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• Mysterious Leaflets Warning About Power Sharing Sent To All MPs

  Posted: March 12, 2008, 4:18 pm by chris

  The latest in the high drama linked to the introduction of the Prime Minister’s office unfolded in parliament this afternoon after all legislators received in their pigeon holes a leaflet warning them of the consequences of creating two centres of power.
  
  The same leaflets also criticized ODM leader Raila Odinga for wanting to divide the civil service along tribal lines.
  
  Interestingly Juja legislator George Thuo admitted that the leaflets originated from his office but said he had no idea where they had come from. He promised to investigate the matter.
  
  House speaker Kenneth Marende directed that in future anything to be distributed to members should pass through the clerk of the national assembly before distribution.
  
  Meanwhile the bill to create the office of the Prime Minister passed through its’ first reading. The second reading will happen tomorrow when parliament resumes seating at 2:30 pm.
  
  Kenyans need to be on very high alert as it is clear that there are certain mysterious forces behind the scenes that are very unhappy about the passing of the bills associated with the Anan peace talks. Especially the one creating the office of the Prime Minister. This is rather strange as some of those against the passing of the bill have said in public that the office of Prime Minister is third in command. Why then should they worry so much about it? Why should its’ coming strike so much terror in some quarters?
  
  Many confusing theories have been brought forward as to what may be going on behind the scenes and keen analysts have even linked it to desperate hardliners who seem to be in a panic after being taken by surprise by recent political developments in the country.
  
  P.S. Local government minister Uhuru Kenyatta who has never used a matatu in his lifetime announced today that matatus will from tomorrow (Thursday) morning be banned from entering the CBD. This means that those working in the city will have to walk long distances to get to their offices, not to mention the fact that the annual long rains are due to begin at any time.
  
  Interestingly Citi Hoppa mini buses will NOT be affected by the ban and will be allowed into the CBD as usual. Some commuters will be delighted at this news while matatu owners are bound to be livid, more so because most of them know who owns Citi Hoppa. Majority shareholders are George Thuo in partnership with a son of John “Standard Raid” Michuki.

• Recollection: Unnecessary Semantics?

  Posted: March 12, 2008, 9:37 am by ritch

  Latest article by Phil: Stopping the political tsunami that is Raila
  
  Using Security To Play Deadly Political Chess Games
  
  The year 2006 was an year that saw the conspicuous emergence of hate words being bandied about between Kenyans and Tanzanians especially online. Blogs were the ever ready wind that fanned the flame into a roaring fire.
  
  Both these peoples haughtily flaunted their strong points. They also levelled scathing criticism against each other. Strings of expletives were added to the whole mix, to add colour!
  
  Kenyans paraded their ‘mastery’ of the Queen’s language as their first strong point against their Tanzanian counterparts.
  “Tanzanians don’t know English!” was the snap retort of many a Kenyan.
  
  Tanzanians responded by explaining how Kenyans didn’t have any idea what was meant by ‘good’ Kiswahili.
  “Nyie wala Kiswahili hamkijui. Mnajifanya na Kiingereza chenu hicho. Lugha ya kikoloni, haifai chochote!” was the snap rejoinder from many a Tanzanian
  
  Kenyans relished every detail of how Tanzanians were deemed lazy. This was not taken kindly. Tempers flared; ‘war cries’ were uttered; disdain and condescension took centre stage in the whole shebang.
  
  But that’s besides my point today.
  
  There’s a time, in the same year, when the President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete was caught in the crossfire. This was after his reported discussion of the ‘political instability’ of Kenya with President George Bush.
  
  Tempers flared within and without the Kenyan borders. To many, this seemed to be the height of contempt. The government of Kenya was not left out in the rhetoric that ensued.
  
  I remember that around the same time Jakaya Kikwete was quizzed by a Tanzanian journalist about the Bush – Kikwete discussion that had opened the floodgates of mistrust. He brushed it aside by saying: “Tusifike huko, Tuyaache hayo mambo yalivyo.”
  
  Many questions were asked by all and sundry. I also asked a question that received an answer from New York trying to explain what had happened.
  
  Kumekucha asked his own questions in the form of an amusing tongue-in-cheek post .
  
  What I found ironic about the whole thing, recently, was when Jakaya Kikwete was called upon to help in the mediation process after Kenya had suffered a nasty political and socio-economic blow.
  
  He was very instrumental in the signing of the peace accord that would see the end to the then prevailing “political instability”. Did the “political instability” discussion that he had had with George Bush two years ago come to his mind?
  
  Have a smashing day, dear brethren

• Stopping the Political Tsunami that is Raila

  Posted: March 12, 2008, 7:27 am by Phil

  Raila and Kibaki seen here chatting heartily in the VIP tent at the Speaker's garden tea after the official state opening of parliament.
  
  It is now emerging that unfortunate utterances attributed to Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura are seriously threatening the very survival of the recently signed peace agreement between President Kibaki and ODM Captain Raila Odinga. Although the principals have not commented publicly on the controversial Muthaura statement, many insiders are clearly upset by the comments. As of Tuesday morning, Kofi Annan is said to have spent some time on phone talking to ODM Vice Captain and lead negotiator Musalia Mudavadi in what could have been an attempt to quel any statements that may derail the peace deal that took Annan more than a month to achieve. It is unclear if Kofi spoke to anyone on the PNU side.
  
  On the same day Annan was talking to Musalia, ODM spokesman Salim Lone is quoted in the Financial Times as saying: "The whole world, from President [George W.] Bush downwards, was engaged in trying to strike a power-sharing deal. If that power-sharing deal made Odinga number three, we'd have never accepted it."
  
  In other words; if the 'government' maintains its position and supports Muthaura's statement that the Vice President ranks above the ODM Captain, then folks, we are back to square one.
  
  Another intriguing point that tells Kenyans that Muthaura is a puppet of the athuri group is the allegation that PNU is not obligated to share state appointments with ODM on a 50/50 basis. The question is: Why would the president be obligated to consult the PM in the sacking/hiring of ministers including the VP if the PM is not only No. 3 but also himself an appointee of the president?
  
  Even before Prime Minister designate Raila Odinga has been sworn in, the drastic change in his relationship with the president appears to have ruffled sensitive feathers who have made it their business for as long as we can remember to ensure that Raila does not come anywhere near power in Kenya.
  
  Perhaps more significantly, some elements in government are already showing symptoms of Railaphobia for reason this blogger attributes to the electric excitement Raila elicits wherever he goes. Whats must be a headache for them is that Raila appears to already have hit a silent but very effective campaign trail in what is slowly unfolding to be a no-holds-barred Kibaki succession battle. It leaves many a politician green with envy that any function that Raila attends, even if it is just a church service or even a funeral, immediately transforms into a political campaign rally. Martha Karua attempted to do the same in her Gichugu constituency bus park last weekend with mixed results. What she fails to understand is that, although Raila does not have PPS or VPPS assigned to him, he has for the last 10 years captured the psyche of the entire Kenyan nation. For instance, whenever Raila’s image appears on TV screens in a noisy joint, a hushed silence automatically falls over the premises.
  
  Not to be left behind rather than for commercial interests, mainstream media in Kenya and the region have now attached permanent staff to Raila’s entourage that follows him wherever he goes. Wow!
  
  Fellow pentagon member Najib Balala could not have captured it more aptly. He said that whenever Raila enters a room or appears to the public even before he says a word, people go crazy.
  
  This sort of image, rightly or wrongly, will be impossible for the likes of Muthaura to subdue whether the PMs office is 5th or 10th in the pecking order. After all they say, power comes from the people (as opposed to secret swearing-in ceremonies).

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes