mzalendo :: Eye On Kenyan Parliament

• Kenyan Pundit is down

  Posted: December 31, 2007, 12:36 pm by admin

  Hi everyone, Kenyan Pundit is down. Don’t want to post from here in case they shut this down too.

  Still trying to verify that it is not a technical issue but all indications are that I’ve been hacked. I can’t post or moderate comments.

  Will try to set up an alternative blog as soon as possible.

  Please spread the word.

• 30 Dec 2:00 Update

  Posted: December 30, 2007, 6:04 pm by admin

  We’re now up to 164 members. Sorry again about the delay — people have to sleep, eat, etc.

  We’ve also added a facility to view the seat distribution, accessible from the navigation bar on the left hand side.

  

  This will allow you to see the number of members each party has.

  

  You can further drill down further to see these members.

  

  We’ll update the official results as soon as we get them from the ECK

• 9:00 Update

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 11:30 pm by admin

  We’re now up to 95 constituencies, view the latest list here

  BTW guys need to relax a bit on the requests for updates. We’re doing the best we can with our staff of two, and my laptop rapidly (and I do mean rapidly) approaching its deathbed. I was last in bed on Wednesday.

• 3:00 Update

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 4:05 pm by admin

  Mzalendo now has the results for 64 Constituencies. For the complete up to date list click here

• More parliamentary results

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 3:40 pm by admin

  The latest results (it’s been interesting to see how sentiments expressed by Kenyans on Mzalendo are being reflected in the results).

  - Kajiado North - counting suspended due to electoral misconducted, some ballot boxes not sealed properly and others found empty. Sakuda was losing last night, but Saitoti suddenly started picking up this am.

  - Garsen - counting also suspended due to chaos after a helicopter landed at the counting station with 12 unaccompanied ballot boxes. The crowd destroyed the 12 boxes and started going after the boxes that had already been counted, they had to be dispersed with tear gas.

  - Kibwezi - Kalembe out

  - Budalangi - Ababu Namambwa in

  - All Moi sons out. Raymond lost to Luka Kigen.

  - Mt Elgon - Kapondi out

  - Kulundu out

  - Kabete - Muite out, Nguyai in

  - Nyakach - Pollins Onyango in

  - North Imenti - Mwiraria out

  - Sotik - Lorna Labasi in (women doing well in Rift Valley)

  - Kipiriri - Kimunya in

  - Ntimama in

  - Cherangany - Kirwa out

  - Belgut - Charles Ketel in

• 1:00 Update

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 3:06 pm by admin

  We have the results for some 34 Constituencies. View the results here

  10 former cabinet ministers so far have lost their steats. These include VP Awori, Mwiraria, Kombo, Kulundu, and Kagwe

• 2:00 Update

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 3:06 pm by admin

  Mzalendo now has the results for 47 Constituencies. For the complete up to date list click here

  Highlights

  - All of Moi’s sons have lost
  - Minister Munyao has been defeated

• Prelimiary Results

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 1:52 pm by admin

  Mzalendo will continuously update to give you the preliminary results of the parliamentary aspirants. For an up to date list go here MP Listing

• Preliminary Results for Parliamentary Seats (28th Dec 4:00 am)

  Posted: December 28, 2007, 6:26 am by admin

  Been waiting for some decent MP results for most of the night, because I think they will be far more interesting than the Presidential results and of course because of Mzalendo. Here’s what I have so far again via NTV. Lots of surprises - Kisii, Western and Central very interesting. Again keep in mind these are very preliminary.

  - Westlands - very tight between Tett 43% and Gumo 41%, Mueke is sitting at 16%.

  - Langata - Raila 60%, Livondo 40%

  - Mvita - Balala 63%, Taib 29%

  - Matuga - Mwakere 39%, Mwanyoha 31%

  - Mwatata - Mwatela 51%, Madoka 33%

  - Saku - Waqo is leading.

  - Nithi - Mbiuki is leading

  - Siakago - Lenny Kivuti

  - Tetu - Francis Nyammu by far

  - Kieni - Warugongo by far

  - Mukurueni - Kagwe 63%, Kabando 36% (was supposed to be a tight one)

  - Nyeri Town - Mathenge in the lead

  - Mwea - Peter Njunguna in the lead

  - Gichugu - Karua 57%, Jackson Gutu 40%

  - Kiharu - Ngenye Kariuki over Kembi Gituara

  - Juja - Thuo 50%, Kabogo 23%

  - Kiambaa - Githunguri - 79%, Karume 21%

  - Keiyo North - Chepiktony in the lead

  - Keiyo South - Kiptoon 68% over Biwott 30%

  - Eldama Ravine - Lessonet leading over Jonathan Moi

  - Laikipia East - Letai over Kiunjuri

  - Narok South - Lankas over Ntutu

  - Kajiado - Sakuda over Saitoti by big margin

  - Boment - Kones over Salat

  - Malava - Soita Shitanda leading

  - Butere - Oparanya leading.

  - Kimilili - Murungu leading, Kituyi third

  - Sirisia - John Koyi over Wetangula (close race)

  - Butula - Alfred Bwire leading

  - Funyula - Nyongesa over Moody (very close though)

  - Alego - Edwin Yinda leading

  -Gem - Midiwo leading

  - Rarieda - Gumbo 80%, Tuju 20%

  - Kisumu Rural - Anyang Nyong’o 96%

  - Rangwe - Martin Ogindo leading

  - Kuria - Shadrack Manga over Machage

  - South Mugirango - Ayiema over Magara

  - Bobasi - Obure over Manoti

  - Nyaribari Chache - Monda over Nyachae

  - Kisauni - Joho over Mwaboza

  - Kitutu Chache - Angwenyi over Onyonka

• Election Day Dec 2007

  Posted: December 27, 2007, 5:33 pm by admin

  You’ve looked up your MP’s records on Mzalendo, you’ve made comments on their performance, you’ve weighed in on the aspirants, now let us know how you voting day went - any issues? mood on the ground?

  Please leave a comment.

• Highlights of KNHCR findings regarding misuse of public resources in the election campaigns

  Posted: December 18, 2007, 11:19 pm by admin

  The KNCHR has so far covered at least eighty (80) campaign rallies and related
  events across the country. In this four key areas of focus, the KNCHR has
  discovered a worrying trend of blatant violations of the electoral code of conduct
  amongst other malpractices. Below is a summary of the key findings:

  a) MISUSE AND MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC RESOURCES
  Section 6 (i) of the Electoral Code of Conduct requires that candidates refrain from
  any attempt to abuse positions of power, privilege or influence for political
  purposes, including any offer of reward or threat of penalty. In this respect, use of
  state resources to campaign for particular candidates is a clear breach of the Code
  of Conduct.

  Further, the use of state resources for partisan political campaigns offends Section 15
  (1) of the Public Officer Ethics Act, which requires public officers to ensure that
  property entrusted to their custody is adequately protected and not misused or
  misappropriated. Using Government vehicles for partisan political activity is
  therefore an electoral offence. Ministers and Assistant Ministers wishing to campaign
  should use party or personal resources and not abuse their positions of political
  power, privilege and influence to secure undue political advantage for their
  preferred candidate.

  While it is very clear that electoral campaigns ARE NOT official government
  business, KNCHR has found substantial evidence of misuse of public resources in
  partisan political campaigns. These mainly included the use of government vehicles
  and government aircrafts to conduct campaigns.
  Our monitors spotted over 141 government vehicles and two aircrafts. The KNCHR is
  in the process of obtaining particulars of other forty (40) vehicles bearing civilian
  registration plates but highly suspected to be government vehicles. (See attached
  photographs of the vehicles Annex 1 and List of vehicles Annex 4).
  The use of government resources for partisan political engagements is a blatant
  misuse of tax-payers money. It is the position of the KNCHR that there can never be
  any justification whatsoever for using public resources to conduct partisan political
  campaigns, especially given the fact that such campaigns are essentially unofficial and private party business.

  b) PARTICIPATION OF PUBLIC OFFICERS IN THE CAMPAIGNS
  Section 16 (1) of the Public Officer Ethics Act states that A public officer shall not, in
  or in connection with the performance of his duties as such-
  a) Act as an agent for, or so as to further the interest of a political party, or
  b) Indicate support for or opposition to any political party or candidate in an
  election
  Sub section (2) provides that A public officer shall not engage in political activity
  that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of his office.
  The prohibition against public servants getting involved in politics is further
  reinforced by Section 17b (1) of the National Assembly and Presidential Elections
  Act, which provides that no public officer shall-
  a) Engage in the activities of any political party or act as an agent of any such
  party
  b) Publicly indicate support for or opposition against any party or candidate
  participating in an election
  Sub section (2) provides that any public officer contravening this requirement is
  guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding Kshs 50,000/- or to
  imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or both.
  The KNCHR is concerned by the continued involvement of high-ranking government
  officers in electoral campaigns. A notable example is the Presidential Advisory
  Board (PAB) and the Presidential Elections Board (PEB), strategy groups for
  President Kibaki s re-election campaign, which comprises of numerous high ranking
  public officers including:
  a. Joe Wanjui (Chancellor, University of Nairobi)
  b. Nathaniel Kang ethe (Director, Kenya Revenue Authority (KAA)
  c. George Muhoho (Managing Director, Kenya Airports Authority (KPA)
  d. Eddy Njoroge (Managing Director, Kengen)
  e. Titus Mbathi (Chairperson Kengen)
  f. James Kimonye (Managing Director, Kenya Meat Commission (KMC)
  g. Professor Nick Wanjohi (Vice Chancellor, Jomo Kenyatta University
  Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT)

  In addition to the above-cited cases, the KNCHR is following up on numerous
  allegations of involvement of the provincial administration and other civil servants,
  including teachers in partisan political campaigns.
  KNCHR reiterates that public officers must remain non-partisan in the electoral
  process and not engage in partisan political activity through acts that could
  compromise their political neutrality.

  c) INCITEMENT AND INCIDENCES OF VIOLENCE
  • Electoral violence
  Electoral violence remains a big challenge in Kenya s electoral process.
  Widespread electoral violence has led to loss of lives, injuries, internal
  displacements and immense destruction and loss of property. Additionally,
  thousands of Kenyans are at a risk of being disenfranchised following violent
  displacements targeting particular ethnic groups especially those perceived to be
  politically incorrect.

  Other forms of electoral violence stem from differences in opinion when supporters
  of competing parties and/or candidates violently confront each other. This kind of
  violence was witnessed in various parts of the country when the Party of National
  Unity (PNU) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) supporters clashed in
  campaign rallies (see attached Incidents summary-Annex 2).
  Widespread violence was also witnessed during parliamentary and civic party
  nominations the November 16th 2007.

  At least seventy (70) people have been reported dead since July 2007, in election
  have been reported dead since July 2007, in election related violence during campaign rallies and ethnic clashes. Over 2,000 familieshave fled their homes in Kuresoi and Mt Elgon for fear of further attacks as the violence spread to various parts of the
  constituencies.
  Following the displacements, over 20,000 registered voters are at the risk of being
  disenfranchised.
  • Police Response
  Whereas the police have in some instances been fairly responsive to incidences of
  electoral violence, the KNCHR is nonetheless concerned by the failure of the police
  to contain the recurrent acts of violence. This was the case in Kuresoi and Mt Elgon
  where information on impending attacks had been relayed to the police several
  days before actual violence erupted, but no immediate action was taken.
  Between 20/7/07 and 25/11/07, the KNCHR contacted the police after receiving
  information of impending attacks from our monitors and residents of Kuresoi and
  Mt.Elgon.
  An illustrative case is the fresh wave of violence that erupted in Kuresoi on 28/11/07
  leading to several deaths and massive internal displacement.
  Two days before the attack, the KNCHR, contacted the Police and the Provincial
  Administration in Rift Valley after receiving information that groups of youths
  suspected to be raiders had been spotted in Tiloa Forest.
  At the time, raiders struck Murinduko village on the morning of 28/11/07, there were
  only two police officers. The officers were reportedly overwhelmed by the over 100
  armed raiders who launched concurrent attacks from different directions. Two
  people were killed by the raiders while scores of others sustained fatal injuries.

  It is instructive to note that the attacks took place when President Mwai Kibaki was
  addressing campaign rallies in the neighbouring Molo constituency.
  The KNCHR was informed by KNCHR monitors on the ground that most of the police
  officers in the area (including all senior police officers) had been deployed to
  provide security at the presidential rallies.

  • Impunity
  The Commission is immensely concerned by the levels of impunity with which
  senior government officers continue to engage in campaign acts that violate the law.
  In our first report, the KNCHR called for action against the Minister for Roads, Hon
  Simeon Nyachae for his role in the Kisii violence against ODM leaders on 21/9/07.
  No known action has been taken.

  On 25/11/07, a government vehicle (White Mitsubishi Pajero, GK A545H) (See
  vehicle in Annex 1) assigned to the Assistant Minister for Water, Raphael
  Wanjala, was impounded in Naivasha carrying assorted crude weapons. The
  weapons included 100 pangas, whips, bows and arrows and 70 Somali swords. Also
  found in the car were President Mwai Kibaki s campaign posters and those of Mr
  Wanjala. No known action has been taken against Hon Wanjala regarding this
  incident. In another incident, weapons were impounded in a vehicle belonging to Hon Bifwoli
  Wakoli, former member of parliament for Bumula. To date, no known action has
  been taken against Mr Wakoli.

  • Intimidation of rival candidates by ‘powerful’ incumbents.
  The Commission has received reports that powerful incumbent politicians are using
  their positions of influence to intimidate and threaten their opponents and
  supporters. The Commission is investigating persistent complaints of this nature from Kangema,
  Kiharu, Mathioya,Starehe and Mukurwe-ini constituencies.
  The KNCHR wishes to particularly mention repeated threats and/or attacks to
  parliamentary candidates Ngenye Kariuki (Kiharu), Kimani Mugo (Kangema),
  Kabando wa Kabando (Mukurweini) and Bishop Margaret Wanjiru (Starehe).

  Violence Against Women
  While commending the unprecedented huge turnout of women aspirants in this
  year s General Elections, the KNCHR notes with grave concern the spiraling wave of
  violence targeting women candidates and their supporters. This kind of violence is
  calculated at intimidating women candidates and scaring them away from the
  political field. Ms Alice Onduto, a parliamentary aspirant for Lugari Constituency who lost in the
  nominations was shot dead while on her way home to Nairobi s South C estate on
  1/12/07. Her assailants have not been apprehended.
  At least 30 women Parliamentary and Civic Aspirants have been attacked or
  threatened since July. The KNCHR is concerned that the police have not instituted sufficient measures to
  protect women candidates in view of their vulnerability.

  (D) HATE SPEECH, DISTORTION, INFLAMMATORY, DEFAMATORY AND
  UNSAVOURY UTTERANCES
  Hate Speech is defined as any written/spoken material, any image or any other
  representation of ideas or theories, which stigmatises, insults, stereotypes,
  advocates, promotes or incites hatred, discrimination or violence, against any
  individual or group of individuals, based on race, colour, descent or national or
  ethnic origin, as well as political affiliation and religion if used as pretext for any of
  these factors. Use of hate speech is outlawed in national and international human
  rights law since such speech contributes to intolerance, discrimination, xenophobia
  and violence.
  Although there has been a slight decrease in overt use of hate speech during
  campaign rallies, use of covert hate speech, defamatory and unsavoury language
  continues unabated. (See attachment for sample incidences-Annex 1))
  Unfortunately, Kenyans continue to condone and cheer hate speech and have
  themselves become active agents of proliferation of hate campaign against
  politicians and fellow Kenyans.
  The KNCHR is disturbed by the escalating use of SMS and email disseminating hate
  messages against particular candidates and other communities.
  The KNCHR has chosen not to publish, in this report, the numerous emails and SMS
  texts so as to avoid the unintended effect of further dissemination of hate speech.

  However, the KNCHR shall forward the hate texts and emails to the relevant
  authorities, including the ECK and Attorney General for action.
  The KNCHR regrets the failure by the ninth parliament to enact the proposed
  legislation against hate speech that would have criminalized the use of such
  language and to protect the Kenyan citizens against belligerent politicians and
  individuals.
  Another issue of major concern is the distribution of leaflets, which have the
  potential of exciting hate passions and causing violence amongst communities and
  supporters of parties and candidates across the divide.

• Rarieda Constituency Profile (Part 2)

  Posted: December 13, 2007, 9:51 pm by admin

  By Mzalendo Reporter
  *This profile was written before the nominations process was conducted.

  During the year 2002 general elections Tuju garnered 15,949 against :”Malo Malo’s” 5,427 and Odindo 94 and the late Odiek Songa’s 367 votes. Malo is touted as one of the most credible challengers to Tuju. He comes from central Asembo just like Engineer Nicholas Gumbo and same as Tuju giving the voters a hard task to decide who among them to be left given that they are all “our sons”.

  This is the second time Malo Malo will be making a go for the seat. During the last general elections, he defected from the Narc party and joined the then James Orengo’s fronted Social Democratic Party where came second beating Ford People’s Odindo Adem. However, despite giving free Primary school uniforms, professionals from Rarieda constituency argue that are not ready to elect Malo Malo given that his academic past is questionable. On his part, aspirant Nicholas Gumbo will have lack of finances as his major undoing if money is to decide who becomes the next Rarieda MP. He also has another major political setback; during the LDP, KANU and LPK merger in 2002, youths associated with the aspirant attacked the area voters, who still hold grudges. The voters argue that rather than taking Gumbo to parliament, they should return Tuju. Lawyer Otiende Amollo is also in the race. He comes from Uyoma and his critics argue that he does not have any vision for the constituency. Residents call him a political baby. Your browser may not support display of this image. He has however made inroads into the vast constituency opting to concentrate his votes soliciting quest on women and youth groups as well as churches. The aspirant says that his major vision for the constituency is poverty eradication and fighting illiteracy. He is also financially endowed. He claims that he will change Rarieda for the better as the constituency is endowed with resources and it needs only proper planning and strategy.

  The voters are mostly eager to get what the aspirants say regarding the cotton industry that collapsed more than a decade ago, access to loans, the fishing and fruit industries, forestry, water supply and telephone services.

  Rarieda will definitely be one of the constituencies to watch as the election draws near.

• Rarieda Constituency Profile (Part 1)

  Posted: December 11, 2007, 9:11 pm by admin

  By Mzalendo Reporter

  (*This profile was written before the party nominations were held).

  Rarieda Constituency is one of the rural constituencies in Luo – Nyanza. It has over 48,000 registered voters and was created after being hived out of the old and larger Bondo constituency in the middle of the 1980s. Most of Rarieda constituents live below the poverty line. This is due to minimal economic activities within the constituency.

  Today, residents of this constituency are presently holding their breaths as they anticipate the kind of politics the area will witness. However, many still agree that the man to beat is the immediate former Member of Parliament and NARC – Kenya Chairman Raphael Tuju. Despite being in opposing camps with the Luo kingpin and ODM presidential candidate Raila Amollo Odinga, Tuju is still expected to put up a show come the December 27 general election. It has however been hard for Tuju-the foreign affairs minister- to sell his Narc-Kenya party, which is an affiliate of President Kibaki’s Party of National Unity. It has also been hard for him to sell President Kibaki’s PNU in the region simply because of the Orange Democratic Party wave and its presidential candidate Raila. However, Tuju’s chances have been boosted by the many development projects he has initiated for the last five years.
  Tuju has made it clear that his priorities are on development, not endless politicking. Even his critics concede that during his tenure, there has been a rapid transformation in Rarieda constituency.

  Indeed, during his tenure, Tuju has turned Rarieda into a model constituency not only in Nyanza but in Kenya. Some people have, however, attributed this development to the Minister’s closeness to the corridor of power unlike his other Luo MPs who bolted out of the NARC government after the November 2005 constitutional referendum in which the government lost. Raila Odinga led a team of politicians that campaigned against the draft constitution.

  The main areas where Tuju has concentrated on are water, electricity, schools, women groups and Aids orphans. The projects initiated by Tuju include power supply from Ndori to Luanda Kotieno through Asembo Bay and the tarmacking of Ndori – Owimbi – Luanda Otieno road. Before the dissolution of Parliament, Tuju was working on housing projects for the widows in is constituency. Tuju has also been effective in lobbying private sponsors from overseas to support Rarieda projects. The mobile health clinic unveiled by President Kibaki was donated by an Italian. The immediate former MP has roped in other groups like Plan International, which assisted in the supply to medicines to rural clinics. On his insistence, the CDF money allocated to Rarieda has been concentrated on women groups, who he is keen to empower as a way of tackling grassroots poverty. Ruma Aids orphanage is one of his pet projects. Though the children stay with relatives, they come to the orphanage for food where they also get assisted with fees, uniforms and vocational training. A Dutch organisation helps with the funding. The orphanage has about 306 children.

  Though Rarieda is one of those constituencies closest to Lake Victoria, which is the second largest fresh water lake in the world, there has been constant drought in Asembo and Uyoma, the main regions that make up the constituency. However, under Tuju’s watch, several water projects have been initiated. The first piped water was released to the residents recently at Ong’ielo Dispensary and Nyilima center. It covers a 12 kilometer radius as the project expands to cover the entire constituency. Engineers have been laying water pipes from Lake Victoria to a purifying and pumping station uphill from where it will flow downhill using gravitational pull to ease the water shortage in various parts of the constituency. He has also overseen the construction of hygienic fish landing beaches and refrigerated storage for fish, and is behind the recent introduction of ferry services between Uyoma, Karachuonyo, Asembo-Bay and Mbita in Suba District. The Ferry services has eased the hitherto hazardous canoes transportation system for the fishermen and fish traders. During his campaigns, Tuju has promised to tarmac Madiany-Gagra- Ndigwa road.

  Presently Tuju’s critics agrees that he has tried to develop the area unlike before but are quick to point out that much more needs to be undertaken. Many say that apart from a political mistake that he made by “betraying” his Liberal Democratic Party colleagues-by working with President Kibaki’s government-he has done more than necessary and if not for the wealthy and development conscious aspirant he could as well be elected unopposed.
  Opponents argue that though CDF fund has been well utilized, the constituency needs income generating projects for small scale entrepreneurs. Tuju has also been criticized of failing to spearhead the establishment of sisal, cotton, mango as well fish processing factories.

  Rarieda is, however, said to be a one term affair for any sitting MP as since its establishment it is said that none has gone twice to Parliament. The area’s first MP was former Envoy Bob Jalang’o between 1988 – 1992, and the late Achieng Oneko 1992 – 1997 upon which Odeny Ngure took it in 1997 – 2002 paving way to the current MP Raphael Tuju.
  Already, a host of aspirants have lined up ready to unseat Tuju. They include Nairobi based Engineer Nicholas Gumbo, Hotelier Moses Owiti “MaloMalo”, Nairobi based Petroleum Consultant George Obala and the latest aspirant Ugandan based businessmen Paul Odhiambo.
  The set up shows that the constituency’s politics will be determined by the area’s two major clans Asembo and Uyoma . The battle will be stiff. Tuju has already lost favour with Raila, the man said to have helped him get the LDP nomination certificate after he was allegedly defeated by one Samson Owiti Malo Malo in 2002.

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

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

The end of the fish cakes