KENYAN MUSLIMS FACE DISCRIMINATION AND DEMAND JUSTICE

Muslim leaders in Kenya accused a senior government official on Wednesday of blocking the release of a presidential report on injustices against their community, a charge the government immediately denied.

The leaders said Cabinet Secretary and Public Service Head Francis Muthaura had suppressed the findings of the study, which was ordered by President Mwai Kibaki late last year to investigate Muslim claims of discrimination.

"Muthaura has vowed not to clear the report," a statement signed by three Kenyan Muslim groups said. "He wants some issues to be expunged to make the report conform to the establishment's position."

Muthaura could not be reached for comment. But government spokesman Alfred Mutua dismissed the charges and accused the three groups of playing "activist politics" with a very sensitive matter.
"Muthaura cannot shield the report," Mutua said.

Kibaki commissioned the study after protests by Muslims against a wave of arrests in 2007 that saw 18 detainees deported to neighbouring Ethiopia and one to U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay. It was supposed to be presented to him in mid-February.

The Muslim groups accuse Kenya's government of letting its citizens be arrested over flimsy claims of terrorism and then deported at the request of intelligence agencies in the United States, Israel and Britain.

On Wednesday, they named the Kenyan held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba as Abdul Malik. Other young Kenyans now detained in Ethiopia were in poor condition, they said.

"The youths are in Addis Ababa in a cell nearly 10 kms (6 miles) from Kenya's embassy," said Sheikh Mohammed Khalifah, secretary of the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya. "They are in bad situations of sickness and have been hurt," the blind cleric told reporters in Nairobi.

Farouk Machanje, coordinator of the National Muslim Leaders Forum, said he suspected Muthaura was reluctant to send the report to Kibaki because it contained damning evidence of government wrongdoing.

Washington wields a lot of influence in the region, and local rights campaigners accuse Kenya's government of being persuaded to carry out the illegal "rendition" of its citizens. Al-Amin Kimathi, chairman of Kenya's Muslim Human Rights Forum, said Muslims would hold more protests.

"Our patience is running out," he said. "We will be going back and re-mobilising ourselves to ensure that certain things are addressed."

Kenya Muslims come from all the 42 communities of kenya and number more than 10 million, almost 30% of the population.

FORMER REGIONAL MINISTER MOHAMED ABDI SAVED

A court has stopped a bank from auctioning a former MP’s home over a Sh364 million disputed loan.

Former Regional Minister and The Wajir East MP Mohammed Abdi got a reprieve when High Court Judge Justice Luka Kimaru yesterday ruled the notice given by NIC bank to sell the home at Nairobi’s Spring Valley was illegal.

He said Abdi only acted as a guarantor for another company, Al Jalal Enterprises Ltd, for Sh40 million. The money was for the completion of a shopping mall, the judge said, and it was unjust for the bank to demand what was not guaranteed in the agreement.

The former MP, through his company, Sunrise Properties, moved to court to stop the bank from selling his home. The loan was given to Al Jalal Enterprises, a sister company of Sunrise Properties.

Justice Kimaru said although the two companies had common directors, the bank could not "nail down" the guarantor. Sunrise, through its lawyer, Mr Gichuki King’ara, maintained that it only acted as a guarantor . "The bank cannot ask my client to pay Sh364 million because it was not guaranteed," King’ara told the court.

He said the demand for the money was illegal because the bank failed to realise the property of the principal borrower to recover the disputed loan. "Instead, they over reach to the guarantor and now want to sell a family house in Spring Valley," he said.

The money was allegedly borrowed in November, 2005.

WHY THERE IS NO "KUJIVUNIA KUWA MKENYA" IN NEP KENYA

We have written much about life in Northern Kenya, a remote vast of land that borders Somalia, Ethiopia and the Indian ocean and we ain't going to explain more for the time being. Just think for yourself a scenario of the type of life majority of our people reside in these forgotten lands.

From the era of the british colonial system through to Kenya's independence in 1963 and In Kenyatta, Moi administration, The Somali people of Northeastern Kenya have been marginalized severly because of their ethnic and religion in terms of education, basic infrastructure like heath facilities, roads, power, public utilities, housing and governance.

Both government primary and high schools remain few, Many of the school teachers are un-trained and have no colleges/Universities degrees unlike other parts of the country meaning that, they have less skills than their counterparts from universities. We used to call them UT's. They form the majority of our teachers.

The few teachers, who went to colleges/Universities normally apply for transfers to other parts of the country relatively complaining of hot weather, as if weather is a punishment from us. The schools have no books, learning materials and laboratories unlike the rest of the country. Many schools in down kenya, especially in Central, Rift valley enjoy 5-6 laboratories and their learning institutions are supported, supervised by the Ministry of education unlike ours. Again, It is a must for the students to sit for the Kenya National Examination with the rest of the country if they are to proceed for university or employment in the country.

There was a time when the government managed to introduce Nomadic schools under the Arid Lands department of the office of the president in conjuction with the Ministry of education but failed because there was no vision. The educational situation in NEP remains the worst in the country and the province is always the last in National examinations.

The quota system for joining universities has not been applied properly. Many bright students have been left out joining universities and hence end up in colleges and polytechnics. If it was applied as it was intended, many students from NEP will have joined universities and hence became more productive.

Foreign Scholarships to the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, India, China have not been availed to people of North Eastern Kenya and bureaucracy at the Ministry of education headquarters in Nairobi has never been checked. Many deserving students of NorthEastern Kenya miss out of these lucrative scholarship opportunities and todate no MP from NEP has ever talked and is willing to talk about that.

Health facilities are rare in a region prone to diseases like TB, Kalazar and malnutrition. You may find one remote health centre in a radius of 400 km which has no medical equipments, no nurses, but some ordinary volunteers with few jerrycans of pain killers.

In a region with over one million livestock heads, to find a veterinary centre is a nightmare let alone slaughter houses. The Kenya Meat Commission has been established far from the region and people from NEP have difficulties marketing their animals for sale. We are always promised at election time.

Roads are impassable and the few conecting NEP to Nairobi like the Nairobi-Isiolo Highway ends up in isiolo. It doesn't get further into NEP. The other one, which is called the Garissa Highway, was built by the Saudi Government grant to Northern people through the Government of Kenya.It ends in Garissa.The remaining roads in the province are man made roads in bushes.

Governance and immigration is worse. The people of North Eastern Kenya, being first class citizens of Kenya, are normally treated as if they are second class citizen just because they have their kinsmen from Somalia.Other kenyans are not treated that way. The Massai's or the Luo's of Kenya who come from Tanzania and Uganda respectively can obtain Kenyan Passports without any documentation, unlike Kenyan Somalis have who must bribe Immigration officials to obtain the same.

To prove how government officials think of Kenya somalis, as recent as 2005, The Current Justice Minister, Martha Karua, had the guts to claim that NEP Kenya somalis are just "refugees" and no one has told her to substantiate. If Somalis are not Kenyans, what about the Gikuyus, The Luhyas and the Luo's? Are they also refugees from Congo and Nigeria?

Insecurity has always been a weapon of the Kenyatta and Moi administrations. Companies have been advised not to invest in these insecure places. I remember once, The Colgate/Palmolive East Africa did a marketing presentation at Garissa primary school in around 1984 to market colgate toothpaste and soaps only to refrain from going further in the north and securing the market. Reason, they recieve infavourable reports about NEP as a place not worth to invest in.

For the past 20 years now, Somalis of NEP Kenya have changed the way they deal with the government. Many families have taken their children for education and development is appearing. The people have resolved to work together as brothers and overturn that kind of marginalization. Many private schools, heath centres have opened and people are now "rarely" relying on the government.

Oil, gas and Mineral deposits has been said to be available in NEP kenya but few companies have made substantial explorations here. We invite any company to come and do some prospects in NEP. Tourism is a potential business also in Northern Kenya where wildlife animals are plenty. The people are freindly and the weather is always warm, a perfect summer enjoyment.

In short, That is the usual image of NEP Somalis who suffer in miseries and despair through arranged marginalization. With that kind of Image in mind, It is ONLY when elections are called or there is a referendum do politicians including the President and the government appears from no-where to claim that NEP is valued to them and remind us being part of Kenya.

How do you want us to say " TUNAVIJUNIA KUWA WAKENYA"........????

It doesn't come out of the mouth.

MISSING MINISTRY.......IN NORTHERN KENYA

At the launch of the Ministry of Northern Kenya & Arid Lands Development Vision at K.I.C.C, Nairobi, Minister Hon. Mohammed Ibrahim Elmi played down a very good public relations exercise that explained many key issues that affect Northern Kenya and its environs.


Elmi, Himself a Northerner, was born in Wajir, in 1950 during the height of british colonial government administration. He has studied in Garissa High School before proceeding to Masters Liverpool University for his University education.

Elmi talked of how Northern Kenya has been marginalized by succesive governments of Kenyatta, Moi and Kibaki and understands well as he has been working with NGO's in the area.

The Ministry of Northern Kenya was a product of Grand Coalition cabinet commitment to create Cabinet positions out of a genuine desire to address the needs of regions and populations that have been left behind over the years thus the creation after the agreement..

Kenya Somalis neglected over the years, became a huge issue during the presidential campaigns last year.

Raila Odinga's party, the Orange Democratic Movement had promised to create a ministry to specifically deal with the development needs of that forgotten part of Kenya.

Elmi spoke of issues connected with chronic poverty, insecurity, recurrent drought, starvation, lack of basic infrastructure, marginalisation, social and economic exclusion. He said, The Ministry for the Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands has been mandated by the government to turn these plights around and help in bringing development to the people of these regions and that it has vowed to support all efforts to bring positive change and put its hand on the plough of development of Northern Kenya and other arid lands.

In his address, Elmi said, since this was the first time people of Northe Eastern Province got a ministry to develop NFD alone, it will bring together all the target groups, stakeholders,community and opinion leaders and tap their views to assess needs and set priorities.

The mandate of the Ministry will includes the development of infrastructure, the planning of settlements, strengthening livestock marketing and livestock related industries, water supply and irrigation, natural resource management, mineral resources exploration, opening up the arid lands for tourism, human resources development and tapping solar and wind energy to fuel development.

Elmi says, The ministry will adopt a holistic and multicultural approach to development, working with all ministries in the sector. It will ensure that the beneficiaries themselves will be able to say, “Yes, there is a change, a real change for the better in our lives.”

Now that, we have a vision described by the minister, we have new challenges ahead and many residents of NEP are asking, Why should the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya in the first place, be based in Nairobi while it's sole purpose is to develop Northern Kenya?


NEP residents argue that since the ministry was specifically created for northern Kenya, there is little logic having its headquarters hundreds of kilometres away. "We want proof that the ministry was not created to marginalise the region even more," writes Hillow, in an e-mail from Garissa.

What we are saying is that, Many NEP residents are now skeptical and anxious about what roles the ministry is supposed to play given that we have been marginalized for the past 30-40 years of the country's independence?

Residents complain having seeing any signs of the ministry’s activities.

The seeds of doubt are probably justified by decades of neglect and false promises. Politicians from NEP concurs that ‘real’ decentralisation by moving headquarters to Garissa, Wajir or Lodwar would be a refreshing sign of commitment to developing the region. Setting up satellite offices in such towns is hardly enough.

NEP residents will not forget how previously the then Minister for Water resources, Hussein Maalim aka Maendeleo, in whose constituency passes the biggest river in Kenya, Tana River, could not help his own residents access water, not even clean water from the river. He was accused of not initiating or for not having put mechanism for his people to access water by providing pump machines or sourcing assistance to help them. The Garissa residents upto now rely on donkeys to draw water from the Tana river that passes inside the town.

Well, a question for Minister Mohamed Ibrahim Elmi.......

Do you think the Ministry will work magic for the people of North Eastern province

Do you mind relocation to have your headquarters in northern Kenya instead of Nairobi.. to serve us well.

What did you achieve or are you planning for NFD since your business trip to Britain with PM Raila Odinga?

AMINA ABDALLA DEBATES ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN PSC

Nominated MP Amina Abdallah has moved a Motion to shake up the powerful Parliamentary Service Commission to shore up the image of Parliament. The Motion proposes a constitutional amendment to pave way for the nomination of non-sitting MPs and women MPs to the PSC.

Ms Abdallah said it the commission should have some "moderators" to have the public’s confidence, which she said was seen as "both judge and jury" on MPs’ welfare. She said the independent commissioners would defend the institution, which had been accused of insensitivity and extravagance due to arbitrary increment of members’ salaries.

"Parliament is having a public relations nightmare. We need to include some non-sitting members to act as moderators with moral authority to defend members," she urged MPs.

She sought permission to introduce a Bill to amend Section 45 of the Constitution to allow the changes on the composition of the PSC, which was established in 2001. The ten-member team comprising the Speaker as the chair and MPs as commissioners sets salaries and allowances for MPs and staff of the National Assembly. It has never had a woman member.

Members of the Eighth Parliament pushed for its formation to protect the independence of Parliament, previously under the whims of the executive.

Amina said Parliament has called for transparency in other public institutions and must, therefore, lead by example. "We must practice what we preach. As a House we should not preach water and drink wine," she said.

Independent commissioners, she said, were best placed to defend members against accusations that they did not work and were only interested in raising their perks. She, however, observed that the Judicial Service Commission sets perks for its officers and the director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission earns "three times what an MP takes home" yet the public doesn’t complain.

The Kanu nominated MP also said the Leader of Government Business should give up his slot in the commission. "In 2001, members set aside the position because they did not want to antagonise the executive," she said.

EASTLEIGH IS A "CITY WITHIN A CITY".....

When the British colonialists established an airbase at Eastleigh,little did they know that it would grow into a huge commercial gateway. It has since evolved into a "Dubai" of East Africa, where cheap imports are accessible.

Today, the dry ‘free’ inland port attracts traders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and Uganda.

Eastleigh was first allowed to accommodate Africans between 1910 and 1914. Initially, Asians who established shops and other micro-businesses dominated the area.

But over the years, Eastleigh has come to be known as "Mogadishu Ndogo" - Swahili for "Little Mogadishu"

EASTLEIGH EMPIRE:

EASTLEIGH LIFE IN PERSPECTIVE

The main pathway cutting across Eastleigh’s First Avenue is congested. It has not rained for several weeks and the ankle deep potholes are flowing with raw sewerage. The place is packed with human traffic and moving across requires one to jump here, shove there and push. People carrying loads jostle for space as they hop and jump over the muddy pools of sewerage. Along the avenue, hawkers display wares, which include hangers, polythene bags, suits and all manner of apparel.

Outside Bangkok, one of Eastleigh's malls, an imposing red brick four-storey building, plastic paper bags retail at Sh5 alongside Chinese shoes sold at Sh700 a pair. Nearby, a hawker keen to make a kill sells a new jacket at only Sh600. Ordinary the piece would retail at Sh1,500. Next to him, another trader displays a fake Rado watch.

This is Eastleigh, a city within a city, which has evolved into Kenya’s fashion industry.

It is a melting point of cultures in which the West meets the East and financially co-exist. The scent of perfumes from Europe, Asia and Middle East pervade the air, mixing with the aroma of boiled maize and fruits sold at the place.

In some spots, street children with bottles of glue spiced with concoctions of indeterminate drugs, roll on heaps of garbage characterised by a strong stench of urine. At the entrance of Ninth Street from the First Avenue is a pile of yellow plastic containers heaped onto the garbage and halfway on the withered road.

What was once a paved road is now a scrappy affair. The only reminder that it had tarmac on it are the kerbstones. Old and new cars (some with Somali registration numbers) are haphazardly parked. Walking down the main avenue, one sees vehicles moving at snail speed as they loudly honk their way.

Despite the disharmony between people, vehicles and wares on display, life goes on normally. Not until the din drowns as an imam calls for mid-day prayers. Aluminium screens are hastily pulled down, prayer mats hurriedly fetched and robes quickly slipped on as traders dash to the mosques.

Some of the shops are left unattended while other stalls are temporarily closed. Business is forgotten as the devout go for prayers. Such is the seriousness with which praying has been taken in Eastleigh by traders. They even abandon customers midway a deal to pray.

With water splashed on their heads, the worshippers re-emerge from the mosques reborn.

Although it is only one minute past 1pm, Mr John Irungu is still holed up in his office. He has not gone out for lunch.

"Last year, we issued over 2,000 Kenyan identity cards to these Somali-born residents. We get high numbers. They all want to be Kenyan citizens although they cannot speak English or Kiswahili," Irungu says.

"These are very rich Somali people here. Some banks and other institutions have been flocking to Eastleigh too," the chief says. Some banks and forex bureaux operating in Eastleigh are not found in many parts of the city. Some of them are Dubai Bank, Gulf African Bank, Chase Bank among others.

The area, the chief warns, is in danger of being taken over by Somalis arguing that the foreigners now own virtually everything. "They are offering as much as Sh40 million to buy buildings. They then demolish these and put up shopping malls," a resident, Hussein Roba adds.

He points at a building outside his compound, which was bought for Sh35 million and will be pulled down. One owner however has resisted attempts to buy his premises where he operates a guesthouse and a bar.

A walk across the road through a tangle of alleys and ducking heaps of garbage takes one to a nameless building which squalor and wealth call home.

Secret deals are sealed over sips of dark tea taken in tiny cups. "Here, you can buy anything. From a gold bracelet, American dollars and silver, to passports and drugs. You must be very careful. This part of the town never sleeps," cautions a guide, who gives his name as Izak.

The estate also referred to as Garissa Lodge had been transformed from a purely residential area into a commercial hub for East and Central Africa. "From the roundabout at Malewa road to Gen Waruinge road, we have about 400 lodgings. If you come here after 11 pm, you will not find a place to sleep," he adds.

Interestingly, the place, which boasts of more banks and forex bureaux than the Nairobi Central Business District, has very few entertainment joints.

"You can count the bars in Eastleigh North with the fingers of both hands. The entire area has not more than 50 bars. Those still operational are being targeted," adds a resident, Mr Kennedy Isigi.

Roba recalls how some popular joints such as Matatizo Bila Chuki and Tiger have been bought and pulled down to pave way for shopping complexes. The rent for the shopping mall is paid in dollars and are out of reach for the ordinary small-scale trader.

"Tell me how many Kenyan small traders can afford to pay Sh26,000 for a small stall. They have locked out locals," laments Irungu.

The chief, and his administrators are just like the other residents of Eastleigh, majority of who started off like refugees in the 1990s. Very soon, they will be relocated from the social hall to a place at the fringes of Mathare slums to pave way for yet another sky-scrapping shopping mall.

"Do you see that mall. It was built during the campaigns. The land on which it stands once belonged to the public but not anymore," says Mr Hussein Roba. Roba is one of the original owners of a plot in Eastleigh which he says he bought at Sh300,000 in 1970.

Next to the AP line, an iron sheet fence has been erected, cutting the compound into two. A building, which resembles a warehouse is erected. "They have already given the police notice to move. We suspect this plot has bee sold. Once the police are gone, we will have no security," moans a resident.

The Eastleigh North AP camp has been in existence for more than 20 years and is one of the permanent features of the area. Just next to the chief’s camp stands what serves as an inland dry port.

The open space next to the ultramodern Sunrise Shopping mall is an empty lot where trucks and goods are parked. Here, timber dealers and lorry drivers as well as wholesalers who source their stock in Nairobi, connect to the region.

At the entrance, hordes of youths who act as flight managers tout for passengers.

"Boss unataka kukaa mbele? Hiyo ni shilingi elfu moja na mia tano kwenda Marsabit. Garissa utalipa Sh2,500. Iko gari ya leo (Do you want to ride on the drivers cabin to Marsabit. That will cost you Sh1,500. To Garissa is Sh2500. We have lorry going today)," explains Mr Muhamed Abdi.

Another self-styled transport manager, who is fondly known as Mrefu, explains that from Eastleigh to Moyale costs Sh2000. "We want passengers who travel direct to Moyale. We do not want those paying small money," he advises.

There are buses plying the Garissa-Nairobi route and their departure point is Eastleigh.

According to sources, this is the same route where majority of people sneaking from Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia use to move into Kenya. "They are mostly transported at night by buses. Once they arrive in Nairobi, they are hidden in lodges as travel documents are organised. We suspect there is a lot of human trafficking going on," says the chief.

Next to Roba’s house, a full packaging factory is in progress. About 20 youths are busy rolling, weighing and packing miraa, ready for export. "This cargo must be delivered in London tonight. The men must hurry otherwise there will be a delay," explains a miraa trader.

The miraa packers are an angry and aggressive lot. They do not encourage any communication with strangers. They also hate being photographed.

While Somalis dominate majority of businesses, Ethiopians too have distinguished themselves by taking over the local transport industry. Many Ethiopians own Matatus plying route No 6 and 9, which go round Eastleigh.

The owners are to be seen occupying the front seat in the drivers cabin, logging in every stop made by the matatu, minutely recording every time a passenger is picked along the route.

"At the end of the day, the owner is able to determine with accuracy, the number of passengers ferried and the money, realised," explained Mr Karis Jimmy, a driver.

Jimmy says since most operate both day and night, each vehicle has two sets of crew.

In Eastleigh, people do not literally sleep.

"Lorries arrive throughout the night. Traders from as far as Sudan and Congo visit Eastleigh for their goods. That is why the economy is very vibrant," he says.

Just as Eastleigh attracts legitimate traders, underworld figures too have sought refuge in the area to traffic uncustomed goods, smuggled into through panya routes. Rings of human traffic too operate in the area as they dupe job seekers that they will link them up with employers around the world.

For the last one month, Yona has been waiting for his papers to travel to Canada. He says that he does not know how he will go about it. Yona, like hundreds of other Eritreans, Somalis and Ethiopians, came into the country many years ago and was granted refugee status.

Now Yona operates a shop in Eastleigh and occasionally travels to Moyale to collect a stock of leather shoes. Once he lives for Canada, his brother who has since sneaked into the country, will run the shop.

IOM RELOCATES 2000 DADAAB REFUGEES TO KAKUMA CAMP

IOM has completed the relocation of some 2,000 mainly Somali refugees from Dadaab refugee camp in northeastern Kenya to Kakuma camp in the northwest to reduce overcrowding.

The relocation, which ended over the weekend, was carried out by IOM with funding from UNHCR. It included the movement of 500 refugees by air and the movement of the remaining 1,500 by road.

IOM convoys, each comprising 10 buses, made three trips each carrying 500 refugees, completing the 1,200 km journey between the camps in three days.

"We gave priority to vulnerable people in need of protection - including children and families headed by women," says IOM's Operations Officer Bill Lorenz.

Dadaab, which has seen a massive influx of refugees, mainly from Somalia, now shelters almost 200,000 refugees - double its original capacity. Kakuma now houses some 51,000 refugees, mainly from Sudan.

"The ongoing repatriation of 8,000 or so Sudanese refugees from Kakuma to Sudan this year means that Kakuma is now less crowded and able to take in some of the refugees from Dadaab," explains Lorenz.

KENYA TO RESUME LIVE ANIMAL EXPORTS

The Government of Kenya has resumed live animal exports by shipping 895 live cattle to Mauritius with an export value of Sh30 million flagged off yesterday by Livestock and Development minister Mohammed Kuti.

The livestock export was suspended for the last two years after an outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in the country.

According to official statistics, Kenyan ranchers earned Sh430 million from meat product exports between 2004 and 2006. Besides Mauritius, Egypt and Malaysia have made inquiries on meat exports with demands also rising in the Middle East. However, this demand can only be met once the country acquires quality certification. Kenya has a preferential quota of 142,000 tonnes of meat under the African Caribbean Pacific preferential beef export agreement but this has not been exploited due to concerns over trade sensitive diseases,” the minister said.

According to him, the Middle East alone has a net demand of 122,000 Metric tonnes of meat which provides an opportunity for Kenya to exploit. Minister Kuti urges people from Northern Kenya to take advantage of the live export, hence enhancing their economic potential.

Presently, the department of veterinary services is operating with about 800 of the 2500 officers needed for animal husbandry. The government has already injected Sh150 million to tackle the personnel issues, Kuti said.

He blamed the ban on livestock export on inadequate resources and offloading of key services to the private sector.

Mr Kuti said that the ministry would now create Diseases Free Zones starting with three within the Northern Kenya, Coast, Laikipia and Southern Rift regions complete with effective livestock surveillance and control tools.

THE COST OF BEING AN MP IN NORTH EASTERN PROVINCE

Wajir North might have made history as the first constituency to have candidates tie in a General Election. However, the subsequent runoff financially drained the only two candidates for the seat.

At the end of it all, Dr Abdullahi Ali (Kanu) and the eventual winner, Mohammed Gabow, spent about Sh55million between them.


"Neither of us had budgeted for another financial sapping campaign after we tied. There was a time I actually considered whether it was worth spending such an amount in the campaigns," Gabow says.


"I must have spent about Sh28million for the General Election and the run off campaigns. In the end I think it was worth because I won." He says a huge chunk of the money came from friends and supporters.

Ali estimates that he also spent more than Sh25 million for both campaigns.


"Part of the money went to logistics, including hiring of vehicles to traverse the vast constituency and transporting some of the voters. But a huge amount, about Sh15 million, was spent on handouts," the former MP says.



There were no harambees reported in North Eastern Province in the lead up to the elections. Several contestants said campaigning in the region requires a lot of money as it involves reaching out to sparsely populated electorate in the vast constituencies.



Imagine what does someone who runs for the presidency will spend.No wonder our dear Nazlin Omar just was not seen outside Kamunkunji as she had no money Like Kibaki and Raila odinga.

In NEP, Some of the constituencies are bigger than several provinces combined. A prominent former MP, who sought anonymity, said although money is a driving force for ascendancy to Parliament, it is not the ultimate guarantee.


The leader, who lost despite his enormous wealth, said some of the candidates who won did so on euphoria platform. Some had little money to flush around but they won anyway, he says. To run for a parliamentary seat one requires to be prepared to spend huge amounts of money despite high risks of losing.



"Kenyan politics has transformed a lot. Despite some of us bragging of our tangible development records and financial might, it was not enough," the former MP said.

Mr Ibrahim Rashid Ahmed, (Ibrahim Somo) a former ODM presidential coordinator in the province, said the politics of money is not about to end in the poverty-striken province weaned on handouts.


"The culture of handouts is entrenched in the region that doing away with it will require eradicating poverty first," Ibrahim, who dropped his bid in the lead up to the elections in favour of Wajir West parliamentary loser, Mohammed Khalif, says.


He proposes that the Government funds contestants who should then account for the money. Ali says most of the money he spent was his own.


"Friends and family chipped in with at least 40 per cent of the campaign costs", he says. "Although some took loans to finance their campaigns, I ran mine from personal savings I had accrued during my term. Funding a campaign from a loan is a gamble."


The leaders agree that without funds there is no movement, a situation that led some to place their assets as security for loans and when they fail to capture the seats, they are ruined. Ali says it can be devastating to spend much and lose in a campaign but he will give it another try come 2012.

Campaigning in North Eastern Province is a costly, gruelling affair. The topography, poor infrastructure and the lifestyle of some of the residents demand that candidates must be loaded with cash for handouts and overhead costs that run into million of shillings.

In North Horr, the largest constituency in the country measuring about 35,000sqkm, vying for the parliamentary seat requires millions of shillings. Mr Elema Isako Fila, who contested in 1997, says one requires more than Sh30 million for campaign only.

In an interview with The Sunday Standard in Isiolo, Fila, who is a businessman, says a candidate requires a minimum of 20 four-wheel vehicles for campaigns.

"After a trip of 100km to 200km on the rough terrain, the vehicle needs repairs which would not be the case if the roads were good," says Fila.


Due to the nomadic lifestyle of the voters, a candidate is forced to provide transport to the polling station a day to the elections.


‘‘The last week to the General Election, we got about 20 trucks to ferry voters, some from as far as Moyale, Isiolo and even parts of southern Ethiopia. To do this one requires millions of shillings,’’ says the businessman.


Fila, who ran against Dr Godana Bonaya twice, said he spent about Sh5 million in 1997. Godana died in a plane crash two years ago. Then working with the Catholic Diocese of Marsabit, he says his rival spent about Sh30 million.

‘‘It’s very difficult to run against an incumbent MP who has more sources of funding than you. The question of leadership quality does not arise in our region,’’ says Fila. Even after winning, it’s not possible for the North Horr MP to visit all his constituents in one term, which results in voter apathy and bribery during elections.

‘‘Voters do not see why they should participate in elections if they do not see the MP for five years,’’ he says.


Fila, now the ODM linkman in North Horr, proposes that the constituency be spilt into two. He says candidates give handouts because voters view the electioneering period as a source of income..


In Isiolo North, Mr Joseph Samal, who contested but lost to Livestock Development Minister Mohamed Abdi Kuti, says he spent about Sh6.5 million in three years on campaign.


‘‘My main rival spent about Sh25 million in the last three months to the election. This is very unfair and we need rules to be set like in the developed world,’’ said Samal.

He says political leadership would be a preserve of the rich if the implementation of the law on political parties and funding is not expedited. There were claims that some sitting MPs used CDF, Local Authority Transfer Fund and donor funds for development to campaign.

"ISLAMO-PHOBIA" AND OBAMA PROPAGANDA MUST END

I was caught by attention reading this blog, I can't say this, for they are millions of blogs pasted all over the internet, vomiting "hatred" and smear campaign against Islam as a religion on one side and Obama as a presidential candidate on the other.

In these era of global union and inter-relation, the world has become a village, where people of various ethnicities know each other more, People interact and do business together, people understand cultures of others, respect religion of others. You will find indians in Europe, Africans in Japan, Arabs in China and European in Saudi Arabia.But what is chilling is to see those who call themselves "learned", our freinds from US and western countries vomitting words towards Islam all the time, abusing Islam, Attacking Islam in all fronts, Islam this, Islam that.It has become a norm so serious that, no one takes them serious nowadays and many of these "Islamo-phobes" literature are now seen as words of "idiots and drunkards", people who have no moral standing anywhere in the world of 21st century.

All of you know the world is changing, The other day, I was with a freind, half caste belgian, french, a christian from Europe who came to visit Dubai for his summer vacation. My freinds was enjoying his holiday in peace and tranguility and was happy.We enjoyed much together and used to go for swimming in the hot sunny beaches of Dubai.

Although I have no problem with people of any religion and my freind was a nice person, one day, out of curiosity, reading all those bad stuff written against Islam on the internet, by millions of replicated websites and blogs, run by stoptheaclu, dhimmiwatch, jihadwatch, meant to antagonize the rest of the world from not accepting Islam, I managed some time to ask him a very simple question, why do you guys from western countries talk a lot about Islam and relate Islam to terror, evil things and so on, when I can see you are happy and enjoying your summer holiday in Dubai in the midst of 200+nationalities, without any worries???

My freinds just got sharp and replied, who said Muslims are bad people...I told him many people from the west believe we are bad people, he told me, you know what? Those guys who say, Muslims are bad people, are backward people, many of them are just "drunkards" who don't know what they are talking about. He advised them to visit other countries of the world and see how the world has changed. He told me, these are the people who spread hatred in the world, spread evils in the world, They make innocent people digest their "propaganda" against others from their controlled media.They make the world a bad place.They make people fight against others.

I reminded him that Dubai or for that matter, UAE is an Islamic country...and he told me, he liked the place, he likes the Muslim people, he didn't know if muslims can become so freindly like these and even mooted an idea of buying a residential house around here...which he says, will call his home. Now he feels more comfortable with Muslim people than before.

The article that caught my eyes, was however meant to smear "vitroils" on the Obama campaign as has become the norm nowadays. Obama, The democrat US presidential nominee has been "favourited" to win this years' November, US presidential election and GOP guys(The Republicans) feel they need to strain him. I am not saying that, this post is from the Republicans, but based on my own analysis, I am pretty sure, it comes from Obama's opponents.

Who are these people who vomit propaganda against Islam and Obama?

Vomitting "fiery" words will not help USA as most US citizens know, where america's is in the eyes of the world. US foreign policy has been messed up severely, many people, especially Muslims are lossing confidence with it.The rest of the world is almost fed up and think, it needs some direction. It's military has been involved in expeditions, in the battle named War on terror and is currently involved in Iraq, Afghanistan, some say Somalia, although not confirmed.

In the Obama's intended propaganda, which to me doesn't make sense, They talk of Kenya's Raila Odinga, Now PM, as being Obama's cousin, which is not. Mr Obama has previously been identified as a distant cousin of Vice-President Dick Cheney. Mr Obama's father came from the same Luo community as Mr Odinga but although Obama's father has been a luo, the same doesn't apply to Obama anymore.

Obama does relate to Kenya the way he relates to USA. Although his father was a Kenyan, his mum was an American. Coming from Odinga's tribe(clan) doesn't make Obama, a cousin of Raila. So the propaganda is empty. In Kenya, you may be a cousin to a distant person in your clan.

Again, to relate Islam with Raila Odinga, is pure nonsense.Both Obama and Odinga are Christians and confess to that religion. Odinga, while making bid for Kenya's presidency in 2007, did meet muslims, signed MOU's with them, the same way he met many other people, and signed with them MOU's. There was nowhere, Raila claimed Kenyan is for Muslims or that Islam will rule Kenya. Odinga just said, Muslims of Kenya were marginalized because of their religion Islam and that if he becomes a president of Kenya, he will fight for their cause and make them "feel equal" like other Kenyans.

Third, after putting Raila Odinga in the picture with Obama, The Obama's intended Propaganda was meant to create a link between all dictators, all presidents of suspicious regimes, War Mongers, atrocities and Obama.

What happened in Kenya after the disputed Kenya election was not a Raila or "Luo" affair.Kenyans of all walks of life were demanding fair in elections, they felt that, victory of their man of choice, Raila Odinga was incorrectly taken away and thus why violence happened.People were angry and many Kenyans resented on seeing Gikuyus, who were percieved as Kibaki people. That was not Muslims killing Christians, so we also call that empty talk.

No where did Raila make Kenya unstable and the purpoted 1982 coup, was comparable to what happened almost two decades later. People demanding change. Gikuyus were mentioned adversely in 1982 Kenya coup.So it was all Kenyans.

When you put the picture of World Trade Centre burning and Obama, what are you trying to show people, That Obama was among the 9/11 Hijackers? ...Obviously no, ...... The whole world filled with Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and everyone including Raila Odinga, Obama, Mccain, myself felt bad with what happened. We don't like those kind of atrocities happening anywhere and people like the author of thoe blogs are not part of the solution.

What Obama is for the americans= Change

What is Islam for the World = Solution

RIFLES DO NOT COME FROM SOMALIS ALONE

Why does when everyone talks about small arms, he/she refers to Somalis,

as if Somalis eat small arms, Why not Turkanas, Boranas, Sabaots.

Why do they think that arms that come to Kenya only must come through Somalia and that Somalis are the only ones who posses and carry them?

My attention was caught by this article, recently, in which UN security Council claims that Kenya was yet to make it's findings known after it (UN) released a report saying a shipment of arms from Somalia had entered Kenya and that is was destined for some mafia groups inside kenya, a report which even the Kenya's police says is not aware of......Who is playing with who....why are they implicating Kenyan Somalis in that report or are they like saying the Kenya police is inefficient....??

Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe has confirmed that he has not seen even the report but a certain National Focal Point coordinator for Kenya Peter Eregai’s (Have you ever heard an agency by that name) although claiming he has not seen any report from the UN, notswithstanding, says

“We are, however, aware that most illegal firearms come from across the border, mainly from Somalia,” Mr Eregai said.

Now you wonder, as even police have not seen the document, why are "others" including one, Regional Centre on Small Arms (Recsa) executive secretary, Mr Francis Sang claiming they have seen it and that the "report" is circulating within security circles, albeit, pointing fingers at Kenya somalis or Somalia as if all small arms ONLY come from Somalis and Somalis are the only people who share border with Kenya.

According to the UN report dated April 24, at least five arms shipments left the Somali arms market at Elasha destined for Isiolo in Eastern Province between February and March this year.
The report stated that arms entered the country through the Kenya-Somali border disguised as foodstuff and clothing, with one of the clients identified as a militia group in Kenya.

Which militia group.....??? Let the UN tell us and the police so that we can as well get information. As far as I know, there are no militias from NEP and NFD. That was long ago and we are now past that.

“On March 15, 2008, Somali Kenyans presented to a middleman with access to arms traders at the Elasha Somali Arms Market a wish list of weapons and ammunition for two Kenyan clients,” read the report in part.

To date, The report doesn't say what transpired there in and who are the militia group...

Interesting...

This is the kind of politics our people from NEP and parts of NFD, including Eastern province have been subjected to from time immemorial, a tactic that was used by the Kenyatta and Moi's government to muzzle and silence our people about insecurity and Shifta stories...

Our people are tired about that, what we need now is development and have no time for that.

Ever since the Kenyatta government, we have missed out on budget allocation amounting to Ksh 39 Billion which was passed to other provinces with the excuse of "insecurity" in NEP, leaving us without proper educational institutions, health centres and infrastructure and we are therefore urging all those who refer to insecurity in Northern Kenya to balance their work before claiming everything that happens came because Somalis have brought rifles and small arms.

Many Kenyans posses guns everywhere and is not neccesarily Somalis who bring them.

ADAN BARRE DUALE(ODM) TO CHANGE DUJIS'S FORTUNE

When Dualle Adan Barre(ODM-DUJIS) declared his interest in the Dujis parliamentary seat, not many people expected him to win a contest that he has taken head-on.

Not only did Dualle won the seat on an ODM ticket but for the first time broke Hussein Maalim’s 28-year reign, politics that also brought ‘opposition’ to an area previously perceived to support the government of the day. Clannism, which has defined the area’s politics for decades, still played a big role in his victory.

Since 1979, Dujis residents had only known one person, Mr Maalim Hussein, as the MP. Dualle Adan Barre is married to the daughter of retired Chief of General Staff, Mohamud Mohamed, who is also Maalim’s elder brother and therefore Duale's was percieved as having taken politics to the doors of his in-laws.

For those who don't know Maalim, he is of the fame "Hussein maendeleo" who previously held ministerial posts from the time he entered politics including Minister of State, Office of the President; Minister for Culture and Social Services, Home and Youth Affairs; Minister for Water and Development; Minister for Research and Technology, Minister for Health; Minister for Rural Development to 2002 and is a brother of retired General.

Duale's greatest challenge is to break from Maalim’s shadow and do something that he will be remembered for.

"Five year’s is a long time to do one big thing," says an observer adding that the MP should not "sit in Nairobi and then come back after five years and mourn that he had little time to turn things around."

Like other regions in North Eastern Province, Dujis, with a population of about more than 350, 000, is often hit by drought. Residents say the revival of Kenya Meat Commission has done little to improve their lives. They say market access is a problem because of poor roads.

They hope that Dualle, who was the chief executive officer of Livestock Marketing Society of Kenya, will inject some life into the sector threatened by weather vagaries, diseases and market scarcity.

Dualle, who hold a BA in Education Economics from Moi University, says understands challenges facing the pastoralist community. "I will improve veterinary services. Animals usually fail to attract local and international markets because of perceived livestock diseases in the region," he says.

"I will lobby the Government to post more officers and provide more drugs."
The MP also plans to push for microfinance credit facilities. " Livestock farmers need microfinance credit facilities which are Islamic religion compliant," he says.
He has already talked to donor agencies like USAid, Care and World Bank funded Arid Lands Resource Management Programme.

He is pursuing an MBA at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology to sharpen his skills in business negotiation.

"One needs education, skills and experience to deliver," he says.

Dujis boasts of hosting many non-governmental organisations though there is little to show for it. Most residents depend on relief food, a culture they hope will end after the creation of the Ministry of Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands.

Like many MPs in the province, Dualle hopes to help improve water services, road network, and health facilities. "I want to rise above clan politics to offer leadership that would spur the constituency to greater heights," he says.
The MP says he plans to bring reform in education, with the help of professionals.

On roads, he says: " In collaboration with my colleagues in the region, we will lobby the Government to have roads tarmacked.

On health, is plan is "to improve health centres across the constituency to be pastoralist-friendly. Donors like Danida, Care and Path Finder have transformed the Garissa Provincial Hospital and want to upgrade Mbalambala Health Centre to a sub-district hospital and upgrade all other health centres.

On Immigration, he says, his constituents also hope he can help end the obstacles in acquiring national identity cards and passports.

Dujis is the most cosmopolitan in northern Kenya. The constituency hosts people from Wajir, Mandera, Ijara, other parts of the country as well as refugees in Daadab, Ifo and Hagaldera camps. These groups have different needs.
His other big headache will be the management of the CDF kitty, which has been dogged by controversy.

He is married to Zahara Mohammed and is a fan of English football.

But we ask which team?

BONNY'S KIMUNYA "MUST GO" TURNS TRUE

Finance Minister Amos Kimunya has finally bowed to pressure and quit his job.

What was "mumunya kimunya" really got the taste in Kenya today.

Only last Sunday, an enraged Kimunya strongly asserted that he would not relinquish his Treasury job over the manner in which he handled the sale of the Grand Regency hotel.
However, the embattled Kipipiri MP eventually bowed out on Tuesday to mounting pressure to pave way for investigation into the hotel saga.

"I have requested his Excellency the president, to be allowed to step aside to facilitate the inquiry," said Kimunya in a brief press statement he read on Tuesday afternoon. Saying his conscience was clean on the saga, Kimunya insisted that he was open to an independent inquiry to prove his innocence.

But who will listen to him...?? Kenyans are fed and have been taken ride by Corrupt individuals and we need some change. I don't know what People like Kamlesh Pattni, Ketan Somaia are doing in Kenya.I thought that "Goldenberg, Anglo-fleecing(Leasing)" were history.

BELOW IS HIS STATEMENT

"I have held several consultations with His Excellency the President, my family and friends, as well as colleagues, on the ongoing issue of the disposal of Grand Regency Hotel.

As I have indicated before my conscience is very clear on the role of Treasury, and specifically myself in this matter. I have maintained the position that I am open to an independent inquiry to prove my innocence.

Accordingly, I have requested His Excellency the President, to be allowed to step aside to facilitate the inquiry.I wish to thank my family, all my friends and constituents who have stood with me in prayer during this period. The Truth will set us free.Thank you all, and God bless Kenya."

Hon. Amos Kimunya

Once Minister for Finance

WHY FINANCE MINISTER KIMUNYA MUST STEP ASIDE

PHILIP OCHIENG
7/6/2008

Because the African elite did not grow out of any indigenous economic soil -- but is a plastic class artificially made by hand in Europe’s colonial classroom -- it finds it almost impossible to live by the basic postulates of the liberal marketplace.

I speak neither for liberalism nor for globalisation (its latest phenomenal form). But I know that liberalisation of the mind is essential if you want to play a central part in that global process.
Africa’s rulers clamour for a place in that elite club of businessmen, and yet without making any effort to observe its lowest common denominators of governance. Every day -- like bulls in china shop -- our rulers break its minimum “rules of the game” without batting an eyelid.

Although Western capitalism is the mother of all world corruption, the West thrives in stability mainly because its ruling class lives by certain institutions which - although leaking on every side - the vast majority have strong faith in. In the Western superstructure of politics, there are norms which practitioners flout only on the pain of public rejection. Even in the US, where pork-barrel electioneering is common, a politician cannot sink below a certain standard of behaviour and yet survive.

After Watergate, the corporate media and the law combined to hound out of office even a statesman as hard-headed as Richard Nixon (impressing William Rivers to declare that the media had become The Other Government of that country). In Britain, ministers frequently resign on being merely mentioned in something compromising, even extra-marital sex. Such conduct does not get even filler headlines in Kenya’s self-styled “upmarket” newspapers.

No volume of accusations of election theft will embarrass any African leader into even thinking of stepping down. Otherwise, we would have seen a spate of departures in Zimbabwe a few weeks ago and in Kenya following December 27. Otherwise, Amos Kimunya would not have waited till Parliament passed a vote of no confidence in him.

Even after this historic legislative action -- even after Parliament has threatened to “name” him - the Finance minister does not at all feel conscience-stricken into stepping aside. What can explain this inordinate thick skin in the African elite?

The answer, I think, lies in the fact that our so-called “middle class” is the product of two traditions which are both illiberal, namely, pre-colonial tribal authoritarianism and the despotism of the colonial regime. In its capitalist motivation at least, colonialism was an extension of European liberalism. That is why Europe’s attempt, in post-colonial times, to impose its liberalism on the Third World’s “middle classes” has succeeded only in entrenching material corruption minus the alleged foil of liberal “accountability”.

The post-colonial African elite, then, has two apparently contradiction legacies -- pre-colonial illiberalism and colonial greed and callousness. That is why Africa’s ruling elite is endemically corrupt and yet has no time for Europe’s liberal postulates of political behaviour. To be sure, like his European guru, the African elite preaches democracy, good governance, justice, freedom.
But it does not know how to pay lip service with any finesse. It knows no casuistry and has never learned the art of obscurantism and insidiousness.

This ineptitude of the mind applies to members of any newly powerful class in all societies.
The nouveau riche is called so because only the other day he was as poor as a church mouse. His riches were amassed only yesterday and, in most cases, they were ill-gotten. That is why his ilk cling to their wealth like an octopus and seek political power with Nixonian determination.

For they imagine that only with such power can their riches remain safely in their hands. That is why, once they get hold of power, they coil around it like a python. In neo-colonial Africa’s experience, if you put power in the hands of a parvenu, you will never get it out of there except by physical force.
He will employ every stratagem -- including polls rigging -- to remain in power for ever. Hence the spate of coups d’etat that beset independent African countries.

By refusing to resign after his name has been so soiled, our minister is only harming the collective interests of the wealthy class and, in particular, the Cabinet. It does not matter if the accusation is false. The public can regain faith in the system only if ministers step aside for inquiries to appear free from ministerial meddling.

If they don’t, it is their own government that they are undermining. That is why, if Mr Kimunya is too myopic to see the sense of resigning of his own volition, it is in the President’s own interest to show him the door.

BURA VOTES TO BE RECOUNTED

The High Court in Mombasa has ordered a scrutiny and recount of all the ballot papers used in the Bura parliamentary election last year won by Dr Abdinasir Nuh.

Mr Justice Festus Azangalala, directed that all the valid, rejected and spoilt ballots and counterfoils contained in 79 boxes be scrutinised in the presence of representatives of all the parties in the election. The judge allowed the application filed by the petitioner, Mr Abdulreheman Halakano, who said that the difference in votes of the MP, Dr Abdi Nassir Nuh, and the former MP, Mr Ali Wario, was minimal.

Through lawyer Gikandi Ngibuini, the petitioner also said that the votes garnered by the MP were likely to change because there were many irregularities.

Dr Nuh garnered 6,259 votes to beat Mr Wario who got 6,000.

OBAMA'S PORTRAITS MEANS MUCH TO KENYANS

A vendor is selling portraits of US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama in Kisumu, on Thursday. The portraits, sold at Sh50, have been in demand since Obama won the US Democratic party nomination.

Many Kenyans, albeit the November US elections, already recognize Obama as the next president of USA, hoping to bridge the gap between the whites and the Blacks.While Obama's mother was a white from Kansas, his father was a Kenyan. Obama was born in Hawaii, USA.


Obama is regarded "a hero" both in USA and Kenya, who through odds is respected by millions of americans by his grasp, understanding and clear interpretation of the normal american lives and how to bring about change to millions of homes inside and outside the USA.

Through lineages of his father, many Kenyans (old and young) think it is the time americans utilize the "opportunity" to streamline their administration and enormously benefit from a "real" change in Washington-DC. Obama 45, is currently leading in most polls against his main rival, Republican McCain, aged 71.

Kenyans and many countries expect to benefit from the attractive foreign policy of "President" Obama once he is elected in as the President of United States of America come November, 2008.