The Striking Resemblance, Hon Babu Owino and Former USA Congressman Hon Anthony Weiner

Bloggers Moses Wambui has posted an a photo of Hon Babu Owino and Anthony David Weiner (born September 4, 1964) an American former congressman who represented New York’s 9th congressional district from January 1999 until June 2011. The Two Legislators have a striking resemblance, but then again one another striking coincidence, they both appeared in court this week with Hon Babu Owino charged with fake cooked up charges subversion while Anthony Weiner was found guilty of a single charge of transferring obscene material to a minor on Monday 25th September.

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BIG QUESTION: Is This The Man Moses Kuria Ordered To ‘Shoot and Kill’ Raila During Anti-IEBC Demonstrations? Real or Fake?

Many Kenyans woke up to this trending photo of a police officer who seemingly is a true copy of a member of alleged Nairobi Business Community (said to be Mungiki) who was yesterday tasked with dealing with anti-IEBC riots along University way. Well, Moses Kuria had ordered Police to shoot and kill Raila if he ever dared storm IEBC offices to smoke out CEO Ezra Chiloba.

Now, the big questio is ; have Mungiki infiltrated the Police force? how save are even the Police officers?

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Communications Authority Agrees With Raila On Safaricom And IEBC, Confirms No Cases Transmission Failure Were Reported

PRESS RELEASE BY COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORITY OF KENYA (CA) DIRECTOR GENERAL MR. FRANCIS W. WANGUSI ON ALLEGED MANIPULATION OF ELECTION RESULTS BY MOBILE OPERATORS

The attention of the Authority has been drawn to claims attributed to the National Super Alliance (NASA) leadership that the local mobile telecommunications operators were involved in the manipulation of the August 8th general elections results in favour of Jubilee Party.

The Authority is aware that IEBC contracted the three mobile operators to provide a medium of the end-to-end transmission of election results in line with the Elections (Technology) Regulations, 2017.
Upon our advice, the country was divided into three zones and each of the three mobile operators was assigned one region to support the transmission systems of the IEBC. In each of the three zones, an additional mobile operator was assigned the responsibility of providing back up services in case of technology failure.

In line with our oversight responsibility as the ICT sector regulator, the Authority directed the mobile operators to report any cases of transmission failure to us. No cases of transmission failure were reported to us.

As the country prepares for the repeat presidential poll, CA wishes to implore on Kenyans not to lose faith and confidence in technology. ICTs have been successfully deployed and embraced in all facets of life in the country, including banking, business, education, health, agriculture and government services just but to mention a few. Elections are no exception and the Authority is confident that ICTs can be deployed successfully to support this important national activity.

The country stands to benefit in a big way if the current levels of investment and adoption of ICT are sustained. It is therefore the responsibility of all well-meaning Kenyans to support investors in the sector and to underline public confidence in ICTs.

In this regard, we urge political actors to canvass their agenda in a responsible manner in order to avoid putting into jeopardy the impressive investment and other gains that Kenya has made in the local ICT sector. In the same vein, we implore politicians to report any alleged election malpractices on the part of industry players to the relevant law enforcement agencies instead of engaging in blanket ‘lynching’ of investors in this strategic sector.

Issued by,

Francis W. Wangusi, MBS
Director General

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Summarized Trail Of Uhuru Jubilee Falsehoods And Plot To Keep Power

Response to Jubilee Party Presidential Candidate Uhuru Kenyatta trail of falswehoods and derision to Supreme Court of Kenya

1. Jubilee Party Presidential Candidate Uhuru Kenyatta must cease playing the victimhood politics after Supreme Court of Kenya decision on presidential election. He is trying to recast the International Criminal court (ICC) narrative of unjustly persecuted.

In this case he has localized his ‘victimhood’ claiming to be victim of unfair court’s decision of invalidating his reelection win. This is both ingenious and fraudulent. His reckless and poisonous attempts to whip his supporters’ political emotions against the Supreme Court of Kenya as well as re-litigate his case both in public square and in Court are futile.

Presidential election petition was litigated and closed within the timelines provide by the Constitution of Kenya.

2. Uhuru is under the illusion that he can repeat the false victory he chalked up with the ICC in 2013 after profiling segments of Kenyans as being the source of his indictment, plying victim of Western imperialism, invoking the false spirit of pan-Africanism and vilifying the ICC as an instrument of Western hegemony.

This time round, he has, unprecedented malice, trained his guns on the Supreme Court – enlisting the combined executive and legislative jurisdictions to malign and delegitimize the judiciary and thereby undermine the rule of law. To an authoritarian, rules that block what he wants to do are always “bad for the country”. Mr. Kenyatta is sliding Kenya to authoritarianism.

3. It must be made clear that upon the expiring of the 60 days Constitution window to conduct fresh presidential election, Mr. Kenyatta’ presidency will be illegitimate. At the moment Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta is holding temporary incumbency for the simple reason that his exercise of the delegated sovereign power of the from the people of Kenya for the period of constitutional set Five year term has expired. He does not enjoy the consent of the people of Kenya to govern and run the government of their behalf.

4. The Jubilee Party candidate Uhuru Kenyatta, who does not seem to distinguish presidency from his candidature, is pedaling an inconsequential minority dissenting opinion of the Supreme Court of Kenya which was written to give him (Uhuru) the political propaganda with legal gravitas. Justice Njoki Ndung’u wrote dissenting opinion that is in contravention of the Constitution Article 163(3) and (8) and should lead to her facing censure. The Judge turned herself into lawyer, investigator, prosecutor and judge of a case away from one before her.

5. Jubilee Party candidate Uhuru Kenyatta is engaging in unjustly, unfounded and dangerous politics of delegitimizing Courts with intent of destroying the institution. Hence leading the country to the path of anarchy and lawlessness. His claims that the Court subverted the will of the people are baseless, feeble and untenable. The Court found out that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) never conducted an election in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Kenya. IEBC announced results on the basis of the Forms 34B without receiving and verifying the Forms 34A, which are recognized by Constitution as the final primary results. IEBC never gave the Court any plausible explanation why it disregarded Forms 34A and exclusively relied on FORM 34B whose authenticity and source was never provided.

6. Supreme Court of Kenya gave both Uhuru Kenyatta and Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) a unique opportunity to demolish the allegations of Petitioner. They both did not. IEBC was ordered to supply the petitioner and the Uhuru Kenyatta with all the scanned and transmitted Forms 34A and 34B from all the 40, 883 polling stations. It defied Court orders!

7. Uhuru Kenyatta is claiming Court failed to scrutinize all the documents supplied to the Court to challenge the Petition. This claim is false, malicious and intended to cast judges as compromised and corrupt. When Petitioner’s lawyers filed application seeking examination of the ballot boxes to confirm how widespread the alleged illegalities were, the IEBC lawyer (PAUL Muite) agreed BUT Uhuru Kenyatta’s Lawyer( Fred Ngatia) interjected and objected saying and quote “ him (IEBC Lawyer) has not sought our views and it is our contention that such a request is objectionable by our client. We request that the court adjourns for 30 minutes to enable us consult with our client. This is a monumental request that may jeopardize my client”. Court agreed to adjourn. On return both Uhuru Kenyatta and IEBC lawyers objected to the request by Petitioner to open the ballot boxes. The Petitioner’s lawyers withdraw the application.

Further if both IEBC and Uhuru Kenyatta had nothing to hide, why didn’t they readily accept and provide access to ICT logs and servers to disprove the petitioners’ claims? How can Mr. Kenyatta now shamelessly dupe the public with the dishonest question as to why the ballot boxes were not counted and verified? How can fraudulent documents be made the subject of verification!

8. On Uhuru Kenyatta’s claims that Court invalidated genuine win, the evidence and proof before the Court shows clearly this claims is false. Neither the IEBC nor the Uhuru Kenyatta had offered to the Court any plausible response to the question as to whether all Forms 34A had been electronically transmitted to the National Tallying Center as required by Section 39 (1C) of the Elections Act.

What remained uncontroverted however, was the admission by Ezra Chiloba, that as of 14th August 2017, three days after the declaration of results, the IEBC was not in a position to supply the petitioner with all Forms 34A. Curiously, Uhuru Kenyatta insisting that the presidential results were declared on the basis of Forms 34B, all of which were available, but implicitly admitted that not all Forms 34A were available by the time the IEBC declared the “final results “for the election of the president.

9. On claims about vote number, the propaganda and lies by Uhuru Kenyatta are unsustainable. Court was categorical that elections are not only about numbers as many would like the country to believe. Even in numbers, as taught in school that to arrive at a mathematical solution, there is always a computational path one has to take, as proof that the process indeed gives rise to the stated solution. Elections are not events but processes. The law set the formula of arriving at authentic numbers and outcome to be “simple, accurate, verifiable, secure, accountable and transparent” process. Both IEBC and Uhuru Kenyatta could not proof how final results’ numbers were arrived at. It is very strange that Mr. Kenyatta does not find anything wrong with IEBC despite the Court finding it culpable of bungling election. Why would he furiously attack the Court while the main culprit has been established to be IEBC? Why is he not seeking accountability from the IEBC? Why is he protecting IEBC?

10. Finally, IEBC admitted two days to the election date that it was going to be unable to electronically transmit results from 11,000 polling centres because they were off the range of 3G and 4G network. It emerged clearly in Court that from the information posted in IEBC’s website, among the 11,0000 polling stations IEBC claimed were off the 3G and 4G range are in Bomet; Bungoma; Busia; Homa Bay; Kajiado; Kericho; Kiambu; Kisumu; Kisii; Kirinyaga; Nyeri; Siaya; and Vihiga Counties and whose results came late and were proved to be problematic.

11. Both the top leadership and Secretariat of the IEBC must accept full responsibility for bungling presidential election and wasting KSHS. 49.9B. It is complete escapism and living in denial for the top officials of IEBC to assume there are no problems with how election was handled and pretend to be busy preparing for fresh presidential election. Court found gross mismanagement, fraud and violation of laws in conduct of election. With these findings of the Court, it is inconceivable that nobody in the Commission has slightest sense of responsibility. IEBC’s ineptitude, arrogance and unconcerned attitude is very dangerous and creating uncertainty to the Kenya.
END//

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Governors Must Ensure Gender, Youth And Minority In Appointments And Equal Access To Economic Opportunities

By Ndung’u Wainaina

International center for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) observes that devolved governance is introducing greater participation, accountability, and transparency in local governance and economic development, and providing an empowering voice to the historically large portion of marginalized population in Kenya.

We note that County governance is going to be the major driver of the Kenya political and economic development considering that crucial sectors of economy and social/public services are under the jurisdiction of the County government.

The key to effective political representation and meaningful participation, especially women, youth and other minority groups, in a democracy at work is to engage all citizens, so that they feel that they are part of the society and governance processes.

Gender equality is central to representation, participation, accountability, responsiveness and transparency in nascent devolved governance in Kenya. These in turn hold the key to better policies and services that will begin to normalize women, youth and other minority groups in equal participation in policy and decision making.

ICPC is calling upon all Governors and County Assemblies to ensure no gender occupies more than a third of all key top positions in both County Executive and County Assembly. We are further urging that young people and other minority groups be given priority in the County appointments.

ICPC is challenging the women, youth and other vulnerable groups in the Counties countrywide to rise up and hold public campaigns, processions and file petitions to the Governors and County Assembly Speakers to demand bigger role in top positions at the highest table of decision and policy making in the County.

Sustainable Development Goal 5 relates to many of the direct responsibilities of county governments and is an opportunity for them to build on existing international commitments and demonstrate their vital role in the achievement of gender equality.

Women, youth and other marginalized groups have greater chance to directly influence policy and decision making on critical socio-economic and governance issues that affected them daily at the County governance level. They have a greater sense of social issues and the well being and welfare of their communities. Their priorities are more likely to centre on housing, safety, clean water, sanitation, education, social implications of policies, health services, poverty alleviation and community development. Therefore, they have to be adequately represented and participate the highest policy and decision making level of the county.

ICPC notes that women and youth will focus on change, preferring a more democratic and transparent approach to governance in an effort to move away from the adversarial and, in some cases, corrupt image of politics. The trend shows that women and young people are likely to make a change through participation and their leadership styles, increasing transparency and less corruption.

It should be emphasized that the end goal is not merely increasing the number of women and youth in policy and decision-making positions, but rather enabling women and youth to meaningfully participate and bring to the discussion how to address issues affecting them directly and tackling inequalities and changing social norms, as well as effectively influence and contribute to government policy and decision-making towards the achievement of gender equality, inclusive growth and development.

Studies indicate that political participation, especially women, may lead to qualitative and substantive changes in the quality of governance at the local level significantly contributing to creation of an environment, which is more sensitive and responsive to people’s needs, ensuring better quality and inclusiveness of service delivery. Women leadership is viewed reliable, responsible and honest.

ICPC is therefore urging the County governments to:
1. Act as best model in labour practices. As major employers and service providers, County governments have a significant impact on women, youth and other minority groups’ lives by using fair employment practices and ensuring non-discriminatory service provision to local citizens
2. Be at frontline of tackling inequalities, discrimination and violence practices against women. County governments have an important role to play in identifying women and girls affected by violence and providing them with the appropriate support and services to escape it and rebuild their lives.
3. Take action immediately to improve women and youth representation and participation in all key administrative and policy making county institutions
4. Ensure equal access to economic and resources. County authorities must establish mechanisms to make it easier for women and youth to obtain basic legal documents, facilitate fairness in property and business rights, and guarantee women’s participation in land governance institutions, county planning and economic policy-making processes.

END//

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On Freedom of Speech, Presidential Gravitas, Donald Trump and Uhuru Kenyatta.

By Dorcas S

You cannot make this stuff up.

The president of the United States goes to one of the most racist states in the union – Alabama – and in front of a mostly white crowd, calls the protesting and predominantly African-American players of the National Football League (NFL) “sons of bitches”. Mr. Trump did this because some players, led by former Super Ball quarterback Colin Kaepernick, have been, since 2016, kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice perpetrated against African American men.

Approximately seventy-two hours later, some eight thousand five hundred miles south-eastwards in Kenya, one Babu Owino, less than eight weeks into his term as the member of parliament (MP) for Embakasi East goes off on an unnamed person calling them “mtoto wa mbwa” – translated by the Standard newspaper to mean “son of a bitch”. Babu’s speech is in response to a host of issues ranging from police brutality against supporters of the opposition (NASA), the intransigence of the IEBC commissioners in the wake of their incompetent handling of the August 8th election and slights & abusive language including “mganga” and “ule jama wa vitandawili” – mostly directed at Uhuru Kenyatta’s nemesis Raila Odinga.

In both countries, America and Kenya, one could have seen the reactions to either utterances taking shape miles away.

Americans love their freedom of speech – almost more than they love their guns, hamburgers and fries. Even a whiff of an attempt to suppress said freedom will be met swiftly and sans equivocation. Forty-eight hours after abusing NFL players (and by extension, the teams’ ownership and worst of all, the players’ mothers), the erstwhile enemies – NFL players and club owners – stood side-by-side, arms locked in unison, teeing off on President Trump.

Kenyans love their tribe and their hypocrisy – almost more than they love tenderpreneuring. Less than twenty-four hours after Babu’s utterances, he had a visit from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) over yet-to-be-formalized charges. If memory serves me well, it took almost 7 days for the DCI/NCIC to act against Moses Kuria’s late evening tribal rants some 2-3 weeks ago.

In both countries, the fracture occurred along the very predictable tribal and racial lines with the president of either country demonstrating their love for firing up their base and knowingly or otherwise, exacerbating already fractured polities.

The foregoing chain of events got me thinking about the similarities between Donald Trump’s America and Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kenya. I’d argue that the similarities are eerily spot on.

1. The most obvious similarity is the privilege and sense of entitlement that pervades both leaders (and I use the term “leader” very generously). In either case, the privilege and sense of entitlement is a function of their birth – race in DJT’s case and tribe in UMK’s.

2. The two men have fathers with seedy pasts. Trump Sr. has been linked to white supremacists and the KKK and Jomo has been linked to – take your pick – land-grabbing, assassinations, tribal-based governance, oathing, setting Kenya on its current path of ethno-kleptocracy and kakistocracy.

3. Both countries are beholden to China!

4. Both leaders have incompetently discharged their duty as their country’s chief executive. In Trump’s defense, he has only been in office for nine months.

5. Both have past lives as “playboys” – and the impact of said hard living of yesteryear is only too evident. DJT and RAO are septuagenarians and while “black don’t crack”, Raila looks markedly younger and full of vitality when compared to the rotund pale-skinned and slothish orange-haired POTUS.

Uhuru Kenyatta and Barack Obama are the same age – enough said.

6. The nepotism and use of state resources as familial piggy bank is yet another similarity between the 2. Whether it’s use of national resources to further personal/familial wealth or hiring family members into positions of power, the two men have “zero chills” about using their office to line their pockets and those of their families and friends.

7. Their repeated use of language unbecoming of a president only to display thin skin when the tables are turned. Whether it’s calling an opponent “mganga” (UMK) or their foil de jour “sons of bitches” (DJT), the two leaders oftentimes spout abuse at their opponents – perceived or real – only to cry foul when someone responds in kind; in some case, siccing government agents at said opponents!

8. The use of xenophobic and bigoted symbology in the Machiavellian tradition of dog-whistle politics – at once appealing to their respective base while “otherizing” opponents or those who disagree with either.

DJT cannot help himself winking at and nodding towards America’s worst angels: KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists.

UMK is only less atavistic but has been known to default to the calling card of tribalism and ethnic chauvinism like he did on June 1, 2017 in Nyeri when a national (Madaraka Day) holiday degenerated, unapologetically, into an ethno-cultural event replete with language and entertainment.

9. Both leaders are morbidly terrified of their predecessors and/or opponents.

Donald Trump wakes up and falls asleep thinking of, in order, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Uhuru Kenyatta is a tad more fortunate. He wakes up and falls asleep worried about only one person – RAO – and that alone has driven the one-term president batty!

The irony in either case? Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Kenyatta ARE the presidents of their respective countries i.e. they have the power – symbolically and literally – and their nemeses are private/public citizens.

10. Tacit support of police brutality against minorities. Only their respective support base believes otherwise.

11. Both have used faux nationalism/patriotism to galvanize their fast-dwindling base. Whether at a campaign rally in Alabama or seeking support at the Big Man’s Club (AU), DJT and UMK have perfected the art of appealing to “patriotism” and “pan-Africanism” while abrogating the rights of others who disagree with them.

“You can outdistance that which is running after you, but not what is running inside you.” – Rwandese proverb.

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VIDEO, What Media Will Not Show You: Raila NASA One Man Demonstration In Muranga

In Muranga, a visually challenged resident took to the streets in solidarity with Raila NASA supporters to demand the immediate exit of Ezra Chiloba from IEBC. He was the sole demonstrator in the town largely a Jubilee stronghold. This video has gone viral in social media but mainstream will not show you.

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