Mutula's death:
Police investigating poison theory
Published on Apr 29, 2013
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Even as the late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo's family await the arrival of the foreign pathologist to try to get to the bottom of Mutula's death, doctors will be also be looking into the possibility that he may have been poisoned. At the same time though, experts are of the view that the preliminary evidence pointing to this theory may be misleading. NTV's Sheila Sendeyo with that report.
Even as the late Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo's family await the arrival of the foreign pathologist to try to get to the bottom of Mutula's death, doctors will be also be looking into the possibility that he may have been poisoned. At the same time though, experts are of the view that the preliminary evidence pointing to this theory may be misleading. NTV's Sheila Sendeyo with that report.
Mutula death Probe
Published on Apr 29, 2013
Mutula death Probe
Watch KTN Streaming LIVE from Kenya 24/7 on http://www.ktnkenya.tv
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ktnkenya
Like us on http://www.facebook.com/ktnkenya
Watch KTN Streaming LIVE from Kenya 24/7 on http://www.ktnkenya.tv
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ktnkenya
Like us on http://www.facebook.com/ktnkenya
CORD Steps Up Musyoka Comeback Plan
Published on Apr 24, 2013
Efforts to get former Vice President Kalonzo
Musyoka into Parliament have gone a notch higher with deliberations and
consultations now geared towards getting Kibwezi West MP Dr. Patrick Musimba to
step down for him. And just to be sure, those keen to have Musyoka as the next
Kibwezi MP have since approached former area MP Kalembe Ndile who lost narrowly
to Musimba seeking to persuade him not to contest should there be a by election.
Jubilee should have a very strong candidate wherever Kalonzo decides to
vie
yu can't trust a kalembe wit a secret...lmfao!!!!!
desperados
Mutula Opposed To MPs Stepping Aside For
Kalonzo
Published on Apr 18, 2013
Nominated Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo is
opposed to the option of having nominated MPs in the national assembly step
aside to give way to the former VP Kalonzo Musyoka return to the house. Speaking
exclusively to K24, Mutula said the move would be against article 97 of the
constitution.
--- On Tue, 4/30/13, Paul Nyandoto
From: Paul Nyandoto
Subject: KENYA IS A BANANA REPUBLIC/ will fall very soon
To: "wanakenya"
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 11:43 AM
Kenyans do not Trust IEBC after 2013 election.
kenyans did no trust the election commission in 2007/2008 and they took the
laws into their own hands, by killing each other.
Kenyans did not trust each other so Koffi Anna had to sit down with Kibaki
& Raila to make an agreement in 2008.
Kenyans did not trust the Supreme Court after Raila´s petition
rulings.
Kenyans did not trust government pathologists after Ouko´s death. The
pathologist said that Ouko cut his hands, burnt himself and died on his own.
what apathetic pathologist: I still do not understand why WHO has not burnt
such medical idiots out of this globe.
Kenyans do not trust their own doctors if one of their own dies under the
doctor´s care.
Uhuru the president of kenya do not trust kenyan lawyers so he employed
Uk lawyers to represent him in the Hague, ICC.
Kibaki never trusted Kenyan technology so he invited Chinese to build thika
highways even with their own tractors and a lot of ordinary workers from
china.
Kenyans do not trust their MPS demand on salary.
Kenyans plus governors do not trust that Uhuru & Ruto will implement
the new constitution as it was passed.
kenyans do not trust even the road transportation system since a lot die
from road accidents every month. Road has become another death bed for healthy
kenyans seconded by hospital beds for sick people..
Saitoti and Ojodeh`s family members plus lawyers do not trust the
government pathologist plus laboratory, since they did a very poor job.
Kilonzo family does not trust the Kenyan doctors or so called government
pathologist to handled the autopsy on Kilonzo senior´s body. So they invited the
Uk pathologist. BUT whose laboratory will they use?. I hope the UK pathologist
will take the samples himself to UK for analysis before they are contaminated
or exchanged. GITHONGO PUTS IT LIKE THIS `` EVERYONE HAS HIS
PRICE` EVEN CJ MUTUNGA CAN BE BOUGHT``. By the way CJ´s deputy was
pathetic, so who can trust Mutunga today he is just a normal black human
being.
SO where will you go to seek justice if you are a poor kenyan, but with
problems to solve through the justice system??.
CONCLUSION:
KENYA IS A BANANA REPUBLIC JUST WAITING TO FALL AFTER ICC ANNOUNCES THEIR
VERDICT:
Paul
--- On Tue, 4/30/13, Jectone Ndunya
From: Jectone Ndunya
Subject: Re: [KOL] UPDATE Re: KILONZO...ON PEV
To: kenyaonline@yahoogroups.com
Cc: "wanakenya"
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 11:14 AM
I belive the Late Hon Mutula's Journey to his Ranch can be traced
using mobile phone technology. Here we need the family to seek print out of his communication using his mobile phone seven days to his death including the day he arrived home. Using the phone calls, they may be able to draw a sketch en rout to his ranch. The sketch would show where he was at every time he received or made call/s, how long he was stationed and where he was stationed all the way to his ranch. In case of inhalation of poisonous gas etc, alot of search on his house would be good. Areas like windows, window breathers, could be dusted for any evidence likely to lead the family to the cause of his death. They should also carry tests on the bathroom outlet pipes leading to the septic tanks just to be sure. One major question though one would be asking is, What does he do routinely while going to bed such as does he lock the door to his bed room? if so, how was his door at the time they discovered he was dead? Some one to sleep that long before an alarm is raised is not adding up, as i expect Hon Mutula to be among the early risers going by his work filled hands, so why did it take them so long to check his room? Some one posted a number of food items found on his small table in the bedroom i believe, and going by the mixture....Githeri, nyama choma, a fruit packet etc... that mix doesn't add up, to me! I believe his car could be having a tracking device,,, the family may want to know, from the tracking company, his movement on that particular day! |
--- On Tue, 4/30/13, Paul Nyandoto
From: Paul Nyandoto
Subject: Fwd: Fw: [uchunguzionline] Fw: [PK] MUTULA KILONZO' s food samples
To: "wanakenya"
Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013, 10:40 AM
---------- Forwarded message
----------
From: Paul Nyandoto <oderogarma@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 3:08 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: [uchunguzionline] Fw: [PK] MUTULA KILONZO' s food samples
To: kevin odhiambo <kelvinopande@yahoo.com>
Odhiambo thura
you are asking odd questions:
Let me go back with you to normal biology: VENOM is made up of proteins and
polypeptides. We know that in the human digestive system proteins aand
polypetides are digested very perfectly. But you must remember that a venom is
also cardiotoxin( affect heart muscules), cytotoxic( works like chemotherapy=
kill cells), neurotoxin ( affect nerves). Venoms also affect blood coagulation(
clotting system), they affect pressure regulations, affect transmission in
nerves system and muscules. May be the digestive system can digest some of those
poison BUT I will not advice you to swallow any venom without having antivenom
around to rescue you. Because if in any case it enters your blood stream without
being properly disgested then you will be history. Again we know from our
hospital laboratory data that if we give rats a lot of snake venom they die, but
not as quick as if given straight into blood stream. It also depends on whose
venom you are talking about. There are some snakes which are 100% toxic to human
nervous system. Your doctor today talked in the Daily nation first page.
Stressing the heart problem as the most common causes of quick deaths. But
kilonzo had no history of heart problems. We also know that Venom from african
snakes can cause some symptoms which can very much easily mimic heart problems
before death. Venoms are CARDIOTOXIC. What the doctor failed to say is that how
many people do die quick deaths in kenya due to heart problem, but had no heart
disease history and at which age. I think his note to people was trying to tell
us that may be Kilonzo died because of heart problem, and he was backing his
reason on foams found on his mouth. I did not see his body. But the daily nation
journalist described kilonzo that he was found lying on his back had breathing
problems and mouth full of foam. Not really a real posture of an acute heart
attack problem. Most of of people having sudden heart attack always put their
right hand on the chest and they try to bend even in bed or when walking like a
bow . You remember bow and arrow. simple ordinary medical local teaching goes
like this. The arrow represents the pain in the heart and the bow will show you
how the patient looks like. Just like an arrow penetrating the heart like the
broken heart( broken love). Kilonzo´s posture before death shows a man who was
completely paralysed and could not move, could not get a survival posture.
Humans are made to fight upto the end, but it looks he had no option. Poisoning
or snake bite or scorpion bite etc should not be ruled out. It looks that death
occured when he was sleeping. I still doubt that kenyan doctors mentality. Not
all are being said about Kilonzo. No individual without heart problems dies in
his sleep like Kilonzo did.
I think Kilonzo´s body needs a good pathologist to do the work and a very
good well trusted laborotory which is completely independent from the
government. If samples, like urine, blood, food, heart tissues are sent outside
Kenya they will have very good independent report report.
Paul
Paul
On Tue, Apr 30, 2013 at 10:17 AM, kevin
odhiambo <kelvinopande@yahoo.com>
wrote:
Guys
I watched in National geographics, a program, that said venoms are
actually harmless when swallowed. The danger comes in when it is injected into
the blood. Could this be true daktari?
Tong' Maliel
Sent from Yahoo! Mail on Android
From: Paul Nyandoto <oderogarma@gmail.com>;
To: <wanakenya@googlegroups.com>;
Subject: Re: Fw: [uchunguzionline] Fw: [PK] MUTULA KILONZO' s food samples
Sent: Tue, Apr 30, 2013 5:06:14 AM
To: <wanakenya@googlegroups.com>;
Subject: Re: Fw: [uchunguzionline] Fw: [PK] MUTULA KILONZO' s food samples
Sent: Tue, Apr 30, 2013 5:06:14 AM
THERE ARE VENOMS IN LABORATORIES TOO.
On Mon, Apr 29, 2013 at 9:30 PM, mohamed
warsama <mhmdwarsama@yahoo.com>
wrote:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: mohamed warsama <mhmdwarsama@yahoo.com> To: uchunguzi online <uchunguzionline@yahoogroups.com>; "changemombasa2012@yahoogroups.com" <changemombasa2012@yahoogroups.com>; "yanarewa@yahoogroups.com" <yanarewa@yahoogroups.com>; "dandalinsiyasa@yahoogroups.com" <dandalinsiyasa@yahoogroups.com>; "talkhard@yahoogroups.com" <talkhard@yahoogroups.com>; "NigerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com" <NigerianWorldForum@yahoogroups.com>; naijaobserver <naijaobserver@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 9:24 PM Subject: [uchunguzionline] Fw: [PK] MUTULA KILONZO' s food samples
MARK: People should not be locked up unless there is strong suspicion to
justify it, and that can only be after the post-mortem is done, not before.
Imagine if you were in their place, should you be locked up without the
post-mortem being known ? You are still in the old Kenya, not the new Kenya we
are seeking.
So far these are the facts:
1. Mutula arrived at Maanzoni at 3pm Friday, looking in good health. He
greeted the workers and gave instructions on what needsto be done on the flower
beds.
2. He then went into the house at 6pm and was served his usual githeri
dinner, but asked for nyama choma (roasted meat) at 7pm.
3. He retires to bed.
4. He fails to wake up for breakfast between 930am-1030am when the
househelp checks and finds him prone in bed with foaming mouth,and vomit in the
bathroom.
5. It is confirmed by brother-in-law and doctor that he is dead.
So on the basis of the above information, he arrived at the farm in good
health, or so we think. We do not know and may never know who he met or where he
stopped on his way from Nairobi to the farm.
Did he have something with somebody in Nairobi who might have spiked his food or soft drink ? We are told he never ate lunch by force of habit. He also did not booze.
If
he did meet with somebody en route from Nrb and had something together, then
that person might be suspect number 1. He might have given him a long-delayed
reaction poison.
6. At the house, it is significant that he stopped at the flower beds.
Flower beds specially in a forested area like the farm harbour snakes. By
coincidence, the day he died, we had news report that a hockey team captain in
Australia died hours later from a snake bite. The area was infested by a type of
poisonous snake called Western brown snake whose bite is painless. The hockey
captain felt nothing when the snake which he had picked up from the hockey field
to remove it bit him onhis finger. After removing the snake, he went jogging and
that was a terrible mistake on his part because the venom spread quickly in his
body. What type of snakes are in the Maanzoni bushes ?
7. Going into the house, he was brought his usual githeri. But on this
evening, he asked for nyama choma (roasted meat). What type of meat was it ? Was
it also healthy or diseased ? Was the githeri maize and beans safe (non-toxic) ?
We have had frequent reports that maize grown in Ukambani area is contaminated
with aflatoxin.
If the above foods were not naturally poisoned, we come to the final
one:
8. Was poison injected into the foods by his cook or maid ?
All this can best be answered when the post-mortem is done and
cause of death is established. It can be either accidental food
poisoning (contaminated maize or meat) or deliberate poisoning.
Until then, do not point any accusing finger.
Mohamed Warsama
|
Kalonzo Courts Kalembe
Published on Apr 29, 2013
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Daniel Owira stood in front of the President, giving a memorable performance, an experience he says he could never have dreamed of. This experience is in total contrast to his reality, one of a single-roomed shack in one of the city's slums with a torturous time every start of term to get school fees. And as the re-opening date for second term neared, Daniel was a worried boy, but today, he needs not worry. His plea for an education fell on the right ears and his dreams to be a lawyer are no longer just that... they might actually come to fruition.
Daniel Owira stood in front of the President, giving a memorable performance, an experience he says he could never have dreamed of. This experience is in total contrast to his reality, one of a single-roomed shack in one of the city's slums with a torturous time every start of term to get school fees. And as the re-opening date for second term neared, Daniel was a worried boy, but today, he needs not worry. His plea for an education fell on the right ears and his dreams to be a lawyer are no longer just that... they might actually come to fruition.
CORD Steps Up Musyoka Comeback Plan
Published on Apr 24, 2013
Efforts to get former Vice President Kalonzo
Musyoka into Parliament have gone a notch higher with deliberations and
consultations now geared towards getting Kibwezi West MP Dr. Patrick Musimba to
step down for him. And just to be sure, those keen to have Musyoka as the next
Kibwezi MP have since approached former area MP Kalembe Ndile who lost narrowly
to Musimba seeking to persuade him not to contest should there be a by election.
KALONZO'S COMEBACK
Published on Apr 22, 2013
Strategists and insiders within the coalition
for reforms and democracy cord, have cited their push for either Raila or
Kalonzo's comeback to active elective politics at a move aimed at ensuring that
their coalition remains relevant with consolidate leadership in both the senate
and national assembly. The fate of the two cord leaders has attracted grave
speculation and according to Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama, the leadership
at cord will stop at nothing to see either of their principals or one of them is
back to parliament.
Mutula Opposed To MPs Stepping Aside For
Kalonzo
Published on Apr 18, 2013
Nominated Makueni senator Mutula Kilonzo is
opposed to the option of having nominated MPs in the national assembly step
aside to give way to the former VP Kalonzo Musyoka return to the house. Speaking
exclusively to K24, Mutula said the move would be against article 97 of the
constitution.
Raila lobbyists oppose Kalonzo
endorsement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPxhDZ48BWw
Published on Apr 17, 2013
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Two lobby groups that supported Raila Odinga during the campaigns now want him to lead the opposition in parliament. The groups have differed with the CORD resolution in Naivasha that handed that mandate to Kalonzo Musyoka and as Enock Sikolia reports plans to create room for Kalonzo in parliament are not working out as earlier envisaged.
Two lobby groups that supported Raila Odinga during the campaigns now want him to lead the opposition in parliament. The groups have differed with the CORD resolution in Naivasha that handed that mandate to Kalonzo Musyoka and as Enock Sikolia reports plans to create room for Kalonzo in parliament are not working out as earlier envisaged.
Why can't people simply obey the constitution. If you don't win don't go
to parliament through back doors. By the way you can play other important roles
in this country outside parliament like many other Kenyans.
This thing will turn nasty. Those elected and nominated MPs being bullied
to step down better watch out, I fear for them cos if they do refuse to do as
they are told, accidents or assasinations as they say do happen.
These people don't get it. In the new Constitution there is a separation
between the Executive and the Legislature. Did you see Romney trying to get a
nomination to Congress after loosing the presidency? Someone tell Kalonzo you
don't have to be in Parliament to make a presidential run in 2018.
Kalonzo's return to Parliament hits a
snag
Published on Apr 16, 2013
http://www.ntv.co.ke
The Cord coalition's plan to have former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka return to parliament appears to have hit a snag. While it has been reported that several MPs are ready to give up their seats for the former VP, those being mentioned are denying such reports. NTV's Enock Sikolia reports.
The Cord coalition's plan to have former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka return to parliament appears to have hit a snag. While it has been reported that several MPs are ready to give up their seats for the former VP, those being mentioned are denying such reports. NTV's Enock Sikolia reports.
Kalonzo to go back to parliament
Kalonzo to go back to parliament
Published on Apr 15, 2013
Watch KTN Streaming LIVE from Kenya 24/7 on http://www.ktnkenya.tv
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ktnkenya
Like us on http://www.facebook.com/ktnkenya
Kalonzo to go back to parliament
Follow us on http://www.twitter.com/ktnkenya
Like us on http://www.facebook.com/ktnkenya
Kalonzo to go back to parliament
Mutula Kilonzo Threatened By
Househelp
Published on Jul 11, 2012
http://www.ktnkenya.tv
A Nairobi househelp has confessed in court that she sent education minister Mutula Kilonzo a message threatening to kill him. Irene Nduku who appeared before the Milimani courts said she was instructed by her boss to send the threatening message. Nduku also claims that her boss has links with the outlawed Al Shabaab group and was also connected to the Assanands explosion in town that claimed one life. KTN's Asha Mwilu reports...
A Nairobi househelp has confessed in court that she sent education minister Mutula Kilonzo a message threatening to kill him. Irene Nduku who appeared before the Milimani courts said she was instructed by her boss to send the threatening message. Nduku also claims that her boss has links with the outlawed Al Shabaab group and was also connected to the Assanands explosion in town that claimed one life. KTN's Asha Mwilu reports...
Mutula on ICC Suspects
Uploaded on Jan 31, 2012
And even as the wiper Democratic Party
ponders over what to do with its defiant secretary general Mutula Kilonzo over
his recent utterances, the man at the centre of the heated debate appears
unfazed. Mutula, who is also the justice and constitutional affairs minister has
dared the party to kick him out, telling Citizen TV's power breakfast show that
he has been approached by over 20 parties following the planned censure move.
Mutula has insisted that it would be wrong if Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru
Kenyatta and Eldoret North mp William Ruto were allowed to vie for the
presidency while crimes against humanity charges at the ICC hang over their
heads. Abdi Osman has that report.
Mutula's Stand: Uhuru, Muthaura must
go
Uploaded on Jan 25, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
The posts of the head of the civil service and finance minister are still occupied by Francis Muthaura and Uhuru Kenyatta despite the confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity against them, and it would appear that there is yet another clash of legal opinions in government. Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, it would seem, is the lone ranger fronting views contrary to those held by attorney general Githu Muigai. In his first TV interview since the ruling, NTV's John-Allan Namu began by asking him whether Muthaura and Uhuru should still be in office.
The posts of the head of the civil service and finance minister are still occupied by Francis Muthaura and Uhuru Kenyatta despite the confirmation of charges of crimes against humanity against them, and it would appear that there is yet another clash of legal opinions in government. Justice minister Mutula Kilonzo, it would seem, is the lone ranger fronting views contrary to those held by attorney general Githu Muigai. In his first TV interview since the ruling, NTV's John-Allan Namu began by asking him whether Muthaura and Uhuru should still be in office.
Mutula:No apologies over ICC
pair
Uploaded on Feb 6, 2012
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo is making no apologies over his stand that ICC suspects do not qualify to vie for elective positions in the next general election. Mutula says a bill to operationalise chapter six of the constitution which deals with integrity will soon be presented to parliament and as NTV's Nimrod Taabu reports, Mutula says those championing a hate campaign against him are not being honest.
Justice Minister Mutula Kilonzo is making no apologies over his stand that ICC suspects do not qualify to vie for elective positions in the next general election. Mutula says a bill to operationalise chapter six of the constitution which deals with integrity will soon be presented to parliament and as NTV's Nimrod Taabu reports, Mutula says those championing a hate campaign against him are not being honest.
Kilonzo Dismisses Musyoka's
Diplomacy
Uploaded on Jan 25, 2011
Justice and constitutional affairs minister
Mutula Kilonzo has described vice president Kalonzo Musyoka's shuttle-diplomacy
seeking the deferral of Kenya's post election violence cases from the
international criminal court to a local judicial mechanism as a political
gimmick, with no legal basis, and one doomed to fail. Kilonzo maintained that at
no point did the cabinet mandate Kalonzo to embark on a series of meetings with
African heads of state to seek support for deferral of the cases, asserting that
the vice president who is his party boss in ODM- Kenya was engaged in a futile
exercise. In what is yet another sign of rifts within the coalition government,
Mutula told Kalonzo to focus his energies on judicial reforms and the
establishment of a credible local judicial mechanism to convince the ICC that
Kenya is capable of handling the post election violence cases. Francis Gachuri
with that headline story.
Mutula death: Hunt for clues intensifiesUpdated Tuesday, April 30th 2013 a 00:00 GMT +3
Mutula death: Hunt for clues intensifiesUpdated Tuesday, April 30th 2013 a 00:00 GMT +3
By Standard Team
Nairobi,kenya:The family of the late Senator Mutula Kilonzo, the Director of Public Prosecutions and police investigators are keen to establish if there was foul play in the circumstances leading to his death over the weekend.
The family has invited a foreign expert to come and take part in the postmortem examination on Mutula’s body and organs. To allow for the foreign pathologist to take part in the exercise, the family asked that the autopsy that was to take place yesterday be moved to today.
Sources within Mutula’s circle of family friends also revealed the family of the late Justice and Education minister was discussing the possibility of flying in foreign investigators to help unravel what could have killed him as he slept alone in Maanzoni Ranch, Machakos County.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Keriako Tobiko, picked a team of prosecutors to help police with investigations.
Mr Tobiko named a team of prosecutors to assist and guide the police investigating the death of the late Mutula.
The team of prosecutors will be headed by Senior Assistant DPP, Ms Grace Murungi, while the deputy head of investigations at Criminal Investigations Department, Mr Pius Macharia, would lead police. “I do direct that upon completion of these investigations, do kindly cause the resultant inquiry file to be submitted to this office for perusal and appropriate direction,” said Tobiko in a letter to Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.
The investigating teams will take up from where the local probe teams had left, including analysing food samples collected from Mutula’s home, where he had his last meal of nyama choma and githeri (mixture of beans and maize).
The South African-based British Pathologist the family hired is set to join Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor and other local pathologists in conducting the exercise at the Lee Funeral Home.
Sources close to Mutula’s family told The Standard Mutula had expressed fears for life before and including the day he died over reasons yet to be unravelled, most likely early Saturday morning.
“We have information that the Mutula Kilonzo had told a couple of people of the threat to his life and that happened including even the day he died,” added the source on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter and ongoing investigations.
Funeral committees
At the same time the sources also disclosed apart from the foam found on Mutula’s mouth when his body was discovered, he is also said to have vomited blood. “There were traces of blood from what he had vomited on the sink,” added the sources.
Sources further told The Standard that family members and relatives were equally toying with the idea of hiring of foreign homicide investigators to conduct independent investigations.
If that happens then the investigations will take the direction of the former UK’s Scotland Yard’s investigator John Troon who was brought over to probe the murder former Foreign Affairs minister Dr Robert Ouko.
Mutula’s family assisted by funeral committees decided that the burial date is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 9, at his Kwa Kyelu Ranch, in Maanzoni. The committee also left the preceding Tuesday and Wednesday open just in case a decision was taken to shift the burial to either of these two days.
Family spokesman and brother-in-law Chris Musau said Mutula confirmed the burial date after a family meeting at the late Senator’s ranch. “The family has decided Mutula’s remains will be buried at his farm and not his Mbooni rural home,” he told The Standard on telephone.
The ranch where he died was a place he so loved and where he spent most of his weekends whenever he was in town. It is an expansive 1,500-acre ranch where he kept lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, ostriches as well as livestock.
Mutula occasionally would joke with this Standard journalist of how he found peace after a grueling week in public service within the serene atmosphere of this ranch. “I am always woken up by Mutula and Nduku (in reference to the lion and lioness which he had nicknamed after himself and his wife) with their loud voices.”
Musau said burial arrangement meetings would be held at Milimani African Inland Church in Nairobi from today.
But questions continued to pile as to why the Mutula failed to call for help when he began feeling unwell yet he had his cellphone, which was active long after he had passed on.
Questions are also being raised as to where the food he ate had come from as well as where it was prepared.
There are also questions being raised as to whom he met in his final moments as well as on the fateful day he died and who had interacted with him either by phone or physically for the last two days before tragedy struck.
Investigators have the Herculean task of piecing together details that could counter rising speculation his death might not have been caused by natural causes.
Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, who is chairing the burial committee, said the foreign pathologist is expected in the country this morning.
Demand answers
He did not give the specific details of the foreign pathologist, but indicated that he had been contacted with the approval of Mutula’s family.
Muthama revealed that the post-mortem examination, which was scheduled to be conducted yesterday afternoon, was pushed to today to allow the foreign expert to take part. “Not that there are any difficulties but because it was the wishes of the family to have an independent pathologist to conduct the post-mortem examination alongside other doctors. We are expecting the pathologist from UK to arrive tomorrow (today) at 6am, before the post-mortem is conducted in the afternoon,” said Muthama. The British pathologist is base in South Africa.
Addressing the press at Senate Press Centre, the Machakos Senator, said it was the feeling of both the family and other leaders that thorough investigation be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
“We are not dealing with any other Kenyan here; we are dealing with a top politician in this country and a renowned leader. We must be in a position to tell Kenyans the clear cause of his death,” he said.
The planners
Muthama said the decision to involve a foreign expert in the autopsy should not be misconstrued as having any suspicions on the cause of death, but only the desires to get the best explanation to give Kenyans on the death of the former Senator.
“We just want to be thorough because Kenyans will demand answers on the death of a person who was in such good health and who could even drive himself and inspect his ranch. His death cannot just be wished away,” added Muthama. He said the foreign expert could not have made it to the country earlier since he had only been contacted on Sunday.
On the burial arrangements, Muthama said it was the feeling of those planning the funeral that they give enough time for the many people who would wish to attend to prepare themselves.
“For a person of Mutula’s status, we felt there is need to create enough time for as many people to make arrangements to attend the burial. We have not agreed on the specific day but we are considering either next Wednesday or Thursday,” he said.
Investigations intensify as Mutula family hire foreigner
SHARE THIS STORY
Updated 2 hrs 29 mins ago
By Standard Team
Nairobi,kenya:The family of the late Senator Mutula Kilonzo, the Director of Public
Prosecutions and police investigators are keen to establish if there was
foul play in the circumstances leading to his death over the weekend.
The family has invited a foreign expert to come and take part in the
postmortem examination on Mutula’s body and organs. To allow for the
foreign pathologist to take part in the exercise, the family asked that the
autopsy that was to take place yesterday be moved to today.
Sources within Mutula’s circle of family friends also revealed
the family of the late Justice and Education minister was discussing the
possibility of flying in foreign investigators to help unravel what could have
killed him as he slept alone in Maanzoni Ranch, Machakos County.
The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Keriako Tobiko, picked a team of
prosecutors to help police with investigations.
Mr Tobiko named a team of prosecutors to assist and guide the police
investigating the death of the late Mutula.
The team of prosecutors will be headed by Senior Assistant DPP, Ms Grace
Murungi, while the deputy head of investigations at Criminal Investigations
Department, Mr Pius Macharia, would lead police. “I do direct that upon
completion of these investigations, do kindly cause the resultant inquiry file
to be submitted to this office for perusal and appropriate direction,” said
Tobiko in a letter to Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.
The investigating teams will take up from where the local probe teams had
left, including analysing food samples collected from Mutula’s home, where he had his last meal of
nyama choma and githeri (mixture of beans and maize).
The South African-based British Pathologist the family hired is set to join
Chief Government Pathologist Dr Johansen Oduor and other local pathologists in
conducting the exercise at the Lee Funeral Home.
Sources close to Mutula’s family told The Standard Mutula had expressed fears for life before and
including the day he died over reasons yet to be unravelled, most likely early
Saturday morning.
“We have information that the Mutula Kilonzo had told a couple of people of the
threat to his life and that happened including even the day he died,” added the
source on condition of anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter and ongoing
investigations.
Funeral committees
At the same time the sources also disclosed apart from the foam found on Mutula’s mouth when his body was discovered, he
is also said to have vomited blood. “There were traces of blood from what he had
vomited on the sink,” added the sources.
Sources further told The Standard that family members and relatives were
equally toying with the idea of hiring of foreign homicide investigators to conduct independent
investigations.
If that happens then the investigations will take the direction of the
former UK’s Scotland Yard’s investigator John Troon who was brought over to
probe the murder former Foreign Affairs minister Dr Robert Ouko.
Mutula’s family assisted by funeral committees
decided that the burial date is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, May 9, at
his Kwa Kyelu Ranch, in Maanzoni. The committee also left the preceding Tuesday
and Wednesday open just in case a decision was taken to shift the burial to
either of these two days.
Family spokesman and brother-in-law Chris Musau said Mutula confirmed the burial date after a family
meeting at the late Senator’s ranch. “The family has decided Mutula’s remains will be buried at his farm and
not his Mbooni rural home,” he told The Standard on telephone.
The ranch where he died was a place he so loved and where he spent most of
his weekends whenever he was in town. It is an expansive 1,500-acre ranch where
he kept lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, ostriches as well as livestock.
Mutula occasionally would joke with this Standard
journalist of how he found peace after a grueling week in public service within
the serene atmosphere of this ranch. “I am always woken up by Mutula and Nduku (in reference to the lion and
lioness which he had nicknamed after himself and his wife) with their loud
voices.”
Musau said burial arrangement meetings would be held at Milimani African
Inland Church in Nairobi from today.
But questions continued to pile as to why the Mutula failed to call for help when he began
feeling unwell yet he had his cellphone, which was active long after he had
passed on.
Questions are also being raised as to where the food he ate had come from
as well as where it was prepared.
There are also questions being raised as to whom he met in his final
moments as well as on the fateful day he died and who had interacted with him
either by phone or physically for the last two days before tragedy struck.
Investigators have the Herculean task of piecing together details that
could counter rising speculation his death might not have been caused by natural
causes.
Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, who is chairing the burial committee,
said the foreign pathologist is expected in the country this morning.
Demand answers
He did not give the specific details of the foreign pathologist, but
indicated that he had been contacted with the approval of Mutula’s family.
Muthama revealed that the post-mortem examination, which was scheduled to
be conducted yesterday afternoon, was pushed to today to allow the foreign
expert to take part. “Not that there are any difficulties but because it was the
wishes of the family to have an independent pathologist to conduct the
post-mortem examination alongside other doctors. We are expecting the
pathologist from UK to arrive tomorrow (today) at 6am, before the post-mortem is
conducted in the afternoon,” said Muthama. The British pathologist is base in
South Africa.
Addressing the press at Senate Press Centre, the Machakos Senator, said it
was the feeling of both the family and other leaders that thorough investigation
be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.
“We are not dealing with any other Kenyan here; we are dealing with a top
politician in this country and a renowned leader. We must be in a position to
tell Kenyans the clear cause of his death,” he said.
The planners
Muthama said the decision to involve a foreign expert in the autopsy should
not be misconstrued as having any suspicions on the cause of death, but only the
desires to get the best explanation to give Kenyans on the death of the former
Senator.
“We just want to be thorough because Kenyans will demand answers on the
death of a person who was in such good health and who could even drive himself
and inspect his ranch. His death cannot just be wished away,” added Muthama. He
said the foreign expert could not have made it to the country earlier since he
had only been contacted on Sunday.
On the burial arrangements, Muthama said it was the feeling of those
planning the funeral that they give enough time for the many people who would
wish to attend to prepare themselves.
“For a person of Mutula’s status, we felt there is need to create
enough time for as many people to make arrangements to attend the burial. We
have not agreed on the specific day but we are considering either next Wednesday
or Thursday,” he said.
The powermen behind Raila Odinga unveiled
GLANCE FACTS
Political career
•Raila Odinga has been a central player in Kenya’s politics for over three
decades now and during this period he has built, discarded, re-built or
freshened up his kitchen cabinet many times over
Updated Sunday, March 31 2013 at 00:15 GMT+3
SHARE THIS STORY
By Mwenda Njoka
The term ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ was coined some 200 years ago by opponents of US
President Andrew Jackson to describe an informal coterie of trusted friends,
associates and advisers on whom the leader relied upon to govern.
Members of kitchen cabinets enjoy inordinate access to the leader and are
often in a position to influence – formally and informally – the leader’s
thinking, policies and decisions on critical issues of the moment.
Raila Odinga has been a central player in
Kenya’s politics for over three decades now and during this period he has built,
discarded, re-built or freshened up his kitchen cabinet many times over.
So, who are the members of Raila’s kitchen cabinet today? Who are the people
he has relied upon in moments of crisis and moments of good tidings to help him
think through and move forward? Here we go.
Mohamed Jaffer: Most probably few Kenyans would recognize
him even if he appeared on their doorstep with a briefcase full of cash. But the
65-year old Jaffer, the proprietor of the multi-million dollar investment that
is the Grain Bulk Handlers Limited is a businessman extraordinaire. He is one of
the wealthiest and best-networked tycoons in Coast region and beyond.
Jaffer enjoys a close friendship with Raila Odinga, which dates several years
back.
Powerbroker
Those in the know say Jaffer is perhaps the only living person, besides
President Kibaki or retired President Moi, who can call the
Prime Minister and request him to go to his home and the PM will invariably and
obligingly honour the request. That is the ultimate definition of a powerbroker
in any political lexicon.
Besides being politically suave, Jaffer draws significant influence from
the fact that he has also been one of the largest – if not the largest –
financial benefactor to political courses associated with the PM for
years.
“Some ODM politicians often go to Jaffer to have him convince the PM on an
issue they fear facing Raila directly on,” confides an insider, adding
“the general public thinks Hassan Joho is the main guy at the Coast but nothing
could be further from the truth.”
Caroli Omondi: He is regarded as one of the smoothest
operators in the Prime Minister’s office. As the PM’s Chief of Staff, Caroli is
not just the gatekeeper but also holds the keys to sources of political
fundraising.
Media barred from covering principal secretaries'
interviews
Published on Apr 29, 2013
http://www.ntv.co.ke
Interviews for Principal Secretary positions began Monday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. The media was however not allowed to cover the proceedings with the commission insisting the presence of media and the public may hinder their efforts of getting the very best for the jobs. NTV's Enock Sikolia was at the KICC and filed the following story.
Interviews for Principal Secretary positions began Monday at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. The media was however not allowed to cover the proceedings with the commission insisting the presence of media and the public may hinder their efforts of getting the very best for the jobs. NTV's Enock Sikolia was at the KICC and filed the following story.
We are slowly sliding back to the old single party ways of doing things by
taking hold of the media. The two young guys have never being friendly to the
media and one even publicly stated that newspaper were only good for wiping his
backside. We have only ourselves to blame for creating another dictator and some
seems to applaud it without thinking of the consequences. Even if you are majuu
please think of your family back home while you are enjoying real freedom
abroad.
hehehhehe so much changes everything remains the same...
This is crap...they will
be serving the public hence public should be able to scrutinize
them!
This is unconstitutional the hearings must be shown to the public
If the US can allow media in their cabinet confirmation hearings, surely we
can as well...
Omondi has something of a fairly chequered history though. After graduating
from the law school in 1991, Caroli worked at the State Law Office – Treaties
and Agreements Department – for eight years where he established a very close
relationship with the then Attorney General (now ODM senator) Amos Wako. While
at the Treaties and agreements Department, Omondi, then working with Nicholas
Biwott’s daughter, was trusted by Wako to craft and draft the law that created
independent power producers, something that introduced Caroli to the world of
big money. And from that point he never looked back.
Funding
Omondi’s initial influence around the PM emanated from the fact that he was
one of the earlier ‘investors’ in Raila at a time when the PM did not have much
money. Besides contributing significant amounts of money to fund Raila’s campaigns, Omondi also donated premises
to house ODM and other political outfits associated with the PM. These acts of
carefully planned ‘generosity’ gave Caroli inordinate hold on the political
machinery around the PM.
Omondi was the man entrusted with resource mobilisation during the
presidential campaign as well the man who was in charge of distributing money to
party agents countrywide during the elections.
At the PM’s office, Caroli has been feared, loathed and loved by some in
equal measures. Nevertheless, he appears to have grown umbilical-cord-like kind
of links with the PM such that the two are almost permanently intertwined and
none may survive without the other.
George Opondo: Everyone in Raila’s inner circle refers to him simply as the
‘Kulei’ of the PM – in reference to Joshua Kulei, then powerful Personal
Assistant to retired President Moi during his days in power. To be mentioned in
the same breath with or be compared to the former PA to retired President Moi is
in itself a good pointer one’s discreet power and influence behind the
scenes.
Opondo, who hails from Uyoma in Rarieda, has been with the Odinga family
for many years and initially served as PA to Raila’s father.
Fiercely loyal
He is one of the very few people Raila trusts to collect, handle and disburse
funds for political operations. He is fiercely loyal to Raila while at the same time studiously avoiding
the limelight preferring to operate from the shadows and never speaking unless
spoken to. However, the very fact that the PM trusts him with crucial matters of
finances has given Opondo much clout in Raila’s inner circle and anyone who does business
– political or otherwise – with the PM on a regular basis is bound to have to
deal with Opondo at some point.
Eliud Owalo: He is the man Raila trusted to run his presidential campaign.
Owalo, a management consultant, initially served as founder member of Friends of
Raila (Fora) lobby group before he was tapped by
the PM to be his Chief Campaign Manager. Not being an original member of Team Raila, Owalo had several run-ins with politicians
who wanted to influence decisions to serve their own selfish ends while
sacrificing the PM’s larger interests. This did not endear Owalo to a political
clique from Nyanza but he soldiered on leading the campaigns, thanks thumbs up
from the PM.
Owalo’s strength around the PM has often been his independence of mind and
apparent lack of political ambitions, something that meant Raila could count on his (Owalo’s) dispassionate
judgment on crucial issues.
Perhaps a good measure of Owalo’s credentials as a member of the trusted
inner circle is the fact that Candidate Raila Odinga trusted him enough to designate him
as the person to spearhead the presidential election petition. The PM later
amended the petition to become the direct petitioner.
By virtue of his position as Chief Campaign Manager, Owalo has enjoyed
unlimited access to the PM.
Sarah Elderkin: She is a former
journalist with the defunct Weekly Review magazine. Like some other members of
Raila’s inner circle, Sarah’s relationship with
the Odingas dates back to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s days.
She enjoys direct access to the PM. Sarah is Raila’s personal speech writer who cheerfully
adopts the role of political attack-dog penning sharp articles in the media when
the PM’s integrity is question or is at stake.
As the PM’s trusted communications advisor, Sarah wields significant
influence on what Raila says. She is regarded as one of the few
people in the inner circle who will not shy away from telling the PM he is wrong
and firmly stand her ground on a matter of principle. For this reason, Raila values her judgment. Former journalist
Salim Lone also happens to be a close confidant of the PM but his influence is
mainly focused on maintaining international links for the PM. Those close to the
PM describe Salim Lone as someone who approaches politics “too officially” to
fit in well in the murky world of politics.
James Orengo: A lawyer by training, Orengo’s relationship
dates back to late 1980s when the two led the struggle for the country’s second
liberation. At some point in the 90s, Orengo and Raila were political rivals competing for
supremacy in Nyanza. Raila emerged tops in that contest while Orengo
lost his parliamentary seat.
To make a comeback Orengo had to eat humble pie and concede that he was not
Raila’s equal. Since then, the two have become
something of political Siamese twins. Today Orengo is one of the PM’s most
trusted political operatives.
Raila relies on him not just for legal advice but
also on a wide range of political and business issues. This has made Orengo one
of the most powerful players around the PM today.
Those in the know say Orengo completely eclipsed other political players
previously close to the PM such as Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o and Dalmas Otieno whose
influence these days is determined on an issue by issue basis or the prevailing
politics of the moment.
Ida Odinga: Besides being the PM’s wife, Ida is a powerful
political player in her own right. She often influences key decisions including
party issues.
Grown influence
Ida is someone few politicians around Raila would dare to cross because she doesn’t
take prisoners.
There are other peripheral players around the PM such as the chairman of
Royal Media Services SK Macharia and Charles Njonjo whom Raila has occasionally used to try and reach out
to business elites in Central Kenya.
Johnston Muthama is another player who has gained access
to the inner sanctums of Raila’s power network.
Muthama’s clout grew tremendously when he delivered Kalonzo Musyoka and his
Wiper Party to team up with Raila and form the CORD team.
Business tycoon Peter Muthoka of Andy Forwarders is also another player
with an inside track within Raila’s circle.
His influence grew during the elections by virtue of the resources he
managed to contribute towards the Raila Odinga-Kalonzo Musyoka presidential
bid.
Raila, Kalonzo team’s strategy in Opposition
SHARE THIS STORY
Updated Sunday, April 28 2013 at 00:00
GMT+3
By Oscar Obonyo
He has said as much – not once but several times – that he is not keen on
returning to Parliament, yet supporters will not tire to persuade the Coalition
for Reforms and Democracy ( CORD) leader Raila Odinga to rethink his decision.
The latest pressure has come from his very own lobby groups, Friends of
Raila (FORA) and Youths for Raila as well as the Luo Council of Elders from his
rural backyard of Nyanza region.
Similarly, Raila’s running mate in the March polls, former Vice-President
Kalonzo Musyoka, is under pressure to find entry into the National Assembly.
Senator for Machakos County Johnston Muthama has volunteered to spearhead these
efforts at a local level.
Nonetheless, The Standard On Sunday has established the
Raila-Kalonzo supporters may well be acting like the proverbial mourners, who
cry louder than the bereaved. Apparently, the two, alongside Senator for Bungoma
County Moses Wetangula, decided way back on a working
formula for CORD.
“After the ruling by the Supreme Court — which surprised us and which
absolutely we do not agree with — we took time off to South Africa and
deliberated on all possible options, and agreed to play the role of an effective
Opposition,” says Wetangula.
Keeping team together
The Ford-Kenya leader divulges that it was agreed that each of the three
principals plays a crucial role in holding CORD together and keeping the Uhuru Kenyatta-led
Government on its toes. According to the agreement, Wetangula and Kalonzo are
supposed to lead the CORD forces from Parliament — Wetangula in the
Senate and Kalonzo in the National Assembly. And as the group’s captain, Raila
is destined to lead from outside Parliament.
The trio’s resolve is best demonstrated by Raila’s constant reference to
the Kiswahili adage, kuvunjika kwa mwiko sio mwisho wa kupika ugali (Down but
not out). This allegory means, no matter the disappointments and misfortunes in
life one undergoes, life has to continue.
To Raila, politics is daily food he must continue to eat. The import of
this is that despite advice from some friends and foes that he takes a break
from active politics, the former PM is not quitting just yet. The same is true
of his partner, Kalonzo.
This agreement, struck in South Africa, informs the decision by the CORD fraternity to appoint one-time Environment
minister Francis Nyenze to the position of Leader of Minority in an acting
capacity.
The Standard On Sunday has, however, learnt that disquiet is setting in
over Nyenze’s position, particularly the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) wing,
which has majority legislators within CORD. According to our source, the politicians
feel Nyenze lacks political clout and is ceding too much ground already to the
Jubilee rivals.
Raila to work with governors on Cord pledges
By ANTHONY KITIMO akitimo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, April 25 2013 at 14:23
Posted Thursday, April 25 2013 at 14:23
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said he will work with Cord's 24
governors to implement the coalition’s manifesto.
Mr Odinga said Cord has majority governors elected during General Election
and will use them fulfil promises they made during the campaigns.
Speaking at Mombasa County Hall on Thursday when he met governor Hassan Joho
and ODM's 30 ward representatives, Mr Odinga said he will work with donors who
are willing to fund Cord to fulfill its promises.
“We have to continue seeking more donors to help the 24 governors propel
their agendas and that of Cord as they serve their people at their respective
counties,” said Mr Odinga.
He added: “We shall explore all the avenues to prove to Kenyans that Cord
meant to transform their lives and we shall do so through supporting counties
headed by our party governors.”
Mr Odinga also urged the members of national assembly to address issues of
debts inherited by County governments from previous local authorities.
He proposed the writing off of such debts to help the devolved governments
run their systems effectively.
He also asked the national government to iron out issues on sharing of
revenue from national parastatals such as port of Mombasa so that people in the
counties can also benefit from them.
“The Transition Authority has stated clearly in its recent advertisement that
harbours and ferries belong to county government. But the national government
has not stated how the county will get its share,” said Mr Odinga.
During the meeting, Mr Joho said the his office has inherited Sh2.8 billion
from the Mombasa Municipal Council and urged the national government to release
devolution funds to kick start county operations.
“It is frustrating that national government was supposed to release some
funds to assist in the recruitment and other County operations but until today
we have not received anything from the treasury. We are asking those involved to
check on the matter to ensure County operations do not stall,” he
said.
Mr Joho also warned former council workers to shape up and embrace change so
as to achieve the county’s set mission.
The Orange legislators, according to an MP who declined to be named for
fear of being accused of being divisive, seriously feel that CORD lost out greatly in the recent formation of
House Business and Selection committees because of poor negotiation.
A section of MPs polled by The Standard On Sunday are of the opinion that
Rongo MP and immediate former Public Service minister Dalmas Otieno is better
placed to spearhead the coalition’s interests and negotiations in the
House.
“Dalmas is a sober politician, who enjoys a lot of respect and goodwill
from both sides of the political divide. He also enjoys substantial support from
Jubilee, including (President) Uhuru and other former and present Kanu
legislators,” offers one MP.
Key positions
The push for Dalmas to replace Nyenze is largely by ODM-allied MPs, who
feel that despite being the majority party in CORD and indeed in Parliament, they have missed
out on all key positions in Parliament. Besides Wiper Democratic Movement’s
(WDM) Nyenze, the Minority leader in the Senate is Ford-Kenya’s Wetangula.
However, pundits warn that a move to replace Nyenze could mark the end of
the political marriage between ODM and WDM. Nonetheless, rescue could be on the
way if former Kibwezi MP and leader of The Independent Party (TIP) Kalembe Ndile
paves way for Kalonzo’s entry to Parliament.
Kalembe has intimated that sitting Kibwezi West MP Patrick Musimba has
agreed to step aside for Kalonzo. However, the former assistant minister has
filed a petition against Musimba’s election and wants the case determined first
before he can play ball.
Muthama, who is pushing for the return of Raila and Kalonzo to Parliament,
and Leader of Majority Aden Duale, have separately warned the two senior
politicians may become irrelevant if they stay out of elective politics.
But Wetangula disagrees: “Is it possible for a politician of Raila’s
stature, who has a huge and intact political constituency to suddenly sink into
irrelevancy? Of course that can never be true.”
Former Sports minister and Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba is in
agreement.
According to Namwamba, CORD Alliance, “will hold fort for Raila – in and
outside the two houses (National Assembly and Senate) – until the next elections
when he is ready to take charge of the team again”.
“This is because your stature has grown beyond Parliament and it will be
unthinkable to have you their as minority leader, with our friend Duale as your
opposite as majority leader,” Namwamba told Raila during a recent luncheon the
former Premier hosted for his presidential campaign team.
But before the next elections, Raila and Namwamba maintain this should be
the last time Kenyans go to the polls with the Independent Electoral Boundaries
and Commission (IEBC) as referee and under its current leadership and
structures
“It becomes very difficult to appreciate lessons learnt from bungled
electoral processes such as this one, that Kenyans had a lot of hopes in. One
thing is clear, though, that most of our institutions are still open to
manipulation and corruption,” observes Namwamba.
Speaking during the function, Raila said they did everything right to win
the elections, “but that was never going to happen”.
“I have been around for some time and I know the strategies of winning an
election. 1997, I made my debut to introduce myself to the Kenyan people and in
2002 I spearhead campaigns that made (Mwai) Kibaki president. And you all know
the real winner of 2007 and this year’s poll,” Raila told his guests.
Motorcades and massacres: Is Kenya’s state
failing?
Posted Saturday, April 27 2013 at 12:50
In this column some time ago, I contrasted the response of Kenyan
authorities to the massacre of 40 policemen by cattle rustlers in Baragoi with
that of their Egyptian counterparts to the train accident that claimed the lives
of 50 children.
I lamented the slow-motion, casual response of the Kenyan government and
police. For about three days, the bodies of the slain policemen lay rotting in
the valley where they had met their demise. The then police commissioner and the
civilians heading the security docket remained proudly in office. By contrast,
the Egyptians arrived swiftly at the scene of the accident, the minister in
charge of transportation resigned, and those more directly culpable were
charged. I concluded by saying that the killing of such a large number of police
officers by a ragtag village militia, and the culture of lethargy of our public
officials, had a bearing on the viability of the Kenyan state.
About a week ago, we again witnessed the same lethargic response by Kenyan
authorities to the killing of 10 civilians by suspected Al Shaabab gunmen in
Garissa as compared to that of their American counterparts to the bombing in
Boston. In our case, there was a 24-hour lapse before we saw any statement from
the authorities, much less action. It was only when President Uhuru Kenyatta
ordered all security chiefs to the area that we saw the Inspector General of the
Police, the head of National Intelligence, the permanent secretary in charge of
security and other security chiefs pontificating about the actions they were
going to take.
They looked somnolent; I had visions of them yawning after the cameras had
withdrawn. In Boston, within minutes of the blast, local and federal agents
swung into action. The mayor and police chief of Boston gave statements, as did
the governor of Massachusetts and President Barack Obama.
What is it, we might ask, that determines this vastly different attitude
towards public duty? The culprit is a culture that we have cultivated since
Independence. While this culture has several negative aspects, its most
crippling effect is an absence of personal responsibility, reinforced by lack of
sanction for mediocrity and non-performance.
In the days of the Kanu dictatorship, what built careers was not merit or
performance, but sycophancy. One could rob a parastatal dry — as happened with
several of them — and still see a spectacular rise in one’s career, as long as
one sang — in the words of former president Moi — like a parrot. While such
blatant profligacy is now disallowed by policy, instances of state-failure due
to acts of omission or commission by state officials — which are never punished
— characterise public service.
Thus, the former commissioner of police and the security minister could
continue serving without any sense of shame after the worst massacre of police
officers since Independence. And that is why the IGP and the group that
accompanied him to Garissa will continue serving with pride, if a little
somnolently. Had the American authorities acted in the wake of the Boston
bombings the way their Kenyan counterparts did to the shooting in Garissa, the
wrath of the American public would have been scorching, and many officials would
not only have lost their jobs, but would also never have seen the inside of a
public office for the rest of their lives.
The Failed States Index could be faulted on many levels, but it does
indicate warning signs of a slide towards that ignominious state. Two of its
indicators worryingly apply to Kenya: (1) Loss by the state of monopoly of
coercive force; and (2) Prevalent use of public funds for purposes that do not
advance the public good. Given that the Garissa incident is only the most
blatant of a recent series of gun murders in the country, and unconscionably
huge resources are being diverted to cater for our leaders’ megalomania —
salaries, Obama-like motorcades and security details in a country as poor as
ours, retirement packages fit for a sultan, etc — we must ask: Is Kenya showing
early signs of failed state status?
An interesting article; I have just looked at
the index; and it appears that Kenya has a score of 98.4 on the scale and is in
alert category. On that basis yes I think Ke is sliding in that direction on the
basis of the theoritical criterion in the formulation of index. What I find even
more intriguing is that Somalia remains top of the chart . The other issue which
would be interesting here is impacts of failed states on neigbouring countries
around them. Are they catalyst and do they destalise or encourage or neither and
are neutral. The issue in your current Daily Nation article on human trafficking
deserves also to be included for consideration in any analysis of failed states
as it is a sign that a state (s) are failing to tackle poverty; existence of
shanty towns within a city like Nairobi also should be considered , places like
kibera and Mathare for examples as these have existed for many decades going way
back in kenyan history.
Corporate Kenya faces exodus of CEOs into govt
By A JOINT REPORT, The
EastAfrican
Posted Saturday, April 27 2013 at 15:14
Posted Saturday, April 27 2013 at 15:14
The nomination of Cabinet Secretaries and pending recruitment of Principal
Secretaries is set to change the face of Kenya’s corporate sector.
Executives and senior managers from at least three Nairobi Securities
Exchange-listed firms, an investment bank, three regulators and at least 20
well-known private companies and government entities are among those who have
either been nominated to serve as Cabinet Secretaries, or shortlisted for the
position of Principal Secretary in the new government.
Five of the 16 nominees for Cabinet positions are from the private sector,
while 25 per cent of the 155 shortlisted candidates for Principal Secretary jobs
are executives and senior managers from the private sector.
Kenyans are likely to be treated to a glimpse into the inner workings,
deals and well-kept secrets in private companies as the Public Service
Commission kicks off the vetting of the candidates seeking positions as PSs on
Monday.
The candidates’ experience, performance record and management styles are
expected to come under scrutiny during the vetting.
If the PSC lean towards private-sector bosses for the PS jobs, many firms
will be looking for new managers as business leaders leave high paying jobs for
public appointments.
Of the 16 nominees for Cabinet Secretary posts announced by President Uhuru
Kenyatta on Wednesday, two are bank executives (Adan Mohammed, chief
administrative officer of Barclays Africa, and James Macharia, CEO, NIC Bank).
Another appointee, Phyllis Kandie, is currently an associate director at
Standard Investment Bank while the rest have been drawn from the academic,
government and private companies.
Among corporate faces on the shortlist for Principal Secretary positions
are NSE-listed power distributor Kenya Power’s chief executive officer Joseph
Njoroge and his chief manager for human resources and administration Ben Chumo;
Betty Maina, CEO of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Sumayya
Hassan-Athmani, the managing director of National Oil Corporation and Nancy
Karigithu of the Kenya Maritime Authority.
Others are Prof Genevieve Were, Patrick Omutia, and Elizabeth Muchane, the
deputy vice chancellor at Maseno University, the MD of the National Industrial
Training Authority and the director of the Kenya School of Governance
respectively.
The Principal Secretary shortlist also has Kenya Railways Corporation
managing director Joseph Nduva Muli, Postbank managing director Dr Nyambura
Koigi, Kenyatta National Hospital chief executive officer Richard Lesiyampe and
Tea Board of Kenya chief executive officer Sicily Kariuki.
Regulators such as the Central Bank of Kenya, Insurance Regulatory
Authority and the Dairy Board of Kenya may also find themselves looking for
replacements as individuals holding key positions in those organisations have
also been shortlisted. They include James Teko Lopoyetum, the director of
operations and bank administration at CBK, and Sammy Makove and Machira Gichohi
who are the chief executive officers at IRA and the Dairy Board.
Other individuals who have been shortlisted and work with the private
sector include Kenya National Examinations Council chief executive officer Paul
Wasanga and Kenya Investment Authority managing director Moses
Ikiara.
Experts say those in most demand are people who are technologically
literate, globally astute and capable of not only developing, but also executing
strategy. This has heightened the battle for talent between government and the
private sector.
Training ground
James Wangunyu, chairman of Standard Investment Bank, said replacing Ms
Kandie would be a challenge. “The industry has very few people who have her
years of experience,” he noted.
For years, Kenya’s civil service has been seen as a training ground for
middle-level managers who soon find themselves courted by the private sector, a
trend that is quickly changing, as seen with executives leaving plum private
sector jobs for State appointments.
“Some of these people leaving the private sector are driven by the need for
challenge. They have achieved all they can in the private sector, so they are
looking at a different challenge in the public sector,” said Patrick Mutisya, a
senior human resource consultant at Manpower Services, a management
firm.
Analysts said a reformed public service, better pay, and improved terms of
service could help rejuvenate service delivery, with the public sector taking on
private businesses in the labour market.
“Given their private sector background, their management style is likely to
be more hands on than previous ministers. We are likely to see them more
involved in, say, recruitment as they understand how much their personal success
is tied to the competencies of their team,” said Mr Mutisya.
According to the Economic Survey 2012, private sector wages are more than
double the public sector’s. In 2011, private sector wages stood at Ksh587.2
billion ($6.9 billion) compared with the private sector’s Ksh291.4 billion ($3.4
billion).
The executives’ exit from private to public sector jobs is expected to
intensify the revolving door that has characterised Kenyan firms in recent
months, which have seen senior managers moving in and out of company boards and
top tier corporate positions, as firms seek fresh brains and strategies to drive
growth.
Why World Duty Free is so important to Pattni
Businessman Kamlesh Pattni. PHOTO / FILE
By Wachira Maina
dn2@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Sunday, April 28 2013 at 21:00
Posted Sunday, April 28 2013 at 21:00
In Summary
- Controversial businessman wants to prove he is owner of both the exporting and receiving firms in 1990s scandal, essentially plugging any holes that can be used against him
- By getting the court to declare him the owner of World Duty Free, Kamlesh Pattni becomes, in effect, the owner of both the company exporting the gold and diamonds and the company importing them. Even though in law a company and its owners are separate persons, firms act through their officials. In this case, Pattni, relying on the constitutional right against self-incrimination, would simply refuse to give evidence against himself as owner of Goldenberg International. End of case!
On February 14, 1998, Blue-Line Holdings, a company associated with Kamlesh
Pattni, fabricated a rubber stamp for Dinky International — a company belonging
to World Duty Free owner Nasir Ali — at a Nairobi stationery shop, D L Patel
Press. The rubber stamp was then used to forge sale documents showing that
Kamlesh Pattni had bought World Duty Free shares from Ali and Dinky
International in 1992.
The CID, however, believed the forgeries had extended beyond the rubber
stamp. They were right, as it turned out from a report by a Mr M. Allen, a UK
Home Office forensic handwriting expert, that the documents on which Pattni had
relied, including the Memorandum of Sale and Agreement and all the letters
allegedly written by Pattni to Ali, were forgeries.
Also, none of the cheques allegedly paid by Pattni to buy WDF shares had
ever been presented for payment. None were made out to either Dinky
International or to Nasir Ali, the owners of WDF shares.
They were all drawn on banks associated with Pattni or politically
connected individuals, and they were all in favour of companies that were not
connected with Ali. Cheques from these same banks would be presented in a
subsequent
More intriguingly, Ali also produced a letter from Pattni to him that
refuted his (Pattni’s) claims. When WDF completed refurbishing the airport to
create the shops that he now claims from KAA, Pattni wrote to Ali, on May 16,
1992, asking WDF to lease him space for his gold and jewellery
business.
If Pattni was indeed the beneficial owner of WDF shares in March 1992, why
would he want to let space from the person from whom he was in the process of
buying the company’s shares?
Pattni produced in court copies of the letters he claimed he had written to
Ali asking that WDF shares be transferred to him, but there was no evidence that
these had ever been sent or even received by Ali.
Pattni also claims that by mid-1992, he had paid Ali all the money that he
owed him for the WDF shares. However, in August of that very year — having met
Ali in June — Pattni borrowed Sh25 million (about $300,000 at current exchange
rates) from Ali. Later, he would say that during this same period — in 1992 — he
had also bought Ketan Somaia’s companies (for more than $40 million) and the Pan
African Group (for $12.5 million).
The question suggests itself: If Pattni was so awash with cash throughout
1992, why did he need to borrow $300,000? More importantly, Pattni never repaid
the money as agreed and Ali had to sue him.
If Pattni had already contracted for and paid part of the money to Ali, why
did he not mount a counter-claim against Ali on this suit on the basis that Ali
owed him money on the shares?
These details and dates make it clear that Pattni’s WDF claims are
flagrantly fraudulent. The question is; why does Pattni go to all this trouble?
Well, the timing is everything: The period when the WDF share transaction
supposedly happened coincides with the period in which Goldenberg International
said it had exported the bulk of gold and diamonds to World Duty Free in
Dubai.
That fact is fundamental because there are two main planks to a successful
prosecution of the Goldenberg scandal. First, evidence will be needed from
Dubai, say, from the World Gold Council, Dubai, showing whether any gold from
Kenya had actually got into the country.
Secondly, evidence will be needed from WDF, the alleged purchaser, that it
never ordered or received any gold or diamonds from Goldenberg
International.
By getting the court to declare him the owner of WDF from 1992, Pattni
becomes, in effect, the owner of both the company exporting the gold and
diamonds (Goldenberg International) and the company importing them (World Duty
Free).
Even though in law a company and its owners are separate persons, companies
act through their officials. In this case, Pattni, relying on the constitutional
right against self-incrimination, would, as owner of WDF, simply refuse to give
evidence against himself as owner of Goldenberg International. Criminal case
dead.
Two, in a civil case for restitution, which the government might file if it
lost the criminal case, it would help if the owners of Goldenberg also happened
to own WDF in 1992 and 1993. That would mean Goldenberg was exporting jewellery
to a sister company, WDF. Pattni would then be able to offer evidence that gold
and diamonds were exported by Goldenberg International and received by World
Duty Free. In short, there never was any loss, scandal, or even crime
committed.
Unfortunately, Pattni’s efforts to take over and control WDF have run into
heavy headwinds arising from his inattention to the complexities of company law.
Though the World Duty Free had a certificate of compliance to operate in Kenya,
it was incorporated in the Isle of Man, a British island in the Irish Sea.
Lone wolf: Museveni’s battle with his Cabinet
By MICHAEL WAKABI, The
EastAfrican
Posted Saturday, April 27 2013 at 15:08
Posted Saturday, April 27 2013 at 15:08
President Yoweri Museveni is fighting almost single-handedly to rescue a
number of important projects from what he sees as a bureaucracy gone adrift of
national priorities. In this, the president is relying on an ever-narrowing
circle of trusted aides.
In the face of an economy that is performing below potential, delays in the
development of the petroleum sector and a real possibility that donors who
support 30 per cent of the national budget may cut off funding altogether in the
next financial year, Museveni needs to secure the country’s energy supply to
keep manufacturing ticking.
But his efforts to get the 600MW Karuma hydropower station off the ground
remain hostage to vested interests, and the president has accused a section of
his Cabinet of soliciting a $200 million bribe from Chinese contractor China
Water and Electricity Corporation (CWE), which the Inspectorate of Government
has recommended should be barred from bidding for the works.
A Cabinet meeting on April 12 endorsed a bilateral deal the president
negotiated with China to fund the project and provide a contractor to execute
the construction.
After just seven days however, on April 19, Energy Permanent Secretary
Kabagambe Kaliisa was served with an interlocutory order stopping implementation
of the recommendations of the Inspectorate of Government report.
The order had been sought by the Member of Parliament representing Kabale
Municipality, Andrew Baryayanga, who had earlier opposed the IGG’s investigation
of the procurement process.
Undeterred by the Solicitor General’s opinion, Mr Baryayanga on April 26
secured a constitutional court order stopping the Ministry of Energy, the
Cabinet or the government of Uganda from implementing the recommendations in the
IGG’s report or interfering with the final process for the procurement of a
contractor for Karuma Hydropower project.
Although an April 23 opinion by the Solicitor General advises Mr Kaliisa to
stay put — since the High Court’s order mentions neither the Ministry of Energy
nor the Cabinet directive the PS was supposed to implement — the basis on which
the order was sought rhymes with an opinion Attorney General Peter Nyombi had
circulated on April 11 ahead of the April 12 Cabinet meeting that discussed the
Karuma saga.
The EastAfrican has learnt that in that meeting, at which Museveni invited
the IGG to present her report, only two ministers — Crispus Kiyonga (Defence)
and Local Government’s Adolf Mwesigye — spoke up in support of the president’s
position that the report be adopted.
That meeting resulted in an “Action Extract from Minute CT109 (CT2013)” that, among other things, ordered the minister of energy to cancel the procurement process for Karuma in favour of a bilateral arrangement with China.
That meeting resulted in an “Action Extract from Minute CT109 (CT2013)” that, among other things, ordered the minister of energy to cancel the procurement process for Karuma in favour of a bilateral arrangement with China.
However, CWE’s supporters were this week understood to have been trying to
front China Three Gorges Corporation, CWE’s parent company, to be selected to
replace its discredited subsidiary. Besides China Three Gorges not being an EPC
contractor, its backdoor selection would be in violation of Ugandan procurement
laws, which bar a sanctioned contractor, its associates and subsidiaries from
participating in procurements for the duration of the sanction
period.
While CWE has issued threats of legal action if its bid is cancelled, Frank
Tumwebaze, Minister for the Presidency, defends President Museveni’s action,
citing the delays the Karuma project has suffered.
He also argues that while the Attorney General as the chief legal adviser
to government is free to give technical guidance on legal issues, these have to
fit within the policy guidance given by the president.
Mr Tumwebaze also says the Cabinet’s decision to opt for a bilateral
arrangement to implement the Karuma project is provided for by procurement laws
and cannot be derailed by threats of legal action from any quarter.
“The president, as the chief guide on national priorities and policy, had
to come in and give guidance on the process of Karuma, which had been derailed
and delayed by corrupt tendencies. The president chose to take a bilateral
approach, because the PPDA act provides exceptions for procurements that come
under a bilateral arrangement,” he told The EastAfrican.
According to him, Uganda is free to procure bilaterally and can ask the
other party to select a contractor if it feels that it is getting better value
for money. The $350 million Entebbe Expressway, which is also being funded by
China, is a precedent.
Although Mr Tumwebaze defends President Museveni’s actions as necessary,
given the present circumstances where he cannot rely on his bureaucracy, critics
see them as typical of the disregard for institutions he has exhibited over his
27-year rule.
“The president has to ensure that
policy is executed and the perceived concentration of power around himself
actually makes it easier for him to demand accountability from particular
centres, as opposed to relying on a swollen and inefficient bureaucracy,” he
said in reference to President Museveni’s insistence on vesting power in the
energy minister in the new oil laws.
No comments:
Post a Comment