RTD MAJOR GEN AHMED SHEIKH FARAH INCLUDED IN TRUTH COMMISION

The selection panel of the proposed Kenya Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission has shortlisted nominees to sit in the team. Most of them are lawyers, ambassadors and human rights activists. They include the Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi and Presbyterian Church of East Africa clergyman Timothy Njoya. The names of the nominees were contained in a statement released on Tuesday evening signed by Mr Daniel Ichang’i, chairman of the selection panel on Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission.

The setting up of the commission was recommended by the National Dialogue and Reconciliation Committee which was formed to find out the root causes of the post-election violence. The nominees are Bethwel Kiplagat, Dr Maria Nzomo, Dr Elizabeth Muli, Tom Ojienda, Timothy Njoya, Dr Joseph Aluoch, Betty Murungi and Margaret Shava. The others are Thomas Letangule, Abubakar Zein Abubakar, Joyce Miguda Majiwa, Tecla Namachanja, Maj Gen rtd Ahmed Sheikh Farah and Dr Daadab Mohammed.


Mr Kiplagat is a former ambassador and has been involved in peace processes in Kenya and its neighbour while Dr Nzomo is also a former ambassador and Kenya’s Permanent Representative in Geneva.

Dr Muli, is a human rights crusader while Mr Ojienda is a former Law Society of Kenya chairman and heads the East Africa chapter of the lawyers association. The Rev Njoya is credited for his stand as a church minister advocating for justice and human rights. Dr Aluoch, Ms Shava and Mr Letangule are also human rights crusaders. Mr Abubakar was in the Constitutional of Kenya Review Commission. Ms Murungi is the co-founder and a former director of Urgent Action Fund- Africa, which supports innovative and rapid initiatives on women’s leadership. The others Majiwa, Namachanja and Maj Gen rtd Farah as well as Dr Daadab are credited with advocating for human rights.

WHERE IS OUR KENYA POLICE AND NSIS.......FOR HEAVEN SAKE.......

CRIME & CORRUPTION WILL SURELY KILL KENYA...MCHEZE TU....

Check the picture below and tell me about insecurity in Kenya. Imagine this is near Jamia Mosque as you can see clearly. This will surely make many Investors avoid Kenya due to Insecurity.The Government and especially the Police Commissioner Must ensure security, even mugging affects people is eradicated not even controlled. When this catches the world headlines, what do you thinkm people will see of Kenya. Us Kenyans in diaspora are just worried about reforms, corruption and bad governance.


Even as reports of murder and armed crime increase in the city, police maintain the situation is normal. The police have seen no need to issue any statement assuring Nairobi residents of their safety. The last statement by Kenya Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe simply stated police were keenly monitoring crime trends and working to ensure the city was safe for all to conduct their business. Even us Kenyans, we need to be serious. There are times when police are vicious with Mungiki, carjackers and mugging gangs...I mean when police wke up and become serious with their work....& when they act, everyone condemns them. Like ati police are killing innocent people....and so and so.....we need to put lives of the country and it's people first.

Security is one thing a country needs to take serious.........VERY SERIOUS INDEED...Where is our NSIS (The most reknowned National security intelligence)........Can you do something...

Kenya police say they have enlisted informers in the hunt for vicious street gangs following a recent spate of muggings in Nairobi. At least 30 men have been arrested since the hunt started on the city streets three days ago but the fellas who are ransacking the guy on the right picture have since not been apprehended, it is alledged.

Above, a man pleads for mercy after he was cornered by two of the five robbers whose pictures were published in the Daily Nation. Most of the muggers have gone underground following the media reports.

The government must also arm and improve police working environment. Houses Must be provided for them, uniforms, boots, education for their children, heatlh amenities etc...

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“Kenyans are buying number plates for prestige. When you have a (registration number) ‘KBG’ and another has a ‘KAZ’, then his is considered an old car. Why can’t you look at the mileage or the year of manufacture,” Mr Kirgotty wondered.

BOUNDARY COMMISSION SHORTLISTS 22 PERSONS

The formation of the Interim Boundaries Review Commission (IBRC) drew closer on Monday with the short listing of 21 candidates for the chairmanship.

A meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on the Constitution also proposed a total of 50 people who will be interviewed for the eight commissioners’ slots.

“We intend to conduct interviews on Monday and Tuesday next week and by the end of those two days we hope to have the proposals of nominees for the commission,” PSC chairman Abdikadir Mohammed said.

He said the proposals for the nominees will be presented for consideration by Parliament after the conclusion of interviews.

According to reports among those shortlisted to chair the commission include former National Assembly Speaker Francis Kaparo, former Provincial Commissioner Joseph Kaguthi and former MPs Wanyiri Kihoro, Joseph Kiang’oi and Adams Karauri. Haki Focus Director Harun Ndubi is also in the race. Others are Abdullahi Farah, Beatrice Nduta, Henry Obongi, Kamau Mbugua, Francis Mulu, Kimaiyo Chirama, Caroline Sang and Nzomba Musyoka. Mr Kaparo’s bid to chair the Interim Independent Review Commission flopped earlier in the year. There were unconfirmed reports that he had requested the PSC to exclude his name in the boundaries team but this was dismissed by the committee since he had not written to them formally. Over 1,000 people had applied for the nine posts in the IBRC.

Once constituted, the commission will spearhead the review of both electoral and administrative boundaries in the country and will have an operation mandate of two years. The commission will be expected to review the current constituency boundaries and make proposals for amendment to Parliament. The new constituency boundaries are expected to balance voter representation and size of constituencies.

IBRC is a product of the Independent Review Commission which probed the disputed 2007 presidential election results. The Justice Johann Kriegler chaired commission expressed concern over the unequal representation in the current list of constituencies. The commission will also be expected to comprehensively re-look the boundaries of districts and wards. Among proposals that have been flouted is the conversion of all constituencies to districts to bring services closer to the public. PSC Vice Chair Ababu Namwamba said last week that the commission will be expected to settle the controversial issue of districts.

There are 210 constituencies in the country while the number of districts has risen to 209.

Last year, there was a clash in Mandera between the Garres and Murulle clans over boundary issue and this needs to be sorted once and for all.

KENYA MUSLIMS ANGRY AT ATTEMPT TO CHRISTINIZE MAMA SARAH OBAMA

Muslims on Sunday took issue with a church’s attempts to convert US President Barack Obama’s grandmother to Christianity.

The Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya said it was wrong for the Seventh Day Adventists to coerce Mama Sarah Obama to turn from her Islamic faith.

Organising secretary Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa said any attempts by the SDA clergy to convert Mama Sarah without the family’s consent will arouse the wrath of Muslims.

“Mama Sarah should not be forced by anybody to join Christianity since she is a Muslim. Conversion must take place in a voluntary manner,” the CIPK official said.

“The government has to urgently intervene over the matter to prevent a religious stalemate. Muslims will not sit back and watch one of their own being coerced by some Christian religious leaders to convert to Christianity.”

The cleric commended the Obama family for blocking the SDA pastor’s attempt to baptise Mama Sarah.

“It was a right thing for the family members of Mama Sarah to stop the SDA pastor from baptising her. They acted according to the requirements of the Muslim faith. A Muslim should continue to remain in his faith,” said Sheikh Khalifa.

A baptism ceremony for Mama Obama, which was planned for Saturday at the Jomo Kenyatta Grounds in Kisumu, flopped after family members opposed the move.

The baptism ceremony had been intended to be the climax of a three-week convention by the church.

But yesterday, the SDA clerics were not giving up on convincing Mama Sarah to convert to Christianity. Pastors camped at her Kogelo home for the better part of the day, trying to convince her to be baptised.

Evangelist

Already, a church located in the village, has been named after her famous grandson. The Nyang’oma Seventh Day Adventist Church is now called the Obama Seventh Day Adventist Church.

A member of the church’s top leadership in Kisumu, who declined to be named, said that visiting Australian evangelist John Jeremic was expected at the village and would hold discussions with Mama Sarah.

OBAMA GRANDMOTHER REFUSES TO BE BAPTIZED

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has said it has no plans to convert US President Barack Obama’s grandmother, Sarah. Pastor Tom Obuya said the church had invited her as a special guest to a function in Kisumu at the weekend."We requested her to attend the function, but she declined since she is a Muslim," he explained.

"When I heard there were plans to baptise me, I rejected," Sarah told The Standard by the telephone.

KENYA MUST DEAL WITH SOMALIA AND BORDER NOW

The trail of more than 20 suspected pirates arrested by Nato and European Union forces patrolling the Gulf of Aden and the frequent incursions by suspected al-Shabaab militants are raising concern within the Kenyan security agencies.

There is fear that the Mogadishu-based insurgents, who are believed by security operatives to have accomplices in Somalia, might help to coordinate retaliation against Kenya.

The Kenya government has been at pains to practise its non-alignment foreign policy, especially with no lines of communication with Somalia — a nation that has borne the brunt of warlords and factional fighting for nearly 18 years.

Somali speaking people cover the entire horn of Africa and number around 20Million spanning Somalia, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya.

Ethiopian intelligence operatives monitoring Somalia have recommended the invasion of the country and withdrawal. They have done that in their failed attempt to sit in Mogadishu and help the Interim Somalia Government. The Kenyan provincial administration and security officials are forced to rely on unpredictable and sometimes ineffective local religious leaders to mediate and resolve issues.

However, kenya's Foreign Affairs ministry official said the Horn of Africa division, headed by a Mr Maikara, has been monitoring activities in the war-torn country over a long period.

“We have a facilitator, Mr Kipruto arap Kirwa, appointed by President Kibaki as Kenya’s special representative for Somalia at the African Union. The Horn of Africa division in the ministry of Foreign Affairs that handles Somalia issues, is very active.”

But the Somalia issue is a complicated affair owing to its long standing historical problems. Kenya has to do everything to ensure that there are administrative structures in Somalia because what goes on there directly affects Kenya.

“Issues of piracy and al-Shabaab have drawn a lot of international attention,” said an official who spoke to the Sunday Nation on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to journalists.

He said Kenya has been in the forefront in rallying the international community to pressurise warring parties in Somalia to work together. The signing last week of a memorandum of understanding between Kenyan Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula and the Somalia minister for Planning, Mr Abdirahman Warsame, is already causing ripples in Mogadishu, with Islamists, the opposition and the media claiming that the Somalia government has been duped into ceding part of its territory to Kenya. In the MoU, the two countries commit themselves to reviewing maritime boundaries under the 1982 UN Convention on Law of the Sea.

So strained have the relations between Kenya and Somalia been that Mr Wetang’ula at one time threatened to ban the then Somalia transitional federal government president, Mr Abdullahi Yusuf, from entering Kenya for what he termed his lack of cooperation to bring order in his country. The Kenyan ambassador to Somalia works from Nairobi.

The northwest frontier, the Previous NFD Kenya, The current North Eastern Province, has been Kenya’s problem since the colonial days when there was an attempt to secede. But the holding of 42 suspected pirates in Kenya, including 10 serving a seven-year jail sentence each at Shimo la Tewa prison in Mombasa and 32 others are facing trial, is likely to put Kenya at a greater security risk.

Al-Shabaab, a somali militia outfit has warned Kenya of dire consequences if it cooperates with the international community in the war on terrorism or piracy. Both local and international intelligence and security agencies fear that the proceeds of piracy are being laundered in Kenya. On a number of occasions, Somalia insurgents have crossed into the country, raided police stations to rescue their colleagues and escaped with weapons and vehicles.

Intelligence sources suspect that insurgents from the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab, who are fighting the UN-backed Somalia government and have taken over large swathes of the war-torn country bordering Kenya, are infiltrating the country. Intelligence sources who spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the media, revealed that they gather all the information and pass it on to the relevant security agencies for action. It is for the agencies to do whatever they deem necessary with the information.

Kenya's Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the force has been monitoring the activities of Somali insurgents and arresting those in Kenya suspected to be working with them. He gave the example of a man who arrested in Thika with 600 detonators headed for NEP. The man has since been charged in court. One other suspect, Mr Kiraithe said, was arrested in El Wak, near the Kenya-Somalia border, and has also been charged in court.

The military intelligence, like the National Security Intelligence Service, has been monitoring the activities of Somalia refugees and other people entering the country as they patrol the notorious 1,800km border with Somalia. The money transfer systems, commonly referred to as Hawala and which does not go through the regular banking system, and other cross-border business activities are also under close scrutiny by intelligence and security agents. The influx of hundreds of thousands of Somalia refugees into Kenya, some without the documents, is causing a lot of concern within the government, especially the security agencies.

Kenya Army has instituted an operation by the name OPERATION LINDA MPAKA which was launched on 29 th December 2006 following the breakout of hostilities in Somalia between the main protagonists in the conflict, fighters of Council of Islamic Court (SCIC) fighters and the Transitional Government Forces (TGF) supported by Ethiopian forces. The conflict was trigged by an incessant stalemate in the Khartoum talks. Fundamentally Operation Linda Mpaka is intended to ensure peace and security along the Kenya- Somalia border by denying entry into Kenya fleeing SCLC political leadership, senior commands and their fighters. Since its inception, several arrests of key political leaders have been made. Similarly, persons wanted for their terrorists' activities in Somalia have also been arrested and repatriated. It is envisaged that the operation will continue for sometime subject to a general pacification in the Somalia crisis. On humanitarian civic assistance, the Kenya Army has initiated humanitarian civic initiatives targeting drilling of boreholes and the provision of medical services.

The insurgents are suspected to be involved in the inter-clan fighting that has rocked North-Eastern province on several occasions. It is for this reason that the military was deployed there to embark on a major weapons mopping operation. There are fears that different Somalia factions with cells in Kenya might extend their fighting into the country.

In early March, Somalia militia abducted four senior Kenyan education officers and their driver held them for three days on a charge of crossing into Somalia without permission. They were released after the local leaders’ intervention.

In July, last year, armed Somali militiamen crossed into Kenya at a remote Mandera outpost and ambushed and abducted two police officers. Two days later, the officers’ mutilated bodies were found hanging from trees in a hilly area on the Somalia side of the border. The Kenyan security agents ranted and threatened to cross into Somalia to avenge the officers’ killing, but did not.

In another attack later, Somalia militiamen in three vehicles raided the Dedajabulla administration police camp, about 20km from the border, and rescued two terror suspects who had been arrested by police. They injured a police officer and made awy with a police vehicle and three guns after overpowering Kenyan security forces.

On several occasions, the military and both regular and administration police have been deployed in Mandera to counter acts of aggression by the insurgents. The militiamen then were suspected to be members of the al -Shabaab group that has taken over control of most of Somalia, including the Gedo region that straddles the border.

In September 2008, the militiamen raided the Alungu administration police camp, killed two officers and three civilians and stole four G3 rifles and over 200 rounds of ammunition. It was alleged then that the attackers were members of Al- Shabaab fighters hired by clan leaders involved in a dispute with another clan over the Mandera Central district boundary.

And the attack on El Wak town by the group caused concern within the intelligence and security agencies. The militiamen crossed into Kenya, fired rocket -launched grenades at the local police station, attacked a Catholic parish and abducted two Italian nuns. The daring militiamen then raided a guest house and a lodge and robbed the area resident magistrate of his laptop and a wristwatch. Two police officers were also robbed. The gunmen then got onto three vehicles parked at the police station and drove off.

During a recent operation, security officers in Mandera recovered six mortar bombs and hundreds of guns. All the weapons had been sneaked into the country through the porous border. Some of these weapons find their way into Nairobi where they are used to commit violent crimes.
Sources privy to a joint police military operation in Mandera said the operation was sanctioned following intelligence reports of al-Shabaab’s involvement in the attacks.

OBAMA'S GRANDMUM PREFERS ISLAM

Attempts to convert US President Barack Obama’s grand mother to Christianity flopped on Saturday at the 11th hour after family members opposed the move. Although Mama Sarah Obama had dressed up for the day, her son, Saidi Obama, and other family members were adamant that she would not attend a baptism ceremony organised by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA).

Mr Saidi said that they were opposed to the move to take Mama Sarah to church since she is a Muslim. “I was opposed to it because I believe she was not fully informed about what they were going to do to her. I personally asked her not to attend the function,” he said.

On Saturday, SDA Pastor Tom Obuya arrived at Mama Sarah’s Nyang’oma Kogello home to take her to the Jomo Kenyatta Sports ground where the ceremony was to take place. However, he found she had changed her mind on instructions from Mr Saidi. Pastor Obuya said that the church had been reaching out to Mama Sarah for the past three weeks. “Mama Sarah had assured us that she was converting, and we were ready to baptise her today, but it seems the family has prevailed upon her,” said Pastor Obuya.

The security detail at her home confirmed that there had been arrangements for Mama Sarah to travel the 100 kilometres to Kisumu, but said that apart from the fact that they were to escort her, they did not know much else about the visit.

“I did not understand why they were asking her to attend a Christian ceremony, yet she is a Muslim. I thought her presence in the church would not add any value,” Mr Saidi said.

Family sources told the Sunday Nation that Mama Sarah had prepared for the ceremony and among those who were to accompany her were sisters-in-law Norah Otieno and Consolata Oguna. Also, the 30 members of the Nyang’oma Seventh Day Adventist Church had hired a vehicle to take them to Kisumu so they could welcome Mama Sarah to their congregation. Her baptism was to mark the end of a three-week convention by the church in Kisumu. Mr Saidi said that apart from the faith aspect, Mama Sarah had knee complications that would make travelling such a long distance uncomfortable.

“She would also have attracted unnecessary attention which is not good for her,” he said.

Meanwhile, United States President Barack Obama could visit Kenya as early as August this year to attend the Eighth forum of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa). Mr Obama is expected to use the AGOA conference to make his first trip to the African continent since he was elected US President. He could also be visiting again during the 9th Leon H. Sullivan Summit scheduled to be held in July 2010. The summit is to be attended by an estimated 1,500 African-American businessmen.

Mr Thuita Mwangi, the Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary had said President Kibaki would invite President Obama to attend both conferences.

Obama's father hailed from Kenya.

22 ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS ARRESTED IN MOMBASA

Kenya police on Friday arrested 22 foreigners without valid documents at Bondeni in Mombasa. The foreigners, 15 Ethiopians and seven Bangladeshis, were arrested in a morning raid at a house in the area. Two Kenyans suspected to be behind a ring sneaking in the aliens were also seized.

Mombasa police boss Tom Odero said police raided the village after a tip-off from the public.
Sinister motive. “The foreigners did not have immigration papers and we suspect they entered the country for a sinister motive,” he said.

Mr Odero declined to shed more light on the matter, but police sources said the group arrived in the town a week ago.

“In our preliminary investigations, we managed to determine their countries of origin but we shall only release more information after we finish interrogating them,” said Mr Odero. The arrests come a few months after Coast Provincial Commissioner Ernest Munyi promised to intensify vigilance on the border to curb illegal entry.

Odero was speaking even as the Minister for Immigration was saying new third generation ID cards will start in January 2010. Kenya immigration policy is so corrupt and lax where everyone who has some few money to bribe can get any official document for travel and trade.

FIBRE OPTIC CABLES CONNECTING KENYA AND UAE LAID IN FUJAIRAH UAE

KENYANS REGISTERING AS REFUGEES AS FAMINE WORSENS

Thousands of Kenyans are registering themselves as refugees to benefit from food rations as the hunger crisis bites, a report shows.

However, they are unable to obtain Kenyan identity cards so the report proposes that their cases be considered favourably. As many as 4,000 Kenyans are said to have been found in this predicament since registration started in 2000.

“The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons should ensure that a comprehensive list of such cases is compiled and applying the existing procedures for deregistering Kenyans who may have been registered as refugees in order to issue them with Kenyan IDs,” it says.

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission’s Report of the Examination into the Systems, Policies, Procedures and Practices of the National Registration Bureau, Ministry of Immigration and Registration of Persons, identifies five registration centres for aliens in Kenya. They are in Nairobi, Mombasa, Malindi, Eldoret and Kisumu.

The report says Kenya has no policy requiring refugees to live in camps. However, a number of measures have been put in place to limit the movement of refugees from camps.

First is the shared policy of the Kenyan Government and UNHCR that refugees cannot receive humanitarian assistance outside of camps.

There is also the government policy restricting officially sanctioned movement between camps and other parts of the country.

This means that once registered in Dadaab’s camps, refugees are not permitted to travel unless they fulfil one or more unpublished criteria for obtaining a “movement pass” co-signed by the Kenyan authorities and the refugee commission.

If a refugee registered in the camps is found travelling without a movement pass, there is the risk of arrest, a fine, and, in practice, even worse, detention.

Thirdly, for Somalis to live outside the camps, they require the UNHCR’s lengthy refugee status determination procedures in Nairobi, compared to swift procedures in Dadaab’s camps.

Refugees’ IDs expire after two years but those issued in 2004/05 have not been replaced. According to the KACC report, “this exposes refugees to possible harassment and extortion by police officers whenever they are required to identify themselves”.

“Kenya has legitimate security concerns and a right to control its borders, but its borders can’t be closed to refugees fleeing fighting and persecution,” says a human rights watch refugee researcher, Mr Gerry Simpson.

But one issue is clear; the number of Somali refugees in Kenya is fast becoming unmanageable despite the continued official closure of the 682-kilometre border with Somalia, effective January 2007.

On average, 165 Somali refugees cross the border daily to escape increasingly violent conflict in Somalia and seek shelter in the heavily overcrowded and chronically under-funded refugee camps in Kenya.

Contribution

The Human Rights Watch has also termed the fact that the donors’ contribution has remained constant despite the soaring number of refugees in Dadaab camp as “worrying” and “a disaster in waiting”.

On December 19, last year, the refugee commission launched a supplementary appeal for Dadaab for about Sh7.4 billion ($92 million). This excludes World Food Programme’s food budget of approximately Sh320 million per month.

Donors have indicated that they have committed nearly Sh2 billion ($ 24.3 million), 26 per cent of what was requested. The total committed to non-food needs in Dadaab in 2009 is just under Sh1.5 billion ($ 19 million).

The Kenyan Government considers famine as a national disaster while not doing enough to help it's citizens.

JOINT NAVY WILL "GUARD" FIBRE OPTIC CABLE TO BE DEPLOYED AT KENYA SOMALIA COAST

Foreign navies have agreed to protect a vessel installing an undersea high-speed Internet cable from pirates off the coast of Somalia, a Kenyan minister said on Thursday. Sea gangs from lawless Somalia have been increasingly striking the Indian Ocean shipping lanes and strategic Gulf of Aden, capturing dozens of vessels and hundreds of hostages in attacks that have driven up insurance rates.

Patrols by Western navies have done little to deter the attacks.

Kenyan Information and Communications Minister Samuel Poghisio said the 5,000 km (3,107 miles) fibre optic cable was on course for completion in June. Last month, a government official said the route for the East African Marine Cable (TEAMS) had been shifted an extra 200 km from the coastline for fear of pirates.

"These are concerns we have but they are being addressed. We know it will be secure and will land in Mombasa on time," "The process (of laying the cable) has begun and will probably take two months. It is likely that by the middle of June the ship should be anchoring in Mombasa, or rather delivering the cable to Mombasa," Poghisio said in a statement on Thursday.

The $130 million cable will link Kenya's coastal town of Mombasa with Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. UAE Etisalat is also linked to the Fibre optic project.

Kenya has been putting down a terrestrial cable connecting different parts of the country to prepare for the arrival of the marine cable, which could be east Africa's first speedy but cheap telecoms link with the rest of the world.

Another undersea project known as SEACOM is also expected to be operational in the second half of 2009 and two others are due to land in 2010 -- the Eastern African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and the France Telecom/Orange Sat3-wasc-Safe cable. East Africa has relied on expensive satellite connections for telephones and Internet. Telecoms operators and outsourcing firms are eagerly awaiting the cable's arrival, which is expected to slash costs and speed up connectivity.

THERE WILL BE NO RAIN FOR LONG...MET EXPERTS SUGGEST

Weather experts on Thursday gave a gloomy outlook of the current rainfall pattern in most parts of Kenya even as 10 million Kenyans face starvation. Meteorological Services assistant director Peter Ambenje said although April is the rainfall peak period for the March to May long rains season, Nairobi and most parts of the country will continue to receive deficient rainfall “for some time”

On Thursday, Mr Ambenje said: “Currently, it is only the western parts of the country (Kitale, Kericho, Nandi, Eldoret, Kakamega, Kisumu, Kisii and Busia) that are receiving enhanced rainfall, which has resulted in flooding in Kano plains... At the same time, areas in the Coastal region are also receiving some rains.”

JAKOWO MIDIWO SAYS IIEC TEAM LED BY LAWYER AHMED ISSACK WILL SAIL THROUGH

ODM Chief Whip Jakoyo Midiwo says nomination of Mr Ahmed Issack Hassan to head the Independent Interim Electoral Commission (IIEC) will sail through in Parliament. Midiwo said he had not seen any resistance towards the nomination of Hassan to head the Commission.

"Hassan’s nomination is as good as done because nobody has come out to oppose the move, Although I cannot speak for other MPs, the position is that Hassan is likely to get Parliament’s nod when the matter comes before the floor," said the Gem MP.

Midiwo was speaking in Kisumu.

The Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Constitution Review appointed the city lawyer to head the IIEC, but his fate rests with Parliament. In February, Parliament rejected the nomination of Cecil Miller to chair the IIEC forcing PSC to conduct fresh recruitment.

Midiwo said MPs wanted to deal with the formation of the IIEC because the country was treading on dangerous grounds without an electoral body. "We have pending Parliamentary and civic elections due to lack of an electoral body. The faster we put the body in place the better," he added.

He said Parliament was handling the matter carefully after it sanctioned the disbanding of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) headed by Samuel Kivuitu. Former Constitution of Kenya Review Commission Secretary PLO Lumumba asked Parliament to give priority to establishment of an electoral commission once it resumes.

Lumumba faulted Parliament for disbanding ECK without putting in place transition mechanisms.

KENYA-UGANDA MIGINGO TENSIONS

SIASA WIKI HII...KENYA STYLE

Revenge is a dish best eaten cold. What satisfaction it must have given Chirau Ali Mwakwere, who once got a thumping from PM Raila Odinga over his running of the Transport ministry, to suggest installing a toilet in Raila’s car. It seems he has inspired other whipping boys (like Mutula Kilonzo whose metropolitan idea Tinga spat on) to spring up with sarcastic ideas on salary harmonisation!
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Talking of harmonisation, it’s not just on the temporary salary arrangement where things need to change. We may have to get Raila a new official car since the S350 Mercedes Benz he now has is ‘equal’ to the VP’s. Then there’s the house business. Taxpayers have poured some Sh200 million (possibly more) into an official residence for the VP under construction in Karen. What about a house for Raila?
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Still on Raila: Is it true the shabby treatment that he ranted about in Mombasa was of his office’s making? Palaver has it on authority that an official at the PM’s ‘punch drunk’ office wrote to Mombasa authorities saying Raila would be in the coastal town to officiate at a fisheries function. But a day or two before the event, another official called to call off the meeting!
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Propagandists (reading off some master script?) are busy putting about the idea Kenya and Uganda have different policy objectives on Migingo island in Lake Victoria. Shock on you: A joint communique signed in March shows goals like fewer Kenyan fishermen and stricter law enforcement on the Kenyan side are shared. So don’t be surprised if, as I said before, there’s not only no ‘fight’ but the welcome mat is rolled out for the Ugandans!
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And finally...

Dog-crazy Americans will soon be able to buy a pet-friendly car with a dog bed in the trunk, fitted with a built-in water bowl and fan and a ramp to help less agile dogs climb in. Japanese car maker Honda unveiled the pet friendly utility vehicle in New York last week. Is there a market for it? In a recession? Americans spend $41 billion a year on pets, a figure forecast to rise to $52 billion in two years!

FGM: A 7 YEAR OLD GIRL BLEEDS TO DEATH IN WAJIR

A woman was yesterday arrested after her seven-year-old daughter bled to death after female circumcision. It is female circumcision season in Wajir District, despite concerted efforts to discourage the practice.

"She was brought to the hospital more than 24 hours after circumcision. By then it was too late to save her life," said Mrs Ardo Mohammed, a nurse.

She said the girl underwent infibulation, the worst form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) common in North Eastern Province. Police intercepted family members planning to bury the girl. An elderly circumciser was also arrested after a brief search.

Deputy OCPD Job Lesinayu said they would be charged with murder. But relatives want the two released, arguing the death was pre-ordained. "No parent would want to see her child die. At least the police should allow her to mourn her daughter," a former councillor, Mr Kunow Ibrahim, said. It has also emerged that the child was among three girls cut by the circumciser.

The tragedy has not dampened the cultural mood with scores of other girls facing the knife.

The Somali ethnic group in Kenya has the highest prevalence of FGM - 97 per cent of Somali women have undergone the procedure, and almost all are infibulations. As in many other communities, pre-marital virginity is very important for the Somali, and FGM is considered essential in preserving virginity and family honour. Many Somali also believe that FGM is an Islamic requirement, although some Sheikhs, community elders and Muslim women's groups have clarified that infibulation is in violation of the Koran. This has led to a shift from infibulation to a less-severe form of FGM, and it is a complex issue for groups working to eradicate the practice to encourage its abandonment instead of the adoption a less-severe form.

Read about FGM today

KACC: MUSLIMS CAN "FIGHT" CORRUPTION AND DRUGS BETTER

The Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission is partnering with Imams to help fight corruption and drug trafficking at the Coast. The agency conducted a three-day workshop at Reef Hotel in Mombasa, involving members of Kenya Council of Imams and Ujamaa to empower them to fight the vices.
KACC representative Yassin Aila said they chose the Imams because of their closeness to the people, saying they were the most suitable group to deal with drug abuse and trafficking.

"Drug trafficking has been rampant in the province, that’s why we partnered with the Imams so they could educate the users on the effects of dealing with it," the KACC representative said.

The Imams asked the Government to empower KACC more to apprehend those implicated in corruption for the level of the vice to go down."The Judiciary has been dragging corruption cases for years, that’s why the Government should give powers to KACC to apprehend those involved," said Sheikh Mohammed Swalihu of the local Jamia mosque.

The Imams accused the Government of not putting much effort to fight corruption. Speaking at the workshop, nominated MP Sheikh Mohammed Dor said the Government should make changes in the police force because it (the force) had not made any effort to fight the vice. Mr. Aila said the way forward in the fight against corruption, must ensure transparency and accountability and a society empowered through civic education.

Bhang worth millions of shillings has been impounded at Mikindani in Mombasa. This was after police conducted a swoop for illegal drugs in the area. Changamwe OCPD tom Mboya who led police in the operation confirmed the incident.

THE EASTLEIGH KENYA SOMALI BUSINESS COMMUNITY MIGHT BAN NON-KENYAN SOMALI COMMUNITY FROM INVESTMENT

The Kenyan Somali Business Association of Eastleigh is planning to ban the non-Kenyan Somali community from undertaking development initiatives after it emerged that some of their activities were contributing to skyrocketing property prices and ill motives practices in competition.

It has emerged that the Kenyan Somali’s in the Diaspora were bringing a total of $50 million monthly for massive investments in the real estate and other business ventures that has consequently led to soaring prices of land. This has more than doubled rents and houses where the community has settled.

Mr Abdillahi Hassan, the association’s spokesman said the hardest hit areas include Nairobi’s Eastleigh where prices of land have more than doubled. In some instances properties are sold long before they are ready for occupation. According to Hassan, the Somali businessmen have migrated from North Eastern Kenya to escape drought to join together and venture into business. But when they try to make some investments, it becomes impossible for them to compete with non-kenyan somalis who albeit of being welcomed by their kinsmen in kenya have devised ill motives in competition.

"But when we buy the property, we are surprised that the price shoot up and we are forced to part with almost three times the normal price ," Mr Hassan said. He said as a community from the Northern part of Kenya, the Somali’s of Kenyan origin found it difficult to thrive economically given the harsh climatic conditions and the high lending rates by the mainstream banks.

Emergence of malls

"Most of us do not have funds to steer economic growth in our home areas and the only way we can strive is by engaging in business ventures in urban areas" said Hassan. He says in North Eastern lacks infrastructure, schools and other social amenities hence leading to heavy migration of the Somalis to urban centres leaving North Eastern towns under-developed.

For instance, what started as ‘Garissa Lodge’ dukawallas in early 1990s have turned into an avalanche of international merchants importing goods from China, India, Malaysia and even Europe. Shopping malls have sprung up in Nyeri, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mombasa and Kisumu. "For us it is common for people to come together under a trust of between 20 to 30 people to purchase plots for construction of multi million shopping malls," says Hassan.

AT LAST SOME RAIN IN NEP: WAJIR AND GARISSA

The onset of rains in most parts of the country has come as a relief, the Kenya Red Cross Society has said. It has provided hope of pasture to livestock farmers in the next few weeks and water shortage in most urban centres would ease.
The rains have, however, hindered transportation of relief supplies in most parts of North Eastern Province. The latest updates released by the society indicate Turkana District as the most needy as far as food and water distribution is concerned. Currently, 47.6 per cent of Turkana residents rely on food aid from the Government and donors.

"The magnitude of poverty in the district has been worsened by harsh climatic conditions, prevalence of animal and crop diseases, poor livestock marketing systems, unreliable rainfall, insecurity and cattle rustling," said Kenya Red Cross Communications Manager Titus Mung’ou.
Mr Mung’ou said increased rains have hampered transport in the district, as the road to Wajir North was impassable. Relief operations have also been affected in Ijara, Masalani, Bodhai, Sangailu, Sangole, Handaro, Hulugho, Kotille, Busohama and Adanwedhi.

"The rains have affected transport, including our relief trucks, which cannot access some areas," he said.

KRCS has given North Eastern region has received over 1,934 tonnes of relief food, Eastern region 1,256 tonnes, North West 468 tonnes, South Rift region 75 tonnes, Coast region 162 tonnes and Nairobi 4.6 tonnes.

Through the ‘Mercy Train’ initiative, 80 tonnes of food comprising 72.2 tonnes of maize flour and 7.8 tonnes of cooking oil has been distributed to nine food distribution points. The second leg of the ‘Mercy Train’ is scheduled for April 17 to 19, and will pass through the Nairobi-Kisumu railway route and distribute food to upper Eastern region, North Eastern and Turkana.