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Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Politics. Show all posts
13 May, 2015
KARMA steps in for Burundi: COUP D'ETAT
06 January, 2015
The National Assembly: Once Again a Myopic Rubberstamp Authority
By
Nyona Matende -- Opinionated
There is no doubt that President Uhuru Kenyatta, and
his deputy William Ruto, are admired for their charismatic style and expansive
worldviews, which are indeed considered to be essential for good leadership.
However, such admiration is fast fading as the government they head resorts to desperate
measures in a bid to deal with insecurity and other challenges.
For the past couple of years, the actions of
the Kenyan Government, whether in bad faith or not, have been interpreted by
some as a deliberate attempt to limit the hard-earned freedoms and rights of
Kenyans. The government is noticeably overwhelmed by its functions (provision of
basic rights to Kenyans), and has resorted to measures that are akin to
limiting the very rights and freedoms it’s required to protect.
As expected, the unorthodox methods the government
is advancing to solve Kenyan problems have received overwhelming support from
the pro-government National Assembly.
Quite a number
of legislative pieces have been advanced by or forwarded to the National
Assembly, a supposed oversight body that is quickly morphing into the Moi-era
rubberstamp authority it once was.
These unfortunate
grouping of Kenyans elected to represent KENYANS is finding it more reasonable
to advance their own interests and interests of their political masters due to the
selfish need to safeguard their political future. Who really elected you Mr MP?
The recent fist fights that were witnessed during
the passing of the controversial security laws is a testament of how impetuous the
house has become. The critical functions of the National Assembly have been
reduced to mere rivalry between Jubilee and Cord, and the chest thumping pro-government
majority is acting like a real government marionette in its rubberstamping
duties. They are hell bend on approving anything opposed by the opposition, even
in the face of legitimate concerns.
The opposition is not blemish free
The opposition group in the National Assembly is not
however made of saints either. Who doesn’t recall when they joined hands with
their pro-government majority to pass a bill that sought to raise their own
salaries, sparking the #OccupyParliament protests? They have also provided unwavering support in
the fight for power against equally or even more important institutions like County
Governments, The Judiciary, Salaries and Remunerations Commission (SRC), and The
Senate, picking up teenage-like squabbles at the slightest overlap of powers
and functions.
There is no time in history when leaders who are
honest to the needs of their people have joined hands with contrasting leaders
for a one time good-for-leaders opportunity. If the opposition has divergent
views on what is right for Kenyans then this should be seen in all their
undertakings in the house – not only when their interests are not taken care of.
What an excuse for a National Assembly
What were are seeing is unprecedented levels of immaturity,
and sycophancy motivated by the need for political survival and material success.
Unfortunately, this was long predicted because many of the people Kenyans put
in the National Assembly during the last elections were first timers and now
they have tested power and are not sure on how to navigate the murky waters
that is Kenyan politics. So, naturally, sycophancy is the easiest way out. I think if we were to rate parliaments since
independence, this one will clearly emerge as the most rowdy, clueless, and loathsome.
In 2013, the slapdash house legislated and rubberstamped
a legislation in which media houses and journalists were to pay fines as high
as 20 Million Shillings (about $200,000) for “irresponsible” reporting. The
bill had no clear definition of what sort of reporting is considered ‘irresponsible
reporting’ and, therefore, it was more intended to limit media freedoms –
freedoms gained through blood and sweat.
It’s regrettable that the pro-government legion is the
one on the forefront in undermining the constitution. Isn’t it myopic to make
dangerous changes to the constitution just because you are on the right side of
the present day government? Anyone with
a shred of intellect will tell you that such changes will last beyond the
present day regime and, therefore, there are chances that the controversial pieces
of legislation may be used against the excited Mps who think that the
advantages they enjoy today will last for a lifetime.
As it has become a tradition, the controversial
pieces sanctioned by the National Assembly are heavily donned in legal jargon
to confuse the ignorant Mwananchi. As you may or may not be aware, many of our
MPs are lawyers who have perfected the art of scheming but no real experience
in honest and true representation.
Unqualified for the job
While Kenyans lament the incompetence of various
government agencies, I think it’s about time they drew their attention to the
most incompetent institution of governance– the National Assembly.
Why are they so incompetent?
Well, parliament is supposed to only play the roles
of representation, oversight, and law making. The national assembly is simply
an institution of governance in which the interests of the common mwananchi are
to be advanced by the people they have elected to represent them.
The constitution outlines the
agreement between the government and the citizens, and it’s the role of parliament
to ensure that laws provide the best conditions for citizens and not vice versa.
While previous parliaments have recognized this and advanced such courses, the
present day parliament is increasing being held by the balls to advance courses that are endorsed through party affiliations, whether good for mwananchi or not.
We wish to remind you that Kenyans
can live with an ineffective and weak National Assembly but will not seat back
and watch the same group play a leading role in reversing gains that were only
made possible through blood and sweat.
There are
many countries around the globe in which sycophancy as the only true road to
political success. Go there please. Kenyans just want honest leadership,
whether in parliament or the church.
Here is a challenge
If you are a
true leader do what is in the best interest of the people who elected you, even
if that puts your political future at risk, and leave KARMA to avenge the injustices
you face for being honest to your people.
20 December, 2014
According to UAC, Russia has surged ahead of the U.S in the production of new military planes
World News -- Reports running in the Russian
media indicates that Russia might have surpassed the U.S in the production
of new combat planes. During an interview with Ekho Moskvy Radio, Vladislav
Goncharenko, a deputy in the department of military aviation programs at the
United Aircraft-Building Corporation (UAC), stated that Russia has overtaken
the United States in the number of combat planes produced.
The UAC delivered 68 planes in 2013, however, the figures
have risen to 100 in 2014, 95 of which are combat planes for the Russian Air
Force.
In addition to the production of new planes, UAC subsidiaries
(Irkut, Mikoyan, Sukhoi, Ilyushin, Tupolev, Yakovlev and Beriev) are
modernizing existing aircraft and developing new weapon systems.
Though there are no corresponding numbers on the U.S side to
validate the claim, the staggering number of planes added to the frontline
units of the Russian Air force is a clear indication of Moscow’s resolve to
maintain its global military influence. It’s
clear that U.S technology will remain ahead of Russia’s for years to come, however,
military strategists know that quantity rather than quality can prove to be
decisive in war.
Russia has also equipped the PAK-FA T 50 prototypes with
Himalayas EW defense systems to enhance jamming resistance and gain self-protection
capabilities. The first PAK-FA 5th generation stealth aircraft
should be delivered to the Russian Air Force by 2016. While reconnaissance and
combat drones will be operational by 2018. UAC is also conducting major studies
on 6th generation aircraft.
Military rivalry between the two nations have made world news for centuries.
Photo credit: Dmitry Terekhov via photopin cc
Military rivalry between the two nations have made world news for centuries.
28 November, 2014
Wetangula Takes Mungatana to Court over a 12 million Debt
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| Hon. Moses Wetangula |
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| Mr. Danson Mungatana |
Kenya News -- Bungoma senator, Moses Wetangula has filed a suit against
Danson Mungatana over a KSHs 12 million (about $140,000) “friendly” loan. The
senator, who was then the foreign Minister, has stated that he gave the loan sometimes
in 2010 over “a strength of an oral agreement they had with the former MP” who
was an assistant minister at the time.
Mr Mungatana, now the chairman of Kenya Ports
Authority (KPA), has denied ever receiving money from Mr Wetangula.
According to court documents submitted the senator and seen
by the Daily Nation, the “friendly loan” was given after Mungatana approached
him with a pressing issue. “On receipt of the aforesaid friendly loan, the
defendant gave the plaintiff his personal cheques which were to be banked on
the due dates”, the cheques were however not paid by the bank due insufficient
funds.
Mr Mungatana then promised to use other means to pay the
cash but has never responded to requests from the senator.
Mr Mungatana says he does not owe any money to the Cord Senator,
and the senate minority leader. If there is any debt “I must have paid back in
full”. According to him, the suit is
linked to an unlawful and unforeseeable contract they had with Mr Wetangula.
“It is tainted with
misrepresentation and mistake of fact, non-disclosure of material facts and is,
therefore, incompetent and bad in law,” added Mr Mungatana.
The former MP said that the cheques produced represented the
senator’s share of principal sum and profits expected from a deal they had
carried out together – interesting.
He further accuses the senator of becoming impatient before
the deal reaches maturity.
The case will be heard on December 8 and it will be
interesting to see how things unfold.
19 November, 2014
Death of Senator Otieno Kajwang: A big Blow to ODM Politics
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| The Late Sen. Otieno Kajwang |
The Homabay Senator, a firebrand politician and one of the most
vocal figures in ODM and CORD has passed on. The senator died on Tuesday night
(11/18/2014) of heart attack while undergoing treatment at the Mater Hospital.
According to family accounts, the senator was rushed to the
hospital after developing breathing problems while at home in Runda. His brother and MP for Ruaraka, TJ Kajwang,
said the senator was rushed to hospital at around 9pm when he complained of
chest pains, and was declared dead two hours after arriving at the Hospital. The
CORD bigwig was only 55.
Condolence messages
Condolence messages are still pouring in from across the political divide as we speak.
His death was announced on twitter by Hon Raila Odinga, CORD
leader and a longtime comrade. It read “It is with deepest sorrow that we
announce the death of Ndugu Otieno Kajwang (Nyakwarnyakwamba).”
Many other leaders and especially fellow senators have tweeted
their messages of condolence.
Some of the tweets include the following:
Kipchumba Murkomen, Senator Elgeyo Marakwet: ““So shocked that my colleague & friend Sen. Kajwang
has passed on. Will remember him as passionate & eloquent debator. A
man full of life & humour,”
Kakamega’s Boni Khalwale: “My brother and comrade in arms, the late senator Otieno Kajwang was relentless in serving Kenyans. Am so saddened. God help us!”
Makueni Senator Mutala Kilonzo Jr: “Rest
in peace my brother, learned friend and senator, Otieno Kajwang. Mapambano
mbinguni.”
Martha Wangari, a nominated senator: ““Unbelievable
how short this life is. Was among the last senators in the chambers with u
yesterday n can hardly believe u no more. RIP @HonKajwang.
Hassan Omar, Mombasa Sen: “My condolences to the
family and friends of my colleague Sen. Otieno Kajwang. A great comrade, a
meticulous,”
This Man Otieno Kajwang
Gerald Otieno Kajwang was one of the most visible
politicians in ODM, and the country. He was first elected to parliament in
1997, representing Mbita constituency and, since then, his star has never
stopped shinning. He has been the minister of Immigration in the Coalition government
(2008-2013). In 2013, he contested and
won the Homabay senatorial seat.
He is fondly remembered by his supporters and foes
for his witty speeches and Slogans. He is the originator of the “Bado Mapambano”
tune. The word Mapambano loosely translates as struggle. Bado Mapambano means
we are still in the struggle. The tune has been sung by civil society, workers
on strike, youths, and all other groups pushing for something in the country.
Hon Otieno Kajwang never minced words, always
throwing straight Jabs to political opponent. His eloquence, fearlessness, and
witty style of addressing crowds earned him a top spot in ODM politics. His
demise therefore leaves a gaping hole in a party already faced with
unprecedented levels of internal rebellion.
Rest in Peace Honourable Otieno Kajwang.
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