advisers to form their policies, where the Opposition often has to go down different avenues to source the same information. So having legislators like Hon. Ababu Namwamba who have their own personal resources and networks that they can use as they work to bring accountability to our government is a huge advantage to we the common people. The alternative is having an Opposition that is full of people who are intellectually and economically bankrupt. Such people will always stay on the fence waiting to be bribed to support government bills.
Kenyans also need to realize that it is important that the Opposition keep a close eye and ear on what the public is saying, needs, and wants because the Government not delivering often causes problems. These needs a keen Opposition that is full of life and passion to see positive change in the country. There are some issues sometimes caused by Government negligence that become the Opposition’s main platforms.
Having said this, the Kenyan Diaspora Pro-democracy Movement hopes that all Kenyans will understand and support Hon.Ababu Namwamba and his colleagues as they pursue the idea of serving as our Opposition.
UGANDAN AUTHORITIES: RELEASE ANDREW MWENDA UNCONDITIONALLY!
Reuters Africa is reporting that Andrew Mwenda and two other staffers of the Independent have been arrested by Ugandan officials.
The Kenyan Diaspora Pro-democracy Movement (KDPM) deplores the arrest of Andrew Mwenda and his colleagues in Kampala, Uganda. It is so sad to note that although the right to freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law through numerous human-rights instruments, notably under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the implementation of this right remains a nightmare in Uganda. The KDPM recognizes that restrictions on the freedom of speech should be the exception and free expression the rule. Thus arresting a leading African intellectual like Andrew Mwenda not only beats the idea of trying to promote the free flow of ideas essential to political democracy and democratic institutions in Uganda but it also curtails the ability of the this young country to promote other rights and freedoms. Mwenda has worked exceedingly hard to promote economic and political ideas in Africa. We would have expected the Ugandan government to see this as being intrinsically valuable as part of the self-actualization of her learned citizens and listeners. Unfortunately, the myopic forces led by greed and the quest for short-term gains do not see this.
The KDPM calls on all think tanks, institutions and governments that work tirelessly to promote freedom of speech and intellectualism to intervene and press for the unconditional release of Andrew Mwenda. We call on all African student chapters and organizations here in the US to organize protests and mail out petitions calling for the release of Andrew Mwenda and his colleagues. We also ask you to call The State Department, Bureau of African Affairs and ask them to intervene:
1-800-877-8339
202-647-6575
202-663-2707
One more thing, call your Senator or Congressman/Congresswoman and ask him to intervene in this situation. Every call counts. If you do not get him/her, send an email!
Click here to listen to Andrew Mwenda speaking:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/159
Related:
KAMPALA (Reuters) - Ugandan security forces on Saturday raided the offices of a magazine seen as critical of President Yoweri Museveni's government, arresting three journalists and taking computers, a lawyer said.
Andrew Mwenda is a print, radio and television journalist, and an active critic of many forms of Western aid to Africa. Too much of the aid from rich nations, he says, goes to the worst African countries to fuel war and government abuse. Such money not only never gets to its intended recipients, Africa's truly needy -- it actively plays a part in making their lives worse.
Mwenda worked at the Daily Monitor newspaper in Kampala starting in the mid-1990s, and hosted a radio show, Andrew Mwenda Live, since 2001; in 2005, he was charged with sedition by the Ugandan government for criticizing the president of Uganda on his radio show, in the wake of the helicopter crash that killed the vice president of Sudan. He has produced documentaries and commentary for the BBC on the dangers of aid and debt relief to Africa, and consulted for the World Bank and Transparency international, and was a Knight Fellow at Stanford in 2007. In December 2007, he launched a new newspaper, The Independent, in Kampala.
Journalist Andrew Mwenda has spent his career fighting for free speech and economic empowerment throughout Africa. He argues that aid makes objects of the poor -- they become passive recipients of charity rather than active participants in their own economic betterment.
Monday, April 28, 2008
BILL SEEKS TO CHANGE CRITERIA FOR AWARDING GREEN CARDS.
Bills introduced last week in both the Senate and House would amend the National Labor Relations Act to change the definition of an “employee” to include teaching assistants at private universities, thus allowing them to unionize. The “Teaching and Research Assistant Collective Bargaining Rights Act” (S. 2891) was introduced by each chamber’s education committee chair: Sen. Kennedy and Rep. Miller.
A statement from the sponsors is available at kennedy.senate.gov/newsroom and bill text is available at thomas.loc.gov by searching for “S.2891”.
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) introduced a bill to replace the current “diversity” visa lottery program with a new program that would issue visas to foreigners who have earned an advanced degree. The lottery is a Congressionally-mandated program that issues 55,000 visas per year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Senator Gregg would like to use those visas to attract immigrants holding advanced degrees in science, mathematics, technology, or engineering (STEM) fields.
Bill text is available through thomas.loc.gov by searching for “S.2868”.
Canada’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration announced changes designed to attract more foreign students to the country. Effective immediately, international students who graduate from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondary institutions can obtain a work permit with far fewer restrictions. Such students would no longer be required to work in specified fields or even receive a job offer before applying for a three-year work visa. The Canadian government “wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help them succeed…Our ability to retain international graduates with Canadian qualifications, work experience and familiarity with Canadian society, will help increase our competitiveness and benefit Canada as a whole.”
More information is available at news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=393209&categoryid=16
A statement from the sponsors is available at kennedy.senate.gov/newsroom and bill text is available at thomas.loc.gov by searching for “S.2891”.
Senator Judd Gregg (R-NH) introduced a bill to replace the current “diversity” visa lottery program with a new program that would issue visas to foreigners who have earned an advanced degree. The lottery is a Congressionally-mandated program that issues 55,000 visas per year to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the U.S. Senator Gregg would like to use those visas to attract immigrants holding advanced degrees in science, mathematics, technology, or engineering (STEM) fields.
Bill text is available through thomas.loc.gov by searching for “S.2868”.
Canada’s Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration announced changes designed to attract more foreign students to the country. Effective immediately, international students who graduate from eligible programs at certain Canadian post-secondary institutions can obtain a work permit with far fewer restrictions. Such students would no longer be required to work in specified fields or even receive a job offer before applying for a three-year work visa. The Canadian government “wants more foreign students to choose Canada and we want to help them succeed…Our ability to retain international graduates with Canadian qualifications, work experience and familiarity with Canadian society, will help increase our competitiveness and benefit Canada as a whole.”
More information is available at news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=393209&categoryid=16
Saturday, April 26, 2008
PASTOR COULD BE DEFROCKED FOR DEFENDING GAYS!
Click on picture to enlarge story.
Rev. John B.Makokha holds a Master of Arts Degree in Missions from the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST) and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Nairobi. His wife holds a Master of Arts degree in Linguistics and a Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Nairobi. She also holds a Post-graduate diploma in Counseling from the Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology (NEGST).
Contact information
PO Box 127-05002, Nairobi-Karen
Telephone: 0733477199, +254727549693
Email: jmakokha2000@yahoo.com
Email: anne.baraza@negst.edu
Riruta United Methodist Church:
www.gbgm-umc.org/rirutaumc/
Thursday, April 24, 2008
UNITY IN DIVERSITY: KEY TO KENYA'S SUCCESS!
We have just finished our meeting with Dr. Jean Arnold, the first Vice President for Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley State University- GVSU. She is working with President Haas and the entire Grand Valley family to build upon the impressive foundation of inclusion initiatives already in place. One thing that I have learned in that meeting is that Grand Valley State University is making a deliberate effort to learn about the barriers to inclusion and seek ways to develop inclusive strategies to attract and retain a diverse faculty and student body. The university is also developing recommendations on incusionary practices in all aspects of the institution from the offices to the classrooms. It is the hope and aspiration of all those involved to come up with model practices for creating an inclusive community that will be emulated by peers institution all across the nation.
The word "university" comes from the Latin "universitas," meaning whole, and "diversity" means difference. Diversity in the university may seem paradoxical.
I believe that this is a very crucial and vital thing that the nation of Kenya and her institutions can glean from GVSU. American history teaches that “as the first President of America, John Hanson (1715-1783) had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President of this new nation and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set a precedence for all future Presidents. He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch. All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington.”
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga find themselves almost in a similar position in Kenya today. They are embarking on rebuilding a nation that wants to re-define itself yet the forces that are inclined to maintaining the status quo will do everything to sabotage their noble efforts. On the other hand, those who have been with them during the election “turmoil” and after feel that it is their right to be rewarded for their support to each one of them.
The truth is that Kenyans must learn to sacrifice, live and work together in diversity. “Diversity encompasses the presence and participation of individuals who differ and are similar by characteristics such as, but not necessarily limited to race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, disability status and community affiliation.” Diversifying the new government in Kenya will entail including people of various ethnic, academic, religious, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The historically underrepresented populations as well as people with ideas, thoughts and beliefs that have always been ignored in the past will need to be given consideration if the new government is to succeed. In essence, diversifying will mean going beyond rhetoric and translating into policy and action in the appointments and hiring of senior officials.
One scholar rightly said that great achievements are not born from a single vision but from the combination of many distinctive viewpoints. Diversity opens minds and unlocks our potential to solve any problem we may face. Shrewd business people understand that diverse markets require diverse operatives. On the other hand governments and organizations must know the constituencies and markets they seek to serve. Diversity does not pit one ethnic group, social class or culture against another for dominance; it only allows for differences to be employed to solve political, economic, cultural, spiritual and business challenges. Diversity acknowledges and uses these inherent differences to drive innovation as a way of creating better organizational performance and competitive advantage in an institution or nation. Diversity provides a richer variety of approaches to work and problem solving. Diversity strengthens a nation’s, institution’s or organization's resilience in changing environmental conditions. Diversity allows challenges to long-accepted views.
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have a rare opportunity to build a new Kenya grounded in diversity. They should not let status quo “tribal chiefs”, alliances or individuals discourage them from attracting, and recruiting diverse candidates to help transform our country for our own sake and for the sake of our future generations. Their inability to seize this opportunity will have wide-ranging consequences now and in the future political and economic health of the whole country.
References
1.http://www.diversityweb.org/Digest/F97/transforming.html
2.http://www.marshallhall.org/hanson.html
3.Charmaine P. Clowney, J.D, Best Practices in Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Faculty. PA State System of Higher Education and President, Clowney & Associates.
The word "university" comes from the Latin "universitas," meaning whole, and "diversity" means difference. Diversity in the university may seem paradoxical.
I believe that this is a very crucial and vital thing that the nation of Kenya and her institutions can glean from GVSU. American history teaches that “as the first President of America, John Hanson (1715-1783) had quite the shoes to fill. No one had ever been President of this new nation and the role was poorly defined. His actions in office would set a precedence for all future Presidents. He took office just as the Revolutionary War ended. Almost immediately, the troops demanded to be paid. As would be expected after any long war, there were no funds to meet the salaries. As a result, the soldiers threatened to overthrow the new government and put Washington on the throne as a monarch. All the members of Congress ran for their lives, leaving Hanson running the government. He somehow managed to calm the troops and hold the country together. If he had failed, the government would have fallen almost immediately and everyone would have been bowing to King Washington.”
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga find themselves almost in a similar position in Kenya today. They are embarking on rebuilding a nation that wants to re-define itself yet the forces that are inclined to maintaining the status quo will do everything to sabotage their noble efforts. On the other hand, those who have been with them during the election “turmoil” and after feel that it is their right to be rewarded for their support to each one of them.
The truth is that Kenyans must learn to sacrifice, live and work together in diversity. “Diversity encompasses the presence and participation of individuals who differ and are similar by characteristics such as, but not necessarily limited to race, age, color, ethnicity, gender, national origin, religion, disability status and community affiliation.” Diversifying the new government in Kenya will entail including people of various ethnic, academic, religious, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The historically underrepresented populations as well as people with ideas, thoughts and beliefs that have always been ignored in the past will need to be given consideration if the new government is to succeed. In essence, diversifying will mean going beyond rhetoric and translating into policy and action in the appointments and hiring of senior officials.
One scholar rightly said that great achievements are not born from a single vision but from the combination of many distinctive viewpoints. Diversity opens minds and unlocks our potential to solve any problem we may face. Shrewd business people understand that diverse markets require diverse operatives. On the other hand governments and organizations must know the constituencies and markets they seek to serve. Diversity does not pit one ethnic group, social class or culture against another for dominance; it only allows for differences to be employed to solve political, economic, cultural, spiritual and business challenges. Diversity acknowledges and uses these inherent differences to drive innovation as a way of creating better organizational performance and competitive advantage in an institution or nation. Diversity provides a richer variety of approaches to work and problem solving. Diversity strengthens a nation’s, institution’s or organization's resilience in changing environmental conditions. Diversity allows challenges to long-accepted views.
President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga have a rare opportunity to build a new Kenya grounded in diversity. They should not let status quo “tribal chiefs”, alliances or individuals discourage them from attracting, and recruiting diverse candidates to help transform our country for our own sake and for the sake of our future generations. Their inability to seize this opportunity will have wide-ranging consequences now and in the future political and economic health of the whole country.
References
1.http://www.diversityweb.org/Digest/F97/transforming.html
2.http://www.marshallhall.org/hanson.html
3.Charmaine P. Clowney, J.D, Best Practices in Recruiting and Retaining Diverse Faculty. PA State System of Higher Education and President, Clowney & Associates.
Monday, April 21, 2008
PATIENCE IN POLITICS IS GOLDEN!
"I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end." -Margaret Thatcher
Anyone entering politics assuming that it's a sprint to the finish line is in for a huge disapointment. Students of political science will tell you that no politician has ever succeeded by sprinting through politics. You have to go through the school of hard knocks before you can succeed in politics.Surprisingly, the Kenyan politicians seem to have forgotten this important lesson. They think they have already killed the elephant so each one of them is entitled to the biggest and fattest chunk of meat.
To be continued---
Anyone entering politics assuming that it's a sprint to the finish line is in for a huge disapointment. Students of political science will tell you that no politician has ever succeeded by sprinting through politics. You have to go through the school of hard knocks before you can succeed in politics.Surprisingly, the Kenyan politicians seem to have forgotten this important lesson. They think they have already killed the elephant so each one of them is entitled to the biggest and fattest chunk of meat.
To be continued---
US STUDENT VISAS TO COST MORE!
Office of Public Affairs U.S. Department of Homeland Security Page 1 of 2 www.ice.gov Ver. 1.05 News Release
April 11, 2008
Contact: Brandon A. Montgomery, ICE Public Affairs
(202) 307-1952
Improvements to Student and Exchange Visitor Program Announced
Proposed increase in fees will support enhancements to Homeland Security’s critical system.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announced today that it has significantly enhanced the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and, for the first time, is proposing to raise fees to support the improvements.
Millions of students from around the world seek to come to the U.S. to take advantage of our renowned educational system and engage in meaningful cultural exchange. Unfortunately, there have been instances in which individuals have exploited this educational opportunity by overstaying their visas, or using the process as an entry mechanism with no intention of attending classes. After the events of September 11, 2001, Congress required the Department of Homeland Security to implement a better way of keeping track of international students and exchange visitors.
SEVP was the Department’s response to that mandate, and for several years has successfully filled that role. However, the ever-increasing number of students and exchange visitors coming to our country has necessitated several upgrades to the program’s systems and technologies. Dramatic improvements to the current SEVP program are proposed for implementation in fall 2008.
“U.S. colleges and universities are the envy of the world and accordingly attract as many as a million individuals from overseas who wish to attend,” said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE. “Validating the identity of foreign students, verifying their intentions for entering our country and knowing where they are while they are here is critically important to the security of our country. Today’s proposed new rule ensures that America remains a welcoming place for foreign students to study, while enhancing our abilities to protect our national security.”
The four major enhancements to SEVP:
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the database used to track visiting students, will include improved interactive features for school administrators as well as a simplified application process for foreign students hoping to receive an American education;
Local, customized, one-on-one customer support will be provided by new field liaisons;
Additional ICE agents will be assigned to follow up on alerts submitted by school administrators; and
A new recertification process, as mandated by Congress, will maintain the integrity and reputations of participating schools.
SEVP proposes to increase its fees to comply with regulatory requirements to periodically review its fee structure and ensure its costs are fully covered; and to enhance its capability to improve national security and counter immigration fraud.
Schools currently participating in the program will not be required to pay any additional fees to recertify under the new rule. The proposed fee increases will affect both students and schools:
The rule would double the fee for nonimmigrant students to $200
Most exchange visitor fees would rise from $100 to $180
The fee for au pairs, camp counselors and summer work/travel program participants remains $35
There is no fee for government sponsored exchange visitors
Fee for school certification would rise from $350 to $1,700
Site visit charges would increase from $230 to $655 for each site visit
These changes will ensure that America continues to welcome increasing numbers of international students and exchange visitors while maintaining the integrity of its immigration system and the security of its borders.
Over the course of the next two weeks, ICE will be meeting with members of the academic community to highlight program improvements and explain the new fee structure. The first of these meetings took place today in Washington, D.C.
For more information see the SEVP website at: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm
# ICE #
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibility for a number of key homeland security priorities.
April 11, 2008
Contact: Brandon A. Montgomery, ICE Public Affairs
(202) 307-1952
Improvements to Student and Exchange Visitor Program Announced
Proposed increase in fees will support enhancements to Homeland Security’s critical system.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announced today that it has significantly enhanced the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and, for the first time, is proposing to raise fees to support the improvements.
Millions of students from around the world seek to come to the U.S. to take advantage of our renowned educational system and engage in meaningful cultural exchange. Unfortunately, there have been instances in which individuals have exploited this educational opportunity by overstaying their visas, or using the process as an entry mechanism with no intention of attending classes. After the events of September 11, 2001, Congress required the Department of Homeland Security to implement a better way of keeping track of international students and exchange visitors.
SEVP was the Department’s response to that mandate, and for several years has successfully filled that role. However, the ever-increasing number of students and exchange visitors coming to our country has necessitated several upgrades to the program’s systems and technologies. Dramatic improvements to the current SEVP program are proposed for implementation in fall 2008.
“U.S. colleges and universities are the envy of the world and accordingly attract as many as a million individuals from overseas who wish to attend,” said Julie L. Myers, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for ICE. “Validating the identity of foreign students, verifying their intentions for entering our country and knowing where they are while they are here is critically important to the security of our country. Today’s proposed new rule ensures that America remains a welcoming place for foreign students to study, while enhancing our abilities to protect our national security.”
The four major enhancements to SEVP:
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), the database used to track visiting students, will include improved interactive features for school administrators as well as a simplified application process for foreign students hoping to receive an American education;
Local, customized, one-on-one customer support will be provided by new field liaisons;
Additional ICE agents will be assigned to follow up on alerts submitted by school administrators; and
A new recertification process, as mandated by Congress, will maintain the integrity and reputations of participating schools.
SEVP proposes to increase its fees to comply with regulatory requirements to periodically review its fee structure and ensure its costs are fully covered; and to enhance its capability to improve national security and counter immigration fraud.
Schools currently participating in the program will not be required to pay any additional fees to recertify under the new rule. The proposed fee increases will affect both students and schools:
The rule would double the fee for nonimmigrant students to $200
Most exchange visitor fees would rise from $100 to $180
The fee for au pairs, camp counselors and summer work/travel program participants remains $35
There is no fee for government sponsored exchange visitors
Fee for school certification would rise from $350 to $1,700
Site visit charges would increase from $230 to $655 for each site visit
These changes will ensure that America continues to welcome increasing numbers of international students and exchange visitors while maintaining the integrity of its immigration system and the security of its borders.
Over the course of the next two weeks, ICE will be meeting with members of the academic community to highlight program improvements and explain the new fee structure. The first of these meetings took place today in Washington, D.C.
For more information see the SEVP website at: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/index.htm
# ICE #
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibility for a number of key homeland security priorities.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
GRADUATE STUDENTS CELEBRATION & AWARDS CEREMONY: GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY.
Host: Graduate and Professional Students Association
Location:
Come Celebrate Friday, April 18 at 5 p.m.
The End of the Winter Semester Graduate Student Celebration and Awards Ceremony is Friday, April 18, beginning at 5 p.m. Please come and join your fellow students, faculty, the Graduate Dean, and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) to celebrate and recognize the academic achievements of graduating students. GPSA will also be awarding the Graduate Faculty Mentor Award. All graduate students and their families are invited.
The evening will begin with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at 5 p.m. in the Steelcase Foundation Lecture Hall, Room 123, in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences on Michigan Street. Then at approximately 6 p.m. the awards ceremony will begin in the Hager Auditorium, Room 119, in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.
Limited parking is available in the ramp under the building after 5 p.m., enter from Lafayette Ave. There is also a surface lot, the Crawford Lot, available off of Sinclair Ave. NE near the corner of Michigan and College. We encourage graduate students who wish to park near the CHS building to ride together with their families. In addition, the CHS Shuttle Bus, Dash to the Hill, runs between the Seward Parking Ramp/DeVos Center and Cook-DeVos CHS until 6 p.m. After which the Weekend Connector, Bus #50, services CHS, Central Station, DeVos Center, and Allendale every hour. For bus schedules, go to http://www.gvsu.edu/bus.
If the GVSU parking lots are full, you may also choose to pay for parking. In which case Spectrum Health has multiple lots in the area including one on Michigan Street, the same side of the street as CHS, with visitor parking available all evening for $4.
Click on the link below for a map showing the location of Cook-DeVos CHS and the additional GVSU surface parking lot.
Gerald Baraza, Vice President
Graduate & Professional Students Association
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